On this page

• Text (2)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    Unitarian Tract Society for Warwickshire and the Neighbouring

    Counties . The Twentieth Anniversary of this Society was held at Evesham ,

    Worcestershire , on Wednesday , July 12 , 1826 . The subscribers and friends assembled at eleven o'clock , in the chapel of the Rev . Timothy Davis , for the worship of the one God and Father of all ; the Rev . William Bowen , of Coventry , conducted the devotional service and read the Scriptures ; and the Rev . Charles Wellbeloved delivered a discourse from . 1

    Tim . iii . 16 , " And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness : God was manifest in the flesh , justified in the spirit , seen of angels , preached unto the Gentiles , believed on in the world , received up into glory . ' * The preacher , after having observed that the opponents

    of our principles usually produce these words to prove that their doctrines of the deity of Christ and the incarnation are founded on the testimony of scripture , proceeded to shew , by a critical examination of the several terms and phrases contained in this well-known passage , that its true meaning neither countenanced the common opinion respecting our Lord ' s person , nor opposes the view

    which Christians of ' our denomination entertain on that subject . The term " godliness , " he said , generally meant the same thing as is expressed by

    holine . ss ^ or religious virtue . It is also used to signify the Gospel of Christ , the whole disp ensation of the Gospel ; in which latter sense the word is undoubtedly to be understood in the text . When the apostle speaks of this

    dispensation as a great " mystery " he does not intend to insinuate that the Gospel was above the comprehension of men ' s minds . The term mystery was then considered and illustrated by the learned Poacher , who stated , that though this

    word occurs frequently in the New Testament , yet nothing like the commonly

    Received signification of it , as a thing that cannot be comprehended or understood by human reason , appears in any

    Untitled Article

    of the writings of the apostles , or thejr companions , which have co'rire ctowti to us . In the New Testament , a Wysfyry originally signifies a secret , a hidden thing , something actually unknown . Every thing , until it is known , is in this sense a mystery . But it also refers to what has been unknown , or not altogether or distinctly known , but which mav have ceased to be of this character .

    " A secret told is a mystery revealed . ' The fact to which it is most generallyapplied in this sense , is the calling of the Gentiles into the church of Christ . The whole revelation of the Gospel , taken together , is also called by the same name . It may be objected , that admitting this interpretation , there may still be

    unintelligible doctrines in the Gospel ; and the assertion that "God was manifested in the flesh , " is often referred to in support of this idea . But , even admitting that these are the words of the apostle , no such mystery as is commonly imagined to be contained in them , is to be found among the doctrines of the apostle , or the

    doctrines of the Scriptures at large ; no such doctrine as the incarnation of one of the supposed divine persons is taught in this passage . These words , taken by themselves and considered apart from the other clauses of the verse , may be understood in agreement with other parts of the New Testament , as simply

    teaching that the power of God was manifested in the person of Christ , or that the doctrines and power of God were exhibited in the teaching and miracles of Jesus . The doctrines of Jesus were of heavenly origin , and the extraordinary works of Jesus were performed by the power of the Father ; thus was " God

    manifested in the flesh . " But , however this interpretation of the words , considered separately , may accord with the truth and the language of scripture , it does not seem to convey the idea intended by the apostle , when regarded in connexion with the language which follows ; lor how can it be said , that '' God" was " justified , " and " seen "

    and " received up into glory" ? The preacher then noticed the difficulties which the scriptural inquirer had to encounter in his attempts to ascertain whaj is the pure and original composition oi the Scripture writers . One of these is acknowledged by the learned of all persuasions to exist , viz : , that arising from

    the errors of careless or ignorant , transcribers , and from other ci re instances connected with the manner of inultiplying copies before the art of priutiiig , was in use . From this source an- eri ? or has crept into the passage under consideration ; the term corresponding . ' to < ¦ < Gc \ d has been improperly introduce ^ by some

    Untitled Article

    Intelligence . — Unitarian Tract Society for IF (\ r wicks hire . 48 %

    Untitled Article

    subject proposed by the Spring Quarterly Meeting to be discussed at this , the business of the Society was transacted . The next Annual Meeting is to be held at Oarniarthen ; Mr . J . Davies , of Neath , to preach . Trie next Quarterly Meeting is to be held at Ystrad , Cardiganshire , on the first Thursday in October ; Mr . J James , of Gelli-onnen , to preach . The following question is to be discussed after the service , viz . What is the Difference between Doctrinal and Practical Preach-

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1826, page 499, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2551/page/55/