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perceive that where the worship is . not i-egulated by established forms , it is -gradually becoming , among all denominations , more scriptural in . its direction . It is on this point that , in his judgment , the Church of . England most needs reformation : and when the time comes , and come it will , when its devotional , simple , and generally scriptural ritual is purified from all prayers and doxologies which do not follow the directions of
Christy and the model of his prayer ; then will multitudes of such as now leave it j join in its solemn services ; and , in its time ^ hallowed temples , * with one mind r and one mouth glorify God , even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . Which will precede , the reformation of its worship , or the due regulation of its revenues , with its separation from the state , does not seem easy to determine : but the commencement of these important changes cannot be far distant .
In JVlr . Ellis's second edition ( Vol . II . p . 182 ) , that justly respected labourer in the Christian vineyard , speaks with surprise of his finding •* the Missionaries in the South-Sea Islands classed by Unitarians among the teachers of Unitarianism : " and he then quotes the sentence in which I sjtoke of Mr . Ward and the Polynesian Researches . He continues ,
" The speech coutaming these affirmations , was made after a public dinner , in connexion with a toast referring to missionary exertions ; a subject at all times inappropriately brought forwards when associated with usages of conviviality , derived not from a Christian source , and in the observance of which , good old George Herberts advice , * Drink not
the third glass / is not always regarded . In my case it is ; and the sentiment given me to propose to the meeting , had my hearty accordance—• ' The true Missionaries of Christ—all , in every church and every clime , who are labouring to diffuse among mankind a filial spirit towards Go 4 > and a , brotherly love towards their fellow-men . " Mr . Ellis af *
terwards says , *< The habit of sitting , or standing up , and repeating , before drinking a glass , of wiue after dinner , a religious sentiment , is much less followed than formerly ; and the sooner it is altogether discontinued the better . The practice is not peculiar to Unitarians ,
though , at the Manchester dinner , the toast in support of which Dr . Carpenter ' s speech was made , was one of a series , which , according ! to the Report , extended to twenty-one- ? I agree with Mr . Ellis in thinking that the sooner the p ractice
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is altogether discontinued the better * and I cordially rejoice in the change which has been adopted by the Unitarian Association in their last two annivey * saries . But I deem it right to say , thaft the meeting at Manchester was characterized by decent sobriety ; and as to the twenty-one toasts , I doubt whether more wine was taken than would have been with a fourth part of the number .
I would willingly , transcribe what Mr ., Ellis has stated on the main point ; but it seems unnecessary . He entirely misunderstauds my views ; and the brief statement given of them - was perhaps scarcely intelligible , except by those who had corresponding sentiments with my own . I have long seen reason to believe that our Christian brethren ( with the
exception of those who trammel themselves in technical phraseology , and dwell upon orthodox symbols of faith ) are becoming more scriptural in their sentiments . In this proportion they speak of Jehovah as the one living and true God ; and of Christ , as his beloved Son and servant , deriving hU high powers and exalted glory from the Father :
they speak of the Father ' s love and mercy as the sole original source of all the blessings we enjoy ; and Christ as the channel through which they were conveyed to maukind : and while they cherish reverence and love to him , they direct their prayers , a ^ nd their supreme homage , according to his instructions , to God even the Father , in his name . Now ,
in all this , they are Unitarian . These are the simple , essential principles of Unitarianism . And whether or uot they disclaim our appellation , and keep themselves aloof from us , they are virtually teaching our doctrines : they are doing it effectually , too , in proportion as they do not neutralize them by other doctrines which are more or less
inconsistent with them . From Mr . Ellis ' s very interesting volumes , I thought I saw that the missionaries in the South-Sea Islands had not neutralized , in the minds of the natives , those simple , fundamental principles of Unitarianism ; and at any rate I saw that they were essentially
taught . Perhaps I wetit too far when I persuaded inypelf that the missionaries were solely intent on preaching the . truths of the gospel , scripturally and ; practically ; not dwelling " oi ^ human interpretations , whether for or against the opinions usually termed orthodox ; trtit teaching the poor Heathen in the spirit and manner of the apostles of Christ , as exhibited in the book of Acts . I never
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Miscellaneous Correspondence , 553
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vol . v . 2 R
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1831, page 553, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2600/page/49/
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