are mankind so much more dispos- | cal critics and expositors succeed

in wresting and explaining away every one of those passages which teach any of these doctrines, they cannot explain away facts, nor change the nature of things, from which all these doctrines are ap parent and self-evident.

David says, "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God." And in another place, "yet they say the Lord shall not see, nei

it. Understand ye brutish among
the people, and ye fools when will
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be wise.
Solomon says,

ye

ed to complain of those who reason from the self-evident principles of theology, in support of the peculiar and primary truths of the gospel, than of those who appeal only to the Bible, and leave them at liberty to explain it as they please? The plain an obvious 3. If the primary and self-denyreason is, because the book of nat-ing truths of the gospel are deure cannot be so easily explained monstrable and apparent from rea. away as the book of revelation. son and facts, then those are just2. If the primary and essentially called fools who deny them. truths of the gospel are demonstrable and apparent from the things that are made, then that time and money might have been devoted to wiser and better pur-ther shall the God of Jacob regard poses, that has been spent in labouring to explain away those passages of scripture which assert them. It is needless to attempt Wisdom crieth aloud, saying, to prove that the Bible, in its ob- How long ye simple ones will ye vious sense, teaches all the pri- love simplicity, and scorners demary and self-denying truths of light in their scorning, and fools religion, which have been the sub-hate knowledge? O ye simple, unject of so much contention and controversy in every age of the world. The fact that so much ingenuity, sophistry and persever-disbelieve their own senses, deny ance have been exercised in explaining away and perverting the obvious meaning of scripture, is sufficient proof of that. Had not the Bible plainly taught the doctrines of total depravity, divine sovereignty, the universal decrees and agency of God, election, reprobation, a future and eternal punishment of the wicked, and the duty of disinterested benevolence, the world would never have been favoured with so many ponderous volumes of commentaries and expositions of the Bible, having for their object to explain away the true sense of these doctrines.But if these doctrines are demonstrable and apparent from reason and facts, as has been sufficiently proved, then all this labour and expense is utterly in vain, and might have been saved. If bibli

derstand wisdom, and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart." Those are justly called fools who

those things that are apparent and self-evident, and act without reason. But all those who disbelieve or deny the primary and peculiar doctrines of the gospel, are chargeable with all this folly. For the primary truths of the gospel are self-evident, and according to the dictates of every man's reason and conscience.

4. In view of this subject, we may see that the shades of difference between professors of relig ion, in their opinions on theological subjects, are of some importance. Some professors believe that God works all things after the counsel of his own will, and causes all things to take place according to his eternal purpose; and others believe that second causes produce many effects without the direct agency of the first cause.

Some professors believe that the sovereignty of God consists in his creating all things at first, and in inflicting punishment upon the wicked, when and where he pleases, while they deny that it extends to forming the moral character; others believe that "God hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth, and worketh all in all." Some professors believe that creatures are dependent on God for breath and food and raiment, but deny that we are dependent on him for our actions; and others believe that even "the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water; he turneth it whithersoever he will," and that "we = are not sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves." Some professors believe that unconditional submission consists in submitting only temporal interests, for the sake of Christ and heaven; and others believe that it consists in forsaking all that they have and in being willing to have God save or destroy them forever as he pleases. Some professors believe that the benevolence which the gospel requires, consists in

ing view of these truths is appar-
ent and demonstrable from reason
and facts, and necessarily results
from the nature of things, and the
essential perfections of God, which
are clearly seen from his works.
Those, therefore, who cordially
embrace the correct view of these
truths are friends of God, and will
be received to heaven, while those
who reject the correct view of the
same truths hate the light, and
shall be driven away into the
blackness of darkness forever.

5. If the Apostle Pau! under certain circumstances, generally reasoned in defence of religion from the things that are made, because this kind of evidence is more unequivocal and convincing, then is it wise for students in theology at the present day to devote all their time and talents to the science of biblical exegesis, and none to natural theology?

It was formerly thought to be an indispensable requisite in a theological education, that young men should have a thorough knowledge and profess a firm belief in the truth and utility of the essendenying tial, primary and

66

doctrines of the gospe, which ap prove themselves to every love to God for the sake of everlasting happiness, and love to conscience in the sight of God. man for the sake of promoting And while the clergy of New Engtheir temporal gratification and land firmly believed and faithfully interests, while others believe that preached these doctrines, they' were able to stand against the it consists in that pure disinterdeceit, the power and malice of ested affection which will necesearth and hell;" they were "able sarily lead any persons who posto stand against infidels and errorsess it, to give up any temporal or eternal good for the sake of pro- ists of every description." They were able to stand against Athe moting a greater good. And we "able frequently hear persons assert that ists, Deists, Universalists, and these different shades of opinion Unitarians. They were are not important, and should not to stand against Arminians, whebe made a condition of contention ther they appeared under the coland separation. But this opinion ours of Wesley" or any other prois false and absurd. If one view fession and appearance. They were "able to stand against Antinomiof these truths is correct, the ans, notwithstanding their lofty other is false and dangerous. And we have seen that the self-deny-pretences to orthodoxy and their

make sinners understand any of the primary truths or duties of the gospel, or refute the objections of skepticks and infidels.

In view of the foregoing remarks we may see that the heathen nations may be justly turned into hell, and all those who forget God. One of the most popu lar objections against sending the gospel to the heathen is, that they are in a safe condition without it. And the reason which is common

zealous and confident professions of experimental piety." And they were able effectually to guard their people against the deceit, sophistry and cunning craftiness of every description of errorists who lie in wait to deceive. But since so many young men have devoted their attention almost exclusively to the study of oriental literature, biblical criticism, sacred rhetorick and history, to the comparative neglect of the primary and leading principles of natural the-ly given, is because it would be ology, what rapid advances have error, and infidelity made in our land. In what darkness and confusion are the minds of the greatest part of mankind enveloped on the subject of the primary truths of the gospel! Was it ever more necessary for those who are set for the defence of the gospel to reason from facts, and the selfevident maxims of natural theology, in the defence of the leading truths of revelation ? It is impossible for any to preach the duties of the gospel, so as to be understood by sinners, without explaining and enforcing its first principles. A person may as well attempt to teach mathematics, without understanding the first principles of arithmetic, as to preach the gospel intelligibly without understanding and inculcating the eternal purposes, universal agency and impartial benevolence of God, from which it originated. Those who assume human nature in its state of deep and awful depravity," and suppose the scheme of redemption was invented merely to remedy the evils which were occasioned by the apostacy of mankind, have no correct knowned without law. ledge of the gospel, and can never represent a single truth or duty in its proper light. Those who go no further back, but are thus constantly swimming along the surface of theology, can never

66

unjust to send those to hell who
have never seen the revealed will
of God, nor rejected the Son of
his love. It is undoubtedly true
that the heathen nations will
never be punished for rejecting a
Saviour and the offers of pardon
which are presented through him.
They may not be punished for
not keeping the Sabbath day holy,
which is a positive divine institu-
tion, or for not commemorating
the death of Christ. But the
scriptures no where represent the
condition of the heathen as a safe
condition. David was inspired by
the Holy Spirit to say,
wicked shall be turned into hell,
with all the nations that forget
God."-Paul said, "as many as
have sinned without law shall also
perish without law." And in
another place he represents the
heathen nations as totally without
excuse for not acknowledging and
worshipping the true God, and as
exposed to his wrath who will
render to every man according to
his deeds." And in view of this
subject it is easy to see the recti-
tude of God in condemning and
punishing all those who have sin-

66

the

It is just, because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being

understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead." The book of nature is open for all to read, and all men have a conscience too which "bears witness," and teaches them that supreme love to God and equal love to man is the duty of all mankind, and that selfishness is wrong and ought to be avoided. It is owing to the blindness of their hearts, that mankind are so ignorant of God and themselves, rather than to a want of the means of knowledge.

Finally, in view of this subject, let not sinners in this land, so favoured with the means of light and knowledge, deceive themselves, nor harden their hearts. Nothing but pure disinterested benevolence can essentially distinguish one man from another, or fit a person for the enjoyment of a holy God who abhors all sin, and the society of holy men who loathe and abhor themselves for all their selfish affections. Nothing short of this can ever gain the final approbation of your own consciences; without which your existence will prove a curse to you instead of a blessing.

It is as foolish as it is criminal for any person to shut his eyes against the self-denying truths and duties of the gospel which are manifest from every object in nature, as well as through the medium of divine revelation. If you succeed in deceiving yourselves and others, death will very soon put a final end to your deception, and leave you in utter disappointIf ment and eternal despair. you sincerely embrace any selfish scheme of religion and fortify yourselves in it ever so strongly, it will avail you nothing.

You may wrest the scriptures.

and turn them into your service,
but you cannot change the nature
of moral actions, and make selfish
affections right. The natural and
moral perfections of God, which
appear from his works, bind all
his dependent intelligent crea-
tures to love him supremely and
submit unconditionally to his will.
If you put off the fear and service
of God, restrain prayer, and har-
den your hearts in sin, you are
only treasuring up wrath against
the day of wrath and adding to
that load of guilt which will sink
you under the condemnation of
the righteous law of God, and
your own consciences, forever
and ever. You are now placed
between two vast eternities of
You are,
happiness and woe.
therefore, of all the creatures of
God, in the most critical, serious,
Your
and solemn situation.
everlasting destiny is suspended
upon the slender thread of life,
the continuance of which for
another day is uncertain. But
how incalculably interesting and
momentous is the condition of
those persons who have long har-
dened their hearts and shut their
eyes against the united and efful-
gent blaze of divine truth, emitted
through the medium of the book
of nature and revelation? If the
heathen nations are without ex-
cuse for living in sin, how aggra-
vated must be your condemnation?
How insupportable must be your
reflections through eternity? Be
entreated, then, to change your
selfish, vile affections, for those
which are benevolent, and thus
prepare yourselves for a happy
immortality. This you must do
or sink forever under the just
S. C.
punishment of your aggravated
iniquity.

3. When are we bound to for- Holiness is essentially the same in give them?