LETTERS FROM ARISTARCHUS TO PHILEMON; IN WHICH THE DISTINGUISHING DOCTRINES OF THE GOSPEL ARE DISCUSSED, AND OBJECTIONS STATED AND ANSWERED. BY CHAUNCEY LEE, D. D. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to PAUL. HARTFORD: PRINTED BY HANMER AND COMSTOCK. CF 581511 L51 ATQ0236 INTRODUCTION. It could hardly have been expected, that in the present day, the necessity would arise of going over the ground of the Arminian controversy. After what has been published by Hopkins, Bellamy, Scott and Dwight, and a host of American divines; and more especially the complete triumph of the immortal Edwards, on this field it might well have been * supposed, that the occasion of renewing this controversy, would never recur. Who could imagine, that, in the next generation, men would be found, and men too of great pretensions to reasoning powers, who would venture to revive the questions concerning moral suasion, and the self determining power of the will; with confident claims of high improvements in Christian theology? But so it is ; and the tide of popular opinion seems to be setting strongly in favour of these specious and flattering doctrines and the friends of truth are called to address themselves in good earnest, to the work of defence. This duty is as necessary and imperious, as if these errors had but now made their first appearance, and never before been the subject of controversy. There is but one view which affords a solution of this mystery. A selfish system of religion men naturally love, and most readily embrace-for, |