The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-10-20 00:00:00

REVIEW.

.. UNITARIANS VINDICATED AOAINST

OF THIS REV. C. 11. CRAUFURD, HT THE REV. 1).

MAOINNIB.
It is not Our purpose in this review to dwell on. Or to
disease the theological points of difference between Mr.
Cranford's strictures on Unitarianism arid Mr. Maginisia's
reply to them, in the pahiphlet before us. We roust emi-
t., that Mr. Maginnis has teplied to these strietuees in
a temperate, chriatianlike, and scholarly manner, *hick
Mr. Cranford would do well to imitate, remembering that
he professes to be • servant of him who said, "Judge not,
that ye be not judged." Unitarians, whether in error or
not in points of theology, endeavour, we believe, to fol-
low Chriet's teachings, and in thin respect they must be
on Christ's side for he declared "Ye are my friends if ye
do whatsoever I command you." Mr. Maginnis has
shown that Unitarians not only " profess " to be Chris-
tians, but that they strive to imitate Christ's example;
and that Unitarians have supplied from their radio
many eminent men who have been earnest &fenders of
the Christian faith, and who have contributed by their
earliest study of Beriptare largely to the rehqiods litera-
ture of the country. This being the awe, we rubel con-
fess we .10 not see what right Mr. Craufurd has to net
himself up as a sma:l rope by claiming infallibility for
his own opinions, and donyiug the right of private judg-
ment to others. We should ever keep before as that
grand old motto, " Civil and religion. liberty aU the
world over." In our opinion, if any TIME hell, yes Chris.
tianity to be true and endenvours to act upon his own
convictions—to live an unworldly life, to follow faithfully
his Master—no council that ever sat, and no amount of
denunciation can shut him out of the Church of Christ.
We notice that Mr. Maginnis severid tinies courteously
requests Mr. Craufurd to vein tut his scriptural warrant
1.,r saying that no one can be a Christian who its,.. not
believe that Jesus Christ is "tied the S 011." We trust
that Mr. Crauferd will orrrourtenusly show Mr. Magineis
what evidence be has Oil is tubject.
Mr. Maginuis then gees on to slum that linitarient are
not " fools," that they do Diet auna. .• 14114114 M Marl-
loots " prating tongues," and that they do nit wield
" unscholarly pens ;" and in this we cenfess that sound
argument iS oat lii• side.
Mr. Magiunie then wings out that while Mr. Cranford
lay, all streSS MI faith. the ecriptures pl.we Charity Xs the
first of the Chrietiau virtues. Which is right our reader%
meet judge for them:nice.. St. haul teys, " Let every
la, fully persuaded ilk his Owl, mimi. So say we,
md we doled s..‹, that Mr. Craufurd shoes any Christian
spirit in his ...looms by ramblieg from his siihjeet to
drat( iii Unita] lees by the held and shoulders to lead his
anathemas upon them. Wk had thought that the rbjects
fur which We asSe1111.11•4 in a place of worship were: to
humbly comfeis site sins Lefore lbel and to worship Ilim
with is a spirit, in spirit tad in trOth, mid to rec,•ive in.
Awelion which may laid US in loving film "wit!, all nor
hettrt,_end soul, end mind, and strength, and ,iur neigh.
limo CR oorselves." We would recommend Mr. Craufurd
to peeler oin that saying of Christ, "By this shall all
men know that ye are soy disciples, if ye have love one
toe Sltl 111.4101Vr."

We write warmly on the ssiliject for we hear that
Mr. erauf.ir.l has rtgain linrhal insulting rpith.,., And
alms., on r nitariam, without a shadow of argument being
produced fir his Ps. rtions. We iderald commend him
For fair scriptural argument come fling
Ant we moat condemn hint for " clothing in
cams as with a g irment,"