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your classification , to the moral state of tfre Sociniaos , and of course to ail others who fall short of the present standard of orthodoxy . Shameful injustice 1 when iu one sweeping censure of the Saviour , -which was applied to a certaki sect of hypocrites of his day , you included , by an unholy application , some of the most excellent of the earth : "Ye serpents , ye generation of vipers , how can ye escape the damuation of hell ? "
Now , Sir , I leave you to reconcile these things with your conscience and your God . The charges which you made wight have originated in the want of correct information respecting the real sentiments of those against whom they were preferred . I hope , and am ready to admit , that they did ; and in this respect I Have endeavoured to set you right * But this , recollect , alters not in
the least their injustice . The injurious consequences of misrepresentation , though unintentionally made , remain the same iu the minds of your congregation . It is your duty , Sir , a duty which you owe tp others as well as to yourself , to form a more correct acquaintance with the religious sentiments of those who differ from you , before you pronounce those sentiments autichristian and
damnable ^ Indeed , what authority have you to decide the future destiny of your fei - lows ? Even Christ himself , who was thoroughly acquainted with all the motions of tjie human soul , condemned none but the immoral and wicked . How arrogant , then , in any of his disciples to lay claim to an . authority which was not recognise ^ by the Sob of God ! He has
solemnly warned hU followers against judging and denouncing each other : " Judge no $ , * fcat ye be not judged ; for with what judgment ye judge , ye shall be judged * a&d with what measure ye mete , it shall be treasured to you again . " & * ti Sir , I am aware that some preacher ? , of the Jii gh orthodox school , speak o £ the Sociinans and Unitarians as though
they had a special license from heaven to decide on tfae purity of their motives and the saving nature of their faith . To misrepresent and < x >» denitt them seems the very climax of orthodox preaching . The putyi * is often disgraced by being made the scene of these unhallowed denunciations . That place in the Christian tempfe * from which persuasives to justice and mercy , to brotherly kindness
• To avoid what may seem an ambiguity , it may be sgeeatti *? 4 e state that these words were «» ed by the preacher .
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and universal beitfvnlen . ce , should pro , oeed , is , alas ! too frequently converted into the judgment-seat of the Almighty 1 I would recommend , Sir , as not unworthy your attention , the sentiment contained in the following extract from " Robinson ' s Plea for tbe Divinity of Christ . " It appears that that highly
gifted man , whose mind was too independent to become the mere tool of a party , and too honest and enlightened to retain unscriptural dogmas , was annoyed by the religious bigots of his day . He represents them as asking him , "Why do you not persecute , at least with your tongue , those monstrous UnitariaBs ? Because I have no warraut from Christ
to do so ; nor the least inclination to forge one . This is well enough . But why do you praise them in every company ? Because a mistaken man may merit praise from that very industry which led him into error ; and for that integrity which makes him , against his interest , support it . But what occasion is there to keep company with them ,
and to maintain an intimacy with them ? Because on every other article they edify me ; and on this we agree to differ . In the possession of this truth 1 think I have the advantage of them . * In regard to many others , I am not worthy to speak to them ; I glory in being their disci p le ! In what light , then , do you consider a sincere man who denies our
Lord's deity ? In the light of a mistaking brother ; in every other attitude an obr ject of esteem ; iu that of denying this doctrine , an object of my tenderest compassion . All this argues great coldness to your Lord I I had rather be frozen into a formalist , than inflamed with the fire of hell ; in the first case I should be a harmless statue ; in the last , a destroyer like the devil . "
I would to God that every Christian breast possessed the spirit of this great and good man ! Then we might safely conclude that the age of illiberality and persecution was gone for ever ! The unhallowed spirit of sects would be absorbed in the mutual exercises of love and kiuduess , which are the best proofs we cau give of our di » cipleship to Jesus . To promote this great object is the design of the present communication . I utterly disclaim any personal
The reader scarcely « eeds to be reminded t | iat Mr . Robinson afterwards -changed biff v-krcvs on this and other theological subjects , and became a decided Unitarian .
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344 Miscellaneous Correspondence .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1829, page 344, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2572/page/48/
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