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giving way to a disposition of reasoning , has indulged in speculative opinions , asserting that we must always take things rationally ; and that we are not bound to believe any thing we do not understand ; and he has denied the existence or inflnence of an Evil Spirit on the rnind of man , distinct from his natural propensities . He has also imbibed and adopted other opinions at variance with those always believed and maintained by the
Society of Friends . As we can have no unity with them , nor fellowship with him therein , we do hereby disown him , the said Eli as Hicks , from being a member of the religious Society of Friend *; desiring , nevertheless , that , through the operation of the Holy Spirit , he may be brought to a sense of his errors . " Signed on behalf and by the direction of the said Monthly Meeting , 29 th of the 4 th month , 1829 , by 4 t Valbnti ^ e Willrts , Clerk . "
The above is an abridgment of the published testimony of the disownnaent of Elias Hicks . —But , that our readers may be satisfied that we have treated the subject fairly , we refer them to The Testimony in full , published in " The Annual Monitor , ' * for 1830 . ( Darton and Harvey , London . ) And we doubt not but that
this , our brief notice , will tend much to promote the sale of that little work . We shall also feel a particular pleasure in doing every thing in our power to forward the views of the Society of Friends , as well as by giving this , their testimony of disownment , all the further publicity which they desire .
We believe the fact is , thaX the Sndety of Friends , in America , has divided into two parties ; one of which ( the majority in number , and who also retain the meeting-houses aud other property of the original Society ) has coincided With the said Ellas Hicks , and supported him
iu hta ministry . ^—We also beffeve that the orthodox Friends in BrtgtunrC wtruM have acted much more prudently if they had said nothing about the matter ; because the present times ar £ i&tiier peculiar , and because it is much more easy to keep people ignorant , than to make them
so . The first charge brought against Ellas Hicks is , that he has asserted that we must always take things rationally . — This , we muat even confess , is also our opinion . —How , iu the name of common
sense , can any thing be taken otherwise than rationally ?—Perhaps the Friends will tell us th « t it recmfrteB uncommon « f nse to auswe * r jhls qnestibri .- —But we rather think that thfc PViemls have yet
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some important lessons to learn , one of which is , that spiritual subjects , so far from being opposed to rationality , are , really , in the greatest accordance with it . " God , when he makes the prophet , does not unmake the man . " The second charge brought against
E . H . is his assertion , that we are not bound to believe any thing we do not understand . —Most certainly , we are not . —There are , indeed , many things which man does not understand ; but , until he does understand them , it is totally out of his power either to know , believe , or disbelieve any thing about them .
" But , though we understand not their essence \ may we not believe their existence ?"—Certainly , we may ; and for this obvious reason—you understand that a mystery exists , therefore you may believe its existence ; that is , you understand and believe that something exists which you know nothing about . —Indeed , it sometimes happens that you may clearly understand a stated proposition , without
having sufficient ground to believe it . — Yon may sometimes believe that which is false , and you may possibly disbelieve that which is true ; but you can neither believe nor disbelieve any thing * further than you cau understand it . Thus , you will practically find that your belief can never , by any possible means , exceed your understanding . And thus , we hope , the accuracy of our assertion is manifest to the meanest capacity .
As to the third charge , the disbelief of the existence of a supreme Devil , — the Frieuds are , most undoubtedly , at liberty to maintain their belief in him , with the most resolute pertinacity , as long as they please , ( horns and all , ) and much good may it do them .
It will "be proper for us to add that we are entirely unacquainted with the said Elias Hicks , either as to his character or conduct ; but , judging from the account of him which the Friends have just given us , we certainly think the grey jackass to be the better horse .
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On the Term 4 € Unction . * To the Editor . Sir , It has been often remarked that words are not mere signs of ideas , but that they are also the instruments of thought ; and
that , when employed in the latter capacity , the ambiguities of which they are susceptible , reuder them the fruitful sources of error and sophistry . Hence td the theological mystic , whose business it is to confband distinctions , and to
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MiseeUaneotfs Correspondence . 339
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1830, page 339, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2584/page/51/
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