which terminated as might, from such a beginning, have been naturally expected. How much this gentleman is affected by manner, and tone, and spirit, is apparent from the circumstance of his having devoted the first twenty pages of his discourse to the deprecation of certain expressions and epithets applied to Socinians by some orthodox writers. For our own part, we are very little accustomed to attach any weight whatever to controversial appellations or polemical recrimination: we look upon these weapons as seldom advisable, even when lawful; but of their fair application there can be but one test, and that, the truth and justice of the charges implied. When, for instance, the Bishop of St. David's thought proper to denominate the Socinians God-denying apostates, it is evident that his Lordship, having the assertion of Acts, xx. 28, in his mind, that GOD had purchased his church with his own blood;" and finding the Socinians denying that He whose blood is here spoken of was God, or that there was any purchase in the case, thought himself justified in condensing the Apostles' accusation of "denying the Lord that bought them." And in a similar manner might much of the language of which Mr. F. so bitterly complains, be justified, and proved neither unfair nor inappli cable. Our limits, however, will not allow of our entering upon this topic; we shall therefore pass on to the argument of Mr. Fripp's pamphlet, which will not detain us long. He does not even attempt to bring a single proof from Scripture to the support of Unitarian doctrine; and his whole defensive argument is confined to the warding off the obvious meaning of four or five texts, which bear hard upon Socinianism. mary View of the Evidence of Unitarianism;" containing, under twenty-four heads, some specimens of reasoning and evidence of rather a new kind. For instance, "Christ is called the Son of Man eighty-five times in the New Testament." "He is never once styled God-man in the New Testament." "The book of Acts is decidedly Unitarian." "The Epistle of Clemens Romanus is also Unitarian." That Now, to all this we shall say little: as to the Unitarianism of the book of Acts, we doubt not but that Mr. Fripp looks upon the whole Bible as equally so. our Saviour is styled the "Son of Man," and not "God-man," is no proof either way. And to the four or five texts upon which he has commented, we shall give no particular attention, because the question does not rest upon their interpretation. If we were even to give them up at once, our view of the general tenour of Scripture would remain the same. We wish rather to grapple with Mr. Fripp's main error-his view of Jesus Christ, as nothing more than "the exalted man of Nazareth-the man of God's own hand the great prophet of God." Other names and titles are added; but through the whole it is perceivable that the divinity of the Saviour is altogether denied, and his atonement discredited. It is therefore, perhaps, worth while to enter into the subject a little more closely than Mr. Fripp appears to have done, and to examine the general tenour of Scripture language concerning Christ, his character and attributes. 1. He is called GOD-" The Word was made flesh-The Word. was God." John, i. 1-4. "The mighty God." Isa. ix. 6. "Feed the Church of GOD, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts, "The only wise God our There is indeed added, in the Saviour." Jude, 25. " Hereby perappendix, what he calls a "Sum-ceive we the love of GOD, because MAY 1822. xx. 28. CC HE laid down HIS life for us." 1 HIM."- "He is before all things, John, iii. 16. 2. He is called THE LORD"Christ THE Lord." Luke, ii. 11. "The Lord from heaven." 1 Cor. XV. 47. "Lord both of the dead and the living." Romans, xiv. 9. "The Lord of all." Acts, x. 36. "Lord over all." Romans, x. 12. "Lord of glory." 1 Cor. ii. 8. "The Lord of lords." Rev. xvii. 14. "Mine eyes have seen the King, THE LORD OF HOSTS." Isaiah, vi. 5, 10. "These things spake Esaias, when he saw Christ's glory, and spake of him." John, xii. 41. 3. Christ is THE FIRST AND THE LAST, a title which exclusively belongs to Jehovah: "Thus saith the Lord, I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God." Isaiah, xliv. 6. "I (Christ) am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Rev. xxii. 13. Can a man, a creature, claim this title? 4. Christ is ETERNAL-" He was before all things." Col. i. 17. "With God from the beginning." John, i. 1. "His goings forth were from everlasting." Micah, v. 2. 5. He is IMMUTABLE" Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." Heb. xiii. 8. "Thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail." Heb. i. 12. 6. He is EQUAL with the Father "The man that is MY FELLOW, saith the Lord of hosts." Zech. xiii. 8. "Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be EQUAL with God." Phil. ii. 6. "The throne of God and the Lamb." Rev. xxii. 1.-" All men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father." John, v. 23. 7. The CREATOR and UPHOLDER of the universe-" All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." John, i. 3. By him were all things created that are in heaven and in earth;" "All things were created by him and FOR 66 66 and by him all things consist.' Col. i. 16, 17. Upholding all things by the word of his power." Heb. i. 3. When such is the constant language of Scripture, how is it that Mr. Fripp, leaving these and hundreds of similar passages unnoticed, fancies that his point is carried by explaining away some four or five solitary texts? How does he prove the mere humanity and subordinate character of Him to whom, throughout the whole Bible, are ascribed the attributes of Deity? While Christ is spoken of, throughout the Scriptures, as the mighty God, the Lord of hosts, the first and the last, the eternal and immutable Jehovah, Jehovah's fellow, equal with God the Father, occupying one throne with him, and creating, upholding, and governing all things, for himself and to his own glory; while this, we say, is the constant language of the inspired writers, there is nothing left for Mr. Fripp, but to renounce his errors, or to renounce the Bible. They are perfectly incompatible. We are sorry, but not surprised, to see tokens of feeling which seem to say that the latter alternative would be taken. The Bible is nothing if it be not dictated by plenary inspiration:-if it be not throughout, and without exception or distinction, the word of God, it is of little importance what it is. But Mr. Fripp brings against it implied charges of inconsistency. three first Gospels are Unitarian, and the book of Acts is the same.' Does St. John then speak a different language? had he a different view of Christ from that of the other Evangelists? The first step towards discarding the Bible is generally a complaint of its inconsistency. The We would conclude with a serious reply to one of Mr. Fripp's complaints. He thinks it unkind 8 and illiberal in Trinitarians to speak of Socinians as in an unsafe and dangerous state. Now, we suppose that his views of himself and of human nature are not yet so altered as to have hidden from his sight his character as a sinner: he surely knows and feels that for failure of duty, and for transgression of God's law, he comes under the sentence of justice as a transgressor. This, then, being allowed, and God's perfect holiness and justice being admitted, we should wish Mr. Fripp to consider how he hopes ever to enter the presence of God, and to obtain everlasting happiness. Perfect justice bars up the way against him, until he can say, "I have found a recompense." Wrath abideth until satisfaction be made for sin. Mercy may be invoked; but mercy cannot find entrance: no one of the attributes of God can clash or interfere with another. His mercy did indeed move his only Son to die for our sins, and "to redeem us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." But this mercy is here rejected; the Socinian denies the fact, and refuses belief in the merit of the sacrifice. Mercy then, furnishing a satisfaction for the sinner, is rejected; and, without a satisfaction, infinite mercy itself cannot save the sinner: justice, also infinite, claims the penalty. By the deeds of the law can no flesh living be justified; and without justification, as without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. It is upon these grounds, and we recommend them to Mr. Fripp's serious consideration, that we are at a loss to conceive in what way a Socinian can consider himself safe. "How can we hope that men will be saved, when they absolutely reject the only possible way of salvation?" and, while entertaining such views, does not charity itself require us to adopt The Holy Bible, with Notes, &c. WE are happy to announce to our readers the republication of this valuable work: it needs not our commendation, and we therefore merely embrace the present oppor tunity of inserting the following brief account of the principal points in which this edition differs from the preceding. 1. In the first place, it is in stereotype. To this laborious and expensive process it was submitted, under the conviction (which has proved too well founded) that it was the last which the revered author would be able to superintend. From the great pains also, with which it was determined that the revision in every part should be conducted, it was anticipated that this edition might deserve, by its accuracy, the rendered permanent and nearly unalterable. distinction thus conferred upon it, of being And though, in the course of so long a work, it is scarcely possible but that some errors should have escaped detection, it is this expectation has been realized. It may confidently hoped, that, upon the whole, be added, that should any mistakes be discovered of sufficient consequence to require it, the plates are not so unalterable as to render the correction impracticable. 2. As sundry small variations have, du ring the lapse of two centuries, crept into our common Bibles, considerable pains have been taken, by the collation of different editions, to exhibit an accurate copy of the sacred text according to the authorized version. 3. Not only have the marginal references throughout been revised with the utmost care, but it will be found that the Author has inserted, in the notes and practical observations, frequent references to other parts of his Commentary. To this improvement he attached considerable importance: and its value will, no doubt, be felt by those readers who may bestow sufficient pains upon the subject to enter into his design. The student may be advantageously referred to the book of Proverbs for a specimen of this addition to the work. which it has received, consists in the copious 4. But the most important improvement critical remarks which have been introduced. Many of these occur in the Old Testament, in all which the original words in Hebrew characters, pointed, have been substituted for the English letters, by which they had been before expressed, wherever any thing of the kind occurred. In the New Testament these remarks are numerous. Here also new authorities are adduced in support of the criticisms which had been previously made, particularly from Schleusner, to whose valuable Lexicon of the Greek Testament the Author was in debted for much assistance. The critical remarks, it is also to be observed, are now uniformly carried to the end of the note, instead of being interspersed in the body of it. 5. It must be matter of great thankfulness to those who rightly appreciate the Author's indefatigable labours, that the full energy of his mind was continued almost to the last hour of his life; and that he was enabled to complete his revision as far as the end of 2 Timothy, iii. 2. Several alterations indeed will be found, and some of them of considerable importance, in parts posterior to the verse just named. These, however, have not been made without authority; but are taken, according to the Author's directions, from a copy of the last edition, which he read over soon after its publication, making such corrections as occurred. The critical remarks also, contained in the former edition, have been, to the close, arranged, as nearly as possible, according to the plan adopted in the pre ceding parts of the work. Letters to W. Wilberforce, Esq. on his Advocacy of the Roman Catholic Claims. By Amicus Protestans. 8vo. Pp. 252. AT the very time of the appear ance of the present number, the annually recurring attack of the Roman Catholic claimants will be made. The question will again be raised in Parliament, and circumstances, we fear, are much in favour of its success. There is something particularly remarkable in the line of attack which is this year taken. Finding that the majority of the Upper House presents the most formidable obstacle, the measure is now pointedly aimed at the reduction of that majority. It is proposed to admit the Roman Catholic peers, eight or nine in number, into the House of Lords, by which step just so many votes will be gained for the general ques'ion. It is in this light that the proposition ought to be viewed, for it is with this view that it is undoubtedly made. The pamphlet which we now introduce to our readers, is one which ought scarcely to be called by that name. It is a volume of most interesting and able discussion, upon a subject which, in our view, is of primary importance. We trace in it the hand of the author of the "History of the Jesuits," and shall best be understood, both as to its merits and defects, when we say, that it appears almost to exhaust the subject. Having scarcely room even to express an opinion on this great topic, we must be pardoned if we pass from the work under notice to the question itself, and endeavour to state in few words our ideas upon it. We look, then, upon Roman Catholics, generally, as professed and sincere enemies of the Protestant Establishment, and indeed of all dissidents from their own infallible Church. They preach, they pray for, and they practise, by every means in their power, the extermination of heresy, and the destruction of heretics. Intolerance is the very principle of their existence. When they cease to be, upon principle, persecutors, they will virtually have abjured Popery. Now we hold, that if any one dictum of common sense, in political matters, be more obviously just and reasonable than another, it is this: that any minority, smaller or greater, of the inhabitants of a state, who profess and practise unrelenting hostility toward the creed of the majority, and against all who profess that creed, may, and ought to be, excluded from all legislative and administrative offices. Tolerated, privately, in every exercise of their individual rights, they ought to be. But while they warn us that they will never, should they gain power, tolerate us, selfpreservation, the first law of nature, dictates the keeping from them the means of doing us injury. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. We are now arrived at that season of the year when the Anniversary Meetings of all the principal religious institutions are held. The same conveyances therefore which forward our publication to different parts of the land will probably communicate also a variety of details, of a more recent and interesting nature than any which we are enabled to state. We have in consequence contracted the space usually allotted by us to Religious Intelligence for the present mouth, and have made arrangements for the supply of such statements in our next as will, we trust, interest and gratify our readers. It may, however, not be improper to remark, with respect to the BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY, That its income amounts, this year, to upwards of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS, being considerably more than any former year; that its issues of Bibles and Testaments are also increased; and that this progress, both in the funds and in the issues of the Society, is not confined to any particular districts, but prevails generally in almost every part of the immense field of the Society's labours, even in places where, from peculiar circumstances, it could scarcely be expected, such as Dublin, &c. Recent intelligence from France affords reason to anticipate that the French Bible Society will be of incalculable advantage to that country, producing a spirit of conciliation, harmony, and activity; leading the minds of many to think seriously on religious subjects, and to engage in other plans of beneficence and piety. We learn too, that, in Bavaria, a door has been opened for the circulation of the Scriptures; that Leander Von Ess is still continuing his unwearied exertions; and that, although a temporary interruption has been occasioned in Turkey, Greece, &c. to the spread of the Bible, by the troubles of those parts, yet, even there, preparations are making to take advantage of the first moments of tranquillity; that Hilarion is still pursuing his zealous labours; and that the few copies of the Turkish Testament, which had recently been issued, were received with the utmost eagerness and delight; so that, in whatever direction we contemplate the Society's operations, we find it still proceeding conquering and to conquer. We learn too, with respect to the CHURCH MISSIONARY That its funds have also increased considerably, amounting now to THIRTY-THREE THOUSAND POUNDS, being an advance of TWO THOUSAND POUNDS above those of the preceding year; that it is exciting a spirit of increasing attention in various parts, and especially among the clergy; that it has therefore ventured upon instituting a Ninth Mission, in the territories of the Hudson's Bay Company, in North America, and has reason to conclude, that the increasing liberality of the Christian public will keep pace with these increasing exertions. The Society is the more en SOCIETY, couraged to indulge this expectation in consequence of receiving the most interesting intelligence of success from the Syrian College at Palamcotta, the various stations in India, and at Ceylon; and from the different settlements on the western coast of Africa. The recent intelligence from Sierra Leone states, that at a late communion at Regent's Town, nearly 400 communicants were present; that the morning and evening prayers were attended by 6 or 700 persons; and that the Sunday congregations have so increased as to render another enlargement of the church necessary. THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS Hebrew New Testament, and the labours of their zealous and pious Missionaries M'Call, Becker, and Wolfe, encourage and animate them to proceed in their great work, being assured that, in due season, all Israel shall be saved. THE LONDON SOCIETY FOR Is found also to share in the general prosperity; and though, from the peculiar nature of their object, they have formidable difficulties to encounter, and are compelled to witness various disappointments; yet the measure of success which they meet with in their schools, from the circulation of the We might thus proceed to notice in succession almost every religious institution, both amongst ourselves and amongst our dissenting brethren, and the same striking phenomenon arises; all are increasing in funds, and increasing in exertions, and increasing in success. When we combine this with the pressure of the times, and yet see how, in every difficulty and under every privation, the work of the Lord prospers, we are compelled to exclaim, What hath God wrought? and derive encouragement to conclude that that day is indeed rapidly approaching, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. |