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"terefting doctrines, which the wife and good "in every age have thought worthy of the most "ferious difcuffion, that thefe fpeculative opi

nions, as they are opprobriously called, are of "little ufe. What is this, (adds he) but to pass "a fevere cenfure upon thofe illuftrious names, "whofe acute and learned labours have been

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fuccessfully employed in clearing up the diffi"culties in which thefe important fubjects were "involved, to condemn their own conduct in "wafting fo much of their time and pains upon "fach ufelefs fpeculations, and to check the

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progrefs of religious enquiry and chriftian

knowledge? Were I a friend to the popular "maxim, That fpeculative opinions are of no

importance, I would endeavour to act confist"ent with my principles: I would content my“felf with believing as my fathers believed; "I would take no pains to acquire or diffufe knowledge; I would laugh at every attempt

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to inftruct and to meliorate the world; I would "treat as a vifionary and a fool every one who "fhould aim to extend the limits of fcience; I "would recommend to my fellow-creatures that "they fhould neither lie nor defraud, that they "fhould neither fwear falfely not fteal, fhould "fay their prayers as they have been taught; "but, as to any thing elfe, that they need not "give themfelves any concern; for that honefty

was every thing, and that every expectation "of improving their circumftances, by cultivat

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ing their understandings and extending their "views, would prove delufive and chimerical."*

None will imagine that I have quoted Mr. Belfham on account of my agreement with him in the great principles of the gospel. What he would reckon important truth, I fhould confider as pernicious error: and, probably, his views of the importance of what he accounts truth, are not equal to what I have attempted to maintain. But in this general principle we are agreed: That our conceiving of truth as being of but little importance, has a tendency to check free enquiry rather than promote it: which is the reverfe of what we are taught by Dr. Priestley.

To illuftrate the fubject more fully: Suppofe the poffeffion of a precious ftone, of a certain defcription, to entitle us to the poffeffion of fome very defirable object; and fuppofe that none of any other defcription would anfwer the fame end; Would that confideration tend to prejudice our minds in favour of any ftone we might happen to poffefs, or prevent an impartial and ftrict enquiry into its properties? Would it not rather induce us to be more inquifitive and careful, left we fhould be mistaken, and fo lofe the prize?

Sermon on the Importance of Truth, pp. 5, 6.

If, on the other hand, we could imagine, that any ftone would anfwer the fame end, or that an error in that matter were of trifling importance as to the iffue, would it not have a tendency to promote a fpirit of careleffnefs in our examinations; and as all men are apt in fuch cafes to be prejudiced in favour of what they already have, to make us reft contented with what we had in poffeffion; be it what it might?

It is allowed, however, that as every good has its counterfeit, and as there is a mixture of human prejudices and paffions in all we think or do, there is danger of this principle degenerating into an unchriftian feverity; and of its being exercised at the expenfe of that benevolence which is due to all men. There is nothing however, in this view of things, which in its own nature tends to promote thefe evils: for the moft unfavourable opinion of a man's principles and state, may confift with the most perfect benevolence and compaffion towards his perfon. Jefus Chrift thought as ill of the principles and ftate of the pharifees and fadducees, and the generality of the jewish nation, as any of us think of one another; yet he wept over Jerufalem, and to his last hour fought her welfare. The apoftle Paul had the fame conception of the principles and ftate of the generality of his countrymen as Chrift himfelf had, and much the fame

He confidered

as we have of the focinians. them, though they followed after the law of righteousness, or were very devout in their way, yet as not having attained to the law of righteousnefs; in other words, as not being righteous perfons; which the Gentiles, who fubmitted to the gofpel, were. And wherefore? Because they

**

fought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law? For they ftumbled at that fumbling Stone. Yet Paul in the fame chapter, and in the moft folemn manner, declared, that he had great heaviness, and continual forrow in his heart-Nay, that he could with himself accurfed from Chrift, for his brethren's fuke, his kinfmen according to the flesh!

But why need I fay any more? Dr. Prieftley himself allows all I plead for: "The man (fays he) whofe fole spring of action is a concern for loft fouls, and a care to preferve the "purity of that gofpel which alone teaches the "most effectual method of their recovery from "the power of fin and fatan unto God, will feel an ardour of mind that will prompt him ftrenuously to oppofe all thofe whom he confiders as obftructing his benevolent defigns. (He "adds) I could overlook every thing in a man who, I thought, meant nothing but my everlafting welfare." This, and nothing elfe, is

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Rom. ix. 30-32. + Differ. of Opin. § I.

the temper of mind which I have been endeavouring to defend; and, as Dr. Priestley has here generously acknowledged its propriety, it becomes us to acknowledge, on the other hand, that every fpecies of zeal for fentiments, in which a concern for the everlafting welfare of men is wanting, is an unhallowed kind of fire; for which whoever indulges it, will receive no thanks from Him, whofe caufe they may imagine themfelves to have efpoufed.

I am, &c.

LETTER XI.

THE SYSTEMS COMPARED, AS TO THEIR INFLUENCE IN PROMOTING THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

Christian Brethren,

Ir the holy fcriptures be a proper

F

medium by which to judge of the nature of virtue, it must be allowed to include the love of Chrift: nay, that love to Chrift is one of the cardinal virtues of the chriftian fcheme; feeing it occupies a most important place in the doctrines and precepts of infpiration. He that loveth me, faid Chrift, shall be loved of my Father -If God were your Father, ye would love me

On Differ. of Opin. § I.

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