DUKE 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 DIVINITY SCHOOL 
 LIBRARY 
 
A 
 
 DIALOGUE 
 
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 ‘CHURCHMAN, 
 
 A Methodistical Calvinist. 
 
 BY AN EPISCOPAL CLERGYMAN, 
 
 NEW-HAVEN: — 
 PRINTED BY OLIVER STEELE & co. 
 
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 pres Se eM W ELL, neighbour, whither are 
 you going so early this morning? 
 Calvinist. Tam going to hear the Gospel preach. 
 
 ed. . 
 
 Church. To hear the Gospel preached ! why 
 
 Church will not begin these two hours. 
 
 Cal. That I know very well, but Ifon’t go to 
 
 ‘Church to hear the Gospel préached: 
 
 Church. No! Why where else should you gor. 
 You do not frequent Conventicles, I hop®, and 
 take all for Gospel that is delivered by the wild 
 
 preachers who hold forth there. Your father and 
 
 grandfather went to their Parish Church, and were 
 taught by their pastor to live like good christians ; : 
 to show forth the Gospel in their /ves as well as 
 by their lips. I fear that you will not geta better 
 light from your new teachers. 
 
 Cal. You may call them wild if you please, but 
 
 I am sure that they have got the word, and have - 
 
 convinced me that I gm in the’ right way to Age 
 saved, though I was once a lost sinner. me 
 
 Cisteh: Don’t be too sure of all this; if vous we 
 
 preachers. had got the word, as you call it, they 
 would instruct you not to make schisms and diyi- - 
 
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4, 
 
 sions in the congregation;.and they would also 
 teach you not to be too confident in your own se- 
 curity, but to reflect that ‘there is a way which. 
 seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are 
 the ways of death.” 
 
 Cal. They make no schisms aad: divisions in 
 the congregation, but teach us union and mora % 
 and peace. : 
 
 Church. Then their practice is not dotintent 
 with their doctrine; for forgetting that Christ 
 prayed for those whom the Father had given him, 
 that ‘“‘they might be one,” and that in the pure age 
 ~ of the Apostles, ‘‘the multitude of them that be- 
 lieved were of one heart and of one soul,” they se- 
 duce you to forsake the Episcopal Church, which 
 is settled upon the Gospel principles, by some of 
 the wisest men and best Christians that any coun- 
 try ever produced ; which, to say the least, is to 
 excite needless differences and separations in the 
 congregation, and to interrupt the unity and peace 
 of that christian fellowship which our Lord and 
 his disciples have ever been anxious to establish; 
 ‘beseeching us “by the name of our Lord Jesus 
 _ Christ, that we all speak the same thing, and that 
 _ there be no divisions among us, but that we be 
 perfectly joined together in the same mind and in 
 the same judgment.”>* = 
 
 Gal. They are no enemies a ine Episcopal 
 * Church, but call themselves mene and minis- 
 ters of that Church. ¥ 
 
 Church. What then is Christ divided? Can © 
 there be unconnected members in the same body? 
 Your teachers are not ministers according to the 
 form appointed in the Church, which ordains its 
 clergy in the way that was established by Christ 
 and its Apostles; and which governs the ‘Church 
 
 *1 Cor. i. 10. 
 
 ; a ‘a 
 aN 2 ay i. 
 
5 
 
 according to the custom of the first ages, by bish- 
 ops, priests, and deacons; the two latter deriving 
 their authority from the superior order, by the 
 ‘laying on of hands.” And if your preachers are 
 -qualified to teach others, they ought to know that 
 those who attempted to invade the office of-the 
 priesthood of Aaron were punished with death, 
 and that under the Gospel, whoever “ entereth not 
 by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up 
 some other way, the same isathief and a rob- 
 ber,*” whom the sheep cannot follow with any just 
 ‘confidence. 
 
 Cal. They go out to preach as the Apostles did, 
 wherever the Spirit leads them, and preach what 
 the Holy Ghost directs. 
 
 Church. Aaron and his sons were consecrated 
 by a divine commission expressly declared, and in- 
 vested in their office with due form and solemnity 
 before all the congregation. Christ himself did 
 not begin his ministry till he was acknowledged by 
 a voice from Heaven, and by the visible descent of 
 the Holy Ghost, which lighted upon him. “He 
 glorified not himself to be made an high-priest ; 
 but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day 
 have I begotten thee.”’|. The Apostles did not go 
 out to preach till they had received authority from 
 Christ, who “tas the Father had sent him, so sent 
 his disciples ;” and the teachers of christianity in - 
 general were ordained by the imposition of hands 
 of the Apostles and first bishops of the church, 
 who were commanded to ‘lay hands suddenly on 
 no man.” According tothe rule established by 
 these great examples, and the invariable custom of 
 the church, the clergy of our establishment derive 
 their authority transmitted in regular succession 
 
 * John x1. + Heb. ¥, 5 : 
 Aa 
 
6 
 
 from the Apostles, receiving power from those. 
 who alone are capable of conferring it, and exert- 
 ing their services in their allotted districts and pa- 
 rishes, agreeably to the earliest regulations, as Ti- 
 tus was left in Crete, and Timothy ers over 
 Ephesus. 
 
 Cal. But the Spirit of God. is greater than that 
 of any human authority, and may set aside ordina- 
 ry modes of proceeding. 
 
 Church. None who depart from the rules laid 
 down by Christ and his Apostles, and who violate 
 the appointments of the Church to which the pro- | 
 mise of Christ’s presence till the end of the world 
 must be confined, have a right ta expect the direc- 
 tion of his Spirit ; neither can they be considered 
 as empowered to preach the word, since they dre 
 not commissioned by any authority which is ack- 
 nowledged, or recommended by any manifestation — 
 of a divine appointment. 
 
 Cal. But preachers may have an eapecial call 
 from God. ip 
 
 Church. If they had an especial call Pt God, 
 
 ’ they would give proofs of their mission by “‘ signs. 
 and wonders and mighty deeds,” as did Christ and 
 the Apostles; and eyen Christ and his Apostles, 
 
 who did produce miraculous testimonies of their . 
 mission, were ordained, as we have seen, by exter- 
 nal ceremonies, and received the communications 
 of the Spirit by appointed means of consecration ; 
 for “every high-priest taken from among men, is 
 ordained for men in things pertaining to God,” — 
 and ‘*no man taketh this honour unto himself. 38 
 
 Cal. Well, but some of ous preachers are or- 
 dained by bishops, and are ministers appointed ac= 
 cording to the form of the Episcopal Church. 
 
 Church. Do they read the Liturgy and alt 
 
 * ta Sak Ys Lamy 
 
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7 
 
 ‘ister the. Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper accord- 
 
 ing to the form of the church? 
 
 Cal. Those who officiate at the meeting obey 
 also the Spirit, and sometimes introduce an ex- 
 tempore prayer in the Communion Service; they 
 likewise make some little difference in the manner 
 of administering the bread and wine. 
 
 Church. If they make any addition or altera- - 
 tion, they do not adhere to their engagements ; 
 
 ~ they depart from obligations which they have vo- 
 
 luntarily taken upon themselves, and therefore 
 cannot be teachers in sincerity and truth, since 
 they pledged themselves by asolemn promise at 
 the time of their ordination, always ‘‘so to minis- 
 
 _ ter the doctrines and Sacraments, and discipline of 
 
 Christ, as the Lord hath commanded, and as this 
 
 Church hath received. the same ;” and the Spirit 
 can never be supposed to direct them to break 
 
 through a duty, which they have deliberately. and 
 religiously undertaken. They likewise promised 
 
 at ordination, that they would “be ready with all 
 
 faithful diligence to drive away all erroneous and 
 strange doctrines contrary to God’s Word:” and 
 further, ‘“‘as much as in them lieth, to set forward 
 quietness, peace, and love, among all Christian 
 people; as likewise that they would reverently 
 obey their ordinary and other chief ministers, to 
 whom is committed the charge and government 
 over them, following with a glad mind and will 
 
 their godly admonitions, and submitting them- 
 
 selves to their godly judgments.” 
 
 Cal. But their prayers are very fine, and pro- 
 mote devotion. 
 
 Church. I do not believe that the unprepared ~ 
 effustons, or even the studied prayers of any indi. 
 vidual, who is not inspired, can equal the noble 
 work of our Liturgy, composed from ancient 
 
 e x 
 
. 5 8 
 
 a 
 forms, and improved by successive alterations: to 
 the highest perfection. « 
 
 Cal. But your congregations do not join. ia'the 
 Liturgy with such warmth and devotion as We ©xs. 
 press in our prayers. mS 
 
 Church. Of that I am not convinced. There 
 may be much warmth without the vehemence and 
 effort which are often produced by art and enthu- 
 siasm. It is the fault of individuals, if, instead of 
 attending to their own prayers, they are employed 
 in watching the conduct of others; and are not as 
 fully engaged by the great and comprehensive ob- 
 jects of our Liturgy, by its diversified forms of. 
 exhortation, confession, thanksgiving, and suppli- — 
 cation for the whole race of mankind, as by the 
 wild and irregular flights of heated men; which 
 hurry on their hearers to the expression of sentis 
 ments that they have no time to canvass and ex- 
 amine, which are often little calculated for ads 
 dresses to the Supreme Being, and certainly are 
 never so adapted to his attributes, or so concerted — 
 to produce amendment and virtuous affections, asi 
 the admirable prayers used in our service. = 
 
 Cal. But we join together in :ymns and songs — 
 of praise, so as to gladden the heart. | 
 
 Church. There would be no harm, but on the r 
 contrary, much reasonable and pious service, fall’ 
 of the congregation who are able, would unite’ ja 
 singing psalms with a well-regulated decency in 
 the Church : and I believe that there are very few — 
 pastors of our Church who are not willing to give — 
 all encouragement and commendation to the dis- 
 creet exertions of those who are desirous of pro- 
 moting a conjunction and i in the singing 
 of praises to God. 
 
 Cal. The clergy have not so ‘uch i as our 
 teachers, 
 
9 
 
 ‘Church. Zeal, my friend, is of no service, or 
 rather, itis productive of much injury, unless it 
 be ‘* zeal according to knowledge,” which, I take 
 it, that of your teachers is not, since it arises not 
 in just reflections, and is not controlled in agree- 
 ment with reason and truth, But does not your 
 pastor show zeal? Is he not punctual and warm in 
 his devotions; earnest in his attendance and ex- 
 hortations to the sick ; anxious at all times to, in- 
 struct you in what is beneficial; always striving to 
 promote your present happiness as well as your fu- 
 ture welfare; willing to intercede with your supe- 
 riors to show you any kindness; charitable to the - 
 poor; and friendly, indulgent, and Hospitals to 
 » alk? 
 
 Cal. Why, yes to be sure, I cannot deny all this ; 
 but then he is paid for it. 
 
 Church. And is not the labourer worthy. of His 
 reward ?—Hath not “ the Lord ordained that they 
 which preach the Gospel should live of the Gos- 
 pel?”*—How could he subsist and fulfil the duties 
 of his station, if he were not paid? Were not the 
 primitive ministers of the Church paid? Are not 
 your preachers paid by subscription? 
 
 Cal, But, Sir, I cannot understand the Church 
 Preachers, ‘aud I do not like their doctrine. 
 
 Church. Not quite so-fast, friend. If you do 
 not understand them, you cannot judge whether 
 their doctrine be goodornot. The clergy are in 
 general men of superior education, and well ac- 
 quainted with the Scriptures, which they study in 
 the languages in which they were originally writ- 
 ten, and with every assistance that may enable 
 them to comprehend them. 
 
 Cal, But surely I have a right to choose my 
 own teacher. 
 
 * 1 Cor. ix, 14, 
 
x 
 
 “turned unto fables.” They surprise 
 
 10 j 
 Church. In this country, Mehend a free tolera- 
 
 tion is allowed to all, you certainly may frequent 
 any place of worship which you please, without 
 incurring human penalties; but you must remem 
 ber that voulang responsible to God, for deserting 
 those guides who are ordained in a manner agree- 
 ably to the Apostolic Rules; and preferring those 
 who do not respect the instruction of their Lord ; 
 who have not received the approbation of those 
 spiritual superiors that are appointed to govern the 
 Church, established on sacred principles; and who 
 * have turned aside unto vain jangling, desiring to 
 be teachers of the law, understanding neither ae 
 they say, or whereof they. afirm.”* You m 
 
 learn from the Prophet Malachi, that it is your du. 
 
 > ty to “seek the law at the priést’s mouth, forhe is 
 - the fal tate of the Lord of Hosts ;”} and to be 
 
 careful that’you are not included in the number « of 
 those‘of whom the Apostle foretold, ‘that 
 their own lusts they should heap to themselves 
 teachers.” is 
 “Gal. I find the words of our preachers’ pie < 
 into my soul like a'two-edged sword, 
 Church. Your preachers address © 
 the passions of their hearers, and no 
 judgments, while the Episcopal clergy more 
 appeal to the understandings, and endeavon 
 fluence the convictions of men. Hence: 
 the most extravagant declaimers capti 
 who ‘‘turn:away their ears from the & 
 
 tet 
 
 rise you vb 
 strange | and fearful: relations, » et sohieecne and 
 old wives fables ;” they introduce descriptions and | 
 images more suited to common conversation, than 
 tothe solemnity of public instruction; they mis- 
 lead you by figurative expressions, and texts pars 
 eed. TAN: | reg, : 
 
 a oR 
 
ai 
 
 tially selected, and address you in language, which 
 however it may awaken yout'fe¢hings, and amuse 
 your imagination, only tends to‘dclusion and error. 
 _ Religion is designed to guide our passions, by sup-+ 
 porting the ascendancy of our reason; and its 
 teachers should therefore be careful not to kindle 
 any unrestrained fervors. Besides, I wish you to 
 reficct, that the chief concern of all who resort to 
 ‘public worship should be prayer and attention to 
 the Scriptures; and that if your preachers were 
 
 indeed superior to ours, it would not justify you in 
 
 - 
 
 fi: 
 
 withdrawing from theservice appointed, in confors 
 mity to the regulations of the Primitive Church, 
 Cal. Lam convinced, Sir, that I am in the right 
 way; I have experienced a conversion to salvation. 
 Church. However much you may be convinced 
 that you are in the right way, you should remem- 
 ber, that St. Paul says, “ Let him that thinketh he 
 standeth, take heed lest he fall ;” and that he in- 
 structs every man “not to think (of himself) more 
 highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, 
 according as God hath dealt to every man the 
 measure of faith.” Many have swelled with a 
 Pharisaic presumption of their own righteousness, 
 vand looked down with contempt on others who 
 have been more justified in the isight of God. 
 Conscious that “ whosoever exalteth himself shall 
 be abased,” we cannot be too careful not to build 
 an unwarrantable confidence on any presumed se. 
 curity. - With respect to conversion also, it is not 
 any sudden ¢€motion or transient impression on the 
 
 * mind, but the deliberate conviction of an awaken- 
 
 ed conscience, contrite in its reflections, and per- 
 severing in resolutions of repentance and holiness 
 of life. ene a ‘ 
 * Cal. But, Sir, have the feeling of the Spirit, 
 and perceive its influence constraining me to sanc- 
 ‘tification, =. “‘¢ 
 
 Ste : - 
 
"© \ewhich reigned asit were a law ahi 
 
 a 
 
 i>. 
 
 * 
 
 : sfPRt the Father draw him ?”’+ 
 
 12 ag 
 
 Church. The effects of the Spirit are not per- 
 ‘ceptible by any senszble impulse, or irresistible cons 
 troul, ‘ The wind bloweth where it listeth, and 
 thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell 
 whence it cometh, or whither it goeth 5 3 SO is eve~ 
 ry man that is born of the Spirit.” ' Its dominion 
 is to be experienced not by any visionary fancies, 
 enthustastic ravings, or vain inflations of spiritual 
 pride and conceit ; but by the regular and beneficial 
 operation of a religious principle, acting with uni- 
 form effect in the energies of a virtuous life. 
 
 Cal. Is there not a regeneration, a new birth un- 
 to righteousness? and are we not told, “that, ex- 
 cept a man be born again, he cannot see the Flag: 
 dom of God ?” 
 
 Church. The expression of regeneration is em- 
 ployedsin Scripture to signify that admission into 
 Christ’s kingdom, which takes place at baptism, 
 and that conversion under the blessed infltience of 
 the Holy, Spirit, which is effected in a state of ace 
 ceptance, and manifested by righteousness of life. | 
 
 Cal. Is not this conversion, however, ascribed to 
 the free grace of God ; and are we not told St. its 
 Paul, that “it is God that worketh in us 1 to 
 will and to do of his good pleasure ;”* and your 
 Lord himself, that ‘no man can come ne to him, exe 
 
 transgression, as to haye become s 
 
 ringing him i into” captivity ;” so stale ourarticle 
 expresses it, “‘ he could not turn and prepare hims 
 self by his own natural strength to 
 and calling upon God ;” “ wherefore we ies 
 power to do good works pleasant : an to 
 _* Philip ii, 13. tJohnvi4e 
 
 ener 
 
oad 
 God, without the grace cf God by Christ prevent- 
 ‘img us, that we may have a good will, and working 
 in us when we have that good will 7 They how- 
 _ ever consider those who are baptized into Christ’s 
 faith, as.made free from subjection to sin; and 
 they ‘suppose oh our part a power of co-operating, 
 ‘afreedom of -will, without which man would bea 
 mere machine. They. look fora voluntary acqui- 
 escence with the suggestions and guidance of the 
 Spirit ; and for a reasonable obedience productive 
 of holiness, and preserving a sanctity in the bo- 
 -dies which are consecrated as temples to the Holy 
 Ghost. The Apostle indeed introduces the text 
 which you quote, of ‘*God’s. working in us,” by an 
 exhortation to obedience, requiring us to “ work 
 
 out our own salvation ;”* as he elsewhere enjoins us 
 _“* net to yield: our members as instruments of un- 
 righteousness unto sin, but to yield ourselves unto 
 
 -God,y as those that are alive from the dead, ‘and 
 our members as instruments of righteousness un- 
 to God ;”’+ declaring, that “‘the wrath of God is 
 
 revealed from heaven against all ungodli : 
 unrighteousness of men, who ‘hold the 
 righteousness. (ai 
 
 Cal, Are we not told ce St. Paul, that “« ‘afier BS ACF 
 
 that the kindness and love of ‘(God our Saviour to- 
 
 : wards men appeared, not by works of righteous- 
 
 ness which we have done, but according to his’ 
 
 ae 
 
 het newing of the Holy Ghost.’’§ 2 , 
 Ch rch. St. Paul, and the Sacred’ Writers in’ 
 ral, represent the works whi 
 
 he lesh, before the adoption of Christian princi-° 
 
 ¥ 
 Peak - 
 
 _ of salvation; which indeed.are holden out to us® 
 as having originated solely in God’s goodness : ; 
 
 »* Philip. ii. 12,13. |. ¢ Rom. Vi. Bo om 
 * Rom: i. 18, * me SP Titoiicg: ie 
 
 merey he saved us by the washing of regeneration | 
 
 2 are done i iy 4 
 
 ples, as having had no avail in obtaining thie’ terms 
 
> 
 
 a 
 
 44 es 
 
 contemplating the ruins of a fallen nature, baal 
 
 ~~ inthe deep shades of guilt, they look only to othe 
 
 divine mercy for its restoration and renewed | 
 ry; and considering the carnal mind as at enmity _ 
 against God, they declare, that those that are in 
 the flesh cannot serve him; that like the wild 
 olive-tree, they cannot bring forth good fruits, till 
 engrafted by the Spirit of God; and that ‘ with. 
 out faith it is impossible to please God. at Our | 
 Church also, in consistency with the Scriptures, — 
 considers works done before the grace of God, 
 and the inspiration of his Spirit, as not pleasant to 
 God,} inasmuch as they spring from a wrong prine 
 ~ ciple, and are not accompanied with the conviction — 
 that we are “the children of wrath,” and infected . 
 bya corrupt nature; and therefore do not tend to. 
 - promote God’s glory, but to encourage delusive 
  Gonfidence on a false ground. _ Nevertheless the — 
 Sacred. Writings, and the interpretation of them 
 
 by our Church, enforce the necesssity of . eee & 
 
 ring with the design of God’s invocation ; 
 yielding ourselves to his direction, when er 
 to reconciliation with him: the former assuring — 
 us, that “if we live after the flesh, we ‘shall die; _ 
 * but if we, through the Spirit, do mortify the 
 deeds of the body, we shall live ;”} and demon- 
 strating by the witness of Abel, who, “being dead, 
 yet speaketh,” that the gifts which are offered up _ 
 an faith will be received as the fragrance of 
 » ceptable sacrifice ; and the latter affirmi in 
 * albeit’'good works, which are the fruits 0 
 and follow after righteousness, cannot “pu away — 
 sin, and. endure'the severity of God’s Judgment, 
 yet thatiithey are very pleasing to God, 
 exhibit a conformity to his image, pe do s 
 out necessarily from a lively faith.” eS 
 
 * Heb. xi. 6. | 10thand 11th Articles. 4 Rom. viii 118. } 
 
 as they 
 
Ye 
 
 - Gal, But do not the Scriptures represent our 
 ~ salvation as the work of God alone? 
 
 Church. The Sacred Writers in general Sega : 
 
 monstrate that the great scheme of redemption 
 was concerted only inthe Divine Mercy, and con- 
 _ ducted solely to the promotion of God’s glory, 
 
 without any consideration of desert on the part of 
 
 man, and even with a jealous rejection of his fan-’ 
 
 cied pretensions, that “no flesh should glory in 
 his presence.” God preferred individual families, 
 and selected the Israelites as a peculiar people, to 
 be the keepers of his oracles, and to become sub- 
 servient to the manifestation of the Messiah, 
 
 without any regard to their number or merit ; he : 
 
 ssnetified prophets, and he called apostles and m¥ 
 isters of the Gospel, to his service, while yer «. 
 
 the womb. But the covenants which he prepared — 
 had their conditions andterms, by the fulfilment of 
 which alone the benefit of the seal eds would 
 
 be obtained. 
 Cal. Do not the sacmee writers say that we are 
 justified by grace withou: the decds of the law? 
 Church. St. Paul states tothe Jews, who sought 
 salvation ‘as it were by the works of the law,” 
 
 without the consideration of the Messiah’s atone-- 
 
 “ment, that they were not justified by the works of 
 the law; meaning by the law, the Jewish dispensa- 
 tion ; which could not indeed justify, since it only 
 furnished the knowledge of sin, and was “‘ the min- 
 “ister of death,” and bore witness to the’ righteous- 
 “ness of God, and “ what the law could not do, in 
 that it was weak through the flesh, God sending 
 his Son in the hkeness of sinful flesh, for sin con- 
 demned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of 
 the law might be fulfilled in those who walk not af- 
 ter the flesh, but after the spirit.”* He asserts al- 
 so to the Gentiles, that they were admitted, not 
 * Rom. vill, 4.- 
 
16 
 
 from regard to their own boasted virtues, since in 
 truth, they walked in the vanity of their mind, 
 having the understanding darkened ,beingalienated | 
 from the life of God, through thei ignorance that 
 “was in them, because of the blindness of their 
 Be heart,” and “ being past, feeling had given them-. 
 \ kelwas over unto laciviousness, to work all unclean- — 
 ness with greediness.”. Having then “ proyed to” 
 . both Jéws and Gentiles that they were all under 
 | sin,” he shows that we are ‘justified freely by 
 God’s grace, through the redemption that is in | 
 Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to bea pro- — 
 pitiation through faith in his blood, to ‘declare his. 
 righteousness for the remission of sins that are © 
 -S Agby t hrough the forbearance of God, ”*  Butthis 
 pressly declared to be for the exclusion of + 
 
 zy, not to ‘t make void the law,” which was 
 “jor to weaken: that righteousness, which 
 oe oh 1. grace will reign unto eternal like, by deena: x 
 rs ‘Christ our Lord, ree" 
 
 Cal, But still. are: we.not led to Satin: ak 
 eternal life is a free gift, and that we are aeigre 
 as to everlasting consequences by. free ae in 
 consideration of Christ’s sufferings? ee 
 
 Church,. The expression of life is used i in. dios 
 Scriptures to signify that knowledge which was- 
 brought. to light by the Gospel, for ‘this is life 
 _ eternal, that they might know the oply: true Ged, » 
 and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.” Now an 
 admission to the privileges of the Gospel, though 
 it blot out the hand-writing of ordinances which 
 was against us,” ‘‘so that there isno condemna- 
 tion to those which are in’ Christ Jesus,” by no 
 means dispenses us from the observance of. those ) 
 ' \.\. * conditions towhich the promise of eternal life is . 
 aan. 2 atgactied ; and though Christ’s sure be inate 
 
 * Rom, iti. 25. 
 
 s 
 é ee 
 
17 
 
 meritorious cause of justification, by which we are 
 justified from the effects of sin, and without which 
 we could not be justified ; yet neither with it, shall 
 we be finally accepted, unless by an he the con- 
 tzons of the Gospel. 
 
 Cal. Udo not understand how that can be a free 
 gift, which is conferred on conditions. 
 
 Church. Does not God, when he holds out, by 
 his general Providence, the promise of the harvest 
 renewed from year to year, confer that promise on 
 the condition of tadustry and labour ? Does not the 
 
 sovereign, who offers forgiveness to his rebellious — 
 
 subjects on the terms of submission and future al- 
 legiance, extend a free gift on conditions ? 
 
 Cal. Do not the Scriptures, however, speak of 
 
 an election without any respect to works? 
 
 Church. The communication of the Gospel, like its 
 that of the Mosaic covenant, is afforded to such — 
 only as it seemeth right to God to call unto the | 
 
 adoption of Sons.” “I will be graciovs,” said 
 God, with respegt to the Israelites, ‘to whom I 
 
 will be gracious ; and I will show mercy to whom. 
 
 I will show mercy.” And with regard to the Gen- 
 tiles, “ 1am sought,” says the Lord, ‘tof them that 
 asked not for me ; Iam found of them that sought 
 
 amé not; I said, behold me, behold me, unto ana- ~ 
 tion that was not called by my name. I have- 
 
 spread. out my hands all the day unto 2 rebellious 
 people, which walked ina way ‘that was not good, 
 after their own thoughts.”* But such declarations 
 
 import merely that God consulted only his own! 
 
 wisdom in affording more or less light to different 
 ages and generations of men. The benefit of 
 Christ’s death extended to all, as he was the propi- 
 tiation for the sins of the whole race of mankind ; 
 
 - it comprehended those who lived before his COM 
 
 * Isaiah Ixv. 2, 
 B2 
 
 BS re ieee fe = 
 
 5 
 
18) SRE ia 
 we ” 
 ing, and trusted in the promises ; fori he was the 
 Lamb slain before the foundation of the world” 
 _and its effects communicate advantage to those .. 
 _twho have not heard of his name, but live up to the 
 Jaw of their conscience, since ““God is no respect- 
 er of persons ; but in every nation, he that feareth 
 God and worketh righteousness, is: accepted of 
 ; him.* He extends, however, different portions 
 44 of knowledge, and different opportunities of -im- 
 e proving the advantage which he imparts; asinjthe . 
 Vie natural world unequal degrees of light and favour 
 are allotted to the several districts of the earth ; it 
 is presumptuous: folly in any to complain, for who - 
 art-thou who repliest against God ?. shall the thing 
 formed:say to him that formed it, Why hast thou — 
 made me thus? Every man, however, will be fis. 
 \\. “nally judged according to the measure of. instruc- 
 ~ thon-which)he has Seoul allowed to enjoys: 
 fal. Is there not then an election ? saleby not . 
 the Scriptures speak of some being cheséa fie ‘ 
 the beginning, to salvation? - ® - 
 Church, An election of calling to ie Gospel’ ¥ 
 there is; by which God’s gracious invitations are. 
 holden out to such extent, andiin such manner as 
 seeméth good to him, ‘according’ as his divine 
 power hath given unto us all things that pertain | 
 ‘ unto life and godliness; through the knowledge of ‘7 
 him that hsth called us to. glory and virtue:” bat . 
 the disposition to profit by. such election rests with 
 ourselves, and therefore*we are exhorted to “ give _ 
 diligence to make our calling and election sure,” i 
 and to “add to our faith virtue ;” for “* many are 
 called, but few chosen ;” that is, many: are invited 
 by God’s grace, and received into the Gospel cove 
 nant, who do not profit by the call dab sete, 
 own inactivity or perverseness.” ~ 57" > ‘ 
 >) .* Acts x. 84,35. ‘vo speilet 1.3—10s tia’ 
 
Wh 
 
 Cal. It appears, nevertheless, tome, that the 
 Scriptures speak of. some being predestinated to | 
 salvation withoutany respect to their ownconduct. 
 
 Church. This is a most dangerous error, highly 
 injurious to God’s attributes, and tending to pro- 
 duce the mostfatal delusions. St. Paul, and other 
 sacred writers, speak indeed. of God’s having 
 “¢ predestinated us unto the adoption of children by 
 ' Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his 
 will, to the praise of the glory of his grace ;”* and 
 they use the figurative expression of some names 
 being ‘written in the book of life:” but these 
 and such like-descriptions imply only a vocation to 
 the privileges of the Gospel, wherein life is promi- + 
 sed to faith and obedience ; or a claim to an eter- 
 nal inheritance conferred on such as God foresaw 
 would de “holy and without blame before him in ~ 
 love ;” “ for-whom he did foreknow he also did 
 predestinate to be conformed to the image of his 
 Son ;”t “according as he hath chosen us in him 
 before the foundation of the world, that we should 
 be holy and without blame before him in love.” 
 
 Cal. I have been led to believe, that the title to 
 life which has been conferred on the elect cannot 
 be forfeited, and that they cannot fall from grace; 
 our Saviour indeed declares, that ‘‘no man is able 
 to pluck them out of his Father’s haad.” ~ 
 
 Church. This also is a-most erroneous opinion, 
 founded on gross misconception, since» we are 
 taught by express declarations of Scripture, that 
 there is a danger that man, ‘after having escaped 
 the pollution of the world through the knowledge 
 of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, should be 
 again entangled therein, and overcome.”{ Our 
 Saviour, in the passage which you produce, speaks’ 
 
 ’ only ‘tof the sheep who hear.his voice ;” who “if 
 * Ephes. 5. {~ Rom. yili, 29. 4 2 Peter ii, 20: 
 
20 
 
 they fallow him shall never perish. a “‘Stiftineck ie 
 ed and rebellidus' men may “resist the” 
 Ghost,” and quench the Spirit. The disciples of 
 “Christ may, as did even David and St. Peter (not 
 to mention Judas) fall from grace; they may ~ 
 ‘“‘put away faith and a good conscience,” and — 
 “concerning faith make shipwreck;” and unless 
 they renew a right spirit, they will forfeit their 
 claim to eternal life, since, “except we repent, we 
 shall all perish.” In consistency with this, St. 
 John exhorted the elect lady and her children to 
 “look to themselves, that they might not lose the 
 things which they had wrought, that they might re- 
 ceive a full reward; since whosoever transgres- 
 “sed, and abode not in the channe i parca, had 
 not God.”+ > 
 ' Gal. It appears to me, that web God foresaw ~ 
 must have been predetermined.) = = iy 
 Church. That is by no means a just conclusion. 
 It is certain that God does foresee’ future events, . - 
 and that nevertheless man‘isa free agent: wecan- — 
 not have any idea of a perfect God without fore- 
 knowledge, neither can we have any notion of a- 
 moral and responsible being, who is not eindsneat 
 with liberty of action. The Scriptures atalible = 
 God as foreshowing future events pre i infalli 
 
 er of Seat between life said eats. mood a 
 evil, and as hereafter to be judged” for hi his con- 
 duet; aad though indeed we with our imperfeet _ 
 conceptions cannot here on earth, “where we see © 
 through a glass darkly,” understand how ‘these © 
 things can be, yet are we sure aiatr i é are in in. reals :. 
 
 ity consistent and true. 
 e& .» John %. 26—28. 
 
21 
 
 Cal. Do not the Scriptures speak of some as 
 doomed to evil and nae seuniattoly by a meetaba- 
 ting decree? 
 
 Church. God forbid! Christ teil gave himself 
 a ransom for all, and would have all men to be sa- 
 ved; even the most inveterate obstinacy: of deter» 
 mined sinners is, solicited to repentance by God, 
 who is “rich in mercy”’ towards all. We are as- 
 sured that when the “ wicked man turneth away 
 from his wickedness which he hath committed, 
 and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall 
 save his soul alive ;”* that if we turn to God, 
 “though our sins be as scarlet, yet:shall they be 
 white as snow ;’’ and that-all manner of sin shall 
 be forgiven, excepting blasphemy against the Holy 
 Ghost, which consisted probably in calumniating 
 those miraculous works that were finally perfor- 
 med by the Holy Spirit for the conversion of man- 
 kind, The- sacred writers, indeed, speak of some 
 
 _ as so incorrigibly and reprobately wicked; as to be 
 
 given up: by a kind of judicial sentence, to their - 
 2 3 daa perverseness ; so that. God, withdrew 
 his grace ; or,as itis expressed, ‘‘hardened them”’ 
 
 in their wickedness, since having: resisted every 
 invitation of his goodness, and every appeal by his” 
 miracles, they. seemed incapable of belief; and 
 were suffered by God to become “blinded in their 
 
 eyes, and hardened in their hearts, that they should 
 
 not see with their eyes, or understand with their 
 hearts, and .be converted and healed.”}. The 
 Scriptures also use some expressions of censure, 
 sach as: *‘asonof Belial,” “ ‘a son of perdition,” 
 
 and. *¢a child of the devil ; and they speak of 
 ‘“¢ vessels of wrath, fitted (thatis self-disposed) to 
 destruction ;”?. and of persons so, before of old 
 ordained§ (that is foretold); but these are used 
 
 * Ezek. xviii. 27. f Isaiah i- 18. rb 
 + John xii, 40. § Rom. ix. 22. Jude 4. 4 
 
only as strong terms, déseriptivé of : 
 _ depravity, and by no'means stamp the se 
 _ delible condemnation on characters which - 
 reserved for the scene’ of final decision; any 
 more than the words chosen,” ‘elect,” chile 
 dren of God,” can authorise ib ear in “their 
 own righteousness” till that great da ays , when every P 
 man shall be judged according to his we ety A af 
 Cal. I have heard that the articles of your. 
 - Church'teach predestination. © 1) 
 Church. The seventeenth: article, an 
 suppose you allude, must be consider 
 Laney with the general tenor of the Lita 
 
 anew? "the ddbenipill of» de® Wholick 
 Christ; the free-will of man, and ‘the a 
 
 nature of good works, originating ix fait 
 Lag as rt as a condition of salvatio 
 
 the privileges of the Soba or rae ir of aloe ti 
 _ todife on the terms of faith and. obedience 5 “me 
 ing by those who are “chosen i in Bicone iten 
 
 the Scripture expraaies it, “elect aceanl ot re 
 fore-knowledge of God.”* And this expo ition © 
 of the article is confirmed by the caution which — 
 is subjoined, which intimates the danger of “mis-— 
 conception, and requires us to receive God’s m+ 
 ises in such wise as they be generally set | rth 
 Holy Scripture. Indeed, it is certaim and uni- - 
 formly maintained by our Church, that Christ. of. 
 fered up ‘a full, perfect, and. raphe 
 oblation; and satisfaction for the sins of the w le 
 world ;"? that oo blessing which we ew ics 
 vr Pett i 2. : ; 
 
23. 
 
 election conveys no unconditional title. to salvation ; 
 but: only a restoration to favour, a gracious ad mis- 
 _ sion to the privileges of a divine covenant, and 
 that we can realize the benefit of that covenant, 
 only, by fulfilling the law of righteousness, and by 
 doing the will of the Father. 
 
 Cal. But, Sir, are we not told that we are jasc 
 fied by faith? 
 
 Church. When St. Paul, adsxesding himself to 
 the Romans, who prided themselves on the glory 
 of a pretended virtue, represents us as justified 
 by faith, he uses the word faith, as expressing the 
 whole of the christian covenant, established by the 
 atonement of Christ, and imposing the necessity 
 of righteousness; faith, in opposition to heathen 
 grounds of confidence ; . faith, without the deeds 
 of the law, that is in datinetion from the obser- 
 vances.of the Mosaic covenant; ‘faith which 
 worketh by love, and maketh us perfect in every 
 _ good work to do God’s will, working in us that-is 
 -well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.”* 
 By this Faith the just are said to live; and in con- 
 sistency with this, we are told that ‘* God gave his 
 only Son, that whosoever belieyeth in him should 
 ~ not perish, but have everlasting life,”> yet that 
 “‘the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of | 
 ’ God, °{ and that “without holiness no man shall _ 
 see the Lord,” since “for this purpose God was 
 - manifested, that he might destroy the works of the 
 - devil ;”_ and itis certain that he will “render to 
 every man according to his deeds ;”" “to them who 
 by patient continuance in well- -doing seek for hon- 
 our, and glory, and immortality, eternal life; - 
 but unto them that are contentious, and do not » 
 obey the trath, but obey unrighteousness, indigna- 
 tion and wr h, tribulation and anguish upon every 
 - soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and 
 * Gal. v. 6, fJohniii,15. ¢1Cor. yi. 9 
 
had represented the examples of faith wh ch. 
 
 -viction, and dy works was their faith 
 
 34 5h3 See 
 
 also of the Gentile; but glory, wai ana peace 
 to every man that sriteleatin good ; to the Jew first, 
 and also to the Gentile, for there is no repent of 
 
 persons with God.”* 
 
 Cal: Do not the Scriptures sometimes represent 
 us as accepted by God, and entitled to salvation 
 by faith, considered distinctly from, and in oppo- 
 sition to the works of righteousness, as rae 
 
 ‘is said to have been justified by faith ee 
 
 works? 
 
 Church. By no means. They ‘employ. aac} 
 the word justified, to signify our being released 
 from the effects of original sim, restored to the 
 hope of the reward, which is to be obtained by ob- 
 serving the condition of the covenant under which | 
 we live. Thus justified by faith “* we have peace 
 with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. St. 
 
 ' Paul having said that Abraham was justified by 
 
 Faith ; that is, in the true sense of the word, been 
 graciously liberated from condemnation, in virtue 
 of Christ’s sufferings, without regard to any pre- 
 vious merit “* wheréof he could glory;” and he. 
 ‘‘ being strong in faith,” it was imputed to him: for 
 righteousness ; and some appearing to have r mis-— 
 conceived the declaration, (though the Apo 
 
 described, to have wrought righteousnes* 
 James took occasion to remark, that the con 
 tion of obedience was not excluded from. | - 
 vine contemplation, when Abraham and Rahab_ 
 
 ‘were justified, since they both acted on thei 
 
 '% 
 
 fect: the former, as it were, offering his son Isaac 
 
 upon the altar; the latter receiving the messen- 
 
 gers, and sending them out another way ; for “as 
 * Rom. ii.6—11. ~ Hie rn 
 
 - ~ * pos 
 
25 
 
 the body without the spirit is dead, so futth without works’ 
 
 is dead also.” * . 
 
 ~ Cai. But St. Paul speaks of “ justifying the ungodly,” 
 -andof faith being “counted for righteousnes to him that 
 
 worketh not, but believeth.’’t 
 
 Church He does so; but his meaning is, that God in 
 
 his mercy extends the terms of salvation, even to those 
 
 who having lived in ungodiiness, can have no ground of 
 _ presumption on their works; but who nevertheles must 
 “ Jet their light so shine before men, that they may see 
 their good works, and glorify their Father which is in 
 Heaven.”’{ And St. Paul and the Apostles indeed in gen- 
 eral caution us with particular ‘zeal against the mistake 
 of separating faith from works, of putting asunder what 
 God hath joined together ; “for with the heart man be- 
 lieveth to righteousness, and with the mouth confession 
 is made unto salvation.Ӥ They affirm that God crea- 
 ted us expressly in Christ Jesus unto good works, and 
 that Christ gave himself for us, that he might“ purify 
 unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.” 
 
 Gai. I have heard it said, that the Articles of the 
 Church maintain salvation by faith alone. 
 
 Church. The Eleventh Article of our Church states, 
 that “* we are counted righteous before God, only in con- 
 sideration of the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ, and not for our works and deservings ; where- 
 fore that we are justified by faith is a most wholesome 
 _ doctrine :” but by this it is meant merely to assert, that 
 
 the efficacious cause which prevailed with God, was the 
 atonement of Christ, inasmuch as the imperfect works 
 _of condemned and corrupt beings could not satisfy the 
 Divine Justice. In consideration of this sacrifice we are 
 justified by faith operating to righteousness of life.— 
 Faith is the condition of salvation—it is the instrument, 
 and not the cause. The Reformers of our Church did 
 hot dissever the connection between fuith and moral vir- 
 
 *Jamesii. + Rom.iv.5. + Matth. v. 16. 
 §Rom.x.10. Tit. ii. 14. 
 c 
 
far 26 
 
 tue. They aserted the inefficacy of good works in re» 
 futation only of the vain follies of the Romish Church, 
 which erected its presumptuous confidence on the. pre- 
 tended merit of pilgrimages, masses, and other supers 
 Stitions; and our teachers reprobate the opposition 
 which you are led to make between faith and geod works, 
 as founded on false notions, since fuith is itself a-work, 
 an act of the mind. 
 
 Cal. But is not faith the gift of God? 
 
 Church. Every good and perfect gift is indeed from 
 above. But nevertheless faith is the effect of enquiryy 
 and implies a just humility, and a conviction of sin lead- 
 ing to repentance, and encouraging virtue anda reliance 
 on the Divine Word; being “the substance of things 
 hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It is con- 
 nected with righteousness, since “he that cometh to 
 God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder 
 of them that diligently seek him ;”* and “ if we say that 
 we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we 
 lie, and do not the truth ;”, “if any one indeed be a hear- 
 er of the word, and nota doer, he is like unto a man be- 
 holding his natural face in a glass; for-he beholdeth 
 
 ‘himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth 
 
 what manner of man he was;” and “ what doth it profit, _ 
 my brethren, though a man say he have faith, and have 
 not works? can faith save him ?”’+ 
 
 Cal. But our preachers maintain, that good works 
 naturally flow from faith, and therefore they do hot Fees 
 arate good works from faith. 
 
 Church. If this were the only subject on which we 
 differed, it would not be worth while for us to dispute, 
 whether good works are required as a condition,* or nat- 
 urally and invariably result from faith, so that it cannot 
 bea true faith which does not produce them : but as the 
 question is moved with other subjects-of disagreement, 
 I must insist that obedience to the active precepts of the 
 Gospel is required in Scripture as an absolute condition 
 of salvation ; since we are positively told, “ that we must 
 
 * Heb. xi, 6. + James ii. 14. 
 
27 
 
 all appear before the judgment seat ‘of Christ,” that 
 every one may ‘receive the things done in his body ac- 
 cording to that he hath done, whether it be good or 
 bad ;”’* and that on that day, by our works and words we 
 shall be justified or condemned. I must add, that Iam 
 afraid it appears that the preachers whom you frequent 
 do not explicitly affirm, that faith must be so connected 
 with good works; and that there is too much reason to 
 believe that their hearers sometimes rest their hopes on 
 such sfiecudative and darren faith, as even “ the devils, 
 who believe and tremble,” might entertain; and are 
 thereby led not only to neglect practical virtues, but de- 
 liberately to undervalue them—to act wrong on princi- 
 
 “ple, and systematically to disregard the great practical 
 
 laws of the Gospel. It is certain, at least, that those 
 who preach faith without works, raze the foundations of 
 
 _ all morality, and weaken the whole force and tendency 
 
 of revealed instruction, making the precepts of the Gos- 
 pel of none effect, and destroying the influence of that 
 conviction which Christ enforced ; who taught us, * that 
 the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves 
 shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that 
 have done good unto the resurrection: of life, and they 
 that have done evil unto the resurrection of damna- 
 tion.” $ 
 
 Cal. By resting so much on your own exertions and 
 works, you appear to undervaiue God’s grace, and the 
 merits of Chriss’s sacrifice. 
 
 Church. Ow the contrary, we consider the grace of 
 God as essential to the suggestions, encouragement, and 
 completion of every’ good design, and that no offerings 
 on our part can be acceptable to God, but in considera- 
 tion of Christ’s atonement; we know that though it be 
 our duty to follow in the footsteps of our Blessed Master, 
 and to endeavour to attain in some measure. the faint 
 shadows of our Saviour’s perfection ; yet, that “when _ 
 we have done all, we are unprofitable servants,” and by 
 these doctrines I apprehend that we affirm the truth in 
 
 * 2Cor.v. 16. { James ii, 19, & John v. 28, 29, 
 
 , 
 
eo 
 
 . 28 
 
 Christ Jesus, “ maintain things good and profitable unto 
 men,” and avoid those pernicious errors which are pro- 
 pagated in your Meetings and Pabernacles. 
 
 Cal. Our preachers seem to have good ground for 
 their doctrines, and they produce Scripture for what 
 they say. 
 
 Church. 1 think that I have shown you that they have 
 not good grounds for what they say, but that they build 
 ov a sandy foundation. If they cite Scripture in sup- 
 port of their notions, it is what all heretics, who have 
 
 existed since the first promulgation of the Gospel, have 
 
 done ; selecting individual passages, without regard to 
 the context and real import, and “ wresting them to their 
 own destruction :” whereas our Reformers, who com- 
 pared Scripture with Scripture, examined the texts 
 which they produced with reference to their bearing and 
 general signification, and thereby they established a reg- 
 ular and consistent system, rendering that a pillar of 
 
 light, which to some is a cloud of darkness. It is of 
 
 great importance in the explication of doctrines, to listen 
 to sober and deliberate authority, since there is no end 
 
 _.to the fancies and misconceptions of individuals ; as hag 
 
 been seen fully indeed from the variety of opinions 
 which have been adopted by different Calvinistic preach- 
 ers; who, though they have scarcely yet existed two 
 centuries, have fluctuated with various changes, ‘ ever 
 learning, but never abie to come to the knowledge of 
 truth ;” filling God’s Temple with vain idols of their 
 own imagination ; departing more and more from: the 
 
 sincerity of the faith; and multiplying into: numerous, 
 
 subdivisions and sects, who seem to agree in no princi- 
 ple, but in that of departure from the Episcopal Church, 
 and of preaching delusions more or es mischievous to 
 society. 
 
 Cal. How do their doctrines appear to be Bist yiilin 
 
 Church. Every error in doctrine may, ana probably 
 will, be productive of practical evil. A stone cannot be 
 taken from the arch, without weakening the whole fa- 
 
 bric. I have pointed out to you many errors which they 
 
 maintain. I have shown you that they promote schisms 
 
29 
 
 and unwarrantable separations ; that uy maintaining an 
 irresistible propensity to evil in our fallen nature, and af- © 
 fixing the stamp of reprobation by an horrble decree, 
 they “pring down some irrecoverably, as it were, to the 
 gates of hell, and leave them in a despair which ex- 
 cludes all hope, and drives them into wretchlessness of 
 living; while, en the on the other.hand, by deluding 
 others into a daring and unjustifiable presumption of @ 
 JSancied election by God’s partial favour, they lead them 
 to swell with pernicious pride, puffed up in their own 
 vain imaginations, and indifferent to moral duties. Thus 
 is the idea of the present life being a@ state of trial and 
 probation entirely done away, and the expectation of fu- 
 ture rewards and punishments annihilated, or rendered 
 of none effect; while men are preposterously taught, 
 that some can by no exertions be saved, others by no 
 transgressions condemned; that every man’s doom is 
 irrevocably fixed by an immutable decree, which neither 
 virtue nor vice can cancel. Doctrines more mischiey- 
 _ous than Heathens ever taught; greedily swallowed by 
 the ignorant and depraved, though in direct opposition 
 to the dictates of that grace, which teaches us, “that 
 denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live so- 
 berly, righteously, and godly in the present world, look- . 
 ing for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of 
 the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”’* 
 
 Cal, But you will allow, that, notwithstanding those 
 errors in doctrine which you have pointed out, our min- 
 isters have done some good, and we are told that “ by 
 their fruits ye shall know them ;” they have converted 
 many to the faith who lived totally regardless of Christ, 
 sand they promote a spirit of religion in society. 
 
 Church. That many of that description have been, 
 well-meaning, though mistaken men, I do not dispute; 
 and I acknowledge that they often labour with great 
 zeal and earnestness in the cause which they have un- 
 dertaken—that they have led some to reflection on reli- 
 
 ® Tit. ii. 12, 13... 
 B2 
 
eee : 
 
 gious subjects, and even to gevatiin and saieaiieh of life, 
 I am ready to admit; but J contend, that in proportion 
 as the doctrines of those who have withdrawn from com- 
 munion with our Church, have been mingled with the 
 errors which I have detailed, they have been productive 
 of practical evils in society. ‘Their notions of an impos- 
 sibility of falling from grace, and of a salvation e/ready 
 Jinished to the elect, by the imputed righteousness of 
 Christ, would countenance sinners; though stained with 
 the spots of adultery and murder.* Their fancies of 
 justification by faith, without moral obedience, would, as 
 I have shown, reduce christian holiness to barren specu- 
 lation ; and their application of those texts, which re- 
 gard the calling of nations by the glad tidings of the 
 Gospel, to the conceit of an unconditional preference or 
 rejection of individuals, while it leads presumptuous and 
 fanatical men to offensive and dangerous confidence, 
 condemns the humble and contrite te “ drink the cup of 
 trembling to the dregs,” and sometimes to sink under 
 the misery of their desponding convictions. 
 
 Cal.. But the Churches are not open for service of 
 an evening; and therefore how can we so well employ 
 ourselves, as by assembling together for supplication 
 and prayer? 
 
 Church. have shown you that you do not employ 
 yourselves well, in assembling at meetings erected in 
 
 * The pernicious consequences of the erroneous opinions here 
 considered, however they may.be disclaimed by their specula- 
 tive advocates, in the cireumspection of controversy, are too 
 frequently and too notoriously experienced, in their practical ef- 
 fects on society ; and have sometimes been fearfully illustrated © 
 jn the wildest and most flagitious excesses of Antinomianism. 
 Without advertins to more recent proofs, it may be observed, 
 that Wesley had Soi much reason to express his regret in wit- 
 nessing the early fruits of his doctrines, that he had ‘leaned to- 
 wards Calvinism,” and that Luther had long before lamented, 
 
 that in his eager and intemperate zeal, he had ealled he Epistle 
 
 of St. James, “an Epistle of Straw.” my 
 
31 
 
 opposition to the Church, and that “in vain:do you wor- 
 ship God,” while “ teaching for doctrines the command- 
 ments of men,” “ making the grace of God of none ef- 
 fect” by your inventions. The Churches are always 
 open twice a day; andI am fully persvaded that, the 
 time after divine service would be much more usefully 
 employed among your families, by teaching and in- 
 -structing your children and friends, and servants, than 
 by assembling in crouds to hear those who “ consent not 
 to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godli- 
 liness ;” or to heighten misguided fervors, and to chaunt 
 your hymns and songs, which are adulterated by the in- 
 termixture of fulsome expressions and affected cant, 
 with the pure and simple productions of sacred writ. 
 
 Cal. You forget that you allowed that some of our 
 teachers are well meaning and pious men. 
 
 Church. Ihave admitted that some of them may be 
 well meaning men ; but I also say, that if they are such, 
 they are deluded by their own imaginations ; and that, 
 as ignorant and illiterate persons, they are not qualified 
 for the office of instruction, but must necessarily be 
 “ blind guides,” and mislead their hearers by their “ vain 
 babbling.” 
 
 Cal. The Apostles themselves were unlearned men; 
 “‘ God chose the foolish things of the world to confound 
 the wise.” 
 
 Church. The Apostles were in general selected from 
 the unlettered multitude, that the Gospel might not 
 seem to be of human contrivance, or indebted for its suc- 
 cess to * the enticing words of man’s wisdom,’ but ma= 
 nifestly appear to be “ the power of God.” They were, 
 however, on account of their human deficiencies, endow- 
 ed with miraculous gifts, which enabled them to perform 
 great wonders, and to utter the suggestions of the spirit 
 in all languages; but in the ordinary regulations of 
 God’s spiritual government, men were duly prepared 
 and qualified for the priesthood ; and it was a charge of 
 rebellion against Jeroboam, when condemned to be cut 
 off for his sins, that he had “ made priests of the lowest 
 
 . 
 
32 
 
 of the people’"* I must add likewise on ub 
 that same of your teachers are not merely i sinc 
 appear “ to welk in craftiness,” “ handling the word 
 
 they 
 of God deceitfully,” “ creeping into Bouses, and leading — 
 captive silly women Teden with sins,” and “ led away. 
 
 with divers lusts ;” modelling their creed, and mo- 
 dating their service in conformity tothe opinions of fluc- 
 tuating congregations ; and endeavouring, by the omis- 
 sion of all specified ferms of communion, 6 
 
 every sect and description of men, who secede from the 
 Church. 
 
 Cel. St. Paul tells us, that he became all things z 
 
 all men, that he might gain converts. 
 
 p ¢ ’ | 
 ae ae ee! 
 
 Church. Whatever indulgence the Apostle might 3 
 
 show to the deep-rooted prejudices of those- w 
 addressed, he in no instance sacrificed-any point of faith 
 
 or doctrine according to the truth, as it was in‘Christ Je- — 
 
 sus, but only by hatenless concessions endeavoured to 
 
 promote the important doctrines of Christianity ; doing 
 it “ fer the Gospel’s sake,” and “ rejcicing in the test- 
 
 mony of his conscience, that in simplicity and godly sin- — 
 cerity, not with fieshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, 
 
 he had his conversation in the world :” whereas those 
 
 to whonrl allude, “ depart from the faith.” “ poet 
 form of godiiness, but denying § the power ‘thereof ;” and 
 have “ forsaken the right way,” sometimes interweaving 
 with religious errors, many “vain deceits after the tra- 
 ditions of men,” using thcir liberty as a clouk of mali- 
 ciousness,”” and eren spoiling their hearers by that“ phi- 
 
 losophy, falsely so called,” which has lately produced 
 
 such infinite mischief in the world. 
 
 Cal. What particular evils do you suppose to haat" 
 
 from our erroneous doctrines ? 
 
 Church. I have before lamented that separation from 
 the communion of an Apostolic Church, which is a po- 
 sitive breach of the harmony that Christ instructed his 
 Disciples to cultivate. I have lamented that desertion 
 of duly-constituted ministers, and that resort to 
 
 pointed teachers, which exposes you to every = 
 * 1 Kings, xi. 31. “ 
 
33 
 
 I have spoken of that injudicious ardor with which your 
 
 passions are inflamed, till carnal sensations seem to min- 
 
 gle with spiritual affections. I have also expressed my 
 regret at that pharasaical pride, so highly offensive to 
 
 God and man, which is fostered by the notion ofa pecu- 
 
 culiar election into God’s favour; which builds an un- 
 
 christian confidence on the conceit of an imaginary per- 
 
 fection, and often excites an uncharitable contempt and 
 
 condemnation of other men, who though perhaps they 
 
 make not long and superfluousprayers, give more sub- 
 
 stantial proofs of a just and aceeptable faith, by « visiting 
 
 the fatierless and widows in their affliction, and keepiiig 
 
 themselves unspotted from the world ;” and lastly, I 
 
 have alluded to that infatuation, which forgeiteth aa 
 
 « whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap ;” 
 
 which neglecting the line upon line, and precept Bs 
 precept, by which the moral duties and charities of life 
 
 are emphatically enforced, reclines on the reed of an un- 
 productive faith, and crying “ Lord! Lord *” omitteth 
 
 to obey the will of the Father. 
 Cal. Well, sir, I confess that you have convinced me 
 - that I should do well to return tothe Church. 
 
 _ Church. This is a very ingenuous and honourable 
 coniession, and demonstrates a mind open to argument 
 and truth. J wish that others would attend tothe con- 
 siderations which have influenced you, and relinquishing 
 their vain fancies, abide by that which is reasonable and 
 just ; for “other foundation can no man lay than that is 
 laid, which is Jesus Christ ;” and the doctrines and in- 
 
 _ .Stitutions of the Church, however they may have been 
 - exposed to enmity and censure, are certainly sanctioned 
 -as toall essential points, by the Revelations and Ordinan-- 
 ces of Divine Authority. 
 
 Cal But what will the Meshrotet our Meeting say? 
 Church. What must the Clergy and your neighbours 
 have said, when you deserted the Church, which, from 
 your earliest years, you were taught to reverence? If 
 you disregarded the reflections of a great community, 
 _ when disposed to act unbecomingly, resist the seduc- 
 
 > 
 
34 _ os 
 
 tions of a small assembly in order to do right ; « with. 
 draw-yourself from every brother that walketh disorder- 
 ly ;” return to the faith which you once professed in sin- 
 cerity, and stand fast in one spirit, in one mind, * with 
 those who abide in the truth,” * striving for the faith of 
 
 ‘the Gospel, in nothing terrified by your adversaries, 
 
 which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to 
 you of salvation, and that of God,” * in all things show- 
 ing yourself a pattern of good works ; in doctrine, 
 showing uncorr uptness, gr avity, sincerity, sound speech, 
 that cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary 
 party may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of 
 
 you ;” “in meekness instructing those that oppose them- . 
 
 selves; if God peradventure will give them repentance _ 
 to the ecknowledging of the truth.” 
 
 Cal. | already feel a satisfaction in returning back to 
 the bosom of the Church, which I must say has always ~ 
 displayed that moderation, that tolerance towards others, 
 which is the presumption of truth and the characteristic 
 
 of the Christian spirit. My mind always misgave me 
 
 for deserting its service, for I thought that God seemed: 
 to favour it by the prosperity y which he has bestowed on — 
 
 the country since its institutions and privileges have been — 
 
 perfectly established ; and I hope in future steadily to. 
 
 “adhere to its principles. 
 
 Churci. Y warmly commend you for your just and 
 pious resolutions, and I earnestly pray to God to confirm 
 you in them, that you may “ hold fast the form of sound 
 words,” and * that you henceforth be no more, as chil- 
 dren who are tossed to and fro, and carried about with 
 every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cun- 
 ning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” 
 ‘Phe Appointments of the Episcopal Church, as agreea- 
 ble to the Divine Instructions, and as supporting the 
 great moral pillars on which the welfare of mankind 
 
 must rest, and be presumed to have conciliated the Di- - 
 -ivine Favour, so repeatedly and so signally manifested 
 under the most remarkable circumstances. Its privile- — 
 
 ges are interwoven with the interests of the country, 
 
 ' 
 
35 
 
 so as to form one well-compacted fabric of civil 
 and religious liberty. I pray to God that you may 
 maintain an unshaken attachment to their united cause, 
 and that our unexampled prosperity may not be destroy- 
 ed by religious dissensions. ‘[hat you may “be filled 
 with all knowledge of God’s will, in all wisdom and 
 spiritual understanding,” and that you may “ walk wor- 
 thy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in eve- 
 ry good work,” “giving thanks unto the Father who 
 hath made you meet to be a partaker of the inheritance 
 of the Saints in light.” Finally, I supplicate Almighty 
 God, “that you may approve things that are excellent, 
 that you may be sincere and without offence to the day 
 of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, 
 which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of 
 God.” : 
 
Ty ner omeptere abvete tei ses ey 
 
— 
 
Date Due 
 
P21865 
 
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