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    mediation it is that he enjoys them . , To suppose that this sort of affection / which we endeavour to cherish towards our blessed Lord , is in any way inconsi s tent with the notions of his nature entertained by the strictest Unitarian , seems to me the strangest of all misconceptions . That the orthodox should thus represent it , is concjsiyja ble ^^

    admitted the justice of this representation , and have denied in consequence the sentiment itself , is not a' little astonishing . It is very true that they who imagine that the Father ' s wrath has been appeased by the sacrifice of . Christ , and that he was either a superangelic being , or even the second person in the Trinity , who , through his love for mankind , emptied himself for a time of his heavenly glory , in order that . he might take upon rrlrfr our nature , and thus work out our salvation , must conceive of our

    Saviour as standing towards then ! in a relation altogether different ; and , in so far as they habitualJy think of him in this relation , must feel towards him sentiments in wMch ,: a Unitarian cannot fully participate ; but it liiust be rernembered , that whatever peculiar character they ascribe to Jesus in this way is at the expense of his heavenly Father ; with whatever peculiar office or dignity they thus invest the Son of God , in which a Unitarian cannot contemplate-him , it is obtained by rending asunder in their imaginations thei iricommunicabie attributes of the divine

    nature , and-ascribing them to distinct persons ; whatever peculiar sentiments they feel , or fancy they feel , towards their Redeemer which the Unitarian cannot also feel , is withheld from that holy Being whom they have despoiled of his brightest perfections , and who hath declared that he will not give his glory to another . But , on the other hand , in whatever sense love to Christ is consistent with that supreme honour which is due to his Father and his God , the Unitarian can fee 1 , and ought to cherish it , equally with any other class of Christians . In what does this love

    consist ? It is a complex sentiment , consisting partly of admiration for the amiable perfections of his character , partly of gratitude for the . benefits we derive from his mission , and from the labours . and sufferings which he endured , not merely through an attachment to his friends and countrymen , but through a pure benevolent rega rd to the welfare of all mankind in every age . Others have manifested a variety of amiable and excellent qualities , though in a very inferior degree , and mixed with niany \ m ^ perfections . an / 1 fail-:

    i » gs-j--but--thoir ^ h' * w ^' nprayr ^ af 3 rfhiem with complacency , yet if we ourselves have not been personally . interested in or benefited by their exertions , we cannot with propriety be said to love such characters . From others , again , we may have derived important advantages ^ ( though none which can be compared in extent or value with those which we have received from our blessed JLord ;) . but if there was any thing questionable in the motive , or if the agent , with all his disposition to promote our interests , was other-

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    ON LOVE TO CHRIST ON UNITARIAN PRINCIPLES . 303

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 1, 1833, page 303, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2623/page/15/