of the infinitely momentous realities before them; and our own life is so short and uncertain: it is lamentable to find, what we fondly hope is the house of God, divided against itself; and to see the time and attention of one portion of the servants incessantly withdrawn from their nobler duties and more useful employments, to defend the property of their Master from the attacks of another class of the domestics. But however irksome, this is a task which we are not at liberty to decline. All his goods are precious. Every part of revealed truth is invaluable. Coming from the God of love, and fitted to raise those who embrace it to the knowledge and enjoyment of himself: we are bound to contend for its preservation and purity; to guard it with fidelity and zeal; and never surrender it to any of its assailants. The opinions opposed in the following pages, are of a most dangerous description. Though repugnant to the dictates of inspiration; they have met, in some quarters, with a far more ready reception than could have been anticipated: so that, though controversy is at all times unpleasant, it is strongly imperative on the friends of sound religion, to point out the fallacy of the tenets in question, and put the public upon their guard against their pernicious tendency. Though the work is short, it is longer than was either intended or wished. To avoid swelling the volume, many topics have been omitted, and others treated with more brevity, than perhaps was consistent with perspicuity. The reader, however, who is desirous of more information upon the subjects dis cussed, will find his labour amply rewarded by consulting the writings of other authors. The Rev. James Carlile of Dublin, in his Old Doctrine of Faith, has given a learned and elaborate refutation of the notion that faith consists in an assent to the truth. Mr Innes, in his Origin and Permanence of Christian Joy, has very judiciously shewn the necessity of faith in order to salvation, and the impropriety of making consciousness the evidence of our believing. Dr Barr, in his Sermon on the Peace of Believing, has in a masterly manner proved, that the Antinomian assurance of salvation is unattainable, unnecessary, and injurious. Mr Brotherston in his Brief View of Faith, and a Minister of the Church of Scotland, in a letter to Thomas Erskine, Esq. on his work, entitled The Unconditional Freeness of the Gospel; have treated the principal topics in debate, with great clearness and conclusiveSince these pages went to the press, Mr Barclay of Irvine has published some useful Strictures on the same subject. Mr Mason's (of Wishawtown) Observations, Doctrinal and Practical, on Saving Faith, are truly excellent. A more enlarged view of Saving Faith may be found in Dr Colquhoun's work under that title. Fuller on the Gospel Worthy of all Acceptation, and Scott on the Warrant and Nature of Faith, deserve to be carefully studied. But those who have leisure and opportunity will find their pains still more richly recompensed by the perusal of Brown of Wamphray on Justification, Edwards' admirable Work on the Affections, and Owen's incomparable volume on Redemption, or The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. ness. May the Lord in mercy bless the means employed for scattering ignorance, error, and vice; hasten the time when the people shall be all righteous; when the whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge of his glory; and when the multitudes of them that believe, shall be of one heart and of one soul, and keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. STRATHBLANE MANSE, W. H. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ON THE DIFFERENT IDEAS ENTER- TAINED OF THE WAY OF SALVATION. The scriptural method of salvation illustrated by the brazen ON THE FREENESS OF THE GOSPEL AND ON THE LOVE OF GOD. The importance of having clear ideas of the freeness of the Gospel. Though none can be saved without faith, faith is not a meritorious condition of salvation. By limiting salvation to those who know that they are pardoned, the Bereans are as chargeable as Evangelical Christians, with making salvation depend upon a condition. The position in which the Berean condition is placed, renders it exceed- ingly mischievous.-Of the power and all-sufficiency of Christ. The suitableness of the Gospel to the case of the awakened sinner. Danger of telling the impenitent that they are pardoned. Berean notion of God's indiscrimin- Christ is able to save to the utter- PAGE love to all mankind. His love in Christ ensures conversion and salvation. Election cannot make these blessings more secure. The final impenitence and perdition of many, shew that they are not beloved for Christ's sake. The impenitent are denominated vessels of wrath. The impossibility of being at once objects of wrath and of love. 24 49 CHAPTER III. ON THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN, A STATE OF GRACE, AND AN The falsehood of the notion, that all sin must either be par- : Of all being in a state of grace and interested in Christ.-. The meaning of these terms.-Unregenerate men are of the works of the law, and under a curse. Of the notion that Christ has placed all in a salvable state. If he merited salvation for all, why do any perish? If only for some, this theory extends salvation no farther than the doctrine 49 |