On this page

• Text (1)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    her who did not entertain the same religfous opinions . What particular symbol of faith or creed , as it is commonly called , the ^> in the first instance , used , I do not know ; but as you have been told by another gentleman , about the year 1705 , they all subscribed the Westminster Confession of Faith — not by compulsion , but as a voluntary act . The

    original constitution of the Synod of Ulster was undoubtedly orthodox * Every member entered its ministry under the < jover of alleged orthodoxy ; and I myself remember the first instance , in the t : ase of the late Minister of Ballee in which a member of their body declared himself an Arian . 1 well remember , Sir , the amazement and consternation

    expressed in evei < y countenance at the au < - dacious and ntjvel avowah Every man looked at his neighbour as if at a loss how to think or act ; and when he was sent back ou trial to his Congregation , in the expectation ( which eventually proved well founded ) that they would not retain him as their minister , that measure was followed up by a strong protest . Whether Ariaus continued

    from that to the present period to increase in numbers or not , it is manifest that Arianism became every day bolder . It seemed to forget that its origin in the body was tinder the shade , and began to exhibit itself in open day , as though it had not been a fungus growing out of the body , but an original and integral part of it . In these circumstances , the wthodox members , who are the lineal And Consistent descendants mid successors

    of those men by whom the Synod was formed , have deemed it expedient to take some steps to eradicate what they fjelievfe to be a disease in the body . For this purpose two medical plans have been proposed . The one is , to use the knife of the surgeon and amputate the diseased part . The other is , to give the body internal medicine , which , without ttny painful present operation , wiay finally conduct it to convalescence and health .

    Of the former kind is the plan of a separation betwixt the OrthodoK and Armn member * . Of the latter are the over ^ lures * I am not a friend to the plan of U division of the Synod , because I do ad * mit that several of the Arian members entered the body avowedly holding the

    same opinions which they now avow . I xxmfeas that I know that When Mr . ( t fohtgotiaery became a member ^ he was far from being orthodox . Indeed , 1 belfeve that he entertained opinions nitidi moife exceptionable than thrtfefe fee haft sinse itvwml , I also admit that thm

    Untitled Article

    who entered the Synod as Arians , have since conducted themselves with every propriety ; and that , of course , it would be a kind of violation of public faith to cast them out or cut them off . I am an enemy to separation also , on the grounds that it would increase Arian influence by enlarging the Antrim Presbytery ; by depriving orthodox members of the

    opportunity of preaching in Arian pulpits , or planting orthodox members in vacancies whose ministers had formerly been Arian ; and because that the laity , in orthodox congregations , are divided in opinion about the propriety and expediency -of the measure . Whilst the watchman of the ^ hurch slept in the period that is past , the tares of AHanism Were sown , and have grown up with the wheat . I do not , therefore , like to root

    them up , lest the wheat be plucked Up with them ; but I would advise every exertion to keep the watchman awake , that no tare may be sowed in future $ and this is the object of the overtures . My learned friend has , with fascinating eloquence , dwelt upon the hardships to which young men will be subjected by the overtures ; and amongst these he has particularized the differences in opinion which will exist in the Committee of

    Examination . Amongst the splendid and varied talents which Mr . Montgo * - mery possesses , one of the most shining is a power of anticipating the future , and painting it in such colours as are best calculated to serve his purpose . If a consequence may possibly follow from any principle or measure , my friend will boldly take it for granted , will add to it the imaginary consequence , and so

    on , till he has conjured up a picture of disasters so appalling , that no wise man Would approach ft . Of tftis you have 1 iad a specimen , Drv Wright and Mr . Johnston have differed in opinion . The < one he says is an Artninian , the other a CaMnist . And he hence assumes , that « very Examination Committee will be composed of Dr . Wri £ fct and Mr . John * - fcton ; and that the young men will fce tossed between the horns of these two

    theological systems . Ttoey Mil foe swal-Jowed up either in the Sc ^ la of the owe , < w the Charyfodis of the a « her . I do not entttge my learned Mend , Who is re * aiarkable for candour , with purposed dta * - Ingenuottfttiess ; but it was certainly unfair to refer to the difference of opinion between Dr . Wright and Mr . Johnston , Whcti he knew that Mr . Johnston pufo * licly mated that Dr . Wright had mistaken hind , When he fchafged him with ArmV nt « n Views of ftiith 5 th ^ t Dr , Wright

    Untitled Article

    722 Intelligence . ~~ Synod of Ulster .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1828, page 722, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2565/page/66/