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Untitled Article
fruitax > fi ) «^ ich the Editor speaks , are inseparable from a belief in what he eall » thepeeuliard 9 CtHnes of Christianity ; vvhether they will flourish in no garden but tfca ^ otf Grtfoodoxy , is the point to be decided ; and , unhappily , it seeniS ' i ^^ be settled with those who think JSffl'hffiteel&i * feri uMeW there be a form of words in accordance with his nl
bWii ^ il ess certain ! pWases and certain prescribed modes of expressing feeling upon a subject be rigidly observed , the , whole matter will be prejudged : the man will not be judged of by the sure and slow test of action , by those marks of quiet but deep feeling which in general are made known chiefly to intimates : he is not orthodox , therefore he cannot feel ari g ht ; he does not feel aright , therefore he cannot be orthodox . The circle is in the mind of the reasoner , and no human art or power can break in upon it .
About two years after Mr . Richmond commenced his ministry in the Isle of Wight , a friend lent him Wilberforce ' s " Practical View / ' It does not appear that he had ever previously entertained any doubts as to the scriptural character of the doctrines of the English Church ; but he now began to find that he had by no means stated them in all their breadth , and depth , and length , and height Very deep and solemn were also the convictions brought to his mind respecting the awful realities on which he was preaching . While we entertain not the slightest doubt that this was the period of
real conversion to Legh Richmond , and sincerely believe that from this time he might truly be called " a new creature ; " that his views and feelings as respected the destination and aims of man were inconceivabl y enlarged and enlightened , let not an orthodox brother condemn us for scepticism as to the necessary connexion of all this with Calvinism . Receiving these holy and
pure impressions in close alliance with such views , joining himself in immediate fellowship with those Christian friends who entertained them , and thenceforth being surrounded on every side by circumstances , connexions , books , and societies , in accordance with them , was it likely that a separation should have been effected in Legh Richmond's mind between the essentials and non-essentials of Christianity ? Humanly speaking , we are persuaded it was not . It is also evident that the vehement and romantic character of
his feelings would render him extremely tenacious of any doctrines to which he had been accustomed to attach the ideas of sublimity and grandeur * With this reservation , and it is a most important one , every Christian , whatever may be his peculiar views , must follow Mr . Richmond's course from this time with admiration . Perfectly consistent , steady , and persevering ; neglecting no duty at home , and ready at a moment ' s warning to obey the
call abroad ; mostly preaching three times in one sabbath , and delivering lectures to his poor hearers two or three evenings in the week , beside incessant visiting at the neighbouring cottages ; yet this was but his ordinary work . During missionary journeys , his labours were incessant . His family , meantime , was not neglected . An extract from his daughter ' s letter to the Editor , after his decease , will be the best proof of this .
"We should not have been thus happy in domestic affection , had not our beloved father so carefully trained us in the religion of Jesus Christ . This was his chief concern , his hourl y endeavour * He did not talk much with us about religion : but the books , the studies , and even amusements to which he directed us , shewed that God was in all his thoughts , and that his great aim was to prepare his children for heaven . Religion was practicall y taught in all he saiu or did , and recommended to us in his lovely domestic character more powerfully than in any other tvay . He had a thousand winning ways to Jead our infant minds to God , and explain to us the love of the Saviour to
Untitled Article
752 . Legh RMmond .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1828, page 752, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2566/page/24/
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