On this page

• Text (1)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    ^ convi nce tlje . wp $ q of si ^ ch principles as these—tfca t the pppe . is not infa ^ lible , that the sale of inuulgencies was an abomination in the eye of God , that the Scriptures $ re a sufficient rule ' faith , and the like ? I must not

    pursue this track of speculation $ ny further at present , though I am persuaded of its legitiqiacy and truth , and' I am willing to entrust its continued prosecution to the calmly-exercised candour and sagacity of Mr . Sinith .

    In regard to the particular proposition he ? pre quoted , respecting Salvation by Gr # ce , &c ., I . will allow that , ^ in one sepse , it was a doctrine of the Reformation . It overthrew the Popish doctrines of superegatory merits , # nd ^ vhat the Romish Church techni-] callyand corruptly denominated " good works / ' But it would have achieved

    the same conquest , had Luther ' s private interpretation of it been purely Arminian or Unitarian . * It was the scriptural authority of his proposition , coup Jed with its being a verbal denial of popish opinions , and not its peculiar metaphysical bearing in Luther ' s mind , which won his victories . An

    inattention to these essential distinc-< tions lias njajcle Calvinists so very proud of \ yhat is not th ^ ir own , and caused even liberal Christians to refrain ' e from asseftiivg their superior share in the general principles , maxijns , and true glory of the Reformation .

    Mr , Smith is a better Calvinist than philosopher . JHe , pretends to trace up to a defection from orthodoxy ^ 11 the vice and irreligion which may exist in individual instances at Geneva . Was

    it not a currier , who , in his great simplicity , proposed to fortify a bombarded town with leather ? There will be no more wicked cakes and ale if Calvinism can he $ ny where a st ^

    tereligion . Cannot Mr ., S . account for the spread of immorality in Geneva , D the . peculiarly unsettled state of manners and things throughout the whole continent during the last century , and the very exposed local

    situa' * It is indeed certain , " says Hume , * ' that the Reformers were fortunate in their doctrine of notification , a n d might venture to foretell its success , in opposittyn to all fhe t c $ remQme $ > sftows , and su-Wrs 0 ° ns of-Popery } ' Hist . Eng , c hap .

    Untitled Article

    tion in which that city wag placed ? Has not th ^ plaice feeen , ^ it ^ eW , ttie hotel , the c ^ ravahs ^ of Europe ? Who knows , too , lib \ y inucli of ; this modern deg ^ neraey may ^ be fairly ¥ scribable , not tp the . < Jecay pJF ^ Ca lvlhism , but to the former fexistehide and ^ necessary re-actibn , pr , at Tc * Ast ' to

    the remainmir dregs of its spirit , in the body of the people ? Afid ; farther , Mr . Sinitti ' s power ' of iratipcitetfoti seems entirely to have faif ^ f lii ^ on this subject , and h ^ argues in as cotti - plete a circle as did ever a ; Roman Catholic , Jn paragraph numbered 2 , ( p . 322 , ) he accounts for the decay of Calvinism in Geneva , by gratuitously

    supposing a growing spirit of levity and irreligion ; and , then , when he would give a plausible reason for tne existence of this very levity and irreligipn , he assigns ( paragraphV No . /) the departure from the old theology , wjiicli is nothing but the decay of

    Calvinjsm liack again 1 In this dizzy kiud of reasoning , it is impossible to' tell which is cause and Which is effect , though it is very certain the writer m ^ ans that the reputation of his

    doctnhes shall not suffer in any alternative . How very candid , liberal and convincing , too , is the argument , that one cause of the decay of Calvinism was " a strong- and subtle prejrfdice against truth and holiness /^ ait 3 an absence as yet of " genuine piety , or

    right affections towards the holy and blessed God "! How iould Mr . Sihith expect that siich sorry eaiit should have any influence with the Unitarian readers of the Repository ? Mrs . Hughes , in Defence of Peace-Societies , presents some staggering facts for him vvho doubts the

    practicability of their plans . The latter part of her Essay is rathei * desultory . 1 have been long" wishing to see executed , by soine friend to those societies , a picture o ( the world under ihe desired reign of universal peace . Wnat outlet shall be provided for the nicjre turbulent and restless elements of

    Society ? Cannot the vast science and strict discipline , which l ag ^ s li ave brought to so much perfection in ' military affairs , be transferred to immense masses of men employed in sbrne great civil good ? Why o ^ niiot we hear of one hundred th 6 usanrf ' heroes ^ led on by skilful and Abfe g ^ eV ^ is to tfic acUifevdrn ^ nt ' of sbiiieG 06 dific

    Untitled Article

    Critical &ynppsi $ of the Monthly Repository for Junp l § 24 . 323

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1825, page 323, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2537/page/3/