On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
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
to the situation aad et&UFe of those whom he had to instruct . Bat men think novr more < definitely than forme * lyi ; and the Christian ; Preacher who desires to fce * p pac ^ 'with the intellectual spirit of the times , gnd to prepare his hearers to grapple with infidelity , must aim to gain cleaT ideas himself , and to communicate thent with'distinctness and precision . He must also remember that even truth is only a means : the end : is brought into view by the prayer of Christ for his disciples : * Sanctify them by thy truth ; thy word is truths '
The third and two following Lectures are devoted to the subject of Natural Religion- * --the being , perfections , and government of God , and the influences which the knowledge of these should have on the temper and conduct . These are marked by intelligent pi ety * by cheerful views of the Divine character and dispensations , and by a judicious appreciation of the influences of godliness and the means of cultivating it . The advice which the religious Lecturer gives his young hearers for their guidance , in those « c dark , sceptical moments , " which he tells them might occur in their own history , is
applicable , in its spirit , to various other states of doubt or darkness : ' _ ..- ¦* * Itsecolleck amidst all . the tumults of your minds , that in the calm hour of inquiry and examination , when your thoughts were collected and fixed , tie evidence of the existence of a First Cause and a perfect Rtiler of ' the Universe , demanded and obtained your hearty and grateful assent . "
It is of incalculable importance to the young , indeed to all , to attain fixed principles of conduct and of faith ; and the course of wisdom and virtue will be best maintained , by letting these guide us , unreservedly and steadily , in emergencies , in the tempests of the passions , in the misty sophistry of selfinterest , and in the gloom and weakness which so often follow overstrained exertion or excitement .. Dr . Jebb somewhere advises , that we should not
judge of truth ( we would add , or of the future ) when the mind is an & state of despondency or gloom : his illustration is , that those who are in the deep valley cannot discern the bright scenes which may be seen from the surrs 0 Uriding hills . It is , in such cases , a valuable aid , to have , in writing * the principles which , in more healthy states , we desired to be our guide ; and a distinct statement of the grounds on which , in cases of perplexity , our decisions had been formed : but those who have not acquired the habit of
committing their thoughts to writing , will find it of great advantage to fix well in their minds , in a brief sententious form , important maxims of practical wisdom and piety . Memory will often faithfully suggest these , when there is no time , or no mental power , to retrace , still less to discover , the trains ^ of reasoning which j ustify them ; and happy are they who in the hetuF of moral clanger , or of spiritual darkness , can lay hold of themes " an anchor of the soul * " For this purpose , nothing can exceed in influence ( both from their authority , truth , and sententiousness , and from the extant
of'their application and their frequent recurrence ) the principles and pr e * oe ^ fci of the iScripture ^ . it was to these that he resorted , ¦ - ¦ to repel 'Mhe terror iirid the charm , " Whb hath left us an example that we should folto ? v iniliis steps . ^
• The , next six l ^ qcturea are occupied with the evidences of Chnstianity . The author first delineates the great desirableness of such a religion in the crrc \ ini « tances in -which it waft communicated ; and then states the arguments for i ^ he ^ trtitii of it ^ frDin ttte ^ rly > n 4 extensive reception of it , from the . nature t of , | % m ^ cle ^ ^ cgx ^^ ^ Uie PJew Teftjament , and from the praphecies -of the ^ rr » ture ^ He » ex 4 Java before his liearers a 3 eriesl of
Untitled Article
idd MofitetfSs Lectures to Young- Persons .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1829, page 682, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2577/page/10/
-