376 ib. 385 395 Unitarianism explained and defended, in a Discourse delivered in the Church of the Universalists, at Philadelphia, An Address to the Unitarian Congregation at Philadelphia, delivered on Sunday, March 5, 1797 The Case of the poor Emigrants recommended in a Discourse DISCOURSES RELATING TO THE EVIDENCES OF REVEALED RELIGION, DELIVERED IN The Church of the Universalists, AT PHILADELPHIA, 1796, 1797. AND PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF MANY OF THE HEARERS, Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you. 1 Peter iii. 15. 3 TO JOHN ADAMS, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.* DEAR SIR, THE happiness I have had, of your acquaintance and correspondence ever since your embassy to England,† our common friendship for Dr. Price, the ardent friend of liberty and of America, your steady attachment to the cause of Christianity, the favourable attention you gave to the following Discourses, when they were delivered, and the wish you expressed that they might be published,§ induced me to take the liberty to dedicate them to you. Statesmen who have the firmness of mind to profess themselves Christians, and who have a just sense of the importance of Christianity, are not numerous; and those of them who adopt a rational Christianity, the evidences and doc To which office he had been elected in 1789, on the first Presidency of Washington. The latter" declining to be considered as a candidate for the third election," Mr. Adams, in 1797, was chosen President, and Mr. Jefferson Vice-President. In 1801, Mr. Jefferson was elected President, in preference to Mr. Adams, whose administration (see Vol. IX. p. 5, Note 1) was become very unpopular. That gentleman commenced his public life at Boston, in 1770, as a Barrister. In 1776, he strenuously supported the Declaration of Independence. In 1783, with Dr. Franklin and Mr. Jay, he signed at Paris, the Definitive Treaty of Peace, between Great Britain and the United States, when Mr. David Hartley was the British Commissioner. See New An. Reg. IV. p. (114;) Dr. Holmes's American Annals, 1808, II. pp. 246, 293, 378, 393, 404, 405, 410, 419. † In 1787. Mr. Adams, during this embassy, published his "Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States." On whose ministry, at the Gravel-Pit Meeting, Hackney, Mr. Adams, while Ambassador, frequently attended. §"These discourses-attracted much attention, and created an interest in the subject which, there is reason to believe, has produced lasting effects." The "Lectures were attended by very crowded audiences, including most of the members of the Congress of the United States, at that time assembled at Philadelphia, and of the executive officers of the Government." Mr. Priestley's Continuation, 8vo. p. 190; 12mo. p. 171. Philadelphia appears to have been a central station of the Universalists, in whose church these Discourses were delivered. Dr. Holmes says, that, in 1787, “a Universal Church was founded at Boston ;" and that, in 1791, "the Universal Churches in the United States agreed on their articles of faith, at Philadelphia.' American Annals, II. pp. 387, 395. There appears to have been a new meeting-house erected for this religious society, about the time of the delivery of these Discourses. Mr. Wansey says, "Dr. Priestley preached a sermon, on the opening of the Universalist Church, at which almost every member of Congress attended." Excursion to the United States, Ed. 2, 1798, p. 203. trines of which will bear to be submitted to the test of reason, in this age, in which, while many are carried away by the prevailing tide of infidelity, others oppose it by an enthusiasm which disclaims the aid of reason, are still fewer, and are, therefore, entitled to the greater esteem of those who entertain the same sentiments. We shall, no doubt, ourselves be ranked with enthusiasts, by those unbelievers (and by far the greater part of them are of this class) who have become so without any just knowledge of the subject, or investigation of the evidence of revelation. But the contempt of such persons, whatever rank they may hold in the political or the learned world, is itself contemptible. Every serious inquirer after truth will respect other serious inquirers, though their opinions should differ ever so much. But the censures of men, whether well or ill-informed, will appear of little moment to those who look to the decision of the impartial Judge of all. And, mindful of his solemn warning, we must not be ashamed of him, or of his cause, in any circumstances, however unfavourable, lest he should be ashamed of us at a time when his favour will be of infinitely greater moment to us than any thing else. We You and I, Sir, are advancing to a period of life in which these views naturally open, more and more, upon us. find this world receding, and another fast approaching, and we feel the importance of having something to look to, when the present scene of things shall be closed. And whatever we value for ourselves, it behoves us to recommend to others. You will, therefore, rejoice if an exhibition of the Evidences of Revealed Religion, such as is contained in these Discourses, should produce any effect. It is happy that, in this country, religion has no connexion with civil power, a circumstance which gives the cause of truth all the advantage that its best friends can desire.* But religion is of as much use to statesmen as to any individuals whatever. Christian principles will best enable men to devote their time, their talents, their lives, and, what is often a greater sacrifice still, their characters, to the public good; and in public life this will often be, in a great measure, necessary. Let a man attain to eminence of any kind, and by whatever means, even the most honourable, he will be exposed to envy and jealousy, and, of course, he must expect to See Vol. VIII. pp. 5, 6; Vol. IX. p. 5; Vol. X. p. 523. |