done without violating conscience, and acting with duplicity in those concerns in which we ought to be most explicit, open and sincere.

"It is with heart-felt pleasure that we mutually congratulate each other in respect to the improvement which has taken place in the public mind; that the asperity of feeling with which we were formerly regarded, has in a great degree subsided; and that the prejudices which gave rise to it are gradually receding before increasing candour and liberality.

"We rejoice in the success which has attended your exertions in promoting a belief in the proper unity and infinite benevo lence of the Supreme Being, which necessarily tends to inspire unshaken confidence in Him as the Father and the Friend of all, to promote charitable feelings among ourselves, and the most unbounded love towards the great family of mankind.

"May God, whose highest glory consists in the happiness of his creatures, continue to bless your labours; and, when time shall be no more, may he whom we acknowledge as our only Lord and Master, own you as his faithful servant, and welcome you to a participation in his joy!

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Accept, Sir, of our united thanks for your services, and we, unanimously, request your acceptance of the before-named books, which now lie on the table."

Mr. Gibbs's Answer.

"MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS,

"This handsome present with which you have now honoured me, I most cordially and thankfully accept. It will ever be esteemed as a distinguished token of your friendship, and a public approbation of my humble labours in the sacred cause of religious truth and virtue.

Through the kindness of Mr. Worsley and Mr. Cooke, I have already perused these works, and can testify to their superior value. For the excellent authors, I have long entertained a high regard, particularly for the enlightened Translator and Expositor of Paul's Epistles, whose masterly pen has been so many years consecrated to the illustration and defence of unadulterated Christianity, and whose admirable writings have essentially contributed to emancipate the gospel from the corruptions which, for ages, have marred its simplicity, shrouded its loveliness, and rendered it a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence.'

"In putting these volumes into my possession, it is not of course your intention that they should be preserved merely as an ornament to my library, how much soever that end may be answered by the elegance of the binding; but you have doubtlessly in view the influence which their invaluable contents ought to have on my mind and future exertions, when they shall have been attentively read and properly digested. Whether the result, in this respect, will be commensurate with your anticipa

tions, time only can determine; should you, however, in any wise, be disappointed, I trust the fault may be considered rather in the understanding than in the will.

"I assure you, my friends, that I stand in need of every assistance, as well as of your candour and forbearance. Though it has always been my opinion that an academical education is most essential to the Christian ministry, I never perceived the propriety and utility of it so clearly as I have done since my connexion with this society. It is my ardent wish to become better acquainted with the Scriptures, and with all necessary truth; but in consequence of the little leisure I enjoy, and the small portion of time that can be appropriated to theological pursuits, I must necessarily be content with a very circumscribed portion of knowledge. But such as I possess shall be cheerfully devoted to your service, in inculcating and diffusing correct sentiments concerning the being and perfection of God, the person, character, and offices of the Lord Jesus Christ, the nature of gospel salvation, and the beneficial influence and final triumphs of Christianity; which I am anxious to promote according to the best of my ability, as far as the circle of my influence extends. May a larger share of that love of truth and sacred ardour in diffusing it, which so strongly characterized the pious authors of these volumes, be implanted in my bosom, and may the good cause which we have so much at heart widely extend its boundaries, until the earth be filled with its glory, and there shall be only One Jehovali, and his name One!'

"As a Christian society, let us continue united. Let every individual be ardent and active in disseminating what he conceives to be the truth as it is in Jesus, by friendly conversation, by lending of books, and by any other honourable means. You have all witnessed the manner in which our peculiar doctrines have been misrepresented, and our motives calumniated by the over-zealous advocates of popular creeds. This conduct was, in a great measure, the offspring of ignorance; but happily the spirit of our opponents is considerably meliorated, in consequence of their having become better acquainted with our principles, and the arguments by which they are supported; and I am persuaded that the purity and sanctity of our cause will be acknowledged in proportion as these are diffused. They solicit only a candid and impartial hearing.

"Those persons who have possessed courage enough to venture into this place, though under the influence of very unfavourable impressions, if not of hostile feelings, have departed in a very different state of mind. Some indeed, who were formerly opponents, have become friends; and this I doubt not would be the case with many others who are deterred froin entering our place of worship lest the building should fall on their heads,' were they to divest themselves of prejudice and such absurd

apprehensions. But as these persons are thus debarred from hearing, let it be your strenuous endeavour to induce them to READ what has been written in defence of the UNITARIAN CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. If they will only examine our works attentively, the result must be beneficial. Our library, which contains upwards of six hundred books and pamphlets, affords ample scope for all your exertions. Our best thanks are due to those friends who have nobly persevered in pushing the works into circulation; and I am solicitous that every individual among us should perceive the importance of his situation, and put forth all his energies in the promotion of our cause.

"You have often seen quoted that maxim by the great Lord Bacon, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER;' but there is another not less important- UNION IS STRENGTH.' Let us bear these in mind, and always act accordingly.

Why has Unitarianism increased so rapidly during the last tiventy years, but from the increased activity of its friends? And it is chiefly by union and activity, under the Divine blessing, that it will become universal. What would be the present state of things had it not pleased Almighty God, in the course of his providence, to raise up that great and good man Dr. PRIESTLEY, whose eminent genius, indefatigable industry, and welldirected zeal, shed a lustre over the world? To him we owe far more than many Unitarians are now willing to acknowledge, who perhaps cannot fully divest themselves of those ill-founded prejudices which they imbibed against him in the days of their' orthodoxy. And what would be the present state of things had there been a hundred such characters in the last century? I never hear the name of this venerable man mentioned without mingled emotions of admiration and gratitude. We may be assured that posterity will duly appreciate his superlative talents and virtues.

It afforded me particular pleasure to see in the Christian Reformer for last March, that the Rev. Edward Burn, of Birmingham, one of the Doctor's most illiberal and virulent opponents about the time of the disgraceful riots in 1791, has at length publicly regretted the asperity of feelings and expressions which he used in his controversies with that respectable and highly talented individual.' This is honourable to Mr. Burn's present state of mind. It will afford him consolation in the hour of death; and I am sure he will have Dr. Priestley's forgiveness when they meet in heaven.

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In addition to the increasing liberality of our opponents, one of the best signs of the times is the recent formation of THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION. Those gentlemen who have taken the lead in this important business, are entitled to the gratitude of the whole Unitarian body. May all who have it in their power afford every assistance, and cordially

Eco-operate with them in all their laudable and benevolent undertakings. If the Association be properly supported, the benefits resulting from it will be incalculable.

"But above all, let us, my friends, manifest our love of truth and attachment to the Gospel, by a regular and serious attendance on the ordinance of PUBLIC WORSHIP, and by conducting ourselves in the various duties of life as the disciples of him who was a perfect model of virtue and piety.

"This is the best way to ensure both the celebrity and stability of our cause; and it will prove the most effectual method of silencing the opposition of our enemies. Convinced that the present transitory state is introductory to another and a better, which is eternal in the heavens, may we so live and so act as to be enabled to meet the messenger of death without indulging superstitious terror or alarm, and enjoy in our final moments a happy foretaste of those blissful scenes that will be hereafter realized by all the faithful followers of the Saviour.

"I beg to thank the Subscribers generally, and the Committee in particular, for their affectionate liberality, and for the trouble they have taken in this affair. Be assured, my friends, that having proceeded thus far in my labours among you, I shall, through the favour of the Almighty, persevere as long as the very delicate state of my health will permit, and you may consider my exertions useful and expedient.

"It would afford me the purest pleasure to see a neat chapel erected in Devonport, and an able minister settled here; but as this may not be the case for some years, we must do all in our power to supply the deficiency, until that happy event be realized. In the mean time let us cheerfully anticipate brighter days; knowing that TRUTH, which is mighty, will ultimately prevail over all opposition, and that the knowledge of the ONE UNDIVIDED and ETERNAL JEHOVAH shall be extended from pole to pole."

Within the cover of each volume are printed in gold letters these words:

"Presented to Mr. Silvanus Gibbs, by the Unitarian Christian Church, Devonport, as a testimony of their gratitude for his highly valued and gratuitous services."

Bigotry of New Baptist Magazine.

Honiton, July 15, 1826. incumbent on every one, examine the various opiam frequently induced to

SIR, BELIEVING it to be a duty and particularly the young, to nions on the Christian faith, I peruse some of the most popular Calvinistic publications. An article in the New Baptist Magazine for June, has

recently attracted my notice, and the same motive that impels me to elucidate truth, urges the exposure of what I think to be error. We have lately seen too many lamentable instances of bigotry and intolerance to be surprised at any angry ebullition of feeling from a class of Christians who often forget what manner of spirit they are of; many of their attempts have met with the disapprobation they deserved, while others have been treated with silent contempt. The remarks I refer to, are contained in a review of Professor Stuart's Letters to the Rev. Dr. Channing, in reply to his Sermon on the Evidences of Christianity. Alluding to the Unitarians, it is stated, "that they have never felt the need of an atoning Saviour, and are rather desirous of finding they do not need one, and that Christ is not equal to such an undertaking." "We greatly fear that the opponents of the Deity of Christ are not remarkable for their humility or their piety; they seem to be distinguished from others by disbelieving rather than by their faith, and are found to assimilate more to the Deist than to the man whose humble dependence for salvation is placed on what he conceives to be the foundation which Jehovah has laid in Zion." "Within the last few years there has been a very striking alteration in the conduct of the Socinians, or, as they would term themselves, Unitarians we cannot say that they have increased in piety, or in a regard to the great truths of Revelation, but we do give them great credit for their increasing honesty; we do not of course mean in their giving up the chapels they so improperly and dishonourably hold, but we mean that they declare their sentiments more boldly than formerly. They do not, as they formerly did, mince the matter; they no longer mutter,' but they speak out, and we thank them for it; men now know what they mean, and if they have any regard to the word of God, if they have the least sense of what the religion needs to conduct them to heaven, they cannot be deceived by the pretensions of Unitarianism."

:

I need not fill up your columns with a refutation of the above; every one who reads it must, however, be convinced what are the pretensions of Calvinism, and candidly acknowledge the" humility and piety" that actuates the followers of that system, which hurls into eternal anguish all who dare to exercise the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free. Does this pious and honourable reviewer regard the great truths of Reyelation," when he asserts

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