long established errors; let them pursue their researches after truth with an ardent, liberal and courageous spirit. On doubtful questions let them suspend their judg ment, till they have passed, by the slow gradations of patient thinking, from uncertainty to ra dared to conceive the great idea of . reformation, they will dare to attempt the execution. Fortified in the consciousness of their upright and benevolent intentions, they are prepared to receive with equal indifference, the cautious advice of the timid, the ridicule of the licentious, the scorn of the vulgar, the tional conviction: and let them indignation of bigots, and the per- submit without hesitation to the secution of tyrants. If they should authority of reason, wherever her have the misfortune to be anathe. decisions can be clearly ascertain matized as heretics, for the very ed, even though they should be virtues for which many an ortho- obliged to surrender some of their dox martyr has been canonized, favourite opinions, and to suffer they will console themselves with the odium of opprobrious appellathe reflexion, that the censures of tions. Let not any timid appremen cannot destroy the merit of hension of the danger of innovatheir character, and with the hope tion-let not a spirit of indifference that the good seed which they have under the specious disguise of sown with so much labour and moderation, induce them to prac hazard, will not perish in the tise themselves, or to expect from ground." their ministers, a quiet acquiescence in prevailing prejudices and errors, which they judge to be injurious to the interests of virtue and religion. In full confidence that truth and happiness can never be at variance, let them be always ready to allow, as well as to take, an unlimited latitude in argument, and give every possible encourage. ment to free inquiry." This animating representation of the duty of ministers, is fol. lowed by a forcible appeal to the laity: While ministers of religion thus strenuously exert them. selves for the propagation of truth and religion in the world, let wise and good men of every class unite to afford them their hearty countenance and steady support. Shaking off that lethargic spirit of The exhortation is then applied indifference to the progress of particularly to Protestant dissentknowledge, virtue and happiness, ing congregations; and the diswhich is the natural offspring of course thus concludes, maintainan uncultivated understanding and ing to the last its title to be proa selfish temper; alike disdaining, nounced one of the best sermons tamely to submit their judgment to in the English tongue:--" Finally, the authority of ecclesiastic guides, let both ministers and people hear. or blindly to follow the track tily unite their endeavours to remarked out by their ancestors; store the original purity and sim and boldly daring, under the di- plicity of Christian doctrine, and rection of reason, to advance, even to rescue Christian worship from by untrodden paths, into the re- every incumbrance or disgrace, gions of new opinions, and to draw which priestcraft or fanaticism has aside the veil of mystical sanctity, brought upon it: always rememwhich prejudice has spread over bering that it is more consistent with the true spirit of Christianity, Extract from a Theological Cor SIR, respondence. The following extract from a correspondence between a lady and a doctor in divinity of the church of England, seems to me to deserve a place in your excel. lent Repository, and may serve as an answer to all persons who wish to recommend defences of the un and anti-scriptural word used by the sectarians of Rome, England, and Scotland, in their addresses to the Divinity. "I feel myself much honoured by your referring me to so valuable a work, as there is no question in my mind of your's being; but I must be allowed to decline the reference. Till I find the the great author of which was, in the most respectable sense of the appellation, a reformer, to be ever ready to encourage and promote improvements in religious opinions and practices, than to be rigidly tenacious of ancient tenets and forms, merely because they are such and that (in the words of a good writer) It is an honest, impartial, and unprejudiced freedom of thinking and discoursing upon all subjects whatever, conducted with humility, decency and information, which ought to distinguish the religion of a Christian from that of all the world be. sides.' In this manner it may be hoped that the friends of truth, virtue and religion will unite to carry forwards the good work of word Trinity in the Bible, it is a reformation. Nor shall it be matter of indifference to me what doubted, that their united efforts any person explains the word to will produce the most glorious and mean. Its theory formed no part happy effects. Yes, I will foretel of the system of religion which my (and may it please the great Lord lord and master Christ taught me, of Nature to fulfil the prediction), and what any person in after ages that the cloud which was once ingeniously but fancifully may no bigger than a man's hand,' choose to suppose that he compreshall at length spread over the hends its explanation to be, can whole heavens, and water every be of no authority or importance region of the earth with the dews to me." of heavenly wisdom; that truth. shall at last triumph over error, charity over persecution, and religion and virtue over prophaneness and immorality; that all the nations of the world, subjected to the laws of truth and righteous ness, shall become the spiritual kingdom of God; and that the whole earth shall be one holy tem. ple consecrated unto the Lord. Amen." An ingenious writer has lately, I perceive, observed the impropropriety of using the word Trinity when an English word may be so much better substituted for it, and is a true translation of the word Trinitas, namely Thrceness; and hence he recommends the follow. ing reading. "O holy, blessed, and glorious Threeness, three persons and one God." Threeness in Oneness is certainly more intelligible to an Englishman than Trinity in Unity. I remain, Sir, See Squire's Indifference for Religion your constant reader, Inexcusable, § 2. ACHOUDA. "Nolo Episcopari." SIR, As a farther illustration of Nolo Episcopari, I would refer your correspondent who made inquiry respecting it, to a passage in Chandler's Life of Bishop Waynfete, as quoted in a late number of the Monthly Review.-" The sub-prior and another monk were deputed to wait on Waynflete at Eton college, with the news of his election. From sincere reluc. tance, or a decent compliance with the fashion of the times, he protested often and with tears, and could not be prevailed on to undertake the office to which he was called, until they found him, about sun.set, in the church of St. Mary, when he consented, saying, He would no longer resist the divine will." S. P. Epitaph. Oct. 1, 1811. SIR, The following epitaph appears worthy to be known beyond the have suffered our good to be evil VERBUM SAT. Epitaph on Mrs. H. Williams. Stranger, or friend! with silent steps, and slow, Who wanderest pensive thro' this hal- Muse on the fleeting date of bliss below, tomb. circulation of the curious book to Calvinistic Doctrine of Atone which it is annexed. It was pub. lished in 1807, by Mr. Johnes, SIR, ment. May 5, 1812. Your Old Correspondent," of Bertrandon, de la Brocquire," in p. 230, of the present vol. ap. VOL. VII. 2Q his stage coach repartee, more atonement. There may be some daring Antinomians, who are ignorant and vicious enough to rea son in the manner which he justly reprobates; but it is sufficiently known that all the proper Calvinists disavow the sentiments, the spirit, and the practice, of such persons. adduce, as no slight evidence of what I have advanced, a passage from a very respectable and able work recently published, Dr. Williams's Defence of Modern Calvinism. "We also maintain, that a true and lively faith is productive of good works, as a good tree bringI am not explaining, or ad- eth forth good fruit; and that its ducing evidence for, the doctrine character may be best known to in question my only object is to us by its effects; but surely, as plead for a fair and equitable con- a cause is distinct from its effects, struction of it. Whether it be as a good tree differs from its fruits, held as stated by such authors as and a principle in the mind from Tomkins, Ritchie, Price, Fuller its operations, so a good faith is a and Magee, or in the high and different thing from good works, (in my humble apprehension) un- and therefore should neither be tenable sense of Gill and Brine, identified nor confounded. But or in any intermediate method of though Calvinists avoid this, they explication, all dispassionate are in the constant habit of inmen must admit, that the believers sisting, that a fruitless faith is not of the doctrine of Atonement uni- saving. They urge the importance formly maintain it as a scheme of of good works on several accounts; rectitude and mercy, to secure in- for they know that God requires violate the honour of the Divine Per- universal obedience- that they fections, and to restore sinful men are well pleasing to God-that to HOLINESS and felicity. Does Christians are justified and renew. not the "Old Correspondent" ed, in order that they may walk know that, according to Calvinists in them unto all pleasing-that and those who, in this point, near- they are profitable unto menly coincide with them, faith in that Christ is the author of eternal Christ is the condition sine qua salvation to them that obey him— non of pardon; and that no faith and that they are bound, in duty is held to be efficacious but that and in gratitude, to observe all which operates in the production things whatsoever Christ has com and preservation of righteousness manded. They reprobate with and holiness, sincere, universal, warmth a dead faith, and inculand constant? Is it not a com- cate with earnestness charity and mon topic in their sermons and all other virtues and good deeds,' as practical writings, that, should a indispensable towards forming the man reason as your correspondent Christian character. represents them to reason, it would indicate a state of mind destructive of any rational hope that he was a pardoned and happy cha. chater? If it is not trespassing too much on your pages, I beg permission to · "They are taught by experience, as well as by scripture, that except they abide in Christ by faith, they cannot glorify God by bring ing forth much fruit; yea, that they can do nothing,'—nothing that deserves the name of Chris tran obedience, or acceptable ser- plauded, any effort to strengthen vice. They know that without it by abuse is to be condemned: faith, it is impossible to please and I cannot avoid suspecting, God, as well as that the faith that your " Old Correspondent" which is dead and not productive has chosen this subject, not for the of holy obedience is unavailable purpose of vindicating the rights both for salvation hereafter and for of the Catholics, but to cast an justification in this life. Calvinists odium upon another sect of christare persuaded that we should be ians-the Calvinists, by misrepre careful and strenuous to maintain senting their doctrinal sentiments. good works, and to discharge all personal and relative duties; that no sin should have dominion over us, and that we should have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. They seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, by patient continuance in well-doing." pp. 109-111. I am, Sir, Yours respectfully, VICINUS. Calvinistic Doctrine of Atonement. London, May 9, 1812. In reply to an objection, made by a gentleman in the " stage coach," to the Catholics being fully tolerated, on the ground that their priests had the power to absolve them from their oaths, your " Old Correspondent" remarked, "There are other professors of christianity more dangerous to society than the Catholics, taking the matter up on your own ground; I mean those who maintain that whatever crimes they commit, they have only to confess them, and to believe that another person was pu nished in their stead, and by his righteousness they are made perfectly righteous, and are perfectly safe: God will behold no unrigh teousness in them," &c. Every friend to civil and religious liberty, must acquiesce in the general sentiment in favour of that important measure,—the emanci- On perusing this passage, I conpation of the Catholics; and it fess, sir, my curiosity was raised to will consequently give them plea- know what class of "professors of sure to perceive the numerous ad- christianity" your correspondent vocates that have come forward in alluded to; I had not the most behalf of that injured class of the distant idea that the Calvinists community, by means of the press. were the "mark aimed at." My The thanks of all liberal-minded indignation was roused against persons are due to you, sir, for the these, as I imagined, new pro. many excellent pieces with which fessors," which your "Old Coryou have favoured the public, from respondent" had exposed. But time to time; and it is to be this was soon changed to another hoped, that at no distant period, sentiment, when I arrived at the your endeavours, in common with conclusion of the article, where the other supporters of religious your correspondent avows that the liberty, will be crowned with suc- theological creed of the gentleman beforementioned, was the "mark," But, however every attempt of at which he had "aimed" this individuals, by fair argument, to mighty "stroke." This gentlepromote such a cause is to be ap- man, he had previously informed cess. |