ciently shews that the man's entire self was predicated by it. It appears to me an important illustration of the Materialist's persuasion, that, when Jesus had risen, his body was missing from the sepulchre; which certainly affords no countenance to the doctrine of the separate existence and survivorship of the soul; and I presume that no person will be found to contend that the resurrection of Jesus, as it was the pledge, was not also in its mode and completion the pattern, of our own. BREVIS. To Mr. John Ashworth, on the proposed Unitarian Chapel at Padiham. SIR, THOU HOUGH a stranger to your person, I admire your zeal, and hope a generous public will aid your endeavours to enlighten the ignorant and to encourage the inquirer after truth. Anxious to see your benevolent appeal to Christians (pp. 425, 426,) speedily complied with, I take the liberty of suggesting a few hints, that, if carried into effect, would soon enable the people of Padiham to have a place for the education of their children, and for the worship of the one living and true God. I have no doubt that the statement you have given will excite the immediate attention of Fellowship Funds; and the example furnished by Bristol will be followed in every place where means are possessed for assisting their brethren in need. But if the plan of Bible Associations were applied by Unitarians, who are desirous to unite in Christian fellowship, zeal would be increased, a bond of union secured, and a spirit of independence excited, which are essential for the prosperity of societies in which the wealthy do not join. Let the weekly subscription, or monthly, be ever so small, if many contribute, its effect will be powerful. The habit begun, will extend, and a willingness be manifested to pay something towards the education of their children. This is a circunstance of no small importance. Allow me to add the scheme of a friend to the cause, and whose ardour to advance every plan for promoting the best interest of man is constant. It is this: Let a few friends in each Unitarian congregation agree that each should take a list of five persons, to whom they are willing to apply for 5s. The amount of the sum so collected to be paid to the treasurer of their Fellowship Fund, or if no Fellowship Fund exist, to be transmitted to some other society, or, by some friend in London, paid to your order. By this means the difficulties under which our brethren at Padiham labour would soon be removed, an encouragement given to other places to imitate their example, and those who have the opportunity of doing good may experience the blessings attached to the liberal giver, whilst the less wealthy will be enabled to cast in their mite to the treasury of benevolence. Divine mercy may crown your work and labour of love with abundant success, is the sincere desire of SIR, That L. E. F. Evesham, September 10, 1821. of the late Rev. Paul Cardale, of HE Diary and other Manuscripts Evesham, having lately fallen into my hands, but written in a short-hand which I do not understand, I should be glad to know if any of your correspondents are acquainted with the short-hand written generally by Dr. Latham's students, and whether there is a Grammar of it now to be found; and what short-hands were known and used among the Dissenters in Cardale's time? T. D. P. S. I have in my possession a copy of Cardale's "True Doctrine of the New Testament," with some notes and additions in his own handwriting, which he considered as improvements which might be made” in a third edition. information respecting him, very acceptable to your readers. A friend of mine, who is a merchant in Calcutta, an intelligent young man, who has received a most liberal and pious education, and whose opinions, dispositions and conduct are worthy of it, has formed some acquaintance with him. The letter, from which I am about to give you an extract, was written without the least conception that the name of Rammohun Roy was known in England, and the book referred to was written by an Unitarian. It is delightful to have received, through so unexpected a channel, so satisfactory a confirmation of the attainments and excellencies of a man who seems capable of doing incalculable good in India, and whose qualifications to diffuse amongst his countrymen purer and nobler conceptions of the Supreme Being, one cannot think have been bestowed on him in vain. SOUTHWOOD SMITH. Extract of a Letter from R- G-, Esq. "Calcutta, Nov. 27, 1820. "You recollect a little book of our friend sent me by my brother. I have shewn it to three of my most rigid acquaintance, who have been so satisfied with the justness of his reasoning, that they are now converted to our opinions. "We have in Calcutta a very learned native, a Hindoo of very large fortune, and a Brahmin, who has changed his opinions, and is now what we should call a Free-thinker. I know not exactly what his religious opinions are, but the good people of Calcutta call him a Deist. "He is one of the first scholars in India, Europeans not excepted, quite a critic in the dead European languages, and is altogether one of the first men of the age. This man is now avoided by all his family and friends, not one of them can eat with him without becoming an outcast from his friends, and this, in their opinion, likewise in a future state. Still he is firm in his opinions, and has written various excellent works for the instruction of the native youth, in which he is succeeding to his wish. This Brah According to this writer's explicit acknowledgment he is not accurately acquainted with Rammohun Roy's religious opinions. That he is a Unitarian we now know: whether he be a Unitarian Christian still remains a matter of doubt. min's name is Rammohun Roy, and 1 have the satisfaction to inform you, that he is quite delighted with our friend's book; says it is one of the most convincing books he ever read, and his opi nions incontrovertible. "I expect he will call on me, and when I am sufficiently acquainted with him, I will endeavour to get a few of his books to send you." Account of the Establishment of Presbyterianism in Manchester. From the Original Document. SIR, No. II. Manchester, September 15, 1821. CCORDING to my promise I A now send you an account of an ordination, from the Register of the first Classis, described in my last (p. 387). "ORDINATION by the Presbytery of the first Classis, in the county Palatine of Lancaster, of seven Expectants, viz. Mr. Tho. Clayton, Mr. Tho. Holland, Mr. Nehemiah Pott, Mr. Hen. Vaughan, Mr. Jn". Malden, Mr. Jno. Worthington, Mr. Jn. Bridges. "Preparation thereunto (according to ordinance of Parliament) begunue March 4to, 1646. "Mr. Tho. Clayton, aged about 24 yeares, Mr. of Arts of St. Johus, brought a certificate of his good conversation from Blackburne, where he was borne, took the nationall covenant before the Classis, desired and freely elected by the people of Didsbury in this county of Lancaster, was examined according to the ordinance. An Instrument aflixed on the church door of the said Congregation. Answerred without exception. His question in Divinity, An gratia Dei sit irresistibilis? His deff. affirm. [defensio aflirmativa] approv'd. And the 15th of April, 1646, ordayn'd. See the file." The other six Expectants are entered in the Register in a similar manner, mutatis mutandis; and as what relates to them personally cannot be interesting, I think it unnecessary here to transcribe it. "Upon the 15th day of April, 1647, being appointed a fast for this present businesse, Mr. Walker preacht. The aforesaid Expectants, having made publique confession of their faith in the Congregation at Manchester, according to the ordinance, with earnest prayer, they were very solemnly sett apart for the work of the Ministry by imposition of hands; and afterwards had such Instru- cept only such difference as hereafter ments of Testimonialls as theese delivered followeth." to each of them; thus signed, "Apud Manchester, in Com. Lanc. may "Whereas Mr. Thomas Clayton, Mr. of Artes, aged about 28 yeares, hath addressed himself unto us, authorized by ordinance of both Houses of Parliament of the 26o August, 1646, for the ordination of Ministers, desiring to be ordayned a Presbyter, for that hee is chosen and appointed for the work of the Ministry in the Church of Didsbury, in the county of Lancaster, as by a certificate now remaining with us, touching that his election and appointment appeareth; and he having likewise [taken ?] the nationall covenant before us, and exhibited a sufficient Testimoniall of his diligence and proficiency in his studyes and unblameablenesse of life and conversation. He hath beene examined according to the rules for examination in the said ordinance expressed, and thereupon approved; and there hav ing beene noe just exception made against his ordination and admission; theese may certify to all whom it concerne, that upon the fifteenth day of this month of April, wee have proceeded solemnly to sett him apart to the office of Presbyter, and worke of the ministry of the gospel, by the laying on of our hands, by fasting and prayer, by virtue whereof wee doe declare him to be a lawfull and sufficiently authorized Minis ter of Jesus Christ; and having good evidence of his lawfull and fayre calling not only to the worke of the ministry, but to the exercise thereof in the Church of Didsbury, in the county aforesaid, wee doe hereby send him thither, and actually admit him to the said charge to perform all the offices and dutyes of a faithfull Pastor there: exhorting the people, in the name of Jesus Christ, willingly to receive and acknowledge him as the Minister of Christ; and to maintaine and encourage him in the execution of his office that he may be able to give up such an account to Christ of their obedience to his ministry, as may be to his joy, and their everlasting comfort. In witnesse whereof wee, the Presbyters of the first Classis in the county of Lancas. ter, have hereto sett our hands, this fifteenth day of April, anno Dni. 1647. : The "difference as hereafter followeth" consists only in names and localities, and it can be of no use to transcribe it. Your readers, however, will forgive me for transcribing two or three lines from the beginning of Mr.. John Malden's certificate: "Mr. John Malden, aged about 24 Oxford, took not his degree on account years, was four years at the University of of the King's coming thither. Brought Salop for his place; and a certificate an approbation from the Committee of from the Minister at Salop," &c. Without offering upon these curious documents any observations, I shall proceed to make such extracts from the accounts of the succeeding meetings, as may appear to me most curious and interesting. "The 4th Meeting at Manchester, May 12, 1647. "4. Question being debated in the Classis, whether the 4th branch of the ordinance of the 14th of March, 1645, limiting scandall to that which hath been given within twelve months before, doe take away the liberty of examining (whether the Elders be men of good understanding in matters of religion, sound in the faith, prudent, discreete, grave and of unblameable conversation, and willing to undergoe the said office, as by the directions of both Houses, die Martis 19°, 1645,) beyond the time or noe. Considering the 5th branch of the said Ordinance of 14th of March, 1645, viz. that the Triers shall have power to examine, whether the Elders that are to be chosen be so qualifyed as is expressed in the ordinance of Directions which hath passed. both Houses.-Resolved negatively. "6. Question upon the proceedings of such part of the severall charges against James Parkinson as is made already. Whether the said James Parkinson is to be judged fit in point of qualification (according to the ordinance) to be a Ruling Elder at Chorlton.-Resolved in the negative. "9. Upon the warrant sent out to the Expectants, Mr. Hall and Mr. Briggs appeared: Mr. Angier, Mr. Harrison, Capn. Wm. Booth and Robert Leech ordered to deale with Mr. Wigan privately, to labour to satisfy his doubts of coming to the Classis, before the next Meeting of the Classis. "The 5th Meeting at Manchester, June 9th, 1647. "1. Mr. Heyricke, Warden, Moderator, begunne with prayer." The old parish church in this town is a collegiate church, the incumbents, (if the term be appropriate to them,) consisting of a Warden and four Fellows. In what sense the term Warden is here used, or with what propriety the term, in the present use of it, could be retained, under the Presbyte rian system of church discipline, I pretend not to know. "4. The Members of the last Classis appointed to deale with Mr. Wigan return'd answer, That the said Mr. Wigan not desireing to meete them as members of a Classis, but as fellow-brethren, promised to returne his scruples to them in writing. Not yet done. "5. Upon complaint of clandestine mariage by Mr. Jones. It is ordered, that the Elders of that congregation now at this Classis, doe seriously admonish Mr. Jones that there bee noe more such miscariage by him. 6. Debate about the removeing the Fout at Flixton: the churchwardens of the said parish are desired to doe it. Request sent to them by the Classis. 8. A man that is guilty of notorious sinne publiquely knowne, when the Elders have dealt with him, and found some willingnesse in him to give satisfaction; they are to publish this his willingnesse, and to desire the congregation to pray for him, and to observe the proceeding of the work of God in him, preparing him for publique satisfaction. "The 6th Meeting at Manchester, July 80, 1647. 3. The Elders of Eccles (deputed) have spoken to Mr. Jones, and he has promised to forbear clandestine mariages. 4. Mr. Birch produced testimony supposing him to be Deacon, but produced no letters or orders; hee is appointed to produce his letters of ordination before hee execute any ministerial acte. "5. All the Elders elect for Didsbury are desired to come to the next Classis, to be tryed. "11. Persons not maryed by their own Ministers, nor publiquely, may be called before the Congregationall Eldershipp, to shew where, when, and by whom they were maryed, that they may free themselves from suspicion of living in whoredome. "12. Mr. Walker and Mr. John Wright are desired to tell Mr. Hall, that this is the third day that he hath been expected by the Classis: that Mr. Holland give the like notice to Mr. Briggs; and Mr. Angier is desired to speake to Mr. Martindale, to know the reason of his not coming, seeing he hath professed to have received satisfaction. "The 7th Meeting at Manchester, August 4th, 1647. 3. Ordered that Mr. Hall be summon'd to answer his non-appearance, and for some miscariages in his Ministry, and unlesse he engage himselfe to come to the uext Classis, to stand disallowed. Mr. Walker and John Wright appointed hereunto. "4. Mr. Birch not allowed to exercise ministeriall actes within this Classis. 10. Agreed that the Elders elect of Didsbury should be summon'd againe by Mr. Clayton to come to the next Meeting. "The 8th Meeting at Manchester, September 2d, 1647. Mr. Ad. Martindale to bee warned to appearé at the next Meeting by Mr. Angier. 5. Mr. James Hall appeared, acknowledg'd his mistake in baptizing, being unordained: hath liberty till the next Meeting but one to prepare for his erdination. 6. The businesse about Capo. Birch, of Ardwicke, received upon appeale into the Classis. "The 9th Meeting at Manchester, October 6th, 1647. "3. Complaint made by Mr. Woohmer of 2 Elders, who neglect the discharge of their duty after the acceptation of their office; viz. Rich. Rogers and Rich. Cowper. Ordered that a warrant be sent for them to appeare at the next Meeting. "The 10th Meeting at Manchester, November 30, 1647. 5. Ordered that Mr. Hall, Mr. Briggs, Mr. Brerely, be peremptorily summon'd to the Classicall Meeting." No extracts can be given from the 11th and 12th Meetings, which are entirely taken up with matters of scandall against Mr. Tobie Furnes, the Minister of Prestwitch. The details are very curious and characteristic of the times; but, upon the whole, I think they could not be inserted with propriety in a work addressed to general readers. "The 13th Meeting at Manchester, January 5o, 1647. [By mistake, instead of 1648.] 5. Mr. Benson produced allegations against his Elders at Chorlton, upon which James Chorlton, Elder at Chorllerton, [same as Chorlton,] confessed that hee gave Mr. Benson the lye, as the said Mr. Benson was in the pulpit. The said Elders produced allegations against Mr. Benson, had warrants for witnesses as on the file. The inhabitants of Chollerton desired him to stay. “6. Divers of the inhabitants of Prest witch complain'd because they were kept from the Sacrament. "7. Mr. Hall appeared upon summons, intreating more time, is appointed either to come in the next month to ordination, or else to forbeare, or to receive inhibition from preaching." The principal object I have kept in view in making the foregoing selections from the Register of the Classis, is to exhibit a faithful picture of the Presbyterian system under the Common wealth, as far as my materials are efficient for this purpose, as well as to illustrate the general spirit and state of the times. With the same view I shall send you further extracts from the same source as soon as convenient. W. J. SIR, Exeter, September 14, 1821. WAS sorry to see in your last an article entitled, a Remonstrance against Lay-Preaching, which, as it seems to me to be founded on very false principles, is also, I fear, calculated to give pain to many truly estimable individuals, and valua able supporters of our common cause, I trust it will ever be felt by the Unitarian Dissenters as a matter of serious duty, as well as an object of honourable ambition, to secure à learned and well-educated ministry, who may be able to apply extensive knowledge and sound critical principles to the interpretation of the sacred volume, to perform the various duties of their office with eminent ability, acceptableness and usefulness, and to defend and promote their opinions from the pulpit or the press, with clearness of argument and force of persuasion. But if we rightly understand the grounds of the importance of a learned ministry, we shall not, I apprehend, reject the services of all who do not come under this character. There is no authority in the New Testament for the separation of any body of men from the ordinary labours and pursuits of life for the work of the ministry, much less for their assump tion of any controul over the faith of their brethren, or any exclusive power to administer the ordinances, lead the services, or conduct the religious instruction of Christians. The pastor performs these duties by the appointment of a Christian congregation; and with this appointment his authority is the same, whether he be learned or unlearned, since in this particular, religious societies are bound by no apostolic command. The reasons which, in these times, render a learned ministry highly desi rable and important, are, shortly, the necessity of learning, for the attainment and distribution amongst the people of knowledge already stored up, and for collecting new light on the criticism and interpretation of the Bible; for the proper exhibition and illustration of the evidences of revelation, and for the acquisition of such a mode of recommending and enforcing its doctrines and precepts as may best fix the attention, convince the judgment, and affect the hearts of persons of all classes in an enlightened and inquiring age. It may be added, that men who have enjoyed the advantages of education refined and cultivated minds, cannot engage with satisfaction in the services of religion, or listen with advantage to its public instructions, unless its ministers possess intellectual cultivation equal, or not greatly inferior to, their own. The reasons which make a separate ministry desirable, are, the impossibility of having a learned ministry without it, both from the necessity of previous education, and on account of the time which is absolutely requisite for pursuing Theological studies with effect; and the various useful branches of ministerial duty calling for a greater consumption of time and thought, than an individual engaged in the common concerns of life can possibly afford. But whilst these reasons shew the expediency and very great importance of a regular and learned ministry, so far as it can be obtained, they by no means oblige us to reject all other aid in the diffusion of gospel truth, or the maintenance of religious worship on what we believe to be scriptural principles. There are some small societies which cannot support a minister at all, and are they on this account to |