12 as Unitarians in Norway. through the body of Christians. If it were necessary to submit to a spiritual rule, many of them would choose the Episcopal as soon, and some sooner than any other; but they maintain that all ecclesiastical authority is unsupported by the New Testament, and rests only on human policy, ambition or mistake. Disconnect the authority of the Church from that of the State, and they would regard it with more apprehensive vigilance, and dissent from it with yet stronger disapprobation. They are better pleased that its powers, if such can reach temporal condition, should emanate from the chief magistrate, and be subject to temporal controul, than that they should be established on the assertion of divine right, and exercised independently of civil regulation. It is probably on some such ground as this that several of them are of opinion that the veto upon the constitution of a Catholic episcopacy should not be conceded by the civil authority in any country, that wishes to remain free. If any portion of Christian professors, say they, will be subject to an absolute ecclesiastical rule, or if they believe that the Christian religion binds them in this subjection, they are entitled to their opinions; no man can wrest them from them, and the attempt would be injustice and violence. At the same time, they who think with the English Dissenters that all spiritual authority is usurped, and they who think with the laity and many of the clergy of the Church of England, that Christianity does not sanction, and sound policy will not allow the exercise of any authority, (and ecclesiastical least of all) independent of civil jurisdiction, are also entitled to their opinions, and should not be called upon to surrender them to the assertors of a spiritual authority, subject to no civil controul. The principle of such a claim is bad, and the experience of mankind has not taught us that the practice can be safe. Spiritual authorities might not indeed shoot up into active tyrannies, unless fostered in their infancy by political men; but powerful laymen have generally been found, who thought it might be worth their while to foster them; and it would be an experiment full of hazard to civil aud religious liberty to set them above civil inspection, (placing at the same time their vassals of the laity on the same political level with other men,) now that antiquity has made those authorities venerable, and the suspension of power has not made the possession of it less an object of desire. If any principle is incompatible with good government, and, when put into action, fatal to the civil rights of mankind, it is the divine right of a hierarchy: and if it can ever be right to guard a civil constitution, by disqualification to legislate, annexed to opinions, that doctrine deserves to stand first upon the list. He whose faith enslaves him to a hierarch, irrespon sible on earth, is ill-fitted to assist in the legislative assembly of a free state. Such a faith is essentially intolerant, and he urges toleration to suicide, who requires her to arm intolerance against her own life. SIR, TH JOHN MORELL. HE following instances of the existence of Unitarian sentiments came within my notice during a late tour in Norway. A Captain S- master of a merchant vessel, a man both of family and education, he being connected with people of the first consequence, happened to be a fellow lodger with myself in the same room, at an inn at Christiania. We were much together during a period of three weeks, and living in the same room, it naturally occurred (as he spoke English remarkably well) that we often communicated our ideas upon various subjects to one another. Amongst others was also religion, and in the course of a conversation on this head, I took occasion to inform him that I did not myself belong to the Established Church of my country, for that I could not believe many things which were asserted to be true by its advocates. I instanced the doctrine of the Trinity in Unity, the Godhead of our Saviour, original sin, and I think some other points which I do not now recollect. I also declared my belief that Christ was simply a human being, extraordinarily gifted for wise purposes. Captain S who had hitherto studiously avoided religious topics, and once before checked me when I accidentally touched upon them, was greatly surprised to find Callender's Translation of the Epistle to the Ephesians. my sentiments accord so entirely with bis own, but remarked, that he generally endeavoured to avoid talking upon these points in his country, as those who were of a contrary opinion would never suffer themselves to be convinced against their will, and disputing on religion was often worse than useless. He A second instance of the existence of Unitarianism occurred to me likewise during my stay at Christiania. A Mr. C, a merchant of the first eminence and a man of consequence in a political point of view, took a good deal of notice of me, by constantly inviting me to his house and other civilities of the like nature. had been several years in England, where his uncle was formerly established; and it very naturally occurred, that as we saw one another often, subjects of various kinds would be started in conversation. I one day took occasion to remark, that the attendance at Church in Norway was mostly confined to high days, such as Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, St. John's, &c. on which occasions only is there much of a congregation to be seen. Sundays are for the most part neglected, particularly by the higher classes who but seldom visit a place of worship except on the days above stated. Mr. C-owned the remark was just; his opinion was, that this neglect partly arose from the miserable jargon that was usually delivered from the pulpit. I then told him that in England the practice of attending upon divine worship was extremely prevalent. We afterwards got upon the subject of the great variety of existing sects in my country, the leading tenets of some of which I explained to him. Amongst others I touched upon Unitarianism, without hinting that I was at all connected with this description of Christians, till after he had acknowledged to me, that their ideas were exactly those he had formed for some years. He further added, that it was well known that many of the clergy were of the same opinions as himself, but that the restraint of the law prevented them from openly professing their sentiments, as it is a fundamental part of the constitution just established, that no other but the Lutheran religion shall be openly professed and inculcated. The identical law upon this 13 head is singularly worded to avoid the reproach of bigotry and intolerance; it declares, “That all parents who profess the established religion shall educate their children in the same, no other mode of public worship being permitted." It may not perhaps be amiss to add here that Jews are not allowed to reside or settle in Norway. This harsh regulation opens a door for the commission of perjury; as it is well known that two opulent families at Christiania are merely professing Christians, in order to avoid being troubled. SIR, THE T. HE notion of translating the scripture word for word was not peculiar to John Canne, whose Bible is described, x. 548. I have before me a small pamphlet thus entitled : "Essay towards a literal English Version of the New Testament in the Epistle of the Apostle Paul directed to the Ephesians; by John Callender, Esquire, Glasgow. London; reprinted for Alexander Grant," who thus begins his Preface: "Mr. John Callender was a gentleman of undeniable character, and according to all accounts that ever I could learn of him he understood the originals well. 'Tis much to be regretted that he in his life-time, had not translated the whole of the New Testament from the original Greek, in the same manner as he has done the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians. With what literal ancient simplicity does this little translation appear, compared with the English idiom. Mr. Callender's words are as follows: Those who love to search the scriptures, and to read them divested of every human gloss, will not, perhaps, be displeased to see a version so entirely literal, as to abandon the English idiom altogether; that the genius of the Greek language may be every where preserved, and even the unlearned reader made to feel the energy of the divine original.' The above words are very expressive to a common understanding." That your readers may judge whe ther with his editor they can regret that Mr. Callender's labours in literal translation were so limited, I will transcribe a few passages, beginning 14 Query with regard to a Sunday Toll. with the first sixteen verses of the epistle. "Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God to the saints, being in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you, and peace, from God the Father of us, and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed the God and Father of the Lord of us, Jesus Christ, who is blessing us by every blessing spiritual, in the places above the heavens, in Christ; Like as he out-chose us in him, before the founding of the world, for us to be holy and blameless before him in love: Having selected us into sonship by Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of the will of himself, to the praise of the glory of the grace of himself, by which he graced us in the beloved. In whom we have redemption by the blood of him, the remission of sins, according to the richness of the grace of him. Of which he was abundant to us in all wisdom, and prudence, having revealed to us the mystery of the will of himself, according to the good pleasure of himself, which he before purposed in himself. For the dispensation of the fulness of the times, to bring under one head all things in the Christ, those both in the heavens, and those upon the earth in him. In whom also we are made heirs, selected according to the fore-purpose of Him who to all things giveth energy, according to the council of the will of himself; that we might be to the praise of the glory of him, who first hoped in the Christ. In whom also ye having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of the salvation of you in which also having believed ye were sealed by the spirit of promise, the holy who is the earnest of the inheritance of us, in the redemption of the possession bought, to the praise of the glory of him. Wherefore also I, hearing the faith, among you, in the Lord Jesus, and the love to all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, mention of you making in the prayers of me." : Ch. iv. 25, &c. "Wherefore laying aside lies, speak truth, every one with the neighbour of him; because we are of each other members. Be angry and do not sin; the sun let not set upon the wrath of you; neither give place to the accuser. The stealer no more let steal; but rather let him labour, working the right with hands, that he may have to impart to him that needeth." In verse 32, I find "in Christ," instead of the systematic rendering of the common version. Ch. vi. 1, &c. "Children obey the voice of the parents of you in the Lord. For this is just. Honour the father of thee, and the mother; which is command the first in a promise; that well to thee may be and thou be long-lived upon the earth." There is no date to Mr. Grant's pamphlet. By its appearance, it may have been printed nearly one hundred years. Mr. Callender was probably a contemporary of John Canne, who seems to have been satisfied with a still shorter experiment on translation "word for word." SIR, BIBLICUS. Oct. 24, 1815. June last (x. 582, 385, &c.) EADING in your Repository for the Report of the Protestant Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty, I observe that two cases have been decided in favour of persons claiming exemption from paying turnpike tolls on the ground of their going to places of divine worship. This induces me to state to you the following case, and to beg some one of your numerous correspondents will point out how I am to procure redress. Doubtless there are many persons who are in nearly similar circumstances with myself; consequently I shall not only be obliged to you, but the dissenting interest at large will feel a like obligation for a clue to the removal of the grievance. I assure you, Mr. Editor, that it is not any pecuniary advantages which I am seeking after, no :-my motive is purely to support my privilege as a Dissenter in particular, and the privileges of the Dissenters in general. In the Report above alluded to, no mention is made of the names of the parties whose case was decided at the Suffolk assizes, nor on what act of parliament the Judge's exposition and decision was founded; and the second case is equally destitute of that kind of information which is necessary for me to lay before a magistrate for the purpose of procuring redress. The Case I live in a village about three miles from a post-town in the West of England, and am a Unita Mr. Howe, on the Persecution of the Protestants of France are deluded by blind bigotry and in furiate religious zeal, and redound to the credit of their own humane feelings, liberality and Christian spirit. THOMAS HOWE. The preacher having read some of the interesting and affecting details of the sufferings of our persecuted brethren in the South of France, thus proceeded: "I am persuaded that there is not one among you come to years of understanding, whose tender feelings are not greatly excited by the details which have been now read, of a persecution originating in the On of the most shocking religious bigotry and Protestant Dissenting Ministers of the three Denominatins in London, on the merciless persecution which has for some months raged against the Protestants in the South of France, I took an early opportunity of laying their distressing case before my people, persuaded that this would be sufficient to excite their tender sympathy and prompt their ready relief. If you think the conclusion of my sermon on this occasion, in the least degree calculated to aid this benevolent cause, and at the same time, to check any unreasonable prejudice, jealousy and dislike towards the Catholics in the united kingdom, which the atrocities of those who bear their name in a neighbouring country, tend to produce, it is at your service for insertion in your liberal Repository. I mention the latter circumstance, because I perceive danger of it arising from the sympathetic feelings which are generally excited in favour of the persecuted, and indignation against the fanatical persecutors. Let the maxim, however, of the heathen moralist be observed, fiat justitia. Let not the innocent suffer for the guilty. As we are professing Christians, it becomes us to act towards others, at all times, on the comprehensive rule of our common master, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." As a friend to the just rights of all classes of the community, I would suggest, that if the Catholics in this country, were as a body to express their abhorrence of this sanguinary persecution of the Protestants in France, and contribute to the relief of the sufferers, it would have a powerful tendency to restrain the outrages of those persons, who fanaticism, and conducted with peculiar savage cruelty; a persecution carried on in despite of the Edicts of the King on the throne; supported by armed bands, raised and organized without his authority, and under a constitutional charter which guarantees to all the people the freedom of religious sentiment and public worship. I cannot doubt of your readiness, my friends, to contribute to the alleviation of distress, which cannot be contemplated without a mixture of horror and the tenderest emotions. Blessed,' said our diviue Master, are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." And surely a blessing from the God of mercy may be expected to descend on him, who espouses the cause of the persecuted; who does his utmost to alleviate their sufferings; who if he cannot restore to them their parents, their children, their brothers or sisters that have been inhumanly butchered, contributes to supply the destitute survivors with bread to eat, with raiment to clothe them, with habitations in which to reside, with Christian temples wherein to worship the God of love and grace, and with ministers to preach to them the words of consolation, hope and eternal life. As nothing can be more becoming a disciple of the tender-hearted Jesus, than thus to relieve his persecuted brethren, so such acts of piety and compassion tend to afford the purest satisfaction to his own mind, and we may be assured will be peculiarly acceptable to that gracious being who is declared to be the refuge, of the oppressed,' and 'merciful to those who shew mercy." "Before I conclude, that candour 16 Animadversions on Mr. Gilchrist's Sermon. and liberality which I so often recommend to others, prompt me to speak a word in favour of a class of professing Christians in this country, whose peculiar religious system is as opposite to my own as the west is to east. I cannot doubt, that the inhuman treat ment which the Protestants in the South of France receive from infuriate fanatics, is viewed with abhorrence by the great body of Catholics in the united kingdom. Justice therefore requires that they ought not to be deprived of any civil or religious privileges which would otherwise be granted to them on account of the intolerant outrages and cruelties of those in another country, who are called by the same name. Would not this be a violation of the first principle of equity? Would not this be worse than returning evil for evil,' which Christianity forbids, even visiting the iniquities and injuries of the guilty on the heads of the inno. cent? Such conduct would do honour to Britous, to professing Christians and Protestants. By the religious and moral instruction indeed of the poor in general, and by granting to all classes of the community the rights to which they are entitled, is in my opinion the best mode of making good subjects, kindly disposed neighbours, and useful members of society, and of diffusing among all of them a spirit of mutual concord and Christian love. able, alleviate the distresses of those who are suffering the direful effects of lamentable ignorance, blind bigotry and outrageous zeal. Parent of good! regard them with an eye of mercy; enable them to hold fast their integrity;' to exercise fortitude, and to manifest towards their persecutors the disposition becoming the disciples of Christ, praying, Father forgive them,' and turn their hearts. Pour into their wounded souls the balm of divine consolations; and may their fellow-christians readily afford them relief, as they themselves would wish for the sympathy and aid of others, were they deprived of their earthly comforts; of their near rela tives and beloved friends; of their places of worship; of their habitations, and driven destitute into the mountains and dens of the earth, by the rage of persecution and the violence of cruel men. May such atrocious deeds among professing Christians, so shocking to humanity, so disgraceful to religion, be never more repeated, but that happy period soon arrive, predicted in the page of inspired prophecy, when knowledge, truth, liberty, peace and righteousness shall cover the earth as the waters overspread the channels of the sea.' SIR, N Nottingham, Nov. 17, 1815. "Had these principles been adopted the recommendation of your last and acted on by the governors of the nations of Europe, the British and Foreign Bible Societies, and the British and Foreign Schools, and similar institutions been generally established and supported in christendom thirty years ago, the sanguinary wars which have since devastated the Continent; the shocking scenes exhibited in Ireland, and the present fanatical persecution of the Protestants in France, would according to human probability have been prevented. Let us then, as we regard the divine glory, the interest of Christianity, and the peace and happiness of our fellowcreatures, do our part towards removing the cause of the evils we deplore, by contributing to enlighten the minds of men with useful knowledge, and lead them into the paths of Christian truth, liberality and virtue. Let us also, as far as we are Review [x.654.]I procured a copy of Mr. Gilchrist's Sermon, delivered at Southampton, curious to read what was described as " an acute, able and eloquent" composition, and willing to determine the extent of my claims to that comprehension of mind of which your reviewer speaks. With disappointment, however, I find that I can neither admire nor be amused. Perhaps it will console some of my weak brethreu in the Unitarian church to know that they have a companion in infirmity; and perhaps some of my fellowchristians who are without the pale of Unitarian orthodoxy, may be pleased to hear that there is one of their opponents at least who does not deem it necessary, or even right to lay aside the spirit of Christian moderation when he approaches them, or to address them in other language than that of Christian courtesy. I am, I confess, one of those "intellectual |