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Untitled Article
• help to illustrate , by contrast , the characteristics of the genuine produce of that seed which the sower scattered abroad in the field of humanity . The gibberish and antics of the Irvingites are but a reductio ad absurdum of principles of scriptural interpretation which furnish the main support of popular theology . The trickery
is the legitimate growth of the fallacy * If the disgust excited by the pouring forth of unintelligible sounds , as the fulfilment of Christ ' s promise to his Church ; and by the expectation of recovery from sickness in virtue of prayer and imposition of hands , lead men to reconsider their notions of the plenary verbal inspiration ,, and universal application , of Scripture , Mr . Irving will have occasioned great good . Let the tree be judged by its fruits , hewn down , and cast into the fire .
These effervescences of fanaticism are less depressing in the contemplation than the deeper and more enduring evils which present themselves in the general condition of our country as to religious . knowledge , faith , and hope . They are as meteoric light playing round the edges of a thick and heavy cloud of ignorance , error , and corruption . And yet < cthat darker cloud shall break away . " The sudden conversion of multitudes to the simple and pure faith
of Unitarian Christianity has not happened , and is not to be expected . The gradual spread of Unitarian principles through society is manifestly going on . The little leaven is leavening the lump . The rationality of doctrine , the fraternity of human feeling , the supremacy of righteousness , which are the spirit and essence of Unitarian Christianity , its peculiarity , worth , and glory , <—these are working their way into men ' s minds , and establishing silently but extensively that kingdom of heaven which " cometh
not with observation . '' And it is a circumstance as rich in promise as in pleasure , that foreigners of almost " every nation under heaven" present themselves at our meetings and hold communion with us . The Hindoo , the American , the Transylvanian , the German , the Belgian , the Frenchman , the Genevese , the Italian , the Spaniard , unite in our worship , receive our greeting , and acknowledge our spiritual brotherhood ; we hail the omen , and in the first fruits behold the coming harvest .
The establishment , now in progress , of city missions , for humanizing and Christianizing the poor of large towns , is a symptom of moral life and vigour which will argue well for Unitarian ism , if it be energetically followed up . This is k the right direction for religious zeal to take . Here its efforts meet the exigencies of society , and coincide with the progress of political reformation .
The improvement of the condition and character of the lowest , and most numerous , and most degraded class of society , is alike the work of patriotism and of philanthropy , of political institution and of religious exertion . And if ever it were needful that this object should be distinctly perceived , earnestly contemplated , and powerfully aided , it is at the present moment . With the return of
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1832, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1804/page/9/
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