Believe, me, good sir, I do not state fhese things thus strongly in order to harrass your mind, but merely to warn you of the tendency and consequences of your new faith, of which I would fain persuade myself you are not fully aware. If, indeed, you see all these consequences, and can look at them and the scriptures at the same time, with an undaunted face, I shall admire your courage, whatever I may think of your creed. You seem to intimate a belief that you have been led in your inquiries by the Holy Spirit; that you have not been guided by an evil spirit I am fully prepared to admit; but I must demur to your statement of divine influences when I see you adopting sentiments so offensive, (as I cannot but deem them) to the clearly revealed will of God. Divine teachings, you know, are claim ed by men of almost all sentiments, and claimed most eagerly by the great est fanatics, by the followers of Joanna Southcott more than by Calvinists, and by them more than by you;-this assumption, therefore, goes no way in a controversy; the only proper question is, what is the doctrine of Jesus? His word is spirit; he teaches me that God is One; that he himself is not God but man; and that God is a Father, and always acts a fatherly part towards all his children: and if an angel from heaven were, in spite of these divine teachings, to preach to me the trinity, the deity of Christ, and the incapacity or unwillingness of the Almighty to pardon sin without full satisfaction, I should, as I valued my soul, hold his doctrine accursed. That the exercises of your mind have been very painful I am well persuaded; the operation of putting out an eye cannot take place without extreme anguish; and will you pardon me for saying that I consider you as having been employed of late in extinguishing the light of your mind. You, no doubt, think you have been on the contrary brought out of darkness. Be it so let the scriptures then determine between us; but as we differ about their judgment on the points in controversy, let us refer our cause to the Judge of all the earth, who will do right andmake truth manifest; in the mean time, not judging one another, nor claiming any dominion over faith, but helping each other's joy.-You will not, I trust, consider my remarks as VOL. VII. angrily made or harshly enforced; you request to hear from me, and I give you, as a christian friend and baother, my free thoughts. If they are good, treasure them up; if bad, reject them; but at any rate consider them before you determine upon their values When you have thought over my letter, give me your answer; in which I shall be obliged to you to state whether the congregation at Wedmore have changed with you, or whether your new opinions will affect the connexion between you? If you have declared your Trinitarian principles to the church, it would perhaps be candid to let them hear this letter. As to the future, you need not be under anxiety; for, besides the protection of a good Providence, which you have in common with all the children of men, your new creed will make you more popular than you could have been with your old one, and, if not at Wedmore, yet elsewhere, will procure you warm friends and zealous patrons. My recommendation would scarcely be of service to you with Trinitarians, but if in any thing I can serve yon, Í shall be happy to testify that notwith standing your desertion of the faith which I glory in, I am your wellwisher, and Christian friend and bro ther, (SIGNED) ROBERT ASPLAND. N. B. I intended to write a short letter, but have been insensibly drawn on to this length by the interest which I take in your welfare. Perhaps you will frankly tell me by what steps and with what progress you have arrived at your Trinitarian conclusions. LETTER III. To the Rev. R. Aspland, Hackney. Blackford, Dec. 9, 1811. Reverend and dear Sir, Your's, of the 20th of last month, came safe to hand the 27th of the same, and has been carefully perused over and over; and I assure you in truth and sincerity there is not a single word in it but what I have not only taken in good part, but considered it as a further instance of your friendship to me; and in a letter that I have since sent to some other minister I have mentioned this, "If I ever find such another friend as you have been to me it will be more than what I now expect." 5 A nity of Christ is this. We are strictly for. bidden to worship any other person but God, and yet God himself authorizes all the angels in heaven to worship Christ; and he certainly has been worshipped by various saints upon earth, and that by divine consent and approbation; and the thousands which St. John saw in heaven were all paying divine honours to the lamb that was slain. I can therefore feel my mind perfectly easy and satisfied when I am engaged in the same employment as the glorified saints above are. The chief particulars you expect me to relate in this letter are the steps by which I have arrived at my Trinitarian conclusions? and whether or not our congregation have changed their views with me? In answering the first of these questions, I may perhaps in some measure answer some others contained in your's. The first particu. lar which caused some doubiful apprehensions respecting the truth of my former persuasion was the attri. butes which I find the inspired writers ascribing to the Lord Jesus. Of course, nothing short of Deity could Respecting God's dying, I entertain exist from all eternity; I have there no such idea, but it now appears to me fore concluded that the following pas with considerable evidence, that Christ sages must denote the proper divinity possessed two natures, human and diof Christ. Micah, speaking of his vine,-the former of which suffered and nativity, says that his "goings forth died. If he had not two natures, how have been from of old, from everlast could he be both" the root and offspring ing." v. 2. St. John observes, that of David ?" How could he be both "in the beginning was the word, and "the Lord and Son of Bavid? In the word was God." God himself says, one and the same sentence he is said to respecting his son, "Thy throne, O come of the Jews "as concerning the God, is for ever and ever." St. Paul flesh," and yet is "over all, God blessalso tells us that Jesus Christ is the ed for ever." Christ also informed Nisame yesterday, to-day and for ever," codemus that he was in heaven at the and that "all things both in heaven same time that he was talking to him and earth, were created by him." I upon earth. At present, I see no possihave therefore been thinking with my bility of reconciling these passages withself thus; if nothing was created with out admitting the idea of two natures in out Christ, (as John says that it was Christ. not) how could he himself be a created being? 2dly. Respecting the sentiments of our people. We held a church meeting Solomon tells us, or at least observes yesterday on the subject, and after I rein his prayer, that "God only knows lated to them what my own belief was the hearts of all the children of meu," now, (somewhat to my surprise) they (i. Kings, viii. 39); and yet Christ says, all appeared inclined to believe the that all the churches shall know that, same, viz. the eternity and equality of I am he that searcheth the reins and the Son with the Father. Whether I the hearts. Rev. ii. 23. Christ also shall stay here or hot I can't at present gives us to understand that he is capable of being in various places at the same time, and that he can pardon the sins of men Peter observes that he knows all things. These, I have been thinking, are prerogatives that can belong to no person but a divine one. Another particular, by which I was led to embrace my present views, is the names and titles which I perceive the sacred penmen of the scriptures ascribing to Christ; titles, which I can't believe God would ever have suffered any creature to be called by whatever such as "the mighty God, the everlasting Father," God over all," the true God," "the only wise God, our Saviour." Another particular, through which I have been inclined to believe the divi say, My income, I know, will not be The Committee will only observe upon this occurrence, that the Society have equal reason to be satisfied with their wise and generous exertions, whether the event be conformable or contrary to their wishes; and that, indeed, in the language of the letter just read, "our object is in part accomplished, if we set the human mind upon inquiry, whether inquiry lead to us or from us." Christian Tract Society. 727 The exception, (The Way to Wealth, hy Dr. Franklin,) they were all original compositions, and the productions of ladies who were before literary benefactresses Hughes was particularly named, as havto the Society. Mrs. Mary ing furnished the manuscript of three of the new numbers. In addition to these new Tracts, amounting in all to 30,000 copies, the Committee reported that they had reprinted five of the former pieces. The total number of copies reprinted was The fourth Anniversary of the Chris-tration, 50,500 copies. In consequence of stated to be 20,500, making the whole tian Tract Society was holden, on Wed- this accession of new Tracts, the Commitprinted, during the period of their adminis nesday, November the 18th, at the Old tee intimated the probability of the speedy London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street. In completion of another volume. the meeting for business, Thomas Gib. Report next presented a brief account son, Esq. was called to the chair. The of the past labours of the Society, from Report of the Committee was read by which it appeared that since its comthe Secretary, and received with much mencement, it had printed, in all, satisfaction. It began by announcing 136,500 Tracts, of which the number the growing prosperity of the institution, actually circulated was not less than and the continued approbation with which its publications were received wherever they had been circulated. Several additions were stated to have been made to the list of subscribers dur. ing the past year. Means were also mentioned to have been taken to invite farther public support, by making the Society more generally known; and among others, it was stated that the Tracts had been advertised in the public prints, with a short paragraph," declaratory of the liberal spirit of the Society, as aiming at the diffusion of the moral precepts and practical virtues of the gospel, without interfering with the doctrinal peculiarities of any party or denomination of Christians." Notice was taken of the valuable assistance which the Committee had received, in the circulation of the Tracts, from the Auxiliary Societies of Sheffield and Exeter, which had been supplied, in the course of the last year, with about 12,000l. copies; and they strongly recommended the formation of other Societies of a similar nature, in all populous and manufacturing districts especially, from the success which had in these two cases attended the plan. Besides these, the Tract Societies of Manchester and Birmingham were mentioned, as having distributed considerable numbers of the Society's publications. The Committee reported, that since the last Anniversary, they had published six new Tracts, of each of which they had printed 5000 copies; that, with one 90,000. operation, the following statement was In the Treasurer's hands Due from the Society for Leaving a balance of. £. s. d. 18 3 2 96 3 9 272 9 6 35 4 3 422 2 6 133 2 6 for the amount of the Society's present £288 18 2 property. But it was added that this sum would shortly be increased by the annual subscriptions, which were now falling due. The Report proceeded in connection with its financial affairs to notice the heavy loss the Society had sustained by the death of their late respected Treasurer, James Esdaile, Esq. one of its warmest friends and most liberal supporters; and the appointment by the Committee, of his son, Mr. James Esdaile, to fill the office during the remainder of the term. The Committee concluded their Reits past success :-and expressing their port, by congratulating the Society on confident reliance on the co-operation of the benevolent Parent of mankind in every thing really conducive to the in tellectual and moral improvement of his institution and support of associations rational offspring, and to the advance- for the purpose of promoting truth, ment of his gracious designs in the virtue and freedom. Christian dispensation, commended Glasgow. their own labours to his blessing, and Opening of the Unitarian Chapel, the Society, in all its future plans and measures, to his countenance, direction and support. The Report having been received, the thanks of the meeting were voted to the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Committee and Auditors, for their services during the last year; also to Mrs Mary Hughes and the other ladies who had furnished the new Tracts; to the Auxiliary So. cieties of Sheffield and Exeter, for their valuable co-operation, and to the Editor of the Monthly Repository," for his assistance, through the medium of that publication, in promoting the objects of the Society."-The meeting likewise passed a resolution," that Mrs. Mary Hughes, on account of her eminent services, be admitted an honorary member for life, with the privileges of a life subscriber of ten guineas." Glasgow, Nov. 19, 1812. 14. The chapel erected here, for conduct ing religious worship upon Unitarian principles, was opened on Sunday last: when two very excellent and suitable discourses were delivered, by the Rev. James Yates, to a respectable audience. The subject of discourse for the forenoon was taken from Acts xxiv. The reasons which justified our secession from the Established Church, and Dissenters, were mentioned; the views of Trinitarians impartially discussed and compared with those of Unitarians. The doctrines generally believed by the latter were ably stated: as also the constitution of our society, and the motives which induced us to erect this building. These are a few of the The following gentlemen were chosen important topics treated of in this into office for the present year :- discourse, which, at the unanimous JAMES ESDAILE, Esq. Treasurer. request of the society, Mr. Yates has Rev. THOMAS REES, Secretary. consented to publish. In the afternoon COMMITTEE, the subject of the discourse was taken Mr. BELLERBY, Mr. JOSEPH from Leviticus xix. 30: when the ESDAILE, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. FREND, origin of public worship was stated, Mr. THOMAS GIBSON, Mr. HALL, the veneration with which we ought Mr. MACKMURDO, Mr. PARKES, to engage in it, and the motives which Mr. RIXON, Mr. JOHN ROBERTS, tend to inspire that sublime, pleasing, Mr. JAMES SILVER. AUDITORS, Rev. R. ASPLAND, Mr. J. MONTGOMREY, Mr. J. T. RUTT. The members and friends of the Society afterwards dined together, in number upwards of one hundred; EBENEZER JOHNSTON, Esq. of Lewes, in the chair. The usual philanthropic sentiments were given from the chair, with suitable explanatory and recommendatory remarks. The Rev. Mr. Benson (a clergyman, who became accidentally acquainted with the Society on the day of the meeting), the Rev. Mr. Maurice, late of Lowestoff, the Treasurer, (James Esdaile Esq.) the Secretary, (Rev. T. Rees,) Mr. Wilks, Mr. Hinckley, and other gentlemen, addressed the meeting; the harmony and spirit of which were equal to the experience of any former year. About forty new names were added to the list of subscribers It gives us great pleasure to record that the Society were forward to acknowledge the little obligations they lie under to this work, of which it will ever be the object, and it is hoped the praise, to encourage the devout and grateful homage, which it is the highest honour and greatest happiness of every rational being to yield to his Maker, were impressively enforced by a variety of arguments. At the same time the unprofitable and degrading nature of that servile obedi. ence, which is the offspring of ignorance and superstition was clearly and forcibly pointed out. The chapel is very neat, and will comfortably accommodate 700 persons. The whole expence of the building is, 1700l. There has been already sub. scribed 1000l. and the managers hope, that the liberality of those who have it in their power, will enable them to make up the deficiency. The cotton cellar below the chapel is rented at 631, Any money which may be subscribed, is quite secure, and the interest will be regularly paid. Should the sum deficient be advanced by one person, a bond. would be given over the whole property. If money could be thus had at five per cent interest, it would prevent the managers from being under the necessity of procuring it on more disadvantageous terins. " THOMAS MUIR, Jur. [Correspondence on 2d page of Wrapper.] MEMOIR OF THE REV. J. B. DEWHURST. To the Editor. [Vol. VII. While events, at which humanity shudders, are daily arresting the public attention, it seems also good to the infinite Wisdom, often unsearchable, yet always unerring, to interrupt even the pure I cannot perform my promise of and rational enjoyments of private offering you the following Memoir, life. Thus are taken away, in the without acknowledging my obli. midst of their days, those who gations to those gentlemen who were full of wisdom, and who knew have furnished me with its princi. to speak of excellent things. pal and most interesting passages. Such a reflection was naturally Should I have introduced their excited on the late sudden decease communications with any success of one endeared to his friends by I shall be amply recompenced for moral and intellectual qualities, the anxiety with which I have and who cannot be soon forgotten made the attempt. The honour by those whom he had wisely and of connecting my name with that successfully conducted into the of the late Mr. Dewhurst, I can. paths of knowledge, not esteem lightly. The recollection of having known him with the intimacy which very opA just regard to the improveposite engagements in lifewould per ment of society, forbids that such mit, and of having lost him so soon, a man should be numbered with will often revive in my mind that the dead, without a memorial, mixed sensation of pleasure and however inadequate, among the regret, commonly experienced living. Nor can this tribute of when we contemplate their cha. esteem and friendship be offered racters who died, according to any where with so much proprie. human estimate, prematurely, just ty, as on the pages of a work when their highly cultivated talents which proposes, like the subject and expanding virtues, had dis- of this Memoir in the last and tinguished them as most worthy favourite purpose of his life, to to have lived. Plants of his hand, and children of his care. -engage literature in its noblest office, the defence and illustration of scriptural theology. JOHN BICKERTON DEWHURST, eldest son of Edward and Catharine |