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    nation * of fts '' Wu « j ^ thto % * h the Se # tM . The ^ ti ^ s whieh I must observe , jrfohibit me from extracting passages : and It would he impossible for your readers to judge correctly of the work by a few

    sentences , short and torn from their connexion- If , however , you can open your pages to such a communication , I will make a selection of passages , such as will give , in my opinion ., a fair and Just specimen of the

    sentiments of the writer . I am sorry'to say that Alethia has been made the instrument ( for she would not consciously so belie her own name ) of gross violations of this rule of common honesty . The fragments which she

    has introduced are nearly all so garhled and misrepresented , as to produce an effect very different from that which they have when read in their connexion . Not only are they most injuriously separated from their connexion , but even the clauses of the

    very sentences professedly quoted are omitted , evidently for the purpose of making the disseverent fragments wear a more revolting aspect . I now charge upon Alethia the indispensable obligation of answering , in your next Number , the following questions : —Has she ever seen Dr . Haffner ' s

    Introduction ? Does she understand the German language ? If not , from whom has she derived these pretended translations ? On vjhose authority has she characterized the work ? And why does she write in a manner which is

    manifestly intended to make the reader think that she possesses and has read the whole of the censured pamphlet ? I feel it perfectly impracticable to comprehend , in a few words , a

    suffiaccount of the principles and character of this Introduction . Indeed I cannot conceive of any mode ro which that could be accomplished SO OfinrMDoliT - - ^^ . 1 £ * ^ i «» l . » ^^ I ... « -w . ^^^ l ^ ™ concisel and fairl btransla

    _ y y as y - tin g the whole , and annexing notes to e * plain at length what is only hinted «** > to obviate the probable misappre-. ensions ° f some readers , to establish 1 ' - "V ^ tuvj k VWJ Vj J . U j M \ J >_ O tl « UllO 11

    y evidence many things which are S ^ in the way of abrupt mention , * to correct and refute what is er-J ^ neous or of hurt fu l tendency , not Y the ignorant clamour or irritating * ouae which spring out of uninformed m confused minds , but by candid

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    and juat reasoning , fata the words of truth and soberness . Dn Haffner certainly is to be ranked among the fbealogians of Germany called Rationalist ** To the proper meaning of this term , surely no Christian can object , or wish to be excluded from a share in

    its character . But in its present conventional use , it includes a great variety , and many shades of sentiments and persons holding them . It is often applied to the Antiaupernaturalists , who are only disguised Deists : but it includes also others , whom it would be highly absurd to regard as Deists . Of those who constitute the best of the

    class , I cannot but entertain a favourable opinion . The Latin writings of Morus , Dcederlein , Dathe , Knapp , and Vater , may supply to students in this country a very just and full view of this school of theology . Whatever may be the doctrine 3 held or denied

    by individuals , I am convinced that the fundamental principles of Bible-interpretation , which characterize these divines , are true and solid ; and that all the great doctrines of vital Christianity—a Saviour properly divine , Redemption , Sovereign Grace , and

    Sanctification by the Holy Spiritare , by the fair application of those principles , irrefragably deduced from the Sacred Word . If I may venture to express my humble opinion , it will not be till those principles are made use of , in a clear and judiciaus manner , for the deduction and

    elucidation of Scripture truth , that the Protestant nations of the Continent will be raised from the death-like stupor of infidelity and formalism , and the pure gospel flourish again , among them . The celebrated M . Sismondi , of Geneva , in one of his

    recent works , adverts to the exertions now making by evangelical Protestants , for the revival of primitive faith and holiness , in France and other countries . He is evidently misinformed and prejudiced against them ;

    but his principal objection ( far , I am persuaded , from being generally true ) is , that they do not ground their doctrines and exhortations upon a critical and solid interpretation of the Scriptures . This accusation should be

    listened to , solemnly remembered , and refuted by the broad evidence of facts . The cause of the gospel is now placed upon a pinnacle among them . O

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    1 > K J- P * &rhith * Pfa '&tctii ' ien ' ofi > r < H * ffh § K ofStrmburg h * 7 & 1

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1826, page 751, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2555/page/51/