who are distinguished by the name families would be more constant in their attendance on public worof Unitarians. Little societies of Unitarians ship, and make a point of bringing have been formed of late years in the whole of their families with different places; their members them, and maintained the good are chiefly poor; they cannot at old practice of family-worship, present support ministers among and of giving religious instruction. themselves, nor can ministers be to their children and servants, this found for them; the itinerating would help to prevent our churches plan seems the only practicable dwindling away. If, at the same one on which assistance can be time, habits of religious conversation were revived, if private afforded to such infant societies. The number of Unitarians in Christians would exert themselves this island is much greater than a to enlighten their neighbours, cursory observer would suppose; friends, and acquaintance, and in they are truly respectable for their a respectable manner endeavoured piety, learning, liberality, and in to excite the attention of others to their worldly circumstances; no- the labours of the ministers they thing seems necessary but for them highly esteem, our congregations One important to make those united exertions in would increase. the cause of truth which are quite step towards the preservation and practicable, in order to a great increase of our congregations is and important effect being pro- the education of pious and zeaduced. What is here recom- lous young men for the Christian mended will by no means militate ministry. The academical instiagainst any other plan of utility, tution at York, under the superor prevent their exertions in sup- intendence of a gentleman, emiporting other institutions equally nent for his learning and piety, is important to the cause of truth peculiarly calculated to form such and righteousness. ministers, as by their learning and It has been lamented, and is respectable character will do hocertainly much to be deplored, nour to Christianity, and are that some congregations, once re- likely to promote the truth, and spectable, have decayed, and that revive the drooping cause in those many of our congregations do not places where it declines for want increase. It is highly desirable a of able and active ministers. The remedy should be found for these consideration of this should call evils. In some instances, such is forth the zealous exertions of the the strength of prejudice, and the friends of truth and free inquiry indifference to truth, which gene in support of that institution." rally prevails, that no great good can be effected at present; but in other cases, the evil may be prevented or cured. If the heads of

I remain, very respectfully,
Your's,

EUSEBIUS.

MR. CAPPE'S DISSERTATIONS.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Monthly Repository.

Nov. 24, 1807, rately unfolded its meaning. I join issue perfectly with your Surely, if there be a subject with correspondent, Quaro, (M. Re- which it is important that a pos. Vol. II. 484) in the surprise Christian should be well acexpressed by him that the Disser- quainted, it is the full import of tations of the late Rev, Newcome the language used by his master, Cappe, published by his widow, respecting the nature of that king should have obtained so little at dom which it was the great obtention. I am not qualified, Mr. ject of his divine mission to an Editor, by a critical knowledge nounce.

of the original languages, any Now, Sir, if the learned author more than this writer, to appreci- of this Dissertation be right, and ate duly the justness of such of that he is so, appears to my mind Mr. Cappe's remarks as are the with all the force of demonstraresult, or as may fairly be deduc- tion, the terms-kingdom of heaed, from any supposed emenda- ven, or reign of heaven-of God tions in our common version, but, and of Christ--are synonymous, if I mistake not, the Dissertation and signify, in their primary ac particularly referred to by him, ceptation, that dispensation or namely, that on the meaning of state of things which was to take the terms-kingdom of God-of place after the ascension of our heaven--and of Christ, may be Lord into heaven; and to consti nearly, if not quite as completely, tute at once an illustrious reward understood by the unlettered man, for his great sufferings in the cause of plain understanding, who will of truth and virtue; a striking read it with an unprejudiced evidence of his being in actual mind, accompanying the author possession of that reward; and at in his patient research into the the same time a means of supplyreal import of the numerous pas- ing his disciples with an accurate sages there referred to, and which recollection of past events; with mutually explain each other, as the spirit of prophecy, respecting the most profound scholar, That some that were yet future; and it should not have been read with attention surprises me more, because I think that an accurate knowledge of this peculiar phrase- This kingdom, or reign of ology, "the kingdom of heaven Christ, commenced then with the is at hand," used constantly by effusion of the Holy Spirit on the the Baptist, by Christ himself, day of Pentecost, and terminated and afterwards by the Apostles, is with the destruction of the Jewish essential to the forming just ideas state. and polity by the Roman of his divine mission, and because armies under Titus, when in the I do not know that any other striking and magnificent imagery writer has so clearly and accu, of Eastern hyperbole, Christ is

with such other miraculous powers, as were essential to the success of their great and important mission.

said to descend from heaven with invested, for a limited time, and the sound of a trumpet, with pow- for an especial purpose, should er and great glory, and to sepa- finally terminate. From the me rate between the righteous and the wicked.

If it be affirmed, by admitting the fact of a delegated power on the part of the first Christians to work miracles, after the ascension of their master, that thereby a door is opened to all the absurdities of the popish legends, the answer is obvious and decisive:that this power was to be withdrawn when the visible kingdom on earth, with which Christ was

THE LAYMAN'S EXAMINATION OF THE REV. F. STONE'S STATE

MENT OF HIS CASE.

To the Editor of the Monthly Repository.

SIR, London, Jan. 8, 1808. bishop. A clergyman of DurAn old proverb in our language ham, styling himself Cler. Duntells us, that what is sauce for the elm, has in your last, (vol. H. p. goose is sauce for the gander; and 634.) brought forth strong arguwhatever applies to a parish priest, ments against Mr. Stone; and I on the article of teaching, is am not in the least surprised at equally binding in the case of a thein. Mr. Cler. Dunelm was

educated at Oxford, where he of Mr. Cler. Dunelm, of setting was obliged to subscribe the him down in this number. Thirty-nine Articles on his ad- But, Sir, for the understanding mission into the University; and of this case, the nature of subhe of course, having had his mind scription and ordination ought to twisted and contaminated by that be understood. Subscription takes impious ceremony, has no idea of place in a private room, in the the solemn scriptural engagement, presence of the bishop only and which a clegyman enters into with his secretary. The subscriber, his bishop and the church at ordi- by fixing his name down in nation. Mr. Cler. Dunelm makes writing, testifies only, that at that the articles the first point; the time, he assents to the Thirtyscriptures the second. Now I nine Articles: he does not say, was educated at the University of that he believes them, much less Cambridge, where we do not sub- does he declare, that he always scribe these articles, till we take will believe them. At ordination our master's degree. Of course it is a different case. He is called many of us leave the University, upon in the most solemn manner, without suffering this mental pros- by the bishop, to declare, that he titution; and for my own part, in will make the scriptures the rule common with numbers of Cam- of his preaching, and that he will bridge men, I look upon the teach by them, and by them only. scriptures in the first place, upon The superiority of the obligation the articles only in the second in this case cannot, it appears place; and as infinitely beneath to me, be doubted. Every clergy. them in dignity and importance: man of the Church of England, and in this I am justified by the is bound by his solemn vow to constitution of the Church of preach and teach scriptural truth, England and by the articles them- and to preach it in sincerity. He is not in the least bound by his I am not in the least surprised, subscription to the articles, where that Mr. Stone's case is far from he thinks scriptural truth to inbeing understood. Few persons terfere: for this subscription was will give themselves any trouble a requisite only to ordination or about it, and particularly those the acceptance of a living. A in the higher classes, Many, I clergyman, like Mr. Stone, might have conversed with, say, that it very conscientiously have subis evident Mr. Stone is wrong, scribed the articles forty or fifty for he has not preached according years ago, but his belief of them to the articles; and they do not at that time is not to alter examine, whether he has preached his conduct now: he is bound by according to the scriptures. They the most solemn vow, that can be are, they say, Christians by act of made, to teach only by the scripparliament;" and this, Mr. Editor, tures; his own mind is in this is, I believe, except the Metho- case the only judge upon earth; dists, the most numerous sect in he has made a vow in the sight this country, and I have little of God, and, if he breaks that scruple in my own mind, from vow, he is amenable to God alone. what I have seen of the writings That the Church of England is

selves.

not left without a security, in lume of his Elements of Theo, case his preaching should be ob. logy, page 224, and you find noxious to the rulers of the him contradicting in point blank church, I will shew at another language, the church, or, in the opportunity; but on this point words of Mr. Stone's citation, it is evident that Mr. Cler. impugning the articles: for the Dunelm has been led away by Bishop of Lincoln says, “We are common-place talk, without any not to consider all, who differ examination of the subject.

But let us view the case in

from us, as unworthy of, or excluded from the favour of God." another light. Mr. Stone con- The Bishop and the church of tradicts the Articles of the England, are as completely at Church. Is he singular in this issue, as Mr. Stone and the case? An aged clergyman, after church of England. One imfifty years study of the scripture, pugns one article, and the other called upon by the archdeacon to another article. But to make preach, speaks what he believes the point still clearer, the Bishop to be the truth. The time and of Lincoln asserts in page 223, place of audience were most that "it is utterly repugnant to suitable to such a discourse. Let the attributes of God, and it us compare his case with that of cannot be reconciled to our ideas the present Bishop of Lincoln. of common justice, that a person His lordship, not called upon, should be consigned to eternal publishes a book, which has gone punishment, because he did not through as many editions as Mr. believe certain articles of faith, Stone's sermon, and in that book which were never proposed to him, impugns the articles of the or of the truth of which, he was Church of England. To prove not qualified to judge." In this, I will give you the words of another place, page 222, the the articles, and the words of the Bishop of Lincoln says, bishop. not but conceive it to be both unThe articles say, "There are necessary and presumptuous to three creeds, which ought say, that except every one da thoroughly to be received and keep them whole and undefiled, believed, for they may be proved without doubt he shall perish by most certain warrants of holy everlastingly." scripture." Now one of these creeds says, This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary, that he hold the catholic faith; which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly." Now what does the Bishop of Lincoln say of these points? Consult the second vo

"I can

Now, Sir, I do not blame the Bishop of Lincoln for any one of these assertions. On the contrary, I believe him to be perfectly in the right, and the church to be perfectly in the wrong. But according to Mr. Cler. Dunelm→→ "As it is, the bishop of Lincoln hath forfeited his trust, he hath violated his solemn pledge, and is, therefore, as justly proceeded against, as the king might pro ceed against any military officer,