admonition addressed to my readers of the gentler sex. The society of London is infested with certain conceited sciolists, who having no solid foundation of knowledge, and being wholly unacquainted with literature, inflict on female companies the retail of Institution lectures, or the smatterings of German philosophy. Among these may be classed the higher order of music and language masters, and nearly all continental strangers. With these coxcombs, materialism is a favourite topic; and a woman, desirous of knowledge, but not well strengthened in mind, is but too apt to lend an ear to proselytizing attempts, which convey an implied compliment to her understanding. But let the foregoing strictures warn her what it is she is yielding up, in harbouring principles which her inexperience may, perhaps, have deemed to be only inconsequential points in philosophical speculation. Let her remember that materialism animalizes the fine essence of the soul, checks its pure aspiring, and degrades its high superiorities; that it cuts off imagination and faith from every refined enjoyment arising from the intercourse of meditation with departed friends, with guardian angels, and with the invisible world; and, above all, that, by destroying moral agency, it lays the breast open to the designs of unprincipled libertinism, whose doctrine of neces

sity, at least, shakes the first outwork which fences the citadel of virtue.

"he

Upon the whole, Socinianism is a mere shadow of Christianity; and as the Socinian denies the Saviour as an atonement for sin, it may be doubted whether he properly merits the denomination of Christian. Kett, the historcal interpreter of prophecy, in order to make sure of something by grasping at every thing, makes Antichrist a triple power, comprising Popery, Mahometanism, and infidelity. But to the definition*, is Antichrist, who denieth the Father and the Son," the Socinian would seem to correspond: as in the etymology of the word Antichrist, his principles are plainly exposed †. All other Christians receive Christ as a sacrifice. All other Christians conceiving Scripture to be the word of God and the voice of truth, subject their reason to its dictates, in points which transcend their comprehension. The Socinian alone, places his reason above Scripture, and brings the word of God to the bar of his pride. We perceive in him a constant attempt to reject all mystery and miracle: to possess a creed without

* 1 John, ii. 22.

+ Prideaux asked, in 1650, whether Socinianism and slighting of all antiquity be not an introduction to Paganism and Atheism? Hist. Introduc. p. 155

any thing preternatural: and hence his Christianity is little better than Deism. It is a cold, proud, heartless, ungenerous, nibbling, quibbling, comfortless religion; niggardly, unsocial, contemptible, inimical to the divine intercourse of meditation, and to the pious breathings and sweet consolations of prayer; opposing the destiny of necessity to the agency of a particular providence accessible to the cry of supplication; degrading and despiritualizing the soul of man; casting a sneer of derision on the confi-. dence of faith; and quenching the flame of devotion in the ice of metaphysics: without a Saviour to cling to, or a Spirit on which to rest; without the generous and tender sentiments and services of gratitude for the gift of redemption, and of humility springing from full belief in a needful Saviour. It contains not fervour sufficient to accumulate many assembling worshippers, though it may win its way among speculative libertines and heartless sophists, who profess no form and join with no congregation. "Your religion,” said the amiable Bishop Horne to Priestley, "resembles the bill of the Scots landlord mentioned by Dr. Johnson, in which the negative catalogue of provisions was very copious." You pretend, indeed, to have every thing essential; but when one descends into particular inquiries, you have no Redeemer, no Holy Ghost, no tempter, no spiritual soul;

till at length, on our coming to the question, What have ye? you reply, like the worthy Highlander, "Troth, Sir, we "Troth, Sir, we have very little." "You are not an Atheist," said my excellent young friend, Miss Strafford, to a cockney infidel who was pestering her with his metaphysics: "You are not a Deist, and that is some comfort; but I should like to know, what it is you style yourself."-" I am an Unitarian, Madam; and that is what I earnestly wish that you should be."-" You may truly call yourself an Unit-arian, for an unit is next to nothing*.'

* The Unitarians disdain not to gain a point by a quibble. Mr. Belsham, in answering an orthodox work, copied the titlepage specifying its dedication to the Prince Regent; but Bishop Burgess detected the insertion of a full period, before this notice of dedication, making the Regent the patron of Mr. Belsham's Reply.

The very name of Unitarianism, which has superseded the repulsive appellation of Socinianism, introduces that creed under the mask of the less objectionble principles of Arius; nay, slides it as truth upon incautious worshippers, who believe rightly in one God: while it casts a reflection on the Church, as though she actually believed in three.

The Unitarians are ashamed of their own principles. Some years ago the chapel in Essex Street was repaired and enlarged, and the new front having been furnished with two doors, one leading to the chapel, and the other to Mr. Belsham's house; on the former were painted the distinctive words, The Chapel. It was then submitted by the architect, that the old inscription, Essex Street Chapel, on the architrave, signified nothing; and that a title, announcing the character of the worship, would be far more appropriate. The suggestion was ap

XI. 1774.-In the settlement of the civil and religious constitution of Quebec, the Roman Catholics were so greatly favoured, that the limits of toleration were said to have been transgressed, and the principles of the English constitution violated, by an establishment of the Romish religion. To this bill was added another in the year 1791, allotting a large district of land in both Canadas, for the support of a Protestant clergy.

In the mean time, the spirit of toleration, unmoved by clamour, pursued its gentle but prudent purpose; for, in 1778, Parliament repealed, in favour of the Catholics, certain penalties and disabilities imposed by an act of the 10th and 11th of William III. bearing the title of "An Act for preventing the Growth of Popery." These hardships consisted in the punishment of Popish priests who should officiate; the prohibition of purchases made by Papists; and the seizure of the Popish father's estate by the Protestant son. This indulgence, however, was wisely guarded by the demand of an oath, to be taken as a reasonable test, by the parties who were to be benefited by it.

proved of by Mr. Belshar's assistant, and “Unitarian Chapel "' was soon conspicuous on the front. But instantly on its appearance, two thirds of the congregation threatened to resign their pews. Mr. Belsham came to town, and the obnoxious 'inscription gave place to the ancient title.