vites." This passage wants no com- priest poured forth the blood of the ment; it is upon the face of it a com- passover, and sprinkled it before the plete refutation of every thing it was altar; or that he offered it together intended to prove.

With equal pro- with the fat and entrails upon the altar, priety might ihe Doctor have referred or that they were burnt upon

the altar. to every one of the Levitical sacrifices On the contrary, the terms corban, as he has done to that of the burut- high-priest, altar, entrails, pouring offeriogs, and with equal truth he forth, sprinkling before the altar, offermight have affirmed of each of them ing, or burning upon the altar, never that what is said concerning them is any one of them in any instance occur applicable also to the feast of the in the accounts we have, either of the passover.

institution, or of the celebration of the The last passage Dr. Magee refers passover. The term fat is ouce mento, (2 Chron. xxxv. 11,) we have al. tioved, not as to be offered, or burnt ready considered.

upon the altar, but as to be eaten in Upon these passages I shall make the vight in which the passover was only one further observation, namely, slain, and not to be suffered to remain that the Doctor refers to them without until the morning; for so it must have quoting the words: suchi a quotation been eaten, if, according to the comwould have been fatal to the whole mand of Moses, the whole of the lamb of bis argument. It was to be pre- was 10 be eaten that night, and nothing sumed that his readers would suppose of it to be left till the morning. How that the word of a dignitary of the then could Dr. Magee venture to make Church was to be depended on as to assertions so palpably false, and their the contents of the passages, without falsehood of so easy detection !!! We the trouble of an examination; in that appeal to all the passages to which he case the Doctor would have been safe; has referred, and affirm that they do an examination would have led to de- not contain any thing in them to prove tection, and the pious fraud would the passover to be a sacrifice, or that have been discovered.

any one of the distinguishing characters The Doctor proceeds, with a kind of a sacrifice, as stated by him, belong of triumph, to give a summary of the to that ordinance. whole of his arguments in the follow- From these observations we see

ing words:' “ Thus, then, all the dis. what little reason the Doctor had to ji tinguishing characters of a sacrifice, treat Dr. Priestley and his arguments

we find to belong to the offering of upon this subject in the supercilious the paschal lamb. It was brought to nianner in which he has treated them. the temple, as a corban, or sacred If, Sir, you think these remarks worthy offering to the Lord. It was slain in of a place in your valuable periodical the courts of the temple; and the publication, they are at your service. blood was received by the priests,

JOAN MARSOM. and handed to the high-priest; who poured it forth, and sprinkled it be

Birmingham, fore the altar, offered it together with

SIR,

August 6, 1819 the fat and entrails which were burnt ERMIT me to express, however upon the altar." All these characters of a sacrifice the Doctor affirms (with- spect with which I cherish the memoout the slightest degree of evidence, ry of the late Rev. Joseph Bretland.* and contrary to the plaju truth of the Soon after my entrance into public fact) to belong to the paschal lamb. life, I was honoured with his friendIt is no where called the offering of ship: to his uniform kindness and the paschal lamb. It is no where candour I am considerably indebted; called a corban, or sacred offering to and many are the agreeable and inthe Lord. We no where read that it structive hours which I have passed was slain in the courts of the temple; in his society. An individual more or that the blood was received by the distinguished by purity of manners priests, and handed to the high priest. and a strict adherence to the suggesWe are no where told that the high- tions of duty I have never known.

He was a fine example in particular

a

P. 301,

* Mon. Repos. XIV. p. 445.

of filial piety, which he had an oppor. them contained very beautiful and tunity of exercising long after he had pathetic passages. reached the stage of manhoud. Like Tuition, eitber private or public, many otber men of superior talents, was, for some years, one of his emattaininents and virtues, he courted ploymeuts: in 1799, he became the the shade of retirement: nor can they colleague of Mr. Kenrick, whose cha. who were best acquainted with him racter and labours he most deeply cease to regret that his babits were venerated, in a seminary for the eduso sequestered.

cation of Protestant Dissenting miMr. Bretland was a student in the nisters. Dissenting Academy at Exeter; his By an affecting coincidence, the tutors, if I mistake uot, being the day of Mr. Bretland's funeral was Rev. Samuel Merivale,' the Rev. Min the day of the anniversary of the cajah Towgood, t and the Rev. John Western Unitarian Society, bolden Turner. I In mathematical learning this year at Bath :t on which occasion he was no common proficient; and one of his former pupils in the aca. he had a taste especially for the rea. demy i publicly rendered a very insonings and investigatious of geo. teresting tribute of respect and gra. metry, the influence of which on the titude to the memory of both his general cast of his mind and of bis excellent instructors. On the same compositions it was not difficult to day too, the society of which I am perceive. His kuowledge was various speaking expressly and formally reand accurate; but theology, in all cognized the priuciples on which it its branches, seems to bave been his had been established in 1792, and favourite pursuit.

which, under the blessing of heaven, It is a memorable circumstance it has been enabled to assert and illusthat, half a century ago, Mr. Bretland trate with growing success. Tbat by avowed, from his pulpit in the Mint such a recoguition of them it has fulMeeting.bouse at Exeter, those reli- filled the hopes and wishes of some of gious principles which are professed, its oldest members, who were then diffused and vindicated by most of the present, is true: nor can I doubt that book societies styled Unitarian, and the issue of the discussion approres the progress of which has of late years itself to the feelings and the judgment been comparatively wide and rapid. of nearly all the subscribers, of every He then stood alone as the preacher class and standing. of them in the West of England, and I should be happy, Sir, were it is was exposed, in consequence, to pe- my power to annex a correct list of culiar obloquy. In the avowal, too, Mr. 'Bretland's productions from the of these principles--the absolute unity press, which however were very few, of God, and the unequivocal humanity and, I fear, are, with scarcely an er of Christ-he continued stedfast to the ception, out of print. The attempt last. His pastoral relation to the con- shall be made; but I must iutreat gregation in the Mint, was of many some of your Correspondents to supyears' duration; and for a short time ply my omissions and rectify my ipache was the colleagle of the Rev. James curacies. Manning, and of the late Rev. Timothy

JOHN KENTISH. Kenrick, in the charge of the united A Sermon on Acts xx. 26, 27, societies assembling respectively at preached before an Assembly of Prothe Bow and at George's Meeting- testant Dissenting Ministers in Exeter, house. The elocution of Mr. Bretland May 10, 1786. Svo. Pp. 36. was extremely correct and pleasing: The subject is “the duty of mihis discourses were usually practical, nisters declaring the whole counsel af though irgumentative; and some of God." It was followed, if I recollect

rightly, by a postscript, and involved

the preacher in a temporary and local * Belsham's Memoirs of Lindsey, p. 219, controversy. Note.

+ See the Sketch of bis Life, &c. by Manning, p. 64.

• Mon. Repos. IX. pp. 703, 704. | The early friend of the amiable John + Ibid. XIV. p. 453. Scott, of Ain well.

A paper in the Theological Repo, a letter to a worthy friend of mine, sitory, Vol. VI. 322—331, entitled, (Dr. Benjamio Avery,) was wrought

objections to Ordination among Dis- in bim, by a remonstrance I had senters," and signed A Lover, or drawn up against suicism, which was OBDER.

inserted in the Old Whig, a weekly A paper in the same work, VI. paper." 982—408, “ On the Scripture Doc- In an appendix to this Dissertation, trine of the Love of Christ,” with the Dr. Fleming points out the inesignature ADJU TUR.*

quality of some of our penal laws A Sermon on the Death of Mrs. which take away the life of man;" Elizabeth Rowe, at Crediton, Devon, and has anticipated the juster views October 21, 1798. 8vo.

of criminal jurisprudence which are Papers, on different subjects, in the now, I hope, gaining some of the pubMonthly Repository, some with his lic attention. On “simple theft” he own signature; and a sett, in Vols. would not inflict the penalty of death, V. and VI. “ On the Temptation of and remarks that “a neighbouring Christ," signed Garon: these consist state has wisely appointed a raspof five letters.

house and other severe Jabours, as a Query: Whether an edition of Dr. far more equitable and efficacious puPriestley's English Grammar was not nishment.”. On forgery he observes, published by Mr. Bretland?

“ If I am rightly iuformed, the Dutch J. K. have a far better way of punishing the

criminal; for they cut off the first SIR,

July 9, 1819. joint of his thumb, and thus render H°

TOMO'S remarks on suicide, him for ever unable to commit another

(p. 227,) have reminded me of forgery. At the same time, this very two passages, which form a striking maiming fixes on him a perpetual mark contrast, and which I quote from the of disgrace; and yet leaves him oporiginal accounts. The first is iu “Ob- portunity of reforming himself, and of servations on Wadsworth,” printed being further serviceable to society. about 1692, by Mr. Layton, author Thus the sagacious provident Republic of “ The Search after Souls,” men- are not so lavish of men's lives as we tioned in Mon. Repos. VI, 10, 213. are.” That author says, at p. 124,

J. 0. U. “ The present time affords a rare P. S. Dr. F., in his “ Ingratitude example of a young, rich and other- of Infidelity,” 1775, p. 40, refers to wise happy Lord, who, by a pistol “ an anonymous pamphlet, entitled, bullet, took away his own life at the The Aposiles' Creed better than the Bath, meerly to rid and free himself Assemblie's Catechism, printed 1720, from such sharp pains of the gout and said to be by Mr. Joseph Hallet, stone, as then oppressed him.' Junior.” Does any one of your readers

The other passage is in a “Dedi- possess this pamphlet, which might cation to the Public,” prefixed to his deserve a new edition ? “ Dissertation on the uopatural Crime of Self-Murder," by Dr. Fleming, in Brief Notes on the Bible. says,

No. VI. 2. Near forty years ago, I had the “M'Thou forsaken me * Matt.

Y God, my ! why uncommon pleasure of reconciling a gentleman, racked with the stone, to xxvii, 46,) is the opening of the 22d a patient endurance of his painful Psalm. condition ; though he had set his Was it, inquired one of my chilhouse in order, had formed his reso. dren, quite consistent in the mouth lation, and fixed on the time of dis- of Jesus? He possessed a knowledge patching himself. Which persuasion, of his impending fate, and even dethe said gentleman acknowledged, in clared, that to the fulfilment of his

mission such a consummation was

indispensable; which, therefore, could • I now suspect, but do not know, that be no indication that his God and the paper, in the same volume, signed Father had forsaken him. Subsidianus, came from the pen of Mr. Whatever inconsistency, however, Bretland,

may be imputed to this invocation, it

SIR,

&c. &c.

is a slight, and, if the expression be prayer in the garden) such a real and allowable, a venial ope, upon the hy. revolting inconsistency, as furnishes a pothesis of the simple humanity of the problem for them, which I suspect sufferer.

to be of somewhat more difficult so-
That he was not unappalled by the lution.
sufferings he contemplated, is evident

BREVIS.
from his prayer, that, if possible, the
cup might pass from him. Though

Liverpool,
prepared to suffer and to die, it is no

July 24, 1819. violeut presumption that his actual

IT sufferings might be more acute than

[T is not my intention to take out

of the hands of Dr. Carpenter, he had anucipated,—and, in a pa. who is so much more able than I to roxysm of agony, this, perhaps con- do justice to the subject, the elucidavulsive, expostulation might break tion of the doctrine of the Divine Infrom him without any definite mean. Auences, to which he is invited by ing. It was followed by a second cry your Correspondent L. J. J. in the last of lamentation ; and both were uttered Number of the Repository, (p. 419); just before his dying and more col. But as L. J. J. intimates (pp. 367, 368) lected declaration, (John xix. $0,) that he does not understand how Uni, “ It is finished." He had submitted to all that it be expressions, implying a belief in that

tarians can consistently make use of hoved him to endure, but did not doctrine, some of which he quotes sustain the extremity of suffering from two hymn books, which have without the expression of such a sense of it, as was natural to a simply hu- the Unitarian congregations in this

been recently compiled for the use of man being; and in words neither town, such as, weighed, nor resembling any language that he had ever used, or was

« With truth and virtue feed our souls," capable of using, in a state of mental composure.

I wish to explain what I conceive There is nothing, therefore, stag. to have been the views of the comgering in the inconsistency which has pilers, in admitting ivto their collecbeen suggested.

tions such expressions as are here But another far more important alluded to. And, first, I think it may consideration is behind.

be distinctly stated that they did not What will the orthodox say to it?

mean to convey the idea, that suWill they contend it to be possible pernatural communications from the that “God made man,” or that a Deity are to be expected as the result man, in any profoundly mystical iden- of our petitions for divine illuminatity with God, could have ejaculated tion, any more than when using the such a sentence? That Jesus in his words of the Lord's Prayer -- Give blended character could thus have us this day our daily bread," ther expostulated with himself? That such would expect to receive a miraculous a preposterous interrogation could supply of food. have passed the lips of a being con.

Petitions for divine aid to the mind scious of the divinity within him, and appear to stand upon the same footing that God had neither forsaken, nor

as those for every other blessing, or could forsake him?

rather on a better. For, if we are to Really, Sir, what I have thus com- pray for any thing, wbat objects are mitted to paper stares upon me in such a guise of absurdity, that I Other things may be good or bad shrink from it with a sensation not to according to the use we make of them, be defined; but, as our Lord and but these are always good. Master reasoned with the Jews upon

In fact, your Correspondent's difitheir own principles, so are we con. culties seem to relate to prayer strained to parley with the modern general; against which philosophical Pharisees on theirs. Upon the Unitarian hypothesis the though, perhaps,

objections may, no doubt, be urged; passage is of easy explication; but, ples of natural religion, they are not (especially in conjunetion with the may be in these objections, it is sufi

.

$0, proper as wisdom and virtue?

even on the princi

.

cient for a Christian that the duty dent himself, as affording a presumpof prayer is distinctly taught, indeed tive argument against the solidity of positively enjoined, in the New Tes. his views, when expressions, appatament, both by our Lord and bis rently so congenial to the devout apostles, as well as recommended by mind as many of those he has selected, their example. On this ground then, appear objectionable. Allowing for I apprehend, the compilers of the the vividness of expression natural works in question are justified in ad- to poetical compositions there seem mitting such expressions as imply a to be but few of the lines selected, of wish for divine aid to guide us to which it would not be easy to give a truth and virtue, and in believing rational and satisfactory explanation. that these pious aspirations are nei- It appears to be understood by your ther improper nor unavailing, though Correspondent, that, in these pagthey may not be able to explaiu ex- sages, the Almighty is represented as actly in what manner, or to what acting by a supernatural and immedegree, they are efficacious. And diate impulse: but, surely, this is not most certainly, if the compilers bad a necessary deduction. We may sup. struck out all such expressions, their pose the Divine Being to exercise a works would not have been accom- providence over the spiritual part of modated to the people for whose use his creation, quite as ordinary, and they were designied : for these com- regulated by laws quite as general, as pilations were not made for schools that which we admit he exercises of speculative pbilosophy ; but for over the material world; and still it congregations of Christians, who are may be very proper, in the one case contented to take their religion from as in the other, to pass by the operathe Scriptures, and feel no desire to tion of second causes, and turn our be “ wise above what is written." regards solely upon the great First

T. F. Cause, expressing in simple but strik

ing language, the simple but impor. Nottingham, tant and undoubted truth, that God

July 18, 1819. is the only Fountain of all our blessVOUR Correspondent L. J. J. ings. To make use of a common

(pp. 367, 308,) has called the at- illustration-when we pray for daily tention of your readers to a subject of bread we do not fancy that it will be great importance, and certainly of supernaturally provided, without the some difficulty : and though I have use of labour and industry. When no doubt that his communication will we speak of God as giving fruitful meet with the attention it merits, from seasons, we include in our considethe individuals to whom he particu- ration all that series of natural causes larly addresses his remarks, I am in- which he has at command. So when clined to offer a few thoughts which we pray for guidance in our spiritual have occurred to myself, as calculated course, we mean, if we mean any to satisfy the doubts which arise in thing, and do not content ourselves the reflecting mind on this question, with a mere sound of words, that God Some years ago I read a discourse of would exercise his providence, in Dr. Priestley's, on the subject of the placing in our way the means of imDivine Influence upon the Mind, with provement, aud adapting our princi.

which I was far from being satisfied. ples to our trials. Surely this cannot 1 It appeared to me, that with such be thought irrational. For if we be

views it would be impossible to vin. lieve that God has actually revealed dicate the use of prayer, or to lay any his will to us in a supernatural mansolid foundation for the practical partner, (and all Christians do believe of religion. I could not help thinking this,) fervently to pray that he would that ju combating one error, he had so order his providence, as that this fallen into another, and I was un. holy will should be understood by willing to believe, that sound prin- us, and applied to the sanctification ciples of reasoning could lead to a of our lives, cannot be shewn to be result evidently unfavourable to the irrational or unbecoming. use and efficacy of religion. Indeed, It is not necessary for the vindicaI think it must strike your Correspon- tion of such a petition, that the person

Ss

:

VOL. XIV.