from which they had so grossly lief of the truth, the more closedeparted. It is, therefore, mostly they may unite in affection:natural to consider his words in Supposing all these things to be tlfe text as referring to their un- true, they have no tendency to christian doctrines, as well as to prepare the way for the illustratheir unchristian feelings. But tion or support of the truths in admitting Mr. A.'s exposition question, and therefore, it is conto be right, and allowing that the ceived, they ought to be considapostle did refer solely to unity ered as mere protuberances to of affection; then it is queried the discourse. by what logic Mr. A. could de- 4. Mr. A.'s mode of reasonduce from a passage, which had ing in proof of his doctrine, no respect to controverted points is both redundant and defiin divinity, this doctrine ; "that cient. His argument derived there may be comfort of love and from the sources of error is refellowship of the Spirit among dundant ; and his argument, those Christians, whose opinions drawn from the conduct of those in divinity do not fully coin- eminent men he mentions, is cide."

deficient, because it does not ap2. Whether this doctrine bear pear, from any thing he has said, any legitimate relation to the whether they acted right or acttext or not, it seems to be too in- ed wrong in exercising mutual definite to require either proof, esteem and affection. But wheth

even illustration. For no er he has succeeded or failed in man can be found, of any relig- supporting his doctrine, its truth ious sect or party, who will not will be universally believed. readily allow, that " Christians, 5. Mr. A. triumphs without a whose opinions in divinity do not victory, in his remarks upon the fully coincide, may enjoy comfort fourteenth of Romans. All the of love and fellowship of the Spir- apostle there said goes no furn it,” or sincerely unite in brother-ther than to prove, that men may ly love. A doctrine or leading differ in non-essential points, and sentiment in a public discourse yet be sincere Christians, and exought to be not only true, but ercise mutual love and esteem. Important.

This nobody denies. But some 3. There seems to be no great have denied, and probably will propriety in the concessions, continue to deny, that the apostle which Mr. A. makes previously meant to justify any man in the to the proof of his doctrine. least voluntary error. They are all very true, but nei- 6. Mr. A. misrepresents the ther necessary nor pertinent. opinion of those whom he con• What is Christions may differ as siders as opponents.

He says, much in meaning, as in words; "it has been the opinion of some what if their diversity of opin- respectable men,' that, should ions may not be matter of indir- those, who embrace error, actuference ; what if some may dif- ally embrace the truth, they will fer essentially from others; then know that their present what if some may be criminal for opinion is right, and their forimbibing their errors ; and what

mer wrong." We are acquaintif the nearer any agree in the be- ed with none who maintain, that

or

OF

GOD OR

AND

THE AFFAIRS OF MEN.

or

men always know they are right there is no important distinction in opinion, when they are so ; between real Calvinism, and real but we believe many justly main- Arminianism; which belief may lain, that when men are really be productive of many hurtful right in opinion, respecting sub- effects. jects which admit of certainty, they may then know that they are right. There are many subjects

THE PROVIDENCE in divinity, which do not admit of

DERING

CONDUCTING certainty; and perhaps, the doctrine of infant baptism, which Mr. A. mentions, may be one.

A sermon preached in the IndeIn this, and similar cases, a man

pendent Congregational may be right in opinion, and

church, Charleston, South Caronever certainly know in this life,

lina, Sept. 14, 1806. By ISAAC that his opinion is entirely agree- STOCKTON KEITH, D. D.

One able to the word of God. He

of the pastors of said church. may gain so much light as to ex

Published by request. W. P. clude doubt, which will justify

Young. Charleston. pp. 56. him in maintaining his opinion, and acting upon it. But when a The length of the title violates man has erred in respect to a the rules of classical taste. The divine truth, which admits of cer- title of a book becomes its name, tainty, and afterwards embraces and like the name of a child, that iruth, he may then know that should be such as may be conhe knows it, and that his former veniently spoken. opinion was wrong. This, how- It is doubted, whether it add ever, may not be the infallible any thing to the usefulness of a consequence, because his know

sermon to inform the public, that ing the truth, and knowing that the publication was earnestly sohe knows it, are two very differ- licited by respectable characters ; ent things, and the former may that the author felt himself conexist without the latter.

strained to comply. Better say Finally, notwithstanding our as Mr. Henry does concerning confidence in the rectitude of Mr. one of his books ; "If I thought A.'s intentions, it appears to us it needed an apology, I would to be the general tendency of his not consent to publish it.” On discourse to make men believe, the other hand, if a work need that it is more difficult to discov- no apology, the author should er truth and detect error than it make none. This we think to really is. It tends to make men be the case with the discourse feel too easy and unconcerned a- now before us. bout their religious errors. It al- It was occasioned by the desoso tends to favour the growing and lating storm which took place in dangerous notion, that it is of the Southern States in August, more importance to avoid bigot- 1806. “My times are in thy ry than heresy. And it seems hand,” is the text. In order to calculated to create a belief, that exhibit the leading ideas included Vol. III. No. 12.

Y y y

sermon.

le

ale

in this passage, the author ob- strains them seriously to consider sérves, 1. That the times of man's and inquire "what they shall do to

be saved ?” Then pointing their views natural life; 2. the times of the

to the only and the all-sufficient Saspiritual life of believers, in- viour, revealed and offered in the cluding all the varieties of their gospel, he suffers them not to remain religious experience; and 3. the on any fallacious ground, on which time of their death, are in the they would be ready to feel them.

selves secure, and to promise them. Lord's hands.

selves peace; nor will he allow them The following paragraph, from to conclude that they have found rest the 2d head of discourse, is giv- to their souls, till they have “fled for en as an agreeable specimen of refuge to lay hold on the hope set bethe sentiment and style of the whose is the only name given un

fore them in the Lord Jesus Christ, iler heaven by which any

can be “ For a while they (that is, they

saved.” And now, in a day of divine who are to be the final subjects of power, they are made willing, cordial. salvation,) permitted to

ly willing, to forsake their sins, to remain with “ the world which lieth

nounce their self-righteousness, to in wickedness," " to walk after the give up the world, and “ to suffer the ways of their own hearts, and in the

loss of all things," which were once sight of their own cyes,” departing may win Christ, and be found in him,"

most dear to their hearts, “ that they farther and farther from Godi, wan. dering in the fruitless pursuit of hap; followers. For his sake, they are

and become his genuine disciples and piness, through the various scenes of worldly vanity, and amidst the multi- now disposed “to deny themselves" plied snares of the cruel destroyer,

in respect to all worldly interests and “who leads the children of disobedi. pleasures, which may be incompatia ence captives at his will,” exulting ble with their obligations and their with a most malicious triumph, in the duty to him; they are now ready,

also, “to take up the cross” of reexpectation of soon plunging them headlong into everlasting perdition : proach, or of any other kind of suf: But the time of divine mercy and fering, to which they may be called love at length arrives, when these in him, and their fidelity in his service ;

on account of their attachment to tatuated servants of sin must be ran. somed; when these wretchedcaptives

and thus they are prepared,' cheer. of Satan must be delivered ; when fully, "to follow their Lörd and “these lost sheep must be brought Saviour” to his heavenly ki gdom, in back to the fold of their heavenly he has marked out in bis gospel, and

of obedience and trial which Shepherd.” When in their mad ca. reer of bold impiety, unrighteousness,

which, to their natural pride and selfand licentious indulgence ; or in

love, heretofore appeared to be the their thoughtless progress down the

inost unpleasant and irksome, beset broad road of worldly business, of with the most formidable difficulties, fashionable amusement, or of the de.

and surrounded with the deepest and cent, lifeless forms of religion and

most discouraging gloom.” virtue, they were hastening to eternal In the serinon and note the destruction; they are mercifully ar- author gives an interesting and rested by an invisible power. For affecting account of the extennow the Divine Spirit, given by the

sive destruction of the fruits of Father, through the mediation of the Son of God, comes to carry into etect the earth, and of the lives of the great design of redeeming grace

men occasioned by the tempest, and love in their favour. To this end, and forcibly inculcates that pious he awakens their solemn attention to

attention to the events of divine the demands of the law, and the calls of the gospel. Thus 'he convinces providence, which is equally the them of sin, awakens their fears of duty and happiness of all rational the wrath of God due to it, and con. creatures..

that way

A Sermon, delivered at Ashburn- strange concerning the fiery trial,

ham, May 22d, 1806, at the in- which is to try you, as though terment of Mr. John Cushing, some strange thing had happened jun. who expired at the house unto you. After an appropriate of his father. By Seth Payson, introduction, he proposes his 1. M. Pastor of the church in plan of discourse in the following Rindge. Published by request. words. “ We are here taught Leominster. S. & J. Wilder, that those, who are beloved of 1807.

God, are exposed to severe tri

als; and that the heavy aftlicWhile the pilgrimage of

tiops, laid upon them, afford no mortals is through a vale of tears, just cause of surprise." while “ man is born to trouble as

Under the first general head the sparks fly upward,” that re

we find the following observaligion must be peculiarly dear to tions. him, which affords the strong

“ Above all things else is the honour est consolation under the pres- of God and the glory of the Saviour sure of calamity, and teaches him dear to the Christian. To what pain. in the best manner the heavenly ful sensations then is he subject in a art of educing good from evil. world, where this glory is neglected, This is the glory of the Chris- blood trampled under foot, which he

this love despised, and that precious tian reiigion ; and surely the knows was the price paid for the ranviews it presents are admirably som of his soul, and which has brought calculated to animate the des- peace to his conscience, and heaven

to his heart?” ponding mind, and to cheer the drooping spirits, What can be

That the Christian has no more so, than the assurance of a cause for surprise on account of superintending Providence, or- the afflictions he is called to endering all things for the best; dure, is shown from a number of than the prospect of an eternal considerations, that are brought weight of glory, infinitely coun- into view, collectively, in the folterbalancing the evils of time, lowing paragraph. though secured and enhanced « Forewarned that the Christian's by them; than the example of life is a warfare ; that Christ himself the wise and good in all ages, encompassed with a cloud of winnes

was made perfect through suflerings; and of the divine Author of the ses, who rose out of great tribulation, religion himself, all of whoin and now stand with the Lamb on were made perfect through suf

Mt. Zion; assured that the sufferings

of time are designed to make us partaferings?

kers of the divine nature, and that they Such are the topics of conso- will so soon be crowned with imiors lation, on which the ministers of tal bliss; under these views, do the sethe gospel are called frequently verest trials afford any ground to susto dwell. In the sermon under pect, either the truth of the promises, review we find them presented in rather afford ground to welcome the

or our interest in them? Is they not a clear and forcible manner, well hand, which corrects us for our bene. calculated to command attention, fit, and has opened so many springs and to convey solace and in- of consolation for the support of his struction.

afflicted people? What thanks are due

to the Father of mercies for the reThe text is from the epistle of freshing hopes and comforts of the St. Peter, Brethren, think it not gospel ? That God reigns ; that he

exercises a special providence toward that he had therefore to contend those who put their trust in him, and with the various difficulties which that his wisdom, power, and good. ness are continually employed in pre. must be encountered by those paring them for future glory, are

who pursue a path hitherto untruths, which need but to be realized, attempted. It was necessary to raise the mind above the evils of that he should be thoroughly actime, and to fill it with all joy and quainted with all those materials peace in believing.”

which had occupied the attention The subject is then applied to of former writers of Church Histhe occasion, which produced it. tory, with a view to ascertain The deceased is represented as a

their bearing upon the particular very worthy man ; and his pro- objects of his research. But it fession, as a merchant, leads to a was also necessary, that, taking a train of useful reflections on the wider range, he should penetrate importance and advantages of recesses of private history unexcommerce. The consolations of plored by his predecessors; and the gospel are more particularly that, in order to form a true addressed to the bereaved, and the judgment concerning the sentiauthor concludes with seriously ments and character of individuapplying the lessons of Prov- als, he should peruse with attenidence to his audience at

tion original writings, which belarge.

fore had been almost consigned On the whole, we have been to oblivion ; a task far more lahappy to find that the discourse, borious, and less anusing than we have been reviewing, com- commonly fall to the lot of auported with the character, its au

thors. The works of other ecthor has sustained, as a

man of clesiastical historians exhibit insense, and a Christian ; and we deed, in splendid characters, the cordially recommend it to the lives of men who bore a distin, perasal of our readers.

guished rank in the church ; they record the actions of the great and honourable of the

earth; of kings, and bishops, and Milner's History of the Church of councils. In the work before us, Christ.

names “unknown to song," but [Being informed that an American inscribed in the book of life, are

Edition of Milner's Church H19. drawn from their obscurity; and, TORY is contemplated,* we intro- anticipating that day in which a duce under this head, for the infor- true and impartial judgment of mation of the American public, the merit will be formed, and in following concluding remarks, on this excellent work, of the Review. which the righteous oniy shall be ers in the Christian Observer.] had in everlasting remembrance, In forming an estimate of Mr. they are held up to the regard Milner's labours, it must be kept and admiration of mankind, as in mind, that the design of his monuments of the transforming history was entirely new ; and power of divine grace.

But it is not only on account of * By Messrs. Farrand, Mallory, & his patient industry, and unweaCo, in Boston.

ried research, that Mr. Milner de.