able blessings which have resulted from them to our beloved commonwealth and country. We adhere to their faith and their worship, to their principles and system of ecclesiastical order and discipline; and both the one and the other we wish to maintain and to perpetuate, in their genuine spirit, and with all their benign and salutary influence, as an inheritance to our children and our children's children. You, not we, are the innovaters,-the aggressors,-the assailants. By you, not by us, are our religious institutions to be shaken to the foundation," and all those direful consequences, which you have so rhetorically represented, are to be produced! Are you and your friends, Sir, determined on all this? It should seem, from the portentous signal which you have given, that such is the fact.-Then, indeed, "the time is come, when" all who venerate the religion of their fathers, who love the gospel of Christ, who wish well to the temporal and eternal interests of their fellow-men, "are called to awake, and to remember their duties to themselves, to posterity, and to the church of Christ." To affect to despise your strength or your means, would not be the part of wisdom. We know very well where your seat is. We know that you have established yourselves on the high places of the Commonwealth; and that you possess advantages for exerting an influence as extensive as it may be destructive. We know too that the earthly dispositions and passions of mankind, and the imaginations and high things which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God," are on your side. And we are not unaware how apt many may be to embrace, with little reflection and as little concern, a fashionable religion which has a shew of wisdom, which makes the offence of the cross to cease, which accommodates itself to the spirit of the world.

Are "the slumbering minds of this community," however, prepared for such a change as you contemplate? Are the churches, the ministers, the people of Massachusetts, prepared to yield up, without a struggle, the consecrated faith and worship, the religious and ecclesiastical principles and institutions of their ancestors? Are they prepared to renounce the religion, and place themselves out of the fellowship of the general Church of Jesus Christ, and to embrace a religion,-an unblest religion,-which has never, in any country, or in any age, been admitted to that holy fellowship? Are they prepared publickly to declare against the Divinity and atone

ment of HIM, who is "the propitiation for the sins of the world," and in whose name alone there is salvation for men? to "break his bands asunder, and to cast away his cords from them!"-I trust in God that they are not. I trust, that they that are with us, are more than they that are with you; and that the God of our fathers has not yet forsaken the churches, which they planted with so many prayers, and watered with so many tears. It is devoutly hoped that "reflecting laymen," and all the people, will open their eyes to this subject:" a subject which most deeply concerns both their temporal and eternal interests, and than which no other can have a higher claim to their earnest and serious consid eration. I deem it by no means too solemn, to refer them to the awful warning of the second Psalm. "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. KISS THE SON lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little.

I ask however again, why must those consequences, so baleful to society, to churches, and to families, ensuc? If Unitarians are humble, meek, affectionate christians," it surely should be little expected, that a spirit of discord, and strife, and animosity, and bitterness, and violence would be displayed by them; and little of such a spirit, I sincerely hope and am firmly persuaded, will be displayed by the orthodox, notwithstanding the heavy accusations which you have brought and may continue to bring against them. I repeat what I said in my Second Letter, and I do it with the utmost sincerity and carnestness: Though we differ and widely differ in our opinions;-though we engage in debate on most important and interesting points;-though we should find occasion even to separate as to christian fellowship; yet there need not be, there ought not to be, and if our tempers were right there would not be, any bitterness, or wrath, or anger, or clamour, or evil speaking on either side. The gospel teaches us to exercise unfailing charity and good will, not only towards those whom we receive to christian fellowship, but towards all men." Wherever then we can meet, let us meet with mutual courtesy and kindness; wherever we can cooperate for any good object, let us amicably and heartily cooperate; and where we must part, let us part in the spirit of peace, and with sincere desires and prayers for each other's good. Yours, Rev. and dear Sir, with affection and respect, Salem, Dec. 1815. S. WORCESTER.

LANGUAGE OF SCRIPTURE

RESPECTING

THE SAVIOR,

IN RELATION

So God, the Father.

[ By the 4

BY A LAYMAN.

We have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior

the world.

BOSTON:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY T. G. BANGS,

No. 7, State-Street.

St. John.

PREFACE.

IT is matter of regret with many sincere christians, that the doctrine of the Trinity should ever be a topic of controversy or diseussion. They consider it a mysterious subject, difficult fully to explain or comprehend, and of very little practical effect. And as theological disputes are often productive of bitterness and alienation, rather than of elucidation of scripture, or of the conviction of the disputants, they are ready to condemn every thing of a controversial nature.

It is certainly to be lamented, that christians (however they may differ in opinion on speculative subjects.) should dispute with bitterness and ill will, or rashly and severely condemn all who cannot subscribe to their particular creeds. But when dis.cussions of this sort are conducted with candor, and lead people to a more careful perusal of the Bible, the repository of divine. truths, they are rather to be encouraged, than condemned.

It is evidently important, that, as we have the word of God in our hands, we should study it for ourselves, and see whether the doctrines taught us, by this or the other theologian, be true.

We should endeavor to learn what the Seriptures really teach concerning Jesus Christ our Savior. And it is to the revealed will of God only, that we should repair for light and evidence on this subject. This must be our guide and directory in forming our religious opinions.

The few remarks here submitted to the public were made upon reading some late pamphlets on the character and nature of Christ in relation to God. They were suggested by an examination of the inspired volume, by one not at all engaged to build up any particular sect; and it is humbly hoped, they will prove useful to the sincere christian, who calls no man Master but Christ, and is anxious only that his opinions be founded in and supported by the Bible.