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quences, would excuse the devil also, who is morally as incapable of every thing good; and as entirely, at least, left destitute of teaching, drawing, and conducting, as any man can be.]

HARDENING.

"That he may alarm the hearers, he says, "he 'hardened."'-Does then God speak what is not true to alarm mankind? this is often intimated in respect of the threatenings of everlasting punishment; but a more dishonourable suggestion respecting God, or one more pernicious to mankind, can hardly be conceived. Giving such alarms concerning evils which it is known will never come, may suit the narrow policy of man; but it at least borders on blasphemy to ascribe it to God. I take this opportunity to say, that scarcely any modern Calvinist ventures to use the energetic and unqualified language of scripture, on this awful subject, without pausing to give explanation, or to affix some limitation to its meaning. So far from going beyond the "oracles of God" in our language, we hesitate at using the express words of scripture, when we speak of God's hardening the hearts of men. This is a consideration not unworthy the notice of those who labour to put a favourable construction on the language of the sacred writers, but affix the worst which they can devise to our words, though in themselves much less energetic. Only let our language be interpreted by the same rules, which would be applied to that of Moses and St. Paul respecting Pharaoh ; and the objections against us, at least on this Chrys. Ref. 495, 496.

ground, must vanish. Calvin thought those blameable, who declined using the strongest language of scripture, without comment; and so did many of his contemporaries and successors.

['Even Augustine is sometimes not free from 'that superstition; as where he says, that the ' hardening and blinding do not refer to the ope'ration, but to the prescience, of God. Inst. lib. 'ii. cap. 4. sect. 3.'1

Calvin argues this point at some length, and with great ability. Yet modern Calvinists in general scruple to adopt his manner of speaking on these awful subjects; though it cannot be denied that the holy scripture contains as strong language in this particular, as Calvin himself employs. "I will harden Pharaoh's heart." "The "Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart." "I have har"dened his heart."

"If the prophet be deceived

"when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have "deceived that prophet." "God shall send them "strong delusion that they should believe a lie, "that they all might be damned who believed not "the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."2 Notwithstanding this, however, I acknowledge myself dissatisfied with Calvin's arguments. If we merely use scriptural language in speaking on these points, without any explanation; we may shelter ourselves, in some measure, under the authority and example of the sacred writers: but, if we come to reason upon it, (except as shewing how God, by giving men up to their own hearts' lusts, permitting Satan to tempt them, and ordering providential dispensations so as may give

Ref. 531: from Calvin. 2 Ezek. xiv. 9. 2 Thess. ii. 9, 10.

energy to his temptations, may be said to harden them,) we go off from the scriptural ground, and can hardly avoid making the conduct of God in hardening sinners positive, as if he actually communicated obstinacy and rebellion to their hearts. But "God is not tempted of evil, neither tempteth "he any man:" and he can be the cause, or author, of hardness, in no other way than as the sun is the cause of darkness, cold, and frost; viz. by withdrawing, and leaving things to their natural tendency, without imparting any light or warmth to the earth.-The sacred writers seldom stop to mark this distinction, in the places where they state their doctrine; (other scriptures give us the clue:) but they never deny it, or argue against it. The great Creator may be authorized to speak concerning himself, and his dealings with his rebellious creatures, in language which we may reverently quote, but must not attempt to imitate, in what we may think similar expressions of our own. Men, making no claim to inspiration, should, as it appears to me, keep in view, as far as may be, the whole of divine revelation, when speaking of any particular part: and (except when using the very words of scripture, with great caution against misapplying them,) should employ no language which is not easily reconcilable to other parts of the sacred oracles. But, in stating these my own sentiments, I am afraid, lest I should censure these eminent servants of God, where in his sight they did not offend.]

CHAPTER II.

ON THE SIXTH CHAPTER OF THE REFUTATION,
CONTAINING QUOTATIONS DESIGNED TO SHEW

THAT THE EARLY HERETICS MAINTAINED OPIN-
IONS RESEMBLING THE PECULIAR TENETS OF

CALVINISM.

I SHALL only add to what has been adduced before respecting it, that the whole accusation of this chapter is entirely unsubstantiated ; and that every impartial person, (nay, many who are in some respects far from impartial,) on carefully examining the evidence, will without hesitation bring in the verdict, Not guilty.

[This is all that the Author thought it worth while to retain of what he had written on the subject of this chapter. The following paragraphs, however, may deserve to be restored from the first edition. The passage commented upon in the last of them may serve as a specimen of the materials with which he here had to deal. Other specimens have been furnished in what is quoted concerning Simon Magus and his Helena,' Book - III. c. ii.-J. S.]

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'It is well known by those, who have any ac'quaintance with ecclesiastical history, that many ' other doctrines of the gospel were corrupted in 'the apostolic age, and in the age immediately succeeding.'1

1 Ref. 511.

This is so well known, even to those who have comparatively but a slight acquaintance with ecclesiastical history, that authors, almost with one consent, consider it as futile in any man to attempt disproving their sentiments by quotations from ancient writers; though many of them, when it can serve their purpose of running down an opponent, or an opposite party, speak as if a quotation from the fathers were as conclusive as a text of scripture: nay, more so; for the text of scripture, even contrary to its literal and grammatical meaning, must bear the sense which some one of the ancient fathers was pleased to put upon it. It is not yet decided, so as to be put beyond all reasonable doubt, whether the doctrines of the gospel were more corrupted by those, subsequent to the apostolic age, whom the church in after ages canonized as saints, or those whom it anathematized as heretics. Origen three hundred years after his death was excommunicated, and Chrysostom, who was condemned, and, I acknowledge, used most scandalously, in his life-time, was received to communion and canonized thirty-five years after his death: yet it is not easy to determine which of the two deviated the furthest from the simplicity of apostolic doctrine: only Origen opened the way, by corrupting Christianity with vain philosophy.-I am not attempting to prepare the reader for a vindication of the doctrines of Calvinism, should it be proved that they greatly resemble, or fully coincide with, the opinions of the ancient heretics mentioned in this chapter; but merely to shew (by his Lordship's own con

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