possibility of any men, " in their inmost souls," believing the monstrosity. Yet, with the facts of the existence of the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Articles of the Church of England, and the Creed of Rome, there is no alternative but to credit the possibility of this horrid belief, in the "inmost souls" of thousands, who have subscribed, and who uphold these documents, or else to maintain that the preachers and members of the churches of which these creeds are the symbols, are hypocrites and knaves. Is not this belief the main reliance and spring of action by which subscriptions to missions to the heathen are gathered? It is not the education, civilization, and subsequent Christian enlightenment of idolatrous millions which is commonly insisted on, but the plucking of souls from perdition, the saving of brands from the burning, which, in lieu or in failure of these efforts of missionary enterprize, infallibly await the Hindoo, and the African, the South Sea Islander, or the dweller amidst polar snows. If there be no such belief in men's "inmost souls," why agitate the subject? It is its prevalence which justifies the preacher in its selection, on this occasion, and which renders his powerful Christian remonstrance so well-timed and appropriate. 6 Correctly and truly is it said by Mr Gaskell,—" It seems to me utterly vain to expect that there can be any thing like a fair comparison of opinion, a calm and dispassionate weighing of reasons, while one of the parties believes that his peculiar views make him a favourite of heaven, and every time he looks the other in the face, sees branded on his brow, a child of hell.' Protestant principles may be professed, but the sting of Popery will remain. In words, infallibility' may be disclaimed, but, in reality, it will be assumed. No matter how long, and patiently, and earnestly we may have sought for the truth-no matter how humbly and reverently we may have sat and listened at the Master's feet-no matter how ardently our souls may have yearned to be filled with his spirit, and conformed to his likeness, we shall have our fellow-disciples, instead of calmly reasoning with us on the ground of equality, angrily mounting into the judgment-seat to denounce us as no Christians, and ever ready to treat us as a kind of outcasts from the religious world, to whom no sympathy is to be shown, and with whom no terms are to be kept.' MISCELLANIES. SCOTTISH CHRISTIAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION, AND SETTLEMENT OF REV. JOHN BOUCHER AT GLASGOW.-The Rev. John Boucher of Moneyrea, County Down, having completed his preparatory studies for the Christian ministry, at the Belfast Royal Institution, and received his testimonials as a licentiate of the Bangor Presbytery, had preached for some months at Stockport, during the illness of the Rev. W. Smith, supplying also occasionally the pulpits of other ministers in England. Invited as a candidate by the Glasgow congregation, after a residence of many weeks in that city, Mr Boucher received a unanimous call to become their pastor. The invitation being accepted, it was considered advisable to have special religious services on his settlement, and the Commitee of the Scottish Christian Unitarian Association having previously resolved to hold its anniversary in Glasgow, leaving it to the friends there to fix the most suitable time for its celebration, the meetings were appointed for Sunday and Monday, November 10 and 11. Sunday was excessively wet, most unfavourable in every respect to the attendance of friends or strangers from city or country. These obstacles were overcome by the interest excited, and friends were present from Patna, Greenock, Paisley, Renfrew, Dumbarton, Bonhill, Falkirk, Tillicoultry, Edinburgh, &c. The audience in the morning was upwards of 300. The Rev. George Harris conducted the introductory services, with special reference in Scripture selections and prayer, to the important and solemn occasions of assembling. The sermon was preached by the Rev. W. H. Doherty, of Comber, county Down; it was founded on Micah, vi. 6-8, and was an admirable exposition of the true service of Almighty God; its contradistinction from ceremonial and sacrificial worship; its intelligibility, truthfulness, and practical character; and made a deep impression on the hearers. In the afternoon, more than 600 people assembled. Mr Doherty read the Scriptures, and prayed, and Mr Harris preached, from Acts xxiv. 14-16. The object of the discourse was to show the true meaning of Heresy, or Sect; in its primary and genuine signification, to vindicate it as essential to the dissemination of truth and right-the evils that had accrued from it being violations of the principle, not necessary adjuncts to it, whilst the blessings that had flowed from union in the prosecution of religious and moral purposes were to be ascribed to its rational and benevolent operation and power. Having pointed out the great principles of the Heresy, or Sect, in which the apostle gloried, and shown their identification with those maintained by Christian Unitarians, Mr Harris thus proceeded ; "It was a conviction of the truth and divinity of these principles, and their paramount moral importance, that induced a few individuals of this city, half a century ago, to unite together in their vindication and dissemination, and in their self application to the government of their thoughts and actions. The love of Christ constrained them to separate from other churches, and after the way which they called heresy, thus to worship the God of their fathers. Had not that love worked powerfully in their hearts, they might have contented themselves, as numbers then did, as too many do still, with the secret and isolated enjoyment of their own thoughts, and avoiding toil, and obloquy, and sacrifice, have left the world to wander as it listed, in the mazes of error and superstition. Exercising themselves to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men," they could not act so dishonourably and falsely. The righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit,' to which they had themselves attained, they, in the yearnings of Christian benevolence, were anxious that others should participate. They knew and believed that Scripture, 'no one liveth to himself;' they remembered the golden rule, ' as ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them likewise.' The charter of Christian privilege they had not studied vainly; ‘freely ye have received, freely give.' In the spirit of these moral principles and truths they acted; and in the same spirit others gathered round the banner of Christian truth, freedom, and charity, which they unfurled. "To advance the self-same principles with greater certainty and power, and influence, were these walls reared, and that mainly through the generous contributions of distant brethren in the South, who, valuing the unsearchable riches of Christ's holy Gospel, were desirous that these should supplant the beggarly elements of a vindictive and secularized theology. "Well do I recollect the morning of the opening of this House of Prayer, the first in Scotland, consecrated to the sole worship of the One and only God, even the Father, in the name and discipleship of Christ Jesus. The occasion, and the time,* of our present meeting, call up to vivid re* The chapel at Glasgow was opened by the Rev. James Yates, membrance, as if of yesterday, the impressive and affecting services of that hour. From the same passage of Holy Writ from which I have been addressing you, our faithful and devoted friend, the then pastor of this society, delineated the same great and cardinal truths which I have this day reiterated and enforced on your attention. Many were the holy hopes of improvement, and harmony, consolation, and happiness, and successful effort, indulged in that hour's service, by the little, but faithful flock, who, in obedience to the solemn convictions of truth and duty, on that day gathered around this altar of the Lord. There be few, I fear, present now who met together then. In the two and thirty years, which this week completes, a generation has been swept to the silent tomb. Pregnant with change has been the intervening period. Health, and sickness, sorrow, and joy, blessing, and bereavement, have probably been the portion of every family, of every individual I am now addressing. To some, I am glad to know, blessings have been graciously multiplied, and the parental bosom has rejoiced in the increase of family, or in looking on their children, remembering their Creator in the days of their youth, and presenting the bright promise of maturity of goodness. Others have been called to mourn over blighted hopes, and the breaking up of hallowed domestic ties, bereavements, which, for a season, caused the sufferers to refuse even to be comforted. Yes, in almost every family circle ' instead of the fathers, are the children.' Many souls their race have run, Never more to meet us here. But how little, none can know. "Yet, blessed be God, no disciple of Jesus is ever called to sorrow as without hope. The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering, and the tribulations by which we may have been, or may still be afflicted, are doubtless designed for wise and merciful purposes; to test our fidelity to principle, to prove our consistency of character, to purify our souls, to lead us in the performance of duty, however arduous and self-sacrificing, to unswerving trustfulness in our Father's love, to unwavering belief, M. A. on Sunday, November 15. 1812. One hundred and thirtythree persons were present at the morning worship. The sermon on the "Grounds of Unitarian Dissent," was published. Two editions were sold. that the issues cannot but be wise, and good, and glorious. The hope which sustained, even in the death-struggle, the friends we honoured, which prompted them to cast their care on God, that hope, unfading, undying, is ours also, to stimulate us to untiring imitation of their virtues, that we may be one with their spirit of devotedness, and piety, as they were one, we trust, with their Master and Leader Jesus the Son of God, as Jesus is one with the Infinite and all-holy Father. "With feelings of veneration, trustfulness, love, hope, we this day renew the great work of Christian reformation, begun here by our predecessors. In the prosecution of this work, we will know nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. He is our Master, our sole Master in matters of religion, in things pertaining to salvation, the kingdom of God. The Infinite One, whom Jesus has revealed to our souls is our Father, and all we are brethren, coheirs with Christ Jesus of an everlasting inheritance, bound to unceasing obedience to his commandments through the power of that resurrection by which life and immortality have been brought to light." After closing his discourse, with exhortations to firmness, union, consistency, fervour in the maintenance and practical application of the principles of Christian truth and goodness, Mr Harris delivered a charge to Minister and People, illustrative of their respective obligations, their several privileges, and opportunities of Christian usefulness; and concluded the lengthened service by imploring the Divine blessing. In the evening, Mr Boucher introduced the worship, and Mr Doherty again preached from the words " For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," 2 Cor. iv. 6. Mr Doherty beautifully and powerfully illustrated the excellency of the knowledge of Christ; proving from the past history of man, the moral necessity of Divine revelation, and clearly showing that its glory, loveliness, and truth, centred in Jesus the Christ of God. He was listened to with profound attention and delight by an auditory about as numerous as that of the afternoon. The services throughout the day were productive of most pleasurable feelings; all were in unison, and all spoke of hope, consolation, truth, virtue, peace, and heaven. The sympathies of the audience were manifestly at one with those of the preachers; thoughtful, chastened joy was on every countenance |