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"In a day when even professors of strict religion are so miserably divided in their sentiments, I am far enough from expecting that all, or even the majority, will accede to what I have written. Many will no doubt think that I give too strong and open a testimony to the doctrines of Calvinism: while others, equally numerous, will, I easily foresee, be dissatisfied with what has been said on that subject, for an opposite reason.-Some will be displeased at my saying so very much on the excellency and the honour of the law of God, and the absolute necessity of every true believer's cordially loving and greatly delighting in it: while others, I am well aware, will be equally offended at my entirely discarding all our personal obedience in the great concern of our justification; contending that all our obedience deserves punishment for being no better, and that we must be justified by faith alone receiving and pleading the imputed divine righteousness of Christ.-Some, I foresee, will think I am much too strict, and that I discourse in such a manner as tends to exclude many who think well of their own state, and are thought well of in the churches of Christ: while others will be ready to think I give too much licence by placing perfection as absolutely out of our reach in this life, and intimating that the best must expect to live and die poor sinful creatures, very far indeed from what they ought to be, and fain would be, and needing repentance, and forgiveness by mere mercy, through the blood of Christ, to the last.-Some will, I know, object to what has been delivered, as too argumentative, and paying too much deference to reason; as if all

true religion, being from God the fountain of reason, could be other than infinitely reasonable, when rightly understood, and impartially and humbly attended to: while others will probably be disgusted at my standing up for doctrines so generally exploded by the great pretenders to reason, and allowing that, though nothing in religion can be contrary to true unprejudiced reason, yet many things may to proud, carnal, self-admiring men appear so; and many really are above our reason, and can be known only by divine revelation humbly believed. Thy testimony is sure, and giveth wisdom to the simple.

"I have no inclination to enter the lists of controversy with any of these descriptions of persons, being more pleasantly, perhaps more profitably employed; and being deeply convinced that sharp and acrimonious disputation is not one of the weapons of a Christian's warfare, being carnal, and therefore not mighty through God for demolishing Satan's strong-holds of error and vice. Let then every one impartially judge for himself how far what has been taught is scriptural: and may the God of all truth lead the writer and every reader more and more deeply into the sanctifying knowledge of his truth!"

CHARITY OF THE AUTHOR TOWARDS THOSE
WHO DIFFER FROM HIM.

"NOR do I mean to insinuate that none are true Christians who have not these views of divine truth. This is commonly objected to strenuous

advocates for any system of doctrine, but often with palpable injustice. I believe many Arminians are true Christians: yea even persons avowing antinomian sentiments may be true Christians, through the inconsistency which may exist between their sentiments and the state of their hearts: much more then may persons who have embraced sentiments leaning that way, and leading to antinomianism, and as such protested against in this work. I will not pretend to say, nor do I think any man can say exactly, how much explicit knowledge of divine truth is absolutely essential to salvation. I do not mean to condemn men's persons, but their errors; nor their errors, because none can be saved that hold them, but because many are deceived by means of them, many prejudiced, many hardened; many sincere souls kept from growing in grace; and religion much deformed, disgraced, and injured by them. But this I will say, that, whatever darkness there may be on a man's understanding, unless he feels and behaves towards God as a sinner justly condemned for breaking a righteous law, and expects salvation of mere grace in God's way, and as reconciled to God, as loving his service, and longing after holiness-that holiness which the law requires,-and so living holily in sincerity and truth, he cannot be saved, according to the Bible....

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Though some measure of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is always communicated in regeneration, and therefore he cannot be a true Christian who has none of it, yet many of the regenerate have it in a very scanty measure; and, through prejudices of edu

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cation, and the want of clear instruction, they may hold in their minds sentiments inconsistent with it. For it not only may be, but frequently is the case, that men hold inconsistent and contradictory principles. I should have no scruple in declaring, that every consistent antinomian is in the way to perdition: and yet I charitably hope that many individuals theoretically adopting antinomian principles will be saved. The foundation is rightly laid, but hay, straw, stubble are built upon it this will be burned; but they will be saved, yet so as by fire-as when a man's house is burned over his head. They hold sentiments derogatory to the honour of God's law, but, through the confusedness that rests on man's understanding, they hold also contrary sentiments: the former are but notions, or at least do not entirely sway them; the latter are vital principles, and they feel and act under their influence......Every one who in any degree speaks dishonourably of the law of God, and yet allows the real satisfaction of the death of Christ, and the necessity of holiness of heart and life, does in words contradict himself; and, if he understood himself, would perceive that he held sentiments diametrically opposite to one another :-for the satisfaction of Christ's death was intended to put infinite honour on the law of God; and holiness is no other than that law written in the heart, and transcribed into the life. Such persons I would not condemn in the gross-though I think their religion of a peculiarly suspicious nature, and that they have especial need to examine themselves whether they be in the faith: but I would aim to lead them to

a more consistent and complete knowledge of the truth; in part for their own profit, and still more for the honour of religion and the good of souls; being deeply persuaded that Satan has got great advantage by such means."

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LOVE TO GOD.

"EVERY true believer sees so much of the glory and loveliness of God in being what he is, infinitely great and infinitely good, as to have a supreme and entire approbation and esteem of his whole character: and, however seanty his knowledge, or confused his judgment may be, or whatever inconsistent opinions he may from any cause have imbibed, yet he feelingly abhors the idea of any part of the divine character being different from what it is; and would not for all the world have God less holy, righteous, faithful, or merciful, than he is. He who heartily wishes any part of God's character altered is evidently an enemy to what God is, and hates him at heart. Every truly converted person is heartily reconciled to the divine perfections, and dreads, as blasphemy, the very thought of wishing God to be of another character than he is. There may be many things in the divine conduct which, through remaining darkness, he does not well understand, or see to be consistent with the perfections of God; yet he is in his judgment so well satisfied of the divine wisdom, righteousness, and goodness, that he gives the Most High, if I may so speak, credit for it, that all is as it should be,

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