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ERROR, WIDELY DISSEMINATED.

revived, or propagated with all the apparent freshness of youth and originality-when dogmas the most untenable were most perseveringly attempted to be vindicated by all the arts of subtle sophistry and mystification which are capable of being employed by the perverted, yet powerful intellect of man. Never, perhaps, was there, in any preceding age, a time when the faith, as once delivered to the saints, underwent so severe a scrutiny, or passed through so seven-fold heated an ordeal-when the peculiar doctrines of divine grace, as centering in, clustering round, and deriving all their value, glory, and efficacy from the cross of Jesus Christ were more grossly garbled or maligned, or held in reserve by multitudes-or the doctrines of the papacy more successfully and widely propagated than at the present day.

Do we dread or deprecate, in the least degree, the severest equitable scriptural scrutiny? We blush with honest and indignant shame at the slightest allusion to any such dishonouring insinuation. The true and intelligent believer in inspiration courts candid and impartial investigation, and welcomes a sober discussion of every part of that faith which was once delivered to the saints. Truth is great and it must prevail; but it cannot admit of any compromise with soul-destroying error; nor does true christian

EVILS OF BITTER CONTROVERSY.

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charity require it. They are the truly charitable who point out and vindicate dishonoured truth, and who warn deluded men of their dangerous mistakes. We are to contend earnestly for the faith; yet be it remembered that the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. The evils of an acrimonious spirit are incalculable. It creates the most powerful barriers against the gospel-lending to prejudice; the bitterness of personal resentment, the strength of party feeling, and the obstinacy of wounded pride. Than this, nothing has tended more to the distortion of truth, or been an hindrance to its triumphs. For religious controversialists often fancy, in the heat of theological gladiatorship, that they can never contradict one another strongly enough; trifling differences are sometimes unnecessarily magnified—and, as the contest proceeds, arguments are exchanged for anathemas -contemptuous railings for consecutive reasonings and what is the result? They often depart from the arena only mutually wounded, each hating the other more bitterly than ever and thus each are several removes farther from christian charity, and the truth and simplicity of gospel theology.

We have, in history, many melancholy illustrations of the truth of the previous remarks, where men's passions and prejudices have

136

MAHOMETAN AND POPISH ZEAL.

criminally blended with their avowed partizanship for various causes and creeds. For instance, Mahomet contended for his faith. But how? Not by the force of moral suasion, or by the enlightenment of the understanding, but by carrying sword and slaughter into the countries where his ambition led him to rear the standard of the pale crescent, instead of the cross; and by butchering men's bodies, or reducing them to political vassalage, he coerced men's minds, and thus compelled them to bow to the authority of his voluptuous and fleshpleasing system. Popery also has contended for her faith. But how? Not by putting on bowels of mercy, and exemplifying the meekness and gentleness of Christ. No! but by the adoption of carnal weapons, such as the fire, the rack, the thumb-screw, and the gibbet, she has called in the illegal aid of political power, and thus frightened timid spirits to the adoption of her faith. For amidst tears and groans, and flames, and martyrs' blood, has Popery extended the sanguinary cause of the crucifix, rather than the mild and gentle reign of that meek and lowly Saviour, who once for sinners suffered the accursed death of the cross. And English Prelacy, under the dishonoured name of Episcopal Protestant Christianity, has contended also for her faith. But how? Not by recog

PRELATICAL PERSECUTION.

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nising in all loyal political subjects the equal rights of conscience, and making its only appeal for support to the Bible. No! but by dragooning the conscientious Covenanters of Scotland, and by hunting them up and down amidst their barren mountains' tops, or by forcing them to hide, for safety and secrecy's sake, amidst the shadows of their woods, and the windings of their romantic glens;-it was thus that Prelacy tried (but tried in vain, for many of the Scotch chose rather to suffer death, than desert their principles) to make that heroic and martyrband abjure the faith and worship of their forefathers, as exhibited and embodied in the principles of ancient Presbyterianism. Puseyism, too, is contending for her faith. But how? Not by taking all her principles from, and conforming all her practices to, the Bible, but by trying to re-exalt Tradition, after it has long and deservedly been regarded as an uncertain guide by crying incessantly and vociferously, "Hear the Church! Hear the Church!" instead of saying to all humble enquiries, "To the law and to the testimony"-by trying to throw the fascinations of popish splendour over the pure worship of the simple ritual of the New Testament dispensation-by misrepresenting, or holding back" in reserve," the fundamental doctrines of the fall of man, justification

And

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PUSEYISTIC EFFORTS.

by faith alone in Christ without works, our regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit, and acceptance with God through the atonement of Jesus-by trying to cast unmerited odium on thousands of Christ's faithful ministers, just because those faithful ministers disclaim all participation with them in their views and assumptions as to sacramental efficacy in ordinances, or pretended unbroken succession in prelatical ordination. Thus are they extending their system, and proselyting pseudo-protestants to their semi-popish standard. But in direct opposition to all these several modes of unholy warfare, we would say as to our contention for the "faith once delivered to the saints," have not so learned Christ"- -"the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.'

66 we

As the controversy for great principles is now no longer confined to a narrow limit, but pervades every corner of our land, nay, has extended to the Church Missionary Society's Settlements in India, and is awfully perverting the minds of missionaries, native preachers, and converts in Calcutta and elsewhere-there are "multitudes,