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place in the creeds of other Christians . Granted ; but , this consideration affects not one jot our duties . We ought , therefore , to thank God and take courage . To spread a purer belief is not the only work we have to do . We have also to spread the spirit and power of the gospel ; we have to root out sin , and to plant instead piety and goodness . And until the agents that are
employed are adequate to effect all of this nature that is required , not one who is called by the name of Christ is at liberty to refuse to labour in his Master ' s vineyard . Alas ! after all the exertions that have been made , there is but too large a mass of iniquity entirely beyond the reach of all Christian influences . Crime increases with the increase of the population , and in every district of the country there are but too many who claim the sympathy and aid of every Christian .
But however much the opinions of our fellow-christians may be undergoing modification , we cannot , we confess , see how this is a reason for lukewarmness on our parts . If they have approached somewhat to the word of God , this would seem rather the offer of Providence to work together with us , an invitation to avail ourselves of a favourable opportunity . Or are we to conclude that because the spirit of the day , and the progression of events , are in our favour , that , therefore , we are exonerated from all exertion ? On
no other subject should we reason in this manner . It was " in the fulness of time" that the Almighty made Christianity known . A favourable state of the world should not arrest , but prompt , efforts for the welfare of man . Besides , what is the cause of this modification ? Before the day of Socinus and that of Priestley , centuries had passed away , and creeds went on continually growing more absurd and lengthy . But when they had kindled the light , it gradually spread its beams through the church , to some in less *
to some in greater number . Without their labours , then , the work could not have been begun ; how can it be terminated without ours ? The notion we are combating goes to destroy the very means by which the change recorded has taken place . And well may we be assured , that except we hold up the light that has been kindled , transmitting the torch from hand to hand , and from age to age , augmenting the volume of its light and the sphere of its influence , darkness will soon regain its former empire—each succeeding generation becoming more ignorant than the former .
But the respondent may answer , " Truth is mighty and must prevail . " True ; but not without human agency . " Providence will take care of its interests . " Yes ; but in its usual manner—by human co-coperation . Strange as it may seem , we really fear that these notions prevail to a great extent . Yet even a Heathen fabulist saw and exposed their absurdity , teaching all such reasoners , that if any good is to be effected for the human race , human beings must put their shoulder to the wheel . Where would have been the Reformation if Wickliffe and Luther had contented themselves with
relying on Providence ? And in what condition would be the temporal concerns of our friends , the respondents , if they folded their arms and wrapped about them their cloaks and called on Providence ? There is a good old saying most germain to the present topic , " Providence helps those who help themselves . "
And now we must be permitted to turn the favourable aspect which is pleaded against , into an argument in favour of increased exertion amongst the Unitarian body . That a change for the better has taken place we believe . The actual sentiments of our fellow-Christians , though not their professed creeds , are less irrational than they were wont to be * There is a
Untitled Article
The Power of Truth a reason for Zeal , 855
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1829, page 855, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2579/page/39/
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