THE

Christian Examiner.

No. I.] January and February, 1824. [VoL. I.

WHEN, in beginning the publication of the Christian Disciple, five years ago, we announced our intention to use it for the defence of controverted religious truth, it was thought by many of our friends, that the state of publick sentiment did not warrant such an undertaking. It seemed to them, that the dispassionate and inquisitive spirit that had prevailed, was bringing our opinions forward into general reception with a steady, though quiet progress, which ought to content their advocates. It was feared, that to assume a controversial attitude would be to excite a clamour, against which argument would scarcely prevail so far as even to be heard; and, still more, anxiety was entertained, lest, in the discussions which should follow, charity would suffer more than faith would gain.

The event has dispelled these apprehensions. An unexpected degree of curiosity, and of independent thought upon religious subjects has been found to exist; and so far was our work from satisfying the publick taste for investigations of this nature, that it has been followed by several others of similar character; one of which, at least, the Baltimore Unitarian Miscellany, has obtained a still wider circulation.

In the mean time, the sphere, within which an interest in our labours is felt, is greatly enlarged. Many eminent individuals, in church and state, have adopted the sentiments

which we have maintained. Ministers, professing them, have been settled in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina; and societies of Unitarian Christians have been organized in the cities of Baltimore, Washington, Pittsburgh, and New York. A more extensive and powerful effect upon the religious publick than has been known in any other instance in this country, (unless the preaching of Whitefield and his associates make an exception,) was produced by the sermon of Dr. Channing at Baltimore, which contained rather a sketch than a defence of Unitarian opinions. In many parts of our country, besides those which we have specified, there are considerable numbers, and in almost all parts religious individuals, attached to this system from conviction and conscience. A spirit of religious inquiry is still more generally diffused, and besides those who have embraced our views, there are many who are subjecting them to a candid examination.

Nor has this progress of opinion been attended with any extraordinary excitement of uncharitable feelings. Doubtless, in common with all, who have been in a minority in religion, we have occasionally had cause to regret that we were misjudged and misrepresented. But we think we look in vain for any other instance, in which so considerable a reformation of belief has been effected with so little mutual irritation. In comparison with those, who in other times and countries have engaged in similar labours, we consider ourselves to have been signally privileged in regard to the amount of obloquy, which we have been called to endure, and the te nptations to unchristian feeling, which we have had to resist. And we have ceased, in a great measure, to dread the influence of controversy upon an intelligent and serious community, since we have perceived, that in the course of these discussions, they have assumed a more moderate and elevated character; and a better mutual understanding, and greater mutual respect, have come to prevail between the adherents to opposite opinions. Exceptions to this remark undoubtedly occur; but it is no small cause of satisfaction that, to such an extent, a good example is set by those whose example will naturally be regarded.

Our experience, then, if we interpret it aright, gives us great encouragement to proceed. The edition of the Christian Disciple being in some numbers nearly exhausted, it has

become convenient to adopt another title for our work, and we avail ourselves of the opportunity to present it in an improved form, with respect to the mechanical execution. We have not seen reason, however, to propose any considerable deviation from the plan upon which the Christian Disciple was conducted. In the department of Miscellany, we shall arrange such contributions as may be furnished us upon topicks interesting to religious minds; such as the evidences of our faith 1;1 the history and interpretation of its records; the exhibitions of its power in the improvements of Christian society, and the lives of excellent individuals; its disclosures, consolations and motives; the conduct which it inculcates; the temper which it forms; the exercises of piety, and the methods of its culture. Under the head of Collections, we shall present such brief extracts and remarks as may occur to us in the eourse of our reading; and we hope to be able often to add specimens of devotional Poetry. In the Review, we shall give our judgment of publications, which derive importance from their subject, author, ability, occasion, or probable tendency; and in this department our own opinions will be expressed with more uniformity, than can be expected in every part of a work furnished from such various sources. shall conclude each number with articles of Intelligence of events interesting to the religious publick. We have made arrangements to present under this head a List of new Religious Publications; and it will be our aim to keep an accurate record of changes in the Congregational ministry of Massachusetts.

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In the prosecution of our work, we have by no means an exclusive view to the defence of opinions which distinguish We propose to avow and enforce the sentiments which we entertain upon important subjects relating to religion. In some of these we differ from our fellow Christians; in many we accord with them. We wish to feel and excite an interest in the truths which we present, proportioned to their respective seasonableness and worth; and not to attach to any an unreasonable importance, because we are peculiar in receiving it. Among the various doctrines which constitute our system of religious belief, one is the personal unity of the Godhead. It is a doctrine to which we ascribe a great value. We think it has an intimate connexion with the

highest exercises of a devout mind; and that its rejection by Christians severs that alliance in the cause of religion, which ought to exist between the understanding and the heart, and is the great obstacle to the universal diffusion of the Christian faith. And as, among the various opinions which we profess, this is the opinion which has been the most assailed, it is also that to whose defence we have been obliged to devote the greatest share of our attention. But neither for this nor for any other doctrine, acknowledged or disputed, which we maintain, do we wish to manifest a greater zeal than is demanded by its importance, the occasions for its practical application, or the danger that it will be rejected or overlooked. Our most satisfactory labours will be those in which we may cooperate with our fellow Christians; and we are happy to think, that the truths in which they dissent from us, stand less in need than heretofore of direct vindication, and that we shall be more at liberty, in future, to trace their application to the concerns of life, the reformation of literature, the correction of moral sentiment, the progress of society, the universal discipline of human nature, and the accomplishment of the designs of the divine benevolence.

Our task would certainly be lighter, if we could forget that some of the truths, which it is our chief source of happiness and cause of gratitude to have imbibed, have yet obtained so partial a reception, and are advancing against so many obstacles. The temper in which we shall maintain these, we shall be safest in leaving to be inferred from what we shall write. We trust, however, that it will not be deficient in earnestness; for if we could be negligent of such a trust, we should have little hope of being able to render our account with joy. We profess to have received the religion of Jesus Christ in that original, uncorrupted form, in which it is best suited to occupy the reason, affect the heart, and order the life; to acquire an extensive power, by commanding the assent of infidels, and exert an efficacious one, by quieting the doubts and rectifying the principles of believers. The system, in short, which we have received for Christianity, we profess to account the great instrument of human happiness in life and in eternity. And with this sense of it, we should be miserably unfaithful to every motive, which it furnishes, if we did not feel an intense interest in its diffusion.

We trust, again, that the temper in which, as occasion. shall require, we shall maintain our disputed sentiments, will not be found deficient in gentleness and candour. We profess to have an elevated object in our view. We desire, with whatever power we may exert, to promote the reception and efficacy of truths the most purifying and ennobling. It would ill become us to be irritated by the delusions which we desire to dispel, or by the delusion which misinterprets our efforts. However it may have been elsewhere, this is not a period of the world, nor this a condition of society, which will furnish apologies for forbearing, with an honest manliness, to speak the truth; but professing to be attached to it not only for its satisfactory evidence, but also for its salutary power, we hope not to forget the duty, nor forego the satisfaction of "speaking the truth in love."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN EXAMINER.

SIR-I have thought that the cause of pure religion might be promoted, by diffusing extensively in the Christian community, in an easy and popular form, such elementary knowledge of our sacred writings, particularly of the New Testament, and such illustrations of their meaning, as is either not accessible now to readers in general, or is to be obtained only by an extensive course of reading. In order to contribute something to so valuable a purpose, it is my intention to prepare a few communications of this kind for the Christian Examiner. If you are so far satisfied with the design, and the execution of the introductory essay, which accompanies this, as to give it a place in the first Number of the Examiner, it will be followed by others.

NOTES UPON THE BIBLE.-No. I.

E*** Y****.

THE Bible is regarded by Christians with reverence, as containing a revelation from God to men; and it is read with peculiar interest, as the sacred book, from which is drawn the system of their religious faith. This reverence, with which it is regarded, and interest with which it is read, alike by the whole Christian community, may be expected to excite a lively interest in every inquiry relative to the form in which it