him, and the world knew him not." "He was in the world, and the world was enlightened by him, and yet the world knew him not." -I. V. This interpretation cannot, I think, be defended. I am sorry it was ever given. Yet Mr. Byrth's sarcasm is quite powerless against it, what kind of light is that which blinds the eyes which it was intended to illuminate?" in the face of the text-" the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not;" unless he adopts the interpretation of some of the Fathers," And the darkness did not insinuate itself into the light, interpenetrate and quench it." Page 161.-The liberality of ROBERT HALL. We desire to speak with respect of this great and good man. But perhaps it would be impossible to name a man more illiberal as a controversialist, and who allowed himself such an unmeasured use of uncharitable language. It was only the other day I learned an anecdote of him from the person to whom the words were spoken, descriptive at once of his vigour and his rancour speaking of the Unitarians he said—" they are inspired from beneath,”—with a look, said my informant, never to be forgotten. Many passages might be brought from his writings, especially his Reviews, demonstrative of this temper,-but the passage given by Mr. Byrth himself, in which he is satisfied to rest conclusions so momentous and fearful upon reasonings so arbitrary and vague, is quite enough. When any man acquainted with the state of Theological opinion in the world, and with the impossibility of uniformity, can fix upon his own opinions as essential, and run a doctrinal line between Heaven and Hell, we require no further tests of his " liberality," unless indeed he is, what Mr. Hall was not, only a traditional believer. I have already remarked that some of my observations apply more to the spoken than to the printed lecture. Were it possible to efface the impressions made by the speaker, and which required to be counteracted, gladly would I efface every word of personal reference from my pages. Even now, with the recollection fresh upon my mind, of the unsparing contempt, both literary and moral, expressed by words and tones, not conveyed by the printed page, when the speaker, feeling that the sympathies of his audience were with him to the full, and that their knowledge of the subject required from him the broadest statements, to render it intelligible, gave himself to the excitement of the moment,-I have more than doubted whether it would not have been better to have avoided every personal allusion. I believe that I have in no case overstated or misrepresented what was said. I deeply grieve to fix upon my pages the suggestions, perhaps, of momentary excitement, which Mr. Byrth's better feeling has, in some instances, refused to record—and that the obligation I was under to remove an impression actually made, does not permit me to give full effect to this working of a kinder spirit, the manifestations of which, in other ways, I have respectfully to acknowledge. LIVERPOOL. Syllabus of a Course of Lectures now in course of delivery successively. The Course of Unitarian Lectures will be published weekly, and may be had of JOHN GREEN, Newgate Street, London, WILLMER AND SMITH, Liverpool, and all other Booksellers. AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS. A LECTURE, DELIVERED IN Errata to the Third Lecture,-" Christianity not the Property of Critics and Scholars, but the Gift of God to all Men." Page 4, 2nd line, for arguing read agreeing. 19, 4th line, for printed read written. 19, in the note, for Geoç read Itov. 31, last line, for was God read was a God. LIVERPOOL: WILLMER AND SMITH, 32, CHURCH STREET. LONDON: JOHN GREEN, 121, NEWGATE STREET. |