There is no Metamorphosis so much to be dreaded, by those, who mean to adhere to the dictates of the Christian Revelation, as "Satan transformed into an Angel of light:" of which, there can hardly be a more decided symptom, than when a public Teacher of our Religion can speak lightly of the Doctrines of Truth; which, to say the least of them, are among the most peculiar characteristicks of that Revelation.

"True Religion," we have been told by an amiable and virtuous Philosopher, but no Preacher, "tends to make man great, and good, and happy; and, if so, its Doctrines can never be too firmly believed, nor held in too high veneration. Why then should we ever represent them as merely speculative notions, about which we may safely differ? or, why should we so conceal or disguise them, as if they were Doctrines we, were ashamed to own? Is this honesty? is this integrity? is this

the practice of Piety? What! to insult the wisdom of Heaven, by blushing, openly to avow, what he hath judged fit openly to reveal! Conviction, and steadiness of Principles, is that which gives dignity, consistency, and spirit, to human Conduct. It constitutes, as it were, the vital stamina of a great and manly Character; whereas, duplicity and disguise, betray a weak and sickly understanding, from which nothing can be expected, but cowardice and mutability."

Is it not something worse than shocking, to hear these Doctrines degraded by the very persons, who derive secular Emoluments from their presumed divinity?

It may be supposed, I think, without the smallest trait of illiberality, that all the Cautions, and Notices, which are interspersed in the Oracles of Heaven, on this topic, are not more the language of infinite Benevolence, than of Expediency; and, that they arise out of the necessity of

the case. Were there no false Guides, and were it not dangerous to listen to them, such Caveats would be superfluous, and nugatory. Matt. vii. 15.

Be it observed, that no Characters were resented, or exposed, with such poignant reproof, by "The chief Shepherd," during his public Ministry, as these. Matt. xxiii. merits great attention, in this view. Προσέχετε δε απο των ψευδοπροφητων.

These then are the nine great Arches, upon which we purpose to erect, and elevate, this Temple of Truth: and, should the candid Reader survey them with the care and accuracy, which we have used, we have no doubt of their being admitted as Maxima, and first Principles, in this kind of moral Architecture. So far from fearing, we even court the nicest examination.

Acts xvii. 11, 12.

A

COMPENDIUM

OF

THE PRIMARY DOCTRINES

EXHIBITED IN

THE TEMPLE OF TRUTH.

1.

THE Salvation of Man, is that, which includes, and constitutes, all his Religion, Excellence, and Felicity, for both worlds*.

* While we readily admit, that, "supposing the christian Revelation to be of divine origin, the Doctrine contained therein is the only Religion, which justifies the ways of eternal Providence, renders the Deity amiable to his creatures, reconciles all his moral Attributes-and, in fine, that the holy Scriptures are the most sublime System of Theology, and Philosophy, concerning God and Nature;" we affirm, that their grand leading Idea, their most prominent Feature, is, The Salvation of Man: which is one of those complex phrases, that must be analytically explained, before it can be clearly and fully understood.

G

2.

Salvation is by Grace.

3.

Salvation is through Faith.

4.

The Faith, by which we are saved, is the special Gift of God *.

As it is a main object with us, to teach, by preserving just and important distinctions-Qui benè distinguit, benè docet-may it not be proper to remark here, that, when the Author of the celebrated "Essay on human Understanding" is agitating the topic, of Faith, he discusses it, as it more immediately respects the Intellect, and in a way of appeal to rational evidence? This may be called, if you please, the philosophy of Faith. But, Christianity proceeds in a totally different mode-and always enforces it upon us, as a Grace of the Heart-or, the vital Principle of all true Religion, Virtue, and Peace; as we hope to make appear to the unbiassed Enquirer: not by addressing his passions, but by the force of cool, decisive argument.

It may be of use too, to subjoin another remark; that, if there be no other way, to Reason and Faith, more ex