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sometimes misrepresents, but it appears to be only because he misconceives; and though it is much to be lamented, both on his own account, and for the sake of truth, that his imagination has not been more under the controul of his reason, and his expressions more moderate and chastised; yet we sincerely believe, he has too much integrity and piety to be guilty of any thing approaching to disingenuousness and falsehood. His manner towards his opponent personally, is in general tolerably respectful; and if not altogether such as a gentleman, a scholar and a Christian has a right to expect from another, it is, at least, an approximation to it, and most happy should we be to hail it as the commencement of a new mode of conducting this controversy.

There are moments when an ingenuous mind must feel deeply mortified and humbled at having given representations of the opinions of its opponent which are less cousistent with the truth than serviceable to a particular cause. Of the injustice which results from this partial statement and false colouring of facts, Unitarians

have constant occasion to complain : and there is no person, with whose writings we are acquainted, who, in this respect, has sinued more deeply against the law of justice and charity than Mr. Wardlaw. The truth of this accusation, which, if the heat of controversy and the thirst for victory. shall have left in his bosom any room for the operation of the feelings of a generous mind or of a sincere Christian, he will be most anxious to repel

must, we think, appear evident to ever unprejudiced person, who attends to the manner in which he has spoken of the regard which Unitarians pay to the Scriptures. He has availed himself of the ignorance, the prejudices and the fears of his hearers, in order to fill them with horror of Unitarianism; we do not say, knowing that his representations would convey to them false impressions, but certainly less anxious about the truth than the effect of his statements.

[To be concluded in the next No.]

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cay;

Come, muse on nature's general funeral!

Nought left but ashes, dust and clods of clay

All, all is o'er;-'tis past,-'tis perished all!

Victors and vanquished, there confounded lie;

The prisoner finds eternal liberty,

And death's cold chains have bound the free; Where are the wise-the Platos of their day?

The beautiful,-in all their soft array ? Involved with meaner dust in common destiny!

All holy Virtue! child of heavenly clime! Thou liv'st amidst the wrecks of earth and time,

Thou only-and thy influence can give
Brightness to night,-and ecstacy to
gloom,
Can wake the dead, and bid the dying
live,

And with immortal radiance fill the
tomb!

SONNETS

A.

In naked majesty-and earth is strew'd With temples that have frown'd from ages rude

The gorgeous tomb of reason-though the plea

Of sacred thoughts and deep antiquity Should touch thy bosom in its kindliest mood!

Those guilty towers are creatures of a span; Are not the clouds borne freely on the breeze,

The everlasting hills and roaring sea
And the blue heavens' immortal majesty,
And high-born beatings of the heart of man

Of holier birth and older far than these?

II.

To the Spanish Patriots in Prison, Think not unconquer'd heroes! that ye sigh In vain within your dungeons ;-not a pain That such as ye endure is sent in vain, And not a gleam of fortitude can die! No! these shall kindle in the peasant's eye A lightening such as in the times of old Shook mightiest tyrants-they shall all be told

In each sweet vale and vine-encompass'd
And the young voice of cherub infancy,
plain;
Trembling with new-born ecstacies, shall sing
Your deeds within their fathers' hearts en-
roll'd,

And your mild dignity of suffering;
Till the glad voice of renovated Spain,
Give to your virtues glory manifold.

III.

To the South American Patriots. Think not undaunted champions! that the

sea

With all its waves can part us from the

cause

In which you struggle;-that 'neath English laws

We sit in cold and mute tranquillity,

Supplementary to Wordsworth's Sonnets When mightiest nations combat to be free.

to Liberty. I.

O thou who lov'st o'er ancient times to brood

With fondest retrospection-do not weep When freedom starts from her inglorious sleep

It is almost needless to observe, that the author of these Sonnets deprecates all comparison with those of the great poet whom he has endeavoured to imitate. Indeed, he knows of no compositions of a similar kind, in this or any other language, which, for majestic simplicity and natural grandeur, equal the Sonnets of Wordsworth, He only regrets, that this great poet has not chosen the subjects of these effusions for the exercise of his elevated powers. Had

No! we are form'd of one celestial blood, The children of one Sire; and we have stood,

For freedom's cause in earth's Thermopyla!" E'en nature mingles feelings from afarThe ocean, and the winds, and clouds are free,

he done so, it may readily, be believed, the author would have been contented to admire. But he is silent; and there are some feelings, which, by the power of their own enthusiasm, force those to give them utterance who are most incompetent to do them justice. Thus it is with the writer of these Sonnets-the only apology for which must be, the strength of the emotions by which they were prompted.

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DOMESTIC.
RELIGIOUS.

Unitarian Fund.

THE anniversary of this Society was held on Wednesday, the 28th of May, in the chapel, Parliament Court, Artillery Lane. Divine service was introduced by the Rev. Mr. Hutton, of Walthamstow; the Rev. Dr. Morell offered the general prayer; and the sermon was preached by the Rev. W. J. Fox, the minister of the chapel. The congregation was numerous and the collection nearly equal to that of any former year.. A very great impression was made upon the audience by Mr. Fox's eloquent vindication of the Society, and one of the first motions on the Society being formed, was for a vote of thanks to the preacher, united with a request that he would lay his sermon before the public. The Treasurer's Report announced an increased expenditure during the last year, owing chiefly to the sums contributed to various chapels. Au abstract of the Committee's Report, which was of considerable length, is designed for separate publication and will appear in this work. The following gentlemen were chosen into office for the year ensuing, viz. JOHN CHRISTIE, Esq. Treasurer. REV. R. ASPLAND, Secretary. Committee.

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Auditors.

Mr. ALEX. HUTCHISON,
Mr. JOHN TODHUNTER.

Dr. Philipps, of Sheffield, was reported to have engaged to preach at the next Anniversary. A resolution was passed of warm thanks to Mr. Wright, now labouring as a missionary in Scotland; and an other resolution related to the loss sustained by the Society since the last Anniversary in the death of the Rev. W. Vidler: it was as follows, "That the thanks of the Society be given to the minister and managers of this chapel, for the use of it on the present occasion; and that the Society cannot pass by the present opportunity of expressing their sympathy with the congregation, here assembling, on the melancholy event of the death of their late revered pastor, the Rev. W. Vidler, who was from the first, the cordial friend, the zealous supporter, and, as occasion served, the able missionary, of the Unitarian Fund, and whose praise is in the churches; but that at the same time they congratulate the congregation on the goodness of Divine Providence, in raising up for them a successor to their late revered friend, animated by the same spirit, pledged co the same cause and already distinguished by his talents, his zeal and his success."

The annual meeting of the Governors of the Unitarian Acuaemy was afterwards held in the chapel, of which we hope to Three students receive the parti lars. leave the academy this year, in order to accept churches.

The subscribers and friends to the Fund afterwards dined together at the London Tavern, in number Three Hundred and

Eight, Mr. Rutt in the Chair. The usual sentiments were proposed to the company and expatiated upon with great spirit and eloquence. The Chairman paid a handsome panegyrical tribute to the memory of the late Mr. Vidler. The health of the preacher was received by the company with great enthusiasm. Mr. Wright was not forgotten though he was absent: allusions were of necessity made by various gentlemen to the case of his brother, now. under prosecution for Blasphemy. The concluding address of the Chairman was affecting, from the review which it took of years gone by, and of former associates who rest each one from his labours, and from the expression which it contained of certain anticipations of time future, which in the vicissitudes and uncertainties of life may well excite the tenderest feelings of a social being.

The meeting was distinguished by the greatest order and harmony; in relation to which too much praise cannot be given to the Stewards.

General Baptist Assembly.

ON Whit-Tuesday, May 27th, the Annual Assembly of the Old General Baptists was held, as usual, in the Meeting-house, Worship Street, London. The Elders and Representatives of the churches in connexion with the Assembly, who were present, were about as numerous as at former Assemblies. After the letters from the churches, containing cases for the consideration of the meeting, or detailing the present state of the several congregations had been read, the public service commenced.

Mr. Evans, of Islington, desirous of shewing his respect to his old friends whom he had so often met on the same occasion, though still greatly afflicted, was present and opened the service by reading the Scriptures and giving out the hymns. The devotional service was conducted by Mr. Smallfield, and an appropriate discourse was delivered by Mr. Kingsford, of Canterbury. The preacher's text was a part of Matthew xi. 19, Learn of me. These words were illustrated by a reference to numerous traits in the character of Jesus Christ, shewing its superlative excellence, and the suitableness of his example for the imitation of ministers in particular, and professors generally. The preacher in an especial manner insisted on the duty as well as inalienable right of private judgment, and strenuously enforced the exercise of charity on the avowed admirers of the meekness and gentleness of the greatest of Teachers, though he was instructed immediately by his God and Father, the Fountain of Truth.

Soon after the public service was coneluded, the business of the Assembly re

commenced. The letters from some of the churches contained a cheering account of increasing numbers and unabated zeal. The increase on the whole, however, appeared not to have been great since the last Assembly; but the Sunday Schools belonging to some of the congregations were described as being well attended, and as being apparently very beneficial in their influ-.

ence.

The Committee, appointed by the Assembly three years ago, in their Report, reiterated the advice they had given in the last year's Proceedings-the necessity of establishing a fellowship fund in each congre gation, to afford every professor, however limited his pecuniary resources might be, an opportunity of contributing his mite towards the support of the sacred cause of truth and righteousness. This advice, it appeared, had not been given in vain; for, several of the churches have made collections, and in their letters expressed their full conviction of the propriety of the advice, and the necessity of acting in conformity with it.

About four o'clock, the ministers and their friends having retired to the White Hart Inn, Bishopsgate Street, sat down, nearly sixty in number, to an economical dinner. Mr. Kingsford, the preacher for the day, was called to the chair; and after the cloth was removed, several pertinent sentiments were given. In the course of the evening these sentiments called forth some animated speeches, which were characterized by that love of free inquiry, on theological subjects, in the exercise of which the Old General Baptists have, perhaps, never come behind their fellowchristians; by universal philanthropy, and consequently by a marked disapprobation of every infringement of the natural rights, whether civil or religious, of their fellowcountrymen, or of their brethren of mankind at large.

G. S.

Kent General Buptist Churches. THE Annual Association of the Kent General Baptist Churches, was held this year at Cranbrook, May 6th. An appropriate discourse was delivered by Mr. Pound, of Dover, to a respectable audience. After the public service, the business of the Association commenced-when Mr. Sampson Kingsford, was unanimously called to the Chair.

Amongst other things, an interesting conversation took place relative to a list of theological questions, which had been drawn up by recommendation of the last year's Association. These questions were chiefly designed for the use of young people, to excite and promote a spirit of free inquiry. The plan of a Benefit Society

having also, at the request of the last Association, been drawn up by Mr. Michael Kingsford, of Canterbury, was, by that gentleman, printed and laid before the meeting. This plan, which had been carefully arranged, appeared to meet general approbation and particularly as it seems (to use Mr. Kingsford's own words), "likely to prove to them (its members) a stimulus to early habits of industry and economy, and to promote in them a uniform attention to public worship, and an habitual connexion with our churches, whose incumbent duty it will be to strengthen every good and virtuous disposition in them, and to watch over and guard them against any impropriety of conduct, the inexperience of youth may expose them to."

The friends dined at the George Inn, and afterwards took tea with the ladies in the chapel; and harmony prevailed throughout the day.

In the evening a large party retired to the above inn to supper, and spend a little tim in friendly conversation. When the cloth was removed, it was suggested, as the most interesting mode of spending the time, to adopt a subject for general discussion, which appearing to meet the approbation of the company, the following question was proposed.

Upon what principle can the cause of Christianity be injured by free, unlimited inquiry?

This subject called forth many excellent remarks from numerous speakers, when, after a discussion of more than two hours, the chairman in closing the debate remarked, that he was happy in recognising in the sentiments of that company the characteristic of the Old Unitarian General Baptist Body, which had so long and so nobly advocated the cause of free inquiry in matters of religion. Several gentlemen in the course of the debate were particularly anxious to impress the idea that, although inquiry ought to be free and unshackled, that yet it should be pursued with a prudent attention to times and cir

cumstances.

B. M.

Dudley Double Lecture. ON Whit-Tuesday, May 27, 1817, the Annual Meeting of Ministers, denominated, "The Double Lecture," took place at Dudley. The Rev. James Scott, of Cradley, conducted the devotional service. Two sermons were preached: the former by the Rev John Kentish, of Birmingham, on the degree in which a Christian minister may lawfully conform to the sentiments, the practices, the circumstances, the prejudices and the infirmities of those around him :from 1 Cor. ix, 22, "I am made all things

to all men, that I might by all means save some:" the latter, in the absence of the gentleman who was to have officiated, by the Rev. James Hews Bransby, of Dudley, on the efficacy of the faithful preaching of the gospel, from 1 Thess. ii. 13," For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of meu, but (as it is in truth) the word of God: which effectually worketh also in you that believe."

Mr. Kentish thus concluded his discourse: "The grand extremes against which, as Christian ministers, we must guard, in our deportment, are considerable seclusion from the world, and indiscriminate association with mankind: habitual singularity and habitual accommodation. Our intelligent and affectionate hearers may well complain of us, if we shun their society as though it were pestilential: yet we shall as naturally and deservedly incur their censure, if we do not make a wise division of our time, between the retirement of the closet and the engagements of active life.

"We cannot, in the apostolic sense, become all things to all men, unless we be true, at the same time, to our religious principles and character. Our situation requires, if I mistake not, a happy union of integrity and candour, of zeal and circumspection and benevolence. Even if we cannot wholly escape reproach from an ill-judging world, may this reproach, however, fall on us only in respect of the law of our God. Yet as knowledge and piety increase, every tendency to persecution will be discountenanced; and the Protestant Dissenting Minister, who, without surrendering or compromising his secular rights, devotes himself entirely to his office, will not fail of possessing the esteem of those whose esteem is praise.

"Seldom have we perceived a man who exhibited, in a higher degree, a just superiority to the world, while he mixed with various classes of its inhabitants, for their benefit, than an excellent minister, * whose name and whose memory we cannot but associate very intimately with the recurrence of this yearly lecture. His place tions of his dismissal from our earth, which, knoweth him no more: and those anticipathree years since he here expressed, † ever, it may not be so generally known have been fully realized. Perhaps, howthat from this pulpit, and as on this day, he claims of Christian candour, in circum once illustrated the nature, and urged the

* The Rev. Benjamin Carpenter, of Old Swinford.

+ See Monthly Repository, IX. 511.

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