ture according to our honest understanding, we do emphatically worship "the God of Christians." We worship the mighty Being who created all things by the power of his will, we worship the good and merciful Parent who loves and saves us-and of a truth he is the "God of Christians" whether he be "Father, Son and Holy Ghost" or the ONE Jehovah.

It surprises us that Unitarians can bear so patiently the reproaches which ignorance and fanaticism so constantly heap upon them. It is not for lack of weapons that they strike not the avenging blow. How readily could the tide of invective be returned? Suppose for example, that we should assert that Trinitarians do not worship the "God of Christians"-that they worship Gods of their own invention, that they are Heathens, Pantheists, Platonists-that they follow the dictation of a Council of the Romish Church, in their views of the Deity-that they worship "the unknown God," so shrouded in mystery, so confusedly made up, that they cannot define him, nor prove his existence. All this, and much more we might say, but we should be unworthy followers of him "in whom was found no guile," who, "when he was reviled, reviled not again," if we should give utterance to sentiments so unworthy and unchristian.

Why will Christians so far forget the precepts of their master? Why will the Ministers of the Cross, who have the means of learning the truth, resort to slander in the hope of dissuading men from investigating or even listening to our tenets? Strange to say, the very denominations who now assail us, are those who have heretofore been branded as heretics and schismatics. "After the manner which men call heresy, worship I the God of my Fathers," said St. Paul. Ever thus do we worship-and thus have those who now revile us, worshipped. Every innovation upon the system of belief which grew up and was forced upon the world during the dark ages, has been met with the cry of - "heresy, heresy." Those who took the first step, were denounced and anathematized by those who held fast the ancient system -while those who made farther advances in religious truth, were assailed and hunted down, not so much by the ancient Church, as by those who had seceded from her. The early Reformers, with few exceptions, seem to have supposed that the little light which dawned upon their minds after the lapse of benighted ages, was in truth the great light "shining unto the perfect day.". While they combatted the claim to infallibility, set up by the Romish Church, they were pretending to the same fallacy themselves. Thus the Reformer, John Calvin, in the plenitude of his Evangelical zeal and power, caused the death of the Unitarian Reformer, Michael Servetus. Thus in modern times the bitter"est persecutors of Unitarians, are the very Protestants who at a former day were visited by the terrible anathemas of the Church of Rome.

We would not have it supposed that we in any way wish to silence our opponents in condemning our actual doctrines. We are more than willing that those doctrines should be assailed with all the force of argument which can be brought against them— for, honestly and fervently believing them to be true, we court investigation, knowing that the truth will bear the light, and gain strength by discussion. God forbid that we should wish to stifle honest opposition. If we err, we wish to have it proved, and we will readily acknowledge our errors. But what we object to and solemnly protest against, in the name of "the God of Christians," is the system of misrepresentation and fraud resorted to by our adversaries. While we pity, we must also condemn the paltry artifices devised to injure us. The age in which we live, affords no apology for such conduct-ignorance cannot be pleaded in extenuation of it. Wherever the art of printing is known, books can be obtained, setting forth the nature of our belief.— Some of the advocates of our faith, (thanks be to God!) are not unknown to fame in any part of the civilized world, and their writings are accessible to all who will take the trouble to ask for them. We honestly believe that the men who condemn us unheard, or who after hearing, deliberately misrepresent us, will be held accountable hereafter for such sins, whether of omission or commission. Much may be forgiven the mere worldly controversialist; but he who wilfully deceives his brethren in that great controversy which concerns the souls of men-he who would cheat his fellow creatures of the very bread of life, for the sake of a paltry argument, will not be held guiltless by a righteous God. Yet it can be proved that Christians-aye, Protestant Christians are in the constant habit of bearing false witness against us. Do those remember the terms in which the Scripture speaks of "false accusers?" Do they remember that he only shall abide in the tabernacle of the Lord who "speaketh the truth in his heart?"-"who back-biteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor?" If these truths be not forgotten, or unheeded, how shall we explain the unceasing vituperation of our most Christian brethren? Can they PROVE that we are Infidels, "and worse than Infidels" as they are pleased to assert? Can they prove that we deny "the Lord that bought us?" as they cantingly asseverate? Can they prove these things more clearly than we could prove that they are pagans, pantheists and platonists in disguise? that they "deny" their Redeemer before men in word and deed? On the contrary, is not the whole current of Unitarian practice inclined toward the strongest faith? Do not the writings of Lardner, Priestley, Channing, and others, present the strongest bulwark of the Christian faith! Have not these and other eminent Unitarians done as much for the defence of Christian truth, as any equal number of Trinitarians? It cannot be denied-and

yet these very men are gravely charged with being "Infidels," who do not worship "the God of Christians."

So long as our doctrines are learnt from our enemies, and the enemies of truth, we may expect to be misunderstood. Let the impartial and unprejudiced drink of the waters of truth at the fountain head, and not descend to the polluted current after its channels have become choaked with the filth and garbage gathered in its course. Come to us; and we trust that you may find the living waters swelling up into everlasting life. Make not our enemies our judges! Swayed by ignorance, prejudice, and malice, they can neither understand our views, nor appreciate our motives. We ask your justice-your favor we do not claim. Chicago.

J. N. B.

SONNETS, &C. FOR THE WESTERN MESSENGER.

BY JONES VERY.

THE ABSENT.

Thou art not yet at home in thine own house,
But to one room I see thee now confined;
Having one hole, like rat or skulking mouse,
And as a mole to all the others blind;

Does the great Day find preference when he shines
In at each window lighting every room?

No selfish wish the moon's bright glance confines,
And each in turn the stars' faint rays illume;
Within thy sleeping room thou dost abide,
And thou the social parlor dost prefer;
Another thou wilt in the cupboard hide,

And this or that's the room for him or her;
But the same sun, and moon with silver face
Look in on all, and lighten every place.

THE PILGRIM.

'Twas in the winter, at the close of day,
The snow fell deep upon the traveler's path;
I saw one journeying on, infirm and grey,
Yet seemed he not to heed the tempest's wrath;

And oft a citizen would ask him in,

And set him down beside him at his board;
Yet soon his weary march would he begin,

As if he felt not by the food restored;

I wondering, asked him, why he tarried not,
To taste the cheer they had so freely given;
And why the sheltering house he had forgot?

He nothing said, but pointed up to Heaven;
And then I knew the food they gave away,
And home they offered were but for a day.

A WORD.

The silent history of a word,
Borne on Time's stream along,
Has never yet been sung or heard,
It asks the voice of song.

'Twas born from out the soul's calm deep,
Smit by the chastening rod;

As Eve, flesh-formed from Adam's sleep,
Touched by the hand of God.

It wandered o'er the unyielding earth,
By war and famine worn,

A stranger seen, of unknown birth;
Though night, a child of morn.

"Twas welcomed in the lowly cot,
'Twas heard in kingly hall;
And men their arms and strife forgot,
In listening to its call.

It told of peace that would not fail,
Of love that could not die;

'Twas felt beneath the warrior's mail,
It dried the mourner's eye.

I looked along the path it took,
As told by legends old
Repeated oft from book to book;
It shone as shining gold.

A furrow through earth's barren field,
Ploughed deep, and sown with care;
But none to notice what it yields,

Or in its harvest share.

The words of God are affirmations of life and immortality, thus and thus only made known. Let him that hath an ear, hear. They tell of conditions of existence made permanent by long conflict, and thus outshining upon men; in words, whose

height and depth have never been measured. He who "loves," is of God. Loves what? not this or that;-still that mighty word continues sounding in our ears until all things have fled away from before it; and this remains but as the condition of being, which says, of such is the kingdom of heaven. "Ask," and it shall be given" you. What? Ask not this or that.— Ask always, ask everything, this word is of the spirit; it quickens until all vain petitions have ceased from your lips, and that which it is Itself abides with you, as the true state of your soul. "Stand," not here or there; for these are but temporal, but be such as I whose position in life is expressed by that one word, and that alone. He that reads, may he love, may he ask, may he stand; until these great watch-words uttered of old, become the daily expressions of his being; then will I call him one with us, the brotherhood without number, the friends who have come together, and of whom Jesus is the midst.

THE FOX AND THE BIRD.

The bird that has no nest,

The Fox that has no hole;

He's wiser than the rest,
Her eggs are never stole.

She builds where none can see,
He hides where none can find;
The bird can rest where'er se be,
He freely moves as wind.

Thou hast not found her little young,

E'en though thou'st sought them long;
Though from thine earliest day they've sung,
Thou hast not heard their song.

Thou hast not found that Fox's brood,
That nestle under ground;

Though through all time his burrow's stood,
His whelps thou'st never found.

THE WORD.

The Word where is it? hath it voice,
That I may hear it and be free;

Hath it a form, that I may know;

A touch, that I may feel; and see?