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union with principles and actions , with which , since those better views have been established that Jesus taught , we know they have no necessary connexion . There is much about enemies , not merely the devil ( with whom their godfathers promised they should have nothing to do ) and all wicked propensities , but our fellowcreatures , with whom it is mostly our own fault if we are at variance . Then no doubt occurs that God is on our side : that
we are his people , and they are to be beaten , and we are to conquer : and yet we are never to have any peace , if we may judge by the constant prayers we are to put up against our foes . To keep up this Jewish spirit , almost the whole of "the Old Testament furnishes lessons , many of them unedifying in the extreme , many of them containing instruction that has been superseded by the more perfect teaching of Christ . The constant use of the book of Psalms with no omission and selection incurs the same
charge of a Jewish and antichristian bearing in their devotion . For beautiful as many of them are , adapted to exalt the rnind and the affections , yet there are sentiments of hostility to enemies , of pressing importunity for worldly prosperity , of false construction of the dispensations of providence , at least as they take place since Christianity was established , which sentiments those who
are taught by the great Teacher should abhor . Great as was the sweet singer in Israel , the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he . A brighter light illumines his mind , a kinder spirit directs his views and thoughts , a milder atmosphere surrounds him , and he breathes the air of charity and good will to all mankind . He seeks peace and enjoys it ; and if he have enemies he prays for them , and labours to overcome evil with
good . In all his intercourse with others , be it grateful or grievous , this solemn obligation dwells in his mind , ' Love ye your enemies , bless them that curse you : do good to them that despitefully use you , that ye may be the children of your Father in heaven . ' Would we have a liturgy adapted to the pure and spiritual worship Christ requires , it must be a work of a far different texture from that with which our national church is furnished .
Whatever the creed of the worshippers , it must in the present day be divested of scholastic jargon , and all phraseology found only in antiquated bodies of divinity , furnished in no degree by the language of Christ and his apostles . Several forms would be far better than one , giving the worshippers the chance of being less superstitious about the words , and more devoutly fixed on the
thoughts and sentiments they were adapted to raise . It should have greater variety to correspond with the rich store of knowledge and principle treasured in the Christian mind ; and it should be entirely Christian , mixing up nothing Jewish , but to show how far more pure the new and everlasting law of love is , than the old and limited and temporary law of ceremonies and works . And it should let our enemies alone , or pray / or them , or pray that we
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304 The Liturgy .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1833, page 304, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2614/page/16/
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