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New Testament ; still , who , except his object was as base as his mind was perverted , would on that account declare that these were found , " inconvenient texts" —that orthodoxy could " only stand on the ruins of those inconvenient texts' *—that it could not " do without" these " base stratagems and bold outrages" ?
In the ardour of his subject the writer does not seem to be aware that he has proved , if any thing , too much . For bad as he has made infidelity out to be , Unitarianism is with him much worse . Whatever they are , Infidels avow their sentiments . Even the Congregationalist does not put falsehood into the list of their crimes . But Unitarians , it seems , are doubly steeped in falsehood . They pretend to be what they are not : when charged with their sentiments , they disown them ; the statements they put forth from the
press are deceptive ; and the sacred offices of the house of prayer are little better than a solemn farce . If so , the term infidel contains not a tithe of the infamy which ought to attach to them ; no , not then even , when used by the tongue of the fanatic and bigot ; if so , we know of no designation base enough to describe their character—we know of no wretched creature that would not be dishonoured by bearing their desecrated name . Supposing that but a part of what this writer asserts be true , of what the Congregational Magazine has , within the last few months , said against Unitarianism , we
feel that the turpitude of their characters can be described only by the invention of a word which shall express the most reckless defiance of God and man , and load the wretch , to whom it is applied , with the deep and indelible bpprobrium which ought to result from , the violation of divine as well as human laws . And amidst all the charges this writer has preferred , that stands pre-eminent which exhibits the ministers of our holy places as in plain terms liars and deceivers . Let the reader , if an Unitarian , carry his mind over the kingdom , to the East , the West , the North , and the South , and think of the worthies which adorn and enlighten our churches , and how can
he avoid feeling " angry , " though " he sin not , " at the outrageous and indecent accusation ? And , if not an Unitarian , let him ask himself how he would feel if ** measure for measure" were given to this calumniator—Still more if we had been the first to bring charges so opprobrious , and language so foul , into theological controversy . To him , and to every orthodox reader , we say , upon our words as men , and our faith as Christians , we disown the name and the principles of infidelity . Are we unworthy of being
believed ? Is there any thing in our intercourse with you in the world that authorizes even the suspicion of our being capable of falsehood and fraud ? We are content to be judged by what you know of us in the commerce of life . And if we are there found good men and true , is it likely , think you , that in regard to the all-important concerns of religion , with God , not man , for our judge , we should abandon our ordinary habits , and take up with lying and imposition ? And for what object ? Not for honour or gain .
These things are not ours—but reproaches , anathema , calumny , and outrage . Turning once more , and for the last time , to the Congregational Magazine , we ask its writers if they have at all thought against whom it was that they were preferring charges of forsaking the truth , contemning the Scriptures , and rejecting Christ ? Let them know , and let them and every one of the same spirit ponder on the fact , that it was against those very men whom their own party are at times compelled to treat with veneration ; against those very persons whom , when they have to defend nonconformity , they
thus speak of ;— " It should not be forgotten that Milton was a Dissenter , that Locke was a Dissenter , that Lardner—without whom we should not have
Untitled Article
178 Outrageous Charges of the Congregational Magazine .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1830, page 178, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2582/page/34/
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