Conversation between a Unitarian and a Trinitarian. 199 his blood, as to any atoning efficien- T. A third point then is settled.cy, was no better than the blood of We do not believe the same Gospel. any other good man. This doctrine And can there be any Christian felof atonement, if it be true, "most ef-lowship between persons who do not fectually nullifies all the precepts worship the same God, nor trust in and sanctions of Scripture." It" sup- the same Saviour, nor believe the poses that God has introduced a prin- same gospel? ciple into his administration which would disgrace any government on earth." Like Mr. Channing, I seem to want language to express my abhorence of a doctrine so repugnant to the principles of liberal religion, and so derogatory to the character of the God that I worship. U. Be that as it may, there is no need of any difficulty in churches consisting partly of Unitarians, and partly of Trinitarians, and partly of Universalists. For "the Gospel does not authorize a christian church to inflict censure on its members merely for their opinions."-" Jesus never The gospel that I believe does not censured any man for his errors". teach that justification is by faith in" The denunciations of heaven have Christ, without the deeds of the Law never been uttered against errors of as constituting any part of the meri- faith." In true religion there is but torious ground of a sinner's pardon, one thing that is fundamental, and and justification; or that good works that is sincerity. If a man is sincere are to be regarded merely as the fruit it is not essential what he believes, and the evidence of true faith in or what he disbelieves for his final Christ. On the contrary, it clearly condition will be fixed, not according teaches that good works constitute to his faith, but according to his deeds the principal, if not the meritorious done in the body. The worker of ground of a sinner's pardon and jus- iniquity will go away into everlasting tification. For at the last day, the destruction, that is annihilation. The Judge of all will render to every man doer of good works will be rewarded not according to his belief or unbelief, according to the merit of his good but according to his works. "To deeds. And that reward will be of build the hope of pardon on the inde-debt, and not of mere unmerited fapendent and infinite sufficiency of Jesus Christ, is to build on an unscriptural and false foundation."“We reject the idea of being saved by any righteousness which is not our own. * vor. If then we could agree so far as to get a minister who would preach morality and practical religion, and would give no importance to the belief in doctrines which have always been With respect to the punishment of disputed, we might all enjoy our own the wicked, "We may certainly con-opinions, and save a great deal of exIclude that none of the creatures of pense. T. It is written-What shall it God, in any circumstances, will be eternally miserable." "The New profit a man if he gain the whole Testament does not contain the doc-world, and lose his own soul? trine of punishment endless in dura- What fellowship hath righteoustion." "The doctrine of the prop-ness with unrighteousness? What er eternity of hell torments is a doc-concord hath Christ with Belial?trine which most Unitarians of the What part hath he that believeth with present day concur in rejecting." an infidel? Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separA man that is a heretic, after ate. the first and second admonition reject. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin. On the whole, I must confess that the Gospel which you believe is not the same that I believe. It is another Gospel. Without faith it is impossible to please God. He who believes shall be saved. He who believes not shall be damned. A cordial belief of revealed truth has, by divine appointment, a sanctifying influence. With the heart man believeth unto righteousness. To know the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, to understand it with the heart, is to be a true disciple of Christ, and an heir of his promises. fess, it had little interest for me, beyond the pleasure of witnessing his animation, his wife came to the door with an infant in her arms. I may have done her wrong by neglect; but the child possessed attractions superior to its parents at that moment; and, as if conscious of my feelings, the nursling stretched out its hands, and evinced a desire to approach me. I learned that it was an only son the last of five. AffecThe truths which are revealed and tions that had expanded over all otaught in the Gospel of God are the thers, had settled with intensity updoctrines of Christ. He who be-on this; it was worth all a parent's lieves not the doctrines of Christ be-love. I gazed long upon its perfect lieves not him. And he who believes not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. From the United States Gazette. swer. He who salutes every passenger, may sometimes receive an uncivil anHe who returns no salutation or intimates an unwillingness to exchange civilities, might incur the risk of being marked down for a churl.In the way of error, it is better to be passive than active; so I find a kindly look for all who pass me beyond the precincts of the city. It costs, indeed, an occasional penny extraordinary for a mendicant; but the "God bless you," of a human being, must surely have lost its value, if it will not pass in exchange for so small a sum. features, the soft blue eyes and full dark lashes; and as I pressed my lips upon its face, the balmy fragrance of its breath was redolent to health. I had won upon the mother's esteem, by my attention to her boy; but a tear that fell from my eye, warm upon the infant's breast, showed her that while I joyed with her in the living, I could in affliction sympathise with her for the dead. I know not how it was, but for some time there was scarcely a morning that I did not pass the house in my ride; and the boy, though not a year old, had learned to expect me. Let those who have no fondness for children, pass on the other side of the way; there is enough in life with which to amuse themselves. I nej ther envy them their capacities for other enjoyments; nor would give one of that infant's smiles of recognition for their fancied pleasure. Enjoying the prime of the day in September last, about two miles from! The equinoctial rains made sad the city, I chanced to meet the "good work with my calculations of riding, morning" of a man, with a cordiali- and it was not until the weather bety that evidently gained me a fa- came settled, that I was enabled to vorable estimation with him; and renew my wonted excursions. It was as his occupation was before him, about 3 o'clock, P. M. when I apand mine was unknown, I put cere-proached the dwelling of my new acmony aside at once, by asking in-quaintance; and as its low roof met formation upon subjects connected my sight, the thought occurred whethwith a farm, which it seemed he was er my littte blue-eyed friend would, cultivating. While he was enlarg-after a lapse of two weeks, recognise ing upon a topic that was evidently his former acquaintance. I confess pleasing to him, though I must con- that as I moved towards him, some The philosophy of Woman's Religion. 201 their long dark lashes; and as the light trickled through the veins near the window, I sometimes thought lovely features on which I gazed. I stooped to press a kiss upon its face; it was cold and the tears that I dropped upon it, trickled off as if they had fell upon polished marble. As little anxiety was experienced that|| prominent forehead, was set off by he should give evidence of pleasure the fine silky hair that stretched in at my return. I had furnished my a semicircle towards the temples.— pockets with some trifles for him, There was a transparency in the and anticipated his pleasure at the skin, through which the blue veins reception, the delight with which he showed with wonderful distinctness; would reach forward to catch them, and the budding whiteness of the and the pleasure that would dance teeth was discernible between the in his eye or play around his mouth, slightly opened lips; and his little as he received the tokens of my af- hands were crossed below his breast; fection. His mother, too, had ever their beauty had not departed; but shown so much gratification at my the eyes as I gazed upwards, gleamfondness for her little boy, that Ied glassy between the lids, through promised myself pleasure in her delight. Pursuing these anticipations, I arrived by a short turn in the road, di-that life was returning to animate the rectly in front of the dwelling, without discovering a member of the family. The stopping of the horse in front of the house, I thought, would soon bring some one to the door. I waited several minutes; no one ap-I raised my head from the coffin, my peared. The family might be absent, eyes met those of the mother. We or perhaps sick; the last thought de- gaze upon the dead with regret for termined me; so dismounting, I open-their loss; we look upon the inanied the wicket gate, and proceeded mate corpse of an infant, and mourn under an arbor of grape vines to the that it is so soon snatched away; we house. The front door was open, dwell with fondness upon its feaand I entered. The parlor was va- tures, treasure the memory of its cant; and as I crossed it, I saw the beauties, and sigh that we can no door of a side room open. I turned longer enjoy them. But when we towards it; and the cause of the un-see those whom the bereavement has wonted silence of the habitation lay left childless, standing by us in the before me. On a table against the dignity of grief, the silent cause of wall of the room rested a coffin.sorrow yet stretched before them, With a single step I was at its side: we spring almost with awe from their I looked in it; it contained the in- presence. Such for a moment were animate form of my little favorite! my feelings. I wished myself abFor a moment I turned away in the sent from the scene that was about agony of disappointment: I looked to ensue; but the extended hand of again; it was too true; and my hopes, the afflicted parent satisfied me that childish almost as those I had excit- retreat would have been cruelty or ed in him, lay blighted. As I gazed cowardice. I pressed the hand of the upon the cold remains before me, my mother in the ardour of sympathy, feelings subsided, and I recovered and our tears fell fast upon the snowy that tone which the well regulated shroud of the out-stretched infant. mind never loses. It was but to di- She leaned forward, and buried her vest myself of those acquired feel-face with his in the narrow coffin.ings concerning death, and the child that lay before me was as lovely and as deserving admiration as when alive. The beautiful glossiness of his Fearing the effects of this paroxysm child; she uttered one more burst of grief and shrunk to her chamber. In a little while they screwed down the coffin lid, and a slight bustle denoted preparations for the procession to the grave. I followed a sion had called together; and as we entered the city of the dead, I saw by the little heap of fresh turned earth, where the tenement of my little favorite was prepared. I have been afflicted, and in my sorrow I will not sin; neither will I charge God foolishly. But in my darling's sickness, he lay night and day upon my knees, until he died; and the kind officiousness of neighbors has kept me from a solitary in-mong the very few whom the occadulgence of grief until now. Let, me, then, ere they shut him out of my sight forever-let me once more feel his face imprinting its features on my cheek, though it be cold as death. I came to yield up in silence The line of followers assembled and solitude, my child, to Him who round the little grave, and the coffin gave it; but not without the feelings lay at its mouth. At length the and grief of a mother. I have bow- hoarse rumbling of the cords, and ed to the chastisement; I have even the suppressed sound of clods falling kissed the rod that smote me; but I far down upon the coffin, told that have not mistaken stoicism for resig- the dust had been committed to dust. nation, nor offered the Lord an un- I looked for the officiating clergyfeeling for a submissive mind. Four man, and others appeared to await times has the hand of heaven visited his service. There was none. It me in affliction, and I have not mur-was now that I feared the firmness mured; and now, when the last of the mother. She had been allamb of the flock is taken, I have in most distracted by grief, when her the hour of prayer and solitude, ex- child lay before her, in her own claimed "The Lord giveth, and house. What could sustain her, the Lord taketh away;" and when when she looked down into the deep the passion of grief shall have sub-pit, and saw it there, girt in with the sided, when the cords of affection, dampness of the grave, lying cold now torn asunder, shall have ceased and stretched out, forever to be septo bleed, and mourning shall have arated from her gaze, and to become become woven into the tissue of the companion and pray of worms. life, instead of being, as now, its whole web, then perhaps I may add "Blessed be the name of the Lord." But oh so lovely, and so bright in promise, of all that a parent's heart can ask, and to lie now so cold." The father stepped forward, and looked down upon his child; he withdrew with clamorous grief.The mother advanced, and standing upon a little eminence of fresh earth, she gazed silently down. I could Again the mother threw herself not see her face; but when she raisupon the coffin, and nestled her face ed her head to retire, an expression with that of her infant. I saw that of agony was passing from her feait was no time to offer consolation. tures, her lips remained firmly closShe had restrained her grief during||ed, and her eyes were inflamed. As the presence of her neighbors; and she stepped from the grave, she utnow that she thought herself alone, tered in scarcely an audible voice, she had come from her chamber to " I shall go unto him; but he shall indulge a mother's grief. return no more to me. "" In a short time the people of the If there is one who reads this vicinity were seen gathering towards sketch, and feels that it is sometimes the house, with a view of attending good to share in the sorrows of oththe funeral. The mother impresseders, let him go forth, as I have done, a new kiss upon the lips of her dead and he will find abundant food for Scripture Evidences of Christ's Divinity. 203 sympathy, and numberless scenes in||pect no Messiah after him :" but nature, that will move and instruct this notion was rejected with abhorhim more than the wildest bodings rence by the rest of the Jews. Geforth of fancy. SCRIPTURE EVIDENCES OF CHRIST'S DIVINITY. ever " A mar in Sanhed, Cap. Chelech. Isaiah ix, v, 6. "For unto us a child is born, a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders; Paslm xiv. v. 6. 7. "Thy throne, and his name shall be called WonO God, is forever and ever: there- derful Counsellor, the Mighty God, fore God, thy God, hath annointed the Father of eternity, the Prince of thee (even as Man) with the oil of Peace." Zachar. vii, v, 10. "And gladness above thy fellows." Ap- they shall look upon me, whom they plied by St. Paul to Christ. Heb. i, have pierced, saith the Lord of -Psalm xc, v. 2. "Before the mounHosts." Applied by St. John to our tains were brought forth, or Saviour. Zachar. xiii, v, 7. thou hadst formed the earth and the wake, O sword, against my shepherd, world, even from everlasting to ever- and against the man that is my fellasting, thou art God." Allowed by low, saith the Lord of Hosts, smite the Jewish Rabbins to be addressed the shepherd and the sheep be scatto the Messiah. Psalm cii. v. 24. 25, tered." Applied by our Lord himself. "O my God, of old thou hast laid To come now to the New Testament. the foundation of the earth, and the The objectors deny the incarnation heavens are the works of thy hands." of our Lord, and maintain that Jesus Applied by St. Paul to Christ. Heb. is not the Son of God, but the Son of i, Psalm cx. v. 1. "The Lord said Joseph. If we believe the Scriptures unto my Lord, sit thou on my right at all, their assertion is most unfounhand, until I make thine enemies ded, because it is clearly proved both thy footstool." Granted by all the by St. Matthew and St. Luke, that ancient Hebrew doctors to belong to Christ could not be the Son of Jothe Messiah, applied by Christ to seph; (Vid. Luke c. i, 34,) for why himself, and allowed by the Jews, should the latter Evangelists trace (his hearers) to be a psalm of David's the pedigree of our Saviour in the concerning the Messiah. The word line of Mary, to prove him the deLord is commonly Jehovah in the o- scendant of David, if he were acturiginal Hebrew as Gen. xix, v, 25. ally the Son of Joseph, the undoubt"then Jehovah (the Lord) rained ed descendant of David? upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone what purpose should he insert that and fire from Jehovah (the Lord) out extraordinary parenthesis, (as was of heaven." Isaiah vii, v, 14. "Be- supposed) except to shew that the hold, a virgin shall conceive, and popular idea of his being " the Carbear a son, and shall call his name penters Son," was truly erroneous. Immanuel," (God with us). Quoted In the 2d chapter of St. Luke we by St. Matthew, chapter i. The ob- are told, that when Joseph and Majectors, want, on their own ipse dix-ry were returning home from Jeruit, without any authority whatever, salem, they missed Jesus, and said to blot out this chapter from the to him, when they found him, "Son scriptures, and to maintain, as some why hast thou dealt thus with us?— Jews have done before them, this Thy father, (that is Joseph my husprophecy alludes to Hezekiah; but band, and so far thy father) and I Hezekiah was nine years old when have sought the sorrowing." And the prophecy was uttered. One of he said unto them," how is it that their doctors, wishing to apply it to ye sought me ? Wist ye not that I Hezekiah, says, "they ought to ex-must be about my Father's business And to |