[Pamphlets. American history]

30
During the early period after our Revolutionary war, there were
scant means for buying religious or other books of information, and little
leisure for learning the truth or falsity of this or that creed, or of those
orthodox problems few or many. Every diversity of doctrinal faith
existed, and the people, one and all, worshipped at the same altar, each,
orthodox or heterodox, gathering up something fi-om the preacher more
or less acceptable as it might be to their preconceived opinions. At
a later day, a more thorough and critical investigation of the scriptures
ensued, and schisms here as elsewhere sprang up, the consequent result of those Calvinistic doctrines preached and pressed with such
dogmatic persistency. The pastor then in Dover was a man of very
moderate abilities, but with no lack of self-conceit, denouncing from
his pulpit the heretical Unitarians, of whom many were of his church
and congregation. The frequent indulgence of such personal reflections could not fail to create offence and alienation in those of his
society of an opposite persuasion, and hence it was that Dr. Green
with many others withdrew their connection with the orthodox society.
His enlarged christian views gave him fresh vitality and added a
more gentle, influence and sweetness to his character. In the note to
the sermon by Rev. Dr. Lothrop (quoted ante, pp. I3, I4), is the
following interesting statement of his change of views, given by
Dr. Green on his hundredth birthday:
" The Primer says,' In Adam's fall we sinned all.' It was one of
the first things I was taught. But I cannot believe that we come into
the world under the curse of God in consequence of Adam's sin.
What sort of a God must that be who thus confounds the innocent
with the guilt)? The Trinity seems to me irrational and impossible.
There cannot be three Infinites. God is said to be omnipresent, filling
immensity, high as heaven, deep as hell, broad as the earth, wide as
the sea, filling all space. If God, the Father, fills all space, God the
Son and God the Holy Ghost cannot fill all space also. There cannot
be three Infinites. Infinite attributes cannot be divided among three
persons. They can belong to but one person. The Unitarian doctrine
of God seems to me of great importance. I have had great peace and
satisfaction in my religious views, ever since I read the Bible as teaching this doctrine. The first book that gave much satisfaction to my
religious inquiries was Chauncy's Dissertations; the next was Worcester's Bible News. I have read all Mr. Worcester's books. I believe
the Unitarian Doctrine of God will prevail. As people study and
understand the Bible better, they will come to interpret it in that sense
which makes it simple and clear. The Gospel was designed for poor,
ignorant, unlearned men, such as I am; such a man reading the Gospel without prejudice, never having heard of the Trinity, would not
gather the Trinity from it. The American Unitarian Association has
always seemed to me an important institution. Efforts to diffuse truth
are among the highest and best efforts we can make. I hope the truth
will prevail,-I believe it will.".