says one, it is surely Daniel or Isaiah come from heaven; says another, it is a second Elijah in his fiery car; or, says a third, more like St. Paul wrapt in the third heavens."

Would that I could stop here; but there is another part of this picture and in the sight of heaven I will not shun to declare the whole truth. As far as I have gone, they very often hear from their flatterers :-they shall hear the rest from a better friend than a flatterer. They know when and how to change their dove-like plumage into scales, and their snowy fleece into brindled spots, and threatning fangs. There is but a little distance between a sigh and a hiss, or between a smile and a grin and once a hiss was succeeded by a stab. They know how to dart on their victim like a baselisk from the sand, or to reach him like a Scythian with an arrow from behind a hedge. A man engaged in his own concerns, unsuspecting and unprotected, is their favourite mark. And let the public know, as there is one man who dares to say what he knows, that I have not made one of these assertions without a correspondent fact in my eye.

The people of this city are entitled to know the grounds of this whole business; they ought to know it, and they shall know it, if they will read. The men in this city who hold to what is usually styled New-England sentiments, have entered into no dispute with any one. They have with all possible endeavors cultivated the friendship and esteem of those who differed from them. They have even generally avoided entering on disputed points, in their own churches, that they might avoid all appearance of controversy. What has been the consequence? They have been attacked with great virulence and hostility, and in a manner, in short, which justifies every thing which has been said in these numbers.

But they are accused of great errors. What are their errors? Why, they hold to a general atonement. So does a great portion of the protestant church. The sentiment is clearly taught in the scriptures. They cannot even show that Calvin himself held differently. Most of the standard writers since the reformation hold the same. Well-they deny original sin. This is not true. They deny imputation of guilt and a transfer of character; and

One of them has been denominated the St. Paul of America.

so did Calvin. And if any one will examine the opinion of the reformers, together with their confessions of faith, he will perceive the doctrine of imputation by no means prevalent or general among them. They held to the original and entire corruption of human nature, by the fall, and so do we.

In a word, the preceding remarks apply with equal force also to the doctrine of depravity. But, why is all this uproar ? A majority of the Synod of New-York and New-Jersy are full in the sentiments I have advanced. And will these people unchurch the Synod, and turn them out of doors? The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church may be nearly equally divided; though, in that body, the number in favour of what I consider correct sentiments is rapidly increasing.

In a general survey of the protestant church in America, these men cannot pretend to a majority. But having acquired a little influence in this city, their arrogance and presumption seem inclined to leap over all bounds. Were they inclined to fair and open controvesy, they would be answered to their satisfaction; but they desire no such thing. Their plan and their hope is by manœuvring, by secret working behind the curtain, by art and intrigue, to undermine the reputation of the men who hold to the sentiments which prevail in New-England, and drive them from the city.

The question is, whether they will succeed. All triumph, short of the triumph of truth and righteousness, is as shortlived as it is impotent and vain. There was a day when the parasites of Hildebrand adored him as the vicegerant of Christ, and as the Lord of men's consciences. We may turn to the page of history, which represents him parading through the streets of Rome like a blazing star; the triple diadem sparkling on his head, and the imperial purple floating from his shouldThe thrones of Europe shook when he frowned; and monarchs were obsequious to his powerful mandate. There, one would be ready to say, was solid food for ambition; there was an object worthy of toil and intrigue. But he vanished like a dream! Ages have rolled away since he went to his final audit, before that God who respects not the persons of princes.

ers.

"I saw the wealthy wicked boast, "Till at thy frown he fell ;

"His honours in a dream are lost,

"And he awakes in hell."

Is there a menial slave, of piety and virtue, who followed at a distance the chariot of Gregory the Seventh, whose character and destiny any christian would not prefer to that of this spiritual tyrant?

The worst that can befal an ambitious spirit, is to succeed in his utmost plans and wishes. But, whether he fail or succeed, he is more an object of pity than resentment. And from my soul I pity these busy men, the very vital principle of whose scheme is selfishness and ambition; for, could they achieve what they aim at, it is but the tinsel of power, spread thinner than ever the gold beater spread his leaf; could they gain all they seek for, and for which they dig, and climb, and creep, and whisper, and trim; for which they have in store a thousand smiles, and frowns, and sighs, and hisses, and winks, and nods, and flatteries, and threats, it would all evaporate in a few blasts of applause, not made of the purest breath; it would perish

"Like the baseless fabric of a vision,

"And leave not a wreck behind."

But, should it be seriously asked what evidence there is that ambition is at the bottom of this conduct; I reply, that this, and this only, is sufficient to account for what they do; God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. The whole conduct of these men is such as might be expected from an ambitious man, labouring to supplant his rival and enemy. They show no love nor condescension-no meekness nor humility -no openness nor magnanimity. If you condescend, they vapour -if you resist, they are enraged-if you retreat, they pursueand if you submit, they triumph.

Ambition, always vain, was never vainer than in this case. What if they triumph? There is not the splended charriot, the triumphal arch, the adoring millions; there is not the crown of Hildebrand, heavy with gold and gems-his splendid throne and

imperial robes, in expectance. Nor does this base contention portend a crown in heaven, or celestial robes of light and glory.

་

The sincere friend of truth may humbly repose his confidence in the God of truth, though his foes are numerous, strong, and active. And I place full confidence in the belief, that correct sentiments will prevail-that they will not be rooted out of this city. Neither the pitchy, midnight cloud of the eleventh, nor the early dawn of the sixteenth century are to return; nor are the discoverers and improvers of the eighteenth century to be compelled, like Gallileo and Copernicus, to retract their discoveries, in order that the champions of selfishness may rule the church a little longer. Civil rulers have learned that they can make shift to wield the sword and sceptre, and are in no dread of a peal of thunder from the Vatican; nor are they in need of monks and inquisitors at their elbow, to point out the victims of the mother of harlots. The amusements of the auto-de-fe are past; and, as for the ghostly lords and umpires of conscience, they are never more to return. The faithful witnesses of truth are no more dragged to the anvil, that their chains and fetters may be made fast; nor are these moral blacksmiths longer to rivet their fetters on the mind, made for free and liberal discussion.

But, defeated as Satan and his angels, and all his legions of spiritual despots, emissaries, and abettors are-dislodged from their main fortresses-driven from the open field, and ferreted from glens, coverts, and fastnesses, it is astonishing to see the activity, the incredible zeal, boldness, and desperation of their expiring efforts. They can no more endure the light than ghosts and goblins can abide the approach of morning; it discloses their frightful features, and pierces them through with intolerable pain. Yet, in their ardour to maintain even a hairbreath of ground, or perhaps to bring off the body of Patroclus, or some hero slain, they forget that they can do nothing but in darkness, and bolt fairly out into open day. What do we see?-Their whole panoply !-You might nearly take their description from Ossian's cloudy ghost: "Their sword is a pale meteor, without edge or point-their spear is mist”—their

breastplate made of something which shines in the night like burning gold, now appears a miserable patch of rotton wood. Their helmet is paper, whose only virtue is derived from some great name, such as CALVIN, written on it in capitals. Yet their countenance is very fierce, and smoke issues from their mouth and nostrils. Did you not see their weapons, you might expect a terrible conflict; and, as it is, they will make a stout resistance to every thing but "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

I fully anticipate all that will be said of these remarks; the contemptuous slang of Arminianism! Socinianism! Ribaldry! Slander! that will be thrown out. But, that reason which renders man the lord of this terrestrial globe, and which continually strives to rescue him from the reign of his passions and prejudices, if allowed to speak, will show the reader that my premises are true; and, as for the conclusions, I wait for time and experience, those grand correctors of folly, to justify them. That tribunal before which I am perfectly certain this production will fare the best, will be the consciences of the very men I accuse; for they well know I speak the truth. Were they, indeed, as ardently engaged in promoting truth, as they are error; in removing old prejudices, as they are in supporting them; in promoting the spread of light and reformation, as they are in extinguishing the one, and resisting the other, still using the means to do it which they are using, they would have reason to be ashamed of their conduct, and would merit the disapprobation of all men; for the end cannot sanctify the means.

The cause of Jesus Christ, important and glorious in its nature, divine in its origin, and pure in its principles, uniform and resistless in its progress, and secure of its final issue, asks no assistance from those artifices by which the schemes of ambition are accomplished, much less does it fear those artifices, or the more bold attacks of wicked men. And it will progress and prosper; neither shall the gates of hell prevail against it. Let these men continue to plot and whisper; let them summon to their aid their sharpest satire and best logic-their boldest assertions, and most pious tones, still their scheme is not on the ground of truth, and

* Foxfire.