Review of 

"The Latest Form of Infidelity"

The following review of Andrews Norton's discourse, "The Latest Form of Infidelity" (July 1839), appeared in The Western Messenger of October 1839 (p. 435). It was published anonymously, but was likely written by the editor, James Freeman Clarke.  

Norton’s discourse on the Latest Form of Infidelity. Delivered at Cambridge, Mass. July 19^th, 1839.

Mr. Norton never writes weakly, and never fails to produce an impression, but he is very apt to write extravagantly and to see but one side of a question. In the discussion now going forward between those who consider miracles the evidence of our faith, and those who look at the faith itself, there is visible much of the wisdom which leads men to dispute whether the keystone of an arch supports the flanks, or the flanks the keystone. The truth seems to be that the arch is one thing and stands, each part being needful. So is it to our minds, with miracles and Christian truth, they form one, and stand as one, neither upholding the other, more than it is upheld by that other.

When Mr. Norton (p. 37) calls on the modern infidels to cease claiming the name of Christians, seeing they cannot be so, he reminds us of the similar call, so often made on him and his friends by the Trinitarians. Is it possible that Boston Unitarians have advanced so far toward orthodoxy as to deny the name of Christian to any honest man who claims it? Our creed on this side of the mountains is to do as we would be done by in this matter, to ask others to allow us the name which we think ourselves entitled to, and to allow it to others who think likewise.

This discourse we lay aside, with Mr. Emerson's of July 1838, and the Boston Quarterly Review of last April, meaning in our old age to reprint them as curiosities.