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    each particular sect , wotfld themselves cMftistittUe a formidable body , and w 3 uW be driven by the prevailing exaiifote , &s well as a sense of their own stikety , to hold up their heads , to in-$ Sf ^ K > tf ate and organize themselves , aft $ ' -1 o make proselytes in turn . By

    this time , however , and perhaps , in some degree , long before this , the respective sec / ts , compacted , as it were , iWtd so many personal individualities , and unable to insist with any more proselyting success upon the peculiarities of their different creeds , would

    naturally compare together the points of agreement among themselves , and either from interest , or sympathy , or sortie other causes , would more or less adopt habits of reciprocal intercourse . Thus the Sadducees and Pharisees joined in leagues together . That very closeness of party-union , which at the outset we found to be so productive of the bigoted and sectarian spirit , would at length render whole denominations more accessible to the light of truth and argument . They would wish to stand or fall together . The social spirit often outlives the theological . A few leading minds would carry with them whole trains of followers . But this speculation I must not pursue any farther , who cannot afford to be an Essayist for the Repository . Let the Nonconformist take it up .

    Mr . Baker on Ordinations . If the Editor has thought it worth while to print the remarks on this subject in my last , I have nothing more to say , except that the singular coincidence between Mr . Baker ' s views and mv own existed entirely on paper before I had even glanced at his present communication . Afr . Itutt on Ordination Services . Rather premature , I imagine , in saying that the question is " set at rest . ' * Does Mr . Rutt suppose , that there will be no more ordinations among consistent and zealous Unitarians ? What occasions are better adapted than these to set fortli and defend our principles before whole neighbourhoods , and thus increase candid attention and adherents to the cause ? Many persons would Ife drawn to a scene of this kind , wlio would shrink flnoih an Unitarian tract . JWr . Frend on the name Unitarian . I > et me presume to facilitate the con-

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    ception of * Mr ^ PrencPs theory of i thfc Saviour ' s persoriSI digaity ^ fey : ^ i a |^ lytical , though very htttaMeJiUustra , tion . Take the substance which we call ice . On the introduction and union of an invisible fluid into this

    substance , it produces new effec ts m surrounding material bodies , we give it a new name , it excites within oar minds new emotions , aaxl we afrpjy it to altogether new and various purposes . Now , the low Humanitarian ,, according- to the opinioa of Messrs * Clarke and Frend , is accustomed to

    view the person of our Saviour in the light of the afdre-mentioiied j ^ e Whereas , their own theory of his per * son , by connecting the operations &nd power of the Deity immediately with him , are as much superior in value and effect to the other , as the idea *

    and uses attached to the living fluid aTe superior to those belonging to the cold and solid substance . If this be not a correct representation of what they wish to convey , I have mistaken their intention . At all events , I regard the speculation as not uninteresting or unimportant .

    However this may be , let not Mr Frend flatter himself that anv creed , which will exalt the Saviour even to an indefinite degree , and yet come short of absolutely deifying him , will satisfy " our Trinitarian brethren /' or " convince them of the

    impropriety of those epithets , with which they often designate us . " The mere " unrivalled supremacy of God the Father" is just as offensive to them all , as the simplest humanity of the person of Christ . So that whatever may be our reasons for adopting either the one or the other of these

    modifications of Unitarianism , let us not be swayed by the hope of conciliating the bigoted advocates of the Trinity . We may better ask , which of the two doctrines is the true and scriptural one , than which will most effectually

    shield us from misapprehension and calumny . Dissenters taking the Sacramental Test . I never knew an ethical question quite so intricate and perplexed as this . It seems that Dr . D oddrito

    the very Apollo of Dissent in his own time , was nearly non-phised in attempting to decide it . At the fir&t blush of the subject it certainly appears plain . If you arc a Dissenter at

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    392 Critical Synopsis of the Monthly Repoik&ftf fer June 1825 .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1826, page 392, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2550/page/12/