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no idea of that future state ; nor is this to be expected . Man , in his first state of existence , in the womb , is in a state of great imperfectiou . Were he
endowed with any recollection of that state , he would remember that he could then form no idea of that more perfect life upon which he was to enter when he was to come forth into this world .
He could form no conception what sight is , or hearing , or the other senses ; far less what memory or judgment is , or the other powers and faculties of the mind . In his narrow lodging , he could not tell what motion is , or how he could
remove from one place to another ; and therefore how wonderful would it appear , that in this new condition of life upon which he was to enter , he should be possessed of powers to travel to great distances . And he could form to
himself no picture of that wide world on which he was about to come forth , to become a member , and to act such a conspicuous part . He could not understand what society is , and conversation , and how the inhabitants could
communicate with one another ; and consequently , he must be equally ignorant of the wonderful power of speech , and how the inhabitants could converse with one another , when at the greatest distance , by the invention of writing . This to
him must appear to be fully as unaccountable , as if we should suppose that , in the future world , the blessed inhabitants shall have the power of understanding one another ' s thoughts at the greatest distance , and in this manner to hold
conversation together . Man , in the state of the womb , could form no understandiug of the various creatures with which this earth is stocked ; nor what the sun and moon and stars are ; the wonderful revolutions of tfae heavens , and how much they contribute to the blessings
of this earth . He must be equally ignorant of all the virtues and benevolent affections , which contribute so much to the dignity , to the ornament and the happiness of man . —Such is man in his first state , in the rudiments of his existence . And may we not believe , that his next advance in the scale of
existence , may as far surpass the present , as the present surpasses that his first state in the womb ; and that his future state , his perfect state , in extent , in knowiedge , in the improvement of his
powers and faculties , may exceed every thing that we can conceive whilst here ? The natural birth sent forth man into the present state - and death , which delivers him from the prisou of the world , will have the effect of expanding
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and perfecti ng his powers and faculties and presenting to him a wonderful dis ! play of the power , wisdom , goodness and benevolence of the Creator . "—p * 68 , 69 .
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Art . II . — Unitarian Christianity defended . Remarks upon a Plain Man ' s Answer to the Question , < c Why do you not go to the Unitarian Chapel ? " By Edward Whitfield . Ilminster : printed and sold by Moore ; by Teulon and Fox , in London . 1826 . 12 mo .
pp . 35 . ALTHOUGH the press be not the only instrument of communicating knowledge , and of advancing the progress of truth , yet , when well employed , it is among the best . Local controversies too , if carried on , as
alas I they have rarely been carried on , with ' * meekness of wisdom /* are highly useful in exciting inquiry , in assisting discussion , and in directing the attention of men to their common no less than to their separate principles . Of the publications which such controversies occasion
many deserve to be circulated beyond the town and district where they have been produced : and the performance before us is , we think , entitled to this distinction .
In a modest and candid , yet fearless spirit , in a clear and pleasing style , with no inconsiderable foree of argument , and with much valuable information , the writer repels the statements of the Pseu-DO Plain
Man , and exposes his assumptions against Christian Unitarianisin and its friends . It appears that the pamphlet on which Mr . Whitfield animadverts has not for its author any individual who was once a worshiper
in some Unitarian chapel , from which , however , a change in his theological opinions constrained him to retire : on the contrary , it was drawn up by a person who , in a note , avows himself to be the minister of an orthodox congregation . Of this
disclosure , which really ought to have been made in the title-page rather than in the body of the Plain Man ' s tract , the Remarker is not forgetful , but turns it to a fair and good account : " Had not the writer of this tract iii-
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682 Review . ' — tPhitfields Defence of Unitarian Christianity .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1826, page 682, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2554/page/46/
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