378 



" I look up," he says in a letter to a friend, " to 

 one God, and delight in referring all my hopes and 

 wishes to him ; I consider the doctrine and example 

 of Christ as the greatest blessing God has given us, 

 and that his character is the most perfect and lovely 

 we ever knew, except that of God himself. This is 

 my religion ; I hope it is not unsound." * 



He considered opinions and principles very di- 

 stinct, though often confounded. The latter he 

 looked upon as very important; the former no other- 

 wise so, than as conducing to good principles, — and 

 he esteemed one virtuous act, one honest determi- 

 nation, to be more worthy in the sight of God than 

 any notion or discovery concerning the essence of 

 that Great Being who is raised far above all human 

 comprehension. 



The writer has often heard him observe, that what- 

 ever in the sacred writings is not clear to the capa- 

 city of the humblest, most unlettered rustic, cannot 

 be essential to salvation ; and he was of the same 

 opinion as our immortal Wickliffe, the morning- 

 star of the Reformation, who contended " that wise 

 men should leave that as unimportant which is not 

 plainly expressed in Scripture." 



With regard to opinions, he also agreed with the 

 amiable Lindsey, " that Christians have yet to learn 

 the innocency of error, from which none can plead 

 exemption, and to bear with each other in their dif- 

 fering apprehensions concerning the nature of the 

 First Great Cause and Father of all, and the person 

 of Christ, and the manner and date of his deriving his 

 * Letter to Davall, April 25, 1790. 



