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squabbling spirit which often displays itself in controversial discussions * We rejoice in such discourses as showing the growth amongst us of a just perception of the genius of genuine Christianity ; of which it is but poor praise merely to say that it is anti-Calvinistic . The sermons of Drs . Drummond and Hutton are very characteristic of their respective authors , the more strikingly so from the combination of diversity of manner with similarity and almost identity of subject .
Our readers are acquainted with both ; and will expect to find Dr . Drummond in his manly , fearless , and fervent way , repelling aggression , dethroning usurpation , denouncing the wrong , and asserting the right ; and Dr . Hutton , in his accustomed tone of dignified expostulation , sending his rebuke home to the hearts of the gainsayers , —so many of them as have hearts which anything from a reputed heretic can reach . This is what readers will expect ; and they will not be disappointed . Dr . Drummond throws himself amid his controversial
opponents like a mailed warrior , raising his battle-cry , and dealing around him blows which need no repetition ; Dr . Hutton approaches their ranks like a white-robed herald , with a flag of truce on the trumpet , which yet gives no uncertain sound , and invites them to an amicable parley . May insolent bigots be taught humility by having to sustain the perilous onset of the one ; and good-hearted fanatics learn charity by encountering the persuasive remonstrances of the other ! We give a specimen of each discourse .
* Had men , instead of listening with stupid credulity to Popes and Fathers , turned their eyes to Christ , and had recourse to the " law and the testimony , " religion would never have suffered the degradation and corruption , by which its beauty has been tarnished and its influence impaired . But it is to be lamented , that they have always been too much disposed , from ignorance or fear , to give up their right to think , to inquire , to judge and decide for themselves , —a most
dangerous concession ; for from not knowing , not valuing , or not having courage to maintain their rights , they might soon be left without any rights to maintain . They might be reduced to a state of abject slavery , both political and religious . As long as they continue stedfast in their allegiance to Christ , they possess the truth , and the truth makes them free . But they bring themselves into bondage , —abject , miserable , degrading bondage , —as often as they transfer to man that right of decision , which belongs only to God and their own conscience .
' Of all the enemies of the truth , in every age of church history , none has proved more formidable than deference to the authority of those who usurp the lordship of conscience , and , contrary to the Saviour ' s injunction , will be called Master or Rabbi , or any other name with
which the spirit of adulation can gratify the proud . Our Saviour himself found this to be one of the most insuperable obstacles to the adoption of his faith . The question , in his day , was not , What proofs has he given that he is the Christ , the Son of the living God—what doctrines has he taught—what miracles performed?—But , ' Have any of ths rulers , or of the thaiisees , believed on hiin ?'' . The commbft
people , who yielded to the force of their honest convictions , were iminediately assailed by reproaches and imprecations . * ' This people , who know not the law , ( i . e ., who do not understand the law , as interpreted by their rabbiee , ) are entsed . " Such , in every oge , is the
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S # Critical Notices ^— ' -Single sermon ^
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1832, page 50, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1804/page/50/
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