some, who value themselves on their discernment, have, notwithstanding such a goodly appearance of orthodoxy, ventured to insinuate, that such language may be used, consistently with very heterodox opinions; and that from your evident reluctance to favour the public with your views of this doctrine, in your own language, that you had still, even after such a recent conversion, some misgivings of mind on the question; and that you leaned to the Sabellian heresy. As this, however, is but Unitarianism, under a different name, and would necessarily infer great disingenuousness on your part, I must dismiss all such conjectures, as fanciful and unkind.

The difficulties which I have felt in attempting to ascertain your real opinions from your discourse, are now entirely removed by a reference to that test of orthodoxy, imposed upon so many reluctant consciences, at the Presbyterian Inquisition at Strabane; and which you found no difficulty in swallowing, along with numbers whose soundness in the faith had previously been a matter of doubtful disputation. It is in these words: "I believe that there are three Persons in the Godhead, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in Substance, equal in Power, and Glory." Notwithstanding such high authority, I can. not avoid thinking that these words involve a contradiction; and require an effort of faith to receive, of which I acknowledge myself incapable. I admit that there are many subjects of a nature so sublime or mysterious, as to baffle the utmost efforts of the human mind. And the more truly we know ourselves and the various objects that surround us-the more we consider the relation in which we stand to the Great Author of all things-the more shall we be convinced of our ignorance, and the limited nature of our powers. That the Supreme, Almighty Being is to us incomprehensible, and that when we endeavour to conceive of him and his perfections, the mind is overpowered in the vain attempt, must have been felt by every one who has tried to form adequate conceptions on the subject. But when we are required to yield our assent to positions not merely dark and full of mystery, but self-contradictory, a degree of implicit faith is demanded from us, which we are not prepared to render. That we are very ignorant of the properties of matter and of spirit, cannot be disputed; but as, according to the usual meaning of words, one person signifies a being endued with one intelligent mind-to require us to believe that the Almighty is made up of three separate independent persons, each of which is possessed of three intelligent minds; and that yet these three are but one person, confounds all our ideas, and makes human language utterly unintelligible. If this doctrine does not imply a direct and manifest contradiction, I am at a loss to know what a contradiction is. The Trinitarian, to use the powerful language of an eminent writer, "believes three to be one, and one to be three; a Father not to be older than his Son: a Son to be equal with his Father; and one proceeding from both, to be equal to both! He believes three persons in one nature, and two natures in one person! He believes a Virgin to be the mother of a Son,

and that very Son of hers to be her Maker! He believes Him to have been shut up in a narrow cell, whom Heaven and earth could not contain! He believes Him to have been born in time, who was, and is from everlasting! He believes Him to have been a weak child, and carried in arms, who is Almighty; and Him once to have died, who alone has life and immortality!”

If you can believe all this, you have less sense than I could have supposed; and if you do not, you have less honesty than I could have wished. I leave you to a choice of difficulties, and, in the hope of addressing you again on these important matters, subscribe myself,

July 16, 1827.

Yours faithfully,

VINDEX.

THE Anniversary of the Kent and Sussex Unitarian Association, was held, July 4, 1827, in the General Baptist Chapel, Blackfriars, Canterbury, where a numerous and respectable congregation assembled, to profit by the services of the Rev. R. Aspland of Hackney. The preacher, in a clear and impressive manner, applied the words, 1 Cor. iv. 13. "Being defamed, we entreat;" to the circumstances in which Unitarians are placed by the uncharitableness, or ignorance, of their opponents. He traced the sources of a censorious spirit to deprive defamation of all excuse, declared in what doctrines Unitarians are agreed, and in what they differ among themselves; and with great happiness of illustration, enforced the duty and propriety of attending to the Apostle's example. If deep attention be a true criterion of sympathy with the sentiments of a preacher, those who listened to the discourse must have been persuaded, that to suffer reproach is more accordant to the genius of Christianity, than to return reviling; and to advocate the truth with charity and gentleness, far better than to defend it by bitterness and evil speaking.

After the business of the Association had been transacted, its friends and supporters adjourned to the Assembly Rooms of the King's Head Hotel. John Brent, Esq. was called to the chair; and the company, of about 100 persons of both sexes, gladly manifested their thankfulness for the ability with which he filled the office. Various sentiments connected with civil and religious liberty, the particular business of the Association, and the general interests of mankind, emanated from the Chairman; and from the gentlemen who addressed the meeting received appropriate illustrations, accompanied by an earnest recommendation of the cause of truth and rational freedom, to the hearts and affections of all present.

It is pleasant to enter the house of God in company with men, the articles of whose faith are love for truth, and zeal for righteousness; in the communion of thought to which such principles give origin, the heart feels that the bonds of its confederacy are pure and mighty; it is roused from the indifference which uninterrupted fellowship with worldly maxims creates; animated to the

good-will which contemplates peace and blessing to the wretched of every degree; and excited to that nobleness of feeling which regards no glory so worthy the soul's best energies, as the glory of emancipating the human mind.

Such results have followed the social meetings of Christian people; and confidently do we rely, that they will ever be the results of those Associations in which men unite, not for the advancement of Sectarianism, but for the progress of knowledge, virtue, and truth.

H. G.

On the 4th and 5th of July, the Fifteenth Anniversary of the Eastern Unitarian Association, was held at Halesworth, in Suf. folk. In the regular course, the meeting should have been held at Yarmouth; but as a new chapel for Unitarian worship was to be opened at Halesworth, it was thought desirable to commence the services with the annual meeting of the Eastern Unitarian Association. Unitarianism at Halesworth is of recent origin: having its rise in the indefatigable labours of Mr. Thomas Lathom, an earnest and faithful advocate of free inquiry, through whose exertions many have been led to embrace its truths.

On the Wednesday evening, the Rev. H. R. Bowles of Yarmouth conducted the devotions. And the Rev. James Martineau of York College, preached from John iv. 35, 36. Mr. M. showed, that the minds of men were, in general, ripe for the reception of gospel truth; that it was the duty of all to endeavour to promulgate the sentiments of pure and undefiled Christianity, over the whole world; and, speaking of Unitarianism, he said, “Ours is the bow of promise in the moral firmament, which informs the world that it shall no more be deluged with sin, or enveloped in the black night of superstition." He warmly reprobated indifference; urged, that the fields were already white for harvest, and the wages of the labourers would be great and everlasting.

On Thursday morning, the Rev. Samuel Say Toms (52 years minister at Framlingham, Suffolk) opened the service. The Rev. E. Tagart of Norwich, also prayed; and the Rev. Michael Maurice of Southampton, preached a sermon, most admirably adapted to the occasion, from Acts ii. 42,-showing that the observation was applicable to the Unitarians, inasmuch, as they had continued steadfast in the doctrines of the Apostles, amidst the general apostacy to idolatry and polytheism. In an energetic and impressive manner, Mr. M. urged Unitarians to fight the good fight-to go on in the cause of true piety-and to continue in breaking of bread, and in prayer. After service, the business of the Society was transacted; when very satisfactory reports were made, by Mr. Henry Martineau and Mr. Tagart, the Treasurer and Secretary. Thanks were given to Messrs. James Martineau and Michael Maurice, for their excellent services; the latter of whom was requested to allow his sermon to be printed, at the expense of the Fund, with which request it is expected Mr. Maurice will comply. In the afternoon, 42 persons sat down to a plain dinner, at the Swan

Inn; the Rev. Mr. Maurice in the chair. The evening was delightful, and the utmost harmony and affectionate brotherly feeling prevailed. The meeting will be held next year at Yarmouth. H. M. B.

On Friday the 6th of July, a Public Service was held at the Chapel, Earl-Street, Maidstone, on the occasion of the Rev. B. Mardon, M. A. (formerly of Glasgow) having accepted the pastoral charge of the Unitarian Congregation, statedly assembling in that place, and which became vacant by the resignation of the Rev. G. Kenrick, who resigned in consequence of ill health. After the service had been introduced by singing, reading, and prayer, Mr. Robert Cooper, on behalf of the Society, delivered an excellent address to the newly appointed Pastor, upon the great and important duties of the office he had accepted, and upon the manner in which the people had a right to expect a faithful and diligent Minister would discharge them. The address was delivered in the spirit of true Christian friendship and affection, and particularly distinguished by a tone of manly frankness and candour. Mr. Mardon's answer was highly interesting. It contained strong professions of ardent attachment to the cause of his Lord and Master, and of his determination to devote himself, with increased and increasing zeal, to its defence and promotion. He gloried in holding the distinguished office of a Christian Minister; and made a strong appeal to his attentive auditory, upon the uncharitableness of those of his brethren who denied him the appellation, merely on the ground of his not advocating some of the doctrines of reputed orthodoxy. After paying an eloquent and impressive tribute to the beauty and excellence of Christian charity, he declared his determination to cultivate and exemplify it, in his own life and preaching, to the utmost of his power and ability.

The Rev. L. Holden, (the venerable and deservedly esteemed Pastor of the Tenterden Congregation,) then delivered an admirable charge, full of friendly wishes and advice to both Minister and people; after which the Rev. R. Aspland of Hackney, preached an able, perspicuous, and argumentative discourse, from Ephesians iv. 1-6, containing a masterly defence of Unitarian Christianity, and showing that reputed orthodoxy was the real heresy, by having added to the doctrines contained in the New Testament. The preacher dwelt with great force and felicity of expression upon the last clause of the text.

In the afternoon, a large party of the Congregation and Friends, sat down to a dinner at the Mitre Tavern, Mr. Mardon in the chair. The Chairman gave several sentiments, prefaced with many excellent observations, connected with the business of the day; and the company were severally addressed by the Reverends Messrs. Holden, Aspland, Thomas, Green, and Esdaile, also by Messrs. Cooper, T. Pine, Allchin, J. Green, and Ellis. A settlement service conducted in the manner this was, may surely be said to

be free from all taint of superstition and priestly domination, and calculated to make no impressions but such as are highly favourable to the growth of that harmony and good fellowship, which should ever exist between the minister of religion, and the people committed to his charge.

WE cannot close our First Volume more happily and appropriately, than with the following letter. We earnestly hope that its author may continue with diligence his Bible searchings, and that he may long experience that happiness which the possession and practical observance of Truth never fails to impart.

To the Editor of the Christian Pioneer.

SIR,-The instance of the triumph of truth, over the prejudices of education, and the influences of family connexion and friendship, which I have to relate, will, I hope, be acceptable to you and your readers. I was born of Episcopalian parents; I was brought up under Congregational auspices; my religious principles were imbibed from the Assembly's Catechism; and I have been, till within the last few months, one of the boldest maintainers of the doctrines of Calvin. The minister I have always sat under, from my earliest recollection, has been a respectable and respected Independent; he has been my most intimate friend; his eye has been over all my paths, moral and literary. By him, in fact, I was first led to observe the beauties of literature; and by him I was watched over and nourished as the object of his fondest hopes. The Assembly's Catechism I committed to memory at the Sabbathschool, under his direction. I have long been a teacher there-a firm believer in the proper deity of the Son of God, and a bitter detester of all that bore the name of Socinianism, justly or unjustly. Early in life I had been horror-stricken by the perusal of Macgowan's Monitor, and from that period had formed a determination, which I have till lately kept inviolate, to adhere most tenaciously to the Trinitarian creed.

About three months ago, a highly valued friend, who is of the Unitarian persuasion, put into my hands some numbers of the Christian Pioneer, to which I promised to give a candid reading. I did so, and endeavoured to answer its reasonings on the limited duration of future punishment, and against the deity of Christ. I thought I had done this effectually, but only provoked further discussion. By degrees I began to find that the Trinitarian doctrine stood upon a sandy foundation, and could not be supported by reason or Scripture. The chief point at which I made a stand, was the doctrine of vicarious satisfaction-that I gave up last. How (said I) can a sinner be saved, if the Unitarian system be true? What Saviour does it provide him? Is it absolutely necessary to give up the redeeming blood of the Lamb-the efficacious death of the Cross? Supposing Christ to have been, as the Apostle Peter declares, "a man, approved of God," could he not