years, our opinions have not had a clear stage and fair play. Our advocates dared scarcely open their mouths. If they did, on any occasion, come forward, there were not wanting learned opponents to meet them in controversy; and if argument failed, there was the last resource-the gibbet and the gallows-the pillory, imprisonment, and fine. I am of opinion, that Unitarianism has not even yet fair play. True it is, that the sanguinary and bloody laws which were intended to extirpate it, have been repealed; but there still remains so much of exclusion-popular odium-misrepresentation-and clamour to contend against, that its advocates require, even now, all the support and strength they can derive from their sense of the importance of their views, and their deep conviction of their truth, to nerve them against the obloquy and opposition which they are certain to encounter. Of this it would not be difficult to produce many striking examples; some of them very recent, and rather remarkable. But this would be an invidious task, and might lead to a misconception of my motives in adverting to the subject. I therefore pass it over, and proceed to show, that notwithstanding all these discouragements, Unitarianism has made a very considerable progress; fully as much as could reasonably have been expected, under the circumstances, and more than enough to encourage its advocates to zeal and perseverance. Although there is reason to believe, that there have been, for a good many years, some persons in Ireland, who held the same views of Christian doctrine, substantially, with ourselves, yet it is only a short time since they durst venture to propound their opinions openly, and without reserve. To deny the doctrine of the Trinity,-to deny the supreme deity of Christ, to deny the alleged efficacy of the blood of Christ, in appeasing the wrath of God,—this is what, I have reason to think, was never ventured upon. The utmost that could be said of our predecessors, of a few generations back, was, that they did not preach up the prevalent and popular doctrines upon these subjects: they scarcely ever dared to preach against them, and if they had, there is reason to think the whole community would have turned against them with anger and reproach. It is just seventeen years since a man was found, who had the courage and integrity to place his sentiments fully and explicitly in print before his people, and before the world: and this was no other than our venerated friend and pastor, Dr. Bruce; whose sermons on the Doctrines of Christianity, printed in 1824, form a memorable æra in the history of religious truth in Ireland. It deserves to be remarked, that although these sermons were preached and printed by one who had been for thirty years previously the officiating minister in this pulpit-although his learning, his character, and the respect in which he was held, must have added weight to his arguments; yet the manly and honest avowal of his sentiments, in this explicit form, was followed by a defection from the congregation of so many families, including several in whom such dissatisfaction was least to have been expected, that the consequences are yet felt, and probably will be, for some time longer. Now, this circumstance marks very decisively the progress of religious knowledge amongst ourselves; for whatever may be the varying shades of sentiment amongst us, there is no probability that any farther diminution of numbers will take place from this cause. Indeed, the more openly and manfully our views have been propounded, the more they have uniformly spread. Hence of late years, they have spread and are spreading in our own neighbourhood, and in the world around us. In the year 1820, there was not a single congregation, avowedly Unitarian, in Ireland; at present, there are three in Belfast-one of them recently established, but going on most favourably; and which, I trust, will, in a short time, be as respectable by its numbers and social importance, as it is already, from the zeal and ability with which it is conducted. "In the whole of Ireland, there are now 39 congregations—a number which has been receiving, and would no doubt continue to receive, an increase every year. Nor have these societies assumed their present position in circumstances of peace and rest. They have had much opposition to contend against; they have faced the storm and the battle; and they have grown to be what they are, in spite of all the efforts that have been made by enemies-able, powerful, and unscrupulous. I recollect when I was a student in this town, preparing for the ministry, that all parties with whom I conversed-both those of new-light and old-light opinions, as they were then called-agreed in opinion that Unitarianism was sinking fast; going down and down, deeper and deeper, and no prospect of its emerging in the life of man. The ruin of our cause was prophesied to me by my fellow-students and others. I confess, I viewed the matter in the same light; I thought there was not a single congregation in Ireland, that, if it became vacant, would accept the services of a person holding my opinions; these opinions I never had and never would have concealed; and I thought, that in choosing the ministry for my profession, I had condemned myself to perpetual exile. I am not yet, however, a very old man, and I thank God I have lived to see 39 congregations in my native country-several among them numerous and respectable— coming forward to claim that honourable title; and humble though my services were, I have been privileged to lend assistance in founding and establishing new congregations of the same sentiments in Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Ballyhemlin, Ravara, Comber, Ralloo, and York Street, Belfast. Here, then, there is progress; there is life; there is a demonstration, that Unitarianism has taken hold upon the public mind; and every prospect that it will retain the hold which it has gained. "In Scotland, Unitarianism is but a thing of yesterday. In 1826, Dr. Chalmers boasted-and the boast was true that all the Church accommodation possessed by Unitarians in that country put together, would only afford seats for 1500 people; and that of these one half were unoccupied. The inference drawn, was, that Unitarianism was a weakly plant; that it had not thriven, and could not thrive in the ungenial climate of Caledonia. But it was only for want of cultivation that it had not prospered. The boast of Dr. Chalmers induced the Rev. George Harris to resign his Chapel in England, and accept the charge of the Glasgow Unitarian Congregation. By his exertions, that congregation alone numbers a body of people greater than that assigned by the learned Doctor to the whole kingdom. I have myself preached in the Glasgow congregation, to an audience of at least 900 persons actually present: eleven other congregations have risen up or have been revived; and there is every prospect of yet more and greater increase. And all this may be said to have been effected during the last twelve or fourteen years. "But not to dwell upon particulars, there are in England about 300 Unitarian congregations; many of them numerous, almost all of them respectable, and influential in their respective neighbourhoods,-presided over by a body of ministers, who, for learning, for zeal, and singlehearted integrity, are second to no clergy with which I am acquainted in the world. There are in America 2500 Unitarian congregations; the whole of which have either been formed, or have adopted their present sentiments, since the commencement of this century. In that land of liberty, the accessions of congregations are numbered by dozens and scores each year; nor is there any limit to their future increase, except that which arises from the want of ministers to supply the new churches with preaching as fast as they are opened. Every religious newspaper that reaches this country, and almost every traveller who returns from America, whether friendly or adverse to the cause of Unitarianism, bears testimony to its progress. As to the fact, all are agreed; the only difference is, that some regard it, and speak of it, as a misfortune, and others hail it as a blessing. "If we pass to the Continent of Europe, we turn first to Germany; where the Churches of Lutheranism have, in many instances, renounced the doctrines of the great Reformer, and embraced sentiments so nearly concurring with our own, that it would be difficult to draw a line of distinction between them. It is true, that some have gone farther, and have renounced belief in Christianity as a divine revelation; but all accounts agree in assuring us, that this defection is by no means so extensive as was some time ago supposed; and that many of those persons who were at first captivated by the daring novelty of the anti-supernatural scheme, are returning to sounder views. One thing is certain, that in Germany, the old Orthodoxy is extinct. Even the Orthodoxy of those who are the most orthodox among the living men of Germany, is not the Orthodoxy of the ancient creeds. If by Lutheranism, we understand the doctrines which Luther himself held and preached, it is vanished from the earth, and is no where to be found. "In Switzerland, the case is, in many instances, the same. I cannot but regret to find, that the Canton of Vaud-once the most Orthodox in the confederation-has enacted a severe law to restrain the emissaries employed by the English fanatical association, called the Continental Society, from preaching within its territory. Their efforts, indeed, were chiefly directed to the sowing of dissension between the people and their regular pastors; still they should have been allowed free scope, for it cannot be doubted, that reason and truth will finally prevail. But while I visit this act for the suppression of Orthodox preaching, with deserved censure, I must declare my unqualified approval of another act of the same legislature, by which subscription to the old Confession of Faith is for ever abolished in the Canton of Vaud. The church of this populous and enlightened canton is now therefore what the Presbytery of Antrim has been for upwards of a century; and all experience shows, that if such a change does not begin in Unitarianism, it is certain, sooner or later, to end there. "Unitarianism is triumphant in the church and city of Geneva-the chosen abode of the renowned John Calvin-the spot which witnessed the martyrdom of Servetus; and heard the fiendish laugh that greeted his consignment to the flames. "Unitarianism is making progress among the Protestants of France. The leading men in two of the principal Consistories, or Presbyteries of the kingdom-those of Paris and Lyons-have come forward to avow their adoption of its tenets; and have founded a periodical work, intended to illustrate, defend, and explain its principles for the information of their countrymen. France, the native country of Calvin, is experiencing the change which has already been experienced by the land of his adoption. "And Holland, the land which saw assembled within its bosom the unholy and persecuting Synod of Dort,-which witnessed the legal murder of Barnevald, and heard the sentence of perpetual imprisonment pronounced against Grotius and Hoogerbeets;-Holland, which beheld so many of its best citizens punished by fine, imprisonment, exile, and other marks of ignominy, because they did not submit to the sentence of the Synod, which silenced the ministers of the Remonstrants from preaching;-Holland has itself adopted the maxims of the party which once it persecuted, and, as far as it could, destroyed. In Holland, the churches have been released from the necessity of subscribing the decrees of Dort; and religious truth is, in consequence, advancing with rapid strides. The Remonstrants kindled a light in Holland which is now enlightening the whole land. It is needless to go farther into these details. It may suffice to know, that in every country where the profession of religion is free, Unitarianism exists largely; that in Holland, Switzerland, France and Germany, it is professed by probably not less than one half of all those who have renounced the Church of Rome; that every where it is making progress; every where it is steadily on the increase. "Were it consistent with our views to glory in the men who have espoused our cause, we have names whereof we might be proud. Milton, Newton, Locke, Chandler, Lardner, Taylor, Priestley, Price, Rees, and Rammohun Roy, are men of whom any denomination in the world might be proud. Could I bring myself to name living men, I might extend the list. A late Archbishop of Dublin called our faith a feeble and conceited heresy! Feeble and conceited Archbishop Magee ! Sir Isaac Newton is pronounced by Archbishop Magee to have espoused a feeble and conceited heresy! I fearlessly leave it to all men who know what these epithets mean, to pronounce which of the two— the Archbishop himself, or Sir Isaac Newton-is best entitled to bear them. The advocates of Unitarianism are pronounced by Dr. Chalmers to be men of pygmy understanding. Yes: such pygmies as Milton and Locke; such pygmies as Lardner and Priestley; and no doubt, compared with these, Dr. Chalmers himself will appear, in the eyes of many, as a giant in intellect! I confess, however, that I am not of this opinion; and think that even Dr. Chalmers himself would have shown discretion, as well as courtesy, had he spoken of such men with a little more respect. * * * * * * "The inference from all this is—that Unitarianism has a progressive character; that its advance is not owing to the influence of worldly power, law, force, or authority; that it has reached its present position in spite of persecution, penalties, and disabilities-in spite of clamour, invective, and misrepresentation; that it has made its way by the force of reason, argument, and truth-illustrated by the learning, adorned by the lives, and dignified by the heroic fortitude of its advocates; that it has commanded the assent of the men of the most capacious intellect whom our race has ever produced; that it is still upon the advance-on, and on, and on, is its motto; forward, forward it goes, conquering and to conquer. We see the signs of the times are in many places favourable -the fields are ready for the harvest. We pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest. We feel all joy and confidence in the prospect which lies before us. We believe that our counsel and our work are of God-and we know that it is not in the power of man to overthrow it. Were our faith a falling and a sinking cause-as its enemies are so fond of repeating-this would be no reason to desert it, or to relax our endeavours for its support. In such circumstances, a good Christian would no more think of abandoning his profession than a gallant soldier would of deserting his standard when the tide of battle rolled most furiously against it. But there is still an increase of energy and activity gained from beholding that past exertions have not been made in vain. An impression has been made. The banner of truth has in some places been carried triumphantly through the contest. The fears of the enemy, as evinced by their clamour and impotent rage, are a proof of the progress it has already made, and a measure of their sense of the effects it is capable of producing. Let then the friends of the cause be earnest, instant, indefatigable, and there is reason to anticipate the most favourable results." We have taken a great liberty with this Lecture; we have literally almost transferred it to our pages. Once more we recommend the whole work, as the very best we are acquainted with, for popular purposes. It cannot be circulated without conveying the truth it manifests to the convictions of many,nor, what is infinitely more important, without awakening moral life within the soul, and nourishing the springs of personal religion. VOL. III. No. 14.-New Series. 2 E |