tation. fully excite the commiseration of the sympathizing mind at the present moment, as the contemplation of those incalculable miseries, which are the continual result of the war, in which the nation of which we form a part, and to whose proceedings we are necessarily, in a considerable degree, accessary, has been so long But these advantages engaged; nor can any thing in a have operated only as an addimoral point of view be more deep- tional incitement to farther exerly afflictive, than the thought of tions; and new plans are in conthe enormous mass of moral evil, templation for uniting them yet which must be generated and fo. closer in the bands of Christian mented by such procrastinated fraternity, and for animating them hostility. Is not an union of effort with one spirit, in behalf of the to avert, if possible, this most simple uncorrupted religion of dreadful scourge of humanity, the gospel. The love of God this disgrace to our country, in and of man are the great springs which all Britons are personally by which they desire to be actuatconcerned, an object most de- ed, and the manifestation of the serving of the exertions of the former by the latter, may be said body of Unitarian Christians? to be their peculiar aim in their The principles of Unitarianism struggle with the powers of superpoint immediately to personal, stition. There cannot therefore practical virtue, as the sole ob- be a more suitable object-for their ject and end of all religion. All common concurrence, or more the duties of Christianity, by no adapted for the recommendation means excepting those sublime of their common principles, than virtues, love of enemies, forgive an endeavour to be instrumental ness of injuries, and even meek in restoring the blessings of peace sufferance for righteousness sake, to their country and to Europe, are by them distinctly discerned by bearing their united protest to be personally obligatory. And against the continuance of a pracso far are they from entertaining tice, the present fatal effects of the fond imagination, that the which are exceeded only by the obedience or sufferings of Christ, permanent degradation of the mencan operate in any manner, in tal and moral powers, of which lieu of their own righteousness, it is necessarily productive. that they are fully convinced that There are no doubt persons who his conduct is wholly intended for would object to the adoption of the imitation of his followers, such a measure by a religious under similar circumstances, as society, on the ground of its being the sole means of procuring the rather a national concern, than divine acceptance, and of obtain that of any particular community, ing that immortal felicity, of and that however the friends of

Nothing can so power- which his reward affords the most satisfactory evidence.

Unanimity is an object towards which the attention of Unitarians is now particularly directed. They have actually experienced great advantages, with respect to the promotion of their common.. cause, from the degree of unanimity which has already been ef. fected.

science and civilized manners, and especially the light and spirit of Christianity have made considerable advances. From the perfect unity and simplicity of the divine mind, it follows that he must regard with equal concern, the well being of the respective nations, whose interests, from the narrow

religion and humanity may be in terested in the termination of hu. man misery, and the promotion of general peace and happiness, the question concerning the practicability or expediency of peace or war, must, after all, be determined by political considerations. I am inclined to think, however, that few who are accustomed to views and intricate labyrinths of those enlightened and amiable selfish policy, are absurdly set in views of man and his Maker, and opposition to each other; and by to those attentive reflections on the his gospel be enjoins the assiduous spirit and requisitions of the gos- culture of that unity of mind, be pel, which unite with Unitarian- tween the several families of manism, will be much influenced by kind, by which he is uniformly ac considerations of this kind. Im. tuated towards them all. The pressed by a strong conviction of manifestation of such sentiments the obligations of morality, of the by a body of men, embracing the exalted benignity and peculiar truth as it is in Jesus, may be mildness, which distinguish that of productive of an efficacy on the the gospel, and of the increasing minds of our fellow countrymen, weight of those obligations, in pro and on those of a neighbouring portion to the quantity of human people denominated enemies, which happiness or misery, and of virtue can be estimated only by the and vice, involved in their observ. event. Those enemies, it should ance or violation, they are sensible be remembered, have embraced of their application, as the indis every favouring occasion, of manipensable criterion of national poli- festing an anxious desire to excy. The morality of the gospel change hostility for reciprocity of assuredly will give no countenance affection; and however such an to projects for the advancement effort may be disappointed, with of national glory and aggrandise- regard to the accomplishment of ment by war; and it most strongly its specific object, it cannot fail inculcates, that safety is to be to promote in individuals those sought, as in general it is much genial affections, whose reward is most likely to be obtained, by the treasured up in the lasting seexercise of the pacific virtues, ra- renity of heaven! Such con ther than by indulging and fo. siderations (as tending most directmenting all the wrathful propen. ly to promote peace and good will sities of which our nature is sus- on earth) may, moreover, be ceptible. Whatever useful ends justly regarded as of much supemay be effected by martial pur- rior importance in the scale of suits, in a rude, uncivilized state of mankind, they are directly adverse to the common employments, and at variance with the prevail. ing sentiments and propensities of a state of society, in which arts,

policy, than any of those speculations about future contingencies, with which the interested and ambitious are endeavouring to foment national antipathies; and with which weak and selfish minds are

more apt to be alarmed, than with ous duties, the observance or violation of which, may produce the most beneficial or the most mischievous consequences. The interests and the duties of the two

any of those consequences, which must, sooner or later, be the result of needless and interminable warfare.

The advocate for war should people, mutually considered, are be competent to demonstrate, that inseparable from peace, and of it is called for by a necessity, those duties, war is, by one or both which is paramount to all that in parties, a most flagrant violation. calculable mass of natural and But the interests and prevailing moral evil which it produces, and passions of men intrusted with exsufficient to outweigh with abun- tensive authority, are, in such dant interest, every plea of reason, questions especially, apt to impose religion and humanity, which can a bias much too powerful, in oppo. possibly be alledged against it! If,sition to the awful duties of their he be in possession of no such functions. powers of demonstration, how can sacred obligation of the people, he escape the charge of being accessary to such enormous evils, without any just or rational grounds for his conduct?

It is therefore a most

when points of such sovereign im. portance are to be determined, to forget for a moment their private concerns, and the inconveniences attendant on the immediate expressions of their minds, and having. individually examined and deliberated on the subject, to step forward in a body and with one voice declare their common sentiments.

I pretend not to suggest what particular plan of proceeding will be most proper to be adopted, for collecting the sentiments of the different Unitarian societies. But

The importance of nations collectively manifesting towards each other the sincerity of their pacific wishes, is a point which deserves to be attended to much more than it is. By the mutual manifestation of such a spirit, by the body of the people, the projects of the interested and ambitious may be overruled, and the passions them. selves repressed, or turned into a channel in which they will operate with less injury to their fel. I conceive that among a body of low men. There is nothing which men, so desirous of forming a sysshould so forcibly arrest the at- tem of union, little difficulty will tention of a people, as the sum- be found in carrying such an ob mons to become the instruments ject into effect, by means of a conin invading the lives and proper- vention of deputies at some centies of others. The attack of their tral situation. Should any of the own privileges, by their own rulers societies be stationed in situations is, in great measure, a question of too remote from the common interest and choice how far it shall place of meeting, for their depu be permitted; but attacks upon ties to attend personally, their senthe lives, properties and privileges timents, at least, can be commuof men who have no common in nicated. It is in part on account of terests nor obligations with them- the facility with which any com selves or their rulers, is a question mon measure may be carried into which involves the most imperi- effect by societies of men, as well as

VOL. VII.

on account of the importance of came into my possession, very latecontemplating the measure which ly, by mere accident.

is now recommended, in a religi- Among some books offered for gious point of view, that it seems sale I observed a copy of that peculiarly proper to be adopted common little volume, The Life by religious bodies. But as the of Dr. C. Mather. On the first great object is the promotion of a blank page was written Robert general effort on the part of Britons, Robinson, A. D. 1754, followed it will of course be desirable to by the passage, Heb. vi. 12, as endeavour to extend the connec- an appropriate motto to the pious tion, by an union with other work. Looking at the blank leaf, societies or bodies of men; an at the end of the book, I found object, the practicability or expe- that Robert Robinson had there diency of which, might be deter- recorded the date of his birth, and mined at the convention of depu- the progress of his Calvinistic conties. 'version from conviction to assur ance. The passage is here copied verbatim.

Nothing but what he conceives to be the peculiar pressure of the occasion, could have induced an Robertus, Michaelis, Mariæque obscure individual to presume so Robinson Filius. Natus Swaff far as to suggest the adoption of a hami, Comitatu Norfolcia, Sa particular measure, to so many of turni die Sept. 27, 1735. Rena. his superiors. He has not how- tus Sabbati die Maii 24, '1752, ever, ventured upon this commu- per predicationem potentem Geor. nication of his sentiments, without gii Whitefield. Et, gustatis dothe concurrence of those Unitarian loribus Renovationis duos annos friends in his neighbourhood with whom he has consulted: and most sincerely would he be gratified to learn that, in conformity with what has actually been done by several religious societies, he has been anticipated by some measures which may have been projected, or are in contemplation, but with which he is at present unacquainted.

I remain, Sif,

Yours, very respectfully,
AN UNITARIAN.

Mr. Rutt on an Autograph of
the late Rev. R. Robinson's.

Bromley, Oct. 25, 1812.
SIR,

I apprehend that I may gratify many of your readers by communicating to you an account of a short but curious document, which

mensesque septem, absolutionem plenam, gratuitamque per sanguinem pretiosum Jesu Christi, inveni (Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1755) cui sit honor et gloria in secula seculorum. Amen.

Which may be thus literally translated :

Robert, son of Michael and Mary Robinson. Born at Swaff. ham in the county of Norfolk, Saturday, Sept. 27, 1735. Born again on Sabbath-day, May 24, 1752, by the powerful preaching of George Whitefield. And, having tasted the pangs of the new birth two years and seven months, I have found (Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1755) full and gracious deliver. ance, through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

7

My friend, Mr. George Dyer, peculiarities of Calvinism under in his interesting "Memoirs of its soberer forms. Nor can it be Robert Robinson," has remarked, fairly doubted that, had the di (p. 18) that the minister to vine Providence continued his life, whom he was the most affection- and a capacity for exertion, he ately attached was George White- would have proved an able adfield, whom he called his spiritual vocate of the faith which he once father." But his materials do opposed. not appear to have furnished the biographer with any information so minute as the above document, which may serve also to correct an Messrs. Bogue and Bennett's error (p. 3.) as to the date of Mr. Robinson's birth which is there given as "on the eighth of January 1735."

I remain, Sir, yours,
J. T. RUTT.

Judgment on the Spectator.
Nov. 2. 1812.

SIR,

In your last Review are various specimens of English composition, During the period to which this such as the united taste and judg document refers, Robinson was ment of Messrs. Bogue and Ben serving his apprenticeship to a nett have produced. I was athair-dresser in Crutched Friars. tracted, especially, to their cen. In 1756, probably on his acquir sure (p. 631) of the Spectator, ing the mental relief and satisfac- on a point too important to the tion he has expressed, he became best interests of mankind, for de a preacher among the Methodists served censure to be justly withof Mr. Whitefield's persuasion. held. Give me leave to quote an As a preacher he could scarcely earlier writer on the same subject. ever have been uninteresting, I refer to Dr. Watts, in his Dis

though for a few years he was course on the Education of Youth, not a little extravagant. I say Sect. 9. He is objecting to the this on his own authority, in con- playhouse, as he found it, and as versation, when we once passed a "Mr. Collier, Mr. Bedford, and day together in the neighbour. Mr. Law had censured it," for hood of Cambridge. He parti- he admits as to "a dramatic recularly took shame to himself, as presentation of the affairs of hu he expressed it to me, for the man life," that it might be so nonsense he had talked in that contrived as to "entertain a virvillage more than twenty years tuous audience with innocent debefore. He had been spiritualiz- light, and even with some real ing the blessing of Jacob pro- profit." He however soon adds, nounced on his son Judah, and after having proposed "reading had discovered the deep things of in private some few" select plays, orthodox theology adumbrated by the vine and the asses colt.

Those volumes of short essays which are entitled the Spectator, It is well known that Mr. Ro. will give a sufficient knowledge of binson not only put away such the ways of the world, and cure childish things, as his maturer us of a hundred little follies, with judgment considered that mode of out the danger there is in reading Christian teaching, but also gra- of plays; though even in those dually detached his mind from the very volumes, I could heartily