subscribers, found himself circumscribed when he came towards the close of the sacred vo Death of Mrs. Littlewood. XVI. ligion. XVIII. Gouge's Sure Way of Thriving, abridged. XIX. Watson on Christian Contentment, abridged. XX. Hints on the Education of Children, particularly the Children of the Poor. 1806. 4s. XXI. The Holiness which becometh the House of God: a Sermon. 1808. XXII. The important Journey from this World to the next: a Sermon, 1810. It has passed through many editions. XXIII. Sub tailment of the notes and aspirations in some of the minor epistles is less to be regretted, when we consider the valuable Expositions on the New Testament exclusively, on a similar plan, which have been published by many eminent divines, particularly those by the judicious Dr. Guyse, and the pious and learned Dr. Doddridge.", stance of his last Sermon, Feb. S ALTERS' HALL 26, 1816, taken from his own Notes, and subjoined to this Publication. XXIV. The Devotional Family Bible, with Notes and Illustrations, partly original, and partly selected from the most approved Expositors, ancient and modern, and a Devotional Exercise to each Chapter. In two very handsome volumes, royal 4to. price £5 5s. boards; or superbly printed on super-royal paper, price £8. 1812. "The want of marginal references has been noticed by some as a deficiency. Before the work was put to the press, the question was seriously agitated, whether they should be subjoined to the text or not; but the conclusion was, that as the most important parallel passages were referred to in the notes, the rest might, without impropriety, be omitted. The addition they would have made to the size and expense of the volumes was another important consideration, as it was the earnest wish of the writer that the book might be accessible to families in general, and in particular to those in the lower walks of life, to whom his labours had been useful."The author, from a pledge to the CONFERENCE. THE Confusion which had prevailed in the Conference at Salters' Hall, and the acrimony which their differences had produced, were soon discoverable in the jarring and discordant statements which were published in the newspapers by the two parties. There is no doubt that both sides gave their own views of the affair, without any wilful misrepresentation; but it was not to be expected that either of these could satisfy the other in the correctness of the account': the consequence was, that many angry pamphlets were published on both sides, and a fifteen years' controversy upon the subject ensued, not conducted with the best of tempers, though the respective authors were eminent and excellent ministers of Christ. Having no desire to revive the recollection of those things, which doubtless were considered as matters for lamentation by all the godly of the land, I proceed to trace the effects which have resulted, in destroying the glory of the Presbyterian denomination. The reader will perceive, by looking over the lists of names, how large a proportion of the non-subscribers were of the Presbyterian denomination. These too were ministers, with very few exceptions, of the highest character for piety, talents, orthodoxy, and usefulness. Of many of them it may be said, that "their praise is in all the churches" they were not only "the messengers of the churches, but the glory of Christ." In my opinion, however, they erred in supposing, that if they adopted human phrases, at the request of their brethren, in explaining their sentiments upon scriptural doctrines, it would be a violation of their Christian liberty. They acknowledged that the doctrines of the Trinity, and of the divinity of the Son of God, were doctrines of the scriptures; but they supposed that nothing further was necessary than an appeal to the scriptures themselves, for settling any dispute which might arise, as to the meaning and design of the scriptures which related to those sublime and mysterious doctrinės. They say, "We did not think fit to subscribe, because we thought no sufficient reasons were offered for our subscribing. We were pressed to it, that we might clear ourselves from suspicions of Arianism. But, as we know no just grounds of suspicion, much less of any charge against us, we thought it would ill become us so far to indulge an unreasonable jealousy, as to take a step of this nature for removing it; especially since doing so would have been inconsistent with one of our Advices, which we thought neces sary to be given, and which was founded upon an apostolical rule. And we see no end of such jealousies; for, if we may be suspected of Arianism, without having taught any thing like it, and though we have taken all proper occasions to offer our reasons against it, and that not only from the pulpit, but some of us from the press; we say, if we must be suspected, merely because we would not subscribe what our brethren would have us; why may we not be suspected of hypocrisy after we have done it? and then pass in the world for Arians, and cheats into the bargain. We never yet. thought jealousy and suspicion to be such good-natured things as to be satisfied with a few good words."-" Though we would not charge our brethren that required our subscription, with a design which any of them do disclaim, yet to us it appeared, and does still appear, to have the nature of imposition; which has been the great engine of division among Christians from the beginning, and has done unspeakable mischief to the Christian church." On the other hand it was said, "The great occasion of the subscription is to bear our testimony against the growing error of the present day, which introduces a new doctrine of the sacred Trinity, and to distinguish ourselves from those who are gone into it. They will call the Son, God; and some of them the Holy Ghost, God; preach for the true and proper Divinity of the one and the other; that is, such a Divinity as they will call true and proper, without saying what it is; profess to believe in the Son, and believe in the Holy Ghost, and highly to love and to honour the one and the other, and make so lemn appeals to God, and protestations to men, of their sincerity in all this. And what is all this for? What need of so much ado? Why, only to avoid declaring that the doctrine expressed in those words of the Catechism, namely, that there are three Persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; is what they believe to be the doctrine of the Holy Trinity revealed in the scriptures." They seem to have forgotten, that peace without righteousness is no peace:" and that charity without principle is not love. "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, and then peaceable;" and "the love of God which is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost," can only approve of those as Christian brethren who give evidence by their subjection to the authority of the word of God, that they "love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." The consequence of being governed by such gross misnomers as peace and charity, falsely so called, has been productive of the most dreadful consequences to the cause of pure and undefiled religion. Another standard than that of an agreement in sub The reader will bear in mind, as an argument in favour of the subscribing ministers, that Arianism was becoming very prevalent in the Church of England; and that Mr. Pierce, of Exeter, while he avowed that "Christ and the Father were one," because it was so said in the scriptures, had re-jection to the authority of Jesus fused expressly to acknowledge Christ, as the only head and lawthat "the Son was one God with giver in his church, has been inthe Father," becaase it was not troduced; and charity, and canso expressed in the scriptures. dour, and indifference, have been Those ministers, therefore, who substituted, instead of decision, wished, by the Advices which inflexibility, and zeal, which were were to be sent to Exeter, to all manifested by the apostles check the growth of the Arian Barnabas and Paul, towards the heresy, would necessarily be de-false brethren who had crept into sirous that their own sentiments the church of Antioch. To should be unequivocally express-whom," says the apostle, "we ed upon a subject so vitally im-gave place by subjection; no, portant in the Christian religion; not for an hour, that the truth of and seeing that, in order to do the gospel might continue with this, it was absolutely necessary you." that some human explication should be required; they thought that nothing could be more unexceptionable than an Article which they had all subscribed, and answers to questions which they all taught to their children. I have intimated in a former part of this account, that the hon-subscribers manifested great laxity of principle, and were evidently imposed upon by the specious sounds of peace and charity. A very sensible and correct writer has so well expressed my sentiments upon the subject of the tendency of this spirit manifested by the non-subscribers, that I transcribe the following from the Appendix to his "History of Dissenting Churches, &c. in London ;" printed 1814.વર્ડ That which contributed most to the decline of the Dissenting * Mr. Walter Wilson. of many from the doctrines of the gospel. This began to take place immediately after the Salters' Hall Controversy, and continued to make rapid strides among the Presbyterians, till it has at length landed them in a region somewhat below Socinianism. 66 interest, was the open departure | fitness of things; and the wisdom of the Almighty being brought down to a level with human comprehension, their system began to be applauded even by infidels themselves. All the attributes of Deity were so absorbed in his benevolence, that faith became an unmeaning sound, and those who ventured to oppose truth to their favourite divinity, were im+ mediately considered as narrow. minded bigots. From HighArianism, there was a gradual advance, step by step, to the lowest state of Socinianism; and in our own day the system has been still farther purified, and rendered less objectionable to unbelievers. Under the specious pretence of rescuing Christianity from the corrupt glosses of Christians, the most bare-faced attacks have been made upon every thing that is peculiar to the system. The result of a departure from the doctrines of the gospel, has been the declension of the Presbyterian interest, and in many places its total extinction. Indeed the name is now retained only by a few Arian congregations, which scarcely exist, and are hastening to a dissolution. Those Dissenters who have embraced the Socinian scheme, now appropriate to themselves the name of Unitarians, from their belief in the Unity of God; but as other Christians are equally strenuous for that doctrine, the term ought not to be applied to them exclusively." A great majority of the ejected ministers were attached to the Presbyterian discipline, and the churches they founded were arranged under that denomination; but they maintained a friendly correspondence with their Congregational brethren, until the fatal disputes concerning subscription effectually divided them. From that time the Presbyterians have continued to decline in a progressive manner, till their congregations have been ruined, and their meeting-houses shut up. The progress of error was gradual. It first began with the convenient stalking-horse, charity, which was as success fully applied to screen those who departed from the doctrines of the gospel, as it is in the present day to cover a defection from the distinguishing features of nonconformity. As liberality grew in fashion, the divines of the new school began to preach up the innocency of mental error; and the celebrated lines of Pope were appealed to with as much confidence as any one would quote a text of scripture to support a doctrine. Considerable progress being now made towards undermining the necessity of revelation, it is no wonder that human nature became exalted, and huge volumes were written to delineate the beauties of natural religion. This prepared the way for rejecting those doctrines of revela-bly ere this have been extinct, tion which were supposed to mi- had they not supported their militate against the reason and the nisters by funds appropriated for VOL. XI.. The above remarks of Mr. Wil son will apply with equal force to the General Baptist denomination. Their congregations are very few, and are reduced to the lowest ebb. They would proba R the support of evangelical doctrines. The "New Connection" of the General Baptists are all Trinitarians, as are the whole body of Particular Baptists, and the still larger class of Independents; to which may be added the Methodists of both descriptions. It is deeply affecting, in reading over the names of Presbyterian ministers, a century ago, who were indeed the glory of the land, to perceive that they unconsciously introduced principles which have "eaten like a gangrene," till the congregations over which they presided have wasted to a shadow, and bear the marks of a disease which will speedily terminate in death. "How is the gold become dim; how is the fine gold changed!" That such an example may not be lost upon the orthodox Protestant Dissenters of the present day, and that it may lead them to " contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints," is the fervent prayer of EDUCATION OF IOTA. MINISTERS' CHILDREN. promoting the spiritual and everlasting interests of men. If they have the disinterestedness to make such personal sacrifices, and are supported under them by the consciousness of the importance of the object they are promoting, and the future recompense they have in prospect, it is surely, matter of regret, that their children, who are certainly as dear to them as other children are to their parents, should be permanently injured by their disinterestedness. But unless some measure be adopted for the education of their children, this must inevitably be the case. Impressed with this consideration, some very worthy men, who have kept respectable seminaries, have admitted the children of dissenting ministers among their friends, on very reduced terms. This, however, can furnish but a very partial remedy for the evil, and is besides effected at a greater sacrifice on the part of the individuals whose practice it is, than the mind of the generous public would feel easy in wishing them to make. I am glad the subject is brought forward to the notice of the public in your valuable Magazine, and I hope it will meet with the attention it deserves. Some of your correspondents will, I trust, employ themselves in digesting a plan, pointing out the kind and degree of education desired, as well as the best means of procuring it-either by a fund, which may defray the expense of the education of such children, at To the Editors of the Baptist Magazine. THE paper in your Magazine for December, on the Education of the Children of Ministers, is certainly calculated to excite very general attention, and to make its way to the hearts of all who properly appreciate the labours of those men, who deprive them-approved seminaries already estaselves. of opportunities of acquir- blished, or by a separate estaing, if not wealth, yet such a blishment. competency, as may enable them to give their children a suitable education, and submit to the privations attendant upon a very slender income, for the sake of The coincidence referred to in the note is certainly of a very encouraging nature, and leads me to remark, that pious and respectable female, resident in |