convictions of my heart. I look forward with the most delightful anticipations to the day, when I shall join in one communion the souls of those many good men, whom I have honoured and loved here, but from whose fellowship I have been shut out, by the miserable bars which prejudice and pride have put up amid the churches on earth.

But another important consequence was, that, not finding Arianism the monstrous thing I had imagined it, but, on the contrary, consistent with every christian grace, I was led to look upon it with complacency. I felt ashamed of the prejudice I had suffered myself to entertain. I felt mortified and humbled that I should have permitted myself to gather from the wholesale censures of books, and the sweeping sneers of conversation, an inimical impression against the holders of an opinion of which I knew nothing. This was the precise fact. I did know nothing, absolutely nothing, about them. I had examined other opinions, but not this. To this I had never turned my attention; had never asked a question about

it, but had gone on in the way my father taught me, taking it for granted that I was right, and not so much as troubled with a suggestion that it was possible I might be wrong. I recollect perfectly well the first time the thought occurred to me. It was when I had become well acquainted with Mr Ellerton's character, and had been striving in vain to reconcile it with his anti-christian creed. The question seemed to be asked me, how do you know it is anti-christian? I felt at once that I did not know, for I never had inquired. I cannot describe the sensation which passed over me, as this thought flashed through my mind. A cold thrill went through my frame, a tumult of thoughts crowded and agitated my mind. I soon felt that it was my duty to inquire, and know that whereof I would affirm; and in great anxiety of mind, and earnest supplication for heavenly guidance, I at once entered upon the investigation.

The first discovery I made, was one, which has been made by multitudes besides, but which filled me with inexpressible surprise. It was, that I was not, and never

had been a trinitarian. When I came to see the definitions and explanations of the doctrine, and compared them with the state of my own mind, I found that I had used its language, but had never adopted its meaning. I had fallen into its use, just as I had fallen into the common langage of men about the rising and setting of the sun-notbecause I believed what the words literally imply, but because it was the phraseology in common use where I lived. Trinitarian doxologies I had employed,-because I had always heard them from childhood; but I found that I had never affixed to them trinitarian notions. I found that I never had worshipped any being, but the Father of Jesus Christ, and that all my religious feelings were grounded on the supposition of his single divinity.

So then, I thought to myself, I have been guilty of contemning and denouncing a sentiment, which all the time I ignorantly held; and of thoughtlessly using language which implied a faith different from my actual opinion. This discovery humbled me to the dust. I could scarcely bear the burden

of shame and reproach which my conscience heaped upon me. I have since found that this thoughtlessness is by no means uncommon. Inexcusable as it is, yet many have I known in precisely the same situation with myself. Indeed I have reason to believe that the large majority of those educated in the orthodox faith, are no more truly orthodox than I was, though they imagine themselves to be so; and I have accordingly found that when they allow themselves to look fairly into the matter, they discover themselves to have been unitarians all their lives without knowing it.

Had I been acquainted with this fact at the time of which I speak, it would have saved me much unhappiness. As it was, I had a long and painful labour to go through, in ascertaining whether my language or my opinions were the truth of revelation on this subject. The one or the other must necessarily be rejected as wrong. For two years I pursued the inquiry with all the anxiety and impartiality of a conscientious mind. It would take too much room to detail the progress of my experience at this time.

Suffice it to say, that I obtained complete satisfaction at last, and have been ever since happy in the simplicity and consistency of my Unitarian belief. I have known many pass through the same process, with an equally happy result; and many, I may add, with a result still more happy, because their minds were relieved by it from the distressing burden of other ungenerous doctrines, which had preyed upon their spirits and disquieted their lives, but from whose bond

age I had been redeemed some time earlier. I cannot but remark here, how much is effected by the light of a good conversation. I was set on thinking and won to the knowledge of the truth, by observing one man's christian deportment. It would be well if christians were generally aware that they can produce no so powerful argument in their favour, as a holy life. Thousands will understand it and be convinced by it, whom no reasoning, though it were demonstrative, would at all affect. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."