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Jar excitement enstfed in the churches ? Yet the doctrines to which our author alluded—the atonement and deity of Christ—would have shocked the prejudices of the converts front Judaism quite as much , at least , as that to which we have now adverted . If Dr . W . cap shew that similar circumstances attend upon the announcement of those essential truths which he supposes
Paul to have revealed , he will then have done something to establish his position . But he cannot ; and the entire silence of the Scriptures proves that Paal enunciated no such dogmas as the writer imagines . In the words of Jesus , then , we say , " The disciple is not above his master , nor the servant above his lord . It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master , and the servant as his lord / ' *
The only question that now remains to be put is , What claims do the Gospels prefer ? Let it then be observed that the promise of salvation is repeatedly given to those who observe the things which are set forth in them . How could this be , if they were destitute of , or deficient in , the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith ? Is more needful to salvation than Christ has required ? Can his requirements have omitted any fundamental doctrine ? If not , the records of his teachings in the Gospels contain the
essentials of Christianity . The introductory verses to the Gospel of Luke inform us that the writer intends to detail " those things which are most surely believed amongst us , * he himself , " having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first . " Now , this Gospel was written in all probability after every E p istle of Paul . The writer sets forth those things which are believed by Christians . What do we , then , but impeach the veracity of the writer if we maintain that several essential particulars are wanting in " his
narrative ? If Paul had declared any new thing , and secured for it a reception in the churches , it wduld be among those doctrines which were held when Luke wrote , and is in consequence to be found in Luke ' s Gospel . If , however , no such novelty is to be found there , no such novelty had been received by the church , and no such novelty had been propounded by the apostle . And let it be rem ' arked , in opposition to all such notions as that of Dr . W ., that the Gospel of Luke contains the truths that were believed by the primitive church , and certifies those things wherein Christians were
catechised . f And , to conclude this exhibition of the claims of the Gospels , John declares that he wrote in order that " ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ , the Son of God ; and that , believing , ye might have life through his name . * ' While , then , we would have no part of the New Testament disesteemed , we do not think that we can think too highly of the Gospels , or trust too fully to their guidance . Certainly , if they are sufficient to lead us to eternal life ; we shall no * , prbvided we follow them , have much occasion to grieve for neglectftig any doctrines which are , or may be supposed to be , found in any other ecclesiastical writer .
Bat , iri justice to Dr . W " ., we are bound to place before our readers some of the considerations which he adduces to support his most strange position . " How could our Lord , during his abode on earth , preach fully that scheme of salvation of Which the key ^ stortfr had not been laid , even his meritorious sacrifice as &t \< atoitement for sib , his resurrection from the dead , and ascension into glory , when thesfe evewttf had not taken place ? " Iri reply , we ask , how or why could he not ? and our question is worth as much as that of the Essayist . What , in fact , more easy than fof hini thus to speak : " I am to die—a meritorious sacrifice for your sins—to ascend into
heaven—* Matt . x . 24 , 25 . t Luke i . 4 , &c .
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Whatetys Essays on the Writings of St . Paul . 535
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1829, page 535, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2575/page/15/
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