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Untitled Article
besides pnitarians ^ for the bulfe of ordinary Ghristiaii % especially among Dissenters , and In the lower walks of life , regard Jesus with emotions very different from those they entertain and cherish towards the Creator and Father of all . Wherever the Testament rather than the creed is the teacher , Christ , though addressed perhaps ( and that sparingly ) in the language of prayer and praise ,
holus-something ^ ltkB the subordinate rank with which he appears in . Scxiptjim * and the early devi&tors from scriptural simplicity . If the language does not involve the highest homage of the soul , and an acknowledgment of the supreme deity or Christ * what does it amount to ? Is it mpant to be a return to the worship which Justin , for instance , paid to Christ , and of which he could speak in the very language by which he spoke of his respectful allegiance to the Roman Emperor ? If so ., though the form of
direct address be an exception , where , but in that exception , does the required sentiment differ from the ardent and reverential love which Unitarians consider it their duty and their privilege to cultivate towards Christ ? And for a shade of diversity , if a shade there be , and for a mode of evincing a sentiment , which after all some Unitarians use in those apostrophetic addresses which strong excitement dictates ; for this , are thousands to be cut off from the fold of the great Shepherd who ^ himself received and welcomed every sincere disciple ^
We have spoken of the reverence and love which Unitarians generally encourage , I hope I may add , feel , towards Christ , but I may go farther . Did Dr . Arnold never hear of any Unitarians who considered * the addressing ( of ) Christ in the language of prayer and praise , an essential part of Christian worship V Did he never hear of Socinus and the thousands who thought and acted with him ? These are his words . * Video nihil hodie
edi posse in tpta Christiana religione majoris momenti , quam hoc sit , demonstratio videlicet , quod Christo , licet rei creatae , tamen invocatio et adoratio sett cultus divitnus cpnveniat . ' But not only did Socinus consider the adoration ( divinus cultus ) of Christ of great moment , and the contrary opinion a g foul and pernicious error , ' but hp even anticipated Dr . Arnold , and held that ' the
addressing of Christ in prayer' was essential to make a man a Christian . ' Recte , ' he says in reply to Niemo Jevius , vol . i . page 467 , 'igitur existimavisti , mihi quoque verisimile videri , eum , qui Dominum Jesum Christum invocare non vult , aut non audet vix Christiani nomine- dignum esse . Nisi quod non modo vix , sed ne vix quidem ; et non modo verisimile id mihi videtur , sed persuasissirnum mihi est '
Socinus , then , and Dr . Arnold are of the same school ; nay , of the two the thorough-going orthodox believer might from the strength of his language , to say nothing of t f is actions towards Davidis , judge Socinus the better Christian . And still do at least the bulk of the transylvanian Unitarians abide by the doctrine
Untitled Article
$ * IE TRUTH . TELLER . 103
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 1, 1833, page 103, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2611/page/7/
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