Thoughts on nature and religion. Or, an apology for the right of private judgment / maintained by Michael Servetus [i.e. P. Blair] M.D. in his answer to John Calvin. [Anon].

  • Blair, Patrick, M.D., of Cork, active 1738-1780.
Date:
1774
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thoughts on nature and religion. Or, an apology for the right of private judgment / maintained by Michael Servetus [i.e. P. Blair] M.D. in his answer to John Calvin. [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    / C IM ] fevering in his uprightnefs (under all his temptations and perfecutions) unto death, made him that exam¬ ple, which takes off from men, all excuie for ftp: He fays, If I had not come among them they •would rht have had fin, hut now they have no cloke for their fm. And Peter fays, He aded in all things conformable to the will of God: he did well, yet fuffered for it; he bore his fufferings patiently, and was therefore accepta¬ ble to God; and has left us an example whereby to follow his fleps ; who alt ho’ he committed no fin, nei* then was guile found in his mouth ; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again ; when he fuffered, he threat¬ ened not, but committed himjelf to him, that judgeth right eoufly. An example, by which the world can be condem¬ ned, or which leaves no cloke or excuie for fin, muff be between beings equally qualified. It is no crime in an elephant, that he has not the fwiftnefs of a grey-hound; nor in the grey-hound, that he has not the ftrength of an elephant: they are not fi mil any qualified, and their different perfections cannot con¬ demn one the other. If Jefus was endowed, above the ability of man, his conformity to the doCtrine he taught, could be no condemnation to mankind : they are not e« qualiy qualified ; they would therefore have ffiil had a cloke for their fins. All men would be good, if they had no temptation to be otherwife; but all men are liable to temptations, and the refilling them more or lefs, diftinguifhes the good from the bad, the virtuous from the vicious. Jefus fliewed they might be refilled altogether ; he overcame every temptation, which, either the Devil, or the per- fecution of human malice could prefent to him : and his example becomes our condemnation. He was tried to the utmoft, and like gold tried in the fire., he remained pure. The miracles he performed, were
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