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Deptford , Sir , May 5 , 1826 . THERE has already bee ^ rau j cb said on the subject of X \ i 4 f i * 4 i # - duction of Unbelievers , ^ p ^ t ^ a Churches ; 6 ut you will perhaps
permit rae to occupy a small space"Hf | he , n&xt nupab $ r of the Monthly Repository for a few desultory remarks upon the debate . A great deal of eloquence has been wasted on the side of pseudo liberality . Much needless * vituperation has been heaped on Mr . Jones ' , as though he were
endeawurihg to convert Unitarian qpngre-^ ti pns into sp juauy petty inquisitions i wjbile hie object in reality ap > - # 6 aurs to be , only to prevent those vvfio are not Christians from being associated in church fellowship with
those who are , and becoming- thus identified with them ; to make both Christians and Deists more consistent with their profession . Changes have been rung on the terms Xests , subscription and illiberality ; the mind has been led to the contemplation of
the odious tyranny which has been , $ nd is , exerted ^ by men who have demanded and do demand unfeigned assent and consent to their arbitrary interpretations of Scripture , as a qualification for civil offices , an university education , or religious comrannion : and Mr . Jones has thus , to
use a modern figure of speech , been pfcr&ectrtefi for his opinions . Test and sUfeadnption have become convenient wo ^ ds of alarn * with certain persons so ' sensitively alive to liberty that tfyey > youlci hovQ a Christian , church lik $ a ^ Carav&nsera open to all comers who , can , pay the price for their entejtaimneot . These unfortunate terms
have been held up to public scorn and execration as though they were intrinsically evil ; as though they could convey no meaning but such as ought X ( X create abhorrence : whereas they aro perfectly harmless when not abused ,
nayv iopy be employed as ministers of j gppd . They are , like human beings good or bad according to circutMsJances . Now what is the test or subscription which Mr . Jones would substitute for the tax mode of
admission which is taut too common in Unitarian Christian churches 2 Simply , I should imagine , belief in Christ as th * WhftS # t This way be called illi-
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berally if men ptease ; we cannot prevent them from using , nor all at f ^ tfic an we un teach them to use ^ mJ& words : but call it illiberality th ^?^ bar ^ : wiil njttfr rest with Mr Jones ; it will revert to the Apostles and ultimately to Jesus Christ : and *
I doubt not your Todmorden correspondent is ready and will rejoice to suffer any opprobrium which he must share with the glorious and blessed author of our faith . But the illiberality of a Christian church demanding of belief
a profession in Christ before granting admission to its fellowship , is , I confess , beyond my comprehension . Let any number of perscms connect themselves simply as a church of believers in one God , and unquestionabl y Christians , Jews >
Mahometans and Theists , may unite in church fellowship without inconsistency ; but a professedly Christian church is necessarily exclusive ; it can only be composed of Christian members . It is , however , exclusive only as all other societies , instituted for a particular purpose , are exclusive ,
without any breach of that universal cia * rity which is the best ornament of the mind . Neither Mr . Jones , cor any who think with him , would , I apprehend , wish to prevent Unbeliever * from partaking of the benefits of public worship , whenever conscience or inclination , or both , lead them to
do so . He would rather rejoice to see them thus renewing and increasing their moral and religious impressions . Nor would he object to worship with them under the same roof ; though he may justly cjeeori that there is some inconsistency in their joining
in thanksgivings apd pr&yejrs offe n d in the name of Christ * whps& msdiar torial office they at le& $ t dsnj % i * v with your Liverpool eorresp «« KleQt > they ' * honour Jesus as a motfalfefc
and reformer beyond any oth&TB&ttte which history has transmit ted . ** Perhaps Mr . Jones iand I should $ * % ' $ to the best means of excliud ^ WQ ? believers from church fellbw ^ ij * . He would doubtless prefer to do U by demanding a , declaration of belief in
Christ viv& voce- I should by requw * ing subjnissdoa to a aiiaple and expre ^ ve rite ordained by Christ and priv ^ iised by \ m apostles * B » C .
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290 Unbelievers in Unitarian Churcket
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1826, page 290, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2548/page/38/
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