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    to see men of learning and integrity though Wartaed "with- a zealous regard for tvhat they conceive : i 3 o be th * truth , proceeding Whh : £ &raeu ?< ' and triod * ration to the

    micti ^ ibn important questions , and fcorieiudifcg the controversy witficmt in the least injuring those setitin&ents of esteem and respect vrhicfh at its commencement they frtut dally ' -entertained . This is the ady ^ nt&ge which flight to be dcrivedVatfd which is intended to be / % « mm 4 ¦ ¦ %

    m m w ^^ m s « m * - v v « ^ - ' ••« a »« x - * « a v ^ - ' a •« ^^ ««• * - ^ " ^ ^^ derived fro m the dispu tes attend ifrg the unavoidable differences in opinionasriong men ; and the specimens of thi £ and irit

    ' temper sp Whitiii dccasipnally offer them . Selves to trar notice , may perhaps itihsome degree t ^ nd to compensate for the too frequent display

    of a violence and acrimony which cannot J ^ e contemplated without pain , and which sometimes leads to still more fatal consequences . T £ he warmest admirer of the talents ^ nd character of Dr . Priestley Cannot , I should think , avoid regretting the vehemence

    and asperity which too often appear in his controversial writings . Th ^ j : hi * aLdyeiiaries deserved it which ip some instances was perh ^ tps true ^ fs ah excuse , but not

    quite a sufficient one . A writer of controversy should not merely $ . dapt his language to the characteif of his opponent , but to his own ^ character and that of his readers : T ^ at t ) r . Priestley however could adopt a very different style when he and for his

    had ^ respect esteem oppon ^ nt , we have several illustrious examples to prove . His correspondence with Dr . Price oft Materialism and Necessity ; and his dispute with Archbishop Newcotftfc ooii the H armony ojf the © ospeU 9 lt % conducted with a

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    spirit of moderation and good teti * per which may furnish perhaps g 'Sufficient atonement far the bitter , ness and acrimony of his attacks upon Horsley and -Reid ,, Other examples of the same pleas-ing fa . scription . might be adduced , from the annals of controversy , whick prove that it is perfectly possible for sincere and conscientious persons to agree to differ on the most

    important subjects , and to be zqsu lous and active in the supportof opposite tenets vvitho ^ it affecting their mutual good opinion ^ nd friendship , A spectacle Hfc ^ thw is in truth the triumph and perfection of the Christian cfmr ^ cier :

    it is a glorious ;? triumph of the Christian temper and spirit oyer the unruly passions of human nature . But how is this triamph to be atchieved i By coirthnially la ^

    bouring after a complete uniformity of sentiment , or , more properly i of profession ? By avowing our complete ; assent tto a set of propositions which we do not believe * uiider the specious phrase of

    articles qfpeace ^ Sure ly a much more likely way ' would be to endeavour ! tb set an example of ehrifetian charity and forbearance ; openly to avow our opinions what- - ever they may be , but to defend them if we are called upon to do <

    so , with meekness and good tern- ( per , showing the contending factions how sincerity and zeal ' might ' be united with candour an *

    liberality ; to substitute , for the unity of profession it * the bond of hypocri- ^ sy , the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace , and to prove to all the world that an avowal © f our '

    sentiments where we differ ja » # obstacle ^ ov t ^ iWQsfccordial uoio * , where we agree .

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    2 £ Jp ! v On ( Ac Advantages arising front Sects and taffies . V **¦ *¦ J . * 7

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1811, page 210, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2415/page/18/