Review.-Marshall's Letter.-A Father's Reflections. to have but few preachers, three or four in a county being sufficient; and peremptorily commanded him to suppress them. The archbishop, however, thought that she had made some infringement upon his office, and wrote her a long and earnest letter, declaring that his conscience would not suffer him to comply with her injunctions. This so inflamed the Queen, that she sequestered the Archbishop from his office, and he never afterwards recovered her favour."* Honourable mention is here made of Mr. Cuthbert Simpson, who was a deacon of this first Protestant church; a pious, faithful and zealous man, la bouring incessantly to preserve the flock from the errors of Popery, and to secure them from the dangers of persecution. He was apprehended with Mr. Rough and several others, at a house in Islington, where the church were about to assemble, as was their custom, for prayer and preaching the word; and being taken before the council was sent to the Tower. It was the office of Mr. Simpson to keep a book contaiuing the names of the persons belonging to the congregation, which book he always carried to their private assemblies; but it happened through the good providence of God, that on the day of his apprehension, he left it with Mrs. Rough, the minister's wife.t During his confinement in the Tower, "the Recorder of London examined him strictly as to the persons who attended the English service; and because he would discover neither the book, nor the names, he was cruelly racked three several times, but without effect. The Lieutenant of the Tower also caused an arrow to be tied between his two fore-fingers, and drew it out so violently as to cause the blood to gush forth. These marble-hearted men not being able to move the constancy of our Confessor, consigned him over to Bonner, who bore this testimony concerning him before a number of spectators: You see what a personable man this is; and for his patience, if he were not an heretis, I should much commend him; for he has been thrice racked in one day, and in my house he hath endured some sorrow, and yet I never saw his patience once moved!' But notwithstanding this, Bonner condemned him, ordering him first into the stocks in his coal-house, and from thence to Smithfield, where with Mr. Fox and 169 Mr. Devenish, two others of the church ART. III.-A Letter to Trinitarian TH THIS Letter contains a forcible intended to excite them to a careful appeal to Trinitarian Christians, examination of the doctrines they profess. The writer asks, “Will you take in Christian charity my inviting you to a serious examination of your faith? Will you permit me to remind you, your Trinitarian doctrine and Calvinistic creed, are not true because you have never questioned their truth; are not true because you have been educated in the belief of them, faith: as far only as you sincerely benor because they form the popular lieve they were taught by Jesus Christ and his apostles, can you have an honest conviction of their truth." How will Trinitarians answer the fol- P. 4. ART. IV.-A Father's Reflections on the Death of his Child. Pp. 32. Law and Whitaker, Ave-Maria Lane. THE HESE Reflections shew the practical influence of the views Unitarian Christians entertain of God and his government, in times of affliction. A father deeply affected by the death of a beloved child in its infancy, presents the reader with his meditations on the mournful occasion, which are truly edifying. He says, p. 10, “This sad disappointment of my fondest wishes I am bound to consider as the voice of Almighty God, inviting me to wean my affections from the world; # "Clark's Martyrology, p. 497." prudently to moderate my attachment. to earthly objects; and diligently to prepare for that awful moment, when it will be my lot also to breathe my last, and to close my eyes for ever on terrestrial things." Throughout he discovers pious resignation, and devout confidence in God. P. 12, he says, "It is, I must confess, no slight satisfaction to me to be able to reflect that it was neither conceived nor born in sin." What must be the feelings of tender parents who entertain the opposite sentiment ! ART. V.-A Vindication of the General Baptists, from some aspersions cast on them in the Letters, pub. lished by the Rev. Joseph Ivimy, entitled, "Neutrality the proper Ground for Protestant Dissenters respecting the Catholic Claims.” Being an Address, delivered at the General Baptist Meeting-House, Portsmouth. By a Member (Not a Minister). Pp. 24. WITH we WITH much good sense this wri from the aspersions of Mr. Ivimy, and concludes with the following advice: "Let us take heed then, brethren, if we suffer reproach, that it be wrongfully; otherwise it cannot be persecution. Then if we bear it patiently, our patience will be acceptable to God. Hear our beloved Master's cheering message-Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.' Let us not be discouraged by the taunts, the sneers, the sarcasms, or the slanders of the sons of bigotry and enthusiasm. Our Master hath told us-If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.' He hath also said- Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world; and to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.'" : on Unitarians. In the first letter the writer appeals from mystery to scripture and in a plain, concise, and forcible manner, alleges the testimony of Moses and the prophets, Jesus and his apostles, against the Trinity, and in support of the strict Unity of God. The clergyman having after this, from the pulpit, denounced the Unitarians under the inappropriate name of Socinians, as "damnable heretics; damnable idolaters, and damnable apostates;" Mr. Payne wrote his second letter; in which he expostulates with his clerical adversary, on the illiberality and injustice of his conduct, with much earnestness, but without returning railing for railing: so far from it, he is careful to express his respect for the moral worth of his opponent, and praises him for his "commendable and truly Christian conduct, in behalf of the Bible Society." We are glad to find these letters are adopted by the Kent and Sussex Unitarian Tract Society; as the cause of truth and charity. they are well calculated to promote ART. VII-A Brief Statement of the Religious Sentiments of Unitarians, more particularly respecting the Person, Character and Offices of Jesus Christ; In a Letter to a Friend, who had expressed considerable regret and surprise at the writer, for having quitted the Church of England on Unitarian principles. THIS writer follows the advice of Tthe Apostle, « Be ready to give By a plain statement of his sentiments, dour. ART. VIII.-The Opinions of Unita- IXTY years have elapsed since mon, during which every thing its the first publication of this serauthor insists on as evidence of the self-existence of Jesus Christ has been. Review.-Unitarianism Vindieated, &c. repeatedly answered and shewn to have no bearing on the subject; as often as the advocates for this notion have ventured to take the field, they have found their opponents ready to meet them, and after a few attempts at argument have been glad to take refuge in mystery. Its republication at this time is a proof that Trinitarians still rely more on appeals to the passions than to the understanding. The self-existence of a person who was actually born, and who actually died, (and that Jesus Christ was such a person the scriptures plainly teach, and no Christian can deny it) is a notion so directly contrary to reason, and involves such a seeming impossibility, that nothing contained in scripture ought to be supposed to teach it, if it will bear any other construction; but Mr. Romaine builds his conclusions on the mere sound of words, arbitrarily applied, and makes up for the want of argument by thundering out eternal damnation against those who differ from him. P. 10, he says, "If you deny him [Christ] to be God, your sins remain, and misery must be your portion-Misery, the greatest you can suffer, in soul and body, among the condemned spirits in hell for ever and ever." Where is Chris tian charity? Where the meekness and gentleness of Christ, when professed ministers of the gospel, thus condemn others, for what at most can be but an error in judgment? the self-existence of Jesus Christ, are here impartially examined, and shewn to have a very different meaning: and his uncharitable declamation animadverted upon, and justly censured. Nor has the writer confined himself to Mr. R's sermon; but replied, with considerable ability, to the arguments of other writers in favour of the same hypothesis. He shews himself well acquainted with the subject on which he has written, and reasons in a clear and forcible manner. After having vindicated the Unitarian doctrine by scriptural argument, he asks, p. 44, "In what respect are the views of 171 Trinitarians more estimable than those of Unitarians? Are we upon their principles to expect something greater than the favour of God and endless felicity? Or are these prospects of greater importance if purchased by the sufferings of Christ, than if they are the unmerited gift of God to men through him? "In many respects the views of the reputed orthodox are certainly far less cheering and consolatory than those of Unitarians. The first believe him to be a being of unrelaxing rigour and severity, when offended; that he will severely punish every transgression, however unpremeditated, however forcible the temptation sincerely it may be repented of, either in which led to its commission, or however the sinuer himself or in his substitute. The latter believe him to be merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.' These believe him to be the kind and compassionate Parent of the whole universe; those consider him as a partial, arbitrary, and vindictive sovereign. Which of the two systems would a wise and good man wish to be true? Which of the characters above described, namely, the God of the Calvinists, or the God of the Unitarians, is it the Christian's duty to imitate?" ART. X.-The Influence of Bible Societies on the Temporal Necessities of the Poor. By the Rev. Thomas Chalmers, Kilmany. Pp. 40. 8vo. W. White and Co., Edinburgh; Longman and Co., London. Tanswer to the objections which, THIS well written pamplilet is an it seems, have been made to the Bible Societies in the North, as encroaching on the fund which charity of diverting the contributions of benevolent persons to another object, and as taking from the comfort of the poor, by exciting them to form Bible associations, in which they contribute one penny a week to promote the circulation of the scriptures. He shews that the subscriptions of those who are above the class of mere labourers, may be taken from the fund employed in luxuries, without sensibly diminishing it: p. S, and that, so far from the benevolent principle being exhausted by its operation in Bible Societies, it will be rendered more active in other directions. P. 9, he says, "It is not so easy to awaken the benevolent principle out of its sleep, as, when once awakened in behalf of one object, to excite and to interest it in behalf of another. When the bar of selfishness is broken down, and the floodgates of the heart are once opened the stream of benevolence can be turned into a thousand directions." He contends that the poor man's being brought to participate in so good a work as the circulation of the scriptures, by contributing his penny, "puts him in the high attitude of a giver, and every feeling it inspires is on the side of independence and delicacy." P. 25. This advocate of the Bible Societies, consistently, and with equal earnestness, contends for the education of the children of the poor, the happy effects of which he shews to be fully exemplified in the independent feeling, industry, and aversion to becoming paupers, which prevail among the mass of the people in in Scotland. state of existence, the benevolent affections which have constituted our happiness here, will continue to be the sources of bliss hereafter. An expectation so delightful tends to elevate the mind and purify the affections. It renders life more happy; death more easy. It expands the heart in gratitude to God, and in good will to all mankind." Unitarian doctrine, to let their light shine before men, by an open profession of what they believe, by uniting in the worship of the one God only, and by shewing the holy influence of their faith in their temper and conduct. The following passage, p. 13, deserves the attention of those who conceal their sentiments. "Convinced as we are that the notion of three divine persons being each of them truly and properly God, is not only a gross and palpable delusion, but that it has been the means of bringing Christianity into contempt; is it not mean, is it not criminal, is it not inexcusable, to conceal our sentiments on a point of such infinite importance; or to act as though we believed such a glaring and pernicious absurdity ?" ART. XIII.-The Divine Unity unambiguous; or, The Plain and Emphatic signification of the phrase JEHOVAH OUR GOD IS ONE JEHOVAH maintained, and Jesus Christ shewn to be the Chief of the Children of God according to the spirit of Holiness: including an Examination of John i. 1—14, Heb. i. Col. i. 15-18, &c. Pp. 40. HE title fully expresses the con THE tents of this pamphlet ; the writer understands his subject, and shews himself no feeble advocate of the important doctrines of the Unity of God, and the superiority of Jesus Christ in his office and character, though in his person simply a man. ART. XIV.-An Essay on the Impolicy of War. By William Pitt Scargill. Pp. 16. 6d. Darton, Harvey and and Darton, Gracechurch Street. FTER shewing that the aboli Ation of war is practicable, this sensible writer answers the pleas usually urged for its recurrence, states in a concise and forcible manner its evil nature and tendency, and suggests a plan to be adopted by the friends of peace for its prevention. Though we much fear the spirit of the gospel will not soon triumph over the spirit of S's. plan to the consideration of our war, we earnestly recommend Mr. readers. He says, p. 14, "Associations and societies have been formed for benevolent purposes in this country, and the objects for which they Poetry. have been formed have been more or less answered. What prevents the formation of a society for this object? The great concern in the first instance is to circulate knowledge upon the subject, to communicate to the people at large a knowledge of their own interest. When the nation feels that peace is its interest there will be an expression of that conviction in the general voice, that will be uttered in behalf of humanity and reason. "It is alas too certain that war never will be abolished so long as men content themselves with deploring its evils and lamenting its prevalence : some definite and persevering exertions must be made before any hope can be entertained of its cessation. It is in vain for us to flatter ourselves with the hope that after a long and sanguinary war we shall repose in profound peace and quiet; if we do not take some steps to destroy the system of war altogether. Living as is our privilege, in a country where the utmost liberty of speech and discussion by press is allowed, so far as is consistent with decorum and good order, a mighty engine of benevolence is in the power of every friend of 173 humanity. Would it not then be desirable to form associations in every part of the kingdom, whose object should be to raise a little fund for the necessary expences attending such unions, and that these as sociations should use their best endeavours to impress upon the minds of the people at large, the desirableness and practicability of abolishing the system of war altogether? Could the ministers of religion make a better use of their pulpits than to inculcate from them the doctrine of Jesus Christ— the doctrine of peace? There is no need of making this a party question, it is an object in which all may unite, it is a concern of general and universal interest; under whatever government men may live, whatever be their loyal attachment to their sovereign, they can conscientiously unite their endeavours for peace. "Nor let us imagine that associations for this benevolent purpose will be confined and religion in every part of Europe, in to this country, the friends of humanity every quarter of the globe, would cheerfully contribute their assistance to an object so powerful in its tendency to ameli orate the human race and increase the comforts of mankind." |