of God,
vation of
.confound-
r feelings.
from the
ct, which,
mysterious;
Sive state-
se in whose
and Omega.
r from her
r weakness,
rts, it often

tenderness
uggestion of
stian verity
endeavoured
O unhappily
m he always

he replied,
The pulpit, to
oubtful dispu-
directing my
, rather than
their consola-
ance; and, in
grand aim has
Father of Mer
th, but invite
ways and live
Testament,
England, I giv
to the doctrin

an

frame, and I weep, I know not why. But, I am better now; my ministering angels are come, and I must welcome them as they deserve.' Every appearance of gloom soon vanished; and she seemed anxious to draw from Mr. Evelyn his sentiments on subjects which her mind had secretly revolved, and which deeply interested her. However any of us might attempt to divert her attention from her own situation, she invariably led the conversation back to it; she evidently wished to become familiar with death, that in the last struggle, her enemy might be divested of all imaginary terrors. That she should sometimes feel trembling anxiety on the approach of a crisis so alarming to nature; and that she should seek to have her heart sustained by a piety as satisfactory to her reason as it was grateful to her feelings, ought not to excite our surprise.

"It was this, perhaps, which induced her, in reply to some soothing observations of Mr. Evelyn, to advert to certain topics on which her mind was scarcely decided, and concerning which her heart was not perfectly at ease. She confessed, that there were some doctrines of scripture of which she had not a clear apprehension. The universal and total depravity of man; his inability, as a sinner, either to atone for his guilt, or to renovate his heart; his complete redemption, by the incarnation of the Son of God; and his recovery to the divine image, by a system of gracious and heavenly influence emanating from the holy Spirit, were truths, which she not only admitted, but cordially believed and rested upon, as the grand fundamental principles

of revealed religion. But, the decrees of God, involving, as she imagined, the salvation of some, and the reprobation of millions, confounded her understanding, and revolted her feelings. This, she said, she doubted not, arose from the incorrectness of her views on a subject, which, however explained, was awfully mysterious; and from the very harsh and repulsive statements of the doctrine given by those in whose creed it seemed to be the Alpha and Omega. She wished to dismiss it altogether from her mind; but it was too much for her weakness, and notwithstanding her utmost efforts, it often remained to harass and perplex her.

"Mr. Evelyn listened with all the tenderness of a good shepherd to this modest suggestion of doubt, regarding an article of Christian verity; and, with the meekness of wisdom endeavoured to obviate the difficulties which so unhappily disturbed the peace of one for whom he always cherished the affection of a parent.

"You know, my dearest Julia,' he replied, how little I am accustomed, in the pulpit, to introduce and discuss subjects of doubtful disputation. I have spent my life in directing my pious hearers to revealed promises, rather than to secret purposes, as the source of their consolation and the ground of their assurance; and, instead of reprobating sinners, my grand aim has been to persuade them, that the Father of Mercies delighteth not in their death, but invites them to turn from their evil ways and live. Yet, as a believer in the New Testament, and as a clergyman of the church of England, I give my unfeigned assent and consent to the doctrine 3*

VOL. II.

of predestination; nor do I consider, that there is the least inconsistency between my preaching and my creed. So that, as you have intimated, the repugnance which you feel to this particular article of our faith, arises from erroneous ideas of its nature.

“That, in the heart of the Deity, an eternal purpose has been formed respecting the salvation of a certain portion of the human race, is a doctrine which, it appears to me, is clearly revealed; a doctrine, however, which, in many instances, it is to be feared, has been abused— on the one hand, to promote licentiousness; and, on the other, to produce despair.

"Unscriptural notions of the election of grace,' have led many to imagine, that the promise of eternal salvation is made to the predestinated, without comprehending the necessary preliminaries of personal renovation, holiness of heart, and actual devotedness, to the service of God. These persons, looking only at the end in which the decree terminates, sever the assurance of future felicity from all the fruits of the spirit, and every trace and feature of a renovated nature, and a regenerate state. They forget, that the same wisdom which has appointed the end, has also infallibly determined the means by which it shall be accomplished. The preliminaries, which I have mentioned, form a part of the decree, and are as essential to it as the final result. All the promises of happiness made in the scriptures, and which certainly emanate from the divine purpose to save, are not made to individuals by name; but indefinitely to persons answering a specific description. They are, in

every instance, addressed to the penitent, the believing, the obedient, or to some similar specification of character. It is, therefore, the grossest presumption for any to imagine, that they will be saved at last, because they have now persuaded themselves, that they are ordained to eternal life, when they are destitute of the only evidence of their being so ordained, which is the possession of that character which the Gospel delineates as pre-requisite to the enjoyment of its saving benefits. Unless we repent, believe in the Son of God, and become zealous for those good works which alone can flow from good principles, we cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven. And, that view of absolute decrees which destroys their connexion with repentance, faith, and holiness, is not only erroneous, but fatal to the hopes of all who presumptuously

entertain it.

"The other extreme, is equally dangerous. Though it operates in a different way, it leads to the same disastrous consequence. On the supposition, that a certain number of the human race are ordained to salvation, many sink into despondency, and infer, that if they are not elected, it is in vain for them to attempt to perform the duties of religion, or to avail themselves of its privileges. Thus they manifest a haughty spirit of insubordination to the revealed will of the Almighty; and affecting to account themselves unworthy of eternal life, cast a dire reflection both upon the wisdom and the mercy of God. They either arrogantly presume to be acquainted with the secret purpose of the di