By THOMAS BOWMAN, M. A. The Fourth Edition, with many Additions. LONDON; Printed for C. DILLY, HE leading doctrines in the following THE difcourfes are, "That all mankind became finners by the first disobedience of Adam, and are by nature children of wrath-that we can be restored to the Divine favour, and made happy hereafter, only by faith in the Word of God-that, for the fake of the death and merits of Jesus Christ, whofoever believeth in him fhall not perish, but have everlasting life-that we must be renewed by the Holy Ghoft, before we can lead a life of holinessand that, unlefs we are thus born again, we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." Of thefe doctrines, you have groflly expreffed your disapprobation; frequently and openly declaring, that they are false and enthufiaftic. A heavy charge this, and coming from a person of your years and character, tends to have weight with, and unhinge the minds of many. It ought, therefore, to have been made good. But you have not, as far as I can learn, offered any reafons to prove them 'fo. You have even refufed to make me acquainted with your objections, though I requefted to know them with a proper respect. You have refufed to meet me, with a friend or two, in order to examine the propriety of what I have advanced. I am therefore conftrained to addrefs you in this public manner. For the proof of my opinions, I refer you to the difcourfes themfelves; in which I have endeavoured to fupport them by Scripture and Reafon; and fhall now chiefly undertake to prove, that they are the doc. trines of the established church, of that church of which you call yourself a member, and in which you have long officiated as one of its minifters. ART. |