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    sors of religion , that we possess the spirit of the world . The spirit of the world ! were this ours , my fellow-christians , what should hinder us front adopting the world ' s faith and the world's worship ? Why have you Separated with so many personal sacrifices from your former religious connexions , and raised this edifice for the quiet performance of rites agreeable to your consciences ? Why have you called your Christian brethren to witness this morning your sanctincation of this House of prayer to the honour of the

    incommunicable name of Jehovah ? And why have I stood up at your invitation , to vindicate our body from imputations cast upon us only because we will not y ield religious conformity to this world and this world ' s teachers and rulers ? We are in fact reproached with a worldly spirit by some of our fellow-dissenters , simply because we refuse to carry dissent further than conscience constrains us , judging that it is not only lawful , but a part of social duty , to be in a state of unity with our fellow-countrymen in things that are morally indifferent . When we are thus condemned we are judged by a law which we do not acknowledge ; and the sentence which is pronounced against us , because

    we are comparativel y few in number , really involves the greater part of the Christian world . With them and for them , as well as ourselves , we protest against a standard of virtue which is not sanctioned by Christianity , but is on the contrary at variance with our Lord's example and precepts . We renounce the morality which consists in looks and apparel and much-speaking ; in resistance to the harmless usages of civilized life and refined society ; and in putting down innocent cheerfulness , and setting up affected gloominess and severity : we adhere to the old morality and religion of the Sermon on the

    Mount , standing in justice , mercy , and the fear of God ; and should we , for this preference of our Lord to earthly masters , be followed with the inconsistent denunciation of being worldly-minded , whilst in reality no place is left for us in the believing or the unbelieving world , we must take refuge in the judgment of the great Head of the Church , ' If ye were of the world , the world would love its own . '"—Pp . 21 , 22 .

    The Preface informs us that the publication of this discourse has been requested , not only by the congregation assembled at Wareham , but by several other bodies of Unitarians before whom its substance has been delivered . We hope this affords an assurance of its wide circulation and consequent important usefulness . If so clear and explicit a statement of our opinions as this could extensively fix the attention of our Christian adversaries , the days would be in prospect when the remonstrances which we are now obliged to connect with our statements would be needless , because the worst charges against us would have become obsolete .

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    As the sun was withdrawing his light from one hemisphere , the guardian spirits of man followed his course , as they were wont , that they might visit every land in turn . But two who had been busy among the abodes of men all the day , lingered * unwilling to leave those to whom they had ministered . To the one had been committed the urn which held the waters of

    bitterness , and he was called Wofc . His young sister was named Peace ; and in her hand was p laced the lyre whose music was of heaven . " There are some , " said Woe , " who will not be ready to hearken to thee to-morrow * my sister , if I leave them already . "

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    A . Parable . 23

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    A PARABLE .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1831, page 23, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2593/page/23/