feffors, is beyond contradiction. How many objections are there to the fovereignty of God; that he will have mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth. How much fault with the doctrine of the decrees, or particular election; that God should from eternity defignate the objects of his mercy, give a certain number to Chrift, and determine to leave the reft to perish, and that he fhould not be influenced in this choice by any thing forefeen in the character of the Elect; but wholly from motives within himfelf; even fo, for fo it feemed good in his fight. How much is faid against the doctrine of total depravity; that mankind without the new birth, are totally deftitute of holinefs; that they are only evil; and determined enemies to God. And how much pains is there taken to explain away the new birth, and make it mean nothing more than a little external reformation; fomething effected by the finner, without any fupernatural change of heart. How much oppofition to the doctrine that God is not pleafed with any thing fhort of true love.That nothing which the unregenerate do, or can do, has any influence in moving God to fhow them mercy; but that God looks upon all their duties (as they call them) abominable hypocrify, and deferving everlasting wrath.-And how much is faid against the doctrine, that it is the immediate and indifpenfible duty of every finner to love God with his whole foulthat he can have no excufe for neglecting gofpel repentance and faith a fingle moment and that while he neglects this, let him do ever fo much elfe, he is going away from God, rejecting the offers of life, and becoming more and more deferving of eternal destruction, How much cavilling is there againft the doctrine of abfolute and entire dependence that we have. no claim on mercy, and that it is impoffible for us to lay God under the leaft obligation to help us; but that we lie entirely at his fovereign mercy, and that he will fave or deftroy us as fhall be moft for his glory." Now every one that has read the bible with attention must know that it is full of thefe doctrines, and that they are there much in fifted on as effential to be not only believed but loved, and yet it is as well known that they are much fpo ken against. It is difficult to find out what mankind would have. God at firft put the human race under a law that is certainly unobjectiona ble; that requires nothing of us but what is moft reasonable that we fhould perform-it requires that we love him with our whole ftrength, and yield perfect obedience to him and is he not worthy of our love? Is he not deferving of our obedience? This law we have violated, and confequently fallen under the curfe; and we cannot reafonably object to its execution-and the law can not be given up fhort of God's denying himself. And what can be done? what has been done? or rather what has not been done? God has fo loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son to die, that whofoever believeth on him might not perish, but have eternal life. The gofpel is proclaimed; and all invited to partake of its falvation. But what now?-how is the gof. pel provifion treated by us ?-what reception has Chrift, and all his glorious offers met with from the world?Why, they all make light of it they with one confent make excufe-and unlefs fome 1 ily health, are confidered of too much importance tobe neglected on thing more is done, there is not er than embrace the falvation of God has actually brought this into view; and what has been the confequence the confequence is, it has fet the world in a rage. Every thing is fald against it; and against thofe that preach it; and God is accufed of partiality and injuftice, and while Jefus Chriftin view of the fubject, breaks out into a holy rapture, and thanks his heavenly father on this account; and angels rejoice-this world is filled with complaints. O the amazing ingratitude, ftupidity and wickedness of the selfish heart. fore though true, ought not to be preached Now this is certainly charging God foolishly. God has revealed fuch things to us as he thought beft; and is it not very extraordinary that we should undertake to fhy he has made a miftake; and taught us things in which we had no concern. But thefe, and many more, are objections that were never made by the humble penitent, and never will be; the repenting publican and the prodigal never thought of them. But they were invented entirely, through the pride and obftinacy of the carnal heart; and are perfifted in from a total blindnefs to our real fituation. The fact is, we are fick, even to death; while we think that little or nothing ails us; as poor as the curfe of God's law can make. us; and yet feel important, and rich, and well able to take care of ourfelves. Dead in trefpaffes and fins; and yet greatly disturbed with even the mention of fovereign mercy. It would be impoffible to enumerate all the objections which are made to the doctrines which have been mentioned. It is often faid, they destroy free agency; but we all feel that we act freely notwith ftanding; without any force against our wills, and God certainly confiders it in this light, and will treat us accordingly. It is faid alfo, if thefe doctrines are believed, it will prevent all exertions to escape fu- And it is clearly the cafe, that ture wrath, and obtain heaven. oppofition to these great and glori And why is not the fame objec-ous gospel doctrines, and indeed to tion urged against ftriving for the the gofpel itself, is the parting point, good things of this life?they ap- where most of the errors and numeply equally in this cafe. But who rous feparations of the present day ever heard any object against fow- begin. ing and planting, or employing a Phyfician in a dangerous ficknefs, on the ground, that it depended entirely on the immutable counfels of God whether he should have a crop or recover from his difeafe. The fact is, temporal food and bodVOL. II. No. 5. Z Hence we fee fuch violent oppofition to a regular fupport of gofpel minifters, and multitudes obtruding themselves into the miniftry, that have never been confecrated to that work according to the word of God. Hence we hear fo much against | There is a young man of my rance. the doctrine of the faints perfeveThe ordinance of baptifm is difregarded by many; the holy fabbath given up; family prayer difcarded, and the worfhip of the fanctuary neglected. And hence Arminianifm, Univerfalifm, Infidelity and Atheism, together with all the unfcriptural errors and practices of this ungodly world. 1 But I must conclude, earneftly praying, that God of his fovereign mercy, would guide us into all truth; make us faithful to do his will; give us all that grace and ftrength which we need; grant that we may manifeft our love to him by keeping his commandments, and that he would glorify his grace in our falvation; that he would difpel the thickening cloud of error and confufion of the prefent day, and fill the earth with his glory through Jefus Chrift. Begging your prayers for me, I fubferibe myself yours, &c. MESS'RS, EDitors, THE following remarks and facts, illuftrative, of, the danger of adopting falfe principles of religion, you will pleafe to infert in your ufeful Magazine, if you judge it will be beneficial to your readers. HE tendency of any doc trine goes får toward proving whether it be according to the gofpel or not. God is a God of holiness and cannot encourage wickednefs--the Bible is a holy book-and the falvation which it propofes is a holy falvation. All its doctrines tend to lay reftraint on the paffions of men. The doctrine of univerfal falvation tends to take off those reftraints and to open the floodgates of iniquity. It therefore proves itselfnot of God. acquaintance who was once amia. ble and promifing, regular in his life and converfation, and steadyin attending on public worship. A few years ago he embraced the doctrine of univerfal falvation→→ fince which he appears to be totally changed. He is no longer the amiable and steady young man that he formerly was. He has become ferocious in his manners-profane-contentious-fo that his family and neighbours often feel the effects of his contentious fpirit. He has thrown off all appearance of refpect to religion, and lives in the total neglect of public religious worship. I have often endeavoured to convince him of his errors from fcripture arguments, but in vain. In a late converfation, I ar gued with him on the tendency of the doctrines he had embraced. I referred him to his former course of life and to his prefent conduct, and asked whether he did not think his fentiments tended to make him relax the duties of religion, and purfue vicious courfes, and wheth er he did not feel more eafy to neg lect duty and commit fin now, feeing he hoped in this way to go to Heaven at laft, than he formerly. did? He ingenuously confeffed to me that he did that he used to have, fome trouble of confcience about these things, but now he had got in a great measure relieved. I then asked him, whether that could be a doctrine of Jefus which in its effects was fo pernicious and tended to the deftruction of moral virtue? He was greatly confounded but still it was a doctrine fo confonant to his feelings and wishes that he could not give it up and confent to receive a holy falvation. He is in the hands of a fovereign God, who is able to bring him off from this dangerous and pernicious error-and in his hands we must leave him. As principles like thefe will not do to live by, fo they, will not do to die by. However they may flatter the fecure finner, and cafe a guilty confcience in health and profperity, they will be a poor fupport in a dying hour when the finner feels himself just about to appear in the prefence of a holy God. more was vifited with fickness during which time I frequently faw him. His confidence was fhaken. He faid that tho he had felt confirmed in the doctrine of univerfal falvation, yet now he began to fear he was in an error. As his disease encreafed his fears were alarmed. He now did not find that evidence in fupport of his doe trine which he thought he did before-confcience was alarmedI have been acquainted with the character of a holy God came another perfon, who died a few into view his confidence was years fince, who in health. difbe-gone and with it this hope of di lieved the divinity of Chrift and vine mercy. He frequently asked believed that all men will be faved. with apparent earnest folicitude He was a perfon who was very "what can I do? I must relin fond of difputing. I faw him quifh the hope of all mankind when in health and had frequent being faved, and as I have never difputes with him on these fubjects. become holy, but depended on 6. no hope of the mercy of God. 'As for Jefus Christ I know him not and cannot believe his divin I told him that tho he might be fat-being faved in my fins, I can have isfied with his feheme in health, it would fail him in the near view of death. He had a few months before been very fick. I remind-ity-and therefore cannot em ed him of his sickness, and asked him whether he was then fatisfied with his principles and was willing to die by them. He faid he was not but was much diftreffed in his mind, left they should not prove true. I asked him whether it was fafe trusting to a fcheme, which would not fupport him in the time when he most needed support? He acknowledged it was not, but ad ded he was not fo well confirmed in his fentiments then as he had fince been, but now he was willing to die by them. I told him it was altogether probable he would change his mind when he came to look death in the faceand that as he had made one trial and found no comfort in the principles he had embraced, he would act a wife part to renounce them, and endeavor to fix his hopes on a more firm bafis. He ftill perfifted in his error. Soon after this he brace him as God-man mediator. I can hope only in God's mercy without regard to an atonement.' He was told that God difplayed his mercy in faving finners, only through Jefus Chrift as the great attoning facrifice, and that out of Chrift he was a confuming fire. He then faid he could have no hope. "But O, faid he, whither fhall I fly, or what can I do?" He was indeed a moft pitiable object—His eyes feemed to roll in anguish, terror took hold upon him, the view of a holy God filled him with dif trefs, he kept calling on all about him for help, his strength failed, but his fears became greater and greater without any fenfible alteration until he expired. I fhall only add, it is a miferable fcheme of doctrine which encourages a finful life and will yield në rational comfort in the folemn hour of death. another," &c. Where two or The above defcriptions are not fictitious, but realities. Ichoofe to conceal their names and my own, out of tenderness to the furviving friends, but am willing the facts be published in hope they may ferve as a beacon to warn others of the dan-influenced by the same spirit, who ger of fuch erroneous fentiments. have one common enemy to oppofe Oh, that finners might tremble and the fame grand intereft to purat the thought of embracing fuch fue, and who firmly expect all to pernicions principles. Let them dwell in the fame holy and happy admit nothing into their scheme of fociety forever; muft neceffarily religion which will not encourage a take peculiar delight in religious, holy life and yield peace in the hour focialintercourfe. Such meetings, of death. There is no neceffity when conducted in that manner of flying to fuch vain refuges if which becometh the worshippers of they are willing to lay afide their the God of order, are happily calfins and become holy. And the culated to increase divine knowlfcriptures of truth affure us that edge, to quicken and animate, to without holiness no man fhall fee the support and comfort, and in a word, Lord. to ripen for glory. With thefe views, when in different stages of Letters concerning conference meet- my miniftry, it hath pleafed the ings. LETTER I. From PRECO to the Editors. father of mercies, in fome fmall meafure, to revive his work among us, I have thought it my duty to encourage them and to attend them myfelf, when circumstances would permit. Connecticut, O&. 18, 1800. TO THE EDITORS OF THE CONNECTICUT EVANGELICAL MAG-attended them weekly, and both AZINE. Rev. Brethren, I have for more than a year paft experienced and feen, I humbly trust, their beneficial effects. Of late, fearing it would be too much UNDER proper regulations, I for the ftate of my health, and ap have always been in favor of prehending the attention which what we commonly term, confer-might be termed fpecial was deence meetings. However fome clining, I intimated that the meetmay ftigmatize them as enthufiafings would probably foon be dif tic, being righteous over much, or continued. as night meetings, as tho' it were The two following letters were lawful and commendable to keep fince handed me. The firftis from unfeasonable hours for the purpofes a young woman a conftant attendof carnal mirth, but wrong to keep ant who hopefully became a fubeven seasonable hours for the wor-ject of religion a few years fince. fhip of God; yet I have ever The other is from a fingle woman viewed them as perfectly agreeable in a different part of the parish, to the tenor of fcripture and the where there hath been fome special Spirit of Chriftianity. In ancient attention of late, who appears to times, we read that "thofe who have the caufe of Zion at heart. feared the Lord fpake often one to If you find room in your Mag |