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    same principle , we may counsel the relig ious sceptic , with so much evidence for Christianity , to doubt ere he irrevocably makes up his mind against the truth of revelation . For this evidence , we affirm , constitutes a barrier of proof which , we confess , we

    cannot discover any means of surmounting" by those who have studied its nature . We know we shall be answered , that ours is a spare faith , and that so long * as Christians are not agreed as to what is Christianity , assent must

    be withheld from it . But would not this argument equally apply against the study of physiology itself , where ue observe doctors so materially disagree ? And , in the quaint language of old Richard Baxter , " AIL arguments he not weak which some men dare

    deny . Is not the high way right except every man hit it ? A drunken man may go beside it , and a wise man that is not used to it may miss it , or by credulity may be turned by others out of his way ; and yet the way may he right and plain too , for all that . Will you think nothing certain in

    philosophy , because philosophers are of so many minds ? Or will you renounce all physicians because they ordinarily disagree ? Or if a Londoner have a journey into the countrey , which his life lyeth on , will he not go his journey because the clocks disagree ? Or will he not set on till all the clocks in London strike at once £

    Or will he never give any credit to a clock till then ?" But should there be those who , from ignorance of these accumulated evidences , or who , knowing them , are untrue to their understandings , deny the super-human origin of Christianity , and publicly disseminate their

    scepticism , we shall ever contend , that the immutable principles of religious freedom are as much their right , and wiiy be as safely extended to their opinions , as to those of any Protestant Dissenters . Nay , many zealous Christian have contended that they ought to be encouraged to produce their objections , certain that Truth

    must emerge with renewed power and tflory from the contest . Prikstian ity indeed may suffer , and the " alliance between Church and State" be endangered , but true Christianity will revive no wound from the assaults of

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    the sceptic . Those political Christians * who regard churches in the light of barracks , may reasonably feel alarmed for legitimacy . What , however , can the cause of civil and religious liberty gain by the recent persecution of

    Deists , but prejudice against the doctrines of Christ in the hands of such followers ? What effect can be wrought on the contemptible objects of such anti-christian zeal , but by this odious proscription to congregate unbelievers together , where they are sure to mistake the repetition of their objections for increased number and strength ?

    This "illiterate policy" never yet attained its end , and never will : and that such barbarism should be varnished with the colouring of religion ,, " what is it , " says the admirable Robinson , in his Remarks on Deism , " but the voice of Jacob and the hands of Esau ?"

    We here again repeat , that our opinions are not those of the Materialist , since we cannot reconcile many of the phenomena of life and sensation to that hypothesis . All that we feel sure

    of is , and in this it appears all agree , that God imparted to us the " breath of life . " The Pentateuch , whatever may be its authority , does not inform us how ; nor , in our judgment , will men of science ever make such an addition to revelation . But Materialism having been the opinion of

    many eminent and Christian philosophers , we have often , on the possibility of its truth , examined its relation and consistency with the' Christian doctrine of a future state . In those sequestered moments when the mind wanders beyond the grave , the

    reflections in these pages have arisen ; and candour obliges us to concede an equally pious and rational hope of futurity to the Materialist as his prejudiced opponents arrogate to themselves ; nor can we conceive how the mere belief o $ either party can affect their practice . We have studiously avoided all

    reference to our title in the promises of the gospel . We have a humble trust that hk who gave us the blessing of this life , will continue his goodness in its renewal after death - " y knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus , shall raise us up also by Jesus , and shall present us with you . " Would

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    Review . —Recent Controversy on Materialism . 181

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1822, page 181, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2510/page/53/