ianism is false, and derogatory to the Son of God; injurious to Society at large; dangerous in the extreme to all who embrace it; and in its nature absurd to such a degree, as to render it disgusting to every sensible man. There is no doubt but the genuine truths of Christianity will ultimately prevail: God will vindicate his own cause. The powers of darkness have long attempted to subvert the whole system of Divine truth, but they have not prevailed, nor is it to be apprehended they ever will. The Great Head of the Church is shaking the nations, and is about to purge his floor; the gold, silver, and precious stones, shall abide the day of trial; but the chaff will be blown away; the wood, hay, and stubble, shall be burnt up; all superstitious rites shall be subverted; but the word of the Lord shall endure for ever; his counsels shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure. Here then the author rests his faith. Antichrist may fall, superstitious observances may cease, religious establishments may tumble into ruins, empires and kingdoms may be overturned, princes and governors may be dethroned, the great men of the earth may take part with the enemies of truth, error and delusion may run like wild-fire, unbelievers may rage, and would-be philosophers imagine a vain thing; yea, all nature may sink into a perfect nonentity; the solid rocks may be dissolved; the vast mountains on our globe may disappear and be not; the most invulnerable of all material substances -in a word, all the stupendous orbs which garnish the heavens, may vanish like shadows, die like the shrill echo, and be no more; but the Bible shall arise out of its present obscurity, and being stripped of all human appendages, shall universally be had in honour, while the enemies of evangelical religion shall be confounded world without end. Yea, 66 They shall pass away like the baseless fabric of a vision, "And leave not a wreck behind.” While all those solemn realities of the Gospel shall survive "The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds." The reader will be pleased to observe that though the term UNITARIAN is generally used in this Essay, yet it is used gratuitously; for the body so designated have no more right to it than the Trinitarians. The author would not have used it but for a certain friend, whom he highly esteems for his piety and benevolence, who said he would use the term Unitarian instead of Socinian, as they called themselves by that name. The reason why the author would not concede to them in the term Unitarian, is, because they have chosen it expressly to intimate that they, among Christians exclusively, bold the existence of one God, and that Trinitarians hold the existence of more Gods than one; an imputation which they well know every person who believes in the Divine Trinity, rejects with abhor rence. Again, in arguing with Trinitarians, they generally endeavour to prove that the Scriptures, in a great variety of passages, assert that there is but one God; and when they have proved this point, viz. the Divine Unity, they triumph and consider the dispute as ended, and their antagonist overthrown. In this way they insinuate to their readers, that Trinitarians hold the existence of more Gods than one, and that all their arguments are intended to support this doctrine. Whereas, every Unitarian knows perfectly well, that the unity of God, is as entirely and as avowedly holden by those who believe in the ever blessed and adorable Trinity, as by himself, that none of their arguments are directed against it, and that this point of Christian Doctrine has never been, and never can be in debate between him and them, so long as the unity of God is equally holden by both parties. That the doctrine of the Trinity involves or infers the existence of more Gods than one, every Unitarian has a right to prove, and may with perfect fairness prove, if he can. But to say that Trinitarians believe in the existence of more Gods than one, and to treat them as if they thus believed, when it is perfectly well known that every Trinitarian disclaims such belief with indignation, is conduct, which, in my opinion, admits of no justification. Every Trinitarian with the strictest propriety may say, "'THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD, and HIS NAME ONE," The author went to hear Mr. Heineken deliver a Lecture, in which he endeavoured to prove the nonexistence of an evil spirit, called the Devil, or Satan. His mind was much wounded to see so many Atheists and Deists; and likewise a great number of men and women, who, in their simplicity and ignorance, drank in his disgusting heterodoxy, not knowing that it was more dangerous than a draught of the essence of hemlock. The author made two or three remarks, and determined to oppose him.When Mr. Heineken heard of his intention, he very candidly came forward, and made him an offer of his Sermon, which the author read with the utmost candour; yet he must confess that what is contained in it, is contrary to every principle of philosophy, and the plain language of the Scriptures. But he is not warranted in commenting on his own observations. Such as they are, he commits them to the world, and earnestly recommends them to the candour and attention of those to whom he now appeals. There perhaps is much in this essay that will be grating in the ears of the hypercritic, who can derive a sort of flimsy pleasure from labouring to pry into the deepest recesses of grammatical accuracy. However, he would observe, that his present circumstances forbid him being critically nice respecting this in the present essay. Should this work, through the divine blessing, prove beneficial to society in general, or should any of those who have fallen a victim to the powerful darts of sophistry, be drawn from those labyrinths of absurdity, or others be prevented from falling into the same snare, his intention in writing it will be realized. It is the first time that he ever attempted to assume the character of an author, and without dedication or patron, he abandons this essay to its ultimate fate. Dudley-Hill, near Bradford, } |