A Legacy to the Friends of Free Discussion: Principal Historical Facts and Personages of the Books Known as The Old and New Testament; With Remarks on the Morality of NatureOffen, Benjamin
Religion
A Legacy to the Friends of Free Discussion: Principal Historical Facts and Personages of the Books Known as The Old and New Testament; With Remarks on the Morality of Nature
Offen, Benjamin
Bible -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
When men have not been impelled by cupidity to shackle the minds of
their fellow beings, a spirit of uncharitableness has induced them to
pursue the same line of conduct. Whoever has maintained an opinion
contrary to theirs, has been considered as being actuated, not by
mistaken, but, by dishonest motives; and has therefore been deemed a fit
subject for punishment. As this work will probably be read by many
professing Christians we will here give an extract from Dr. Blair’s
sermon on _Candor_, which will, probably, make a greater impression than
any thing we could offer on that subject.
“It is one of the misfortunes of our present situation, that some of the
good dispositions of human nature are apt to betray us into frailties
and vices. Thus it often happens, that the laudable attachment which we
contract to the country, or the church, to which we belong, or to some
political denomination under which we class ourselves, both confines our
affections within too narrow a sphere, and gives rise to violent
prejudices against such as come under an opposite description. Not
contented with being in the right ourselves, we must find all others in
the wrong. We claim an exclusive possession of goodness and wisdom: and
from approving warmly of those who join us, we proceed to condemn, with
much acrimony, not only the principles, but the _characters_, of those
from whom we differ. Hence, persons of well disposed minds are too
often, through the strength of partial good affection, involved in the
crime of uncharitable judgment They rashly extend to every individual
the severe opinion which they have unwarrantably conceived of a whole
body. This man is of a party whose principles we reckon slavish; and
therefore his whole sentiments are corrupted. That man belongs to a
religious sect which we are accustomed to deem bigoted; and therefore he
is incapable of any generous or liberal thought Another is connected
with a sect which we have been taught to account relaxed; and therefore
he can have no sanctity.—Are these the judgments of candor and charity?
Is true piety or virtue so very limited in its nature, as to be confined
to such alone as see every thing with our eyes, and follow exactly the
train of our ideas?”
The author disclaims any intention of wounding the feelings of those who
hold opinions different to his own. For the religions hypocrite he has
no bowels of compassion; but the sincere believer in Divine revelation,
whose conduct is regulated by the universally acknowledged roles of
morality, is to him an object of sincere respect and esteem.
Many things connected with what is called Divine revelation, have been
very freely commented on by the author; and sometimes in a style which
the Christian world will probably be disposed to condemn; but it should
be remembered that what appears sacred to one, excites the ridicule of
others. The Pagan venerates his manufactured god; the Christian views it
with contempt and indignation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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