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those fellow-christians who sincerely wish for correct information , and the means and power of judging fairly . " " Such expositions of our faith , perhaps it will be said , are not wanting ; they are sufficiently numerous , and faithfully published . But it must not be
forgotten , that once to perform this office is not enough . It is ' line upon line , and precept upon precept' only , the frequent reiteration with distinctness and impression , which is to produce the final triumph of truth , and give the public sentiment and feeling a right direction . As
often as there is a misapprehension of our meaning , or a false or defective statement of it is repeated , the true and faithful representation , which is to correct the mistake , and confute the false charge , must be repeated al ^ o . Nor will the faithful advocate and defender of
truth allow himself to grow weary of the task , nor suffer * the thrice confuted error , ' at length to pass uiicontradicted . * 'Pp . 16 , 17 . Dr . Ware then proceeds to urge the necessity of avoiding all , in our defences of our system of faith , that shall separate the character of
Unitarian from that of Christian ; maintaining that it is far better " to neglect the duty , than to perform it in a manner and with a spirit which shall bring a reproach upon the cause which it is our aim to support . " His third point of advice is , that we carry the same manifestation of
Christian principle into the general conduct of life , and cherish it in its genuine and extensive efficacy , so as to keep steadily in view the great end of religion , personal holiness . Here he enters into various topics which deserve the serious consideration of
Unitarians ; and then he proceeds , in as train of exhortation and encouragement , in which the affection of the Ghristiau pareut and minister is strikingly displayed , to address his son , on
entering on Ins new engagements ; and we think the following passage will he interesting and edifying to some of our young brethren who are about to enter on important stations in the ministry .
" I know that you have not come to this occasion without great solicitude . I trust also you hare not done , it without faithful self-examination , and a full , view of all the duties and trials and dangers of the arduous and responsible station which you are called to fill ; and I can fully
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sympathize with you , in all the tunmK tuous feelings ; of this day . He who has once experienced , can never forget them . The lapse of more than thirty years filled up with a variety of interests and duties , of changes and trials , have still
left fresh upon my memory the deep and teuder feelings of an occasion like this ; the same that now rush with ail their agitating and overwhelming force upon your mind . You think of the office to which you are called ^ the most solemn that a mortal can sustain- * -of the duties
connected with it , arduous , difficult , and constant , allowing no intermission and no relaxation—of the important interests which may be affected by the degree of fideJity with which you shall discharge those duties—interests , not of an
individual , but of many , who may receive an influence from your ministry— -interests , not of a trifling or transient nature , but the most important aud permanent—and of the high responsibility which he sustains , upon whose fidelity and success
so great interests aie depending ; the labour and difficulty and responsibility of the pastoral relation , great in themselves , increased , and rendered still more appalling to a susceptible mind , by the circumstances attending your particular
location . " These views let me urge you to indulge , not for the purpose of feeding a gloomy imagination , but as incentives to exertion , and motives to greater zeal and activity and diligence , that you may be equal to the exigency , and fill worthily
the place which Providence has allotted you . And let me persuade you also , to lay open your mind to more cheering views and encouraging considerations , and to accustom yourself to dwell on the bright side of things — to think of the satisfaction as well as the labours , the
joys as well as the trials , of a faithful ministry /'—Pp . 27 , 28 . The concluding address to the infant Society is marked by the same soundness of judgment , matured views of duty , and Christian spirit , which
characterise the discourse throughout . Many points of advice , we need not say , are applicable much more extensively than to the congregation to whom they were first addressed . It will he very satisfactory to us if this nolice of Dr . Ware ' s discourse should
lead -to greater attention to it . A Discourse on the Evidences of Revealed Religion , delivered before the University of Cambridge , at the Dudleian Lecture , March 14 , 1821 - By William Ellery Channing , D . P- >
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368 Occasional Notices of American Publications .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1825, page 368, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2537/page/42/
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