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Sir , AFTER reflecting on the proposal of your correspondent Philadelphos , ( pp . 221—223 , ) I must own that it appears to me not at all a bad
one . By what particular name our societies might best distinguish themselves instead of that of Unitarians , is of course a point on which many opinions must be expected , and is
not in itself of first rate importance $ but that of Philadelphians appears to me as agreeable , unobjectionable * and as much to the purpose , as any which could be proposed . That a name which is in itself a continual
challenge to a difficult and obnoxious controversy , has an unfavourable influence on our cause , I have little doubt . Our opinions , indeed , on this and other subjects we must have , and ought not to be ashamed to confess
or backward to profess them whenever occasion requires . But I think it will be admitted , that as a religious society associating- for the purposes of worship and instruction , it is desirable to adopt as broad and liberal a basis of communion as is consistent
with the attainment of those purposes . The use of the name Unitarian implies that a rejection of the doctrine of the Trinity is the avowed principle of our association . This appears to me to be at once too narrow and too broad a basis : too narrow , because it requires a positive decision on a perplexed and difficult theological question , for which many , although practically and devotionally Unitarians , are not exactly prepared } and too broad , because its provisions are wholly negative , and may suit too well the temper of many very irreligious persons , of whom it is " much
to discover that they disbelieve » se Trinity than to say what it is that they do believe . Can there not at le ngth , after so many centuries of unavailing dispute , be Christian societi C es formed on the express prin-| ple of waiving all controverted Points , and being satisfied with the
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avowal and inculcation of those many and . " greofr * religious truths concerning whose scriptural authority there is lip question ? In such societies , tUsputa * ble points would be left entirely to private opinion ; and if a minister thought it well on any occasion to state or maintain his own , the common feeling of his audience , and the acknowledged rule of the society , would oblige him to do it with that
modest deference to the judgment .. of others which befits a private indivi- * dual , instead of the imposing dogmatism which is so naturally assumed by those who are backed by the au- ? thority of a church . As to tlie devo- » tional parts of the service , it would
be required that they should be such as all could join in without offence $ they would , therefore , turn entirely on those great truths which no Chris- * tians deny . May we not confidently assume , that there is nothing of
primary importance in the Christian religion but what is so plainly and repeatedly taught in the New Testa- * nrent as to be obvious to every reader who is only commonly honest and impartial ? Therefore a society which , 1
takingthe New Testament for its £ tiide leaves the interpretation of its contents perfectly open and unrestrained , insisting only on the points in which all agree , is ia no danger of failing in any part of the truth about which it need be much concerne 3 .
How truly catholic would be the spirit of such a society 1 How wisely and well would the distinction be observed between what is essential in religion and what is not so ! In ho , w fair and new a light would the Christian religion be presented to the world 1 What are all the disputed matters but the shadows and phantoms of night , glimmering as it were by a feeble star-light , whilst the great and indisputable truths of the gospel have a radiance like the sun , and , if we would but forget our misty
disputes , would rise upon us with the lustre of perfect day i If , therefore , a religious society is formed on a principle which excludes dogmatism , and gives n proper precedence to the unquestioned truths of Scripture by allowing them alone to be tU ^ s ubjec t matter of those devotions in which all must join , this appears , to be all that the nature of the case requires .
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: New Appellation of Unitarians * 6 ^ g
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will aUew ' the rkadingf proposed will be of % hegreatest importance if fully established ^ I join with him in sincerely hoping that every objection which can be advanced will be brought forward . ZAOCHETJS .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1826, page 535, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2552/page/27/
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