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Untitled Article
But it maintains the universal obligation of tlie law of God as binding upon every man , and requiring from each the uniform and personal performance of every religious , social , and moral virtue . Jt teaches that he , aud only he , that doeth righteousness is righteous ; and that the personally righteous alone shall be accepted . It makes no allowance for any wilful sin , either of omission or commission . It does not substitute mere faitli , form , creeds ,
fanciesnames , opinions , and blind zeal , in the place of practical goodness and spi , ritual devotion , nor in the place of genuine piety and virtue . It claim * the heart to be wholly and sincerely devoted to God , and all the powers of the mind , and the members of the body , to be consecrated and dedicated to the glory of God and the cause of truth and virtue . In a word , it requires the followers of Jesus to imitate the example of their leader , aud study to the utmost of their power to be like him , who was holy , harmless , undefiled ., aud separate from sinners . "—Pp . 102—105 .
These ideas are very just , and would have deserved a more extended illustration , in order to bring home upon his hearers the practical impression ( infinitely more powerful and salutary in our estimation than that of the popular opinion ) which the idea of a final restitution , when fairly and correctly stated in all its consequences , is calculated to produce . A large appendix is subjoined , consisting of letters to and strictures upon a Mr , Dennant , a Calvinistic preacher in the author ' s neighbourhood , who
appears to have attacked his doctrine from the pulpit . It displays considerable acuteness and talent , but abounds too much in local allusions and personality to be interesting to many readers at a distance . The same character applies in a still greater degree to the other tract , " The Seif-plumed Bishop unplumed , " which is almost unintelligible to those who are unacquainted with the parties concerned . How far it was worth while to bring these petty details before the public ( even the public of Bramfield and
Halesworth ) at all , the author of course must be a better judge than we can be ; but we cannot help regretting that the extended usefulness of a book which , as far as the general argument goes , might be very serviceable in diffusing more just views of an important question , is materially impeded by the mixture of discussions of a more private nature . We should be glad to see the
lectures in the form of a separate tract 9 for the purpose of popular circulation ; and if , in giving them that form , the Greek words exhibited in English characters , in most instances incorrectly , could be either presented in their proper dress , or , which would perhaps be better still , omitted altogether , we should regard it as an improvement . June 3 .
The above article , as our readers will perceive , was written before the Repository of this month announced the intelligence that the author of the publications which have given occasion to it had been called away from the scene of his useful labours . We have reason to believe that he well deserved the honourable testimony which has been paid to his memory ; and that in a portion of his Master ' s vineyard , which did not afford him many opportunities of attracting the notice or the praise of men , he was nevertheless , to
the best of his ability , a good and faithful servant * Like many others , he has had to struggle with difficulties and discouragements , not relieved by worldly honour or distinction , but only by conscious rectitude and a zealous attachment to what he conscientiously deemed to be scripture truth . Let us hope that he is gone where a disinterested attachment to the pure doctrines of the gospel will be estimated at its just value , and that he will be accepted in the presence of that righteous Being whose excellent purposes are promoted not less by humble than by the most conspicuous instruments .
Untitled Article
464 Latham ' s Lectures .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1830, page 464, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2586/page/32/
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