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Untitled Article
tended to im drawn froia tliese desultory ( and perhaps tiresome ) ^ p ^ eliaainaries ? : To i . Ws I jreplyy * bat th $ very low ebb t ) f the morai feelings as exhibited in our daily intercourse with society , proves , in . no small degree that they are not recom mended and enforced in proportion to their superlative importance , and tk&t too much stress is laid upon those equivocal and doubtful opinions which have little or no influence on the conduct . We are first threatened
and alarmed with eternal consequences jif we deny the infallibility of one Church establishment or doubt the immaculate purity of another ; then cornea the appalling train of
unintelligible dogmas—the Athanasian Greed , Transubstantiation , Original Sim , Election and Reprobation , Imputed or transferable Righteousness , the damnation of Unbaptized infants , and a thousand other absurdities to which
pur assent is # required—some on the authority of councils , and some on that of still more arrogant individuals ; and , to crown all , we are gravely told from the pens and lips of an insulting priesthood , that " heresy and schism are damnable sins as well as murder
and adultery / ' With such foul and terrific anathemas hanging over our heads , no wonder that the claims of humanity and justice , of equity and benevolence , should be undervalued < ind neglected . . Of \ vJiat avail is purity of heart and active and persevering virtue , if our final destiny is to be decided by tenets and creeds ? We are all agreed in the validity of the precept delivered by Christ , " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and thy neighbour as thyself . " The first clause of this endearing and comprehensive rule refers to ihe silent and rapturous emotions of filial gratitude , and is not cognizable to human penetration ; the second comes home to our hearts and
business in every occurrence of life ; it is pure and expansive morality , and the union of them both constitutes that religion which contains the sum and substance of human excellence .
i he first may influence the most exalted affections of our natures , but there wants something more to te ^ ch us the principles of equity—for as long as human frailty exists , self-love and social must often be in apparent
Untitled Article
collision , imd- > . i ^ iilre ; ijS 9 nSeii | vg ||||| : lions an d much pilev&tE ^ iiidti ^ ti ^ to make them barmojiize for
tfa&rpub-There are solraauy stede * dF& $$ _ flirting interests connected witb u&e institutions of society , ihat * uiiess tbe claims of justice are made tim study of the judgment as well as an appeal to our feelings , we are liable at every step we take to go astray ; so . that if
we would establish the principle m the youthful and pliant mind , before the practice and opinions of the multitude may have warped it past recovery , we must depend on an ' early , close and rigid scrutiny into its worth and importance . Let a high-toned sense of honour and disinterestedness
be inculcated by recommending it as a science that will elevate the human character to its highest perfections ; and that all mankind will , of course , partake of its advantages . For this purpose let difficult and doubtful cases be introduced by the teachers of youth and encouragements he held out to
those who can give the most disinterested and just decisions—that thus , by entering into the windings and intricacies of the real practice and concerns of life , they may early and by degrees be taught to love and act upon the principles their judgments have unfolded and approved , as being
most conducive to human happiness . With such instructive thiemes for school exercises , experience may , perhaps , in time bear her testimony , that the pupils wtjre quite as profitably
employed as in translating Ovid or Anacreon . As they advance in life , and must have subjects to occupy tlieir attention , let these topics be continued ( for they will be found to be inexhaustible ) when friendly parties
are formed for intellectual improvetnent ; and they may soon become tne ornaments of that society which eventually they must take the lead in cpnducting . And , lastly , if we must have tests in our religious societies , let them he to confirm and uphold sound and pure morality , and not to enthral the mind by superstition and
intolerance . Without pledging myself to . any continuance of the subject , or requ « " 5 ng the same from your pages , 1 P " sent the following as a specimen ot my meaning . I shall be gratified to
Untitled Article
388 ( M ike Moral Principle *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1826, page 388, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2550/page/8/
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