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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.
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Untitled Article
mentsyand to the bodilytose afnd coififort < tf ^ lioii ^ ^!^ Alifeey ^ sk ^ d to reform * would be * * nfc * unseiwiceatrte a % of < thti * c ^ sSi' THe > Wppghf , fter - - hapsy jtbatttamoiri ; like the jrc ^ etieal ' teH ^ ttM ^ not 'fl ^ ^ th ' J m % cfts freedom while cbilled by . cares about-tk * necessities of life . ' 'Httnge * anjf idfe ' n'&s , o * want of occupation , * are evil > persuaders j and if tbc ^ ate 1 ikfofmf ? $ te , - as a higb authority informs tis they arey to the enthusiasm' of gefflusy Iltey are not less so to tie progress © f moral improvement * ! '
' Maghae meutis opus , uec de lodice paranda . , Attonitae , curras et equos , faciesque Deoryra , ; , Aspicere . Juv ,. Sa ^ , . vil . ; 6 $ . " O 1 ' tis th ' explusive business of a breast Impetuous , uncontroull'd—not one distrest ¦ ¦ ,- . ¦> About a rug at night—to paint th * abodes , The steeds , the chariots , and the forms of gods . jGi ^ ford .
" The Heathen reformers , therefore , took care to find useful occupation for the people , employed them in agriculture , mitigated the ferocity of their temper by wholesome , equitable laws , terminated their wars , distributed lands , founded cities " . Terras homh « inK | ue colunt genus , aspera bella CompoDunt , agros asslgnant , oppida condunt . Hon . " Though much has been done in the province occupied by such reformers as these , much still remains to be done . Would it not be well , then , to
commence a new reformation by finding employment for the hands of the industrious , as well as by proposing subjects of metaphysical divinity to the heads of the reflecting ? As you are sensible , my Lord , that the morals of the people require to be improved , would it not also be well to try what reformation £ an be effected on them , before your Lordship proceed to the more difficult task of compelling your countrymen to receive the opinions
which have been marshalled for their adoption ? Morals are more tangible subjects for operation than opinions . The latter are subtle and capricious ; f such stuff as dreams are made of ; ' mutable in colour as the chameleon ; combined with fiery elements , and like the winds in the airy halls of iEolus , constantly struggling to break loose , and sweep the world before them . But morals have more consistency , and less vivacity ; they are palpable , and exposed to observation ; their character is grave and philosophic ; they are manageable , and can be established on fixed principles . Were half the attention g iven to morals that is given to wild imaginations and unscriptural theories , we should soon behold a much improved state of society . At all events , it would be worth while to make the trial . What would your
Lordshi p think of founding a society for the reformation of morals ? Such a society has been founded in France , which , instead of acting like the New Reformation Society patronized by your Lordship , avoids * all discussions , both political and religious , which have a tendency to inflame the passions / This i » precisely the society wanted in Ireland ; and ; were you to become its
founder , you would do more for the benefit of your country and your own lasting famey than ever you will achieve by your connexion with the new reformers . We want no such reformation as they would bring us ; we have already too much excitement from opinions : we want our passions to be allayed , and the practical duties of life fulfilled : we want conciliation , peace , brotherly kindness , charity . Much good might be done in this distracted
land by a few able ^ missionaries from & society of the foregoing description , to remind us , in these doctrinal tjimety thai * Christianity Is something else than a tissue of dogmas , concerning- whmh no two individuals are agreed . I do- not mean , nay Lord , that they should teach dry systems of ethics , though ) these * would not be ami&s > certainly preferable to w fttlsie ; demoralizing theology ^ but tliut-they should teach Christian Virtues on Christian principles , and that they should begin by removing the chief impediments to improve-
Untitled Article
738 Drt&rimmmd ' &LeUwsioLor ^^
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1828, page 738, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2566/page/10/
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