agents, and attempt to reconcile it with what appears to me glorious in the divine character, and essential to the equitable distribution of rewards and punishments; I truly feel myself confounded, and so oppressed with apprehensions of dishonour and injustice to Infinite Excellency, that whatever harmony of parts your hypothesis may boast, I am constrained to call in question the first principles on which the whole of your reasoning is founded."-Remarks, p. 9.

Shortly after the appearance of Mr. B.'s" Remarks," the late Mr. Parry, of Wymondley, also published his "Strictures", on the hypothesis of Dr. W. No author could desire more respectable adversaries than those of the Doctor, and nothing could possibly be more friendly and respectful, than the language in which he was addressed by them at the commencement of the discussion. Indeed, every person to whom the character of Dr. W. was known, would readily admit, that if there really were any pernicious alloy in his views on this subject, there was an antidote in his own breast, sufficient to neutralize a portion of tenfold greater malignity; so that had danger to himself been the only evil apprehended, the works of his opponents would never have appeared. But, however amicably controversy may begin, something generally arises, in the course of it, to produce different feelings. Thus it happened in this instance, notwithstanding the wisdom and piety of the combatants. Dr. W. did not personally reply to his respectable adversaries, but left the task to his friends, although he had publicly invited discussion. It has been thought, that this apparent neglect was felt by Mr. B. quite sufficiently; and surprise has been lately affected, that he did not express himself satisfied with Dr. W.'s explanations. It is, however,

but justice to him to remark, that the Doctor was not (as has been asserted) "seriously indisposed at the time." Mr. B. was too sensible and humane to expect any one to answer him under such circumstances. A former indisposition, and the danger of a relapse, were the grounds of Dr. W.'s apology.

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Mr. Gilbert, of Hull, then a student at Rotherham, having published a Reply," in defence of the views of Dr. W., Mr. B. wrote a short "Appendix" to his former work, designed to explain his views on some points respecting which he conceived himself in danger of being misunderstood. In this stage of the controversy, he also published, Thoughts on the Primary Condition of intelligent accountable Creatures," &c. This pamphlet, considered apart from the discussion which occasioned it, is highly worthy of the perusal of theological students, as containing a compendious and beautiful digest of the sentiments of orthodox divines on the primitive state of men and angels.

Some months afterwards, the late Mr. Hill, of Homerton, published "Animadversions," in reply to Mr. Parry, to which he subjoined an "Appendix, containing Brief Strictures" on Mr. B.'s "Remarks." It must be confessed that Mr. H. did not appear to advantage in this publication.* In

* Mr. Hill was a person of considerable talents and acquirements, but was certainly formed for any thing rather than a controvertist. Generosity and human kindness predominated in his mind in a degree not common among men. Influenced by these amiable qualities, he was alike unwilling to inflict pain upon others, and sensitive in reference to it, when inflicted upon himself. It is to be regretted that his true character was not better known to his veteran opponents. He was a warm admirer of the views of the late Dr. Williams, to whose eldest daughter he was, united in marriage. This amiable couple were both removed from the

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answer to him, Mr. B. published a Rejoinder," which, though perhaps unnecessarily severe, is as happy a specimen of composition as its author has left behind him. It is also worthy of attention, as it comprises a luminous summary of the opinions of Calvinistic divines, on" the nature of sin in general, and the doctrine of original sin in particular."

The results of this contest, it must be confessed, bore no proportion to the zeal and ability which were displayed in it. The opinion very generally prevailed, that the difficulties connected with the entrance of sin into a world of perfection, are not to be solved in the present state; and for this view of the matter, the authority of many eminent divines may certainly be produced. It was thought by some, however, that the discussion itself was too much decried, and its utility considerably under-rated. However small the advances might be which were made towards the solution of the main question, much light was thrown upon many collateral topics of considerable importance. Mr. B.sustained his part in it with great mental energy, and produced in progress of it many passages of nervous and elegant composition. It is due also to him to state, that he retained his opinions on the subject to the end of his life, and that with them he united sentiments of kindness and good will towards Dr. W. and his other opponents. In a letter to a friend, written seven years after the con

world, and from a sphere of great usefulness, in the prime of life. The writer of these pages saw Mr. H. a few days before his death, and found him reading Samuel Shaw's Farewell to Life, which, with tears of satisfaction, he recommended to the perusal of his friend. The particulars of this interview were related to Mr. Bennet, and were not heard by him without considerable emotion.

troversy had closed, he says, "This morning two gentlemen from Sheffield called on me, who have been employed in collecting donations and subscriptions, in aid of the Rotherham Academy. They were particular in saying that, in reference to the Passive Power Hypothesis, the friends of the institution do not wish it to be characterized thereby. They believed that the theological tutor doth not profess it. In answer to which I observed, that I still viewed the hypothesis with equal dislike, as of most dangerous tendency in the reasonings of merely speculative men, though the eminent piety of its author guarded his own mind against its influence, and therefore I was glad that it was no longer to be made the basis of the theologi cal lectures. Some time I may communicate a most striking anecdote, in proof of its dangerous tendency on minds not deeply imbued with the humbling virtue of the Gospel."-To this it may be added, that, in his last work, which was in the press at the time of his death, he has made an evident allusion to the hypothesis in question, and has expressed his disapprobation of it in his observations on the primary state of man.

In 1809, Mr. B. published his excellent " Essay on the Gospel Dispensation," the design of which was to "reconcile an indefinite mode of addressing gospel exhortations and encouragements to sinners, with the doctrines of special grace, and man's inability for what is spiritually good." While actively engaged in the ministry of the Gospel, Mr. B. had often "suffered much disquietude of mind" in reference to the difficult questions discussed in the Essay; and he has been heard to declare, in his energetic manner, that he should doubt the clearness of that man's understanding who had never found them a source of per

plexity. In his younger years, he had stated his anxieties to various eminent divines, particularly to the late Dr. Davies; he had also read the most approved authors calculated to afford him the desired aid and relief; and he employed his years of retirement in closely examining the subject, with the benevolent view of affording assistance to others who might be pressed with the difficulties which he himself had experienced. The Essay is, in fact, an application of the leading principles of Butler's "Analogy of Religion," to the questions of difficulty connected with the Gospel dispensation. Most excellent judges acknowledged Mr. B.'s inquiries on these points to have been very successful, and wrote him letters expressive of commendation and gratitude The Essay is, indeed, highly worthy of an attentive perusal by the theological student, who will find its leading principles (if he should see reason to admit them) applicable to many other embarrassing topics, besides those to which Mr. B. has particularly applied them.

To a new edition of the work, which appeared in 1812, Mr. B. gave the title of "The Legislative Authority of Revealed Grace, or an Essay," &c. The work, in this new form, was examined, with some rigour, in the Eclectic Review for January, 1819; in consequence of which, Mr. B. published a pamphlet, in defence of his former statements, entitled "The Eclectic Reviewer Examined," &c. It has been thought by some that Mr. B. was too tenacious in this instance, especially as the Reviewer had mingled his animadversions with some handsome expressions of commendation. It will be perceived, however, by attentive comparison, that if all the exceptions of the Reviewer be admitted, the Essay

will be left in but a mutilated state; and it would certainly have been no merit in Mr. B. to be indiferent to the fate of a work which was the fruit of many years painful study, on subjects of the highest importance. Indeed, no one who highly prizes the Essay, will regret that the defence of it appeared, since it contains a further illustration and development of some of its radical principles. And perhaps it will be conceded to Mr. B., by competent judges, that, on some points at least, he had clearly the advantage of his critic, particularly in the weighty discussion concerning the grounds of moral obligation. Besides, Mr. B. strongly suspected that "propriety and delicacy had been overlooked, in the selection of a theological censor, who would not reasonably be suspected of prejudice against himself." In fact, he was of opinion that the review had proceeded from a school with which he had been recently at issue on a different subject; and it certainly contains much internal evidence of such an origin. In these circumstances, it is no wonder that he should appear in vindication of his favourite performance.

For many years Mr. B. kept a watchful eye upon the Socinian controversy, and, at different times, had formed the design of entering the lists in defence of those doctrines which he regarded as essential to the Christian system, but which were impugned by modern Unitarians. When Mr. Belsham's "Calm Inquiry" appeared, these projects were revived in his mind, and he made considerable progress in collecting materials for a direct answer to that work. But a reply to it being announced from another respectable quarter, he again relinquished his design of appearing in defence of the Deity of Jesus Christ. He studied the other great branch of the controversy,

relating to the atonement for sin, with long and close application. He greatly admired the work of Dr. Magee on this subject, which he considered as unanswerable in proof of the fact, that a proper atonement was intended in the sufferings of Christ, though he thought the subject, in other views of it, admitted of still further illustration. Indeed, that author, in his opinion, clearly carried off the palm of victory in every instance in which he contended with Unitarian writers. Alluding to the subject, in a letter to a friend, he says, "I have lately been reading several works on the Socinian controversy; but what has most engaged my attention, and gratified my feelings, is Dr. Magee's third volume, on the Atonement, which is professedly a critique on Mr. Belsham's pretensions to critical acumen, as displayed in his "Calm Inquiry into the Scripture Doctrine concerning the Person of Christ." And, surely, never was a pretender so completely exposed as in this volume. Not a shadow remains of Mr. Belsham's high claims to learning and biblical science. He lies, between the two armies, a headless trunk, like the vaunting Philistine. And still a further threat is issued against the host, by Dr. M.'s proposing to publish a more extended examination of all the criticisms adduced in support of the "Improved Version.' You need not, therefore, my good brother, entertain the least regret, that what I hinted to you, in confidence, at Stockport, was never realized. The business has been done much more effectually nor is there need of any thing else to silence the arrogance of this vaunting Achilles."

It was, however, much regretted by his friends, that he was prevented from publishing on these subjects, by the extreme and unneces

CONG. MAG. No. 62.

sary delicacy he felt of entering upon ground which he thought to be pre-occupied. If his plans had been executed, the religious world would have been supplied with (what is, perhaps, still a desideratum) an able work on Socinianism, containing a judicious admixture of popular argument, and of sound Scripture criticism. He was too well informed, not to perceive the value of the latter; and some spe cimens of what he would have accomplished in this way, may be seen in some of the numbers of the Evangelical Magazine for 1816, under the signature Verax. These pa pers he sent to that work, after he had relinquished the design of a separate publication. He was of opinion, however, that, for really effective purposes, the other and more popular mode of warfare alluded to, had been cultivated with greater success. He, therefore, wished to include, in the Remains of the late Rev. W. Evans, of Stockport, (a selection from which it was once intended should be published,) a lively piece, entitled “ A Copy of an intercepted Letter from his Satanic Majesty to a Unitarian Minister." In a letter on this occasion, he says, "I cannot help thinking it worthy of being retained, as much more likely, in my judgment, to produce a strong impression on the minds of many, than the more laboured doctrinal discussion; of which an abundant surplus has already been expended on their camp, without much annoying them, as they continue to skreen themselves under the most contemptible glosses and evasions. Let this Congreve's rocket, therefore, be thrown after Fuller's Comparative View of the Two Systems, which, I am persuaded, produced a stronger and more lasting effect than the widest calibre of Biblical Criticisms."

K

(To be concluded in our next.)

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How weak were our utmost efforts to describe the mingled, but elevating emotions which filled the heart of the Apostle, when he addressed to the Corinthians this brief, but sublime summary of his faith and ministry. He stood, as it were, on a height whence he could survey the whole surface of human society. He beheld, as in one majestic vision, the great series of events which were connected with the actual condition and the eternal destinies of mankind. He saw arrayed before him the myriads of the fallen, with all their guilt and all their misery, hastening forward to the darkness and the hopelessness of an undone eternity; he knew that there was but one resource, and with all the sympathy of his feeling heart, and all the ardour of his enlightened and elevated spirit, he urged upon a dying world the reception of that only remedy. To the bond-slave and the freeman, to the subject and the prince, to the ignorant and to the philosopher, he held the same language, and offered a common salvation. He taught them, that they were all involved in one undiscriminating destruction; that as all were guilty before God, the same righteous sentence was pronounced on all,-a sentence from which there could be no appeal, since it was the unerring dictate of supreme and essential justice. He defined the character, the range, and the operation of the law, and exhibited the inevitable consequences of its violation. He pointed out the inseparable connection between guilt and misery; and when he had thus given the history and the

vindication of the moral government of Jehovah, instead of leaving men in the hopelessness of their condition, he withdrew the dark veil which concealed the dispensation of mercy, devised in the counsels of eternity, and consummated in the sacrifice of the cross. Jesus Christ and him crucifiedthis was the foundation of his confidence, the theme of his ministry; and when he had to sum up the grand total of all his knowledge, and all his feelings, and all his prospects, he could bring all to this point. And this, too, should be the language of the Christian minister; when describing his own experience, and his own reliance, or when urging on others the glad message of salvation-we preach Christ crucified.

In the attempt to set forth this important subject somewhat more distinctly and at large, we shall,

I. Advert to certain facts and principles on which the doctrine of the cross is established.

II. Point out the effects of the great sacrifice.

III. Direct attention to the feelings which should result from the preceding considerations.

I. In the endeavour to exhibit the main facts and principles on which the doctrines of the cross are founded, we must take a far narrower range than that which this vital subject properly requires. Perhaps, however, it may be permitted, in the present instance, to simplify one part of our view, by restricting it to two comprehensive points of consideration, the rebellion of man, and the counsels of God. On these two cardinal facts, the whole system of Christianity may be said to turn. The first, produced the state of things which called for the divine interposition; the last, determined the interfer