these divines mean? When Elijah distressed himself because he was left alone, the answer of God to comfort him was I have reserved to myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. And hence St. Paul argues -If the casting away of the Jews be the reconciling of the gentiles, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead. For this reason, the call of the gentiles is spoken of by the prophets as a comfort to the godly Jews, and the event proved it was a trouble to none but the wicked. On this account chiefly, the Holy Ghost conferring the gift of tongues, is stiled by way of eminence, the com→ forter. How does this agree with "enhancing a privilege by scarcity?" How with the apostles crying now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord? But why farther reason on the subject? I appeal to you christian people :-Is your comfort increased by a scarcity of church members? I appeal to you christian ministers :-Do your comforts increase by a scarcity of labourers in the Lord's vineyards? I appeal to you christian parents and masters: are ye happiest when you have fewest of your children and servants elected to holiness? Holy apostles and prophets what say ye? For the apostles, hear St. Paul in his address to Agrippa. I would to God that not only thou, but all who hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. For the prophets, hear Moses.-Would to God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them. People say, preach Predestination to us, it is a comfortable doctrine. If it be so, (and every one knows best what comforts him,) if it be comfortable, I presume it must be so to such as know their own election to eternal life. Among a thousand of you how many are there assured of this? What comfort those that for any thing they know may be reprobates-what comfort such may find in it, is a mystery to me, except it be the comfort of hearing their own opinions defended; and yet it seems they are most comforted when their doctrines are least believed! Glaring contradictions! Granting that I know my own interest in the decree, have I not abundant proof that many dear to me have no apparent interest therein? What comfort it may be to me in another life, when all the bonds of nature are dissolved, I know not; but here the fewness of the elect, far from comforting, distresses me.-What says the apostle Paul, after his triumphant exclamation-I am persuaded that neither death nor life, &c. shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord; he adds-I say the truth in Christ I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness, and continual sorrow in my heart, for I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh. A disposition to repine at the happiness of others. is unnatural. So far from being happier in the enjoyment of the sun if all our neighbours were blind, we are so much the happier for the common blessings of its beams. Sad diminution of comfort truly, if all the ends of the earth see the salvation of our God; and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ! We are told that the decrees of God, "should be publicly taught from the pulpit and the press; that even the meanest of the people may not be ignorant of a truth, which reflects such glory on God, and is the very foundation of happiness to man."-Well, let the doctrine be publicly taught as scripture teaches it, as a way of God past finding out. Let it be arded against the various abuses to which men of corrupt minds frequently warp it. Let it be taught with all its benign consequences. Discharge the decree from conspiring the destruction of a sinner, and lay on him his own guilt. Console the faithful soul by assuring him, that fury is not in God. Do not so teach the doctrine as to fortify the wicked, alarm the weak, or encourage the indolent. Preach it as a mystery calling for modesty, diligence, faith, gratitude, and every grace.-Leave to God the arranging and executing his own decrees. I have passed over numerous abuses of this doctrine, mentioning only a few of the principal: I have omitted for the sake of conciseness, numerous arguments in favour of what has been advanced. I beg leave to conclude the whole with the words of the excellent Bishop Berkeley, applicable enough to the present case. "If the principles which we have endeavoured to propagate be true, the consequences which will flow from thence will be the destruction of atheism, and scepticism; many intricate points will be made plain, great difficulties solved, several useless parts of science retrenched, speculations referred to practice, and men reduced from paradoxes to common sense; and although it may, perhaps, seem an uneasy reflection to some, that when they have taken a great circuit though so many refined and unvulgar notions they should at last come to think like other men; yet, methinks this return to the simple dictates of nature, after having wandered through the wild mazes of divinity, is not unpleasant; it is like coming home from a long voyage. A man reflects with pleasure on the many difficulties and perplexities he has passed through, sets his heart at ease, and enjoys himself with more satisfaction for the future. The shewing that such parts of revelation, as lie within the reach of human enquiry, are most agreeable to right reason, best disposes all prudent, unprejudiced persons, to a modest and wary treatment of those sacred mysteries which are above the comprehension of our faculties." * Berkeley's Preface to his three Dialogues. END OF THE DISSERTATIONS. |