It is desirable that writers on religious subjects should carefully avoid two extremes: The one is, injuriously calling hard names, or bestowing without reason reproachful epithets; the other, a squeamish dread of calling persons and things by their proper names. The first of these indicates a malicious temper, always injurious to the cause in which it is indulged, and specially unbecoming on the subject of religion. The latter evinces a want of earnestness in promoting and defending truth, and a greater fear of him who can only kill the body, than of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Some leading Unitarians have, of late, been denominated Infidels; or they have been charged with holding principles in regard to the Bible which amount to a virtual infidelity. If this charge is unfounded, they ought not to lie under it. The charge, in this case, ought never to have been made, and ought now to be retracted. But, on the other hand, if the charge is true, the public certainly ought to know it. They ought to understand the grounds on which it rests, and the reasons and motives of those who have urged it. It is proposed, therefore, to consider at this time the following inquiry: What makes a man an Infidel? or, What constitutes Infidelity? 1. It is obvious that a man may be an infidel, without avowedly rejecting Christianity. It is doubtful whether one of the old English Deists ever made such an avowal. "Lord Herbert declared that he had no intention to attack Christianity, which he calls the best religion." "He represents it as the great design of the Gospel, of all its doctrines, and of the rites and sacraments there enjoined, to establish those great principles in which he makes religion properly to consist."* * Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History, vol. v, p. 59. Leland's Deistical writers, vol. i. p. 5. VOL. III.-NO. I. 1 Hobbes, in some instances, manifests a high respect for the sacred writings. "He acknowledges that the writings of the New Testament are as ancient as the times of the apostles; that they were written by persons who lived in those times, some of whom saw the things which they relate ;" and that "they are the true registers of those things which were done and said by the prophets and apostles." "He is persuaded," he says, "that they (the early Christians) did not falsify the Scriptures; because, if they had had an intention to do so, they would have made them more favorable to their power over Christian princes, and civil sovereignty, than they are."* Blount, who did little more then revive the system of Lord Herbert, acknowledges "that it is not safe to trust to Deism alone, if Christianity be not joined with it." "Undoubtedly," says he, "in our travels to the other world, the common road is the safest; and though Deism is a good manuring of a man's conscience, yet certainly, if sowed with Christianity, it will produce the most plentiful crop."+ Toland insists," that it was not his intention to invalidate, but to illustrate and confirm the canon of the New Testament." Lord Shaftsbury used to declare himself "a very orthodox believer," insisting" that he faithfully embraced the holy mysteries of our religion, notwithstanding their amazing depth." He wrote a preface to a volume of sermons by Dr. Whichcot, in which "he finds fault with those in this profane age who represent not only the institution of preaching, but the gospel itself and our holy religion to be a fraud. He expresses the hope, that from some things in these sermons, they who are prejudiced against Christianity may be induced to like it the better," and that "such as are already Christians will prize it the more."|| Collins sometimes "speaks of Christianity with respect." In his Letter to Dr. Rogers, p. 112, he represents "the cause in which he was engaged, as the cause of virtue, learning, truth, God, religion, and Christianity." Tindal says that "Christianity, stripped of the additions that policy, mistakes, and the circumstances of time have made to it, is a most holy religion, and that all its doctrines plainly speak themselves to be the will of an infinitely wise and good God."¶ Morgan represents, "our Saviour's doctrines" as "the true and genuine principles of nature and reason," and insists that men ought to be "thankful to God for the light of the Gospel."** 66 Chubb was the author of a great many tracts, in some of which he put on the appearance of a friend to Christianity." One of the most remarkable of his tracts was entitled, "The true Gospel of Leland's Deistical writers, vol. i. pp. 36, 65. + ibid. p. 45. ibid. P. 95. ibid. p. 50. ibid. p. 126. |