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Untitled Article
empty representation of me , because it has only sex much o £ the surface of me as receives the ray $ of light ; but if this image had without exception every thing which I had myself , would
it then be a mere representation , or would it not be a true du * - plication of myself } . If I believe I recognise in God a similar duplication , it is perhaps not so much myself who err , as that language is inadequate to my conceptions : and thus much is at least not to be contradicted , that those who wish to make this .
idea popular ^ could scarcely have expressed themselves more aptly and intelligibly than by the appellation of a Son whom God eternally creates . S . T * . —And the doctrine of original sin : how , if every thing should at length convince us that man in the first and lowest degree of humanity , is not so entirely master of his actions as to be able to obey the moral law ?
S . 74 . —And the doctrine of satisfaction through the Son : howj if every thing should at length compel us to assume , that God , in spite of that primitive incapacity of mankind , yet pre * ferred giving him moral laws , and pardoning all transgressions
of them , having respect to his Son , that is , to the independent existence of all his perfections , in which , and in comparisoa with which , each perfection of the individual vanishes—to the not giving him such laws , and excluding him from all moral felicity , which is not conceivable without moral laws ?
S . 75 . —Let it not be objected to me , that subtilising on the mysteries of religion is forbidden . The word € i mystery' * im ^ ported in the first ages of Christianity very differently from what it does now ; and it is absolutely necessary that truths of revelation be metamorphosed into truths of reason , if the human race are to be benefited by them . At the time they were ro * vealed , they were it is true , no truths of reason ; but they were revealed in order that they might become so .
S . 76 .- —These were , if I may say so , the facit which the master tells his scholars before hand , that they may direct themselves by it in reckoning . Were the scholars to be satisfied nvith the facit told them , they would never learn to count , and ill fulfil the purpose of their kind master in giving them assist * ance in performing their task .
S . 77 . — -And why , too , should we not by aid of g . religion -, whose historical truth may , even if it be insisted on , have so doubtful an appearance , be still led to form nearer and better potions concerning the divine essence , our nature , and relation to God , whicji human reason ? doiie woul 4 never hay ^ attained ? S . 78 . —It is not true that speculation on such subjects evef $ id produce evi ] j pr wqs ever dangerous to givil society , Tb $£ tf
Untitled Article
* 7 O The Education of the Human Race ?
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1806, page 470, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1728/page/22/
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