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solid © faservations on fhe tiatwie of evidence , andj lib © credibility of human l&ktim&fiy ; and ' then eirtefe on that impressive argument for the . dfaicae origin of the gospel , derived from the nafctrre and tendency of tfat Christian doctrine . i ( ^ The expediency is , we think , somewhat doubtful , of entering , with so much detail as both Mr . Horsey and Dr . Priestley ( in his Institutes ) have done * into the character < rf the Heathen worship ; in both cases , however , the statements made were intended fot oral instruction ; in which the Leo
taper would deliver theto with that simplicity of mind , and manifestation of serious abhorrence , which would prevent the influence of them in awakening baneful trains of thought . ; ^ The general characteristics of this part of the course are deep convictio n ^ soundness of argument , clearness of statement , and judiciousness of selection . The style is marked by a calm earnestness , which is well fitted to lead , on
the conviction of the hearer , without producing unnatural excitement , or overstraining the attention * It is impossible , indeed , for one whose affections are deeply engaged in the all-important position , that * ' it is a faithful saying , and worthy of all acceptation , that Jesus came into the world to save sjniiers , " to write so as to satisfy the dry reasoner , who thinks that the evidence pf truth rests in the intellect alone : but earnestness of faith should
never lead us to overstate an argument , to manifest contempt or anger towards those honest inquirers who cannot reach our strength of conviction , or to indulge that tone of triumph which respects more our own ( as we think ) victorious reasoning than , the great truth we have to support . If truth , not victory , be our real object , self-consideration will be checked in our own minds , and its influence in warping the judgment will be allayed in the minds of others ; and the conviction of persons whose minds are not hostile to truth because it condemns , will be more attainable . As to the
class of unbelievers who can discern nothing excellent in the gospel , and Who declare it ( as one has recently declared it ) to be the object of their ** most passionate hatred , most honest scorn , and heartfelt abhorrence , " it is surely best to leave them alone , unless it be found practicable to unfold \ to those whom they mislead the groundlessness of their assertions , thek pal ~ pable falsifications of fact , and their careless or wilful misrepresentations of tfee words or perversion of the meaning of the witnesses and reasaners for Christianity . *
Mr . Horsey justly rests his arguments on the broadest basis of Christian faith ; and the reader will perceive his catholic spirit , as weU as his view of the moral requirements of the gospel , in the following passage : " In answer to the objection of unbelievers , that Christians are hot agreed Whai Christianity is , it is to be observed , that Christians do « gree in all essential points ;" and , in vindicating Christianity against the objections of imbe * lierers , these , and thsse only , ore the points which , generally are * ami WJuch
always ought to be , insisted upon . Th& most enlightened defenders ; pf CUrig * tiutiity acknowledge every one ta be a Christian w ^ o believes the (| ivine j ^ is-Bwn of Jesus Christ , confirmed by miracles and by Jiis own r « eurrection frqm the dead . This is the Christianity which the apo&tfC 8 preacjied ; and all w ) io reaeive < J it ,, were admitted \ uto t \ ujir commumon , J ; , , * J The Articles of belief which constitute * Clitfetkai , t ^ gh of inflhitb im « late
«* The expie « 3 ion quoted above ^ ppfi ^^ j ^ 4 Igffcr jwi ar tm a ^ v ^^ of % jW % by tyvMY . W > b ^ ^ yU > r , , ^^^ and ^ f / . ff ?^ ilef are fefH $ ng W ^ tfefi country und ^ r the designation of , ' * Ipfidel Miaaionarwa : " alia , in tbieciotfe ox th 4 t parag ^ p h , ttod Writer ^ f tAis ^ rtMe' ba ^ ex ^ riSbfrhi ^ ^^ o ^ e ^^ iriict ^ istics of the fim 161 . pages 4 f ^ JE )^|^ i ^ ^ hich ' por * > » *^*«^^ l »^^ a ^ J > wfi ' " *
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Howe $ * s Lectures tv \ ¥ &ung Pewwfts . 683
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1829, page 683, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2577/page/11/
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