wasted constitution; that a life of vicious indulgence will forfeit you the esteem of all the wise and good, and leave you useless outcasts of society, shunned by others and a load to yourselves, to drag on the poor remains of a life which will daily grow more and more insipid, till at last it becomes a useless burden, which you wish, yet dread, to lay down.

"But the close of a life, however long, must come at last. What reflections and prospects will then best sustain your spirits? Whether will it be more desirable, at such a season, to review a life wasted in foolish and frivolous pursuits, dishonoured by a Jong train of vices, a life for which your own heart must condemn you; or to be able to look back through a long course of years employed in rational pursuits, in active services to your fellow-creatures, and in obedience to the laws of heaven; to leave an honourable testimony to your virtues in the hearts of your admiring friends; to make the last important step into the unknown world with an undisturbed mind, and to appear before the Judge of the whole earth with an humble hope of his acceptance, and a joyful expectation of eternal life? -You cannot doubt whether it will be better, at that hour, to have a heart oppressed with guilt, and agitated with terror; or to enjoy that peace which this world, with all its pleasures, cannot give.

"Whether the impressions, which the late event has made upon your minds, will be permanent enough to influence your future conduct, time alone can shew your friends: but this conviction I am certain you now feel, that it is your wisdom to prepare for a similar event, which must certainly, and may soon, arrive to each of you.

"You will soon be thrown among scenes of temptation, from which, hitherto in life, let us hope, you have been kept free. We cannot, if we would, nor would we if we could, take or keep you out of the world, in which it is our ambition and hope to prepare you for becoming eminently useful; but it is our hearts' desire and prayer for you all, that you may be kept from the evil.

But if vicious pleasures should entice you, if appetite and passion should draw you astray, if the licen

tious and profane should be successful in employing their seducing arts to betray you, if you should unhappily forget, for a time, every serious truth of which you have here been reminded, I need not bid you recollect, your conscience will sometime force you to remember, that there was a time when you thought otherwise. In the moment of serious thoughtand it will come-you will feel, that, though the sacred obligations of virtue, and the awful sanctions of religion, may for a time be forgotten or despised, they have a reality and importance which cannot be destroyed.

"But let me hope, that every apprehension of this kind is without foundation let me indulge the pleasing idea, that this solemn event has not spoken to you in vain.

:

"It is now-O let it ever be, your firm resolve,

My heart shall not reproach me so long Till I die, I will not remove my integrity as I live;

from me!"

The company then separated, after a short devotional exercise, highly gratified with the employment of the four days.

Manchester College, York.

THE next Session will commence on Thursday, Sept. 18th, 1817. It is very desirable that all the Students should assemble on that day, as the choice of apartments will take place on Friday, the 19th, and the arrangement of the Classes on Saturday the 20th. Public business will begin on Monday, Sept. 22nd. Applications for admission as Lay-Students, are requested to be immediately addressed to the Rev. Charles Wellbeloved, Manchester College, York, that the necessary preparations may be made for their accommodation.

T. H. ROBINSON,
J. G. ROBBERDS,

Manchester,

Aug. 15th, 1817.

Secretaries.

Eastern Unitarian Society.

The Fifth Yearly Meeting of this Society was held at Framlingham, in Suffolk, on Wednesday and Thursday, June 25th and 26th. The Service of Wednesday evening was conducted

by Mr. Perry and Mr. Scargill. That of Thursday morning by Mr. Fullagar, Mr. Scargill and Mr. Madge. The Meeting was filled with attentive auditors, and it is hoped that all who heard the excellent discourses which were delivered, went away with an increased knowledge and love of the genuine doctrines of the Gospel. After the morning service, the business of the Society was transacted. Thomas Robinson, Esq., of Bury, in the Chair. It appeared by the Report, that the number of Tracts circulated in the past year, exceeded that of any former one. The Committee having recommended to the different churches in the Association, the formation of Fellowship Funds, as a measure well calculated to unite the Unitarian body, and to call its powers into easy and active operation; the meeting resolved, that the report be printed and generally circulated among the respective congregations in Norfolk and Suffolk, in order to prepare the way for the adoption of so beneficial a plan. The Treasurer's accounts were then laid before the Society, and its funds appeared to be in a flourishing and improving state. Mr. J. L. Marsh and Mr. Edward Taylor were re-elected Treasurer and Secretary for the ensuing year, and the next yearly meeting was appointed to be held at Palgrave, on the last Wednesday and Thursday in June. Fifty-five gentlemen and ladies afterwards dined at the Crown Inn, George Watson, Esq., of Saxlingham in the chair. The assembling of such a number at so small and (to most of the subscribers) distant a town as Framlingham, is a gratifying proof of the increasing interest that is felt in the objects of the society, and of the respect which is felt by all, for the amiable and excellent minister of the place. When the sentiment, "Civil and Religious Liberty all over the World," was given after dinner, Mr. Madge observed, that the declaration of such a wish must at all times be congenial to the mind of every Unitarian. It was to their honour that they had uniformly shewn themselves consistent friends to both civil and religious liberty were indeed so intimately connected, that they must flourish or decay together. But in times like the present, when the cry of heresy and blasphemy was raised

for the basest purposes, it behoved us to shew our attachment to the great cause of freedom by every possible exertion. If we slumbered, the enemy would sow tares, and the noxious and baneful weeds of bigotry and persecution would choke and poison the pure doctrines of the Gospel. We must have our loins always girded, and be ready to meet and repel every attack upon our religious privileges. He had understood that the disgraceful prosecution against Mr. Wright, of Liverpool, would be persevered in, upon the ground that his sermon was calculated to bring the doctrines of the Established Church into contempt. If so, what Unitarian preacher could hope to escape persecution, provided he performed his duty? He could not speak of the Trinitarian doctrine, without saying it was self-contradictory, and contradictory to the language of Scripture. This might be called bringing the established religion into contempt. But he had no reason to doubt, whatever the event of this prosecution might be, that his brethren would, with the apostle, resolve “ to obey God rather than man," and not be deterred by any unmanly fears from the fearless and open avowal of religious truth. The Chairman having given "the memories of Emlyn, Manuing and Barron, the fathers of Unitarianism in this district,"-Mr. Toms detailed several very interesting particulars relating to those venerable champions of the Unitarian faith. The health of "the Bishop of the Diocese" having been given, Mr. Madge took occasion to pay his tribute of the sincerest esteem towards that excellent man. He had had the pleasure of receiving the most respectful attention from him, and he believed no man living better understood, or more highly valued the true principles of religious liberty than the Bishop of Norwich. The Chairman then gave "May all our Dissenting brethren learn and love the liberty in which they stand, and resist every attempt from within and without to enslave them." Mr. Edward Taylor said, that our duty, when open attacks were made upon the rights of conscience by those without, had been so ably laid down by his friend Mr. Madge, that he should confine himself to a few observations on the other sort of at

tacks which the toast alluded to. It was most strange that Dissenters should seek to put a yoke of bondage about the necks of their brethren, or that they should be found publicly supporting the avowed enemies of civil and religious liberty. Such, however, he lamented to say, was the case. Instances of the sort were too numerous. In the recent election for the county of Norfolk, Mr. Butterworth, well known as a leading character among a certain class of Dissenters, had written circulars to many individuals in order to influence their votes in favour of the candidate, who boasted that his success was principally owing to the support he had received from the Clergy and the Administration. These letters had been eagerly caught at during the contest, printed and circulated among the Dissenters with this title: "Copy of a Letter from Joseph Butterworth, Esq., the member for Coventry, a great patron of charities and of the Dissenting interest." From some Dissenters he received the answer which his letter deserved, but many were influenced by this "patron" of their cause, to desert their principles. He regretted to observe, among many of their ministers, a cringing and courtly servility, wholly unworthy the descendants of the Puritans. We had lived to witness strange conduct among Dissenting ministers. One of them had signalized himself by reading the Church of England Liturgy in a chapel before two Royal Dukes. Between such men, and the venerable fathers of non-conformity, there seemed to be nothing in common but the mere name. Such conduct on the part of their ministers had produced on their flocks the effects which might naturally be expected. Many, whose ancestors had signalized themselves by their attachment to non-conformity, were now seeking church or corporation honours, while others were only held to the Dissenting interest by a thread. He trusted, that the ministers of the Eastern district, and those more especially whom he then saw, would shew how deeply they felt the value of the principles of non-conformity, by a sedulous and earnest inculcation of them.

In the course of the afternoon the exertions of the living as well as the

memories of the departed champions of the Unitarian cause, were gratefully remembered; a spirit of Christian friendship, zeal and union, pervaded all present, and it is hoped that the impressions derived from this meeting, will be lasting and beneficial.

Kent and Sussex Unitarian Christian Association.

The Annual Meeting of the Kent and Sussex Unitarian Christian Association was holden at Tenterden, on the 25th June, when a discourse was delivered by Mr. Thomas Rees, F. S. A. from Isaiah xl. 25, to a numerous and very attentive auditory. In pointing out the principal objections to the commonly received doctrine of the Trinity, he shewed the utter inconsistency of the supposed derivative existence of the Son and the Holy Ghost from the Father as the source, with that selfexistence which is essential to the oue true God. He exhibited the absurdity of imagining that there can be in any sense, three omnipresent persons to constitute the one Jehovah, and severally exercising infinite power throughout the universe. He contrasted the simplicity of the Unitarian system, with the glaring incongruities attending the idea of the union of the Deity with human nature, so intimately as to constitute one person, with a creature who was subjected to the imbecilities of infancy and childhood, and the general infirmities attendant on our mortal frame, more especially with the notion that the immortal God could become mortal, and partake in the expiring agonies of the man Jesus.

The devotions were condcted by Mr. L. Holden and Mr. A. Harris. 882 Tracts, calculated to explain and illustrate the principles of Unitarian Christianity, or to vindicate its evidences and enforce its obligations, have been distributed by the Society in the last year. Among these are 49 copies of Mr. Fox's luminous sermon, on the Comparative Tendency of Unitarianism and Calvinism, and 190 of Mr. Wright's useful Essays on various points of Controversy; particularly 44 of his Essay on the Universal Restoration. As the ultimate destination of that large portion of mankind, whose moral state on the great day of judg. ment, will disqualify them from enter

ing into the immediate participation of immortal felicity, is not distinctly predicted in the Scriptures, Unitarians are uniformly agreed only in the conclusion, that endless torments is a doctrine most remote from the designs of the all-merciful Creator. Were inquiries more confined to objects nearer our observation, such as the nature and design of death, of the universal resurrection, some to the immediate fruition of immortal felicity, and others to a state of judgment, and just discrimination in the condition and treatment of vicious characters, according to their various degrees of guilt, it is probable that the most satisfactory inferences would be derived respecting the wise and beneficent purposes of God, although the ultimate result of his dispensations may exceed the reach of our faculties fully to determine, and as it respects the offending part of mankind, may at present be involved in awful uncertainty.

Much interesting information was received from our friends from different quarters. The free spirit of truth is exerting itself, by various methods, for promoting both its diffusion and its increasing influence on the minds of those by whom it has been already embraced. Our Cranbrook friends, by their Secretary, (Mr. W. Dobell,) write as follows:"Our chief means of making our opinions known, are by pulpit discourses, public conferences and private conversation. At our conferences we occasionally have some written addresses from the younger part of our friends, both male and female, which do credit to their understanding and their hearts, and which we wish to encourage, not only in our own but in all our societies." The like rational and interesting methods are actively pursued by our friends at Battle, where a variety of controversial tracts, chiefly by Mr. Wright, have been copiously distributed, and much exertion has been successfully made in calling forth talent at their public conferences, which are numerously attended. This practice of engaging the active powers of the mind and its social affections in the mutual investigation and discussion of truth, and thus of giving it a general interest and impression, which can never be produced while the faculties remain in

passive inaction, has been partially adopted in most of our other societies. As the sublime truths of religion are distinguished from the gross errors with which they have been confounded, by their readiness to court the light, so it is by calling the mind into action, and infusing their sacred influences through the affections, as they flow in social intercourse and free discussion, that they can be expected to maintain their sovereign sway over our conduct. While our brethren are thus engaged in edifying one another, they are, we trust, aware of the peculiar care which is necessary, in rendering religious and moral truth intelligible, and consequently interesting to their children. The attention which some of our Maidstone friends have devoted to this humble but useful undertaking, has proved the means of awakening an interest to the objects of religion and duty in their young minds, and the effects of it are apparent in their deportment.

It appeared from the information of two of our Dover friends that Unitarianism has recently made an extraordinary progress in that town. Its principles having been distinctly stated and illustrated, a great degree of interest has been very extensively excited, and the General Baptist chapel, in which these laudable exertions are made, is now overflowing with a vast accession of persons, won by the force of evidence and the beauty of truth. A very effectual instrument in the production of these great effects, has been of so humble a nature, that it may serve as a useful hint of the practicability of promoting truth by much less costly means than those which custom has sanctified to the support of error. One of those shops to which we resort to have the exterior of the seat of intelligence adjusted, has been very successfully employed by its worthy proprietor in furnishing the interior with just conceptions concerning the Creator. Numerous Unitarian Tracts have been distributed from it, and it has been made the centre of much interesting and profitable discussion.

The attention of the truly respectable body of General Baptists having been drawn toward the great question concerning the object of worship, we find them at their late association at

Cranbrook denominating themselves "the old Unitarian General Baptists." But it appears that some of the members of the church at Smarden and Staplehurst have lately seceded from the connexion, and by a letter addressed to their late pastor (Mr. B. Austen), have expressed themselves as if their hopes were founded rather on the imaginary agonies and death of their Almighty Maker, than on the resurrection of the man Jesus from the "dust of death" to a state of undying felicity. Mr. Austen has since been excluded from their pulpit, and with about twenty of his friends has withdrawn to a private house to celebrate the worship of the only living and true God.

A distinct statement of the rules, with some new regulations, including several additional objects received the sanction of the society, and we trust will prove the means of cementing our union more closely and rendering it more efficient. The unanimous thanks of the society were voted "to Mr. John Wright, of Liverpool, for the truly Christian manner in which he has conducted himself under the prosecution that has been commenced against him, for the open avowal of those holy and benevolent principles for the promulgation of which they were associated." The society also expressed" their condolence with Mr. Charles Herbert, under the very distressing circumstances to which he has been exposed on account of his firm adherence to principle." Mr. Herbert embraced the opportunity of expressing his acknowledgments to his benefactors in a written address, of which the following is an extract: "It is with feelings of the highest gratitude I return you my most sincere thanks for a most kind, benevolent and liberal support of a wife and nine children during the last six months, a support so truly liberal, that I have been furnished with the means of seeking a situation whenever one has offered, which I could not have done had it not been for you. In scarcely any other breast has my deplorable case excited the least feeling of compassion, not even amongst my nearest relations-very far from it. I have at last taken a house at Dover for the education of a select number of young gentlemen, in all the various

branches of commercial and polite education, and hope, by a strict attention to the improvement of my pupils, still to merit the protection of my worthy friends." Justice requires that it should be added that, though our friends in Kent and Sussex have contributed to the relief of Mr. H. according to their abilities, and though we are indebted to a friend for a very' liberal donation, yet it is to our friends in London and other more distant parts, chiefly through the medium of Mr. Aspland and Mr. Belsham, particularly to the ample largesses of a philanthropist whose name has not been announced, that he owes the principal of the support which he has received.

We shall only add, that a company of about one hundred and forty friends dined together, and were joined by about fifty more who cordially united in some appropriate sentiments which were given on the occasion. The case of Mr. John Wright, in particular, drew forth some animated remarks, and excited much interest. All appeared much encouraged to unite and proceed in the work of endeavouring to call the attention of our fellow-men to an examination of their religious principles, that they may be led to distinguish "what is truth," to estimate its value, and to embrace it "in the love of it."

Maidstone, July 11, 1817.

T. PINE, SEC.

Since the above meeting, the following Petition for relief from the requisition to submit to the performance of the Marriage Ceremony has received nearly five hundred signatures, and has been presented to the House of Commons by Mr. W. Smith, and, we believe, to the House of Lords by the Marquis of Lansdowne: "To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled;

"The Petition of the Associated Unitarian Christians of Kent and Sussex-Humbly sheweth,

"That your Petitioners, dissenting from the Established Church upon the principle that Christ is their sole Head in matters of religion, are deeply impressed with the inconsistency of submission, on their part, to the Marriage Ceremony of that Church, as an