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Untitled Article
that is not vet held by all Unitarians , which claims , at the very least , a full equality with our views of the person of Christ ; we mean the doctrine of Universal Restoration , In its logioal bearing upon other doctrines , in it& connexion witk the Divine character , and in its influence upon the whole
spirit and tendency of our religious system , the proposition that all men shall be finally holy and happy , cannot yield in importance , still less in interest , to the proposition that Jesus of Nazareth was strictly and properly a human being . There is a violation of ** the proportion of faith * ' in any profession which includes the last mentioned tenet while it excludes the former .
This restriction in its avowed principle , together with the amount of the subscription , the limitation of its objects , and various particulars in its management , ( on which no censure is meant to be implied by this allusion , ) prevented the Unitarian Book Society from ever becoming very popular either in the degree of support which it received , or in the extent of influence which it exercised . In both respects it was soon far surpassed by the Unitarian Fund . To this Institution Mr . Belsham was a very liberal
contFihutor , and has support of it was alike valuable to the Society and honourable to himself ; for , as he says , ( Memoirs of Lindsey , p . 308 , ) " this being a new experiment , in which unlearned ministers were chiefly employed , many of the more learned and regular members of the Unitarian body stood aloof , and declined to give countenance to a proceeding , of the prudence and propriety of which they stood in doubt . " And had Mr . Belsham consulted only his own tastes and habits , there can be little doubt that he would
have " stood aloof" also . In conversation on plans of popular proselytism he often declared , that " his feelings were against them , but that his j udgment was for them . ' * When we observe how many there are who , in similar circumstances , pursue a different course of action ; and how many more who , instead of honestly acknowledging the discrepancy , persuade themselves that a mere dislike generated by their habits is really the disapproval of their minds ; we shall not deem this a very trifling instance , on his part ,
of conscientiousness and steady adherence to principle . Useful efforts have generally been more crippled by the doubts , fears , and lukewarmness of avowed friends , than by the active , and expected , opposition of known enemies . There is no such impenetrable ignorance in the people , there is no such power in fanaticism , as can stay the incessant and rapid progress of Unitarianism , if Unitarians will but make the requisite sacrifices and exertions . Our cause has advanced , of late , rather indirectly than directly ; in .
the modified creeds and modified spirit of other denominations , rather than in the increase of our own numbers . An advance of this description must be contemplated with complacency ; it is indicative of truth ; it is likely to be permanent and progressive ; there is much of good in its immediate consequences ; and it is predictive of the final , universal triumph of gospel simplicity . But it is independent of our exertions , and ought not to satisfy our desires . We may greatly accelerate its ratio , and add to it a large
amount of direct success , if we will . And whenever the partakers of Mrw Belsham ' s likings and dislikings as to the means , shall arrive at his convocations , and sacrifice their tastes , as Jie did his , on the altar of Utility , which in this case is that of Duty , we shall then so will the popular dissemination of our opinions as to exhibit the geometrical ratio of MaJthus in the theological world , with this happy difference , that the spiritual means of subsist * ence , the blessed influences of truth on the mind ' s health and vigour , will be any thing but diminished by a more extended participation . It is to be hoped that the biographer of Mr . Belaham will do , what it is
Untitled Article
On the Character and FPrittn ' &s ofth * Rev . T . Beldam . 247
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1830, page 247, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2583/page/31/
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