つ AUTHENTIC REPORT OF THE DISCUSSION ON THE UNITARIAN CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE REV. JOHN SCOTT PORTER AND THE REV. DANIEL BAGOT, M. A. HELD ON APRIL 14, 1834, AND THREE FOLLOWING DAYS; IN THE MEETING-HOUSE OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION, BELFAST. BELFAST: PRINTED BY SIMMS & M'INTYRE, DONEGALL-STREET. 1834. UNITARIAN DISCUSSION. THIS Discussion, which has excited so much public interest for some time back, commenced on Monday, the 14th April, 1834, at halfpast 10 o'clock. MICHAEL ANDREWS, Esq. of Ardoyne, and CONWAY RICHARD DOBBS, Esq. of Acton, were Chairmen on the occasion. The following is a statement of the Propositions which constituted the Subject of Discussion on each side, of the Standard of Reference, and the Rules by which the business was conducted. STANDARD OF REFERENCE. The Word of God contained in the books of the Old and New Testament, which are received into the Authorised Version, admitting them all to be canonical. The correctness or incorrectness of passages marked as spurious in Griesbach's last edition, and the translation or signification of any particular words or passages, to be open to question and legitimate criticism. The divine authority of Scripture to be admitted on both sides. And all quotations to be given in chapter and verse, according to the divisions of the Authorised Translation in common use. Mr. J. S. Porter's Propositions : 1. There is one self-existent God, the Father: who is God alone; to the entire exclusion of the alleged Proper Deity of the Word. 2. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is (even in his highest capacity, nature, or condition) a Created Being, deriving his existence, wisdom, power, and authority from the Father; and inferior to him in these and all other attributes. Mr. Bagot's Propositions: 1. There is one God, Jehovah, who is God only, to the entire exclusion of the alleged godhead of every creature. 2. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Mediator, is the Word made flesh, perfect God and perfect man; possessing, as the Word, the same eternity, knowledge, power, authority, prerogatives, and godhead with the Father, and one with him in all attributes. REGULATIONS. 1. The discussion to commence on MONDAY, the 14th of April, and to continue for that and the three following days. 2. The discussion to continue for four hours each day :-the time, on the first day, to be divided into two equal portions, and each to give a statement and proof of the affirmative propositions on his side. 3. It is to be determined, by lot, on the first day of discussion, who is to open the debate. |