own country, it is peculiarly interesting. It has been said, that "the city of God presented no street of purer gold than the New England Church." It is now a desolation. The rude howlings of the worst of heresy, is the music at its head. How is the gold become dim! Had the sentiments of Dr. Watts, on the doctrine of the Trinity, and his unhallowed language respecting the Book of Psalms, any influence in opening the door for Socinianism? The Dr's system was a compound of Sabellianism, Arianism, and Socinianism. His system not only denies the eternal sonship of Jesus Christ, but also his deity, as he is a person distinct from the Father. The acute and profound President Edwards has, in a number of arguments, refuted this heresy of Dr. Watts, and, at the same time, shown, that it destroys a belief in the scriptural doctrine of the Trinity. According to Watts' hypothesis, it is a trinity of names, united in one individual person, and not of persons in one essence.*

Did Dr. Watts attempt, directly, or indirectly, to transfuse his peculiar views, on this subject, into his religious poetry? Some See Appendix, No. 1.

think he introduced it, not very indirectly, into his imitation of the Psalms. Considering the strong propensity of man to propagate his sentiments, it would, indeed, be strange, if he did not attempt it. It is a fact, not admitting of doubt, that where his compositions were first, and have been longest, used, in the Psalmody of the Church, Socinianism has made the most extensive progress. Error has its power as well as truth, and like it, it presses to consistency. Dr. Watts rejected the bible doctrine of the Trinity; he cannot be supposed, intentionally, to contradict his settled principles, in any of his poetic compositions; his imitation and hymns, with all their perfections and imperfections, were adopted in the psalmody of many Churches, to the exclusion of scripture songs; among those Churches the Socinian heresies have extensively spread.What is the connexion, in New England, be tween these composures of Dr. Watts, and the existing opposition to orthodox doctrine? I leave this question to be answered by them, whom it more immediately concerns. What.. ever others may imagine, to me, it seems de

serving of attention.* God once said of F phraim, He is joined to his idols let him In avenging sin, he frequently p

itual crime with spiritual plagues. My peop would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up to their own hearts' lusts; and they walked in their own counsels.t

These, brethren, are a summary of the reasons, by which I justify the continued use of inspired songs, in the Psalmody of the Church, in preference to human composures however excellent. We have seen that they were given to the Church of God, by his own

The progress of error is gradual, and often the avowed friends of truth prepare the way for heresy. The present extensive denial of the eternal Sonship of Jesus Christ, is to be viewed in this light. Destroy the faith of the church in the eternity of his filiation, and she will soon deny the eternity of his person. The metaphisical acumen of most professors, will not enable them to distinguish between sonship and personality The standards of the Presbyterian churches teach, that" the Son is eternally begotten of the Father," and that the personal property of the Son is to be begotten of the Father. Destroy the personal property and you destroy the person: If the personal property be not eternal, the person is not eternal. Establish the former, and the latter will follow of course. To bear down the doctrine of the Savior's eternal filiation, the weight of the influence at Andover is directed. The names of Drs. Morse, Emmons, and Griffin, stand conspicuously recorded, as avowed enemies of the truth, on this point. They mean not to deny the divinity of their Redeemer; yet their principle leads that way, and, we have reason to fear, their disciples will be more consistently wrong than themselves. See their recommendation of a work of Rev'd Ethan Smith of Hopkinton, N. H. on the character of Jesus Christ, and the Trinity.. t Psal. 81. 11. 12.

to

thority, and were used with his approbation. Redeemer and his inspired messengers, the strong t sentimenogating their use, did by numer sus circumstances, whose language is not ea. sily misunderstood, recommend them to our respect, and pious veneration.-The matter of these songs is divine, and admirably adapted to the purpose of evangelical praise-They are better than the best compositions of uninspired men; they are the word of God,—and have been always dear to the saints-The propriety of using hymns of human composure, in the sanctuary of God, to say the least, is doubtful. The most prominent advocates of such hymns, in recommending them, and in vindicating their claims, have spoken reproachfully of an important portion of the sacred Word-The tendency of their admission, too, is most unpropitious to the purity of religion, and the peace of the house of God.

LETTER V.

f

OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED. Scripture our only rule. Col. 3.-16. considered. Demands answered. New mercies require a new song. Book of Psalms abrogated. Cannot be sung in truth. May sing as well as pray in our own words.

Book

of Psalms obscure. Inadequate. Modern hymns more favorable to revivals. More elegant in diction. Watts had as good a right to make Psalms as David.

Dear Brethren,

THAT "The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, are the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God, and enjoy him for. ever," is an article of the Protestant creed.In matters of faith and religious worship, to the law and to the testimony, our appeal is made. By the decision of the Holy Ghost, speaking in and by the scriptures, is the claim of the Book of Psalms sustained, to its place in the Psalmody of our Zion. This is enough; it matters little what ingenuity may be displayed in order to set aside that decision; upon it the faith of the christian should repose. Those who contend for its banishment, and the adop tion of its rivals, can be justified only by "pas. sages of scripture which contain direct pre