formed a large proportion, if not the whole body, of the early Hebrew Christians, for whose use this Gospel was written. When Jesus was born, Herod had been dead at least TWO YEARS, and therefore he could not have given an order for massacreing all the children in Bethlehem, from two years old and under. This circumstance alone stamps falsehood on the whole story. Our Lord is no where styled Jesus of Bethlehem; which, had he been born in that place, would, according to the uniform custom of the Jews, have been his proper designation.

This absurd legend was either taken from the Apocryphal Gospels, which are supposed to have been written by some of the Gnostics, in order to throw discredit on Christianity, or else it is the production of a weak Gentile convert, who conceived that, by introducing it, he should elevate the dignity of Christ, and abate the odium under which his followers then laboured. The writer does not say from whence he had the story. Mary is the only person with whom it could originate; but her testimony is not any where adduced. Coming, therefore, in so questionable a shape; contradicting as it does the prophecies relating to the Messiah; being at variance with the testimony of our Lord's contemporaries, and opposed to his own declarations, the fiction of the miraculous conception, with all its concomitants, ought to be rejected by every friend to Christianity. It long has been, and ever will be, a formidable weapon in the hands of unbelievers; who, in consequence of this story being incorporated with the Gospels, are ever on the alert to condemn the whole as fabulous.

There are some persons who contend, that the doctrine of the miraculous conception is not taught in the introduction to Luké; but whether it is or not, there are other fabulous circumstances contained in it which impress the whole narrative with improbability; and as it is of no use whatever in the scheme of Christianity, it would be better to discard it, as well as the introduction to Matthew, especially as it was not contained in the earliest copies of this Gospel. From this brief statement, it is apparent that Jesus Christ was the Son of Man, and that Joseph was his real and legitimate father.

4. "What think ye of Christ ?"

That he was the Son

of God. This phrase is of frequent occurrence in the Scriptures; and nothing can be more

evident than that

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and

the Father and the Son must be two distinct beings; that the Father is the senior, the Son the junior. "Son of God" and "Christ" are synonymous terms: they both mean the same as Messiah," or Anointed; ;" i. e. set apart for a special purpose. Nathaniel designated Jesus "the Son of God, the King of Israel." When John the Baptist saw the Spirit descending on Jesus, he announced him as "" the Son of God." Peter, in reply to our Lord's question, "Whom say ye that I am?" answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Now I will venture to assert, with the fullest confidence, that neither Nathaniel, nor John, nor Peter, had any idea of the person of whom they spoke being himself the ETERNAL GOD. There is not the slightest evidence in the Scriptures to this purpose. When the High Priest adjured Jesus by the living God to tell him whether he was "the Christ, the Son of God," he could not possibly imply that the terms living God," and "Son of God," were of the same import. The most marked distinction is always observed between JEHOVAH and his Messenger. John states it as a reason for composing his history, "that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God." Had the beloved disciple believed his Master to be the Supreme Being, he would have plainly said so; and would have stated, in the most explicit manner, that he wrote his narrative to prove, not the Sonship of Jesus, but his Deity.

"Son of God" is a term descriptive of character and office. It bears no relation whatever to the personal nature of our Lord. It is applied to him in consequence of his being raised to a state of peculiar privilege and dignity. The judges and rulers of Israel were designated "gods" and "children of the Most High," because they were raised by him to power and dominion; therefore the term "Son of God" was truly applicable to Jesus of Nazareth, on account of his high office and superior dignity, and in consequence of the power and authority to which he was exalted by God. This appellation, then, instead of countenancing the popular notion of Christ's Deity, is entirely subversive of it; and is in perfect accordance with the PROPER UNITY OF GOD the basis of all true religion. What is denominated the "eternal sonship" of Jesus Christ, is a notion extremely absurd. Some authors have rendered themselves ridiculous in attempting to ex

plain it; and it is a term to which we can affix no ideas whatever.

But, my friends, Jesus is also the "Son of God" in consequence of his resurrection from the dead. Hence he is called the "only-begotten," the "first-born;" being the first and only person that was ever raised to the enjoyment of immortal life. The resurrection of our blessed Lord is the most glorious event that ever took place. Well might the Apostle call it "glad tidings :" it is indeed glad tidings of great joy to all people;" for we cannot view Jesus as the risen "Son of God," without extending our views to that glorious period when he will descend from heaven to re-animate our sleeping dust; and, if we conduct ourselves as his sincere and faithful disciples, he will raise us to those mansions of bliss which he is preparing in his heavenly Father's house. He not only brought life and immortality fully to light by his teaching, but he has given us a pattern and a pledge of our future life, by his own conquest over the King of Terrors. His resurrection, however, would have been no pattern and pledge of ours, were his nature not properly human; for it does not follow, if he possessed the inherent power of infusing life into his own dead body, that our dead bodies will be raised, which do not possess this inherent principle. But if we firmly believe that Jesus was raised, and that he now "liveth by the power of God," and that it was on account of his obedience unto death that his Father and his God so highly exalted him, then we may, with full assurance of faith,

"Think on the grave where he was laid,

And calm descend to ours."

Further. If we believe Jesus to be the "Son of God," we may safely rely on all his promises. Our faith could not be stronger, if we had heard those promises from the mouth of God himself. Let us then ardently look to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame attached to it, and is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Let the same mind be in us that was in him let us in every respect walk worthy the disciples of so virtuous and holy a Master. Though made in all things as we are made, and tempted as we are tempted; yet he nobly withstood all the allurements of the world; there is

therefore nothing, in the way of duty, that he did but what we may do also: for "what man has done, man may do." Let us, then, persevere in the Christian race, keeping a steady eye on the invaluable prize set before us- a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

With the example of Jesus before us, let us never basely yield to temptation; for we also shall reap in due season, if we faint not. Fighting under the victorious banner of the great Captain of our salvation, we cannot fail of obtaining a complete and glorious victory over error, sin and death, and of being honoured with the possession of eternal life. "To him that overcometh," says he, "will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also evercame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Let us then perform the duty of faithful soldiers, and we shall all share in the fruits and triumphs of the spiritual victory. We shall be introduced into the palace of the Great King, partake of his rich bounties, and for ever enjoy the contemplation of his smiling face. In his blessed abode, free from the storms and tempests of the present chequered scene, and from all the troubles that life is heir to, we shall have for our companions the wise and virtuous of all ages and nations; there shall we be re-united to our pious relatives and friends, never more to endure the pain of separation; there, in that" land of pure delight," not one tear shall ever dim the eye, nor a sigh swell the bosom, but throughout eternal ages all will be peace, harmony, cheerfulness, felicity and love!

Having laid before you a concise view of those opinions which, as a Unitarian, I honestly entertain concerning the person of Christ, which I believe to be the genuine doctrine of the sacred Scriptures, and which it has been my ardent wish and unwearied endeavour, above six years, to inculcate on your minds, I now submit, whether the body of Christians to which we have the honour and the happiness of being united, is deserving of the stigmas so frequently cast on it by Trinitarians, from the pulpit and the press; or whether the illiberal appellation recently ex

hibited to public view, in numerous large advertisements, on the walls of this and the adjacent towns, by the Rɛv. DOCTOR HAWKER, of Plymouth, is characteristic of our sentiments or conduct. Can we who thus think of Christ,— who hold those Scriptural views of the illustrious Founder of our holy religion,-we who venerate and love his name, and exalt his sacred character;-can we, I ask, be justly considered as forming a part of “ THIS CHRIST-DESPISING GENERATION"? There cannot be a doubt but we are the persons whom the Doctor chiefly had in view; but we throw back the LIBEL to the source whence it emanated, as being wholly inapplicable to us. If we were disposed, might we not ask, Are there not many in the present day that make great parade of religion, who are DENIERS OF GOD;-who, if they do not actually blot him out of existence, render him almost useless? But we will not retaliate. Those erroneous, mystical and contradictory notions of the Supreme Being, advocated by the author of the advertisements, are happily on the wane; and ere long they will be known only in the passages of church history. TRUTH IS MIGHTY, AND IT WILL FINALLY PREVAIL!

It is with considerable pleasure that I now see before me so many friends who, prior to the opening of this place for Unitarian Christian worship, had never duly considered the important controversy pending between Unitarians and Trinitarians; but being excited to free inquiry, and having subsequently read and reflected on the subject, are become firmly established in the doctrine of one undivided God, and the proper humanity of his beloved Son Jesus Christ ;who are not ashamed of making an open profession of their tenets; and who are ready and willing (if necessary) to bear every reproachful epithet contained in the copious vocabulary of reputed orthodoxy, and which are so liberally bestowed on the "sect every where spoken against."

In stating my sentiments from this place, I have never spoken disrespectfully of the character of our opponents, however bitterly they may have inveighed against us; but have always given them credit, as a body, for sincerity and good intentions, though I have sometimes strongly expressed my feelings respecting the disingenuous, ungentlemanly and unchristian-like conduct of some individuals. I may, however, venture to assert, without fear of contradiction, that in no instance have I ever attempted to bias your judgment by any dishonourable means. I have