CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION, 8; A modern Calvinist Creed, 9: Absolute impiety and astonishing Infidelity of Orthodoxy; the doctrines of the Presbyterians, Calvinist Baptists, and Orthodox, direct- ly tend to infidelity, and even put infidelity to the blush, 10; Scripture doctrine of God's love; Bible doctrine respecting sin and atonement, 11; America in danger; Fundamental doctrine and efforts of the Calvinist clergy, 13: Alarming facts, 14; Liberal Christianity, 15; Religion a spiritual, inward work, 16. Orthodox measures, 18; Their exclusiveness and imposition, 19; A test, by which TRUE teachers are known, 20; A stu- dent at college, 21; Inconsistency, 22; Partiality, 23; Con- Vain confidence, 27; The orthodox imitate the Roman Cath- olics, 28; Their arrogance, 29; Their excuses, 30; Unbecom ing conduct of females, 31; Injurious conduct, 32; Christian Judgment, 34; Unhallowed persecution, 35; Different opin- ions, 36; Free Inquiry subverted, 38; Effects of Orthodoxy, 39; Orthodox tricks, 43; The Hypocrite, 44; T. Scott's opinion of idolatry, 45; Application of the extract, 47; Extract from Saurin, 48; do. Stillman, ib. do. Dr. Abbadie, 49; do. Doolit tle's Body of Divinity,50; do. Littany of the Episcopal church, 51; do. President Edwards, 52; do. Trinitarian hymns, ib. The orthodox view of the devil, 55; The difference between Trinitarians and Unitarians, 56; Essential orthodox doctrines, 62; Irresistable grace, 63; Bad effects of the doctrine, 64; Popular stories, 65; Evils of revival papers, 68; An extract, 69; Unbelief, considered, 70: The example of Christ, 71; Rejecting Christianity, 72; Unbelievers must be treated as ra- tional men, 73; Self examination, ib. Abuses of religion, 74; Orthodoxy inimical to the scriptures, 75; Men of science and philosophy, 76; The laboring classes, ib. Orthodox dissimula- tions, 77; Review of a Tract, 78; Its wickedness, 79; Its blas- phemy, 81; Consequence of these tracts, 82; Fallacy of its doctrines, 83; The sun turned into an orange, 84; Absolute' prestcraft, ib. Suspense at judgment, 85; A problem, ib. Nat- ural expectation, 86; Impiety of some orthodox tracts, &c. Vi quisition, ib.; Roman power, 89; Horrid effects of intolerance, 90; Calvin's abominations,ib. Servetus burnt in a slow fire, 91; Calvinism in America, 92; Object of the clergy, 93; Facts which have never been disputed, 93; Wrong views of Deity,94; Religious Freedom in danger, 94; Physical force recommended; National Society of Calvinists in America, 95; Their determinations, threatenings and attempts at coercion; and cooperation of the U. S. government sought after, 96; Alarming confessions of Orthodox ministers, 97; Third article of the Orthodox National Society-Established religion, &c.-Controling influence of the clergy; 98; Calvinist movements-Origin of Revivals and four days' meetings-their destructive effects; Inconsistency of the people-derangement, self-murder, etc. from revivals, 99; Abominable acts of modern Protestants, 101; Horrible Massacre in France 102; A pious female inhumanly killed-Illustration of modern orthodoxy 104; Horrid orthodox hymns, 105-Four day meetings, 106-Rich hypocrites and orthodox practice, 107-Hypocrite's Hope, 109-Intolerance, Hon. Wm. Lawrence's opinion, 110-worthy example of the Quakers, 11-Thos. Jefferson's opinions of religious toleration, 112-Wisdom in Maine, 113-Orthodox opinions, 114. CHAPTER VI.-Orthodox Imposition, 115. Calvinist dectrine; Shocking representation of Deity; an extract from a sermon recently delivered in Nashua, N. H., 116; The awful character and fallacy of Calvinism, 118; God, the Universal Father; Mockery ef God's mercy, 120; The moral faculties perverted, 121; Trinitarians DENY the Son of God, 122; Difficult texts, 124; Three witness in heaven, 126; Orthodox Creeds in 1833, 128; Proofs for their authority,134; Unpardonable deception of modern orthodoxy, 135; Inexcusable imposition, 136; Calvinist Baptist creed, 137; Impositions defined, 138; Works ascribed to Satan by Calvinists, 139; Infamy of orthodox intolerance, 140. CHAPTER VII.-Corruptions of Christianity, 141. Cruel acts of Theodosius and Leo, 141; Death of the amiable Hypatia, 142; Abstruse speculations of the Priests', 142; Acts of Justinian, 143; Milton's opinion, 143; Abominable corruptions and acts, 144; Pillar saints; Religious madness and frenzy, 144; Shocking practice of Baptism in human blood, 145; Debauchery and vice of the clergy in the dark ages, 145; Their theological speculations, 146; Strange superstitions, 147; Essential doctrinal fictions of modern times 148; Reasoning, 149; False interpretation, 150; Detestable deeds of modern Calvinists, 151; Trinitarian reasoning, 152; Sum and substance e Christian religion, 153; Dangerous conclusions, 154; vii Trinitarian hymns, 154; Feast of the Ass, 155; Ideas of a good Christian, 156-Queries. 157 CHAPTER VIII.-Reason and Rational Christianity. Unworthy acts of the orthodox clergy, 157; Men excluded for their religious opinions, 158; Inquisitorial proceedings of the Hopkinton (Association, ib; An essential orthodox fiction, 159; Christianity proved a Rational religion, 160; Universal Truths, 161; Unity and consistency, 162; Revelation founded in Reason, 163; Man's first school, 164; Weighty_considerations, 165; Examples for the use of reason, 166; Reason, its greatness, 167; Common errors respecting reason, 168; Nature and Scripture, their perfect harmony, 169; Agreement of Scripture, 170; Impartial goodness of God, 171; Religion in the soul, an holy spirit, 172; Desires of Reason, 173; Universality of Christianity, 174; Superior excellence of the Gospel, 176; The Trinity an irrational doctrine, 177; No confidence in detached texts, they cannot prove a doctrine, 178; Total depravity, shocking effects of this doctrine, 179; Great mischief and immorality occasioned by Orthodox doctrines, 179; Fanatical sects, their pernicious and destructive influence, 180; Corruption of modern theology; Christianity does not consist in speculative doctrines of man's invention; Idolatry in doctrines as much as in images; the work of Popes, Cardinals, Jesuists, and Protestants, CHAPTER IX.-Objections to Liberal Christianity Considered. God the Author of Christianity, 182; Divinity of Jesus defended; Great errors of Trinitarians, 183; Flagrant violation and degradation of Scripture; the Bible does not teach an infinite atonement; the Bible never pronounces the sin of man to be infinite, 184; Inconsistency of modern orthodoxy, 185; God the sole author of salvation, and the Father of ALL men 186; Scripture doctrine; Liberal Christians do not depend on works alone, 187; Morality and righteousness; Slanders of the ignorant, 188; Zeal, seriousness, and piety, 189; Superior sanctity no evidence of piety; ruinous effects of terrors and transports; they degrade religion, 190; Fear, menace and false zeal; distinguished defenders of Christianity among Liberal Christians; John Locke, Bishop Watson, 191; Liberal Christians are not Infidels, Deists, or enemies to evangelical Truth; the celebrated and illustrious Newton with Dr. Samuel Clark, were distinguished Unitarians, 192. N. B. The reader is requested to pay no attention to the references in the first part of this volume, as it only forms the First Part of the work. If sufficient patronage is given, the Second Part will soon be put to press-containing a History of the wonderful effects of the Imagination, Ghosts, Dreams, &c. INTRODUCTION. In all ages of the world Christianity has been corrupted and converted to serve the worst passions of the depraved heart; and its ministers have not always obeyed the precepts taught by the Son of God. It will be my purpose to examine some of the doctrines now taught for the Gospel of Christ. In so doing I cannot do better than adopt the following extract: "I beg you to remember, that in this work I speak in my own name, and in no other. I am not giving you the opinions of any sect or body of men, but my own. I hold myself alone responsible for what I utter. Let none listen to me for the purpose of learning what others think. I indeed belong to that class of Christians who are distinguished, by believing that there is one God, even the Father, and that Jesus Christ is not this one God, but his dependent and obedient Son. But my accordance with these is far from being universal, nor have I any desire to extend it What other men believe is to me of little moment. Their arguments I gratefully hear. Their conclusions I am free to receive or reject. I have no anxiety to wear the livery of any party. I indeed take cheerfully the name of a Unitarian, because unwearied efforts are used to raise against it a popular cry; and I have not so learned Christ, as to shrink from reproaches cast on what I deem his truth. Were the name more honored, I should be glad to throw it off for I fear the shackels which a party connexion imposes. I wish to regard myself as belonging, not to a sect, but to the community of free minds, of lovers of truth, of followers of Christ, both on earth and in heaven. I desire to escape the narrow walls of a particular church, and to live under the open sky, in the broad light, looking far and wide, seeing with my own eyes, hearing with my own ears, and following truth meekly, but resolutely, however arduous or solitary be the path in which she leads. I am then no organ of a sect, but speak for myself alone; and I thank God that I live at a time, and under circumstances, which make it my duty to lay open my whole mind with freedom and simplicity." |