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Mr. Norton speaks, in conclusion, of the worth of Christianity as received by Unitarians, in reply to the assertions of Trinitarians, that we deprive it of all its value, contemn all its peculiar doctrines, and reject all but its name. extract the last two paragraphs.

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Especially at the present time, when, through the discredit and odium cast upon Christianity by the false systems that have assumed its name, its power has been annihilated through a great part of the civilized world, and it has come to be regarded by a very large portion of the educated classes of society as an obsolete superstition, the call is most imperative upon those to whom the welfare of their fellow men is an object of concern, to use all means at their command to reëstablish its true character. If they are indeed engaged in supporting the cause of TRUE RELIGION against irreligion and superstition, then the hopes of mankind are staked upon their success. All efforts to promote the influence of Christianity will be ineffectual, till its real character is understood and acknowledged; for of all the opposition to which it is exposed, that which substitutes in its place any of those false systems that have assumed its name, is at the present day the most pernicious. If the doctrines against which we contend are false, then the worst enemy of Christianity is he who asserts them to have been taught by Christ.

"In concluding this work, I should not speak of myself personally, were it not for the desire which every reader naturally feels to know the probable motives of one who addresses him on any important topic of practical interest. Disconnected, in a great degree, from the common pursuits of the world, and independent of any party or of any man's favor, there is, perhaps, scarcely an individual to whom it can be a matter of less private concern, what opinion others may hold. No one will suppose, that if literary fame were my object, I should have sought it by such a discussion as this in which I have engaged. Even among those who have no prejudices in favor of the errors opposed, much indifference and much disgust to the subject must be overcome, before I can expect this work to find any considerable number of readers. I commenced it not long after one of the severest deprivations of my life, the loss of a most valued and most justly valued friend, and have continued it with sickness and death around me. I have been writing, as it were, on the tombstones of those who were most dear to me, with feelings of the character, purposes, and duties of life, which my own death-bed will not strengthen. I may, then, claim at least that share of unsuspicious attention to which

every one is entitled, who cannot be supposed to have any other motive in maintaining his opinions, than a very serious, earnest, and enduring conviction of their truth and importance." — pp. 293, 294.

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In an Appendix, the author offers some remarks on the expectation of the Apostles concerning the speedy return of their master to earth," notices incidentally other erroneous impressions which retained possession of their minds, and replies to the question why they were not prevented or removed by our Saviour. By many, this will be regarded as not the least interesting portion of the volume. It contains several important and striking views expressed in language of great vigor and beauty. That they will be understood and appreciated by all is not to be expected; for many will read to cavil, and many, from want of due preparation of mind, with a very imperfect conception of the author's meaning. Indeed to apprehend fully the results of his inquiries, and feel the whole force of the evidence on which they rest, demands habits of thought and a degree of familiarity with the subject, of which the great body of Christians are as yet destitute.

Mr. Norton writes for intelligent men, for those who do not shrink from examination and patient thought, who are not disgusted at being required to exercise a manly independence, who seek truth for truth's sake, and are willing to pay the price of its attainment. Such will find in the work before us ample materials for study and reflection. We are much mistaken, if to many of them it do not open new views. Christianity, indeed, is not now made the study of intelligent men, as it ought to be. This is to be deplored as a great misfortune. The cause it is not difficult to explain. The absurdities which have been taught in the name of religion, the superstition and fanaticism with which it has been incorporated, and the gross extravagances which have been exhibited under the garb of it, have gone far to deprive it of the countenance and support of the best understandings, if not to arm them in hostility against it. We say not that they are for this cause justified in its neglect or rejection. Far from it. In a matter of this kind it becomes the duty of every good man, of every one who wishes well to the cause of truth, of human virtue and enjoyment, to read, inquire, and judge, and not hastily to infer that all is hollow and deceptive, the offspring of weakness and imposture, because

some abuses and deformities are visible. The effect however, is a natural one, and, as we have said, greatly to be deplored.

We know of but one remedy to the evil. Well informed men must give their attention to the subject. They must examine the character and claims of Christianity, and endeavour to separate its great truths from that mass of human error under which they have for ages lain buried. They must be careful especially that they do not confound the wild work of enthusiasm, in the form particularly in which it has recently displayed itself in several parts of our own country, with the legitimate influence of Christian doctrines. The times, we conceive, impose on them a most solemn duty. They must stand in the breach, and with a strong arm endeavour to turn back the tide of irreligion, which, as many fear, threatens, at no far distant period, to overspread the land, and unsettle the foundations of public and private virtue. This can be effected only by carrying forward the reformation, which was begun by the early Protestants, but which, we may say, in a manner stopped with them. Religion must undergo a further process of purification before it can be adapted to the wants of an enlightened age. It is idle at this time of day to go about to reestablish the dominion of the harsh dogmas of Augustine or Edwards. They have had their season, and have sunk to their rest, and the attempt to revive them can serve only to put weapons into the hands of the infidel and scoffer.

We cannot conclude without expressing our very sincere gratitude to Mr. Norton for the successful execution of the task he has prescribed to himself. Such works, we repeat, are particularly needed at the present moment, to excite and guide the inquiries of the more enlightened part of the community, and dispel the dense mists of superstition and error, by which the life-giving truths of Christianity are either obscured, or made to assume an appearance of deformity which exposes them to the danger of rejection.

INDEX.

A.

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ancies of, 359 - Cardwell's reply,
360- Curtis's lists of errors, 366
--Cardwell's observations on the
same, 368.

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Blayney, Dr. his edition of the Bible,
357 Curtis's observations on,
361.
Bonaparte, Channing's views of, 71.
Boswell's Life of Johnson, Croker's
edition of, noticed, 154.

Brigham, Dr. Amariah, his Remarks
on the Influence of Mental Culti-
vation on Health, noticed, 129.
Brooks, Charles, his Prayer-Book
noticed, 241.

Buckminster, J. S., estimate of, as
a composer of sermons, 54.
Burton, Rev. Mr., his "District

School, as it was," noticed, 324.
Butler's Book of the Roman Catholic
Church, note on, 378, note.

C.

Canon of the New Testament, how
settled, 3-books excluded from
the, 13.

Atonement, belief in the popular doc- Capital Punishment, Thoughts on,

trine of, not essential, 209.

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298 is it expedient in cases of
aggression on property? 299-- is it
expedient in the case of murder?
objections against it, 311
is it expedient in any case? 318-
Report on, to the Massachusetts
Legislature, 320.

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Cardwell's Reply to Curtis on the
Discrepancies of our Bibles, 360.
Catholic, Roman, principles of the

church considered, 371-preten-
sions to unity vain, 380.
Channing's, Dr. W. E, writings re-
viewed, 54- passages from them,
illustrative of their character, 58
et seq.
-- some faults of, 67, 73.
Charity and Decision, a letter on the
union of, 200.

Children, Remarks on the Education
of, 130 on instructing them in
the principles of Christianity, 192.
Christianity, its original maturity,
62 evidences of, suggestions on
the proper mode of presenting
them, 185-instruction of children
in, 192 worth of, as held by
Unitarians, 402.
Christian Monitor, New Series, no-
ticed, 153.

Christian sects, how to choose among
them, 203.

11

- his

Circumstances, remarks on the na-
ture and power of, 279-- how they
are to be treated, 288.
Cobbett's History of the Protestant
Reformation, note on, 374, note.
Coleridge's literary character con-
sidered, 108 -- his fondness for
German metaphysics, 118.
theological views, 127.
Communicant's Manual, noticed, 137.
Controversy, remarks on, 204- the
essentials of spiritual life do not
depend on its questions, 208.
Croker's edition of Boswell's John-
son, noticed, 154.

Curtis, Thomas, on the discrepancies
between the several editions of
King James's Bible, 327.

D.

Decision and Charity, a letter on the
union of, 200.
Demerara, by Miss Martineau, notic-
ed, 172.

Dermot Mac Morrogh, by J. Q. Ad-
ams, noticed, 22.
District School, The, as it was, no-
ticed, 324.

Dyspepsia, some remarks on, 135.

E.

Edward's, President, at issue with
Professor Stuart, 235.

English versions of Scripture. See
Bible.

Evidences of Christianity. See Chris-
tianity.

F.

Family Prayer-Book, by the Rev. Mr.
Brooks, noticed, 241.
Fenelon, extracts from Channing on
his character and writings, 60, 61.
Fichte, his metaphysical system, 123,
124.

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