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    as we justly deem the knowledge of Christ , point « ut to us the true mode of acting towards them , and the true means of converting them . We have slowly learnt the obvious lesson of treating with affection and courtesy even those who bear with us the Christian name . Let us , by a reasonable and necessary extension of the same principle , learn to

    cultivate love towards all who worship with us the same God , and unite in celebratiug the gift of Divine Revelation * We shall find that truth will not suffer , and that virtue will be an innuite gainer , by this proceeding ; and the subsequent experience of mankind may perhaps convince us , that the scoffer at religion will be the more easily conciliated ., and the worshiper of many gods more likely to

    be reformed , by a truly Christian deportment , and by acts of genuine affectionthat the faith which worketh by love will be the faith that will be triumphant —that the pure knowledge of the gospel will be widely diffused throughout the body , once animated by humane , charitable , and lovely feelings , till the great end of Christianity be answered in the complete , and indissoluble union of the whole family of God .

    Art . IV . —Public Principle essential to the Excellence of Private Character : a Sermon on occasion of the Death of Mr . B . Flower . By W . J . Fox . The Providence of God in the

    Progress of Religious Liberty : a Sermon , preached at Finsbury Unitarian Chapel , Sunday , May 17 , on occasion of the Passing- of the Catholic Relief Bill , and the Anniversary of the Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts . By W . J . Fox . R . Hunter . 1829 .

    Although one of these Sermons owes its origin to private calamity , and the other to au occasion for public rejoicing , there is a close affinity in the topics of which they treat ; a circumstance which must be ascribed to the fact that the character of Mr . Flower

    was , as is well known , so strongly marked by his love of civil and religious liberty , as to render an attempt to der velop the bearings of that principle upon moral qualities and social duties the most appropriate tribute which could be Nd to his memory . This the author i ? 8 afcordingl y done . The subject of we discourse is illustrated in the character of the individual 9 and public

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    principle , having been distinguished from , dormant conviction , public prejudice , and party spirit , is shewn essential to excellence , as excellence is established by the tests of human nature , social usefulness , personal enjoyment , Christian precept , the spirit of the gospel , pure devotion , and the occupations and enjoyments of a future state .

    The other Sermon aims at shewiug why , as Christians , we should acknowledge and bless Divine Providence ia the progress of religious liberty generally , and especially in the great and glorious events which have recently occurred . " A great principle has thus been solemnly recognized , and extensively adopted , in our legislation . Religious Liberty is now the law of the land . Whatever of exclusion and

    inequality may remain , is the exception , uot the rule . That is accomplished for which , as Englishmen , we have sent petitions to our lawgivers ; for which , as Christians , we have offered prayers to our God . It would be wroug for such an event to pass unnoticed . It would be far more wrong to make it an occasion of party triumph , of insult , taunt , or

    irritation . If we rejoice , it is as children of God and brethren of mankind , who honestly believe that ouv heavenly Father has thus given us a token of his love , and not us merely , but our brethren iu the gospel , of whatever mode of faith ; our brethren in country , to the utmost boundaries of this mighty empire ; our brethren in the yet more

    comprehensive bonds of a common nature ; for the prosperity and glory of Britain have a prompt and powerful action upon the well-being of humanity . " The extent of the blessing is displayed in the fact , that the advance Of Religious Liberty is that of a Christian principle , of public right , of national prosperity , of social hariHony , of religious candour , theological truth , and the Christian spirit . We give two extracts from each

    sermon : " Public principle is essential to the excellence of private character if we try it by the test of human nature . Without it that nature is not properly developed . The instincts and tendencies of our constitution are social . In public good our faculties have their noblest object . When is reason more exalted than when

    deliberating on man ' s condition and capacity , contrasting the narrowness of the one with the immensity of the , other , and devising the means by which they may become commensurate , and the golden urn of the human soul be filled

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    Critical Notices . &JL

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    2 R 2

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1829, page 571, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2575/page/51/