of the most virtuous, pious, and humble. Unhappy offspring of purest Benevolence!

in vain then do ye thirst for the clear and living streams; in vain hunger after righ teousness: The bread which came down from heaven is not calculated, it seems, for your digestion. If the main Doctrine contains so little Sublimity as to be Comprehensible to man (for whose Comfort and Improvement, alone, it was Intended), it cannot then descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish!

These wayward marvellous Opinions, with many others, we enjoy from a certain Source, from which Protestants suppose themselves severed long since, and rejoice, as being freed from an Eclipsed luminary. But the disjunction is not so complete as many imagine. We are still told it is contaminating and heretical to agree, that any People not Christian, and not Learned, have ever been able to discover or adopt any one religious Truth whatsoever.

A

well-informed person, some time past, gently intimated, that "a little more "candour, and a little less partiality, "would do us no harm*"

The Reader doubtless may have heard, or read, that the Unitarians of the last and present century, have been, by the Zeal of some of their Adversaries, compared to, or associated with Mahometans. This antiquated contrivance, unfortunately betrays too much of an invidious intolerant spirit, and so little judgment, that the

*Dr. Jortin.

What have the false pretensions and delusions of Mahomet to do with his maintaining the Divine Unity? -an article which he had discernment enough to borrow from the Scriptures.

The present Unitarian Doctrine is coeval with Christianity, and is not only incompatible with Arianism, but also differs, in several respects, from the Socinian tenets: It is drawn from the plain and general evidence of the Bible, without any dependence on Metaphysical disquisitions, or confinement to the Opinions of any (uninspired) men whatsoever. It is a mistake in those who imagine

effect intended is utterly destroyed. Instead of conveying a Reproach, the Comparison, so far as it regards the Divine Unity (and it can apply no further), confers a permanent Honour. This consequence Calumny itself dares not deny. It is a standing Rule with Unitarians (it is hoped with all of them) to coalesce with Verity wherever they perceive it, or think they perceive it. And where would be the harm if this Principle were more widely diffused? The Nature of Truth is not altered by the Subject in whom it is manifest. The genuine lustre of the Diamond is not diminished, nor its value lessened by the impurity of the Soil wherein we may find it. Nor is there any fear that a Truth discovered in a Mahometan, will destroy, or contradict any Truth found in a Christian. An Author whom we have

that the Unitarian Principles are modern. Established custom will, indeed, make them appear so to many. But, "Error," says a Greek writer, " is old, therefore, Truth "seemeth new."

already quoted, has illustrated this axiom in elegant language. "I look upon the "discovery of any thing which is true, as "a valuable acquisition to society; which "cannot possibly hurt, or obstruct the "good effect of any other Truth what"soever for they all partake of one com"mon essence, and necessarily coincide "with each other; and like the drops of “rain, which fall separately into the river, "mix themselves at once with the stream, " and strengthen the general current*”

THE Opponents of the Unitarians are now driven to charge them with disbelieving the received Doctrine of the Trinity, as advanced in the Athanasian and Nicene Creeds, the Articles, &c. because it is above their Comprehension. Whereas (not to insist on the Contradictions which appear to be inseparable from that Doctrine), their disbelief principally arises from a

* Dr. Middleton's Preface to his Free Inquiry, &c. p. vii.

very different ground; from their not being able to discover any such Doctrine really inculcated in the Bible; but, indeed, the very contrary; namely, that God is One, One Divine Person, and He solely to be Adored as GOD: And they moreover perceive, that the severest Judgments are denounced in Scripture against any departure from these sacred Truths.

The unitarians pretend to no superior abilities; but they hope that their faculties are not inferior to those of other Men : They humbly trust, also, that they have the most powerful Advocates in their favour, namely, the general tenour of the sacred Writings, the Practice of the earliest Christians*, and Common Sense; and to

* The Apostles, indeed, and other Primitive Christians, seem not to have been so intimately instructed in the Nature of Christ, as were (if we may judge from their Explications) their successors, the Christian Fathers, &c. For, the former scrupled not to speak of him (without any caution concerning his Divinity) as a PROPHET mighty in deed and word before God, and all the people: