Review.Dr. Walls's Last Thoughts on the Trinity.

who would be willing to run the risk of publication. But it was not judged that the taste of the age would afford sufficient encouragement for the prosecution of the design. Dr. Furneaux employed much labour upon the manuscript; having transcribed some of the notes, and examined the authorities on which they are founded. Dr. Kippis, the last surviving proprietor, deposited the work in Dr. Williams's Li brary, Redcross-street. It is in the quarte form, very fairly written, and the Hebrew in particular, remarkably correct and beautiful."-II. 382.

The article "Free-Thinkers" (II. 523) savours of bigotry. The people referred to denominate themselves "Free-Thinking Christians." Whatever be thought of the mame, whether it be considered impolitic, or quaint, or arrogant; or, in the present instance, misapplied, it is the appellation of the party, and as such ought to be adopted by their historian. Free-thinkers" is, Mr. Wilson knows, synonimous, in common acceptation, with Sceptics or Unbelievers; and for that reason, probably, he uses the term, for he says, somewhat unintelligibly," they meet to discuss subjects, connected indeed with theology, but intended to undermine the doctrines of revelation, and erect a sceptical indifference upon the ruins of the Christian faith." This is sitting in judgment upon men's motives, and pronouncing sentence upon them not according to their professions or actions, but according to the censor's suspicion or ill-nature. The Free-thinking Christians" always declared themselves believers in Divine Revelation, and since Mr. this part of the history, they have b

"

Wilson wrote shed a very valuable

pamphlet on the Evidences of Christianity, (See Mon Repos. X. 515.) Unfortunately for Mr. Wilson, he recollected that this little a room contiguous to that in which party met in another party still less, the Haldanites, were accustomed to meet, and called to mind some lines of De Foe's, and was unable to resist the temptation to laugh, though at the expence of cha rity he assails the "Free-thinking Christians, with these couplets; "Wherever God erects a House of Prayer, The Devil always builds a chapel there; And 'twill be found, upon examination, The latter has the largest congregation.

We are aware of the defence which

the author would set up for his mode

VOL. XI.

4

1

677

of describing this and kindred parties; but we would remind him that nothing can absolve a Christian from the duties of truth and justice and candour; that any appearance of artithrow out large accusations against fice or unfairness towards such as their fellow-Christians, only confirms them in their surmises and ill-will ; and that, in reality, the fittest objects of fair-dealing and charity are those that know not how to contend without animosity or to differ without re

sentment.

ART. III-A Faithful Enquiry after the Antient and Original Doctrine of the Trinity, taught by Christ and his Apostles. By Isaac Watts, D. D. 1745. 8vo. pp. 56. Eatou. 1816. R. WATTS's last sentiments discussed in our pages [VIII. 683, have been frequently and fully 714, 713-723, 768-776]; and it is the disbelief of the Trinity. The tract we think quite clear that he died in before us is a record by his own pen of his misgivings, doubts and inquiries. It was printed in 1745, but least escaped and fell into the hands carefully suppressed. One copy at of the Rev. Gabriel Watts, of Frome, who re-published it in the year 1802, with a Preface explaining the manner in which it came into his possession. The edition had been long out" of print, and therefore the presem Edi tor has, with the leave of the former ? Editor, issued a third impression.

Trinity is prefixed; a striking monuDr. Watts's Solemn Address to the ment of the distracting tendency of the doctrine upon an intelligent and!

conscientious niind.

adapted than any other with which This little publication is better we are acquainted to dissolve that vails amongst Trinitarians, and which persuasion of infallibility, which prerenders them inaccessible to argu ment; and on this ground we ear nestly recommend its distribution,

ART. IV.-Ileresies Considered, in
Connexion with the Character of the
Approved. A Sermon, preached at
the Opening of the Unitarian Cha-
pel, in Thorne, on Friday, 28th of
June, 1816. By Nathaniel Phi-
lipps, D. D. 8vo. pp. 40. Hunter.

HERESY was once a stinging

term, but Unitarians have ren

678

Poetry-Translation of some Latin Lines of Jortin's.

dered it innoxious, as children are taught to make nettles, by bold and forcible handling. It is now retorted and will probably hereafter fix alone on those that make separation in the church by imposing unscriptural and unwarrantable terms of communion.

Dr. Philipps's text is 1 Cor. xi. 19; He first states the proper meaning and use of the term Heresy; 2ndly explains the reason and scope of the expres sion, "Heresies must be ;" and 3rdly shews the effect of Heresies upon virtuous and independent minds, and the ultimate good, which such corruptions and abuses, (though a great evil in themselves) by the firm and excellent example of those who expose and reject them, may be made the means of producing.

The following argument on the Unity of the Divine nature and person is well stated and is unanswerable.

"The general and popular creed, which maintains that God exists in three Persons, combining three intelligent minds, each of which is perfectly God, distinctly and alone, while yet the three united constitute but one Deity, appears to us to teach a palpable contradiction; because an omnipresent spirit and a perfect mind cannot be divided-because a whole cannot be a part, nor a part equal to the whole. To divide is to destroy. Who can divide a thought? or the intellectual principle which is the parent of that thought? Various as are the powers of mind, the existence of mind is identified with its unity.”—P. 24.

In an Appendix, Dr. Philipps re lates the rise and progress of Unitarianisin at Thorne; which exhibits another of those cases, now becoming numerous, in which plain men with the help only of their Bibles discover the error of the popular creed and worship.

POETRY.

Translation of some Latin Lines of The beauteous stars, when morning brings

SIR,

YOU

Jortin's.

YOU are no doubt acquainted with the beautiful Latin lines of Jortin, in which a very striking contrast is drawn between the renovations of nature, and the hopeless dissolution of man. They are given in a note to Mr. John Kenrick's eloquent sermon, "On the Necessity of Revelation to teach the Doctrine of a Future Life." I here send you an attempt at a translation of those lines, which, if they meet your approbation, you are at liberty to insert them in your valuable Repository.

The radiant sun, bright regent of the day,
Pursues a fix'd, undeviating way;

To night you trace his beaming chariot's
wheels

Roll slowly down the purple western hills;
To morrow he shall climb the eastern
sky,

And all the world his rising beams descry.
The silver moon, mild empress of the
night,
Changes her form, and oft withdraws her
light,

Yet beams again within the evʼning sky, And sheds a milder radiance from her eye:

the day,

Poetry-Translations from the Portugueze.

No second spring revives his mould'ring frame,

It mingles with the dust from which it

More wretched than, the beasts to pine Now comfort beams upon th' awakened

HAVING never been in Wales

who are disposed to hear an Unitarian preacher. It is probable the novelty of a missionary from England of that description excited their attention the more. 3. At the progress Unitarianism has already made in Wales, which is far greater than I had anticipated. brethren had kindly

and apparent eloquence. It was gratifying to see a number of persons unac quainted with English, sit with the greatest composure through a long service, that they might afterwards hear the discourse repeated to them in a language they could understand. In most instances a large proportion of the hearers understood English, in many nearly all of them, and in a number the whole congregation.

Mr. B. Phillips to be our appointed entirely new. This occasioned some from place to place; and as in many difficulty in the outset, as to the ar- places there were some hearers who rangement of my plans, and occasioned could not understand English, Mr. me much more travelling than would Phillips acted also as interpreter; on have been necessary, had I possessed such occasions he rep rated the subas much information respecting the stance of the sermon in Welsh, and 1 country, and the state of the Unitarian was told, did it with much accuracy: cause in it, at the commencement as II am sure he did it with much energy, did at the close of the journey. The ground being new, I shall be the more particular in my account of what I did, the information I collected, and my views of what may be done in that interesting part of the kingdom. I spent seventy-four days in Wales, travelled about eight hundred miles, preached sixty-nine times, and in fortythree places; administered the Lord's supper twice, delivered an address at a public baptism, and had much theological conversation with friends in different places. The congregations were generally large, in many places crowded, and the hearers, with very few exceptions, always deeply atten tive. I have the higher opinion of the Welsh people for having travelled anong them, and of the success of Unitarianism in that part of the island, from what I saw and heard during my journey.

During part of this mission, viz. the first thirty-eight days in Wales, I was favoured with the company and assistance of Mr. Meek, one of the students in the Unitarian Academy, who preached seven times, administered baptism, and participated in many interesting conversations. Mr. Meek also preached several times as we were on our way to Wales.

I was happily disappointed in three things. 1. In the number of places where an English preacher can be understood by the hearers in general, and that in most places in South Wales there are many who can understand him. 2. In the number of people in most of the towns and even villages,

According to the plan proposed, it was my intention to have gone from Wales to Cornwall; but, when I had been three weeks in Wales, I found it would be absolutely necessary, in order to the proper execution of my mission in that country, that I should devote my time to it until the season for daily travelling, during the present year, would be over; and that if I attempted to embrace both Cornwall and Wales in the present journey, I could not have sufficient time in either. This led me to alter my plan.

We entered the principality on the 22nd of July. After passing through Wrexham, where there are friends to the cause, having no introduction to any person or place, not having been able to gain any information respecting any Unitarians, or persons favourable to Unitarianism, in North Wales, and finding the English language very little understood there; we travelled across that part of the country with as much expedition as possible, directing our steps towards Cardiganshire, where we began our mission. In South Wales I learned that there are some persons, in more places than one in the Northern

Intelligence-Wright's Journal of an Unitarian Mission in South Wales. 681

counties, who are in whole or in part "Unitarians, but could gain no definite account of them. I shall be thankful to any person who can and will communicate to me any information respecting the state of inquiry and progress of religious opinions in North Wales; in particular af they will communicate the names and places of residence of any persons who are fa vourable to Unitarianism in that part of the principality. It appears to me that a correspondence with that part of the country is desirable, and might lead to some important results.

After the preceding introductory remarks, I proceed to state succinctly the particulars of this mission. It was exfended to six counties.

"I. CARDIGANSHIRE. In this county Unitarianism has been openly professed, and plainly preached, for a number of years; and ceases to excite the degree of horror which attends its first introduction, and which can be removed only by a continued fearless avowal, and plain statement of its doctrine, accompanied by a truly Christian spirit and conduct. I was informed that reputed orthodoxy has here lost much of its asperity, and its professors are more nild and charitable than in other. parts of the principality. The cause here owes much of its success to the, labours and consistent conduct of Mr. David Jenkin Rees, of Lloyd-Jack, the oldest Unitarian in this part of the country, and of Mr. J. James, lately removed to Glamorganshire. These worthy men were several years joint ministers of the Unitarian churches in Cardiganshire. The following are the places where I preached in this county.

1. Pant-y-Defaid. The congregation in this place is well established in the Unitarian doctrine. I preached once, and Mr. J. Thomas, from Islington, afterwards delivered a sermon in Welsh. The audience were deeply attentive.

2. Capel-y-Grocs. Here also the congregation are steady, well-informed Unitarians. I preached to them once, and Mr. B. Phillips interpreted to those who did not understand English.

3. Lloyd-Jack, a farm house. Unitatian worship is here conducted in a

large school-room. I preached to a numerous assembly of attentive hear ers. Mr. Phillips gave an outline of the discourse in Welsh,

These congregations are supplied by the before-mentioned Mr. D. J. Rees and Mr. Thomas, from Carmarthens shire, who succeeds Mr. James.

4. Lampeter, a market town. Here I preached in a room at the inn, which was crowded with hearers.

5. Llandyssil. Here I preached in a school-room to a large company.

Mr. Meek preached at Lloyd-Jack to a pretty large and attentive audience; and Mr. Phillips gave an outline of the discourse in Welsh.

At some of the above places many strangers attended, persous of different religious denominations.

Among our friends in Cardigan, shire, we found much intelligence, simplicity, Christian affection and ra tional zeal.

There are five congregations in this county who rank as Arians. They meet at the following places :

1. Llwyn-rhyd-Owen. 2. Penrhyw. 3. Cilieu. 4. Alltblacca. Of these four, Mr. Davis, and Mr. William Rees, are the ministers. I found Mr. Davis very infirm and unwell. Mr. Rees I had for a hearer at Panteg.

5. Llechrhyd. Of this Mr. Griffiths is the minister.

II. PEMBROKESHIRE. Unitarianism has been but recently introduced in this county; one congregation only is yet formed, but there are persons favourable to the doctrine in several other places. As the English language is chiefly spoken in Pembrokeshire (indeed in a considerable part of it they know nothing of Welsh), I thought it right to pay a particular attention to this district, and to the infant church which has been Tately formed at Templeton. After going forward into Carmarthenshire and Glamorganshire, I returned and spent eight more days in Pembrokeshire. The following are the places I visited.

1. Templeton. Here a decent house has been erected for the worship of the One and Only God, on the most economical plan possible, and one individual who is the chief support of the cause in the place, and who has a large family, is still £43 158, 6d.