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"Still pleased to praise, yet not afraid to blame."

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We do not

to the Romish see.
mean to intimate liat religious
opinions are of trivial moment;
but our wish is to furnish contend-
ing parties with a reason for re-
ciprocal justice and forbearance.
They who agree in acknowledging
the sufficiency, the supreme au-
thority and value, of the word of
God, bring themselves under a
solemn obligation to protect and
esteem each other in their appli-
cation, severally, of their charac-
teristic tenet. None of them
being infallible, none are to speak
or act as though they urged the
claim. Their duty is to abstain

ART. I. An Examination of Dr. Marsh's Inquiry relative to the Bruish and Foreign Bible Society: In a Series of Letters to the Rev. E. D. Clarke, Professor of Mineralogy in the University of Cambridge, By the Rev. W. Deultry, A. M. F. R. S. Fellow of Trinity College, and examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Bristol. London printed for Hatchard and Co. 8vo. pp. 127. 1812. ART. II. The Speech of Thomas Lister, Esq. delivered in the County-hall in Stafford, April 8, 1812, as Chairman of a Meeting assembled for the For from injurious suspicions, from mation of an Auxiliary British calumnious language, and to use no weapons, in their contests, exand Foreign Bible Society, for the County of Stafford. Stafford: cept those of argument and love. printed for Longman and Co. Such is the tendency, such will, London. 8vo. pp. 23. 1812. probably, be the effect, of the

union of different denominations We have great satisfaction in of Christians in the British and witnessing the controversy be- Foreign Bible Society. We hail, tween Biblists and Antibiblists. in this view, its progress and its Of the issue no doubt can be en- triumphs: we rejoice in the distertained while the infinite im- cussion which it excites; and we portance of the Scriptures to the are thankful that men of eminent happiness of man, both here and ability employ their pens in at hereafter, is placed in a stronger tacking it, and that others of the light, the most seasonable and es- same character are active in its sential service will be rendered, defence. If its expediency is at the same time, to the cause of more than questioned by a Marsh, Protestantism. Protestants have its plan and object are vindicated long been inattentive to their grand by a Dealtry and a Lister. and common principle: they have Those of our readers who are been much more zealous for their acquainted with the labours of respective systems of discipline the former of these two gentlemen and doctrine, than in maintaining in this noble cause, will find that. the consistency of their opposition, his present publication is not, on

the whole, unworthy of his fame. the poor in her catechism and They will here meet with consi- liturgy: but he speaks with high derable acuteness of reasoning, approbation of the mechanism of liveliness of style and felicity of Mr. Lancaster's system: he reillustration. Sometimes, indeed, presents the facility with which they will wish that the author churchmen may apply it to their had been less caustic in animad. own wants and views, nor aims at verting on his opponent: and, depriving the very merctorious assuredly, they will condemn his framer of it of that public praise, communication to the world of a to which he is unequivocally encircular letter of Dr. Marsh's, titled. which has no relation to the topics in dispute. Perhaps, too, they will conjecture that the following and a Christian, and does the delectable sentence is the compo- greatest credit to its author by the sition not of Mr. Dealtry but of liberality of its spirit and the geBishop Horsley: neral soundness of its reasonings. If we differ from him as to the usefulness and expediency of civil establishments of religion, if we cannot deem, his arguments on this point pertinent and valid, we heartily concur in bis sentiments and advice with reference to the English hierarchy:

"Any one may hold all the theologi cal opinions of Calvin, harsh and extravagant as some of them may seem, and yet be a sound member of the Church of England and Ireland; certainly a much sounder member than one who, loudly declaiming against tlo e opinions, which, if they be erroneous, are not errors that affect the essence of our common faith, runs into all the nonsense, the impiety, the abominations, of the Arian, the Unitarian and the Pelagian heresies, denying in effect the Lord who bought them.'

This decision is so much in the manner of the departed prelate that we suspect it to be his, and conclude that the usual marks of quotation have been inadvertently omitted. We have even a faint recollection of having seen the passage in one of his Charges: but as we have not his works before us, we are unable to verify the citation.

With the honest declaration of Mr. Dealtry concerning the Madras and the Lancasterian (or, as we would still call them, did fashion permit us, the Lancastrian) schools, we are extremely pleased. Being a minister of the Church of England, he is decidedly a friend to the instruction of the children of

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Mr. Lister's speech is the address of a gentleman, a scholar

"It ill becomes that church which first set the noble example of asserting its freedom, to come loaded with chains and fetters to destroy the liberty of others. There is something in religious opinion, that spurus at all human controul, and perhaps for this reason, be cause, when sincere, it rises superior to all worldly considerations. It may be and conciliation; but is never to be won, it may be converted by kindness overcome, either by the language of resentment, or the frown of disdain. I will moreover add that no man, or body

superiority, they never so completely triumph, as when they make the first advances to friendship and cordiality: on a subject too where Christianity is so deeply concerned, this maxim be. feel surprised that one angry or jealous comes so imperative upon us, that I feeling should ever have existed on the occasion.-The question then resolves church, clothing itself in Fharisaical itself to this; shall the established pride, standing upon points of specula tive doctrine, shut the door of Christian peace for ever against all who dissent

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from her opinions-o shall she, nobly a pleasant and not uninstructive and exaltedly disregarding all petty distinctions. viewing all the Christian passage in a publication of Mr. world with a feeling of maternal protec Aspland's: tion, unite with all the followers of Being at Soham (says the wriChrist in the promotion of his holy ter) one evening, I was 'accosted word? Will the church venture to by one of the persons who (as forego this only opportunity that may eve. pr. sent itself of establishing between will appear in the sequel) made a Christian and Christian the bond of distinguished figure as one of Mr. perpetual peace ?" (17, 18).* Gisburne's opposers. He inquir Without introducing the name ed if I could not get a congregaof Dr. Marsh, Mr. Lister has re. tion for Mr. Gisburne some where plied satisfactorily to the chief of London side. Upon my asking, his objections. Two capital er. why he wished to get rid of a mi. rors pervade the writings of the nister whom he had once highly learned Professor on this subject: extolled, he said, Why, would the one, that the churchman you believe it? When one asks alone, and not the dissenter, makes him, what are his sentiments? He a sacrifice in becoming a member says that he is not a Calvinist, nor of the Bible Society; the other, an Arminián, nor a Socinian, bui that Protestantism is a set of arti- a Bible-Christian. A Bible. cles and doctrines, instead of be. Christian! There's a fool for ing the principle of separation you!""" from churches assuming to them- Could we believe, as Cardinal selves infallibility and temporal Ximenes is said to have believed, authority. It is owing to the that men may become Christians former of these mistakes that with. without reading the scriptures, in the United Kingdoms Dr. our zeal for the success of the Marsh will not act with non-con- Bible Society would at least be formists as Fellow-Protestants; abated. Such, nevertheless, is though he is not averse from co. not the fact; and such will not be operating with them in the distri. the consequence. Of the themes bution of the scriptures beyond which agitate the public mind our own shores! In consequence none is nearly so interesting to us of the latter of his false impres- as the merits of this society. sións, he brands generalized Pro. These will ultimately be establish. testantism as something absurd ed even by the hostile efforts of and dangerous, notwithstanding Dr. Marsh. "The triumphant that Protestantism is always and flood shall roll with more ample every where the same principle. wave and swifter current for the The Professor's exclamations temporary delay occasioned by against generalized Protestantism, opposition." have reminded us very forcibly of

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To the same effect are some observations found in Six Brief (and we "can add excellent) Letters, occasioned by the institution of an Auxiliary Bible Society at Chelmsford, March 23, 1812. See particularly pp. 6 and 25 of the second edition. Rev.

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testant. On what ground does; Mr. Freeston, against the letter of scripture, deny transubstantia. tion?

Answer to the Question, Why Christian teacher, then, believe, are you not a Socinian? By in the inspiration of King James's J. Freeston. 8vo. pp. 56. translators? Has it not yet reachedLongman & Co. 1s. 6d. 1812. Hinckley that 1 John v. 7, 8, is a, There is a ludicrous solemnity forgery? Does Mr. Freeston. rein this farrago of ignorance, folly ceive the Apocrypha as part of his; and uncharitableness. Mr. Free Bible? If he does not, it would ston, who is we understand a mi. be amusing to the Socinians to learn his reasons for its rejection. nister in a small and obscure sect, "2. Because the Socinians ap- ¿ sometimes known under the de. nomination of Free-Grace General pear to idolize human reason;”— Baptists, assumes an air of infalli. the precise reason a Roman Ca bility; and, with a confidence tholic gives for not being a Prothat would become the papal chair, determines what is truth and what is error, who are holy and who are unholy. Knowing 3. Because they degrade the nothing, apparently, of Unitarians, but through the medium of the Person and character of Jesus Christ." This word degrade is works of their adversaries, he does not hesitate to accuse them of convenient to the unfair adversa every thing anti-christian; retail. ries of the Unitarians: it signifies ing the calumnies of such histo- to put a person in a lower rank, rians as Messrs. Bogue and Ben- than he has occupied or been supnett, as if he really knew not that posed to occupy, and in this those writers have by their intem. sense may undoubtedly be applied perateness and misrepresentations to those who protest against the opinion that Christ is God; but. forfeited all claim to credit even it generally signifies also an un-, with their own party. With a vulgar illiberality, Mr. friendly, a hostile disposition on the part of those who reduce a Freeston uses the term Socinian, though he acknowledges (Note to person's rank, and in this sense is; Preface) that it is not perfectly, a foul calumny against the mis-, descriptive of the denomination of named Socinians. They intend Christians to whom it is applied. him to be what he declared him to honour Christ by representing It is however a reproachful term, self to be; and if their scriptural and therefore suits the purpose of that class of writers, who, incapa. arguments be good, their oppo.. nents must acknowledge that they ble of reasoning, have no alternado honour to Christ.-Did it netive but silence or calumny. ver occur to Mr. Freeston, that there is a possibility of degrading and dishonouring the Holy One of Israel, who is a jealous God, and whose glory he will not give to another?-Before our author assumed the office of accuser and judge, he should, have been. careful, to study the matter in

Mr. Freeston has numbered his reasons for not being a Socinian ; we shall give them in their numeral order.

"1. Because the Socinians depreciate the Bible;" i. e. they point out mistranslations and in terpolations in the commonly received English text. Does this

question; but had he done so, he dering death as the great enemy would have found that all Unita- of mankind, and of ascribing the rians do not deny the 'miraculous victory over this enemy to God conception,' much less declare by Jesus Christ. He, the only Christ to have been fallible and begotten from the dead, by the peccable! power of his resurrection, hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light. This was the great salvation effected by Christ, of which the apostles were witnesses and reporters. To them the Unitarian feels his gratitude and reverence to be due, but he does higher honour to their and his Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

"4. Because they reject his expiatory sacrifice, intercession, &c." i. e. they reject Mr. Free. ston's interpretation of the word sacrifice, but they presume to think that they understand as well as he the meaning of the word, as applied to Christ in the New Testament, and in the true scriptural meaning, they gladly ac"7. Because Jesus Christ is so knowledge the sacrifice of Christ. Mr. Freeston betrays a strange ig- little the subject of their public norance of their sentiments and preaching, in which they so eswritings in the assertion that they sentially differ from the practice deny that there was any merit in of the apostles." Whence does the shedding of his blood. His Mr. Freeston derive his knowet cetera they do in all probability ledge of the "public preaching" of the Unitarians? Assuredly, deny. 5. Because the important they do not preach Christ in his doctrines of regeneration, justifi- way, if he preach as unscriptu cation, divine influence, &c. are rally as he writes; but let him rejected by them as enthusiastic." know that they do preach Christ Here is another &c. which it is crucified, which Trinitarians do highly probable the Unitarians do not and cannot, and further that not believe; but as to the im. they make it their just boast that portant doctrines specified, they their mode of preaching Christ do hold them in the sense in which is as congenial, as that of the selfthey believe they are taught in named orthodox is repulsive, to scripture, though they deny Mr. the plan of apostolic preaching.Frecston's sense of them as un- Hard fate of Socinians!' If they scriptural, absurd and pernici- keep back their doctrine, they do not preach Christ; if they bring it forward, they degrade him.

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6. Because I cannot see in "8. Because they appear to what respects Jesus Christ is a saviour, upon their scheme, any lay another foundation for pardon more than the apostles were." and eternal life than what the But though invisible to Mr. Free scriptures recommend." Where ston, it may yet be made clear 'does this appear? Unitarians lay that the Unitarians distinguish no other basis of salvation than Christ as honourably as they find the love and mercy of God, rehim distinguished in the scrip- vealed and confirmed by Christ. tures. The apostles have set They plead guilty indeed to the Unitarians the example of consi- charge of holding "repentance

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