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mon, and our best wishes for his will be rewarded with abundant deliverance out of the hands of success; and we have no doubt his malignant persecutors.

We beg leave also to express the happiness we enjoyed in reading the Report of the Committee of the Unitarian Fund, and our admiration of the indefatigable zeal of Mr. Wright and the other missionaries. We hope their labours

but when the Chief Shepherd shall
appear, (not before) they shall
receive a crown of glory, that fad.
eth not away.
I am,
Mr. Editor,
For friends and self,
Yours, truly,

WILLIAM ROBSON,

LETTERS TO MR. (NOW BISHOP) BURGESS, ON THE TESTIMONY OF THE JEWS TO THE PERSON OF CHRIST. LETTER II.

SIR,

&c. &c. which, though they are Permit me to express the sur. interesting in themselves, I must prise which the perusal of your beg leave to reject entirely in our sermon occasioned in me. I had present controversy, as they draw flattered myself with the idea of off the attention of the mind from receiving an accurate investiga. the main point in dispute. tion of Christ's discourses, and I particularly mention this cirfrom the comparison of them cumstance, because in the body with cach other, and the opinions of your discourse you have alludof the Jews, to have seen your cd to, and in your notes you have opinion deduced, that Christ is named some very much respected equal to God, the Father. But I and learned friends of mine, whose was much disappointed in finding defence I should think it incumthat the greater part of your dis- bent on me on such an occasion course was taken up with miscel- to undertake, if I could permit laneous reflections, in many of myself to wander in the least from which, indeed, you have my con- the main object of my correcurrence; but they draw off the spondence with you. But, as I attention of the reader to other shall not in my subsequent letsubjects, and bury the point in ters refer to the writings of any dispute in matter of comparatively ancient or modern author, except very little importance. Out of those of the two Covenants, I shall thirty-one quarto pages, zeven request of you, if you only are employed on the subject honour me by a reply, to confine set forth in your title. The rest yourself to the same rule. Let contain animadversions on topics the words of scripture be our much disputed at present: such only appeal; for, in the reference as the causes of the difference of to other wrijers, there is generally opinion; the propriety of human more time lost in settling their authority in matters of religion; meaning, than would have been the freedom of inquiry, so pro- employed in determining the sense perly indulged in the present day, of the text.

should

I have only to add, that in a consider any of them, and in contested point we cannot confine writing to you, I shall not suptoo narrowly the disputants to the pose the existence of any in the point in dispute. You assert the world bnt our own. If I can divinity of Christ, I deny it in persuade you, that yours is ill your sense. I believe, that he founded, I shall have no objecwas in all respects a man, excel- tion to prove the validity of my ling the rest of his fellow creatures own; or, if you confess the weakin the gifts which he received ness of yours, and are yet willing from God, and particularly in his to rest in some intermediate space, moral character; for, undergoing I shall then with readiness under. temptations like his brethren, he take to prove to you, that the was without sin. Between your sentiment you adopt is equally opinion and mine there are many without foundation, as that you intermediate ones, each of which have already maintained.

has its zealous adherents. It is

not our business at present to

I am, &c.

p. 182

ACCOUNT OF THE CONVERSION OF A FEMALE TO CHRISTIAN ITY, BY THE UNITARIAN DOCTRINE.

To the Editor of the Monthly Repository.

Hackney. shake and loosen previous habits; and if we look into life, we shall see that this is really the case. But at all events, I think Unitarianism as likely to prevail with a reasonable being as any less rational system. For let me ask my Unitarian brethren, why truth should not be as powerful as falsehood; and my Calvinistic ones, why the doctrine of unlimit ed mercy to repenting sinners, should not be as prevailing as that of partial election?

SIR, It has been frequently advanced with an air of triumph by our orthodox brethren, and too frequently admitted by Unitarians themselves, that Unitarianism will not convert a sinner. Now, sir, I must beg leave to contradict these good people, because I well know a living instance to the contrary; an account of which I will give you, and if you deem it worth a place in your valuable Repository, you are at liberty to insert it.

But if one who lives without I must first, however, ask, what any sense of God's presence and is meant by a sinner? If by it is inspection, and is under the influunderstood only a dissolute, aban- ence of every unchristian temper, doned profligate, I must say, I who ridicules all religion, and think no religious system likely every expectation of future retrito convert such an one, without bution, be a sinner, (and those who some severe moral discipline to are most forward to bring the

when every standard of right and wrong was removed, when truth or falsehood, virtue or vice were equally indifferent, except as she dreaded the shame of detection or censure.

128 Conversion of a Female to Christianity, by the Unitarian Doctrine. charge, will, I am sure, allow it) dulge a sufficient degree of vanity then was the writer of this paper to suppose herself one of the petoo deserving of that appella, culiar favourites of heaven. If, tion. on the other hand, it was false, She was brought up among the she was tormented with the dread Wesleyan Methodists, and, for the of annihilation, an eternal sepafirst sixteen years of her life, en- ration from all she loved or vadeavoured to work her mind up lucd. In this wretched state, a to a sufficient degree of enthusi- state of which words can convey asm to believe she felt the super- no adequate idea, she continued natural assurance that her sins a length of time. At last she cast were forgiven, (with them, the in- off all religion, assured that none fallible sign of conversion;) but could be true which had not for its in vain; for in despite of all her first principle, a perfect Dcity. endeavours, she could not silence In this situation, her sex, and a the voice of reason, though taught sense of propriety alone preserved to call its dictates the temptations her morals uncorrupted; if unof the devil. The small voice of corrupted they could be called, reason,― heaven's monitor in the human breast, told her that if God possessed foreknowledge and omnipotence, he could have prevented the fall of Adam, and the consequent guilt and misery of all his offspring. To get rid of this in- At length she entered the Gravelsurmountable objection, she went pit meeting, to hear "a sect every among the Calvinists. But here where spoken against." The subshe found still greater difficulties, ject of that day's discourse she for if the Arminians deprived God has never forgotten; it was the of his knowledge or his power, moral attributes of the Deity. these deprived him of an attribute "This" said she, " is something which could, in her ideas, be better than I have been used to much less spared from his cha- hear-Christianity may yet be racter, his mercy. They told true, and God be merciful and her, God foreknew and designed wise." She went again and again, all events, and the consequence of one prejudice after another gave this foreknowlege and design is way to the "words of truth and the eternal misery of the great bulk soberness," and in the course of of mankind; while a very few are two years she became a professed arbitrarily elected to uncondi- Unitarian. tional salvation. This doctrine she never did or could embrace, though she tried with all her powers, for she looked on scepticism with horror, and knew of no less exceptionable scheme of religion.

The distraction of her mind was inconceivable. If Christianity was truc, she was doomed to endless misery, for she could not in

From one of the most miserable she is become one of the happiest of human beings, and in all the troubles of life she has faith in God and joy in believing.

To say any more as to any alteration in her moral character would not become me, but I must leave those who know her to com◄ pare what she was and what she is,

Sensible how much she owes to advantages a Christian enjoys Unitarianism, she would fain re- above a Deist. move any groundless prejudice I will only add, you have here against it. She wishes also thus an account of a sinner converted publicly to express her grateful by Unitarianism, whom Methosense of obligation to Mr. Belsham dism could not convert, and whom and to Mr. Aspland, under whose Calvinism made a Deist. ministry she has reaped all the

A CONVERT TO RATIONAL
CHRISTIANITY.

ON PREACHING UNITARIANISM AND PRAYING TRINITARIANISM.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Monthly Repository.

Feb. 13, 1808. There have been several attempts made to vindicate Mr. Stone's preaching Unitarianism in the church; but I have not yet met with any one who has at tempted to defend his praying Trinitarianism in the same church: for whether he offers up prayers himself or by his deputy, it is the same. Here, in the presence of a God of truth, he prays to the three persons of the Trinity distinctly; then to the three persons in one trinity, God; in another place he prays by "the mystery of God's holy incarnation, by his

holy nativity and CIRCUMCISION, &c. &c." Again, "O Lamb of God, hear us. O Lamb of God, have mercy upon us &c." Now I have to request that some of your correspondents would account for this, and defend Mr. Stone; that, although a Unitarian, I may no longer be guilty of the heinous sin of schism, but, reconciled to mother church, may hope shortly to be presented to some rich benefice. This will of course very much oblige

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Sir,

Yours, &c.

H.

ON THE PROPER DIRECTION OF BENEVOLENT EXERTION.

However much, in the moment the more enlarged our views, the of gloomy scepticism, we may less of inconsistency we discover. feel inclined to doubt the infinite When we observe things partially, goodness of the Creator, when and take individual cases into we see the sum of apparent evil consideration, appearances which exists in the creation, it is a often beyond our comprehension; thought interesting as true, that but the general principle, that this

VOL. III.

S

are

is a state of moral discipline, will volence and general ability to de frequently relieve us from our good, will perform much less difficulties. With captious igno- service to his fellow creatures. rance we blame the parts; but than the other. The disposition when we extend our views from is what principally renders the the individual to the whole, the individual valuable in the sight of rays of truth frequently burst him who knoweth the motives; through the cloud, and teach us but he who takes not the means that all is just and good. to which wisdom directs, as in

Two ill consequences obviously result, from neglecting the dictates of prudence in the exertion of benevolence; we stand too probable a chance of sapping its very foundations; and, we are unjust to others.

To take as an example pecu niary beneficence.

But suffering does exist, and creasing his capacity of benevo❤ the calls of humanity and religion lence, does not do all the good he loudly demand our attention. can, and consequently, his chaThey direct us to exert ourselves racter is deficient. for its diminution and prevention. They direct us to make the happiness of others our own, and to pursue with steadiness the means of increasing it. Not that bene volence is confined to endeavours to ease the bed of pain, and to supply the wants of poverty: its sphere is more extensive, it enters into every social action, and, united with piety, forms dom useful to the objects of it; the best foundation of even every and if it were more frequently so, personal duty. But here is a wide the same sum bestowed upon more field for active utility. To visit worthy objects, and in a manner the sick; to relieve the distressed; more likely to serve them, must to become the father, brother, be more widely beneficial. In friend of the needy; to obtain the blessing of him who was ready to perish,-where is the heart so callous to the feelings of humanity, as not to warm with the idea!

Indiscriminate charity is sel

general it may be pronounced injurious to society; and, since there must be limits to our ex. ertions, while so many cases exist, in which we may apply them to greater advantage, these should But our exertions for the in- furnish the mode of direction. crease of happiness and the dimi- Indiscriminate charity is better nution of misery, must be directed than none, though its fruits are by prudence. The Christian's usually to be expected only in object is to do all the good he the bosom of the giver; but is it can; and as his powers are limit. not in general the result of indoed he must so direct them that lent, selfish sensibility ?-at any they may be as efficacious as rate, if the capacity of the streami possible. Herein consists the is limited, let it not be directed difference in value between the over the barren sands, but to efforts of the man of comprehensive fertilize the mead, or to supply soul, and of him whose views are the useful labours of the mechanic. bounded by ignorance; the one The pains of sympathy are with an equal portion of bene- spring of disinterested benevo

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