through him. They grew out of thankful nor humble, in due manthe sublime myfteries, sublime pre- ner; nor will they be merciful, in cepts, transcendent examples, and any extensive or uniform meafore. exceeding greatand precious prom. If the free grace of God, or the ifes, which it is the peculiar glory infinite condescension of the Lord of the gospel to declare, and which, Jesus, lo us finners, be not recogthey by faith familiarized. From nized, we know but little about bence sprung their enlarged views goodness or condescension ; and of divine things, their high senti- our most generous sentiments will ments of duty, and their exalted be comparatively ungracieus. devotion. From hence their deep But there is another particular humility, their glowing love and included in following the faith of gratitude, their strong aspirations true christians. We must see to the glorifying of their God and Secondly, that we have “ the Redeemer, in their bodies and spir- fame spirit of faith.” That is,

From hence their “lgye to that we not only acknowledge all faints, and wonderful benev- the same gospel, but receive it as olence to their very persecutors ; they did : with the fame enlightwith all those relative virtues, ened and heartfelt perceptions of which attend on such a spirit. the stamp of divinity on the face Their kindness was copied from of it, the wisdom of God, and the Chrift; whofe love, paling know- power of God; the fame fenfibilledge, had touched and expanded ity to the free love and grace of their hearts. From the fame source heaven, to the great salvation, and {prong their spirituality, self deni- our infinite need of it; the fame 21, and other distinguishing traits confidential submission to mercy and of christian character.

to duty; and the fame union of And hence their fidelity as min. heart to the Divine Redeemer in fers, who acted in that character ! every branch of his great charac. Their interesting and impressive ter. manner of delivering their messag. Without such faith as this, ts; their fervency of fpirit in the there is sometimes, indeed, a regwhole of their Master's work. ular form of religion and moraliThey set him before them, who ty ; but it wants the spirit and the came to seek and save that which genius of christianity. The faith was loft. His love constrained we now contemplate is an animat. them.

ing soul. It is a “ lively faith.”

“ In vain do we expea to exhibit It purifies the heart. It affimi

christian conversation without lates the subject to what he beholds hriftian ideas. They who be- in the great object of faith. It hold not the glory of God in the conforms his views to the pure face of Jesus Christ, that is, and heavenly nature of the gospel through the medium of his won- do&rines : it fublimates his affecderfol character, and the redemp- tions: and it carries him in a tion by him, will of course be christian way to all incumbent dugreatly deficient in their divinity, ty. heir religion, and morality. All this agrees with the acThose who have not seen their count given by this same inspired ceed of mercy as being wretched, writer, * of the way in which good and miferable, and poor,' and lind, and naked, will be neither

• See chapter xi.

a

characters are formed, and holy ing which is genuine. He is conversations produced. It was therefore emphatically without by faith, he tells us, that Abraham, excuse. and Mofes, and other worthies of But on the other hand, Who ancient time, lived as they lived, can, with this sacred passage in and died as they died. It was by view, think it proper to say, It is faith in gospel realities, he here of little consequence what a man teaches us, that those holy men believes, if his life is right.whom he bids us remember, ex. Change the expression and it is hibited such virtues, and finished just this : It is of little consequence so happily. “ Live by the fame whether we have the faith of the faith then,” he indirectly says to first christians, provided we live us, " and your conversation and their lives. And this implies, that your lalt end, shall be like theirs. we may live their lives without As Jesus Christ is the same yel- following their faith. terday, and today, and for ever ; But infpiration, we plainly fee, fo a living faith in him, will ever, is against every such idea; and and invariably, according to its this is more than ten thousand armeasure, have the same result. guments for its confutation. If While it changes you into his own any person nevertheless will venimage, from glory to glory, it will ture upon such a sentiment, and aslimilate you to all those holy expect that it will carry him safe, men who are gone to glory, and let him prepare to give a reason will raise you to the fame high of the hope which is in him. Let condition.”

him fhew, from the nature of We have thus considered the things, how such a spirit and two particulars supposed to be in life, as marked the primitive cluded in following the faith of em. christians, can posibly be exhibitinent christians. And it is of se- ed upon principles quite different rious importance that both be kept from theirs, or upon any princiin view.

ples, without such a faith in the Let no one suppose then, that Son of God, as they lived by, and mere orthodoxy in religious things, without the help of those gospel is all that is necessary; for cer- truths, which they kept in view. tainly that does not come up to the It is true that, with christian faith of ancient christians. . It can heads, men may have pagan hearts; neither produce a conversation and in practice fall below many like theirs, nor have the same re. unbelievers : and this is sometimes sult. Instead of inferring safety made an objection to setting up to the subject, it places him in a faith so high. But it still holds yet more critical situation ; and good, that having the faith of true no person has more reason to be christians, in both particulars, will alarmed than the mere orthodox unfailingly produce a similar pres man. He fees where the truth eminence in life. It still holds lies, but he does not truly embrace it. good, that living by those truth He is convinced, but not brought of revelation, which they lived by over. He knows his Lord's will, and believing in them continually and yet does not “

as they believed, will and mult de felf” and do it. He ought to ex- for us all that has been said. L4 hibit a fublime piety, a transcend us therefore have full confidence ent virtue ; but he exhibits noth- in the exhortation here given.

Considering the end of their converfa- divines ; of the writings of those tion, FOLLOW THEIR FAITH. men, from whom our fathers deZUINGLIUS. fcended, whose evangelical princi

ples they embraced, and whose To the Editors of the Panoplist.

pious spirit they breathed. The

opinion of Dr. Doddridge will deFrom the first appearance of fervedly weigh much in favour of your proposals, I considered your these pious, and many of them obje& seasonable, and your plan learned, authors. His lectures good; and the execution of it appear to have been designed onthus far has exceeded my expect- ly as heads, which in the delivery ations. Among the excellent he probably clothed in different produ&ions, which have appeared language, and on which he doubtin the various departments of less enlarged. I have made a few your work, Z, in your last num- verbal alterations from the M. S. ber, “On the neglect of the old merely to complete elliptical senDivines," has my particular ap- tences, without, in any instance, probation. No subject could have changing the sense. been more happily chosen, none more applicable to the present LECTURE II. times. It is treated with a degree of feriousness, perfpicuity

of Practical Writers, in Great and judgment, which pleafes me.

Britain. I with the writer, who certainly

THE PURITANS. has happy talents for the purpose,

I would in general recomwould pursue his subjed, and in mend some acquaintance with future numbers of the Panoplist, them, too often despised. Yet bring up to view, in his engaging there was good sense and learning manner, the characters and writ. in our fathers' days as well, as in ings of the venerable fathers of ours. Our grandmothers had New England, and eminent di- beauty in their odd dresses. vines in other parts of our coun.

• Bolton had been a notorious try. These luminaries, could sinner reclaimed by a great work they be exalted into view, accord. of terrour ; therefore is excellent ing to their respe&ive merits, both for conviction and consolawould shed a benign influence on tion. His style is rather inclined the principles and morals of your to the bombastick ; yet he has mareaders, and be especially falutary ny expressions truly great and to our youth in the forming fea magnificent. The beauties of son of their lives.

imagination especially appear in In the mean time, feeling a his a Four last things ;" but his deep interest in the subject, and most useful treatises are his “ Difinding it comports with your rections for comfortably walking plan to felect from “ valuable with God," and his comforting productions," already extant, I distressed consciences ; there we have extracted from the private have the trace of a soul molt inti. (M. S.)* Lectures of Dr. Dop. mately acquainted with God. VRIDGE, to his theological pupils, • Hall was the moft elegant the character he gives of the old and polite writer of his age. He

abounds rather too much with an* These Lectures have never been printed, titheses and witty turns.

In some wat buving been written for the press.

6

LAST

AGE.

of his writings he seems to have weakens the cause. His “ Golden imitated Austin and Seneca. Remains" and additional traets, His fermons are the worse for his are all to be read. None fhew compliance with the taste of the the man more than his “

Chrifage in which he lived. His Con- tian Omnipotence." templations are incomparably val- NONCONFORMISTS OF THE uable for criticism, language and devotion ; next to them are his Owen and Goodwin, are high“ Meditations," " Letters," and ly evangelical, but both very ob“ Balm of Gilead."

fcure, efpecially the latter. Oav. • REYNOLD'S, is celebrated for en's style resembles St. Paul's most elaborate, surprising simili- zeal ; he displays much knowltudes. His style is remarkably edge of human life, especially in laconick; a world of substance his book of apostacy. That on gently touched upon, which shews the Hebrews is his great work ; an extensive acquaintance with the means of understanding the human nature, and much labour. mind of God in the scripture is He has a judicious collection of one of his best ; but communion scriptures.

of God and person of Christ, most SIBBs. His language is de- celebrated. His treatises on in cent and nervous, his dedications dwelling fiti, spiritual mindedness, furprisingly handsome ; he is pa- and mortification, thew great imthetick and tender, especially in provements in practical religion. “ The bruised Reed," and " Soul's On the izoth psalm he is excelConflict.”

lent. Goodwin's pieces publish• Ward. To be read through. ed in his life are most valuable ; His language is generally prop- he has many accurate and valua . er, elegant, and nervous ; his ble remarks on scripture. His thoughts well digested and happi- " Child of Ligbe” is useful for ly illustrated. Abundance of the afflicted consciences; and he has bolder figures of speech are to be many uncommon thoughts. found in him, more than in any • BAXTER. His style is inaccu. other English author ; especially rate, because he had no regular apostrophies, dialogisms, and al- education, and because he wrote legories. A mixture of fancy is continually in the views of eterto be pardoned, especially confid- nity ; but he is judicious, nerv. ering his youth, and that many of ous, spiritual, and remarkably his fermons were not prepared for evangelical, though often chargthe press, but copied from his ed to the contrary. He discov,

. mouth while preaching.

ers a manly eloquence, and the • Hales, of Eaton, is remarka- most evident proofs of an amaz. bly pithy ; has many uncommon ing genius; with respect to which, thoughts ; vast learning, and ma- he may not improperly be called ny curious passages, fit

for a com- the English Demosthenes. He is

-a mon place book, but in many exceedingly proper for convicplaces he discovers little judg- tion; see his “ Saints' Reft;" all ment, no good order, little true his treatises on conversion, and elconnection. He is the great pecially his “ Call to the Unconscholar ; but an affectation of di- verted," “ Divine Life," and vine things to the utmost is too Counsels to Young Men.” Few apparent, which by overdoing converted more fouls.

Manton. Plain, easy, and un- He has some fine words, but no affected. His thoughts generally cadence.

He has too many well digested, but seldom extraor- heads ; his thoughts are often in dinary ; his remarks on scripture disorder ; has no clear and dif. are judicious ; his chief work is tinct ideas in many of the differthat on the 119th Pfalm. His ences he makes. Yet he has some many posthumous works are of valuable things, especially on the little value.

attributes, where he is very deep Bates. His eloquence is and fublime. His work on recharming, yet his style is not per generation has been much applaudfealy formed, and his sentences ed, yet there are many things 'on too short ; admirable fimilies, un- that subject more valuable. less rather too thick ; proper to

• TAYLOR NATHANIEL, the difbe quoted by those whose genius fenting South. He has vast wit, does not lead them this way. and great strength of expression, Read his “ Harmony of Attri- yet is apt to aggravate matters. butes," “ Spiritual Perfections," His language is remarkably propand “ Four last things."

er and beautiful. He wrote but • HOW, seems to have under- little ; all deserves to be read.' food the gospel as well as any (To be continued.) uninspired writer, and to have im. bibed as much of its spirit. The

For the Panoplist. truelt fublime is to be found in PROOFS OF THE UNIVERSAL DELUGE.

NO. 3. his writings, and some of the

(Continued from page 60.] Hrongest pathos ; yet he is often

As we proceed, evidence of obscure, and generally harsh ; he Noah's flood increases. It was imitated the worst part of Boyle's not merely mentioned by many style ; but has a vast variety of writers of antiquity ; but was a uncommon thoughts ; and on the favourite object of their attention. whole, is one of the most valua. There were not only references to ble writers in our language and this event in the rites and tradiI believe, in the world. His best tions of the first ages; but it furpieces are, “ The blessedness of the nished the principal obiects of their Righteous," “ Enmity and Recon- facred traditions and religious

' ciliation," “ Redeemer's Tears," worship. The deluge was con

“ Redeemer's Dominion ;" ftantly celebrated not only in the with fome funeral sermons. annals of their historians ; but in

•Flavel. Not deep,norremark. the prayers of their devotees, the ably judicious; but plain, popular, facrifices of their priests, and the tender, and proper to address to songs of their bards. Most of the afflicted cases, and to melt the soul

pagan goddesses were personificain love. His “ Token for Mourn. tions of the earth, rising from the

' ers," inimitable. “ Fountain of billows of the flood, of the ark, of Life” useful ; most of the sub- the dove, or of the divine Wisdom jects there are proper to be preserving the ark.* preached on facrament days. Nimrod introduced the worship His allusions to pagan stories are of the heavenly bodies. This useful. • CHARNOCK, is celebrated for a attached to the arkite idolatry, or

produced opposition from those, polite writer, but chiefly by those who are not judges of politeness. Vol. I. No. 3.

P

and

See Faber on the Cabiri,