IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 ki»2A |2.5 S la 12.0 im jl.25 III 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" - ► Sciences Corporation # 4 fV : signifia "A SUIVRE", la aymbola V signifia "FIN". Mapa. plataa, charts, ate, may ba filmad at diffarant raduction ratioa. Thoaa too largo to ba antiraiy includad in ona axpoaura ara filmad baginning in tha uppar laft hand eomar, loft to right and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa raquirad. Tha following diagrama illuatrata tha mathod: Las cartaa, planchas, tabiaaux, ate, pauvant fttra filmte k daa taux da rMuction diff Arants. Lorsqua la documant aat trap grand pour 4tra raproduit wn un saul cliche, il aat film* A partir da I'angia supAriaur gaucha, da gaucha i droita, at da haut an baa, an pranant la nombra d'imagaa n^caasaira. Laa diagrammas suivants illustrant la m^thoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 w^^:'^^^ ^^^^. ' .'■•.^::r:J ^KVT or is-^. mAv fi-DlfPN^ J. RElS'i •if, ,* '* . !i V r ' k. * ilfldliT. ACCOUNT , % ot- f-€^*/: i)b ALSO) :'■*. .^.^^:. teQRt^llEFirrATIOK OF SOME OF THE ERRORS or THK fB*l ■nj^H .:.. p i.irin^if ., .. .1 yi..i .. ve seen for some time past. To support this assertionYI have only to refer the reader, to what is- therein said of Repenting and Believing, and to the evident evil tendency of the whoie.^ I 8- all not presume ta say any thing of the spiritual state of the' tmfortunate APContb^, >i»bo is now before his Judge, i have only to express my regret that his ashes should have been disturbed, or his n&mo niade use of for party purposes. To what extremes of folly and impropriety will not an ignorant mistaken zeal and a persecu- ting spirit sometimtfs lead mankind. The greatest evils with which th? world has over been afflicted, have arisen from those banefiil,. but fruitful sources. Wherefore did Cain sky hts brother,, but because he yielded to the influence of a malignant persecuting spirit. The Hume spirit stilt works in the carnal mind of man, and often work» most strongly in those who make the greatest religious profession. Would to God that such an unchristian temper, was entirely un. known among^ us. Alas! this is not the case; for we have in the' *'^ short account" before us, one stcong proof, and it has brought forth many other proofs of its existence in this City. Aud were it not that I am the object against which this evil temper is princi. palVy directed, I should speak of both with more freedom and in- dignationythan I now do. But I must observe, that from the spirit and conduct of the author^ and his abettors, and from their violent temper, serious evils might be apprehended, were it not that the Pre. vidence of God, has given us in the laws, protection and security, which keeps within due bounds the madness of the people. For which protection I feel unfeignedly thankful to God,, and look t'oFi. jward to better days, when the spirit of holy christian love, shall iiiw fluence every, humaa soul, aad all shall know the I^rd, from the least •least BTep io the s;rcAte«t. When there shall not be sny evfl (king to hurt or to destroy in all the holy nieuntaiit of the Lord. The spK. T^ of persecution shall thrn no more assume the sanctimonious garb «^ piety and, religious zeal; but sliall forever ceasei Lord hasten the hyuppy time. , . , ^ I uamiot avoid noticing 'tn-this pinoe, the di^pliiy ivhich the writefi! ival»efl of his little wit, in an attempt tt^ (t)rn to ridicule aaj/ing Pray*, ef^,^ and lest it should not atfract S4(}iciei»i notice, it is printed in itMics. f| That thift hafl contril^ted;.grea4ly to the celebrity of hif *'^hpr]i;fi^couat,** amongst a certain^^rlass of his readers, I havelittl^/ dpobto Ikit f would ask, mayuetrP Clwistian with propriety use a writtfin foirm-of prayer in his adtlr^ses to the thfoiie of ^racc, whe* tber in public or private? lsit:i)ot bt^tler to do so thest men whom f have known have used fotCins, of ipryyer.; althoygh they may not have always contitied thprnselve^ to thom. . i^or hns oj/^ry Chris. tianta gift to express iHmself with propriety without f« forcn, 'Inis ^i^so.w.ell known titat Litnrj^ies h»irei«been used in. the s,t'»«%ici' 0/ (iod, ■fr^in time almost immemoiin!.. Uut, porhaps tt>j> is:0'e,ua,'oii >.\ v.y th^9e p0op)e so much dislike " tai/ing prai/crs ^^^ ,«ofnp;of thL>r fr-rv urs ^heing.^xfvmoderndate, they h»v;e of cc»uisp a great avp*stn.! to ^<;od <>ld principles and ancient usages, be^atuse those principles; and usages condemn their errofieous and ungmliy opinions am) piaciices. But let.no one iirfer fr'no siiurere persons among them: God forbid* I know some of them who aTe, according to their knowledge, a w-ell meaning and pi. ou9 people. 'In a .part Qf tliis Province wiiere f was statioued for a considerable time, the Baptists were among my constant hearers, and,, I trust that their at-tenda;ice upon my ministry was not altogether in tain. We lived in peace and friendship, and we parted in the same manner, and pnctliKbly nothing to the contrary would have happened in St. John, had itiietheerii for. Mr. Ae^s, who hag not ceased to de. claim against the Methodists (and other rjeligious denominations) ^ince he came to this CHy. And not 'Ssitisfied with this, as he could not provolce opposil!Q>n in any other way, he published thefal«hoods con. tained in his '* short account," which has had the desired effect, the minds of the Baptists being no«r in-tlamed to no ordinr ry degree, as may be seen by the newspapers : God ^r^^t they may see their error and sin, and make that restitution to me and others, which it is their duty to do to person^, whom they have offended and attempted to injure. ' , ♦ fn the fifth page, Mr. R. mentions the Episcopal Clergyman and the Methodist Speaker, and in the next page he introduces himself; Init observe the contrast — the two former visiteii the prisoner, but the latter, at the solicitation of several/ friends, and by the desire of the prisoner who. had beard of IHM !— i just notice this en passant it* d (Q Hhew tke eitren* T«DU]r .f E. Ji Re«, wKlcH by tlieliyd ii almMe M conspi^uoas a« Is his hatred to (he Afethodist.. ■ - ^ The MethodUti, he says, w adrlwd the prisoner to be busy witli> God to igonlw aad do all he codld, that God miiht h«f e meriy «p. 1?* ^?' P°'"*»"« •»'•« *« those scriptures which they think are dilcuw Iftted' to make a sioiier iippear «citb some fatobr before God;^' au^ at Jast ail •ipiauatlon of aiUhls jargon, faJshood and absurdity cbine*^ out; they exhorted him to repent ahd betieve; and then he idds, that' «''jy "Ppoao that repenting and betieting tte the coiidWons upon Which a sinner ts accepted with God-^dalls this an uhicriptu^al Idiii,^ ahd most fervently prays to be delivered from it. iWhethe# hii prayer has been answered, God, his own heart, aod those Who know the falshoodi bb has published concerning me aie judges, fiut he is consistent in this instance, neither his repenting, uor his beiieving, appear to have any thing to do with his religion. I» not thenbofe more dangerous than the most barefaced loddellwi ty? i rray what methodist or christian of any denomination ever thought of putting thA doctrines of Christ in the place of Christ? But I astt; does not that man speak against Crist, who speaks against his com- iTJands, or who attempts to weaken their force, or to lessen their Ob- ligation ; Matthew, 5, 19^tVhosoever, therefore, skail break one of these least commandments, and shall ieach meni&, ha shall be calkd the least in the kingdom oj heaven: but whosoever sAalido, and teach them, the same shall be called great inthe kingdom of heaven. Does ttot the word of God become in the hands of one so brofouudiy igrto, rant, a destructive weapon, with which he destroys himself and others, f^et It not, however, be matter of surprise, that such fnjse teachers arfe attended by mimerods fblloweVs, for the word of God hath fore.' told It : 2d Timothy, 3d cha^). 1 to 10 Verse— ni>Jfc«bw also, that tnihe last datfs perfh^s tihtes shall Home: For me^ shall be lovers of their ownsePoes, tovetoiis, boasteri, proud, biasphemers, disobedi^ m to parents^ unthankful, mholji: fViihout natural t^fection, truce, breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisera if those that are good^ Traitors, headif, high.minded, lovers of pleasures more than of God: Having a form of godliness, bm denying the pother thereof: from such turn azcajf ; For of this sort are they nfhich creep tnt^ohottses, and lead captive silly women laden tbUh sins, led a^ay wifh divers lusts : Ever learning, and never able to come to the know, led^e of /ha truth. Now, as Janncs and Jambrcs withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth : men of corrupt minds, reprobate concernins the faith. But they shall proceed no further : for their folly ft follff •htM *e mantfeU untb aU men, df thkm dlio was. Biitiham hastfuHjf known tnjf dotlrine^ mmmur ofUfg, purpom, fakh, long^ tuffhring, charUjft /wrfAww.— «d Vefty 9d chap. 1, 9, and 9 Terws^ Hut there were JMse/mopkete iUito mmong tk* paajtte, even as tkire ehall befaUe ieackere at^MHgj^o»^, wkopriviiy tkmU Wiitg in damntu ble heresiet^ even demfing the Lord that iMmgbt ihem, and bring itfK on themseheg iwijt destruction. And many shall fotloto their pvmL cious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be nil spoken of. And through caveioutness shall they leith feigned words make merchandise of you : whose jugdmeni now of along time Hngireth not., and their dmmnaiion shtmbereth not, Praivv to Gq6 who mleth in the batveiM, and among th«inhmbitai)t»of the earth, he win to dtra time oveMurn. whatever opposes the spread ef M» G«9pel, tti^ cauid his truth |« flourish in every pavt of the world. In r^iljr to the seneeless jargon ifuoted aUoTC, I ian sny that thA EpiscopalljiBS and Methodists who visited the prisoner, eaherted Mm io redeem his time, and to jway ferfenfly and peneveringly to Go»i for merey through Jesus Christ. Theyfrndesrottved to guard bitii against presumption, and also to prevent him from sinking ittttf deiu pair ; for which purpose they directed him to those soripturw, wht^lk they know are given «f God expressly forthAs purpose, to «B<;o«nif0 a guilty sinner to hope for mercy and favour ^brougli the Saviour ol «nen. They also exltorted him to rspent of his transgressioDs, and t« believe lo-theLordJesili Christ, who gav« himself a raueMB for aK to be testified iildue time. They endeavoured to awaken his consei. ence to. a sense of his state^ by shewing bim tlte damwing nakwe tfnd consequence of sin: and being deeply sensible that Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but that God aleae cangive the increase, they frequently and fervently prayed to God to op«h hisbKnd eyes *nd to- mnke him wise to salvatjeo. And with what effisct under tiw blessing of God, when allowed to proceed undisturbed in their duty may ap-^ pear from Mr. Rbis*s own words. He talis u4^ page 7, « that he went to Frederkton^ during which time, the Methodists visited the priso- ner, and when upon his roturrt he went to aee him, he found an al- teraiion in his mind andiooks, that his mind war Axed upon thepre^ cious word of God^" that he told him, " now I betieve in Jesus, I thought I believed in him before, but I was wrong, &€.»♦ Thus we see Mr. Reis is divided against himself, and that hlis short account aa) as contradictory M are hia sermons, for in partsof it be htflds up the Methodists te contempt, (if his word can do it,) whereas in this plac© he shews that their teaching^ had a very happy efBect upon the priso* uer. How difficult to suppiriBiss the truth! It may be proper here to notice how lightiy Mr. Rras passed over the crime of murder in his conversation with the prisoner, putting him upon a level in point of goilt with other ordinary sinners, saying* tlraiUll sinners were murderers, and quotes James % 10. I ask, are alUtaners murderers in the same sense ami di'greeasa man who wilfully 8 wilfully or wantonly uket iway the life of tnolhw? Are (here n* degree, of guilt %nd consequent punishment? Luke, 12 47 48!! .r\ ..! *l^^u '"^';«"<*'-y «"«•••» •» ire'tt in the sight of God! a. ihe •ctual shedding of human blood, or does the place quoted abolj prote any such thing ? By hi. own account he took no pab. to lay . £^?:o'::;,T"*''""^^^^ wh.t.dKi:r.i,.ephy! In page 10 he .ays, " the prisoner was troubled about some oer •on, chiefly Methodises, who told him he was a dec^i t"«^h; fhTwh"o!:Bbt\?;/:i;''"'''''"r °''^' **'-^''«'^'<' -»^"'-« to hl^i .!^ .K ^*P *"J'!^ ^'"°"« ^«c*rioe., and wa. leading people Who these persons were, he does not say, neither does he tell us what scriptures they turned * *^"^ '* shew,?hat r; persons who visited M^Comb, were a little acquain ed with Mr Rws'g clS frh'"" • ''^'^ *■"'•'*'"'* "' *'*''' ""^ '^'- tenets, and whhi to caut o„ the prisoner against their evil tendency. Some of his tenet. •ubs antial form of print, also many of his words on various points S^e l«n.rf ' "'I- *'y^-«"•'- therecollectionof .hoi who fXl ^'^^^ **«™ fro*" •"»« tq lime. But if we rej-cl repentance and fe of do'ut'T"'' '^'^r""" "^""'^"'^ **» heaven'or helll not.mat. ter of doubt; far except ye repent ye , Hall all likems.: pen$H,*L^,\i9 P iT? '"^'*'*''''*''^'* ""'**«" ^^''-'ww^rf, Mark 16. 16. tlorn^^ .tr. n-M ^'' - r""!^ *'?"''*'' °"* *'■>'•"» "°'^« and bodily agita. whether iJrl '"'''^^ but .Mention, no names; now, Jl^L /h« " ^"?""' '^^ ''," ^P^'«*'' » '"-^^ *»>« Public to judge, of th« nr- ''•'? l^*'" of a "scheme" to move upon the pa«io„; Pf the prisoner which proved vain. The reader will no doubt be surprised .0 hear that the scheme alluded to was a meeting for pra v VZ *"f r' :^»h« P^'^'o^^'-, ""d ^ not acquainted witHlr. Cs eSof ThV" "' *'' ""'^"ces, will be still more surprised, when i„form ed of the very improper manner in which he behived oi the occasion. We found Mr. R ,„ the cell, I put some questions to the prisoner by Mr. R who pretended to makemy words more plain to the prisoner ttaA^Uh r/'^'^lTii r" 'r-""''^--y>- he^ad fr4uen'tly do^i before with otbei .s. I told h.m I could convey my ideas correctly to tho Uiem. A ter this J conversed for some time with the unforturtateyoun-r ,3 r^r r L^""* *'""'"' ^''^^n'*"'? Mr. II. who while we were pray;„g, disturbed u. very much ; sat down before wecot.cluded, ariTl \\> so doM.g m^de a gre^t deal of noise, with hh <^hair; stirred up tho firp fire, broke sticks, &c. &c. \ntltrtupt\ng us is macli ss possible. Aiuf maiilfosted not only the gretteat contempt for the worship of God,' but also A total disregarti of all propriety of conduct, so much so that although [had heard of Atm, I was really astonished. While he b#L' hared in this irrererent-mannnr, nearly all in the coll vrere weeping, being deeply affected with a sense of the awful situation of the prt. soner. When we roie up from prayer, Mr. R. wis capable tff mocking the tears which had been shed upon the occasion, and did io ; among other things he said, " 1 despise mock tears.'* One repUed, how do you know when (lersons are prayinthrand weep, that the tears which thfey slied are mock teurs? To whlcThe replied, ** thdre was somci thing in the voice, and a certain feeling which thc<;hii- dren of God did feel by which he know." Before I proceed, aUdw mer to 48k, was ever delusion stronger than thnt- under which this oinnf hboTs? A child of God! O precious, but much abused appellation*^ a child of God! would a child of God conduct himself as K. J. Rcis did, at suphm, time, in such a place, and upon sueh an occasion. ( do Hot Hesitate to say, i.otonly that I nerer witnessed such nn instance of lerity, impiety, and Irreverence before, but that f never saw a man, except himself, who I believe would be capable of acting in the same manner. I jet no one sny I am too severe; cnii any language be too strong to express the abhorrence which such conduct ought to excite, especially when it was re|ieated; Yes, twice we went to prayer, aiid' twice did E. J. Rfis act in the saihe irreverent manner. Several per-' sons Haw his improper behaviour^ and the prisoner having been in.' formed of it next morning by the Jailer, ordered the trap door lead. ing to the cell to be locked and that Mr. Rei« should not be admitted. But he was not to be put off, and at the same time was determined, if possible, to pi event my visits; for which porpose anmitg other things, he abused me in the piison, called me a liar. Sec. in the pre. sence of Mr. Manning, Mr. GtoDsoE, Mr. Rodgers, -and others, who can say how I bore his evil "tongue upon that occasion. How. ever, in consequence of the above mentioned] abuse, I discontinued my visits to the prisoner, believing it altogether useless, tv hi le he wns visited by a man who had manifested, not only. the v^ant of all reKgi. on, but also a total disregard of religious decorum, decency and good manners. But it is a general enquiry, why did you visit the prisoner at all after he made choice of Mr. Reis? Upon this the Uaptints lay great stress ; and persons unacquainted with the particular circumstaiicos of the affair have allowed it great weight. But it will vanish likie smoke, when the public are informed that the pmoner sent for me repeatedly to visit him, I then went, but with great reluctancp, for I had very little hopio tliat he would coihe to repentance while visited by Mr. Reis, who I had no floubt strove to harden him against the truth of the Gospel. In addition to the abofg i^ is necessary to inform the ptiblic that the choice of Mr. Reis by the prisoner was not voluntary, for he was / urged #' ••»' 10 ^fffd to tflftko ii by 9. man who stood behtnd him in the Court House^, H^d that he was beartilj sorry for it afterwards, *c. &c. I do not woi>^er that Mr. Heu n;iaDifasted (he relucUncebe did to hare the inijiaUQus cpaduct of himself and his abettors eqq,i)^ into, and uroT. ed by witiMWSfi. , ,,*, i promised to exp^aia the reasons why I asked the prisoner cer- tain queat^ops ill the. presence ol Mr. Rej^ T>ro gentlemea yfh9 are not Methodipts, who had thie salvation of the prisoner at heart l^:cQmpaoied me to see him^ on the Saturday whi<:h Mr. R. speaks of in page 10, when on pur way, one of the gef^tlemen said va must endeavor to find out w^t tl^ese people say to the j^eisoaer;;, in this I concurred, for a change for that worse was Jao visible ia M^Cqm^, aft^r Mr. Rw«'s return from Fredericteu, *Bd i was desi. ;;ou«to aifcertain theqause. I believe we spent two or three boura with U^Comh and with great djlficultjr discovered that the deluded 3^oui^ aiaa believed lihat his crime ha*' taken place a^i the decree of ^od, &c. Qi^r ml^ds were shocked, and I am aure every pious man, although he may difer from us in the five Qontroverted peints, will nefertheless acknovr ledge the irtpropriety of impressing such a tenet, upon the mind of an ignorant ycung man under sentence of deatb for the crime of murder. We wished to l*irn from him who taught hiov such a dan|^«ocs tenet, a tenet, wl^ich all must allow Qverturns atone stroke, not only religion but racri^lity also; indeed these must stand or fall together. We endeavoied to remove the fatal in^ression, and to ct^nvince him that bjs own l|ad pftsstens, and evil habits, and the/ ye accordingly sent him word,* but be did not attend. Now, I ask^ if Mr. R. did not holdtand teach the above mentioned dangerous te.. net, why refuse tv come? But, perhaps he did not think it a danger, ous tm^t, or only wished to elifde discwyery. However, his opinions, axe now pretty well known, a^d some of those who wbre formerly auiched to. biro see by t|ii« iXm-t ^*t he has gone a step or two too, ffr Q^ those points. I must not pass Over what is said in the 10th page, " the mind of the prisoner was diverted by soldiers talking to him of a reprieve, and others of a new trial, among whom was Mr. K«*»»*», Method. ist Speaker, *;>%" The puWic should be informed that tome persons eijcouraged the prisoner to expect a [ ^w trial. I found this expecta. tion strong on hJs mind '.vhen I visited him; but instead of eocou*. raging bim in it, as Mr. Reis intimates, I took the utmost paii^s to couvince him the thing was impossible, &c. and that therefore it wag indispensably * Note— r/ie above is what Mr. RBisealis a challenge to disnuie in ntihlii' //i/>*i «-^A^oli «..i4JL«M_> _«;. ^^^^J.^.. i* -.i. . •- t» . • • > • «*'• j»"«»rT t. f.rv'» "wt'ewrg ifasjv^iiKrjiumuurinougmf. Diit n^ OOlUm /y as&erts whatever may answer his purpose ^ without regard to Jruth. 11 iiitUspensably necessary to prapace to mdel, hit Gad,' ia irbos^ pre;* sence he should soon appear. I (lo not wish tn say any more upon thi:a disagreeable Mibject, it, is painful to my feelings to )iar0 b/een under the nefies«i.tiy of saying' so mivch. I ha?e spoken of Mr. Reis viiH a loildaeas he dpea no^' deserve; but I have done so out o£ respect to religMn, (o i^y r^ld^ws^ and to myself. To the fahhoods and low ^it in the hew^paperff, X: have madf no reply, as the inhabitants of St.. John arq hiqU aQq\iaint* ed wi:[th the aifair, and it: would enlarge this; Pamphlet too m«Qh t^, expose the whole in detail for the. informatio.Q of otberi. Mr. Hi(l« is the first wbo e?er took such improper liberties with iqe; bnt |^. coul^ not -expect wholly to escape calumny afid persecution, which t*v more dr. less the comtpon lot of all who oppose error atid Ti^o: «ini'^ mity agarhst the truth still continues, nor hftS the offeoce of th(| cr^t-^A cet\sed. ' Haying fulfilled *'ic (irist part of my eogagdm^ot, I now (pri) to: ftubjectsihoze worthy o.^ : atteJntion. The dpotvipess of RepciTi.tan<^> and f^th first demand our most seriowa oortqid^Fatt^tu not merely- because Mc. Rsls h^s had the t^ii^rity to dr^w his feeble pen against; tbem, but because (hey are in themselves of (he grieateftimpffrtance tov mankinds I bai^e: atretidy Tiiadans pf our salvation. ' I stkyicondtiions^ fof (hey are commanded by Christ, and he is the author of eternal salvation to those (only) who obay him.^ Heb. 5. 9. That, sinners I are commanded by Christ to repent, appears, from his owi* vrqrds, Luke. 13. 3, 5, KxcM ye repent ye ^hajl all likewise peri&h, Matt. 9. 13, 1 came not. to call the righteous, but sim. ner« to repentance, &c. &<:. And that the command is.uoiversal (ind, perpetual appears from Ljke.3^ 4?!, Repentance UPd re mmioitqf ^ «u«, is to be preached in: his oame among all nations : Hence, St. ; Paul said^ Acts 17; 30^ Thf-iiraea of ignorance Gudmn^ce4llnf^ i^ut< now he: commandeih all meti every vch^re to repent Therefore hq , testified both to Jews and Greeks, repentance tovoarik Go4andfuUh in our hord Jisus Christ, Acts 20. 21:, Who is exalted a prince and a&aviouvto {j^i'oe repentance, and ike remission of sins. Acts 5« 31. And tlte Apostle Peter exhorted his hearers saying, repent and be converted that your sins may be Matted out, token the times of re. freshing shall come from the.presence of the Lord, Acit 3. 19, &c. &c. And that sinners must not only repent, but also believe^ is equally plain. John was sent to prepare the x&ayofthe. Lord, that all men might believe in him, John 1. 7. Jesus himself said to the Jews this is (lie work of God that ye believe on him tchom he hath sent, John 6. 29. Nor shall any receive the. sanctifying spirit but they who be- lieve in Jesus Christ, John 7. 38, 39. Hence v <*, find that when sih- ivers felt their sinful state by nature and by practice, (that is were truly penitent) and enqiiircd the way of sahation, the Apostles uni. formly 12 formly directed thpm to believe in ike Lord Jesus Christy Acts 8. 36, 37 and 16. 30, 31, Rom. 10. 8, 9, 10, For through him all that be^ lieve are justifiedfrom all things from which they could not bejusti- Jied by the late of Moses, A«t8 13. 39 : Therefore they are accounted righteous, Rom. 3. 2^ and 4. 11, 24 ;4o such the promise is gi»en, 0»l. 3. 22 ; In thfem the power of God unto salvation is made known, Rom. I. 16j Eph. 1. 19, and the word of God effectually works, I Thess. 2. 13: For f«ith cometh by hearing that blessed Gospel which declares, that Jesus Christ i« the Saviour of all men, specially of those wtib believe, Tim. 4. 20. Thorefore he that believeih on the Son 'hnlh everlffsting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see Hfd; but the wrath of God abideth on him, John 3. 3. 2'a him give all the Prophets zcitHess, that through his name, jshosoever believeth on him shall receive the remission of sins, John 10.43. For God tray now he just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus, Roril. 3. 26. Yea, and tlrose only are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, 1. Pt^te'r*!. 5. ^ Whom having not seen they love, in whom though noto they see him not^ yet believing they rejoice wilh joy unspeakable and fuilofglory,lPetetl.8. How suitable is the Gospel plan of salvation to fallen, Helpless, guilty sinners ; such as we'are, who have nothing to pay, no works, or merit, or righteousness of our own to bring to gain thjB^ favour of God— As, we have sinneil how netessary is repentance ©n oar part, for having grieved so good and gracious a God : and how great is the divine mercy in extending pardon through his well beloved son to 9U guilty sinners who repent and believe in him. By repentance wc call'bur past sins to remembrance with sorrow and anguish of mind, and also turn from every evU way : For when the spirit of God con- vinces a man of sin, if he does not resistthat conviction (for it may- be resisted as I inten! hereafter to shew),, his sool is deeply humbled before God, and he is filled with guilty wbe, not merely because his shi exposes him to eternal punishment^ but also because he has vio- Uted the divine law and has thereby dishonored and offended God, and also polluted his own soul ; His grief is Increased biy a view of the love of God to him a guilty sinner in the gift of his son Jesus Christ, and is accompanied with a hatred to sin, a love to holiness, and a fixed determination to live to the glory of God for the time to come : Those are the fruits of repentance. He lias also an expecta- tion of forgivness for the sake of Jesus Christ, and through faith ia Ids blood, Matt. 3. 1. Acts, 3. 19, 2. Cor. 7. 10 : Thus repentance towards God prepares the sinner to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, foe whose sake aione, pardon of sin and acceptance with God h to be obtained, Rom. 5. 1. and 8. 1 : This is called justifying faith, and is wrought in the penitent sinner by the spirit of God enabling i.jrn to receive Christ as he is revealed in the Gospel to be his prophet, pi-iest, and king, and to trust in and rely upon his atoning blood alone 13 sTone for justificatioi) and eternallife. Bathe Isjufltified by faith, not formally as if it were his rig^titeousness, or the meritorious cau8« of justification before God, (for faith hides pride from roan and lays him in the dust at the feet of the Redeemer,) but he is j^ustified by Hith instrumentall^ and re/«/}oe/^, as it apprehends and applies to himself the merit »nd blood otCUriity which is, the sole meritorious cause of justification and salvation; which is the object of faith and which alone cleanses from all sin aiul renders us acceptable to God. Hence it is called the faith through which we are saved and without which we cannot be saved, Eph. % S. Mark 16. 16; it is therefore a eondition on our pnrt whereby we become partakers of the blessings of the covenant of grace. This faith is an active principle, and pro. duces in the heart love to God and man, and is therefore called the faith which w«>rks by love and purifies the heart, Gal. 5. 6. Acts 15. 9; it increases from one degree to another, Rom. 10. 17. being in some, firm and strong,'^Iatt. 8. 10. in others, weak and languishirig, Matt. 14. 31. It is the gift of God, for every good and perfect gift cometh down from the father of lights, by ivhose grace alone we can exercise itj and it is a faith which produces universal obedience to the whole law of God, James 2. 14. Kom. 6. Thus we see that obedience to thos« two great, evangelical commandments is of indispensible necessity, and that every sinner must himself repent and believe or he cannot be saved; they are therefore terms or conditions without which we can. not obtain the forgiveness of sins, or a title to everlasting happiness. I know the Baptist will say, ^' we can do nothing, we are to do nothing, not even to repent and believe, Christ bath done all, and hath left nothing for us to do, the law sets men to work, but theGospel binds us to do nothing at all, nor can we be damned for actual trans, gression ; and a great ileal more such profane and ungodly jargon. That Christ hath made a full perfect and sulBcient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the siiis of the whole world there can be no doubt $ that he hath also received gifts for men, i. e. the gift of the Holy Spirit power to repent, &c. &c. is equally certain, — but I ask, hath he also repented and believed for the sinner? — Hath he given commands only to be trampled under foot ? Is Christ become the Mi. nister of sin? Does not such a dangerous scheme set aside sdlpersonul holiness and obedience to the will and word of God, and does it not open wide the flood gates of ungodliness? But it is as false as it i» mischievous ; Christ has given cominands and they must be obeyed oi' the sinner must be lost. Look unto me all ifou ends of the earthy and be ye saved^for I am God and there is no7ie else^ Isaiah 45. 22. ask and it shall be given you^ Matt. 7. ifi/ou know these things^ happy , are ye if ye do them^ John 13. 17. if you love me keep my command, ments, 14. 15. True we cannot repent, believe, pray, or obey in our own strength, for without Christ we can do nothing; but through his all Riiilicient grace we can do all things which he hath command, ed, 2 Cor. 12. 9. Then ' « u m Thfeh says thfe B&|>tlst ** \retth bar o*n Satiout and may slt^glory to o^rsliltis I What ! is a man hU own saviour .ecaose helloes not conti- nue lo r^bel agaiilst Ght-ist, but submits to be saved by his grace in the Obedience offklth and holiness! Is Christ divided kgalnst him. self ?" Is hit Irbrd iricorisistent and Contradictory ? Is not the plati of salvatibh oM cbnsiitent «A«/eand uniforrh in all its parts} Is not 'Christ the gresat fbuddAtfon^ and are not we by his grace throt^h faith to build updh that fbtindatron f Are we to make void the moral -Law aiw* Gbs^d tdo thrOdgh faith, or are we not rather to establish • 'them? Rom. 3. 31. Does any pehitent sinner oi- obedient belieVef ftiWgine that by obeyirig Christ, he makes atonement for his own sins, -^r b^bm^m his own SaviWir ? But in order to 6hfe*^ the part which God requires us to take in the pursuit bf eternal happiness, let us recollect that he has command- ed us to labor }6r the meat which mdkreth unto everlasting life ^ John 6. 47. and St. Pfcul says, let us labor iherefore to enter into that rest. Heb. 4. 11. Christ giVes a geniE«ral exhortation to sinners. Strive to enter in at the strait gdte, Lake 13. 24. St. Peter exhorts believ- ers to make iheir edUing and election sure? Pet. 1. 10. St. Paul says, vbrJe out jfoUr okim salvation tcithfeat- and trembling^ for it is God zehich wbrlceth in you both to tioiU and to do of his good pleasure. Philip; 2. 12. 13. and St. Jamfts declares that, whoso looketh into the perffct law of liberty, aHd continueth therein, Ke being not a forget, ful bearer, but a doer ofthi tobrk^ this man shall be blessed in his ' deed, Jarhes 1 . 25. In Short it appears that every diity en ' oi ned, and every command givfeh, is fbiincled upon this universal principle, that inin by grace is rjihdered capablb of bbeyirig the voice of God, and that he disobeys hot from a #ant of grace given, btit through nafaith. ■ fulness io grace imparted. I have said thit the Spirit ftiid grace of God may be resisted •, And as the Brtptists are continually crying up irresistible grace in a sense, less and unkeariing manner, vrhcreby they are misled themselves, iind also mislead others; I think It necessa^y to say a word or two upon this point. If by iri'esi.tible grace, is meant that the voice of God in his Gospel and by his Spirit is, and must be heard by all men tvhi^thBr they will Or no, I fully acquiesce in the idea; for the true light lightened eyity nian that conieth into the world, and the Gos- pel comes With convincing power to the heart of every roan that hears it; nor does this at all depend upon the will of man. But if by irre- sistible grace is meant that the voice of God thus heard, cannot af- terwards be disobeyed; this I deny, because it h contrary to reason^ to scripture^ and to matter of fact, in tenthomand thousand instances f and 1 boldly assert that no man rightfy instructed, will inculcate such a tenet. From the word of God and the dictates of reason, it is undeniably ciyar, that man is k free, rational, moral and unaccountable creature. Hence we tind that God always addresses hm as such, giving him precepts 16 precepts and commands for the reguIaKoh rtf hfamOTal c»hiJu«*ri« forced by promises oF reward and threktenihgs 6f ptinWhthcnt tobb dispensed at the gieneral jodgmciit. But iif men are iUeatMble lyf obedience or dIsObediehce, of yielding to, of resiiiting the g6od spirTt of God, bat are placed under the intfuence of a fatal necessity, I ask how can God judge the world in righteoastress. The wise, pioiik and learned of ewy denomination, reject such a thought witli aBWJi'. rence. Dismissed by them it has taken possession o^ the Ignorant, and lh« Tlci6us iirho cover their vices under It, and ascribe their kiM toGod; G fatal delusion! How contrary to thy4jatUi'e andattr!^ bote*. O thou God of truth, wisdom, purity knd goodness ! Hoir contrary to the whole of thy most pretious word! but especially how contrary to that amazing display of thy bourtdiess gracd la the gift of thy welt beloved Son to a fallen world ! PardOn thrne en«mfes O Lbra and teach them the truth of thy Gospel. Bat a few quotations will make it quite plain that the sph-rt of God may be resisted, Gen. 6. 3. The Lord said, my spirit thttHndt always strive with matt: jfdt his dags shall bt a hundred and iieenty years, during which time his day of grace lasted, and op- portunity of repentance was afforded, for the Lotd is slatb to angei- and of great mercif. Thus we find that Jezebel bad space of reptea- lance given her, but she repented not, llev. 2. 21. Now mo^t fcer- tainly during the time given her to repent, she might have repented yet she repented not. How awful are those wordi in Prov. 1, from verse 20 to thd end, Wisdbm crielh without; she utteHth her tbke ik the streets ; She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates; in the city she utiereth her teords, sajrirtg, hozo long, tps simple ones, vsillpe love simpticitp, and the scittnefs delight in theit scorning, and fools hate knotoledge? Turn you at tny teprdof ; be. fiold, I will pour oat my Spirit unto you^ I mil maie knoztn my words Unto you. Because I hate called, and ye refused; Ihavt stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set M nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also wUl laugh at your calamity ; I will tfiock when youi-fiar comeih. When your fear cometh as desolation, and your de&ttUdion cometk as a whirmind ; when distress and anguish cometh upon you; then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shdtl seek Me early, butthey shall not find me: Pof that they hated knowledge, drtd dtd not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel ; they despised all my reproof: Therefore *hall they eat of the fruit of theit own way, and be filled voith their owri devices. For the turning attay of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hear keneth unto me shalliwell safely, jnd sha\l be quiet from fear of evil. Who can read such words without trert. bling! A^ain, Acts 7. 51. Stephen charges the Jews with this du. . ing sin. Ye Stin^^necktd. nnrt urtr9TCt/*nri€0^ }- A«^«-« ^^J fi^^c -.- Jr- -' ■- M ' ■ — ---. t — ...»,« i.f Ptt.tfr( c«rfbt CUrj% jfz ILV Ufc* ways rctist Hit Holj Ghott : as your fathtrs did, so do ye. Of this Da- . vid 16 III"'.' m Tid speaks in his 95 Psalm, verse 7 to the end, To-day, if ye uiU kedt his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation and as in the day of temptation in the mlderness : when your fathers tempted me, proved fne, and satv my work. Forty years long was I grieved with (his gene-* ration, and said, It. is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways : Unto whom I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest. Which St. Paul quotes and applies in Ileb. 3. 15, 19, and 4».7, While it is said, to-day, if ye will hear hit voice, har- den not your hearts, as in the provocation. For soine, when they , had heard, did provoke : howbeit not all that came out of Lgypt. by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years ¥ was it not. with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to th*m that he believed not ? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief, &c.—' These places shew to what extent the spirit of God may be grieved by sinners, namely, to the utter exclusion of theinseives from the promised rest. But this appears, if possible, in a still stronger light.from Ezk, 18. 24, But when the righteous man turneth away from his rigkteoiu- nessy and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominati- ons that the wicked man doeth, shall he live ? All his righteousness that he hath dons thall not be mentioned : in his trespass that he hath tres- passed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.. Read the parable of the ten virgins. Matt. 25. 8, And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. How awf^l are the words of St. Peter upon the same subject, 2d Pet. 2. 20, 22, For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the . knowledge of the Lord and Saviour jfesus Christ, they are again entan- gled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the be- ginning. But it is happened unto them according to ffie true pro- verb, The dog is turned to his own vomit, again j and, The sow that was washed, to her wallonfing in the mire. The Apostle Paul is equally if not still more pointed and impressive, and also applies his observati- ons to those who had experienced a large measure of diviiie grace, Heb. 6. 4, 8, For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Ho- ly Ghost, and have tafted the good word of God, and the powers of the ^ world td come, if they shall fall awny^ to renew them again unto repen- tance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put bim to an open shame. For tk^ earth which drinketh in the rain that Cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blejing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briar X is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. And lest any should mistake the Apostles meaning, he resumes the same subject, chap. 10. 29, Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, toko hath trodden underfoot the Son of Godj av.i hath (ounte.d the blood of the covtnavt, tifhirewith he was ^ ■ . " sanctified, (■;: j w- \ IT ttPfictifieJi an unholy iking, and hath done 3es}iU tnto the Spirit- of gtace? And our Lord's lamentation oTcr Jerirsakm, fuHy cataMiolies -the awful truth we now enforce, Matt. 23. VT^O Jerusalem, JtruiaUm, tkou that kiUeft ik; Prophets, and jtovest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children togetlur, even as a hen go- ^ thereth her chickens under her tuings, and ye would not I O! ye wh#>q blaspherhe the precious love of Christy by sayinj ♦< he dooms the uii-f i born soul to Ml, or damns him from his mother's womb;" comff here and behold the streaming eyes of the compassionate Redeemer, weephig over a rebellious people who resisted his grace, and would nqt b6 gathered by him » Do not blaspheme his tears as you do his lo?e; - those tears wliich flowed from bowels of mercy and infinite comjuasw •; sion ! Such love and sorrow nerer met before ! How shall these men look him in the face^hen he sKali sit upon the throne of judgment, x who have represented him while upon earth as the greatest of hypo. <;rites and the most' cruel and unjust of beittgs ? They may for a while blaspheme his name with impunity, but the hour of retribution drswf r near if they do not i^epent. Thus it appears that man may, and aks; ? does too frequently disobey the voice of God after having heard it^ :. and grieve and quench the Spii-it of Glad after having experienced i much of his grace and goodness. ■■ _,_ ^,. And that he must obey from the heart in a free and voluntary r manner the calls of grace, or be cannot be sawd^ is equally plain* ; 1-^ul was not disobedient to the hedveniy vision. Acts %6. 19t the GoSa^r pel Ministry is established in the church for tjie i*ci/«nce of the faitb among all nations, Rom. 1. 5. 16. 16; and the apirit is given for the • same gracious purpose, I. Pet. i. 2; therefore to 9hejf is better ihau'. sacrijice and to heoHcen themihefat oframs^ 1. Sam. > 5. 22. Hence God says by Jeremiah, Obey my voice and I will be your Gedfn and ye shall be my pfople, and walk ye in kll ihe.aays that I have con^*. mandedyou'thatit may bf. well uithyou, 7 c. 2S,; add Wc 13. Andr St. Paul says, th.it Christ being made perfect, became . ■. In the/Gospel plan of salva* •, tiou the grace of God appears m:o!t f lorious, extendiag t« all the fal. len sons of men for a manif'eftatian of the spirit fis J ^iven to every man to profit withal, I Cor. 12. 17: So that lio m«n is left t^> himself.un- assisted hy diviue grace. And this arises from the |;i-eat lbv« of God to sinners. For God so loved the world, that he gavz Us only-begotteA Svv, that whosoever believith in him should not ,perisli^.bui h*ve everlaft-.^ ing life, John 3. 16, and the Son by the grace «f Godufted death for" every man, Heb^i. 9 ^ giving himself a ransom for all to he itpfied in due titae, 1 Tim*2. 6. For he mtleth all mtn to bn savtdAtid io come to ikt knowledge of the trutiu Agreeably to which is theoaib of Jeho. vah, l<:zek. 33. 11; Say unto thtm, As / live,, saitH the. Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the kicked; but that the wicked turn from his way end livs : turn ye, turn^ye, from your etfiLvqysj for .why. wllyti MS} ht)Hs£ ur Israel'^ .:,,,,• > ■ < a But 1* ii tiat it wiU be said if Christ di«d for all, and willetb the'telfation oCftIi) wliy ar* OQt all larid ? Can Giirist die in vain, &c. These fopUlh and btaspbeiDOitti ot^ectiom hare been often opposed to the w(»fdand oath of Jehovah, and h^e again and again been refuted, but I nliat fhie theoia sho»t reply. That Christ died for all men i» poeitively 4aiereBd, aikd the eoatrary no vhere appears in the scrips tarei, Aon. a 3«, « Peter 9,% % Cor. 5. 14, 1 Tim. 9. 6. That he hath tiot died in vain appears from various scriptures, to refer to.OM place onlj, Rev. 7, And the teason why any sinners perish is :givm by oar jL«rd bionelfy ye will not come to me that ye may have HJfi John A. 4j those sinners reject theifracious counsel o/God against themselves, and being unleatnedand unstable^ arrest the reriptures to their oton destruction, 2 Pet, 3. 16; Bringing in damnable heresies, even de^ ny^thi Lord that bought thm, aHd bring upon themselves swift de- simc^ion, S^sPet. %. 1, &c. &c.'*-rt.fjrM yi-'tw ^•whiMA^mvp-''^ ^-'H'- - -M But impartial ji|dge; gikided in all things by invariable justice, Uikp^tA irith inercy^ so that although he^mXy sometimes re. ^vardwore^ beWHl^ never punish more than strict justicd treitutres. I eannoteiriarge ipon^is point': O! what a^tty that igndrant pier, soot fhoald pass by the ^aineit leseon^. of grace iti ithb Bible, and puzzle and' destroy tbemselteiB and others with subjects which they do notunderttand^ Thenk God every truth, the knowledge of which is essentiai to fslvatlon. m sufficlentlv clear to all who are nnt wlU ' - ' *t fuHy WW* piMflm of hk d^uKh 1.' JS.'!r ??/'""• *"'' iviJ.l«i^ a .' ■ "*"«•*« rnfeiV 2. 2(y If. 11 2; 35, 39. Add to the abbte the accounts we have in the Acd of tXr Apostles of the Baptism of whole households; and it must be pre8uroeh'J'ohn*S bai)tisn>;-~> This §hews most clearly their total ignorance of the Gospel, for they- stumble at the very threshold.. When t^ first principles are wrong,, every filing is wrong, that follows. John was the forerunner of Christy and wais sfnt for ;the purpose of preparii^ his, way,-for be came^in the spirit and power of £lias;,he thereforepreached tlieBaptIsm of repen- tanceand faithintheMessins- w4ib was to come, and while his dispeo^ sation cnntinuedy-the people were bound to submit to bis Baptism.— Hence the Pharisees are said to have r-ejected the counsel of God' against themselves,, by not submitting tn the baptism of Joho. But t% soda as Our ^v lour had fuliv onsned his ministry, the mission of J«bD ceiisod,. and since that tUue the Gofpal is preached^whicb is the last $a « r QMt and matt glorioug dispensation of the grace of God to mm, iidl Bha!l continue ai long as the sun and moon endureth. ' ' That the dispensation of John was not to be perpetual, appears from his own words when speaking of Christ, " He must incr^se, "but I roust decrease, &c.»' And as a 'further proof of this, he sent his own disciples to Christ, see John 3. 26, also 1 chap. 15 to ,37., •and Matt. 3. And'lhat his baptism was not to continue is eTidertt from a remarkable circumstance recorded by St. Luke, Acts 19. 1 to •7, And it came to pass, that while ApoUostuai at Corinth, Paulliaving pajed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus j and ^tiding tertaiu ' disciples, he said unto them, have ye received the Holy Ghoft since ye be- lieved? And they said unto him, toe have not so nu^h as hard whether ihere bt any Hdly Ghoft. And he said unto them, unto tohat then were ye baptized f Andihey said unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with'the baptism of repentance^ saying unto the peo» ,ple, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is on Ckriji Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Pauliiad laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghoft cavu on them ; and they spake with tongues, and prophtjiei. And all the men were about twelve. Thus we see that John's baptism was to give way to christian' baptism, and was nort to be confounded S'th or united to it. You say that John was the first BajAist—yei; d you are a Baptist — yps- and were baptized with Jdkn^s Baptism — ye»; then you are a disciple of John, and not the disciple of Christ, «o that a^ the disciples of John mentioned above, were baptized iti the name of the Lord Jesus, by a Christian Minister for the purpose of becoming Christians, so must you also, be baptized by a Christian Minister for the same purpose. It wiH avail nothing to say, ^* the name of the Trinity was used, when i was plunged into the vnater," for John gives no precedent or authority for so doing, and it does not appear that he ever used the name of the Trinity at all. Being therefore, by your own confession the disciple of John, the natural ■and necessary consequence is, that yrou cannot in the proper sense be the disciples of Jesus! ! What can we now say of those Chtirclies (so called^ wliidh are founded upon such a platform? Are they christian Churches? Are those persons Christians, who renounce their Christian Baptism and submit to the^fiaptrsm of John ? In fact, they no more understand the mission of that great forerunner of the jledeemer, than they do the Gospel, although they call themselves by his name; for they mistake^ . misapplj/, and perpetuate his short, but important dispensation : A few w|jo know not the depths of satan, as^ others of them speak, who oppose Christ and bis ministers through ignorance, rather than ma- lice; these! trust, by grace, shall yet be delivered from the snaro into whiph they are fallen, and experience the glorious Gospel liberty of christians. May they speedily see, and forsake their errors, and turn to the Lord Jesus, from whom many of them have grievously revolted. Indeed they boastingiy say that Baptists do not often turn Churchmen, Methodists, ^-c. although these frequently turn Baptists. But they are not the first who gloried in what they ougiit to be ashamed of, for many join them who would not be retained by us ; and why do not Baptli^ts join christian Churchei?, the reasons aro obvious, no system gives ^uch allowance to sis; .us ihhln does, and it is easy to lose one's christian ■^irfue^ bat 'jot v: t.'jeciio» wrgtA hy the fiepUsti against infant baptism, DatrieljT) that cblldria ought not to be baptized, because tbejr cannot belioTe. Bat tlko same objection if admittewl, would have overturiMd circuagicisloa^ which has giren way to baptism in the Church. Whjr circumcUt iit. fants as they could not beliete ii the God of Abraham? Again, if this objection be good in one case it hiust be so in another. It Is said, beliere and be baptized, hence the Baj>tist argues tione are to be bop. tized but believers. Now is. it not also said, believe ind be saved, and he that beliereth not shall be damned. But Idfknts cannot be. lieve; therefore according to the Baptist mode of reasoning, infknts cannot be savetl. What blasphemy ! P i I if they are the deicendanCi ofti sect of the Waldenses who arae putting away of sin: so does the latter, "the former was an emblem of pu- rity : so is the latter, &c. &o . Hence the Apostle Paul speaks of them togpther in Colossians 4. U, 12, by which it appears that bap- tism now answers every end in the Church that circumcision did for- merly. As to the mode of baptism, there i« nothing in the Bible to autho- rise any man to say that immersion of the whole body is/necessary to make baptism valid. Th6 word Baptize being used In a variety of instances where it cannot possibly have any such meaning—- and I call upon any person to shew If they can that it has thM exclusive signification in the New Testament. In Mark 7. 4, we are told that the Pharisees found fault when thejf saa the disdj^es eat nith un. roashen hands, J^ the Pharisees and all the Jem tehentheif come from the market, exhpt they wash (ari baptised) eat not. Here we aee that those persons were baptized, although a part only of the bo. dy (' y< ^ hands) was washed. It is added many other things they haofi recei-oid S(c. such as the washing of pots and tables or couches upoa whui- 1'- ^ ;lined at -tais. Now did they immerse those tables or couuiies in order to baptise them. Did they not rather pour or sprinkle water upon them for that purpose. St. Paul says the Isra- elites were baptlted in the cloud, (what! immersed in the cloud that was over their heads) and in the sea, (immersed in that too although its waters were divided, and formed a wall on either hand, so that the children of Israel passed over dry shod,) unless they were bap- t!«od fiAtn «hA dcud above bv the nonring or sprinkling of water froQi It, thft JBttst have been a'dry baptism. Again i\ S4 1/ Hi';': i It 1^ I. ill-r Again ^ben we (race the origin or baptism, in (he scriptures, ivhrch we are led lo do by what St. Paul says on the subject, Heb. 9. )0, 1.?, 14, we find that the application of ashc?, blood and water by sprinkling is called divers baptisms, i. e. baptism by diTcrs sub. stances cr things. In Exodus 9. S, baptism by the sprinkling of ashes ii spoken of. Exodus 24. 8, baptism by the sprinkling of blood ia spoken of. £>eviticus 14. 16, ,51, baptism by the sprinkling of oil, and Numbers 8. 7, baptism by (he sprinkling of water of pn-. rification. Hence the A postle reasons thus, For ij the blood of bulls fitid ff goats, and the ushes oj an heifer ijninkling the u.iclean, sane, tijieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more sholl the blood of Christy who through the eternal Spirit offered himself tiithout spot to Gody phrge your conscience from dead jsorks to serve the living God? lleb. 9.13, I4^it is therefore p'ain that the design of these divers baptisms was to typify and inculcate purification from sin, by the precious blood of the Redeepier whiph was shed to sprinkle the nation^. And we see that this end ^aa answered by the sprinkling of a variety of substances upon the sinner, not by immersirig.him in them. This fixes the sense in a manner that cannot be disputed. — Who can believe th?it the three thousand mentioned. Acts 2, were l^aptized by immersion ? When we consider the mode of baptism b}"- sprinkling m?nt|oned above, and that it was a very ancient usage, at least from the time of Moses, we have every reason to believe from genercl circumstances, and also from the narrative itself that baptism by sprinkling would be prefierrec' and used on the occasion : Like the Levitcs Num. 8. 7, these converts were devoted to the Lord and sprinkled with water as a sign of thetr purification. This loads me to ask, how were great numbers baptized among the Jews 2 Certairi- ]y by sprinkling, Exodus 24. 8, and Moses took the blood and Sprin- kled it upon all the people^ and said beh9ld the blood of the Cove- nant; here is baptism by the sprinkling of blood — Again Nujn. 8. 6, 7, cleanse the Levitcs and thus shalt thou do to cleanse them, sprin~ %k ziuter of puiifying upon them, ar.d let them shave all their -flesh,, and let them wash all their clothes, and so make themselves clean,— Here is baptism by sprinkling water. ^Oiie baptism only is retained in the Church, whico is baptism by water. Now when we consider that the Apostles were converted Jews, as mentioned before, and that baptism by sprinkling wag commonly practised among them, and that there is not the ffliadow of a proof of its being administered in any other way upon this occasion, and wlien we also con^i(ier (he circum- stances of the infant church, at the time alludfid to in the midst of their enemies, and the absolute impossibility of baptizing sucli a muU tjtude by immorsion yndrr such circumsiances, and (hat in fact no such thing is mcntjoned as haung taken place, we arc justified in concluding that the niultitude of converts were baptized by sprink- ling watpv upan them, vvliich was a valid mode of baptism, and (he piost convcineut and expeditious. • ,. 25 But tliey say the jailer, Ads 16. 33, was baptized by immersion. This also is mere assertion without proof. A cnmmoo mode of ar- guing used by the Baptists. But let us for a moment examine the circumstance of this case, if it were for uo other purpose but to excite our astonishment at their ingenuity andjnvention. In the 24th verse, we are told the jailer thrust Paul ami Silas into the inner pri- son and made their feet fast in the stocks— When the earthquske awok? the jailer he was about to kill himself, supposing th^p^iw*- ners hnd fled, the doors of the prisTonbeing open; but Paul preyept- ed this rash act, upon which the jailer called for a light an^ sprang in (in where? into the inner prison) and came and fell dovfo, tretp, 'bling before Paul and Silas and brought them out, (out of the inner prison) and enquired >'he way of salvation— \Vben they directed hi «n lo believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and he should be saved, &,c. and lie took them (not out as the Baptists read it,) the same hour of the night, washed their stripes and was baptized he and all his, s/raight.- way. Now is there one single circumsianco in this case to fcund immersion upon— No mention of leaving thejail, or the jailer's apart- ment, or of going to a river for the purpose. Those who can.beUeve that the jailer and all his were baptized by immersion, ipay with equal propriety believtj any other foolish and absurd proposition. , In the case of Corncl!Ui|Acls 10, 47, there is no mentiop of go- ing to a river or to t^ wller in order^ to his birptism, nor have we any reason to believe he was baptized by immersion, but quite the contrary. Was St. Paul baptized by immersion ? Acts 9. 18. Did^ho go to any sea or liver for the purpose? Was the Eunuch baptized by immersion ? We read. Acts 8, that the Eunuch and Philip tcent on their ■may and they came (in t^e order of their journey) to a certain •sinter: ami the Eunuch said^ see, here is water; zchat doth hinder mc from being baptized? and they went both down into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch; and he baptized him; but here is not one word of plunging under the water, (for going down into the water and com- ing up out of it, proves just nothing to the purpose,) and every other rase of this kJnd stands on the same foundation. The advocates for immersion, assert, beg the question, and take for granted what they cannot prove. But it is worthy of observation that although many baptism^ are mentioned, none went from the place where they first offered themselves as candidates for baptism, (except in one instance of which I shall speak just now) to any river or other watti-, as ouf Baptists do to be baptized. The instance to which I alluded above is in John 3, 23, John wa$ baptizing in Enon near Salem, because there was much water therff. This place rontnins the strength of their cause, for as they are Bap- tists, they think it as necessary now lo believe in and submit to John*$ baptism,' as it was before the Gospel was preached by our Sariom^ flnd his Apostles, whereas he was only sent to prepare the way of the Lord. Uuon this I have made some observations in another place. ' f.' rtf ■M 06 Bat ihHiH d^scipl^i of Johh who contend io strenuously for fmmersi- 6h, toy whir triumph, why did John baptize in Enon? because there ifki much ivattr there. And for what purpose did he make choice Of jlufch a jplace? that he ihjgHt immerse all who came to his baptism-^ out not quite so fast, what you now take for granted is the Tery thing to bff ptOTifed; might not John have made choice of that place for other ftnd quite different reisons, namely, that the great multitudes ttlio ihehded upon his ministry might be accommoditted with water to qlieh6h their thir«, &c. in so warm a climate? And indeed the trbrdft i^eiid^red riiueh water, properly signify many waters, and may bte ttiitfdirstobd of vaHous Hyulets or springs, none of which might hiTe bebn de^ep enough for the purpose of immersion. And is it suid that he imn^erSed any persbn in those waters ? not one word about it. WheW would such multitiidej ^nd change of raiment, or were they bliptized in a slate of nudity? shocking to suppose! Immersion .^s t>tactised by our Baptists is "very unseemly, but delicacy forbids say- itig liJuCh abdut it. Indeed some are foolish enough to say that uo- thing but pride hinders people from becoming baptists ! If a sense of ^iscency and riiodesty hinders any, I cannot but rejoice that ttiere is it oiiich decency and modesty remaining. That pride causes many to be immersed, I havb little doubt. People are fond of ostentatious pliarisaic parade, they wish to make ^ir^ew in the flesh, to do ^hich this tnodriof baptism, atfordsa pls^sllw^pportunity, and flat- ters their rellgibus vanity not a little. Indeed some think it an easy way to hearen; others, through ignorance or weakness fall into the snare. But I ask, is it pritle which prevents a christian from re- . nouticing the baptism of Christ, aod submitting to the baptism of John. Is it not rather a knowledge of his Christian duty which teiidtci him that there is but one baptism under the Gospel, and that bl^fni^ tfiice recdved christian baptism, it would be a profanatipn of tfiit holy sacraraent to repeat it. O christian stand fast in thy chris- t!4il dUt^ and f>rivileges that no man take thy crown. That Baptists turued christians appears from Acts 19, by which step they found the way of salvation, but who can shew from the scriptures that any christian eie)r turned Baptist to find that waj— O my God open the 6yeGl of thfise deluded souls that thsy may see and forsake their many errors, and lead them in the way everlasting. Put a stop to the pro, gte$i of false doctrine ai.d teachers, who destroy their own souls and the tduls of those who hear them. Before I conclude this point, I ask if baptism is not held to be a saving ordinance, why is a mode of it so strenuously^ contended for, except it be to mislead the unwary and to promote "the interests of a party? Indeed the Baptists contend for immersion as if their salvation depended upoti it, and they sometimes discover their real sentiments and tell their hearers, " except you are plunged into this liquid ele- ment, you shall be plunged into the liquid flames of hell, &c. Scc.^*, pf which their rcbaptizing by immersion, all whom they admit into their 2Z their number, ohhougfa tl^ey toiy hta^ receiveiVfChriit'nn bdptiiib bill fore, by iitipersion ekher ui infancy or at adalt age, h the stron|eSit possible proof* But can the quantity of water more or less avail tMf thiag to the saltatioa of the soul ? or must all be lost for ever v^h6 are uot baptized by iraioersion? Do all remaio unbaptized whoS6 irhele bodies have not be6n pat under tlte water. These aw-etirioiil problems in divinity ! And do the men who thus oppose their opluf. pns to the ohristiau world, exceed all other men in sound learning, extensive information, and exalted piety ? Certainly not. But th6r6 is one qualification which some bf them possess in a high degrpe, ninWi ly a certain degree of temeiarjous boldness that can set at deiitintoi&l scripture, reason and commoti sense, or set all th6se together by thl ears, through an entire ignomiic^ of oil. Fof this qualifies them fd assert boldly, and when their contradictions and errors are ezpoised, tliey shift their ground and den^ as boldly,' and thus they are proof against all conviction, and think themselves, wider than seven men who can render a reason. And theawful consequence must be, that many souls for whom Christ died, are destroyed. I judge no man rashly, nor do I form an uncharitable opiuioii of any; but I knovi^ that every cause must produce its proper e€ect. Can the rush gro«[ without mire. Job 8. 11, 13. It cannot be denied that error leadi from God, datkens th^ understanding. and hardens the heart. Td apply these observation^ 1N» ttie case before us, can we expect thoM persons to repent of sin, and turn from it who utterly condemn rei penting? Qr those to helreve who condemir believing ? Or thosis td seek the Lord who condemn all seeking ? Or those to aspire after hew liness and perfect love, who say it is wrong at any time, nay eVieri when about to launch into eternity to speak of such things; or thbs^ to avoid sin who say they cannot be damned for committing it, &e. IM not such opinions dishonor God in the highest degree, and are they not calculated to overturn and destroy every thing sacred and moral itt society. Were such opinions generally received, (thank God th($y are not) what awful consequences would immediately follow. By the past we may judge what the future would be. See Dr. Robert;^ ^on'd account of the Anabaptists, to whom the present Baptists have at '* strong resemblance in many things. " Soon after Luther's apped^J " ance, says the Doctor, in his history of Charles V. the rashness ov *' ignorance of some of his disciples led them to pbblish tenets no tess " absurd than pernicious, which being proposed to men extremfeiy *' illiterate, but fond of novelty, and at a time when their minds wi^lrft *^ turned wholly to religious speculations, gai* 3d too easy credit aiirf '^ authority among them, — The roost remarkable of their religiotrsr tenets related to the sacrament of baptism, which, as they con^ tended, ought to be administered only to persons grown up^to' years of understanding, and should be performed, not by sprink'J " ling them with water, but by dipping them into it. For.this rei- J' spa thi?y condemned the baptism of iftfaiits,' and re-baptixlng Aff " whom 28 M\':- . III *^ \rfaott) Urey admitted into their society, the sect came to be distin. ** guished by the name of Anabaptist. To this peculiar notion they ** aj^ded other principles of a roost enthusiastic nature. By a mon^ *' strous and almost incredulous conjunction, voluptousness was in. '* grafted on religion, and dissolute riot accompanied the atisteritiet '* of fanatical devotion — Luther who had testified igainst-lhis fana. ** tical >»pirit on its appearance, now deeply lamented its progress, '^ and exposed the delusion with great strength of argument, as well ** as acrimony of style.'* See also \it. Mather's account of the Swan. zy Auabaptists, of whom he relates, ^^ that they admitted into their <* society, persons whom our churches bad excommunicated for me. '^ ral scandal, and employed them as administrators of the two sa. *' craments;" the application is easy. ye who have hitherto by a gracious providence escaped the pernicious errors of these men, give God unfeigned thanksgiving and p4-aise for this great mjBrcy, and pray to him that you may still escape their aXvful delusions. Come not nigh unto them for their words eateth as doth a canker, and their ways are a deep pit ! Pray also that you may see your sinful and fallen condition by nature and by practice, and consequently your*great need of repentance towards that God against whom you have sinned, and faitlfin the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone can save from the guilt Qf sin here, and from the punishment of it hereafter. Remem^^tl|||||lrithout holiness no man shaU «ee the Lord, and that it is the glorious privilege of Christians, Xo enjoy that perfect love which casteth out all tormenting fear, and »Iso a well grounded hope of immortality. Stop not short of these attainments, for it is the will of God to impart es^xy Gospel blessing to all those who seek his face and call upon him through his adorable ton Jesui Christ; for he is no re$[)ecter of persons. 1 cannot conclude without taking the liberty of addressing a word or two \o those ministers of the Gospel into whose hands these im. perfect pages may happen io fall. J acknowledge that 1 cannot com. municate any information io your minds upon the doctrinal points glanced %t in ihe preceding pages. With such topics you are much better acquainted than I am, as you also are with the whole Gospel of Christ. I should rejoice to lay at your feet and receive the truth from your lips and pens. Permit me ho»vever, to say that the pre- yalence of erroneous opinion and irreligious practice calls upon you to be more than ever vigilant in the defence and promulgation of the truth as it is in Jesus. For fatalism and antinomianism, bare faced fatalism, and bare faced antinomianism, are at presi* it fearlessly avow. cd, and have already done much mischief among us. It may be, you hold the propagators of error in contempt, which prevents your op. posing them. But you should consider, that vi^hat they owe io your forbearance, they are vain enough to ascribe to the goodness of their cause. You should also consider that they pursue their object with ^« most intemperate zeal, and that what tiiey want in talents they ;:.' • strive li'i'RIi! 29 ffrhre to make up in bold eff)'oMery which cannot be abashed, nc, not even when their ignorance is exposed. Call to mind (hat many imbibe their pernicious tenets; tenets which not only lay the axe to the root of Christianity, piety, and morality, but cut them down at a stroke, and substitute in their stead, the dispensation and baptism of John, necessity and fate— Were it not that I fear it would be an. becoming in so obscure an individual as I am, I Would call upon yota all to exercise most zealously your superior talents and grace in op- posing error, impiety and iin, and in preaching Christ in all his of- fices to the people. Cry aloud, spare not, many in your respective flocks will by faith and prayer hold up yocir hands in the good work, God will give you wisdom and strength, and your labour shaU not be in vain in the LWd, for success more or less shall attend your persevering endeavors here below, and a crown of glory shall be your reward above. May the Lord inspire all your hearts with re. newed zeal for his glory, and the salvation of precious souls; may Ikis Gospel be more and more successful in your bands, and in tlie hands of all whom he has called, or shall ealfto that important work, «ntil tjie universe is full of the knowledge of the Lord as the wate**. coveir the face of the deep^ ' \l ►•♦O^Ofi BiWAXii— Page 7, line 15^ for " the" read " Mr. Reis's." Page 11, line 10, fer " expose," read " explain.' FINIS. /