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    people may be enlightened , directed , aasfettd and led to understand the SfciiptUresj and * in shbrtj When they petition for many other Divine influences * both for the body and fo . ir . th 6 mind $ and , I trust , it will also aheW whdt is intended by phraseology , appatently of the same ittiport , which so much abounds even in their modern

    b 06 ks df devotion . Two hymn books Mv £ recently been compiled for the use of the Unitarian congregations in this town , which contain very numerous expressions , Which seem to convfey the same sfetitiment , a few of Wlifch I have thought it proper to select . They are the following :

    " Guide bur hearts and guide our tongues . " " iJe darts from heav e n a vivid r ay * And changes midnight into day , D Lord ! thy cheering beems impart , . j Ahd shine on this benighted heart . " * ' Atod make tliy virbrd my guide to heaven . *

    <* Lord , brittg unwilling souls to thee tiy thy all-gracious £ ower — . " u Great God , thy quick ' ning" pow ' r impart T <* giihe thy word success , " &c . " With truth and virtue feed our souls . "

    ** Divine lighty guidance and aid implored " ' * Oh darkling man , in pure effulgence , shine , " Ike . M Our dark and erring minds illume , " &c .

    " For God to all his saints his holy will imparts , * ' &c . " X > Father ! faith and virtue grant . " ' * Father of light , thy aid impart To guide our doubtful way ^ " &e . < c O that the Lord would guide tny ways , " Sec .

    " Fix my thoughts on things above . " ** Send thy kind influence from above , ** &c . < c And make nay soul since-re . " € t t th irit guide feet" See

    > may y sp my , u Thy presence now display , " Sec < c And may the gospel ' s joyfal sound , Enforced by mighty grace , Awaken careless sinners round * ' &c

    " iThy mercy * ttid thy tmth reveal ^ " &c , Ci Guard my first springs of thought and wiH ^ &c , . ct Thy spirit o ' er our hearts shall move ** Stc . u Come visit ^ vei-y p ioiiA miiid . " Stc . « O ^^ ttotrdtfs ui grht and doub t ^ ddric MM 6 Thy love shtfl fclifed it » brightest fcfeaia "

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    " The hand that gave it still supplies the gracious light and hettt " 66 Do thou pill * hearts incline , ' &c . " O Lord , oiir spirit lead , " &c . " O shine on this benighted hearty" ^ cc . < Thy grace directs our wandering Will , " &c . .

    ** Shed down , O Lord , a heav e nly my 1 rp guide me in the doubtful way . " u Father divine diffuse . thy light To guide my wandering footsteps right , " &c . ci O let thy grace inspire my soul with strength divine . "

    " Direct , control , suggest this day AH I design to do or say " " Come , Lord , with strength and life and light , Assist and guide my upward Sight , " &c .

    When I was a Calvinist I thought I perfectly understood all such ex * pressions , but how they can be adopted by Unitarians is to me at present in * explicable . Language of this nature , and much resettibling Dr . Carpenters , is

    employed by the Rev . T . Browne , of Gloucester , in his reply to a malignant attack made upon the Unitarians of that city , an account of which is given in the present volume ( p . IB ) of the Monthly Repository . The calumniator had represented the Unitarians as not believing in the

    cotnmonly-ireceived doctrine of the ' fellowship of the Holy Ghost , " to which Mr * B . gives the following answer : ** We are very sensible that such feeble , frail creatures as toe atef Stand grtatly in need of the enlightening * supporting and directing assistance of the Spirit of Oiir God . We do hot in general use the form alluded to as a valediction at tifte

    close of our devotion , because we think th £ fe is good ground to belifeve that the apostle referred , in the last clause Gf it , to the extraordinary and miraculous gifts and endowments bestowfcd upon believers in the very first age of the Christian Church , and

    which have long since Entirely erased . Taking the clause to convey the sensiB of such guidance and direction & $ ftoiy be now and at all times Hoped for fifth above , i # e h&ve no objection , ih thd smallest dttott * , 16 the iidte of it /* Is it at ih juBtiftable to attach a double sense to the l ^ ngu ? igfe of Scripture ? Mr . Browne ddtiiits that tU * pottte % Wdfilft Yateirrtd dnly to tW

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1819, page 368, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1773/page/24/