Thou hast heard the lover's whisper'd vow, But thanks, for the sweet flowerets, breathe, Y. THE CHRISTIAN PIONEER. GLASGOW, January 13, 1827. OUR readers will see that we have given twelve additional pages to this Number. We have done so, in order to keep pace with the variety of interesting matter which is crowding upon us, as also, to finish the paper on Scriptural Arguments for Unitarianism, and to conclude, in our next Number, the Review of Milton. We shall be glad, if the sale of the Magazine would justify us in increasing the size of it to forty-eight pages. If every present subscriber would endeavour to procure one more, and we know that in many instances this might readily be done, such increased subscription would encourage us to do so. shall, for the future, publish the Christian Pioneer on the first day of every Month, so that our friends in England will be able to procure their copies along with the other periodical works. We In our last Number, we noticed the indefatigable exertions of the Rev. J. Wright of Alnwick, and the encouraging success which had already attended his labours. His efforts have roused a host of opponents; amongst whom, one of the sons of Cambridge, cuts a conspicuous, but, we. think, rather a sorry figure. We give his curious Advertisement entire, with the admirable reply it has called forth. The thanks of the Unitarians are due to Mr. Procter, for the service he has thus rendered to their cause. "This day is Published, price 6d. dedicated with permission to his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, a Defence of the Orthodox Faith, (against the attacks of ́Anti-Trinitarian Infidelity,) as contained in the Appendix to Five Discourses, &c. By the Rev. William Procter, Jun. M. A. Fellow of Catharine Hall, Cambridge, and Lecturer of Berwick. Edinburgh: printed by James Ballantyne & Company, and sold by the Booksellers in Alnwick. "The author is induced to offer to the public, the remaining copies of this Defence of the Orthodox Faith, at considerably below the price they cost him for paper and printing, in the hope of thereby promoting its circulation amongst that class of readers, who are most liable to be misled by the arts of the Deceiver. He is aware that it is not written in what is termed a popular style,. nor can be expected to profit any but those who love TRUTH sufficiently to imitate the noble example of the BEREANS, and search the SCRIPTURES daily whether these things be so. To such as have sufficient Faith to pray heartily for the guidance of the Spirit of Truth, and are not too indolent to turn to the places in the Bible which are pointed out in this Publication, it may prove a useful Manual. If it be the means of bringing back to Christ, our Lord and our God, John xx. 28, one wanderer from his fold, or of inducing one parent, master, or mistress, to restrain a child, an apprentice, or a servant, from attending the nocturnal Orgies of Spiritual Intoxication and Adultery, the prayers of its Author will be answered, and his labour and expense will not have been bestowed in vain.-Longhoughton, Dec. 22, 1826.” To the Inhabitants of Alnwick and the Neighbourhood. CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, I FEEL myself called upon at present to address you in this manner; and I trust you will at least approve of my motives, if you cannot embrace my sentiments. means. Having lately entered upon the ministerial charge of the Unitarian Congregation at Alnwick, and firmly believing the principles we profess," to be the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ," I should be deficient in my duty if I did not endeavour to propagate these doctrines. For this purpose, I have confined myself chiefly in the evening discourses to an illustration of our principles. I have more than once declared, that my great object was, to lay the truth before you in a plain and simple manner, so that ye might be enabled to judge for yourselves. It is not my duty, neither do I consider it consistent with the character of a Christian minister, to condemn any man for his opinions: "to our own master we must stand or fall." But it is the duty of every minister of Christ, to illustrate and insist upon what he believes to be the Revelation of Heaven, and to endeavour by the weapons of the spirit alone, to bring all men to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. This has hitherto been, and, I trust, will always be my object; and if argument and the authority of Scripture cannot prevail, we have no right to proceed by any other But "I love not man the less," though he differs from me in opinion. To all "who do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God," I can extend the right hand of fellowship, however much we may differ on other points. Indeed, I value opinions only so far as they are likely to be productive of that holiness of heart and life, which was and is the grand object of the Gospel dispensation. And it is because I believe the Unitarian doctrines to be the Alpha and Omega of Christianity-to be well calculated for promoting love to God and benevolence to man -that I so warmly and so anxiously endeavour to promote them. This has been the great object in the evening lectures, which seems to have produced something like a general convulsion. From almost every pulpit, the Unitarian is now branded as an infidel and a blasphemer-and the press is now employed to extend and perpetuate the obnoxious titles of "seducer, deceiver, and sophist.' But I may almost assure these Reverend Declaimers, that all their efforts to stigmatize shall be in vain. The lectures on Unitarianism which have already been delivered, have considerably changed the opinions of many. There are but few in this town, who will now declare that Unitarians are Deists in "" disguise, that their object is one and the same with the unbeliever, to overthrow the Gospel of salvation,—there are but few who will now declare, that they deny Jesus Christ to be their Lord and their Saviour. It is true, they do not believe Jesus Christ to be the very and eternal God, who created heaven and earth. This is not the doctrine of Scripture, and therefore they do not believe it. And it is their desire, that those who believe this doctrine would show where it is declared. It is not for the believer in the eternal Godhead of Christ, to prove the divinity of his mission or to insist upon the miracles which he wrought. These are principles which the Unitarian believes as firmly as the Trinitarian. It belongs to our opponents, to prove that Jesus Christ was of himself Almighty God, that he was and is a self-existent and independent being, underived, and unbegotten, that all the powers which he possessed, and all the wisdom and authority with which he taught, were not derived from the Almighty Father, but belonged to himself. If our opponents can prove this, then they may rail against us. Let not human creeds, articles, and confessions of faith, usurp the place of the Word of God. Let "the Bible, the Bible only," be the standard, and then, alas! for this reputed Orthodoxy!-A defence of the Orthodox faith may be published daily, but if it wants the authority of Scripture, it will avail nothing. The Author of "a Defence of the Orthodox Faith against the attacks of Anti-Trinitarian Infidelity," has made another effort to bring his work into repute. In order to do this, it appears necessary, that he should have noticed and overturned that very spirited reply, by which it formerly received a deadly wound, and which, I doubt, he finds himself unable to heal. But this second attempt shows, that the Orthodox defender of the faith, has quantum sufficit of that faith, by which, in the ages of darkness, the presuming priesthood triumphed in the prostration of every faculty which distinguishes man from the brute creation. With this faith, however, he has also some share of benevolence, "and now offers to the public, the remaining copies of his work, considerably below the price they cost him for paper and printing, in the hope of thereby promoting its circulation amongst that class of readers, who are most liable to be misled by the arts of the deceiver. Gentle readers, what benevolence! you are offered a wounded and mutilated work, at considerably below the value of the materials of which it is composed. No remuneration sought for that wonderful labour, with which the superstructure was reared. All this is gratuitously given, in the hope, that you will have gratitude enough to read and believe, that all Unitarian works are imposition and deception! But, if one may judge from this new intimation respecting the work, its Author is a complete master of the arts; for he puts forth the old friend as with a new face, says nothing of the many bruises he has received, and seems to impress upon the public, the idea, that this Goliath has all along been challenging the armies of Israel, without meeting with the least opposition. The Philistines of old, were not so self-conceited; nay, not so blindfolded as to raise again their wounded and overthrown giant, in hopes that he would achieve a new conquest. But, perhaps, the Author thinks it better to make a sacrifice of the old champion, than let him lie covered with dust to feed the worms. What astonishing liberality!-what a sacrifice, in order "to induce parents, masters, and mistresses, to restrain their children, apprentices, and servants, from attending the nocturnal orgies of spiritual intoxication and adultery!!!" Such are the objects which this wonderful defender of the Orthodox faith has in view by this sacrifice, to impose restraints upon the free exercise of the mind in matters of religion, to check the spirit of free inquiry, and to stigmatize the Unitarian with the most opprobrious epithets. People may be called upon to use compulsion, in matters of faith; but, in the present age, men know their dignity and their duty too well, to listen to any such dictator. The priest who shall now produce anathema for argument, and railing for reason, is more likely to be laughed at than listened to; the days of fire and faggot are long gone past, and the free inquirer can dread no danger in this land of liberty. Let the defenders of Orthodoxy use scurrilous language if they choose. If they are fond of such low and grovelling expressions, let them designate the lectures on Unitarianism, "the frantic revels of spiritual intoxication and adultery!" Yet, it sometimes happens, that the observation of a madman may prove a lesson to the fancied sage; and therefore, I would advise all declaimers to recollect, that masters and mistresses are the sons and daughters of freedom-and that this is now the nineteenth century, and that even the school-boy will spurn at the idea of compulsion in matters of religion. If that is all the argument which can be offered in behalf of Orthodoxy, it is one which has long been descending to the grave, and by the wise enactments of our legislature, has been for ever consigned to the tomb. And woe to the man who shall now be found endeavouring to resuscitate the unholy monster. Is it in this land of freedom, that those who call themselves reformed and Protestant Ministers, are calling upon masters and mistresses to restrain their servants from following the dictates of conscience in matters of eternal moment? Surely there is some craft in danger, where such arguments must be used-surely there is some Diana whose magnificence shall be neglected-surely there are some silver shrine-makers, who dread the free exercise of reason in matters of religion, as a sure and certain presage of diminution in their wealth and greatness. Therefore, ye masters and mistresses, put a restraint upon your servants; surround them immediately with the chains of spiritual bondage; rivet more strongly the bolts of superstition, so that the people may be deterred from thinking for themselves! The same spirit of raising the hue and cry, has manifested itself in every age of the world, and in every period of the church. Reformers have always been dreaded by the parties in power; and instead of their arguments being opposed by reason and Scripture, it has been too common for the defenders of Orthodoxy, to declare against their characters, misinterpret their motives, and thus, if possible, to raise the unhallowed cry of "Away with him, away with him-crucify him, crucify him!" This spirit has for some |