On this page

• Text (1)

  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.

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • 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.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    prominent , and influential doctrines / t * f holy writ ? Would not the more obvious and just conclusion be , that these men , being confessedly accessible in general to the light of evidence and sound learning , ^ t least may be open to the same light in respect of the interpretation of holy writ , that they may be capable of being governed , and willing to be governed , by the degree of light and evidence afforded ; and that if , after all their

    researches , they err , ( for they lay no claim to infallibility , ) the error is " their misfortune , not their fault , " * is imputable to the judgment , and not to the heart ? Where , on earth , shall we discover the infallible arbiter , empowered and qualified to determine on our springs of action ? Far be it from Unitarian Christians—from any Christians , to think highly of themselves—more highly than they ought to think ! But still we would humbly trust that we are not insensible of our utter need of the salvation provided in the Gospel , of Divine mercy , and Divine aid . Endeavouring to

    ascertain fully what are the truths which Jesus and his apostles taught , and this by diligently comparing scripture with scripture , we regard it as •« a very small thing that we should be judged of man ' s judgment . He that judgeth us is the Lord . "f Language , such as we have transcribed from Bishop Ryder ' s Charge , we read with concern , princi p ally on account of its tendency to divert men's attention from legitimate evidence , —from the standard to which all the controversies in the Christian world ought to be submitted .

    The Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry having said so much for the purpose of explaining the modified and rather partial success of one class of the controversialists , writers of no mean power and acquirements , " speaks thus of Unitarianism , ** This mistaken cause has of late years received little or no addition of strength . "

    Some addition it assuredly has received ; as , indeed , the respectable Prelate's acknowledgment would seem to imply and admit . J The addition has even been considerable , if viewed with reference to those comminutions , by which numbers of mankind are deterred from all investigation ; and it will be greater still , when there are fewer obstacles to an impartial , attentive study of the Scriptures , and to a courageous profession of the doctrines which , as the result of such a study , they are understood to teach . Dr . Ryder subjoins , " Its advocates have been proved liable to the charge of diminishing from , while the Papist adds to , the sacred volume of inspiration . " This is a very serious " charge" and declaration . We must suppose that his Lordship , as he expresses himself in such decided terms , and without the smallest reserve , has diligently read and weighed the evidence brought forward by the accused , as well as by the accusers : and we turned with eagerness to his . Appendix , in the hope of there finding some illustrations and alleged vouchers of his assertions . In this hope we were disappointed : he calls no witnesses ; he produces no documents . What he does , is to prefer against us , or rather to revive , a bill of indictment , and instantly to enter on record a verdict of " Guilty !" " They have been proved guilty , " he tells his clergy , " of mutilating the oracles of God by erasures and alterations , which the most inexperienced

    • o ? John Hales Letter to Archbishop Laud . + 1 Cor . iv . 1—6 . X See , too , p . 13 , of his Charge .

    Untitled Article

    10 * Btitop o / Lwhfiefd ' t Charge .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1829, page 10, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2568/page/10/