pamphlet displayed, must have made a favourable impression on all who have read it. Probably feeling this, Mr. Mostyn has been induced to print the private letters of himself and Mr. Cooper, in the Greenock Advertiser; and side, by side with these letters, appeared the following, as an advertise ment: To the Editor of the Greenock Advertiser. SIR, There is in circulation through the town, "A Letter of Expostulation to the Rev. G. T. Mostyn, occasioned by his recent animadversions upon Unitarians and Unitarianism, by the Minister of the Unitarian Church." Of this letter, Mr. Mostyn will not, I presume, take any public notice, for the necessity of the case does not call for it; and when uncalled for, personal controversy on the part of a minister of Christ, is as unbecoming as it is unedifying. It may, however, become a Member of his Congregation briefly to protest against so very unfair and deceptive a letter. Mr. Cooper's publication consists of two parts-the expostulatory and the doctrinal. The sum of the former is, that Mr. Mostyn warned his hearers to keep Unitarians from their doors; and that he presumed to pre-judge their final lot. Now, it is an essential and indispensable part of the Ministry of the Gospel, to announce which classes of mankind shall be saved, and which shall perish, else it would have no definite practical point (John iii. 36); and with respect to social intercourse, it is God's express command, and, as such, to be reiterated by his ministers: "If there come any unto you, and bring not the doctrine, receive him not into your house" (2 John 10). The second, viz. the doctrinal part of Mr. Cooper's Letter, is still more unjust, because most deceptive. The columns of a newspaper are not a suitable place, else it would be easy to show, that it is a mere evasion of the real point at issue. Mr. Mostyn's sermons consisted in bringing together, probably a hundred passages of Scripture, proving the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, none of these passages or of Mr. M.'s applications of them, does Mr. C. attempt to controvert. Instead of this, he merely proves what none-least of all we-deny; that is, the unity of God —a truth taught us by our Lord in the same sentence that his own Deity is, viz. "I and my Father are one;" and then fills up the remainder of his Letter, with asserting the right of Unitarians to the name of Christian-a right which it would be treason to our Lord for us to admit; for, to be a Christian is to be a worshipper of Christ; while Unitarians degrade him even below what Mahometans do (some of whom, at least, as Dr. Wolff informed us in his recent Lec tures, acknowledge his miraculous conception and birth of a virgin), and instead of worshipping, dishonour and deny "the Lord that bought them." I am, Sir, your very obedient Servant, Greenock, Dec. 5, 1840. X. In the newspaper following, Mr. Cooper made this rejoinder: To the Editor of the Greenock Advertiser. SIR, I hope you will permit me to offer a few words in reply to the communication of your Correspondent X, upon the Unitarian controversy, which appeared in the last number of your paper. The main object of X is evidently to impress the idea upon the public mind, that my recent Letter, addressed to the Rev. G. T. Mostyn, is both "unfair and deceptive." Now, I most willingly leave the decision of these points to every candid individual who heard Mr. M.'s Discourses, and who will do me the justice to read the Letter. X justifies Mr. Mostyn in warning his hearers to drive all persons professing Unitarianism from their doors; that is, he justifies acts of direct persecution against the Unitarians. One step more, and faggots will double their value in the market. Hostilities are already declared against the charities of civil life; and both X and Mr. Mostyn must know, that the spirit they display, and the advice they give, would, in numberless cases, if acted upon, set the children against the parents, and the parents against the children, and so literally make a man's foes those of his own household; not to mention a long train of similar calamities that could not fail to follow. What is it that blind and confident zeal will not do? It would be very easy to show, that 2 John 10, affords not the slightest justification for the violence which X and Mr. Mostyn invite against a whole denomination of Christians. 66 X claims for the ministers of the Gospel, the power of announcing which classes of mankind shall be saved, and which shall perish." If Mr. M. can show, by working a miracle, that he has a commission from above, I, for one, will bow to his decision; but until he can make good his pretensions by such evidence as this, I must be excused for not feeling the least concern as to any thing he may "announce" relating to the future lot of the Unitarians. If we give him credit for zeal and sincerity, it is as much, all things considered, as he can expect; while he ought not to be surprised, if some ascribe his lofty assumptions to the influence of mere arrogance and bigotry. An evangelical clergyman may think it an easy and fair way to get rid of the Unitarians, by kick ing them first out of society, and then into perdition; but the more merciful will be sure to say, it would be best to attempt their conversion by sound argument. To refer to John iii. 16, in support of what, in plain English, is a piece of mere priestcraft, may grieve the judicious, but can hardly fail to make the scoffer triumph. In my first letter to Mr. Mostyn (see last Advertiser), I offered to reply to his sermons in full, if he would lay them before the public. This I deem a sufficient answer to the complaint of X, that I did not examine the texts brought forward by Mr. M. I heard three of the sermons, upon which, as well as upon those I did not hear, I again promise him he shall have my opinion, such as it is, if he will give me the opportunity I ask. Let it be understood, I mean the sermons whole and entire; and till I am furnished with these in that state, I conceive that neither Mr. M. nor his friends can have any right to say that he is not answered. To talk of a hundred passages proving the Deity of Christ, is saying nothing, unless you give them to us in connection with everything said about them from the pulpit, by Mr. Mostyn. If the reader will refer to my Letter of Expostulation, he will see that X has misrepresented the Unitarian doctrine concerning the Unity of God, which is, that there is but one God in one person, and that this one God, is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, the unity of God, as held by X and his friends, is not identical with this; they maintain, that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, make but one God. No such doctrine as this, is taught in my letter; and it is in vain for X to say, that he holds the doctrine of that letter upon the unity of God, unless he means to avow himself to be a Unitarian. The very gross, but common charge, that Unitarians deny "the Lord that bought them,' and degrade him even below what Mahometans do," is sufficiently refuted in my Letter; and as to the assertion of X, that "it would be treason to our Lord" to admit the Christian name to Unitarians, it would evidently be useless to reason with him upon such a point, especially as it might possibly turn out, that the decision does not rest with him. X asserts boldly, and at once, that the words of our Lord, John x. 30, I and my Father are one, prove his Deity. Jesus prayed, John xvii. 22, that the disciples might be one as he and the Father were one. Does this prove the Deity of the disciples? Much more might be said upon these words, did space permit. I am, Sir, your very obedient Servant, Greenock, 12th Dec. 1840. THOS. COOPer. "THE CHRISTIAN MORALIST; OR, RELIGION & MORALS FOR THE PEOPLE."-The Editor has long wished to commence a publication, which, from its form, nature, and cheapness, might be likely to circulate widely among the masses of the community, and thereby be the means of conveying to their minds, a knowledge of the principles of uncorrupted religion and morality. He is persuaded, that a mysterious and corrupted religion on the one hand, and scepticism and infidelity on the other, owe their existence and influence mainly to the lack of information on these subjects which prevails among the people. Little comparatively has been done by the professors of Unitarian Christianity, to spread their purifying and elevating faith among the labouring portions of the community. But this great work is peculiarly their mission. Men who are wakening up-through Sunday or daily School instruction, aided by Mechanics' Institutes-to a sense of the blessings of secular and scientific knowledge, and to a keen perception of human rights, cannot be expected to succumb to religious systems, at which Reason stands aghast; and if no effective measures be taken to show them a more excellent way, what but the rejection of everything bearing the name of Religion, is likely to be the consequence? That this has, in numerous instances, been the result already, no one who looks over society can question. That vigorous and welldirected efforts should be made to attract attention to Christianity, in its purity and power, by presenting its truths, benevolence, morality, and freedom, with plainness and clearness to the view of the people-and, by giving them the opportunity of reading the evidences which substantiate and verify both Natural and Revealed Religion, lead them to the conviction, that Christian principle and morality present the only sure foundations of individual and national regeneration, appears to the Editor an imperative duty. Under this conviction, he proposes to issue a periodical, to be entitled "The Christian Moralist; or, Religion and Morals for the People." He thinks the Paper should be published once a-fortnight, containing eight pages similar in form to those of the Magazine of the "Society for the Dif fusion of Useful Knowledge;" the price, twopence each number. Such a work is, however, contingent on adequate support and approval being tendered him. He will be happy to receive communications and suggestions on the subject. He intends that the work should comprise, chiefly, articles selected from the best authors, whose works are not easily accessible to the masses, as well as of original papers. ticles of intelligence cannot be admitted, or it would be accounted a newspaper. Ar TO SUBSCRIBERS, CORRESPONDENTS, & ADVERTISERS. [IN presenting to our readers the First Number of the Fifteenth Volume of the CHRISTIAN PIONEER, we avail ourselves of the opportunity to state, that a wish having been expressed by various Correspondents, that we should devote a few lines at the close of each Number, to the notice of the reception of Communications for this Magazine, we intend doing so for the future.] Thanks to G. S. K. and R. E. B. M. for their Lists of Unitarian Congregations; as well as to the friends who have sent us the Cork Southern Reporter, Gateshead Observer, Manchester Guardian, Belfast Northern Whig, and Greenock Advertiser.-The Wiltshire Independent is particularly valuable, as containing the three most excellent and convincing Lectures of Mr. Sydney Smith on the Corn Laws. They would make an admirable pamphlet. We rejoice that he is so faithfully pursuing his mission. W. L.-E. K. N.-E. K.-E. R.-J. G.-A. M. W.-W. A.E. H. H.-C. H. C. on Mystery versus Mystery.-T. B.-A Lover of Truth and Charity,-are gratefully acknowledged. R. J.'s request shall be attended to. The first part of "Lines on War," are fully to our mind; we shall be glad to receive the concluding portion.-The suggestions of G. D. are excellent.-" A Harvest Hymn," and "Autumn Musings," reached us too late for the season; but we hope yet to use them, and shall be glad, at all seasons, to hear from their respective authors. "Both Sides of a Question," have not reached us; but "Conversations and Tales illustrative of Christian Faith and Christian Practice," have; as also, "Reasons why true Christians should not observe Christmas Day;" and likewise, various publications for Review. We have to warn our distant friends against Impostors, who, under pretence of having belonged to Unitarian Congregations, or of knowing Unitarian Ministers in various towns, have been fraudulently obtaining pecuniary assistance in different quarters. Thomson, and Hadlow, have been the cognomens employed in certain cases. It would be an excellent plan, were Unitarian Ministers, on the removal of members of their Congregations to other parts of the Kingdom, to give the parties certificates of having attended Unitarian worship under their ministry, as well as of their being deserving characters. Parties now, after ascertaining the name of a Minister in a particular locality, or those of a few of his hearers, go about levying "Black Mail," wherever they can find opportunity. Communications are requested (by post) addressed, Rev. George Harris, Glasgow; or, with books for review, may be sent to Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. Stationers' Court, London, who will forward them to the Editor on the 1st of each month. Advertisements will be inserted on the following terms, and are earnestly requested: Five Lines and under, Ten Lines and above Five, £0 4 0 0 6 0 0 7 6 0 12 0 £0 12 0 110 |