1. Because Jesus Christ is represented by the sacred writers, to be as distinct a being from God the Father, as one man is distinct from another. "It is written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

I am one who bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me, beareth witness of me."-John viii. 17, 18.

2. Because he not only never said that himself was God, but, on the contrary, spoke of the Father, who sent him, as God, and as the only God. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent."-John xvii. 3. This language our Saviour used in solemn prayer to "his Father and our Father."

3. Because he is declared, in unnumbered instances, to be the Son of God. "And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."-Mat. iii. 17. Can a son be coeval and the same with his father?

4. Because he is styled the Christ, or the anointed of God. "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power."-Acts x. 38. Is he who anoints the same with him who is anointed?

5. Because he is represented as a Priest of God. "Consider the *** High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus."-Heb. iii. 1. The office of a priest is to minister to God. Christ, then, as a priest, cannot be God.

6. Because Christ is Mediator between the "One God," and "men." "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." -1 Tim. ii. 5.

7. Because, as the Saviour of men, he was sent by the Father. "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world."1 John iv. 14.

8. Because he is an Apostle appointed by God. "Consider the Apostle, *** Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him that appointed him."—Heb. iii. 1, 2.

9. Because Christ is represented as our intercessor with God. "It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."-Rom. viii. 34.

10. Because Christ says, "My Father is greater than all."-John x. 29. Is not the Father, then, greater than the Son? (To be Continued.)

THE CHRISTIAN PIONEER.

GLASGOW, September 9, 1826.

IN sending forth the first number of the first periodical publication in Scotland, devoted to free inquiry, and the promulgation, defence, and illustration of the principles of Christian Unitarianism, we are naturally called on to say a few words, as to our motives and intentions in commencing such a work. The Prospectus issued in July, will have partly explained these to the individuals who have honoured the Magazine with their names, as subscribers; but some additional observations, it is hoped, will be agreeable even to them, whilst it seems desirable that our readers generally, should be acquainted with our plan of procedure, and the reasons which have induced us to embrace and pursue it.

The leading object of the Christian Pioneer, is to uphold the great doctrines of the Reformation,-the sufficiency of Scripture, the right of individual judgment, and of fearless free inquiry. In consequence of acting up to these doctrines, we have been led to reject the commonly received systems of theology, and to embrace what seems to us to be the pure and undefiled Religion of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We confess, with gratitude to Heaven, that, after the way which the world calls heresy, we worship the God of our fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets; and have hope towards God, that there shall be a resurrection from the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Having witnessed the holy, purifying, and benevolent tendency of the principles we esteem to be the truth, on many a mind, having experienced their power to comfort, and cheer, and support, in the trying hour of sickness and affliction, having seen the energy they impart in the work of duty-their all-powerful efficacy in leading to the practice of virtue, and in producing the peaceable fruits of righteousness, which are, by Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God,-beholding, as we have done, the calm, the dignified, the Christian resignation they have given to the dying believer, and the peace of God which they have breathed upon the departing spirit,-we should hold

ourselves guilty of ingratitude to the Father of all mercies, and to the honoured Messenger of his grace, and of culpable indifference to the best and dearest interests of mankind, were we not to devote ourselves, heart and soul, to the dissemination and practice of doctrines so admirably adapted to promote and insure the improvement, virtue, and happiness of our race.

Convinced, as we are, from the world's history, that the commonly received systems of theology, have retarded human improvement, and been bars to the progress of intellect, and been productive of vice, and of every species of mental and bodily thraldom, we feel it to be our duty, however unpopular it may be, and to whatever obloquy it may expose us, to protest against and oppose them, Our wish is, that men would discard Creeds and Catechisms, the compositions of frail and fallible beings, and fix their attention on the words and actions of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. If, instead of bowing down before the Servant of Servants-or being deterred from an investigation of religious subjects, by the profane censures of the creed of St. Athanasius- -or crouching beneath the withering doctrines of Calvinism,-all men would resolve to sit at the feet of Jesus, that they might learn of him, we do think that individual and social improvement would be greatly accelerated; and, consequently, that individual and social virtue and happiness would be more probably secured.

Let a man's faith, however, be what it may, we desire it to be the result of individual judgment, of his own free inquiry. We ask, we wish no man to adopt our principles without examination; but we do ask, that they should not be condemned without it. We seek to make no converts through fear or coercion; but we do protest against coercion and fear being called forth to prevent conversion. We have no motives of interest, save the blessed ones of Truth, to hold forth, to tempt the profession of Christian Unitarianism; but we do abominate the use of Mammon's gifts, in deterring the candid and conscientious from declaring their opinions. All we ask is, freedom of thought, and freedom to profess the results of inquiry, without molestation or injury. Give us these, and we shall be satisfied.

Nor will the pages of the Christian Pioneer be devoted solely to theology. Whatever subject, with the exception

of party politics, has a tendency to promote the melioration of the condition of man, and to advance his knowledge, dignity, privileges, and happiness, will meet in us with sincere and zealous advocacy. The important questions of Education, of Capital and Legal Punishment, of Prison Discipline, of War, and of Slavery under all its various modifications, will be occasionally brought before the notice of our readers; for these are questions, we think, richly meriting the attention of every enlightened mind, and every benevolent heart.

Discoveries in science or improvements in art, which have a bearing on human welfare, which tend to diminish the mass of human ill, and to increase the sum of human comfort and enjoyment, we shall likewise gladly notice and record.

It will be our aim, to show the criminality of an indifference to God's truth, and man's improvement and salvation; to expose the sophistry which induces men to think with the wise, but to act with the vulgar; to lay bare the shuffling and evasion on the all-important subjects of Christian truth and righteousness, which is so common; to show, that in Religion, as well as in other matters, honesty is the best policy; that every motive which is binding on human beings, calls on every upright and virtuous individual, to profess that only which he believes to be the truth-conscientiously and consistently to maintain the opinions, which, after patient investigation, he deems to be consonant to reason, and sanctioned by Revelation to join only in that worship which his mature judgment and reflection approves, but never to sanction that which his understanding rejects, and his heart condemns -and to induce our fellow-believers, never more to be guilty of that tampering with every thing which is sacred in faith, or dignifying to human nature, as, for the sake of fashion, worldly praise, or worldly emolument, to go with a lie in their right hand into the sanctuary of their God.

Against the bigotry which would deter from inquiry, and the indifference which would avoid it, we shall equally battle. We deem them both to be inimical to man's improvement and happiness; nor can we accurately determine which is the direst foe. We trust, however, that we shall always draw a broad line of distinction between the error we combat, and him who entertains it. We can respect, esteem, and love the one; whilst our aversion to

the other, will lead us to attempt to uproot it. It is this distinction, between the individual and the doctrines he maintains, which ought always to be recollected, if we desire that charity and good-will should prevail; and it is because it is so generally disregarded, that the world is so much harassed by the bitter and malignant denunciations of those, who, judging by the temper they manifest, prove to the reflecting mind, that if they possess the genuine doctrines of Christianity, they yet know nothing of its spirit.

Such being the views with which we commence the Christian Pioneer, and the motives which have led us to undertake the labour, we earnestly solicit the aid and cooperation of every friend to freedom of thought, and the improvement of man. Communications will be thankfully received, and, if deemed likely to be productive of good, will be inserted. Of this, of course, the Editor must be the sole judge; nor will any communications be given, which are inconsistent with the avowed intention of the work, as described in the preceding remarks. The limited number of the pages of the Christian Pioneer, will not admit of lengthened controversial papers; but candid observations and explanations, by any religious denomination, will meet with attention.

May the Work, small though it be, be sanctioned by that Great Being, without whose blessing nothing can prosper; and may it be rendered by Him, in however humble a measure, instrumental in the regeneration and reformation of the World.

THE two Editions of the First Number of the Christian Pioneer being entirely exhausted, and the sale of our Work steadily increasing, we now send forth a Third Edition.

MARCH 3, 1827.