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    places Unitarian congregations contain a small number of persons either sceptical , or denying the divine origin and authority of Christianity : but before we feel any shame at this fact , or admit the justice of any unfavourable inferences from it , we must inquire , first , why such persons desire to join our societies ; secondly , what is implied on our part in receiving them as fellow-worshipers ; and , thirdly , what are the actual , or what will be the

    probable , effects of the union so far as it exists . Now , as to the first point , it is plain that no one will attend on Unitarian services from mere worldly motives , because the most open opposition to all religion is not more unpopular—is , indeed , by many even less severely condemned , than the testimony against its corruptions which is borne by Unitarians . Those who in rejecting revelation despise all religion , either frequent no place of worship , or go to the Established Church , from motives of interest or fashion . Those , on

    the contrary , who believe in the existence , perfections , and government of God , in the necessity of virtue to human happiness , and in a future retributory state—who consequently desire to pay public homage to God , and to listen to moral instructions and exhortations—if from any cause they find it not convenient to have services on their own principles , will , of course , wish to attend where they hear most of what they approve , and least of what they disapprove , and will thus be naturally led to Unitarian places of

    worship . They can have no motive for appearing there but what is creditable to themselves—the desire of shewing respect for practical religion , and in the purest form which circumstances admit of paying their social homage to the God of Nature and of Providence . If , as many do , though in our judgment inconsistently with the rejection of his divine authority , they regard the morality taught by Christ as most excellent , and his character as deserving of respect , they will hear in a Unitarian service nothing to disgust them ,

    though a good deal which they cannot admit as true , and their coming can be taken only as a testimony of their desire to cultivate pious affections , and to promote their moral improvement . As no confession of faith is required , they are guilty of no insincerity , and cannot be accused of making any false professions—to which , indeed , no possible inducement is held out . What , then , let us next inquire , is implied on the part of Unitarian Christians in receiving as fellow-worshipers those who do not believe in the divine

    mission of him who is acknowledged as their Lord and Saviour ? And here it is important to observe , that the English Presbyterian congregations , which form the great majority of those now entertaining Unitarian sentiments , in consequence at first of the impossibility of practically carrying into effect , in their circumstances , the mode of church government which they approved , and afterwards of a growing attachment to religious liberty , and jealousy of all interferences with it , have long been entirely witJtcnU any attempt at a

    church constitution or discipline . A minister of the general religious sentiments of the majority of the people , and who is believed to possess suitable qualifications , is chosen , who , studying the Scriptures freely for himself is to teach what he believes to be Gospel truth . All who desire to hear his instructions , constitute the congregation . There is no creed ; no man is called in question by his brethren respecting his faith ; the minister does not feel

    himself justified in going beyond friendly advice and such discussion aa may seem to him likely to be useful . The ordinances of religion are closed against no one who satisfies his own conscience as to the propriety of his partaking in them , and no one is subjected to unpleasant proceedings if he think it right to absent himself from any of them ; and thus , in fact , ^ until new regulations are made for the purpose , it is not in the power of a con-

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    Dr , «/ . P . Smith's Svripture Testimony to the Messiah . 11

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1831, page 11, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2593/page/11/