lieved to be the declarations of the word of God, or that he availed himself of a gathered multitude to impress upon others the same convictions. No; too honourable is the principle which dictates an honest and unblenching defence of supposed truth, for it to merit the censure even of those who may deem that same opinion but "a vain babbling and an opposition of science falsely so called." But what are we to say to those Trinitarians who could turn their backs on their own shrines of public devotion, on a day when it should have been their joy (as it was their privilege) to have poured forth the humble yet fervent breathings of a grateful soul to the creating, redeeming, and sanctifying God, for the numberless, though, alas! unmerited blessings of Providence and grace? What did their own hearts say, when the bended knee at evening, or the meditative stillness of the pillow, led them to review the actions of the past day? when they found that they had lent the sanction of their presence to a service which robbed the Saviour of his divinity; reprobated the very grounds upon which all their hopes of earthly peace and heavenly felicity were founded; and held up to censure that venerated liturgy to which many of them, as Episcopalians, looked, next to the Scriptures of God, as the bulwark of their faith, the practical application of those inspired records to their wants and infirmities, and the hallowed memorial of the associations of their childhood, the piety of their fathers, the honoured zeal and rational devotion of the English reformer?

But we are told, as an apology, that it was improbable, nay, impossible, that any serious alteration could be effected in their religious principles by one attendance at a place of worship, how discordant soever the precepts there inculcated might be. How can they tell this? How can they tell what effect might be produced by sentiments plausibly urged, and enforced by all the charms of elegance of style and power of delivery? How can they tell that they might not mistake the impulse of a gratified taste and excited Imagination for the conviction of for

cible argument, and be induced by such feelings once and again to expose themselves to the operation of these deceptive emotions? How could they be assured, that if they heard not enough seriously to shake their faith, some unwarranted assertion, which they had not the knowledge to contradict, some specious argument of which they could not see the fallacy, might change the şincere and confiding nature of their faith and love towards the eternal Son, who left the bosom of the Father to die in their behalf-might embitter or diminish the devoted gratitude of their souls to the Father who could provide, the Son who could pay, and the Holy Spirit who could apply the only possible atonement for sins, which to human eye, and human guilty consciousness, locked up their victims for ever in the prisonholds of despair? How could they, after thus running needlessly into dangerous circumstances, pray with sincerity to God in that tenderest relation bestowed by the very mystery of the Godhead they were practically disowning, "Our Father, lead us not into temptation ?" If none of these evils have been the consequence, most humbly and devoutly should they thank that Holy Spirit who "stood by them and saved them,' when they were wanting to themselves; wanting in their example to others; wanting in their allegiance to Heaven.

But again-It is urged that as, by general confession, much that is bold and imposing has been advanced for the Unitarian hypothesis, it is but proper that a candid inquirer should be acquainted with both sides of the question; and that no means is so proper for this, as a recurrence to the fountainhead of its defence and promulgation. Although we have heard this reasoning advanced, we ever deemed it a mere blind to conceal other and worse motives from the world, perhaps from themselves. The ground upon which it rests is true; we are required to possess and to be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us; but the conclusion is most erroneous and dangerous. What would be its palpable consequence, but to render an individual, during the whole course of his life, des

titute of any settled principles of belief or of action, tossed about by every wind of doc:rine, and running to and fro with a restless, perplexed-might we not say, an unholy spirit. If there be any professing Trinitarians who have serious doubts in their minds upon the subject, this is not the mode to resolve them, this is not the manner of arriving at the "truth as it is in Jesus." From the very nature of the public exercises of the pulpit, months, nay, years might elapse before the difficulties that harass the mind form the topic of discussion, and then in a brief and hurried manner, as addressed to those who are already convinced of the truth of the tenets, and only designed to renew their impressions and confirm their faith. No; let those who doubt go to their respective pastors and ministers who are over them in the Lord, for the resolution of the difficulty; let them with meditation and reflection impartially read the standard discussions upon the subject; and above all, let them with childlike docility and a prayerful spirit dwell upon the heavenly pages given for their instruction. By these means they will either arrive at the truth, or should they by human frailty err from it, the sincere endeavour, however imperfect, will be accepted by that Being who reads the inmost thoughts.

There will be many (if many should deign to peruse it) who will raise against all this the cry of intolerance and bigotry-who will feelingly talk of that blessed consummation, so devoutly to be wished for, when brethren will dwell together in unity; and aver, that if the heart be right in the sight of God, it will matter not in "the day of the revelation of hidden things," what may have been the form of worship or doctrinal profession. This is the liberal cry of this most liberal age, and is the reaction of those days of darkness and terror, in which the fires of martyrdom blazed, and even they

"who lived unknown, Were dragged by persecution into fame, And chased up to heaven."

But let us beware; there is a deeper design in this note of humility than its first sounding would indicate; there may be another motive than a sincere VOL. XI.

desire for knowledge and peace, which may lead us to echo its syren voice. "The boasted peaceableness about questions of faith, too often proceeds from a superficial temper, and not seldom from a supercilious disdain of whatever has no marketable use and value, and from indifference to religion itself. Toleration is an herb of spontaneous growth in the soil of indifference, but the weed has none of the virtue of the medicinal plant reared by humility in the garden of zeal."* None lament more the paralyzing effect of dissension upon vital religion than ourselves-none quail more at the rushing of the pinions of discordnone with more heartfelt sincerity advocate the cause of true and rational charity; but at the same time we feel convinced, that while sterner peril may assail the church on her pilgrimage through mortal vicissitude, she has to dread the blandishments of a misnamed liberality, finding by its speciousness an advocate in many a bosom. No; while differences do exist among Christians-and discrepancies ever must exist while the church is militant on earth

the best course to avoid dissension, as it is the most consistent, is to rally close around our respective standards, and let the only strife be, which shall bear them most nobly in the holy crusade against the powers of darkness, to which the cross devotes us: we may press, and ought to press earnestly towards the same glorious object, not in a promiscuous and disorderly mass, but like an army in its discipline and might, moving indeed under different banners and badges, but looking all to one Head, the great "Captain of our profession," and one cause, the salvation of the immortal souls of ourselves and our brethren.

The differences among Christians are irreconcileable in our present statė, and in none is this more marked-we lack not charity when we assert itthan between the Unitarian and the believer in the existence of Three Persons in the Unity of the Godhead. "As there is an infinite difference between the Supreme Being and all the

2

* Coleridge, Aid to Reflection.

works of his brand, so it is plain there is an infinite difference of opinion between those who believe that Jesus Christ is God, and those who regard him as a mere creature ;-it is a difference which admits of no compromise a difference pregnant with vast consequences a difference which Christian love may lead us to deplore, but never to disregard or forget."*

-

To return to our point. What has been done, cannot be undone; but may we not cherish the hope, that if this imperfect sketch should meet the eye of any one who feels inclined, for the gratification of a prurient curiosity, to -wander from the service of the Saviour into temples where his divinity is denied, all the hopes and doctrines dearest to the heart of the humble Christian denounced as visionary and profane-where reason is elevated far above her legitimate sphere - where cold morality usurps the province of a living faith;-will he not pause, and reflect upon his violation of duty-the injury which may result to himselfthe pernicious tendency of his example -and the unworthy slight he is casting upon that blessed Redeemer, who is too often" wounded in the house of his friends ?"

For the Christian Journal.

'Auxiliary New-York Bible and Com

mon Prayer Book Society. THE anniversary of this society was celebrated in St. Paul's chapel, on Wednesday, the 8th of November, 1826, when the annual report was read and the board of managers elected. The whole report is highly important, and will be read with great interest. The details in the letter of the Rev. Cave Jones afford a gratifying view to the friends of the institution, and indeed to every Episcopalian; as they exhibit, if indeed such proofs were wanting, the peculiar fitness and adaptation of our excellent liturgy to the wants of the seamen. With other copious extracts from the report, we copy entire the letter of Mr. Jones.

'The board of managers of the "Auxiliary New-York Bible and Common Prayer

Gurney.

Book Society" have the gratification of meeting their constituents, and of presenting the eleventh annual report of their proceedings at this time, pursuant to a resolution of the society, changing the time of holding the anniversary meeting, from the festival of the Conversion of St. Paul, to the second Wednesday in November in each year.

• By a resolution of the board of managers, previously passed, the time for the delivery of the annual address was transferred from about the first of February to the latter part of November. The pecuniary interests of the society had ao frequently suffered from the inclemency of the weather at the former period, as to render this arrangement a matter of imperative obligation. Pursuant to the latter resolution, the Rev. William Creighton, rector of St. Mark's church, delivered an able and appropriate address in St. Paul's chapel, on Sunday evening, the 27th of November last; on which occasion

two hundred and fifteen dollars were collected for the benefit of the society.

'On the first day of February last, our tenth annual report was presented to the society, and its disposition referred, in the usual manner, to the board of managers. At an early meeting of the board it was deemed inexpedient to publish it in a pamphlet form, in as much as the resolution of the society altering the time render it necessary, in the comparatively of holding the anniversary meeting would short space of nine months, to exhibit our eleventh report. It was therefore deemed both prudent and proper to omit its publi cation, and to incorporate its most mate. rial facts in the eleventh report, and thus present a distinct view of the society's operations for the last twenty-one months.

'There have been received into the treasury, to the credit of the disposable fund, one thousand one hundred and ninety-five dollars and twenty-eight cents, exclusive of one thousand eight hundred and five the publication and sale, at prime cost, dollars and seventy cents, employed in of six thousand and nineteen copies of the Prayer Book. One thousand and sixty. six dollars and thirty-five cents have been expended in the purchase of Bibles, and the publication of Prayer Books, for gratuitous distribution, the correction of our plates, and the ordinary contingent charges of the society; leaving in the hands of the treasurer on the first instant, one hundred and twenty-eight dollars and ninety-three cents. The society is indebted to its publishers three hundred and forty-nine dollars and eighty cents; which will not only

absorb the above balance, but leave a deficit of two hundred and twenty dollars and eighty-seven cents, for which provision must be made.

The permanent fund has been aug.

mented by the life subscriptions of Mr. John R. Wheaton and Mr. Robert Gill, and the accumulation of its own interest, from seven hundred and seventy-seven dollars and sixty-seven cents, to nine hundred and twenty-eight dollars and sixtysix cents, which is safely invested. It will be perceived that this fund is gradually increasing, while the disposable fund is gradually diminishing. We experience but the common fate of all institutions depending principally for support upon voluntary contributions; there is great need, therefore, (and we trust the remark will be beneficially remembered,) for constant exertion to supply the annual loss occasioned by death and removal from the city.'

The board of managers have received from the Rev. Cave Jones, chaplain in the United States navy on this station, an interesting and satisfactory communication on the subject of the distribution of the books which have been from time to time committed to his care and disposal. Mr. Jones has performed the office of almoner with so much judgment and effect, and has afforded us so much gratification by the perusal of the account of his mode of operation, that we have determined to make it constitute a part of this report.

"SIR,

"Brooklyn, Nov. 1st, 1826.

"As, in the capacity of chairman of the distributing committee of the Auxiliary New-York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, you have been so good as to furnish me, from time to time, with supplies of Prayer Books, for the use of the seamen of the United States navy, I think it proper to give you some account of the manner in which these have been distributed, and of the several objects to which your benefactions have been applied.

"As I have kept no particular account, it will be out of my power to specify ei. ther the number of copies received, or the particular individuals or bodies on which they have been conferred. For the former, reference to your books will probably ascertain the amount; and, with respect to the latter, I can only say, that every individual copy has ceen applied to the purposes designed, and in such way as would seem to promise most effectually to subserve the benevolent views of the society.

"The principal object to which appropriations have been made, and which has disposed of the greater part of the copies furnished, has been the promoting of the establishment and conducting of public worship among the officers and seamen more immediately under my charge. For a considerable time after my entering upon this field of labour, as no other provision was made for the purpose, I was induced to have divine service conducted

on board of one of the ships of war. During that period, a supply out of the number forwarded was furnished to the ship which was appropriated to the purpose. These were placed in charge of the commanding officer, for that specific purpose, and were regularly brought out on Sunday morning at the appointed hour of worship, and again returned to safe keeping after the religious exercises of the day were closed. Since that period, and during the course of the last year, an apartment in one of the public buildings has been fitted up as a temporary chapel, (which will lead, ere long, we trust, to the erection of a separate appropriate building), where divine service is now regularly performed, according to the full order established by the church. Upon the opening of this for public worship, the books which had been previously appropriated to the purpose, were transferred from the commodore's ship, where service had been performed, with the exception of such as might, it was thought, be beneficially left for the use of the officers and crew, and others were added from an after supply, so as to furnish a sufficient number for the orderly conducting of the service of the sanctuary.

"In reference to the effect resulting from this distribution, without entering upon any minute detail, I will only say, that it cannot fail to afford gratification to every friend of that neglected class of our species, who have hitherto been, as it were, outcasts from the house of God; and at the same time to every one who wishes to see the sublime service of the church extend the boundaries of its influence, were he present to witness the orderly and apparently devout manner in which many of the seamen join in the service, and the strict regularity with which every part of it is performed. I will only add, that this remark has frequently been made by occasional visitors. And officers of the navy, high in rank too, who have never before been present at such a scene, have impulsively expressed the deep im. pression which has been made on their minds, of the beneficial results which must arise from the regular performance of these duties.

"As one immediate consequence, I will take the opportunity to mention, that a commencement has been made of introducing the regular performance of public worship, according to the forms of the church, on board of several of the ships of war; and even on board of those which are not, according to the regulations of the navy, entitled to a chaplain. The first arrangement of this kind was in the ship of war Ontario, on board of which, previ ously to her sailing for the Mediterranean, I officiated several times, to a very attentive audience; and the commander of

which, Captain Nicholson, gave me assurance, that it was his determined resolution to have divine service performed, and a sermon read, every Sunday during the cruise. What is also highly encouraging, I will take the opportunity to mention, that on those occasions the first lieutenant, who had been, as he informed me, brought up in a different religious. society, yet joined with ardour in the service of the church; and expressed his firm conviction, that her form of worship was the best adapted to interest the minds of seamen. The same sentiment has also been expressed to me 'by others, still higher in command, and who have likewise been accustomed from their early years to the extemporaneous mode.

"The same plan has since been pursued on board of the United States corvette Cyane, of a still higher grade, but not entitled to the services of an authorized mi. nister of religion. The commander thereof, Captain Elliott, engaged as his secretary, with a view to that service, a gentleman of serious deportment, and acquainted with the service of the church, and sent him to me for instructions as to the parts of the service which it would be proper for him to perform. He was also furnished with a supply of Prayer Books; and a proper selection of sermons was made by me at his request.

"To the United States ship Boston, which has lately sailed to the coast of Brazil, a supply of Prayer Books, both for officers and men, was also furnished, though I know not whether any hope can be entertained of their being used for the purpose of public worship, as I had no conference with the captain on the subject. We must, therefore, commit them to the guidance of the "faithful and true Witness," in the trust, that they may pri vately be led to work "the good pleasure of his will." In connexion with this part of the subject, I have the pleasure to remark to you, that in return for the octavo Prayer Books presented to the officers by your committee, Freceived from the first Lieutenant of the last mentioned ship a very polite note, expressing his own thanks for the donation, accompanied with that of his brother officers.

"Since the above, a supply of Prayer Books, put into my hands by your committee, has been furnished both to the officers and seamen of the United States ship of war Lexington, which has just sailed for the coast of Labrador. I have good ground for confidence, that regular worship will be introduced, if a suitable person can be found to conduct it. I took an early opportunity of conversing on the subject with the commander, Captain Shubrick, and found him entirely disposed to promote it, if he should find his secretary, whom he had previously engaged, a suit,

able person for the purpose, or if any other arrangement could be made.

"On all these occasions, the Prayer Books, both of the octavo and octo-decimo size, were presented in the name of your society. And I have the pleasure of presenting to you herewith, a letter of ac knowledgment from the gallant commander, which cannot fail, I think, of affording high satisfaction to every friend of the church, and especially to every friend of the religious improvement of seamen. In this document some topics are contained, which do not immediately relate to your society, but they are so incorporated as not readily to admit of being presented in an extract: and at the same time they contain such gratifying sentiments, as render it not desirable that they should be withheld. I therefore commit to you the entire document, accompanied with a pri vate letter by which it is identified, to be used as you shall see proper; with a request that you will be so good as to return it to me after perusal.

"Beside the number of copies appropriated as above, a supply has also been furnished to the United States Naval Hospital, so as to have one copy at least in each ward. And I have had the satisfaction, on visiting that establishment from time to time, to perceive that the books are in constant use, and to learn that they are applied to the purposes for which they are designed, in leading the devotions of some at least of the inmates.

"A supply has also been furnished to the several wards of the Marine Barracks. In addition to all which, single books have been, from time to time, conferred on different individuals, who either have expressed a desire to be put in possession of that manual of devotion, or whose orderly deportment has recommended them to that particular mark of attention.

"I have only further to add, that I am at present entirely unsupplied, and that I will, with pleasure, act in the capacity of almoner of your society, in distributing, with the strictest attention to the objects of the institution, such copies of the Book of Common Prayer as they shall think proper to commit to my charge.

"Since the above, two additional ships of war have taken their departure from this station. These are the United States frigate Brandywine, and the sloop of war Vincennes, each of the highest rate in its class, which lately sailed for the Pacific, on a cruise of three years. To these a supply of Prayer Books was furnished, in the following proportions, comprising all that were then on hand. To each cabin was presented one of the larger size, two of the same to each ward-room, and one to each steerage; the whole embracing all the different grades of officers. To the crew of the frigate, one and a half dozen