Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

And it has borne a large share of the obloquy, which misconception or prejudice, uncharitableness or honest zeal have never ceased from the days of Priestley, to pour upon the name of Unitarians. The characteristic honesty of Mr Belsham would never permit him to shrink from the most open avowal of all his sentiments; and his moral courage never failed to sustain him amidst the harshest censures. Nor is it surprising, however it may be lamented or condemned, that a controversialist, so ardent and bold, should have been the special object of dislike with the bigoted of every class; or that his learning and piety, and even his belief in Christianity, should have been brought into question by such writers as Dr Magee, and other like slavish advocates of creeds and establishments.

But by whatever weapons, either of ignorance or of bigotry, Mr Belsham may have been assailed; whatever honors may be conceded or denied to him, as a philosopher or a divine, he possessed, beyond all controversy, the far more enviable distinctions of true goodness. Few men have lived more faithful than was he to their convictions and principles. The strictest purity, unimpeachable integrity, kindness and benevolence in all the relations he sustained, were among his distinguishing virtues. He cherished the most filial views of the whole government and providence of God. His convictions upon this subject were the source to him of habitual cheerfulness. They were ever present to his mind, cheering his solitary hours; and the instructive and delightful subjects of his conversa

tion. He loved to exhibit them in their power to inspire habitual serenity and trust; as supplying the strongest incentives to virtue, and maintaining contentment and hope amidst the most painful vicissitudes of life. Of his devotional spirit, some of his practical discourses, particularly that on 'Resignation to the will of God, after the example of Jesus;' and a Charge, which he delivered at the ordination of a friend,* may be mentioned as just illustrations.

Mr Belsham was eminent also for his social virtues. His temper was truly benevolent; and he delighted to dwell upon the future prospects and happiness of mankind. His soul was the seat of the most expansive charity. He was always ready to the utmost of his ability to impart good. He was, more particularly, the consid-' erate friend and wise counsellor of youth. And to students in theology, as well as to his younger brethren in the ministry, his friendship and his patronage, his advice and, when needed, his purse-were freely bestowed. Though without a family of his own, he had also that qualification of a christian bishop, commended by an apostle,-being much given to hospitalty. It was his delight to gather around him his friends and brethren; and while making them partakers of his own enjoyments, he failed not to mingle with them the charms of his conversation, and of his uniform urbanity.

*See a beautiful Extract from this charge in the Christian Disciple for 1820, Vol. 2, p. 205, adduced in refutation of an unp rincipled caJumny by Archbishop Magee, that Mr Belsham rejected the notion of prayer.

Multitudes of our countrymen have been debtors to his kindness; and bear grateful testimony to his frequent and courteous hospitalities; to the invariable friendliness, which marked his manners; and to the yet greater kindness of faithful remembrances and good wishes, with which he ceased not to follow them to their native country, and along their progress in life. Some of our most lamented friends and brethren, now gathered with him in their graves-of whom were Buckminster, Carey, and Thacher-with others happily yet surviving-experienced largely of his friendship. Their days of weakness and pain, their drooping spirits and fading temporal hopes, at a distance from their homes, though in the land of their fathers, were cheered by his sympathies and effectual care. The friends of these, our departed brethren, cherish with sacred recollection, the tenderness and disinterestedness of his services, both to the living and the dead. God himself will not forget those works of love, which were shown towards his name, in that they were ministered to his saints.'

And

We leave to others to settle the claims of Mr Belsham to intellectual eminence, and to a permanent rank with the philosophers or theologians of his day. To us it is a more grateful task—and it is but the offering of personal gratitude-to recal his private virtues. They were the virtues of a true lover of God and goodness; of a faithful servant of Jesus Christ; of an hearty friend to human happiness, who labored by a useful and exemplary life to advance it. F. P.

RELIGIOUS STATE AND PROSPECTS OF FRANCE.'

UNDER this head the Monthly Repository (English) contains some observations of an interesting nature, if we can rely on their accuracy. They are given as the ' result of a recent visit to Paris, which, though short, enabled the writer to ascertain the mind and feeling of various portions of the population of that metropolis.' The writer quotes a remark of Napoleon, that the revolution, in spite of all its horrors, had nevertheless been the cause of the regeneration of morals in France,' and observes that a change for the better has undoubtedly taken place.

6

On the subject of religion he expresses himself as follows. The complaints of the prevalence of infidelity in France were at one time thought in England to be a mere political manoeuvre; but it appears by the event that they were scarcely overcharged. A generation has grown up without religion. The churches are thinly attended, and chiefly by women and children. Nothing is more common in society than a joke upon the rites of the church. It is said, however, that a large proporti ›n of intelligent men, who are masters of families, and approaching to middle age, are wearied with skepticism, and for the sake especially of their children are strongly dissatisfied with the state of religious destitution in which they find themselves. They cannot return to the dogmas and practices of the Roman Catholic Church; they abhor the domination of the priesthood; and at the same time they see

nothing alluring or satisfactory in Protestantism, as it is professed in France. Some of these have lately turned their attention to Unitarianism, with which they have become acquainted through the medium of English and American publications, and are disposed to try the experiment of translations and abridgements of some of these in their own language. Others meditate further schemes,and contemplate the establishment of a sect of Catholic Unitarians. It is a fact, at once curious and encouraging, that many individuals and several knots of persons have indulged these designs and hopes without concert, and even without a suspicion of each other's wishes. The schemes referred to may in some cases have been suggested, and in others may have been strengthened, by political feelings and speculations; but it will appear, as the writer believes, whenever the attempt of religious reformation shall be seriously made in France, that many of the best minds of that country are swayed in their desire of a rational religion by a pure regard to truth, and to the moral welfare of their fellow-creatures. It may be added, that the larger portion of the press is favorable to a new and further religious reformation, and that the Charter is interpreted as providing toleration for any form of Christian faith and worship. The Revue Protestante, which ably and spiritedly disputed the dogmas of Calvin, is dropped, though not from any failure of subscribers. A report is abroad that this work is speedily to be revived under a new and bolder title, and to be devoted to the illustration and defence of Unitarianism.'

« VorigeDoorgaan »