LETTERS

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THE RIGHT REVEREND

THE LORD BISHOP OF LONDON.

LETTER I.

Occasion of the Author's address to his LordshipPrinciples of the Unitarians stated, as held by Dr. Lardner and other celebrated Unitarians of the last century-Doctrines which they regard as erroneous-Rule of Life, common to all Christians-The Unitarians pronounce no anathemas on those who differ from them-yet are zealous in propagating what they believe to be important truth-The temper with which religious discus-` sions ought to be conducted.

MY LORD,

THOUGH an obscure individual, I beg permis sion thus publicly to address your Lordship as a humble apologist in behalf of a class of christians, of which I am proud to avow myself a member however unworthy, whose principles

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and character, from the representation of them in your late primary Visitation Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese of London, appear to have been unfortunately very much misconceived by your Lordship.

It has grown of late into a fashion among the clergy, I know not why, both in their discourses and in their publications, to declaim against the Unitarians. What the Unitarians have done to be singled out and condemned as sinners beyond all the rest of their nonconforming brethren, or what offences they have committed to provoke the animosity of the elergy, and to call forth the obloquy and sarcasm which have of late been accumulated upon them in such abundant measure, I am at a loss to conceive. The Unitarians form no political party, nor have they attacked the ecclesiastical establishment, the revenues of the church, or the character of the clergy. "Neither against the law, nor against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have they offended at all." They have contented themselves with plainly and openly exhibiting their principles, and calmly and fairly stating their arguments. And that the government of the country are satisfied with their conduct is manifest, from the very liberal manner in which they have lately supported a Bill for the repeal of

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the persecuting laws; a measure which will reflect eternal honour upon the enlightened policy of the present administration, and the mild government of the Prince Regent.

In a class of men so numerous and promiscuous as the established clergy, how respectable soever as a body, which they truly are, most highly so, both for learning and morals, there will, nevertheless, always be found some individuals who will endeavour to emerge from their native insignificance, and to attract notice, by proclaiming themselves the champions of orthodoxy, and officiously sounding the trumpet of alarm to warn the church of dangers which none can discover but themselves. Of these alarmists by profession we deign not to take notice; and if, by the propagation of calumnies too gross for credulity itself to admit, they can raise themselves to distinction, and attain the object of their low ambition, far be it from us to throw any obstacle in their way.

But when a prelate of superior talent, of profound learning, of exemplary character and distinguished courtesy of manners, who has lately on account of his exalted merit been elevated to one of the first stations in the church, in a Charge delivered at his primary Visitation, a composition drawn up with extraordinary care, and in which

every sentence and every word appear to be measured and guarded, condescends to give countenance and currency to allegations against the Unitarians the most uafounded and injurious, the case is greatly altered, and it becomes necesfor the parties accused to defend themselves from the charges imputed, or by their silence. under accusations brought forward by such high authority, in appearance at least, to acquiesce in their truth.

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Upon this ground, my Lord, I now take the liberty of addressing a few Letters to your Lordship, hoping, if they should be honoured with your Lordship's attention, by a fair and candid statement of facts to remove the prepossessions which at present unfortunately occupy your Lordship's mind, and to excite in your Lordship a more favourable opinion of that denomination of christians, of which I now appear as the humble, but sincere and earnest advocate.

And in the first place, I beg leave frankly to state our common principles as Unitarians, from which your Lordship will be able to judge whether we deserve to be classed as the associates of infidels, or as enemies to the civil and religious constitution of our native country; and I will afterwards notice those specific allegations which

your Lordship has advanced, and which I flatter myself that I shall be able to rebut, or to explain in a manner that will prove satisfactory to your Lordship, and to the candid and discerning public.

1. The Unitarians, my Lord, in the sense in which that word was used by Lardner, Lindsey, Jebb, Priestley, and other learned advocates of Unitarianism in the last age, believe that there is ONE GOD IN ONE PERSON ONLY, absolute in all perfection, the Creator and Preserver of the unbounded universe, the moral Governor of reasonable and moral agents, infinitely exalted in his own original incommunicable essence and attributes above the most glorious of created beings, the sole object of all religious worship, the only invisible Being with whom reasonable creatures can maintain any intercourse, or upon whom they have any dependence; in whom all created beings live and move and exist.

2. The Unitarians further believe that Jesus Christ was a PROPER HUMAN BEING, in all respects like unto his brethren, but distinguished from them as the chosen servant of God, the faithful messenger of the Most High, the greatest of all the holy prophets, the promised Messiah; who was sent with a commission to supersede the Mosaic institute, and to introduce a new and