ture. We regret that the length to which our remarks have already extended prevents us from quoting any passages from the concluding sections of the Essay; but the whole of it will amply repay the perusal; and we trust will obtain an extensive circulation among our readers.

One remark, however, we must make. Such statements of doctrine as Mr. D. has given, are only to be regarded as expressing the views of the individuals by whom they are propounded. The Remonstrant Synod, as such, has no creed or test of orthodoxy but the Bible; neither has any of the congregations under its care; and if Mr. Doherty and his people were to change their sentiments to-morrow on the points which he has specified, there is nothing in the constitution of the Remonstrant churches to prevent them from doing so, or to deprive them of any ecclesiastical privilege which they at present enjoy.

We congratulate Mr. Doherty upon the successful commencement of his career as a writer, which we trust will prove a long and honourable one: nor can we avoid felicitating the Remonstrant body, and more especially the congregation of Ballyhemlin on their acquisition of a young minister, whose active zeal, energy and talent, promise to render him, at no distant day, a distinguished ornament and efficient bulwark of the holy cause of Christian truth and liberty. Deeply as we regret those tyrannical enactments, which have recently been passed in the Synod of Ulster, our sorrow is mitigated by the reflection that to them we owe the possession of such a pastor as Mr. Doherty, and such a flock as that over which he presides in Ballyhemlin! If the members of Synod go on in their oppressive usurpations; if they impose new and even more grievous restrictions upon conscience than they have yet attempted, they will only promote the progress of religious liberty the more effectually, by banishing from among them all those noble-minded and generous individuals, who refuse to bow their necks to the yoke of worse than Egyptian bondage!...

R.

REVIEW.

"THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES; in which the evils and dangers of the present system of Tithes and Regium Donum are exposed."

THIS Essay, the production of the Eastern Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland, (Covenanters,) though it contains a number of well-timed observations, is, nevertheless, replete with abusive remarks. It is not our province to argue the question of the propriety or impropriety of aiding the Protestant Church by Tithes, or the Presbyterian one by Royal Bounty; but we must remark, that the Covenanters, before they hurled so much abuse at their neighbours, should have agreed among themselves concerning the power of the Civil Magistrate in matters of religion. This subject, upon which they entertain, not only different but opposite opinions, is a principal and primary point in the adjustment of several particulars discussed in their pamphlet. Without now pressing this question, we feel ourselves warranted in exposing an error into which they have fallen. The idea contained in the following sentence is several times put forward in this publication, and deserves to be corrected. "Many Arian congregations are mere skeletons, and could not support a minister at all, were it not for the aid of Regium Donum." We demur to this unguarded assertion, and remind our readers, that the 350 Unitarian Congregations of England, and the 2000 of America, receive nothing but the aid of persecution in their respective countries. If the assertion had been made of many Trinitarian Congregations in connexion with the General and Seceding Synods of Ireland, it might have passed unheeded. But does not every well-informed Presbyterian know, that the Arian, or as we call them, Unitarian Congregations of the Synod of Munster, Presbytery of Antrim, and Remonstrant Synod, are among the most opulent and respectable Congregations in the island? We know 20 ministers of these Churches, who are receiving each from £60 to £200 per annum, not of promised, but of well paid stipend. And we could name 50 in the Calvinistic Synods, who, exclusive of Regium Donum, are in the receipt of not more, under that head, than from £10 to £20 annually. We feel obliged to a Mr. Mathews, who, in an Essay recently

published, has drawn the attention of the community to the subject of Regium Donum. Although this pam phlet contains much that is erroneous, it contains also much that is true; and we trust that it will put the Irish Government upon their guard respecting the pious frauds that have been practised in getting Regium Donum for several Trinitarian Congregations that are mere skeletons, and which were returned to "the powers that be" for numbers and stipend, far beyond what is correct. Their application to Government and to other sources,—in the one case proud of their strength in men and money, and in the other, soliciting pecuniary support on account of their weakness in both, would make an " orthodox" chapter of comparisons.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

UNITARIANISM IN AMERICA.

WITHIN the memory of man there was but one avowed Unitarian church in Boston, and now all the oldest and most respectable churches are Anti-Trinitarian; and five new churches have been, within a short time, raised and dedicated to the One only God, the Father, in the town and suburbs, and several in the neighbourhood. The Unitarian churches are in a most flourishing condition. Hear the testimony of a recent traveller. *" As Philadelphia may be called the capital of the Quakers in America, and Baltimore that of the Catholics, so may also Boston be ranked as the seat of the Unitarians. The greater part of the Bostonians, including every one of wealth, talents and learning, have adopted this doctrine." As to the United States at large, no fact is more notorious, than that Unitarian churches are fast multiplying in all parts of the wide union. Scarcely a religious periodical arrives that does not announce the opening of some new church for Unitarian worship. The number of churches throughout the United States from which the worship of the Trinity is excluded, is upwards (reckoning moder ately,) of two thousand. The great body of the Quakers are Unitarians; and what is more, Orthodoxy in America is divided against itself; the divisions increase daily; and a very large proportion of the Christians there, whom the Trinitarians here claim for brethren, would at home be renouced as heretics.-Reformer.

AUSTRIA.

50,000

THE population of Austria, divided into religious sects, is as follows:-500 Mahomedans; 13,000 Arinenians; Unitarians; 480,000 Jews; 1,190,000 Lutherans; 1,660,000 members of other reformed churches; 3,040,000 members of the Greek church; and 26,990,000 Catholics.-Reformer.

* Arfwedson's United States, Vol. 1. p. 177-180.

UNITARIANISM IN ENGLAND.

Ir is a prevailing opinion, in almost every part of Ireland, that the Unitarians of England are a mere handful of people, who know little of religion, and care little for the dissemination of Gospel principles. That they are not very numerous is true, but that they are indifferent about the propagation of their tenets is altogether a mistake, and contrary to their whole history. What Protestant church dare appeal to numbers as a Test of truth ?—not one. Who have made greater sacrifices in vindication of their opinions, than the Unitarian Christians of England ?-none. What denomination can boast of so many supereminent writers, biblical critics, and learned divines?-not any that I have heard of. Though a sect every where spoken against, they have multiplied in opposition to oppression, and they are rapidly increasing, not only in England, but in every quarter of the civilized globe.

That your readers may form more correect ideas of Unitarianism in England, I beg to state, that I was, not long since, at an evening party in Manchester, at which twenty-eight Unitarian ministers were present; and that the whole of them, with one exception, had come from their own residence during the afternoon of the same day, to drink tea with a friend. Whether they all returned to their respective dwellings during the night, is what I cannot say, but that they could have done so, is what I can clearly affirm. The party might have been more numerous, as there were three neigh. bouring ministers who found it inconvenient to attend.

That the Congregations of some of these worthy men are very small, is what I have no desire to conceal, but that a few of them are numerous, and several of them highly respectable, are facts which their opponents must admit. It ought to be remembered by Trinitarians, that in 1697, during the reign of William III. an Act was passed, by which a man, who denied the doctrine of the Trinity, was deemed a blasphemer, and sentenced to suffer confiscation of goods and imprisonment. This unrighteous statute, under which so many Unitarians were bitterly persecuted, was repealed only in 1813. Had it never been in force, it is hard to calculate what number of Anti-trinitarian pastors might have spent the evening together at Manchester. AN IRISH UNITARIAN.

February 4th, 1836.

THE REV. THOMAS SMITH, one of the junior teachers of the Royal Belfast Institution, and a licentiate under the care of the Templepatrick Presbytery, has received and accepted a call to become the assistant and successor of the Rev. Alexander Montgomery, in the Remonstrant Congregation of Glenarm. We sincerely hope that Mr. Smyth's settlement in Glenarm will be instrumental in promoting the cause of divine truth and religious freedom.

WILSON'S WORK ON UNITARIANISM.

By the cover of the present number our readers will perceive that Mr. Wilson proposes to publish a new and improved edition of his invaluable work, entitled "Scripture Proofs and Illustrations of Unitarianism." The first edition of this publication is now out of

print, which cannot surprise any one who is acquainted with its excellence. It might be denominated the Theological Concordance, as it not only gives the positive Scripture Evidence which proves the unity of God, but furnishes the reader with the supposed Scripture evidence for the doctrine of the Trinity, with the criticisms and comments of the most distinguished divines,-Trinitarian and Antitrinitarian. This part of the work must have cost the author incalculable labour; as it brings before the reader, in small compass, the opinions of one or more of fifty of the most celebrated writers, on the several texts which are usually quoted in support of the Trinitarian doctrines. His own observations are plain, concise, and judicious. Mr. Wilson's work was strongly recommended in the ninth report of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association, as a work of " peculiar merit;" and the Christian Pioneer has noticed it with marked approbation. The Unitarian Magazine and Chronicle, and the Old Series of the Bible Christian have both spoken of it in terms of high commendation. We feel confident that it will become the Vade Mecum of members and ministers of various churches; and if 500 individual subscribers,―the number necessary to warrant the author in proceeding with his design,-do not come forward, we have little doubt but 50 can be found, each of whom will take charge of 10 copies, at £2 5s. and dispose of them at his own convenience. Booksellers may gain, and can scarcely lose, by thus encouraging Mr. Wilson, who desires no profit, and ought not to suffer loss by his admirable publication. EDITORS.

OBITUARY.

DEATH OF ROBERT GAMBLE, Esq.-On the 25th of January, at his house in Waring Street, ROBERT GAMBLE, Esq, in the 61st year of his age. There are few of the public institutions of Belfast with which the name of MR. GAMBLE was not connected, and which did not derive much benefit from his disinterested services. His philanthropy, unconfined by party influences, embraced all within its sphere, and his voice was always for the general good. Liberal in his views, faultless in his domestic relations, and with an unswerving integrity of principle, he enjoyed in an eminent degree the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.

DIED,-On Monday the 1st of February, at the rare age of 84, JAMES HAMILTON, Senior Precentor of the First Presbyterian Congregation of Dromore. This venerable man had officiated under six different ministers, viz:-Revds. Dr. Colville, Dr. Black, Thomas Cuming, James Bankhead, Samuel C. Nelson, and the present pastor, Robert E. B. Maclellan. He was, from conviction, a strenuous Unitarian. During his long life he was remarkable for purity of moral conduct; and had by this means ensured a place in the esteem of his numerous acquaintances, which is often tacitly withheld from the wealthy, the titled, or the learned. The number of his fellow-worshippers who accompanied his remains to the burialground of that house, within whose walls he had so often guided to Heaven their songs of praise and thanksgiving, testifies that this is no idle encomium. His last moments were cheered by that blessed declaration, so well calculated to give joy both in life and death, that "God is love."