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    of the existing strife . On the 3 d of May last , previous to the annual can see ratios of the Students in Theolog'y , th «? y exacted a written promise from each caudidate for the ministry , that he would abstain in his sermons , whilst he should preach in anychurch Avithin the Canton of Geneva , from touching—1 st . On the manner in wbich

    the Divine nature was united to the person of Jesus Christ . —2 d . On original sin . — 3 d . On the manner in which grace rfperates , or , on the efficacy of grace . —4 th . Upon predestination . One young * man who refused to subscribe to this promise , was denied admission to the sacred office , and a minister , who likewise refused to abide by it , was forbidden again to appear in the

    pulpit . Upon this , voiid la guerre ouv * rte ; these two young- men and their party have found a powerful supporter in an English gentleman here , a Mr . Drummond , with whom they are said to be employed in preparing for the press another French edition of the Bible , free from the errors of that of 1805 , and whose house is said to be the rendezvous for all the true

    believers . The clergy and their adherents accuse Mr . J > . of inflaming people ' s heads her * , by other arts and other means than reasoning- ; and rumour even says , that they were trying their iuflueuce with the magistrates , to obtain an order that this Englishman should withdraw from the territory of Genera . It is probable no such proceeding was seriously contemplated , for it would have been too bold an attack on a

    British subject 5 but if it had taken place , it would have been a curious illustration af the change of opinion within half a century , far little more time has elapsed since Rousseau was driven out from hence an 4 his books burnt , for attacking those religious principles and that creed , which the clergy of the present day are accused of having forsaken .- —Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser ^ Thursday , October 2 , 1817 . Extract of a Letter from Geneva , Sept . 26 . At a time when Bible and Missionary Societies are extending themselves on all si&es , a » d by their exertions communicating ' the knowledge of the Gospel to the l ^ eathen

    world , it will doubtless surprise and grieve yem * roaders ^ ta be informed of the great departure from the doctrines of Christianity vrfcicfr prevails in the Church of Geneva ;—« -a church so interesting to . every Protestant , as having * been the cradle of the

    Reformation . Thm proofs ok * a- departure from the true faitH is tine Church of Geneva , are derived , not Acom aneevtaiii documents o _ r from tike religion * opinions of individual members of it » body , but from reeeal public acts of tke romfttttiy e £ ft * pastors .

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    1 . The ancteut catechism of Gen eva taught expressly the doctrine of the Divi . nity of Jesus Christ . This Catechism was withdrawn from the Church some years ag-o and its place has recently been supplied by another Catechism , which maintains a g-uarded silence with respect to the Divinity of our Lord .

    2 . In 1805 the company of pastors introduced into the Churches of Geneva a new version of the Bible , in the publication of which they not only omitted the Confession of Faith of the Reformed Churches of France and Geneva , which had been

    prefixed to all their former Bibles , but made also many very important alterations in the translation itself ; particularly in parts relating . to the Divinity of Christ , to Original Sin , and to the Personality and Offices of the Holy Ghost . This version is still used in their Churches .

    3 . These acts were followed by another of a still less equivocal character , by which the pastors of Geneva endeavoured , as far as they were able , utterly to exclude frona their churches the peculiar doctrines of

    Christianity . By a rule of their company , passed by them so recently as May 3 , 1817 , all candidates for holy orders are required solemnly to promise , that they will abstain from preaching in the Churches of the Canton of Geneva on the following

    subjects : — 1 . On the manner in which the Divine nature is united to the Person of Jesus Christ . 2 . On Original Sin . 3 . On the manner in which Grace operates , or on . Efficacious Grace . 4 . On Predestination .

    This rule has been already twice acted upon , —a candidate has been refused ordination , and a minister prohibited from preaching , for objecting 1 to subscribe to it . These acts , authorized by a great majority ef the company of pastors , leave no room for the exercise af that charity , u which thinketh do evil ; ' * they render it but too evident that the present Church cf Geneva has essentially departed from the orthodox doctrines of its predecessors . It should he remembered that Geneva is an university , that youth from different parts of Europe , and particularly from the Reformed Chureh af France , are sent here to be insinritetrd in theology , and that the

    Professor * arc chiefly , if not exclusively , chosen from the company of pastors . Of this company , consisting of twenty-five p « r-& < m » 8 , not more than five hold the orthodox faith . The remainder unile in opposing it . The consequence of thi * state of the Churcb at Geneva on the minds of the students i »» J be easily eanoeived j by far the greater number of them have imbibed the doetrij * of their in « in * etoi *> by whose , mean * tfce

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    6 S& Intelligence . *~ Unitariaaii $ m + at Geneva ,

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1817, page 632, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2469/page/60/