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    points in discussion—the truth and importance of Christianity , and the general state of unbelievers , I earnestly recommend , as a proof of my good will , to Candidus , on parting , to his most serious attention . B . FLOWER .

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    have judged that such a discourse would be useful to their neigh bours with whom they could not avoid beir ^ involved in controversy on the sub ject . In such circumstances , I should think it wrong to decline preaching on the existence and influence of tht Devil .

    I know not whether I rightly understand your correspondent ' question , " Is the doctrine of the Nev Testament sufficiently clear to warrant a Missionary in decidin g upon it ? " I apprehend a Missionary is ^ capable of deciding upon it as anv

    other person ; provided he takes equal pains in examining it . I further think that the New Testament fully warrants us to decide against the popular notions of the Devil and his

    supposed influence . I have not leisure now to go into the inquiry , whether it be" probable , that our Lord and his apostles , believed , in some degree , in some sort of evil spirit : " I think your correspondent will hardly say that it

    is at all probable , that either our Lord or his apostles believed any thing like the notions now maintained respecting the Devil and his influence on the human mind : which is tlie

    only point in question . If he will give himself the trouble to read my Essay on the subject , a new edition of which was published last year , he will fully know what I think our

    Lord and his apostles taught respect ing it . To your correspondent ' s question , " Does not the statement of such a subject shock and terrify serious Chris tians , holding the vulgar faith , and close their ears against a Missionary ?"

    I reply , this depends on the time and manner of giving the statement . As to the time I have sufficiently explained myself , and the statem may be given in a manner that will

    not be offensive even to delicate ears , nor alarming to any wlio will not be alarmed at whatever opposes their prejudices in favour of pop ular notions . So far as my experience go& > I have not witnessed the effect whiclj your correspondent apprehends : have seen no evil effects produced dv my preaching on the subject ; but have witnessed the contrary . 1 rea ' ily admit , that this subject may ^ introduced unseasonably , or sta injudiciously , or in coarse aridi one ^ sive langage , produced the bad e

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    424 Mr . Wright on the Objection to one of his Sermon-topics .

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    Your correspondent mentions his serious doubts with regard to th 6 pro - priety of a Missionary making " the existence and influence of the Devil a topic of popular preaching . ' * I apprehend the propriety or impropriety will depend upon circumstances . On

    Sir , June SO , 1815 . THE remarks of A Subscriber to the Fund , ( p . 289 ) would have been noticed by me sooner , had not travelling and preaching occupied my time so fully as to leave no leisure for writing .

    this , and some other points , I have never preached in places where the leading doctrines we maintain were not already received and professed , and seldom indeed but at the request of sensible and pious friends . In breaking up new ground , and till an

    Unitarian church has been planted , I have thought it right to confine myself to the first principles of the Unitarian , which I regard as the first principles of the true evangelical doctrine ; and to insist on these theoretically , experimentally , and practically . When this has been done with good effect ,

    1 have not thought any topic which has a material bearing on the character and government of God , and on the moral system , improper to be made the subject of a discourse ; especially when expressly called for . That the popular notions concerning an invisible evil being , and his in-Huence on the minds of men , has such

    jl bearing , I think your correspondent will admit . They are the ground of much vile superstition , and from them men derive many excuses for their improper spirit and conduct . Many who have been convinced that such notions cannot be reconciled

    with what the scriptures clearly teach concerning God and his government , have still felt great difficulty in rejecting them without seeming to reject what some places of scripture appeared to them to countenance ; hence they have been desirous of hearing a discourse , illustrative of such parts of scripture , and

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1815, page 424, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1762/page/24/