imputations upon their christian sincerity, or by denying them the christian name, will meet with nothing but pity and contempt from them, and indignation and abhorrence from all reflecting and fairminded men of every other denomination. Whoever would make "earnest efforts for their conversion" must address them with civility and kindness-must advance clear and cogent arguments drawn from scripture and reason-must not pretend to INFALLIBLE KNOWLEDGE on the questions at issue, -must not mutilate the language of authors-must read the books he cites-must have a respectable acquaintance at least with the most distinguished writers and authorities in theology-and must be very careful not to draw his texts of scripture from either Dr. Woods, or Bp. Wilson.It is bad enough to quote "Ralph Cudworth" without reading him, but when such a wonderful reformer as Mr Cheever quotes the BIBLE without reading it, he will probably have to continue his efforts" a very long time indeed before he can persuade the people of "such a place as Salem" to surrender up to him, their own reason, and consciences, and christian liberty.

In the September number of the Christian Examiner for 1830, there is an article which has been repeatedly misrepresented, in a most shameful manner, by Mr. Cheever. Near the close of the article there is a paragraph, which begins with these words: "We do not think that the Old Testament, read with understanding, encourages this kind of superstition." The writer then proceeds to show that it does not, and the paragraph concludes with the following sentence:

"While therefore we cannot charge the writers of the Old Testament with giving wrong impressions, it is evident that superstition has found its strong hold in the Hebrew scriptures, and can never be dislodged till those remarkable writings, with their time and circumstance, spirit and letter, are better and more generally understood."

The next paragraph commences thus: "But we let these things pass in order to show how entirely readers of the Old Testament lose the consolations of religion. The Hebrew faith never taught the immortality of the soul. Doubtless there were intimations of this truth before Christianity. But the first clear, full, and convincing disclosure of a future ex

istence, was made by him who died and rose again."

The next paragraph is thus introduced : "Other instances might be pointed out in which men go to the Old Testament for that instruction which it was never meant to afford them, and return without benefit, though not always without injury from that word of truth which might have enlightened and improved them, had they read it without the veil on their hearts. But we may trace the effect of this misuse of it in the religious spirit of the present day."

The article concludes with the following paragraph:

"Let no one charge us with undervaluing the Old Testament, because we say of it that it does not contain Christianity, and that men do wrong to go to it to learn the duties, feelings and consolations of the Christian Religion. We acknowledge the Deny it who can! grandeur of its inspirations, the sublimity of its visions of God. We love the plaintive music of its hymns. We feel the greatness of the prophets who sent a gleam of light down into future ages, seeing what none beside could see, hearing what others could not hear. We bow with reverence to all those mighty men, who in their successive ages lifted up the banner of religion and of God. Still we must say, that the Hebrew faith is not Christianity; it was only the preparation, which, when that which was perfect came, was ready to be done away."

Now let the reader endeavor to pick out of the several sentences I have adduced from the article of Sept. 1830, the following paragraph fabricated and represented by Mr. Cheever as a quotation from Unitarian writers. The employment would be curious and amusing did it not bring to light a degree of unfairness, and deception, and misrepresentation, which is enough to distress and sicken every heart.{

"Superstition has found its strong hold in the Hebrew Scriptures."--"Readers of the Old Testament lose the consolations of reli

gion."" Men go to the Old Testament for that instruction which it was never meant to afford them, and return without benefit, though not always without imjury.”—-“ It does not contain Christianity, and men do wrong to go to it to learn the duties, feelings, and consolations of the Christian Religion."-It is "mixed with the doubtfulness of old traditions, and with systems of SUPERANNUATED ERRORS."

The reader will have been able to collect the whole paragraph, it is probable, with the exception of the last clause. What,

then, will be his amazement when he is told that that very clause is a fragment of a sentence taken from the middle of a paragraph, in another article, written by another person, published four years before in the same Examiner !

This then is a specimen of Mr. Cheever's method of proving his charges against Unitarians, by quoting their authors. We have reason to be grateful that the system of slander adopted and countenanced by those who ought to have known better, is at last made to shew its own wickedness and weakness by being brought to the tribunal of the public press. And we call upon those of our orthodox fellow citizens who have been deceived by the calumnies which have so industriously and persever ingly been poured out through the medium of tracts, and discourses from the pulpit, and exhortations in the vestry, and dark insinuations in private, to frown upon all such malignant defamation in future, and, while they enjoy their own sentiments in their own way, to protect the Unitarians from outrage and abuse on the part of those whom they contribute to support.

The distinction has often been sta ted by Unitarian writers (and one would think it clear and obvious enough to be universally acknowledged) that the Bible is not a revelation, but the record of a revelation. In his last extra, as repeatedly before, Mr. Cheever has quoted the former part of this distinction "the Bible is not a revelation" as an absolute, complete, and independent proposition, and has represented it as an opinion entertained by Uni

tarians.

Now I would ask every fairminded and upright man or woman of the Howard Street Church what they would think of a person who should go into court, and in giving testimony under oath, make such a misrepresentation as this? Would they not consider it a gross and wicked suppression and perversion of the truth? What then will they think-what will they saywhat will they do, when they see their Pastor convicted ofbearing such false testimony, as this, in public and in print, against their neighbors and friends and fellow christians? I would respectfully remind them that for these things so long as they countenance or tolerate them, they are re

sponsible, and will be held to answer before a just community, at the tribunal of their own consciences, and at the bar of God.

Surely it is not necessary for me to suggest to my readers in general the terms, by which Mr. Cheever's method of quoting Unitarian writers should be characterized. If any one, however, wishes to give utterance to the feelings of indignation which honorable minds must experience, he need not be at a loss for words. He will find almost all the epithets, expressive of contempt, disgust, and abhorrence, which the language affords, scattered with indiscriminate profusion over Mr. Cheever's two last extras.

If" A Lover of Cudworth and Truth" is not satisfied with the displays, he has already made of " Mr. Cheever's fearless and honorable conduct" and wishes by publishing more extras to continue to make thorough work in this controversy" with "Mr Cheever's literary reputation," I would assure him, that, if he will be so kind as to attach the proper references to his quotations, it will give me no trouble at all to convict him of "ignorance and misrepresentation" at every step in his progress.

But, if he has any regard for "Mr. Cheever" I would seriously and most sincerely advise him to stop and consider his ways. He has gained nothing, as yet, as he himself seems to have ascertained, but "obloquy and odium" and the general

outcry" of the community. Every fresh attempt to fix the charge of infidelity upon the Unitarians, has only deepened his own disgrace, and involved him in fresh disaster. The public verdict is pronounced against him, in more decided tones, every time he appeals to them. But any advice from me to Mr. Cheever will be as ungraciously received, as it is faithfully and sincerely given, and I refrain.

Let us rejoice that the cause of charity still continues in the ascendant. Let the orthodox denomination be honored and applauded for their fidelity to that cause; and let all those persons who have secretly encouraged Mr. Cheever, be thankful that they have had wit enough not to commit themselves so far, as to become sharers of his irretrievable fortunes.

UNITARIAN.