The Reformation commemorated and improved. (From a Selection of Hymns for Unitarian Worship, by the Rev. R. Wallace of Chesterfield.-Hunter, London.) How long, tyrannic Rome, But when the free-born mind And soon thy dismal shade From Britain disappear'd, When truth, in brightest charms array'd, Her lofty standard rear'd. How happy, had her light Christians! 'tis yours to end Then make its blessings known: One God, one Master own. Unitarian Worthies.-No. 1, Thomas Firmin. WHEN, in the years 1681 and 1682, great numbers of French Protestants fled into England, in order to escape the persecutions of Louis XIV., Mr. Firmin hastened to provide for the relief of those sufferers for conscience' sake; and on that occasion, as well as after the revocation of the edict of Nantes in 1685, many thousand pounds were entrusted to his management, on account of the refugees, For them, also, he established a linen manufacture at Ipswich. In the year 1689, vast inroads of the Irish nation, comprising persons of all ranks, fled to England, from the persecutions and proscriptions of James II. Again was Mr. Firmin active and indefatigable in his benevolence. He had the pleasure to see his exertions on their behalf, crowned with success. And when, chiefly through him, fifty-six thousand pounds were raised, he attended to the distribution of this sum with such diligence, faithfulness, and impartiality, that the Archbishop of Tuam, and some Irish bishops, united in sending him a letter, in which they expressed their grateful sense of his kindness and exertions on behalf of their countrymen. He laboured with incredible zeal and activity, in releasing poor debtors from prison-"the release of one man out of prison," he was wont to say, "is a relief bestowed on his whole family." The lot of others whom he was unable to release, he amended. These efforts he continued to his last breath; and, both in reference to this matter and to many others, had so much influence in the House of Commons, as to advance by the Acts of that body, his holy purposes of benevolence. In a variety of other ways, did this most excellent citizen exert himself for the good of man. He assisted by small loans, young and worthy tradesmen; he promoted the wishes of youths, anxious to procure extensive knowledge, yet possessed of inadequate means. Poor ministers, irrespectively of their opinions, he took a peculiar pleasure in aiding. For "young hopeful preachers and scholars," also, "candidates for lectures, schools, cures, or rectories, he would solicit with as much affection and diligence, as other men do for their sons and near relations." But we have not time to detail all that Mr. Firmin did to benefit mankind. The confidence that was reposed in him, by charitable persons, was unlimited; and the funds that he had, in consequence, at his disposal, are truly astonishing. In every imaginable way was his benevolence evinced. Nor was it less usefully employed, when he was invited (as he was frequently) to arbitrate differences. "I have heard," says his biographer, "his physician blame him sometimes, that he did not allow himself competent time for his meals, but hastened away to his affairs. But those affairs were seldom or ever his own; he was to solicit for the poor, or in the business of some friend, who wanted Mr. Firmin's interest, or he was to meet on some design relating to the public good. In these matters, his friends that were not quick in their despatches, had reason oftentimes to complain of him, as not giving them suffi cient time to despatch business with him, for he was active above most men in apprehension, in speech, judgment, resolution, and action.' Nor was his charity limited to He could even assist the persecutor. any sect. King Charles granted a brief for the Polonian Protestants, who had assisted in banishing the Polonian Unitarians. And in this case also, Mr. Firmin exerted himself to the utmost, in order to forward the object. And withal, his charity was most unobtrusive. He did not destroy the acceptableness of the gift by the manner of bestowing it, or by after recollections and intimations of obligation to those whom he had benefited. In many cases, our Saviour's words receive a verification very different from what he intended, and "it is more blessed to give than to receive," is bitterly felt by those, who, in a multiplicity of ways, are often reminded that they have once "received." Not so with Mr. Firmin. What he gave, he gave, and there was an end of it. He had done his duty, and gratified his heart; he blessed God for the opportunity, and never dreamed of obligation. Such a man could not fail to be an ardent friend to civil and religious liberty. If any man was unjustly oppressed, Mr. Firmin was ready to help him; and those who suffered for vindicating the rights of Englishmen, ever found succour with him. He distributed publications in behalf of public freedom, in order to arouse the people to a just opposition to the tyranny of James II.; and so far as his situation would admit, was a zealous promoter of the glorious Revolution. So generally known was the excellence of Mr. Firmin's character, that it attracted the notice of Queen Mary. Her majesty also heard that he was a Unitarian, and charged Tillotson to rectify his errors. Tillotson replied, that he had often essayed in vain; a controversy, however, ensued, which furnished another of the few proofs, alas! that religious disputes may be carried on in the spirit of religion. His friends were of all classes, and all countries, and all creeds. Amongst English orthodox divines, with whom he entertained the greatest familiarity, we may mention Dr. Outram, Dr. Whichcot, Dr. Worthington, Bishop Wilkins, the Bishop of Gloucester, the Archbishop of Canterbury. And so great was the confidence that Tillotson reposed in him, that when absent from London, he devolved on Mr. Firmin the duty of providing preachers for the Tuesday's lecture at St. Lawrence, which was frequented by all the divines of the town, and by a great many persons of quality and distinction. "See here," to use the language of his biographer, "a trader, who knew no Latin or Greek, no logic or philosophy, compassed about by an incredible number of learned friends, who differed widely in opinion from him, and were continually attacking him for his supposed errors; yet could they never remove him from the belief of the unity of God, nor did their importunities or his resistance break off, or so much as lessen the friendship between them." What a delightful idea does this suggest, of the spirit of Mr. Firmin and that of his friends. If this spirit in Wilkins, in Outram, in Tillotson, was orthodox, what is the spirit of those who profess, in our days, to hold the same opinions? I This excellent Christian died in 1697, in the 66th year of his age. Whilst on his bed of death, he was visited "by his most dear friend, the Bishop of Gloucester." Mr. Firmin told the bishop, "he was now going;” and “I hope," said he, "God will not condemn me to worse company, than I have loved and used in the present life.” The bishop replied "that he had been an extraordinary example of charity; the poor had a wonderful blessing in you; I doubt not, these works will follow you, if you have no expectation from the merit of them, but rely on the infinite goodness of God." He answered, "I do so," "and say in the words of my Saviour, when I have done all, I am but an unprofitable servant." Thus ended the days of this servant of God. The best eulogium on his character is, the records of the deeds of his life. In perusing a narrative of what he did, the reader will best learn what he was. We shall only add, that he had unusual quickness of perception, was inquisitive and ingenious, and possessed of a great thirst for knowledge. He was naturally of a warm temper, and incapable of dissembling his sentiments. His piety was rational and fervent; and his life a continued display of the virtues inculcated by Christianity. The ideas of nobleness, generosity, influence, and authority, do not, in the minds of some, very readily associate with the notions of a shop-keeper; and yet Mr. Firmin was one of the finest examples of these united attributes. His virtues did not raise him out of his line of life; but they made him admirable in the discharge of its duties; and serve to prove a most flattering truth,—that there is nothing in the practice or principles of commerce, even in its lower branches, which requires the sacrifice of conscience, or the contraction of habits of vulgarity; that there is nothing in it which unfits a man for the discharge of the highest functions of a citizen and a social beingwhich unfits him for the companionship of the great and good-which unfits him for the pursuit and maintenance of truths of the most useful and important kind. Nor did Mr. Firmin neglect his own concerns to attend to those of others. He joined the strictest attention to his business, with the most benevolent and enlightened projects for the benefit of the human race. He never neglected his customers, and yet he enjoyed the society and engaged the friendship of some of the greatest men of his time: whilst his hand and heart were active to do and to be good. He who wishes to accumulate as much of pure and sincere happiness in the brief space of life as is possible, may learn from Thomas Firmin, that the surest plan he can pursue, is the cultivation of a large benevolence. A more useful, a more active, a more happy, a more respectable life than his, was probably never led. Reader, such was Thomas Firmin-a Unitarian Christian. Go thou, and do likewise. G. C. S. Objections to Unitarian Christianity. WE proceed to another objection, and one which probably weighs more with multitudes than any other. It is this, that our doctrine respecting Christ, takes from the sinner the only ground of hope. It is said continually by our opponents, "We and all men are sinners by our very nature, and infinitely guilty before God. The sword of divine justice hangs over us, and hell opens beneath us; and where shall we find a refuge but in an infinite Saviour? We want an infinite atonement; and in depriving us of this, you rob us of our hope, you tear from the Scriptures the only doctrine which meets our wants. We may burn our Bibles, if your interpretation be true, for our case is desperate; we are lost for ever." In such warm and wild language, altogether unwarranted by Scripture, yet exceedingly fitted to work on common and terrorstricken minds, our doctrine is constantly assailed. |