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Untitled Article
tinder the demoralizing influence of the god of this world , of low sel £ dnfcetrest , of sordid passions , of corruption in church and state , to receive at once and in the full effect that better spirit , that Holy Spirit , I add advisedly , of Crod , which has been sent forth to breathe a moral life into , those dead bones ,, and to cleanse those whited sepulchres . The impress of the past is not yet obliterated , the leaven of unrighteousness still works in the children of disobedience . Our first duty , as lovers of man , is to take and maintain our the
stajaojijnj ;} ^^ between spirit of renovation and the spirit of corruption , between the ~ gc ^ d ~ oTth ¥ pre ^ e ^ Ta ^ 11 ^ e ™ e ^ it ~ of"the past , between the power o ^ darkness and the power of light ; and especially are we called to do each / ois share in the formation and extension of principle as contradistinguished from selfism . Social principle is the basis of all social good . If it does not involve the truth , it brings the truth to light . To my mind it is of higher value even than truth itself , for it is the parent of truth . Truth to man is what he troweth , and we must assume infallibility before we think of our own opinions more highly , than that principle
which will even sanctify error , and which is the good man's hope of acceptance with God . I urge on you therefore this work . Foster the growth of principle in the community— -by your own example , by efforts in your families , by appealing to the minds and hearts of your countrymen . Far more does he for God and man , who performs on principle one public ; act , than he who , by compassing sea ^ ancL land , succeeds in making a convert to any particular system of opinions . True I believe it is that the dearth of principle is less than it was ; and whatever sway it has , that you may use to extend its power ; but as true it is , and recent events have done no little to confirm the
conviction , that a large portion of society are still destitute at least of zpifiblic : principle , and shape their actions by the meanest considerations of selfishness . Not what is right , but what is prudent ; not what is true , but what is gainful ; not , ' Lord what wouldst thou have me to do ? ' but what is the wish of my master , or my customers , or my rich and fashionable neighbour ; not those , but these , are the points on which the conduct of the majority
hinges . I am deeply pained at this ; I am pained that it should be felt by one party , and encouraged by the other j that one man should be disposed to barter his independence for gain , and tha , t another should be willing to pay the price . It is a commerce of meanness and degradation ; of meanness in him who buys , and degradation in him who sells ; and it is a commerce which is carried on in every case where any influence is used to sway another but an appeal to reason .
The encouragement of the growth of principle is the duty which , as first in consequence , ought to be the first in order ; yet I feel authorized in c ) aiding from you a wise and energetic zeal in favour of the particular sentiments you hold on social , as well as on religious subjects . Confining myself on this occasion to the last , to religious sentiments , I ask you if you have not found your views of God * , man , and duty , a comfort and a support ; a relief from , popular errors , and a safe harbour for your soul 1 Do you not believe that they must benefit your fellow-men , increase the spread of real religion ,
narrow the influence of infidelity , extend the triumphs of the gospel in . your native land as well as on foreign shores 1 Do you not believe that they w identical with the gospel , therefore approved of Gfod , and aided forward by Christ ? that in labouring to extend them you are working the work of confessors , of martyrs , of apostles , of the great Head of the Church himself ? If so , then let them have your public , your private , your firm and devoted support . You had but one talent , you now possess five ; from them be careful to produce other five . The fear which once may have possessed you , that your principles wexe too pure and elevated for general adoption , the events of the
Untitled Article
70 VNITARUN CHBONICLE .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 1, 1833, page 70, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2609/page/6/
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