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Confession, "when many churches join together in their testimony for the truth. The Lord hath signally owned the Confes sions of the four first general Councils, for the suppression of heresies in primitive times. The Confessions of the Bohemians, Waldenses, and other Protestant reformed churches, have been of singular use not only to those who then lived, but also to posterity, even to the present day. It must needs be a work, pleasing to God, for his servants to declare to the world, what those principles of truth are, which they have received, and purpose to live and die in the profession of. Nor are they worthy the name of Christians, who refuse to declare what they believe." They conclude in these prophetic words: "What hours of temptation may overtake these churches is not for us to say; only the Lord doth sometimes so order things, that when his people have made a good confession, they shall be put upon the trial some way or other concerning their sincerity in it. The Lord grant that the loins of our minds may be so girt about with truth, that we may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all to stand."

The synod of Connecticut, in 1708, declare their opinion of the nature and importance of confessions of faith, in the following words: "This confession we offer, as our firm persuasion, well and truly grounded on the word of God, and commend the same to the people of the colony, to be examined, accepted and constantly maintained. Having applied the rules of holy scripture to the articles of this Vol. III. No. 2.

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confession, and found the same to be the eternal truths of God, we recommend them (as such) to the people to remember them, and to hold them fast, and to contend for them, as containing the faith once delivered to the saints; to value them, as their great charter and instrument of their salvation; to maintain them all their days with undaunted resolution, and to transmit them safe and pure to their posterity."

It is proper here to remark, to prevent misconception and misrepresentation, that the learn ed and pious compilers of these confessions did not undertake to make a religion, but only to declare what were their views of that religion revealed in the word of God. Nor did they intend that their faith should be the ground or standard of the faith of those who should come after them; but they resolved all into the authority of God, speaking in his holy word. This word, not their confessions, was the standard of their faith, as it is of ours. Their confessions contained the doctrines which they received from this holy book. We bring them as evidences, that our understanding of the scriptures is consonant to that of the great body of Christians, in all former ages. We appeal to them not as au thorities, but as witnesses.

I anticipate another objection. It may be said; "The religion of our fathers, and of the ancient Christians, was well enough, nay perhaps very suitable for them, in the times and under the circumstances in which they lived. But times and circumstances are now changed, and

of course their opinions and views of religion will not suit the present age."

I know also, that it has been said by those who have chosen to depart from the old paths, and it is the principal argument on which they rest their own justification; "That in every science, not excepting the science of theology, there is a natural prog ress to perfection; that of course every succeeding age is wiser than that which went before; and that from this consideration, there is ground to expect, that with proper encouragement, revelation will soon be purged from every thing foreign and adventitious, and be reduced, at last, to a rational system, found cil on the unerring principles of well interpreted scripture and truth."

To the objection and argument now stated, the following reply is offered. The parallel so often drawn by some men between sacred and profane literafore, will not by any means generally hold.. Human sciences of every kind, it is readily adinitfed, are progressive. It is not till after much labour and research, and many unsuccessful attempts, that they arrive at any considerable degree of perfection. But that the same progression obtains with regard to the great, distinguishing doctrincs, which constitute the science of theology, no sober believer will hastily affirm. Christianity was introduced into the world by its divine Author in its full maturity and vigour, in "a state of utmost perfection. It had no state of infancy and weakness to pass through before its genius could be perfectly discov, ered. As it descended imme

diately from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness or shadow of turning, it was like its divine Founder complete in all its parts, incapable of receiving any improvement from human learning, or the discoveries of any future age. At the period of its first promulgation, it contained an entire system in itself, to which nothing can be added, froin which nothing can be taken without rendering it less perféct.* Its rich treasures are deposited in one volume, which was complete in its first edition, published by its inspired authors, and which has been carefully copied, (with some various readings indeed of no essential importance) in the millions of editions since published. Christrans in the first ages of the church were as capable of understanding its essential doctrines, as in any subsequent age. This sacred volume has ever been open to the inspection of all men, to which, as to a perennial fountain, all the learned and the unlearned are invited to come and take freely of the water of life.

But the absurdity of a progressive religion may be argued not only from the difference between sacred and profane learning, but also from the obvious design of revelation. The Christian religion was intended to benefit the whole human race. Its divine and merciful Author, therefore, in whose eyes the soul of the meanest rustic, and of the rudest savage is equally precious with that of the most profound philosopher, has so accommodated its truths, as that

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*See Rev. xxii. 18, 19.

they are intelligible and obvious to the most ordinary person, who studies them diligently, and with an honest mind.

It is readily admitted, that there are many things in the sacred books, and particularly in the mysteries, and some of the doctrines necessarily connected with and dependent on them, which we cannot explain, which elude our most anxious inquiries, and refuse to be brought under the test of our severest reason. So there are many things in natural religion, relating to the divine existence, the creation and moral government of the world, and the origin of moral evil, concerning which it is easy for the weakest man to ask questions, which the wisest may find it difficult to answer. Perhaps clearer knowledge of what is now concealed is unattainable in our present state; or it might be hurtful to us in a variety of ways, of which we have now no conception. God knoweth how much it is best to disclose to us in the present state. On subjects of this mysterious nature, it is not expected that we comprehend, but that we believe; where we cannot unriddle, we are to learn to trust; where our faculties are too weak to penetrate, we are to check our curiosity, and adore.

The doctrines of Christianity being all comprehended in the Bible, when once we have admitted that this book was written by men divinely secured from error, it follows, that from this book there lies no appeal ; and that whatever is clearly recorded here is the truth of God, though it may be beyond our reason to comprehend or ex

plain. Excellent to this purpose are the words of the learned yet modest Chillingworth; "Propose me any thing out of, this book, and ask me whether or not I believe it, and seem it ever so incomprehensible to human reason, I will subscribe it hand and heart, as knowing no demonstration can be stronger than this, God hath said so, therefore it is true.”

I shall conclude my observations with a pertinent passage from the pious and eloquent Saurin.

"All doctrines that are incomprehensible are not divine, nor ought we to embrace any opinion merely because it is beyond our knowledge. But when a religion, in other respects, hath good guarantees, when we have good arguments to prove that such a revelation comes from heaven, when we certainly know that it is God who speaks, ought we to be surprised if ideas of God, which come so fully authenticated, absorb and confound us? I freely grant, that had I consulted my own reason only, I could not have discovered some mysteries of the gospel. Nevertheless, when I think on the immensity of God, when I cast my eyes on that vast ocean, when I consider that immense all, nothing astonishes me, nothing stumbles me, nothing seems tome inadmissible, how incomprehensible soever it may be. When the subject is divine, I am ready to believe all, to admit all, to receive all; provided I be convinced that it is God himself who speaks to me, or any one on his part. After this I am no more astonished that there are three distinct persons in one divine

essence; one God, and yet a FATHER, a SON, and a HOLY GHOST. After this, I am no more astonished that God foresees all without forcing any; permits sin without forcing the sinner; ordains free and intelligent creatures to such and such ends, yet without destroying their intelligence, or their liberty. After this I am no more astonished, that the justice of God required a satisfaction proportional to his greatness, that his own love hath provided that satisfaction, and that God, from the abundance of his compassion, designed the mystery of an incarnate God; a mystery, which angels admire, while sceptics oppose; a mystery which absorbs human reason, but which fills all heaven with songs of praise; a mystery which is the great mystery, by excellence, 1 Tim. iii. 16, but the greatness of which nothing should make us reject, since religion proposeth it as the grand effort of the wisdom of the incomprehensible God, and commandeth us to receive it on the testimony of the incomprehensible God himself. Either religion must tell us nothing about God, or what it tells us must be beyond our capacities; and in discovering even the borders of this immense ocean, it must needs exhibit a vast extent, in which our feeble eyes are lost. But what surprises me, what stumbles me, what frightens me, is, to see a diminutive creature, a contemptible man, a little ray of light glimmering through a few feeble organs, controvert a point with the Supreme Being, oppose that Intelligence, who sits at the helm of the world; question

what he affirms, dispute what he determines, appeal from his decisions, and, even after God hath given evidence, reject all doctrines that are beyond his capacity. Enter into thy nothingness, mortal creature. What madness animates thee? How darest thou pretend, thou, who art but a point, thou, whose essence is but an atom, to measure thyself with the Supreme Being, with him, who fills heaven and earth, with him whom heaven, the heaven of heavens cannot contain? Kings viii. 27. "Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? high as heaven what canst thou do? deeper than hell what canst thou know?" Job xi. 7. "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. He bindet up the waters in his thick clouds, the pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at his reproof. Lo these are parts of his ways, but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power, who can understand? Gird up now thy loins like a man, for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding, ch. xxvi. 7, 11, 14. Who hath laid the measures thereof? Who hath stretched the line upon it? whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Who laid the corner stone thereof, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Who shut up the sea with doors, when I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick

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Ax uncommon series of avocations has postponed those attentions to you by way of letter, which, when at liberty, I always find a pleasure in paying. You, in the mean time, if my inform ation is correct, have entered a new world in a manner; and shall I congratulate you, that to you it is given "to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ." For what a "grace" is this, my friend, to you and to me! I wish to recal my own mind more and more to this thought, and seek with redoubled importunity ev. ery thing in spirit and life, in gift and grace, which suits so high a calling, of which none of us can pretend to be worthy. Shall we pray and labour that we may obtain mercy to do some. thing for our Master's honour, for the advancement of his truth and all-interesting cause among men?

My wishes will not cease to follow you, that his presence may be with you always. Gracious Master! how he remembers his poor servants, who go

forth with fear and trembling, knowing that without him they can do nothing!

Our strength, my young brother, will always lie in taking hold on his all-sufficiency, and there reposing our hopes for allpreparation, all courage, and all conduct. When we forget this, and begin to feel strong in our own abilities and acquirements, we are at once weak as water, and at once in imminent danger.

I shall still proceed in hints which occur to me, because you have desired it. There are many which I am not to suppose have escaped you. Your own thoughts have suggested the expediency of engaging early some judicious and faithful remarker upon every thing in manner, which might be amended; or if there be any thing of a higher nature which requires variation. Very possibly you are before me in the best things I shall mention; but their occurring to another may the more confirm you that they are founded in nature.

It is of great importance to ourselves and others, that we come with the true air to the exercises of the sanctuary. Deep reverence and awe of the Majesty we worship, and in whose name we speak, should forever go with us; but not such a dread as prevents the free acting of our faculties, in prayer or sermon. We are not come to the mount which burned with fire, &c.' Together with the reverence and godly fear which must still be maintained, let a sense of the dispensation we are under, and of our approaching the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, and

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