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Untitled Article
Among the unjust accusations made against Unitarians , that holds a prominent station which represents that their advocates are wont to indulge in misrepresentations when they undertake to impugn orthodoxy . That roisstatements and over-statements are sometimes made , we do not deny ; but we know that in the majority of cases the actual representations fall below the actual facts . It seems to have been forgotten by those who have made the allegation , that there exist two sorts of orthodoxy ; one of books , the other
of the pulpit ; one of the informed , the other of the ignorant ; one of the few , the other of the many ; one of the wary polemic , the other of the inconsiderate flock . Now the business of the friends of primitive Christianity is to assail , not the first , but the second—not the ornaments , but the foundation of Babylon ; to speak to the people of things to be found , not in books , but in the people ' s heads and hearts . And so far are our public advocates from overrating , that many—^ especially those who have not passed from the bondage of Egypt and through the desert of doubt and fear into the land of promise and peace—that many , from their want of personal knowledge of the
actual state of religious sentiment among the mass , take up the philosophical orthodoxy of books , and in assailing it speak of doctrines in which the people recognize only a shadow of their own opinions . Those who know what orthodoxy is , as held by the great bulk of professors , will agree with us , that it is not easy to exaggerate it in many of its features , and join in our most hearty wishes that the lukewarm professors of Unitarianism had
personal knowledge of the injurious views often taken of the Creator ' s character , the depraving and disgusting sentiments advanced of man's corruptions , and the broad burlesque in which the doctrine of the Trinity is expounded . By many , reason is boldly defied , experience denounced , and common sense characterized as the instrument of the devil . Would the
reader verify these assertions ? Let him pass by some few superior men ; and in most denominations , except the high-church party , he will find many preachers preaching , and many of the audience believing , in agreement with what we have advanced , especially should he turn his attention to those who , being most misinformed , need of all others the best theology $ should he walk into the chapels of Dissenters , Calvinists , Methodists , in their various kinds , which are of and below the second rate in size and wealth , and found in the less respectable parts of large towns , and in smaller towns any where . Had a Unitarian , with a view to shew that among the more intelligent part of the community there was an approximation to the truth of God's - . i .. .- ¦ « i _ irr i .. _ i i ¦ " - ii i ___ - — - * . i ~ ¦ ¦ i '
* The British Clitic , Quarterly Theological He view , and Ecclesiastical Record , No . XX . for October , Art . 6 . Chaiining ' s Works .
