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    Euston Sguare , Sir , February 1 , 1824 , f jP * HE propensity of many modern JL divines to depreciate the religion of nature , is so frequently manifested , and in a way so obvious and glaring *

    that it can hardly escape the notice of any person at all accustomed to theological inquiries . I am far frpm supposing" that these gentlemen pursue this course from any dishonest

    motive ; on the contrary , I atn persuaded they fancy that they thereby do honour tQ Christianity ; while , on the other hand , I have no hesitation in professing my firm conviction , that the religion of nature is the rock on which

    Christianity is founded ; and that he who aims at supporting the latter by undermining the former , does , in fact * though unconsciously , all that one maiji can do , to destroy both . Hap- * pily for us all , they are both indestructible .

    This conviction * which has been growing and strengthening in my mind for the last forty years , is not in the least degree weakened by the letter of your highly-respectable correspondent ^ the Ilev . Mr . Cogan , inserted in your publication of this day , ( pp . 11—14 , ) the leading object of which , according to his own statement , is to illustrate

    the evidences of Christianity > but ia which he more than insinuates , that what is called the religion of nature is of little or no value ; that " they who contend for the unity and perfections of God , the doctrine of a universal

    providence , and the future existence and immortality of man , a 6 inculcated by nature , have derived their conviction of them from Christianity ., and £ rq * p Christianity alone ; " ^ nd that *\ tjhe ancients , who endeavoured . to establish the doctrine of a future life , did not themselvw believe it ; ami if

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    they did , their feitfe * K 4 mt ^ rom © uf of their reasonings , but taem reasons were laboriously soug ^ ifQr | to uphold a preconceived opmiQn . " What it was * however , other than reasqn ^ Av&rcU produced this preconceived . Qpiqion iu

    their minds , Mr . Coganhasomitted to inform us ; and without his assist , ance , 1 confess myself unable Jo account for it , otherwise than b y ^ supr posing that it was the effect of ttie reasonings of superior ininds , on the perfections of God the Creator , and on the nature and circumstances of

    man his creature . I hat the ancients ^ at least , whatever may be fancied of those of * later times , did not derive their conviction of the unity and imi > - versality of the Divine Government * of

    and ^ pf a future state existence * from Christianity atone , or from Christie anity at a / I , is quite clear , from the fact of their having recorded their opinions before Christianity existed $ and it is undeniable that some of them

    expressed their conviction of these truths , in nearly as plain terms as any Christian can do at this day . What , for instance , can be a stronger expression of belief in the being * and government of One Supreme God , than the following passage of Cicero ? [ de Nat . Beor » Lib * ii . Cap *

    ii . ] " Quid potest esse tarn apertum , tamque perspicuuna , cum coeluin sus ^ piximus , coelestiaque contemplati sumus , quarr * esse aliquod nUmen praestantissimae mentis , quo hsec regantur } " When we lift our eyes to the heavens ^ and contemplate the eelestiai bodiesy what can be more dearly

    evident > than the existence of some superior being of consummate wisdom , by whom they are governed £ Or in what words could this illustrious mail have expressed more plainly his ex * pectation of existence after death , than in the following ? [ de Senect * 21-3 " Quid multa , ? Sic mibi pert suasL sic sentio , cum tanta celeritas

    animorum sit , tanta meraoria pxsete * ritorum , futurorumque prudentia , tot artes , tantae scientise , tot inventa , noa posse earn naturam , quse res eas continea t esse mortalem . " This * in shpr 4 ^

    u my settled convictiony this is my judgment ^ on reviewing the faculties of the mind , its wonderful activity > its memory of thepas $ > and forpsig-ht of the future > and its discoveries and , attainments in arts and sci $ fiCG > tAitt

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    I JO Mr . Sturch , on tli € Religion qf&at ^ e i JjiRepty Mr . Cogan .

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    be thought requisite to allude to it 5 it should be under its appropriate epi ~ thet , the unhallowed name ? as it is not hallowed by any mention of it in any parts of Scripture *

    These hints I take the liberty of throwing out to those who are accustomed to use the unhallowed name in their discussions , either by the press or in the pulpit , and I am sure they will be of some use , if attended to , in private families . W . FREND .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1824, page 110, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2521/page/46/