SIR, To the Editor of the Christian Pioneer. IN the third Number of the Christian Pioneer, I observe the following passage, in a letter by a Unitarian Christian, addressed to the Editor of the Edinburgh Star, viz."Unitarians regard neither Dr. Priestley, nor Mr. Belsham, nor Mr. Lindsey, nor any uninspired teacher, as their master; but, Jesus they receive as their leader, in his steps they desire to walk, and to his instructions they submit with unlimited deference." This has led me to presume, that Unitarian Christians are taxed with having renounced the doctrines of the Gospel, and adopted those of Priestley and other writers on that side of the question; or at least, that the writings of these men have biassed the minds of those professing Unitarianism. Now, Sir, I can solemnly declare, that there is one individual, whose mind has not been influenced by the writings of any man (those of the New Testament excepted), for the best of all possible reasons, that, before the commencement of the Christian Pioneer, I had read none of the writings on either side of the controversy. I became, when a youth, an alien from the religion of my fathers, the Kirk of Scotland, chiefly on account of the doctrines which it declared the Gospel taught. I considered, also, the Unitarian in no other light, than that of an enthusiastic sectary. But after hearing two or three lectures from the very able Unitarian Pastor, whom it is the happiness of the Glasgow Congregation at present to possess, I was induced, from his repeated injunctions to that effect, to search the Scriptures for myself. What, Sir, were my emotions, when, in place of the doctrine that formerly made me reject the Bible, of One Person of that mysterious Three in One, appeasing the wrath of another of the Three, by yielding himself a sacrifice, to preserve the whole race of man from condemnation everlasting,-I found that "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ," "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them," 2 Cor. v. 18, 19. How shall I describe the altered sentiments of my mind, when, instead of the doctrine of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and these Three being One God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory,I found that, "when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things un der him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that GOD may be ALL IN ALL,' 1 Cor. xv. 27, 28. And, above all, what was my gratitude to God, when I discovered that these passages only re-echoed the teaching of Jesus and his Apostles. I have thus shown, that the Bible, and the Bible only, has made me a Unitarian; and if Unitarianism has not to boast of making a convert from the (as it is called) Orthodox faith, it has at least the consolation of having withdrawn from the paths of Infidelity, one who is happy in the progress he has already made, in the knowledge of the Truth, as it is in Jesus. I hope this simple statement of facts may be of service to my fellow-creatures, though I am but a plain unlettered man, and its having nothing to recommend it but its truth. I am, SIR, Your most obedient Servant, BRIDGETON, 5th Dec. 1826. THE CHRISTIAN PIONEER. GLASGOW, February 1, 1827. J. B. WE are obliged to our Correspondent, Philo Veritas Alter, for his remarks on the godhead of Jesus, though it is still our intention, as noticed in the last Number, to enter into the more minute and critical examination of the texts usually brought forward to substantiate that doctrine. THE Unitarians have incurred the high displeasure of the Editor of the Edinburgh Christian Instructor. There is an article, headed "The Unitarians," in the December Number, which displays, we think, a most bitter feeling, and is characterised by the usual want of fairness, which has so prominently marked the observations of that Magazine, throughout the Apocrypha discussion. It commences thus, "It has always struck us, from the commencement of this controversy, that the Unitarians would be exceedingly well pleased with the part which had been taken by the London Committee. Their heresy on the subject of inspiration, their habit of intermeddling freely with the sacred text, and their hatred of all strictness in determining or abiding by the Canon of Scripture, rendered it a matter of certainty, that they would hail the Apocryphalists on this occasion as most important auxiliaries, and treat the other party with acrimony and abuse. The event has verified these anticipations. Both in England and Scotland, the Unitarians are openly cheering the efforts of those by whom the London Committee are supported, and pouring out obloquy on all by whom they are opposed.' As to the charges contained in the former part of this quotation, the Editor will find it easier to make them than to prove their truth. We deny their validity; and call on him to make good his indictment. If this "accuser of the brethren" prefers letting "judgment go by default," it will only add another instance to those previously accumulated, of his random assertions and illiberal accusations. As to the Unitarians of England "cheering the efforts of those by whom the London Committee are supported," almost the only notice, we believe, hitherto taken of the controversy, has been, first, the observation made by an individual in the Monthly Repository, October 1826, that "All that nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand Christians in this country, know of the matter, is, that there are certain books sometimes bound up with the Bible, which, in some degree not ascertained, and for some reasons not apparent, are of lower value and authority than the rest of the volume;"-which observation, we imagine, has more truth in it than some people seem to be aware of: and, secondly, the remarks of the Editor of the same work, introductory to a letter of Dr. Pye Smith. As to the "acrimony and abuse," we have looked in vain for it in the Monthly Repository: our search, we apprehend, would be but too soon concluded, were we to turn to the pages of the Christian Instructor. The Editor of that work need not be alarmed: the Unitarians, "both in England and Scotland," are perfectly willing to let him enjoy a monopoly of " acrimony and abuse.' "Our readers," the Christian Instructor observes, “are aware of Dr. Pye Smith's defence of Haffner. This is matter of exultation and applause to the conductors of the Monthly Repository, a Unitarian Magazine, which speaks of it in these flattering terms; -We extract the following truly excellent letter, from the Evangelical Magazine [for the present Month]. A writer in that work [under the signature of Alethia,' had] has charged the Bible Society with employing an infidel in its service, in the person of Dr. Haffner, and the same charge is preferred by a pamphleteer, we believe, Mr. Haldane. Dr. Pye Smith's reply is able and complete, and is highly honourable to his Christian spirit." The words included within brackets, have been omitted by the Christian Instructor; and those printed in Italic, have been inserted, although the passage is marked as an unbroken and continued quotation. We notice these things, not, we hope, for the purpose of cavilling, but as other illustrations of the too common mode of citing passages from an opponent, and then arguing from the mis-statements. The Christian Instructor, amongst its other errors, has also omitted the concluding sentence, "We are happy to show, by inserting it in the Monthly Repository, that we are always ready to do justice to the liberality of our Calvinistic brethren.-Ed." Why was this sentence left out? Was it thought to exhibit too forcible a contrast to the spirit manifested by the Christian Instructor? Our readers may perhaps be of that opinion, when they reflect on the succeeding remarks of its Editor: “Truly religion is in a most flourishing state, when the Independent Professor of Homerton undertakes the defence of the Continental Rationalists, and not only gets an Evangelical Journal to insert his apology with approbation, but procures, moreover, the high applause of those whom Mr. Wilberforce represented as inhabiting the half-way house to infidelity-as to whom we can quote the authority of a certain friend of the London Committee for saying, that they are not Christians-and whose claims to be considered and treated as believers, would have been scouted in any other case, by nine-tenths of those who, to serve a present purpose, are ready to hold out to them the right hand of fellowship. Dr. Smith might now hold spiritual and praying communion with Mr. Benflower, and run no risk of incurring the displeasure of Mr. Clayton, and underlying the fear of removal from the Academy. We wonder if he has actually swallowedsurely he will never be able to digest-this monstrous dose of flattery, which has been administered to him by the followers of Priestley. His 'able and complete reply,' and 'his Christian spirit,' too, in defending such a man as Haffner, and offering a general apology for the Rational divines of the Continent! what a low pass are our evangelical men reduced! And all this, for no other purpose, than that of keeping in office and in power, some dozen or score of individuals in Earl-Street, who have betrayed their trust, and forfeited the confidence of the country, as Directors of the British and Foreign Bible Society!" Το Such is a specimen of the manner in which this opponent of the Parent Institution, supports the cause of separation. Were his cause the right one, it must be injured by the adoption of such means for its establishment. It is quite fitting, indeed, that he who thus prejudges, and sets at nought his brother, should seek to uphold his un christian conduct by unchristian acts; but it is really "melancholy and humiliating," that a professed "Master. in Israel," should thus demean himself. "Such a man as Haffner!" We freely compassionate the "man" who could write the sentence. The "monstrous dose of flattery" administered by one respected individual, applauding the charitable spirit of a leading member of another denomination, shown by his standing forth to vindicate the injured, and protect the calumniated! Will nothing satisfy the Editor of the Christian Instructor, but waging a crusade of bigotry, against all who differ from him in opinion? Are all the charities of life, and the kind offices of social intercourse, to be immolated on the altar of intolerance, by which he has sworn? We can tell him, that on the other side of the Tweed, whatever it may be here, a man is not shunned as a pestilence, on account of the peculiarity of his faith; it is not there deemed necessary, to stay a man on the threshold, till his belief in the Westminster Confession has been ascertained; and a cup of cold water would not there be refused to any one, albeit he were not able to pronounce the talismanic countersign of the true faith. And though Dr. Pye Smith might not see the necessity of holding "spiritual and praying communion with Mr. Benflower," or any other Christian Unitarian individual or congregation, yet are we sure, that the acquaintance and friendship of BENJAMIN FLOWER would be no disparagement to any man, who can admire in the member of an opposing sect, firm unbending principle, unaffected simplicity, unwearied benevolence, and fearless advocacy of the rights and liberties, improvement and happiness of his fellow-creatures. We were fully aware of the illiberal and unfounded aspersions which the Editor has now reproduced, with the stamp of his own approbation, long since circulated by Mr. Wilberforce, and " a certain friend." With the Unitarians, it has long been a very "small matter, to be judged of man's judgment.' Had it been otherwise, they would not have paid much deference to the opinions of what constitutes Christianity, given by one, who has been the constant apologist for war; nor will they sorrow much at being denied the Christian name, by one who has yet to prove his right to sit in judgment on them; and to show his own title to be considered to be one of Christ's disciples, by evincing his Master's spirit. We appeal from the condemnatory asper |