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vocate oi its c \ mm $ y f * $ hd great religions chfctity of the 4 ayi ^ it stands in th « front Qf ttiose iustitaitiotis which Uuita * rian Christians should be ansious to fosteri Tbe § 11 liea&h of oofc &f tlie Pro * fessors , which has obliged him tcrresign a par t of his duties , andtnti absence ot another , who was * induced to seek a f ©^
reigir climate by tli e same cause , hatr € been unfoi'tou ate cireauisfafl ^ es but the school afe Cambridge has been , since orar last meeting-, more prosperous than at any former period . Nothing- could- ex * lubit more clearly the importance of this seminary , or the advance of oar faith > than the facts , that though the Directors established last s . umm < er a regulation ,
restraining the members of the School from preaching , they have beeo compelled by the imperious wants of the churches to suspend the operation of the rule in many cases , and that at this time several , who if the prescribed term of preparation had been observed wotald now be at Cambridge , are ordained
clergy meo , or are under engagements to settle in the ministry . These facts should be known that serious young men , whose desire is for usefulness , may enter on a path which is sure to lead them to it , and that they , who can give substantial patronage , may enlarge the means of education possessed by this School .
After this sketch of the state and resources of our denomination , the Committee will ooly glance at a few reasons for activity and effort , which they think may be urged with pertinency at this time ; and , in doing this , they wilt complete their duty in submitting this Report , by adverting to some of the aspects of society about us .
We regard the extension of oar faith as the great means of opposing and subverting error in opinion , and should therefore use all upright means oi giving it currency ajid septu'iaig for ifc favour . There are two extremes fn error , against e&fch &f tvftieh Utiitarl&ti Christianity directs Us force , aiui is iri tshe hand of him who Wields itf a twer-erfged sword ; to cut doVvn with etuis ! ease-the sophisms of
hiftdfelity' at id the abBtirdittes of fanaticism * . ' ' W % hiti a year or two pakt some alarm ftW'lfeen le ^ dt ^ d % y the efforts of a few iodiviiftia ' iis ia some parts of our country to tiiaseitiitfate the rankest form ofunbelief , even t © convert this people into a watio tt tf f Atheists . The attempt was too preposter&tia to be successful , and by its very extravagance ! and effrontery is defektmg itself 1 We am confident flhafc if evangelical Unitaiiauism be
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prea ^ he ^ inlelligtBly aM ^ a > nefet ! y- « -atti brow else can it be pr ^ iich ^ d fe ^ one who reve re nees i « ^ the gift : 6 f < 5 od ^ -ih ^^ to whom the ad voMt e > 6 T ftffid £ Iit ^ Mtirfe&j tiieiQselves will be ^ ejiare ^ to ^ ef thblr arguments and « 6 ^ e 1 > u ^ « ft ^^ sneers . ¦ ¦ . ' ; ' - ' ¦'¦ '¦ Jr ^ ' S' -r ^ n ¦ ;
Another kind of seepticisfii i is faF i # oi ' e dangerous because it ^ ittkek ^ ^ Ms < # a highei * order . It is oflA > if km ill raStft instances , © ccasio'ned hy F&f ^ r ^ rgM ? ! ktaftiony &f diTlofr J trutfcv a ^ d efifa J fee s ^ j ^* planted only by sbewiii ^ tha ^ tfee 5 rel !^ f 6 « of tbe New Testament is vM ^ i ^ i % ios of i » ystery , contradiction ^ or fafeatie ^ i excess . That innd ^ lit ^ of tfois' ehfirueter exists in our land > and that it has tainted some souls of a noble mcteild -vj ^ k ^ it ^ and we are auxious that ^ e ^ fbmtfcati
revelation anon Id be preseiiw'd td thefia in its original beamy , ior we ^ eJi ^ Ve that they would acknowledge its' hea ^ ttly origin , and einbraee it ^ ri tfi » c ^> rdMl faith . ' >"! Towards the other extjse&te of et * ro > $ we find the various corr-fipti&ns of % h& gospel , by which it has bee » despoiled of its simplicity , and arrayed ia * the pooi inventiaiks of human wisdom . So far as
we have been able to mark tfre * ctwre » t of events or to note the changes of opinion , it seems tons that error is growing to be ashamed of its absurdities , though it retains its attachment to old na ^ Ettes . in tnueh of this controversy about nainaes , we discern an indication of co » sci © n * aies »
of i hi pro vein en t . Let this iia ^ rorem ^ nt go on silently where it cannot advance openlyy but as we desire thaft the ] mre religion * of the Saviour of mankind should take the place of every error that assumes to he Christian , we shall be diligent in extending the knowledge of our faith . We discover another incitement to this
work in the tendency of our faith to resist and quell the spirit of exclusion , which , if not checked would sweep the land as with the breath of pestilence . We abhor from our souls bigotry , and on charitableness , and every form asid shape of spiritual arrogance . We will neither be politicians in reiigiewi nor rex ligioaists in politics . We w * M j wcw ? sbi f > God according to ovtr persuasion * of- duty ;
whether others calMt h&refyOPnoti , and let tfiem worship God' afttfr tlie Hiattner of therr belief , whether we think it ? right or wrong . Unitarian Christian it v > as we understand it , and as we would diffuse it , is essentially a free faith , giving freedom to those who hold it , and not forging chains for its opposers . For this reason we val «< e it , and according to o « u respect for the rights of the suind , our aense of
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79 » l&&euig&ft $ e * w + jdmeric ( m Umtunitn / i&stmatwrb *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1830, page 798, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2590/page/70/
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