Book Description:
Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: evidently means, that both the parties referred to regarded the doctrine of a crucified Saviour as absurd, and sincerely believed it to be such, as it was completely at variance with the ideas and principles which they considered undoubted. The advocates of Christianity ought to act in the same way, and to recognise in many of their opponents a sincere desire to believe that which appears to them true and right. If they cannot do so, they ought to leave the question of motives untouched. It is the more incumbent in them to act thus, as I firmly believe that they themselves are in a great degree accountable for the disorganised condition of public opinion. They not only fail as a body (in which there are brilliant and admirable exceptions) to meet the objections urged against Christianity with intelligence and candour; but present such a want of agreement and so much bitterness of feeling among themselves, that their efforts, however well meant, rather prejudice than serve the cause which they seek to uphold. Besides, I believe that the main provocative of intellectual opposition to Christianity is to be found in the distorted exhibition given of it by those who profess to be its exponents. There is one consideration which deserves some notice. During the last quarter of a century the ministers of religion in England have had access to the attention of the nation in a greater degree, probably, than at any previous period. This may, perhaps, be attributed partly, and even chiefly, to the example of the Court influencing the habits and demeanour of society. It seems to me that the most appreciable results for which religious teachers can fairly claim a share of credit consist in a greater urbanity and refinement of manners, more decorum in language, and some abatement in the pu...
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