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    extraordinary and uncommon exertions of prejudice , obstinacy , and disingenuity of spirit , and a fixed resolution not to be convinced by , but to avoid and pervert , the evidence by any means which criminal dispositions could "suggest . It was for these things , as the cause of their evil heart of unbelief , not merely for their unbelief considered by itself , that his enemies and opposers are condemned by our Lord and the evangelical writers *

    But , on the other hand , the case of those who were not the eye-witnesses of the Lord Jesus , but received the gospel only through the preaching of his disciples , was very different . They had the same facts to ground their faith upon , but they received a very different kind of evidence for these facts . They were not presented to them by the overpowering force of their own senses ) but by the information of others , which , before they could admit , there were many things that required a previous consideration , such as the nature and credibility of the facts themselves , the character of those

    who testified them , the views they might possibly have in doing it ; the vouchers they produced of their capacity , integrity , and veracity ; then all the collateral proofs adduced also in support of the doctrines of the gospel would come to be considered ; and , lastly , what would be the probable consequences of their embracing Christianity , both as to their obligations and interests . In short , they had every point to consider and weigh carefully which the others had had , and ' that too with many additional circumstances of difficulty .

    All these things would give a great scope for , nay would absolutely require , the exercise of a great degree of attention and fairness in inquiring after the truth , from which the others were in a great measure precluded by the circumstances of their case . Accordingly , we find those persons who did manifest these amiable and virtuous dispositions in the reception they gave to the gospel when it was preached to them by the apostle , highly commended for it by the sacred writers . Thus it is said of the Bereans ,

    that they were mpre noble , that is , more ingenuously disposed , than they of Thessalonica , in that they received the word with all readiness of mind ; that is , gave it a willing , attentive , and fair hearing , and then searched the Scriptures daily whether these things were so . They were not credulous , but diligently and impartially inquired whether the explanations which Paul gave of the Scriptures , and the arguments he deduced from them in support of them , were correct and conclusive . And when they found them to be

    so , many of them believed . But the sacred writers never commend any person for believing upon little or no rational proof . They produce their proofs in great abundance , and demand a diligent and fair examination , and insist that they are proper and adequate to the purpose for which they are brought ; sufficient to effect a reasonable conviction in every person who will consider them with the attention and sincerity which becomes a lover of truth , and which is due from every rational creature ,

    It appears then that St . Peter expressed a just and rational sentiment , when he commended those Christians to whom he wrote for their love to the Lord Jesus whom they had not seen , and their faith and rejoicing expectations from him , though they had not beheld him . And upon the same principles we may affirm , that the fkith of those Christians in later ages who cordially believe in and comply with the gospel , and are duly disposed towards their Saviour in consequence of a diligent inquiry into the evidence for the truth of our holy religion , is a greater proof of a virtuous and laudable regard to truth than that of the first disciples . Under the circum-

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    458 On Religious Faith .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1828, page 458, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2562/page/26/