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so far as I know , entitled to Vote at general meetings—and is eligible to any office of trust or management with which the congregation may choose to invest him . This , Sir , is the sort of communion , in reference to public worship , of which I have spoken in my discourse ; and I certainlydid regard the proposal of a test , which appeared in some communications to the Monthly Repository , for the exclusion of any individuals whatever from the
benefit of such communion , as a very obnoxious measure—invading that liberty of conscience which , to my own mind , seems essential to the efficacy of such unions among men , and dictated by a spirit the very opposite to that which I conceive the benevojent Author of Christianity to have inculcated in his conduct and teachings . The subject led me to speak generally of the behaviour of Christians towards Deists , and it was only towards the conclusion of the discourse that I alluded to the proposal of a test for the exclusion of them from our societies . I have simply contended for the propriety of
leaving things on their previous footing in our places of worship ; of having no test to distinguish the man of confident , from the man of wavering and doubtful faith ; of allowing every individual , let his private sentiments be what they might , to retain the privilege of membership in a society , in the religious services of which he might find either pleasure or advantage . That this is the sense in which I have employed the word communion , I appeal with confidence to every page of my printed discourse .
I am well aware , Sir , that even with this explanation of my meaning , you will still regard the conduct which I have recommended should be observed by Christians towards Deists as highly objectionable . I may , however , be allowed to observe , that the predominant feeling under which I wrote the discourse in question , and which was particularly excited by the manifestation of what I deemed an intolerant and uncharitable spirit in certain communications to the Monthly Repository , was that of strong disapprobation , not to say disgust , towards some professing Christians , who ,, without making
any allowance for the doubts and difficulties which may occur to honest and upright minds in their inquiries after truth—without at all examining into the nature and grounds of their own belief , or taking into consideration the various circumstances which modify the judgments of men , and cause the same evidence to carry different degrees of conviction to different minds—are too apt to regard the outward badge of Christianity as a title to distinction and preference , and to pride themselves rather on the possession than on the improvement of their Christian privileges .
You have expressed , Sir , considerable surprise at my using the phrase " inconsistent and immoral Christian . " If by Christian I had meant one who exemplifies in his temper and conduct the genuine spirit of the gospel , then , I admit , such epithets would have been highly incongruous ; but surely it cannot be denied that the appellation is given to thousands , and claimed by thousands , who do not come under this description , and who owe their title to little more than the profession of a Christian . creed and a participation in Christian ordinances , I have never maintained that such p ersons were
Christians in the best ar ) d highest sense of the word ; yet you would not refuse them the name of Christians , or deny them admission to Christian communion . It is among Christians of this kind , my own limited experience has taught me , that there will usually be fpund the most tenacious jealousy of their imagined distinction and privileges , and the greatest forwardness to heap unsparing condemnation on the heads of heretics and unbelievers . Is it not the case that amongst Christians in general there is too great a disposition to place some imaginary value on their state of external
Untitled Article
298 Letter from the Rev . J . J . Tayler to Dr . Wardlaw ,
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1829, page 298, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2572/page/2/
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