^1
^^,
^>
,%.
o., \^
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
1.0
I.I
'- IIIIIM
«^ IIIIM
■C>3
40
b
||M
2.2
i.8
1.25
1.4 1.6
•« 6"
►
V
m A
A
'<^.
<^.
e^.
s'm
O^:
M
Photograpliic
Sciences
Corporation
4
,\
V
^<b
\
^^
\\
a^
^^u
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) 8'2-4503
CIHM/ICMH
Microfiche
Series.
CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.
Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microieproductions historiques
S
Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques
The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Features of this
copy which may be bibliographically unique,
which may alter any of the images in the
reproduction, or which may significantly change
the usual method of filming, are checked betow.
L'Institut a microfilme le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a ete possible de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une
modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage
sont indiquis ci-dessous.
D
D
Coloured covers/
Couverture de rouleur
I I Covers damaged/
Couverture andommagee
Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaur^e et/ou pelliculde
□ Covei title missing/
Le ti
tre de couverture manque
□ Coloured pages/
Pages de couleur
□ Pages damaged/
Pages endommagdes
□ Pages restored and/or laminated/
Page? restaurees et/ou pelliculees
E Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
Pages decolorees, tachet^es ou piquees
□ Coloured maps/
Cartes g^ographiquas en couleur
□ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre ae couleur (i.e. autre que blaue ou noire)
□ Coloured pletes and/or illustrations/
Planches et/ou illustrations an couleur
□ Bound with other material/
Relii avec d'autres documents
D
S
n
Pages detached/
Pages detachees
Showthrough/
Transparence
Quality of print varies/
Qualite in^gale de I'impression
Includes supplementary material/
Comprend du materiel supplementaire
D
D
Tight binding may causo shadows or distortion
along interior margin/
Lareliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distorsion le long de la marge interieure
Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes
lors dune restauration apparaissent dans le texte,
maJs, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas iti filmies.
□ Only ediiion available/
Seule Edition disponible
□ Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata
slips, tissues, etc.. have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages totalement ou partiellement
obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure,
etc.. cnt 6t6 fiim^es d nouveai' de facon a
obtenir la meilleure image possible.
D
Additional comments:/
Commentaires supplementaires;
This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/
Ce docurr.ent est film^ au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous.
10X 14X 18X 22X
26X
30X
12X
16X
20X
24X
28X
32X
ails
riu
difier
jne
>age
The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks
to the generosity of:
Harold Campbell Vaughan Memorial Library
Acadia University
The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.
Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illi^strated impros-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copies are filmed beginning on the
first page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.
Tne last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol — ► (meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever applies.
Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large to be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams illustrate the
method:
L'exemplaire fllm6 fut reproduit grflce & la
g6n6rositd de:
Harold Campbell Vaughan Memorial Library
Acadia University
Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduces avec le
plus grand soln. compte tenu de la condition et
de !a nettetd de l'exemplaire film6, et en
conformit6 avec les conditions du contrat de
filmage.
Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en
papier est imprim6e sont film6s en commenpant
par le premier plat et en terminant s&it par la
dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second
plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires
originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la
premldre page qui comporte una empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par
la dernidre page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.
Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la
dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le
cas: le symbole —*- signifie "A SUIVRE". le
symbole V signifie "FIN".
Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Stre
film^s d das taux de reduction diff6rents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour 6tre
reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd d partir
de I'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite,
et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre
d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants
illustrent la m6thode.
ata
Hure.
a
1
2X
1
2
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
Noi
•Th]
o:
Pan
tot!
TtMlT
PRESENT
CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,
AND
^ ^u^"^ (^w sr^sMiiisriissis^
CONTENDING
IN
A DIALOGUE.
"Not by might, nor by power, but by mt Spirit, saith the
Lord of Hosts."— Zach. iv. 6.
"Thk weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through Gop.'— 2 Cor. x. 4.
tfj" It is designed that any Profit arising from the Sale of this
Pamphlet, after all necessary deductions, shall le duly contributed
to the strvice of the "British and Foreign Bible Society."
■ )- ;■•
'*■
Sucii as aro unacquainted witb the still rough p.nd rudo manners of some of the
Highland? of" Scotland, even at tliis day of evident reform, may bi- apt to suppose
the following little work as partly but ciiimencal and romantic ; or to think, at
least, that in n long degree, some of its characters are drafted at random, destitute
of truth, or past all moderation of description.
The Author, therefore, though purposely laid under a very, light and tedious
restraint of feelings, in order to give no unnecessary offence, sets to his account to
suffer sad and sound reflections (jn tliis point, from different quiuiers; especially
from those ignorant of his very high ground ; or such as feel too far interested
regarding sentiments or condiu't hy him condemned or exposed ; or are too conceited
of their own light and knowledge, and so stand opposed to any religious measures
intended for their conviction or correction beyond the line or limits of theii ordinary
means of information. O Controversy! How dangerous and dolorous! Though
often unavoidable and sometimes profitable ! "Outof tlio eater came out meat."
"The wounds of a friend are belter than the kisses of an enemy."
The drift of the ensuing Dialogue being deemed of utmost importance to those
more immediately concerned, and not of uidifierence to any others, it is thought
but just thnt, before any presume to pass upon it a sentence of death, they should
give it a patient perusal.
Wliether the perforniiince may claim any credit, or not, from its real or intrinsic
merit, in the estimation of the judicious and the serious in general, it can hardly fail,
in some of its bearings, to touch the vein of the humorous and the curious, though
not so much from the intent of the speakers, as by the novelty of the subject.
Zealous defence of sacred Irutii, or exposure of errors and misconduct, without
undue severity of temper, and free froti] deficienco and redundance of evidence,
particularly under keen provocation, and ungrateful reproaches, requires a rare and
radiant talent, which the writer hereof sincerely approves and ardently admires in
others; though, at the same time, and with equal sincerity, he desires to admit and
lament his own sad and sore insulRcience on this tender and taunted ground.
THE AUTHOK
Cane Breton, :5Glh October, 1841
"^ l(cC
"fnMMHiiMii
R
BE!
1!
i
the h
Estab
sess ji
Churc
that y
in the
produ
this (J
that, i
produ
to tak
Rev.
.y
*-, -^r'
RELIGIOUS SOPHISTRY EXPOSED;
OR, THE PRESENT RELIGIOUS STATE
OF THE
DEFENDED AND CONDEMNED,
IN A DIALOGUE
BETWEEN FOUR SCOTTISH SETTLERS IN CAPE-IiRETON, VIZ
ANGUS, BRUCE, CHARLES, AND DONALD;
AT A MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE ASSEMBLED,
AND FOUNDED ON
THE TWO FOLLOWING LETTERS.
Broad Cove, 24th September, 1840.
Reverend Sir, — We, the undersigned, form the only Pre&byterial, and
the highest constituted ecclesiastical authority, acknowledged by the
Established Church of Scotland, in this Island, and in that capacity pos-
sess jurisdiction over ail the members, prohatioiiers, and ministers of that
Church, residin;T within the limits of Cape Breton. We have learned
that yon claim the Status of a Minister of that Church. Therefore we,
in the exercise of the jurisdiction competent to us, call u,)on you to
^^ produce, at our bar, or before our Moderator, within forty days of
this date, the documents on which you found your claim. We add
that, in the event of no satisfactory credentials being within that time
produced, we may, at the expiration thereof, feel ourselves called upon
to take more public measures in reference to the claim you advance.
We are, Rev. Sir, yours. &c.
JAMKS FRASCR, Moderator.
DUG \I,I) M. KICHAN, Presby. Clk.
ALKXR FA RQUH ARSON,
PETKK MA(JLIiAN,
JOHN GLNN.
Rev. Norman McLeod, '
St. Ann's, Cape Breton.
St. Anw's, C. B., blh October, 1840,
Reeerend Sir, — Your letter of t*io 21th tilt., Hif^riud -xi liroad Cove, by youraolf
ftnd the rest of your R«vere'icl bruthrcu in this Island, I received this morning; to
which I hcgf to ;in;>\ver, thiit I ft.'el it requires a piece of sclf-deninl in rnc to tnko
nriy nolifi; of such a fulminating farce : but the sacreil proverb says, " Answer a
fudl iiccordiu;! t') his i'oily, ii-st he be wise in his own conceit ;" and of all fooln
I Bi'rionsiv I riiisiH(^'- rc^lij^i'ius fon!.-), at the pinn.iclo of profession, to be tlie mo.st
dangerous to flea! wit!) ; whose minds and consciences are so s/uliy and shamefully
scared up to every mode of conviction of their own religious miscarriage, l latly
deny having ever claimed tiie "Status of a Minister of tiie Church of Scotland,"
and in all humility and sincerity desire to bless Heaven for having enlightened
my mind to dread and abhor that status. I have certainly from timi; to time
prof'cesed myself', as in mv own e?limatiou, a poor and an unworthy member of the
once venerable and glorious t,"liur''h of Si.'otland ; but the nieagre, the jjitiful, and
fiegciierate tiling that passes now undi.'r the pompons and b()a.:ted sanction of that
name, I utterly and indigriantly disclaim, with all its alarming "bar" and awful
"authority," in the most open and unreaerved maiuier possible; so that you, or
any others, cannot mi!<e this avowal more p:il)lic than I freely allow. And without
dowr.right and wilful misrepresentation, 1 openly defy all the information in the
countrv to riubstantiate any thing beyond the scope of l!iis pi<iin declaration against
me on the subject. I feel no dilHtlenco on this stable ground ; and since ever I
arrived at my concl'jsions on these points, I iiave never felt desirous of evading
any candid and dis|»assiounlo investigation of them. I do not wish to excite your
anger, which is, alas I but too manifestly dominant on the least occasion; but in
consideration of your dangerous and wilful extravugn.iioe, especially regarding the
va;-ant, wild, and fatiatici'.l (^hanges, undei' the name of conversion, woikiul up by
tiie silly, sly, and disgustful art of some of y(,u, and fostered by almost all of you,
together witli your openly profane and indiscriminate administration of the most
solemn and sacred ordinances, exclusive ol'niany other similar me-.nsof conviction,
in tiio obvious tenor and ttMidfmcy of your conversation and conduct, I cannot but
infer, — without contradicting all scriptural reasoning on the poitit, — that the Church
which gives p'ace and support to the like of your ciiaracters, in her highest office,
must, in fact, be any other thing than a living Ciiur:;h of Jesus Christ; which haa
been my most serious and deliberate view on the subject, for the long space now
of forty years together; and every day, if possii)le, confirms me more and more
on thin grievous though unavoidable determination.
Ol the vast privilege and rare benefit r,f "forty days' "' suspense and respite I
In fine, I heartily regret that your unfort.tnate, olfensive, and confirmed inso-
lence and pride, so conspicuous in your letter, as a fn-;-o specimen of your general
disposition and conduct, as Ministers, towards afl who dare object to your measures,
render it morally impossible fen* inc to answer you in a more agreeubie stylo.
" W'itli the froward thou wilt show thyself fVoward."— Psalmist.
1 am, Ivov. Sir,
Yours. &e.
jNOitMAN McLEOD
Rev. James Frrsrsr,
Boulurderie Ijiand. •
1
i
<!
i
Angus. — After tho perusnl of these letterb, I wish yoti, neighbor
Bruce, to puss your opinion upon them, in some remarks, in the audience
of this rneetiiifr.
Bruce. — Though I have my opinion, on many topics, in common with
the generality of our neighbors, I may vary from the most of them on
this ground; and therefore would rather hear than pass remarks on
that sul)ject.
Avgub. — And do you fear to declare your seniiments on public points,
which make so much butitle thrijugh nil tiu> ueijriiborhood ?
Bruce. — I do not fear the light, but only cho()!<e not to be unnecessa-
rily drawn into dispules, howpvcr imporliiiit in tliems^c'Ivei; : The points
in question are bolli tough ami lender, as well as weighty.
Angus. — I am surprised that om- clergy have not published these
letters, which would show to the world thi; audacity of their correspond-
ent, and at once discharge them from any imputalion, on the score of
their opposition to him and his adherents.
Bruce. — Perhaps they do worse, on the subject of these letters, than
pul)lisliiiig them, for they arc said to have, directly or indirectly, mis-
represented, to as many of their people iis have no chance to know other-
wise, the real drift of their contents.
^w^//s.— Could you believe our Ministers cap^ ne of such meanness
as would justify your suggest '0:1 ?
Bruce. — I am sorry there is no great mystery in the view of the sun
on that ground; the remembrance of which makes my very heart begin
to sicken.
Angus. — There is nothing that J foel more proud of than the recent
enlargement and improvement of our (Uuirch, and the piety of her
Clergy, botii at home and abroad. Her "General Assembly" in Scot-
land, I hear, maintain a cordial correspondence with her sacred majesty
our Queen ; who consequently deigns to bestow on tiiem special benefits
and favors according to their applications. How, then, durst any petty
single man write or sneak so contemptuously of our good and' grand
ecclesiastical order !
L Bruce. — 1 am afraid the said correspondence, part of which I have
read, is wholly for the Church; and, on the part of the General Assem-
bly, little intended for the benefit of .ler Majesty, but to flatter her into
a conceit of her own exalted merits, and prospects, for time and eter-
nity. I see worldly privileges and preferments, politics, and political
strife and contention, under the mask of religious zeal, very like to
eat up, and drain oif all the very natural afiec'tions of professors and
Ministers, not to speak of the power of religion.
Angus. — To whom do you apply your last remark; do you mean any
particular religious community?
Br«ce.— My remarks are indeetl of a very general application; and
your party is far from exempted; especially when T find you so much
priding yourself upon false grounds.
}
^^yi^^S^^-
8
Angus. — Do you ihen waive any reflection upon the original gtound
of our reasoning?
Bruce. — I chink it sufficient, in the mrsan time, to say that that cor*
reflpondence pa)9 itself; for, if the one letter is foolishly authoritative in
its spirit, the other is keenly independent. A certain person of general
credit for discretion and talent, after the perusal of ihe two copies, remark-
ed that the first was more like a " Popish t)uH" than sny thing of the
kind evt'r read hy him between Protestants, and that, as to the reply,
he would make none, but return the " inperative mandate" inclosed to
its authors. But perhaps, if he knew better ill the circumstances of the
case, he would think that measure very doubtful, if not very dangerous;
for silence on tli^l score would be triumphantly construed into a weak-
ness of cause.
Angus,-']s it candid to in.'"';r from that " imperative mandate" that
the rest of the authors' doctrine an-J conduct may not have been
found agreeable to tlie standard of truth, notwithstanding that "Popish
bull'"
Bruce. — Without change of mind by sincere penitence on their
part, th inference supposed may not only have been, but must still be,
during i;ll their future life on earth, liot'.i just and reasonable. For they
are mTuufestly (a.- beyond the bouiids of modesty in their ecclesiastical
authority; which is quite agreeable to the rest of their administration.
Anirii. . — Whatever you say of their conduct, is not their doctrine
orthoc'ox and scriptural?
.Brwcr.— Not seldom the very reverse, even to merited ridicule; or
which m::v be far worse, the consternation and contusion of silly and
unsettled minds. For example, one of the chief instruments in oiir
iamous r(viva!, in addressing upwards of a thoisand hearers beforj their
dismission at a late sacramental meeting, among other stuflf of the same
nature, C5'p''«=^sed himself in the following strain:— "O people! you came
out under Uie curse; but if you please, you may go home under the
blessing." On another occasion, the same preacher said to some of his
audience, ''Fare ye well I you inhabitants of the 'Rhuichin,' (i.e. points
or headlands) I see you bound and burning in hell," tfcc. As the people
thus addressed did not honor and humor his reverence, like the rest of
his adherents, he wished to frighten them to submission ; some of whom
instantly fainted ; and have not indeed to this day recovered their former
sense or steadiness; especially some weak females. But you will observe
all this must be named a revivr.l ! Deny the quotations, if you can ; for
the strength of the evidence is undeniable.
An'Tiis. — Though I should wish otherwise, I believe it is needless to
contradict you on°that score. But these inadvertencies are indeed so
harmless in my view, and likewise so solitary, that I really think any
.nan stands a-tiptoe that makes such a bustle about them.
Bruce. — The points in question are neither so indifferent, nor so
solitary as you choose to describe them. 1 can produce some more
examples of the same kind, from a sermon of another of our preachers;
who is also instrumental in our sounding revival; and for which I have
Ihc same otreugth of ef.dence to challenge contradictjou :-" Mow. wtt
punwhmfeol for the conjm.ssioii of one crime." - Mary Mnadal^rie wa.
a harlot •. And that " Temperance Societies ,re founded on MZmrt
InT ,"«*'"'■ .'^"^' 'i;!'*'"S in his preaching of the general Zl-
ftation ol Satan m this world, he naserted thai '<it is by the instijjat^n
of this «.v,l sp.m tha the Kulls are in the habit of covering their mate*
on the Lord s day." But enough of :his disagreeable stiff^ Mere deH*
cacy of fcehngs. regarding both myself and mher., should make m«
entirely waive tlm last quotation, but for my sincere ieai that Te Lo^d
wou d please u. his sovereign mercy, to open the min.ls of ny of niy au-
d lor., to consider the awful depth of shan.eles. idiotism, at whidi some
vXe'd 1^ "'. ''''''' ' "^'^ " ^^ ^^^''°^^^^^'P °^^^^'^'' ^" of them^:
. "oived. It Js by no meansin order to excite lightness, or lauehter that
expose the folly of our Ministers, For. if I wire sur^ thrraea would
charge of heaven • " to speak evil of no .nun ;" &,c. Tit. iii 2
,h«.!^T'"^ ^'l'"*' ''"^ '"'" *""" '^^r'i'y transgress that scripture moro
others ' "'" "''"■ "'''' ^""^"^ '"'^'^'^« '^'•'^ ^"'^^"S '"^"1'™ i'h
Bruce.-l hope you can i .ii.guisii between speakine evil of men and
speaking necessarily of their evil. ^ ^ meMna
Angus.~l suppose their evil, or erroneous, doctrine cannot kill vou.
i?n/^e._>I should thank Providence on that ground ; for I have bv'4'e
some sound evidence that one of your Clergymen said in a ate coivrr!
satioi, among some of h:. associates, " Were it not from fe.- of theTivil
law. I would break the skull of neighbour Brace." But ^ have o Z
sure ,n bemg so personal and pa.tiaiia; ; 1 would, themiore rathir^waiv*
JUS now this branch of the subject, and enter upon sonieo h po S
moie general and open to the view of the wur\d
nf «5f nT'T"^*^"^- '''' ye.^^hink then of the present state of the Church
Pf Scotland, as to ner religiou- life and reforml ^^"urcfi
von;^PlTh~V''i''' ^'^ '° recoil the queslio- . and first to enquire of
yourself how far do you rest satisfied as to the general account given of
htr flourishing state by her own admirers and supporters, and parUcuTarry
through her chief organ in this country, " The Guardian '" ^^
Ang^s—l cannot for a moment hesitate to believe that the gross ani?
copeof the statements, from time to time, giv.n iu that very mfdiu.n ot
founTd' '"^*^'"'^^'-°"' ^^h'^h you have jus't mentioned, miJisT be weU
w
5«^t'r h'''"i "°a 'i*"/ ^'^^ J"^'''^^ °''y°" inference.
f.i.hlK;i;;::.r :jus "rfhrst: '°of":r 'r '"'""■ "■•
reforming c„„di,i„„ „f „„, emi„Lt ChuJc" e°'pe„il° whTt,"^ """
IS corro )orated by tlie inlelliomr. ,„h ,„ especially when the same
unexceptionable LaL oSSon """P"""™" "' "•»"? "l-r
c.atf^"~' "' "'""" "'"■ ""' "'"''• '■y ■"? W' fact,, prove to the
J3rMce.-I must, tili you show me better proof to the contrary • fnr T
something worse-tenacious and wilful nreiudicl" H .!i „„ . . ' ''?
or heard any thing of the reform of no JnSon, of "e law ofThn'^ch
extension-the erection and endowment of new c'hapels-'he woi7ul
t
i
1
11
of which are some general and vi8ibll tr n. "''^ k«»gdom; the re„.lii
if not openly p.ofafe yet iithou nHn "''' '" '"'"^ P'^'^" ''"*>"*«.
ofeternityim^relldran^re/lrL^^^^^^^ "' '^^ "^^eri
more attachment to. a nVimparfia re^ud t"'»'h°" ^'^^ "^^'^ ^^ K'ace-
«uide3, as well as fervent affec bn for^'th. I ' 'J '^'"*!''^ P'^'^" «°**
fellow christians-zenimis «nH n ^ association and conference of
solemn ordircUnieLo^tZpTr r:"nr^r'«'^ ^"^
seen , of revival not fp^Pr c 1 P?. . ^'^'^ Kilsyth, the principal
cants attend^d'C of n'T atro'sbn %T '"."''k^' *^''""'""'-
might be shown on thi^T,,* 1 • ,^r "^" ' ^^^^e^a' other =ns.ances
Ire^uently of tU%::e nlt'caTrtem """" "'^""^^^' "^^'-"^h not
by your uJg'oVerufa^^dlu p io nrtiS'Ts^^^ """ ''*''1''"«
tn order to limit yoar ground of evasion rnnl/ ?™^ "^"^' *^°'"«
to the estimate of the faithful Guard aT-and^^'^/r".:^ ^^T^'"^
improvements and flourishitiir PYttn.iLl ? 7 ^'^^ '*""^" religious
far beyond those of all ot^"*'^''"' ^'"'"'^'^^ ^'•"••«". '-^"d that
-New Bruns vick. but ilsorvetau'!^'" '''"«"'' ""' °i''^ '" '''' ^^'^"''^'^ «"^
where the Gospel of our Lonn -^ ^'' ^•^'^^»\«»'J particularly at Pictou
ascendency and nfllence onL ^^'''''^'' ?'' S"'"«^ «"^h gracious
of the genLa?iiy of our people US'- 7'' '''" -'"da and conversation
not seldom hear! from ime to til t» '"^^''t'''^'^'^*"^^. ^hat you will
sacramental meeUng^rmol^To^iS^ri ;?;tir:s ra'^tr^l*
I can strike st.ll closer to o. J doors^ "'"^'^^' '"^P^"*"^ °" *''« «»»^j««t.
e^:::::^:^^- ii^Xi^^cl'S;^;-^ ^-^ p^'- -«- »^r .om
my hesitation hereii is nl/re v for In^,. 'T^'T^' "°'' '•"''^^•" «'"«« all
mode ofreasoningXwnrfomvour^rnn- ''"''!'' '''''''y ""^^ 'Captious
prepossession. For 3 nThp ?."'°'"«"« disposition, and dangerous
virulence, could p^evrnt your flTtiP^' ''"* y"""* '^'^^'^ ''"^^ ^"'i '^^'^'^
me, and every other toodmnt ^^"^""""''^ '^"^ ^"''^'a'ity with
the great goodVelslf g^'aTil "0^;;"^ th Z^'-'^^^^
prising, and. in several iJt.n.l P?^^^^' *".« ^oro in the sudden, sur-
have existed and aHr^^^^^^^^^ ^'^«"g«« ^'"ch. of late.
seem to be suspic oua on the sa""VSlc'"'' ^'^P'^' ^?^ ''^°"«*^ ^o"
the facts. su'.ect, I think you cannot be ignorant of
IS
labor and adIninistrMion ? """'""""^ "« '•"= ""mediate reSuU of their
in«^r;:„7uS,|","'r1i:'','''r'r'''''' ""-' "O"-'™"" •'•■ ^-rd.
.ubjects. ^' «<l«an.ag, and ,pi,u„al benefit of their
»4Erod'°„^°tht%"";i:,r„it'„«'L' '" '"'"^'p™"* "" - "■■'
bushel ; for whatever obiBMi„„l^„ , ^'°'' "' ° «''"<"« •""'« «
MdraaMerJ'a aditSe .C,r,.?'''K,°''°°'' '" ""'»?«■>" '".en
eve» to extreme_,o .e„;%^' \ ^Ho aoi! I'T'V' ■^""'^'"P'iWy obati,,.,,
own favor, ,„„„o„t.,,l",^Alira°br;fa"?S' "'■°'' '" ""' '" ^""'
f »™~? n Lr'",' r' f r " P^'-'i™''"^ on that head.
.t W^eoclhlXl'itl?el?°'r"'r\'"'' "<>"''"'•'■' °P"»'i''»
ren>ari;ofsoroeof^U,eleaHi„„i , • *"'' "','"°''' >«0'ding to the apt
likeaon,eofrhe extrao dn "f e:SroT'L°H''" 'l^""" ""'''•'' "•»"
the day of Pentecost thai, nn^LT,^^ ?"'•' Gh»»t's descent on
histor/of the 8"°?. ' '"'""^' """ "»" "« •''"'■"l *" •" <!>«
«ffn«p;~JnrI«'rdTlo'ri»'"f',™ •'f"j."8 '-^ ''^'°''''' '"O""'
c.lfyThrmTv'L'?o*;"rin:i;°,'Y^r;"^!r"°"' '' '" ""''"^ -'l--
.0 rSnch on sYch a'publi';. subfec' ""' "'"■ '" P"''"« """ '-="'« ""
eont:st;:f„';i;renZerr.b"''<l?'r;- " r " ^^'v''' ^o"' ^-" =>-'
confute your positiMs and anL^^^ ,"":'° '" """ '"'"^^ '"'Wed to
»incerel/and Cy believe luffh.' "■^J'"' "P"" """ "'""«. ' "'«'
be dangLonsIy falX,':;;d":;o:",y tfouK'^ '""'"'"' '''"""'""'■ =°
on, TorJe^^^IS^nL ^? CL^'^lr'SoV^of'Tr T ="" "^ '^'■^■■
upon so serious and dciic-,ir,„„;!.. *^ .i! ' """^"' mis-statements,
nit, and the salvation of™^;'^'"' "' ""= ™°""="'»"» concnrns of eter-'
imfc^rupTn ttmsdv^'L'dS'"' "'^',"!'-'"'"=^'^'' "- "•"? "-'y
.«re is am'ply exp"','.: tl'l ^'r":;" '^''«'°"= ''""'"-^ -O "-e Scrip'-
a4ThaK.r flatly Td'erturrn 'r'li'^ ' ""P" ^°» -" ""' ■"«
•ndpower of i„vel4","itVas I :";°Vliti:%
digression from the subject about !„ 1^.1 • T' ''^'°" O"' """"»'
fciortd neighborhood ^' "°"''° '" "" "=»" "f <»" bighly
13
AnlurT'^''''^ ^u'^^'l circumlocution, then pray proceed
Angus. -I rwume then that the sudden sumrisina «n,i J; . .u
alarming changes which we have to observeTom thh^' tnr'J "' "'"
me to surpas. the power of delusion :-peo;ie o? ev^y aVe . ' 't^'hll?
. iiiiitiiiii
nud irr H. "Y''~J''="'"<=^'' '" ""^ meantime, of either their
meT^n'; tn.t " "''^ "° '■''■•'y' ""^«'- tl^eministry of our favored
J^d t to^'rand rrT' ^"^ °^-' religious meeting at once exc'edl
cpen'trnth Tf'thl ^y^^elr """= '"™'"' —'"'""'he plain and
..t'r7,Ie^Lr:it:.;l:/re^:!;I;^';;'::^!;;^:^^°„7^a•■?"'"""^
sentiments is about the spirit of the work ^ ' <'''r<"<^"« "■
Jehovah. ^™'"' "''"'='"»"'« Prerogative of the Omniscient
he^tTof mh'I?.' '" "? ''?'■ ^'' ■ ""'"g'> "«' "e ""=We to know the
14
in other words, by the conversation and conduct ; for, accord inff to a trite
metaphor, tue tree is known l.y its fruit. rmngioatrite
Angus.~l see nothing in the disposition, or conduct, of these converts
contrary to their supposed regeneration and religious profession : nay but
9U heir devotional behaviour generally corresponds with the intensily of
Thl /„?''""' T'"''°"' ''''^. '^' "°^°^'^^y °f their merciful releLe
n\.hv '^ ;^^" "! P"'««r-t»'eir frequent conferen<je and christian sym-
Sr I'^^'r '^^ ^''^ '•^^' "•'t'^^^''' «"endance on the ministry of their
fnd ^rt~ '•'^'^'■'".^tion of their general habits.-and their holy hatred,
Rnd at imes, even the.r grinning disgust of :he wretched 'natural man '
especially If any wise found opposed to. or suspicious of their own rdi-
gious confidence, or of the extraordinary graces and wisdom of the bless-
nnh hV 'T'"'' "^ '^''" ^*^«"" ^^'^'^t''^" =-»" these things, J say are
publicly known to every impartial spectator. And if you take the account
the subj^a? ' "'' ''"•'' ^ ^'« ^° '"°"' ^^"'^ >'°" «^P^^t upoil
»»,.^r'%"~'J'^'^"°'!°"ht of the justness of your narrative regarding
for som. r^''""°r'' ^"^' •" * ^^S^^^' the civil reformation th t haf
for some time existed at the places in our neighborhood to which you
have referred ; but I must still tell you that my ideas are the very reverse
mv^sprf7;rP''*'"? [•'' ""'"'^' ''''the whole scene. I freely acknowledge
rthiVvtr T '" ^P^^tators and auditors, who, you say, are ofTendfd
oJ.^J-'^'V P^'-t^'-hation which, for some time, has genfc.ally
existed in some of your religious meetings'—offended did I say • nav
wiiVS '^h^ '"'' completely disgusted to hear those fanatic fifs! and
^^ lid freal s-the genuine result of deranged intellects and diswitted brains
--origina ed, countenanced, and confirmed by the sly art, and unhaoDV
eT'flm'"'' ""^^' Reclaimers; who, under the Lsk'of pious mJS
ters, fatally impose upon the credulity, and work upon the blood and
passions of the.r ignorant and timid auditories, bv their tautological ha-
lin.fr'fir' *^r '"^»"-P'^^/ •■«'""k«, vociferated wtth the terrific expres-
sions fire and furies-damnation and devils;' accompanied by the
ghastliest possible grimaces : I say that to see and to hear the.se and
smilarrnean tricks, under the solemn anu sacred name of • Gospel '
dZfj ^ "V '"■°"u'"' preachers, and so received by their foolish and
deluded converts, in the manner now described by us both, although
under quite different views, cannot be felt by me, in common with many
o hers around hut with the sincerest regret,'the ;trongest aversion, and
the utmost abhorrence. '
Angus.— I really abominate to hear you talk of any 'regret' in the
case, if you mean so to treat the whole subject as, by such sweepinir ar-
guments, to deal your death-blows both to the far-fam^ed labor of Sur^best
ministers, and its gracious results and influence upon the minds and
manners of their people. But I have, I think, as good a right to insist
on your descending to detail the grounds of your objectionsf as you had
to demand my enumeration of the hopeful impressions, and happv signs,
of our notable revival :-upon what foundation can you then be so l^l
tive m your sad and fearful conclusions on this .score ?
1
of your dangerous errors, that I rather fear von win '"^.r""^.'"^ ^°"
hear .nr Intended detection of the ground esresTofvo.^'" P?*'«"<=« »«
in the first place, besides what I have in^nprTf. M^ opinions. For
you deeply 'mistaken on the score ofThaTvoTerm''^ '"^^^^^^^ ^"^
ost state by natnre, and therefore of theirentirene.'d"T''r ''^'^''''
I answer, ihat they are convinced of .either is th.K ^'^^Saviour;"
all their fatal delusion ; and th« Lnifes' en; .L ^"^ '"? • """^ °^
of their imagination and va^ar ierover tV.?/'^^ i '"'^ P.^""'^"' ^^^'^i««
ence are most visible to everv i?H?.;l i ""'^erstand.ng and consci-
impressions and da^ly conTu/t ^"fcL^^^^ '» «" th^'ir
and general tern.s ; aVd of the SaTio7k atllrrf? ^"'^ '» very vague
sorrow and smirkv iov arp hnfh ni i • ^..''^' ''andom :~their gloomy
gentle spirit of the GospH The 103""' f ^^'^^.^^le to the livfly and
own attainments in spTritual kTowLdJy "a^ '''"'''*''^ '^"""Shis of their
their supposed ' releaslfrom Zl f '"'^/^P^nence immediately after
to all but such a re undeTthe sar/'^' °^'^' '"IT'' """^^ ^^ ^•«/"«t''"
themselves. What ^ou arP pleased to^c"„M«?r- 'l^ ^1!'^"' •""«'°" ^'^^
but proud contempt Jf a^thotTo t he r n ^ d 'l^h^elJ"' '• " "^^'j"^
gust' of any opposed to their measure, vn. VS' .if ^^'r. g""n>ng d»s-
8tyle;-_their temnorarv ze»l fnfrl^ ' ^ '^•'*'^' ^'''^"fe^^ inadvertently.
contr'ol, at learr^mrtl'r "ef rZ ^ Tfh"'°r^'^"' «"^ ^"^^
profane habits are but circumstnnpl! ,^ ^ °f *^®"" ^""''"«'" wild or
immediately after the real TZ? ^'"°" *« ^''""^t every persuasion,
zeal of these, under remark ihrih"''"'°" ^'^ '^' '"'^'^'^^^ »"* the
reformation if many of them al^ead^^^^^^^^^^^ '«"?"''^' ' ^"<^ the
inconstant. Even Ihe meekest chrlSn r *^«,'"erely nominal and
dence. or not professedry of hlif ^Trty SnuZTo '' 't'" ''^'' ««"«-
named; and, if within their grZ not les^T, T^ ""^ ^'^'"'^ "'^^^
ed. In fact their clutch Inf 2b are a. ^pT'''"^ ^ P""""'' °'' "^^"^"'t-
their clamorous tongue at "he name nn^ T^' "' ^?''.^* ^^^^ <^heek. or
reflect on their folly^or falsehoor n " '"''^'' ""^ '^^ "'«" ^^^o dares
newly-buoyant cotU ot rnd eonfi^en::" X^ 't^"^ -'^
guides. But ^e must kiow that alfthl fl •?^'^''? '"^ ^^^'' ^''nd
must, in their own sense L now sncfonedS ^"^^'^PPf-^'^wing
now religious, it must of coursp hp ml ' ^^eir whole conduct being
are passed aw'ay, and behold a Ith^nrslTr^''^''^ ' ^°' '^' ^'^ *»•'"§»
and circumstu/c'e, with them\ shall hfe" new nT^^^ ^n"^ ''''^''
name; in some degree consonant inth^^ .T u '® ^^ "^ell as a new
think that he doeth Goo service ' i worn' n "^ fT ''"■ '^'"^^'^ ^^^ ">"
integrity told me lately, that bei:;. af the Tmp «"^^1' '"'"'^"^^^ «"d
among her numerous b ood rSfn, nf th T^""'^ ^^ '°^« ^'^^^^ess,
to lean., by sad experience h.t Jf I ^'"^^-^ '" ^"^^'*'o"' «he had
as of disease, she cS ha'd v eV^^^^^^^ ""•? '° d.e of destitution, as well
because the poor b^W d nvJiid wa "TX "^'^'l '^°'^ ^«^^- ^V ?
This is by no^.eans a sol^a;" ;tt;ro"t[il'U;;,:^T "'^'^'^'^ ''-^'
^cr, lo avoid prolixity; which I defy any to disprove.' """" "' ^ *"'""
u
Angus— My heart begins lo beat, and mj very spleen l« Uul • Do
you think— for a few fibs or foibles— to consign the whole remarkable
work to worse than oblivion— to derision and execration. Is it possible
that any reasonable men would, or could have themselves so worked up
by their owri power or effort.s as lo impose, at such a rate, upon the eafs
and eyes and understanding of so many of their judicious and intelliaent
le low creatures ; and especially tl.eir critical and impartial Teachers?
Without some celestial agency. I think, it hardly conceivable, how such
rnental, physical, and moral operation should be effected, so far beyond
the ordinary course of nature.
Bruce.~l will not attempt to deny that there is indeed something ex-
traordmary in the case; nay I strongly suspect, though quite far from
your view, that ft least some of the subjects of this spurious revival are
in a de^:ree affected, not only with lunacy, or delirium, but in some
strange instances possibly by demons. Biit, to whatever influence or
agency, we may -mpute these abhorrent wild freaks and deranged notions
whether animal or mental, I think it next to blasphemy to father them
upon the Holy Spirit of God. And it is principally in order to discharge
the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ from such disgraceful, and abomi-
nable imputation that 1 indeed thus humblv endeavour to expose this
un ortunate, shameful, and obstinate delusion, or wilful ignorance; espe-
Cially of Ministers on the subject. For the purbUnd congregations for
the most part, according to known experience, would be cured at once
ot these sorry whims, fnlmonary excitement, and proud extravagant pre-
tences, if they were any wise properly dealt with according to Scriptural
reason by their religious guides.
^H^ws.— Do you not fear the just displeasure and judgment of Heaven
lor your most ungenerous charges and rash conclusion ! Don't you allow
any space ot probation or trial to show the progress and subsequence of
these doubtful, if not hopeful beginnings?
Bruce.~l need not a moment ; for 1 have known, in my day, a hundred
scores ot similar extravagance, without one instance of favorable tendency
or prohtable consequence ; besides that these, and such foolish and un*
scriptural antecedents, carry in their very front the very index of their
necessary and unavoidable results; except to those who are either wo-
lully Ignorant, or wilfully blind.
Angus— Why should you have so long concurred with me in demon-
strating ttus revival as so very novel or strange, if its nature and operation
nave long been so very familiar to you ?
/irurc— Because 1 have chosen rather to treat of the direct and imme-
diate tenor of Us principles, and the texture of its tendency, than of the
simiiar.ty of its features and complexion ; lest your ignorance, or prejudice
might prompt your suspicion of my distant comparisons. For thoueh we
are unhappily at such variance on the subject, yet I heartily wish your
beneht by my mode of reasoning, as well as the due support of my own
argument. •'
^w^M.s.— I regrat to find ample scope for suspecting your benavolencer
ior when I see you so wantonly delight to roll and riot in cnruage and
Jl'^T-''" }" *^*/*7 '^f"^*' ■"'* burial-ground of the best and ^raati^fc
characters. I can freeJy dispense with your Irieaaship ; nay. I n,u^t utter-
ly desp.se ,t But when you talk .o often of the self-inter^at an^
wilfulness of M.n.sters, and other good christians, on the score of revival,
and reforms m the Church, pray what motives can you impute tp them
M the bottom of your charges? For though I am liverlsick of your
Slanderous reflections, I cannot so soon relinquish my ground
Bruce.— The foundation of my remarks on that head though mysterious
JO your prejudiced mind, is otherwise very simple and unobscure :-Our
ftlihisters in the first place, are at the nurseries of their theological studies
Offered and received in the gro.s. without the least due discrimination ai
to their religious character. When their regular course in divinity as
they terra It IS past, our, swarms of young dolLdivines, after a tedioua
training, and suspensive waiting, are let loose upon the world like locusts •
bent and prepared for nothing but the, Church :-^them?elves and their'
friends see no further bar but to meet an opening for their comfortable
•nd permament support. This they must have by fatal destiny, right or
vrong, foul or fair, at home or abroad. Now that they have the emolu-
ments, the shelter, and good credit of the Church, it ig^ut pious gratitude
that they would prove themselves her true sons, and faithful soldiers if
not her famous champions. And whether they love her or not—but wliv
not love their dear, and tend,eF andchenshing,(flother !-itia,their interest
as well as their duty to keep clpae-at hor,side^-to admire and magnifr
erery possible, feature of her beauty, and to applaud and exaggerate everv
supposable item of her merit. And since /numbe.' is strenSth 'and 'that
etrength IS sway they endeavour by every practicable, means 'to e.xtend
her number, and to establish her authority. , And one of^ihe likeliest
modes to thit, purpose, is to endeavor to make thq world in general nar-
ticularly her own suspicious members, believe that the Church ia n omt '
as well as at any former period, the special, if not the peculiar favoriti
ot Heaven :— a position most untenable in her present general degene-
racy and her visibly barren state, without some extraordinary efforts
lod plam of disguise; some of which are seei? pow in active operatioa
ana process, as already partly observed, viz.— By the law of Church'ei-'
tension and reform, in its various and numerous branches— of which not
1* va ff^y complex in their texture and tendency ; or are. dexterous-
ly qualihed for their respective ends ; such as the augmented appointment
and support of Missionary labours, i.i Colonial and Foreign* Countriesr-
«f extraordinary, J nd circular preaching,— the re-admission of Seceder^
—the eager attempt, and plausible struggle now at work, in ord^r. 'Q
grasp the monopoly of superintending and governing all seminaries and
schools, particularly under the miraculous Normal System fortheeduca-
tionofyonth, which are iu the slightest sjiafiow or de<rr^ a^y mi®
;^"K};n:l!»»,
>' "'"^ T::i(.i
: lit -M)
^ *«It is not meant to detract from Foreign Missipris, espeqially where tWBiBL- is
olliorwiso unknown. ^ f j •yeinpuEia
t Vide - Old Rooster and, ' Bantam"' in n late Mo. of ' The Novascotian.'
ft«>lf, that th. p.°W ,,Sh: "'^r/ <"!"«"r ""Pl-"ctiO,He «rf t«« )„
or regeMema^n "^''^'^'^^^^ ; And so. beyond the power of imitJtiott
^giittst my own a»rmem, n r • '*' '' "i"^'"^ '" y««r favour, ot>
fe,tra.,Lry;co';:ped-^
Jitid thw is tf]| that I .-nean to a«Jil7 ? • *^^ body of of the mind';
opportunity to know T««:!h uV'-^' ^^T °" ^^^ «"«J«Ct. I have ful
e&taordir^LJ in aJlYe Liva^nr^^V: '^""'^*' ^*^^' ^'^^'^ ^^ «^»hmg
BorhoV^d, as al eadv remarked h.7 ^^' J^ f ?" '^^ ^"''^^ '« «*"«• "''igh!
itiWness or. vha'is frworsf'ft^ ^^ kmd of wild fits of deliriumV
And that in a word theTefs 'not th'' '^ ""^ and delusion ofe.il spirits .-
ih the w^ole bustlin; scene R. t « ^t "^" ''^**^^ 'P'^"* "^^t''^ GospeJ
^bj^cts themselves °orof-;eir,iiCf «<^^^*
atty ofthem are absolutely, or dTect'v cata^ h.''T\r-^'' '''^''' "''
Of p»-bducinff such effects nU^m^^f/K- ^^P?*^'®' ^y a" their art or aim;
e^hibit^-alfhough iSio^^^^^^^^^ ^"^ ^^'^F'^"« operation
bat that when the T opn Tk ^ -^ '' ^" from oat of the question :-^
fling whi Ws nd tud^o ton" toTo^sr fn'^'^T^ ' Per.nits'these shuf.
t(irried are relatively cuSPe TtT *^^'""^)«<^'«^ both parties con-
«yf their Jifeaching is likelv to nT^J T' ''^^^^^e the drift or style
ftature than unrefsonabl^ dre«H T "^'^"•^ "'"'"^ correspondent to its
foolish concom tar t^ and hat^^ terror, with aH its wild and
or to see their sem derancrtd ro/ / '''''''' **" ^^ corrected themselves ;
or rectified n the r manners ''^'^^^^^^ '" '^"''' *^''"''°"'
and ..Z ...J^tr^ t^-^TC^^:-'ziTlS^
»1J tn\\4v
I sfey Iw
:e, thaft if
icdording
reproach
presiftne
uing hei*
therwisiEl
f base ini
ydeviife^
by U'hM
«,' fcfow^
1," could
already
iftny in*
nitaciohr
Pfliriary'
ictiotitti:
our, OP
session,
I mind- j
ive full
lothing
neigh-
Urn or
pirits ;■
Grospel
actba)
ler, or
r aim;
ration
on;—.
i' shuf.
s con-
style
to its
d and
iiwea:;
sions,
t that
rable
'di(%
iftAr
19
Jbr L^J '"'^''*;*'r ""''^ '^^^'^y "tand on.th, .lippery ipse dixit of
XQuan;;.'l^tTh'"''^'7'^'^^^ «P^" '" co'n^Tc^tirfr';n 4
y.irS;;;^2::«S,' "'"^^ e^;tV;il^3atUiw^on .p„ a n,,n of
w^Id fain tn L »J»P«'-t«nt subject, yet after all your wranS t
r^J ^/"'''^^'■"'"e.,<*# the same instant, n savinir conversion*, i«
*uati dfij. saun raul. ' What indiffnation-' Arr 2 n^r «;;ii a -^
i4a?m 'Rpflu r^^^ righteousness and hatest wickedness ' &c 45
4s4lm BehoJd.the severity and gooduess of God 'St Paul • THp 1 J^
-fKeTonh^'K'" "^L^"' '^^^ - ^" his wofks ' 'p al JClv ^
. Itie zeal of thy l^ouse hath eaten me ud ' Mvs<,iah R„t iT '
^^^.^^^l^^pr^ innaruorM, particulars. ani^v.rinn«"l,1r'V!f
.h..v^...o^ th^,^j^^ order, to be perfectly holy; and so"no7only mS"
2e
capable of bein^fuMy satisfied with the fellowship and fruition of the
Lord, but also of serving and satisfying Him forever ; without the galJtnir
yoke of sin -of heart or habit-life or lusting. The communion of
Haints m the next place— which is so exhilirating and nouris'iingtothe
real chnsti^«!i, even in this world of vomit and woes, of imperfection and
corrupi.un— must be superlatively glorious in the heavenly Kingdom:
and therefore earnestly desired, and longed for by him ; according to thi
S'3^ "Ik- ''7'"f "^.^'' S'""'^'- ^'"'^«"*' »^°"«h n.oderate, and re-
sgheff.w^h.ng for dentft and judgment, is one of the true concomitant
si^ns To all them that love his appearing.' 2 Tim. iv, 8. ' Lookine
lo; and hasting to the coming of the day ofGon.' 2 Peter iii, 12 — ' Earn-
estly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.'
^„ f 1 >hJ^ rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with
the Lord. 2 Cor. 5 chap ' To die is gain.' St. Paul. The association
1 u ^ angels IS also well worthy of being desired by the true convert ;
although here below so ignorant of their imconceivable excellence -read
Hebrew 12, 22. & 23. On the other hand the apprehensions of the sound
believer is not only excited on account of the undescribably awful and
eternal suffering or torment to which the bodtH^of lost sinners will be
exposed u, the next world, terrifying past alltlfought as it is, but also,
and chiefly, for the mo.o desperate misery of the soul ; for as the latter
18 tar the more glorious p>vt of man, its eternal happiness or wretchednese
rnust accordingly be greater. ' Some shall come forth to shame and con-
fusion. Daniel. ' Hide uh from the face of the Lamb.' Revel. ' Mv God
my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?' Christ. The utmost wickednesi
and desperate blasphemy of damned humanity, are things in themselves,
exclusive oftheircorrespohdtnt punishment, to be awfully dreaded bf
any moralf generous minds ; bi.t especially such as ever have experienced
the gracious love and joy of the Spirit of God ; but little regarded by
tho-e who ave ^11 their fear of damnation, or their wish for alory mere-
y in their dominant imagination, or ungoverned fancy. From the scrip-
tural principles just now stated must flow, or upon them will be attendant
,as^some of their necessary and unavoidable results and connections, the
.ollowing: As first, self-difiidence. with dread and disgust of religious
pride and self conceit of heart and life, to which gracious souls general-
K f if n ^^'^"^^6'^,^^ ^^»^'y exposed, not long after their conversion.
INext, humble concern for, and sympathy with their fellow-creatur^^s •
especially their nearest relations and associates ; particularly tho^e of tl
natural, or moral good and amiable disposition, who are yet under the
Clear, and sad marks of an unconverted condition; as well as a special
raoderate, modest fixed attachment to, and regard for all who appear to
them-as far as their acknowledgedly partial, and limited discernment
reaches— to be the happy subjects of regeneration. ' When the command-
rnent CTime sin revived and i died.' ' We know that we have passed
Irom death unto life, because vve love the brethren,' ' We know not
what We should pray for as we, ought,' &c. St. Paul. ' I have great hea-
vmess and continual sorrow in ray heart * * * for my brethren, my kins-
, .- . ,^o, Qu-u, oj. 4 au5. ^-sgissn ine irue confeft
ion of the
the galHng
mudion of
'iingtothe
fection and
Kingdom ;
ding to the
te, and re-
)ncomitant
' Looking
5.—' Barn-
n heaven.'
•esent with
isitociation
5 convert ;
nee —read
fthe sound
awful and
rs will be
but also,
the latter
stchedrieM
e and con-
' My God,
nckednesa
hemselves,
readed by
:perienced
garded by
ory, mere-
theacrip-
attendant,
tions, the
r religious
Is general-
hdversion.
creatur«>8 ;
hose of t»
under the
a special,
appear to
scernment
command-
ve passed
know not
great hea-
, my kins-
le conrert
21
will feel afraid of undue and vicious anger and resentn^-nf n^H*. «».*
Ztwlrr TV •"' ''' ^"^ "'"«^ '^''^«^" •'nownl Tno hett well
as m himself, and also sinners as such. ' You know tint wh«. 1, r
J.p.rits you are of.' aaid C„«.st to bis rashly ze„Z dtiple "SZll
hate them, O Lonn that hate thee V A-c. PMalm cxxxix 21 aT 2Q a ^T
prominent trait in the character of a tru y rJlwed , ' '^' ^ .L^ i !*
prudent beneficence, as well as benevoleVc^ ".^co d ^i to ITir "rm.
stances, but more particularly to • the household o Lh •• >^i « ,h.
ZZ '"u' T'"' ''"'*^ appearance of favouritism, and needless^par a Jj
t^rer He' t' '" "T r^ '''''' "" '"""'^'"^ "« his frieids Tnd b e-
thren. He is accordingly m«st desirous, from the verv bottom of wL
heart, to be at peace with all men. as far 'as it lieth tn I is^wer a-^^^^^
noi no., quote. 1 his is a proline and grand subject ;— and mv verv soul
.8 0.,; but must sorely curtail it. before your patience is muXed
yet I beg to be indulged a liule farther till I offer some remTrks u^n
Km .1 ! ^ ""^ °'^*^^'^' °' «''"''" tokens, among all your convert,
bu he very reverse ; as I have already partly observed ; relig ous pr S
-"-self-confidence-noisy clamor, and san^uin.ry resentment^ u,!der he
mask of godly zeal; without any self-reflection/No l.rt!!l.compu[nt-!
no groan, under the wiles, or violence of the still remain ng body Ts^
or of us original autl.or-the arch-adversary, emphatically styled the
wicked one ; unless they talk at random, or in mere imit^^ on I ke i iota
or parrots; of sins and duties-of vices and virtues-o ^ea en anS ^
without any coherence in th.ir sentiments, or consistency in their conl
a ": yre^e" S'andr"."' '''""^' ' ""^^ ""^ pass 'because it is of
a very recent date, and of certain notoriety, as well as that it has fallen im
o"s"fLXorh!ldr rrr^- '- ^' ^ ^^^^ -dow hanng^n^um::
InH .ho 7 Children, had for some successive years been used now
and then to visit het large circle of acquaintances and relations at LA
where -he had ;iever failed to muster something to her need and to an
swer the known destitution of her circumstance^ particS; in the ar
tide of wool: but unfortunately this year, the needy woman went thither
effect Why^.'Sr"';'^' '"t '2' ^'^ ^"'"^ P"^P°-' but ala' 1 o'ni
enect. Why? Because, forsooth, her friends there are now either all
converts to the new faith, or are so far under the influence of^he genera
Ob igation^f chanty, or common friendship; for the poor widow vou
must understand. IS not exactly at present of their religious vieu's' in
ea:i"n :hirsutcr\h''"\'° '''''' seriously-which 1 1^'nd it not alwa s
TZfT "^Ject—this short story tells a great deal to my point- and
1 defy you and all your supporters to falsify it 1 John iii, 17 '^ ! '
Iil,o!^M T r'"'.*^?''*"'**^*''*'^"^h3sa'"'0'*t absorbed my thouffhts
like a Mohammedan in his abstracted contemplation ; but I remark Iwo
fh ? V" V"! J*""'' \" '""^^ ^''^ ''^"'^ ^•"'ther reasoning : The first Ts
that though I do not choose unon ih/. u.h«i. f^ a:.„^.a.1. _ _.® , _ "'
S yet i cannot rest quite 'aati^ "with the'api^iS^^^of^ro?
«]
yoDrwripural quotation wlt.ch.bomgpi,-g|yfij,urMive, nwy be thouttlu
Of either doubUul, or Uouble rneRfiiag; and especially .«bec dr»w^i frow
dar,k propechy, or aubiiuie revdatio,»s: Such an you .hnve taken f»o«i
f^T 1 "tt Apocalypse in your treatinj? of the final mieery x>f the
vvidc«»». The other point is tlmt wbere J do iiotidiffer from yoJ on the
pri*n:t.ve acceptation of other Scripture, you b»ye haudkd, J never
thought that atier.generntions. CBpeciuUy in our latter days of mofeirene-
»a» ight, and tarthef extended .:,eanH o! leligious knowledge, we/e, .p
apply them to themaelvea :-Or. in other word«, I ora far from aingular
m holding that the san.e hi^h standard of reJij?ion« attainment. ,n chril
«ian experience and self-denifll, is neither expected nor exacted from uo
now, 08 It was in the apostolic, and the in-nediately aucceedin? are; or
indeed dt an, posterior titr.es even of extrao.^inary revivals, orr-^lliriciw
revo utions. You have, for instance, apoken in the lofty atraio of , the
?r r'" fr "^"T^T'T^r'' ""^ ''PP''^^ '^^" '^'^''^^ aspirations
and saced longing for death--forjudgment-^and eternal gipry, to the
«rdi«ary chnstiajia of our day. I believe, with the generalit/of good
«^ea mat many have ^veH-foundH hope in the Gospel. r.ud holdcredita-
be^^taud.ng m al' the office, of the Church, without ever otMse dreaming
ynnH»"TTr"'''^ '.""^ "^^ '° say.-auch arrogant acquisition a?
you have, I think, very dangerously and presump UQuaJy. auggJed on
he subject. I say. my good neighbor, the Lohd in hlsmm^y coFreotyo^,
in^the time of his long.su«Vnng and f jrbearaiice ; for there.is herJly such
a thmg, as you pretend to treat of. in a Country, or in « K.ir,gdo,p • jf
you ,n reality pretend to it. in your own person ; for I rather tbif:!- ^oq
make the application at random, in ord«r to sublimate the strain of vour
pre«chmem ; and 1 venly believe thct the best of our Ministers, and the
brightest of_our Doctors m Divinity, would think you^aelf on this ground
by tar more fanciful, or frantic than those you have the hardihoo -^ {(y »tvle
by .such ungenerous epithets. ,, ,j,, , , .: ^
L ^'"!i^'*' ''^ '^ ^''' ''''^°"'' '^""^'^^^ J heartily wisl3'thcre"i«re'tj>
•greater difference beisyeen us on the whole subject ; and it should be well
-for US both t,. oe tendor and docile, and not hardy and bead strong thro'
tall ourJite; on such co-ecrated ground. And all I would cay rmw in
my own defence on that score, is. that when the texts in question may
very.hkely ,have their meaning applicable to the punishment of the whole
«ian-soul and body ; and that probably some of them mayt-as many
good'cr:tics a.serts-have a sl.giit degree of their lulfil.;.eal pven in this
■lite ; yei, that ai the same time, there was nothing started onrthe case any
.^Kse dangerous or stumb ing of itself to either of us; pr, 1 shoqld hope,
to any other. But regarding the last of your objection^ it is boih fa
more^rions and extensive. When I admit, what is most dear a- " vl
deniable, that though the Apostles and other men of extraordioc , J*^s
■ are not to be imitated now, in tl.eir inimitable talents, yet they Rr^'for
our express example and imitation in their ordinary graces and conduift.
Wor do I mean to.presume upon the degree of their ordinary piety in the
, variety ot Its extent And this romarj, ,, might extend also regarding Jll
»*mmcnt:chacacters living in tim'.sof extroardinarv and i.rar.iou« revivals
he tliQutftu
taken ifoqi
eery />f the
you <>fl th^
d, J. never
;e, weje, up
in ^ingwlor
i(, in chritt-
ad from W9
RSf 8ge J oir
)r,r'?ligicM/i
'ain of. the
appiratiops
)ry, to tl»e
!y of good
ld:prediti«-
i drenming
ilisitjon as
fgested on
irreot yo^,
srJly fiiKsh
ij,'donp; if
tiii;:I: yon
in of your
'3, and the
lis ground
>-^ tp style
B were uo
Id be well
ong thro'
y now in
ition may
the whole
-as n?ar»y
;n in this
5 c>i6e any
\ld hope,
bo>h far
r,3' " vn-
r ar^ for
conduct.
3ty in ti^e
irding 9II
revivals.
your opifibn For ^a ni»v ««, ! I °^**.'^'*'*'. ''"t not accord nif t«
anrf without th^rrinfcbfe.nH ft. '*^ '^* ^^«'«« »h« brttar;
nature of d.e re aft d ? h ulme^aT.S ^ """1 '".'"'^"^ ' ""'^ '^' "^
lb all tme bellevera in t"L QoS S J'«J eternat redemp- ..., ia common
clflrfriQ f./., «Xk P®' *^ '*'"'**''« Chrjst. For 8t Paul mi.
ciQTOs, not only his correartnn/<ent brflthr^n «♦•«»,- .• l . . '"
&*n.ral in the word* ' unto alMhl tbo th^ L^^ b„i christians in
rour objections on this itrounifal' t- tthl^^^^^ "^^.T "L^ •'' ^'''«*
d<ing<jrou8, if not fatally de«trMtive to von «nH n!l »»»«"; be,„g ^^^
er of the same error. The Z ri.tl./^ , ' *^.*'^" ""^*'' **'« P"**
in quertion if ttiaflife^ erirfSm frol^ [ 7 ^PP''*'"'^" o^t^^*^ quotation.
6f ih« aame iri.pSr j^Im!. «!f^^ °»^' «cri,>turea, flilly
on the earth' Cot Hi 2 ' C w' '° k' '"' '*''"^'' '^''''' "« °° ^f^'ng*
.eek one to c'!^ne.' Heb ,in4 Tn Z^ ."^ '"T '^'"« ^"^^ ^-* ^«
»nt.,rotv and the subrranoe of the gL^I '« h*?,,"' '^'' P''"^*P'« '^"^^^^
of the teh commandment., wh ch S o Onn 'J"^ «nd.maWe sum
this love rules the heart or rn«l,. ?J ^°"^«"^ "^^"^ f^^ where
will necessarily, acoo 1 '.g to it" strenttH '" '^-^ ^f * °^ ^''^ •">»^' '«
Wthb'Tery tendency Taki . tfeTlJ/nr^'f ^''"'^''^ '*•'' ^-iTect «i,d
^Ife; who happens to have her worhv h,^L "7 I '"*'^'"'"' " »^' '''*"»
hears. ..d receives -CTonate TeS from h^ f T' *^'*-'"^ ^^"«"«'y
—bepfodureH. or obtains anlli!!!? T ^^^ her grreat satisfaction
«alut<rt-y and'oonUient in .1? exceedingly more valuable and grand;
hi«d-Ld am'nrfTrmoreaS^^^^^^ what' he 4 het
10 his dear ^ousf tharriSds t !n^n " '"*^ "^^ociates-he «.rrtes
her, end for ttiy friends LTcomn^nJonTr I'' T'""'^"'' to send, for
with her.: befo J herotrslryTe rn 1 'tr^'T,';^: ^*S" f ''^
s*m friend, to send^oJ leT:n%t,tl^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
of her intended fo^l Sart«reT &.h°?? '^ '° ^'•^' ^^"^ '^' '»^*^*"™
f^irtt and weak, yet in Us aDDnrnnl .^\ [' companion is but very
ti.e unvailed,ahd^,mme?.te-£^^ 'Pf ^"1^^*^ Are the^l
ety of Angels, and of the soi itl7ft?» of God ar»d of CHE,sT-the K,ci.
th'e resurrition of their bSsltrflJIf". T'^' P^^^^f-eyen before
from s.n and thraldom and dl.t" hi redemption of our own souls
t.eir concomitants and con±uencefT^'"°'^ ,1"^ ''''''''''^ ^'^'^ «'f
objects so chimerical neutral^ or Ih J ""^ '" ^^''^ ^'^«» «"*^ ^^^nd
thi possible asplSa^r flection »I'^'',r '\^' ""^^^^^ ^'^ «"
christians; who by Seirver-, nam. ^, 1' ,7"" .1' *''^ contemplation of
to the worldthirt tl. , Ire noro^J'thlS- '', '^u" P^^««i°"» declare
dren. the momUrs anVve^ wlsnnn ^'?*^ '^' friends and chiK
-^oriou^L^
1 nrs §«)»pei
ioctrine « now openly ot,po.e.f from the pulpit^in Cape Br^tonT"
24
lord of Lords 1 By your uofortunute and feeble attempt to unhinge, or
discard these sound and essential principles, and to substitute some grin-
ning and gloomy forms— and some sorry and sapless ritet, famished pver
by the gloss of religious sophistry, and upheld by the power of trick-
display, you plunge yourself and your supporters into very hard difficuU
ties, and endless inconsistences; if not into a most destructive labyrinth.
If the ground of our dispute were unimportant to the concerns of eteroity,
I would be sadly sorry and ashamed not to have it long resigned over to
«ome tippling wranglers, or religious sophists, who are interested m argu-
msnt, in order to feed their own spleen, or to display the fruitfulness.of
their intellectual spawn. ,
Angus.— Yon have taken unworthy advantage of my arguments, and
in a degree fight your own shadow. I did not mean to maiFitain that
the ordinary gTfts or graces of the Gofepe! are not in any measure neces-
sary to salvatToa now as wt^ll as at former periods of the Church ;, for the
scriptures are express to that effect : * Except a man be born again, he
cannot enter into the Kingdom of God,' said Christ to Nicodemns.
'Without me ye can do nothing;' saith the same author of truth. We
have a train of sacred texts to the same import. My meaning therefore
is this, that we should make vast allowance for the marked difference of
circumstances between the Apostolic age, &c., and our present, or simi-
lar days. In the former, you must observe that the Christians before the
time of their conversion to Christianity ware, at least for the most part,
either heathen, or pagan idolaters, or unbelieving Jews— for very few oi,
the Hebrew nation were good men at the time of our Saviour's incarna-
tion. On this undisputed supposition therefore, it was bat quite natpral
as in fact it happened— that the Gospel dispensation, which was so
surprisii gly novel in all its bearings and administration, should bring a-
long with it so great and remarkable a revolution in the minds,and nian-
nersof all concerned, according to their various and flifferent stations
and circumstances, motive and opinions ; so that the opposition and per-
secution to which tlie christians were then exposed, for their new religion,
could not be possibly er^dured with so much fortitude, meekness, and
patience, without gr&cious supplies and supports answerable to their ex-
traordinary and unavoidable state of affliction and adversity, for it i«»
written—' As thy day so shall I g thy strength.' Now our peaceful and
happy times are in many weighty particulars the very opposite of thosQ
under remark, and of any similar days, whether subsequent or antecedent.
We, Heaven be praisedj suffer no persecution, at least, of any extent or
consideration. Every one of us may sit unmolested under his own religi-
ous vine, or fig-tree. From the preceding premises I infer two brief co-?
Tollaries :— In the first place, that the Christian subjects of any Christian,
or pacific Government, being free from religious persecution, need not
expect such abundant succours and supplies of grace from the hand of the
Lord as when placed in opposite circumstances. Secondly, that people,
in the aforesaid circumstances; i. e., without persecution, and trained
UD from their youth in the Christian religion, under the pious example of
parents and teachers, may have the operation of their gospel graces sa
M
latent and unnoiay, under the
....... uw^ u.i„u.»,, unuer me amiable mask of morul virtues afi to h»
who ly unknown, or hardly discernible. You see now th t hcJh I stUl
thmk .t dangerous for believers, of this day. and in our Stries to
presume upon be.ng l.ke the good and great men of former thnesnsnU
ntual talents, yet that I do, by no means, deny, as yrwoJldS." me
ihe necessity of saving taith to the salvation of all the rXmed -^ onlv
under some mod.fic.uion. different from the soaring flights anTloftvore
tensions of some folk, who nmst lord it over the ne^cK Iheir huS'
modes .unpresuunng fellow Christians. And my good iend To be
plain, tremble to hear high conceits of one' self, and such contempt of
other honest souls, though not of so lifted noses, or .ou d iirsUarns -
Even the great prophet Elias was corrected by the Loui, whe f he thmml^
hnd'oft' r"V° '^ *f''"' *" "^^-" ^-^ himseff Tlo iV I fhe
housa H o hi' w7r" *•'' "'"["'^"^ ^°" ^^"^^^he vast number of seven
ti.ousaud of his hidden ones, where that good man could not oick nnt
one associate. I guess that that rebuke •''had taught' thfprTpheraJod
esson all tiie remaining days of his life ; for we d^ no find him nyTr^
her.n such aruffle m himself, nor so distrustful of other good neoole
two things often together-till the day of his Jeati -poh -Tshodd'^sr
he day of his translation. ' The Loun was here,' said good old Jacob'
and did not know it.' • Judge not, that ye be not judS J And whv
beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye bul cons=dorest not
S;^^ a^zs: =^ ----i-rfSS
pose I m.ght ea.,ly quote the Ph.risee and the PubTic'r.n the Gore '
and, „a,,y Cher parallel te«,_but .he.e I hope, in .h"a' ."eluU^oTare
to™rc;;^;t;ti.::!:;'-.r';£trhrfeT:;i'^'°T'-.^^
«er your shuftling. and exL„,e/' Hoi f J 'g ^ „!• ale I, M"
ever rcconcde ,our strong noo„u.„» of suih tlnfnder; o iva s beb» DoT
s.bly necessary ,„ your blessed land o.' christian quiet ,I,d neaie^ C
;rt^i"r„u and' ^ ^o"^ In-^rer i-^Tir^ fr^^^
d^'c^rS e •• T I ■? .'="°<=='ll^<l 'S 10 be ■ wholly unknown, or hardly
are™ ;rcy of'.onuin 'ror' U r's^:;' '" "'"' "■= "S'^™-' '"^
a ■ ■. r',-1 -"' s^""J'"i' moral virtues to the saviiur crrarps! nf th«. T-T/^I.,
ttTbl^'nl; "'T"" -'^,^-'"«. "-.' nre ne've"rr:rilc ^
uiey ootn ijow ion the same divme Author : for, " evprv frood aift La
every perfect g.it is from above ;" &c. St. Jame. But when 1 1 leartilv
"This is but a limb of r«liBiniig ( r^^,.i;„.,.- - /- , , ■ . , ^
jaining ground in our dayr'°"" —-'••='i« —a laUi prinoipie springing up, np4
!
If I'i
!^i'
rij
26
wise beyond their due estimate ; and especially, in admittinff thera tofh.*
uperror stat.on of the divine and renovating graces of t lospeT- Be^
iuiTtnl / °'i''' ^'"'^' '^''' ^*^" ^^°"'^ slyly insinuate these moral vir
ues to be found among your nominal Christians in far more abundance
lo«"r ITJ"'" f ^ """'^ ^^°""^ ^"^ ' «'"^^ ^''« ^^^^^t m.joritro these
fn thfr ""'y T'/'^^' ^"* ^•'^ P'-^'^'y ^""^^^ to be sadiv defective
n these venerable and desirable intellectual endowments. You m Jt
Sr^r Lhnh ttrf i.'' ''T "^"^^ ''' "^^^^^'^y of your^'romprn;
revivals or admit the fallacy of your exaggerated estimate of ^he morality
of our Conntry ,n our times. I say further, were we to grant fo the
sake of argument, what should be very desirable, that ma^re r^'orals or
external Christian instruction would gain ground so far in the woHd as
to supersede the shameful visibility and notoriety of vicious habts it
would not follow, as a necessary consequence, according to your nfe
ence. that spiritual graces should be so masked or dis.uised^ as to be
e her unknown or hardly perceptible, through the influence of mere mc^
ther^' ForT"' ^^?*"" "^^'■"*=*'°" ' '' °^ ^^- ^^'^th these put'ogr.
f.nl" f ? ^^ °"P"''' ^^ ^•''^^'^ corruption of the human mind in L
fallen state, is so desperately deep-rooted, powerful, and opeT^v; even
under the greatest natural and moral possible advantages, t^hat he sP rh
of the Gospel ; or in other words, the Spirit of Goo and o Chp'st w
meet with so much violence and dire opposition to His divine aaenc^
to His converting and sanctifying influences, in all the Cy sS^^^
his p^eat change (infants and idiots excepted) as to rende it inpossi^ble
in all ordinary cases, not to be known by experience, in Ties orre\te;
degree, ,n a manner very perceptible, to the persons thLLelves- ^3 fn
some measure to all others concerned. I say knomZ not in al "f
hem by assurance of faith and salvation ; for that isnot mv menninrbu
by hope, which IS one of the genuine results and accom^an melof al
evangelical experience. Rom. v, 4 & 5. My sense will pro ab^ be
pbmer, if I say whether the renewed man is sure of his savin'l change or
not, he cannot be ignorant of a certain change havina taken nlace if. h^,
views and feelings; and in some degree in his conversa on nd conduc
n all ordinary circumstances ; whatever his former character may have
etrnorthe't;? rT -«^h-; -— t. "Butthenatura^manYeceiv!
eth not the things of the Spirit of Gon : for they are foolishness to him •
rCor'ir?/' TV'"' 'f ^ i'.'' "« 'P''-'^-"^ dis^eried "T-:
1 l.or. II, 14. Let no man deceive himself. If any man amomr vo.,
wiL'-'ts ui Ts" •" wh ^"'''.'^' "^'""''^'-^ ' fool ;hatr"^/b
wise Ibid HI 18. Where is the wise ? where is the scribe ? where is
ofthiror7d°r.' ';^''^ ^•'? ^"^^^ ^°"^'«^"- the i' :„
ter nd c Im.inn """ ""^ Pf ' '"' '''''' '"^'"^^ ^" the charac
under rllf T . ' ^^"^^^'^'^^^ regarding the ch.-^..ter of the person
under remark I do not mean to say more than that, in the lowest ordi-
nary degree of his supposed real Christianity, he must Lt Lpear so
'::^Vr.!:::-!:^i;-'-^^!^ - his^mora. conduct :srpr:
, a.. ip,^u v.eoii lo hiui, or nopea oi him as a true, though
hera to the
spel : Be-
moral vir-
ibundance
' of these
' defective
fou must,
pompona
e morality
t, for the
norals, or
world as
habits, it
:)ur infer-
as to be
mere mo-
put toge-
id, in its
ive, even
the spirit
RIST will
ijgency —
ibjects of
ipossible,
•r greater
; and in
tn all of
ling, but
Its of all
)ably be
hange or
ce in his
londuct,
lay have
n receiv-
to him ;
ned."—
)ng you
may be
where is
wisdom
charac-
asure of
i person
St ordi-
pear so
to pre-
though
t7
ureak belie, .r, upon the fair estimate of the word of God. But I sincere-
ly wish thai your revival-converts on the one extreme, and your 'hidden
ones' on the other, would bear the measureof my very moderate standard
on the subject ; which, I must believe, it is dangerous to lower beyond
perception ; either to the man himself, or to any around him. As to your
feigned shrinking humility, and farcical trembling at my supposed un-
lenderness, as well as your misapplication of so many sacred texts to that
effect, you may please to understand that all your silly tricks, and artful
airs of that sort do not startle me a single hair ; for I have lon<r since
been aptly inured to such paltry treatment from kindred spirits. It is all
but a mere sham in order to evade the point of my argument, to which
your wilfulness would not submit; and which your conscience could not
discard. But it was basely wanton of you to aim your blow at me throiigh
the side of the prophet Elijah.
Angus— Long before you have stopt i observed with secret tielight
that your thoughts were wavering and vampering : not from any malevo-
lence of disposition on my part ; for I bless Heaven I bear no man on
earth a grudge without a good cause— but that it is just from the hand
of Providence when folk presume to grasp at things above their line, or
to treat of subjects beyond their limits— I say just, and perhaps merciful
too, to leave them so far to their own errors and inconsistency; or may
be to such vapidness of mind, and flatness Of expression, as to correct
their pride, and rebuke their insolence, in the very presence of those
over whom they would aim to lord it. Many a once eloquent orator,
elevated teacher, and elegant preacher, by assuming superiority, and as-
piring to dignity, flowing from 4he lurking vanity of their own minds,
under the guise of serving their friends, improving their Country, or
showing to sinners the way to eternal glory by Jesus Christ ; who yet,
by their pt -voking the Most High, who marks the latent motions and
most hidden motives of the hearts and reins of the children of men, have
been left to flag in their spirits, to waste in their talents, and to dwindle
in their name , and in that stale and startling state abandoned, as it were
^)y heaven and earth, airi buried alive for the remainder of their days, to
be a lasting beacon to all others, of that abominable thing pride, when
once fostered, especially in eminent stations ; whether on civil, or what
IS far more hateful, on religious grounds, in the view and estimation of
OoD and all good men. A great deal of your harangues consists in
sweeping argun:ents without evidence— tedious reflections devoid of ap-
plication— or the rising of vapors and the collecting of fumes by long
and unnecessary digressions, in order some-how like the cuttle-fish, to
conceal your fallacies from detection, and to divert your antagonist from
his persecution. But though I scorn to imitate your example in general,
I am. notwithstandi:>g, necessarily pressed to remark one unpardonable
omission in the last paragraph of your reflections, viz : That, when you
have given me a good sly elbow-push— according to your own expression
—through the side of the prophet Elijah, you did neither once, as you
certainly should, acknowledge the propriety of my application on that
tcore ; nor attempt lo disprove it : Nor am I in the lea'st surprised ; for
Ii^
lill
II
5»-
gr-p. li i. Ltd a Ivep ''?;,:."„;■,;„"■",'' ';-r ■; ^°r '•°'"^^'
ssrvice-wliich I l,„ve never ve see, flil ?^ ',l" "^ <='""'^»"'' S""""!
pro.bc,io„ ; „„d .h,. ought to^lld e in e e ; ^^^iX ""■ ""■ "'""
and to brand sh over the hiimhtv .,...u j , '' "xigency ;
wickedly scorn to keen theTrIp ol^ ^Z 'f '^"''*^ '^"'' "'' «" ^''^^^ thn
and to dive beLntSo^xl l. fhi. 1'^" '""f presume to sonr aloft.
all the arc.na of turHot to kin^^^^^ ''"^ ^^•'^"' -'^''
and unpretending fell^^ Ch . "an t rkr 't^'"''^: "^'^'^^'^ ''"'"^'J^.
ah-ogate tb them^elvesThe^^ W^^^^ Cl,nst,.ns, I say, thoujrh they never
or t^ Vresun^Z^^,^^';:!^^ revei.tions,
tiFesofothers:asgoodas or f^r ben? H..n f T ""'^ ^'"'""^ '"''-
and injurious and l.n,4ouscclSjl''" ''"""'^"' '^^ ^"^'^ '^^'
willing that he shoud share v^^^ '^"''^T "^ "^'"^' ^ =»'" ^^^'^^tily
the subject fron, ilt leTd n 'no n , '"" "'"' '"''' "P"" '»''" *« divert
intrusion, or long speeches ^ ' ' '" '"^'^"^^ ^^" ^^"^ indulgence by
ma^";'u'';ilTnrrer"o^ '^'''"'"' "" ^'^^^^^^ ^^^"^ "^^ ^^ n.akeanyre-
finished his lai; SXr" " "■^^""""^^' '^ "'^ '^''^^ Dialoguist'has
as^:^i "St "j^:^,;::: ^""^ "^"' ^^ '^^-^ ^^- ^-^'^ ^i'--
cZtr^n^ ""''' ^'^'^''^' ^l^«'^'^ y^"-- "^i"d freely.
same tm;^, it is Leed ^Ih s^onJ^e 1^ ;:S:c;:;fc; ^'"r"'' ='^ ^^^^
for It IS generally very easv to i\,jZX^ «» reluctance and coucern;
possess talents super or t7e the of vo.-' '" / ^'^' rr'"'''' ^''''^'^^ '^
hut that 1, like ofh .rs o^'n.^r !nL ^ . ,' '" '^'"^^^^^^Jg^ or experience;
hurry, heat, or height of disputation- No. is t so r^rrn ''' .'" '''"
Bume to correct, or amend .hp«^ r.,.u ■ ^ " '"> '"'" ^'^ P'"''-
as far as possible foyo o cor ct'rh"' ''T''1' ^^ "^^^ vo'^'-^lves,
argument; you have tf.e '. , ."m; i^; t 'exceeded". 1^^^""'"' 'f ^'^"^
of a colloquy, in the lensth of sevi n nf ''''''^'^''^' ^''^ P^^P^^r boun.is
Jitter part^l'the ,^^t ^T'onr Lll 'Jh^^fc" '"' ^ ^"""{ '" ^''«
wovenwithadecrreeoftechnicalilv ^m?n'^ I '"^ "■""'^''' ''^>'^'
r.nd respect h.rdly avo d\h ^ r. ~ ''''"^ ■ '^''"^"^ '" some measure
nnd therefore less i,rrS^ the subject a liule unintel'igible.
>t gifted with your ittle cfan. of^ ^'^ T' "'''^' ^'"" '^"^^^ "°
and'am enjoined brevity In u^t no. "(J^^- .^'^ ""^^ ^ recomn^end.
..!._.. j^ ^„j opinion On ine mentor demerit of any
^ ^■-'a, JJIJ ■ lu«-A»"
8»
part of the subject in its drift, or tendency, I will not at present stop you
further from your original design. ^^
Bruce.— Vor my own part, thouffh you were far severer, I would sin-
ceroly thank you lor your very just and timous reflections; for when I am
perfectly conhdent of the goodness of my cause, and could not hesitate to
challenge the world to subvert it, J feel most diffident of my own talents
to maintain and defend it properly ; or to batter sufficiently the falsehood
of my opposite.
Angu,.—Mnny a fond fool that finds fault wiih an eagle's eye- and
vainly criticises what himself could never attain— far less surpass 'if we
get no belter praise than saucy reflections *** enough of them. Neigh-
bor Bruce, answer my last suggestions, on our main dis-;ne, or acknow-
ledge your defeat; otherwise 1 shall immediately resign the subject in
triumph. '^ J * ••*
Bnicc. -Though I wish to enter with caution upon your boasted rea-
soning on the case of Elijah, J see your application very inapplicable.
^«^r„s.— Pray, do you explain or prove that assertion.
^r«a'.-l told you formerly in general that I had been long since in
the habit of hearing such silly abuse of the sacred Scriptures, as to make
it wearisome to me to answer it ; but, since you, and so many scores of
your kind, insist unweariedly and forever on that common.place text ; and
that you misapply it grievously with all your poor triumph; I say that
when I was treati.ig of matters of stubborn facts, that is judging of men
according to their open and ordinary conduct and conversation agreeable
to the rule of truth you then either thought or pretended to think it simi-
lar to the case of Elijah.
Angus.— And do you pretend to be more infallible in your judging of
men .ban that great prophet I J J a 'g "»
Bruce.— The cases are quite diiferent : the prophet it seems had not
had suf icient means of information concerning those seven thousand good
men till the Lord communicated it to him in an extraordinary manner-
since extraordinary revelation is not necessary when ordinary means may
serve; and by the account we have of that time of dangerous and dread-
ful persecution, it appears that the people in qu -tion were either com-
paratively or completely concealed from all public notice and inspection •
w.iidi made it impossible for Elijah, in his own persecuted and limited
circum.stances to know them by any visible character. And they had a
particn.ar mark of goodness, ti.ough ,^iven under a negative description :
1 hat they bowed not the knee to Baai.' And lastly, it was the prophet
•Mmself that gave to the world the fir.t account of them; otherwise it is
not likely that we should ever, in this world, have the story ; and at the
worst there was more weakness, from immediate and sore temptation,
than from vanity and wilfulness in his ignorance ; so that you, or others
ot your cast of mind, need not brag and boast so much over his mistake.
I\ow there IS nothing similar to these uncommon circumstances in the
manner ol judging, of which you so triumphantly, and yet so groundlessly
= " T~ tV . "•' ' •■■ j='ii;c iionu i.iruicr man to ihink and s|>eak of
them, when I find it so my duty, according to their public character ; and!
30
c'o„ls.r^:i':!5'e'o"„3™r"A"iT",fi'oro.',''?r 't^ "" "•'"'"y
either judge wronalv o, „ a w ,v nr„n , """' ?" """"'■ J"" """'
lemma ^ P"^' ^°'' ^'" ^°" '^^^^'^ yourself from that dU
whlTe^Te^reinhr"^^'*^""^ ^"^^*'*'" '"^^^ <>" this head:
gam;7:uToX""KiriK^^^^^^^^ yourself the pleasure of -he
your n^ana.uv;:?tote : S : ^-'l "P ^^h
the world who professedly chTmVtn h Vr r u .T " ^"^ ''"^ '"''»" '"
decision; and t'o /h I havtZa ri [uTo^^ ^"^
assume it, till he re''siirns , I li ' -if *''"'"' ^ '^^ ""^ mean to
have knovln II alon^tl at I oncJl^7V"^,f" ^°"^^^"«d, what you may
profession of anrquflity or medTum'of k ." h"'^ '^"^.-^"^ ^^^^^* *^'^
judgingofourfdlowcLmr^rhrn.^ knowledge, or discernment in
truf cListians/ilT^rsreTen ritstctlnTL^^ '^""""", ^^ ^"
open to all who takp th^ .n.L '^^spect, in a less or greater deffrees
wisdom 4 ririud' 1 o XJ , "" '•'''' '"'"""•y •'"' »"'l«""l
well inr„,„,ed m, Xc^' ly he Se'^fh """'"""'f- ""''''^^'"- "'
verted, provide.! I,e si, cerelv ci,',, i.L, ,h!~ ^° "' "'" """= ""™"-
a shallow, siomie oZftrmod;,,!l,L '■'''""'"'''' '")' f^O'-'i'lrip
Leaned e ,nver" K,.l ,,,,'■; '^'' ° '"J" "P"?'" »"'' S»<>d-
iibitr;o7r'vrs^;.oi"rVt°,i!: ■'" ""'"""' ■" -""" '^'"'"""'. ="<' - f^'i-
jB™«.-So I Sol Not „ Inl , ° .'I'P""" ■nconsistencies?
logic i..deed. A e the e not i? rT^ """« '1,'" l">ow nothing. Fi„e
n.ft,e,, certain .x", „T ° : J,^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "^ in ethics and mathe-
positions, from which cerni , „fl. ' "'"' "'"">■ P™'i'»es, or pro-
as den,onstrTMri the o V , 1, '"'■'"""""'•'''^"''''''"''y I"* ■)<=''''=«■".
out admitti g of ."1 'ch' "^ „"! "turn' l"!'"'"T'"'' P™'''""' *''"■
believers. """ ""'" f^hgioua sceptics, or uu-
- 'vP^'^»"c iroiii the irue t/hristian?
■(^
31
Bruce.— in all ordinary circumstances, Christianity doeB net raaice that
knowledge necessary, farther than to keep the church and her members
free from the intrusion of error, and pollution of imposture ; which may,
by principles, or practice, more wound than advance pure religion. But
while hypocrites talk and walk like good Christians, for my pal-t, till we
can get better men, let the world swarm with them, among every class,
and in every quarter. My concern, on that ground, in the fear of the
Lord, which produces true humility and meekness, as well as correspon-
dent fortitude and zeal, is to be preserved from the known corruption
and errors of others, especially wicked men of high sounding religious
profession; and particularly of that class. Ministers of the gospel-— if it is
indeed proper at all to bestow upon them that glorious title— who are
unquestionably, to all intents and purposes, either directly or obliquely,
personally or relatively, or even both put together, as is not a rare case ;
who, I say, are the very last dross, and uttermost dregs of all mankind!
Angus.— Oh, turmuW] Now again fume and foam, burn and boil,'
What secret scorpion stings your flesh whenever you tread this fatal
ground 1 You are comparatively sober at any other time : Was a preach-
er, prithee, thy dear mother's murderer !
Brvce.~\ take you at your word ; in your very wanton banter, sir, you
have fairly, though inadvertently hit the mark : the thing is just a^ said ;
although it may otTend some of our hearers — as kind neighbor C. has
remarked — to deal so much in metaphor, I can hardly heip it : It is in
truth the neutrality, unfaithfulness, and wickedness of preachers that
have, either in a long degree, or with a high hand, murdered my spiritual
mother the Church of Scotland; and in plain terms, that is the very se-
cret scorpiou. which so stings my very flesh as to excite my just and
merited indignation, against you and your guilty supporters, in your
wretched defence of those spiritual murderers.
Angus.—kh, my stars ' your mother ! This sort of play chills my very
blood more than fair fighting. Who is the murderer, he that honestly
defends, or he that betrays and tramples without mercv or remorse?
Would any generous son deal thus with a mother ! I have hardly suffici-
ent breath to style you by your proper name, you staunchest and sturdi-
est dis-dissentcr ! !
Bruce. — I feel myself now too ponderous to lose my balance with a
feather; or to blow away as a bladder, by the old bugbear the sound ofdi?-
benter—you must get some new scarecrow not so very familiar ; for
Ckarhs.— -Come, come, if you go on at this rate, my jjood friends, 'tis
better for us to dismiss; for I guess we may as well expect to find the
source of the Nile as the end of your dispute.
Brtice.— True, very true, my good neighbor ; your gentle correction
IS most seasonable; for my own part, though I feel, with regret and shame,
that I am of myself as apt to err as a wealher-cock is to change, yet I
bless Heaven that I pm not fatally shut to conviction ; especially when it
comes in a friendly channel.
Angus.
-Let him that never ofTpnds oresume to dictate
been most graciously brushed, on the black score and crime of metaphor,
irony, &,c. dtc. ; and lo I tJie faithful
W
I
dimpl
ful orifjiti, into his baiite
!e mates, does not scruple to srart the Nilo, with its dark or d
conaor, sitting a-kimbo among his
niiir speech, in order to di?p|yy
bt-
ou
earmog. But I oefy either the nimblesf orator. or'th/pl.-.ineJ us ic
the Province, to fin., ha three-minutes' di.cour«; without never dfn ire
Bu s.nce we , oust e.ther pursue, or drop our n.ain subject. I ask e e u
by leavnig the case of our revivals and ministers of th s place Ibr the
present, .n suspense; or, rather under your lash. How do you form your
estimate of those at a distance ; or, in other words, of the prese ev
vnf ?'T"~' humbly think that I have a very good opportunity to puzzlo
you and your favontes on that point; for I will allow you, in the fir t
p ace to take your cho.ce in adnmting whether the present eviv I her^
and that .n Scotland are of the san.e nature and spirit, or tla tl y are
not. lor .f you acknowledge the for.ner; that is to say, that they are of
he same tendency : then I have sufficiently answered you aire dy^ For
the fanatical operation which goes on here under the name of conversion
Miniir'l '^'7'" 'V^^ 'f'^''''' P^ofe.s-^on;.ud some of your own
M n.sters here-I speak ,t so far to their credit-do not countenance bTit
rather condemn it. And. on the other hand, if it is not tl/fs n e ^ork
one cf the most important points connected with their office-the nature
ofconversion— the subject of revivals. »"« nature
crniili^M-'":^" '^ '"^ ^u^ surprising, or unprecedented, that good men or
good Ministers would be divided in their sen iments on the sub.^ct of
great and remarkable revivals? J^unjeci oi
cnffl '•"'';""^°"' ?"''^'''" ^'' "°^ "'"^h ^°^t'"g '» this case; for there is
sufficient space of time now given for consideration, nvesti J on and
comparison; and, also, the v^'ork itself is of such notoriety as must ex-
clude suspense on the principal points of concern in the cLe of coler-
ful acceptation of Cnuisr as the only foundation of a sinner's hope tml
the only supply to answer all his need and all his desires, according a
the main spring of the gospel. These things must be conspicuously con-
nected with every evangelical revival, from its very first con mencen' n"-
till ' h' ''''• "^"'' ""' be doubtful in itself, or \o those who are at anJ
time the happy instruments in the work ; whatever failino-s in .r inn^
v.duals; who for a time may make appearances, and connect themselves
by mere profess:on with the true converts. And since our revf al re
TJ'T'' P'''"'' ^^"''l'^ '"^'y of Pentecost,' in the open account of
Its chief instruments, none but wicked mockers, or a sceplicil Gann i^
can ever doubt of hs Christianity, in the mo.t and main oT '^'or o7 ,1
o her hand the work according to its publicity must be notoriously fie
as the case is past all doubt in reference to our mock-revival ; so tha no!
thing as was already largely remarked, but mere self-inte est or h^
height of rehg.ous ignorance and folly, or ev.n both together can eve
3 amon^ his
k, or doubt-
cr;i(i" of his
'St rustic ill
CTiil fiijures,
1 asii, even
t^e, for the
• fortri your
sent reviv;:|
lioin, under
y to puzzlo
in the first
^^vival herp^
It they are
they are of
:ady. For
onversion,
your own
nance, but
ame work
livided on
the nature
)od men or
subject of
or there is
ition, and
must ex-
>f conver-
;, and joy-
lope, and
ording to
)usly con-
iicement ;
are at any
in minor
1 in indi-
lemselveg
ival here
'count of
Gamaliel
)r on the
5ly false ;
» thatno-
;, or (he
;an leave
any Minister, for a moment silent, from pronouncing far worse than tekel
on the v/nole rantipole work. And such Ministers are certainly more a
plague than a blessing to any place.
i4n;g'U5.--Whalever is the private judgment of our IWinisters on this
point, no more than one of them ever yet in this Island, has sboken a
word publicly in any serious manner against our revival. But you seem
to have made the number more than one, by your remark,
^ruce.^l meant no more than you admit, only perhaps adopted the
plural for the smgular number; a mode not unfrequently used without
any impropriety. But that same is a serious division of judgment in a
matter of so much importance, between Ministers of the same class and
society.
Angus.— Vfe never have thought Ministers perfect more than other
goou christians : You know Paul and Barnabas once differed and dis-
puted sharply between themselves.
Bruce.— Yes, but lot about the merit of religious revivals; nor any
other point of so serious importance.— I have thought it long since as a
symptom of formal and false professors to sanction their own sinful divi-
sions and wilful declensions, by that and similar examples of the lulines
of good and great men. It is a fearful sign of spiritual judgment, when
we find the m:nds of men addled under a load of sacred truths on their
memory.
^w^«5.— iryou have no other standard of the revival and Ministers in
bcotland than what is in this Island, are you not in danger of passing a
rash judgment. '^ *
Bruce.— I have much more opportunity of deciding in this case than
by what merely passes immediately before me here ; for I had had a lonff
and particular acquaintance of those concerns, and their direct similarity
m that kingdom before I left it. I had witnessed several revivals of the
very same symptoms and appearances, in their commencement and pro-
gress; and similar m their nature, all come to nothing; and in many in-
stances to a far worse end. These things are clear to the sun. And it
IS a particular point of remark, that some of the instruments of former
revivals are found, by name, to be among the very chief Ministers who
are instrumental in the present noisy awakening in that country, without
any reference to, or reflection on their former public disappointment • as
It It were included in their ordination -now that they must be refractory
during the rest ot their life. And another point, not less notable, is that
the main tool in our own pseudo-reform here was a particular subject of
the most fanatical revival that has ever yet existed in Scotland amonir
Presbyterians And as he still retains his original fanatic confidence
sines the fatal date of his ideal conversion, is it but most natural that
l?oth his ministry and his converts would ronkJy smell of the ranter f Be-
sides these remarks, I had known before I left my native country, various
other grievous and glaring extravagance of clergymen existing and con-
tinuing from year to year without any remorse, on their own part or any
ccrreetioa irom their breihien ; of which 1 do not now intend to speak
Jiut again, do you think that we cannot pretty correctly infer from th«
If
r 1
I
34
open character of our cJerffv here what Rnr» ,^^ «,«^ u t • . .
sent ihem to us 1 Where is the drrHf..? ""^^ ^'^^e authorised and
tuea ? T KL !h ^*'^5'^1'''««; «"<J far out-shini .g them in moral vir-
cho,.c.., of ,„e„ h.ve .h'e, ^^t .'olTs tefh I^^i:^:," Si^Jf
ries or Miiuslers, but such as have the index of socuhrii; Lh ? r
nant nature of fallen humanity, w thout the ar-^n^ »f r^.. ^ • " ,"'"
po^:th:«rt;"X;r=r
ast ' General Assembly' of the Church of ScotlaLi at home '^where anv
reader may .ee the rancorous, and indecent proceedings aL disputuion^
n many instances, existing among that higl.V renounced body^ aid n
some cases exited to a pitch next to boxing. And what wonder' eno
Angus.— That ligation is not so binding in this country ■ for our Mi
.nV ' -T? '? ?PP"^*'^ ^^ '^'''' ''^P''^'^ auditorie rand yet alear
to c. jrish both tbp «arii«» "oo^ fp^i:„„- „ . , . '. """ J'tJi <»ppear
iccfings, and ecclesiastical attachment
uthorised and
imong themselvP. as where the Clergy are dependent on the State,
airaln t mT;i f " u"."*'^- "^ y°"' «'g"ment ; a.id yet it proves nothing
\fZ 1 'a '" 'Tl ""'n" °'' '=«""'''^ti"n. both here and ih Scot-
land, as already noticed, has all its good feelings founded upon very su-
perfic.al and worthless grounds, utterly unworthy of their high Sous
profeH3.or t is well known, beyond any contradiction, even W.oS
neighborhood, that some of our Ministers do not acknowledge faith in thS'
fl^rrl !""''"= '"/^ ^'' '" °'^" »° strengthen one another in thtfif'
cnnTrv /''^''?"°"''. "■°'" ''""' '° *''"«' ^° ««<^'«»'«« « home, for p/.
Derform.",! inn" V" """'l'" 'a r^"'''^.'^" '^^^*^^^« ^'^ ?'««^ '^^^ors neJfer
performed, and of moral and religious improvements which never existed
they must corroborate each other's reports, to give them ZZTtSi
view ct their s.lly transatlantic benefactors : and also sinceThe^u k of
their supporters here have been brought up as members o?the far-fimed
frjhtful the name of d:ssenters ; so that you see a sort of compact on tMs
po nt, however paltry or brittle, is still a most necessary piece of worldlv
wisdom ; otherwise not a pig would one of these pious preachers 2
itr iTT-r ^.r^u^'P^ t"- '^'' '''y '^^^ •■''« °f hi, fellows.
.4w^«5.-I think 1 no 111 thought to believe that, if you could command
It you would give a ' pig ' and a boar for the death of every one of S
good messengers of salvation, when you should once preJume ?6 tS
them in so contemptible a manner.
Bruce.— I have never pretended to calculate what indeed mov be the
proper pnce of either the life, or the death of this kind of men -but 1
ell you, and all concerned, that I would most heartily wi«h tTgive more
than you have named for the sudden death of all the official service oT^he
Ministers of this place, and of that of all their brethren of the s rs^amp
and similarly c.rc^umstanced ; and at the same time quite ser ou"rcr7e
the blessing of Heaven on the bargain. ^
C/mr/6'^.-I am afraid that some of your hearers may feel offended at
the low style, anc unguarded phraseology so marked in some of vour
speeches, especially the last of them, whfn treating of the life and deTh
trv of t le . '^ ll'"'" 7 "" ^T^""^'^'" ''"^ ^"^^"^'^ ' charge as the minis!
try of the uospel as also at the sarcastic vein so manifestly played through
m to'tl'irr '"" "'?'^- '"P"^" «°"^ vvell-mean L'g fJik may le
. pt to think, that every religious sub ect ought to be handled only under
t!.e open appearance of serious features, in 'all its sacred bearings^
l,.t mTir. '"""'' K '' r''''"" '"^ "°'' '^^^y «^>'« ^«" ^^"•'^ y«"r turn :
M men in a serious bustle must not be curbed with frivolous items I
iu ly approve however of the handsome remark you offer upon the Toiem.
n.ty and sublimity of the pastoral function ; which the abuses of my JS
pos.te l.ave rendered indispensably necessary. I sadly w Jh his dariTj
e"am;r;."'' ""'""^ ""^ '"^'" ^^^'^'^^^^^ by your c'haste and caniii
edt"m;~re^"iL'T:ii^Tj„!„^f^p!- ^j^y^r' "^^"'°" '"*^"^'-
vocables can be screed ^i^U ^^^;;:;^ ^.^nl^:^: ^^ o^
y '
Clergy; and, that, if
fro
iictioriuri
• name ol
r.T' ';°Lr /^«? «f »''' -hy not
lem
expung
■ .- .V, »c.iv;ii mougrii without exprension
-n uan»p,ant uby the word ^Tfru^if i'°l tVT?"' °" ^*''^ P°'"'' ^
■ame sound ; and not a iot behiT. I m!^^ I of Jettera, and next the
licate 'adieaLwhenevSr^hun, l-rlXrT. "^"^^ ''^"^ ^''"^ ^"^ ^«-
good creatures, well p.epared -^ if at L •'"°'' "''^"' "^' °' ^^'^ ^he.e
^•th their dear dents; and that withou A '"T '""*' '" P'^P^' «°»^«<^t
And I know also, by blithe or bT^ltv ^ d.scr.m.nation or disgrace :
ence in a syllable' raV ward off ^trv^r'T'' ''V '^' «%htes/d.ffer.
-t'Kma; as for instance, a Rev^renJ nnm? fiu"' ^'P' '''^^^ « «°^«
Chance« and changes, and whhin th^ rL ' ? '" ''/'"« '" ^^''^ *^o''d of
ing once pinched by he relent 1 It ^ff^^^"*^ '"°'*'^'" ^'^"'^»'- l**'
mous crime of • biffamv'»7hif,iH?h \^ ''"'• "" "'^•^°""» o^ «he enor-
tution of either thfwo?d 'd tamv'or w' '"":'''> ^'« "'"^^ «"bst L
in the lurch ! '*^'""^ °' ""'«» "/ J a»d so left his opponent
dentfh:i;;pXri:tyn?no't tlZ^TT ""*' ""'^ '^^^'--^ ^--n,
isters, and their sacP^d office the hro,.-l^ of refusing to Mini
them? Don't vou rlaH ?j7o ' " "^^ ''"'' honorable epithets due to
Paulon thi^gru .d ;'he fh'^Zr ^t""t-^^-;-"of?he great Saint
ofArnias.rd"ors;e"rrar;raiftb^"'t^^°/.^^
or acknowledged thereTn an .r nr k ^"^ ^ ^"' ^"*^ ""*^^ ^'n the point,
to the judicious exSn!^. 'oa idson': Z? '^"^ '' I ''^'' ^^^^ ^' '«'»
my own part 1 do not knowingly a i^^'df to vin"/^' t''l ""' ^''
of Ministers, or their most ho,nr„u "'/^^'♦^to^'"'-')' either the persons
which I seriously v^LTaTe 'd esl^ 'r "^ '""V^ °^*^^ «" '' '« *" "«elf;
as far superior ,o^ any oTher cL^fo^.^'m '^' T^ ^""°'" ^^ "'J' ^eart
I can express my thuuXrproS and n ^ ? '^^ ^"'^*^ = «"* whether
S".cerr im i« t.f oxpos'e wh'atTpp 'ar. to met r/hV"";''^ P""^' ^^
degrading, and that in a very hiX decree L.h.h" ^'^^^'^^^ «nd
of these, otherwise, very revere fdrnpn?' ^! character and conduct
«1 '«e of their offic; and nc t nt nllT ' ^ -^ ". '''" ^*'''^'"^f»' ^^^^ «Pen
arwl degrade. I am'deepi; sensible o? "J^"" "'"'J' '''"^ ^ "'^'^ *« ^'^^'^^^
>ate and responsible. ^ ^""^ ^''^''"^ ^^'"g ^oth very deli-
yo-Ti'e^ul\2:^^^^^ *" your profession, why would
and circumspectionTron our 0.^0?'''''.'." " "'^^ more'reserve
found somehow deficient! . t S o^^T T '''"''*"'"'^ '"^i' have been
charge them of euh^ mmo ! ' ^^'°"' "^^r^^-^^"-' ' hope none can
would accordin.Wyexperollenrv?;?""''''^ ?"'^"^^' ^°^ ^^hom I
manner of handiuig. ^A n Z ^r \^^^^^^^^^ '«•• beyond your rough
out defiance to facfs ar^^ reason ^ ' '"'"'"' °" ^'^'^'' P°'«^. ^^il
<ten7'SetS'ki;'t'"' "''*"''^' '° ^^« some of .his sorry Bigamist's f.is^d^ still
. / y
expunge (hem
it exprewioni
1 this point, I
* and next the
that ver)- de-
or both these
roper contact
or disgrace :
ighies. differ-
away a Bore
;hi8 world of
Church, be-
of the enor-
niere substi-
his opponent
ous evasion,,
sing to Min-
hets due to
J great Saint
-in a diare^
St?
e in the case
'n the point,
you herein
ce. As for
the persons
s in itself;
•f my heart,
^ut whether
' point, my
^erous and
id conduct
I and open
to disclose
very deli-
vhy would
re reserve
have been
none can
r whom I
our rough
)int, with.
friende still
n
befoumlT:' ^''* "'^''•V™""^ «° "«^t t'-al «o glarinff immorality is Ko
be lound ftu.ong us. as elsewhere on thi*. ground '; ;.,id I say further that
I know so much already of the effrontery of d.-rgyuen unCt ho mask
th. Itri'lr '"'L' P'--'"'-."- '« --»« '''y circumsp tio o,
thw score ; and to make me speak ail along with a good degree of reserve t
fhrrX rr'" "">'1^"« - '""«' i f- tiLe is s^o^eth g mori
than a mere deficiency m their religious character: of which I do not
now intend to treat. But as to flattery, falsehood.' ar^d duplic ty I do
not know what names w.li you choose to give them ; or to so te wrath
It^nTt eoL'r T ^«"*-t""\'' ^^^"^ »^»^ without anTrealpt:
vocation on the one hand ; or on the other any sorrow or sharne 1 will
mark one instance which is fa from solitary :_A very generous a.^d
M^' i^ltlo^e '"^h"h"^ "';^" ''""^^' ^"^ '«^«'y invS two'of'ou;
fllmisters o lodge with him, and t- enjoy the best eomforts of his ^ milv
nateSVett'I/n U?e'^'\"' "^ t't' ■ ^ '^'^P"'^' '» the mean°[im:. oHgi'-
r'!\r!i , ^ •?"*'^"= "'^'^''' '" ^^^ circumstance of information
depended mainly, ,f not solely, on the knowledge of the kinJ ho^ bui
1 in the cTrtrv" "'^)Tt ^'"^^^"^"' «'' P"^^P» ^^^^ ^^^ ^t
«ion-'' Yr« i ^V' p/Vk' ^^r"^'''" ''»"^'^'^' •" a most frantic pa..
fCl^biJrrrh /!'' The other Clergyman was not implicated «n
DiunUer ot his brother, he did not show any more regret, or discrust of
to oTof the n^n^^^^^ '" f '''"^ ^^ P^^' ''' '*"»'* "-^^^^^^ «< ^hem.
etUef en for ^hP r''"°:;''''%'''r''?"'^^^ '^^''' '«'"*!^ «^ ^^at part of the
To mav tell ml ,h remainder of their «top, till their, departure. Now
bu S rn " T ""^^'"2 '^' "" '^^"-^ °<' ^f'i^'i the civil law takes
mannerly, lu all this; or any ways unworthy of the character of the dear
and^pubhc servants of Jesus Chk.s. ; ,„d \ .efy you Sif; tie scope
«ihtTseTe^w!uldlrhr"* ^""^ '^' ^r' '^"*^'"^^ ^«« « ""•< '^i^^enter;
verence for whl^h? f ''"^^ "' P'"''"'"" to dispute it with hisRel
V^nd thVirnroIA ^^^V^'f """'' P'"'""^ ^° ^^eology and mystery be-
Tve a XTn! '' ''^"" *° °"^ "^'^^^ P^«^^' and heavenly concordl
i>iever a worse plague arrests a country than divinity arro/ancp nr.H
ii oirLTv^f '"^" 'T' ''!■ p^^p'^ against ;;::^Vi3ruid:sl
mouth to tren in"ir ''"''^'''"^'"^ '"^^^>' ^as appointed, as His owo
h is a loor rp ' M ^'^'' "'"/' ^"^ *''« ^^^'«hed children of Adam,
of lav ireachln; n^d'f 7 ""'''^ ^'^'* '^ "^^ better than the dissension
VI lay preacnment, and plebeirm rantisra <
in mie" tto7l»s r '"'''S',''^ = '"' '" '^^"<^^"'ed l:now that the gentleman
^f her mos^ ,ni 5" "^''''"' '""'^^^'" ^^ ^'^^ Church, and a partaker
w t . slight too'.:!; nf H- '"r-" '■ ^"l ^ ^''' '^y^ "^y ^'^'^ ^•'"-' h-' «« tinged
with a slight touch of dissidence, when he finds men enioving the bene-
serv 1 t's a"d M^!""' Tr "^""'"^ '''' ^'-^"^ ^'"- of^the puX
serv^ants and Ministers of Christ, wantinff ordinary decenr.v of m»nn.r».
a... men eccje.iast.cai superiority exempted ibem from theVhack'les'of
n
11 !
/ ;
! f
.)!
3§
s::;::;.tS;s::;;;:::;;:;;rLi:"^^ -"-fi?^- =" t»- ^-nen fu..,
prbmpt them. A irwhetl c 1 n^''"'""'" '" '"'^''.'^ '"^''"P^ "''^"^^ "^^r
^egardin. h« reli^ous sentimem -^^'.T ^,""^^"'^^ '"'gl'^ Sethis or that,
ence on This ground rnT^^'^-'l'^ J'"^^' '^. '"'^^es but iit.le differ:
very uncertain sou ul The ^ " ^ ?^ ' ''^''^'' ^''"'^'''y ' " '« but a
mong all s6rt8 ofS ,0.?^;^ / '^S^^'f^iy, or some kind of rule a-
me that a band ofdemmis Ta Linn nV^'^ ^''■'^''' ^^''^^ ^^*" P^*^^^ ««
their own way ? Theae;^ tul ^ " of dev.Is, are not most regular in
worse. There i^ a Minfstfr n ^^?"'^'-';> '" error and wickedness, the
was educated, IitS,e J aid '"/"^ T"' Y?"^ °^*''''"'^^ Edward, 'who
ry regulation irt reLtabfisS Chl7" r «^' T'T^^''^ ^° ^^^^ "^d'"^"
several years a regular R^,' 1^1 of Scotland; and has been for
the word'; and ToCrted in a reX "^ ^ acceptation of
«andofsoberpeople^o be lerv wi M v ^TT"' '^''^''''' t*^^" « thou-
selves, inour nev! re iv hS !mn' ^^"'" ^'''''"''' ^"^ «'« have our-
cast J thou-rh as vet of an int • f ""u ''°"'''^*^' ^ ^^t of the same
rors 'and obstinacy 'and' n tl.TJ-^'^"' ' ^"^'''" ^^ •"^^'^'" '" their er!
ceivefromtt,eirreg I'rM r^^^^ encouragement they re-
«ien concerned onlhe s,,S ' o.'.l) v '^"^ J^i-cous and impartial
as in the. presence of IS ^^^e f Th^r''"".''^ '""^ ^"'^'"'^ ^^^oose.
try would be left to U.2J ' • u ""^^^^^''^ the world, that our cour-
^'^-.-pii:: ",: " s^;h':^::;;i^:;^'^?v^- Regu,a.Minis;j .
havd never heard. Where ZZr thTl u '"'"S^^g^e and ideas. I
fophy ! is the, World therHeft at r.tl ' 5''" Z"" ^'"'"'"^ '^'' Philo-
like Photon's horses? Or ilet^^^^ ^"'« ''^ ^^'-.
wrong, regular and irregular Or f th^L^ '"'\^''"'''" '''^^'' '^^
your strange theory, dofs i^ co resist / ' ^''"^ "^^"■''"' according to
mer;:::;;f^,?;^:^;"^;f ^-^tend with ^^^ - -'7 othVrs Hbout the
impo- -nee ; and esp;c ■ U in hV ' "''"■'^' "" P"'"^^ ^^ ^^'^'g^t and'
-y '-.^..d. after ac E!^, ^.'^^^ -ernity.^ Now.
may be found necessary for a Minis rohfr' "?"^^^,'«^g«. ^'hich
possesMedofsuchnatura'tal , 1 fl^ ^ '''"^ '"'^ "''^"" ^« '«
as are proper to his offi(^^e then ;• """J'i^^t'on with that knowledge
of heart and life. Tl^s in Je " l'^ "^ ^''''y ''^ '^y ^'^^ Pi^ty
And the cieartest abt c^ of ll o '.1' "" '''V''''^ "^ '-^"Vv dispute!
i«. in my own view/th prhe '^ Z" h'"! "''"^^''^ ' ^^"'""g "''^ ^'^--gv,
tion on fhe subject althoS lis T "' '"'' ':'"'''"^ ^^^^''^ and reflfc:
tuting positive is we riVa iv.^ "'' 'V!.^' understood as consti-
-und truth, whatevery'u. orm 3 n^i.;;;'. ';'"-^^"*'"-- This is
When, therefore, any Min ste^s rLr ? -'7^"'r "^'""^'"^ °'" "'''tives.
most necessary point fre a d ' t ri^ f'^r^ ".^'''" appearance of this
nsm or contradictio : n terns Forln""' ^ *" ' *' ^ "^^ ^ '"^^^ «'>'«-
other words, how can thef ^.k accord nlt'^h "^'^, '^\>:^g"'••'^• or in
'nderstand, viz. the rule nfiC a ^- ^^'' '"'^ ^'^ich they do not
'uence of the holy ^ "t r/ct": t f "ICS.^f ' ""^^ ^^e gracious in-
■'uencp nftu^ I I I "^ sacrea scriptares, u
Jence of the holy spirit of God in their souls? 1"
Oaii uncon-
h.s client, not to pervert the r 'hS ; " fl?^'"^ '^'' ""J"«t cause of
nuthonse*! rule-than for any •.'",! m^ .r""''-^,-^^^" '^ is his
Minister of the Gospel : How fa ill " l^? ''^''"^ *" ^^ ^ regular
virtues, and mere ci i .,a ^s ? rr/r"-^" ""^ ^^^'^^''ve in a.ora
I asked him could l,c adr ,i tl e f J h w ""^ ^''^'^ "'^h a poor papist,
r^^^s are open!, .u^^J^rl^Z^l tE^J::d:cl""^'"^^^^'i
HI the affirinntive: 1 then innnir,.,! i.^ . ," 5^°"°"ct : He answered
f>y.the oific.al services i^rio^ me, '7^^;^^ ^f ^^P/^* »« be benefited
fcipate, that the ' Priest tou .h Tnholi f^'"^' ^' ^ ^^^ '^««°" to an-
oflicc' This is but re^u r f P ; ; ^ '"r '? ^T''' '' ^'^ ^'''^ '" ^i,
ansmg among the neighbo s of an . h;. . ' t'^"'"' "'^^ '*>"/ «i"ce.
merits of Clergymen, one of the Ln-*' ««tllement concerning the
would rather haVe a £lterthTci.rr''r«'^^^^ '^''"''^' that he
tute of the least appearance o It. g^'Siu .^,7/^^ ^^«ti.
of any other denomination. Now you see h^ jhe most gracious one
the good Protestant are not so d^£ent fn t lir ^'f''''^ Romanist, ^nd
the.r names would pronounce then tn L xT "^"tjments, at times, as
cation, this last true stiry is a ouni nr V ' -"^P'.' ^''t'^°"t further appli-
the thing is quite reg Ia7, ccordini C^T\ '" ^'°"'" ^^" ' ^'<^^-^^
Illustrate it to a very grent lermth but / ^""f"'^' " ^"^ ^ could
your patience. Bu{ I^" . in fri 'f th . " '''"'^^ ^^' too tedious for
faces; and that a pai ne7 or nstant u"''" ''' ^ '^^'""^ ^« "«'"«'. or
imitates the face of a Bhdw-ltr's^^ regular, at least, when'he
a Gabriel ; so that you see Lerv th 'n^is I'i '"'"''"i '''" '"^^^"^^ of
Angus.--U it possible for y/u tHi pr^,^t/at''n f "f '' "^ '"'^•
men. but hypocrites, and even profan?M ni er ' ''"'^ T'^ '"^^^I
sovereign hand, prove beneficial^to rimp olemlt ^^' '" "^! ^""^^'^^
conversion of others? Instance I.„ « 'J"P':°^^"^en , or say to the savings
the Apostles. Others >erhed CHirnf"^ "" ^^'^^'''^ ^'''^ ''^^ ^««t of
^nd St. Paul seemeth 'to re oi!e U,cr n kn'""'^ - 'Y'^'' ^^'''P '• I^.
siilvation :' &c And hmv Z i ^"""'^ ".' knowing it should tuin to his
regular ' as an adjective t„ anv "uWep '• '''"' ""= ""'P^J ""'d
■livine revelation gives us the n f, .1 m T™""'' '"J' '"">><" '»>»»
enterprise of the A™' I " J, das c hi! T''''' ''"'"^"°"' The name and
- great and glori Ju't, ' t 'l fte' ^ Si:;',',, ,",' ''7^'" ''^™'"»
"feminence and prominence in Vhl i- > ""' '''^'8'". ^mongnien
[■ope l.e shall soon^ ,° cr |,oot'and on, 1,"'°"^'^''''''='' "^ Scotland, That I
he_r__confe.ions and trantc'lL^s^r^^ret^'r'la^l.'Je' t'^T'^. '"-
Home. For the
famous St. Jud
he Church of
^standard of excellence and"perfection'"TfT"^^^ ^'T' "''''''^' ^"'^ high
•u periection. If I dare object to the fatal mea-
H i^"
r -li"
Iff
Hi
40
sures of M.uislers— Why ! They arc as good as Judas : Let me find fault
With the enormity of communicants- -Tush ! Judas was at the Lord's
Supper at its prime and original, under the immediate administration of
l^HRisT himself : When I advert to the wildness and falsity of r-evivals—
Ah ! the Lord rebuke me for my rashness : for in the best reform on earth
there wanted not a Judas I But for all this I wish neither to overrate nor
undervalue the merit of this famous Apostle ; and say therefore that I
heartily choose all our clergy and communicants were so far reformed as
to gain, at least, the tacit or negative account of the goodness of Judas
among the disciples, before his detection on the score of the box of oint-
ment. And as to the preachers of ' envy and strife,' St. Paul, like all
other good Christians, in similar circumstances, made a merit of neces-
sity on that point ; for he had no choice to make. And regarding the
word • salvation ' I take it, with other sound divines, to mean only the
release of his person from confinement ; which was quite contrary to the
intent of those envious preachers. The betrayers and murderers of our
Saviour, and the noted Judas among the number, in like manner indi-
rectly, and in the Lord's overruling providence, have proved themselves
as some of the best friends and benefactors of mankind ; and yet na
Jhanks to their office or intention. The mere sovereign permission of
Heaven is far different from its positive injunctions, examplary precedents,
and imperative mandated. ^ ., r »
^ft^Ms.— Would not Judas's participation of the Eucharist, after his
exposure by Christ, be rather a precedent than a mere permission ?
Bruce.— I challenge you and all the world first to prove that ever he
received it. And I tremble to live at a time which has brought your doc-
trine on the subject into vogue.
Angus.— 1( you think to charge me on that dot, and the several other
points in the course of my argument connected with it, you will involve
many a good and great man in the same charge; and indeed I heartily
persuade myself to believe that so insignificant a thing as you, csnnot h&
in earnest in your attempts lo expose to contempt and ridicule oui far-
famed and most reverend Ministers and Doctors at home. I should dread
the very ground on which you stand, and abominate your very appear-
ance and breath, could I fullj be sure that you have no more foith than
you profess, in the wisdom, iutegrity, and sanctity of Presbyteries. Synods
and General Assemblies. ' ./ >
Bruce.— Do not then deceive yourself any further o» that .around; for
1 tlunk the si. ject too grave and important to tease or tar. iHze you on
Us bearings : 1 am as serious as the weight of the points in question caft
make me, according to my best knowledge of them.
Charles.— Mmy of your hearers are apt to think that either, or at
times both of you fight it but for the mere victory of argument, regard-
ess of the true merit of the suKject ; because-you do to often, as I former-
Ij remarked, sprout and strout in such satiric and bombastic a style as
would, by some, be thought improper upon serious points.
Angus.— Am sure every body of common sense and reason, who hear.*
me, wUi give me the credit of having so goo4 and boaorable a cause, that
ances. •* wntiever, ne will make generous qllow-
paiilful day; I have therefore buUhT 0°"' 7k ^- ' ''"''*^^"' "'S^t and
ing my hearers anv wi»Jt m„ r °P^' °^''^'"« ^'^P^^'e of impress-
prfnci^les at r , dom aVd hold S T'"'"' P^^P^^.^^^P^ ^^eir relfgious
external circum tan^^^ Thev do T. f ' 't"' ^^^cor^ing to accidents, and
ject worthy of ra i3 r.in/u "^^•'"'^^a^e religion as the only sub-
volving in^it he awfu ' on^^^^^^^ everlasting beings; and as in-
eternaf ThrcoLeouentlv h. '. '""^ '^^t difference of life and death
however righ^and reasonaWe ser^^^^^^ and dende any thing or thought,
t\ ^<:::tS{::;^z::':^Tti.':'^': --roMs';ivrcaj;
ground; for it is hLdIv worth fnll ^^''"t ^'^'"^'''^vv on his own
subject under any aefou^ap^^^^^
who Ws not th^at a man ^Sy^S^uitet^e?, un^ i^^^^S
w^;^^^--- very disdain.!,,
of SisTute 'fc'l""."'^""^ '" "l)" "'«»'"■■■-' =i"« 'h'' commencement
be-, of the fe.'abHhed Church o?!''!? "!f"/",."" """''"» ^"l ™« "
.-mSyT^hoirl^hlt^keenTvf ""'"',''"' "^ ^'" "°'»™"
,of s:r„T/a''m:.;tom°t.i,;..".' ■"""' 's ""' r *» "■» "-h. 't
letel, absconded f/„m°ti;L W:'„d™?™er"c"Varib '''""'"'"«
rare m Scot and amonir the Cl^^av ™^9"^"ce ^t tippling; a vice not
my assertion. My own Minister^^fAr .» °"^ not hanging merely on
was but a half idioVandTmerc;ofn »''''"' ^^'^ '""« «^°^^ °^ /^«rs,
of vagary, ^nd th'; :aL%TancTe °'^^^^^^^^^^ »>""
in our two adjacent narishPQ »,u\.l '. j "'e same time, served a.' pastors
their long livis^oi^irthat o^le of Z '^^P"^.'^'^"- «' suspension during
ministration, as a rne^e ffrce Y^^^^^^ interrupted in his public aot
of them are publicly char 'd with in v"" ^"^ '^' successors of two
which one of them id thfr'nnn '"^^'^•"'''^^^'ssues. in pursuance of
der the black stLma of a m^rr i^ ' '"^ '^^ °^*'"' '^ «^'" officiating un-
own honorrthS the crTme !«?'"'" ' ^it"^'' ^«^'"'*» *>'« «»d her
GorroK J \""ugn ine crime was committed before her marr:»„o . ..a
o.r ,b.,„..u ., ,ucfl Circumstances as have been aufficiemlysat' "lit^r;
'<5
l\
m
ta all concerned, but the clergy and their implicit adherents These afp
but mere specimens of what might be far extended ; and pttly of a far
la&our TJ'^'Tr '' °"^ ""''''' ^"^ ^'^-^ families,'in7he Higt
lands of our dear and dangerous native country. If you have not fhl
humduy or honesty of mind to acknowledge tLsenotoriouftcts I al
low you to pubhsh them against me to the four winds AsTo frol okint
fidj^hng, tipplmg and dancing in manses, or the houses of Cle^mei ft'
13 but a very familiar, and ordinary point to hear, or to sneak o^thp'
from time to time in different parts of our native kingdom ^^al.n"
whhVdr' ^''^n^y "ext neighbors, D. M. the piper,'' who, poor fellow
cou„.ry bear none of your m„„sLu?ctr?cfe",\rL^ "f:dl;.'"„ e '
keck, on that score, till your stomach is vacated " ""
n>y'';;ie^Ts"!uh1:c^^r„tr'::;■s,rtt7&'Sei^^^
tural fook nr,^ .1 f ®^°^'^"^ ^^^ a dispensation on this around - Na-
I?e n Si irtt"lt^"hV'-'' ^^ 'W'y «-•— in her ministry as they
thatThe e n. ^?m! ' ' ,? u ''''' '^'f^^- ^"^ ^^ ««^*°"« ^ruth I believl
Clerffv for Ih^v 1 n ^'''' ""' "' ^^^''' '^'^ '"°«^ harmless among our
Clergy, for tfiey can impose unon nnp« h.,t ♦h«: i.. . ^^
1 -'» «!i\,ii unij p-ctuijur casi. iiut
nts. These are
partly of a far
, in the High-
have not the
ious facts, I al-
s to frolicking-,
f Clergymen, it
speak of them
- I happen to
>, poor fellow,
tnessta dread-
twice, in par-
, as a piper, in
)ath day-light ;
le of removing
and stilfsfept
worship; and
I happened
ih other extra-
3 Reverence's
ction. None
rnly wilful oh
mtidote along
jymen in this
t a distance :
that no such
)int however
!, within the
an never un-
hinking that
much plea-
ying that my
once prove
It of reform :
few of those
)ver all the
lad abscond-
Jies, leaving
ul conduct,
igious carri-
h on earth,
•ound : Na-
stry as they
th I believe
among our
r cast. But
what have I said I I am sadly mistaken; for some of the most cunninff
and sagacious in political and civil concerns are among the rankest fools
in the world in religious ai>d spiritual things. Why else could such
swarms of these idiots win at all to this sacred office, througij the finaers
of so many quite the reverse of them, in native intellects! And why sup-
ported through their functionary life by men of superior talents, but upon
the same ground ! "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee.
U J^ather Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things
trora <or disclosed them not to) the wise and prudent, and hast revealed
l* ^o babes. Even so Fathers for so it seemed good in thy siarht"
Mat. XI 25 and 26. " Where is the wise ! Where is the scribe !'' '
Angm.— Where is your boasted discernment when you don't notice
your own flatly contradictory statement ' How should any Clergyman
abscond unless he was aware of the just rigor of his brethren against his
dehnquency ? °
Bruce.— It is not so easy for you to prove any coritradiction or incon-
sistency m my statement on that score as you pretend to suppose There
are other reasons for the abscondence of individual delinquent Ministers
rather than the rigid morality of their official brethren : As first the
suspension of support, in a less or greater degree, by their offended'sub-
scribers : Or secondly the intolerable reflection of other religious deno-
minations, among whom they may happen to be placed; in the same
manner that Popery is never so degraded in superstition and immoraljty
while It is open to the inspection of Protestantism as otherwise : And
thirdly, more -^specially, when the delinquent, in addition to his other
offences, proves insolent and refractory to his presbytery. These three
points were remarkably combined in the case of the Pictou absconder.
^rt^MS.— Such solitary instances but faintly serve your purpose to de-
grade the ministerial character; and your memorial of them proves rather
your own greedy catch than the offence of your objects.
Bruce.— The paucity of my examples is more the result of my reserve
than the poverty of my subject : And, therefore, to take another instance
upon the same local ground: Another of your late Clergymen at Pictou
being as a man so pampered-like, and as a Minister so torpid that he was
but unsufficiently supported by his congregation, when he had taken the
maggot of electioneering as a civil, though unsi cessful candidate; who
after surviving his political defeat, and remaining as a religious incubus
upon his ecclesiastical adherents for a time, at length paid the debt of
nature. But, behold, the whole Church, if not the whole country, must
mourn in sackcloth for the trumpeted loss of the good and great champion
of the faith: Nay any sensible and serious publisher of a Journal mu.««t
have all its extremities duly phylactered on the occasion, as the sable
symptom of our awful .eligious bereavement ! This must not be all the
marks of gratitude of the living to the memory of the dead; but somethincr
more durable and substantial; a subscription for a monument to stand
the test of future ages ; that the generations yet unborn may see, as well as
hear of the lofty vist^ag^es, and solemn signs of the ardent piety, and sur-
passiiig ejnuiation of ihcir auoesiors. Bui what do you think of me, who
'I »
I '
It I
\\i
f\l
believe thai I m'wht w\th «►/.».
this occasion, by Vecoifd?n /^ ^^^^'^ J"d« en
J'ven to the poor ;" espectaX "L poor chifd p"' r?'^"''^ " '^ ^« '«^her
or could you deem it any d Jecr.tion or nr 'r ""^'T''^ Clergymen ;
fiilJy aware that people once rVli ' 1 . 'i • P/^^^^^n^^'on ? Although I an
-uch a heigh: ofSotageTe in Tar?^"! f"'""'''^' ''"'^ '«''» of hLv^n to
v.ction, or shame; yel t is possiblTtJit F^ '"""P"^'* of ««her con-
'Xn^at:b "n^ i'^^^of ^ '^^^ ^^-'"^ ^^
every lore; or'rXrtwrp^Zr^xtlf.r'''^^'^''^*'* *« -"'« on
gayest flowers, and the verrsweet^st hlrh, • n ^ P^'""" '"'^'^ ^^e very
«ppare„t. or ideal defects o^f he cL' v ' - • '"^ '"^J'"' '^"^ '^"^
jour dreams by niaht^ Pr J f '^^ '^'^^P^ ^o"' thouirhts by dav or
revelation. and^Kuitful r/sut^^lf"'* "''^ '"'"^ '"^^^ of'your graciius
■»ri/ce.-I heartily w h vof. nn.L ^''"'' ^"'""«"'bulation ! ^
remark* are too well grou/ded o be reS"' "."'^ ''^^'"'"^ ^ ^"^ >"/
cannot .nvalidate thei? force t is Jo .m '/"l^"""" ^^"^ering evasio J
are profaned. i„ so fearful a manner and dl'"' ^""'^ J'^''^ ordinances
administration of the characters of such.«^^^' ""^''" ^''^ desecrated
Shock.ng. but to callous hen tTand sealed ^r '" *^"'*^'""- ^' ^''"'^ ^e
of the flushed and fuddled faces of cLr'!"'"'^ ''' ''''' "' '« ^ear
frequently in some places in ScoulnH ?T '"^^ ^'^'^^ '" ordinary, but
country, at the verv solemn momln'fi'^ ''•'""'« ""'^^ ^•«il>'y i" thi.
For my own part rhadk^own of h^^''^"''"''*"''"« 'f'^ Lord's Supp^^^^
"«nt» and con%equen 1. "espe'iaW in f'T'""/,^'^^^' "'^'^ '^^^on^eSm:
mun.cants, and Church merbers U, ^ ""'"''" °" ^''^ '^om-
very soul for the space o^a Tong roLd numh?'?'"'"'^'^ ''^^^"^^ ^y
An^s.-Whenyou speak of ih^ri^' ""^ ^^^"^ together. ^
./jeaning extend : bo you Sclf.de a^!?^ '" ^'''"'' ^''^^'^ ^"^« your
Wished Church of Scotland nl^ ^ denominations beyond the Esta
your " black-book r ^nd don'tVou" tr''."'^ "'^ ''^ her ^Ministers from
upon the whole, as r^oral and^e li^us s t v'";^ ^'^ '' ^«««^ «"d
suasion on earth ? religious as any other community or per-
partieMToTiot ?nduie al' o?tLm'in aH '''^' '' '^"S'«" ^'^ «" other
scnption : And I do not i/tend in Jv h ^ ^"""' ''^fl^^tion. o, de-
any particular comparison on h; ub^e'cf^/r''' ^'"/-^^ ^"^«' "P«"
the errors, o- misconduct of other Tr !nvl T' '^^'^"*^'>' ^'ow at
ests~as certainly and sincerely I dA if^ ^i^e desire their best inter-
ground of my argument w . Ton Vnd llth^'^ 1"/'^'^ ^^''P^' '^^ ^" ^^e
to include all her Ministe.sin the same err '^"^ ^ "I" "'''' '^ "'^^ «»
but ,n a high degree in the reverse yet loTn ""'"°"'"y or misconduct,
••'tency, exclude any of them from ll?„: ??'' '" '"^ scriptural con'
a^ ul, degenerate. aJd dngerous state ^'fL''' '"''^^^V"'"^' '» « ^ery
real public piety* i„ all her comLtnity o [Vn.-'.^' '^"' ^' ''"'«
Scotland, or in all this country. ""'^^' or administration, either in
«y i« her, taken in its limited
eence.
ostle Judas en
I " to be rather
ed Clergymen ;
Although I ani
ft of heaven to
of either con-
;e Wurning by
ht to settle on
'"rom the verj
ibject but the
;hts by day, or
your gracious
i!
ng: But my
iering evasion
d ordinances
le desecrated
It would be
ee, or to hear
ordinary, but
sibiy in this
Rd's Supper.
1 its concoiri-
on the coni-
ickened my
ther.
ar does your
>d the Esta-
nisters from
t ieast, and
lity or per-
'f all other
tion, 01 de-
enter upon
lly blow at
best inter-
and on the
so mad as
isconduct,
tural eon-
I, in a very
'e is little
either in
45
rA«r/#s.— Many a poor sincere soul that may deplore the sneering
sm.rk on the one hand, and fear the bold stroke on the othir that ca^
not yet dec.de between you on this most interesting argument. And lor
7.£?: i- '''" '^T^'^. '' '"""'"'-' ''^ ^''^'^"'^^ -" ^^''gi^"« Hnts, either
ler of otherf. '" ''""'^' ""' conden.ning too freely, the reli^^ous 'charaC
Angus.^l rather rejoice to see a man who abandons moderairon run
hnnself aground ; 1 should otherwise, by this time, feel perfectly stunned
s.up.fied. or distracted. Let them be allowed to commit themselves who
delight ,n exposing others. I would scorn to be inquisitive where 1 Tel
no suspens^e. but merely in order to tease malevolence • 'Tis ni" every
ol'a tj;!plef"' "" '^''' "^ '^^^ '' '''' '^^^ of a demon, on the pInS
on^vonr''7! T"'"* ""' n^""'^' ""'s'^''"" ^' ^" '"«'^« «"y ^^'^'^ ^^'n^^ks
^hJ. \ ^^'^''eve-well-mean.ng suggestions : but I must say in general
that a .s not every sort of tenderness, nor even religious tenderneL. that
n'..^ Ti7rf^'* 'r "'.""'^J^'^t. The sympathy of some folk is unim-
proved all the days of their life : there is more of mere animal good na"u?e
d^rZlTJr" benevolence in their good feelings; like one^of my eJ!
fnlJ! J"""^'/ ""''^ ^'^'^ "^•ver unshaken look at any of three follow-
7a thlTrnd'ir'L^','" '■ 7'^ ^?^='"« "•■'' cross childi-the conviction
of a th...f-and the killing of a snake : But as to the triumph of my chief
h^nS'athrto" r ''''-'' ''-'' •^^•^ ^-^-' ^'- '•"'« --- -
InhlS'V ''^^^/'- ^°"/ ingenuity to disentangle yourself from the
labyrmth of your daring, foolish, and random assertion: That there is
no* piety in the Church of Scotland ! Where in the world can you ^.ce
whnt f' '^r' ""'''' "?.^'" ^"'' ^°'''''' »"d Professors in Divinity ;
whose fame for piety and learning, as well as number, rings about to h^
four corners of the Globe I Upon my word I never h^lve m^et your ma ch
vet in JheUlH fr'''\'''^- ^"^""^ sceptics, infidels, or atLists ; nor
yet m the wildest bosom of a dissenter ! My stars ! this is nothing but
he very purest Ignis- atuus of Normanism; which surpasses all he^>os
s.ble limits and bounds of reason and moderation ! Now. my fe lows at
jny elbows we shall hear great and marvellous things ! At i glance-
briefproof, or resignment! ^ ^-^i « giance
r^rfp'rT'Tf^^ "'^ ""^ """^ disputing about nomenclature, but real cha-
coJld win thpT"*"' n«nies, and scoring numbers, and sounding titles
rrsk for . th ^' ""■ *^,^"J'*i'7«'"t. I '^oufess your cause would?un no
risk , tor all these you have duly on your side; but " the race is not il-
who would nnfTrr*^ ^''l^' " 'r'"^^ '"^ of a certain schoolmaster,
- ir.rnf on "".;' ^T ^••' P"P'' '^^ proof of a long question in the
oUhlZ^^ TT^ multiplication," unless both were given on one side
of the slate, which could not contain them. Were you as open to con!
v.ction as you are prepossessed in favor of the mere name, aSd religious
III I — -, - ^ ^ ^ ^
- Brace ...d .'little piety" instead of » „„ piety.'^o^d^^^i^T^.inst carping.
[I I
46
.dv.„«d. I, i, „ II i^„,r„|/,''V' J^ ^''P"»« "-"eope of wh« h., been
vinced against their srain - '.Wh„, ."° l"''" """" """ >>^ eon-
believe rf, aid the p'ari °e.s,„l'j ,7", ^ ' 'h°" »h°» - .ha. we may
of miracles already in onlcr .n „ " "*^', ^"^^ ^"^ performance of a train
no. completely otllZZXlJilZiTr^'VI::" '''"''■■ '''."'^^ """
gree, is the case with vou LJZZ J' . ^^"^^' '" ^ fearful de-
the other side of the sfa^e • or in n,h'"'°"'' j""^ '^"'^'^°'"" P'^'V- ''^ok on
talogue I have given o the di ,race'fu/7 '' °" '^' i^"^ «"^ »^'«*^k ca-
community; and then try hot c^an '^^ h"T""V^^°"' ^'^W and
't to the state of any Church on p"?L' t^ l^^ ^"""^ ""^ ^°»' reconcile
Jioi you must be held to my ass^^^^^^^^^^^ To^'^'" "°^ "V^°"^ P"'^''- P'^^y.
P'ety; for l deternune not to S ' dirl.». '•'! ''"^ ''"'« •'^"l Public
or concerns. And scores of ties hnv.r^ "" '"^ ''"'''" characters
of the «' best and o^ the wo? t'' "harac er o?'"'"' J"^ '^'^P ^^^^«*' ^^'"^
country and in our native kir^rn vvhinh/ ^'"''''"' ^""'^ '" »»^i«
s»tt,ngand administering to^olSrat the mtf'^''' ""T"'^ ^'''^^^'
Gospel. And when the sottish .Irn ! J'o»t solemn ordinances of the
the Church, wher asr ler re^^ ^" ^^^ outward privileges of
of the sacred scripture.? P"''''" P'"'^', according to the rules
raii?eTt;;L't:Car:^^^^
the arguments brought ^ga" ? him^ and that th'' '''"'?"' ^° ^'«P-^<^
soning IS both discreditable to his o'w, cause 'tT"""'"'^- ""^^^ "^ ^«^-
instruction; for it has n.anifestlv an e iMnfl ' '"^ ^«T"J"nous to our
of his opponent, leading not eldom to s h roifr f'' '''''' ^"^ ^*^'«
unnecessary digressions, that I beain .A ^^"^^ °^ xcitement, and
our subject in s^moke , .nd fi„ ,h i? i h IZ '"T'' ^"'^ ' ^'^^^ ^''^ °f
thPn might have been anticio" ted An ^'' ''''''•°" «"^ satisfaction
mand of his temper; and TnSurislfe/h' \"^'"' '^''' ^" ^''^ "° '^m.
bantering, and i.'ide^ent re action instead if "^'''^r'' ^^"^ °"'^ ^^'''^
arguments. And in my humble ooiiiofn .^1°P^ V'^"''^'''^" «"d «°""d
now and then, drawn a^siderom h, m n "t^'" ^^"^\'^' >" « ^^^^^e
r.val ; 1 would therefore humbly propose hr^r '? " '^' '''''' ''^' ^'''
competent neighbor would be allmn V ' °'' "'her any other more
■remainingpnrt"oftl.e debate to i^^ ^- the whole
less sarcasm, and more mod^ratir^n ,f '! -"^Z"^'^'^- ^^•^ ^^'thout
auditory. nioderation, I tlnnk u high time to dismiss the
sufel-ilL^int'tt' J^ie^im? rbonr'T ?"""* "^^y '^^^ "P ^he
meet its merits,\nd to lash he insoL.^ r^' "^"'//"^^ '" ^^^ '"^^'^"g to
smartly than myself I am fully sS^^^^ °f^^^«^« ^"tagonist more
;n the view of /very sensib e and Crtnl in';''.°"f Jf^''^^'^ '"^ «^"«-'
I am as invincibly Unconvinced nZlhl ' "'' ^^ "^^ ""^'^"'^^ ^ fo-"
the censorious oratory and vicious refll.t "," ''^P"' '^ ^'* ^"^^". ^y all
and pious Church, as when Tmoved T' '^
grand topic. ' " ^ '"'*'^^ ^^^ very first quesfiqn on this
v^
'e amply given
what has been
lever be con-
i that we may
ice of a train
; if they were
1 a fearful de-
rty. Look on
ind black ca-
r clergy and
D, reconcile
public piety,
real public
te characters
regret, some
both in this
rd freedom,
nces of the
privileges of
to the rules
Vngusgene-
to disprove
ode of rea-
ious to our
it and style
;meiit, and
ood deal of
latisfaction
e no com-
1 only wild
and sound
1 a degree
are of his
ther more
the whole
)r without
smiss the
ke up the
leeting to
fiist more
ny cause,
ence; for
'n, by all
it famous
on this
47
Bruce. — I feel certainly released to have my first opposer down : .4nd
I welcome you my moderate Charles, or any other of your temper that you
may choose to substitute ; for whatever is our difference of sentiments
on the subject, I heartily wish to avoid the fatal ibstinacy and tempting
scurrility of neighbor Angus; who has the same wisdom now as at the
very first outset of our dispute. And I freely acknowledge that he may
have drawn me into heats and digressions beyond my intention and set-
tled inclination, by his manner of opposition ; of which some of my hear-
ers might take notice sooner than myself; although by this humble admis-
sion I am not aware of having advanced any statement of facts, in the
least degree, contrary to my very knowledge, or real belief. And yet you
see it was as easy to convince a Romanist of the absurdity of transub-
stantiation, as a bigot Protestant of the error of his own religious system,
or the misconduct of his party. Neighbor A. is as infallible in his own
view, as " His Holine.ss" in his. It is by this wretched conceit that some
in these latter days pretend to leave St. Paul's spiritual attainments far
behind them, in professing sinless perfection ; when it is hardly possible
to mark a darker sign of the perfect reign of ignorance and pride in their
hearts and minds, whatever is the varnish of their conduct. It is like the
application of the rite of confirmation without a shadow of the grace of
regeneration, which is now very ordinary in the world.
Charlea. — Neighbor Donald is here offering his service with the appro-
bation of the meeting, as well as with my full consent.
Donald. — Though I, and the rest of my friends here present, cannot
disapprove of the disposition and conduct of neighbor Charles as an as-
sociate in private and civil circumstances, we must not trust our religious
debate to a man of his facility, and hollow charity, of which the. honest
Christian has already given us some sound specimen. And though I do
not pretend to possess the fire and faculty of Mr. Angus, I shall not yield
to him or any other in the meeting the palm of zeal and sincerity in the
sacred cause in which we are engaged ; when I still wish to show due
moderation, which, 1 can assure you, is not an easy task, while an honest
mind is pinched on a religious favorite point. When many of our audi-
tory may think with me that there is ample space for investigation on the
partially beaten path; yet for brevity's sake, as far as possible, I do not
choose to retrace it ; but to enter upon some unoccupied ground. And
after these short preliminaries, I ask Mr. Bruce, in the first place, How
far do you say that the indiscriminate union of the Clergy, especially at
solemn ordinances "has an evil influence on the habits of the people,
particularly communicants and Church members ?"
Bruce. — As my patience is already so far exhausted by the unreason-
able and stubborn contradiction and illusions of your predecessor, I beg
to enquire of yourself first, Do you admit that any of your Clergy h«re,
or at home, are profane or scandalous in their open conduct, according
to my foregoing description? For if you either flatly deny, or slily evade
all my suggestions and remarks on these grievous heads, I tell you freely
and at once that I deem it not worth my pains to trouble either you, or
myself with any further reasoning upon the subject.
H
that such^enorrnities :; e com e^:!': ': ^dej '''l? ---'y thought
nd fference or rieutralit- "3"-''"^. -^"PersttJed ; whatfver might be ilie
of theol^trbe orofl' f charoctt 8 still remaining unpurged
the new. ' °^ "''''* P""'"^' ""^ ^'^ P""»«^e«. creeping in Lo%
batter such a sort of re,l / ' ^ut m LVr"^, ^. agreeable tusk to
premise that I made a half slio in n\li I J ^°'"" ^l^^^'^' ' '""«'
people" and "Church memb ' s " ^^ In" iJct IL?:" h"!,:*^"' " l'^^
tmct.on on this ground, in the Churc of V.n. ' i 5'"''^^-^ '"^ ^"^
fashion among ain.ost every dencHnii^i"!/nfrM^"^ "^"^ !' '' ^"' the
weight Ldsolem'nU^^nheOrdM.:::;" '"'""""''' °""""»''''' '° "'«
e.e'^Tn^cIlrytf'/kavrnt;!:!' bT ""'l '''"'' 1 » -"«'»- f"'-. -d
the LoRD'Jsup^ ' A ,d low 2 1 "T"'?.'^ ""' »"' "-'"S »orthy of
lings. " PriaslTd peol ■To'h a ike? C""!? ^'T'". "'"" ''°"''-
wish ID learn wliere 1, n,.r « . u ■ "" ""' ""i^' ''="<'. ' would
tion bet, ee .he ubiec", .fll;''?,'"? """"""* '''" ""''''"8 »"cb' distinc
is our precedent or K'l'„:u "'"''- "?''P''"g 'Childhood, Where
the New Tesirment ihl ,S' "P^^^ly or b, fcir dedoction, in
baptism for themseivel o S ^h-'n "' '""I ' "«'" '" ">» »""'""« "f
•ime, to the benrfifof th^ ESch^ri 'jT' ""*""" ""^ "'"™' " ""« -">«
fro™'';e''";^o„'' to '!:,",:'«!„'=" :ir' '."""^i" '^^ """' "^ »- ^horch,
that the practice mifht be ° ced o^ L"h '"^"'"^ ■?" ""'^ S™""'' ■ »"■'
I can answer that fenpr^ll 1 ,° ^^"°"»'"' '' "" '"'"-ied. But
but the tre:&:Z2ZltZ\ the lu' "^ T." ""'r^' "^ "«•>'•
of their Ministers, hat makes SediffAln •■ ' '■«">»^l™s, and not
a general and fixed sei^tren. .h=! " .'''^ >" q"est,on. But it is still
iout a score of
liter, it would
but happy uc-
ommenced of
■ the au.spici-
erely thought
r might be the
ing unpurged
>ii)g in unioHg
»'J:riI»sion of
(eabJe task to
^uery, I inust
etweeii " the
rdly any dis-
it is but the
liiu the range
he influence
tors or a!ten-
of the words
wise ; either
iipti zed, they
1 selection of
examination
rable to the
s farce, and
ill that silly
g worthy of
mere world-
nd, I would
ich distinc-
»od. Where
iduction, in
dinance of
U the same
ur Church,
ound ; and
^aded. But
ce of right,
IS, and not
t it is still
mmunion"
lildren.
entiments,
Rtf>d with
40
.ome difference:/.;;.;, y^' h° ^f b^u " !d tT TJelV'' ""' t"
questions on the sacrament/; where ^ou ™y 6n^d if v^ AT '" 'S'
requisites for the adullsubiectsof eithV-r nf ,?, k.?i:'.J ^? . "'"""*> ""«
.0 be beyond the power o/",;:elwed"p°e ^ '"' " Br;.! m" 1'T°"
a good consc ence townrd rSY^ri " <« D ... °^P"Sfn — to answer
believeth and is ba^ti ed shaU be safed'" ■'B„rf.,f'''";r.''" u" ?= ""'
-that we also should walk in .lewnlss of lif. " '^"'"'.'"r ^' '"'P''''"
md discernment— faiih «n,l „r..^ , ' , *'P'"tual knowledge
ritual nourishment aid 'owhrnL,ac';~rr7 '"f ""' "^«l'»"'=^-«Pi-
boldness and uurcse?vedness °f lon^ ""P"sed and offended at the
pose, however. Tust blunt ,h'„H 'P?''"'""" ""'' ^"""'"sion. I sup-
That even bapt sm t^e Ire '"'' ^''^ "' J'"'" ='™"V. "hen we observe
.. not en.lre'Jy ad'ml'nirre/relXL^^^^^^^
s?;°/^»!-- ""p-"-. A»d it:::: b];-.oS™:th?r "b':; -It!
j_ logemer, and likelji man;r of them are so still to ihij
< 11
i '1
» /I
ft :'f
I > I"
wy day- Atjd all of them of th« denomination of our Chureh And
mustyou not make due allo.va„ce for :hc^ circumstance/?
Bruce.-^l freely admit that these things are exceptions worthy of bF-
lownnces .f you could turn them to any account. But Jou have nof told
ZZT. ^A^dTo'llabl"' 'T --.^l»'"PP-«d, eitheJ as t^n-ea st
T I . probably you know neither, nor wish to know them • thev
tt 'e-Upll^^^^^^^^ ^°"' ''''-'' ' '^^ ^- - 1-0^"- t^e re-i o^f
-ome of their nomin.l adherents, or from ih^/ gold improvern^of the
hity, as a .heck upon the irregularity of some of their paTo^ and th^
one or the other will argue some remaining spirit and iC he Church
beyond your cruel and fearful calculation. ^"urcn.
Bruce.-jAs to "ignorance or profanity," being a bar to any oerson..
desirous of baptism for the.r children, it may happen in very ^aVc?^
bu on y as a mere matter of form, till the ignorant learn by rote a fei
of the leading quest.o.s in their Catechism mi the subject ; and be pro^
fane, such as adulterers, fornicators, pass a latle fonnal ceremony f^ a
few sabba hs. with little real shame or remorse, and then both SseTveJ
Zi^ \"''''^' '"' '' ^''^'^y ^^""'"^^ ^'^'"^^h members as ^y Chr^
tians in the country; yea. farther, have the surest preference in this
case, to the n.ost sober and intelligent dissentient in the kinoSom /as I
sTref p^rl;t or '°. r'^ "^^ ^ '^^^«'> ^^^^ might tthVo/rh^
sacred privilege. Do not fear I run aground when I tell you that I oer-
sonally saw a kind husband, a generous neighbor, a soberCbject ^^1
hope, a sincere Christian, return with his child unbaptized in the C of
Its tender mother, nt the distance of 2 dreary scores oLiilecLrl'^nd
mountain, because h:s conscience would not permit h.m to Iprto; sot
-a wrangler~a bankrupt-an idiot of a parish Minister; when at the
same time the very flint.fronted harlot had her numerous unhal owed
MThelps solemnly " chn.tened ;" because she hnd no conscience of d',.
crimination. 1 .aw a schoolmaster, of the said good description, expe
iobb.d nn? • ' ' i'* '^r'i '^' «^^'" °^ ^' kind employers! Snd
robbed of his won salary, for the same reason, and a public drnnka d set
'^Jl7uT' ^^T '''r' ''^''^'y '"«'«'^^^' nor ceae such yet from
tlieir full force. As to the case of th. Isle of Skye. it would be foo tedi^
ous to enter upon any detaded account of it in this debase In const
3^^''^' k'nd of revival, lately in that quarter, under the superintend
dence of . zealous poor blind man. who. in consideration of the shameful
indolence, frivolity, and profanity of the clergy of that IsbndtnST/h
dreadful influence of thei^ cond/ct upon theT/ity beg/n t^^^
and 10 endeuvor alarming all around him on the suUc xSe ah.se
and profanatK,n of the sacraments being prominent among he e rmHes
against which he witnessed, it had the effect-with the assistance of one
young Mi„„ter-of producing that change which you have mention^
"" ^■-^''•~ wuiuji siirrea ail ocuirand for a time
91
he had been at Im threatened, not aniy to be auspeodid. but deooiad
.ad ejected, m unworthy of bi*office ^vy further in " the Church ''w^
ihich'^tt ' '^°«"^»"«»' •>" •'*'' P"t. before the General As emblyt
which he - poor stray 8heep " was at length compellf , to yield though
1 •» ^,« '«ved. w.th a little st.tch of conscience. But a la. ! the ioHd^b
• m,gh y lure. Fow instead of your 1000. you can hardly ^e' its second
decanal; and l,ke y soon not an unit of that number f,^Skye~mo,a
than elwwhere -of unbaptized subjects. uer in oKye mord
^JiT^f"^ "'"' ""V»"«"'P» 10 "'ontradict the main part of your /art
n the Highlands of Scotland, as in this country. But I still think your
nference too severe and awfully dangerous; as for instance St^noJ
If a ^}ZT' "'*'" ^^^^f'''^^ «o "'"Oh from his brethren. oracco^S
of a good conscience, before he yielded to their measures, be still a Zua
?n th.'rh "r r "i '"' "'^'""' ""^ 'f '•• -"'ght. why not many o^hcJJ
HI the Church, placed in similar cir<:um8tance8. though overborne bv«
rsrresT' '^^""'^ ""^^"^ '-^ ^^ .^f ;!'--• ^^-^^^^ t^GeneU
hnfm!H!;~'^'''T»'' ^"°' " ''"Sle Ministe"; in the Church of Scotland i\ at
wh«rn? !"'''^"'^ '"^ """^ ^^'''fi^S'^ «« ^f'« «"* in question. And
when men act contrary to the dictates of their consciences, or. "n o^"er
words contrary to their acknowledged light and duty, without „ we^ab e
ufaU;;.?H'7°'f^ ^^ correspondent behaviour. 1 cannot see ^1^80'^^
tural ground for trusting ..ther in their piety, or religious usefu ies " "^^
borrt;rnr''"^.'^""S''^ '•'? " ^"« ^''« independent manner of n^igh-
borA. that provoked your mind to draw your former hard eductions
but I see hat my lenity works no change on your sentime.its You se"n>
o conclude that it is impossible for a gracious Minister co live In ?e lov^
ship and connection at this day. with the Church of Scotland J be ire
also that since 20. 10. or 5 years, there has beer, no ground for such se!
me reflection*. Have you any recent or late instances conduoive ta
J:i::;";oSr' "^"" ^-^^ ^^ '^^^ ^^^ "-- -ngdom-any.TTea::
«rMcc.-I heartily thank you for your moderation ; and you are riaht
m believing it will have no effect on my sentiments^- althZh ft m^^
a ittle ipon my present feelings. But I have never said positlvelv S
y^ur'cHtch -"CtlTt '" ' f "'^" '*'"'^^^' '^ "- in coZSi :^
n^nLku : K * '" '''•'J'na''y circumstances, it is at present an im-
probable point; because there is no real public piety to beseenin »n hi
oftcial transactions of the Clergy of the E'stabHsCUurcVof Sco i/
^n ? VaTvu^ *'.'"S^°'"' °^ '" *'"« '^onnt'-y- I still avow this nTv
most settled deliberation; and I think it little worth to reason v^th any
•nan that sees not. at least, a degree of my good ground by whaTi V«v«
tL^/enf rr:!f/\*!'?fir^= '^"'- he'ca. dlprove\hescopeo :;
..U tement oi facts, which. I ohailenge the world to falsify. Bu J have
Si LvoTcT'fr'orstaf' T "';?'°"^ J^^^^^«' ^''°- aulhenUcit; l': U
3 ?1T. i.^?!" «l^"nch members of the Church of Scotland, who,
. -.-.V .., .»= vvjr«;« ui inat iwiiig^iiuiij J naming, among other similar ac
i
63
fT»^/l'^'i"M ''i"^ particulars, to some of their families settled here:
i, nf ,h!f ^^ '" '°"'' ''^^^^ '^'^ '"^^^'^^ encourage me and the
rest of the family to emigrate to your place, it is now the just period. Our
Clergy are go.ng to perfect confusion, in ceaseless wrangling among
themselves~and awful to say, the Lord, in his sovereign will leave!
rnany of them as a beacon for warning. Four Ministers; of late, in this
part of the kingdom, cut their own throats to death. If any religious
tenderness is left ,n the bosom of any of them, it must be hidden there,
or meet with such opposition from their wild and worldly brethren as
must makr their lives bitter to themselves, without any prospect of ira-
proving t! ir opposers, but to be turned out of their office, or borne
down at : i ecclesiastical meetings, by a wicked and warlike majority.
Ihere is, i believe, as much real unity and agreement among the " Priesfs
of the altar as between our Ministers, unless they wfre, like beads upon
a string, nominally bound together by the mere cord of Church Establish-
ment, on the ground of patronage and Staie endowment. I have no
reason to complain so much of my own dear pastor, if he could act ac-
cording to his own mind, but he cannot. His reverence has lately endea-
voured to discourage and discontinue our long established mode of
tippling, frolicking, and dancing, the bane and plague of our wretched
country; but without success. Our land proprietor, being our chief elder,
has taken offence at innovation, as he is nleased to style any moral or
religious improvement, and in a sad storm left our session, and carried
away our other seven elders in his eddy, but one poor old man, who hag
more honesty than influence." The other correspondent from another
parish of the kingdom thus writes : " My dear brother,— You desired me
to intorm you concerning our revival : but I am much at a less what to
say on that subject. There is no doubt a great deal of religious din.
stir and talk all over this part of the country. And many are helievini
that we begin to have a new era. And if we had not seen, for the spaci
of severa, successive years before, some movings and rousings, and even
cryings of the same appearance, dying away without any good issues, we
might be taken with these specious beginnings as well as others. A kind
and young Mmister, a native of Inverness, goes round here now under
whose preaching many fall down under manifest exitations, especially
the youth and female My cm^ wife, and two of my daughters happej
to be among the number of these nominal converts. But when I in rnv
own humble way, endeavor to examine them on their experience ' I find
they have ne.the: sorrow nor joy under all their apparent excitement
But 1 would rather indeed to enquire than to inform on this serious point'
'Phi R *'T Z^ ^^"tT^ ""'^^ '" °"'" ««""ding reforms and revivals!
The Rev Mr. M at H— had a young handsome woman in his service
of whom his mother got suspicious; and accordingly endeavored to set
them separated ; but to no purpose ; for when he knew the result of his
forbidden intercourse with his maid to be near past the control of con-
cealment, they both absconded-made for Glasgow, where they privately
CT?"^' ,«"? ITJ"^^ P'y^'^' '' '* ^^ ^^''«^^d' f°r Canada.^ ^And we
have but a selfish half-drunkard in his stead. Ynu kPQx« noo- ni . V
53
where ';tft7::'red°b?soZ''7 "T^"' '"' "'= ""^' '"'" ' -"-" '"^l
through a b?ck':-llrg''^^be"„'it.'™,;rhU"' """'"''' r ""T
charKs^n h- nf h f""^'* =»=0<='»'e» "ith the mos. exceptionable
ari^afraid t wiirU ''"""'] "^ >"' <""" f"'her, which the contractors
"a, of ai rll pay them, unleaa the, arrest hia .alary by a pro-
M niste then i, th?^'"' 1""°'' Tf '.'f ^""^^ y" ''"■ "=• "bout our best
miiiibier men in the country old Mr W r^^*k« d • u /• m
got his only daughter Mi.s P 4fi i; ^^ °^*'^^ Parish of T , who
nephew Dr H who L!i I ^^'■' °^ ^^^' '"^'""^^ *« ^is young
man-O vJhn :. M ^r ^" ^°""^ ^vveethearl in Glasgow. But the old
co~?; tth^rfil^^^^^ ^°^*°^ -"•^' by •'^bricated
then ";;;«« han dead Th '^''J^^.^.^^ ^'^^ : but O, falsehood ! she was
H lo Ih s wife tft K 7 r""'^ ''^■"'^ ^"^ ^ ^'"'^ »« he miserable. Dr.
childbed n!.h/^ ^^' "^'^'"^'y' ""^ ^'^^ ^ still-born child, in her first
thou.lf o^i; 2^^^^ ^''' ""''''"''' ^y <^«n«"mption. And his own headl
ec f Lrev^ ,^^'"h"""" V ''''"^''' ^"''"^^ °" ^ «"dden, as ail might
yearf now C u^nl J h' ^''.^^P^ ^^e younger Mr. W.. who/ for some
As nZ'J '^'^ the mmistenal place of his father."
thp.nrnf""''''"^^"^ ''"'"•''" hair's changing color merely from
If my ne Ihb'rtT""'"?^ of its subject, accfrdu.g to t'l ":Se.s Uo"
thon^h r r u^^^'P"""^^"*' ^ '^«*'e its Whole merit to 'he faculty
he ct monTeonr ""' ''T''' "l"''' P^^^^^ S^^"' and strong amo^
fandTrn 'y:;P':„:i::,^i ^^^^^ ^'^ -« P-^ •^^ ^^e Highlands^of Scot?
you?rtrll7^?nrfi!rn'f '^'^ ^'"'^ ^'" ^^" ^" y°"^ ^^-"^ the test of
yousarabm;ttheC^;;/h'rr?''"T'"/^'' ground? Or. what will
of Asia in tl e Ann; ' '^^^^^""th, and some of the Seven Churches
Chur2eso LcT ?^^^^ ^^'^^^ ^hey not the true
t^hurches of the Gospel, wuh all their wrangling and defects, wherein
'" O i ,,ox, quam ionga c«, qua. faci, una senem ."'quoted by" the Spectator.
r
Ii:|
l| i
¥ I
M
wou d ,„„ b„a a p,o«, MinUter in the Chnrch of Scotland do mTo»
would you have h,m act, at the preatnt juncture, when you maiill ,Z
hi. teS :'ti:rr:iX^r' ■" ^--^^ "■- ""'■'"°"' "'^-o"-" "
b,i^''r.°^l7^°'" iwerrogatory, though reasonahle, ia too prolix for anv
ort^^H 1°"^" "■"''■"» ••»'">i">er great patience for m»det^7
or be .atisfied with a summary answer. Buf as to the last branch nnkl
..ority of ,1 e Clergy would not for a day endire any Minister in ih^^
CrTkJ^C " T»""« :=''"""•«»»■=»». •vho should freely and L"".erredl,
ft h.\ ''"' ""K—" 'f'"' '"* '•> ""'"-i" preaching and "an^ole^
Sir F r ? '-— ^^^^ -: 3:-d f^ B •
•..vVal^ii^To';,."' '" ■"'' '""• " P"P" »''«"a.ion. and I also cho„« ,„
rea^,'l7«:he tu^diubt'' rr'.r''bV""L"'"' ""'"""'W^ ! »« I can
But as to the rp,. „r ,,. ^^ ''°""°' ""« ^"^ ""^ mammon."
.ho., nf / ■ T 5^""' ''""'' ""nwf ning the Church of Corinth and
cor„i4«r,:rreZro:s;:.:rTon"r.i':;L°:'r.ne;i'^
a f uyiMiiM i i
Isu choose to
tOTlKMier; with eiach an one no hot to *»»• " &^Ar .i.^ * • .
as th. immediate messenger or medium of Chr.^/ no^T' '\^' ^"*^'
reproves them, but threatens to take Twa. ^he can3resti"ck'o7''"'' ""^
come as a thief unknown, to the terror of others-to a £
sickness, and punish with Jpath «r.^ umers lo ainict and kill with
pentance, to snurthe Laod r.Tn "^ ''"' '""^^^^ '"^ reasonable re-
mediate instruments were extraord.narv ,l» n fh 'V?*^ ^^^^ '^^ '•"-
could permanently securnrorthod^x; 'o uractT//-^'"' "°'" *'°^''
4he Church without proper discb ine J^d h is on h ""P'«^«™«"t of
the authority and pietv of the Innl^L ,i . 7 ^^'l »*°'"^ '^^ ^^^ that
ousand^advLtage'ousmanner wC kinZ?^^^^^^^ '^vr"^* ^'^"^P'°"-
selves were in the very sieht of r/ln M n '"*^ ^I'nisters them-
Heaven. Public piet^aXrooerdir^nf' '' ""'" '' '" '^^ estimation of
at any period of t^n'^in'the^cTJctTT d'vi?: ^a" ^t J it' ^" '^"''
sible, according to the cospel sv.5tPm thu! *u i . . '* '^ ""P"8-
" If you love nfe keep mylonlTl^^^^^ ""' ^^'if'^-^'
ther, unfess tiiev are aerLl " u wT ^^'''^ ^«" ^"'o walk toge.
ness!" •' Purgl oo't ledd leavfn '' ' "^"^r'l '"^''^^* ^^^^ ^^-k-
«ood." "The'companion of fooTshall be destrZd '• "1^"' ""^'^
pany with him (the unruly brother^ t hi k! '^^'^^^^y^^ ^lave no com-
hfe hear not the Church le^ h m be excim '"'^ ashamed." '• And if
sinner." And regardinrthe L.noih; .^^^ '^ f P"^''^«"' ^' ^
Heavfen. saying. Come out of her ^ p ' , '"''* ""^^'''^'^ ^°'^« f^"'"
proper means f^il) my people h 't ye be'nL ^^?Y''' ^r'r '^ "''^" «»
that ye receive n^t Jr Lr^plaguesy-lRev xv?"f '" "^ '^^^ ^•"^' '^^
pitrof4"^rac^rtSi:^dt rs^^eiCdt"^^^ ^-^^ ^^'-^ ^^ ^•^-^
the ChristoTBabylonian, or Papil Chnrrh H I f"^ "'."^ compared to
80 as to be left by the Lo d^^^ peode ccordrj'..'^ '" ^ Apocalypse.
Bruce.-l do not see reason to InL??^ ^"^ ^°"'' ^^'* ^^^^^^'ons ?
any farther than Ihave a| efd; observed' ThT'h"'°r °" ^^'^ ground,
Clergy, or of a Congregation cannot hJ ""^^^ ^^"^ '"'"^''''^ ^^^ ^^e
«. A from essent'aSor.'or iCoVtam T^^"'' '^«='-'" the
to walk accordinrr to the die atL^.h " '"'^'^on^uct; nor are allowed
clearruleoftheGospdInanvChur.h °"'" <^°"«<='e'^<^e«. under the
goi,^ together-theTlghrtl^epa^^^^^^^^ '" ^" °^f ""3" eases
maintain their spiritual peace to «vnH\h ^ r'l'^"'' "*''^'" "^sort to
If
■ =
M
nation, or epithet their adversaries may please to serre them; or the re-
verse with which the wicked majority may choose to magnify themselves.
Donald.— What may be the essential, or important errors, or miscon-
duct with which, HI particular, you charge our Church at this time?
Bruce— Do you mean to drag me to needless and sapless reflections:
or have I not already sufficiently satisfied our auditors on that score In
the course of our dispute, I have included the more important points in
question, under the three following heads, viz : profanity of conversation
and conduct, abuse of the Sacraments, and desecration of ecclesiastical
ordination. And this baneful Hood of open transgression has run and
swollen, for some successive scores of years now, without any correspon-
dent correction, or reform ; or even so much as any serious acknowledge-
ment, on the part of those transgressors.
Donald.— Have you heard of the suspension, or deposition of the
Strathbogie Ministers ? Is not their ejection a good beginning of reform
and a favorable omen of better days in advance? *
Bruce.— I have narrowly examined the question, from authorised do-
cuments of the Church, and find nothing in the whole struggle savoring
of any real piety on either side of the argument. But the scene is worthy
of the present spirit of the Clergy.
Donald.— Do you seem then to allow no merit to either major or minor
members : What is your meaning or definition of opposition, suiTering
and forsaking, il you make no account of them on either side, when thev
thus lake place? '
-^i;"^'^— 1^ '^ "^^ ^^^ "'""®' *'^® ^^'^P^' "O"" **ie degree of opposition
or affliction that we must consider in the main place; but first the good-
ness of the cause; and then the rectitude of the principles, and the wis-
dom of the measures by which that cause is maintained.
Donald— I wish neither you nor the rest of our auditory to mistake
my apparent unconcern, on these serious topics, for indifFerence ; for I
smartly feel the boldness of your assertions, and the incongruity oVyour
conclusions; but I hope that the whole is like to do littie eecution • its
general strain being too abstruse for vulgar minds; and its vagueness
and illogical texture, cannot miss its due contempt from all the Intelli-
gent part of our meeting. See for instance, your incoheraice by the
following syllogism : , "^
The description and the doom of the great whore in the I7th and 18tb
chapters of the Apocalypse, are only applicable to the Church of Rome
according to all sound C xninentators and Divines : *'
My antagonist applies the sins and dangers of the said whore to the
Church of bcotland, by his quotation from the said Book and Chapters-
i^rgo, I he application of my antagonist is false and danaerous
1 trust I may safely challenge you, or any man to discharge you from-
your own scrape. 1 he assembly sees, I am happy to learn by its general
aspect, that you are completely entangled.
■ Briicc—Yovx have but poor grounds of t.-iumph. An Ahab could say
Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that Dutte*h
il on. \om sophistry will not serve you so successfully as you iriiagine
itn ; or the re-
ify ihemselves-
Ts, or miscon-
this time?
is reflections;
hat score. In
taut points in
f conversation
ecclesiastical
1 has run and
iny correspon-
acknowledge-
)sition of the
ing of reform,
7th and 18tb
ch of Rome,.
lb could say,
that putte*.h
r'ou imagine.
67
doom of the mystic whore rquest on ar^^^^ °"i^^ the description and
your sense, does it follow in he ^^ ' f ^"'^ 'P?''"'^ according to
Bubordinati, or comoaSe mI»nJ Tk '"^ """^ '"'^ '"^"' ^^at, in a
on earth, gJilty of "rpart of tSe^^ "''^ "°^ 'PP'^ ^° ^"^^ ^^"^ch
degree I ire tie noJorfou insolenrand Sf'^h' ''°"^' '" ' ^'^ ''''
and shameless abuse of holv nr?linnn P"de-the open mtemperance,
sacred offices by firaml f"! k .T"*';'^ unreserved assumption of
worldly. anTpe7sec»t1„?l rU ^'^ ""'[^ and w.cked men-the dominan
under a divinfd spSon ' nH '*^ *"'' ^^ '^' P*'"^^'^ °^ Scotland-
dare apply to he scand lou's and T ""'"k^''"" ^^ '^°°'"' «° ^^at none
any of the threateninatrn? ^''^'"'naljle sins, and oflfei»si»« abuses
Churches and s^ner/s'^^:^^ '» ^"« -ord of God against othe^
Heaven and ear K"bv lour Loir '"^ '""''f P^o^»<^»tion3 against
have no Ihreatening fromTbove Cf ''' '^' ^^"'"^'^ "^ ^^^^'^"^ <^««
expressly in the "cVd ScHp^ur^s^^ htfeforr '' "'* •"•'"f^i^tely, and
transfer all her guilt and c^reTo \hfc.KcnrR:^^^^^^^^^ *^'-
or any other you choose But aUu i u I "'''' °'' ^^ ^''^ Jews,
immunity will involve ?er ex^L. '^'^"^J"«^ been suggested, the same
almost monopo ize a„7dL^';f •°".«.V^ *^^ ««j=^^d promises which she
from her fatal feUowship TZJ • ^^^ "^"'^""^ble sin" to escape
crv, at this day o^r „ Tiui 'P''? '* '"^"^ seriously, there is no hue-and-
in'the view of mhe s-i su.T'T^ Tl''' «"y/'"«-however notorious
dreadful and stZJeT;! ,, ih r'*^^"' ^''""^ «« ^ "dissenter." O.
tion. and then if fossP.ll ' ^'"^' ^y,^^''^kedness, compels to dissen
and absorbs in»n ;.= • ^'^^tract. which involves in its very texture
every other e?,", ir.reTJY'T''''''''' ^^^ "^"^°^^ ^"''^ «"d ?a of
and lenitn and not tf 1 '^ g"'le-every craft and crime-are venia
leviathan!l!;his mo, strous birtS "T' " ^''^/-"P-i-" of this birk
mon of our latteT Umes f tI f '^t-and-nnd. this top.and-toe de-
whichisno othLrsemee^forr"'' '"^^''r^'V'^"^"^ ^^*« '"^^^f"! »ame.
go through •• t rChur^^^^^^^^^ Yf.' ?'"^^'^"' ^""^ ^^^ ^^^
esteem, it her official or or v^ ? i. 'u'^ °^"'*' ^'""^' ^'**» the greatest
tical ci'rcumstance td Tt he s „:?'"' '^""^1"^ *" ^*^"' «««'««ias.
about your guilty neck wi.hn.f, """** ^''"^" ^^ve the hangman's halter
h„f^"'',^':.-'^f'«^.'">' D""'!-! tell, .na he ha, ,1^ .o H..„,,. :. .:.
h
III
k .
:ti
I
58
illness flows from regret or repulse, despair or disguat. or from all these
oar
put together. I caDnoi positively determine. , .. ...., ,... -„„„ ,,„ or
intend to dispute the subject with vou ; nor do I think that any of oar
auditory here present is, ,n the mean time, disposed to supply the place
of your resigned disputants: But before we dismiss the meetin<» I would
be glad to ask, in a quiet and modest manner; and to hear, without any
heat or hatred, what would you choose to offer in answer to the two fol-
owing questions: First, How far do you estimate the (Jhurch of Scot-
Jand to have been, at some former period, equal to, or different from what
She now is, in reference to her intrinsic worth and piety ' Next Whv
wooid you so fall foul of her, ja a manner so exclusive of other Churches
which are certamly in no better, if not in a worse condition than sfie i»
at tins time, in a religious point of view ?
Bruce.— Since you are so tender, my dear Charles, I will heartily en-
tTL? T^'f r^Tu' °°"'^'*' '""""^''' *^^"gh «' '»»« s*"*** time. I
wish to be brief; for I begin to weary ; not that my former subject is
exhausted but that my opponents are incorrigible ; and that, thou A they
cannot defend their tottering cause, thay have not the grace nor discie-
!iZ Vh T .?"V'' *"" your reasonable queries, I answer to the fiJst of
t^lrJ V ''""V^'y *^" *i'.ffr«»^ of her state now and some time
torraerly. For, without any wish to give needless offence to any other
religious denomination, I believe the numerous martyrs of that Church
who suffered not like fools, in their name, property, and life, ou<rht to be'
alone, a sufhcieut monumental testimony on this head. I feel 1 cannot
speak with due respect and veneration, tenderness and admiration, of
these httle angels under the terrible and tearing rod and rack of persecu-
^on ; supported, refreshed and at times buoyed up to heavenly triumphs
by heavenly graces, beyond the power of hellish tormentors, to overcome
their courage, or to diminish their joy. In short I have no views on this
point, or concerning the character of those generally called the Reform-
ers any wise different from those of their greatest admirers. But since
she bepn to be a persecuting Church of some of her own best Ministers,
at the time of the excellently bold and pious " Erskines," she has never
recovered what she then lost, by her pride, rashness, and daring impiety :
which deeply wounded the very heart and spirit of all her pious Ministers
and Members at that crisis ; whether they seceded, or remained : among
SinnfJh!.''' of ^hich was the great and good, and justly famed Boston
Since that notable period she has by gradual steps declined, till she has
wofully arrived at the fearful pitch of degeneracy, and spirilual lethargy
which IS now visible to all but herself, or any others who are miserably
asleep with her under the same fatality. The works of several of those
worthies, among whom are the need John Brown of Haddington, the
J^rskin6s, and the celebrated said Boston, show us something fJr a com-
parison between our woful day and the period contrasted. And as to
your second question, I do not think many other religious branches to
be in a niuch better condition than the dwindled Church under remark :
and few Protestant denominations, can be in a far worsR *taf^ M„ «..!
8«ut intention, however, is neither to flatter nor to offend other parties
98
dmg to the teetinmny of our Saviour, in Ma' vii 13 H '^S' "T-"
hu-nbly trust, my said Heavenly Father, in his IKovTdenie^ hath c£ me
ln»!. 'f I J "' P"'"' ' '■="■"'' '" ""is work is in paie Ist as fol
m
-— X, „„ «uiuu 1 enterea 'in w/»atno=<. „„j ;„ r • •
wiog, Jat (.or. 11. 3., which was ray text on Sabbath the 21st."
and in much trem-
I take
Mf
P
«0
Ilia application of thia sacred text to be verv farrml • f^, ,u .u .
ing fast asleep to the soiritual ntltlnZ a^ ^ . ' J^^ ^^^ ^"^^O' ^•
experience any proper con", nf^h"^" ""^ '^'f ^*'"'"^^' *'*^"'** "«»
engagement. 1 coSL thatll ""P«'-t»nce of his own ministerial
congfegation. iXZet^^.l^^^^^^^^^ ° P?"'"-
a little abashed, from animal ILkn^TlL . ^ . ^'' • ''^ ""^'" '^'^^
appearance. If he t^usie?L rrfrrZ: "'*""' *'""''''^' '■" ^'^ fi^«»
at missina some of h,s Imd 1? '"'"'"'>' '*^°' ''^ ""^'^t tremble
supply the drctLe^e^s^a^d 'v^v^ ^^^^ ''^"P"^
thy than jud-rment I haniZ!!i!. f "^^ ^* '^'''^ '""""e '')""Pa-
«tanding, .ass offthe LTin' r "? 'T ' P/°''-^'i«"^'- i" a si.r.lar
and appi ,is' esoeciaHv ff'r li • "","? ^'' ""'^ '"'"^ ^^^"^ approbation
tares cSuld'hrnreTo^iffl't? °''' T^'"" '''^e simple kind crea-
bling. and tho e of S^P nf n.. ^ ''"" '"'' '^'"' weakness, and trem.
Mr.%urns,n his very fntluc 1 '.! '' T '"'!""''' ^''' ''''' ^^en
ofhimself.'andofKrrtDuHic^rvt h'K°"'' ^'' '^^^^'^'"' '^'""""^«
to his nar;ative of a re Sou" ivival' ^;f°;b"//«''g'0"«<'ools would trust
trembling, accordinVto!4 pS h!I u ^f ''''}^^''> «nd fear, and
like himfwhich vcfuJ make liLUn m ''? ""derstnn.J. and believe
ful state if the cleTr Id of nl?. ''' '' ''T '^^^ *''"'^^' ^'^ '^e fear-
a state of which he iho" hl^ZfT't ■" ^'"''''^' ''''' "" ^^e kingdom ;
the work he hows nouhe l.a t , '"''^T''''''- ^^'* '" '^' P^«?^^«« ^f
religious charrctJrs and Jnl^^^^ «" »he score of
erifwelcome^-Zuttc'pt.^^^:^^^^^^^
The conversion of the cleriv U =,lraoI i • *''^^'''' '^ excellent.
The same page J' I Lw7h^ ' . 'l .T^^,'''"^ T"'" ""' °* *^'« question-
•round' Iheni A, d L forTcob'"" ^"""' u'="' "'"' "•" Sodomites
j;»o„, .„e «odo.„ue'VLXt:irjri'.*:r.eCi^ttt
Ja.^b^T^M'^'u^f.'irr- """ "™""', "'"■ n^--. "k. good
ParUh, accordW to the commT /,'.,"',.??'' 8'""' ma" i" the
and pe'r^eo.o^i.ttara^^'lhrLarl'r'- "'^"^ "= '"^ '-""■"»
hav* bee,; more k"^7.hrn the receiZ" '" '" T/^' '^""''"S '='"'l<'
If .l.l« did no. come f,o„, sue, a hbh Zh^lT '" '7 ""„""=' '•"""■''■"
filasgoM-, I ,TOuid .hint i. v.rl 1 ^ an.horily as the Presbytery of
.« see .be words " ha.e been ° in.id %VJ"':!^. ."""""}?' '!"P"""8
1, o. vc, paoB u^- suon naiids J lor it
he author be-
ch, could not
vn miniaterial
•nt a populous
le might feel
Yf at bis first
•ight tremble
very happily
more sym pa-
in a similar
t approbation
le kind crea-
», and trem-
text. When
il ignorance
3 would trust
ind fear, and
, and believe
, of the fear-
le kingdom ;
s progress of
he score of
^ery preach-
is excellent,
question —
t of Sodom,
•lance to it
I Lots, yea
3f the lime
;heir neigh-
Lot was in
Sodomites
aving been
father was
Minister's
hing could
lasses and
I rounds."
ibytery of
notice of
surprising
lis ; for it
I
^M certainly at the same time or tense that the kind reception was aiven
and rece.ved But. alas! this is hut a trivial mistake in comp^3to
the fearful infatuation of both the author ami h.s famous Presbjery n
a moral and rehg.ous pent of view. The Rev. iMr Burns-the f'/ored
and heavenly instrument of the present extraordinary revival a Ki yth-
has rum h.s fir.t ofiici.l commencement to this very day -a perYod of
tTZT' . '''''''^ !""^ drnommaiions. even in Sodom, according
rh ;. r ^Tir"i' *'* *^'' P*""***^" "A" 'h'»' ^i" live piously m
^ot or uT''Va .1 7^? persecution."_2nd Tim. iii 12. •' L thlt
not for us, said Christ. " is against us." And again. '• Think not that
hirhed "' Oh"' 'r' °""''^' ' ; ^^' •• '^^^^ -;pent-shairb :
his heel. Oh, such inconsistency ! Oh, reverend Presbytery of Glas-
Ketc7rotre:r^h""^?'V^t' ^^ -»'- even your lomL; sense
of direct 31„ 'f.' "T'^' P"S" '' '^"^'^ "P ^'»h »he same stuff
ol direc inconsistency:-" Indication of a spirit of religion -apDalliuff
-and'fhe I'f ""' "^-^ ?' T'^''""' ''^'^'"^ ^'^ ^^ dfunken l,Lr if
ZrlJrLT T^ T^' ^''•''^ ''•" ^'^^ "♦' '"temperance seemed to
wit I fl bfs r or" I r''r"' P^"''^««°"«" And yet the good Minister,
r^ h! 1 I r""^ Jacobs iH in a perfect calm from all quarters, amids
all the clashing elements ! Long extracts froiii pages 4 I 6 •-" It was
tant^aid Lnd «rh"H^ '""V^ '"^'^' '" Mis.ionary labors in I dis-
tant land-and who had preached several times wit., much power during
the solemnity-would address the people of Kils-th next day &c Th?
sernmn proceeded from Psalm ex S. ' Thy people sha I bj' ^lli„g t
han .iL°n ^ ^"""'' Throughout the whole sermon there w m^o e
tow^rr.l'';'""'"T '''/ tenderness pervading the hearers; but it was
ir.h. J . ; ""^f " ^^P'^^ting the remarkable scene at Kirk of Shoits
Tn. if Mr""! ? '?"■-'''' ^o""n"nion there, 1(330. when, under the preach!
ng of Mr. John Livingstone, a native of Kilsyth, 500 were converted
that the emotions of the audience Ifecame too stron. to be sm,p essed
After reciting Mr. Livingstone's text. &c. and when%eLringr the afl
fecting and awful state, in which he dreaded the thought of ^leaving so
many of them whom he now saw probably lor the last tLe-when ta ,!
mul again, as he saw his words telling on'the audience, beseeching ^sn
"heTilht"ofr"^^ he w^as t
.he height of nis appeal, with the words 'no cross no crown '-then it
A TceVe : hid, T'T '' 'i' 7''^"^^ ^^'^ '"-^ powerfully Lxpre:."d
A scene which scarcely can be described took place. I have no doubt
e"c:Lto%tTav?':' '"' '^^'r''^ ^"^ frorn^hevery^tl:roustfer:
cb^J of he.r L uP^'fu "" '^' •"^^"'^diate cause of their remarkable
the Holv Snirit /'! '^'' '^' <^°"^i"«=ing and converting inHuence of
ed ZlZVlZ '^'TT' ""^^^ """«"«''y ^"rf remarkably convey-
ed, i^or a time the preacher's voice was quite inaudible • a osalm wL
Bung tremulously by the precentor, and by a portion of 'the "^^udTence
most of whom were in tears." R^r^,^ t ..«•.. !; l-_ , • . ^"•^•^nce.
on this Ipnftthu «.,«»n.- T L- r. "• ^ •-'"-» «"j ""»3r Kino oi remarks
on this lengthy quotation, I think it duty, though a very low one, to ob-
''11
i
^1 t
^: !
serve w,otlier «ynUclic blunder, via: "There wm m^» .» . •
be pedantic 10^1^;. u.e oi or 6^^ "1^ " ""^'"i"' ^'^^^- ^* ^^^"''i
of talent, thus to critic • hi '^? -^* "1"* f"""'"''"* '" "«» greet share
«ient Qfthe extraCH under revlw T fee ' r ""'' 'T ''" '■*'^*^'°"'
l>ecnuBc there i« ^oth.na t « ble in'tL ^ h ' ". '^^ *"*"" '" •"'^••
ture of what prevailed Leverd,.^ ''"'""^ ^"* '^ S'^""*"^ P»«-
recollection/over rthe f nJirnr M ^''^'"" '"y «»^» f-'e^h
good co»«.H uence A vonnl^ • 1 "'"^ ^'^T^' "' ^^^''''"^' ^^i'^out any
«tale of the im^'and na l.V l^-'^r"'!' '"'^-^'i'-'^ '« the A.tal spiritual
neck ; or any other nTa'-.'^nT',. ^^'f-fghteousncs* about his foolish
atamp to be^hougiro 'chose nt tl^ "' r^'V' ,°''^ ^^ »*^« «"»"'
«aving conversioa«%;d;racm st ivah ? 'n^V'' f^'^V -<*'"- "^
mockery of Heaven undnr « Vli """^'"T' '* "oihu.g less than a mere
circumstances pZt^S out in it^lT l"^""'''' ^'"^'^^•^ '^''' «^^ ^^ver^l
provoke puhnona y n«i t ^nAT i' '""''•' ""^^^«^»b»* ^o move ami
Missionary. „Uouf o eavl b h" «'"°t.on:-An intended young
country, fo^ some distant la„d full or'T"'"''*"'^''' '^^^'i^"^. aud
quence, and furewel IrCes il;;;^^^^!^ theological elo-
tie. and under the nan? ndg iVe of l.^i .'e "f '"''^^'^ ""^ ^" '^' '"^"-
striking the tender onJiZ. f ",^^,7 '^';"'^.«»flufince, mercy and love-
especi^\ thr;verkrr"s:r:v ;;Vo ?dS'"r "' ''? ^r'^ «"'^--'
black heavenly little auLre of h. rT i / r 'n ^ ^""'^ ^'"' breath after the
O for breast fo bt:,' h^ t r^il^rtr'/'r^^'T"''"'^^
and lure cguld n.eet «„d min.M r"v" '• .' ' ' h ' "'"' '''''"' *'^''^
solemn wing of tin.e--all adnurefLnl ^;^ ^ !'^^'^'"f ^''^of, on the
fermented auduory atiractino « u' TIfl f^'"'^'"'^' «"'J 'be feminine-^
and involving all ^e'SS;'r;e^^^;'::;Sr'ar^ ""T^- "P'
the scene for further imDrovempni iE ,t ^""'^"'*^'^®" ""^^^ '"'P*^'*
atoue, a nat.ve of K:!:^^::^^^^^^^!^^^"' '' "^^ •^'^''" '-'^'"=-
croivn. we learn, concurred to 1^61.1 erihflvT'"''''"^ "'^^^' "°
pitch, so as to supersede com, llli .u . ^'^^''en'ent to .ts utmost
tr^ordinary virt J l^ould 2 '^^ '^^ preacher's voice. But what ex-
OB from Ihe lip ^f L Burns mo'r*; ^ T'' ''' )!'''' ""'"^^ ^^ ''''"y«.
Mr. Charle? Brucela native of r M T^ "^^r"' "°'"'"^« ^'»««We« ?
Qons,ellations_„o cook no quee?,^ ^off/'^""^'^^ ''^ Aricbat-^300
for the conversion of signers RmT?h '^''iT' °^ "*i"«' ''"Portance
the cas<> is far other v eft; thev I .r ' ^'u"^"' ^^"^ P^'^P'^ «' Kd.yth
fmiiiur and dear to I emselve rnusf r' '^'^ 'VT'^ "^"'« «"^ P'«^.
words of ideal interest to he rir hi ?"" "''^ '^ ^^""^"" ' ^"^ '^^' ««/
'nedium of the Holy Ghost to the on " "' '"' ,""?'" *^ ^« ^'^^ P^«P«^
«ieem myself no great nrot.U? 11 ?-^";«7ioo and comfort. And I ^lill
.nan concerned, as'the name of tl: r'p "1^^' "b f ir-" "''^^^ ^^"^'^^«
«h04ld positively ,i,d unhe.itatiilJlv o?:n±..'l^^^^ 'i^-L^ weakness;^!
tate^
in unuii seri-
b. It would
» greiil fliiaro
resbytery of
'ting to the
iie reJi^iou•
vhni to gay;
jenuine pic-
' own fresh
without jjtiy
t»l spiritual
lurch, with
his foolish
f the santf
medium of
>au a mere
are eeveriil
> move arul
ided young
ctioiQs, aud
logical elo-
n the man-
and love—
and raw,
h after tba
and sweet.
>)rit, light
r, on the
Jm,inine-rT-
nving up,
Dixd ripeu
m Living-
croas no
ta utmost
; what ex-
3r things,
'ocahies?
bat— 300
portance
r Kilsyth
id place,
that any
e proper
nd I will
)uld tgrn
sensible
lessj-m-I
ta
dduBi<«, and dan^rouj stUTtiMing-Uk>«L i.. its nilly aubjects themsefrri.,
•ttd to the ge„er«|.ty around then.. Why » Have I any right " m l,™iJ
tlie Holy U„o ot Israol" iu His means or miuirier of operation ? No • but
where He has liinitcd himself, by hia pinm rerela.ion in the sacred scrip-
tures. But there is no promise in the whole revealed will of Heaven that
Uod w.ll use, as his direct instruments of saving coni-ersions aiid tf»nc»-
ous revivals, in a conspicuous ..nd solemn raanuer before llie worhl ativ
men lying in their own spiritual Wimloe^ and unconcern j as the Minii
•er ot Kilsyth, and his official associates sliow themselves to be by their
general religious conduct; and particularly the narrative under remark
JJon t mistake me about the commonplace words " no cross no crown •"
Jorl think them in themselves very appropriate in a sermon ; but mmr
a day 1 have heard them frivolously, ami at random repeated, by mena-d
Ministers like our author, without any proper application ; or any reai
hnowiedge of the spiritual meaning and import of the cross of Christ or
ot the crown of heavenly ^!ory ; but somewhat like the sons of Sceva
Acts 19th chapter: " We adjure you by Jesos whom Paul preacheth."'
1 he similarity of which, in a manner, has, many a time, most grieved and
eisgusted my very inmost soul. Nay further, I need not stop at negatives
on this ground ; for there are sufficient positive acripturesto my purpose-
either expressly, or by direct, and easy deduction. Read Jer,23dchapl
^^'i c^^}^ ^^^ "^'^ '° ^^'^ end— but especially from the 2»th to the
end of 32d verse ; some of which thus runs ;--" Therefore, behold I arm
against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from
his neighbor. Behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord that
use [or, as the margin-that smooth] their tongues, and say, He saith.
1 hat prophesy talse dreams, and cause my people to err by tiieir lies
and by their lightness ; yet 1 sent thetn not, nor commanded them • there^
lore they will not profit this people at all, saith the Lord." " And it shall
be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth, unto Je-
tusalem to worship the king, the Lord of hosts, even upon ihem shall be
no ram. Zech. xiv 17. " Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have rob-
bed me, even this whole nation." Mai. i.i. 9. The formal and empiv
performance of sacred ordinances, to say the least, which is but open a-
buse, will not release men on this ground. " Ye are the salt of the earth •
but It the salt have lost his savour,— it is henceforth good for nothing "'
Matthew v. 13. " Ye cannot serve God aud mammon " " Do men ra-
ther grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles 1" - He that is not with me is
against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad " "And
he did not nfiany mighty works there because of their unbelief" "And
If the blind lead the blind, botb shall fall into the ditch." "And Jesus
of men '^Mark'i^lT ^^ ''^^^' "'^ *'"* ^ ""''*' '"""^^ ^"" '° ''^''""'^ ^'^^^
"Behold your house is left unto you desolate." " Woe unto voo
scribes, and pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye compass sea and land to make
""k^JTu ^J^L ^""^ ""^^^ ^^ '' '"^^®' y® '"a'^e him twofold more the
-.. n.... ..n«,x j^.«,3civc=. iuai. xxin. lo. " .Lei no man despise thv
youth ; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation.
•I
lljl!
in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Med
give thyaelf wholly to them: that '
-itate upon these things ;
profiting may tppenr to aii. Tik«
chap, at the e»d. " Wells without water " '• Th!L ' '^^^
feasts of charity, when they (ia« v.rh vou r..r .r '* V '" ^""''
f«.ar : Cloud. th;y are wi ho utl ate earned bn 'I'^r '7''"" ^'*'^°'"
fruit withereth, without fruit.'' iTjuSe 12 ver "' »^««»>^''ose
1 he rest oj the pamphlet is much of a piece with th*. P*tr„.. i i
taken, so that I foel no interest in it LVu u i extracts already
fa....c„ work bei,„ z i;:?" „"r„;" i! "Z'g; r„°f"G:;' °/'",?
however ,uo.e a few l,„o, here and '.here ,e, before Ifil^h P, ' s".h
1 he state of society ts complctelv chamTPH p«i v ^ '"*
with us. Religion is the onlyCTc^f i^aert't T ' V" '^""'. °^«'
other before, are now seen shakZ ban U ■ . ?' ""^ ""'^^ ^"''^^ ^^'^'^
engrossing subject." Tl "s may ! ' ery ' ood TZTLf''''n ''' i'^""
must be very ignorant of the Bcriptures ^amrof the re I sJate of^h' *'7
g.ous world at any time, who cannot bel eve that the k i .1 n of u '"^'^
loses no more than it m^^y gain by false reiiff or. v., r T . '"'"''*
whether you bless or blaspheme sinr or 3 ' ^^^ ^^"'^ '''^'''^ "°^
it is still on his own grZd "Vnd U r.rr' ^'"^ ""' ^'°*^' '''°''^'^
er a certain damsel posses ed whh a JraJV"' '' ^^ ^'^"^ '"^ ?">'
brought her masters'^.n cl^ain by so:^^^^ -^^ "«. -hich
and u«. and cned savin,. Aese n^:nlrs'e^ants' Vr^Jo': fec''^^
wh.ch show unto us the way of salvation." Acts xv 16 17 T. a'
vil could smg to our Saviour onp of th« „/... \ ^.' *'• ^ ''^ de-
Psalm-book. Mat. iv.G '4"„^;irm,rvel for Sn? f""'.;" '^' "'^°''»
ed into an angel of light T erXe t I In "" u""'"'*^ " transform-
also be translLmed aftl. mini" Vf^^h7eo'u^"Ls'''1 Cot" "^1?
" Because they received not the love of the truth th-f; ,? ^"': ^'- l"^' ^^'
ed-God shall send them (or permit^ s rnnV.. ^^P ""S^* ^^ «'»^-
believealie."2Thes.iriO iT pL?n.f'"''°"^^'^"» »hey should
my brethren for their riady'aud efficlnt- se vice's "?b;'»^"""^ ^?
other ni-mes in the foreaoinff naires^ " 1 L„ ? (Besides several
of MiUo, Choreh Gl.^oT^f J^MLnaog Lr^f JTiTy" ^' Mo^"""f
Edinburgh, and Mr. Macdonald of Urquhart and M, U m^,."'^
ra;z:erre?r,;r:irper^^^^^
proceeds moat cerlainW ■ and fro,nT„ ,„ j ^L '" """^ "■= "''"I'
■ Church or such as Zli be s/ eT ■[ : t7r™oi,: Z^fT' '" '"^
of them eccentric nor imaaimtivAKn. '\ermons preached are none
is not. as formerlv ^tS;"!';'' ^"^-.':'!'"^ ^"^ ^^'-'P'""' ; and there
., ...y to con-,i,aru ana lo assort the merits of
65
lese thingi;
oall. T«k«
for in doiri£^
I Tim. 4th
lots in your
ves without
trees whose
nets alrendjr
; and a de»
ranee of the
ideniofthi*
Jiod, I will
Page 8th.
quite over
passed each
out the aU-
But thcjr
of the reli-
sh iknea»
il cares not
, provided
■nt to pray-
U8, which
owea Piiul
High God,
The de-
the ..hole
transfbrm-
ministers
xi. 14, 15.
[ht be sav-
?y should
jations to
s several
Duncan
Moody of
in Willfl,
with Mr.
e he had
II be pe-
»ph; and
waiting a
he work
ns to the
ire none
nd there
nerits of
preacheri, but a hearing in earnest, and for life and death." Here again
is a vulgar and deranged sentence : — " The serinoas preached are none
of them," &c. Instead of — None of the sermons preached are— or rather
is, &c. For "None" as a substitute for not one, according to the plain
intent oi t.he author, should be used in the singular number, with a sin-
gular \p.rb ; and the pronoun " them " is quite superfluous. But these
and othpr defects of the same nature, although yi^ry curious, from so lofty
quarters, are of utmost little consequence, in comparison to the religious
ignorance, and blind confidence, which clearly pervade the whole rela-
tion. We see, in this quotation, Ministers received ond approved, by
the narrator, undiscriminat"'-' But when were he and all these good
and famous clergymen thenr. ./es converted, to be either likely means,
or proper judges of the conversion of others; unless the consecrated at-
mosphere of the "Di ■ " Hall," or the sacred palms of their respective
Presbyteries at their Oi^^.iation could be effectual to that purpose! The
brief and plain truth of the case is, that they all show themselves, by their
conduct and writing, to be quite destitute of the knowledge and experi-
ence of a saving conversion. This " coM description of professors," of
which our author here complains, mufit pear to me to be the most ju-
dicious people in the country, on that subject; for they show their good
sense by their reasonaLle doubting " Additions to the Church of such
as shall be saved." Dreadfully dangerous, and daring confidence on the
part of the writer; and a pernicious stumbling-block to the silly, selfish,
and fanatic subjects of the revival. Mr. Burns must quote Acts ii. 47,
in favor of the spurious and wild conversions st Kilsyth, from the ac-
counts of the results of God's extraordinary and gracious operation on,
and consequent of the day of Penticost ; and his own Church must no'v
run similar to, or parallel with that of Jerusalem in its very mcridir^u
light and life, under the superintendence and teaching of the Apostles !
"Great swelling words of vanity I" O disgi'sting foolishness and arro-
gance ! " And there is not, as formerly, a tendency to compare and U>
assort the merits of preachers." This remark of the aulhr deab indeed,
of itself, a death-blow to his whole narrative. ""k again, where are the
eyes, and even the common-sense religion of ■.'- '^mous Pr<^ bytery of
Glasgow, to be so blind to so glaring a blunder ihe accou r of a revi-
val, as to tell us that the converts, according to th".ir improvement in
knowledge and experience, become more and more indiscriminat. and
bluntly impartial in their choice of preachers ! There can be hardly
given me a stronger proof of the wild, fanatical, and unreasonable nature
of the work ; and of the religious ignorance of the Mini.siers concerned,
than this verv observation of the author. But the account is worthy a
revival now in the Church of Scotland ; r.nd fulfils the conimon and tho
sacred adage " like people like priest." Hos. iv 9. The very reverse of the
remark ir. question would be the necessary result of any gracious conver-
sion. Supposing the Ministers wore all good men, which I am far from ad-
mitting, they would not be of equal degree of " merits" in the estimation of
any intelligent and improved converts. B'lt tlie supposition of our author
is SuaiiicsUiiy wrong txuu uungcfous; as s vis coiivefts sirui urst Lci,:- i^i
9
r
ill!
I
66
n would not be to their^redtt bKscred 1 1'?"'"^'°' ^'' ^'^erwise
compare and assort " behind them "But 1' L. ■^'"' " ''"^«"^y '^
life and death." «o ! So ! And y^* withon a„v /'"^ '" """^«^' ^"^ for
ing. or preachers, but as thev haroen n .1 ^- *^'^*^"'"-'>«tion of preach-
grange doctrine indeed ; bu[ it agrees very wVlI "T"'' ^^''^' '^^Y
Munsters and converts of Kilsyth^ But Ch.kf V'^ ""^ ^'*'™^'« ^^ the
difference of degree in love a^nd" esteem h"^•'' ' '^'°^^^'°P^^
"Now there wa« leaning on Jesus' bosom on r' u""^?^'' P-^niality.
Jesus lovec." John xiii. la LoveJ asHs Z/n^'' ^''"'P''^^' ^h°'"
rest of his disciples. " But I tJust in } I ' f ."f '^'^"^ «g''e<^d. beyond the
shortly unto you,~for I hare n^n an iTkenirnH "' V'""^ Timotheu*
care for your state. For all seek 11 ol"^' ""^^ ^'^ ""♦"'"ally
tr ?'f '^u ^"* y"» i^now the proofTf hi"°\ *''"^^ ^^^'^^^ ar^
ttt'r' ?' '^'^'^ '^"^^ ™« '" '^'^ gospel'' &c«'R. if ' '°" ""^'^ »he
that I also myself shall come shortly vSi «..„^''' V'"'^ ''' '^e Lord
send to you Epaphroditus, my brother Li L P''"'"'* '* »^*^« "y »<>
feJlow-soldier, but your u essen'er,, d h. U,„?"^^'"'°" '" ^'^^"'' «"<*
For he hath longed'after you a^f.-'Vc PbHip "^'HT'l^ '^ ^y wants.
I came to Troas to preach Christ'™' ,^"- Furthermore, when
l^f the Lord, I had n'o resTin^mTVpifr^b^,:",!'^ 'T "" ''''^' ^" -"
brother." 2 Cor. ii. 12, 13. «'I wrhe not Z .k^""' "°' '^""^ "'y
tut. as my beloved sons. I warn you Far t u^'T '° '^'^ Yo^.
Jnsuuctors iu Christ, ye y< haveTo't m!nv tT^ ^'Z'''" '^" ^^°"««nd
1 have begotten you through the nosL7 Vvn ? ' \' '" ^^'''^'^ J^sus
ye followers of me ;" &c. f Cor fvff 15 l^'o '/, ' ^'^^^'^'^ y°"' he
ger of a reverse of doctrine in a hnH nf ?' l^^^ ^hame and dan-
Pages 10 and 11. .« But' he boumr/A'VP"''' ^'^' ''"^ ^^'^rning !
permit enlargement. The work l con^ H^f '^'' communicntion will not
work. Thelimits of SattnTdoLTnst7e'i:7.r^""\^"^ '"^^^--^
sals, are diminishing daily. The ac"oun nni^ / ' ""'"^"'" °^ hi. vas-
s'on IS, that they could not think of S^^^V'^' ^''\*'^'^^''-^°"*^^^^
makmg their es.ape. There is thl nmi Pfy/vhen others were
the kingdom of Christ by ^kind o iid.r" T^' ^'' '^' '"='«««« of
the door be shut." ^ * iaudable jealousy-a pressing in ere
^els:d:!ri.^^.:;x^ti^,SfL'^ ^^-gh i
than Mr. Burns' word thar-'Safa 'sdn' ^ ""'f '"^ ^""^ ^^^tter warrant
nishing daily." For, ^,-3 have u JZTV^ T''^' '^''^ "« ^'mi-
•n this serious concern. But I take nZV ^'"^ 5'"^ ^"^ « ^^^ry judge
tation. I can give him fuU credit vvilh " "' "' ''^" ^^^^ ^^^ the qui
Tew give of thefr conver on is th.ul/lT.H'''' "J'^^ ^^^°""t not a
prey when others were making the ^eseVp^'' Tl '^""^ "''^^'^^ ^«^t a
w.th many scores ofsuch chimerical converts anH ' '" "'^ '^"^' '"e'
haps the majoruy of cases in every aL^rrralt'tS^^l^f.^.P--
«7
bj inrestigation of the principles and motives of its subjects, be traced
to the same origin. Imitation has generally a powerful influence, beyond
common conception, in such religious exercises. The corrupt jealousy,
or emulation of the human mind arises, on such occasions, from very
different, and various motives; and assumes so many shapes and shams
of operation that it is not seldom apt to elude not only the notice of others,
but also to impose most dangerously upon the subjects themselves. For
instance, as I have personally had full and frequent opportunities to ob-
serve: A girl, or young woman sees ayoung man, say a Alinister, a Teach-
er, or any other religious character — she secretly loves him, perhaps to
dotage ; but she is not religious, though he is ; she observes that her ob-
ject associates, and familiarizes himself with the religious only; among
whom she notices several of her own sex, and shape, and siie ; whose
privilege and freedom would be a heaven to her very iflesh and blood : —
she must become pious, — she is so already in aflection, — why not ii»
mask and motion ! —the least shade or sound from the lips of a preacher
will finish the whole : — the dear creature faints and fumes, falls and foams,
furls and fulminates; she undresses* and dreams; — she is transformed;
she sings and prays; her very life is bound in religion, and it; religious
society. She throws away her balls and ballads, her brawls and Lilliards:
She learns, by rot j, a few commonplace confessions ; — she is a greof sin-
ner, — hardly pardonable: — but at last she finds and feels the power of
the great Saviour : — her -^ery heart is weak and warm, with his light and
love : — it would be sinful any further to conceal or doubt his gospel mer-
cy. She is all Scripture phraseology ; — you must not talk of the dry
and dreaiy concerns of this world in her leered ears; — old things navs
passed away, —behold all things are become new. Matrimony itself, with
all its carnal delights, is a dreadful sound. Christians must be holy in
body and in spirit. All her courtship must be now by psalms and pray-
ers, holy sighings and faintings, at the knees of her sweet and spiritual
brother : — Biother and sister in the LorH they now are. and shall be for-
ever. ' nd should this heavenly pair think ever of what the unconverted
world ills marriage, it is not lor ihe benefit or privilege of this life ; nor
at all f the procreation and spread of their species, — when at the same
time their sexual cupidity sucks their very blood, and wastesitheir very
marrow; — but for sacred fellowship, perpetuating chastity, as public pa-
trons of self-denial, " crucifying the flesh," a; the peril of their health
and life; or for raiding up a holy seed to the Church; which must be
<levoted to the Lord's service before the conception, or at the birth;
" Jonathan and Joseph, Hannah and Honora :" — the sons to the sanctu-
ary, — the fair for the vestry.
Take the • ext instance in a wife : Her husband is either a religious
professor, or he er.trr ms religious people; and in his turn, is favored and
favors. Now and then he smiles in the fpce of varnished virgins, and
moist matrons; and looks aslant when they pass him. She praises their
faces and virtues ;— but is keenly grieved to meet his acquiescence. She
sings above but sighs below ;— she sickens. The husband in his tender-
ness is not tender enouglj ; fcr she is not religious! He sups and tsieeps ;
! 1
II
f
^1
68
«tr,^.rir;rTh: t:^72^ "1 ^•^^^' ^- -^^^-^^ wife!
in full bJoom :-.he ineltB and^ou 'h^!^ f ^ '^'^'"''^ '^^' «he departs
their final separation"!!: he rto'e'^ -- • " ^^'- '''"'' '"'°*'"' '''''°^«
-•• Heaven and Hades, deuce and H'^v^u° "TV'^' "^^^^^ ^ sermon ;
She is stricken with the features fat '^Hf '"^ ^'«'"^"--«" »»>« same
she is a wife.-loves as a vS l^he^'v?". for'^h"^ '^r orator.-forgets
heavenly orifice.~and believerail her feelings to »' !?'"'' 1'"'"^* °^ ''••
turns and irembJes in Jife and J.ls -.^^^^^^^^ ^' d.v.ne flames. She
ed; and returns home a new crer«;e'^ llrT .^fP".'~''^'' is convert-
.n h.s turn for a third instance on hsLunS m\u'' ''"^'^^"^ ""«^
treats h.m now in a new strain; and sSs wTh '^"' <=onverted wife
expatiates on her own former ignorance »n^ ^ 5 "**' *°"«"e ^-She
that the Lord's earth has suffe ?d he ^30 loLZt^r'T P ^"*^ ^^^"^"«
less surprised to find that her precJoL knn^^- ?• 'f*^ ''"* ' ^^^^ " "ot
of religion, after all his former'^lorZest ovTr T ''"^^^^^e mysteries
m her conscience, to bed and board wfth J J^ ' u®^^ '^^^^ «'"'ned.
and must not be any further cramneHnlH T '." ^' " "«'""' »«ate;''
desecrated concerns ; but see nn^^ h-t ?"*'"''^ ^^^ »''^ "'o^''*'. or is
for she is now formed and frfmeS for "o^? ""Z ^1^°'^'* Ministers
hears and feels the full wS of a J ?ht anT'^ •-, ^'L^«°^'^ ^"«»>and
endeavors to hold the reins and asJ.Lr' I """'" ''"angues :~he
?s^7r : ""'^' S"-'' '^ hL"?m;r2er'a';^^^^ to n/purpose,-
IS not to be in vassalage to the slavo nf fhJ m ^''f ^'Ord's handmaid"
She must have a separate beri^ forL^f. t/"*"^^' ^^^ ^''^> et cetera,
and demurs.-feigns seriousness nl ? f^'T""- '^^« ">«« shrinks
deep contemplation -0^1?!!;'"^'*"*^" *"'"'«''' O" the floor in
|neetstheMLster;\owrom I ;T 'l ^"^ P'«*^« «f ^orshTp,-!!
her doubts for resolves. TnZ absence nfh.*''' ^''P^"^"*^^ to tell, and
fusion and consternation "Ihis bo^e," b„rn T'' '^ ^''' ^^"'P'ete con-
and shame, indignation and revengrlht „;75'\'P'""" bu:.ts;-fear
his very soul ! The wife ret..rn?^K ^ ^^ ?^'''' "^ a«d clash, in
-3 ;~both go to mee^i^^g ;Ithe Irk b?W„?''""^ '"p?'.^. " J'^'f-nv'eru
idem:-the man shakes a\id shivers -^f4'':?~'?: .^J^'^ l"^ P^^^^^her
what miJkt he do 10 be saved r' n« r T *f'*'^^ *** ^" face,"—
safe without a supernatu%rhange;'[:ttrh^e ^f ^"'?^'?^
The preacher attempts to comfort him —or «t 1 f " "^"^ mstaks.
despair of Gospel mercy: But the Z't7h// ^'-^ '? '^^^P »>''" ^om
paat hope,— he fears — L hfi ! *^ V u '^''^'* ^'"'^ '"» '" his own view
His dea'r spou:e al^IeMot^^^^^ "the unpardonable sin/'
" O woman ! I have no rightTo'Tou- *!.''' ^'' °'^' ^"'ai'ning-
brutc?-Ah! brute did I say • w Z'tTuJ T ^°" ^^''^'^^^^ »"<^h a
ending as that :-gae hame to' . o?r h *;, T. ^ "^''^ '° innocent,-so
carcase to it. fatal^destiny o'my souP airth '.h""''^ ''"^ '«-« »»>i»
of God are against me! O. goouVeonl! -'» '*':;"«^^"'"g« *" the book
vants and children of the Most H!?h ii ' ^ ^"°'^ Ministers.-ye ser-
the Gospel upon such a wor? efs t'etc'h?' o'^K??^ '''' ''"^'^^'^ <>'
But . vain wish will not .eJTZZT!"/. 3 .'^?* l^^^ annihilated!
a better wife !
at she departs
s own, before
irs a sermon ;
alJ the same !
tor, — forgets
issues of his
lames. She
e is convert'
usband now
nverted wife
ngue :--She
nd wonders
; and is not
e mysteries
Is alarmed,
ural slate;"
orld, or its
Ministers ;
t)d husband
igues :--he
> purpose;
handmaid"
et cetera,
an shrinks
8 floor, in
vorship, —
• teJJ, and
plete con-
5ts ;— fear
clash, in
f-con vert-
preacher
face," —
might be
m-stake.
lim from
ivn view,
iblesin."
liming —
i such a
ent,— so
ave this
he book
-ye ser-
I forts of
hilated!
>od peo-
«9
pie, look at a monnment of God's displeasure, and justify his holy law I"
The preacher resolves the despairing man's fears as to the unpardonable
sin, — but his afflicted conscience dreads no less other alarming articles
of faith; such as the day of grace being past, -that he is not elected, or
predestinated ; and that therefore all his hapi and hopes are upon the
same desperate ground; or if possible, what is still worse, that the Lord
has no pleasure in his repentance, amendment, or even his salvation : —
Yea that Heaven, from just and holy ends, delights in his confusion and
damnation! But after some spiritual bondage of this kind, and a strug'
gle between fear and hope, he is induced to hea** another sermon, found*
ed upon the following Scripture : " Son, be of good cheer ; ihy sins be
forgiven thee." Mat. ix. 2. When, lo! the very reading of the text is
the means of release to the poor man's conscience. He feels — he re-
joices — he admires ; — all his bonds are at once broken asunder ; he is
converted, — he is quite a new creature! He can no more doubt or dis-
believe;— Christ is his, — Christ died for his sins; — he is as sure of his
iilvation as if already in heaven! This trophy of divine mercy abhors
(limself now in dust and ashes; — disclaims his own righteousness as filthy
rags !
I saw through my pilgrimage hundred instances of similar imitation,
and feigned conviction and consolation, without the least reality ; which
the event has iully demonstrated; so that I might, if necessary, enlarge
very extensively and variously, from personal observation, on the subject,
without any exaggeration, or groundless supposition. And in a respect,
I therefore rather pity the dangerous ignorance, than upbraid the false
confidence of Mr. Burns, and the Presbytery of Glasgow, on the score of
their sorry revival. But I fear, it may be too late before either they, or
their selfish converts, are convinced of their own serious mistake.
Page 11. "I have been engaged, and still continue to be engaged" — A
needless repetition !■ — " in conversing with new communicants ; and never
before have I had such pleasant work in listening to, and marking down,
the accounts which the youngest to the oldest give of the state of their
minds. We cannot, with a due regard to consequences, give detailed ac-
counts of cases and conversations with such as appear f; us to be genuine.
Suffice it, mean time, to say, that while some, who seem to be savingly im-
pressed, have given a somewhat figurative account of their feelings, yet,
in by far the greatest number of instances, they give most Scriptural and
intelligible accounts of their convictions, and of the grounds on which
they rest their peace." It is sad to observe that our author still perse-
veres in his full confidence of the saving genuineness of the great work
of revival under his review, without the least hint of false or feigned ap-
pearances, or cases of disappointment, after some years of trial and pro-
bation. Nor is it less surprising that he gives us not one single specimen
in a catechetical dress. I have never read, or heard of such a perfect
work of the kind, continuing for several successive years without any
account of hypocrisy, delusion, or imitation. The very Apostolic age
did not produce a similar reform on this ground : nor ea.ual unexception-
able teachers as the Church of Scotland can afford at this day, both in
i "■
70
number and capacity wifhnnt nii«., • i-
and John, and the re.t ^f theX": ^0^^ ''"^r"?".' ^^'-' •^-n-
•'Je...s answered them, and aaid^.Tr j, ve'lv 7 ' ""^ '^'''' "^^'^ ^•"'«'
ni« not because ye saw the mirac es 'utC ^' '"/.""''' ^'^"^ :^« ^^ek
""d.were filled." John vi. 26 ''1'' "?""'"'" ^.^.^'^ *^^' "^ the loaves,
rejo.ce in his light." John v. 35 ''From Til """'"^ ^°'" ^ «^^«"" to
;vent back, and walked no nore with him -Tr' '"'"^ °** '''« ^'«<='P'es
that ye have ai^reed toijethe to t^mnt , « ^'^''" "' <^^- "How is it
that he cared fbr the poor b. t h? .' ?P""'^ "^ ^'^^ Lord." " NoJ
themselves without U " ' '"fl ou .rtln tt '^n '^f ^'- " *'-^i4
ofyuu ,s a devil." '< Whose eyes are ft ,r ^';! V'^ »«erness." " Onf
cease from sin." ''Transfur:n ng he e 1 /o if^^^^^^^^^^^ ''"i^ ^^^^ «««"*'»
Widows wanton against Christ "''ThTr -^ '"'^ ^»^"«^'«««^
. on yo.r lusts." <• 1 ,,,,, ;„ •,„^,,^ ^e k am.ss that ye may consume
tnan their beginnino-." " Yn..r „i • ■ ^ he:r end s worse
the sp.rit -ending in the flesh" ^'" iJ^ " T ^""^•" " ^^S-^-iulTn
f pn-.t." " Envy,' .strife, co fusion " " Bu T J^^'^'-^^ withou?
"Flatterers." '' Women nJ.ri . "'^> ''"'^•^«' n'>t iabourinT"
without knowledge ol^he trut f f. 1" "T "'^"•" " Always learnL
and fair ^^}>eeches^^ece;vi 4" I ^ J'^ /'- '' H With /ood words!
cord.ng to the /ie«h, enenu^s .to he c os of Ch? '' ." ^^"^ *^'^"^ ««'
belly— and w'lo glory in th^ir «h. j o'^hrist— whose god is their
thou knowest. thlt Jl thev iid :^' •;"/;'";! ^"^'"^ »'>-g-" " Th
&c, &c. St. Paul. Our Pa n»h I./p! ' ^^ ^"'"^^ «^'«y <*'-o'n me "
by the intrusion an)ong n fe 21 wT''* "' F?'^^ ^' " ^e are tried
«omeofthem. no doulft. mid '^',',^^1; dlV^ ''^'^ ^^ '^^' ^'visions,
dangerous teachers are ikely u ofh^ ^ n? '^''L' '''^'^'''' ^"t these
connection. For we find our uthorePdrl' .' ""■'^' '''^'' '" "^'"^ "^
«nd 12. m the following .strain w' We h"^^ '"s narrative, in pages H
FesoMted to US by my mucl Moved bre.: f T''" P'-^^«i«"« truth
frying to be assured, that in conversation w/. "''"'" '* '""^^ ^e gra-
been references, I may say toTJhlT- ""f '"^ P«°P'«. there have
Prohtabie, as well as acceptaWe and 1 t h.^"^'?'"''^^' '' ^«^'»? been
by the.r co-operation, and the Pi'esbwpr 1 '• ^^ ^'T '° ^^«'' supported
vve cherish the pleasing hope th 7 ud^^ «^ ^^e subject,
biessuig of the great Head ortkchuS T"'' ^"'^ ^^^ntiniing
nmne, but an extensive and perl„e t'v ? '"^ P"*^*'" "°^ ""'^ « ge-
t«ng our downward course nl^d 2L\ u~t' ''"'^ "'^«»« ^^ ^Tes-
wh.cbthediffusioaofmelintelll? if '^'1 ^'"^^^'^ consummation
Pi'sh VViUiam Burns,"M^'f« ;e?oSth "^^''^'^^ ^'' "^^ ---
bis. reZ'l^ anV?,7e lit:. 'If^S i^" ^^ -^'-'^ '--'o" ^f
J'gious con, ^sions and refor^, Zm l!^7 ""'""!' •"^'^"'"ents ol re-
fnes than the first ages of the Go nd %"'f l'^''"^^' history of far later
prolixity. I must satisfy my eff w Uh Jn'- ^ '" '° ''"'"^ '''"^^'''
•^^ celebrated Jonafba/El:;^ anV h^ ^.^ '^^ ^^"'" !'- -''-g
" •••-•'•-= jfoni oincf apeciai
n
authors, in his Book on " Religious Affections." " Mr. Shenhard " he
says, " speaks of in^n's beiiicf cast down as low as hell by sotow and
lying under chains, quakini; in apprehension of terror to come and then
raised up to heaven in joy, not able to live; and vet not rent from
Just: and such are objects of pity now, and are like to be the objects
of terror at the great day." In another note from " Stoddard's
guide to Christ," he snys, " The way of the Spirit's working, vvhon
U does convince men, is by enlightening natural conscience. The
bpirit does not work by giving a testimony, but by assistincr natural
conscience to do his work." "Nothing," says, Mr. Edwanl's "is
more manifest, than that some persons are of such temper and frame
that iheir imaginations are more strongly impressed with every thing they
are affected with, than others; and the impression on the ima<Tinaiiou
re-acts on the affliction; and raises that still higher; and so affection
and imagination act reciprocally, one on another, till their affection is
raised to a vast height, and the person is swallowed up, and loses all
possession of himself. And some speak of a great sight they have of
their wickedness ; and many think also they have great conviction of
their actual sins, who truly have none." The above said Stoddard in
another place, observes, " A man may say, that now he can justify God
however he deals with him, and not be brought off from his own righte-
ousness ; and that " the same relation of e:;periences may be confmoa
to both converted and unconverted men." " Those that are deluded "
says hdwards, " with false discoveries and affections, are evermore hiffhly
conceited of their light and understanding. Whatever they may pretend
i!J ^^« !^°"^';«'"y. by wilful humili- , or feigned self-denials." The same
Mr Ld wards in another place, remarks that "The confidence of many
of this sort of hypocrites, is like the confidence of some mad men, who
think they are kings: they will maintain it against all manner of reason
and evidence. And in one sense, it is much more immovable than a
truly gracious assurance; a true assurance is not upheld, but by the
soul 8 being kept in a holy frame, and grace maintained in livelj exer-
cise. If the actings of grace do much decay in the Christian, and he
falls into a lifeless frame, he loses his assurance : but this kind of confi-
dence of hypocrites will not be shaken by sin; they (at least some of
them) will maintain their hope, in the most corrupt frames and wicked
ways ; which is a sure evidence of their delusion," page 97. And in his
preface to the same Book he observes, " It is no new thing, that much
false religion should prevail at a time of great reviving of true religion •
and that at such a time multitudes of hypocrites should spring up amoni
true saints. In support of which he adduces several cocrent examples
quite answerable to my purpose, and as agreeable to my former quota-
tions, and mode of reasoning on the subject ; but which I waive merely
from fear of being intolerably tedious. And, now that I have done on
this ground, whatever may be thought of the apparent severity of mv
animadversion on the short narrative under review, I feel that mv very
heart aches with sad and sore sympathy with the denlor-ihio ^t^t^ ;.r.«i:_
gio,us Ignorance, and unscriptural confidence under which my author
« 'Rl
I fi
I!
'fi
l:til
72
and the Church of which he is a Minister, most clearly and grierouaiy
labour, at this day of meridian Scripture light and learning; and possess'
ed of so sacred and singular means of information and knowledge. "I
beheld the transgressors, and was grieved because they keep rot thy
word." Psalmist.
Charles. — I beg to offer two observations upon your remai''«i on the
Kilsyth pamphlt^t : — First, upon your hints on Lot. I regret that, with
all his faults and failings, you would Ifjave that good righteous man under
so poor and mean a figure in his religious character: For he was not so
inoffensive to the Sodomites as your brief account of him appears to re«
present the case. Don't you read how his abominably wicked neighbors
so severely upbraided, and so violently threatened him; and that, but
for the gracious interposition of his heavenly guests, they would likely
murder him. Are not all that treatment . stron^r presumption, if not a
full demonstration of his moral and religious opposition to them ; or at
least, of his non-compliance with their roost hateful manners and mea-
sures? His final and timous warning also to some of them, according
to the permission and mjunction of hissa'd holy visitors, argues his vir*
tuous zeal for their safety, and friendly desire of their escape St. Peter
likewise, under the immediate influence of the Divine Spirit, gives us a
very favorable description of him : — " And delivered just Lat, vexed with
the filthy conversation of the wicked : (For that righteous man dwelling
among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous suul from day
to day with their unlawful deeds:)" &c, 2 Pet. ii. Is it safe, or exem-
plary therefore, good neighbor Bruce; or, is it not rather daring and
dangerous to speak contemptuously, or even inditlerently of such charac-
ters as the Lord thus manifestly deigns to approve ? We do not learn
that the Sodomites of Kilsyth ever have been any wise wild and refrac-
tory to Mr. Burns like the ancient Sodomites to Lot. In the one ease
it was by a miracle the good man's house and inmates were preserved
from wreck and ruin : In the other, nothir^g^ bMt the greatest possible
kindness. And consequently I say that your comparison on this score
is drawn incorrectly. The righteous man Lot is also recommended by
the Holy Ghost for having entertained angels as strangers. Such as are
not sufhcieiitly tender in handling the character of God's people, even in
their infirmities, are generally left to marked folly, vacancy, or inconsis-
tency in their reasoning and reflectioi. on those serious and delicate sub-
jects, as a token of the Lord's just displeasure for their untenderness
and presumption ; of wKl^sh I have by me a noted instance in the author
of "The Political History of the Devil;" who is otherwise very intelli-
gent and sagacious. But he must invariably fall foul of the righteous;
none of which can hardly escape his hottest and most relentless censures.
The following are some of his rigorous remarks on the subject : — " It i»
observable, that, as I said above, Noah was silenced, and his preaching
at an end, after that one action, so the like may be said of Lot; and in
short, you never hear one word more of either of them after it ; as for
mankind, both were useless to them, and at to themselves, we never hear
of ihcir rcpcritaricc, nox have we much reason to believe they did repent.'*
E^KSSSS
73
My second observation, on your remarks on the Pamphlet in question,
is that I suppose you have been too severe in your granimatical correc-
tion ; as, for instance, in your first remaric on page 2nd you find fault
with, and correct the words of Mr. Burns "Nothing could have been
more kind," &c. And you substitute " Nothing could be more kind,"
d&c. We know certainly that it was at the same time or tense that the
kindness was given and received ; but, I ask, might not a comparison be
made-^although not perhaps with quite equal propriety of language — of
any other time or tense, either antecedent or posterior, as well as of the
time present at the giving and receiving of the kindness in question ;
which time was past when the author was writing his Narrative? I guess
nothing would screen your grammatical criticism from the mortal sting
of a swarm of dexterous critics, but your being in the open view of the
world such a wretched handle of a scholar, as is not worth any notice on
this ground. I am however so far satisfied with the general scope of your
remarks that I do not wish to circumscribe your intention regarding any
further observation, or additional remark which you may choose to make
on the whole subject.
Bruce, — I will not contradict a word of your generous suggestions ;
and your agreeable and candid manner of reflection encourages me, quite
beyond my first purpose, to pursue our main subject a little farther, by
merely reading some extracts of letters, copies of correspondence, &C.,
just received since the commencement of our debate: though at the same
time, the intended addenda are partly applicable to some other religious
persi' jsions, as well as to the Church of Scotland ; although it is certainly
for what more directly relates to her that the whole is determined for the
consideration of our audience.
Copy of a Letter deaiifmd some years since for the «• Temperance Recorder."
Mr. Editor —
Sir, — Feeling much interest on the subject of Temperance, and find-
ing one particular point, though closely connected with it, and in a de-
gree sometimes handled among the arguments used in its dispute, which
is yet by no means exhausted, J beg to suggest to you thereon some
further considerations. The Clergy should be thought a singular set of
men, as by their office different from all other mankind, and therefore
ought not to be deemed on a level with the rest of the species. Though
they are born of women, and of exterior shape and size with humanity,
perhaps I do them wrong by calling them men. 1 speak of thcni now as
a body, without any distinction as to name or persuasion. If you look
to their account in Scripture, and f*ompare it to their action in this lower
world, you must, in spile of you, pronounce them to be the best or the
pest of the universe, according to their use or abuse of their peculiar
function. Read a few of their various description and metaphorical titles,
which are here at random extracted from sacred writ. " The salt and
the light of the world, — a city built upon a hill, — the chariot and the
horsemen of Israel, — watchmen, — fathers, — guides, — the wisdom of ser-
pents, without thcsf Btiiig, — the nacckness of lambs, and the harmlesoness
10
n
Qf doves, vvlthout their silliness,— stars,~the moon,— the sun.— the ser-
vants of the Lord,— the sons of God,— Saviours,— godi. -Exodus vii 1
But when they mistake their station, and abuse their office, their dclineaw
tion 18 awful :— Stumbling-blocks,— deceivers,— savourless salt for th«
dung-hi I,- ravening wolves, m sheep's clothing,— dumb, greedy, and'
msaiiable dog3,-murmurers,— raging waves of the sea,— spots,— clouds
without water,— filthy dreamers.- false apostles,— false prophets,— ftlse
^hnms,— synagogue of Satan,— wandering and fallen stars,- vipers —
dragons,— dev.ls." Be not then surprised to find in this sort of creatures
the greatest possible auxiliaries, or the most powerful and dangerous od-
posers. Were the Clergy of a mind to your purpose, it would at once
be all in all Nothmg could escape the sweep, nor elude the inspection
and grasp of these supernatural beings; like an army of aiants— nav
more, like a mighty hurricane, they would clear before them all opposi-
tjon. Whether m truth or in pretence omnipotence is at their beck—
their influence is incalculable. In the most important concerns the
power of life and death hangs on their sleeves. From the king on the
throne to the meanest peasant, all are under their control. His Holines*
of Rome, and His Grace of Canterbury could alike work miracles. One
serious bull from the Popo— a single hearty mandate from the Archbis*
hop against the use of alcohol, w^ould prove more effectual, than contrary
to them, a thousand sovereign threats, of fire and sword. Tell me what
is the power of Kings against the Priesthood? Since the time of chaos
did ever you hear the Church overcome by any civil authority on earth ^
One ecclesiastic party may indeed be overborne by a stronger hand ofi
the same body, but never otherwise. Let the Clergy be good or bad im
their outward conduct; let the Holy Ghost, or the evil angel be their
inward guids and counsel, their claim to infallibility, in one sense or an-
other IS the same. You have never heard of a Priest brow-beaten • by
Lucifer or Gabriel he musi be blush-proof. He has on his thigh the keys
of heaven, and hell, and purgatory ! Whatever he bindsor looses below
It must be the same above. Ah ! sir, fight any thing but the Clergy'
rheir grin or groan,— their smirk or smile, is of more consequence to
your cause, than the two houses of Parliament without their approbation.
It IS but lost labor any where— it is but mockery and madness to think
of any reformation, but under their influence. Their's is the Bible—the
parchment of Heaven— the magazine of God to p|v at pleasure. Who
but these could ever dream of preaching belief in' miracles beyond, or
against all our senses ! But wisdom and folly are all of a piece u^ider the
sway of implicit faith in the power of the Church. My friend O'Connell
the extraordinary luminary and oracle of Ireland, is as tame and as flat on
this ground as .Id John Loolan the abject Indian. His Maiesiy cannot
rest in his bedchamber, nor freely breathe in his proud palace but under
the auspice of their prayers. He must nbt wage war, or proclaim oeace
but at their discretion. Subject to their anathema. He is a lost man : at
their benedict.on. He is ne.u a god. What ground then of hope or suc-
cess on our subject, but at their nod ? Lords, and Judges, and Generals :
1 nysicians. Philosoohers. and Farmpr« arci ^.Ji «^«,«t^'i"- :- *i--; * - j .
75
btit what are these, and all the world besides, but broken reeds, and frail
iirairuinents, without the heaven-born substitutes of the Moat High I Mis-
take n>€ not, Mr Editor, these assertions are not fond chimeras, or mere
bantlings of the brain. I am surrounded by a raighty chain of stubborn
facts; yea, overwhelmed with most dire, and dawning demonstrations.
I say dire and dawning ; for though it is gloomy to mark so many of those
subHieities, who should most openly and heartily prove the alpha and ome-
ga of so benevolent an institution, discountenance or oppose it, either from
ignorance, or more shameful motives; it is notwithstanding very cheer-
ing to find others in abundance, of this glorious order, most freely and
zealously leading the van, and exciting in their rear a numerous and vi-
gorous train. Be not, however, surprised in this grand contest between
parties so extraordinary, to meet something similar to the war of angels
and devils in Milton's " Paradise Lost." Is it any way strange that hell
should grimly struggle on this fatal subject \ Next to the powerful spread
of the Gospel, no possible scheme in this ge.ieration of extravagant in-
temperance, could be framed or adopted more injurious to the designs
of the chief adversary of man. Can it therefore, be consistent with the
kingdom of darkness, when thus tottering, to offer no opposition through
the instrumentality of its blind votaries and subtle agents ; among whom
are certainly not a few of the Clergy ? There are, however, two classes
of them in this Province, which you shall more particularly find to be
the blessing or the plague of any place where they reside, viz : Irish
Priests and Scotch Parsons ; especially from the Highlands. For inge-
nuity and shrewdness none can exceed them : but I defy you to catch
but few of them in your Temperance drag-net ; or find but little of their
service in any other mood than leuden neutrality, contradicting sophistry,
or barefaced raillery. Whatever may be their conduct they know well
how to justify it from " the book of life." Take a range for some evi-
dence on this point, over the broad face of Pictou, and by Antigonish,
throughout the Island of Cape Breton. In many parts of Ireland and
Scotland their main strong-drink, whiskey, is emphatically termed " an
t-uisge-beatha," the water of life; and the addiction to drinking it in
those places is still deplorable; and the tippling habit of several of their
spiritual guides most disgraceful : Some of whom are transformed into
almost a mass of idiot, brute, and <lemon ; an unreserved statement of
which would make you believe it as a mere fable, or a designed libel
on humanity. Take however one instance : — The Rev. Mr. J., at B ,
(of the Established Church of Scotland in the highlands of that king-
dom) still living, having a Cavorite dog, gives to the animal a lunch,
which being swallowed, his reverence, in a kind of soliloquy, interrogates
the spaniel thus by its name :— " Nero ! Have you said the grace? No;
—you, Nero, would make but a bad Minister; but Oo*^ ' Nero, that's
far from my character," dec, &c. It is but truth that I yself was once
most sorely tempted to turn infidel to all religion, and revelation, through
the negligence and misconduct, but especially the intemperance, of tho
Clergy. It could be satisfactorilv nroved that there is no TPint.^r h-sr in
the way of the Gospel than the intemperance oi this order of beings. Get
1
!■'
It ii
\¥//~'-C.'^r "■•5.1
,i I
f:'
76
rhrrnMf"°^^^ w;°'''^''™P''"'"*'"*' ""'^ y«" "« ^'thin the circle of
t.lw !;'l;'."l- ^^''«V*'''\yo" expect but to find all tables filled with
vom. and filthmesa when the Prie.t and the Prophet err in vision and
stumble ,n judgment through strong drink ; and are ou o "he way' be
io^t"? TfiJj °^---.J-«h xxviii.7. Whatever is pretended ; Che
contrary, I firmly believe in general that the Cleri?y feel no stronger fet-
ter against Temperance than their own habitual bibbing. Dd this vice
once g.ve place, all thtir other objections would soon, as wind, fly away
Intemperance .s not an ordinary vice, but the monstrous head and roo^'
and recruiter, of a train of evil. Other vices may kill their housand '
but this Its ten thousands. Think me not severe or envioSi on tLtt
fpSin. P^'P'lvi^ ''''T^ .""^ thoughts thereon from fear of oflTence and
reflection Did you but know and feel as I do, you should judge me on
this point but very tender and sparing. "' ^
tJ'^'^hnf ^''^ *f""^'" u ^''^ ^''''^^ *° '"y ^•^^» ""^er the term ' Luna-
tic, but, considering the 'smoothness and soothness' of the times I
have guessed you would not readily grant it a passport. You ha Tn^w
a superficia sketch of my mind on the subject under the ' weight' o"mT
you'r Sertakr" ^''^'"^ ^°" success according to the full merit o^f
your undertaking— j ^^^ gj^^ y^^^^ ^^^
Clergy-lover-hater."
Extracts of a Pamphlet lately pvblished in Pictou, JV. S.
"To THE Reader :~Permit me, to relate briefly some of the trans-
Sr^hoft^frn'^^^^^^ '"^^ Established
Church of Scotland, who recently met, both at the West River and New
^hesruhc !' WjrT '^?"''^ ^""'"- ^« ^ ^- P'^-"* ^t boTh
Presbvt.rv h ,. K .Tm^ "°, '""''°" *^ '"y P'""^ °f '^^ business of the
Id^^lU' t "''^^i/^" "n^t' '"y °^" immediate observation; but this
I desire_to make public, for the information of those who may be unac-
quainted with the motives by which so many respectable members of this
{o^fhlT'"1 ''r '''T"^^ ^^'^ ^hey refused' to subscribe the bond
for the Minister^ stipend ; and why others who were elders or deacons
golSr R M ^«^^^^«''^^? t Pf^^Vtery of New Glasgow. 801^^
ago Mr. R M. was irregularly admitted to the Kirk Session of this place
of a rLi;: tToft^r'^ ''""^ ^'T''' '" «PP°«'^-" to the dete
ot a majority of the Congregation. Having been once elected, though
in a sinister manner, he persisted to hold the office of Deacon, not with-
standing the murmurs and disapprobation of multitudes. Thi disVads-
faction ceased to be expressed, only when our Church became v can
entereru'non'h "T ^'^"' V'^l" ''I'' '' ^'^^'^ '' °"' P^«»«»' Mini tJ;
hinlirr^ 1^ charge; and this obnoxious member again obtruded
of the Ln, l" fZ TV^' congregation. It was to reconcile the minds
of the people to this darlmg elder-apparently much beloved by some of
Wesf Ri'vTtV 1 '^'^''t'^'^jy of Pictou met in our Church at the
West River, though no doubt, the avowed purpose of the Meeting was
to redress grievances, and to give content to an afflicted and oonfes^.d
i.ungrrg«uon. 11 tins were indeed their intention, iei the resolutions
^H
Luna-
n
passed by them on that occasion tell how well it was accomplished, They
excluded from Church Privileges ail who had not subscribed the bond,
without deigning to hear the reasons which they offered for their own
vindication, but determined at the same time that a share of the Minis-
ter's stipend, which indeed they were willing to pay, (without subscribing
the bond) should be accepted from them, as well ns from those who were
actually receiving such privileges. The principal objection which was
and is still maintained, by the non-subscribers, is the incompetency of
some of the members of Session, for the sacred office which they hold,
and especially the glaring inconsistency there is between the practice of
R. M. and that required by God in him who would ' use the office of a
deacon well ;' for instead of ruling his own house with propriety, blend-
ing kindness and affection, with due authority, he, in a paroxysm of out-
rage, to which he is very subject, so abused his wife, that she fled from
his house, under cloud of night, and took refuge in the contiguous woods
till next day. As might be expected, he exhibits the same turbulent
behaviour in the Church of God ihat he does in his family ; for on a recent
occasion in the Church, at the W. R., he : '1 his clenched fist to the
face of a brother elder, repeating the words 'You liar! you liar!!' But
In this he is consistent; if not with the sacred rule, at least with himself.
Our worthy Deacon is so intent on all the ways and means of having his
portion in this life, and is so greedy of filthy lucre, that he accumulates
money by hiring out, for the propagation of its respective species, a male
animal of every kind, from the stallion on which he rid^s to the dung-hill
cock ; and has fixed a price for the Ram, Boar, Bull, &c. My servant
Larry O'Docharty is of opinion, that if in the lapse of time from the days
of Noah to the present period, any species of animals has become extinct
in other parts of the world, the male at least of such a species may be
found with R. M. This member of Session has lately received money,
being a small legacy left him in the West Indies, yet we do not pretend
to account for the pertinacity with which the Rev. Mr. F. screens him
from censure and from expulsion on the hypothesis, that he has received
from him some pecuniary a.d."
"The said Mr. F. declared that though a deacon had committed mur-
der SIX years ago, yet there was no law of the C.urch of Scotland by
which he might be expelled the Kirk Session, or divested of the elder's
office. In short Mr. F.'s speech on that occasion was such as could not
then be heard without horror, nor now thought upon without resret. by
any pious man." s> > j
" It is with extreme regret that I advert to the negligence or indiffer-
ence with which one of our Ministers, Mr. M. K., has sometimes confer-
red the sacred privilege of baptism on persons utteily unqualified to '
receive it. Of this a solitary instance will suffice, and that too without
any comment by me. A gentleman recently from the West Indies, and
now residing m Pictou applied to this Reverend gentleman to obtain
baptism for hiis chdd, protesting at the same time, that he considered it
Sfi s rratter of no ujoxuent whether it were periormeu or not, but added
withal that his vif^ was desirous of conforming to the customs of the
I'
"im
I
; I
< .1
country in which she happened to live. Mr. M. began to interrogate
him concer:).ng baptism when the gentleman said, " D n vou Hon't
questmn me I'm no hypocrite,' and forthwith Mr. M I --J.ed hisihild."
At the WR. the Presbytery excluded from Oh- 'i P-ivilecea all
M^hohad not subscribed the bond, although ..noof ,h> .. for piety and
the regulur.ty of thc^r moral conduct, are mo t unexceptionable Jnd
buflhL"7,^*'?p'"r'''y'"'shtbegladto. .! ,. u,g a, member, ;
but these Church Privilege, are withoni rese ve o. , tat.on confeir* d
upon others, who are tainted with the imputation o*" -^very crime ; but to
compensate the want of principle and character C ,,rof( „ indeed the
are de r. r 7 ' P^^j'^S^s are bestowed, and another to whom they
ted tuh hi; I^l r '^^^'^l^^.'^'''^''^^ of baptism, J. A. has been admi,-
ted with h.s child, tnough he is notorious as a common thief, and accus-
ed ot living in open and avowed adultery with a widow woman.-of hav-
ing made several attempts to commit murder,-and of deceiving and
over-reaching h.s neighbors whenever he can decoy them either by me-
n.lTvlI' r""!""" to have any dealings with him. He. indeed, is com-
niony believed capable o the most atrocious crimes, and by the frequen-
cy of his nocturnal depredations, and the fierceness of his disposition is
become no less terrible than odious to all who deem thems^'ves within
the Church, that 3uch a person is honoured with her privileges? And
was It not to a somewhat similar, though not so palpable, a relaxation of
discipline n established Churches, ast prolific source. 'that dissenter
-ud sectarians, in every age, owed their origin and increr.se.'
hp i- in \^^ Tr^' V''"'^^ Privileges have been refused to M., though
he IS justly revered for h.s piety, and esteemed as an upright, her evole^nt
oronh.t^r7P'?"^v,'' ''' V' '^' '''''^' °*" '^^ I^°^d. conierning the
mZh .1 '"'''' ^'' P'^P'' '" "•■'•• ' "^ '^'' P""«th not into "their
mouths, they even prepare war against him :' Mic iii 5 "
rnLr^ '"'^'i "'^ F'""'''^ '•? '^'^ P'""^ "^ ^^^ ^^o^'J " i" a languishing
condition and Stan Is in need of powerful restoratives, otherwise she wiU
not long be able to Mipp.rt herself in this ' region of sterility.' "
«;ili hi"."" I- '" '^ oi^^'ious, that the policy of some of our antagonists
will be to stigmatize oi r rea.sonable dissatisfaction with the present state
of affairs in this congrejauc ,, ,s if it were a desire to ' separate' ourselves
us whh Ziril «"l/"r°'«"« ^P^.'^i^^ «f worship, and perhaps to honor'
us wuh the oi.;e terrible but now innoxious appellation of heretics or
scn.smatH^s. Nor is tt>ere any need of pretending to the spirit of prophe-
whom th /'■/', ^T''' ^^" ^'^^ T" "^^ '^''^ an'expedient to rep? those
Yet 1 «?-^l I ? ^"^««>-«nd reconcile to their favorite measures.
Yet we still cling to that Church, under whose hallowed doctrine and
8itnpleceremon.es we first drew breath; notwithstanding, that t^ our
nT!l'' T •:^'»°"«t';fn«e« and our prayers, her Ministers in this vici-
n ty are a ike inexorable We are excluded, it is true, from any partici-
pauon in the privileges she dispenses; but it is only because we ;)ay a
...,c,... .,j;«,.^ ,.^ .,-..- fu,c5, wio.T lo yieid a more implicit obedience to
l;>?nr.K ""'?'''' m'"'*"*"^'* \^^**"" ««"''^''"iity «•> the practice ,he en-
Eve "" ""'"" '" '^" P'""" '"'" ^" "•<^"''^'>t«. or her people Ta
le^t' whln'r^r^'l'' *^"* ""ost of the proper name, mentioned in the Pamph-
let whence the above quotations were extracted are written fullv and
fanr„l.arly m the original, though here given only under the! i3« „
?itk n 7'Z '«»7«^"«ive. where an? d.s.greeable reflec ion i an',
fnor LP ;' ■• • 'k'"' '"«"!'• ?". '^'' ground, is the ancient and degr d-
u.g metaphor wh.ch was applied by the prophet Jeremiah to the Jew sh
Church m hjH da, ~chap. i.i. 3.-" Thou hadst a whore'3 forehead tZu
refusedst to be ash..med." Especially if we should take the pre entWse
instead of the past, in our melancholy application I ^
Extracts of a Letter Just received from S .■ ^und ; dated at Greenock, QOth March last :
which read as foUtncM : »'»«,
ScotI«n1'' Ci"H7 '""* '^"' Anti-patronage was the hue and cry i„
Scotland Indeed, however ccmpjitible patronage is with the Constitution
of the Church, .t gets rank now-a-days, and requires a similar ftte with
the brazen serpent. To illustrate the point I will give yo? short skrtcK
of the Marnoch case from the ' Aberdeen Constitutional/ of tl e 23dJanu.
ary last One Mr. John Edwards was presented to their paHsh on tim
tife The following IS an extract from the Congregation's memorial to
Lord Normanby :-' That, when the Presbytery of Itrath^e^Z re-
ceiving Mr. Edwards presentation, proceeded to affo.d the parishio" eTs
an opportunuy ol subscribing a call to Mr. Edwards to become the r
Pastor, the document wac signed by three heritors, not communicant
^800^ Th°t %;h'':"^"''i: ^^;'^^;'^ P°P"^^''°" ^^ ^^e parish is abonJ
2.800. 1 hat, of the three hundred heads of families on he roll of com-
man.cants. not only did the whole (with the above sontary exceptro^
refuse to subscribe the call, but no fewer than P.61 felt themselves^ con
strained to appear before the Presbytery, and tender their sotmn protest'
against Mr. Edwards being appointed their Pastor. That thereupon t'e
n:rl'l7^^""h^'•^K^'''^^"•^ '''^''''^ ^'^ «« prese'teeTo he
parish of Marnoch agreeably to tue r..Ies of the Church.' After all this
solemnity against them the Court of Sessions took the case in hand and
by a BOtor.ou..ly irregular and inconsistent process, accompanied bi an-
other branch o the Assembly, forced Edwards on th. poor*^ parish ^ On
the occasion of his induction, the Report savs-' T.ie Moderator's no
pearance in the pulpit was the signal for an uproar, a^ indlorous as evP"
disgraced te walls of a Church' Cries of ^insult were m ngeS ^ i
noises of al! descriptions; and several missiJ- were hurled fron thecal
ler.es at the Presbytery. This scene lasted io. nearly a coup e of hour '
Dur.ng this period, snowballs, pieces of wood torn Lm the s°.f and
other missiles were thrown at the Ministers, and opprobrious epithe,^
were uttered by severd persons. At length when peace was resto?ed by
the rural police, Mr. Thomson took for his text 1 Cori„thinn» 7.K A-!^
181 and ^„d verses. What audacity to take such a text "underpre Jnt
If'"
'%
80
circumstances ! To show some of the natural consequences of such
proceedings in the minds of very large bodies in Scotland even now, I
will just give another extract from a ver> hot but fair letter in the same
periodical : — ' The Church of Scotland may, no doubt, retain the services
of some — for old asssociations are not unhinged at once -*slie may col-
lect mob meetings to hear the ravings of unbridled passior — she may
prevail on one or two bigoted gentlemen to preside on her platforms —
she may rouse a red-hot fanatic to gallop on her services from Banff to
Blairgowrie, and from Dornoch to Dumfries ; but there is x)fi one day
at present which does not witness a secession from the numbers of her
people^ and a blush on the visage of many who remain. She will admit
of no concession. Retract! No, not a hair's breadth. She cannot err*
it seems. In short she is infallible. From the Vatican itself, this claim
was never put forth more boldly. The Doctors of Edinburgh, the Pres-
byteries of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the Clergy of Aberdeen, are
supreme as ever was the Bishop of Rome. The Church of Scotland must
not forget that, if men are to choo ,e between infallibilities, that of Rome
has at least something more of attraction (from age and the immense
majority of her adherents) than the Scottish Popes of the Commission,
even with Dr. Chalmers at their head. The pretence that all this assump-
tion is only for the * people's good,' has lost its power. The Lord Advo-
cate himself has been compelled to denounce the very idea of fu'. .her
power to the domineering Priesthood ; and the feelings of the times are
about to seal the death warrant of oar Scottish Establishment, if the
raging epidemic is not speedily and effectually abated by the diseased
themselves. Even the raptures of the insane Revival people will only
endure for a day, and only affect a few silly women.' You may likely
think these relations and extracts rather tedious, but I feel a great deal
of interest in them. This probably occurs from their being fresh to me.
It is evident however, upon the whole, that Scotland is indeed now at an
extremely low ebb of spiritual life."
" And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judali, judge, I
pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done
more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it ? wherefore, when I look-
ed that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?"—
Isaiah V. 3, 4. " Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit
before a fall. "Proverbs xvi. 18.
The following paragraph is quoted from the ^^Cape Breton Advocate," of the \ith July i
" The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has adhered to the
motto of No surrender,' and stands gallantly by its guns while the Kirk
is scuttled with interdicts from the Court of Sessions, without once rais-
ing a fmger towards the flagstaff to lower the ensign of defiance. The
great controversy of the Strathbogie case has been pushed to the ex-
treme ; the seven Mmisters of the State Church, who obeyed the law of
the State and proceeded with the induction of the presentee Mr. Edwards,
to the living of Marnoch, have been deposed ; and the Assembly have
declared the further interdicts which they have drawn upon themselves
81
a shocking intrusion. They seem not only to have disregarded all com-
mon calculations of prudence, but in the course of headlong bat lin^Tj
have thrown as.de even their own advantages of intelligence and educa^
non as mere encumbrances in the fight; like a fine old warrior, who
when he began to be d.zzy and blinded with the sweat and dust and bTood
running into h.3 eyes dashed away his shield that he might grasp the
sword with both his hands in a last random blow or two." ^ ^
"But the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wick-d shall
understand ; but the wise shall understand."~Daniel xii. 10.
Mstractofaricent correspondence between a ymtnir man in the Highlands of Scotland
£ Tm"'"' Cape Breton; the origin'aL of wluck i. certZyautL^^^^^^^
Jl?"""'' UNCLE,--We have now a kind of a new era in this country-
week Fetching and religious meetingg_a notable revival in many places
A young itinerant Mmis.er-one Mr. A. of whom you might havfheard
--1S the chief instrument-a very pious young preacher lately licensed
1 he first thing he usually does when he 'enterl any house is^o seek a
closet, or any private place for secret devotion-he has a very affecting
and singular tone ,n his religious exercise, especially his prayerVflow c?
I imnk, from his uncommon concern and earnestness. We ha e wi hin
a very short time about twenty new converts in our own villape~a
women, and mostly young. I feel sorry and surprised to see noS our
own sex among the number-and although not to the same de^?ee iHs
certainly the case in a great measure over all the country. If you Ju d
favour me w,th your thoughts and remarks on this strange and serfous
ubject It would be highly obliging. I shall expect also to hear ome
account of the success of the Gospel in that place; and of our own
Church in particular; ns also of any opposition^o her interest in Z
Island, or over the Province at large, especially of late years."
I am, dear Uncle, yours, &.c., ****** *#*#*• u
RF-I'I.V.
" Dear N YHEw,~-In answer t.* your letter of the 15th January I am
sorry o say that any remarks upon it from me are not likely t o h e ver^
acceptable to you. or to the generality of our friends in that quarter Bu^
u, my view there are two certain reasons for the disparity of the numbe
of conversions on the ground of the difference of sei :-As first we n.er
"! "r^-^ ''^^^'' more callous and frigid constitution and 'ten^e a"
ture the. cue opposite gender; and consequently not so easiiy wrought
upon by the inauence of devotion. But again we have our sad^drsadv!
^E:J!aT^ ""fe ""u ^'"^ '^'"^ ^' preachers. Could the Church but be
ar.cs n the track of all your male Teachers, I .houid fondly anticipate
and fully insure their proportionate success among our sex! you could
^e then sure to find here and there twelve or twenty masculine converts
without one converted woman ; and it is with me past all doulns^lp^
u w
i'
82
the safest grounds, that this supposed sort of ..onveraron would be •,«
sound and salutary us under any lat. or present revival over aH the kin^!
tu'.. y^-" P'?" r"''^ P'-ove. not a metaphorical, but a era) fJ
well as a rel.g.ous fulfilment of the sicred text-' As for my neon e** *
womeu rule over them.' Isaiah iii. 12. 1 ought to be veryJeS on this
Te wVerhe^t!;?:! VnJ" !'"^ ''-^"n ^"^^^^•^^' ^^ ^ 'pecial a^^logy
oeiween the natural and religious influence of sexuality of which nnHor
Z'W ^''f.""'?' f °"; ^""'^ ^'^'■gy ''^ "«t sufficiently aw e' not so
rntinn iT '^''' '««k of learning as Irom that of reflection. haIn"ost as
"pr 'ca^L'".s'r.^- ''"' """'""" '" ^^^ ^"'"'^' ^^'^ without ua
reciprocation as rp'.^ru,:,s conversion amon? tho male of our soecie^—
according to the ordinary .oirit of our revivals-withouTsexual comm7
cJ'J '''''"'? '" '^f- ^'"'"''y- I ^^^"««t'y wish to see all you vT nt
Chapels properly supplied, and the half of your pulpits immedia pIv n^
cupied by she-preachers. according to my forego'^n/ hon ^scr bt L of
them; since I am confident the result wonid Kp Ir.oT ^ ■ -^ •
fairly balancing, if „ot amply pre^TudVrat ^ eS ^f' et"^ !„"
favour of our sore and sadly neglected gendfr on *his^ro,nd T?^k
ITi at St JS^d '''' ''-'''' neglectr rW^li^r quJ: i : :
cause of the dirP f5 l^"'"' f,'''Sred^ent, if not the very course and
eTorsi;^a;/rc.fe?t:t.^rcrln^ct?tiL^^^^^^^
;r» ^n*-" ^i T* . advantages and disadvantages under remark
of view, our men are in a far worse condition than w^re ,he fenubHr of
njales in the neighborhood of the Ama2ons, in their civVconrenis For
unnatural that malea o oand t.uel fleLe ,nH '"""' ''»"f'"""^h
jhouM be any wa, a„ rea^rfl^cl^r^^rp;:. lo r^^'aS'l"'::;
time as to fall under the appellaJive of cnnvU»« th.i f '^^''^''^'^^ ?'. o"
position; on the part of the i„atrument,*!hr'.„; ,1 '"S"''™'"- '«-
Emmmmm
fe
ould be as
11 the king-
literal, as
lople • * *
ous on this
al analofjv
ich, under
re; not so
s almost as
out sexual
specie? —
il commu-
3ur vacant
liately oc-
;ription of
arioup, in
neracy in
For who
jestion is
)urse and
50 conspi-
sequently
of which
?r remark
ach other
; to wit:
»r to con-
>us point
jublic of
rns. For
nth their
hear one
very soul
aratively
ititution,
3 of our
ositively
subjects
ire, and
lain im-
or ordi-
owledge
3s some
f 'truth
ie such
' men —
reason ;
[Ive you
S3
persuasion nor her services ever stntmnn/ n..* t . ^"„i"u»
-.ain ol^ection i. the cas/^^^Se^ Zhi.^ \L""^irSn;:
you cou d Ixoe^ to 2; ^' "' ^'"; P"'*"""" ^^'^"''^ ^' '''^'^''^^ beforf
R,, ^i?i ^4 P . ^^ ^ ^'■^^" J''^^ turned probationer for the Church
No m^f Sch'f ^ '^"7 °^'^^^^ ^y '^' extraordinary powers of the
mero our own ^W "^ T.^' ^ ^"PP^' '" ™°^^ P'^^^ ""^er the go ern!
^.r?I« i f ?'^'.^^- ^''° 'P^^^ ''^^ ^ew months in one of these serai-
hough prevcusiy laboring u.der special disadvantages yerhavr/iased
a short season in one of thosp ^rhnr.ic .^f r\ ^ u ^- "^^'"S passed
capable of wb t nnt t Ho '^''''r'f' ''t Glasgow, he is now perfectly
odpameoi wi t not! He can calculate and tell you the courses Hi/
"t^rEn"un;n'"H""rr°'''."P'^^^' U"""^' ^'^ «'-.-"- S 'treat'
Ini i^^r /''^ Hemispheres, and the twelve sigifs of the Zodiac
raid o E.r"' <^1 '"' mummies-of the ruins of gabel and tt nyra^
the -es ^ •'^ nTrt^ "'"" 'V "'^ r'^ verb is a word ;' and so of^H
tne .est e parts .. speech ; which must prove a vast improvement in
tl ... ■ "'"' ^'•^^"fng system ! as also ' 4 times 5 is 20 :'-' No but 4
icotllr^whi^h''"'' '" '^-"i ^y ^^^ '^^^P °^ -«P« -d shapes from
ca^ te ' n?nV?.P°:;'P°"'-^^ '"'P'^"'^^ *" h'« school-house, Smcrk^
can tell ..s pupils the disposition of a tiger by phvsJojmom and thl
o?dr;i7 'r'r^/r "^p^^^^ '^^^^ ^^' •"'- if phSog; "nd :
all the rest of wild beasts-as well as of birds, and bats and buLrs-»
« XeT'^r". ^^^^P'»g things! 'Myster;, raysti s, mythXU
^^ir'il'te, ,i,ay be all traced to the same root or pr mitive • and iheo o!v'
th^omachy, theopatby, tbeosophy ; and perha'ps, th":dic;, theogon'y';
1^1
84
', I
theorbo, and therapeutics might be ranged
of ana VKi« • n «li»..„u ^u. . °, ■•g^"
of analy
th
sis ; although the two Jast word
under the same or similar law
s are diflerent from the rest
respective terminations
«nd to exercise the mental powers";nH7nr°Tr^ T"" ^"^' «"^ ^''^'
though useful animals To svTincrnnH T'' ^''"'"'' ^^ '^^^^ «*"'?'«•
«IJ this rare and evemnlarv am !r r''"" "' '^ J'^^'^ ^"'^ '^«"g'« 5 ''"^
the benefit nnd -^^p^oveZ^^^^ '" 'i" ''"\^' ''^ ^^« ^^^'P^nd for
you must know sCeTf iL in^r ^ ??^ I^'"'^ '^^ ^'« ^^^'^l^'-^. ''•'•e.
Normal Teache' But nulrnn^'^'''''^'^^"''*^'^ '''"'^ ^^^'"'"g «f the
ficial. scientific and fantn^.T.?.'' ^'^''' T^ ^narvellous .xs are the arti-
yet tl e most seHous ben2 'V''"?^"' "' ^'^"^' ""^^^^^^^ of edur-tion,
and .ehgioussSn transit'"" P''"'' '' ^''^ '^'^^
either sef undergoes when r'; /^^'^^ 'T^ Pup.l,-««/a /..«./_of
inhales the sacre^d a m5"eV V ,1T:^ ^^e happy creature
nariesin view esoeciallv in Lr ^''*^ '''"' °^ ^''« consecrated semi-
Instance here' ou? own^ dVa ' SmeT'f"' '^?''^-'T '"^"^ ^^'"^"^gh !
Reverend Clergy had sent him to SolV . "r^ ^"u' ' ^^''^l^' ^^'^^^ 'ur
and under the -sDic/nAh.r?^!'"'^''^^^ ^'^^ P"^P°se in debate;
hold ! what-l' s ba's been iu t tuL'd ''?'^"', ^"'"^' ^'-ciation : Bel
but rather a miracle of LrC Hw 7"'^' """'^ ' P"*"^''^"' ^" ^^^••ni"g,
return him to Tr bis ed 'it'nd f aZ ''T^'^ T"^'' '^' "^^ ^y^'^^
number of weeks or davsnrl^ 7, ""^ vvhy might not even the same
I say returned with ^ ^ ?" '''*" '''"^ "'" ^^•"^''3'- effects !-Smerkv
not Lutle ;:^.' or myTerwir: He"; ^ ^'f. '^^'^"'^^"^ ^ ''"'" "-^'
for the public journ Js of Tou ow^k I' 7 '' '^''' .^ ^^^'•- '^h^''^^'^^^ ^
portsofthiscoinlry haveCsZ^J^^ "^'^r^l ^^ '''« ^^^'^l *^«-
and above all, their'ieli Lt'^rreV'Cv"^ t^l xt'^ '^'^''1'
have the same pood look unrJpr *h« ^I ' ^^ ^ ^^^'^ "otP*^'
slatterns, your p^rudes and neacock Unorder ^^^^^ '"^ ^""•" ^'"^« ^"^
are, according to creneral onininn « u *" become proper preachers,
ment as your doveC nd |ob ' d^^^^^^^^^^^ ""^-^^^^^^y improve!
l^now, the most of our Cler.v ;' .^''"^!f«^<^'l«'-«clers from which, you
I hop; ,o„ »..ppi:"o?]e^:fL°r[;r,:;iie^„rrr?i;,r/^r,.''L''''' '™'-
which IS so suhservi-f t to vour rpvi^.u T , ^"^'' ^'^" ^''^te,
who is otherwise fit f r 1 preacher ''.VT'^ *'"' "° >'"""^ "'°">^"
lification, in a few da/s of anv so nnJ h u ''''' '^ '^^"'''^ ^^'^^^ qua^
Mr. A. h m«elf. On h'e sco I of 7^. ^^ '" '^' T""'""^ = '^ "°^ «»' ^^^r
most important subjecrvvh ch T i? 7 '"''' ^'""^ ^^'^ country' the
although cl.s«enterstl\1;i:u'rn\m rrnrtrira?e'rh::^^^ ''' ''''
r similar law
the rest in
;s and cats^
hese simple,
Jangle; ntid
elp, and for
holars, are,
"ing of the
ire the arti-
edur-tion,
llie moral
bene ! — of
•y creature
ated semi-
idinburgh !
when our
in debate ;
tion : Be-
I learning,
w system,
the same
— Smerky,
but J need
character ;
fficial Re-
iry, ^roral,
ive noted,
sluts and
preachers,
improve-
'hich, you
this time,
hinger of
I and glo-
; terrible
o» wrote,
I woman,
that qua-
•t of your
intry the
, is, that
g on oui
soon ex-
irrogates
Uains in
possible,
ilship is,
85
^uidetheir^n^ea.url.'^ra^rr^ira' rd^etofh'otl '""^ ^"^"n' ^"'^
-y own humble opinion, I regret o^st'e t hu whiirr ^"' '"
Government of Britain remains unH/^r fT ; V . supJ-enie
ground of hope ever to see ts for" n? ^^'T-^'^y^ '^^'^ i« l^'U little
themiselvos into the favor of onr ZTr. ' " ?'^^' ^"^ uisinuate
profound loyalty in a7orrn U ^^1^^'::', ^^ acknowledging their
other Church in the Provir'ce To l?v. ^''""^"ly' '" advance of any
Divinity here accordinT n th". ^ ^"" ' specimen of our polen.io
bve the vast r.nl.r^'^"^!^ '^''^'"' ^"^ to show you, bv the
difference of a ne„al He Dre^v td (h/ ?","^ "'" '"" "■""' ''" ""^
with io„, .ndsir„;r;,,?eifnkr., Ge°:r'' : L"':iit'°^p'^ -
of ffood men-Iiheh! ?T r? "'°"'' ' »'"fp4''<'i'»</'(»—lover3
i.sir™T;"o„,:siro" 'or ,.:'"„" :."";!," •;^,"""' "■""™^ "•"-•
M^,^:Sro;;:— rJ'l%£^TT
!.i.d wicked accusers or d'v'- '"°t"°"'' u"' '"?' »f them-rfmWoi-fnIse
*«6»/o., a vocajrrjhL^, 7«r„i;^Te ; ■ "oV:„rt;r'""""'''"
our rev val here than anv «♦!,«, ^t;neve, is of more subservience to
morn, is pou^rful : st r^h " o^'td b r' "'r'' """' ^^^'P^"^^^' ^^^
these last remarks are d Less^ors tv'Il r'"^ -""«t,tution. But
sense, and sound most wonde ?u] J aJreel. h' ""■' ' ''" '*'^'™'"'
will perhaps tell me th-,t V" ,f,„ ''>'. "S"^^^ ' ' ^^^ g'ven quotations. You
vou, to prfde mv elf a d\r r^ "" ' ' tedious jargon in order to puzzle
t'hat'is yourm^ ke for i b^H "''"" l^' '^T'"'' "'" "t^^*-^^" = ^^^
teachiuL and p reaching a" w'e o"h 2 ' "J"''" ""'^ "' ^^^^°"'"^'
ascendancy over th^ n fnds md ni I r .^ ^'^'''' '" ^'^'^ "'C'^'-'sed
here in politicl ZZT •'"^P'^''''^g«« "f^'he rest of our neighbours
86
l!
i
i »
fall to cJK'credit, ^f not to disgrace. In short, and between ourselves, I
fondly expect that our Reverend Synod may shortly gain ground in favor
of our system, though it must be by imperceptible m^anner and means—
so as to obtain an Act of the Legislature in favor of myself and Mr.
Smerky; or rather— according to slavish custom— Mr. Smerky and my-
self, in order to be appointed superintendents and examiners of all teach-
ers and professors, schools and seminaries of education in the Province.
What will become then of all Methodists, Baptists, Antiburgers, and
every other species of wild Independents and Dissenters ! And I fondly
wish, we could include the formal Church of England ; and at once con-
vert Her Majesty Victoria from dominant aad Tory Episcopacy, to simple
and sound Presbyterianism.
I am, dear Nephew,
Your loving Uncle,
******* «*«*#* II
Although the foregoing reply of itself contains a considerable degree
of apparent incoherence, and tedious absurdity, and that the intended
abstract is much curtailed to avoid needless prolixity; yet the ground-
work of the whole, and the motives producing the narration of it, on the
part of the writer, would, I think, justify the ridiculous garb in which
his reflections are mostly conveyed, in the view of all intelligent and im-
partial men, who should have equal access with him, to know the extra-
ordinary fatality of religious duplicity, idiotcy, and audacity, which
clearly pervade and guide all the measures of the ecclesiastical leaders
concerned; and the miserable uncommon error, and blindness of the
generality of their adherents. The Normal schools, whose real merit I
by no means wish to detract, might prove of some more benefit, and
much less disappointment, did they not foolishly, proudly, and even de-
ceitfully promise to accelerate and extend improvements fa-- beyond their
power of performing: quite more like the unexpected sudden blaze of
meteors, than the continued and steady light of the fixed stars. And
what we have in this Island under the name of " the Gospel ministry "
is, at least tor the most part, as little calculated to answer the real pur-
poses of edification, in substance, manner, or method, as the very sup-
posed divinity boasted of in the antecedent communication. I seriously
believe that we have now in Cape Breton the very "tag and tail" of
preaching, either for the want of any ordinary utterance, or the absence
of proper exordium and arrangement: but the worst of all are shameful
incoherence and dire mi.sapplication ; just as it may happen to accord
with humor or interest; agreeably to the theology of the preceding cor-
respondence. As to the proposed plan of female preaching, could any
man of ordinary common sense, in a land of scripture light' without wil-
ful neglect, or woeful prejudice, once be ignorant of the dangerously
doubtful nature of revivals, descriptive of such a character as that of
which the young Scotch Highlander informs his uncle, on the disparity
of sexes among the new converts in his own village, and through all the
country m general I Whether the Bibie does, or does not favor the de-
/
\
\
81-
Men and women not a fe«r."-AcTs xvii. H, jo ^^^ 34
^^ ^«^J.nac Extracts from the Rejoinder of the JVephei to his Uncle
ever end in such a wild and violen smoke did Z't^^ ^f'^l' ^^°"'^
miserable conduct of the sorry converr.hl. i ^^ "melancholy and
the subject. My own young/r trsi^te s h J r.' ^''' '' ^"" ^'^^"^ °"
fondly hoped to have been sound r^'ne ion huT^rV'u'' ^' °'"^^
serious before their appatent chnn^ Tho ' *^.°"^^ ^^^>' ^^^re not
even giddy than for.'n'eHy!!tht •'d;.^ J/'nrLr \'- "" ''^'^^ ''"^^
.vrangling disputes, and ot'her such so^ry ?4 oi^o'thd^'d"^^ •'^"'^
have become much more exiravaannt a.;. ""^ ^ , "'^'r "'sposition,
And they are but a tru spe mef of alUhe'r/st'"/^'" ,^'^^ ^°"^^^''--
tures.' The extraordinary s rcastic st le of v^ T' '''" ' "'^ •^^««-
would have certainly offe.fded'nd Te^ ^Le'^ s'" UheT t'^'h "IT'
more correspondence with you, or to write ^onlnlw .''°''' "'^
able, unless I saw the truth of your dTm in h.?'"^ '"""^ ^''^^ree-
unfortunate converts But naJlL.^' r "P^" P^ctice of our
reflections, as both rustlfmeriTeV a'n'^'lil.^tim/j ^°"^ ''''' '^' ^^^^
sound u, Cape Breton, iZjll' Un'dt.'Jc^^.'i:.;; "'^ ^"'
coun?r;:we'lr;~';;:riln'':ia7:oSl.r'"/^P°^^^^ '^^^'^ ^-- ^hat
for som^ time been aVve y sTd va i nc?nn f°"'" ^'''"^ ^'' ^^' ^''^
my own part, I feel no su7pr se on the 'ubiec f ""' ^^'■°""^.^- ^« f^""
feared and expected such a 0^^ Bnt^' 1 ^"' '"'"^ " ^^^ ^ave I
the objections' made by se^^r "f my ne ' hl^rl onT' """''" '°'"^ «^
beg. if agreeable tayoir mind, to eLlvl from • ", '^^^ ''T'. P°''"'' ^
earliest convenience, a candid statemeni of ttT ^^"'°^» ^^n^, at your
difference, whether ^n the s o of sentim nts^ror' 'T'' °'^°"^
whether he has religious adherents nf 1 ^ conduct ; as also
"pen and final rupt^e o, S^r he hLTn'^'^r"'' '"'^ ^""^ '"°^«
party or peruasion t "^ '"^/ ^"^ °^^^'' religious
t J 1 urtbion. lam, yours &c. ****##**#*„
REPLY.
"Dear Friend,— Your Letter, though verv reasnnnhl« a i
me a very we ghty duty It wmilH ho \! ^ reasonable, devolves on
another to ansLr you than for .1 V ''""^ f'^P"*^''' ^" «»«ier for
subject of your Tqitry as ?o be n h7 T '° ''?f I^ *^°"'=^'-"^d on the
*l
88
II J
Is I
I
i
I
purposely endeavor tc avoid remorking any points which are either se-
cret, complex, or too ofiensive for public notice ; and to be as summary
and brief as possible.
"The first and general ground of our variance has been his untenderness
and uncircumspection, as ?. religious professor, up from his manhood to
this day : And more particularly his known pride and worldliness ; the
the want of any due command over his family, including his wife, his
children, and other domestics — either by precept or example ; so that
his, and their general conduct has been a public discredit to his moral
and religious character, in every place of his residence during all his
religious life. An ungoverned tongue in him and them, as far as under
his rule and control ; and a high degree of lordliness over their neighbors,
whether inferiors or equals in circumstances, have been, and arc still but
well-known marks in the forehead of their daily habits. Alternate wrath
and flattery to extremes, according to the tide of his temper, are not less
conspicuous than the foregoing signs on this ground. Falsehood of
toncrue, and want of common integrity and rectitude in his general deal-
int,s and transactions, where mere necessity, or self-interest does not in-
terpose, are no mystery to any ituimate on this point. The keenest eye
to detect, and the sharpest tongue to correct the foibles of others, wlien
clashing with his own humor or interest, when, at the same time, both
blind and dumb to his own and his family's flagrant ofiences, have also
been for many years quite visible trails in his character, But perhaps
one particular example of his conduct towards myself as his religious*
brother, for the space of thirty years, may tell more in a small compass
than much more upon other grounds; for though the case is something
tender, it is yet very public here among our neighbors : — On account of
the proud, foolish, and offensive conduct of his family, I could never have
brought myself to choose or allow any matrimonial connection taking
place between his and my children ; but he being of a different mind on
this point, and knowing both my own and my partner's inclination, to
be the reverse of his, had secretly labored to impose upon the mind of
my daughter in favor of one of his sons ; making her believe that he had
Scriptures to that purpose from the Lord ; and that by degrees her parents
would acquiesce, till be was on the point of nearly tempting the poor
girl to consent to elopement with his son ; and all this without my family's
most distant knowledge, till one of my good neighbors, who was connec-
ted with his family told me of the plot; which was immediately overset.
Let it now be observed that my religious f.iend, the subject of this short
narrative, had been during all the period of this clandestine wooing, in
the closest apparent friendship with me and my partner ; embracing and
kissing me from time to time with the sincerest seeming affection ; and
also praying, and singing psalms, and religiously conferring with me
from week to week, and from Sabbath to Sabbath; till on the discovery
of his deceit and hypocrisy, he was brought to a public trial, where his
own letters on the subject, besides other means, were sufficient and irre-
sistible evidence against him. On this shameful detection, and when
all bis insinuating and evasive arguments could not serve him, he sobbed
ither se-
summary
■nderness
tihood to
less ; the
wife, his
; so that
lis moral
g all his
as under
eichbors,
still but
ate wrath
enot less
ehood of
eral deni-
es not in«
lenest eye
;rs, wlien
me, both
have also
L perhaps
religious*
compass
omething
ccount of
ever have
on taking
t mind on
lation, to
! mind of
1 at he had
Br parents
the poor
y family's
s connec-
y overset,
this short
ooing, in
aciiig and
tion ; and
with me
discovery
where his
t and irre-
jnd when
he sobbed
89>
and hankfu heart, ,n fond expectation of his moral and reli. ious mp?o e
ment, as weU as physical restoration. He recovered by'de" ers~wa«
restored to all h.s former privileges; but soon, alas ! by sim!far deTr^
StrTu^' '"'''"°''' '"'^ '"°'^*' desperate Big^s of his^real"npenitfn^
after all his seeming repentance, for the now remarked and the rest of
the offences of h,s past life, he showed his principle and aft^r our suf
ZJJTu '""^ '"f ^^'°"* ^•"'^' ^y ^ «eaLless repcU?^. ofL7o I es
and in fully npened and sad despair of his amendment we ariast VeS
nrXttffe"^^^^^^^^^^ ^frf'P^ tUI after some^rsi^igs'TandK
he had disi. ted «nH ? '^u '^^'"'"""'l^ «*" ^i'e Church from which
sZ7 ''\^^'r'^^' ^^'-«y. -ho'm'h"'h\;r^ ^offe Id Vdten!
sion, he pretends to be now convinced of hi«. ^rrJ ;« k • ^ °'f 6""
opposed their measures; but he harnttihe Teat^ peTra^J o'f rT^^^^^^^^
or shame, for either h:s present or past conduct. But as ?o ' the cZrch •
you know, she ,s so w.de-throated. that but for some feigned and farcical
hesuat.on on the score of his character, in a soundingTuffor "wr?ron
ortZ;' '^'•^;^^' °'^«" ^'T^<^^> «he has swallowed tLs cam 1 of in un
fortunate and offensive professor; and is now about to set him on a oro
m.nent pomt in her service ; though she may at the same tiLnrl.oni
to strain at a gnat of a Dissenter ! ^ I couKas 1 enlarge to a coSer-
lo oe too tedious. What I have written I think is more than sufficient
Lart°?T'/'" 'J \^'?'^ S-""""*^ «^ "'y ^^P^r^^'o"- And ?or my own
accounf '"' ^"' '^' '^'"^ "'"^^ ^" J"^SeV>f the truth of this gHevou"
I am, yours, &,c.,
.JJ'^ ^'ofegoing reply needs but little comment. It is however a glarinr
^ZTZZnder'^^^^^^^ of the character in question ale d: 1'
Tad merk^ Thl L ^-Tu^^t ^'"'^' ^^' ^^'°^ ^^«'' '^^^ "S'y nature
Wush for K- ^° ''"*" ^'' ''"^^" ^'■°^S' ^^"hout the shtdow of a
blush for hi. present or past conduct, sits now quietly under the wfn.s
al^ nnn T* '^'. '''T'''''' °^ ^^^^^ communit/ he has so l,^ng desltfd
«ad opposed: and when expelled by his former religious associates f^r
i
■'r ■ ■ ■■ ■ i_
90
his private and open misconduct, he is now, without any change on his
part, but the mere name, re-admittcd by the proud Mirsionariea of the
fore8aid Church ; in whom, all candid persons concerned, know he has
no confidence, not only for piety, but even for common integrity and
discretion.
" But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The
dog is turned to his own vomit again ; and the sow that was washed to
her wallowing in the mire/'— -2 Pet. ii. 22.
Some tkort anecdotes by a recent emigrmnt from Scotland, who has been a respectable
Elder for aeceral years in the Eaiabliaked Church of that kingdom ; and an eye
and ear witness of what he seriously, and sorrowfully relates this moment to me,
as partly the cause for which he left his native land with sincere regret and disgust ;
and whose selection of facts is, as he says, but a mere specimen of what is now
most ordinary from day to day in the majority of places, among the Clergy all over
that now unhappy country.
Ist. " I went," he says, " in April last, as Elder to attend at a Pres-
bytery consisting of six Ministers, and an equal number of Elders, in-
cluding myself; when I expected to find at least the form of family wor-
ship, where we lodged together at night ; but alas 1 no such thing — not
the mere sound ! And finding myself thus disappointed, I spoke to J. M.
one of our Elders, that we should speak Mr. C, my own Minister, in
order to get private worship at least at night ; but when the proposal was
made the next evening after supper the Ministers' derided it; two of
whom went immediately to bed, and the other four sat up drinking whis-
key toddy to a shameful excess through the most of the night; and all
of them continued the same rout and round during the remainder of our
stay at that solemn meeting !"
2nd. " On another late occasion, Mr M. T., Minister of K., held the
sacrament, when, on the Monday evening after the Communion, he kept
a drunken ball for the entertainment of his profane rich parishioners,
who continued the revel till they found themselves alarmed by the com-
bustion of the Manse about their ears."
3rd. " In the last Spring an Elder, having in the mean time his
parish Minister, Mr. , at his house, compelled his servant to go — with
a horse and cart loaded with turnips — the distance of two miles, on the
Lord's da_v, in a business connected with neither necessity nor mercy !"
4th, " Mr. H. M., Minister of A , after being generally suspected
— on the strongest presumption— of disinterring and selling human bodies,
left that parish for that of D., where he lately dined on a Sabbath-day
with an extraordinary wicked man, and from whose association returning
home intoxicated the next day, and his gig tumbling, he fell out of it,
and broke his neck to death !"
5th. " In the parish of R , its Minister, Mr. M., being lately con-
fined to bed for a time, his Church had been mercifully supplied by the
neighboring Clergymen, who most earnestly had prayed to Heaven for
the restoration of their dear brother to health; but after his recovery it
was satisfactorily proved by the Patron that, during the said and sad
confinement, these kind snd prayerful brethren had, in r keen competi^
ge on his
iries of the
iow he has
egrity and
rerb, The
washed to
1 respectable
and an eye
nent to me,
Aid diagutt ;
jhat is now
rgy all over
at a Pres-
llders, in-
imily wor-
blng — not
etc J. M.
inister, in
tposai was
t; two of
Ling whis-
; and all
ler of our
., held the
1, he kept
ishioners,
the com*
time his
go — with
;s, on the
mercy !"
suspected
in bodies,
)bath-Jay
returning
)ut of it,
itely con-
id by the
javen for
icovery it
and sad
competi-!
01
In «fl-^*'*i VP'^'^i*** *'•'" ^°' ^^« expected vacancy ; at which he was
none oftt'T""*^'"" ,**'•*';" ^^' '"'' °'' »*>« "'^"^ Minis te '. dea^
Th J.*'J,'^yP?°V'"l"PP'''""'" ^''"'^ *"" succeed on that subject"'
13 have for « of A " u '""'"' ?'^*''* ''"'* *^^'*' '' commonly reported
loml!' « ?'.'*""^«'«^''« ^"ne, kept a joung woman in his house as a
common prostuu e, with whom he would be frequently seen from dav to
day, going secret y to the very Church, the house of GoTforTe black
purpose of actual pollution. And one of his brothers al^raMinistti
under the Royal bounty, ha. lately absconded in disgrac^ tving S
him an unmarried woman pregnant with child." *
7th " Why " said a friend to a Minister, Mr. D. S. of G "do
you choose to live with the wild and wanton Presbytery of B--- i'„ ore
ference to others which are far more pious-like, when^our situa ,0^;
not of any necessity, but mere option?" ^ situation is
Answer; " Your objection is the very ground of my choice • becausa
the open w.hlness, and religious unconce.n of our PreLytery eientnt me
from esteeming its members as pious Ministers; but ^ur prSt,"e
ZJLrZT T\"' ^\' ^'''y «^^"'°''"' '^'^ -^ holding a Tod^J
members those who have a hypocritical show of piety as a co4rto pri^
r;'irofi7rrb;Te;;r ' ' -" ^°"^' ^'^" ''-' -^--^ '^^--p-
v.«t^' " '*'';^"g5. ^""^ religious revivals in ScoUand prove, from year to
year a complete disappointment, yet kw of -either Ministe s. or peop e
here are much wiser on that account; like the implicit faith of PapTts
u. the pretended miracles of their own Church. We ba*^ seen tfee lat!
famous work of this sort at Kilsyth dwindle ^^, .i«d de To nouffi?
like a dream ; except a few .^razy sld -w«me« thk still make some nofsy
bowlings; but yet «oack««wMgm^t of undue credulity or 81^13
'"9 r "^L"*'* P^-t-f-ther the instruments, or tL^su^" ^
yth. f here is a particular point of solemn regret to anv tender
SiThettd''"^"' ^"^ ""r'^^' • ^^ "•^' '^' universality oTparUcI'
pating the Lord s Supper, on the part of all adults, in several oari^he, in
^«r «at.ve country. I know places where there i hardly „ fnd v duaT
•rnved at what is termed the years of discretion, withoiu beinLrTcom:
rh:rhoi;'ia:d."'" "° ^'-^-^ ^"^ -"^-' -' •-- ig-arp^,:pn
hri.?!h; r^fll' f"''^*"^ misconfidence among our Clerrry have
brought about the late shameful ' Interdict ' of which you cannof byVhis
o or.n.r*''""'; .^° **'"'''^'' °f *^^ Church now dare take .po7hii?
to preach uninvited beyond the limits of his own parish • although dis
senters as yet could not have been brought to obey'^ h is liw may ^1 J
you^some curious instances on this gro.fnd. when Vhara llttTe'nfd;:
nprmlll;^ '.' Catechists and Gslic Schoolmasters, who are of late years
VriT. . A A I ' ^''® '"°'^ •ntolerable, with religious vanity and
Tvlhiri"? ""^^ V""' '"»^'"'^*«' ''" ""^^^ «o thanlhe regula ^C er-
gy thet«selve3 :-A3 for example-Little M. M., in J. S., rearfd ?or him-
ri
i'%
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
//
w
'<>/
1.0
I.I
1.25
•-la
■ 50
^ 1^
— 6'
11^
12.0
1.4 1111.6
Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
V
#^
^\^
c^-^
;\
\
^^O
1^ ^Vi.
o^
%
pc^
23 WbST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER. N.Y. 14580
(716) 872-4503
<-
.^"4
<p
"mS\^
i^.
h
^
y
•^sr*
^"!
wmtm
'•"^"ffwmm^-
02
self a lofty earthan chair in his school-house, which has also been the
meetiiig-house for public worship in- thai quarter for a number of families :
The ascent to the sa^d seat is by 7 or S^teps, so as to place the feet of
pigmy M. far above the heads of all his audience ; and O, the self-import-
ftnc?j and the authoritative gestures and toneof that puny creature, when
haranguing, with the book of heaven in his hand! As to the awful words
*God' and 'Devils,' this sort of people hardly know how to use any other
terms about these solemn and interesting names; as if the Scriptures
gave us no alternative, to the manifest disgust of all tender minds."
12th. " Some years back," says my narrator, " I happened to go on
business from home to the parish of A., and in my way called upon the
assistant Minister, Mr. J. K., at his residence, who met me at the door,
wid shook hands with me ; and after sitting down in his room, asked my
news, to which I answered that the only news current in our parish, for
8om« days past, has been the death of Mr. S., our Minister ; when Mr.
K. abruptly rose from his seat, and shook his hand with mine the second
lime, through excessive excitement at my intelligence, in full expectation
of supplying our vacancy himself; of which sftoation he had prophesied,
according to the manner of the times ; although it pi-ovtd afterward^} to
be but the operation of a fond and foolish imagination. A disappoint-
ment that had worked so deeply on his constitution as to effect a tempo-
rary delirium , which augmented rather than diminished his prophetic
impulses during all tue remaining part of his life."
'K see no cause to remark on any of the foregoing authentic accounts,
except the last of them. But many a day before I left that kingdom, my
very soul had been sadly sick of such pretences to predictions and pro-
phesying. None must be of any repute for religious attainments, through
the Highlands of Scotland, without some extraordinary gift or other ; but
knowledge of future events, and the virtue of intercession are, of all, the
most common. Some of the vulgar are there so superstitioasly credulous
of the wonderful knowledge and power of 'spiritual men' — as it is gene-
rally phrased — that a fearful opportunity is given, on this ground, lo
religious pretenders, to impose on the minds of their adherents. A short
tirne before 1 left my native country, W. B., a silly creature of ibis sort,
said lo me one day, when d«ing some business together, " Such is my
belief, neighbor Bruce, in your influence with Heaven, that did you but
choo?e to exercise it in my behalf, you could get me.into the election of
grace !" Another person, a lay preacher in this Island, told me some
years since, in great seriousness, that — ^lor the space of fifteen year^-^
there has been no event or occurrence but what he could foretell ; of
whom, atJer reasoning against his foolish pretence in vain, I a»k«d lo
tell me how many pigs, with their respective genders, would compwse
the brood of a certain -jw then before us about to litter; at which he,
and soine of his religious adherents raged, and almost struck me. With-
out eiiuim'rating instancfis-- which might readily be given at great length
~ nf ilie dungerous and offensive, foolish and vain pretences of our reli-
jrioHs conTuryinen, iii our injo»ber Ghurcl), in our day, 1 sbail condlnje
w
> been the
)f families:
:he feet of
elf-import-
ture, when
wful words
I any of her
Scriptures
inds."
d to go on
upon the
; the door,
. asked my
parish, for
when Mr.
ihe {lecoitd
xpectation
rophesied,
erward^f to
iisappoint-
% H tempo-
prophetic
accounts,
igdom, my
i and pro-
s, through
other ; but
of all, the
credulous
it is geue-
jround, to
). A short
r ibis sort,
ich is my
d you but
ilection of
me some
n yearf-t-
)retell ; of
aiftk'ed 4io
conipirise
which he,
ne. With-
ent length
f our reli-
conducje
93
cannot be take: wth h!;ndf:°B r^an'ra 'ZflToYc^
be fenced with iron, and the staff of a s"p:L;'^ot m;rxni. 6 7 ""'
^ <luotation/rom a skort JVote latel. jcritten hy a famous JVormal Teacherl to anotktr
""»«. WAtcA reads asJ'oUows : '^ner, to anotlur
^ " I Wish you to give the book to Mr. J. M., which will deliver it to me."
A highly reputed Normal Schoolmistress sells needles -—fiv*. for » nn,
of /hL? : religious and literary attainments of these descriotiont.
nn.t if ?i T account of whose known blunder, and rarest Srd!
S C tf'""?^' ^' ''' ^'' ^^''-' S'oun6. for exposure anTm
iiaiion . out hereon I must rr>>rriiii<v * "urLj .^ j- •. man mi
Zt e_ ite alshlhpT/' ^r""'' ^J becoming -with his crook and
the present open stru<rgle in the Church of i^cotland '
an^Vou!S'ina'X"VK'T7 '"^ ^''"^^'^ '" the Church of Scotland, if
either na?vT ^u" ^ ^^ "^P^^^^ ''^« «.otive« and proceedings of
either party ; I answer thnt where there is no real differenre thJrl ^.r!
, s«-rr«»y< jpeaKing, tne most popular Mmiatws laowr 4»jf
94
ire the greatest stumbling blocks to the foolish and fond congregations
that 80 zealously choose them ; and thai therefore, it may fare far worse
<viih parishes which are supplied with preachers according to the fanciful
'"hankering of the majority cf the people, than for such as may be served
i»R the very degrading-like manner of Mariioch, under the violent and
wounding obtrusion of Mr. Edwards, as the origin of the disagreeable
contest of Strathbogie, with all its fierce and furious consequence.
Here take a short and sharp simile'. — A fond and fanciful young wo-
man sets her amorous eye upon one of he dandiest sparks in the country
—have him she must, right or wrong; for by swing and song, smirk and
smile, dream and dress, toast and toddy, tug and toy, fondness, farce,
•and 'fasoinatioii, he pleases her most mightily ; — and as a guardian angel,
ker twirled and tender parent, like some of our generous patrons, freely
indulges her darling's choice : — in a word they are spliced ; — but alas !
as is not seldom tl;e issue in such matters, the match eventually proves
but unhappy. Will it not rather rake and rack than crush or cure the
misfortune that the misguided wife has boast it was all her own maggot-
option, without any constraint or intrusion ! Apply the case not in a
merely ecclesiastical, but a purely spiritual and eternal point of light
and comparison.
Fortfce preference of the generality of professors in the Church of
ScotJawd, at this day, in tHeif selection of Ministers, appears to me quite
similar to the foregoing supposition ; a preference which, in the mean
time, manifestly allures their own souls into still deeper delusions ; and
that awfully threatens to aggravate their guilt, and accelerate their end-
less confusion.
Some brief Remarks on Foreign Missione^iti tended aa a Jn'ote upon the former hint of
Bmce upon the subject.
If it were asked upon what ground do I make any tacit exception in
the case of Ministers of the Church of Scotland serving in Foreign Mis-
sions from the generality of their brethren, both in Britain, and here in
our British Colonies, I reply that I do not presume to make any positive,
but only a possible, or probable exception ; because in the former in-
stance, Ministers being but very few in number, and generally stationed
at a considerable local distance from one another, they may as individu-
ally, or collectively, act more freely, according to the dictates of their
own consciences, and without so much exposure to censure; since they
are placed in a high degree beyond the particular and immediate control
and inspection of their numerous, formal, and wicked brethren at home.
Nor have they ordinarily so much inducement by secular benents or
or prospects to incite them to their olBce and undertaking, as those in
contrast ; and their dangers, disadvantages, and privations, are usually
far more numerous and unavoidable ; so that without some better motives
than the common rate and rout of our Clergy, these under remark might
be expected to hesitate more upon the subject than in the latter example.
And lastly, the accounts from time to time received, of both their senti-
ments and conduct, as well the fruit of their ministerial labors, indicate
95
gregations
; far worse
he fanciful
be served
iolent and
sagreeable
nee.
puug wo-
le country
smirk and
;ss, farce,
lian angel,
)ns, freely
-but alas I
lly proves
cure the
n maggot-
: not in a
It of light
Dhurch of
ine quite
the mean
ions; and
heir end-
rmer hint of
;eptton in
■eiffu Mis-
id here in
y positive,
brmer in-
' stationed
I individu-
I of their
since they
ite control
) at home,
lenents or
I those in
re usually
St motives
lark might
r example.
Iieir senti-
), indicate
compTrlson.'^'^ '" '^"'' ^''''' °" '^" ^"^^ '""^ T'^^"i"« ground of
^SrS f J!fA''"\'"'"",-wY//'i.l"'oy.'^''*"^''''''' inscribed to the Udit, Assoeia.
Ties cf Ca«rn7f ' "'^'''^f r*" FH^f ^"fi"'""- ' ""' '^ crumb for the Mis.iL.
rtes cj tape Breton ;" and under the following motto : "•«*••/«»
"The sacred function in your hands is made-
Sad sacriioge ! no function, but a trade •"
[Cotoper's Progress of Ernr.
^tAOIARMM, PAGEANTRY, AffD HEAN DISGDJ81!.
To mount his stage of fame from darkness won—
Surveys with lofty mien the gazing crowd
Adorned with tassels of the rustic drill ;
Shuffles the sacred leaves, as gamesters roll
Their packs of cards, with pedantry profane
And hurry too— exp-essive of his mind,
That hates the dull employ, and hastes it o'er.
A psalm, as prologue to the studied course
With treble peals of melody, ac'ite
For mean coiijunctien with the humble base.
Revolves through weasands of the strongest form.
As if the Deit^ on clamorous calls
And lofty strains were wont to lavish smiles.
So did idolators of old betray
Their frail reliance on the sleeping god.
Or god of chase with yelling orisons.
Till Israel's queen her bleeding prophets mourn'd.
Succeed the borrowed drops from ai)cient rills—
Doddridge and Tillotson; Baxter and Brown,
And Scott and Boston their various stores
Supply the modern sycophant, that prides
In stolon plumes extracted to impose. —
Grand source, for lazy preachers, of thdr all ! -, '
Yet, fearful to expose their nimble fraud.
Cut their detached scrawls in lengthened slips
To interleave their duodecimos.
Whoso kidskin-covers serve as famous screens,
Held vertically to the silly throng ; ^
(iaze with affected honesty beyond >
The burdened pews ; the ceiling canopy
Engrosses their attention in the round.
But mark the squinting glance ;— a.-* magnet poiqts
Ihe frigid pole, and trembles disengaged, —
As often fronts the Northern blast as eased ;
So pilfered scraps attract the ken morose. —
•Lids quivering prone to view, disclosure dread,—
Keep always on the treacherous at rt,
To guard from critics ready to resolve
Unguarded gestures to their native source.
No sooner nods the earnest listener
'i'han crafty vigilance improves the chance,
And perches on the implements of fame
With pinions spread to save a quick retreat."
VFILED AVARICE, rEIONEB SYHPATHr, AND H?r JRITkCAL IXIIORTATIOK.
"My friends," the charitable saint proceeds,
" The times «re hard and crops but wondrous low,
I
96>
Yet, strange to flay, thou§ii low, exceeding scarce ;
And cattle few and meagre — scarcer coins
Seldom or never meet each end required.
With warmest s^'mpathy my boweL yearn 4
But crave cooipasiiion of the source Divine.
Fain would I answer every urgent call,
And better your condition to my means.
But miuk, my friends, no sinecurv my sebt ;
Curtail my income, my respect endures^
A keener smart that pierces consequents
Of highest moment to your needy aouls."
TFE POVERTY AMD
VIOLENT
ABSENCE OF PREACHINa TALENTS MV8T
BLOWS, JERKS, AND PRANCINO OV THE
BE SUPPLIED BT TBS
PRCACUER.
m
As for the crowding minstrel of your band.
Transformed to every feature that allures
His siiaNow intellect inured to rest,
With praise^ tli« sly crtteriontrawm -vogues ;
Vice could not crave a slighter bdr^ier
To meet her treble fangs; A sounding tramp
Heard in the rostrum from an iruned boot,
Renewed at every vacancy of ibought,
Anon lattondcd with a dreadful b!ow
Upon the suliering volume with hix iist^
Distinguisbos'-his gambols 'from the grave
And modest attitudes of zealous worth
To beautify the soul-absorbing theme.
His not the Huent pour of ^itvoury speech
In those theatric fits of frigiitful glare ;
Three words exalted wholly ftkm the charge
Between each longer caret, till: the bi^ath
tie fully settled for nnotiier yeli
Of idem quantity and furious jerk.
The d'lll effect too clearly proves the uatise
As no authoritative voice from High ;
A voice that mjithor fires the liorfliant soul
To Hove of virtue, sold without a price ;
Nor spurd the disregarded Lpar.to sound
Its dread denunciations in the ears
Of senses, wallowing in the latent fihh
Of stagnated depravity ; the rude
lodulger of his feelings in the cauve
That most dishonours nature ; only fawrts ;
Afkl wags his hand with lively specimens
Of boorish complaisance, whene'er the frown
Of piety should spurn his foul embrace,
And viee«poiluted favours, to relax
The cBed it-caused displeasure, which at once
Gives way to th' irresistible devicet. —
Then ^in at pleasure, acquiescing swain ;
Nor druod tba* any time acltnowledgment
And sorrow need reflect the follies past.
On thy existing happiness in trains
Of consonant delights ; if thou but prove
Thyself the jycophantas well as then.
The money lavished on these Gospel-drones,
Applied to better purpose, might relieve
The mental dpo'jghi throughout our di^eary wildtf
More than can be conceived from any view
Of this expenditure. *» » •
COHM
NUI
vnt
ISO By TBS
u
97
P«ep through the thickened irloom turn »„ .1
3ee yonder antic n.etcor thafglow, '° "'* "'"''
High o'er thu favoured channel of l» n
And shoots its rays across t hi .«»f "^"^e,
Even to the dark^/eelS of^.' [ ''^^^ ' ""''
If circumstances ever be dirined,
You must presume that vice a kennel seeks
or erudition st^:;tX';,iror^'"« "^-
To view the dark recesses of the soul
Zeal vigorously flourishes its rays
Will, lattercd .h„d, of <l.,k„e„, veil of crim« "
Who heed illaminaUon, „„i„,„i j
Defin a haughty Lrvi:,Si:ti^3a^;[;-^'=» '''*"•
If definitions can asstime the scale :'
Or If your prudish mimicry expands
Ja,r^ I''*^?"fic from entan^ed wit
Joul con rndiction ! that the Lred^Odes
?s Jn-M"' f.^^'^'j^^^'f^r less, insinuate
As emblematic of a moral guide :
Ee^tToLln^'k^ir^L^^^^^^^^^^
The effluvia of menta: torpitude,
Thih li^ l''^'P'"* ^°n''«»<=ending soothes
COMMOKPLAC2 AND TRArrrAt ^^
o7^lik*'wh-Kr«. '"°n '"^""""^ »*^««'"»
A- holy water oW ti"' '''°' ^'y^'"''' '''^ P««".
P..«j v.? ]t . ° '^'^ '"« swooning crowd
AmS h **' ""?" f *''« «°'y Ghost,
Am,d the vocal whirlwind ./ Hark! th. voice
13
RELtOIOUS rtSVlVAtS.
■f"
mm
98
: I
Tr«nM>Rdoufl nnd terrific, poorin^ forth
The horrers of the damnod — the livid siare*
Uf yawning e&veii of sulphur, reddened pilf 9
()f 'ever-fleined bitumen, yelling fiend*,
Reproaching spiritn, utter darhneu, death
Fanged with the various schentes of Beelzehub,
To plunge hit) victims in a d«eper gulpli
Than wo extreme : — These and a tnounand more
Uf catalogues of chilling terrors fraught
With ever-flrowning cloom and ftncj-fotmed
Cunceptions of the bTockevt miirery,
With rorce gigantic shouted, ring the place
Of worship. These the hai'bingers of sighs.
And groans, and screams, and beating hearts, and Bwoons.
Conversions • ah ! conversions, now they dread
The fiery wrath to cone, the frown of God !
No ; those convaisions are but nervoos starts,
Imaginations frightened, fiincy ibrced.
To shrink from nier own bred deformities.
In fine but half unconscious, half inclined
To cherish this device to gain renown
For piety built on the lappt baoe
Uf these emotions ; every lump of sin,
And carnal dowdy, prattling brat and boor,
Vies with each other in the sad abase
Of their already scanty stock of sense.
The more they find confusion in their pulse,
And dizziness assumes their loftiest seat
Of silly thoughts, the more they hail the change.
With glowing raptures, as a proof diviae
Of th' efficacy of their second birth.- -
Anon, the solemn preacher cries Amen !
Though all hia feint Beem« spe<;iou9 to the dunce.
And promising of future happiness
To every foaming convert that relies
Upon those sufl'erings as a cure
To all the sad diseaseti of the sou),
No conscience shares the glory of the change.
Nor urges aught the noisy penitence,
Or need of meditation for the crimes
Already ushered to the final bar.
How could it else partake, when he that guide*
Presides with Ail) avowal of the stir
As genuine and sound ; nor e'er displays
The sweet, attractive essencels of trtith ;
The merits of a Saviour, love of God,
The beauties of his grace, and blis««fHl smiles ;
Aspiring hope, not with preMimption soiled ;
But meek, though earnest, and ttie peace divine
Infused beneath a lively sense of sins,
l^epented of devoutly, and forgiven.
These subjects of delight, that serv? the theme
Of every true proclaimer, from the throne
Of the £t«i««l, «f good will and peace
To lost iiMtBkind ; a«r e'er p&rtnaiy his charge
To his converged flock, noc show in aught
Their lineaments in these itminod«8t fits.
Should this "strong Wind" ofKwttung gospel temA
The rocks and mountuins, nor the Lord is there ;
I
hr
' w' i? **** earthquake of convuUioh find
W« Him ; nor is the firo offntwy eoai«a
S " still small voice ;" alu ! it fbllowa not
'V^?!.''!?'. ^*' '''^"^ *''°" '•«"' ■ " ""'J t«"»«:'i the guide
Vv horn to anoint as servant to hin Lord ■
1 And (how the kneen unbended to a god'
Of wood or stone. Let fancy cease to muse
I lie tender theme in accente wild and fierce.
And leave It wholly if not managed else.
Religious fruit not very oft adjoins
Oaxelted blossoms : when the press imprints
On each ephemeral sheet the showy stamp
Of universal sanctity ; and shouts
These specious works that rival those of old,
«y sacred scribes recorded, postback home
I o every dusty spectacle-bestrid.
Profane, or envious hornbook smatterer,
The times are glorious, or the dearth of life—
As life indeod— is fatal and extreme.
Then have your choice :-the former, you observe.
> . Xr- "PP^^^noe. bears some scripture proof
onts existence :— «« Let your light so shine
♦ Before men that they may see your good works."
Grand stimulus of «• Guardians !" "Tyfen may see •
And glorify," whom .' Glorify the Father
1 hrough the Church. Just so ; but who's the Church >
Her members : Now the idol I detoct;
The secondary object of devotion ;
In fact the first. Ay, membqrs with a name !
loo well, no doubt, in general deserved '
A name enough, to reach the Heavenly climes !
1 was not the sound of characters but •« light"
1 h« Saviour urged to follow : Nor his own
Example sanction'd, nor his servants' aught
T his use of selfish leaven : «• Let it shine,"
Is the injunction, not on parchments, mind
But in your lives, which bear a frUe record
Of those intrinsic beauties, of tAe fdith
You earneirtly prof,i«s, that fills your soul
With joy surpassing all that ffUo^wt worlds
And praises of Cfeation can besfow.
rhe faithful preacher is, of all mankind.
The most desOTvrng of our trtte t-egard : '
But he whose oflRde other ta*el4 designs
Than love of bomU, is the mfwt abject wretch
' u L '"'®**^®« '*»« common blessings of his race :—
He hovers round pll pastures to compare
Their soil, and choose the fattest ; tfiere, of course
Alights, Joofc* big, and bfegs his annual fee,
t or snuffing, sleaping, yawning, and fiiraoolh,
* noting your mmoTlal wreck to hall !
1 hen tell me what you benefit in lieu
Or loss of money, reason, and your soul ?
I lay my pen, arid foofscap on the desk,
To Jtnint you time to answer me at lar«p
«m
i
100
ih„'. iV' ."T" '? """"^. "P"" "•« "■"'■'' of "«»e l"l extract, but
Ik«A ^Vf, , ""'" r'""""' ""'"ion, or altera.io,, from li.e roush
6k«c„ of the aulLor ; who subscribe. him,ell " Juvenis ;•• and at I "f.,.
from h,, knowledge and experience of a long and direful train of the
«p.r.tual Ignorance levity, formality, imtenderneas, profanity nd ml
ZZfn"^ Scott'sh Clergymen, young and oldj-ind not af'aHasT^
perfections or infirmitieH but a, the very texture of their disposition a.Td
the governing principle of their conduct ; whatever mixture of ° "tu al
good qualaies might be found to Mend with their vices,iTe ^ouirno
en e so t' 2L^Tl ""l^ '""J- ''' '^"'"P'^^^'^ ^''^'^^"^^ «"d hi. consci-
ence so far alarmed, by his tedious intercourse with them that at his
last departure from the spacious walls of our metropolitan Sniverity 1 i.
bowels were so impressed, ,and his thoughts so far agitated hat as' e
well remembers to this very day, he lifted up his mirfd o lie en in the
nights. I would bless tiee for all thy unmerited mercies to me, both
U JaTJ ^'""''^^T'^' I am thought by mont people strangeTy 'singu-
lar ; and by some others, deeply fanatical ; because I will not and d re
and?ZrnrVn'd"^'''M'^^'- ^ - i^'^ged brutish ; nay rl'tl^r proud
and nsolent; and insensible to benefit!, and favors: because I cannot
thou knowest, O searcher of hearts, that were it enjoined by thee as n"v
most cheerfully bow down and wash the feet, not ony of n,; surr^or
and benevolent friends, but of my very prejudiced and^malevole.u'^ eTe
That ha?T nn"" U *'''f«'^?' of "flection, I take the Heavens to witness
that had I no alternative, I should at once prefer being chained to 'he
West India slave, enjoying full liberty of conscience.%o hein. oined
with the Scottish Clergy, in ail their enjoyment, under he pre em power
o heir disposition, and the actual spirit if thei'r administration." "You
will please to observe that the writer speaks here of the Clergy as a body
a^tr'^ "°J';'d"«»y ;/oy he has no reason, on this head, to treat of the
tZTVJ'"'! P"fC"'ar, or respective characters. He blesses Heaven
hat he does not choose to judge of one man, or of a set of men by ano-
her. but so far as the features of their char'acter, and the channds of
'noH'" 'V"' K'r'y '*'"""• "^ ^^"*"y ^'^hes to love and es eem
.i good man by whatever name or epithet that man may by some be de-
noaunated." «' Is u now impossible that a poor Dissenter, or even a ten-
(tracts, but
1 tlie rough
i that I si!i-
irnents, and
Mc with the
lister in Bri'
tJ himself in
ced people
Bclare, that
ain of the
, and mis-
all as im-
»sition. and
of natural
could not
his consci-
that at his
i^ersity, his
hat, as he
Ten in the
.vith Edin-
I days aiid
me, both
jely singu-
, and djre
ther proud
I cannot
nee. But
hee as my
, I would
y superior
3lent ene-
o witness
ed to the
njr joined
ent power
1." "You
as a body,
Jat of liie
js Heaven
n by ano-
annels of
rid esteem
tie be de-
^en a ten-
101
of Rome! when you cannot expect any truth, or connnon nense, from
any opposer of your dangerous errors, or flagrant misrule." "For J
series of years now your humble correspondent has fully beUeved the
sad proft.nnt.on and undeniable abuse of solemn and sacred o ii .ances
especially the Lord's Supper, by Ministers and people in genera It o be
a crying and provoking sin over all Scotland, aLd Sow-i?. aSfd de-
gree-.n our America ; for which cause incensed Heaven clearly permiis
hardness of heart, judxial blindness of mind, wilful prejudices, ^aLdlly
hof/nF iT"'!!'^ "."7"' '»"'"'* ""^ •"««"« of conviction, to take fata^
sound of these and similar texts in the writer's mind :—' Whosoever
hnH ''Vk!' ^I'i^rf J''"!^ ^his cup unworthily, shall be gSof tl^
eatelh'^l r'^^J'^.l''! ^°''*^ • ^^ ^^ ^'"'^ ''^'''^ ""^ drinketh'tnworTh ly!
the Lord's bod"v -"'^ o'""''7 [^^udgement] to himself, not discerni.fg
honi r r 7" , ^r'°" f ""^^ ^ ^"""^ «^^ t^e^ « watchman unto the
house of Israel ; therefore thou shalt hear the word at mv mouth and
SaureTv'^r '"^K^^'f" ' ^"^ ""^° '""^ "'^»^«^' « wicLd man thou
wav th.t vli^L Jl '^""l n°? "°' t^^'^ ^° ^■'"" ^h« ^^'"^ked from his
way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I re-
Z:l tt" '^"'•' """^ °' ^'^T' "' «"'■' «"'P^"-«' is of more w igh
than ten thousand arguments to the contrary: though practically Tiain-
tamed by he greatest and most popular nam.s in a Kingdom FoT to
a soul fres ,:5 aroused, by the solemn authority of the mandates and
mamfestations of Heaven having «acred tr-uh^on his sidr^ stands of
nml,.rH^"'"'M-^*''* f '^^ °P»'°^'^'"" «"*^ contradictioi of the im
lilies, and the most eminent talents, can possibly effect."
But since I think it now full time to dismiss our meeting, after mv
long and tedious interference, I do, in fine, freely allow you rSv dear
""^w"'^ candid Charles, to make any brief remarks yr^hoL '
m.Y. :r T '^"P^^ ^° ^^y ^"* '■"'« ^^ ^^e time. If your state-
ments on the subject in dispute are unfounded in truth, I verily pity the
man that stands in your sleeves ; but if your accounts are whnl|y%,t or
bilit!' nH r"""'' '°°'' "P''" "f '"^ '°"^'«^« "« °f <"»' «^'f"> responsi!
Church. n .t?'"^ rT" '"^ '^'"""'■' ''^^'^ " individuals, and as a
Church, ,n he time of his great goodness and gracious forbearance.
^aJIT ^ '^'^'l questions to ask upon various other points connect-
ed with our main dispute ; and. from your intelligent and open replfes
o my queries already posed. I feel confident you Luld in a gooS deg ee
tirnat;rrt'll''"\^' '^' '"'"" '''""'' ^« '^•"«' ^«^« «" confiderat o^iof
his nature till another occasion ; as the patience of our audience has
^.d'onnortn 'v '''!'T'^' ^"* ' ''^^' '^^'^^ ^ ^^^^ "^^ y«"r advantages
.and opportunities to know, or to ascertain the height of profanity and
religious formality aad pride existing at present in lur Church, }et am
lil i
i I
lOS
deny the »iul.l,,.rnTvide KtM.f fh. oT-^'^ ''" *""*' ''^''" ' ''"*'"*•
which ^ve receive 7Z2ytoAT^i^^^^^
through ccference w h nL en. ^;an'; of^ T ''*^ *''•'"''' '"^'*
«=Ter,| of whom arc theLere« b m^Il «nH h' '^'.T' «1"'"»»«"" ^
notorious deKeneracv of m,r ChnrA X *"f ''*'«'"«f»' evidence of the
and ecclesiastical comn.unitv men?rin^ .h '^ ^^^'""^^ *""' ^'^'""^''y
Establishment ''°"'"'""'*3'' '"entcmg the ru.n of our very Church
»-.nable; and .hot a ilere 'LI' j' ^^^^ »o be quite irre-
and more honorable than a « "hh-n "^ acknowledgement is far safer,
every mere assertion IL,Z\^ f-^ h^, *^'^"'" '"^ ^^^ »"«"'' ^i'
out/o„ the "b'e r^oXf ve" Ja'!?:^ '°""i^P* V" ''^ »»''"*^"
very diffidently of his mean! ^I . ^^"^"P^Pe'' = For when he treats
O.vis vSv' And T "f' ^^T"'*' '"""'^ confidently of his cause.
n^Zrr^.rf^tl'^T^'t^'l i-'r !"-" and injurious weak-
covociii u oui a very mean »ii
«.me, ihe novel appearance of a tint of Normanism
BND OF THE DIALOGUE.
njuriouE
iousand
having, at the same
c--'
108
(8 mor» and
en I cannot
>f accouuta,
home, ard
juamtance ;
itice of the
de^^ree but
(1 manj ot'
he country
leges. The
themselvea
1 of whom,
low filling
en, grand-
Idoni with<
' keeu and
r humanity
I religious
! prog/eas,
ir country
y Church
asCj enjoy
1 the pre"
necessary
IS 8t:ite of
|uite irre-
far safer,
especially
my hum-
ise all my
i the idle
md Don-
leir own
fully be-
dest and
Church,
only in
snar
! thrown
be treats
B cause.
s weak-
d sacred
he same
A\
cr
Regardinj; the word " Normaniam,"--wh:ch is to l*e found in the fore-
going Dialogue,— it may be proper lo remark, to such as otherwise know
nothuig oi" it, that it oi Sginatet' as a term of reproach, from the offence
which some great professors, and especially MinisterH of the Church of
Scotland, felt on account of the dissent from, and opposition to, some
of their own religious measures, met with, in the conversation and con-
duct of a certain person called Norman, born and bred in the said Church
and kingdom; and now residing in Cape Breton. And any people who
happen in any degree -» he friendly to him or his ways; or who cannot
follow and profess th- »jrch of Scotland, in her Mik?isters, as '• all in
all,' must run the hea^ risk of beinjj now themselves branded wiih the
odious and reproachful name Normanists ; and their sentimenid Norman-
ism hy every friend of the " true faith !" In consequence of which, sim-
pie Norman anW his . lends think it as weli to make a merit of necessity,
and so tc run cheerfiiJI , with the full measure and miuJ, force and facul-
ty, of wind and weather, under the pride and protect?" 1 - : these tides
and titles; so that when they cannot otherwise wipp >,* warti, cover or
guard, their own character on this ground, they may, by this yielding
turn of temper, defeat the aim, and thwart the smart of cutting and cor-
roding adversity. The proud sword of Ooliah the Philistine, is a cheer-
ing and consecrated ornament on the humble thigh of David the son of
Jesse!— A shorl paragraph quoied verbatim, from 9 letter of one of our
iteighboriag Ministers, may throw sufficient light on the subject, written
to a correspondent ; who was at the time openly envious against Nu.man
and his friends here ; and when the said writer and Norman we^e out-
wufdly ou friendly terms, and actually interchanging visits; and in fact,
on the part cf the latter, in plain sincerity. It reads as follows : •* i en-
close you a letter lately received by Middle River. It smells strongly
of Norraanism. The more, for my part, I become acquainted with the
»et, the more rottenness I discover in them. They are like the Badger,
iJ^ieir own smell follows them whithtrsoev^r they go, or in whatsoe er
they do." Without any further remark on this head, the reader is left
to his own reflect;— 3 upon it. But I have heard Norman himself tell
that various and numerous instances of similar inconsistent treatment
from Ministers, compelled him to think of the oresent character of that
grand order of beings, in a quite different manner from his first estimate
of u He told me he once had thought that all the Ministers of his own
Churchy exceeded us » superlative pitch, even the piety of grave-diggers,
and colTiG-raakers,,* a most pious set, so familiar with the implements of
• As the subject has never witnessed an open grave or a coffin, unimpressedrjie
in U:a ooyhood, thought it certainly impossible for those immadiately employed about
:he dead to be but senously pious; and he therefore, nt that time, supposed none
to exceed them in piety, but the Ministers of hiu own Church.
; I
1U4
grim death, the tyrant-kiiig of terrors ! An.! siBce there tvas not then a
smgUi Seceder or Dissenter, in his own bic. sed parish, he really supposed
the hr^stofthese extraordinary distinctions he would meet with should
h- it the monstrous mark and make of having two heads to a body or two
faces to a head : or in fact, something or another ridiculously s'.rancre.
liut the first Seceder he ever saw.-although frighted Norman ran to tlie
window, at the alarming sounding of the passing traveller's religious
name,— appeared nothing different from other human shapes; having his
gun on his shoulder, and a shot rabbit in his hand; and in all other re.
spects like one of the old neighbors; which seemed Very astonishing in-
deed.-But this same odd Norman whispered to me at another time, (hat
he felt, by a process of unavoidable necessity, a strange change in his
views on the score of Ministers. He marked their vanity; and, among
other matters, observed that he most seriously thought of four particular
sorts ofcreatures, though of different degree and grounds, yei, as very
tTv " hf 1'. .S"' p "f ^",«^' V" i^eir pride, viz : The Yankees, since
they bea the English "^the Pope, since he became infallible,-the
Scottish Clergy, since they have been open persecutors of Dissenters —
and the great Lucifer, since he fell from Heaven. Impressed with ihise
and such improved conceptions, I saw their subject write to a correspon-
dent, under hi« own hand, (after having read the contemptible compari-
son of the Badger) with perfect composure, and good feelings, in the
following strain :-" If every one that is now reasonably dissatisfied with
Clergymen be denominated a Normanist, I shall not, in existing circum-
stances vvant a numerous and sob* party, in very many places, but
especially in Cape Breton. And though I know well that the appellation
never arose but from dire spite; and that it is still applied but in the
same spirit ; yet I humbly rejoice in it, as a glorious reproach, suffered
upon the whole,— with all my iraperfections,-for the sake of a good
conscience in the service of Jesus Christ. And I sincerely wish that I
could, by divine assistance, commiserate and love my revilers on this
point as heartily as they shew themselves to hate and to slander both
myself, and my best motives and actions, as well as my worthiest friends
m the world, according to the sacred rule of Heaven ;— •• But I say unto
you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you ; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven."
■^Matthew v. 44, 45.
^'
not then a
r supposed
th, should
dy, or two
y strantje.
ran to the
religious
having his
other re-
lishing in-
time, that
ge in his
id, among
particular
t, as very
;es, since
ble, — the
lenters, — •
vith these
orrespon-
compari'
s, in the
sfied with
I circum-
aces, but
ipeilation
It in the
, suffered
f a good
sh that I
I on this
der both
it friencls
say unto
hem that
ersecute
leaven."
lETTERS
OP
PADDLE PLAIN AND MARY ANXIOUS
ON
MIMIC MINISTERS AND RATTI.ING llEVlVA
ts.
TKKEr.—Danielv. a7.
w 'i^mm%m£,mmm
appeared, When the said Paper disanDeaici J f"'* ^'''""'^ "^ "'«''• onJ/
the Times." ^ ajsappeai-ed, and was substituted by " The Spirit of
r^^^Syt:.i^S^:C^t:^:^^^ «'- -i^ intercourse
f'ixth Letter; and is I.errprin ed i its fiTst^S ^fn iT A*' "H''^ ''""^'"^'"^ "^^''«
revisal. The silly, sly, and slandero L onnnfiH . '''^' ''''"'°"' ""^ '^^'^'^^^ or
very first appearaJ^e ^ these retranrtSeh^rhl"^ "" ^"' ""^ ^'''"<1' »« »h«
t.on on the other, but argue and confiVm in x . .^ .' f"'^' "?'' '""'dsome recep-
ed both to correct and fo commend™^ mI U J T'^' '"'''^^'''^^ ^'^« '"^end-
because their deeds Were evil frnr • ^^^^ darkness rather than light
Lis deeds should be reproved •' or diJnoy.^r '^^\ '^°"f' ' ^^^ ''»»«^'> ^^e light, S
of the deepest dyes, an'^d'rdfh.st s gt"o7 tt'telV' e"'"^"-;;"'- ^^" "'• <^-
maintainers cannot sustain any candid invJ^iSf T'" '''f "^ ^"^.i^'^ts or
tho.r principles and conduct. SrimDosi^S""' ''•' ^"'P^"'-'^' examination, of
neighbors, can little avail or excuse tE on^Ti^ '"""f '•^"'"""' '^ '''"''' «^ ""r
«wn tcnderhess of conscience! and th^vblent a Srn"".^' "" u " '^''^^' ^'^''^ ^''^ir
«rder, they aVoid being drawn into ho ^nlr^ nf . '''^^ ".1 '''•"'" '°""'' ""'^ ^"'-•rod
rity on this score, theifneaceablp m n?i I ^^ *="""'"t«on." Had they any since-
biy desort them, on eTer^^ other fri^olff '""^ •"^^^"res w„„,,, „„^ ^^ ^^ J ^ '^'oe
and fearfully proud of their iiftJ.inH °^-*=««>«"- To find a flood ofmighty men
;lm does "o^bear the swTeJ'o a"pt.Et' iTed' b^V'^'-^'T' of eternal c„^,cTrn:
the sovereign superintendent, wLC divine'Dr.S„ ''"'""'"« ?"^' ^tmnge. B„t ^
equally with lice anlt:;:; l^t^^ jL^^^nr^^Xni SflLlJ-'
Gape Brecon. Dfinprnh*... on iq^i P. P
/
14
f
>»>
106
il
For the " Cape Breton Mroeatt"
LETTER I.
Mr, Editor, — In *' The Guardian" of the 6th instant, and under i\\e
title " Cape Breton," we see very lofty accounts of " the Clergymen and
Schooira? sters sent out to the Island from Scotland," and of the results
of their labors on the minds and manners of the people as " astonishing
and beneficial." And from t'lC inforn^ation of " an 'r.telligent and highly
respectable Correspondent," it ie stated that "w^ have five excellent
Ministers to guide us in our devotions in worshipping Jehovah as our
fathers did of old." And then follows, " What a hallowed influence does
the Church of Scotland carry along with it, wherever it is planted, there
peace and prosperity, friendship and affection, every where abound," &lc.
Now, Sir, there are in this Island, to my clear knowledge, some thou-
sands of inhabitants, of ordinary intelligence, and sobriety, all of whom
were born, and have been brought up, like myself, in the Church of Scot-
land, to whose minds, notwithstanding, the said statement is highly offen-
sive and harshly offensive ; because they can find but little truth in it.
Where, I ask, is "the great and wonderful change" in agricultural im-
provement, " which has taken place in almost every part of the Island,"
according to the assertion of the same Correspondent, since those excel-
lent Ministers and Teachers arrived here, and by their means or influence
more than before? And where is, likewise, the astonishing improvement
in morality and piet} , by the instrumentality of the said good Clergymeft
and Schoolmasters, to be marked out to us over all the Island, excepting
our wild and violent " Revival ;" which we must believe to be a delirium
or something worse, rather than a sound and sL.utary cokiversion; and
consequently more a plague than a blessing to all concerned ; and those
that indulge and encourage such roaring madness, and raving insanity^
to be stumbling blocks rather than stepping stones, to any sort of moral
excellence, or religious improvement. Many hundreds of my sober, and
serious neighbors, and several of them your humble subscribers, are from
time to time heart-sick by similar draughts from the shameless columns
of the Guardian ; with a small drop of the same lees now and then from
your own, about the extraordinary merits and enterprises of the Chuich
of Scotland, I do not choose to deny that we have in this poor Island,
an average share of what our now unhappy Church is really worth ; and
yet this is not saying much. 1 cannot esteem those her best and truest
friends, who, so extravagantly, magnify her virtues, now that she wildly
pants, and vainly puffs, in her proud degradation, and perverse deformity,
of open sin and schism, so that any of her members, especially Ministers,
who, at this lime, dare contradict these last brief and" moderate remarks,
must, indeed, be wofully blunt, or wilfully blind. I think it now unne-
cessary to enlarge in detail, though I am abundantly supplied with
materials. If you choose to publish this short letter in your paper, I may
trouble you with a few more, by and by, on the same subject.
I a'xi, sir. your obedient servant, Paddle Plain,
107
if I
under the
^ymen and
the results
istonishing
and highly
; excellent
rah as our
uence does
nted, there
>und," &/C.
some thou-
II of whom
ch of Scot-
ighly offen-
ruth in it.
ultural im-
he Island,"
hose excel-
)r influence
iprovement
Clergymeft
i, excepting
; a delirium
irsion ; and
; and those
ig insanity^
rt of moral
f sober, and
rs, are from
ss columns
1 then from
the Chuich
)Oor Island,
;vorth ; and
t and truest
she wildly
; deformity,
f Ministers,
ite remarks,
now unne-
>plied with
taper, I may
E Plain.
• ' f^or t/ie 'yCupe Breton Mvocate." -
mS mvtir"""^ ^T'T ^^ "^'^^^^ '«"«« <>•• science. Could I
rpudeuceVf outroirt' ? ' ''" ^'^' "'"^ ^'^g"«' '^' ^ff^^^'tery and
!hl . .!i ^°'***'' '°"S since wo M his brangUnff brains have fplf
din?rv „ . . , r '""^ "-eligious excellence, as weH as of so extraor-
sion in '' '"m ''*"""y *'''^"^«* *^« d^^'inies look in pity and compl
of cZ R 'T''^^^ ™'' '"'^ ^ ^^^^^™ °f '"y fatuous triL over the face
vL^bksont' f r'^r ^"^'^^''^ ^^ ^^^'"^ 'he real t?uth of three
bdieve and n ■/ '' '"'^ """ account-but in a still far worse condiiiin
ilir li P^^""^ ^"^ *''°" '''«> •" « '«ng degree, the very reverse of it
Ch rTJo'rS :d'"°"' '1' -'igious^x^elle'nce' /n'Tto il'
tical eviderfc^ r n^^ ^'f'"'' *" "I'g'^'' ^ ^^ink, with the clearest prac
Uuir T\ I *'^^'"«P°«e t 'e words pf the Guardian, as quoted in m v first
C'w h Ter r ^""l' "' r*^^"*^"^^ "'«"^- ' '^o- "h^ carry
try--there wr .ii;! ^^^ she is planted, both at home and in this coun^
in *?.lf r 7 f "^ '"'^ confusion, every where abo«nd." What is she
even aSi:llo'!r^^^''''^^!.'" '«-« <»f th. Strrhbogie stJuggle^!
Telf bu, . "^ p^ seIf.cGntrad,ctory Accounts of the "Guar^iS" it-
loJ: W ris!he"now ^f > '^* ''^''"^ P-gatory,i„ her owl
uweis, vvnat 13 she now, and for a long score of years has she bp^n
,erv"nr'€''°'^r'^ '' ^'^'°'^' '^"^ ^"^^ thVoverheatS and burst macM-
around her ? Her hve excellent Ministers," with all her School tLX
and s3 ""i^",' '^^^ "'^' ^^^"' ^"^ -« ^« this hourfa sore rebuff
g^and^tJ TSut^^^^^ "T 'I' ''''"''' ^"' P^^S'ess of th; two best and
grandest institutions under the stars-the Bible and the Temoerance
bocieties-not only by their own shameful neutrality on thes7chle
and exhihratuig subjects, but what is worse, by openl/vilVin.yd mTs
representing the motives and measures of he mo' e La orfeaders „"
'onrw^^fr^;!;' rr^^'fi ^^"'"^ ^"^ tempu^Tthe'mhd: «"
o stnr H .1 if '"^^^'*«»'^ ^"Ih by example and persuasion, as of late
elS ouVexedUn^t '"'^ ^'''"' '^'''' '"^^^ eminent'means of'moral aud
religious excellwice or improvement— but all their art or aim snn nr
zeal. IS to preach their own va-.-i-ip. rn^-— • -" ' cjmi, &np oi
m
Ml
- * i
i 1
!,i i
.' 1 1
__ I I p
108
These are open and stubborn facts, and I defy the world to falsify
them.
"Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up
the kingdom of Heaven against men : for ye neither go in yuurselveii,
nor Buffipr ye them that are entering to go in.''— Matthew xxiii. 13. i*'
Meantime, I am, Sir, yours &c, Padole Plain.
Cape, Bretony24lh November, 1841.
i' 'i« » ■ ,.i..t:i,i, ii
\ I
For lht<'^ Cape Breton Mtocate,''
LETTER HI.
* I^Ib. EditOhs,— -Afiieighbor has just told me that iii" ctotisequence o(
my first letter's appearance in the ''Advocate," a certain subscriber to it,
had ordered his paper to be discontinued ; and also threatened to endea-
vr-ir influencing all the Presbyterians in the country, in similar circum-
sti-uces K) follow his example, with great puff and boast of his most flou-
rishing Church. But I suppose that either the zealous man did not reallV
mean to act up to his pretence ; or that he was far mistaken in his viewiii
of the consequence. For the panic flight of all the Presbyterian Fleet,
at the very first sweep of the poor Paddle, would be inde»!d so very ex-
traordinary a piece of news over all the country, as could not miss to
defeat its own purpose, by attracting in itte eddy, at least, an equal num-
ber of kindred Paddles to subscribe for the Advocate : But 1 really fear
that proud Paddle, with all his stock of vanity, needs not dream of such
a glorious triumph. I, and my weak fellow-paddles have suftered the
sore vanity and falsehood of the Guardian, the Presbyterian organ here,
to ir suit our very common sense, with our religious sentiments, and
Christian experience, for several successive years, without a single open
grudge or growl; though'some of us have been, for some time, and are
still, among the humble subscribers of that very open insulter. But as
to the word Presbyterians, it is of a more extensive meaning, than the
foregoing suspender would either understand, or admit it:—
All the Antiburghers, or Seceders in the country are Presbyterians ;
who, I am persuaded, will not generally feel offended for the commence-
ment of my paddling.
There are thousands also of those connected with the degenerate
Church of Scotland, who sadly both admit and latnent her deplorably
low condition by this time; and who consequently, animate, and peisuade
poor Paddle to attempt io sweep well, with all his might and main ; for
that Heaven and earth now combine to call aloud, for straight and
strong, sad and sound paddling! And lastly, Paddle himself is likewise
styled a Presbyterian, and does not rate himself much the better or the
worse for that mere designation. As for men to boast so much of the
goodne-s and strength of their own cause, and at the same time to le
such coward? as to endure no opposition, or reflection ; but to flee as it
were from the buzz of a fly, must be something s.iniilar to the confounded
to falsify
ti shut up
ruurselveit,
i. 13.
Plain.
quence of
fiber to it,
I to endea'
ir circum-
most flou-
not really
I bis views!
ian Fleet,
► very ex-
>t miss to
qiial nunn<
really fear
n of sucli
ffered the
gan here,
lents, and
ngle open
!, and are
But as
thun the
109
flight of Ben-hadad's army it the sound of th^' Hebrew lepbr's crutches
«n5 flonrUh""''' of Scotland is at this day i,r4d so spiritudirgree n
?elfowsSb sfh'r'"' ^^•"'''^^'V"^ •"^'"berKMna ^neral ecclesiastical ^
fe lovvship. a. the Gunrd.an and «o many of jS^mfiituuied party main- "^
tarn, there necessarily must have been of late a radicill and- extraordinary
Xinn T" °r '^^ '"^'^''^ '^''''" of.human natH;^#a.uell as of all
re ig.on, for in former times, and past ages, and according to the jrenc
lid", if P. '"' ^"^^ "I '"""'i Scriptures, the puny animnf and the^ v t
chan're or JT". ' '"'^ commands of |v3 Crentor ; and without a real
and fmnpr' H 1 ' '°"''r '' u' ''^^'^'^'^'^^ »" ^^ akso. in hisaexfure
rilv iemCdprJVr''V"'^' requisitions, and qual.hoations ordina-
rily demanded, and the submission and exception usually enioined in
onV: f ' ^"'7'^''^^', ^"'^ '" «"*'^'« membership, in h'e true Chu^c
of Jehovah ; especra Jy under the Gospel dispensation But the dear and
enr"'* ""^'"' "'"^"!"'^ fl<^""«hi»S Church of Scotland does not
requ re now of m^e any thing contrary to my native inclination, or fallen
over my habits and conduct as may permit the rest of my 8iK>cie>. to sus.
pend my execution on the gallows, and likewise as t rcr^^ i.g IT
that w.th a my heart, and with all my, soul, and with all my LnatiV
and st^ t 7 h""'' ' '''' ''"•!'""' ''''''' -'^ -^P-«. i-'hisbo-d ;
ad spirit, and character, part and parcel, that only abominable bein^r^
not otherwise to be named by the pure lips of a Christ.an,-a Dissenter
from the Church of Scotland; for that is the only impard nable r.er'
itr^f cE.'''j''"'r'''^^ either fallen human natu're. and therm r'
nrlVnT ^.'^".''^ « k'"^^^"'?. .""-e «"pplinted and transformed, or that the
present religious stat3 of the Church of Scotland is awfully' degenerate!
and dangerously fatal. I am. Sir, your obedient servant.
Cape Breton, 1st December. 1841. " ^'"''"'^ ^'^'''-
%
ni
jyterians ;
)mmence-
egeneratft
leplorably
I peisuade
iiain ; for
light and
s likewise
er or the
ch of the
me to he
) flee as it
nifounded
fur tAc Cape Breton .Id tfocatc" .,
LETTER tt'! ^•."
Mr. EoiToH.-Since the date of my third letter to vou, 1 sent you the
names of some new subscribers for the Advocate : And others of vour
trboMe'rTr dt'"'^; '"^ ^"'' '"^ «^''""«'>'' ''-^^ '"^^y hHrf b:;n°on':he
very border^ of discontinuing your "stale Paper," ris they phrased it
(for every thing is stale now but P. P., until they found! theTr very
agreeable disappointment the first letter of Paddle : Thi« you must un^
derstand is not saying too much of one's-self! And inferring from anua-
p?e".lomt;A'^r"^ '''"'' ^'"' y^" '""^^ '^"^^^ '^-' gene;ous prTde'ira
predominant and open trait m my character) that the?e is no danger of
;°" .5"'^^.^^.'*"«^^'"'"i?"'yP«-»ddIing. Let all who dread a sweep
'f they choose; the Paddies, I find, wUi soon supply" iliS
I I
\r.
■' • I
I ii
t!i
I" i
llii
110
post. Publish, however, to me your loss on my account, and I hereby
freely promise, either to cover that loss, or to relinquish my ground.
This is, at least, a lacit notice to all the friends of paddlinj^ to push for-
ward and support the Advocate. Let the haters and opposers of poor
Paddle — if any are so unfortunate as to merit that name-r-advocate their
own cause, in as moderate and plain a spirit, ao Paddle Piam chooses to
treat his own, and they are all and heartily welcome to the ground. O I
How fne very heart of Paddle begins to pant, bounce, and burn, like a
wanton horse in smelling the battle! O for a stout and sturdy sweep
against the agitated current, and the billowy storm !
Please to hear that I have a smart brother called Bottle Bruce : he and
I are twins; for the fruitful womb of dear mother, Mary Bottle, never,
like other women, missed to conceive and to carry twins! My father
was, as every body knows, old Bruce Pl:iin ; and, in his time, was also
a poet; so that you may naturally anticipate dome very novel and extra-
ordinary things from the rare genius of both myself and brother Bruce.
Well, as I said, brother Bruce is about lo publish a book on many a
good and bad thing; which, by the bye, must prove to the interest of you
Printers ! He writes, I say, — as his genius naturally leads.-r-on Minis*
ters rnd monkies, — Popes and puppies, — conversions and convulsions,-—
physiognomy and phrenology, — logic and matheraatic ; — good and evil
spirits; — and, in short, on time and eternity.: indeed he does not leave
her sacred majesty Victoria herselt behind his remarks; so that I hope
the whole country will soon ring with his praise! And I cannot but
hope that His Excellency our Governor himself, will purchase, at lejtst,
two copies of the work, when it is; out of the Press; that is to say, the
one for his own use, and the other for her majesty I I am confident the
subject is, by no means, below their notice; although J sincerely regret
that grt.it folk generally look big; and so, unfortunately, overlook the
worthy works of rare talents, placed in humble circumstances! "The
poor man's wisdom is despised." This I trust will serve as the first ad-
vertisement of the publication I Now, after this tedious digression, and
before I offer any further remarks, on the languid and forlorn present
religious state of the once lively and shining Church of Scotland, I most
seriously and sincerely wish it to be understood, that I do, by no means,
choose, to give a handle to malevolence, or envious reflections, by any
thing 1 have already written, or that I intend further to write, on the
subject, against her community. 1 know, from long experience, that
many worthy persons connected with her name, and that have neither
suflicieqt discernment to see the extent of her degeneracy, nor the forti-
tude to reli.:quish her fellowship entirely, who yet cannot but bemoan
her wpful barrenness, and the fatal pride and effrontery of most of her
Ministers. What was the worst bar to reformation, in the persecuting
and prrfp-.e Church of Rome, in the days of the famous Luther, but that
the majority of her Bishops and Priests, could not be once brought to
admit, or concede any error of judgment, malignity of disposition, immo-
rality of conduct, or wickedness of government, in all their civil and
eccAesiastioal concerns ! And was it not the same cause tha'. bolted the
I
\ I hereby
)y ground.
> push I'or-
rs of poor
ocate their
chooses to
•unci. Ol
rn, like a
rdy sweep
e : he and
tie, never,
\ly father
, was also
and extra-
i3r Bruce.
n many a
est of you
on Minis''
uisions,—
I and evil
not leave
at I hope
tnnot hut
;, at least,
D say, the
Indent the
ely regret
rlook the
! " The
e first ad-
ision, and
n present
id, I most
lo meanis,
8, by any
e, on the
nee, that
e neither
the forti-
; bemoan
St of her
rsecuting
, but that
ought to
m, immo-
sivil and
lolted the
HI
hearts and ears ofthe bulk of the Jewish nation against the heavenfv
solvation of our ever blessed Saviour Jesus Christ and the preachfnTof
His Apostles? And it is the same fatal bane, in a high degree hou^h
under different modifications and various form's, that hl'ds t^he Cie gj^of
the Church of Scotland so desperately shut up to conviction at this day
and consequen ly, so far from any chance of real remorse, or right re
form In fact 'St ,s" a task of almost equal difficulty to shame Popery
out ofthe pr.de onnfallibility. and the absurdity of f ransubs^antiS
and to convince the body of the Scottish Clergy, if the practical dispS
iZtTTr^u ^^^^•^".^''^.••f^l f««tures of their Chur.h'! and the trSe es^-
t.mate of Christ 8 spiritual kingdom in thf world,—" Let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good works, and gloiify your
fn f^fi^ 1'.^ " '" ''.''''''!;" : ^^^ '' '^' ^^^y without the sp^rhsVead
so faith without works ,s dead also." " Salt is good : but if tL salt have
ol t'rnT"' •';' thenceforth good for nothing, but to be c lou , "nd
o be trodden under foot of men." I take the liberty of concluding tl° s
letter by a few lines from "The Course of Time," as descriptive o! the
character and spirit of true Missionaries.^.,.,, ,:, T.^^
—j' The Warriors of Meesiah, mcMengers
Of peace, and light, and life, whose eye unsealed,
saw up the path of immortality,
Far into bliss, saw men, immortal men,
t . fV ''*^ f^'l^ wandering fVom the way ; eclipsed in night,
': .7 •■ L»ark, moonless, moral night; jiving like beasts,
Like beasts descending to the grave, untaught
Of life to come, unsanctified, unsaved ;
. Who, strong, though seeming weak ; who. Warlike,
' it*"g'> ""Hrmed with bow and^sword ; appearing mad,
Though sounder than the schools alone e'er made
1 he Doctor's head j devote to. God and truth,
And swrorn to man's eternal woal, beyond
Repentance sworn, or thought of turning back •
And casting far behind all earthly care, '
All countryships, all national regards.
And enmities, all narrow bourns of state
1 And selfish policy, beneath their feet
Treading all fear of opposition down,
, . All fear of danger, of reproach all fnar,
—' -'^ And evil tongues; wtent forth ;
•" '■ and in the wilderness
Of human waste, to sow eternal life ;
And from the rock, where sin, v/ith horrid yell.
Devoured its victims unredeemt d, to raise
The melody of grateful hearts to Heaven :
To falsehood, truth ; to pride, humility ;
To insult, meekness ; pardon to revenge ;
To stubborn prejudice, unwearied zeal ;
To censure, unaccusing minds; to stripes,
Long suffering; to want of all things, hope ;
lo death, assured faith of life to come ;—
' Opposing." —
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
HI
Cape isreton, Sth December, 1841,
pAnni.n P
inrn fr^wi^T
til
■i\
n t
,1
\'
■' i(
Ui
' ■'^^^ Hrth^'^'tkpe'iretdit.lktoeaU." ' ' '
LETTER 1.
TO PAPDLE PI.AlNvr<l05I>IAR¥ ANXIOUS.,
Sir, — Permit a weak thtfiigh anxious Woman to ask orf you softie qu**»
lions, and to make humble remarks on some, of irhat you have already
advanced to thd Jiublic. I beg first to premise that women — though na-
turally tender and timorous— »are yet generally tough and tenacious/
Notable and numerous are the deeds recoi'ded of warhen, not only in
civil, but Sacred History : Rahab and Ruth, Deborah and Jael, the tam-«
ous Esther and th^ heroine of Thebes. Women also followed oUr Savioui^
to his crucifixion, and his gfavCi when almost all the other aek of hist
disciples diffidently fled him. f ' « ^''} ' '^inu r ; m i?T 'W
It was likewise to women tliat lie sfiowed flitoelf first ^t his resurrec-
tion ; and that he entrusted to cafry its first gheious tidings to the rest
of his friends. Though I do not presume to castigate, yet I wish td
moderate, your apparent severity of reflection on men and manners. For
without some female correspondence, 1 sadly fear, you will be apt to leap/
hot only the bounds of all moulds and moderation, but those also of plain
and undisguised' truth itself; and so to run wild and watitoil, in witticism^
metaphor, and burning satire. Coui^ider, sir, for instance^ your mothef
■ — of whom you so much seem to boast for her prQlificaCy--^was for whole
seven years barren after her marriage with your father; and for' that very
reason called Bottle ; though her name since has sometime been Mary
Twins, or Mrs. Plain. But observe also what is indre dangerous in the
partiality of your relation of her, that she never, had more children than
the one conception and birth of twint«, — Bruce and l^addle.
Now you may tell the World, that you have not written any direct of
positive falsehood ; though at the same time, none unacquainted with the
particulars of the circumstances can arrive at the real trulh of the case,
by your mere account of iti Equivocation is a Crying sin in our day j
and that too among men of vast eminence and most prominence in reli-
gious and ecclesiastical offices. Is it not eafey to prove by stanch
evidence, that a sounding Clergyman still living in this country, and also
instrumental irt a famous revivalj attempted lately to evade the charge of'
double dealing in a business of serious importancej when interrogated,
*• Did you not write a letter in favdr of that Minister whom you promised
to oppose ?" by replying "No !'* But the polfit being uneludibly pressed
home he replied, " No ! 1 did not send a letter in his favour, I only sent
& line!" This is a true sample of the character of this great champion
of the Gospel; and you my good friend, ehould avoid all appearance of
its imitation. I certainly know a woman, like myself, who once troubled
the said great Minister with a letter^ humbly begging him to give hef
solutions of certain setibus questions directly connected, both with his
own ministerial office, and the special concerns of all his religious adher-
ents ; to which notwithstanding he has never been pleased to return any
answer. Such disappointment, with several other reasons, excites me
iiiaf subjects. I wish particu-
._ 1..
und
ome ques'
te already
hough na"
(enacious/
>t only in
1, the lam-'
jr Savioui?
ie% of hifl
I resurrec-
a the rest
I wish td
tiers. For
if/t to leap/
90 of plain
witticism,
it mothef
I for whole
t that very
een Mary
Dus in the
[Iren than
direct of
d with the
the oasPj
our day j
ie in reli-
)y stanch
, and also
charge of'
arrogated,
promised
ly pressed
only sent
champion
arance of
3 troubled
give hef
with his
)us ad her*
eturn any
xcites me
li particu-
113
larly, and in the outset, to hear some of your thoughts on the natui-e an*
and how far does your estimate, according to plain Scripture rules c^r'
respond with what obtains now in this Island under thos?specio^ nj^ "
in/, luh °k'?'^'^"''"'' *° ""y °^"«' «« ^«^i°n«i and responsible be
lTp'a:r'uront"^°'^^"^'"^^Stm^°L^Tc' ''' 'm ^V^^'
Cape Breton, 12th December, I84I' ' ' ^'"' '^~"^°^^-
For the « Cape Breton Advocate."
PADDLE PLAINS ANSWER TO THE FIRST LETTER OP MARY
ANXIOUS.
JLETTER V. ^
Madam,— I take your remarks on mv Letters in no ill n^n • ,«^ t -h
endeavour to give some solution to yo/r qu st on" But^I hope "ou wl
fion Th'' ' ^'?^?^iffr"«« between random mghts of se minTenrvoca
tion, where neither character nor interest is at stake and whe^ hn.h
these are immediately and seriously involved : For without amnle .cnt
on this ground we must nip and curtail not only Lst rorilnocent
thru:h''n'"^'"'"^"'^"'^°^^P"«Ph^^^^« ^» no^ufequenrinstances
through all our various transactions, but even fall foul of the Sabred
Scriptures themselves; wh..e we find so many embellished alleaortes
obscurely shrouded metaphors, and bold and bombastic-l ke hypefbo ies
and c.rcumloc«t> ons. One particular point I must farther preface tha;
-as previously not.ced-since brother Bruce is about to oubllsh oliVhi
subjects of your enquiry. 1 do not wish but Hghly to forestall ^^^^^^
Zl^.rV^'"''^^'' °" ;^' "^^''^'""^ '^^'^^J i« our^eighbohood i su^
gested them in general, in my first letter to the Editor of the " Cao^J
fdHif TnT' h"""/ Vr^ ^^" ^^^'^ any different estimate r
dea ot It And in brief and plain terms, I tell you and all concerned
that, without «s.ng perfect violence to m; feelings. I canno t?eat of ^h.t'
wild and frantic work, in any serious style. Fof i merit" no to ii^r
VUrj'" "'''' '"' '" ' ^"^•^^°"^' ^"^ sarcastic manner PeopTe so
fur left of common sense, and common decency, are a step beyond seriou^
treatment; especially under the sweet and sacred nameTrXZ I
We then 7n ''' ^^"^^' ^^'"^^hing about conversions and con Sons
We.l then, any person who can imitate the latter, in which our revhai
chiefly consists under a so-called sermon, from any of our M^n sters fs
at once a sound convert ! I have the plainest and (he strongestSnce
ofwomen not unfrequently,in their fond and frantic fi^a our "ad
places of devotion, observed as quite regardless of their gimpest habili-
sTom^f ^"^.v'°'■"'°"^^°'^••°"^^ •" ^he dirt or dust^ and of the r
shameful nudities, or even life itself! Preachers roaring and their an
,t"r °^!y:T^"« *^«'"' r *he highest pitch of their 'thunderrprLc":
..«.. jvu ever reau tne mate of that, as the sure work of Heaven
i f I
iM
114
(I
I
in the Christian Churches? I examined some of those famous conrertA
mjaalf : One of their leading men told me, relating to a point of a very
complex and difficult casuistry, contained in the works of Jonathan Ed-
wards, " that he perfectly and at once understood it, as soon as it was
read to him ;" which 1 have every reason to believe it being the height
of the operation of his wild fancy, helped by his fostered religious pride.
The relations of a certain woman — about three minutes' time after her
transit from a fit of the work in question,— requested me, by her own
leave, to examine her ; which I immediately did, in the manner following :
Ques. Ist. What has made you cry so bitterly, woman?
Ans. Oh ! because my sins do testify against me, and that I am past
all hope of mercy.
Q.ues. 2nd. By what light or means do you know these things ?
Ans. By the Scriptures of truth on my conscience.
'Ques. 3rd. What particular Scripture, or Scriptures, can you men-
tion, as the direct medium of your conviction?
Ans. All the Bible is against my soul !
dues. 4ih. If all the contents of the Bible are against you, it is easy
for yon to name to us some particular text, or texts : Let us hear one,
or more, of those more directly at your conscience ?
Ans. 1 can read the Sc|-iptures, both in English and Gaelic, and they
are all condemning me.
dues. 5th. The Scriptures do not run so parallel, in their immediate
and apparent application and tendency ; and therefore you cannot find
them in the same manner condemning you : And they are also so im-
mensely numerous that no person, in this world, can comprehend the
least idea, or conviction, of their meaning, at once and the same time ;
what say you in answer ?
Ans. My sins are past numbering, and heinous in their aggravation.
Q,ues. 6th. I do not choose to hear, like Papists' " confiteorj" or
confessions to their Priests, about any of your sins, if such there are,
which may appear any wise ugly, shameful, or publicly offensive : Tell
us, therefore, any of your sins, which are plainly otherwise f
Ans. My sins, up from my youth to this day, are so numerous and
great that I have no hope of forgiveness.
dues. 7th. If so they are indeed, it is more easy for you to point out
to us one, or more of the " lesser," or least shameful of them?
Ans. I might be saved only tor my false conversion.
After a few more questions and answers Of the same rate and rote, I
told herself, and her friends present, that by what then passed, they might
plainly perceive she had no rational, or scriptural conviction whatever;
and that all the puff or pretence was nothing but the roving, raving, and
rattling work pf her predominant fancy or imagination, as one of the
native results and concomitants of her disordered brain, and the derange-
ment of her animal system, by means of wild and unreasonable fear. For
the very genius of her preacher, the instrument of her conversion and
convulsion, is leading directly to such consequences, by the violence and
fulminatinn of his nrpnr.hmput ■ an(J thp OYtrafkrHinni-v Vtlasto 2"'' b'^W'"
r
IS conrertA
t of a very
lathan Ed-
as it was
the heigh*,
ious pride,
le after her
^ her own
following :
[ I am past
ings?
you men-
of h.5 bodily exertions, and the inimitable ghastliness and stranrreneia of
tiis leatures and grimaces, at the more Huccesssu! times of his public
nuni»trat»on;~blu8tering and bawhng out, "brimsiome and burning
damnation and dev.U!" These, and similar dreadful and uncohS
Btraina, and commonplace .emarke and repetitions, are found by lonir
habit and experience, to create, or to excite madness or mormo in bit
audience; especially weak and fickle females; and a bugbear Spectrum
thus generated and animated, is now most certainly, as Bruce would say
the top and toe, and root and rind," of our most sounding, and stound'
ing, and stumbling revival ! ®
Till the next opportunity, wishing not to make my letters too tedious,
you must res', satisfied with these prelimiuary lines on the subject.
n o ^ ^ I am, Madam, yours, «fcc, Paddle Plain.
Cape Breton, 14th December, 1841.
, it is easy
hear one,
;, and they
immediate
annot find
Iso so im-
rehend the
ame time ;
^gravation.
ifiteorj" or
there are,
ive : Tell
lerous and
o point out
1
ind rote, I
they might
whatever j
•aving, and
one of the
le derange-
e fear. For
ersion and
olence and
nnrl hlnurr
For the «« Cape Breton Advocate"
PADDLE PLAIN S COMTINUED ANSWER TO THE FIRST LETTER
OF MARY ANXIOUS.
LETTER TI.
MADAM,~Another certain man of the new converts, came to me by
the persuasion of his brother, in order to be examined on his experience ■
But instead of being tied to any method, or rules of catechism, he poured
torth such a flood of "conviction and release," as he termed it, and that
with so much volubility and violence of expression, and such appearance
ot self-importance, and self-complaisance; as, in fact, made almost my
very hair to stand oh end. There was neither consistency, nor reason
inallhisebulliiion; but one crude, chimerical, feracious, and harura.
scarum bombilation; so that I cannot, indeed, think it any wise short of
judicial blindness of understanding, or wilful ignorance and stubbornness
ot heart and mmd, flowing from corroding pride, and corrupted principles
that auy men possessed freely of the unadulterated word of God and
other correspondent and ample raeana of edification and erudition 'with
explication ot that word; and they themselves assuming the name and
sustaining the office of the public servants and Ministers of Jesus Christ
should a: the same time, be found so dozed, daffled, or doted; and so
devoid of sar.ity, sense, and shame, as to excite and indulge, further and
foster, such a height of frightful, and wild vagaries, such mighty, mon-
strous, and maodening extravagance.
Those fanciful converts are generally, and quite naturally, jiven hugely
to devotion; and their bigot and partial attachment among themselves,
though sometimes pretty hot and haMghty, is yet very richly balanced, or
preponderated, by their rancour and revenge, against any who dare think
to censure their manners, or mania ; or once to call in question the mo-
tives or measures of their fatuous guides ! We have already experienced
seen, and heard^ u;hat m.av fi'Mr =---'='' -< • -i ^ .
■.» 4
.._.:f..
«I —
SiiuTp fCinufks,
ana .smart
r
116
lU
Therefore, let me ever keep my distance, and ^uard my ^assarro
nt cal ground Religious and excessive zealots hold the next
recoil*.
on this cri; cai ground - Kehgaous .„„.,, ,,„„.„,^ „„,„ ,„^ „„,
grade to murderers: When they k.ll their faUhful reprove .. it mlt
you know. " b. domg God service." Every thing and Ihougl in Zm
IS now sanctified ! Wrath and rigour, scourge and scorpionVb lood Ld
new P'°"n:^ .?'^ '^""«V7 ^'Ti '•"'•y • '^'^°'*^' "' ^^''"g" «^« become
^uJ\ ^ow their very flesh and flower, light and lore, lust ar : lure.
nZ^f *'"''"'1 ""''^ '^^ ^^''^ '" A- ■« but very natural, we hear
now of female ventral magnitude, as the issue of illicit procreation and
sexual intercourse, among our convulsed and sanctified tribe ! But vou
ixius consider that, now they " are not under the law. but undei trrace !"
Other two persons told me. of their own accord, that they had ce. linly
SnA^J ^^ expressed It. their very hearts failing them, and their very
blood beginning to chill, through all their animal frame! under the vio-
lent animation, and thunderin,r expression of one of their leaders in
.nr.'?i"'* f«Pf,",«''y by means of the solemn and rvful words "God."
tnL 1^ ir ^"!.' '''"' "' '^" "T' •"«^^"*' »bey believed themselvw
to be no wise aflected, or convinced in their understanding, or consci-
ence; and that they had neither previous, nor now much dependence on
the piety or wisdom of the present instrument of their excitement ; and
that these sentiments and reflections sustained and relieved them from
becoming perfect preys to the general convulsion and confusion of their
neighbors. 1 hese are certainly no suppositions nor fabricati.. r of mine,
but plam and unvarnished truths and facts; I ^vill not enumerate in!
Uances of this kind m one letter ;-thoufh I have abundant and various
inatenals.-since I intend to continue and extend this correspondence.
In many scores of different and similar cases I find not one, either in
motives, or manners, any wise agreeable, but quite disagreeable to the
estimate of the Sacred Scriptures, of saving and spiritual conversions
Ufa I the gracious operation and changes, recorded in the New Testa-
ment 1 find little or no account ol cries and convulsions.— little animal
approved by divine truth, as the work of Hoaven. are the cases of the
conversion of St. Paid, the Jailor, and those who " were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and bre-
thre.^ w.iat .hall we do?"-Acts. This was all blit most rational and
sober A' i.c saniiot affirm so much as that any of those subjects
intruded m he le.st. on the i.^.ediate preaching, or actual ministration
ot the Ap .s..e.. .r ...y other. But our furious and frantic converts rap
^^1'^'^' l^T '■°''' ^U^^ ''^'y *•'* «"^ *°P of preaching, and continue
so tor a whole sermon : Nay, moreover, some of them, when they don't
understand one word of the language preached :~as of late, a young
woman, having not a word of English, yet ut.der an English sermoning.
ranted and raged as smartly as a bedlam or bridewell! And every un-
prejudiced man in all the neighborhood believes her conversion to be
consequently, as perfectly safe and sound as any among the vfbole con^
^jJsed subjects of our mugient and mimic, ruffling and rattlinaj revival'
Now m contrast to this turbulent and unreasonable operation, the
I
I
I
?
t
ri
V
o
a
8(
i the next
a, it must.
It in them,
blood and
re become
arl lure,
I, we hear
ation, and
But, you
s; grace !"
I ce> linly
iheir very
r the vio-
Icaders in
i "God,"
hemselvea
)r consci-
ndence on
lent ; and
lem fronj
n c.f their
: of mine,
lerate in-
d various
)ondence.
either in
le to the
iversions.
w Testa-
le animal
this sort,
is of the
d in their
and bre-
onal and
subjects
listration
verts rap
continue
ley don't
a young
moning,
very un-
n to be,
ole con-
revival !
tion. the
.1
117
lh,ir Wood. »cr pr;uf.'d mfhS br.?„ '" 7" •""" ' ' . '*"' f""*'""' '-
•■bui .p..k' for,^,^h"' word 'oTu "»„d 'Se"::^'*-:.','V:- ^'"'
was opened" without the ]oi.«t «nn.lr "ooerneBs. Lydia's heart
Mar, ^MaBdalon" w.; Iff. l7c'u"7;T.r„°S'-°' ?s' "•""""°"'
'.ion of s roar Hut dp. -1. =.,J .!?„ . i "even devil, wilbcut ai.y men-
d.n,.l wi.h'.b. .piH, o"^ d naLn had bSXd T:f '"^'""',"' '^'"
o7 at7cr„v"ltr[:'rbf;o"d 0°' "r r '^"''-"'- •'-"''"
"nffcn f„';l7J,"17'«''.°f'" ■"•'-Iged nor endured .ueh "o^mTng
thP frnw^r .1, • • '1'°''"° "nd madness among their converts •• Rnt
.o.e™ da, of j„^;trr,;rte°d%;t; r ..^Se rr ^^L^ ^
Mn«/iT. ^l'J'"' displeasure of the Lamb
Sto^HTh r V'*' "•°'' '=°"»«">Ptible, most vilo,-
Thrlli ?''° P'-«;'t. and in his consc/euoe felt
The felJest gnaw of the Undying Worm.
Thf M 1 ";«''*'. ^''' ''^ ^^^ °" his hands
J. he Wood vof souls, that would not wipe away
Hear what h« was. He swore, in sigfr of God
being mnculme : Though I am awa,, ih,i ™ . . ? ■*"" '"'' ""•■"puncli
I
. fVrtfk
'mCt of the uriginai
im
['i ' I
118
And man, to preach his master, Jesus Christ ;
Yet preached himself: he swore that love of souls,
Alone, had drawn him to the Church ; yet strewed
The path that led to hell with tempting flowers,
And in the ear of sinners, as they took
The way of death, he whispered peace : he swore
Away all love of lucre, all desire
Of eaithly pomp ; and yet a princely seat
He liked, and to the clink of Mammon's box
Gave most rapacious ear. His prophecies,
He swore, were from the Lord ; and yet, taught lien
For gain : with quackish ointment, healed the wounds
And bruises of the soul outside, but left,
Within, the pestilent matter unobserved,
To sap the moral constl.jtion quite,
And soon to burst ugain, incurable. >
He with untempered mortar daubed the walls
Of Zion, saying, Peace, when there was none.
The man who came with thirsty soul to hear
Of Jesus, went av/ay unsatisfied ;
For he another gospel preached than Paul,
And one that had no Saviour in't ; and yet,
His life was worse. Faith, charity, and love.
Humility, forgiveness, holiness.
Were words well lettered in his Sabbath creed ;
But with hiu life he wrote as plain, Revenge,
Pride, tyranny, and lust of wealth and power
Inordinate, and lewdness unashamed.
He was a wolf in clothing of the lamb.
That stole into the fold of God, and on
The blood of souls, which he did sell to death,
Grew fat ; and yet, when any would have turned
Him out, he cried, " Touch not the priest of God."
And that he was anointed, fools believed ;
But knew, that day, he was the devil's priest,
Anointed by the hands of Sin and Death,
And set peculiarly Jipart to ill, —
While on him smoked the vials of perdition.
Poured measureless. Ah me ! what cursing then
Was heaped upon his head by ruined souls.
That charged nim with their murder, as he stood,
With eye of all the unredeemed most sad.
Wailing the coming of the Son of Man !
But let me pause, for thou hast seen his place
And punishment, beyond the sphere of love.
I am, Madam,
Your obedient servant.
Paddle
Cape Breton, 16th December, 1841.
I
Plain.
ai
ol
I
LAIN.
119
SOME FURTHER REMARKS UPON THE "GUARmAN.^^
nnZ."?''''* ""^ reflections upon the "Guardian" or its Editors mav
appear loo unsparing and severe, as taken either in bulk o- a random^
1 wish not to be understood as desirous of detr-Jctin^ J' i '^^'?^?'»'
fmlV'f P"^'-^^'°".°^ ''' publishers" a^ t^hr fan"th^.':ranf
mmed.ate subject m dispute makes it in my view necessary. In aTl other
respects I would rather treat them to^ethpr in a f.. a a- !
For in somerespects I could freery/a^'^t'hout^' ter^^
mem^ '-h the Journal, and the Journalists. But in mv humble udlmrnT
and most serioua deliberation, there is a flagrant irdvertencvo'rmS
jf not a dreadful and disgraceful misconcep^tion iro'd "e/a^dTo ut^^
hke a selfish and w.lful design, if not fatal ignorance, o a most deS
and permcous texture and tendency, in the total absence of a proper
line of discnmmation or demarcation, in the Editorial of the GuardTan
on the score of the very visible and vast diff^erence existing between the
religious or spiritual state and circumstance of the Church ot Sco land
r iLiourp'/id'e f:is'"'"L" '"° "^r-' l" <=--q-nce of Ihich "he
rei gious pride, false confidence, and self-ignorance of thousands ar«
fostered and confirmed, so that the blood of so many such miserable ch?
flatteTers^rnH* ""f^ ^. -^^-" degree, lie at the hands of their ,0^1"
tlatterers and sad deceivers. For the sounding name and Z,.Z7
ceremonies and formalities of a decenerate Ch, r?h nl? k ?i, '""''S'^^^
to her own infatuated members. a'ndablinale'nThelht'T
For the Church of Scotland is at present in s^ it nd iib tfnce dSpo*
smon and practice, but the very skin and skeleton, the mere nameTd
gnomon, the counter and contrast, of what she was at t^e time of tl e
Keformation. and some subsequent periods And the acrn„ntc . !i
formation which ,^aces her no\ as upon a lead wItL' vh t'X" on fw""
or had been, are but sinful and senseless means-the result of awfnf
.gnorance, or stubbornness, though not seldom varnished unerifiedh
order to impose upon the cribbed and credulous ; who are more ,n terestpH
m th. shelter and shadow of the pompous and popular design tionofi
party or progression, than in the real work of God in their^owiTsouV
and die spiritual welfare of their fellowmen, manifested by a concoidan;
^^^Si-r^be;:^^^!^^^^^^^^^
bofht CeiftffihrB:!;^"^ ''^ ^"^^^'-' -' ^^^ -tT'
TWO SHORT ANECDOTES: BY A SCOTTISH EMIGRANT.
Avery popular Clergyman among "tho godly" in Inverness shir^
fnd nff?"*T' r'' ^'''^y *° ^^"^ ^°""*ry> that though he Ls"tre name
offic." r?^L"''*""'" ^" ""^^^^ thought himself qualfied for iTat
pflice. And yet he requests to know what enccurncr. ml. !" »..»°' - -
.^e given mm in this foreign land, in case he will "receive thTLord's
120
direction to leave his present station, in order to become the " pastor"
of a Transatlantic flock. —Queries. 1st, How can he expect to find
Heaven's direction in the change of a place, when he never thought him-
self qualified for his office: or why does he not resign his office till he
thinks he is better qualified for it ? 2nd. Does it not look far more like
a prank o. pretended or feigned humility, in order to impose on the cre-
dulity of his simple adherents and employers according to the very long
and silly habit of that country, on religious points, than any real convic-
tion or proper sense of mind on the subject?
In the parish of Assint, Sutherland-shire, Scotland, there is at Loch
Inver a natural fool, the son of J. M. L., Mason ; who has been, like
several others of his cast, a subject of the late revival in that quarter.
He can, according to the mode of the day, pray and prat to purpose,
when and wherever he is bid, or allowed. He is at times followed, from
place to place, by merry and curious youngsters, to whom he tells, with
great earnestness, that he will unde/go a repetition of his conversion-fits
at the request of the party present, for the reward of a halfpenny ! The
"Good people" of the place, notwithstanding, admire the "free grace"
which prefers this idiot, and others of his kind, as the choice favorites
of Heaven I ,
EXTRACTS FROM MARY ANXIOUS'S CATECHISM
TO HER SON.
Q,. Are you a fool ?
A. I am partly, but not entirely ; because I believe, feel, and grieve
for my foolishness; and endeavor, by Heaven's assistance, to get by de-
grees, cured of that general and dangerous disease.
Q,. What may be the chief symptoms of that mental disease of your's ?
A. Ungenerous pride, sullenness, fretfulness, heart-swelling, immode-
rate anger, wantonness, laughter, froth and frolick, peevish jesting, dis-
content, wrangling.
d. How do you know that those vices are not prevalent or dominant
in your soul, though the fear of outward shame and disgrace, or inward
anguish of conscience, and dread of future punishment, might stifle their
temporary and external appearance?
A. Though I find the reasons you have just named to be certain
motives, which in a degree, and at times, lead to the effect in question,
yet f believe that I have a principle beyond these ; because I would hear-
tily rather have my inclinations, which are cross to the commands of
Heaven, mortifiedj than Heaven's laws changed in their favor: And
that I feel my love to God excited for his holy hatred of my vicious pro-
pensities. I would also be a brute or a block rather than a man without
redemption from my fallen nature, even were there no hell or eiernal
perdition.
e
il
iAl
Q. Who is the happiest man in the world ?
A. The best man, or in other words, the humblest Christian.
A Wot "'" '^f f 'r^ '"I"""'' •'^'^"^ °^ ' S^^^ Christian ?
A. Weariness of life, and a patient waiting for death, accordina to
Heaven's appointment, both flowing from the love of ho!in;ss and hafred
of sin; especially inward corruption, the fountain of a Tutward t ans^-
gressions - 1 am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to deoar Th
to be with Christ which is far better : Nevertheles tHbide in'^^he flesh
IS more needful for you," «fec —St Paul
attlme^'n'sf '"^'""^ °' ''"^ '''''' ^""^^ ^° ^^P^^ - P-f^ss such
A. They certainly are, in kind or quality, though not in dejrrPP • for
a " Whv'h S'"nr ' '''' '^ "^rh '^"^-"^ o?tEo1e"feeIg:/ '"
f«r 1. 7 ^ "^^ ^''^" '° '"""^ '«fty professors, and popular Minis-
ers, who choose to treat such feelings but as enthusiasm^ fan! [cism or
some chimerical and wild notions? lanaucism.or
in.UrnJ^f degeneracy of our times obtains places, of serious and spiri-
"Lii:;ui"^frj;i;rt'.°'^''''^"^''^"°-'^^-^
CI. Who is the wisest man ?
He that in sincerity and humility professes himself to be the fool-
I am more brutish than any man."— Agar
Who is the humblest ?
He that is most grieved for his secret pride.
Who is the meekest?
He that most laments his heart's fierceness.
Who IS the proudest?
He that is most ignorant of his pride.
Who is the basest, and most treacherous?
He that most pretends to groundless merit; especially under a
religious disguise : as Ahithophel and Judas Iscariot ^^^ ^
?■ M .r", '"t'^Y ^"y "-eligious inconsistencies, or absurdities ?
A. ^lethinks I do, if I could properly define them.
est^uefi.!i:iir?"' '" ''""' "'.*'^'"' '^^^^^^'"^ *° y°- -^-. -J sl^ort.
fVom-grJ:^. i^t^^fbl: ilir ^!;^';!:rr'^^'" ^"^ ' '^''^ ^"^"^
bapl'il^TreVen^farn!"^ °' ^'"' '''''''''' '' ^ ^--^"-- ^^ -ere
of Gospei ifgh"''"""^ '"""'" "^ ^ "'^^'^^ »"-' ""^- ^he sun-shine
4th, A sinecure to be Christ's steward, or a pluralist to be His oastor
5th, A Protestant and Papist in wedlock. ^ ^^'
6th, A meetmg for Divine worship without a Priest praver or hihio
expecting the visits of the Holy Ghost ^ ^ ' ''^'^'
ill neVbo'°°' '^'""'''' '"' ' ''' "'^'" ' '' ' ^'''' ^'^"^^^-^ but an
A.
ishest.
a.
A.
a.
A.
a.
A.
a.
A.
r22
s
9th, Chrbi's whole body in a wafpr nn,i „». «
10.1, The .Hfference beL'eV„ ■■' ";,t,/"^°■^"X"l"':
iar right of any
2: J^pr;=i.^C^^^^^
18 h, Lent w.thoul flesh, but with honey andbuiter-cske,
14lh, A proud man, but a guod preacher.
Mth tLT" P»™«"'« in a pulpit,
rev^;'' ^"^ ~"''"°'°" "f '<"»'" but the inatrument of a graeiou.
^.gaxSkteS^rii^;:^^^^^^^^^^
Ji?st:l:Cdr"vicT,'n '*"'■ "■' '"•"«■' ""o-" ""■". "...
fi.lKa„^°:'y;'e''b!Jdlf' ""«" «"" " "'"-^^ " ""Oon.. or a.
■«ve?tV Ja°re^VH1,^r„ti'„ot!'e^e'""«""^•,^ "^""'^ '» «-
25th, Faith and good works ever separated.
^t ToTcrthftr i^i^ ril^^^^^^^^
and .raise, in his ruffles ''^^^ P""^'*^^ ^"*^ P"y. P"nce
•°S ?r "P^' .?.r„S"oi'v;„t ^''- -^ ''--"■• -
j£a-?s*^a:d-;^S;i:t-fe
30th. To expect Heaven, or happiness, without holiness.
!
COPIES OF TWO LETTERS BEARING ON THE FORE-
GOING SUBJECT.
The drift of the two following letters being, alas, too obvious to b.
2Z"?r ^''""' '^'''' '^''^r'^-'^'y '^^nnott rea^Lablv q'estiined
Some of the proper names .r. these Copies are Only in their^initials in
order „ some degree, to avoid giving unnecessary offence, though thej
were originally all written without the least dusk or disguise.
, ^ " Cape BRfitON, 28th Feliruary, 1842.
Reverend Sir,— Your brother, on a vi^it here in the besrinninff ^
Huslfs'r'n^T""' °^^"° ofyour letters to him, bot^ dat"e§ In
August 1840, and c.t the same time suggested tliat he thought it of little
or no consequence to offer any answer to them ; but to lea^ve them wh^!
me for tny consulerat.on. I did not then think to trouble you or mvsef
with any remarks upon their contents : nor do I expect now beTnrable
to write any thing for your conviction. For I find the same reaso"?^ w . h
your brother, to despair of seeing the like of your character any w le
corrected, by any human means in the world. Any thi"g I ^aTthe e^
fore suggest at the tune will be purely intended, though fn weakness Tn
order to attempt fulfilling a duty ag'ainst the great and soTemn dai o"
final retribution. Your letters are filled with frifolous shifts and excuses
as well as with sly and silly sophistry ; which are all but ' uite coTslten;
duct Tho^r m" h' «f.r ^'^^"•"S' -"^ »'- --^ of yoVrr ugTous i:"
duct 1 hough I had neither heart nor hand in what your brother wroL
o Edinburgh through your medium, I am fully aware* ef ev^y word If
•t : And whether it would be agreeable or disagreeable to the TadiP«
much to guard and regard, it was not the question with the writeJor IWs
rn^'- \W'''' P^-"*" ^'''''' '"''' °f "'hi^h on the part 0™ fool
and wicked Mi.sion in question, were a step beyond common'ense and
common decency ; so as. in a degree, to forbid^ serioT? eatment and
he square of the ordinary rules of information, or riarration on rel cious
subjects: And plain facts. I say, more intended, in therwrUte iTrm
and transmission, to be a discouragement to the silly patrirsses in IheTr
future support and furtherance of Iheir said Mission"^ t a„ Tpec^ed 10
prove a means of any positive adjustment of past follies and^msnile
And independent of your service, something of the same Lature whh wt;
your sacred and sage tenderness thought proper to cru." has foup^ it,
deJr e° n:;:;e7""?°"^ fl''"^ '"'^ '« "^ und^tood " ^i^l
aegree answered ..le original design, on th s score. Your flat obsen.ii
/.«,.iij ; J "^^^^^^^'^y^- I ou regret exceeding y ' that your brethf^r
could sa down, and rashly pensuch\p.thets as ' fhLurfek oHazines"
'' f
124
^-C, 'ill speaking of any man ' <3« f c i »* i
't seems you have become very TJJ. ^^^^^'»'' «"'' 'e"'ier brother,
thenceforth. :o be sure, hu t ne (her the ?L^ -nofrensive : you shal
nor of a weak MacJonn;.! A d y't beho''' ' ' "'^ ^^''"'''''
very next lines to these your e,n,rk, rn I'/r'.^^" '^"•"^'^ P^"' i" "'«
It as indicative of a smLlL\!hZ' "''^ ^'^^^y ^"'^ ^^neriuah write
both dreaded and avol^/d t'^,^ '^ 7 -/^-h, ^" ^e at all ad%4rur
With Norman and his foliovv^er 7 Bu f V^"'"' ™'"V i ^" ^^ ^'='«^»fi«<i
Chnst; in the principal and practical rn."" '' "" '^''°^^«'" ^f Jesus
humbly and «inUrel/beli ef he i .d? ', " ^''T^' «« '""^^elf mos
thousand other sober and serious n^nll.r^.^'''" ^''''^'^' ""^ several
that either .hey or I. um, o ' cX '^i or^ '^^^^^^ '°P^' ^« ^^^^ '^ink
envious and slanderous reflections of iJ. h^ J .scarecrowed by ,he
both there and here, together ^h the 'ool,?;".^ T' "?^'''' '^^ 'h---".
so as to deviate from thi path of our nL if ^ f '"'^''^ °^ Edinburgh ;'
the long-Iost. and far-gone and A^^^verf^r"'^','; '^"'^'J" ^^^er to retrieve
v.cousrevilers! You writ^ that naI;reTlf"'^'''''''''"" "''''' ^"'^h
have been forwarded, ' the said pXe L^ieslf pr?' '" u'""^''"" ^^ould
look upon your brother and his t^arfv .J ^'''"/'"''^h "'"'^'^ a» once
you think so indeed, Sir ' and wh^nt? "'"-e^^onable .lunatics' O do
harm of it, in our es in tio if vol R ^'" J"^^^ ^^<>"'d be the great
jo.n the dear honest Ladi s i„ ,C .|^o:n'r''-'^'^'^ "'^^' ««^'^'^"y
Reverend brother, and familiTr associate fllf'^^'".""' ' ^our own
Missionary, the famous P. M. is estPem;H^ ' ,'' '^^ ^ite Ladies'
more sensible Protestant population if^R \\^^'^^ '""J'^'-ity of the
and the proudest fanatics in all MpLvinc.' A . °"' °^ ^''^ ""'^^^^
a train of self-evident si.ns to sustain ..H,' ^""^ "'^ *="" substantiate
and all of th.m drafted and der ved Lm h" "'°""'''''" ^"^ '^W^^nuon ■
'"Stances, his peculiar extrava^ ,ce nll'T" ""P'''^^' ^"'^ '" '^-^^'
as from his wild and frantic n t , mr n '' '"^ '"'^ practice; as well
t.ona! assemblies his rolr ^^ d nfli ' /'"l'^' ''^■"^' '' '" ^vhose devo-
quently seen not only as qui?e ret,n it ^' I'lf^ "^"^^'•'«' ^^e not unfre-
'ut of life and limbs^.esu le SJi .T:^^ ^"'J nudities,
fornicanon : one instance of which iM-I'^'T" '^"'^''^ filthiness, or open
would be thought by you and your JTr/v' f' ''^f '^""' settlement _
tenng appearance of Lder , on?^ ?^:~"'"^"'' ^" >'^"^ ^^'^t and flat-
sneering, snorting, and snarling O .1 J 7f f '"""^ ^""^ >'""'• «°""dest
b.ptry ! But all the forego f bu?.ie ofTenf ^^T^''^ ""^ ^'^^^'^^^^
false and foolish name of c1,nve%io L LI? ''' ^^^'"""^3'. ""^e'" 'he
nienl, and the degenerate Church w'thwZh 7"'^^' ^"^'^ "^ ''' '"s^^""
chief of your polue Ladies of^nlt^tl " '^°""^<^ted. And the
proved herself to us by a train of h.r n^ ' ^''"'" ^'''' ^^''- ^'^^^I/^ has
the most impolite, insole, to vicious Ladir'^'^P^^^"'^^' ^° ^'« ""« of
for whose approb;tion, or CoTatbn « ^ -^"^ '"^= and therefore,
all your proud party, i. the Tast co^-^'^"? """^ >'""'• ««'"• and that of
^-;««« and his bes friends care „m'- ''^''"'" '""'^ ^"'^ ^^^^^'^V, poor
"•e most heartily bless He ven for h v n''"f r. '^"T ' ^'*-^' ^^ *"^^her,
-Hd, the approval and apriSy^ m^. ^1 oli^f^-'gi:::;:
»
^'
<lej brother,
: you slialJ
<1 Minister,
pen, in tlie
iiigJy write
adventures
be classified
er of Jesus
imseir most
and several
oytiu think
'ed by the
il l)reihren,
dinhnrgh ;'
to retrieve
>r all such
ion should
lid ai once
3s.' O do
the great
cordially
Sfour own
le Ladies'
ity of the
e rankest
batantiale
negation ;
1 in some
; as well
ose devo-
ot urifre-
nudities,
', or open
anient, —
and flat-
soundest
onfirmed
Jder the
s instru-
And the
'^ai/, has
J one of
erefore,
1 that of
ty, poor
further,
in (his
eligious
I
125
cast and character; for otherwise we have fcinnd it i,« o«»« j i i
and lingering experience, inn.o.»U.!e fo^: to L^^d " si ' "^
knew you had but l.ttle .nfliience and 80^0^^ in Vhi! ... ' ^"'*
among your near relations, you ha e never lowed vou^snr' '^'"'
unreserved vent according to its active bmlin. .„ . ^ &^" ^"^
gion ; but lor nil your ^ly^rnuffln.^ U Is'i:;';: ^, ^r dl^^,:: y"!^;:^;
already seen and felt enough of your pLumpTion aTd hynocrisv border
rrainaiUhr ^^ V ^^l'""^^^^' ^ou de'cenfully fi ^d 7 L at
dram all the zeal of your dear brother's soul, through your feia,,ed nro
fess.on ot experience on the ground of ' natural famil/co, « I .1 on Td
&^g j:^:: --^-r in^i - £F 5
count and conscience to the syren song and ^Je ire o «'he rht^h '
under the ding-dong-and-diasteVpreach^nent of d ,dle G.' t ^nyoL
of h,s pop.guu .nates, that your right reverence, and you no e M^
hnlL' """"^'r'- c'";''P >'o..r inuntle-shake your noddle-stnke vour
bugle ; such lan.uage.s desecrated : the consecrated servants o fHeaven
to be thus abashed, abated, and abased,--in their sanction, funct on a. i
connection ! Concerning the Sacrament., it were the first cncern I
you, and your unfortunate functionary brethren to be convince th't vm
are manifestly .anhat state, which gives you no right to hen n vou
own persons accordmg to the revealed will of Heaven ; an.l ha there
to other?' 'r * 7r^''T ^^"^ ''^""^ ^"^ ^'^'^ »'^'« '- admi .ter then
to others But sl,l on the ground of your own professed principle^ you
arguments to your brother on the su.ject, are all shameful v va< e hS
and mconclus.ve, from the pen of a sound.ng Minister of hrOo pd
? B onT^^^' «77"«.^'»«t in the integrity of the PresbyVery of
t- B on the score of the intended settlement of Mr. G (for I Lvo
ioTca^rn'ot whaTtr °P'" T ?' '"'^^ ^''^' ^^^^ ^" - "tl/er' .
yuu care not what to sav — whet ipr tniP nr f iicn r^► .u .
<• i.u -11 „ -^ ♦v'lciiier irue or i,iis(» — or tliat vour lanoranrfi
Of the wickedness of the Clergy is both wilful and shameful/ Is yS
edness; for M.n.sters are. of necessity, either the best or the pes the
b less.nc; or the plague of any place. In another of your parncrrnphs you
talk in a very serious-hke manner of your non-ability to tdl Vi;ther
your fnends in C. B. ought or ought not to foster any' hopes of your re
mov I to them, because as you remark 'nothing should ^induce Te to
adopt tha course, t„it a clear conviction and Paramount sense o'' Tuty '
&c. But we are now well inured on the ground of hearing simi a? pre-
Tethren tdkThos?b ''""h "• ^"'^ ^°' ''^« ^^^ generflhy 'r/o^r
to hS. .h/ ^ '"'';'''' Warently in order to induce your friends
prosp s tCthTi:^ '" ''' and guided, not by worldl/ motives or
nnd «h^ M /u V '"^"^"*^e «»J direction of the Holy Spirit of God-
and should therefore never be expected to shift quarters without .orne
,1
t I I
h'; <
\m
13d
w.th all the reat of your con^^.niiafl iT'^'"'^ *° '^'" ^'"'ft «»d 5cope
meaning. And in perfect VruthS' *'°""*'* ^'°'*' g'""'? H'em tlia
of the Gospel, it «hoKtVro; ^ JcTd^r:^;,;" ^^V"^ ^'« "^^^^
case .s wuh you and your faKrethr^n ^ '^"V"'^- ^"» "'"« ' 'he
vew o. all sincere and intel-Vge .t spectaTorrn ' "'^''''''7' '" ^''^ «P«"
spT.t of your correspondencef as w^U a^th" ^'^^"'"'J^°'"^"ct. And 'the
charncter, plainly indicates to me and mj friLT".;"'^'r °^ ^°"' S«"«"'
"" thus point, a little glittering whiJeor^.."'; "'"' ''^""" "" -^""^ farce
;ble ne.,li„g for the world, in^^e Ice mor?.?"''' '" "'^''^ ^ ^^•"^^^t-
turn the scales . And then mv dear ,ir ? *5«",«''o^hcr. would soon
honest cow in her humhie ^rTb Sht II T'^ ""^ ^^''^''' ^0"^ very
this any degradation to your ndiv^iua chnr« /""%««""«e"or ! Nor ij
the common standard of the Jest o,>o .r '"' L ^^ " '« "^'^''"g below
I repeat that I have your letters open befofe'r"^ ""T^'^" '" «^"«"'-
ed and arrogant sinff they contain indeed 'A 'f ' '''^"'^''^' '''''^^
paramount sense of du.y!' Just so 'f ^ '^'^a'' conviction and
back and belly, goose and goslings or in J^f^'^^""^ ^""^ ^^ ^"^^ ft>r
rfren, w.th all the worldly concernVof a f ^ r' ^''^^.-wifeand ohil-
or any other place, would be sure !o f.l ^^ ^' •■ "'^ ^^enever C. B,
sure grounds in falor of your sedwar r r'""' "'""' '"^ Preponderate on
t.on and paramount sense^ordutv woui ^"T'f ^-'^"' «'««r *^onvic.
recourse to Heaven's counsd.t^ther tl„n" ''''''\'^'''°*^' '''^'^'^^^ ^"Y
order ,o impose on your silly adtr'nt "nd n'"? ^^Pr'^'"«' "^'"^ '"
"'^g^i.ded coiKscience. For^theru^se ' '"^1^ .'"^^^ '''° "P**" ^^^^ «^^"
horse or cow, might serve your turn 'for .h '^ f ggested. your v ry
«ure to answer your prayers^, s .&„„''' •"' !^''"' ^'^"'^ be as
probation, while you labor unde the 00^/ T*""""' '"^ «"«'«"« «P-
, .-.d the aggravated guilt and sl^s of vmJ fj''''' "^''^« ignorance.
hnnging about vour miserable neck ir/""^""^ responsible life, stil
trath. . Ye ask and rece ve „ot b^cause""?:"^ I" '''' '''?'"'' '^f — ^^
sume ,t on your lusts.' And we ca.^^l^ , 5 """'' '^^' >« '"^y con-
that long since you would have been "tr.'H^.' ^''•'"*' ^' ^°"^ ^"^"'i?.
did the ease and affluence, credit and ^1 n 71 """"^ ^«"' ^'i«»J«
v'ews O then the silly and wicked ori!" °f;»\ world answer your
direction or guidance on thisTround^ T^.^^^'-^^'^^'^ '» ««^ven fur
causes that have so effectually^stopped vo1.r ti ' ''?"^ ""^'^^ deplorable
a reason to your faithful friendsfor .nn l '^''^ *^'°'" ^^^' rendering
d..ct, on the score of the Clergv sinc« / '^'"^i «/ ^^"^^'"ents and con^
Cousin M'K-, and yourVrother a" thrm'ir" ''^^J^'"''^^^' B^^byour
have endeavored in vain to ply ^nd doL vo'"™ ''^?^'' ^^••'°"« "»»d«.
quue contrary to the injuncS o? Scrinturr. r" '*"'. '"'^'"" g^^""^
an answer to every man that ask pi h^*^ ^® ''^^'^J' always to give
you with meeknes's and fit ' tou ^'eTerVf;"" "^ ^f.^ '^^P^ ^'^^^ - ^"
and Scriptural reason for your official L'n' T '°"'*^' ^''^ ^^^ sound
you have become a Clergym^an jfo Jou ^^h'k "*" "L^ "'*"^'"«'' «i"<^e
you out on the subject, ll the day of Sment V"''''"J '''' "'" "^^^
J J augment. iTou and your unfortu-
\.
lo not at all
ft and scope,
•g lliem that
afa MinistAC
|ut alas ! the
in the open
t. And the
our general
I' your farce
3 a comfort*
would soon
, your very
r ! Nor is
■hing below
in general,
'hed, wick-
iction and
f duty for
reandchil-
ver C. B.,
iderate on
ir convic-
thout any
name in
your own
four V ry
Jld be as
clous ap.
fnorance,
life, still
of sacred
may con-
writing,
friends,
ver your
aven fur
plorable
indering
md con-
Jthyour
) niiiids,
f round ;
to give
lat is in
Y sound
, since
ill bear
nfortu-
127
nate associate at U rely upon a spurious conversion, to tender your
tnmds more callous and impregnable against means of conviction an 1
correction, than those of others, who do' not so much dream ofTaving
undergone a savmg change. Sacred shame upon you and him, who are
such dreadful stumbl ng-blocks. both to one'anofher. and to so ma, y
>our right nand! Poor men m a manner 'twice dead.'- and 'your
An iT."*' ^?' 'l''^'^ ^° continue, being ' worse than the beginning.'
a^a^n a'n; Z '° "it T P^^^^f^'/ ^l.e dog is turned to his own vom^t
agam , and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire ' Both
your pr.de. and your false and evil conscience are most vi" ble in all
your correspondence; pretending to have a great Reform, as we I as
fn^ p'V" '*"" ^'^T^i ^""'^ "^^ ''^''^^' '" ^^'^'r nature, 'appearance
t?cnl «nH "'^' T ^^'""^''^V '"f ' ^"'•'^3' ""^ ^he formal profane^iypocril
tical, and proud present Church of Scotland. 1 have a pamphei before
me of the Revival at Kilsyth, of the same stamp with tL rC i^,. at d
antrngofMcL--; and the for.oer wild vagariL and extravagan^ce of
"T A ^' « ^"^ accounts are. fro.M tm.e to time, received from all
parts of duped Scotland, by oral and auricular, as well as literal iZma-
Z^\^ ■'"^'''^'^f infatuation, of otherwise men ol aense. and science !
fni f " 7® °u ^^^ T/^ ^"'^"' instances and concomitants of the fro^t
and frown of righteous Heaven, ns a curse of fatal and shameless reli-ri-
ous dotage on a kingdom, communities, and individuals, for the wilful
rin^'?'/"1 ope«i abuse of clear light, and ample means of knowledge!
votr f • T/V''" l^"^' **^. ""^ P"^"*« characters. 1 know you and
your fr.end to have oeeply sinned against the dictates of your consri-
tnnr!'!L' 7 "' ^^'l? example; which, without deep and timely repen-
tance, must prove a bitter cup to you in the issue. Did the world in its
credit and gam equally follow you in a different line of conduct in your
religious career, the Lord knows how easy would it be for you to fi."d
your path of dut> in t. and at the same time sufficient logicTo sipport
and justify you. O the sad deceit of lust !-• Every man is tempted whe
he IS drawn away from his own lust, and enticed.' -You could elthe- or
Ministers, before you were yourselves Ministers ; but now and long since
sn^/l '^ ^"" °PP°"""'^y. according to their air or humor, to play the
same key or cant over yourselves. I treat you now seriously, as my dear
IrlZ! 5 r'^ "'f ^°" '"'^ y°"' ^""^"' responsibility, that I would
sincerely, and from the very bottom of my heart, yearn over the awfully
rSfoT' "T "^/°"'' f^^'""' '°"'«- ^ ^««' r^^'^^sly sorry foyou^
religious pride and insolence; and your want of due moderation and
fear on very important subjects. And if you would not stumble at it
as thinking it to flow from my .elfish displeasure, on my own mere a":
count, I could point out to you, my once and formerly dear Duncan
some remarks of your insolence, ignorance and imprudence, in yo";
treatment of both your dear brother and myself, in your correspondence
t«'ought myself wdJ wurraned fo tr^J ' '"'' '^^'' ^^'*'^'' ' ''«ve aeriou^U
•nJ-Pende..tly and -^"-ca.t c nV i.^r ^ ""*' -V""' character lovl'
Para^rapl, of wh.ch. though a L In ***'^«"'"^ M«" "f this Jetter • o, «
o alter . for I ...merely ^Sie Tth ' /oriiM ' ' '"J '" '^^«^°"' ^^^ "-d
ther „ time or eternity, fmd both vn.r r '.""'^ ''">' "i" "nether who-
your letters well deservinHueh „ T T''^' '"^ '^^ «''" «'"i subjects of
r» ,kl» of .Iee|,-,„„ted relijious di,dZ ^ , "'"' '"' blowers' smell
3?=; *^::v;:t^££? -f ^M- — ^! dirt
o »»ers of his ,„i„d jf, thiLlr/e// W IT''>' ''"^^^« brolher. and al
J'I<e a.Kl manly in v„u J 'rT , ""''^ " "'^^ '^^^e been more hon J
you could uot'agre'e wu , "^ '"'ffi ^^ 7 -->- ->d sulenrorce "h ;
rcJ.g.ousdoff,na:or teuet/tha o" tou^^^^ their own sincere and
reservedly, o„ any important subieot Ti '^"'"■^ ^'^^^ «»^n views un-
and supported by plain Scripture and r'"'''°" ' ^"^ ^''«'. «o backed
your m.n.sterial aptness, fortitude aud?T""^'/^ ^^''"'^ at o, ee shovv
choose to excile your anger ■ but f f^ j , "P""'' '"> "I"" I do ttot
fore the Lo.d, a„d our Srfve'retl ,?h "'^/P'"'' '''"""> truth, a, be
natne, I kuow the superl, ,e , Ibilf, ?• ^"'' '""""' fore.er |4 His
d>,.e,it; of ,vhieh you and to, r 1 ' "'' '"S'' '""' '"PPy ground of
h..Wy atK, boldly Jefy ^l! a^^ffiS t::i;ajr, ■4"""' """'
af »A^7d^"oTr"cCcT=Aetr ■ar-"''"' '^^^^^
O"' '.eads and i-'ru'me„ts ■™^.r.!::t^"fL;^:r^'i".'"\Churolf, S
.i.e real fear of aJi'rXrr'bn";
onnet ones;
I'Ve seriously
cter so very
» letter ; one
iomofmiiid
lother, wlie-
subjectB of
t there ever
id negative
n spite and
3r instance,
e Ladies of
a hair; jet
wers' smeJJ
riends here
clioose to
ti offensive
^!ir\ty, and
'y p.ii'tiaJ,
a^* well as
er, and all
'•■e honest-
Bee, when
icere and
"iews un-
lo backed
' ce show
ive sadly
coward :
frowling,
3t desire
fher as a
ail your
sknames
stain or
do not
J, as be-
• be His
iund of
: and I
5verend
R-evival
fice, or
g such
hese in
ground
I, with-
i by no
I 120
. make you become fishers of men ^ <T.lTu T^ ^^/"*' ' ^"^ ' ^'"
f the doctrine ; continue .n i em for it a ^''?- ""T '^y^^^' ^"'^ ""»<>
I thyself; and them tiat h "r tl^ ' ^ ^^°'"f '^'' ^'^^^ ^'^^'^ ^°^h save
ietter of his in one of the Reoorts ;f r r ^eT'.*""' '^^ '"^'''^J »'«« ^
and Islands of Scotland Wo Lrfn?"" '.^'^7^ '" '^' Highlands
and sound '-Lord wha wU Le the eni of".' ^"1^'^'^''!°°^ ' ^ ^" ««^^
Christ to some of his hearers 'can v. ir '*'"'t.»'?'"8« ' ' How/ said
of another, and seek nof.he honour^.hnt ' .w'^ '"'"^^^ ^'°«°"'- «"«
may publish this letteraVa'^Jr h ^^^'^Hd "if^o' T'^'' ^-^^
your own strictures upon it. For thouah 7f h! J Ji 'r ^°" ''''°'''^' ^'''^'*
I sincerely believe that its driftvv ii '^ J ^'^ V^^ ^^"^"'"^^ of severity,
the texti'The wounds of a fTiiin" ^ '''""' 'L'^^"^ ^g^^^^J^'e to
enemy.' ' "^ * ^"^"^ "^ better than the kisses of an
rea^theSgrng lines^tl~me'''^^^^ """^ ^ ."^^ '' -"^ ''°"««. ^•«<'
received a letter from you haU hJl '"^ M' '°'"" ^^^"-^ «i"^e.
its drift, in which ymaC;e fa mor^.v 'I'' .'■?.^' '^°"g'' ^ '^^'^ ^'^'"e of
correspondence, in^ourj^^hes to emi.ra^l't' .h^'? /" i^^ ^^^' °^ ^°»^
urgent and pressing in yourTniinctTof o h '^'^^^'^"^ '^ «"d also more
opening and invitation for yorsett Ipml* k ""' '" ''''^'' ^° ^l^'^'" a™
without any hesitation o^sZLse s^o the -?" '"^ '^'""* «^°""^^'
or propriety of the measnrp .! T fl gracious or paramount duty
you'r fo'rget^uLss or hee esLss not t7' ^^^-^-^^ -'onished fZ
point, that vou wm.JriloVL ' ^ *° ^P^^*^ ^^ conscience on this
fo commU^CseTfl^rmp :i:,yTvo7ha?e f'^' -^"^ P-<ience:tia„'
to your brother. And thThe therefore tu "' ''"""' '" ^^^-^ '«"«"
on your dangerous pretences anS I ! ^ ^-^'^^^ ^'^^ ^"3^ '•^"^^'■ks
aw.he same Le fredy ackn^wT^^^^^^^^^ ''' ^"'^J^^^ ' ^"^
tions and former friends he InnU • v. u, '"? ^''" ""^^^ ^^ yo"r rela-
your lucky absence as M. from" th."'"'''^ "^'''"'^^"' ^° "««^«" ^^^
andshame\hemsoeirea lly ev nattha f^r:Tr' "^k,^^" ^^'^^^
Had you a better caiicp pn^ /' • ^ ^^^ ^"^ Ibrmidab e distance
to gi/e your zelus ^d stn^rrC^^^^^^^ 7"" '^^^ ^^'^ ^^^ ^^ "-^
by .the bye, can be sa1S%7an; n.ea^^^^^^^^ ""'T' ^"°"^ °^ ''^^""^
satisfactory answer than to 1^11/1^^^^'. ® ^'^'^ pretenders) a more
that you and some of vo. r 3 ut ^Y ^°" ''"^ ' « Minister.' We guess
that y'ou are Mirst:rs'°"L tuTa "bTso r.'! T 'l"'^' ^"^ ^^ '""^
should be exceedingly far better fr^JLtnh f'^^'K'^'^ yet that it
-despicable hang^'n, through :iir.,Hi?r\'!!'\.^°"f.^ --P-«.
rnotKo%t"a"oh?rfll" r";'f- >"^ ^'-t 'babes' may
wretchedness of y^ur cause s ^e7JnI ^"'^'' '''!'''''' '^'^ y°"- The
meanly and wea/ly fi?hraga inst Go^d and . ^^^ "^'"'''^ ^'""^"y- You
which now like a Purgatofy ulde^^^^^^ •" ""'T'^^'^^S « Church,
her own bowels, and i:;! Ivl" _!..'"^r^^?^ ^''""^ judgments, burns in
) 1
130
fif"" -4
has manifestly provoked Heaven to forsake her to open infamy and dis-
grace, by her long continued desecration of sacred offices and solemn
ordinances, by resigning them indiscriminately and freely into the hand-
of openly ignorant, false, and wicked men, under the offensive, though
pompous name of Gospel Ministers : And this hateful and abominable
swarm of doll-divines, and bugbear hirelings, \n order to hold their sim-
ple and blind votaries at bay and keep them in countenance, take every
dolt, and dreg, and drunkard of them into the same awful guilt of sacra-
mental pTiicipation a'ld communion with themselves : a filthy specimen
of which we see daily around us. And the most dangerous, both to them-
selves and others, among those rueful and ruthless guides, are the pre-
tended reformers — the popular preachers — the orthodox or evangelical
divines; whoiie generally, and of course, the pseudo-regenerated, like
yourself, and my unfortunate quondam associate, your neighbor atU :
a circumstance which makes you naturally more impatient of opposition,
or contradiction ; and more freely vicious against opponen's, than lower
pretenders to sanctified reason ; and on that ground the pride and cor-
ruption of your minds being dominant and operative, though under the
specious name of gracious zeal, permit you to enjoy neither real peace
of conscience, nor the true and spiritual peace of God, which passeth all
understanding. Thus your signs are visible in the forehead of all your
religious measures and behaviour ; except to those wofully blunt or wil-
fully blind. In another paragraph you seriously advise your brother and
others, in case they ' could not b»> satisfied with the ministry of Mr. G.,
to make sure, in their sober judgment,' first that ' his ministry was not
calculated to edify their souls,' and to be certain ' that they acted under
the guidance of the Spirit of Christ in the part they should take in the
matter.' This is indeed too solemn a parade on the subject. For mere
children and half idiots, with little depth of common sense, or natural
reason, might feel no hesitat'^n how to act on that score, after the first
hearing of him in the pulpit lor ten or twenty minutes together. Your
solemnity therefore, on such a ridiculous point, is a dreadful marJi of
your dotage, under the ower of religious lethargy, and the just displea-
sure of God for your abuse of better light before ever you left Lochalsh.
You show the same childishness in exhorting your said correspondents,
in their religious privation, to ' pray to the Lord of the harvest to send
them a faithful Minister.' This sacred Scripture has long since become
a mere commonplace renjark, or a common proverb in the mouths of
doted Ministers, and empty professors ; who have the words of eternal
life, sorely and sadly roted and ranted out from their addled memory, on
every frivolous occasion, and trifling subject, as are now here in debate.
Is it to the Church that sent them already such samples of their stock of
Divines as G , McL , F , F n, S , &c., that they should
look out for that ' faithful Rlinister in answer to their prayers ; or where
else? Surely not el.sewhere, in your estimation ! O religious death and
dotage, moth and murder ! What but the spiritual blasting of Him that
cursed the blossoray fig-tree would strike men in their common sense,
and possessed of such glorious and liberal means of information, into such
I
imy and dis-
and solemn
ito the hand"
sive, though
abominable
>!d their aim-
;, take every
uilt of sacra-
hy specimen
)oth to them-
are the pre-
evangelical
nerated, like
ibor at U :
f opposition,
i, than lower
de and cor-
h under the
r real peace
h passeth all
of all your
blunt or wil-
brother and
y of Mr. G.,
stry was not
acted under
take in the
For mere
, or natural
'ter the first
ther. Your
ful mark of
jusc displea-
ft Lochalsh.
espondrnts,
est to send
nee become
! mouths of
s of eternal
memory, on
e in debate,
eir stock of
they should
3 ; or where
IS death and
^f Him that
mon sense,
n, into such
131
strange and incurable Ir.fttuation ! • Do men cather ar»nm, of .k«
figs of th.,tle.r . A corrupt tree canZCltX^^ tua' 's'
ZT\Z\r'' 'rt "i^ '''''' ^"^ '''''' So "eitrej'cJ^^Tcorrupt"
—salt— and thorny Church or community as such xanri fo..K *''"""?;•
who w,.,e, no* to Iha pubUe o„ .he same .abiecTob" m " ! Let h.m
>weep, and send, and acatler abroad tbeir craviL h^lla «i^H^„K„ ,j
aL' .Tmtn"""','"''"' "":: '""i"""' '-"<-■'" and?„a7ltrrph°a'^^^
and simooms, where neither che Scriptures nor anv rivJIi^nf..!? if
ever yet been heard of: and not to us. or to our fHeL^h^L " ''**
otherwise,-praise be to Heaven.-far' better sat "i and uppHeVIn'
eve^y respect, w.thout themselves and their expensive seJvices^^onf; s
a cross and cumberance, which may sometimes, in the Lord's hand orL.
trsX'ct. ^"^'^^ '' ^"' "^'"^'""^ • «° ^' "eartilT's:; Am'e'^n'Z
"And though I shall ever carry with me a lively and grateful rpmn«
branceof the kind and cordial.'generous and gentle cCct/o^!^;
tin, 1 ."' '' ' '""^■''^^ ^"^ companion ; and^lso of Se courteoul
Jzs:-f„T£rS-^^^^^
no clue or oinb to help ,„„ „„. of^o";, reilgiJul nT^ e cVe d" aCi Jh*
.ion ; or .he la,, pan^ of .:er„g :;^ rrr,": 'or h ,i\rr.hrzc
of the .cope of m, assertiona aa ,uro aa you have aoul" ■ and! tViT
unnecessary offence, as w^ll as in grea we kn^ess con« derin^cl'^h^^" "?
importance of my subjects; yet as I hare aire?. I'obsered^^b^^^^ Hule «
pectmg to see you. or any of your stamp conviucVdTnt.s wo" d- either
of your gu.lt or danger; but only to exonerate my ownTorc.ence a„d
as a humble, sincere, and faithful warning againslthe dav of dpTh , ^
it^r ";•-' P"*^- goeth before destructiL.'and haugSfylfr before
a fall. 'Sirau IS the gate, and narrow is the way whfch leade h uZ
life, and few there be that find if ' « Tho* u- u .,V 'eaaeth unto
among men is abomination in tt ght o God ' ' Wifh thff ' ''TT'
wilt shew thyself froward '—Psalmis ' Th. ^ ^cT""'^ ^^°"
be destroyed ' " "I am. Rev st, ^^'"P^'"^" of fools shall
«'T«.u D T^ .. " Your humble servant, N***** **♦*»'#
lo the Rev. D. M., &c., &c."
„D „ ^-^^^ Breton, 30th April, 1842
to trouTvou'or'm;:.TrV ''"" '^^^'"^ "°" P^^'' ^ ^^^ ^^ought never
^ct ^r:.°LT.!^[^L^"y communication of this kind;'uor do I
e;(pect at this tleat^. b«>in<> «ku .^ . .
» ""'*' '" J<"p*cs5 or aiarm yoa*- o.hd
urate mun].
¥
It*
132
feel doubtful whether hi, p?ide wHlpermii hl^ ,1 n " '" """"O"' '
«ny statement without thi/referenee wL^TJ ,'i 1°' " P""'"' ""
» d( fine my general intention on ftl k- "^'' '° '"" ""^y ^"ffice
particulars.^ 'l have, how" er sin I wr^'h^'t."' ""^ "P"'"°" "f
lun ly to know of a ./r^.t., 1 ' .C ^ """• ''=<' some more oppor-
ftypoLitic, aLln^cfn: n rnd rVnd'fl'h/ ^'r^'* r'f' °^ '^^
whrch produce very visible and rHn.^ ^ ,''"'^ ''•^'''^^^ doctrine;
ftaviour^fyourproVdt%i '/,';S^^^^ -^ '>-
specimen in some of the latplLinrl,r' ^t whom tve have a proper
-fortunately like £Vntap7;|Se^^ ^-^ - -
and yet too wise to be correctPH t tL rl ?.uc, ^"^ ^^ unimproved,
feature., the pharisaicarJroanini nnH f '^% '°"g f««e«/ the swelled
tion, are alone suffic en inS c ti?ns of^th°'" ''^'T''\'^'^' ''' '" ^^''-
»nd foolish and vain cor ceit vv hout nnt ^I '''"''' '"'^ '°" ^'^P^^ition,
nary habits and hogshearr^ ' wZi ^ '''°''/ '^''"*'"^ ^'"^ ^^^^ir ordi^
on this score, that utverf JikYv n^ notwithstanding one consolation
-on get rid of this rel g L nu'isan'ce'brthr' "^^^ -"'«--t will
migration from the fatal captivity of S.nnf T^^ ^'^^'' '"*^ fi"«»
ing and blessed boon and pr vi eL of hf = ? '''^.'' ^° ""J"^**^^ P'«««-
and wonderful oracle and E m fumn t^^ ^''"^' ^^"^uishing
all honor and oratorv creeds^.'id r?w f '""' '1'*"' ^"'^ ^^andard, of
rend and raving P Sl^r vn„r 1 '"^'V P'"*^ '"'' Perfection, the reve-
brother, if not your sniHinnl ? '"*^ :'°*''^' ""''"^ «"d rough-drawn
ther « Timothy^ arK-vl'rfl^''''''^ '^on Titus?' along with C-
'firstborn!' I serLly'sC hn T' '"^ '^f^idious, fickle' and foiled
far as we have any chance ^ ' nl h^^"' ''''^'' '"^ "^'^''^ ^'^i^^'-en, as
age ! But at the ^sa me tin J.fJ^T' "'" most worthy of the.r parent-
blasted to purpose irtldbd an Ihl'i" '"°"^^ ?^ them.-They are
progress. Oh. the ev cL L '^'' '""^ '"^ ^'"^' pruning and
cur:eoffoula'ndfaT:rreIi;t;nf Th sSuaTne t' «-af cramp' and
•ncoherent preaching and inron.i«r.nf 'P''^/""' P^^.t and plague of the
•ug and fcrLl Minist s n t" r dead^S?ftr'"'""?5'' ^^''>'' ^°'^^-
fluence, on the sense and^oul mLd Id ^Ind "'f^ '"'^ ^'•^^^"•"g '"'
vassals and victims! O Lord whn .1 ' of their most unlucky
this awful subject, in reference To ^ """^'T '"^ '^''' ^"^ ^«^'i"g« ^n
and cjuondam comrade' Man^^ "^ T' °"*^' '^'''' ''^^^^^i^te
'J^P now far gone, keenly gi?vedaTd 7l'2\r '''.'' ' ''^ '''> '"
and spirit, by your immoderatP .n/l "'^.'"'^'^y, alarmed my very heart
the foible; and fa 1 n.rfol .e" nd '^'"^""^^ ^'g^tness and laughter, over
violent and vain r ond' nd ' ' ^^'''kne.s of Clergymen, and other
frivolity or flatne^s^hp .•'"tP'^"^'"^"^ professors of religion. Even the
Hevotio'nalrera kVorr: io^rrrm^^^^ ^^"^ -^^ ^^"her'
m
your official
ight of your
issociate Mr.
1 common, J
a perusal ol
may suffice
epetition of
tiore oppor-
sult of your
d doctrine;
fits and be-
ve a proper
uch as are
inirnproved,
the swelled
set in ques-
disposition,
their ordi-
consolation
lement will
:, and finaJ
Y the pleas-
anquishing
andard, of
, the reve-
Jgh-drawn
with bro-
and foiled
bildren, as
JJr parent-
-They are
ming and
ramp and
ue of the
"ily, foist-
vning in-
unlucky
elings on
sssociate
had, in
:ry heart
Iter, over
tid other
Even the
father's
castigat-
poised DulD rsAft ,„J Ml' ''"'■'"' """'■ PonJwous purse, big belly
LTi^t^t'Lt'a . „t 'Sd' ; tiatrf d™ "' f "'" """ ^°'-
conscience, and a silent O™ h[!„ P "g'"""' s and imposlors, your seared
.0 .urn ,ou'r hear'. toTl? fl' , ".""i^J':!! 1 ll^.r."''" P"- ,™-.
.."i »o .ha. whatever ,ou, aSd yourSn^foi;,; cr^i.'° ^nTnt 'fee'i
134
inclined to thbk or thwart, do or direct, say or suffer, whether right or
wrong, toul or fair, sad or sound, must alas, under vour fatal delnwon—
and on your part— be all sanative, sanctioned and sanctified ! If there-
tore any should feel inclined either to mess or mourn, smart or smile
over your tracks and tantrums, they may find full scope, according to
heir aim or humour. O, the dreadful disappointment and dire disgrace,
to which re igious Tantlings, especially lofty names, are exposed ! 'How
art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning !'-Isaiah.
bmce I have partly troubled you already in my alluded-to letter to your
close officia companion, I waive repetition, only on the subject of the
unfortunately proud Mrs. McK—, whom your said associate so much
dreads o dee put to any dishumour. Miserable Clergy that must so far
strain their nerves, in order to favor and fish the fickle and futile airs
and humor of such indign characters ! That silly and selfish lady cares
not more for the 'cure of souls' than Jehu had for the worship of God,
Dui only while her religious zeal and service seem to enhance her credit
among her purblind and self-interested dependants and adherents, in or-
der to teed her most manifest and dominant pride. She has effectually
plagued ouc dear Island by her transmission of wild vagaries, vomit, and
vvoes; foolishness, falsehood, and frenzy; pride, pranks, and passions;
stupor, .s jbbornness, and storm; all under the specious and spoliating
sound of Gospel Ministers ; though still in their prayers, preaching, and
practice, sadly disagreeable, both to the line of the sacred Scriptures,
and the original principles of the once venerable, virtuous, and valid
J^lnirch ot Scotland. If the greatest champions and defenders of the said
i^nurch— which is now but the mere skin or skeleton of what was once
vast and vital, fat and fluent, grand and glorious,— "hould meet an equi-
librium, of credit and gain, upon different nominal principles, and under
an opposite ecclesiastical designation, little were the domineering and
pecuniary preponderance. Heaven knows, that would at once turn the
scales ; and make those mighty advocates of ' Establishment ' to shift their
crow and creed, ensign and index, and bark and bawl out—' Vice versa."
lantivi Independence !' 'The Dissenter is the Divine!' with as much
pith and impalience, fire and fury, froth and foam, brag and pride, as
ever to the contrary ! O, this day of religious irreligion, insolence, and
insanity ; and generally, more fatally and incurably so, if possible, in
reference to such as once, like yourself, and your official mate, for a con-
siderable space of tune, publicly mocked and opposed the wicked, filthy,
and formal measures of the Clergy. 'T e dog i. turned to his vomit.'
1 wice dead, plucked up by the roots.' I must not forget to suggest
tnat your very closest and most partial friends of Lewis Emigrants una-
nimously admit the singular pride, and scandalous corpulence of yourself,
and the shameful peevishness and pampering of your family contrary to
the rule and injunction of sacred Scripture. 'Given to hospitality.'
i^harge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly
all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good work.,
ready to distribute, willing to communicate,' tc. ' The steward of God,
135
sr right or
delusion —
If there-
; or smile,
cording to
e disgrace,
ed! 'How
!' — Isaiah,
er to your
ect of the
e 60 much
nust so far
futile airs
lady cares
ip of God,
her credit
snts, in or-
effectually
fomit, and
passions ;
spoliating
ihing, and
Scriptures,
and valid
3f the said
was once
t an equi-
find under
ering and
turn the
shift their
ce versa.''
as much
pride, as
eiice, and
ssible, in
for a con-
ed, filthy,
is vomit.'
3 suggest
ants una-
' yourself,
inttiiry to
spitality.'
htninded,
us richly
d works,
i of God,
must not be self-willed, nor given to
filthy lucre, (which
,, , . . , . — , •„ wine, nor nithy lucre, \wiiicn IS now
the ecclesiastical gain of the- Scottish Clergy) but a lover of hospitality
a iover of good men, holy, just, dober, temperate.'— St. Paul
" Now my good friend, you must undergo another kind of new birth and
gospel call to the ministry than you have ever yet known, before you can
answer to the above heavenly and necessary description. When I Dart-
ed last with you in Edinburgh, you told me with flowing te-,rs and of
your own free accord, that you would not, and could not join the Clergv •
whose case and conduct were so manifestly clear to your light and con-
science, to be so far contrary to the word of God, and their own professed
formulas. But the state of the Clergy has not meliorated or fmproved
since, in any degree adequate to the just grounds of your objections at
that time; but in a certain respect deteriorated, and been confirmed
more and more in its incurability. But you have joined that very Clergv
whom you derided despised, and opposed; and never given me-your'
once faithful and fond companion-nor the public any reason for your
solemn and sounding change. The truth of it is, that you never could
nor can give any right reason lor that your conduct : nor have I ever
requested or expected from you, what 1 must always have been sure in
all ordinary circumstances, to be morally impossible to find out viz-
Ihe duty of a gracious man to unite with a Clergy openly ungodly in
their great and uncontrollable majority : or a Gospel call lo the ministry
ot any g;aceless man m the world; a dilemma from which, in yuar ore-
sent position, you can never get yourself disentangled
"As to my bombastic and sarcastic style, 1 take the subject of mv
animadversion to be m some of its bearings, a step far beyond .erious
treatment ; and it would therefore be ridiculous, and quite below the in-
tention of these remarks, to handle most of the desperate and heaven-
abandoned characters m discussion, but in a degree under the lash and
line of satirical ordeal. For though my very soul regrete the wickedness
and folly, vanity and formality, of my correspondents, yet I repeat that J
have little or no hopes of their correction or improvement ; but must
eave my humble though sincere communication and endeavors between
the Lord and your consciences, till the great day of solemn and final de-
cision. Knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men '—St Paul
"I am. Rev. Sir,
.. ,„ . _ " Your obedient servant. N***** *•••**
"TotheRev. A. McL."
of I^^M '^^'''"^ two letters having been written sometime after the rest
of the Manuscript had been finished, are of posterior dates; and cont in
unabridged, some unavoidable repetitions, as written under different sig^
natures from mostly al the rest of the work. The remarks of the lettefs
in question are certainly sharp and severe in the view of most readers
but in the estimation of those properly acquainted with the main subjects'
therein handled the whole will seem justly merited and well grounded
Bruce and Paddle.
mi
M
136
m
Jr'
;■
A FEW SHORT ANECDOTES.
One of our famous new converts at W. M. said the other day to his
brother, " I'll tell you ray experience : you must know that the soul is
in the right shoulder ; and that it is there dead till the word of truth
touches it ; then it eolivenr and springs, and never sleeps any more : that
is what I know now. I never knew before that I had a soul ; but a word,
by the Minister, struck me through the right shoulder, and its effect im-
mediately sprang through all my body like a dart ; and I am now most
certain ot my saving change, and salvation."
Another man of the same place said, " The manner of my late con-
version was thus: I was returning home from sermon, along with some
of my neighbors, in a flat — I saw as if the Heavens had opened, and the
Father and the Son appeared to me — then two blood-red cords proceeded
downwards ; the one from the bosom of the Father, and the other from
the bosom of the Son, till they reached, and fastened or fixed in try own
breast: and si.ice that moment, T am absolutely sure of ray eternal sal-
vation. But I met my temptation ; for before we reached the shore, a
thought struck me, that I might now walk on the water, as the Saviour
once had dope ; but I took this suggestion to be from the devil ; and as
soon as we came to the landing, I jumped out of the boat, and said, O
Satan, thou shalt not take me in thy snare !"
A third of these fanatical revivalists accounted for his conversion in
the brief manner following : —"Under a certain sermon, I was sudden)}
enlightened to behold Christ on the Cross; and I saw the wound of the
s|><jar in his side ; to which I then set my mouth, and from hence tQok
my fill, to the satisfying of my soul."
Interested and prejudiced people may doubt, or contradict those au-
thentic narratives ; but they can never falsify the scope of them ; making
only due allowance for their translation, from Gaelic to English, iiut
there is nothing extraordinary in these, or &uch cases ; for false visionr
and wild notions are common to false conversions, and spurious revivals.
Bruce and Paddle.
137
day to his
the soul ia
rd of truth
more : that
but a word,
ts eflfect im-
1 now most
ly late con-
l with some
led, and the
Is proceeded
other from
i in iry own
eternal sai-
he shore, a
the Saviour
3vil ; and as
ind aaid, O
inversion m
as sudden)}
ound of tht'
hence tQok
;t those au-
im ; making
iglish. Bui
false visionr
ous revivals.
Paddle.
SUPPLEMENT
TO THE REMARKS OF BRUCE ON THE SACRAMENTS, AND TO THE
LETTERS OF PADDLE PLAIN.
As there are at this time so iruch vain disputes, and so many imDoain<r
arguments afloat of a very stumbling nature, and danTeJous conse
quence; especially in their practical tendency, in the scofe of the more"
solemn, and now most abused ordinances of the Gospel, commonly cTlleJ
the Sacraments, or Baptism and the Lord's Supper, I hink it my du 'v
t7act Vf P^""'^ '"'^ t'"^"'^ ^"PP^'-^^'^ ^y ^he sacred Scriptu es^-to Jx^
tract a few paragraphs, on the subject, from the writings of noted
Au ho.s whose sentiments, on this point, are not seldom L misreore-
sented, by men of eminence and office in our Presbyterian rhnrphi
especially the Established Church of ScotlanT-The S "o.n n1
pense or debate, and which I intend only to treat at present is concern,
ing the proper adult subjects of these ordinances. '^Such 'as 'naint in
that men in their natural or unconverted state, have a right to the SaJra"
ments, teach, or declare, consistently with their principles hat they are
appointed by Heaven, as converting means of grace to the uncm verted
as well as nourishing and confirming ordinances to believers ; aniby thii
mode of reasoning fearfully encourage and ensnare their simp e adherents
or associates on this dangerous and dreadful stand. And since the Hp
servedly famed «' Boston " is generally the pretended or cle of reference
among some of our neighbors, on this topic, let us hear first Tnttle of
what he teaches and advances on this weighty ground:
they ureffilaVt^" "' ''' '""""^^^ ^^^^^"^'^ '' '" «'h°- h-«
" Not to all, but to believers only ; who are members of Christ Or
to believing receivers, as to the Ethiopian eunuch. ' He that bel veYh
and is baptized, shall be saved.' oei veth
" Wherein does this un worthiness to partake (the Sacraments) consist f
I answer. In wo things: 1st, In habitual meetnes. inrepectofa
gracious state. The soul in the black state of nature is nttTr y unfi?
for this ordinance, Psalm v. 5. Such a soul is adoad soul 'dead in
trespasses and sins.' Ephesians ii. 1. And a dead man is not fit for a
feast, "or a dead soul for the Lord's table, bat rather to be buned out of
awVJtice dead "si^d' Y''VT ^"^' ' ""^ '"'^>' '^ ^^^^^^^ *-"-
away twice dead. 2nd, In actual meetness, in respect of a ffr?cioti<5
J-salm Ixxx. 18. A sleeping man is not fit for a feast neither- and
ChT,rT\'r'' 'f i^r '""'J '^^"^"^""ica.e unworth.ly, as some ,n he
-. V. i.. „,.., , ,..0, A.. ^^,; o.^ ^o J. jg ,ieceyya,y ihat we
I
i
i
138
not only have oil in our vessels, but have our lamps burninij if we would
oe fit. Cant. i. 12.
I' The only true rule or touchstone in this case is the word of God Isaiah
VIII 20. • To the law and to the testimony,' &c. The Spirit of the Lord
speaking in the Scriptures is the Sui^reme Judge of all questions in religi-
on whether relating to faith or practice ; and the word itself is the rule by
which the decision is made. God hath given us marks in the word by
which one may know whether he be in Christ or not, 1 John iii. 9; and
the like. The great thing to be inquired into and examined here is the
state of our souls before the Lord whether we be in Christ or not, rege-
nerate or not, have true grace or not, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. This we should
examine at all times with respect to death and eternity, because our eter-
nal state depends on our being in a state of grace here. And this is to
oe examined in respect of the sacrament.— The reason is, This Sacra-
ment IS not a converting, but a confirming ordinance, as baptism also is,
Rom. IV. 2. It is a seal of the covenant, and so supposes the covenant
entered into before by the party. It is appointed for nourishment, which
presupposes life. And if it was not so, what need of self-examination^
so let him come, not otherwise. It is the word that is the converting
ordinance, not the Sacraments, Rom. x. 17 ; and the nature of excom-
munication evinces this, 1 Cor. v. 13 — But more particularly, because
there are some graces, namely : knowledge, faith, repentance, love, and
new obedience, which m a particular manner ar« sacramental graces
these are to be examined. '
"FirrL What is to be examined concerning our knowledge.— The mea-
sure of It whether competent or not, Hos. iv. 6.. The nature of this
ordinance is such, that it cannot be managed to spiritual advanta-re, but
loss, without a competent measure of knowledge. And this not only
Ministers should inquire into, but people themselves, after all examination
by Ministers.— The quality of it, whether saving or not, 1 Cor. xiii. 1.
There is a notional, idle, inefficacious knowledge of spiritual things]
which leaves men still in their natural darkness, as to any saving uptak-
ing of spiritual things : and therefore it cannot be sufficient to fit men
for this ordinance.
•• Saving knowledge may be discerned by these two marks. (1.) When,
by an inward teaching, one is made so to see the truth of man's lost
state, and his absolute need of Christ, as to be brought out of himself to
Je«U8 Christ wholly for his whole salvation, John vi. 45. (2.) When it is
influential on the life for sanctification, Matthew xi. 29. While notional
knowledge leaves always the heart unhumbled, and the life unhallowed,
saving knowledge humbles the heart, as it did in the case of Job, chap!
xiii. 6, 6. 'I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear ; but now
mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and
ashes ;'— Ignorant persons are utterly unfit to come to this ordinance,
and have no right either before God or before the Church. They are
unconverted, unbelieving sinners. Acts xxvi. 18; ever under the power
of some lusts, 1 Pet. i. 14. They are incapable of self-examination, and
cannot discern the Lord's body in the ordinance, being ignorant of the
rnystery of Christ.
I
if we would
f God, Isaiah
it of the Lord
ens in religi-
is the rule by
he word, by
n iii. 9; and
i here is the
or not, rege-
s we should
use our eter-
nd this is to
This Sacra-
ptism also is,
he covenant
ment, which
xamination ?
I converting
i of excom-
rly, because
e, love, and
ntal graces,
— The mea-
ure of this
vantage, but
lis not only
examination
Cor. xiii. 1.
tual things,
iving uptak-
to fit men
(1.) When,
man's lost
'f himself to
When it is
lile notional
unhallowed,
Job, chap.
r; but now
in dust and
ordinance,
They are
the power
ination, and
rant of the
139
" Secondly, Orr faith must be examined. 1. Withont true faith on*
has no r.ght to this ordinance. For unbelievers are not with n Z
covenant of grace, faith being that by which one ente sinto t.^nd ther^
fore they have no nght to the seal ; they are not of the family of heaven
and therefore have no r.ght to the children's bread, John i. 12 3 NaJ'
they can please God .n nothing they do. Hebrew xi. 6. 2. Wihout faith
there can be no feed ng on Christ Take eat imnli«u „ ' • •. 7 I-
. .pirUual feeding, rfith i, .he hn„d a'd' ml 7„' '^'e ^ " aS'1":
believer ma, feed on the bread of the Lord, as the beaslsd ank of Z
zrhfa'ttxtd'" "" """-""'^ ""' '"^^ -""« s tt.V.l
benefit^ and not for hi, benefit, only, pjaira IxZ is A desirf .f a
whole Chr,«, not only for justification, bnt sanctifioM on ,00 aid tu
not only as sanct.fioat.o.i is the way to mako the soul happ, but w con
du!on*:?:^:;;i:^it^ j' ■- =^'°'"'«- ""^°"' '-r^se-rUtcZ
f iA5^p.r TsSllf JJ^th^; a J„Ve'll"d 'JJ ^L^T^i
thy own .nabil.t, to help thyself, thou fle'st out of thyself unw the Cd
iymJSZTlZ'A T "''?"""■ 'ig^teousness, and will, 7^0 guided
»L ;p- ?k ■ ^ J^'" righteousness alone, and ruled by hij law
and .fin the course of thy life thou lookest to h m for direction accent;
drb.:d;;'ru'bter^"' '° "■' """'^ °«''"" --p"on:Verr
"Thtrdl!, Our .epentance must he examined. 1. Withont it there can
there a'broitn'St""'; "^ ' """="'"' <=''"^'- He is re^M^S
;|L\ia';7trriooTs^i[rer::-:'pT''^rrht,tTei7r'"'^
:frbr; r„rbtdTthiLr^rld' ""^^^^^^^^^^^^
sealed parlon, .vhich is 'hte^d 'o'f tb^ s!!; "m" t" "ooSZTn^ZIl I
^inneTs Ac"s'iT''4""''i' T'' ""' S;ve Heaven's comfort to Ten 1"
f,"b'utttr:is?parraVi^"c;:£t:'trJ-'i':e^:b:rit^.^f
'sinner;.' ° '""'"■""' "^''^ "' " «"' " wrl'rg'ZsVl-mpSenl
"Fourthly, Our love must be examined. 1. Tr je love to God i« ...
fhlToVsTf the^livoT" '°''' ""'" '""'" '"'° a-Pem,%wan w d™p
.!• /ff.7. f ^iP*"" ■"agicians; so the love of God will swallow uu
i^uKc XIV. ^7, and ever sit exa ted above t»-am all 2 t «„« .^
neighbor will make us wish well to all men. 1 Sor v. 8 forJi -e th":
that have done us wrong, as we desire to be forgiven of G^d M t' v 23
of fhP Ur ^rA '^' P'°P'^ °^^°^' of whatever denomination becaus^
'^fimf ^/^^'^'I^^^PPe^ing in them, 1 John iii. 14. * ''
rijt^l^, Our ooedjence must be examine,! I -h,jj -;--. . r. ,
s:-- -i-.a — f — , , „.,„j, gjTc a iKw marks
t(l
I
f
lit.'
m
140
ofPo 1 ^Hf^* •' 17 ''JJ'f Pe*^' °f ^he principle it proceeds from, the love
aL?v 1 r '%?• /.?•? I" respect of the e.id of it. which s Qod'.
nLt/' n .?'• ''• ^^ J^-^ '* '' ""'^°"«'' P"'-" ^''•''- «■ 1 have a respect
unto all thy cornmandraents.' 4.) It is constant, Matt. xxiv. 13. And
the blood of Christ, because of the sinfulness that attends it. I proceed to
shew the necessity of self-examination. It is necessary in two respects.
1. 1 o prevent the sin of coming unworthily to the Lord's table. If we
rush on this ordinance without previous examining of ourselves, how can
we m.ss of communicating unworthily. 2. To prevent the danger of
coming so, which is eating and drinking damnation to one's self. The
danger is great, (1.) To the soul, 1 Cor. xi. 29. ' For he that eateth
and drmketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himsei :. not
discerning the Lord's body.' (2.) To the body. ver. 30. ' For tH
cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.'
The next noted Author from whose work I shall quote some more
paragraphs on the same subject, is the well known, and justly respected
Minister and one of the first Seceders, John Brow'n of liaddingto^n fn
his Body of Divinity ' his remarks are foUowinj :— ^ *"
1 T^^vf ^"^ '•ege'jerated persons have a right to baptism before God.
I. Ihe having the Holy Ghost, faith, and repentance, are requi-ed as
necessary prerequisites of baptism, Acts x. 47. viii. 36. 37 ii' 38
-. bacraments being confirming, and not converting ordinances, suppose
those who receive them to be already instated in the covenant of grace
-and being seals, cannot be divinely set to a blank, Rom. iv. ii . Col!
I. 11, IZ, Gal. 111. 27.— None but such as appear truly regenerated have
a rig t to baptism befor. men. 1. If none'but real sainfs have a right
to It before God -none but such as have the appearance of saints can
have a right to it before the Church. 2. That which is holy ought no"
to be given to dogs, Matt. vii. 6. Prov. xxvi. 11, 2 Pet. ii. 18 20 •>2
Psalm xiv. 1, 4. 3. Men ought to be made Christ's disciples before 'thev
receive baptism John iv. 1, Mat. xxviii. 19. And none ought to be
«Af?"p ^u "^' "'"^'? ^"* '"^^^ '' 'PP^^' »o have heard and learned
?Ll! T '"Ji "^r'^'ff ^^^''' '^"o^'edge and faith by their good
works, John. vi. 44. 45, Mat. vii. 20. 21, Titus i. 16, 1 Tim. v 8
.hi J'm ."■•'^'«'V'f""''^"! '"'". '' '^'P''^"^ "P"" appearances of saint'
I'^if ok '",^' 4.^'! ••• 41. vui. 12, 13. 37, 38, ix. 18. x. 47. 48, xvi.
14 10, 64, 63, xviii. fe 5. Admission of persons manifestly wicked is
xliv 9 '' P'*"^^"^^'"" of sealing ordinances, Lev. x. 8. 10, Ezek. xxii, 26,
^."^hough, in the next remarks of the same author, a good deal is said
of infant baptism. I wish it to be understood that, in these quotations I
.nrnuV"!r!'°" "r '° '^^ '^1 '^'.^^ ^'''> °'" =g^»"«t, the ?ight of any
infants to that privilege ; my only aim. at present, is to support the ar-
gument against the dreadful existing, and genera! abuse and profapation
rona, the love
ich is Qod's
lave a respect
iv. 13. And
m always to
I proceed to
two respects,
able. If we
ves, how caa
e danger of
s self. The
that eateth
himserr, not
'For this
some more
ly respected
iington^ In
before God.
required as
37, ii. 38.
3es, suppose
It of graqe ;
iv, ii., Col,
erated have
have a right
' saints can
y ought not
18, 20, 22,
before they
lught to be
and learned
their good
Tim. v. 8,
es of sain t-
17, 48,. xvi.
wicked, is
ik. xxii, 26,
eal is said
jotations, I
ght of any
3rt the ar-
>rofapation
141
wUhL'.'..'°'*T- °'■^'"^"^^ '" '*« being granted almost, if not altogether,
without any discrimination, or reserve to the infants, or young children
of all the Ignorant, wicked, and vain parents within the pale rate and
range of the Church of Scotland. And other denominations; who 'ro-
fess Infant Baptism, are little different on the subject
ClJFtSFn^n T of wicke^d parents are by God, in his word, declared
hi r / K ' *•• '^f r"-. ^?' ^"^ ^°"' ^'^'^ 'hey. who are visibly cursed
by God, have a visible right to the seal of his promise and blessing ?
No infants, but such as are immediately descended from one or both
parents, visible believers, have any right to baptism before the Church.
iith«h! .'^'5'"r'^'*''i:''*¥' '''■°'" '^^''' """mediate parents, it must
hlnJJrt T f'^"! »he'^b«•"g l>apti==ed, or from their being visible
and vo7d ATT' K^Tf *'°'" '^'''' ^^P''^'"' " 'hat becomes null
and void, if they be wicked, Rom. ii. 25. It is quite absurd to allege,
that no more is here meant than that circumcision is unprofitable to jus-
fi.Iu '?K^'"'u''* •n''^ •""? 'he iaw : for in that respect it would be unpro-
Stable though millions of good works attended it. Gal. iii 10 ii 16
l<,om ill. 20. 2. Parents' right of access to the Lord's table, and 'their'
f.ZL ''%' T ^'P*""' '*'"*^/'' ^"" '°^^'her. Such Church-members
as have offended by one, or a few scandalous steps in iheir conversation,
have their right continued; but they are disqualified to use ,t till thei;
thpTr nr. »'""""'^'^-r ^"! '"1*^ '' 'PP^" ""^oly in the general tenor of
h^ K ''' r""'^^"' ***'' '''^y have no right at all ; and consequently
W^e^^r children have none, in vain it is pretended, that the Holy Ghost
oPihtT ' ? \^^ *""'!;' ""J '!? '"'"'"' ^ho is descended from parents both
hpfortr ."; f ^ wicked : for though he should, yet that child's right
before God to baptism could never be manifested to the Church till it
«dlTt' r ^ r* ^°'" Tl^- ^' "^he children of parents visibly wick-
tfinTth '^"''^ ^'""t^ ^y ^°^' °^"'- ^^'^i. 18 H«vv then can he
allow them in baptism to be solemnly declared visibly blessed ! James iii.
w u s;^ch as have no discernible evidence of their being within
God 8 covenant of grace, as is the case with the infants of wicked parents,
can have no visible claim to the seal of it. Though these parents had been
baptized, nay regularly baptized, yet if their baptism profit not them-
ouilprl t"" "'" " P'"^* their seed? 5. Faith and repentance are re-
?o bl s7'rr' '° ''7/«V^'''''li!^'"^" ^^^^--^''y holy and admissible
tisihiS h^r "if '"• ^^' ^T "' ^^' ^^- 6. None but such as are
their LpHp"" *'*'•' V'^r'^ °' ^""^'^ heing their God and the God of
m JLl ' "• u'"' ^' ^^'- ^^^'' '^^ 7- If 'he children of manifestly
ungodly parents have any real right to baptism, the Church ought to pu^t
The D^ nt^r""" °k/' ^."^ "'^"^ '''^^ he done in this^natt^r ?
ner ^? »11m i!"l'P''''' \° ^^"'''" 'hese children in a Christian man-
ner. 1 would b.; but a solemn mockery of God to bring them under
trX'tfon to th° •'' "t''' 'heir practice continues to be anliabitual on'
trad.ction to hem. It would be no better to lay these vows on a spon-
rf^Z^J^i:^^^?}}-^^^ ehLen under his ,oLl
baptising the infants of parents manifeictJr
J
iM
I ' '
Wk
142
ordinance altogether common, and declares those Church-membera, that
?ron??h"' m"'""= '"*^ "° '"»'*^' '^^ ^''"••''h a society not sepa .ted
r, A^n K ' f K ''• ^^.' ^°'"""' "'• *^- »• '^ ^"'^ked parents have no
right to baptism themselves, and theii children derive their right from
them, «J has been proved, the children of such parents can have no right
to It. 10. The faithful exclusion of the infant- of wicked parent:^ from
bapt.srn has a remarkable tendency to promote the ends of the Gospel.
TnH /iJf T"/° "T.^"*^ ^^"'^ ^y f«*th, and so deny ungodline.;
and worldly lusts and live soberly, righteously, and godly. Parent,
woidd not be hardened in their wickedness, by an unlawful admission of
them to sealing ordinances. None would be tempted : believe them-
Ir.nfM'""?' r""V^'"^''l'y ''" account of their bein^ oaptised. Hear-
ers of the Gospel would not be tempted to indulge themselves in ignorance
and wickedness, in hopes of having their infants baptised notwithstand-
ing. Baptism would not be reckoned less solemn than the Lord's Sup.
per, or profaned as ? common thing. "^
r.Z^^^T''"' ^' . w"?," ^'^^ •"f»"t« of Christians are within God's cove-
nant. Answer, Will that infer that the manifest enemies of God. who
have nothing but the name of Christians, or their children, are within
God s covenan ? Has Christ a confederacy with Satan, when he is but
called an angel of light?
>^nl^i''''M"^^J^*'M'^'!"°".^''^"®'^'*°«"'^«^ fo^ ^l^eir liarents' sins.'
iL:.nfrV? '" the infants of heathens, who are born as innocent
as those of Christians, be baptised? 2. If no children ought to be ex-
^ni r-nT ;^'"'««'^? *« »he Church for their parents' sins, the Jews
S"vL 1 ^5« P^*^"''" P«0P'e of God. as well as in the days of Moses,
David. &c. 3, Does not God in manifold instances, visit the iniquitiei
o the Parents on their children, Exc :us xx. 5. 4. Tlie withholding
bapt.8ni from the infants of wicked parents is no proper punishment of
in^u,!, K 'r' "' ^ T S"'"S **'"'" '^^' »° "'hich they have no right,
and which, if g«ven them, would do them no good, but hurt. ^ '
.,> ^h ^^\t c ^'^'^ '*"'' •'"P'^^y °f ^'*='^ed parents never exclud-
ed their children from circumcision.' Ans. 1, If heresy do not exclude
men from baptism neither will atheism. 1 John ii. 22. If no heresy or
profaneness exclude men from baptism, why did John Baptist and P^ter
the Apostle require repentance as a pre-requisite of it. Matt. iii. 2. 6, 8,
,wi, "lA'r ' ^T "• ^®' '"• *^- 3' Where is the proof th^t Ihe
infans of Hebrews who were notoriously profane, were admissible to
circumcision ? D.d God allow those parents to be sustained members
hvplh"'' '.K n"'*'*^"^.°^,^''°"^ ^'^ P«°P'«' ^^^ did not suffer to
live on his earth, Deut. xv„. 12, Numbers xv. 30, 35, aX ? Had the
ljj«l7/h ''/n ^^ contemners of the promised land anj circumcision
allowed them, till, as adult persons, they received it in their own right?
And where IS the evidence that Joshua circumcised «ny that were here-
tical or profane. Numbers xiv. Joshua v.?
,r.Um '*"' i ' J°*»" l>apti2ed every person that offered himself to his
ioiism. Ans. 1, Must then all Heathens and Mahometans be baptized.
143
if thejr offer iheraselvcs to it ? 2, John does not appear to h^^ve bantizorl
profa„.Ph,,i;ee.orSadduce";;LukrvH-30' """ """'" ""
oren, r.zek xvi. ^u. Ans. Perhaps these ch dren were God's ncriili.r'
proper,, being firs, born.' Exodus xiii. 12, 13, Number, iii fg , n
and' Z-J"' °"^'" """■'«'•'= "'"'<'''■> '" "■» »•"'» »en,e .rihe aUver
Etr'4,17: .tHra if- I'i -""' "- "'"■' "'^' "■^«" "• «'
roooea ol tapliara. Ans, 1, I, is no honour for Chris, to have nrofan»
persons .„„.|.r ,o bru,e, and devils, openly repu,edhrs member,
p^;o?a"nt,7Tt.-;ii- !Sr tNte^'iT'tir::: r i
w*rf^i'!f ' l^u T^'o^Sh m^ny Parents be wicked and sctndclouB vet thev
were rr.ade Christians by their baptism.' Ans. As a single scandal in
God i "''kT^' ^"cccsarily infer their being destitute of the grace of
un.n .h ' ^'"'^/f ™«y have a nght to L.pfism. tho.^gh these parents
until the,r scandal be purged, be disqualified from presenting them Bu»'
when parents, by the.r habitual behaviour, manifest themseveVgra^elfss'
-the.r bemg once baptized can no more avail their children than h
•vails those of a prodigal that their father had once arich eS.''
On the Lord's Supper, by the same author.
" To anticipate objections, it must be observed. 1. That Melchirprl^t
brought forth bread and wine for refreshment to ASraham'; fa^^ued
troops, but not to be offered in sacrifice. Gen. xiv. la rThjt the^as
5 Thr.K'^^r ' 'IP' °^ '^''' Sacrament, but of ChrirSf
LorS's S ooer' Lr"^'' '""'''^ ""'.'' '^' ^'^ Testament is noT the
fZJru^^f ' ^ P'*^"' P"""'"®' ""'^ goo'^ ^ofks, Mai. i. 2. All nro.
fessed Christians come to years of discretion, are bound by he law of
God to partake of the Lord's Supper, and it i; their sin, if they be i^ca-
before Go7"'n f T'^^'T I' "-^"'y *'"^ b«''«'«" have a Lht to
.r/L. n '■^"^■^''■"*' believers, who have examined thsraselfes and
Co'^xf ter "^h etth"^' "' '°"' "" ''^'''y "^' S prfvileg"'
the Lord's SuTn^rTf T "' "^^^^ssary to a right parfaking^f
band (Vth P^ u ^' ^ """''^y '*''*® **^ ""'on with Christ as our hus-
band latner righteousness, and strength. 2. A worthy frame Ir-^t
anct^'l'Tr °^'" ^ ^'r' ^^^•^^ 'P'"»' intJedge! faiTr pen't!
ance. love, &c. 3, A worthy end of honoring Christf glorifyhrGod
and receiving spiritual nourishment to our soul. 1 cir^x 26-31 ,1'
' »*'i
is manifest thnt it
mi\at U^>_:i.i.
t.,vaz iiuiiiuio protana>
144
tiou of it, either to impose or receive it as a condition of civil office or
liberty, or as a test of loyalty."
The following quotations on the points, are taken from the " Confes-
sion of Faith " of the Church of Scotland, and of the American Presby-
terians :
" dues. What is a Sacrament ?
" Ans. A Sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Chris* in his
Church, to signify, seal, and exhibit, unto those that are within the core-
nant of grace, the benefits of his mediation ; to strengthen and increaafl
their faith, and all other graces; to oblige them to obedience ; to testify
and cherish their love and communion one with another ; and to distin-
tinguish them from those that are without.
" Clues. How is our baptism to be improved by us?
Ans. The needful but much neglected duty of improving our bap-
tism, is to be performed by us ail our life long, especially in the time of
temptation, and *hen we are present at the administration of it to others ;
by serious and thankful consideiation of the nature of it, and for the ends
for which Christ instituted it, the privikges and benefits conferred and
sealed thereby, and our solemn tow made therein : by being humbled
for our sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking Contrary to,
the grace ol baptism, and our engagements; by growing to assurance of
pardon of sin, and ol all other blessings sealed to us in that Sacrament ;
by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into
whom we nre baptised, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace ;
and by endeavoring to live by faith, to have ovtr converjation in holiness
and righteousness, as those that have therein given up their names to
Christ ; and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the same
spirit into one body.
"dues. What is the Lord's Supper?
" Ans. The Lord's Supper is a Sacrament of the New Testament,
wherein, by giving and receiving bread and -.vine according to the ap-
pointment of Jesus Chrict, his death is shewed forth ; and they that
worthily communicate feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual
nourishment and growth in grace; have their union and communion
with him confirmed ; testify their thankfulness and engagement to God
and their mutual love and fellowship each with other, as members of the
same mystical body.'
" aues May one who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due
preparation, come to the Lord's Supper?
" Ans. One who doubteth of his being in Christ, or his due prepara-
tion to the Sacrament of the lord's Supper, may havu true interest in
Christ, though he be not yet assured thereof; and in God's account hath
it, if he be duly affected with the apprebsnsion of the want of it, and
unfeignedly desire to be found in Chrint, and to depart from iniquity :
in which case (because promises are made, and this Sacrament is ap-
pointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians) he is to
bewail his unbelief, and labor to have his dojbts resolved ; and, so doing,
sivil ofTice or
}r of his due
145
he may and ought to come to the Lord's Supper, that he mav he further
strengthened.
" Uue«. What is required of them that receive the Sacrament of the
Lord's Supper in tlie time of the administration of it?
" Ans. It is required of them that receive the Sacrament of the
Lord's Supper that, during the time of the administration of it, with all
holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that ordinance,
diligently observe the sacramental' elements and actions, heedfully dis-
cern the Lord's body, and affectionately meditate on His death and suf-
ferings, and ^hereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their
graces ; in judging themselves, and sorrowing for sin ; in earnest hun-
gering and thirsting after Christ, feeding on him by faith, receiving of
his fulness, trusting in bis merits, rejoicing in love, giving thanks for his
grace ; in renewing of their covenant with God, and love to all the saints.
•'O*' L'.\PTi8M. — Baptism is a Sacrament of the New Testament, or-
dained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the j^arty
baptized into the visible Church, but also to be unto him a sign and a seal
the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of
remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ,
to walk in newness of life : which Sacrament is, by Christ's own appoint-
ment, to be continued in His Church until the end of the world.
"Op THE Lord's Supper.— -Our Lord ^;sus, in the night wherein
he was betrayed, instituted the Sacrament ot his body and blood, called
the Lord's Supper, to be observed in his Church ; unto the end of the
world ; for the perpetual remembrance of the sacrifice of himself in his
death, the sealing all benefits thereof unto true believers, their spiritual
nourishment and growth in him, their father engagement in, and to all
duliea which they owe unto him ; and to he a bond and pledge ot their
communion with him, and with each other, as members of his mystical
body."
«
Extracts from " Burke's Theological Dictionary ;" being the senti-
ments of many good and learned men, selected and quoted by that intel-
ligent, judicious, and excellent Author.
" Baptism exhibits to us the blessings of pardon, salvation through
Jesus Christ, union to, and communion with him, the outpouring of the
spirit, regeneration, and sanctificcUon. From baptism results the obli-
gation of repentance, love to Christ, and perpetual devotedness to his
praise. Baptism does not constitute a visible subject, but only recoff-
nizes one." j b
Of the Lord's Supper.— " The subjects of this ordinance should be
such as make a credible profession of the (iospel : the ignorant, and
'' ose whose lives are immoral, have no righi to it : nor should ii ever he
administered as a .est of civil obedience, for this is perverting the design
of It. None but true believers can approach it with profit ; yet we can-
not exclude any who make a credible profession, for God only is the judge
of the heart, while we can only act accordinp to ontwa
19
1 n n f» n r u tT| #^ <»«
^h
146
.1,0!?!!.'",°"'^'"^^°'" V^'' ^^'•■^^tion'' in vVhat frame 6f mind U-e
should attend upon ih.s ord.nance.-Jt sl.ould be with sorrow for our
nn?r?.ffl' ^"? ^'""^'' '"'^ calmness of affection, free from the disorders
and ruffles of passions; w.th an holy awe and reveretiCe of the Divine
majesty, yet w.th a gracious confidence and earnest desires toward God •
wuh raised expectations ; prayer, joy, and thanksgiving, and love to all
nr^lT'' ''^''''''^'fcs arising from the participation of the Loi-d>s Supper
^eusSr- i'uVr"' ofstrengthening our faith in the Lofd
TovP 1 T. r 'f '■'^' ^' '' consolation and joy.-3. It increases
Zni;;;!, r'V •'"'^'"^y ' enlighten our minds in the mystery of
jodhness._o. It gives us an utter aversion to all kinds of sin, and oLa-
n holv IT/ ^"' ^""'i'-T^- ^' ^'' ' *^"^^"^y *° '^^^'^ ^nd strengthen
al holy desi es in us.-7 It renews our obligations to our Lord and Mas^
iT i " ""^ ^°"'^ of Christians one to another "
i^rom Poole's work on the same subject.— " Divines agree that the
unworthiness here spoken of, respecieth not the person Sf the receiver
IvarZ Z '".'""f:.°f ^5^ receiving; in which sense a person that is
r !{{, '";^'"^"!'^P f^>'« ordinance Unworthily : It is variouslv expound-
ed without due felig.on and reverence, without faith and lo/e, without
ro7r:;-t:;ot" it " ''^ ^"'""' ""^^^ ''^ ^^'^ °^-^ ^-- -
"In the sense before mentioned, either having no remote right or no
present right to partake in that ordinance, being^an unbeliever^, o^ a re-
o ved unholy, or ignorant person ; or irreverently and irreligiously. He
t?nnL"p t r Tr'^r^'^rr J^'^Sment. it is no matter which we
Swll^, '^''."^^°'^'J"^S'"'"^^ "P°" himself in this life,
they will end in eternal damnation without a timely repentance; but it
.s to himself, not to him that i. at the same table with him, unle 3 he be
guilty of some neglect of his duty to him "
From the Rev. Matthew Henry.-" Note, those who, through weak-
ness of understanding cannor try themselves, are by no means fit to eat
of this bread and drink of this cup; nor those who, upon a fair ufal
have just ground to charge themselves with impenetency unbelief anH
alienation from the life of God. They should hive the wedding garment
gracl m Trllse •' ^^'^""^ ^^ ''^ "'^^^'^^^ '''''■' ^^^ '" ^''r^d
I .!h^^.'*;^^'"■*''';^'''7''!^' ^''- ^•■- ^^^^^'^^g^ on the subject.-"For
he that eateth and drn.keth in an irreverent, profane, and unworthy man-
ner rnust certain y displease and provoke God ; so that it may truh be
said that he eateUi and drinketh judgment to him'self ; he tak^slhe readT
fn^ the 'ord'TL r" " 'f ^'"•^r °^ ^^^ "P"" ^•"^' ""^ distinguish-
ng the Lord s body, nor making that proper difference which he ought
to make between that and common food " ^
.fZTu'^" ^""""' '"^ ^''- ^?'^''^ Gray.-" How orie should know
it 1st Thar3"Tr'^ '"l'^*'^- ' '^^" S'^^ y^^ ^'^^«^ evidences of
It . 1st, 1 hat soul will be much taken up with felloA-shin 5,n,i nr.r»^..^:^„
w.th Christ; and that person that has eaten and drunken ricrhtly' wirrbe
of mind u-e
rrovv for our
the disorders
if the Divine
toward God ;
nd love to all
lOi-d's Supper
in the Lord
It increases
e mystery of
in, and occa-
id strengthen
ord and Mas-
ee, that the
the receiver
»erson that is
sly expouiid-
3ve, without
y known sin
right, or no
ver, or a re-
giously. He
r which we
in this life,
nee; but it
unless he be
ough weak-
ins fit to eat
a fair trial,
nbelief, and
ing garment
habit, and
ject. — "For
vorthy man-
lay truly be
;s the readi-
distinguish-
h he ought
lould know
vidences of
r^ommssnion
(itly, will be
147
so, as in Song ii. 1, compared with thi .nh verse, 'The king hath
brought me to the banqueting-hou^e, and his banner over uie was love ,'
and then she prays, ' Stay me with me flaggous, comfort me with apple?,
for I am sick of love.' Believe it, I think the desire of fellowship with
Christ is now gone. 2ndly, The soul that has communicated rightly,
will have high and matchless conceptions and uptakings of Jesus Christ;
Cant. ii. 3. ' As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my
beloved among the sons ;' as if he had said, I know no match to Christ
in all the world. Believe it, many of us would sell Jesus for a pair of
shoes, as the prophet, Amos ii. 6, speaketh. 3rdly, If thou hast commu-
nicated rightly, thy graces will be strengthened thereby ; for if the graces
of love and faith, and the grace of mortification, and the grace of pati-
ence and humility be strengthened, that is a speaking evidence that thou
hast communicated rightly ; Song ii. 3, ' I sat down under his shadow,'
&-C.; before, as it were, she stood, but now she sits down, as it were, in
the settled and solid exercise of grace : but are all our graces in the same
posture they were in before ? 4thly, If thou hast communicated rightly,
the strength of thy idol and predominant corruption will be decaying.
1 think communicants are either the greatest feeders of predominant
corruptions, or the greatest slayers of them. 5thly, Thou wilt know it
by this. Thy love to the saints. There is too little spoken to this pur-
pose at this time ; for there are some here, that neither love Christ nor
his image; yea, they not only hate his image in the godly, but his pic-
ture in the hypocrite. If ye communicate rightly ye will love the saints."
One might ask, is it possible for our Ministers to know the testimony
of those good and great men, and Reformers, — backed as it is by the
word of God, — and yet to run quite contrary to it in their own practice!
If they choose, they have the same opportunity with me, of reference to
them. But the reverse of these sentiments, and of the conduct of their
subjects, proves more answerable to the religion of the flesh, and of the
world. For it is by the abusive ligation of the Sacraments that a world-
ly spirit, in the public office-bearers, in all churches generally, whe-
ther Popish, or Protestant, obtains and holds, in a high degree, its
awful sway and swing over the minds and misinformed consciences of
the laity. I am not here reasoning against any but such as publicly pre-
tend to profess the principles here sustained, and yet act as publicly con-
trary to them. For the Church of England's defmiiion, or meaning of a
Sacrament is declared to be ' An o itvvard and visible si^rn of an inward
and spiritual grace giyen unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means
whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof.' — We
may now be well aware of the choking arguments of Ministers in e.xtenu-
aiion, or excuse of their own unruly and licentious communicants on the
ground of the irregularities and disorders recorded of the Church ot
Corinth, under the immediate superintendence, or admiuistration of tiu-
Apostles, on the score of the Lord's Supper. But for my own part, I
can mark a vast difference between the temporary, and inadvertent
relapses of comparatively unestablishcd, or new Churclic.^. in the absence
i48
i!^
m
of their pnucipal leachers, or instruments of tfieir conversion, and the
wil ul stub'orn and stationary repetition of abuse and profanation of
well edified, and long established Churches, under the personal and per-
inanent miristry and cognizance of their own appointed, selected, and
earned spntual guides. Whenever St. Paul, who was the Apostle of
the benti.es had opportunity, by his presence, or correspondence, he
either ir, mediately rectified the flagrant abuses and misconduct of his
adherents, or ordered their excommunication, in the less or greater de-
gree according to the nature, extent, and circumstances of their crimes.
Must his impartial, prompt, and prudent treatment and discipline, be
rtegraded lo bear a comparison with the continued, condemned, and uni-
versal torrenc of indifference, ignorance, and wickedness of our times
on this score, awfully and wofully. combining and involving in its fatal
Xnd'ere^s '" ^ 'P'"^"^' P°^°^ °^ '''^^' P^^'o's as Pirates, and people as
As to the farcical formality of what is commonly termed, " Fencing the
t^onimunion 1 able," it has now long since become but a mere children's
Diigbear, which has lost all its former effect and influence; because
Ministers speak by rote, and members hear by rounds. Would thev
fence their Sacred Table, sharply and soundly, these fencers themselves
a' ^;f fi'"«l-'-«'-e.s'"ners, should feel the prime smart of their own fencing!
u^u^r' "1?^^^*^ "^^^^''" <^'^ck and brawling braggardism, through
The Guardian," from day to day, and from kingdom to kingdom, on
this Heaven-provoking ground, they would strike their briny breasts, and
sneak their brazen brows; like men deservedly despised by earth, and
deserted by Heaven : In some degree according to the aggravated state
and s and of the once disguised subjects mostly justly complained of, in
the following texts : "For it was not an enemy that reproached me:
then I could have borne it : neither was it he that hated me that did mag-
nity himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him • But
It was thou H man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance."—
1 salm Iv. 12, 1 ;. " But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the
son of man with a kiss?"— Luke xxii. 48. I most sincerelv believe with
all my heart and soul that Christ, and the spirit of the Gospel, and any
real Christian, who can discern the religious degeneracy of the times
have at this day within the range of my acquaintance, no greater reject-
ers nor opposers in the world than the generality of our Cleray and of
then closest adherents among the people. And'my sincerity and confid-
ence on this ground, have the lioht and life and growth of a full half a
century ; so that, it I were nou- sure to appear at the solemn tribunal of
my feovereign Judge and Saviour before the next morning liaht, 1 should
desire to leave this memorial on record, for a warning to all others con-
cerned, whether they would, or would not receive this my humble testi-
niony.— " By their fruits ye shall know them Do men gather grapes of
thorn;,, or hga of thistles?"-. Matthew vii. lo.
r< n ^r^ . w^ . Paddle Plain.
Cape Breton, I8th December, 1841.
Ill)
siori, and the
irofanation of
ional and per-
selected, and
e Apostle of
)ondence, he
induct of his
' greater de-
their crimes,
liscipline, be
ned, and uni-
if our times,
[ in its fatal
ind people as
■ Fencing the
re children's
ce ; because
Would they
3 themselves,
own fencing,
ism, through
kingdom, on
breasts, and
' earth, and
ravated state
lained of, in
oached me:
hat did mag-
him : But
lintance." —
est thou the
believe with
»el, and any
f the times,
3ater reject-
rgy, and of
and confid-
i full half a
tribunal of
;ht, I should
others con-
inible testi-
er grapes of
K Plain.
ADDENDUM.
Since the writing of my foregoing Supplement and six Letters, 1 have
met with some more of the new converts of the Island. — One of them,
D. M., at W. B., angrily and roughly intruded on the peaceable and se-
rious private association and devotion of a cluster of his neighbors, among
whom I happened to be at the time; and with several other unreasonable
and passionate expressions, said, in the very middle of our worship, that
" it was not Gospel, nor any ways allowable in worshippers, nor would
he admit that any man or ministers' conduct should be spoken against
in their own absence, and in his hearing." He was meekly requested,
either to hold his peace curing the time of worship, or quietly to turn
out : But he insolently replied that he " would do neither but at his own
pleasure." He was told that the house was none of his, nor the meeting
at his command ; and that therefore he would be compelled to take the
alternative : yet at the same time, that he should be freely permitted, if
he chose, in a pacific spirit, to ask, or answer any important questions
after our lecture and prayers. When he felt his predicament, and after
a wild and fothy puff of incoherent reflections on our devotion, because
disagreeable to his own favorites and views, he skulked away. With
such characters as this, any thing is, or is not "Gospel," just "as it may
agree, or clash with their own wild vagaries, and vitiated" inclinations.
They can unreservedly backbite and slander, under color of Gospel, the
most unexceptionable names, whether present or absent, which may
happen to oppose their own false and foolish measures ; when at the
same time, none must dare treat them, or their party, but according to
the estimate of their own extravagant self-conceit, and proud fancy.
J. M., another of these fanciful and recent converts, and like the last,
a leader in iheir devotion, desired to speak to me privately : But I sent
him word, that I had heard so much of the extraordinary extravagance
of his religious views, that J felt uninclined tj treat with him alone ;
but that, if he listed, I should not refuse to hear him in the presence of
a cluster of sober neighbors, who happened then to be together, on a
Sabbath evening, after our private worship. The man appeared, when
1 asked him, if it were true that he maintained the strange opinion im-
puted to him by his religious, associates, viz : "That every word in the
Bible was applicable to him, and ought to be taken by him as individu-
a ly applicable to himself; and as if only, and personally spoken to him
alone ?'^ He promptly and boldly answered in the affirmatire. I then
questioned him "How would he think it possible that such a self-con-
tradictory extravagance could be tenable, or reconcileable ? As for
example, and like the remark of ' Ross against Fraser' (both late of
i-iclou,) Oil the very same point, it might be said to him, as the Lord
.♦•:
V <
VI
*';.
h-
160
sai.) to Noah ' Mnke tl.ce an ark of Gophir vrooci; &,c." A similar
ri;;:i.:d'" -'"--ppIicabHity and absurdity fo'r him "to .Ir^lch
^o d vJ^r .' 7 "^, commanded Moses^" over the Red Sea,
to divide It: ^c It was also asked him " What would he do in the
case of Joseph, the espoused husband of the Virgin Mary to whom U
Te M rv'tL':-?:'.' 'c''!l''rf' f. ^^^ ^°^^' ' ^^-^ nofto take Tnto
Ghost 'W''^ ' for tha which ,s conceived in her is of the Holy
Oho.s , &,c. I remarked likewise, that all the promises and all the
hreatenmgs of the sacred Scriptures were at once appUcabMo him on
written m he book of life ; but that at the same time he muit be also
m the condition of Judas the traitor, under the power of a devil mdTo
heeTC:v' "h- '^ r ^'^'T' " '' ^-^^^ ''«"- ^- him .ever lo t Je
been born ! His replies to these and similar remarks wprp eo wildly
I woJhfhf ^"V"7^'''"^' ^"* ''' '' P*'^^^'^^ ^"^ unconvinced th^
I would have judged it quite improper in myself to waste either ti ne or
on o? fo i^ 1 / """""Pr^i' "' '^^ '*'""' ^ho had not sufficient discVe-
Af h t hp "f r ^"^f^'hem entirely from his religious wild c),imer,.
wLh J. .1 '"^' '^ ^ «V''"'P'''^'y ^^PP*'*^'^ his sentiments, " *>r
pe u I '' t'\ 'r^T' ;h^ S^^'-jPtures written at all. or left for hi
vi h n .. f P '"'' "''' ^ !.^^''"^ht it not of the least avail to reason
of t.rn „:; To r '"^r"; '"^ ^"';*''^ ^'^^^^ '^ '"'^ht prove a likely means
Horn if ..^ *■''' ""-^ °"'" «"^'^"*^e. vvho already have heard enough
nsa h '. ? f"u TTr °^ ^''' ""'■^rtunate and stubborn religious
ruTdel^;ZH°^ -f'''^" ?'^'"^ !^^"Serous influence of his religious
guide, called Ministers of the Gospel, who appointed him and his fiHow
iiJLnl?fu '"^.P.T't T'.^''^ P"h''^. «s well as some of the private
at wh .h?l neighborhood, in the absence of their own preaching;
to i . or r 'T' ""T'^'f "' '",' ''"'P"'*' ''^''^^ ^^ '^ tell boastingl;
cPd ml '" "P''^ '""^ ''T''"^ adherents, that he sullened and silen-
argument" "'^ «^«"^'^»^^«. ^y the stretch and strength of his strange
mn!!''^!' ^ '"f '^''"' 'u '■'''' ^' '^•' '"'•«••« our wild revival had operated
ni0i>t strangely, on the score of vacant gazing.-sn.erky smi in.r -
"Ss '" "7'' T f ""'^^ °* ^hought.5-selfrt'witchingJ atid boll'ily
witftings.-sexual and slant promiscuousuess.-shivering, howling and
SuTlL'"'''M"r"'r"f "r"^^'- ' ^^«« credil/y' informed, by
th nbl 'T'^l^ ^"f"^'- ^hat the game was, by this ti.ne, all over a{
elilfnn „'T °' 1^' ?' '""'"''t °^ ^- 'r- ^^^^^ ''^'' '^^ indifferent to
S? . I ^^ ^'^'^' ^°' '. ^""'' h«^" zealous ; nay, that they were as
wkh ,^"^ '"^^'"P^'-^^^' Pr^f^'V^ and wrangling, as ever in their lives ; and
with a far worse grace; wofully fulfilling the true and sacred proverb,
Ihe dog IS turned to his own vomit agam, and the sow that was washed
to her wallowing inlhe m.re." One of the loftiest converts at W. M,
Lm/nTlh 'i"""' '''''^ ^'"'T'^ °^ •''" '"i^*» ^hiid, fathered upon L
cre2\?i fl ^''""- ".""• ^'''! """'her female of the same cast and
credit, and at the same place, we hear, is well niah the m...^ ^r U^nhma
out for a luidwife .o help the birth of a similar fuFbidden "conception. "
^^/--^
" A simiJar
I " to stretch
;he Red Sea,
he du in the
, to whom it
to take unto
of the Holy
i afld 9II the
l« to him, Qii
Qs, bis nnine
nust be flKsp
devil, c^nd to
ever to h^iye
re *o wildly
vinced, th«t
ther time or
&ome sifj;iple
cient discre-
ild chimera.
leuts, " ^"qr
r left for hjs
lil to reason
ikely means
3ard enough
rn religious
his religious
id his fellow
f the private
preaching ;
1 boastingly
d and silen-
his strange
ad operated
smiling, —
and bodily
jwling, and
ifornied, by
, all over at
different to
ey were as
lives ; and
id proverb,
was washed
at W. M.,
red upon a
le cast and
til' !f)okin2
ceplion.
151
• ^I.'^ I ',^°"''^/^«' ^?^ ''•■o'^ exultirtg over these fatal rtnd melancholy
sign^ of fallen hnman.ty, and ordinary concomitants and consequences
bf false religion, and foolish revivals. Our surprise and regret ought
indeed to be excited in finding not the least indication of shame or
sorrow, reflection or admission, on the p.irt of those more immediately
concerned, whether geese or goslings, guides or converts, but as if their
sole ami should consist, either in neutrally overlooking those sad aiid
sickening scandals, or in endeavoring to evade the observation arrd
Objections of all others around them on the subject.
Sf)ME FURTHER REAIARKS ON «' THE GUARDIAN."
In a late number of '« The GHardian,"-^s partly in consequence of
^ i'"^^?^^"^" published m the late " Cape Breton Advocate,"— the
good Editor, without flatly naming me, has feelingly complained that I
oppose the Church of my fathers." But I take him.ielf, by his vain
and false statements of the present flourishing religions state of that
Church to be in a good degree the very means of my open opposition to
her at this tinrie. But the alleged ground of his objection on that score
IS a very vveak and futile one. 1 still profess, in ^he sincerest m.nne;
possible, that I venerate the name and the original sentiments, embraced
by what IS styled the Church of my fathers ; but when she do;s not now
appear to be but, m a fearful degree, the very reverse of what she had
in principles and practice once been, and what the living and loving
Church of my Heavenly Father and Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ must
necessarily be at all times, and under every ordinary, if not every posai-
ble circumstance, what, I seriously and solemnly ask, rs the worth 0*
value of the mere empty sound of her name to me, or to any man who
IS religious y any wise in his right senses ? Names are serious things
indeed, and to most people, in religious and eternal concerns, names are
awfully stumbling, and wofully fatal.
Generally speaking. ^ belieye, from long and snd experience, tbat the
brief and broad wore -"The Church," "our Church." or "the
Church of our fathers," involve in them, 1 » the generality of religious
men, a most pernicious delusion-a most baneiu! impression; which can
be hardly superseded by any just and Scriptural views, in myriads of
otherwise sober and intelligent minds, without the Spirit of God in his
convincing and converting powerful influence. Do we seldom see men
who care little or none to sustain, or regard, even the general rules of
Zr rl' or common decorum, yet rail and wrangle, fight and foam, for
their Chuch; and that not unfrequently when they, ^.t the same time
know not by rote or rumination, so much as what are the very professed
principles ot the thing-the Chnrch-for the sake and sound and saTva.
t.on of which they would seem to die freely on the gallows, without ever
once serious y questioning their consciences what rational ;nd scriptura
fomidation they have for their hope: or what motives for their nrZZl
ropery and 1 rotestani.sm are, alas I not seldom similarly implicit on
.s crround But if a dissenter from the church of his fath/rs cannot be
nJM
this ground.
152
i t<!
Mil
?.''!
sound in his faith, or sage in his conduct, what will be said of all our good
and great Reformers ; nay of the Apostles themselves ; and far further,
iet me speak it with solemn seriousness, for our ever b'-sscd Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ himself was actually and archly a Dissenter in his
day, from the church of his fathers; and it was soundly lor this very rea-
son that the wicked fathers of the church in his time plotted and com-
bined together for his most unjust condemnation, and crucifixion to
the death !
Who but a madman, after this, would talk at random on the subject
of the Guardian!
If a certain famous bark called "Aurora," transported my grandfather's
family from Europe to America, some seventy, eighty, or ninety years ago;
would It be thought any good sense or sound reason in me to venture
my precious life and limbs over an awful ocean in this once choice
medium of conveyance, now that she is found to be dreadfully defective,
dangerous, and dead in her deal timbers, and other essential materials,'
though in order to allure foolish and fond passengers, she should still*
carry on her new-painted lofty stern, and in an endless repetition of de-
ceptive and eloquent advertisements —
"The famous, good, fast sailing Ship Auroha !" &c. &c.
Agiin. had a learned, fluent, just advocate pleaded successfully the
honest cause of my dear father against foil, fraud, or violence, half a
century back, but now that through age, infirmity, and other causes, the
^aid sound pleader has become crazy and deranged in his intellect, par-
tial and corrupt in his decisions, proud and insolent in his behaviour,
and in short, the very reverse of what once he was, in all his actions and
-determinations, or that his son was substituted in his office under all the
<]eficience and corruption of his father's latter days, what would it avail
me in rny confounding dilemma, or legal distress, to resort to either the
father or the son; or even to both put together, merely because the
former was some long time past the wise and efficient counsel of my
worthy father; especially when I have no pinching necessity to force me;
but enjoy an out gate, by some other happy means of relief, or equal
benefit, only that I must, for ever and anon bear the reproach and pre-
secution of all the foolish, false friends of the old Lawyer, because the un-
grateful son of my dear father does not any further blindfoldedly stick
most tenaciously, to the quondam good advocate of his father ! And,
as Pr-ice would phrase it, the application is both apt and easy.
I ti:ought to make remarks on the self-contradictory, puffing, and proud
letter of the Rev. Simon Fraser, lately addressed from ScoUand, to his
abandoned congregation at Miramichi, and published in a recent number
of the duped " Guardian." But as I find no sufficient time for the intend-
ed animadversion, I must curtail it, and briefly observe that I have seldom
through life perused a more pitiful and ridiculous abuse of talent, in
latter limes, and under the sunshine of orthodox and scriptural means
of edification, than in the address in question, and a similar one last
year from the same author to the same silly people, and printed in the
same silly " Guardian." The famous Mr. Fraser' deserted his most ut-
153
r all our good
J far further,
sed Lord and
ssenter in his
this very rea-
ted and com-
:rucifixion to
I the subject
grandfather's
2ty years ago;
le to venture
once choice
lly defective,
tal materials,
3 should still
jtition of de-
'C. &c.
cessfully the
ence, half a
• causes, the
tellect, par-
s behaviour,
actions and
inder all the
ould it avail
;o either the
because the
unsel of my
to force me;
ef, or equal
ch and pre-
luse the un-
Idedly stick
ler ! And,
f, and proud
lland, tu his
ent number
the intend-
lave seldom
f ta!eiit, in
ural means
ar one last
nted in the
lis most ul-
ached, and imposed upon congregation at the said place last year, when
be plau.ly elt and found that his circumstances were, upon ^the whole
disagee. able to h.s ecclesiastical and worldly views, under he appear nee
of unavoidable necessity, and as if impressed and impelled by Kg acT-
ous, solemn, and disinterested influence of the Holy Spirit of God O
fearful. ofTensive and dangerous pretences ! The Reverend Gentleman'
as ,f only gu.ded by a divine volition and power, would never take upon
h.m to decide whether he should, or should not, return to his fo mer
dear charge till he might find himself, by all his artful means, and sT'e
gacity, well settled in his nest, in h.s desired and native land, bee use
t II then, you mast know, it is but strict worldly wisdom, to keep his
blind charge, m this cold and careless country, in suspense. For i^. hi
circumstance It serves two important objects! -First in case of disa ,
pomtment in h.s intended settlement, among his fri.nds at ome
left an outgate for his return, to his former most kind, and generous and
mlt in thlNorth T U ''^ ''T' '''''' "^''^ ^'« e.xp'octed i^^s '
ment in the North, has been pending, it served as a powerful, thoueh
secret wedge and goad to enhance and forward his interest, where ifis
heart has long been fixed; like a sly wench, who, in order o urge the
:7::fi:J, ^oiiT °'^"^' ^'°"^' °^^""'^^^ ^^^ ^^"^ ^^p- -^ "^^ '«'
In his late address, Mr. Fraser offers as the main reasons for his non-
return, h.s diffidence of his own talents or abilities, and his xpectatfon
and desire that his former flock would be supplied by a Mi is er of 'u' e
rior unctionary requisites to himself;* and yet,witi; the same bre th C
tells them, according to the expression of the Apostle Paul, " For thouih
fo'r in^C Hst r""? r'T""'' '" ""''''''' ^^^ ^^^ ^^ "otmany f he?
tor m Christ Jesijs I have begotten you through the Gospel "
1 feel completely short of proper words to convey mv feelimrs ind irl^n.
on this point of the subject, fs any man, who cLTru e ?l e adire
under remark, so void of common sense, and common feelings as no
a once to see the fatal pr.de. deceit, and self-contradiction o7theun^,r
tunate author; who.e case. I cannot at this moment, but sncereU pity
vvirh '^ l7l"S?? ^' ^'""''T"^ V" ^""y- "^ ■« ■•^' once both overwhelmed
with se it-d.fiidence, and at the very top of St. Paul's utmost stretch of
sp.r.tual superiority and success ! HeJs also diffident for w nt of taLf
o resume the oversight of a poor, half-ignorant, and obscure con^S
hnvl' 7 H "'/'^' '"^ 'r-^' of America^ wher; he openly pre^esTo
have already been so gloriously and triumphantly successful ;-tlZ'h ,i
;ny view, most dreadfully, if not wilfully mistaken himsel as well
most dangerously stumbling to his pretended and numerous tophie of
coi^mg_grace^_^et^a^h^^ instant, he can^hesual^gjy
they originated in a jealousy o^l^'^elf "nd"? v^ 7t ^.Se" ^'iZo^^ 5^'
20
iir
154
take the lead over a populous auditory in one of the more enlightened
and popular places in Scotland ; where he has no experience of the pasi
nor any sure anticipation of similar success ! '
The Lord in sovereign mercy look upon me, and "the Church of my
fathers/' which can take neither sense nor shame ; but must fondly pub-
lish to the wide world, her own religious nakednese, and sore disgrace !
When men possessed of so much favourable and scriptural advantages
through their wilful abuse of extended light, are so far left of Heaven'
as to be capable of such inadvertency and pride, fully and deceit, as those
01 which vye now sadly complain, what I have learned, from deep and
dire experience, should, in my circumstance, by any means, appear nei-
ther strange nor unnatural.— Thet if the majority of the Clergy of the
Church of Scotland, and in particular now the Presbytery of Cape Bre-
ton, had the power of life and death in their hand, according to the set-
tled and full bent of their will and inclination, I should equally expect
the saving of my neck from the hangman's halter, at their mercy, and
that of the Pope of Rome ; and this for no other guilt or crime, than that
the Lord has most graciously opened my intellectual eyes to become a
sober, serious, and zealous, dissenter from their own vain and formal,
false and wicked Church communion and fellowship.— And perhaps I
should suppose that the gracious Editor of the Guardian himself, would
not see much reason to hesitate setting his sacred amen, seal, and selah,
to my just condemnation, as a piece of good and acceptable service both
to Heaven, and to the rest of his official brethren !
Several people over the Island, feel desirous that the Ladies' Associa-
tion in Edinburgh should have some information to dispel, from their
eyes, the film and fume with which they are blinded, by false statements
of the circumstances of this place, which they receive, on every occasion,
from their Missionaries, in order to magnify the result and necessity of
their own labor. A Normal Teacher from Scotland, has actually told
me, that nothing surprised him, on his arrival at his appointed station
here under the patronage of the said Ladies, more than to find the
vast disparity existing, on the one hand, between the real character of
our inhabitants, with all their modes and improvements, mental, corpo-
ral, and agricultural ; and on the other, the deplorably rude and degrad-
ing accounts, which the said Missionaries, at least partly, had given to
their correspondents at home, on the subject.
Other Teachers, from the same, and under the same support, have
cordially corroborated the story of the Schoolmaster. They agree in
asserting their agreeable dissappointment, on their landing, in meeting
almost every circumstance contrary to their gloomy prospects; and par-
ticularly their ideas of the inhabitants; whum they farmed to themselves,
through the mis-statement of Ministers, as they said, to be little different
Trotn the ignorance and rudeness of the untutored Hottentots 1— This
A as in truth, the very expression of some of them to myself; though it
might in fact be too far exaggerated. And as to houses and tillage, ac-
cording to the said previous medium of information, they expected to
find ruefu! huts.
Q n f I . .
Rcaltivated lands, q
iU-
m\
', quite tue reverse oi our situa-
e enlightened
ee of the past,
Church of my
ist fondly pub-
lore disgrace !
il advantages,
\ of Heaven,
sceit, as those
om deep and
s, appear nei-
I!Iergy of the
of Cape Bre-
ng to the set-
qiially expect
r mercy, and
me, than that
to become a
and formal,
nd perhaps I
imself, would
al, and seiah,
i service both
lies' Associa-
I, from their
se statements
ery occasion,
necessity of
actually told
inted station
1 to find the
character of
ental, corpo-
! and degrad-
lad given to
165
tion.--For you know, the greater the disadvantages, inconvenience, and
privation, which a Missionary undergoes and surmounts, the more meri-
torious, on his part; and the fitter he is to be thought an object of sym-
pathy and assistance, in his necessary distresses; especially by his gene-
rous patrons. Thus there is a staunch reason given for the mis-statement
and meagrely-transformed accounts of our famous Missionaries, on the
score of our circumstances.
Again our "Revivals" must be glorious, in order to stimulate esteem
and encouragement, in favour of the blessed instruments. But whenever
a Minister wills to serve a turn, as of late by the Guardian, he can either
personally, or by a duped proxy, write or rave pompously, of the wonder-
ful melioration of our sticks and stocks, lots and lands, as well as of our
sultry souls, under their inspection and influence; whereas I challenge
any of them to show us one acre of additional improvement by their
means, and beyond their own personal possession, over all Cape Breton
But even if they should have induced any to exertion of this kind it is
plain to the world it would be only to serve their own self-interest.— Not
11'^ T l"h''.^/»"ts fee* anxious that the said Ladies' Association in
tidinburgh, should also know of the mean, greedy, and shameful, abuse
or misapplication made, m certain cases, of their generous bounty, sent
to the poor of this Island; which deeply and duly offends the generalitr
of our neighborhood. Not treating of books, but of blankets! carpets
osnaburg, cottons scissors, thimbles, needles, &,c, wholly or partly, .aid
to have been sold dearly, or substituted to uses, and to serve purposes
quite unintended by the donors, and benefactors. Our Ministers arc not
charged for this misapplication, but for their improper indulgence to
those abusers it not purloiners, on account of being their own pitiful
Church members. t""iui
The said Ladies of Edinburgh-the chief patronesses of our Cape
Breton Mission; and who, alas! on this ground, plainly appear to have
far more zeal than good sense-ought to know likewise, according to
the sincere wishes of such of our people as are most reasonably, griev-
nf hl'jr '^•""'''"'^'^'\°^'u'^'i' ^' '^^'" ^«''ffi°"« rr^en^nre,, on the score
of their Missionaries, that the Reverend Mr. Stewart has played on this
Island a similar game with his brother Fraser on Miram.chi. For when
the former came to our quarter, he seemed to think that every thin^r—
sense and science, sack and soul, matter and mind, ought to bow m°ost
obsequiously at his own singular shrine ! All thin? , and thouahts whe
Phose" r;; T^^'T '\°"'' '" '•« ^'^"'' '^^ immediately met'amo -
phosed, and conformed, to his own peculiar mould ! Our ever hitherto
and heretofore dark and drowsy " St. George's Channel ''Tehoved of
human and d.v.ne right and rule, to become now the Alpha and the
^f'alfr'i^tr ^7 '"' ^'t ^"^' ''' ^''^' «"^ *he Standard, for' and
of, all right and wrong, debates and decisions ! Strangers to my subject
ouY X't ; '"'h7 treatment hyperbolical ; but. alfs ! I IS't^oS
ous.-Our Reverend Gentleman by a mode of behaviour, most congenial
to his now briefly defined disposition and char-.tp. cn.^ ; ::;!!!fu":
ieiiinto ceaseless and intricate opposition and wranglings,' with Veveral
166
h
li,
of the more zealous and Rober, efTicient and intelligent, among liia ad-
herents and supporters; and over whose minds, once alienated, through
his rashness, pride and imprudence, all his dominant authority, and thun-
dering threats could never regain his former asusndency ; nor even the
mere acquiescence, or constrained obedience of not a few of his once
closest friends ; so that— as his lofty spirit— uninured to self-reflectiou
and relentings— could not bow to co-.oessions; and the offended, of his
maintainers, being numerous, and increasing, no alternative was left for
him, but either to stop unexpediently, or to abandon his charge : The
Jatter of which being chosen, ii has proved,— praise to Heaven!— a gra-
cious relieve, and negative benefit, of no small esteem, to not a few
serious souls in this our poor and dear Island. But did he leave us with-
out a brand-tail? By no means! but till this very moment never has
ceased his tlout and flutter through his correspondence; nor ever forgot
to ply and plough, pluck and plague us, by repeated proposals, in order
to reobtain among his former supporters, a sufficient subscription, in the
view, either to tease his new employers ai Pictou, to augment his fees;
or to leave them in the lurch, in case of any plus-par or advance else-
where. 1 o compass this design, he left behind him an odd old phantom
—a mere dupe to Ministers— under the name of Teacher, but little in-
tended or demanded for that purpose, though by many duly thought to
be in fees, from some silly quarters among our worthy Ladies of Edin-
burgh. 1' or, as a mere sham, he would teach a few pupils for a few days
in the season. But this creature, for a tedious time, has proved our per'
tect annoyance, as a shuttlecock, or rather like Samson's foxes, with a
firebrand Ml his tail; keeping " West Bay" in a continual ferment and
fever, running from house to house, and from man to man, with his scroll
of signatures and subscriptions, in his hand, exclaiming "O, will ye not
sign handsomely for the return ol our dear e:;cellent Minister ! Where I
beseech you, can ye find his mate ? Nothing, 1 assure you, prevents his
reaction with us, but the disparity of funds."— Must not my unprejudiced
Header easily perceive that this statement of our trouble, by means of
this sly and shameless tool of our late vexatious " pope," is far from far-
cical, or exaggerated, when 1 tell him that, about one-third of the con-
gregation in question, have been, and still are, (luite offended at Mr S
and would uevvv wish his return : that again, as many, at least, have been
as eagerly in his lavor; and, lastly, that another party are in a degree
neutral, or, at any rate, not very hot or anxious on either side. And in
not a few instances, two or three of these different, or opposite parties
are to be found under the same roof, and in the same bed. What a sore
fire and furn ce have our friends suffered on the subject ! Bat now after
all these lossings and teasings, we find in the latest Guardian, a likely
period to the whole bustle. For, behold, after all the tedium of these
maiKEUvres, we have to understand that the man's services cannot be pos-
sibly dispensed with, where he officiates; and where his efficient labors
are so highly appreciated! And now that he is nestled, and as Paddy
would say, good luck to him ! and as we, in the name of Heaven, should
resDond. amen ! — Hpao HnmKlo onH atc^^r^^} -Hi"-! «- '^ > - r < ■
J f 11 L- "' «!'-J v,<,v»ii«j auicu lu ific St;* vict'3 oi mm,
aCiC Ol aJ his equals in dipposition and behaviour 1 1
lot
long Ilia ad'
ted, through
ly, and thun-
or even the
of his once
3lf-reflectiou
nded, of his
was left for
arge : The
en ! — a gra-
) not a few
ave us with-
t never has
ever forgot
Is, in order
)tion, in the
It his fees ;
ivance else-
)ld phantom
lit iittle in-
thought to
;s of Edin-
a few days,
'ed our per-
ces, with a
jrnient and
h his scroll
will ye not
Where, I
irevents his
iprejudiced
' means of
ir from far-
»f the con-
al Mr. S.,
have been
1 a degree
. And, in
ite parties
Vhui a sore
now, after
1, a likely
1 of these
lot be pos-
ent labors
as Paddy
en, should
iea of him,
But I think it of
. , , ... - consequence ihut any me;:.,.., of ihis kind Hhould
be used with those generous and silly Ladies; especially since they
generally forward and compass their negociations through^the ined i^^
oi their chief superintendent and guide Mrs. McKay, a very ob..ina e
and high-minded woman ; with whom I have communicated more tC
once on some of the subjects in question, under different names, and
various fo ms, u-ithout any succe.-s. In answer to some of her fals; and
frivolous, though sneermgly serious and sarcastic charges against myself
personally and directly, through the side of a certain correspondent I
wrote her a letter of close-written six sheets of po.st paper; and unde
the s gnature of my real name; and at the same tune fraliki; permit ng
thpnf t I'r^'^r^ ^"" ^° P"^^''«h her own said charges, and m/ answer fo
them, to the four winds; and particularly to Cape Breton where mv
statement of alleged and local facts, would l,e most likdy 'to rneet Tts
proper desert. But my honored Lady would neither adnfit norc^rrec
her own mistakes; nor allow the public to judge of our difference. Uut
on this ground, she is bit quite consistent with the religious rude and
nowt'l'tr' '' ''!f """'T"' ^'"^ ^"PI''^^*^: ''"'^ "P"" ^vhich here
now begin to rouse and rest the merited fy and fudge of earth with the
XTeln:^ Tfu 'T" °' "^^^^"' '" "^'''^ '' ^"^^« faint and feeble
eHots exerted, either to retain, or to retrieve the desperate glimmerinc
of Its full-fast waning and false phases fe".iimering
mo?nent"'''rVr? .^,7P°^V^'i^\P°i"M ^^ppen to have at hand this very
S V~ ''f ^'ble and sober young man, from our close neighbor-
I don t know much reason for any to hear him, unless it is to s eep!"
of our rS' M^"^^ I:^^''^ ^°" ^''' ^''' y-^ <■"-«- i-^rum^ent
ol our Revival Mr. M. I" His answer was, " Whenever I heard him
and ZtZ:'"' Vrr 1 ^''"' ^ "-^""^^ '^"^ ^^^--^ ^^at.the foolishness
Se siXvrin "'"■ ^l^.^'-'r^.i^-y features of his preaching and
Cape Bletdn '' ^ ' '" " ^""° '^' "'^'^^ contemptible m^in in
In some measure according to Malachi— 2d chapter— " Behold I wil>
''i'r the^nfi TV''^ '^rf,' """ ''' '"'^ '' ^'^ solemn feastl' -
law t hfs mou h- r ^^"'^ ^f'^ knowledge, and they should seek the
aw ,u his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts But
Lw veE'' ""^ °^ /'^f "^^ '• y' have 'caused many to stumble at the
The'refore irr^'t''^ H.e covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts :
t3eS .Li also made you conter.ptible and base before all the
the t;.'' ^"^ '' ^' " "°' ^'P' "^^ '''y'' '^"^ ^^^^ ^''^ Partial in
epiTl'ets'' thles'an'J'iir^ •^'"^''" '^ 1"^'"^' ""P^"P^^ ^'^«^^« "P°" ^^^^
epJtl^ets, titles, and denominations, and in order to correct the blindness
ar^d VICIOUS prejudice, of bigotry, and implicit faith, in men or Tn
Churches, and the want of due diligence to lean. nnn'Mnd^r:. '!!
duty, delects, and dangers, from or by the unerring 7ule""of"ihe'"sacred
'■ 51
158
1!I
Scriptures, I quote tlw foUowing paragrnphfl from the juitly-famed
"Course of Time." Treatioflr of the last and mn*r*l l„Aa,r.^,*t #k-
lively author remarks :—
eatiofir of the last and general Judgment, th«
<*»
-•• unociitcheoncil all,
. — uiiBciiicneoncu ail,
lliicrowned, unpiuniBd, unlieimed, unpcdigrccd,
t'niaced, iincoronctcd, unbeitarred,
—No bnaded Papist, nor Mahomotan ;
Cpiicopaiian iion*), nor Preabytor;
IVor litilheran, nor Calvini«t, nor Jew,
Mor Greek, nor aectary of any name.
Nor, of those persons, that loud title bore,
Most high and mighty, most magnificent.
Most potent, most august, most worshipAil,
Mont eminent, words of great pomp, that pleased
The ear of vanity, and made the worms
Of earth mistake themselves for gods,— could one
Be seen, to claim these phrases obsolete.
It was a congregation vast of men,
Of unappendagcd and unvarnished men.
Of plain, unceremonious human beings,
Of all but moral character bereaved.
His vice or virtue, now, to eaih remained.
Alone. All else, with their grave-clothes, men had
Put off, as badges worn by mortal, not
Immortal man ; alloy that could not pass
The scrutiny of Death's refining fires.—
Most disappointed in that crowd of men,
The man of subtle controversy stood,
The bigot theologian, in minute
Distinctions skilled, and doctrines unreduced
To practice ; in debate how loud ! how long !
How dexterous ! in Christian love how cold !
His vain conceits were orthodox alone.
The immutable and heavenly truth, revealed
By God, was naught to him. He had an art,
A kind of hellish charm, that made the lips
Of truth speak falsehood, to his liking turned
The meaning of the text, made trifles seem
The marrow of salvation ; to a word,
A naine, a sect, that sounded in the car,
But did no more, — gave value infinite ;
Proved still his uasoning best, and his belief.
Though propped on fancies wild as madmen's dreams.
Most rational, most scriptural, most sound ;
With mortal heresy denouncing all
Who in bis arguments could see no force.
On points of faith, too ane for human sight.
And never understood in heaven, he placed
His everlasting hope, undoubting placed.
And died ; and, when he opened his ear, prepared
To hear, beyond the grave, the minstrelsy
Of bliss, he heard, alas ! the wail of woe.
He proved all creeds false but hie own, and found,
At last his own most false — most false, because
He spent his time to prove all others so.
O luve-dosifOylng, cursed Bigotry :
Cursed in heaven, but cursed more in hell.
159
Where millioriit curse theo, «rid muit ovor rurin '
Kohgion ■ mom abhorred ! •erdition's iuo>it
'rh''"''"«'i ?"''i'' "'""' «i'*'"'""«d '■ '"II" ••••ml damned •
I he infidel, who turi^id hta impioiia war
Against the wpIIb of Zion, on tbu rock
Of ages buiii. uij higher than tlie cloudM,
Sinned, and nreived his duo rev,^ard ; but sJio
Within lisr walls sinned mon. Of Ignorance
Begot, her daughter. Persecution, walked
The earth, from age to age. and drank the blood
Oj saints, with horrid relish drank the blood
Of Ood a peculiar rhildren. and was drunk.
And in her drunkenness dreamed of —» good
The supplicating hand of innocence, '
That made the ti«er mild, and in his wrath
The lion pause, the groans of suffering moat
Severe, were naught to her; . .g'f.ed at groans :
No music pleased her more, ana no rcpaet
So sweet to her, as blood of men rede'jraed
By blood of Christ. Ambition's self, though mad.
And nursed on human gore, with her compared.
Was merciful. Nor did she always .age.
Sha had some hours of meditation, set
Apart, wherain she to her study went.
The Inquisition, model most co iplete'
Of perfect wickedness, where deeds were done —
Deeds ! let them ne'er be named,-and sat and planned
Deliberately, and with most musing pains.
How, to extremest thrill of agony.
The flesh, and blood, and souls of holy men.
Her victims, might be wrought; and when she saw
Wew tortures ofher laboring fancy born,
She leaped for joy, and made great haste to try
T..eir force— well pleased to hear a deeper groan.
But now her day of mirth was pissed, and comr
Her day to weep, her day of bitter groans.
And sorrow unbemoaned, the day of grief
And wrath retributory poured in full
On all that took her part. The man of sin.
The mystery of iniquity, her friend
Sincere, v/ho pardoned sin, unpardoned still.
And in the name of God blasphemed, and did
All wicked, all abominable things,
Most abject stood, that day, by devils h'ssed,
And by the looks of those he murdered, soorchod •
And plagued with inv^-ard shame, that on iiis cheek
Burned, while the votaries, who left the earth.
Secure of bliss, around him, undeceived.
Stood undeceivable till then ; and kn«vv,
T° J '*M®' '''™ '"'»"'''''«' themselves accursed,
And all their passports and certificates.
A he." •*»#„'
"Of those forlorn and sad, thou miglnst have marked,
In number most innun.erable, stand
The indolent; too lazy these to make
Inquiry for themselve?, they stuck their faith
^ lo some weJI-fatted priest.'with offsrings bribed
160
Hi
\i'i
I ^;|li:
flit:
Fo bring them oracles of peace, and tal<o
Into his managoment all the concerns
Of their eternity ; managed how well
They knew, that day, and might have sooner known,
1 h«t the commandment was. Search, and believe
in Me, and not in man ; w^o leans on him
Leans on a broken reed, that will impierce
The trusted side. I am the way, the truth,
1 he life, alone, and there is none besides.
This did they read, and yet refused to search,
To bearch what easily was found, and, found
Of price uncountable. Most foolish, they
Th^fiV /"'''' .gnorance pleased, and blinded fniih,
1 hat took not root n reason, purified
With holy influence ot his spirit pure
So, on the/v walked, and stumbled in the light
Of noon, because they would not open their eyes ;
Effect how sad of .loth ! that made them risk
Iheir piloting to the eternal shore.
To one vvho could mistake the lurid flash
hell for heaven's true star, rather than bow
i he knee, and by one fervent word obtain
His guidance suro, who calls the stars by name
1 hoy prayed by proxy, and at second hand
Believed, and «lept, and put repentance off.
Until the knock of death awoke them, when
1 hoy saw their ignorance both, and him they paid
To bargain of their souls 'twixt them and God
tied, and began repentance without end.
\Vi7hn i"- ^''''' ^h^' 'noriiing, as J.ey stood
VVith blushing covered, they had for themselves
Iho Scripture searched, had for themselves believed.
And „,.iue acquaintance with the Judge ere then !"
If, in religious concerns, I am apparently rigorois on the scor<» nf
pubhc characters, I, as heartily, wish Vo be lib'eraf on th^ pd o pr v.^^
worth. I most sincerely choose to make the best possible of anrman
under any name or denomination, till the reverse appears unavo'^dable'
ticked -or hTs tri ^'^^; ''^.^^.'-h- wilful c'o'nnection witl e'
nf^fiTv '^•^""^'^ft'-a'nedly VICIOUS conduct : According to some
^h-n^g^altp^tf atth-t .'•' '''"'''"' ''''''''' "° evil-beLvetlTu
I cannot declare my real sentiments on this subject, any wise better
than by subjoin.n^r the ensuing extracts from the ever-g een poer^ of the
good and great Christmn poet, the late Pollok ; to whose sacked Ivre
my very heart-stnngs respond, through al." his song; rndmorcord al y
performance":::!" """' "'' "'"' ' "°^^ '"^^^ '- close tS'sliul'e
"S"*.^^'?y s''0"l<l I. of individual worth.
Of individual glory, longer sing.'
Ao true believer was, that day, obscure ;
No holy soul but had enough of joy •
No pious wish without its full reward
n ho in the Father and the Son believed
161
il.,
le score of
t of private
' any man,
^avoidable,
n with the
g to some
siieveth all
With faith that wrought by love to holy deeds,
And purified the heart, none trembled there,
Nor had by earthly guise his rank concealed ;
Whether, unknown, he tilled the ground remote,
Observant of the seasons, and adored
God in the promise, yearly verified.
Of seed-time, harvest, summer, winter, day
And night, returning duly at the time
Appointed; or, on the shadowy mountain side,
Worshipped at dewy eve, watching his flocks ;
Or, trading, saw the wonders of the deep,
And as the needle to the starry pole
1 urned constantly, so he his heart to God ;
Or else, in servitude severe, was taught
To break the bonds of sin ; or, begging, learned
To trust the Providence that fed the raven,
And clothed the lily with her annual gown.
Most numerous, indeed, among the saved,
And many, too, not least illustrious, shone
The men who liad no name on earth. Eclipsed
By lowly circumstance, they lived unknown,
Like stream that in the desert warbles clear,
Still nursing, as it goes, the herb and flower.
Though never seen ; or like the star, retired
In solitudes of ether, fiir jcyond
All sight, not of essential splendour less,
Though shining unobserved. Wone saw their pure
Devotion, none their tears, their faith, and love.
Which burned within them, both to God and man,—
None saw but God. He, in his bottle, all
Their tears preserved, and every holy wish
Wrote in his book ; and not as they had done,
But as they wished with all their heart to do,
Arrayed them now in glory, and displayed, —
No longer hid by coarse, uncourtly garb, —
In lustre equal to their inward worth."
Cape Breton, 31s'. December, 1841.
Paddle Plain.
vise better
oem of the
acred lyre
t cordially
this little
il
21
163
m
K: >
%< ,
m 4
PREAMBLE.
little work has been i„ prooe"rof o^h rif- ^"'"S°'"« P"' »f this
read wilh imerest b, aluK of p'l„„ ' "°" ' ""f' " '" '"f"'' "-i" '>«
greater p. . „f ,uj we?e pubH^dX ^Z'ef, 'hS"'""^ ''"" "'^
promment slations in the Church of Scotland Tnd 1 ^k V'"'""'
tmued connection and fellowshin with . rh i. ? '"""^h their con-
in practice, and heterodox LdL'it ?e2°^rJZT'f^- ''?"'"='«
at best, very „„picioa,; since their hX „n s iul J P, '" <""> ''"''
life; yet their evidence, being in some d J"„ i J Proportionate
»elves, as well as their' ecclfsii^tc.T brelren afidco' '""'"'' '""-
necessarily stand here a test of manifLi J.VJI .u I- "^""'""""ty, must
port of the arguments of B^Lce ^nd pTddTe pfai' "" ' '°"'"""""^' '» '"P"
ter^f^ottf/el'SrCrvrfee"^' '^Zst"' r^'fr"^ '"^ '='"™-
connection with the main sublet of t.e'^prS.'r?'' '""^'''" "'""^
tended, not for the offence, bit the br„eS''tpr:fm^^'ran'^c '„":
5^^oTr;?n^d°[— \rivttrV 5
this is „ot the time or the pl:.cei,hirvev,f ."'.'"''''''' ^"' ^''^^
ject. But the delusion and sHfi'Jm t of n,;. '''n'^'r "" '^^ «"^^-
religious subjects: most peoule are "t ^o Tv ""^ ["'^'^ deplorable on
orseparntionLmothe Del'ir'aUon m. f'^ '^''' '^'''' difference,
own preference, and supc^io chim o.n ' r. '"^'f ^^^.^"d establish thai
think strangelv hi^, 7thrm of tlu .r? ^ and sp.ritual safety. Some
their fellowtvvorshipperV s uno hti^l "'!' ^""'"^" '^^ ""'"^er of
nameord.si.natio.'^f he Sr^^^^^^ '•''""^ °''. '"y'i^"-^hal ; and the
is the general bane a:.d de of <'t tV^sLme',.:" .^''^''- P^P"''''' '^^'"«
sin and Satnn have likev ise dl ,hnt i "^' ' not considering that
are as far elated, or rtuir tick,'; rdeSatK>n\td 't ""'''''
the poverty and paucity, of their fellows nr^n I . obscurity, or
circumstances would infaliblv an" r-'^^ "'""''.' as .f these adverse
of Heaven in their flor v e^'fe , *e atl^'^'n? ''!,""'" "'^ «'"''^«
ters attach also to sin and s'.t .n ' '"'' '^''^'"'^"^ ^^^^ ^i^^s-
ply tr:n"ht;^:?.';;::iri;~ ifed^iti^^^^^^^^^^ ri^:;' ■•°' j" =p-
he write., "generally prod^ces'rnrhe-'r^" H^w ^r.^- -?"t ".'-"■^■■:
163
tions, which
[part of this
ped, will be
liy since the
at present,
their con-
dogenerate
c piety but,
oportionate
^insi theni-
"»Jty, must
ice, in sup-
the charac-
their close
ncerely in-
>r all con-
It grounds
formalism
lions ; nor
; but that
n the sub-
orable on
ifFerence,
ilish their
ty. Some
umber of
and the
Idi'. This
iring that
Others
:urity, or
B adverse
d smiles
nd disas-
to vote for the reduction of the Episcopacy of the English Church: yet
1 had much rather be under the Right Reverend Fathers in God with
us, than under the jurisdiction ot the most Reverend Mothers in God
among the stricter Independents. Medio tulissimus ibis."
None closely conversant with the subject but must admit some serious
and sorrowful propriety in the said remark, to which the writer of these
lines cannot refuse a degree of his own grievous assent, purchased by a
very tedious and dire experience. For though he freely admits, and
sadly regrets and keenly exposes, the fearful and open declension of his
own dear and deplorable mother Church; yet he most sincerely believes
that a residue of upright and private mourners, as well as a few half-
strangled public individuals of the same disposition, has never yet even
at her lowest ebb of degeneracy, been wanted under the umbrage of her
ecclesiastical banners ; and that these mourners, in their mourning habit
with all their weakness and foibles, show, from time to time, more ten-
derness of conscience, and Christian humility, modesty, and meekness
than the generalit. of those who, without proper foresight of their own
danger, or due conviction, moderation, or forbearance, have boldly fled
froin both her name and fellowship, to other dens oi denominations, not
a whit more " spiritual," nor less conceited than their old friends. "As
if a man did flee from a lion and a bear met him." — Amos v 19
The petty narrow selfishness or religious pride of a hot-headed new
sect, or of a bladder-b loyant lay preacher, which is not seldom most griev-
ously and intolerably conspicuous, is in its kind, as abominable to Heaven
as that of His Grace of Canterbury, His Holiness of Rome, or their state-
liest adherents ; and will damn a soul equally sure with the paradise-pride
ol Luciier. ^
The ensuing doctrine upon "Church Discipline" is so very asreeable
to the Author's views, that, if he had answerable talents, he could not
express his own sentiments, on this point, any wise .^jetter than by the
Extracts now selected. After this candid acknowledgement, let men
style him by any designation they may choose upon the subject: since
he so clearly desires to avoid Bigotry and Brownism, as well as Laxity
and Latitudmarianism ; and almost equally dreads the present dotage
and ^degeneracy of Protestants, with the fatal errors and absurdity of
X J
ot ill ap-
^ndents;
d to his
areme,"
t'ispobed
n
i![
164
n'l
m
<^'.
NOTE OIV KELAAliD Dih:.;iPLINE, BY REV. JOHN MILWAIN
DOUGLASVVATER. '
and Ire and the very worst fu^Jit.ives from it^f X denVminatf^^^^^
and holds out a constant, and too often a successful temptaUon o h^;
neighbors to relax it. I adduce in proof, two author te? The first is
from The S^gnsofthe Times, by the Eastern Presbyte y of the Refo m
ed Presbyter.an Church in Ireland,'-pp. 19, 20. BelfL 1835
rhlr.T,^ ^'*t^''^^«^ CJ'^'-ch in Ireland has corrupted other Protestant
Lhed rh' \ .''"'^'"^ '^"^'!^ "^^ ^^^^'^ °^ ^^'^'^ discipline. The E tab
Jished Church has an open door, for all the fugitives from church disci
phne ,n other churches. Persons who would not be sustained as resu
Unfo"utt?f '".°^'",^'.""'^^^' ^^"^^ i"to the EstaSed Ch ^r^h.
Unfortunate females and other irregular members of Dissenting Churches
obtain baptism for their children in the Established Church ^andrconl
equence of this, both they and their children are enrolled is members
tl bcf "L'tl"- ''^'''tT\'f. f ^'^^^^^^^^«' -'^ profess tirmselves
wel ed the numbr;;'f h' ^^'''f'^''^ ^^urch has in the late census
bweiiea tne number of her members to something more than 800 000
J^^d:;Se"i.:rm''r"'"^' ir ''^ "^^^''^^^'^'^ wich 7hf ciiim "ft'?s
probable her members would not exceed half a million. This is a
;na ter of minor importance. What we complain o and deplore is
hat the prostration of discipline in the Established Church has led to
yimhr prostration in Dissenting Churches. Dissenters when actin°
disorderly, sny to those who are over them in the Lord, "if you attempt
Clmrdr'" ££":,."'"". "' '"' T," '""f''^^^'^ J^'" ^^^ ^-^^'^
v.nurcn Kather tha.> lose weilthy and nfluential members in thi«
Sip nf^ Th'' ^ '^;r' r y^^^^' '^^^ ^-" tem t^dTo "L "t
(Kscip ine. 1 hey have tallen before the temptation. Their discinlinP
over the laity has been almost totally destroved. On he sane p ncipTe
T 'e'stS^'fTli';'" 'r'i'-'^--'-"d-go over to ^ ^ofnmu tn
01 the fe^noa o ULstcr, the Secession Church has been induced to relax
^n. cir;;^"^.;'^^:; ^-tead of dom. good in Ireland, l/^^^bl^:;^
^li urch Jins, 11 this respect, done much evil. The state of Church dis-
c-plu.e^,s truly deplorable. It is a subject of lamentation, mournmg;
cHi'Vif h;vn;r'u-i'rr'''r''' ^'^"'.''.^ of England a man who ha. banish-
lavlul wife, ,s living in adultery, and is therefore worse than a
' n". In 1 Tu^'^"" ''' ""''^'' ^'''■'' ^^ <^ommnu\on with the Church of
."fl ml. and who i.s lly.ng from the discipline of his own Church. Such
•• nuu come, and present, the otlbpring of his adultery, while some two
LWAIN,
ih. Having
in England
ominations ;
ation to her
The first is
the Reform-
1835.
r Protestant
The Estab-
burch disci-
led as regu-
led Church.
5 Churches,
and in con-
3 members,
themselves
late census
m 800,000.
laims, it is
This is a
deplore is,
has led to
hen acting
ou attempt
^Established
ers in this
relax their
discipline
principle,
ommunion
sd to relax
Istablished
hurch dis-
mourning,
ers of the
a,s banish-
se than a
Church of
ch. Such
some two
165
other persons take on them awful vows which they cannot perform and
the minister is obliged at once to baptize it.' periorm, and
" It is added in a Note~p. 204 :
Jr'"^^? ''?*'''*'^ P,"""^"^ '" *^^ Established Church of admitting all
persons to solemn ordinances, has proved most injurious to the interests
PrX?.; ^ '" '- '°""''"i ' ,r^ '^""^'«^^= ' ^^"'^^•^"t temptation to our
dlnroTT'"'f '' 'u^ ''^'^' '' ''^''^ '^''''^' °^der. as those scan-
fnlTJ^ r 'J^^ r" "°' '"^"^'^ *° '^' 1^^« °^ Christ when faith-
Church Tntrr ^""^ '' '"r'V ''^'^' ^''"^ ^" '^'^^•P''"« i" ^^^ English
Church. In the few years I have been in the ministry, I have known
many .nstances of th,s-and J may add that the case given in the ten is
not imagmary, but one now at hand and of recent occurrence.'
mnTT ^^"^.'^e^bJe experience as a minister, I could easily subjoin
devices ..irh"'''"? '''T *^r°"^.^ '• '^"^ ^^'"^ '"° head to cLp into
Malav to rnn . l^ ^"' Other feelings and work,-than like an angry
Malay to run a-muck on the subject,— I forbear.— I Cor. x. 23."
tbe'rllnTn'".'^ '\T ""''" ^T}'^ ecclesiastical establishment, it is with
be reluctance of honest grief, I feel compelled by truth and duty to rank
LZTJcT u''''"'r''J '''^'' convulsion, under the category of de-
St o ?nW H T- '".'^"'"^ '°' ^ ''^ influenced by no unfriendly dis-
make a" Tnni r .?« '''" extraordinary modern prmciple. that would
ruth of^hrh r ' ,^'T '''''^'""' ^"^ ''''' '' overboard!^ I believe the
natons ^nH ' w' ^Ph«"«"^. that education is the cheap defence of
mo e nfth^ accord with the father of the Scotu h Reformation, that
Xv th fi 7f'^ "/;^.'«"^ should be devoted to it. It is unque tion-
ably, the first duty of Christian civil rulers, to provide liberally \nd not
rolun'ifv t7 fir'l''-^''' ''^^"'°^'' ^"'^ '•^'•g'""^ instruction of the
rhir» ^f ^."^ the efficiency of such an institute, depends upon its
and in h f ''"P'"'"' ^T'^- ^h'^' ^'^'y °"^ has a right to inves'^^igate!
and to shut our eyes and be silent, amidst scenes of acknowledged defed
kind'l '*>7"['fon. would be to connive at them, and the reverse of
n ■?! f^ t .^ righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness.'—* First
pure, then peaceable.' I shall therefore
' ISlothiiig extenuato,
Nor set down aught in malice.'
And, lest my impartiality be suspected, or that the alleged evils are in
the optics seeing, not the objects seen.' I shall be careful to advance no-
or rptcT '''"1 -^ °^ °*^'''' h"* ^'hat is commonly known and admitted,
water ' "°^ a"cstioned."-i2cr. John Milwain, Douglas-
J' During the millennium of moderatism, from the middle to the end of
- he'Soctri,";;r'nf';h '7' 'T'^ '^' ^°'^"" ^^e of the Church's history,
the doctrines of the Gospel were miserably perverted ; and the stand-
ard ot ministerial character, duty, and even literature fiTfr«p.«i„ i«.„
IheBupernaturai mysteries ol revelation were repudiated; and 'a bare-
ly .41
'n
166
weight, philosopl
iiifi^i''
"»
W 1
deists, substituted in their room
of
-deadening morality— suited to the gu„.„ „.
I . , , room. It is true, in that period, many briffht
stars adorned the galaxy of Scottish literature and philosophy but fhe
light of these luminaries was darkness itself to the pious of the land -
accustomed to gaze on light divine, beaming forth in the Bible The
who rot t" "'" "" '"r""' philosophy! and those in X Church
who rose to eminence ,n the world of leiiers. sacrificed the interests of
their flocks and the duties of their office. To the peasantry who ,'d
Zh^r 1 "'^' '''"'"^'''' ^'^" religiously instructed l>y their^grey-ha ed
fathers, these gems appeared but as feeble specks in a murkf horizon
and their brilliancy at best resembled moonbeams shininHn mountains
of snow -clear but very cold. Dr. Robertson, the celebrated historn
whose genius then directed the Church, is estimated very Kv in respe";
of re ig.ous character by Mr. Wilborforce. His famous slu.on o. The
tiouXo ^ """"'^ "u '^l ^'"^^ "^ ^^--'^^'^ appearance,' has been just y
ianifv which 'r'"? '^'' ^'"'^ "^^^^ ''''^'^'' °^^he truth o> Chr J-
ntnr/' 7^ ^'J^J'^o^^ the success of its first publishers. His coad-
irlT; . ^T. '?'^ ."T"'' ""'^'^"^^^ ^'^^ ^■''^' °^ t»'« tragic „ ,.se. They
the^ f/l" !''''' '''"^'' '"""^ '^r ''■^^^'•^" ^'"'^ '"'l^- rehearsal o^f
Jescriot on of h ' '''?"" 7- ''''^ P'^'^'' '^^'^ ''' « ^^'^''ming pelagian
rJe.scr.pt.on of the purity and innocence of children and youn| persons
H condfct'r:[h"/""' "'' ^'^^ Vf ^""'''^ °^ *-^^-" irrfgSlaritfes
er ' but thP '"^""gruous with the sacredness of ministerial charac
n^' I.Up 1 ^ """'^f ^^'^'^ ^^"^"^ °" devotional themes,-breath-
ng, like his sermons, incidental sentimentsof doubtful orthodoxy -have
^^wiTlT ''" 'r;\^ i^'i""' "^^^^ •^^ ^'- national church
Gospds' A.C t^^'h °f f,^^"'§ht, the writer of ' A Harmony of the
roomt; if nn 1 ^ > ''''"''' ".''"■ '^' ' ^^''^ '" heaven, if he could get
Xd th? 7 ' Tr i^PP-''^^^^'^ t° the most of his contemporaries.
Indeed, the system of theological opinions called legnl, /.rminian or
someth.ng worse almost universally prevailed among the Cler"y durin.
" ;;ei:; ty ' ' 1 n^ P-t century. ' From the^Revolutiou'do vn t?
tbe present day, said Dr. McCrie, a short time before his death • ' never
WHBre the interests of religion sunk lower within her pale than theV were
.n the year 1784; truth and godliness sickened and^pined away under
the influence of false philosophy, and a spurious modera ^on Socinian
>sm had notoriously infected the minds of not a fes. of the Clergy and
iers ir'^criJ r 'Tf- '"''",'7' ^'^^ -^^"^^ °^ ^h^ --t activf mana-
gers in ecclesiastical affairs could with difficulty be restrained from
bringing fonvard a motion for discarding the Confession of FaTth an^
al tests of Orthodoxy.' The testimony" of a shrewd Engl shman -an
hat 'Sers then " '" '""'r" ' "'^^ "^''^ "^ ^^^ ^h^""^'' ScoUa'd « ho"
Fai h' III hp " ^^^^r"'/"^ 'y'""''^ '-^ «°""der Confes ion of
Lothnd hnt '. '";r ^""A^'^'l^ than what is found in the Church of
many r' r '.f 7 "k' ^l^'' ^^"'"'^^ of England,) so with them-too
m-o"^c. t Armin '"^''"^' *u' "''''' ^^P''*^'' Calvinism, and preach the
fo <^ot f,^'" '"T ' '" short many can preach as if they hid engaged
to go b, the rule oi reverse. The dispensation of mercy lo fallen tf an
•S4
167
they have engaged to nph^d Sfew n c'^^ ""'"^ "" "" '''^ ^^"^h
them are st.gmatized by the nicknami Z T''T, ^'"'^"^^^ ^^ong
divines on th^e other side of the ques^on ." P '''^''" '^' ^^^hionablf
the appellation of Moderates. Thl p h^ reml^H'"'"' themselves with
warm, neither cold nor hot '-Rev i i« T ^ "' °^ ""^^h^''. ' '"ke-
adopt the present half-way infidel svstPm^f*/"/^'*' ^^ ''^'^'' »'l vvho
with them ; the cause of Lo a.Mt TcvlJjli t'^' '° ^^P°'' «^y«. it i«
and I fear the Scots, by far the fest eirin '^1 "'"^^ ^^ ^^e Gospel,
nions, will soon be no better tharLi"^*^'^uP'°^ ^'"^ British domi^
they will become moder fi st v J.^l b?' Y^' '''''' ^'"'«'-«
they will have a moderate notion of JeJusCMst Z.7T '" /«''gio">-
tion, for we cannot expect they will be betVpr h t -^ ^°'P'' °''««'^«-
w.ll next be content wuh a mod;/! share of n /^^''.'''"'^"" ' »hey
repentance; they will be moderate i^/r.'r.?V If ^° ^^^' °''P''^3'er and
and be more moderate in their zed in t?^i ^^'^" "'" °^ '^'''' bibles,
biy's Catechism ; and t "is w , leai h m' o"S '^''' f^^^^^- the Asseml
In point of chastity, honesty, &cihevwi I- T^''''^' '" '"°^«'ity-
be very anxious to grow u/th^ faWs T.' h l^'°"l' moderate, and
become immoderatelv wicked unIssthou^h"H' '"°^^'-^^'°". till'they
little more of ' the grace of God ha ' brin3h ^'V'^^^'^ercy, they hear a
of the present rt'ry'^ir:th"^ ^-- the beginning
rally known as to be'almosT pe ero^t o"^^^^ ''"'7' ^"' ^' ^'-'
U. The following are specimeL of SL i ?^ '"^ ^^ing concerning
the whole injunctions of cSanity suZ^^^^^^^^^^^
u;.thstanding our degeneracy oyi/ldZ^ as n "" f' ''P''^'"' ""'"
obedience; otherwise' they would not have be.n ''' *t'"°*' ''"P^^^^^^'
Legislator.'--' Here some divines have Z- -^ '^'" - °"'' '""■''^"'
derived to us from the origi^fal St of I fi '^'' '^''^ '^ « '^""^
apostasy was imputed to us S rende pH ! '^'f' P"'""^' '^^^ their
and that we sinned in them and fell ,n a P"^?.''^" ""^ '^^''' '^^'^ity ;
Accordingly, certain of t^e Christ nf^.h""' '" '^^ ^''' ^^^nsgressio^n
niade betwixt God and Adam ^hich h '" ''"^'^' '^'' » ^^^^'^nt was
' The miseries of Jife then Tnd ^r. ' JT''"'^"^'^^ «" "lankind.'-
of that punishment to wh.'^'h^:! a ^e S t tife' '' 'T'- ''' ^'^ ^^-^
8Jn. But some divines considpr »hl ? ^ "® imputation of original
as extending not on^to the tins r.^'t"''"' '""^'''"^ ^°^ original
us to misery in the life to confe Such on '''""' f^ ''^'^' hut exposing
ta.ned by some of the Reformed Chur^ 'I' *^'°"^'^ '^"^ "« '"^'"■
who have assumed the charter o^beTn.wL' lu" ""'''1 '"•^'"^^ °^ '"^^
«" ^er -'"---In th-t;^.:^^-s --^^^^^^
\%
168
Synod of Glasgow and Ayr, so late as 1830, which was honored by the
sanction of that Very Reverend Court, there is the following honest
categorical declaration. ' Who are the worst foes of our Establishment ?
— The men who eat her bread, while they do not her work : — The
men who can preach Sociuian, Pelagian, or Antinomian heresies, while
they subscribe a Calvinistic creed.'
" 'The true Ian >'f a living Temple,' and other publications, which
it is idle to adduce, furnish ample evidence of the heteredox principles,
that are still extensively propagated by ministers in the Church. Like
the clergy of England, a great number appear to be orthodox merely by
subscription ; and the formularies consented to in common, are no crite-
rions of their actual belief as a body ; or of their being 'joined together
in the same mind, and in the same judgment.' Verily, the mordant
allegation of the excellent Dr. Burns, is yet something more, than * vox
et prceterea nihil.'
" Besides, the Christian communion of this Church, especially in rural
districts, is commonly of a motley character. It appears from observa-
tion, and even the testimony of some of her own members, that unless
under very flagrant scandal, almost all within prescribed geographical
bounds are freely admitted to sealing ordinances. — One of her ministers,
in a pamphlet published a few years ago, after describing the melancholy
state, in which he found the great majority of those in full communion
upon his ordination, adds : ' The discovery here made was neither the
detection of hypocrisy, nor the backslidings of the children of the
covenant ; but a case where, without the existence of any profession of
saving faith, according to the word of God — without any scriptural evi-
dences of a supernatural principle having been communicated — without
any marks or fruits of divine, gracious teaching — and without any symp-
toms of spiritual life— sinners as such, plainly in their natural state,
were received, called, and treated as constituting, by their union and
fellowship in the ordinances of the Gospel, the visible body of Christ.'
There is but too good reason to believe, that this is neither a solitary
case, nor an overcharged picture. Baptism is dispensed in private, to
the ignorant and licentious, to profane swearers, drunkards, ana Sabbath-
desecrators, who make no religious profession, and perform no Christian
duty, — as a mere common rite. According to the report of a Committee
of the Glasgow Presbytery, last year, ' it is dispensed to the children of
parents not scripturally qualified, — very generally dispensed privately,
and very often in circumstances inconsistent with the design of the
ordinance, and the express and frequently-repeated laws of our Church.'
It appears too, that the sound of family worship is now rarely heard,
mingling as once it did at curfew-ti.ne, with 'the solemn stillness of the
gloaming hour.' In several parishes, as lately announced by their min-
isters, ' there are little more than one-fourth of the number of the
families, in which there is family worship at all.' Even gross immorali-
ties are so common in many parts of the Church, as scarcely to be re-
garded sinful. Mr. Urqunart, minister of Portpatrick, was reported to
have stated in the Presbytery of Stranraer, when speaking of the ' neg-
I
169
lect of public and family worship,' that, ' In his own parisli there wero
little more than one-fourth of the number of families in which there was
family worship at all.' And Mr. McNeil, Minister of dtoiiykirk, at same
time, it was reported, ' bore testimony to the neglect of family worship,
and to the many evils that were the result. He had found that the pro-
portion of families observing family worship in his parish was the sam^
nearly, as that mentioned by Mr. Urquhnrt.'— Scottish Guardian iN'oi;
10, 1841.
•' In all the parishes of the Rhinns, it is believed that the more intel-
ligent, religious, and conscientious in general, belong to one or other
of the four numerous congregations of Presbyterian Dissenters in the
town of Stranraer. Have these gentlemen ascertained how many of the
proportion said to observe * family worship at all,' in their parishes,
would remain, were Dissenters of all kinds abstracted ? This might not
be unworthy of notice in their Statistical Reports. In an inland parish,
— almost hermetically sealed against dissent, and equally exclusive, it is
feared, as to scriptural religion,—* the number of families in which there
IS family worship at all,' are said to be little more than half-a-dozen !"
" It has also been a melancholy prognostic of the state to which we
are progressing, that many of the most eminent literati of modern times
have been professed unbelievers, and that others of them have discovered
such lukewa-mness in the cause of Christ, as to treat with special good-
will, and attention, and respect, those men who, by their avowed publica-
tions, were openly assailing, or invidiously undermining, the very foun-
dations of the Christian hope; considering themselves as more closely
united to them by literature, than severed from them by the widest reli-
gious differences. It is with pain that the author finds himself compelled to
place so great a writer as Dr. Robertson in this class. But to say nothing
of his phlegmatic account of the Reformation, (a subject which we should
have thought likely to excite in any one who united the character of a
Christian divine with that of a historian, some warmth of pious gratitude
for the good providence of God,) to pass over also the ambiguity in which
he leaves his readers, as to his opinion of the authenticity of the Mosaic
chronology, in his disquisitions on the Trade of India; his Letters to
Mr. Gibbon, lately published, cannot but excite emotions of regret and
shame in every sincere Christian."— yl Practical View, ^c, nnse 243
By William Wilberforce, Esq. ' -y > i s
"To the sermons of the moderates, Ilobbcs contributed more ideas
than Knox. Though they subscribed a Calvinistic creed, they have not
all been Calvinists, and under the promptings of the philosophic spirit of
inquiry, some ot them have been Arminians, Pelaoians, Socinians and
Sceptics. Repelled by the strong and mystical Christianity of the Evan-
gelicals, they early became tinged with the philosophy of selHshness and
scepticism which was brought into vogue by the Restoration, and wa';
fashionable in the courts of Charles II. and George IV."— Westminster
Revieiv, September, 1840.
22
m
170
"In a libel, — founded on ' Thp "^ «. pi«„ ^r t • • ^
other works long in extensive circuMtronTh ' ^tjl^g Temple,' and
Borthwick. stani charged witrholcr;~lTtThL^''^^*' Minister of
real existence but is such nnlv ir o ^' ' ,} '"®"' ®^'' ^^s no
limited views ' 2nd St n ive Jn^f ''"'"r' '"^ '" ''^''''^'' '^ >"«"'«
s, in such a sense esspnfin „ ,.r ' "<^^" ^ present constitution
in the proper servi'cLorcL?Jn?t'°"'' '' *° '^"'^ '^'^ "^^""' expression
worship^, bnptisT nd the^-r^^^^^^^ ""' ^'''' P"*^''*^
Buch as faith and repentance belon'o-^'. hn '' '^' evangelical graces,
to it as it exists. 4tr S t'hp hP^r^ nf '" "'*'!!■"' '"^ "^ «^««"tial
and what is good S^h tL J all m^^^^^^ ""'T^l^ 'T^ '^'^'"^ *^"th,
ness. 8th. That deaih is nnt n nT ' " * "^^* ^° f"*"''^ blessed-
and the operation of God's Snirif ^^ / _ ntn, ihat divine grace,
by AleiirX' of Dalkei.l,, .„ which .he Sbo^e ca«e wa, remitted
duced dt ^t d T; thrvo;r"„r:^ "■' ""';' =»" "''°"' «vide„cr d.
uttatti^oS foil taon allfh. „r°''L'' '""" ""^ "'"'h """'i but
i71
J,, ,, . ' If venial faults
Shall thus be winked at, how shall wo stretch our eye,
When L'ighcr crimes, chew'd, swallowed, and digested,
Appear before us !'
It is re(iiiired that stewards in God's house be found faithful- and
those who are guilty of the disgraceful conduct testified above, stand
reproved even by a heathen Satirist,
^. . * , * * * At vos,
Dicite, pontifices, in sacris quid facit aurum.'— Pcrsius, Sat. ii.
As they must hereafter account to their great Master, it would be good
for them to study such texts as Deut. xxiii. 18, Act^ viii. 20 21 -and
' give glory to the Lord their God, before he cause darkness.' '' '
"Stories are told in Scotland of Clergymen who, protected by the
Moderates, have reeled all their lives in their pulpits as notorious drunk-
ards, untroubled by the discipline of their ecclesiastical superiors."—
Westminster Review, September, 1840.
" These facetious, easy, well-bred men never burdened the., nnrish-
loners with more religion than the letter of the law imperiously required •
and was perfectly agreeable to the society with which they mingled? They
relished good living and the pleasures of the table, infinitely better than
the honours and privileges of the repenting-stool ; and were not over
strict in discipline with one another, any more than with their errincr
nocks. Like the jovial friar in Chaucer, *'
' Full sweetly heard they confession,
And pleasant waa tiicir absolution,
They were easy men to give penance.'
Dr. Burns, however, more pithily than politely, ranks among the worst
ioes ot the Lsiabhshment, 'the men whose zeal never kindles, save only
when the rights of the Church," as they term them, are supposed to be
m danger;— the men who disgrace their calling by the grossness of in-
temperance, and by the scandals of profligacy !'
" With regard to stifling complaints, and frustrating attempts to ob-
tain redress, hear the testimony of an ordained Minister of the Chirch
formerly quoted.-' It may be asked, Why is not this appeal made in the
regular and ordinary course at the bar of the Church Courts? To this
1 answer— that I have already gone through these different Courts, on
account of the very subject of this appeal, although it was concealed
under mere forms and points of ecclesiastical law, which in my view
were of no vital importance in comparison to the main matter studiously
l.assedover;— andthati am aware that another ordained Minister of
he same establishment, has been, and still is, so far as I understand for
the same cause, under the consideration of these courts, where every
ettort, 1 believe, is made to suppress or strangle the testimony which he
bears under the technicalities of mere ecclesiastical law, unconnected
with tl^e fundamental subject of difference.-^ Solemn Appeal, c^r
ri
'I I
SI '
IS
1.
1T2
•' Our third topics of discussion are. the evils of discipline's desuetude
and defective administration.-The sagacious biograpl.erof Knox has
discX'' ;"!"''', '',r ' ' '""^'^^""' '^^''>' - "^'er totll disuse "
discipline, had gradually crept into almost all the churches un ..
retain the name of reformed.' As this melancholy fact f.s be.n
premised under the first division, and will now be more full, ovo vc'd
in the course of il ustrat.on, it may for the instant he safely r ,..,r
And be It remarked -while I respect the maxim which prolMDitt ^'^ ."
der.n^ the dead, {mlmortuh nisi bonum), and will show what cour.e.y
1 can to the livinjr; ,t may not be possible, in speaking of PuLJir T:,J
10 avoid all notice of the men who hold and indulge them. 1 • - ■^■u^i
01 Mithridates, on one occasion, it is said, lost the day, by aimine 'ts
ZZ'n7""\"' '^'' ^'r'''' '^"* '''^ ^^"'^^^'^ "^ ^''^ Roman soldiers^ a
mode of warfare not the most advantageous, however innocuous. Des-
iiight'^Lnnnrio.:.'""^'^^^' ''' ^'^ ''''''' ^''-''' -^ — some
' VVImt'a barely just has nothing cheering,
And bare truth ih not pleasant hearing."*
This danger is increased by deference to hijrh authority, 'vhich however
o rlX:"' V""^ '^r"^ consideration: The Jrd command by
one p ophet,-' Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet
and show my people their .ransg.e«sion. and the house of JacobXi;
iTVn ?• K "•. n'^^ '"Z'^''' '^"^ y«"-«elves in array against Baby-
Ion round about : all ye that bend the bow, shoot at hfr, spare no
arrows; for she haih sinned against the Lord.'— Jer. i. 14 And the
Apostle Paul, spe.king of evil teachers, says, 'One of themselves, even
tZTjv '-vr °^'"' "'^■' '^^^' ^'^^^^"^ ''' ^'"'«3« liars, evil beasts"
s ow bellies. 1 h.s witness ,s true : wherefore rebuke them sharply, tha
they may be sound in the faith.'- Titus v 12, 13.
nnlVt!" nl"''^M''o ^ r°Pf '^'^^^'Pl'ie, the greatest indignity is put
s he adv^■mcernent of the Divine gk^ry. and the honor of Him who is
King of Sum ; by muintainng the ourity and peace of his Church, and
e nsi nr-' c '' "'T''-'''\% ^^'^"'^ '^°^^ '^ "'^'^"^ »'^ has intrusted
^f, fi M , . ."' r'''"^ " 'I'l'S^'^'')' •" P^i-gi'-g his floor, his pleasure
IS fulfilled, and h.s honor vindicated. ' The heathen shall know that I
nui the Lord, sa.th the Lord God. wher i .!.,'! be sanctified in you be-
fore their eyes.' But how contrary the case when this is not done '
When his aulhority ks conteumed, his ordinances slighted, and laws
openly violated w.ih impunity; his enemies rejoice, and the vilest dis-
grace n. cast upon him. It was accordingly sa.d to David, ' Bv this deed
thou iKist given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme'
And i aul says to the hypocritical Jews, who made their boast of the
.aw, but tarou^.h breaknig it dishonored God ; ' The name of God is blas-
plie med among the Ge ntiles through you.' Jn this respect Zion's Lord is
*" Ce qui n'est que juste est dur,
Cu qui n'est que vrai est triilo." ,
173
T'hev"havf n°n°''.*^ ^^ ''r ^■^\''''^'^ ^^^^"^"^''^^ of Englarul nn.l Ireland,
1 hey have properly no discipline; at least the key of it such as t ,
.« not .n their own hands. Bishop Burnet, and many other" nikefre
quent unavailing, lachrymal confession, of this. The povver' o' disci"
pime IS wholly vested in the Bishops and their ch ncel ("lawms"
ecclesiastical, who direct them in matters of judgement) under the r/iew
nen ' I'ver'n" h''^ '''''r ""?' ? ^'^''-^' supreme head of goverT-
'!":. ^ B'^hop iH England and Ireland has a court or consistory
l:>r exercising spiritual jurisdiction in his diocese. The judge umJerS
commonly is and according to Jaw .Iways m«y be, a merelayman -^
ca^T^Hol in TlTe'kr^^^' ^'"^ ''' ""'''^^ ^ ury'XterSing ai
inTct or emo f ,t T '"" *"''"" o"" shut.-cast out or admit-
Ch, rrh nt T 'in^'"" censures, and excommunications of the
them L? !! ?u ^?''. 'r^'" '^y'' ' ^Vhat hu.e I to do to judge
\nZ •. r .t'"'i°"'J ^''""^ '''«^ ^'^ ^''hout God judgeth :' but the
ninn ;.?f""'""""''*''' ""' ''''''' °"^ f^°"' the prelatic commu-
n on persons who never were in it. Armed with Episcopal thundeTj^
can concuss any man of whatever creed in.o his preseni^, where < for
ces:e7!le"lt'rVr''''r^^^^^^^ '^^ '''^ manners and x-
denurL nf h ^ ^^^1 'T"' J't'gation, be filched of his last farthing-
commit te3 to" 'T ^'g^'t«'.f"d through the hands of the magistrate^e
ChHst' L for ?"'' "'"', !•'" ^" ^^°^^ ^''■^h and more'religious.
Ce bPrn/i chastening delinquents is spiritual, but that of this
wil shpll^ .'■ ^'' '.' ''^ '°''' consolation; that a handsome douceur
will shelter from its stroke, and rescue from the very jaws of Satan
The less true religion, and the more formalism prevails n any diocese
Lorf CI renl "^°^^'^^^T^^"' "^ ^'^e abuses o7 the bishopV ouit !
Lord Clarendon says, he 'never spoke wiih one who had experience of
Bes de the [J nni °"' '" '^'' ^''"''' °^ «"^ ecclesiastical co^rt.'
resides the iniquitous castigations of these cou:ts, the Church of
ofn the Churc'h S''"''~""^" ^^'1 "^^« °^ commi'n.tion. bo3ed
irom tne Church of Rome,— appointed to be read on Ash Wednesdnv
which ,s a 'denouncing of God's anger and judgmeL • iai Irsmne s '
his si ,s !nd hnmhY I " P^^r" h^« '"«^ie a special ' confession of
mou l' of" our r i^ ;'"'^ ^^n'^y '^'''''' '^'-^h^ priest-as from the
Zs saitence nf h ^T" ^^'''''''. P^°"«""<^es this awfully presump-
uious sentence ot absolution or remission :— " By his authoritv rnmmW
ndTthe^'s ^'^"'7 '^V'"'?; ^" ''y ^"-> •» the name oe"?:e'
and of the bon. and of the Holy Ghost. '-A torrent of I'op. ■ y more
coTal churchdom v^^ • ^"'''' ''"""=^^ '^' '''^' '^""'«'" ^^ ^he Epis-
to a esr>r .t"/;/^^r;'«r_"^ T'' of discipline is stretched fJrth
m
I
it*;
174
whispering a diffident sigh of alarm. It is justly said by Mr. Bristed,
' When excommunication was practised, its thunders fell not on noto-
rious sinners against morality, but on rebels against ecclesiastical autho-
rity ; — and now that its thunders are silent, all who are not avowed
Dissenters are deemed members of the State Church; from the splendid
profligates among the aristocracy, whose divorce bills continuaMy occupy
the attention of Parliament, down to the convicted felons in the Newgate
Calendar.'
" O, that some Hercules would cleanse this Augean stable ! It is
admitted that the Church of Scotland has the power of discipline, though
the ' letters patent ' of King William to her first Assemblies after the
Revolution, — and succeeding events, — with recent decisions of the su-
preme civil courts, prove that she does not hold it free and unfettered.
She has offended grievously against the supreme authority of her invisible,
yet glorious head, — by a long course of laxity, tyranny, and partiality in
ihe public administration of it. Nor is there an instance on record, that
has been discovered, of a Minister ever having been deposed by her, for
preaching or printing Arminian and Pelagian errors. Dr. David Ritchie
was acquitted by the General Assembly of such a charge, the other year,
on making a general and dubious profession of orthodoxy, without the
principles of his expository work on the Epistle to the Romans being
investigated. The exercise of discipline towards Church members in
general, has also been slack and unfaithful. It is confined to very gross
immorality; indeed, almost exclusively to the single species of it, which
regards a breach of the seventh commandment. The matter is commonly
managed in private, and censure not unfrequently commuted for money,
which enables one class of delinquents to escape altogether. It is impos-
sible that congregational discipline can be observed, as in some parishes
there are no resident elders, and has been no session for many years.
Even, where there are elders the people are not consulted, and have no
e3*ective voice in their eiection,~thongh there be no Act of Pailiament
preventing. In many cases they are Episcopalians when they have op-
portunity, and are often, it is believed, about as well qualified Qir the
olfice, as for being Lords of the Admiralty. After the Revolution, many
who had been persecutors, — whose hands were deeply dyed with the
blood of the Saints, — were admitted, without even a shadow of censure,
to sit and act ; 3 elders in the supreme court. But to remissness in the
administration of discipljae, tyranny, and oppression have been added.
To crush opposition to their career of defection, the Assembly resorted
to measures the most despotic. It is also undeniable, that the solemn
charge to administer discipline, ' without preferring one before another,
doing nothing by partiality,' has by the Church of Scotland, been greatly
' more honoured in the breach than the observance.' In answer to the
question, ' who are the worst foes of our establishment?' Dr. Burns avers
in his famous Synod sermon, ' the men who can prostitute the " chair of
truth," to the gratification of a base and brutal spirit of pe -sonul revenge ;
the men who can abuse the holy discipline of the Church, to the purposes
of fell malignity.' Thus, unjust favor and dislike, — by censuring inade-
I
)
175
quately the erroneous and profane, and ruinincr, if possible, men of an
opposite character,-have often been shamefully manifested. Assisted
by the devices of an artful profession, the Assembly has been in the habit
.;nn= ;r^ ^^r' u • ^' P'"*^t^<^t'«" to offenders", by throwing obstruc
unifnr;^ A •'"^ f '^T t''*°.^^^""«" ^"^ conviction. By its almost
uniform decisions for a long time, those inclined to be faithful in the
exercise of discipline were completely discouraged from attempting it —
when there was any likelihood they might be brought before that vene'ra-
ble court by appeals After the abortive prosecution of Mac^ill in 1 790
&c. It was regarded quite hopeless, to effect the conviction of a heretical
teacher m the ecclesiastical courts of the establishment; and it has sel-
dom been since attempted.
"But here, with the permission of dissenting brethren,— whom J have
no disposition unnecessarily to offend, or to injure, let it be remarked,-
nlinV ;f." K '? established churches only that the evil of relaxed disci-
pline s to be found The want, or perfunctory administration of that
discipline which Christ has imperiously enjoined, prevails to a me n
choly extent in many other denominations. In this respect none of us
stand perfectly acquitted, but if tried in the balances will be found
wanting.
nff-17" "'^'"^ '°'''^*''''' '^'' ''•^' "'""y regularly enjoy privileges who
offer no morning or evening sacrifice, do not ask th^ blessing of God on
their daily provision, and are not careful to train up their chfldren in his
nurture and admonition; but, like the profane world, lie, cheat, swear
drin.: to excess, desecrate the Sabbath,-and who, in fact, so far from'
being visible saints,' are visible sinners, and ' enemies in their mind by
wicked works^'-Cencure is seldom administered, excepting for a class
of nameless offences ; and even then it is done in the comparative privacy
of the Sess,on.room,~,t having of late been discovered, to the great sa-
tisfac ion of delinquents, that this is what is meant by the command
•rebuke before all, that others,' who neither see nor hear, ' may feTr "-
borne when solicited, refu:.e lo administer discipline to persons who'ac-
To^fL t T ''^Te""'^"^'*" *''^ '''■'""'P''^ ^'^^t t'^ey formerly belonged
into ?h ^ r °^^^^f"' but now, a. new creatures, have been received
into the family of God. In some quarters contributing to the erection
of a house for worship, confers a right to vote in the election t,fa Minis-.
\Z:J'fh "^"''"""^ support by seat-holding,-the chief indispensable,-
mfe s the privilege of membership. All dissenting Churches, however
are by no means alike remiss as to discipline. Some are much stricte^
than others ; and as in the establishment, so among them, there are con-
gregations in the same bcoy greatly more faithful than others.— From the
preceding induction which we are not aware is in ary particular incon!
sistent with truth, the awful dishonor put upon Christ, by neglect o d^s„
cipline in the Brituh Churches, must be very apparent. ^
id. By the untaithful administration of discipline, incalculable .niury
.s done to delinquents. They derive great advantage from its faithful
exercise ; being thus made to see the enormity of thfir sin, and ee the
shame and danger attending it.-'Ii any man obey not our word by this
«
i
17(5
Epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he inay be
ashamed.' And when the censure is received ni a suitable spirit, it
tends powerfully to humble, reform, and edify the offender.—' Our au-
thority,' says Paul, ' which God hath jriven us lor edincation.' He will,
however by netrlect of proper discipline, be confirmed in hif careless-
ness, self-decepUon, and course of sin.—' They have seduced my peo-
ple saying. Peace, and there is no peace ; luid one built up a wall, arid
lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar.— With lies ye have made
the heart of the righteous sad, whom 1 have not made sad, and strength-
ened the hands of the wicked, that he -rliOjld not return from his evil
way, by promising him life.' _ j c • a- ■
" The practice of substituting pecuniary fines, instead ot mtlictrng
spiritual censure, has this effect in a high degree. It has not the slight-
est influence in producing conviction ; but on the contrary tends to
harden sinners, make them heedless of moral obligation, and rei der them
infidpls. When men who are not very fixed in their principles, see the
ministers of religion thus basely barter sacred privileges,— they must
either recrard the whole as imposture, or erroneously conclude that ine
<Tuilt of sin is such as may be removed, and an indemnity for living in
k prooured by money. A commutation of this kind, is utterly incon-
sistent with the spiritual nature of discipline, and even of Christianity
itself It is a vile perversion, and profane casting away of a precious
ordinance, procured by the costly price of Christ's blood. It savours
strongly of the avarice and impiety of the ' mother of harlots and abomi-
nations,'— who keeps a custom-house of sin, with prices current regularly
marked', in pound, shilling, and peace columns.* . • j •
" Faithful discipline is the last mean appointed by Christ for inducing
repentance ; and if this be neghcted, the defaulter who ought to have
been subjected to its operation, is in danger of eternal perdition.—
' Deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the
spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.'
" 3d. Defective,— especially private discipline, is a wrong and in-
justice, done to the members "of the Church and others.
" The er:d contemplated by discipline, is not merely the reclaiming,
reformation, or even expulsion of tho fallen person ; but, also, the m-
^pirint of others with salutary fear lest they should oflend in a similar
way.— 'Them that sin rebuke before aU, that ojhers also may fear.'
This end, however, cannot 1 e gained where censure is neg'-cted, or—
what is next to it, dispeniied in private. In this form it ne - -.; i ope-
rate beneficially as a public warning for ' the preservation of otnors,—
either within tho church,' or without the pale of her communion; and so
one of Its important ends is prostrated. The nature •-'' «!n is infectious,
and if not repented of, and publicly confe'.sed,— it w=.' . -crease to more
ungodliness,'— and spread like a gangrene through the entire body ot a
con-^regation.— ' A litth leaven leaveneth the whole lump.' But by
*"Vide Tnxatio Papalis; being an account of the Tax-Hooks of tlic United
Churcli and Court of Modern tlomo. Rvo. London ; 18;V5."
lie may oe
e spirit, it
■' Our au-
He will,
■ careless-
d my peo-
vvall, and
lave made
1 strength-
n his evil
inflicting
the slight-
y tends to
;i-der tiieni
es, see the
-they must
Ic that the
r living in
rly incon-
hristianity
a precions
It savours
ind abomi-
t regularly
ir inducing
iu to have
erdition. —
sh, that the
ig and in-
reclaiming,
Iso, the in-
in a similar
may fear.'
cted, or —
l: -.; « ope-
f oiiiors, —
ion; and so
inleclious,
ase to more
e body of a
).' But by
f tlio United
177
'rebuking before all,' an open shame and disgrace are stamped upon sin,
well fitted to oeter others from committing it. Besides, public ofTences
bring scandal on the whole Church ; and give the Lord's people just cause
of grief and fear. The righteous soul of Lot was vexed from day to day,
with the filthy conversation and unlawful deeds of the wicked among
whom he lived. And David complains, ' Horror hath taken hold upon
me because of the wicked who keep not thy law.' — The sin of an indivi-
dual openly committed without being called to account, and repented of,
exposes a whole congregation to the danT^er of God's wrath, and fearful
judgments. — ' Did not Achan, the son of Zerah, commit a trespass in the
accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of the children of
Israel ? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.'
" These considerations prove, that the Church has a just title to de-
mand public satisfaction, in respect to the submission and penitence of
her erring members. They too are under obligation to indicate their
respect for the Church by rendering this, — for the wrong they have done,
and the offence they have given; and thus by th :ir dutiful example to
manifest their earnest desire to edify and keep others from si-'.- -As then,
in the case of flagrant scandals, t\ll are f.jpposed to be offended, so they
have a right to be safisfied. But this cannot be effected by any private
confession; for unless it be made 'before all,' it is r.ot satisfaction, and
consequently must be wrong, and an injustice. — Matthew xviii. 15 — 17,
2 Cor. ii. C— 8.
"4th. By a laxity in disciplme, the communion of the Church is con-
laminated, and her most sacred ordinances dreadfully profaned.
" ' By a communion,' says Boston, ' I mean a society having a common
interest in things.' — The communion of a particular Church, is the pub-
lic association, with a view of observing divine institutions, of persons
who are agreed with respect to the doctrine, worship, and government of
Christ's house. Like all other societies, ihe Church is constituted upon
the basis of certain common principles called 'terms of communion,' to
which, — on admission to privilege.^, — every member expressly or tacitly
yields his assent. This forms a bond of powerful, visible union among
them, and a body so constituted do with one mind strive together for the
faith of the Gospel.' —'Can two walk together except they be agreed?'
" The practice of free, or mixed ommunion with other denominaticns,
— as of Presbyterians of Jiflerent persuasions with each other,* or v/ith
Episcopalians and Independents,- jn the principle thrt all retain their
party views^ is a gross viola ' jf this requisite unity, and contrary to
the nature of the Lord's If ■ ipci- : — 'for we being many, are one bread
and one body.' iiowever ^fopular, it is a scheme in direct opposition to
Scripture. — ' Now, I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye all speuic the same thing, and that there be no divi-
sions among you ; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same
"Tliis practice Ins obtained in Pictou, N. S., for the tipace of twenty or thirty
successive years past, ai\u uill continues between very openly arid grievously two
adverse partiesofFrf shy lerian.s, which is one of the sad signs of the religious formaj-
ism and degeneracy of I'resbytcrianiBm in this country.
f»3
1^ '
PI
f
1 Ji
178
rniiitl, and in the same judjrment.'— 1 Cor. i. U\. It is contrary to the
tloctrinc of all :l)e relbrincd Protestant Churches— even to Presbyterian
principles, and introduces irremediable disorder and confusion. There
13 a necessity for coinmnnion in discipline, where there is fellowship at
Uie Lord's Table. The latter is confessedly the most intimate act of
l-hristian comiuiimon ; and after associating together in this why not
unite alHO in the former, which is less intimate. The unscriptural prac-
tice, of adnnttiiig people lo a seat at a communion table over whom the
( hiirch can exercise no discipline, is glaringly absurd. We cannot dis-
cern a 5 hadow oi reason, for those religious societies retaining a separate
ecclesiastical polity, who have themselves determined,- that their differ-
ences of government and modes of worship are not sullicient to bar visi-
ble communion,— in acts the most solemn and intimate, which can be
performed on earth. For such to keep up a distinct organization, is an
unnecessary rending of that body, which Christ so fervently desired in
his intercessory prayer might be 'one;' and as closely united in all its
members, as lie and the Father aic.
From unfaithfulness in the exercise of authoritative power,— as to
the admission and expulsion of members, by the application of legitimate
tests and censures,- the ministerial communion of the national churches
has hitherto been exceedingly vicious. Had discipline been impartially
and vigorously executed, heretics great and small would have been kept
out,— or long ere now reclai:ned, or cast out. But through lack of this
they still are,— not ' alone,' but hundreds and even thousands stroncr _'
' in their glory.' It is true that in both the Establishments, ihere^are
many ablo, erudite, sound, (if not) pious and diligent men, who (miaht)
do honour to their office; but they are most closely allied to the oth'ers.
Vviih them, they .'.re af-ociated under the -amc consiitutions,— obtain
.settlement in parishes, by the same unscriptural law,— are members of
the same Churches, enjoying the same privileges, exercising the same
functions, and sitting in the same courts of judicature. It matters not
how widely tiicy dilfer in their principles of theology.- Church politics
—clerical deportment, and other things. In ministerial communion they
are mos. intimately united; and are, at least nominally, one. But Churches
composed of such adverse elements, if not purified, must come to ruin •
tor our Lord has said,—' Every kingdoir divided against itself is brought
to desolation ; and a house divided ag, -a a itself falleth.' Christian com-
munion also, IS greatly corrupted, and u e holy Sacraments fearfully pio-
fnned, through want of proper discipline According to our Confession
Catechisms, Directory, and the formulari^'s of all the Reformed Churches'
— per.sons who are ignorant, heretical, scandalous, and destitute of Chris-
tian character, should be carefully excluded from participatin^r of these
special institutions. They are external seals of the Covenant^of grace
and properly belong to none,— but such as (foro conscientia;) in consci-
ence, or the sight of God, cordially acquiesce in it, and, like the eunuch
' believe with all his heart.' To be entitled to these privileges (foro ec'
clesis) before the Church,— there must be knowledge, andli profession
of faith in Christ, supported by suitable character ; as it would be horrid
179
ary to the
rcsbytcrian
n. There
lowship at
late act of
i, why not
tural prac-
vvhom the
jannot dis-
a separate
heir differ-
bar visi-
ch can be
tion, is an
desired in
in all its
er, — as to
legitimate
1 churches
nipartially
been kept
ck of this,
strong,—
there are
(might)
le others.
I, — obtain
jmbers of
the same
otters not
1 politics,
nion they
Churches
! to ruin ;
s brought
tian corn-
fully pio-
)nfession,
!!Ihurches,
of Chris-
of these
of grace,
in consci-
J eunuch,
(foro ec-
•rofession
be horrid
mockery to call Christ ' Lord, Lord,' unless his declared will be cordially
and universally obeyed. The rule prescribed by himself is, ' Wherefore,
by their fruits ye .sliall know them.' Kven ' visible saints,' who have the
marks of being regenerated, may like David and others, fall itito gross sin,
and come under such foul scandal, as to render them entirely unworthy,
for the time, of enjoying externally the ' communion of saints.' — So, when
those who have the custodial of sacred privileges, — without any proper
."eparation of the precious from the vile, of the holy from the profane, or
the clean from the unclean, — admit indiscriminately to the Lord's Sup-
l^er, the ordinance is awfully polluted, and, instead of a commemorating,
there is a crucifying of Christ. Jt is not a converting, but reviving, con-
firming, nutritive institution ; and to ' give tlie children's bread to dogs,'
is worse than paganism itself, — which guarded with stern and jealous
care its unhallowed mysteries. Such a practice, goes to yoke unecjually
the believer with the unbeliever, — the converted vrith the visibly uncon-
verted, — contrary 'o the express commands of Christ. And it establishes
a false, degrading, and dangerous standard of Christian character ; which
tends to nourish self-deception, and to generate and confirm infidelity.
With the solemnity of authority professedly di\ine, promiscuous admis-
sion virtually speaks peace, and promises salvation to, persons to whom
no peace is spoken in the word of God; and thus to the deceiving, — it
may be eternal ruin of their souls, they are soothed into dreadful security.
Nor does the principle of excluding Mie grossly ignorant and immoral
alone, lessen, but rather augment the delusion ; because it induces all
within the range of common morality, and the ordinary charities of
human life, to conclude on altogether unsuflicient grounds, that their
spiritual conditu ii is good. And thus by ' layiiig a flatterino- unction to
their souls,' thev are lulled into fatal repose, and fortifiea against all
alarms, till * in hell they lift up their eyes, being in torments.' The
other seal of the covenant should not be dispcnf ' .o any but such as
* profess their faitii in Christ, and obedience to him.' Precisely the same
qualifications are necessary, in a parent presenting his child for baptism,
as in a grown person who receives it for himselt', — or in being admitted
to the table of the Lord. Were this ordinance denied to all children,
but tiiose of parents possessing such a character, the heads of families
would be more diligent and conscientious, in cultivating personal and
domestic religion, and training up their offspring in the nurture and ad-
monition of the Lord. The practice of administering baptism in private,
— without being preceded by teaching, as required in the words of insti-
tution ; and as a common rite, — to persons the most ignorant, irreligious,
and in all respects unworthy, — may couiport well enough with the notion
of its being only n festive ceremony, — christening, — or giving name to a
child; but it is a sad indignity to, and desecration of, ' a holy ordinance
instituted by Christ, wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benetits
of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to bclioveiii.'
"5tli, The Cluirch is weakened, and her prosperity blasted by nnpio-
per discipline. When impartially adminisicred, as in the days of tin-
Apobiles, true converts increase m number; and the Clinrch is enlarged
180
1 2.1.
Wt
and strengthened.—' So were the Churches established in the faith, and
increased in number daily.— And believers were the more added to the
Lord, multitudes both of men and women.' Attracted by the beauty of
holiness, shining in her members, others say, ' We will go with vou •
for we have heard that God is with you.' But when from defective dis-
cip.me, the purity of the Church is not preserved— pious persons are
discouraged, and prevented connecting with her ; for the Apostle com-
mands, not to keep company,— no, not to eat,' with brethren who are
!'r"'"/T ~*1 J'''^ *° ' ^'"^^ fellowship with devils.' It appears from the
Jjfeof Dr McCrie, that laxity of discipline in the National Church, was
one grand reason, which when solicited, deterred him from attempting
to adopt nieasures for effecting a re-rnion, of that division of the Seces-
sion to which he belonged. It was also a matter of intimidation to the
Uld Dissenters, and a chief obstacle in the way of their uniting with the
Churcb,-Iong before Seceders of any kind were in existence ; and it is
still a leading reason, why they stand aloof. Those too within the Church
who are, or may become, truly pious, when proper discipline is contra-
vened, and communion corrupted, are compelled lo withdraw, and thus
she is weakened. The imperative command of Christ lo his people in
that case is, 'Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.'—' From such turn away.' Nor
IS It of small concernment, whether this pointed injunction be obeyed or
not. Ihe hie,— the eternal salvation of the party is in hazard, and inti-
mately connected with it. The vengeance that streamed from Heaven
in sulphurous cataracts on devoted Sodom,— the fatal plagues yet to be
inflicted on mystical Babylon,— and the judgment far more dreadful, be-
cause invisible and unfelt, of judicial blindness, final oijduracy and im-
penitence of heart,— are all the dismal result of truth divine, beincr known
hated, and dismissed without compliance. Gen. xix. 17; Rev.\viii. 4,'
^ ihess. II. 11, 12. Such fearful consequences cannot otherwise be es-
caped, than by timeously yielding to the directions of the Saviour —His
command was dutifully, and instantly obeyed by the early Reformers
No sooner were they enlightened, quickened, strengthened from above,
and, in some measure, made acquainted with their perilous situation in
the Cfiurch of Rome, than they came out, and separated themselves from
her. Had they like their fathers continued in her impure communion
alter having received the knowledge of the truth, they would have com-
mitted the sin unto death. This conviction made them face dangers,
and vanquish obstacles, which otherwise human nature would have
shrunk fron encountering. The same is precisely the case with the
people of God, who may be in communion with any impure Church.
" The entire want of proper discipline in the Church of England, and
the tyranny of her intolerant unpreaching bishops, once drove thousands
from their loved father-land, to seek a peaceful retreat amon^ more hos-
pitable, savage Indians, in the dreary wastes of North Amer^ica. Hun-
dreds of thousands since, have, to relieve their consciences, been forced
to enlist under the banner of dissent, in humble, unstecpled edifices —
ieavin.^ benehced formalists in their gorgeous churches, to dole out di'lu-
faith, and
ed \o the
beauty of
with you ;
ictive dis-
jrsons are
istle coni-
vvho are
3 from the
urch, was
Itempting
he Ssces-
on to the
y with the
; and it ia
e Church
is contra-
and thus
people in
saith the
5y.' Nor
obeyed or
, and inti-
1 Heaven
/et to be
adful, be-
and im-
g knov/n,
xviii. 4;
ise be es-
ur. — His
eformers.
m above,
uation in
Ives from
unuuion,
ave corn-
dangers,
uld have
with the
urch.
and, and
liousands
lore hos-
i. II un-
!n forced
lifices, —
out dihi-
181
ted morality, and threadbare tissues of invective, against fanatics, enthu-
siasts, and schismatics, to a beggarly account of empty pews.— J n
Scotland, a similar evil, the prostitution of discipline, has also on a large
scale, produced similar results. The formation of the Secession, which
has germinated into a variety of distinct religious bodies, was owing
entirely to this cause; as also that of the Relief, which has likewisi
become a numerous party. A variety of other sects have originated
chiefly from the state of relaxed discipline; and in proportion to their
numbers and power, the Church has been wasted and weakened, and
her prosperity blasted.
" 6th. By desuetude of discipline, the distinction between the Church
and the world is confounded,— they become convertible terms,— and she
appears unholy as the kingdom of Satan.
" Though the Church be in the world, she is not of it. Her members
are separated from the rest of mankind, by being called out of the world
vvhich lictl, in wickedness, into the faith, communion, worship, and
obedience of God in Christ. No two societies can be more different or
opposite, in their views, principles, and hopes.— ' Now,' savs Paul
we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
e T^u- . ' "^^"' ®^^" ^'^^ '^''"^ ^°^^^' ^'^''" ^^'"s '^"o^v the followers
ot Christ, though it should only be to hate and persecute them •— ' For
the tree is known by its fruits.' At a time, when the distinction was all
but obliterated by tl orrosiv3s of slavery and superstition, it was super-
naturally indicated.- -' There was a thick darkness in all the land of
iigypt three days;— even darkness which might be felt. Thev saw not
one another, neither rose any from his place for three days ; but all the
chi dren of Israel had light ia their dwellings.' When by faithful dis-
cipiine,— purity of doctrine, worship, and practice,— the grand charac-
teristics of the Church are maintained, and her ordinances ^ept pure
and entire, she appears in her beautiful garments ; and ' looketh forth
as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun.' The old leaven is
then purged out,— sinners are discouraged from hypocritically joinino- —
the holiness which becomes her for ever is manifested, and religi .^ is
vindicated before the world. But where this is neglected, sin is patron-
ised the church is reduced to the low level of the world, the children
ol disobedience flock to her communion, and she appears vile and un-
sightly as the kingdom of the wicked one. No longer does she resemble
the beautiful oasis, which by its verdure and fertility refreshes the eye
and gladdens the heart, amid.st vast, arid, Lybian plains ; but is ' like the
heath in the desert, and does not see when good cometh.' Her hed'res
being broken down, she is no longer a garden enclosed,— so that all
they which pass by the way do pluck her. ' The boar out of the wood
doth waste It, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.' Ministers
of a pious f^aithful, and worthy character, are no longer sought or relish-
ed ; and tilled with stewards who are profane, careless, and vicious,—
.^he becomes like the trans-atlantic world, {nfugimn pcccatormn) an assy-
urn lor transgressors. Should she happen to have neighbors belter tHan
herself, she fails not to void her rheum in their face ;' and Uke the
n
• i
U
pas tree, sheds h
poisonous 'nice on all around.
il II
182
1 1'r
i i, I
I' I
y;
I' %
""all. Finally; by defect of discipline, and couse(|uent corruption,
tlie Spirit is provoked to withdraw, and th-? wrath of God is brought
upon the Church. Fidelity and purity, secure his gracious presence,
and blessing. — ' Be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing ; and
1 will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my
sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.' — ' Because thou hast kept
teh word of my patience, I also will keep thee in the hour of temp-
tation.' 'I'he name of the city then, is Jehovah Shammah, — 'the Lord
is there;' but when discipline is neglected and impunity prevails,
'Ichabod, The glory is departed,' may be inscribed on her solitary and
joyless palaces. The Unly Spirit, being grieved and provoked, with-
draws. ' Grieve not the Holy Spirit.' — ' My Spirit will not always strive
with man.' — ' I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy can-
dlestick out of his place, except thou repent.' — Instead of a blessing, the
Lord visits with his displeasure and wrath. Through the trespai^s of
Achan, ' wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel, and that man perish-
ed not alone in his iniquity.' — David acknowledged, in bringing up the
ark, 'The Lord our God made a breach upon us, because we sought
him not alter Uie due order.' And Paul says to the di.«!orderly Corinth-
ians, 'For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many
sleep.'
" Such are a few of the more prominent and dreadful evils, natively
arising from defective discipline ; and we come in the last place, to con-
siiler the arguments by which its exculpation is attempted. — A mere
notice of two or three of the chief, will suffice at present.
" 1st. It is St jngly objected by the advocates of relaxed discipline,
that there never ha^; been a pure church on earth ; the Jewish church,
the Apostolic c'.iurlices, ."/id the church of the Second Reformation, all
contained much corrupt mixture; and it is chimerical, unreasonable,
and altogether unscriptural, to expect a pure church, and foolish to vex
ourselves about the want of it.
" We admitted at the beginning, that from the imperfect sanctification
and diversilied character of her members, the church visible is, and
necessarily must be impure. The attempt of some in New England,
near the middle of the last century, to erect a pure church, was quite
Utopian, — an abortive effort of sheer, extravagant enthusiasm. No
church on earth has been, or can be, perfect and infallible. The church
however may, and ought to be pure, in her communion, — scriptural in
her frame-work and constitution ; and we are visionary enough to believe
that tiiis will be eminently her character in the millennium. INor should
this object at any period be lost sight of, in rising the spiritual super-
structure. A minister may preach the Gospel, and cleave to Christ
personally for salvation, — yet, if in the edification of the church, he
should through ignorance or negligence overlook the scriptural principle
and rule, — and instead of 'gold, silver, precious stones,' build upon tlie
one foundation, only ' wood, hay, stubble,' which are fuel for the eternal
burnings, — his ' work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss : but he himselt
shall be saved ; yet so us by lire.' No one e.\pect."3 in this world, a socie-
183
n,ad^ .h« .„e; would ^^^!^^,:^ Z2Z.^!^1S^"'
crcumcised, and kept L paesover a, Gulal fjosi v ^ s'l h H ''"r
=iuch a profession shor.l, before, on tl f lins of M„7b ' It'l'
understood to embrace the%hole S Ln systm n jfm.T"' ''''"
less extraordinary when herPtir.: ^vi / system —In times however,
/elIow.hip; burr'hMd't'r^ernlr 'S^S ^'"^^ "^^''^' ^^
which they made theirnrnfp.rinn' ^^'^^ ^'^^ circumstances in
it deservin^. o the h Ue t^^^^^^^^^^^^^ so.mtensely trying, as to render
1 I'
'*' *
1S4
character were admitted, it was entirely without their knowledge or
design ; and they are spoken of as being ' brought.' or haying 'crept m
unavvares '— Very unworthy persons were found in the church ol
Corinth and the Asiatic churches, which were constituted by the super-
intendence of inspired Apostles ; but nothing can be more evident from
the sacred record, than that no authority whatever, or permission w;.s
„iven —for admitting them— as such.— or continuing them in fellowship
without repentance, after they were detected. The incidental corrup-
tions recorded as in these churches, like the sins of David and Peter
are depicted in such colors, as to discourage others, and warn them ol
the danger of similar evils. They are earnestly called upon to repent,
and threatened, unless they speedily do so, with a removal of the candle-
stick and the gracious presence of God by his Spirit. 1 he ovils thus
denounced, have in not a few instances brought extermination, even on
the most promising ;-let them therefore be avoided. ' Whosoever hath
ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. —
The Apostles baptized the sorcerer ; but it was upon making a profes-
sion of faith. 'Then Simon himself believed also.' It was not til
afterwards manifested that he was in a natural condition.— Our Lord
admitted Judas to his society, commissioned him to be a preacher, and
some think received him to his Supper, (only to the Passover, antecedent
to its institution.— Tohn xiii. 2G-30) though he knew him to be a traitor
and an infidel. But Judas, let it be observed, made the same profession
of regard and forsaking all for Christ, attended with circumstances to
render it fully as credible as, if not more so than that of the other dis-
ciples Each of them was jealous of himself, saying. Lord, is it 1 f
but not one of them suspected Judas should betray him. His presence
or absence at the Lord's Supper does not affect the argument. So long
as his shining profession lasted.-until his hypycrisy was demonstrated
bv an overt act of scandalous apostasy,— he was not cut off, but sutlered
to continue, as it were for the express purpose of exhibiting the scriptu-
ral character of the church on earth, even in its state ol highest purity.
As before remarked under the old, so also under the new dispensation,
Christ did not act in his external procedure towards his people and in
the administration of ordinances, from his secret know'ledge of their real
character ; but as the head of his visible church— after the manner of
men and according to their outward profession. There is no scripture
rulc'for excluding a hypocrite, or artful sinner, closely masked with a
specious mantle of assumed sanctity, thrown gracefully over. Nor can
any blame be uttached to the office-bearers or members of a church tor
admitting such,— or continuing them in communion, so long as they
walk consistently, tliough they prove in the end to have been most un-
worthy The foolish virgins, to all appearance were children ot the
bride-chamber ;' and though they had ' no oil in their vessels, they
seemed to have it,-for they had lamps, the use of which was to carry
oil The wise, therefore, were not to blame for admitting them to their
society, and allowing them to remain in it, so long as their lamps ot
profession continued to shine, and their hypocrisy was not manifested.
Ill
vieilge or
' crept in
church oi
the super-
ident from
ssion w»s
fellowship
ill corrup-
and Peter,
u them of
to repent,
he candle-
ovils thus
1, even on
oever hath
urches.' —
; a profes-
as not till
-Our Lord
acher, and
antecedent
ae a traitor
profession
istances to
other dis-
d, is it I?'
s presence
,. So long
monstrated
lut suffered
he scriptu-
lest purity,
spensation,
PlG;
and in
)f their real
manner of
o scripture
ted, with a
Nor can
church for
)ng as they
;u most un-
dren of the
ssels,' they
[IS to carry
lem to their
3ir lamps of
manifested.
-g^l/h,: S^,|-r- --E^^ C.. rdl^rn, .hat
Zion. ever^tho "^oV^^^ d ^ ^^'^^ of our covenanted
in. to he purged'out o?;;';.^! ^ ^ chtt^ ^f "V^-:-
«.-penor w. learning, patriotism, nud rd^/io o ^ , :,. ,,V T'^ '''^'^
try Ml any other ago, yet the Scothsl, U .r, '"^ '"f" of their coun-
bility. through hun.ar tirmi? ; L r'T "'^ '"^ '^'''"" '" i"'"""'-
1^1- stops; and ^onJl^me^t r e J^:; I- tv^U ^'7'''"'' '"'"
tagems of Papists and Prclatists Tl.nr i.. \ "" mahgnant strn-
publicly to confess; a . f C „cve ^olc ? '• l"^' ''■?'' '"^^ ■■'^''''""-'
out. .^han-iers raised t:;:;^r:i:^r;;r^^^ '''' '-- ^-^^'
madetoinruUnmen nev r n I-'"^^^^^^ T '""rf'""' ^^•^^^''-
not excepted. ^ '".uik.—the Jnghest nol>le8 of the land
liblri^r^^thenaurtu'n^?^"^ ^'^ -''^'on and
power and trust in th^ St te neJi / '' ' "'"■' T^""'^''^ ''^^'^^ P'"^'^^ of
patterns of piety and .dl As uel]"7/V T' ^'" '"'^ ^^''^'^^^ --"^
The tide of public oprnio, wa^ tur c v v lo??"""' ""^ ^^^''^^y-
of sin and vice; and all strove to n oi 1 ,1 L I ^^^^ T.'"'' "^"i' '^'"^
credit, of failing under the LnJ^i'es of t rT'' f"^ ^"'"i^tins dis-
great turmoil and insubur.iinTt , fl./ f ""'''• ^ '■°'" '-> ^'"''^ of
under the salutary rest aim of e ;; ' ^''""P r ''"'' ■^"''''^"'■^^'y •"ought
to Mead quiet anj per^c" h' V "li Zun'^ '"Vi'"' "'' ^^''^'-^
scriptural discipline faithfully e'^^;;;^ fv '1 " ''"T/^"' '^'''*^^'
strun.ent of formin. the hish and Jnvi I i ^^^^ ""^^ '^^""''^'^ '""
population.-investing u'th f Ur I aTo h^;''"'^"^^" "'' '^'^ Scottish
^o.«;«.'-This complex obiection t ,i '"S-r-iium prrjh-vhhan Sro-
elusive. '^ Objection, then, is perfectly irrelevant and incon-
wo:MtiJl;o;t:;,^;^.::'!;,-;' -if-- system of discipline,
s.nall, and harden offei dVrsTv ^X -nT;;' "T' ^^ ^'''^' "^« ^^^"^^'^
salvation. ^ inducing them to abandon the means of
commits itsexerci.4 tcTr spot W^^^ ''^'' '' *"^" '"« ^'^"^J- nnd
by such an operation. nusTf,;^^:::I'V"^ the diminution produced
purgative appliancos,'the animalb STnde t?;' o'"!;"- I'V"" ^'^
peccant humours, it surely cannot hJ iU to throw off indolent and
ciple will act with more eerom nn ^^r^"''t ^'' ^ ^^^' ^'^'^' P^i""
•t loses in crassitude, is moreXar^n^ ^ ''^'? "''>' ''''^ S^"^" ^^'bat
, moie than compensated Lj increment of health
.1
%.
'^v^.
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
"^
^
{/
^%
/
C/j
4t\
1.0
I.I
[friia IIIIIM
|S£ 1 3^ mil o o
:!f iti iiiiiio
1.8
1.25 1.4 1.6
: ==
.« 6"
►
v]
<^
/]
^^/
'e,
^/,.
c?.
m
ei
'> >
x'>
^M o>.
'^'>/ ^
C/^
/a
Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
V
'•'=i^ ,.
4^
:%'
■i>'
\\
O'^
^1>\
'^^
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, NY. 145<J0
(716) 872-4503
4-
%
x$>
^
(S'^^
B -5'
I' !"
!)«;!
f;':i|*
186
and muscular power. It is infinitely better for the Church to have were it
only one half table, say fifty, or even a score of worthy communicants or
yet even far fewer, than hundreds, crowded by ignorant, graceless people
wno have no perceptible title to the ordinance, and can onlv 'eat and
- drink judfrment to themselves.'
" That proper discipline is injurous to the growth of the Church is a
mistake. The contrary, we have already seen, is the case. Even' that
extraordinary act of discipline,— if so it may be termed, -which the
Apostles exercised on Ananias and Sapphira, by which all the people
were struck with awful consternation, is particularly observed to have
contributed largely to the growth of the Church. After reciting the
tragical story, it is added-' great fear came upon the Churches and
upon as many as heard these things.' And thoujih, on this account the
wicked ana insincere dared not unite themselves"; yet on that occasion
Believers were the more added to the Church, multitudes, both of men
and women. If such were the effects of this extraordinary act of disci-
pline at the first collecting of the Christian Church, we need not surely
be atraid of its ordinary exercise, ruining her increase now With re-
spect to its supposed hardening tendency, upon delinquents, who may
thereby be led to forsake the means of grace, it is sufficient to remark
that, being an ordinance of Christ, and the last mean which can be used
tor reclaming such, the criminal neglect, rather than the faithful exer-
ciseof It, may be expected to have the effect of confirming in wickedness
iiat though in the pride and stubbornness of his heart, the sinner should
disregard the benefits which accrue from discipline, when submitted to
m a becoming spirit,-the rulers of the Church are not to be deterred
Horn discharging their duty, any more than the minister of the word from
preaching, because many turn a deaf ear to all he says, become more
obdurate, and have their gu.lt and danger proportionably augmented.
The maxim ought never to be forgot,—' Though ruin should ensue let
justice take its course.'-Jude says, ' These be they who separate them-
selves, having not the spirit.'—' They went out from us,' says John ' but
they were not ot us.' And Paul tells the Corinthians, ' To the one we
are the savour of death unto death; and to the other, the savour of life
unto life.'
"3rd. It is also objected, the admission of others to communion is no
concern of ours, however unworthy, they only injure their own souls,—
eat and drink judgment to themselves.'
"The nature of the Lord's Supper, and the laws of his house, imply
the contrary of this. Communion there is not only a social act,-a hold-
ing fellowship by eating and drinking together, as is done externally in
social prayer praise, and hearing of the gospel ; but it is in addition, and
particularly, the very act by which the Christian sociKy as such, symbol-
ically and professedly declare their mutual connection with each other
ns members of the body of Christ.-I Cor. x. 16, 17. A believer, there-
fore niust contract guilt and deeply injure his own soul, by thus uniting
with the unbelieving; not under the mask of hypocrisy, but plainly ii, a
state of un.egeneracy and impenitence. When he knows, by infallible
we, were it
inicants.or
less people,
y ' eat and
hurch, is a
Even that
■which the
tlie people
jd to have
^citing the
rches, and
;count, the
t occasion,
oth of men
ct of disci-
not surely
With re-
who may
remark,
an be used
thful exer-
ickedness.
ner should
emitted to
3 deterred
word from
ome more
Jgmented.
ensue, let
rate them-
ohn, ' but
; one, we
ur of life
;iion is no
1 souls, —
ise, imply
, — a liold-
jrnally in
ifion, and
1, symbol-
ch o'her,
'er, there-
js uniting
ainly in a
infallible
187
Scripture marks that this is the ca«iP thn. . ,. .
of sin, inconsistent with a st^fe'cT^e" wfth"th'e chJ'"?^ '" ^'''*
fession oi a Christian and thp *>vo.,. % ^ character and pro-
not ' tell it to the Srch ' he IZ ^^^'f f ^' '^^ '''^'' «"^ yet does
with him. He thL ;t;e t yd h" ors the S "' "".'"^ '''' "' J^'"'"^
violatina his express comm.nl V ^^'^ Saviour, by presumptiously
dom. conC^undinrthe d?W. ' \"^^'«"'"? ^he constitution of his king-
the Jucce;s of th? Cost • LTle i^'.T ? "'' ^'^ "^^'^' ^"^ -^-'^"i
ther's keeper?' and suXL sm unon T' " " ''^'?=' '^"' ^ '^'^ ^ro?
and promising salvation oLuiX^tlaM;;;:''''"'"^ 'P'^"^"^ P^^^^'
This is the n^ked, undeniable Van and , k V'''^ ""' '"'"''■" «'"^ ^'^^•
be done with safety -vv.tho ,? ]»:: L "°^ ^''>' ^° '*^*^ '^"^^ '^ can
-staining the heav'i^st p so arSv' "Neilh" f '^ ""! '^"^^^' ^"^^
men's sins: keep thyself pur^' "J"'^— ^'''^^^' ^e partakers of other
ly/b!;; TIZ'i:':^^!'!:!:^^!,^' T'^'^'' ' »^-« ^Po^en fVee.
thosewhopatronisethpm h! V '"^ '" attempting to withstand
a..d ^r:l^^::,::x^t.e;?lt:!;^r^ivl;::!f''"-^-^^ times;
exercise of ecclesiastic dicinrr' "" ",' "^^ "^'^'''^"^ '"^"^ ""Partiai
papacy, they ius' r'la d^^^^^^^^^ '''' relaxation of winch under the
ticAi of reli/io^n ' ^Evfn ther^r' ^'""' 'T' "^ '^' ""'^'^^^^^ ^^o^rup-
siderations' toindut rel xat o- -' '^'''* ?'''"^''' 'prudential Con-
or favouritism, hey exe ted r "' h^ ' " "" the principle of expediency
age is very different I ht .h i ^ ""^ "^"^ impartiality. Our
and the kiowFeZ of scienr.^^^^^^ T^'l'^' '' to refinen.ent, commerce,
tian ethics, or pure a„d "''^r "■*' V^^"' '" ^^^^P^^^ ^^^ ^hris-
reason to confe^ 7n an n" I'avt.l''''' '''/ rehg.on.-our country has
"ot what I have I een To o .7? I ''"'"' ^""' '"""V^"^^' ^ram,)l am
tree of life, wlMcr3"eldc^d abund "v'th" T' '*' A^^'^^ge wis the
there is a boast of k, ^vvled^,! « ^ r "•'' "' Holiness; but now
was hun,. by the ho 3-^ '"''^ ^""'^ P'ety;-and. as Absalom
fear, uns^nc'tified I olte " tVJ'hl T 'f ^''""'' ''''' '-eason to
these things, happy are ye il ye do them ' A tT '""'^-' '''>''^ '^"^^
bis lord's w, I. and prenved nni bi ir ~- f "^ J.^at servant which knew
shall be beaten whli lu^t^llLt • ' ""''^"' '^'^ '''''"^'^'S to his will.
enle^Vci;n:;;;;;;'ihuE:b'"t;dtE''"%if """r^' ^^ ^^^ -^^ --»■
arul impartial exercise of i^^l^tJnoVr^'r^' '",''"' ^'^^^ ^'"'^
P'.rity, and separation from U,l wirl I ' "'''^ ^•''" '^"^^ '■^''"» 't"
of Clfrist._Let de ene Ue Cll! i I' '''" """^'""^ ''^ '^^ ^ ^''>urch
once very promising Wn,.^'f'' ''r' "'''''""^ ^'■^^^" ^''ose of Asia.
communLrwere tlie chie ' '"'"'^i'"' t'^'^'T' ''"^ ^'"'^^^'^ent impure
them, and of tl eTr mda cholf relLr '"^^"'"'^'^ displeasure ag.l.nst
tbe Church ofKometf^^^tS:?^,,!-^;::;^^^^
18B
i>
■if
m
i)t<
fiHfl-cstruction iNor should it be forgotten, that corrupt Churches in-
volvt in tlieir ruin, the countries where they are located.
' VVIiun riiitioiis itrc: to polish in their sina,
t 'Tis ill (ht) Chun-h the leprosy begins.'
" Purity ol communion will do infinitoly more, in securing the honour,
prosperity, and stability of the Church, than all the schemes, which with-
out it, she can po.ssil)ly devise. When sin is in the house, there is rea-
son to fear ruin is at the door. An old leak will sink the ship, if lot
timoou.sly repaired. A raging fire within, if not exting' shed, — however
KOQure it is made outside, — will .speedily destroy ihe house. And while
, jAf^' worst internal evils are allowed to remain, and there is grievous
■ ''-.'ulceration at the core, it is absurd to suppose, that zeal for extension,
and external reformation, — with respect to the law of patronage. State
encroachments, and other matters — will save the Church from ruin. The
words of the Saviour on a similar occasion may justly be applied : ' These
things yc ought to have done, and not leh the otiier undone.' lie com-
mands to bci(in within, and his direction should by no means be reversed :
'Clean the in.side of the cup, that the outside may be clean.' — A scrip-
tural reformation never did, and never can take place by a half measure;
and as it has been shrewdly remarked, — the extension of an impure
Chtirch is nothing but the extension of corruption.
" Some ignoranlly place tiie reliance of their hearts for rightcousnosa
and holiness, (or life and blessedness, on the Sacraments. They evident-
ly make an idoi, or rather a saviour of the mere elements; and if on
necessary grounds they are denied, or for a time refused the enjoyment
of these, tliey regard it a peice of cruel injustice, forsake ordinances,
and perhaps abandon the very form of godliness. Brethren, these things
ougiif not so to be. Follow no such disgraceful and sinful practices, as
they lead tn apostasy and perdition.
" But it should be recollected, that external subjection, even to the
best system of discipline, is not enough. Some treat with marked dis-
regard, every thing which they account not essential to salvation; and
judge that as good men are to be found among all denominations, the
external or'ler of the Chtirch merits no consideration. This is a very
pernicious extreme; but an opposite one, not less dangerous, is, to lay
inordinate stress upon external arrangements, and rest fully satisfied in
a mere outward contbriiiity to certain scriptural rules, as if this would
save us. The important principle should never be forgotten, that ex-
ternal things are only means for efTecting something higher, — that the
end of all institutions is the conversion of sinners and edification of
saints ; and that in so far as these objects are not attained, their design
is completely lost. Soldiers may be trained to obey orders, and perform
with case and precision the varied evolutions of military exercise, — and
yet be w;uiting in courage and patriotism, — the veriest cowards, when
facing an enemy. So you may be well disciplined to external forms,
and yet strangers to the spiritual warfare, and inexperienced in fighting
the good fight of faith. — ' Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of
God, that yc may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done
rches in-
e honour,
licli wilh-
re is rea-
ip, if lot
-however
nd wiiile
grievous
xiension,
ige, State
I in. The
: 'Tijese
He corn-
reversed :
-A scrip-
measure ;
n impure
tcousnosa
^ evident-
ind if on
njoynient
dinarices,
\se things
ctices, as
en to the
irked dis-
iori; and
.ion.~5, the
is a very
is, to lay
tisfied in
lis would
, that ex-
-that the
cation of
nr design
1 perform
ise, — and
•ds, when
lal forms,
1 fighting
armour of
ing done
189
all to fstaiid.' Let not zeal for external forms, however proper and
necessary, usurp the place of that personal humility self-denial watch-
fulness against sm, Satan, and the world, fidelity in the discharge of
every duty, and devotedness to the promotion of God's glory, which are
essential and highly ornamental to the Christian character.
" External communion, however pure, will not supply the wnnt of
grace in the heart Give diligence, then, in making your callin<r and
election sure ; and do not rest satisfied with any thing in rcli-xion "short
of an interest in Christ by faith. ' He that believeth and Ks baptized
shall he saved ; f)ut he that believeth not shall be damned.'— 'J'he shade
of a spreading tree or projecting rock, may cool and refresh in a day
oppressively sultry; but the mere shadow of religion, will not shelter in
that fearful day which shall burn as an oven, when all the wicked shall
be as stubble. The tares and the wheat ' grow together until the har-
vest; bii n the time of harvest, the Lord will say to the reapers. Gather
ye togetli.. first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them • but
gather the wheat into my barn. They shall gather out of his kingdom
all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them
into a furnace of fire ; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.' "
Note. It ought to h .ve been remarked thut the Reverend Gentlemen Dr. Bntes
and Mr lilwain, two noted Ministers, from vvhu«e e.xcc-ilent Lectures so largo
extracts ..ere taken by tiio Author, stand not connected with the nrcKent Chur< h
ot bcotland, but with the community of the "Reformed Presbyterian Church,"
whicJi acts far more consistently with her own professed principles, than the
hstabiished; and should by no means, thornforc, on this ground, fall under th«
same censure.
I
hi
3P
190
hf t
J
1
PRICFACK TO THE FOLLOWING EXTHACTS.
Some late remarks in the "Guardian," on the subject of the intended
uniO'i of the Seceders in Nova Scotia, with the community there con-
nected with the Church of Scotland, especially the offence and fjre taken
at the sober hints of Dr. McCulIoch, by the opposite party, have excited
the muid of the Author of tliese lines to publish the following Extracts
of Correspondence, Lecture, &,c., being deemed by him as bearing on
the points more intimateiy involved in the contemplated combination, of
those long and lamentably opposite denominations. The writer hereof
IS conscious to himself of being very far from wishing to throw any ob^
stacle in the way of any scriptural union, between the parties concerned ;
but, at the same time, he is free in acknowledging that, from the very
bottom of his heart, he would dread the issue of their union, without
previous, humble, and requisite admissions and concessions; which are
yet far out of the question, according to the circumstances, as well as
the obvious and ruling spirit and conduct of the parlies in question,
Relenting must necessarily precede and accompany reconciliation ; and
that, in Its texture and degree, in proportion to the antecedent offence
given or taken ; or tha alienation of mind and conduct consequent
thereon.— The work from which the main part of the Extracts are taken
having been published by a noted Clergyman of the Church of Scotland,
it IS hoped that her members will not be so apt to take offence thereat;
nor others to blame the transcriber or publisher lor bis borrowed wea-
pons ; although he must freely admit, that it is for its coincidence with
his own mind the selection is made. Nor can he think himself inconsist-
ent in his statements, if others may cl.oose so to pronounce him, for con-
demning in the gross (as they may say) the Church of Scotland ; and vet
at the same time, adorning his own publication at her expence, by quoti'nir
so freely from the writing of some of her ministers. But these ministers
are not so much denied the possession of intelligence and reason, as the
power of a good will and affection, to act accordingly, at the risk of
their worldly interest, by w: drawing from the fellowship of a commu-
nity denounced by them as so very dangerously and sinfully connected,
both among themselves, and by their civil Establishment.
It IS hoped that, in the use of the phrase "the Church," in the ensu- '
ing Extracts, none will be either so fond, or so foolish as to mistake its
intended meaning, in blending their idea of the real Church, or Christ's
spouse, with the mere false name, or the deceitful show and sound to
which silly and selfish men attach t!,o true sense of it:— Than in this
case, there is not, in the world, a more ordinary and odious, fostered
and fatal misnomer !
Though the Extracts of the Lecture are mainly quoted verbatim, it is
sthl admitted that they are, in no few instances, a little modified, with
insertions, alterations, and additions, by the Author.
191
Extracts of a late Corrrspondence bttwixt a man at Putou, M". S , and his friend,
under the nickname a A'ormanist, t'w Cape Breton, on the subject of Ke-u7iion,
between Seceders and the Ch. rch of Scotland :
" Df.ak Sin, — Though our foimer correspondence touched a little in
general on the subject of tho contemplated, and commc.iced re-union of
Seceders with the Established Church of Scotland, 1 would earnestly
wish to enter now more particularly and closely upon this, in my view,
very serious and interesting topic. Can you therefore feel disposed to
send me, at your earliest convenience, some such hints, as may seem to
you both salutary and seasonable on this ground, in reference to the
apparent safety, utility, or danger to which this union would be likely to
introduce, implicate, or absorb its subjects. I would also choose to
learn some of your thoughts regarding the dift'erence of circumstances,
both as to civil und ecclesiastical, existing on the subject, betwixt the
two Countries : or, in other words, between Scotland and this place.
"lam, &c., J. G.
" Pictou, June, 1842."
REPLY.
" My Dear Friend,— In answer to your favor of June last, I sincerely
feel it a very serious matter how to reply to the main points of your re-
quest. In some respects my position, in being ecclesiastically interme-
diate, or more neutral than the immediate contending or opposite parties
concerned, gives me, no doubt, some advantage, according to my humble
measure of knowledge, and means of information ; but on the other
hand, I may, by no means, presume to know, or experience, but very
partially on this ground, in comparison of those who are, alas! fron.
year to year, for a long time together, now 'laboring' as it were ' in the
tire.' I believe there is no quarter on either side of the Atlantic, nearly
so much in want of means of pacification and unity, on the point in
question, as your very unfortunate district ; and, would to Heaven that
a proper and profitable medium of union might now be attainable : but
I much fear, nay further, I am most certain, that, under existing circum-
stances, neither party would reap any spiritual benefit by their coinbina-
tion. My excited heart is too full for admitting of a tedious and formal
circumlocution, on this lamentable stage. Excited, I repeat, in conse-
quence of having witnessed \vith wounding grief, for a long score of
years, so much of the flood-wates of darkness and delusion deluginir
your otherwise dear and darling neighborhood. Religious envy and
enmity, wrath and wrangling; nay, muti'ation and mockery, madness
and murder ! And dare you, or any others, once hope or imagine that
the blessing of Heaven should ever shine upon a union standing con-
victed of such charges, without some previous and proportionate ropent-
ance and reform ! A putrid open wound may be skinned ' ver by an
unskilful hand, or a fond physician ; but without some rem .y, corres-
pondent to the viciousness of the disease, it will accumulate its turpitude
or putrescence to the more endangering and injuring of the body, and
be apt every moment, to reburst, either at the old sore, or some new
li
""mm
19*1
!«l,i
f
.iiii
focus, with greater fury and irritation. Tlie same m the case with 'he
wounds of the body politic or religious ; and far more seriously so, on
the score of the latter : of which we now more particularly treat, although
both are too closely and conspicuously involved, in the case under deli-
beration.
"I do not pretend to draw parallels, or make comparisons, but very
partially and cautiously, on this delicate ground. But I care little for
the approbation, or reflection of that man, who, of either party, does
not, at the best, see much cause for self-condemnation and regret, both
in the sight of God and men, on this question.
" The more disagreeable and injurious the disunion i.s, the greater
must be the ofiensiveness and inefficience of the intended a.«sociation,
without answerable conviction and admission, ou the part, at least, of
the representatives or principal persons concerned, of both sides, accord-
ing, at the lower rate, to the openly known and knowable respective or
particular responsibility ani criminality of their individual, relative, and
conjoined capacity.
" But it may be fairly asked, What do you mean to be the estimate or
measuring line of our conviction and admission on this ground? I an-
swer, nothing more or less, in this place, than the very degree of light
which we possess and exert in judging of the actions or conduct of others
towards ourselves ; and the same rate of acknowledgment which we
exact of, or expect from them, in similar circumstances; without which
our condemnation is both sure and just, according to the infallible rule
of Heaven. Read the 2d Chapter of Romans. But selfishly zealous
men, and particularly ministers of that character, are very far and
foreign from this standard, in measuring themselves.
" In Scotland, Seceders reap far more secular benefits by becoming
one body with the Establishment, than the same class can, at present,
expect in this country. I need not point out the main cause— State
Endowment. The great disparity or minority of their number has also
harder bearings on their peace, pride, or popularity in that Kingdom
than here, from the potent dominance of the vast numerical ninjority,
and ecclesiastical privileges possessed, over them, by their different
party of Presbyterians. But in the existing state of religion in Scotland,
whatever Seceders may lose in spiritual concerns, by their present union'
it is but next to madness to expect their salutary improvement on that
score.
" But Seceders in this quarter have not such inducements, either in a
negative or positive shape, to allure them to a union on worldly accounts.
And if they can point out to the woild their favorable prospects on the
subject, in religious and spiritual interest, according to right reason, and
the word of God, during ihe present state and appearance of the Cl'crgy
connected with the Church of Scotland in this country, I would, for one,
and thousands of the same views and feelings, born and brought up iti
that Church, be most sincerely desirous to see, or to hear, a plain and
proper description of said prospects. One point, however, is perfectly
clear on this ground, that if our Seceders expect any spiritual benefits,
e with 'he
isly so, on
t, nithougli
luder deli-
, but very
e little for
larty, does
gret, both
le greater
'sociation,
It least, of
!s, accord-
pective or
iative, and
stimate or
d? I a!),
ie of light
of others
which we
out which
Ilible rule
ly zealous
y far and
becoming
t present,
se — State
r has also
Kingdom
ninjority,
different
Scotland,
mt union,
It on that
ither in a
accounts.
ts on the
ason, and
he Clergy
1, for one,
ght up in
[jlain and
perfectly
benefits,
193
or improvement, by the contemplated union and association, tlrey thcrr-
wHcH, r^ ""'^^'^'l ^'^''' °^'l.'^ge"«r-r. nnd judicial blindn ss at
whch their commnnity have arrived, amid aP the ample means of kno^
ledge and expernnce that the) have, for a longtime, enjoyed .and which
If not miserably and shamefully abuseo, might happily have ed them to
frame a qu.te contrary anticipation and concl^sio!;^L^ to prompt them
us Tw 'h'""''''°" "k'' ' r^"-"^^' "^°^^ P^«-"^ -°"t«"tion and con
Jus.on, wuhm n?r own bowels, are open to the four winds • and in the
mean t.me, wnhout a narallei in the ivhole Christian world J who's av
Sv'^;ff.''H'"A''"^'''°" V"'°^^^' self-confidence, and persecution of
justly offended dissenters from her rilowship; as wdl as her stubborn
;s;roVrr ''''''' ^^"'-^'^^^-' - ^^p-^^^-' ^-re^pr.
But there is a point of dexterous reserve, on the part of the 'kirk'
on"S Ch^ ch^.rh"'"'' ?K *'" ""^ ° V" '"^^^^^ '' their dependece
on the Church a ho^e; the meaning of which, I believe, our Seceders
ir > a . a httle ignorant of. Nor do I find it so easy to define its
-'^d. ^'' tendency, in order to make you, or others concern-
ae. 'an i. .,3 ' uuderstand it myself.
- thoujrl .' .3 h-^re evidently feel very little real regard for their
.a3ti.Hi . r...Pd fathers in Scotland ; yet, for various reasons,
■ ■■r ,-. '<x:\^\y wisdom to pretend very lofty veneration for, in-
■ nc....-ui 10 and close connection with them: Otherwise it
^ouid c, impracticable Tor them to obtain assistance and support n so
many ways from hon ,. to this distant and desert country. Xt erv an3
duplicity are mighty weapons on this ground. Nor could several of our
Ministers, so far in the absence of ministerial talents, and o I e s so d
fective in their mora or religious conduct, and a third sort as ha f-idiots f
a silly farce of authority, imperiahty, and irresponsibility over and
among heir luped supporters and adherents, but on accourft'o th; or!
raal, necessary, and sacred tie, though in some sort mysterious to the
vj3lgar^wtuch sui>sists between our 1ulchan| preachers^ and the great
* Vide the froward reflection of the Rev. Messrs Wi'linmann ,r,^ ivTln T~
on the just and very moderate remarks of thrR^eTDTMrr.Tn.h ^Jf ^ ■].""" ^''i"^'
dioS."""'"''.' ■" "• ■""• '™'' •"'' '» »''-'' "^ rela,er'::LMo,,g.r.„°/:<,:;',™:
,„?/j'?''°°',f'i;"°''"™'' '""""• " ° ^''»"''' '"""i. moaning the skin „ra dcid elf
.luffed np w,ll> hay or .traw so as lo impose upon ,he si ly fow, i,, inot,;, in order
u.?;ei'::;^pCii^?!'p7iS:s.'*"''"'^ ' -" '- " "•°"«'" ^"-^^ -»"■■-
25
IfilJ
and glorious fathers, sapient Doctors, and seaii-Apostles, over the chan-
nel ! Now the proud and profitable pretence of Dependence, which is
necessary to be shown to their own party, both here and at home, on the
one hand ; and the ensnaring and insinuating profession of Independence
requisite to fish and fowl some shy Seceders, on the other, must indeed,
require all the wit and wile, art and aim, resort and reserve, possessing
the breast and brains of the very shrewdest r.nd sharpest Scottish Cler-
gymen. And all this work luit aicrt'Iy aud mainly in order to advance
their own claims, and augment their own numbers, for worldly advan-
tages, under the specious disJiiise of peace and piety; and with a special
view to crush Dissenters; and, if possible, to rival, jf not to outshine,
the great, though concealed eye-sore, the cross and crowned Episcopal
Church. That is thef very drift and draft, and the very top and tail, of
all the mystery of the subject. I am, &c., A. M.
" Cape Breton, Septr., 1842."
Large Extracts of a Lecture, 4*c., intended to expose the Sin and danger of Union
betteeen the Church of Christ and an immoral or anti- Christian civil Government :
illustrated from Reason, Scripture, and Experience.
" Be not unequally yoked."
•' Can two walk together except they bo agreed."
Whether the Church of Christ may lawfully contract an alliance, or
be united with a Civil Government, is a question which, for many years
past, has been debated with no ordinary vehemence. Wise and good
men, according to the general phrase, in large numbers, have been ranged
on opposite sides of the controversy ; and after the utmost efforts of ar-
guments, they seem, on both sides, to be confirmed in their original
opinions. As it commonly happens, in cases of controversy among Chris-
tian men, the actual amount of difference between the contending parties
is much less than the Qj^parent ; and on each side much important trut'a
is urged, in which those on the opposite side could readily acquiesce.
With those who embrace the'affirmative of this question, we believe ihat
an alliance may exist between Church and State, not only without sin,
or detriment to either party, but with decided advantage to both. We
hold that civil government, when rightly constituted, is an ordinance of
God; that it is put in subjection to tho Messiah ; and that although in
its nature and specific objects it is perfectly distinct from the Church,
yet that it is capable of being so framed and administered, that the cause
of true religion may derive the most important benefits from it, on the
one hand, or sustain the most fatal injury, on the other. That official
indifference or neutrality towards religion, which many regard as a dis-
tinguished qualification in a civil ruler, seems to us to be impossible in
fact ; and if it were possible in those who know the gospel and the right-
eous claims of the Messiah, it would be exceedingly criminal. But after
this question is disposed of, there is another of vast importance, remain-
ing for investigation — the question we are to discuss; namely, What
las
the chan«
, which is
me, oil the
;pendence
St indeed,
possessing
:fish Cler-
) advance
lly advan-
li a special
outshine,
Episcopal
nd tail, of
A.M.
r of Union
overnment ;
lliance, or
lany years
and good
len ranged
>rts of ar-
r original
3ng Chris-
ng parties
tant truth
acquiesce,
ilievb that
thout sin,
oth. We
linanee of
though in
! Church,
the cause
it, on the
lat official
J as a dis-
)OHsibie in
the right-
But after
e, remain-
sly. What
must be the character of the ciril government with which the Church
may warrantably be allied ? Heretofore this question has not received
the attention to which it is entitled. On the one hand, the Voluntaries
(and when we use the term we employ it purely as u term of distinction
and not of reproach) labor to prove, that every alliance between Church
and State is unwarrantable and pernicious. In their system, therefore
the enquiry we have now instituted can have no place. The advocatec
ot ex,»:mg religious establishments, on the other hand, have contented
themselves with leading proof of the lawfulness anH propriety of union
It either has not occurred to them as necessary, or they have not deemed
It prudent, to raise any question in regard to the character of the civil
government with which the Church mt:y be safely allied.
But surely this is a question that ought not to be overlooked. It is a
lamentable but an unquestionable fact, that the alliances between the
Church and the secular powers of the nations, that have existed since
the days of Constantine, have, with few exceptions, proved hurtful to the
cause of true religion; a source of weakness and decay, rather than of
strength or efficiency. What can be more urgently required, than that
those who advocate union between Church and State, and especially
those who become parties in such a contract, should patiently investigate
the reasons why such alliances have commonly been productive of evil
rather than good. It is our conviction, that the chief source of this un-
happy result will be found in the unworthy charaster of the civil govern-
ments with which the Church has been united. That acute philosopher
and able theologian, the late Dr. McLeod, of New York, speaking on
this subject in one of his lectures on the Apocalypse, thus expresses
himself: Christianity, hitherto, except in a few instances, has suffered
by Its connection with civil polity ; and from the very nature of society
It must suffer in such connection, until both learning and power are
transferred into the hands of godly men, and so made subservient to piety
Independently of the impressive lessons oi long and painful experience
upon this subject, it is quite reasonable to expect, that if unsanctified
men incorporate revealed religion with civil government, such a form
will certainly, be given to religion as may suit unsanctified power The
daughter of Zion is much better without such an alliance, for it is the very
essence of anti-Christianism. The Bride, the Lamb's wife, cannot be
supposed to escape pollution, if taken into the embraces of unholy men
and rendered dependent upon a government which they administe:. It
IS safer for the friends of religion to continue like the witnesses prophe-
symg in sackcloth, faithfully struggling in poverty against the frowns of
power, than to become the stipendaries of irreligious statesmen " The
diversity of character existing among governments, is not less wide than
among individuals. Some a/e enlightened and upright, others are bar-
barous and unjust : some are distinguished for candour and good faith
others are fraudulent and deceitful. There have been thrones of rightel
ousness which were the strength and stability of the State, and "thrones
of iniquity which established u-^ischief by law. May the Church indis-
criminately contract alliance with the civil goverment in all these cases t '
? '
hi
V
'1 i-.l
lllli
196
The Spirit of Truth declared to David, that the government of a just
man, who rules in the fear of God, is " as tho light of the morning, when
the sun riseth," and the fruits of his reign are beautiful and profitable,
likj "the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear-shining after
rain." On the same Jiuthority, it was proclaimed by Solomon, thai " aa
a roaring lion and a raging bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people."
In the propiiecicsof the New Tesiatuent, a period is foretold, when "the
kingdoms of this world shall become tiie kingdoms of our Lord and of
his Christ," and another period when "the kings of the earth shall be of
one mind, and shall give their power and their strength to the Beast."
Is there to be no discrimination here ? May the Church contract alliance
with the throne that is upheld by injustice and oppression, as well as
vvith the throne tuat is established in righteousness I with tne anti-Chris-
tian as well as with the Christian civil government I For ourselves, we
must hold th.it such an alliance is not only dangerous in iho *iighest de-
gree, but positively unlawful; and that the Church would bo ouprenitly
liappier and safer in the friendship of enlightened and pious rulers, al-
though her rights were becured by no stipulations, than in that of unprin-
cipled and ungodly men, whatever wisdom may have been employed in
framing the terms of the compact. " Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."
Every union between Church and State must be .supposed tc imply,
that the parties uniting mutiially recognise each other as legitimate.
This principle is illustrated in the intercourse of nations. A government
that is deemed illegitimate will not be admitted into alliance by surround-
ing Slates. A deputy governor of a province, who has revolted from his
alIegiaiiC3 to the sovereign authority, will not be admitted into alliance
by other deputy governors. Should they contract friendship with him
while he persists in rebellion, they would justly be regarded as implicated
in his revolt.
A union between Church and State furthar implies a mutual engage-
ment of the parties to support e;.ich otlier. The State pledges itself to
afibrd protection, and commonly, also, pecuniary support, io the Church.
The Church, on the other hand, gives a pledge of hearty allegiance to
the civil goverment, and an engagement to promote its permanence and
prot^perity to the utmost of her power. The practice of exacting oaths
of allegiance, as a necessary qualification for the receipt of State support,
has been, we believe, almost universal. In the case of an established
Church the union is still more intimate. Her Creed, or Confession of
Faith, is usually embodied in the public laws of the kingdom, and the
Church is so incorporated with the State, as to form an integral or essen-
tial part of the constitution. Such a union necessarily involves the par-
ties in deep responsibility lor one another. And this is, of course, still
futther heightened, where a Church sends her representatives to take
part in the public proceedings of the national government. And here it
is necessary to animadvert upon the line of argument that is often adopted
by the advocates of existing establishments. When they have collected
and marshalled the proof, that it is the duty of civil rulers, possessing
of a iu8t
ing, wheii
jroticable,
ling aAer
, that "as
r people."
^hen "the
'J and of
ihnll be of
e Beast."
:t alliatice
s well as
nli-Chria-
lelves, we
iirhest de-
uprenitly
rulers, al-
)f unpria-
^loyed ia
; a friend,
Ic in^ipiy,
'gitiinate.
vernment
lurround-
1 from his
< alliancti
with him
nplicated
engage-
itsfilf to
Church,
giance to
ence and
ng oaths
support,
tathlished
jssion of
and the
or essen-
the par-
irse, still
to take
id here it
I adopted
collected
assessing
197
divine revelation, to do homage to the Messiah, and to promote in their
respective. tPrr.tones, the cause of scriptural education and of Ire el
sThL ^ll' " •"" \'V''' triumphantlj' confuted those Tho loZ ot
scr.he all national rehg.on. and all national hnm-.gc to the Mo-t IlLT
own oTtlnl'^'T'^r'^P '"^ '"' conclusion, that the vindication of S
own particular estaulishment is complete; and not unfrequently stiama.
adv nc^d 'y4?«7f;:'"^ "" '*'"'' ''''■"'"^^' "^«"'"«''''' ^^'«'> ^^^^y have
nor candid. " '"""' " P'"''"' ^^"'P^''^ ' ^^^ '^ '« "«i*»'«r just
There are many supposable cases of union between Church and State
wh»ch ought certainly to be condemned. 1st. An i...Lral and wS
Unlr'thT'"'l"' rnay be united with a corrupt or idolatrou Q urc^
CWh«n^^^^ .'""?>r''*'''*^ the... «ater number of unions between
tions to ?hP n' 1 ^"''■^°'; '"■''"' t''«r r; -n.t the most insuperable obstruc
count ?iir°''"'^ °! '^^ ^°'P''- ^" ^'^P'«^'' Mahommedan, and Pagan
o? thtl' :alT''''J ' -' '"«««enge" of truth, and form the main bulwaSs
oi me Kwigdom cm darkness.
n^i?.'!''' ^"^ """" '"PP°'^ * ""^^ ccnst^uted and equitable civil irovern-
Brit sh ConS'tnf- '"'"r' "•i^? ^"""'''^ ^*'"-h. The admirerf of% .
f«.lhl\ "^',"" 'V'' {"•"^'^bly discern examples of this kind -■ u^
establishment and endowment of Popery in certain pans of the B it'i h
g'lZuir ldos"ta\t.^ ^^""^"^"^^ - ^-=^ ^^^ - "^« --^'P °^i'^-
acrbtu-^'but'/J^-^T ' '''° °^""r ^^^""^ ^^^^ ^h"^^'' i« «^''»d and
ZTnr)i cwil government radically vicious and immoral ; whera
d s era .on'o? the'"*Kh' 'h'"'^ '' ^'7V' '^'' ^'^^« ^^«''^' ^'^« habitual
for bv 1 Z r L !. f -^"u' ""■ ^''" "^°''^''y '« n^ai-'itained and provided
be alL Tn n ^^'"^ '" '^^ *^°"«'i»"^i«"- May the Church consent to
be allied to a cir' government of this character ? Surely there must be
some strange obhquity either in the judgment, or in ll e\ystem o the
Chnstjan man who will answer in the affirmative. What would be thought
U I If 7 ^«^'^7,c«"s.nting to be endo.ved by a banditti of robbeFs?
It .3 perfectly possible that order ard government m.y be man.ained
rroL'relioV^f "'^.' ''•'' ''' ""'y «"PP«^^ '^ '^ b« P^-^d i^ Arab a.
could h/.f I r '•'"■" [' "" '"P^*"'^' government against which i
bell on aAinsl r^'f ''^" '■'^'"'"•^- ^"^^ '^ '« '" '^P'^" ^"^ ^^^^^^i '«-
mol n/n , • ^"^ '"^ P''^P°^^' «^ ""'»"<^e •" «"ch a case, the
le '« wLtr^o "Tu'Trt'' ^' ''''^'''^ '" ^he language of an ^oa-
i h A concord hath Christ with Belial?"
onfrT^nf ^ i'" "" "^^^ '"PP"'^ ^ ^^'^ ^"'^'■e there is nothing palpably or
thpn£ T^ ""T^'" ^'l^^O"«t'tution of government, but where, fVom
fnvnr K. r^^ ""^'''^^/ "^'" ' °'" ^''^'^' ''' '«««^^' '^^n of this description
in ar ably constitute so large a majority of the rulers, that they are^fuUy
onthlJ"''^- ?"l.^heir own measures, and impress their own character
on the administration of public affair.. The question then is, not wha
a
4
5'
lU
im
m
II,
- m
civii rulers ought to do, but what unprincipled and ambitious men may
be expected to do, when placed in a position which gives *.hem a dan-
gerous control over the Church.
But over and above the evils that are in the British Constitution,
analogous to the two cases last mentioned in their leading features,
although in many particulars it commands our approbation, we cannot
shut our eyes to the fact, that the overwhelming preponderance of men
in the government, who are either totally irreligious, or the abettors of
false religion, or whose religion is merely the handmaid of their ambi-
tion, has at all periods since the restoration of Charles the Second, given
a tone and character to the measures of government decidedly adverse
to true godliness, and the religion of the Bible. It is most justly stated
by a member of the Legislature, Sir Robert Inglis, from whom we
would not have expected such a testimony, that " The British govern-
ment never had a conscience in religion," even in what he considers its
best period. But without insisting further on this point here, we pro-
ceed to state a few specific objections against a union between the
Church of Christ, and an immoral or anti-christian civil governnjent.
1st. Such an alliance is unnatural. There is a manifest contrariety or
repugnance between the parties, in regard to their character, principles,
and leading objects. The one is religious, the other irreligious; the
one bears the stamp of holiness to the Lord, th» other the stamp of im-
piety or ungodliness. The real Church, wherever she is to be found,
consists of a people whom God " has set apart for himself," that they
may shew forth his praise. Their ruling principles are love to God, and
reverence for his authority and for his law. The grace of God teaches
them " to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, right-
eously, and godly in the world." But the principles which regulate the
conduct of ungodly civil rulers are not merely different from these, but
repugnant to them. Instead of candour and uprightness, there is com-
monly inii igue and over-reaching ; instead of benevolence, selfishness
or oppression ; instead of humility, insatiable ambition; and instead of
supreme reverence for the Most High, there is habitual forgelfulness of
his claims, or even manifest contempt. The leading objects which are
aimed at, and prosecuted by the two parties are equally repugnant.
The true Church seeks to uphold the sovereign authority of God ; an
irreligious government is solicitous only about its own authority. It is
the object of the proper Church to exalt God's word, as the supreme
and infallible standard, by which every opinion and every practice should
be tried, in religion, morals, and politics. But in the estimate of civil
rulers, regardless of religion, political expediency is paramount to the
Bible. Even in Britain, our highly-favored and beloved land, were the
proposal seriously urged, that every public measure should be scrupu-
lously conformed to this divine standard, in all the great departments of
government— at the Horse Guards— the Admiralty — the Post Office —
and in Downing Street, — with what surprise and derision would the
proposal be received? Every true church must be supremely concerned
«bo«i the sovereignty of God ; the exaltation ind glory of Christy the
i,
199
authoriiy of the divine law ; the sanctity of the Sabbath ; the prosperity
of .el.g.on; the punty of divine ordinances ; and the eternal salvatioJ
of the souls of men But are these objects in regard to which she can
OA ^V '^™P''*?y O"" encouragement from ungodly civil rulers?
-k:- o '■*^*'.?^""*^* contract alliance with immoral or anti-
5„n« '" J^'!f''u'"i^''"] incurring the guilt of unfaithfulness to her
Supreme head, the Lord Jesus Christ. It was early foretold that civil
ru ers would be among the most determined opposers of Christ and his
cause. So writes David lu the second Psalm ; " The Kings of the earth
set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord
and against his Anointed, saying. Let us break their bands asunder, and
^rflZ'/.l '"■ """"'t f^*" "%•'' ^"^ ^'^^^ " •» they are laboring to
prevent ? the accomplishment of the divine decree by which Christ is ap-
fhrih^M ^."?.°" '^' ^""^^ ^'" '^?'°"- ^° ^'' ''^^'^ recognizing him as
the rightful 'Governor among the nations," "the PrincI of the Kings
01 the earth; they will not consent that he should be "King of Zion "
the Head of his own Church. They will not be satisfied thaf the people
whom he has redeemed with his own blood should " render unto Cjesar
the things that are Cssars," unless they further offer to Cssar the things
that are God s. In the remarkable vision of Nebuchadnezzar, the four
great empires which have swayed the destinies of the chief part of the
earth from the time of the prophet Daniel to this day are symbolically
represented by a great image; and however they differ from each other
in nriany respects they all agree in this, thai they are hostile to the au-
tnority and kingdom of Christ,-80 much so, that before his kingdom
can be established, the-j kingdoms must all be destroyed. "Thou
Mwest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the
image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to
pieces. Although these empires subverted one another, yet the strength
ot me preceding one was embodied in its successor ; and when the in-
sulted Redeemer arises to take vengeance on the last of them, namely
the Ronnian Empire, he will in fact execute judgment on the whole of
tnem. l he entire system, in which the same principles were substan-
tia y embodied, from the time of Nebuchadnezzar to the present day
will be utterly subverted and demolished, never to be restored. " Then
was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to
pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer thrashing floors-
and the wind carried them away that no place was found for them • and
the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the
whole earth. What a sublime and tremendous idea is this i " The
mountain of the Lord's house shall, then, be established in the tops of
the mountain, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shal'
flow unto It." And with all this the visions of John the Divine are in
perfect harmony. The execution of judgment upon the anti-christian
powers against which the two Witnesses testified, and by whom they
were slam, prepares the way for the seventh angel to sound his trumpet :
(Hev. XI. 15) "and there were great voices in heaven, savincr th? king-
doraa of this world are become'the kingdoms of cur' Lord ''and of "his
: '1
SIO
\u^
Ih'
Christ." Heretofore, they were anti-christian kingdoms, "of one mind
to give their strength and power to the Beast." The true Church is
represented as rejoicing in this astonishing change. She has, indeed,
cause of joy. — " Since the captivity of Judah about 588 years before
the Christian era, until the present day," said the afore-mentioned Dr.
McLeod, " scarcely an instance has occurred in the whole history of
nations, of a kingdom or commonwealth regulating their polity upon
purely scriptural principles. Many nations, it is true, have pretended
to be Christian. And religion has been scandalized by their unlioly
interference. Many Christians have also Lcsen deceived and misled
into a belief, that the kingdoms of the nations were so constituted as
to merit their conscientious acquiescence and pious support : but the
Prince of the kings of the earth, who gave this revelation to his servant
John, teaches us, that now, for the first time, the kingdoms of this
world are become the kingdoms of God and of Christ. Heretofore they
have been thrones of miquity, having no fellowship with God, (Psalm
xciv. 20) characterized as beasts, and horns of beasts, both by Daniel
and the writer ot the Apocalypse. Servants and admirers, and apolo-
gists, and eulogists, they have had in abundance ; but there was not a
voice in heaven raised in their commendation. They were to be fieared,
but not approved by the saints of the Most High." How, then, it may
be asked, shall the Church justify her professed allegiance to Christ,
while she contracts alliances with rulers that are in a state of rebellion
against him? who offer him no vows of allegiance — who refuse to yield
to the demands of his law— who instead of recognizing his rightful
supremacy, impiously lay claim to that supremacy for themselves ; and
presumptuously intrude, like Korah, into the precincts of the tabenacle.
Is it the Pharaohs, or the Herods, or the Neros of modern times, in
whom the true Church of Christ may hope to see verified the faithful
promise, " That kings shall be her nursing fathers, and their queens her
nursing mothers?"
3d. An alliance between the Church and an immoral civil government
has a tendency to suppress a faithful testimony against ihe sinful policy
of civil rulers. The world is in a state of alienation from God, and the
plan of his providence and the honor of his government require that
explicit and faithful testimony be borne against abounding iniquity.
And as God is more dishonored by the disobedience and impiety of
public bodies than by sins of individuals, it is of peculiar consequence
that public iniquities be exposed and condemned. But can it reasonably
be expected that this momentous duty will be performed, with any fidelity,
by a Church in alliance with an ungodly state ? The fact that she has
contracted such an alliance, even if it did not entirely prevent, must in
a great and grievous degree, neutralise her testimony against the evil
that is in it. But it is matter of certainty that the existence of such an
alliance will have the effect of preventing a faithful testimony from being
given. To expect that any large number of men, who are dependent
on the absolute will of unprincipled civil rulers for the whole, or a chief
part, of their support, and the support of their families, should continue
tne mind
burch is
, indeed,
s before
tned Dr.
istory of
ity upon
retended
r unlioly
i misled
ituted as
but the
9 servant
s of this
fore they
I, (Psalm
ty Daniel
id apolo-
as not a
)e fieared,
1, it may
Christ,
rebellion
J to yield
5 rightful
ves ; and
be'^nacle.
times, in
e faithful
ueens her
vernment
ful policy
I, and the
luire that
iniquity,
mpiety of
[sequence
easonably
ly fidelity,
It she has
, must in
t the evil
F such an
'oiii being
lependent
or a chief
1 continue
201
resolutely to expose and testify against the iniquity policy ot these rulers,
would be contrary to every sound view of fallen humanity, as well as to
experience. It is altogether roving and romantic. Individuals may possi-
bly be found, even in these disadvantageous circumstances,— though ordi-
narily the case is next to a miracle,— whose strong sense of duty, and
zeal for the glory of their Lord, will raise them above all selfish consid-
erations; and lead them to administer pointed and punptua! reproof to
noble, or even royal transgressors : But vhere in our day is one of this
character? And it would be but madness to expect that all Ministers
should equal the zeal and intrepidity of Elijah and John the Baptist, Inde-
pendents, of ancient times, or of Knox and Melville, Dependents, of a
more recent period. It is proverbial that princes seldom hear the truth ;
and least of all are they likely to hear it from those vvho are either in ex-
pectation or possession of favors which may be revoked at pleasure.
What infinite evil might have been prevented in the conduct of civil
rulers, had the Church and her Ministers been faithfcl to their trust!
How many unrighteous and disastrous wars might have heea arrested at
the outset, had the impolicy and injustice of these wars been distinctly
set before civil rulers, by the ambassadors of the Prince of Peace ! Where
there has been one Micaiah, to proclaim unwelcome truth in the king's
ear, there have been hundreds of flattering prophets to raise the shout,
" Go up to Ramoth-Gilead and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into
the king's hand." What an astonishing and humiliating spectacle has
l)een exhibited, when Prostestant nations have been slaughtering each
other in the field of battle, storming each other's cities, and sinking each
other's ships in the deep, and all the while the Gospel Ministry, as it is
termed, in the contending nations has been multiplying contradictory
prayers, on both sides, beseeching the Most High to bless and prosper
their righteous cause! How many unholy ailiances might have been
prevented, had the Church, and her Ministers, respectfully, but firmly,
represented to civil rulers the doom and danger of confederacies with
the enemies of God! Such representations are not always unsucessful.
Even a raw and rash, hot and headstrong king of Judea was arrested in
his course and counsel by the warning of a single messenger. "There
came a man of God to Amaziah, saying, O king, let not the army of
Israel go with thee, for the Lord is not with Israel. But if thou wilt go,
do it ; be strong for the battle, God shall make thee fall before the ene-
my ; f^r God hath power to help and to cast down." (2 Chron. xxv. 7, 8.)
How much tyranny and oppression might have been prevented, or greatly
mitigated, had the ministers of religion been faithful in tendering to civil
rulers sound and seasonable advice ! But alas ! they have commonly
had more of the character of courtiers, than of judicious and faithful
counsellors. They have too often given to ambitious and arbitrary rulers
such counsel as the young men gave to Rehoboam. "My father did
lade you with a heavy yoke, I will Id to your yoke : my father has chas-
tised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." In all
ages and countries, ambitious ecclesiastics have been the sternest enemies
of rational liberty. Whatever may have been the suiTerings or complaints
26
202
of ihe people, a pampered and time-serving Ciergy have been foremost
to reproach them as insoieni ; and to sileoce their murmurs by a pervert
ed application ot holy writ: " Let every soul be subject unto the higher
powers. For there is no power but of God : the powers that be are or-
dained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the
ordinance of God: and they that resist ahall receive to themselves dam-
nation;" — as if the Scriptures gave sanction to oppression, whiie thry
absolutely prohibited to the sufferers all efforts to obtain deliver<»nce or
redress. To what extent this liuvi of conduct, and this strain of doctrine,
on the part of Churchmen, have had the effect of implanting in the
breasts of an oppressed and suffering people a deep-rooted hatred and
hostility, not only to civil government, but also to the Church and the
Bible, the day of judgment alone will disclose. Under the worst reigns,
and the warmest oppressors, the Clergy have been almost invariably the
abettors of tyranny; and although a Pilate, and a Henry, and a Charles,
might not, perhaps, have been less ungodly, they certainly would have
been less cruel 'nd sanguinary, had there not been a Caiaphas, and a
Wolsey, and a Laud, and a Sharpe, to stir and stimulate them into per-
secution.
4th. Such a Union, as we are contending against, never fails to
bring a Church into bondage. Let it be recollected that we speak of a
government in the hands of men devoid of piety ; in whom the fear and
love of God are not the master principles, and with whom the advance-
ment of the kingdom of Christ, and the salvation of immortal souls, can-
not possibly be the chief ends. It is a moral certainty that such men
cannot love the true Church on account of her intrinsic worth, or feel
any sympathy with her in the great objects she labors to accomplish. On
the contrary, a Church that is faithful to her Supreme Lord, and which
displays the beauties of holiness, must inevitably be an object of their
dislike. By a necessity of nature they must desire to see the Church
less holy, less pure, less faithful and uncompromising, than the law of
Christ requires her to be; and unless they can succeed in divesting her
of those attributes which the carnal mind abhors, she must be an object
of increasing aversion. If such men shall choose to make an alliance
with her, their object in doing so must be a worldly or a political object.
It cannot possibly be their aim that the Church should contribute to
render men religious, excepting in so far as religion may be tolerated by
an unconverted world. But there is nothing on earth which the world
can less tolerate than true religion. " The friendship of the world is
enmity with God," and the faithful followers of the Lamb may expect to
be hated for his name's sake. But if ungodly civil rulers car>not befriend
the Church, out of any regard to true religion, what can their object be
in extending favor to her? The children of this world are wise in their
generation. All their noisy zeal for the Church, and princely liberality
to her, are not blindly thrown away. They know what influence the
Church and her Minioters are capable of exerting on the public mind;
they know that the Church is the most powerful engine on earth for
directing the feelings, and moving the will, of the great body of the people.
203
i
It has been, therefore, at all periods, one of the highest objects of their
ambition, to have Ihe Church under their own exclusive management
and control. The sum and substance of their policy have been this,
make the Clergy loyal and subservient, and by their means the people!
* " ,? !* ^^°^ "3 *o depreciate the legitimate influence which Ministers
of religion may exercise, and are bound to exercise, in preserving the
order and tranquillity of a nation, and in repressing the unreasonable
complaints. and murmurs that are sometimes, and not seldom, excited
against the most salutary measures of government. In such cases, good
Ministers will use their utmost to remove prejudice, and inculcate sub-
mission. They wiU exhort the people to " render unto all their dues ;
triijute to whom tribute is due ; cuotoni to whom custom; fear to whom
fear; honour to whom honour."' But the case is altogether different
when irreligious and ungodly men stretch forth sacrilegious hands to the
Church of God, that they may mould and fashion it to suit their own
ambitions designs. When, after the example of the Man of Sin, and
with an impiety not less daring, civil rulers claim the riyht of prescrib-
ing a creed or confession to the Church, and perhaps of enforcing sub-
Mission to it by civil penalties; when they undertake to regulate the
government of the Church, in virtue of a usurped supremacy over her;
when they claim the right of nominating her office-bearers, or of autho-
ritatively determining in whose hands that right shall be placed ; when
they control the meetings of ecclesiastical courts, convening, proroguing,
or dissolving them, at pleasure, or limiting them in regard to the matters
discussed in them; when they tamper with the worship of the Church,
loading it with rites and ceremonies, and disguising the beautiful simpli-
city of New Testament worship, by pompous additions of human inven-
tion ; when they interfere with the discipline of the Church, by admitting
or excluding members, annulling ecclesiastical censures or dictating ter'ns
of Church fellowship, it should be no time for the Church to truckle
or succumb, but to address the rulers as the Apostles did, " whether
It be right, in the .«ight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto
God, judge ye." " The liberty wherewith Christ has made us free,"
shall no man take from us. It may, perhaps, be asked, might not all
this be done to a Church not in connection with the civil government?
We answer, NO ; the thing is impossible. Who ever heard of a Church,
not connected with the State, waiting on the civil rulers to receive its
creed, or its form of Church government; or submitting to their dicta-
tion in regard to discipline, or the appointment of its office-bearers ? It
should be carefully observed, that a Church never can be brought into
bondage but by her own consent. She may be persecuted, but she can-
not be enslaved. Her public assemblies may be interdicted, and her
Ministers cast into prison, and her members proclaimed outlaws and
traitors; but all this does not rob her of her independence. Her allegi-
ance and loyalty to her one Lord may be as honest and hearty, sure and
sound, under these distressing circumstances, as when she enjoys undis-
turbed tranquility. The Neros and Domitians of the first age. could de-
solate and devour the Church ; but it was through the perfidy of her own
Pi
*:• i
i ,
204
office-bearers, and the insidious friendship of civil rulers, who made
religion the stalking-horse of their own ambition, that she was finally
brought into bondage The uprightness and integrity of a Chwrch are
put to no inconsiderable trial, by her having men of rank or opulence
in her communion, even where these men are Christians. The epistle
of James shews that some Churches, even in the Apostle's days, were
drawn into sin from this cause. It is, of course, much more dangerous
to a Church to admit into her fellowship ungodly rich men, oi» to be in
any important mea^jre dependent on them for her support. But the
danger is greatly increased, when the Church contracts alliance with
an ungodly civil government. And if the terms of the alliance be such
as to invest the rulers with any authority or control whatever, in the ap-
pointment of the Church's Ministers; in other worJs, in the selection
end choice of the persons who are to receive public support, that Church
must be regarded as being already in fatal chains— and these not the
less binding that they are made of gold. A variety of circumstances
may occur to modify or mitigate the effect of such an alliance, but the
tendency of it is unalterable. The law of gravitation is not more uni-
form in its operation.
A stone projected by a feeble force is instantly deflected from a straight
line, and brought to the earth. A piece of metal discharged from a
cannon pursues, for a time, a path so nearly rectilinear, that it might be
almost held debateable whether it feels the force of gravitation. But a
brief space will determine the dispute. The cannon ball descends to the
earth as surely as a pebble thrown by the hand of a child. Could we
suppose a church in a salutary and sound state, having enlightened and
zealous ministers, and religion flourishing in her, suddenly brought into
such an alliance as we have described, it is nothing improbable, that,
for a time, it might be difficult to discern any palpable change in her
purity or efficiency. And yet this must very much depend on the cir-
cumstances of the case. There are remarkable instances on record of
Churches having sustained most serious damage by the very first contact
with irreligious and crafty civil rulers. One of the most memorable and
instructive of these, perhaps, was exhibited by the Church of Scotland,
at the time when the Scottish nation received home the young Prince
Charles, as their covenanted King, after the death of his father Charles I.
In the year 1649, the Church of Scotland had reached the meridian of
her Reformation attainments. Impeifections and blemishes, no doubt,
still remained in her. It is in the world to come that the exalted
Redeemer will " present to himself a glorious Church, not having spot,
or wrinkle, or any such thing." But for any thing that authentic his-
tory records of her, we feel persuaded that the Church of Scotland, at
the period to which we have referred, might bear a comparison with
any other Church of equal extent, and equally well known, that has
existed since the days of the Apostles. In the month of June, 1650,
diaries arrived in Scotland ; and before one year had elapsed, the
Church had begun to retrace the steps of Refo/mation she had just
ainained. At the earnest solicitation of the King and his counsellors,
205
/ho maJe
'as Anally
lurch are
opulence
le epistle
ays, were
langerous
to be in
But the
mce with
e be such
in the ap-
selection
It Church
5 not the
irastances
, but the
nore uni-
a straight
d from a
might be
n. But a
nds to the
CouiJ we
tfcned and
lught into
ible, that,
ye in her
n the cir-
record of
St contact
)rable and
Scotland,
ig Prince
Charles I.
?ridian of
no doubt,
e exalted
v'lng spot,
nntic his-
otland, at
ison with
that has
ne, 1650,
psed, the
B had just
unsellors,
the Commission of the General Assembly gave their consent to the rep^'al
of some acts cf Parliament, passed in the preceding year, with the view
ot excludmg from places of trust or power persons who had incurred
the censures of the Church, by the scandalous immorality of their lives
or iheir notorious hostility to the Reformation. A majority of the
menibers of the next General Assembly approved of the resolutions of
tne Commission. Thus the door of admission into the Church as well
as into (4i'il offices, was thrown open to the malignants, who, in order
that they might qualify for places of power and emolument, went through
a disgraceful scene of mock repentance. A lamentable division was
created in the church, at the time when increasing danger demanded the
most cordial union. The more discerning and resolule minority, who
deplored, -and testified against these defections, were on that account
prosecuted with much rigor by the majority. Thus a multitude of ap-
parently good and pious men, who had fearlessly gone forward with the
work of Reformation, in defiance of the threats and thrusts of the first
Charles were now seduced by the blandishments and blinds of his son,
to Jay their own hands rudely on the sanctuary, which they had been
rearing with so much pious-like care; and even to make a chamber in
the temple for Tcbiah the Ammonite, by receiving the malignants into
the tellowship of the church. It is a historical fact, that the very men
into whose hands Charles now put the reins of government, became his
ready instruments, ten years afterward, in virtue of the authority with
vvhich they were now invested, both in subverting the civil liberties of
the kingdom, and in overturning the Reformation. In taking a theo-
retical view of the question now before us, w6 should hold it as very
important, that it be the unquestionable design and wish of those by
whom the Church is supported, that her ministers be faithful to their
trust— a rare case, indeed ! and that it must inevitably be an awfully
ensnaring position, even for guod men, to be dependent for tlieir sup-
port on those who undoubtedly desire that they should temporize, and
consult expediency. In so far as this point alone is concerned, the
intluence on the character and conduct of good ministers would on the
hrst supposition be a happy one, whether their support be derived from
Christian rulers, or a Christian people ; and on the contrary, the effect
must be both unhappy and dangerous, if not pernicious, whether the
support be derived from ungodly civil rulers, or an ungodly multitude
nlsely called a Christian congregation. The entire argument on this
head IS sometimes evaded by the remark, that there are temptations
attending the reception of money, through whatever channel it comes.
Jiut could this allegation be admitted as satisfactory, it might be employ-
ed m the defence of many evil things. There are temptations in the
House of God as well as in the play-house,— yet we hold it right to
attend the one, but unwarrantable to frequent the other.— There nTay be
dangers connected with partnership in trade, even where a partner is of
unblemished reputation ; but that would be no good reason for forming
,■■1' ■ •■'«" n.nu-.Tii lu uu irauuuieni and wicRed. Boine-
times the argurrrent is met by the indignant demand, whether there are
If-.
I'l
.* ^
r! )
206
wot miniilers supported in the manner here condemned, as much distin-
guished for faithfulness as any others. But neither is this at all satis-
factory. The argument respects the ordinary effects of such an alliance,
not on particular individuals, but on large numbers ; and not for a few
years merely, but during a long course of lime. There was an Obadiah
in the court of Ahab; a Nicodcmus in the Jewish Sanhedrim; and a
Judpre Hale on the bench, in the days of (Charles the Second ; but this
by no means proves that the position of any one of these eminent per-
kous was favourable to integrity, or virtue. But these exceptions are
here marked merely for their rarity, and the possibility, rather than the
probability of their recurrence; for we can retrace no visible signs of
such happy examples even in superlative miniature for a long time now,
under the shadow and sunshine of our own religious establishments.
5th, In a community greatly divided in religious sentiment, an alliance
between the Church and the government opens the way for unprincipled
rulers to patronis-?, and support the most corrupt churches. Were an
enlightened regard to the glory of God, and the eternal interests of men,
the high principles, by which civil rulers were induced to extend favor
and support to the Church, this support would be granted to those
churches only by which the interests of true religion could be effectually
promoted. But when State support is bestowed by rulers, not on reli-
gious, but on political grounds, the difference between true and false
religion will be wholly disregarded.
Should it so be, which ever seldom happens, that true religion actually
possessp political influence, then statesmen must make a virtue of ne-
cessity, and although they should hate if. as Ahab dii Micaiah, they
must nevertheless make an effort to conciliate it. And therefore endow-
ments will be given, if the parties who ask them have political influence
to give weight to their demand. If they cannot be conciliated they may
at least be quieted. For the very same reason and by the same means
niust the professors of false religion be conciliated, or their hostility
disarmed. When power is the Divinity, and political expediency the
supreme law, it matters nothing about the character of th'^ religion
which demands support, whether it is true or false. The great question
is. What political influence can it command ? This is the only consid-
eration in determining both the grant and the amount. In the case of
such rulers, the true reasons for granting support to a Church are " far
above out of their sight." The blasphemies of Rome, or the sublime
imaginations of Brahma, may as really meet their views, and as effectu-
ally serve their purposes, as the gospel of Christ. But we need not
dwell on a hypothetical case. The flagrant iniquity of propagating false
religion by grants from the public treasury, is practised in our own
cou itry to an enormous extent; and must justly be reckoned one of our
great national sins. And what is especially to be lamented is, that from
the absence of any strenuous opposition, or marked protest against the
evil, by any of our Established Churches, the government of the country
can scarcely be aware that it is regarded by them, or any others, as
siniui. iiuiu awu cjiui urc uiaiiicirjcauy opposea lo eacn otner as
Kill _JL !
far
i
207
wholesome food is opposite to poison. We could not but ekecrate th^
ti;.v";ira fi,h '''" '':,^^''^'«" -^^ ^^-< g-es them a slcfor when
woL l^'^r^' ^''«"' « »«7«"»- B"t the case before us iiunfinitel?
worse. It 18 the immortal soul that is poisoned ano destroyed by error
t whether the government provide it or not. To this we renlv thL
«:: ifcr ed" r "f^^r.^ "^^ «'°""? °" ^^^-^^ go^erTm^n'i'u' :
ance is craved— viz., that the parties wish to propagate their orincinl*.,
more extensively by means of the support of govJinmerittTan they are
tion th°a ifTh °"' ' '' "IT"^^' ^"^' ^d.lfproceedsi th sLp-
provide i for tK T/?h^°' '"7' '\' government may. without s^
provide it tor them. If the people choose to poison themselves *hi
government may supply depositories, at the public expose Tom which
they may be supplied gratuitously, or at reduced prices' 3d Error
provided and paid for by the government of a country.^s mc anirou
coLr wit' hV'r "'" T^'' '''' '' ''' P«°P'« ^h--™'-. - ^"he„*
comes with the stamp and signature of public authority. And 4ih
What IS done by government in such a matter, involves the^entire nation
m the awful responsibility of the meas.re-those only excep ed who
do every thing in their power to prevent it. ^ excepted, who
1 he establishment of different, or opposite systems of relieion ir the
same empire .s at once wicked and absurd. If PresbytU .s ri° ht Pre
e'wronr"ffV"^ 7 '" ^°"^^^^^' '^^^^'«^y is right P7e:by=;'mus;
versa ^heJr^nfl"'"^"' ''S*?*' ^"P^""^ '""^^ ^« ^^°»g ;-and vice
versa. 1 hey cannot be right on hot., sides. If the British Sovereirrn
believes Prelacy to be right, how sinful to oblige him (or her) to Sr
ndZh of "h'rr^r.™ ^"'^ PoP-y-ysteils oppoLi to elch othe^
Scotdsh ?re"hl'iJ " ^"^-'T '' ^' r'""^' ^" the British Parliamen [
S?shin. nr ^r! ?' '" ^^7 ^''^ Episcopalians, and assist them in
hvf.r n ^ or mamtaining Prelacy; and Episcopalians unite with P^es
byterians 1,1 establishing or maintaining Presbyterianism; and then both
,i ih.?^'°'''''T ''' ^"^" ''S''^'°' «"d ««tablish o endow P^pe;
he s onor°tT'ih:i'P^?P';^^,f ''' °°°''^ ^""^ ^' ^^'^' P^^ --"- '
late yPSrs'^Jre^ ^°"'^' at Maynooth ! Nor is this done of
when^theEhP ^-^^ ^^"^« monstrous wickedness was perpetrated
When the British Parliament consisted exclusively of professed Protes
ants, and when each member of the Legislature was rfqu reT^take a
h trbr'.'; '^'' y^'^ '''? blasphemous and idolatrous ! ! Can any
chss^f menr;'"^ "''''' '^'""'i' *''^" ^^^ '^' government to pay one
n nrl t.u K P'^P^g^^'^g '"^"th, if there is any truth taught in any of
our estublishments~a„d another class of men foJ propagating error to
ftdown-lr'^^'"'" f''' ^"''^'"g"P a system, and^nofhe7or puling
It down; to pay one cl.ss of men for laboring to establish the Pro\ee int
system in Ireland, and another for subverting it: to pay one class of mln
for^reaching salvation through faith in the §ivinityS aLtig bbo^^^
d?vi;^;Vrft.E^llT.l!^- [- P--^^"/ 4- the,to.fmran°d
another fordestr<,i„^;iie-uisofm;;rT;;S^^
306
'I* i
^1 '
liJIili]
moral but error demoralizes and destroys. To pay men for tcttclung
error is to nay them for demoralizing and destroying a nation. It is
settine the seal of national authority to the monstrous absurdity, that
error and heresy, blasphemy and idolatry, are as favorable to the pros-
nerilv of a nation, and as profitable to the souls of men, as the truth ot
the gospel. In so far, however, as we can perceive, the union at present
sub-u'-tinc between the civil goverrment and the churches of these lands,
renders this result inevitable. No one party is strong enough to main-
tain its own church revenues, which are now generally acknowledged to
be Dublic properly, without purchasing the forbearance of other parties,
by a base and sinful silence, while they make good their claims to a share
in the favour of government. Individuals may declaim in private against
the expenditure of the public revenue for the support and diffusion o
Popish superstition, and the blasphemous doctrines of Socinianism ; but
the stoutest opponents of these systems, belonging themselves to a state-
supported church, find their tongue to cleave to the roof of their
mouth in the national assembly, when increasing grants are annually
appropriated to heretical and idolatrous churches W'th what color of
rUloLnd consistency could the members ot the Established Chur.hes
offer resistance to these grants T We are aware it may be plead that truth
has rights, and that error has none ; that true religion deseives to be
supported, but that false religion cannot be supported without heinous
sin Bu» while the correctness of this statement is fully admitted, it
may stilfbe asked of what weight or utility it canbejn an assembly
Stituted-as is the British House of Commons ? You might bind
Samson with a thread of gossamer sooner than control that assembly by
an argument of .«uch a texture. And besides, the established and en-
dowed Churoiies have disabled and neutralized I'lis argument, in so tar
as it could be urged on their behalf, by their mutual consent to establish
and endow one another. Were the question of a general endowment to
the Romish clergy in Ireland debated in Parliament, and a member of
the Episcopal Church should object to the proposal on the ground that,
Pooerv being a corrupt and wicked system, it was not entitled to sup-
nort --the Roman Catholic could readily retort, " You have established
and endowed Presbyterian Churches, which you do not recognize as
Churches of Christ at all, which in very important matters are more
remote ^rom your sentiments than the Church of Rome, for if one of
our priests joins your Church, you recognize him without his being re-
ordained-you acknowledge the validity of our ordination ; but if a
Presbyterian minister joins your Church, you insist that he shall be
ordained anew." Should some member of Parliament connected wi li
the Church of Scotland oppose the grant on similar grounds, it would
nrobablv be replied, "You have solemnly consented to the establishment
of Prelacy, which your forefathers pronounced anti-christian, and were
sworn to extirpate, and the Puseyism of v.nich. at the present day, is at
least as remote from your views of orthodoxy, as the semi-popery ot
A..KK;«hnn Lnud in the time of the Solemn League ; -you agree,
moreover, that the Arian Synod in Ireland, and the Remonstrant bynoa,
r teaching
ion. It is
rdity, that
the pros-
he truth of
at present
hese lands,
1 to main-
wledged to
her parties,
a to a share
ate against
diffusion of
inism ; but
I to a state-
>f of their
re annually
fiat color of
1 Chur-hes
d that truth
•ives to be
out heinous
dmitted, it
III assembly
might bind
issembly by
iied and en-
t, in so far
to establish
dowment to
, member of
rround that,
tied to sup-
: established
Bcognize as
srs are more
ir if one of
IS being re-
n ; but if a
he shall be
necied with
ds, it would
stablishment
in, and were
nt day, is at
ni-popery of
—you agree,
trant Synod,
•209
and the Southern Association, should be endowed from the public tro.-
sury a though you know that all these sects deny the supre m^ Li. itv
o the Lord Jesus Christ, which Ron.an Catholics ackimwiedce a d
although they der.de that atonement which you believe to be the'oTlv
k'm^h n'"'; °^ T ^7,^^-"''y" Verily, .should the Cler .J of e
Romi.h Church .n Ireland become applicauts for sharinrj in the public
support, there does not appear to be any sm.le obstacle o^f importance in
wi h th'^^ril 'l"""'r- J^' g^-rvvould be in perfect Lcordan
w h the principle on which the government has been acting for a very
^ng period, with the consent and concurrence of all our E tlbliJhed
Churc es; and we do no» apprehend that any of them would hav the
fauhfu Iness. or the courag,. to offer any decided resistance. E en fa
few individuals, more conscientious or incautious than the re.s7s o Id
offer a protest agu.nst the impious proposal, they should speedily be
itZL/ "" ^,?"^°T^'"g •^^"«"-?-. "do y'ou cease to tax'is fo^th^
Chr.stian State, has a tendency to break down and destroy the disciplhie
of the Church. It has been already observed, that men de okJ of pie y
a e incapable of appreciating or understanding the sublime and ha lo ^d
purpo.es for which a Church is preserved in^he world. Their obect
in supporting her must be a political object. They desi..n that she shoS
subserve the purposes of their own ambition. In order, however thnt
she niav be effective for such purposes, it is indispensabl^ t ."her ^red
and nfluence be maintained; this is one important reason why hev
should embrace her fellowship, by becoming Church members, -politf-
ci.ms. generally, choose to be connected with the Church ; this mcrea es
their own influence over her, while it adds respectability o the Church
in the eyes of an irreligious multitude. Now it is alto/ether Kyond lie
bound.s of credibility, as it is certainly unprecedented "in hi tory that a
Church which has consented to be allied to . civil governme. compos
ed chiefly of irreligious and ungodly men. should hfve the fo titud7and
fi e ity ...refuse to these men the participation of her inost sac ed o di-
nances. 1 o preserve a purely scriptur,)! discipline, is one of the most
important and, at the same time, one of the most difficult du ies wS
he Church owes to her exalted Head. But the difficulty of doiZso
IS prodigious y increased when her connection with an immora civH
government brings a godless aristocracy into her templeT Besides
when a Church is very richly endowed, and there are livinas and
revenues to be disposed of. which may be objects of dJireZfJet
rnan's own connections, or to his political friends anisupporYer'
there ,s a powerful additional reason why the highct ranks^l ouTd
keep in her fellowship. There may he men w^o... p oflLcy if
deportment is too revolting to admit of their seeking Church pi^v leges
^nd others, whose hatjed of religion, in every a'pect of i?, n af be
strong enough to overbear their conviction- of nnlitJ^nl ••■■ ^ ^ ^^ '
a large proporUon of resolute, ambitious, carcuiating poluid^nJI^choose
^10
to connect themselves with the Church. And where nhall we find
that Churcli, which is I'ependent on the favour of ilie State for her
support, that will decline to receive them? V/e speak not of what
individual Ministers might possihiy do— men of uncommon firmness
and energy of character, or men of singul.r conscientiousness; but of
what the great body of the Clergy of a Church will do, situated as we
have described, l^et him who possesses a sound knowledge of human
nature, or let history and experience answer; both will testify the^ a
Church, so placed, will receive into her fellowship the noble, and the
honorable, and the opulent, without any regard to religious character,
and with extremely little regard to moral character, unless their wicked-
ness be indeed so Hagitious and notorious that common decency would
revolt at their admission. Nor does the evil stop uere : the walla of Zion
being once broken down to admit the ungodly possessors of rank and '
power, the Church has no means or manner of defence against other in-
truders. Nothing can be more offensive to the world than a Christian
Church, in which the truth of God is faithfully procioimed ana acted
upon, every form of iniquity fearlessly condemned, and the special privi-
leges of Christ 8 house extended to those only who give satisfactory
evidence o. Christian character. But on the other hand, nothing can be
more acceptable than a political Church, reared up and supported by the
fostering care of civil rulers— themselves destitute of the fear of God —
where men may acquire the reputation of religion, while they loathe the
reality ; where they may enjoy no inconsiderable share of luxury and
display o. the tho;itre, at a mere fraction of the cost of it ; where deluded
mortair may persuade themselves that they are making their peace with
God, while they continue, habitiiully and zealously, in the service of the
devil, the world, and the flesh. The true Church is the chaste and faith-
ful spouse of Jesus Christ. When sinners are converted bv the word of
truth, and regenerated by the power of the Holy Ghost, they are proper-
ly received into the Church, whether they be high or low, rich or poor.
They are the holy, spiritual seed of the Redeemer — a people formed for
himself, that they may shew forth his praise. Cut when the Church is
extended by tlie admission of an irreligious multitude, w'lc ire brouffhl
into her fellowship in consequence of her connection with the civil gov-
ernment, the Sc.-iptu-es employ a very difleronl emblem to set forth this
enlargement. Thv-;. ii'. '.'hurch is represcnled as an unchaste woman,
maintaining a .lishonorahie commerce with the kiii:.rsof the earth; and
the multitudes that crou j m i. ; fellowsnip, solely on account of her
wealth and worldly honours derived from the State, are regarded, in an
ecclesiastical sense, as an illegitimate race — the children of adultery.
It would be a mistaken and crimmal politeness, that would prevent us
from calling attention to the fact, that the Spirit of God has expressly
made choice of terms and images, calculated to awaken our abhoience
of such a connection. The apostate Church is broadly represented as an
abandoned harlot, holding in her hand a golden tup, full of abomination,
and filthiness of her fornication; the kings of the earth are her paramours;
the vast inciease ol her members is the frui*. of her oruijtv connection
ill we find
itc for her
3t of what
n firmness
ms; but of
itcd as we
of human
tify the*^ a
e, and the
character,
Mr wicked-
ncy would
lb of Zion
' rank and
It other in-
Christian
ana acted
ecial privi-
lalisfactory
ing can be
rted by the
of God-
loathe the
uxury and
re deluded
)eace with
vice of the
; and faith-
he word of
are proper-
h or poor,
formed for
Church is
re brought
J Civil gov-
t forlli this
te woman,
jarth ; and
unt of her
ded, in un
f adultery,
prevent us
I expressly
abhoience
nted as an
omination,
•aramours;
:onnect!on
•211
with the rulers, and not of any relation to Chaist. Siatc innueiicc. Stale
fellowship, the attractions and honours and emoluments which are the
result of her alliance with the State, are the sources of her crowded as-
aemblies. Let the friendship of the State be withdrawn, and let the
Church be supposed to exercise a faithful scriplural discipline, and
her crowded assemblies would, in many or most, or in all instances,
dwindle into insiginfici.nl societies. It may possibly be alleged that the
prophesy to which we have now alluded has a reference to the apostate
and idohtrous Church of Rome; but while this is frankly admiiled, it
does not follow that it has no reference to other Churches. It is signi-
ficantl." caid of that Church, that she is the Mother of Harlots, an expres-
sion which soems to imply, that there would be other Churches descend-
ing from her that would bear a lamentable resemblance to the mother.
And here again we take leave to guard ourselves against the invidious
allegation, that our &rgumeiit would condemn evp,y alliance between the
Church and a civil government, whatever might be its character. We
are convinced it can bear no such construction. Were a government
constiiufed on scriptural principles, and the rulers poBsessad of scriptural
qualihcations, such rulers might be received into the leiicwEhip of the
Chiirch without any breach of her discipline. Such rulers would give
vo countenance to factious persons, who might attempt to intimidate
Uospel ministers, in maintr.ning the law o! Christ's house; but by their
own example, and by their authority as magistrates, they would strength-
en the hanci of Church officers, and secure to the government of the
Church, w^hen exercised within its own province, all due reverence and
respect_ l heir countenance and favour would be the reward of distin-
guished devotedness and fidelity to the Redeemer, and not, as heretofore
the price of political partizanship and servility. '
II. But If. <his a question on whicii we can ascertain the mind of God
by an appeal to the inspired record? It would seem highly improbable
that on a subject so momentous, the Lord should have left his Church
without direction. The fact is, that the guilt and danger of contracting
alliances with the wickr d. is a "esson so often brought up to view and
inculcated on the people of God in such a muliitvde of ways, that an
adequate represenlatiou of the scriptural evidence on this topic cannot
possibly be given, within the narrow limits prescribed to a "-cture We
can do little more than indicate to our hearers sonir of the principM
sourcts of evidence, which we would entreat them to iuvestisate and ex-
amine lor themselves.
1st. We might refer to the numerous and peremptory charaei, address-
ed to the ancient Israelites, .cspecii.is^r alliances with the heathen. From
the urgency an ilouiniiy with which they were exhorted on this bub-
ject, It is mauj.«. that of all the moral dangers to wln-,.i they were ex-
posed, this was one of the most formidable. And ti..; events of ther
subs'^quent history shew that this was the cas.\ When they " min^/led
with the heathen, they soon learned their way." Of similar import "n-e
a multitude of passages in which the Israelites were reproved for h,-.vi,rr
sought assistance from heathen allies, when C.iey were bruu<Tl,t uiio
212
' I ,;!
:ti|{'
i
straits. " Wo fu the rebellious children, saitli the Lord, that take coun-
sel but not of uie; that walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked
at my mouth ; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and
to tr ust in the shadow of Egypt. Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh
be ynur shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor bean
help nor profit, l)ut a shame and also a reproach." (Isniah xxx.)
2nd. Ill confirmation of this doctrine we might adduce passages of
Scripture to an indefinite extent, in which the lesson cannot be under-
stood as temporary or local, but pernianent and universal. We might
refer to the solemn announcement given in the garden of Eden, respect-
ing the natural, invincible, per[)etu!il enmity, th-it should subsist between
the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent; and to the frequent
lessons which the Saviour addressed to his disciples, in regard to the
treatment they might expect to meet with in the world, "if ye were of
the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not of the
world, but that I have chosen you out of the world, therefore doth the
world hate you." And again; "I have given them thy word, and the
world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am
not of the world." Can any thing be less in iiarmony with the scope
and doctrine of these passages, than the expectation that irreligious and
ungodly civil rulers should beconie sincere friends and patrons of true
religion ? nursing fathers and nursing mothers to the r'juirch? If tliey
do extend to her their fostering care, we may be certain that one or
other of these two causes has led to it: cither there is some insidious
political design concealed under their professions of friendship, or the
Church must have so far conformed to the world, that the distiii.vfuishing
features of Christianity have ceased to be discernible in her. One single
passage of Scripture might seem sufficient to decide the quest-on, were
it possible for men to ponder it without [jrejudice. " Be ye not unequally
yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or wlint part hath he that
believeth with an infidel?" This passage appears to interpose a perpe-
tual interdict against such a union as that under consideration. How
can it be denied that a Church united to an immoral civil government is
"unequally yoked ?" lias this not proved to be the v-,ate in regard to
the Church of England, during the entire period of her union with the
State? a Church so bound and fettered by the royal prerogative, that
scarcely a vestige of liberty has been left to her. And is this not equally
true of the Church of Scotland, which, for more than a century, has
been compelled to bear the double yoke of Moderatism, and of Erastian
control ?
3rd. The view given in prophecy of the character of the civil govern-
ments that should exist in Western Europe, during the period of anti-
Christian domination, exhibits very strongly tlieir total unworthiness to
be admitted into alliance by the Church of Christ. This, however, is
an argument which ought not, perhaps, to be touched unless it could be
ftiily stated ; and this our limits will by no means suffer us to do.
take couii'
e not asked
inraoh, and
of Pharaoh
confusion.
1, nor be an
X.)
passages of
be under-
We might
en, respect-
ist between
le frequent
Tard to the
■ ye were of
not of the
e doth the
rd, and the
en as lam
I the scope
iligious and
Dns of trui-
i? If tliey
hat one or
e insidious
hi]), or the
tintiuishing
One single
st'on, were
•t unequally
rhteousness
darkness ?
ith he that
iJR a perpe-
ion. How
vernment is
1 regard to
)n with the
Tative, that
not equally
2ntury, has
af Erastian
ivil govern-
od of anti-
Kthiness to
lowever, is
It could be
do.
213
to "eat vlt'ire^lttSr' %'\'T''''--'' ^^''''^^ ^° ^^« '^bilged
ish commonwealth rhibited^hfV.'''"' '''PP"-"'"^^"^ "the jfw-
corrupt the Church than thp «;iotl!i ^7''V'*'">' ""^ speed.ly debase and
godly ci.il rulers TM^Ppffi^^^^ interference of ambitious and un-
;:is5 f„F3Vf ^-f--' -. ^^'^^^
•he Church h „" „l ire ™ h ;iie"sfr"r"' "' "",''"=" """ <"'''"'
h'Ui T^Ll so Ion. nnd^ fp .1 ' , , ' V'-'""' "*^ P*--rsecntion, which
Church, n.Kl^^r'rsnfiits,:''' ""'"•, ,""'1 .'H|.<-.r.sti,i„n in the
».c„lor power, He ' i^"'! "'"", "I''"'''' ""•' I'^l'ol^-ed. The
ag.mi.t either ll e A.-irl, ' ! 'l "" '^IT'"' '" ''''""=" ':""'l'l»i"ls
noble efr,„„ ,„ "'"'"«•> "I- llie lives „f the priesthood. II„„ ,„anv
.Te'tt Vpo :;'T,,d t?;';:":,'"'''' ''"'' ^*" '^"'-s^ <» -™-
'he Bible have been ,1, "'" """'1'°" "' ""=" "> '"'^ '^""ly "f
have l,een .care d:,";„d^L,i,t;': l''"'''"!'r™'"r''« '^■'l""'"" »"■=''="-
^id and cost, altire, «,.h .he^X'cp Vf d^i'tli'lvrrrrtri'jldl.':",-
'} :|
■ i ■
9A.i
possessed most formidable powei-s of seduction, had she been alone and
unassisted ; but by becoming the favored mistress of the civil rulers, her
ability to do evil was immensely increased. Then her jealousies, and
resentments, and capricious passions, could call a power into action,
that rendered them tremendous. The Gospel history will supply to us
here an instructive ar ilogy. Had Herodias been the mistress of some
private person, she might have reviled and slandered the servant of the
Lord, who testified against her adultery and incest ; but it was her con-
trol over the King that enabled her to gloat over the bloody head of the
^ithful martyr, served up in a charger. Thus might the Mother of
Harlots— the apostate church— have raved and stormed against the
enlightened and holy men, who wrote and preached against her un-
bounded profligacy and superstition ; but without a connection with the
state, she could not have carried on a systematic persecution against
them; she could not have silenced, imprisoned, and banished them;
she could not have organised murdeious fraternities to hunt them from
nation to nation ; she could not have instituted inquisitions to torture
them; she could not have raised crusades to spread slaughter and
devastation through obnoxious cities and provinces; she could not
have commanded the whole civii and military forces of the nations to
take vengeance on them. It was the position she attained as the rider
of the scarlet-colored Beast that invested her with power so appalling.
This savage monster- the seven-headed b?ast— had raged and devoured
before, but never in such fashion as after he came under the control
and direction of the woman. Her wakeful jealousy, and untiring per-
severance, and malignant enmity against true religion and the professors
of It, goaded him on to such excesses of cruelty, as had no parallel in
the history ot the world. Then, indeed, the prophHic character of the
Beast was verified to the letter ; he became " dreadful and terrible,"
" devoured, and brake in pieces, and st.-n.ped the residue with his feet;"
was steeped in blood himself, and kept the cup of his insatiable rider
perpetually full of the blood of the saints.— It is humiliating and melan-
choly to reflect that the rema.'ks now made respecting^the apostate
Church of iloiiie, may, to a large extent, be truly applied to the Pro-
testant Church of England. That Church is literally and undeniably
" a creature of the state." Her articles, her canons, her liturgy, her
form of church government, were, all of them, enacted fer her by civil
authority. She neither has now, nor ever had power to deliberate on
the qneition, in a judicial or ecclesiastical capacity, whether sb. should
receive or reject them. Henry, in the exercise of his own despotic
authority, abolished Popery, and made the Church, to a certain extett,
a Protestant Church. His daughter Mary found it Protestant, and
summarily made it a Popish Church. Her sister Elizabeth found it
Popish, and in the same summary manner, and in the exercise of the
very same Erastian principle, made it Protestant again. Little altera-
tion has been made on it since the time of Elizabeth. New prayers
may have been added to the liturgy, or new holidays to the calendar;
but for aity consliluiiunai or substantial reform, thai Church is power-
f i
i 1
if ■)
s ;-
215
infecting her universities and mnUiu^JL c u^ ''^® ^ gangrene,
judicial power to ar est or ^^^^^^^ nun.sters, siie has no
clergv has mPt fnr thll ^ . *" ' ^'^^^ "« convocation of her
yearf, 'ZZ^Lt "ZT^Z^l '^tr >''' '""" '""» = '"""'^^
or a prayer in her liturrfv or ,h» ? "^ ° canon, or a ceremony,
Ee£f .nd Si -^ - f — -' "'--"^
p:^x£ioS^SrS?^^^s
in the scriptural sense nf thn?!- '^ ""§^'® pastor or bishop,
moderate endolent to ech ^1.'' '"^P^"'-^ ^^ ^" '^'«- ^ith^^
Presbyterian ministers in TrPhnT .k "' '' ^'.'^ ^^ government to
five thousand ministers Bu^iZl" T ^'°"'^ ^"PP°'' ^''^"^ f^"-- '«
friends of the ChnroT i ^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^'^ ""^ required? The
the/tenostu^gttyV:^^^^^^^^^^^ her dignitaries%eclare Jh
the metropolis o^thVer re ^ In n'''''^ destitution, even in
lately deceased, who a fewTr^ alpTb^^^^^^^^^ An English nobleman,
for the Church of EnglaL^ states that with ' ''^'"'? °^ reformation
around London, above 900 000 .^rc " ^.*=""*^'« "* ^^n miles
pastoral offices of religion' A f^^^^^ '"^ "^?""' ^" «hare in the
state of matters be alZeTlo fx ' f^r'^a's^n^leT/arT^V^t'/^" ^"^\^
bishops at. once relieved frnm <k^ ^ i bingie year f Why are not the
"iiy by which ?hlv are in-- .?7^''"''"^ '°^^ of wealth and diu.
/ J nuii^ii luev are incapacitated for nnatr>rui A,^t.,i a i ■ =»
people that the dend'^?/ f^- "^''^""^ religious instruction for the
miaL;ta '^^l^ sp ng"f;om' it "'f.rrar^ 'v '"'1' ^"^ ^^^ "--'
chartism, and rockism 1^ ~ "tionnlism, and socialism, and
which abound throurout th/'^''''^'"- '"^ <^°""t'e«« oth^er disorders
Lord Henley wi Sin tlsT*;!;^'^' T^ ^' ^P^^^"^ dissipated?
inspecting the 1 it of d .. . .^/ ^^"'^ *^'"^' '""^ ""^ ^'one. "On
mo'- thaifo e itluf o TS h : '''%'•'' "'" '^ '"'^""^ ^hat no;
ground of theolLcarfr i!f , any claim to preferment on the
influence famiy connection f"'^ attainments. Parliamentary
vacancies' asThe]; ::Z:^:':i,^r Z:T^^.!:^'L^^l^' "P t»^e
ministers and their adherents. This spec^^ of 'pat;on^rh:r^:^:;:,;^
216
been considered as so much ail to grease the wheels of government,
that the machine of the state may roil on the more smoothly. Widely
as the several parties, that have governed the country for a. ceritury
past, have differed in other things, they have all agreed to regard the
Church as a source of patronage, which might fairly be employed
either for the gratification of private partiality, or as the price of so
much parliamentary influence." Here is the reason why the sinecures
cannot be abolished. Here is the reason why zealous churchmen
are not ashamed to clamor to parliament for an increase of church
revenues, while they are fully aware that nearly half a million ster-
liner of the revenue already secured to the Church, is devoured by
a body of ecclesiastical drones ; a pack of " dumb dogs thai cannot
bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber ;— greedy dogs which
can never have enough." They know well, that mere politicians
cannot be averse to inrrtase the revenues of the Church. A httle more
oil may cause the wheels of state to roll on the more smoothly. And
all this might be borne, without any vehement emotion, could our atten-
tion be confined to the mere economical part of the question. It is
immeasurably better to expend a few hundreds of thou.sands in keeping
an aristocracy quiet at home, than to lavish millions in the support of
military armaments abroad. But when we view the question in its regu-
lar bearings, and recollect that this politico-ecclesiastical, semi-popish,
semi-protestant institution, is held out to the people as the Church of
the living God,— that multitudes of unconverted and heretical men,
Demases, and Judases, and Sit.ion Maguses, are thrust into pulpits as
the spiritual a des which the- government has provided for millions of
immortal beti s; then, indeed, the mingled emotions of grief and
indignation c; > neither be disguised nor repressed. We would then
feel inclined to beseech the good men who are in tnat church (if so
much life should be expected in such a church) to obtemperate the
divine injunction :— " Come out of her, my people, that ye be not par-
takers of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues."— A summary
account of the bloody persecution of this Church would also form a
very dire and dismal, long and loathsome chapter ; but we have now
neither tact nor tinn; to enter upon that disagreeable part of the subject.
And as to the present statrf of the Church of Scotland, it is not so
necess ry to say much here, after what has already been remarked on
the subject both now and heretofore in this work. Her spurious late
revivals, and her nominal orthodoxy, though highly estimated by many
of her lofty members, and popular ministers, are yet found to have for
some time now been but so much of her delusion, and of the more
stumbling traits of her character, in fostering both self-confidence and
proud contempt, and impatience of rebuke or opposition. Whereas
nothin<T is more certain than ■ , by her state connection, those of her
clergy fondly denominated " lue Orthodox and Evangelical," are so, in
name and notion, more than in sense and substance; even according to
th^ ncKonnt and admission of some of her own greatest champions at
this very day. It is remarked by the lecturer, Doctor Bates, thut "ir.
217
;overnmeiit,
y. Widely
a. century
» regard the
B employed
price of so
16 sinecures
churchmen
) of church
nillion ster-
levoured by
thai cannot
dogs which
politicians
L little more
:)thly. And
d our atten-
ition. It is
1 in keeping
support of
1 in its regu-
semi-popish,
Church of
etical men,
to pulpits as
millions of
if grief and
! would then
hurch (if so
imperate the
! be not par-
-A summary
also form a
e have now
f the subject.
, it is not so
emarked on
spurious late
ted by many
j to have for
of the more
nfidence and
n. Whereas
those of her
i\," are so, in
according to
champions at
stea, thut "in
so far as nioderatism has prevailed — which is no little extent— thw
Church of Scotland has been an engine for evil and not for good ; a
pillar '»<' error and delusion, rather than a pillar and ground of the
trnti ; " aud and deception upon the souls of men. What infinite evil
has rtfi from the maintenance of such a system, as a national insti-
tutien, while three entire generations passed into eternity ! What fear-
ful iniquity to impose upon the people, whose eternal welfare was at
stake, a ministry that nauseated and despised the gospel as ignoble, and
fanatical, and vulgar; a ministry publicly hired and supported to' feed
the people with the bread of life, but who starved or poisoned the souls
committed to their charge; a ministry, of whom a weeping remnant in
the land might have taken up the land might have taken uo the language
of Mary, "they have taken away my Lord, and I know liot where they
hare laid him." And to what do we ascribe all this ? To the fact >hat
the Church was united to the State ? By no means ; but to her union
with an irreligious and ungodly state. For whatever may have been the
causes of decay m churches in other lands, it is clear to demonstration,
that the inefficiency, and heresy, and stunted growth of tlie Church of
Scotland for a hr.ndred years, were the result and consequence of that
unhappy and fatal alliance, which opened the way for the unhallowed
and wicked interference of an irreligious and Erastian civil government.
And here, verily, is the alternative which mere politicians hiive extended
to the Church in all ages, and which the history of the Scottish Church
from her very infancy, so fully illustrates. If she concede to the State a
real and effectual control over her ;— if the mutual compact be so arranged
as to secure to civil rulers as large a return of political influence as they
could reasonably expect to secure by the same amount of wealth expended
in any other way, then their good officer: and friendship will be granted
to her without parsimony, and without grudging. But if, on the con-
trary, the Church be faithful to her divine Lord, and disdain every
compromise with those who would usurp his authority; if she resolutely
maintain her own rights, and sturdily resist every Erastian encroach'l
ment ; if she be faithful in exposing what is corrupt, even in the civil
constitution, and in testifying against what may be unrighteous or im~
pious in the administration, it will invariably be found, that in the pro-
secution of such a course, the favor of ungodly rulers will be forfeited-
and she must either make a cc.npromise, or be deprived of their support ''
"The ecclesiastical fellowship whicli the orthodox party in the Church
have so long maintained with these Moderates, has been one of the great
sms of the Church. The retributive justice of God would lead us to
expect, that when Christians, from motives of expediency embrace
ecclesiastical fellowship with the known enemies of the cross of Christ
they must suffer for their unfaithfulness; and that, in all probability the
parties with whom itiey have contracted the unlawful alliance will be
made instruments for inflicting the punishment. Thus did the Lord
punish the improper forbearance of the Israelites towards the Canaanites ■
It shall come to pass that those whom ye let remain shall be pricks in
your eyes, arid thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein
-vCJ
M
218
111
ye dwell.' Having the settled conviction, that ecclesiastical fellowship
bet\*cen the orthodox paity and the moderates, is altogether unwarrant-
able and unfaithful, we have observed with extreme regret, that at the
last meeting of Commisr-ion, the temporizing policy recommended by
Mr. Candlisli, who wishes to retain the Moderates, seemed to prevail
over the sound and correct views of Mr. Crichton, who wishes to be
finally sepnrated from them. If any thing could add to this regret,
it would be the fact that this unsound expediency doctrine should pro-
ceed from Mr. Candlish, who has been so honorably distinguished for
high principle and orthodoxy. Is it possible to convince the people
that there can be any thing seriously wrong or dangerous in the system
of moderatism, as long as the leading men, of the most advanced section
of reformers in the Church, regard the Moderates as proper associates
in church fellowship? The Scripture rule is : * A man that is an here-
tic, after the first and second admonition, reject.' But Mr. Candlish's
counsel is, ' when you have got a few hundred heretics, and sufficient
power to exppl them, take no step for their removal.' And the reason
lie is reported to have assigned for this advice, is not less strange than
the advice itself: lie ' detests their principles,' but would deplore their
secession, as an event which might lead to the overthrow of the Estab-
lishment. He admits that the orthodox party might get on better with-
out the moderates, in the ecclesiastical courts, but believes that they
could not get on without them ' as an Establishment.' This statement
exceedingly requires explanation. The aspect of it seems to be this;
that ' in the present circumstances of the church and of the country,'
an established church cannot safely attempt to observe the law of the
New Testam^Mit, in regard to discipline."
The ensuing observation is from the popular Doctor Chalmers con-
cerning the two great and contending parties in the state : — " After all,
I now feel that 1 owe an act of justice to the Whigs. I understand jus-
tice in the sense of equity, (.x'quitas) and I am now bound to say that if,
on the question of church endowments, I have been grievously disappoint-
ed by the one pany, — on the question of church independence, I have
been as grievously disappointed by the other. Of course I speak on the
basis of a very limited induction ; but, as far as the findings of my own
personal observation arc concerned, I should say to the former that they
seem to have no great value for cliurch establishments at all; and of the
latter, that their great value for a church establishment seems to be more
for it as an engine of state, than as an instrun'->nt of Christian usefulness.
The difference lies in having no principle, or in having a principle that
is wrong; in either way they are equally useless, and may prove equally
hurtful to the church ; and though the acknowledgment I now make to
the Whigs be a somewhat ludicrous one, if viewed in the character of a
peace-offering, I am nevertheless bound to declare, that, for aught like
right church purposes, I have found the Conservatives to be just as bad
as themselves." The Doctor continues his remarks, upon the present
striiegle of his Church : — " Now we have a Sanbailat and his lloronites
to contend with," meaning the heterodox or moderate party, " fierce
al fellowship
r unwarran*-
, that at the
nmended by
id to prevail
wishes to be
this regret,
should pro-
riguished for
e the people
n the system
inced section
er associates
It is an here-
r. Candlish's
ind sufficient
i the reason
strange than
leplore their
•f the Estab-
better with-
es that they
liis statement
3 to be this ;
the country,'
1 law of the
halmers con-
-" After all,
derstand jus-
say that if,
ly disappoint-
ence, I have
speak on the
;s of my own
ner that they
I ; and of the
is to be more
in usefulness,
rinciple that
Drove equally
now make to
liaracter of a
)r aught like
e 'ust as bad
1 the present
lis lloronites
arty, " fierce
and vigorous assailants, armed with peculiar weapons of hostility, and
having the command of very peculiar tactics, l)y which they can not
only bring down upon us a hand of violence from without, but stir up
against us, and that in all the various quarters of our constitution, an
anarchy and misrule within our borders."~So that it is now manifest to
the world, beyond any possible darkness or disguise, that this Church of
Scotland— a Protestant Church, under a Protestant government, and in
the light and liberty of the nineteenth century, cannot act on her own
declared or professed principles; but either tamely yield to her old
double yoke of clashing and counterpoising religious sentiments, within
her own walls, and of government restraint without; or incur the twofold
hazard of an open conflict with the civil tribunals of the country, and
of bursting asur ler the golden bond of her proud and profitable—
though mock and mongrel, long and lamentable— ecclesiastical union
and establishment. Bost, in his history of the union of the Moravians,
with other Churches, in order to obtain and enjoy more external
ease, extension and freedom, concludes one of his chapters with the
following judicious remark :— " We may observe here, that the Brethren,
in entering into this conn'^ction, forgot the resolution of their predeces-
sors, never to be too closely connected with those who could give no
sufficient security for the maintenance of evangelical doctrine and dis-
cipline; and thus, instead of gaining over the Reformed, the Brethren's
Church, or at least the Polish part of it, as Comraenius remarks, by
uniting with the Reformed, lost its own existence, and gave up its pecu-
liar form, its independent discipline, and the spirit of its ancestors. The
great lesson which we should then draw from these events is this :—
That the Christian can only exert a salutary influence upon the world,
in proportion as he separates himself from it; and that be will always be
deceived, if he adopts an opposite course." In a word, a civic church
is commonly a sapless, senseless, shameless church.
After the foregoing Extracts, and their concomitant remarks, which
might, if necessary, be extended to a considerable length, on the ground
of the respective Established Churches under deliberation, it i& hoped
that all Seceders, Independents, and Dissenters, who may chance to
peruse the same, will take them as friendly hints of admonition, in order
to use, in humility, and with fear and discretion, their ecclesiastical
freedom and exemption from the bond and bondage of state connection ;
and pause and ponder well before they throw away their liberty, and
entangle themselves with those already in establishment captivity. Nor
will It look very creditable to the members of Endowed Churches,
especially of the Church of Scotland, to show, on this ground, their
hettt or hatred against the Author, or his publication, when it is impotjsi-
ble for them, either to falsify the main drift of his statements, or to
prove his ruling intention as unfriendly to their best interest and rtcrnal
concerns. *
m
f'^m
iWO
ft
! il
iil
EXTRACTS OF CORRESPONDENCE, &t.
^^ luTdZKilnT ""f «"'^;«""'-- Correspondence between a Minister in the fUgh-
witlhfJ ' "^ *'* Correspondent in Cape Breton. The first Utter, as
RcjoZder " "" ""*'''"■ '" " ^'■''"■"'^ "'" ''" '''' ^ "'"'' '"*>^'' «"'' '/'« ^"""^ «^
Inverness, May, 1842.
iJc't'mnrf anr/ i?car iSiV,--! received on the 27th April your Letter
tlated 4th March in which I see a number of your neighbors authorise
you to make application to me with the view of becoming their Pastor.
i lear they have had too good an opinion of me, from report merely.
1 ajn a poor barren branch, much and deservedly despised by the men
of tni. world. Though I have the name and oflice of a Minister,
1 never saw myself qualified for that office. I often wished to have been
in the most obscure calling. I must confess that the people of God are
the objects of my choice, but if I am with them in eternity, free grace
alone will have the glory. I would sooner have answered your letter
but t imgs appeared so dark to me, that I had no liberty in doing so.
1 hnd my present hearers sincere and affectionate— as much so as a peo-
ple could be to their pastor ; I trust, also, there are a few among them
ot the excellent ones of the earth— though the world would be happy to
see them going to their grave, and me with them. Yet I am truly tired
o. I resbyUMies, and would be glad to be free of them— the glory of
i>i!nst and the good of souls, are buried out of sight— nothing 'but self
uiK pride and party spirit seen amongst us, and I "fear the same reigns
with you. I do not wonder though the people there complain of the
Kind cl ministers they receive from us ; poor as we are at home, I be-
leve none hardly goes to you, except those who will not get a place in
their own native land. I wish you had been more specific in your letter ;
there are a kw things, of which I would wish to be informed, before I
can give any answer ; from my ignorance of the people and the distance
oetvveen me and that place, I see it my duty to be plain, and should the
people be pleased also to give me plain answers,! shall afterwards follow
as the word and providence lead me.
1. Is there one or two churches or places of worship?— if there are,
what IS the distance between them?
2. Is there a Parish or district appointed to be attached to the church
or churches m particular, which one considers as his own particular
charge, and to which he should and must chiefly confine his labor, and
wiiat IS the extent of said district ?
3. Is the Confession of Faith of the Church of Scotland, founded on
the word of God, considered by the people as the standard, by which the
doctrine, discipline and government of the church -.o to be regulated?
4. Should nny disagreement happen between a Minister and people,
can they cast him off without something in his life or doctrine contrary
to the word of Ggd ? I never met with any of the kind, but 1 bupposc it
;■! cuatouiaij to do so in the States of America.
'wwJL
it.
er in the High ■
first Litter, as
nd the second a
iay, 1842.
your Letter
)r8 authorise
their Pastor,
port merely.
I by the mea
a Minister,
to have been
e of God are
y, free grace
your letter,
in doing so.
so as a peo-
among them
be happy to
Ti truly tired
the glory of
ling but self
same reigns
plain of the
lioine, I be-
: a place in
your letter ;
ed, before I
the distance
i should the
vards follow
*
f there are,
the church
1 particular
3 labor, and
founded on
y which the
egulated?
and people,
we contrary
[ bupposG it
5. Will the intended salary consist in money, .ind will a bond be given 7
(i. In regard of salary, I feel delicacy; but having a family of six chil-
Oren, I consider it my duty to provide for them. I do not wish to have
any thing hardly to do with farming— except a small piece of ground —
as much as would support a cow or two, and a horse. My calling ia
enough for me, without being troubled with the world. My salary here
is ^200. I suppose the currency there is not the same as here. Per-
haps on the country it is not so difficult to live — but here I feel I cannot
support my character with less. Many are the demands upon me by
poor people, and in various ways — so th^t I could not decently come
through with less. I trust you will see the necessity of answering these
few questions. We need not be over-anxious about the present life — it
will soon come to an end. Every thing should be done with an eye to
eternity, in the fear of God — for grace to answer these words — " be thou
faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life,"
I remain, Rev. Sir, your's sincerely, A. C.
REPLY.
St. Ann's, Cape Breton, 29th July, 1842.
Reverend Sir, — Your letter dated in May came to hand in course.
According to your inquiries, there are several stations and congregations
in this Island still unoccupied by Ministers; and some of them so con-
tiguous to one another that a Pastor might, in seme instances, and under
certain circumstances, serve more than one of them, with comparative
convenience and advantage, to all concerned. — A " bond" is generally
required and given also, in the case in question, through all the country.
Nor is it expensive, especially as to victbals, to support a family out of
to 7s in this quarter. The people principally concerned would not
choose such a step for themselves as to " cast off a minister" without
some open deficience or transgression on his part against both the direct
rules of sacred Scriptures, and "the Confession of Faith of the Church
of Scotland." But I see no reason but merely to mention these points,
since the contents of your letter, I regret to suggest, havp undeceived
both myself and those of my neighbors more immediately interested on
the subject. — For in the first place we all have thought that your salary
did not rise to the amount of "^£"200 sterling," as a powerful stimulus
to prevent your removal. Again, we have half believed that you wer*^,
more dissatisfied with, and tired of the clergy, than we find by your
letter. In the third place, your manner of treating of your views of
yourself gives a deadly slfroke to our feelings on this score. For you
write us that you " never thought yourself qualified for the office" you
hold: aud yet you expect to be "guided by the word and prr/idence"
either to remain still there, or to remove to this country. Now, Sir,
these points are (luitc inconsistent, and even grievously absurd. For if
you really think yourself "not qualified," you ought to resi.^n yaur
office, till you would, if ever, improve. And it would be unreasonable
and unscriptural to expect the guidance of find's word, to call you to a
listant country, in your office, till vou would first know the Lor '"
■U
you
appr
ballon of your service at all ; a knowledge to which you can never at-
tain without thinking yourself first ordinarily -lualified. For all this I
nin long since fully and tediously aware, that your manner of selfish and
nn ^°'"P'^'"'^has been now for a series of years, the most likely mode
the North nf%7r T"" V'" ""^"1'^^ ""^ '^''8'°"' «'"y >"«" over all
^ut uT Ju ^r ?.^j '"'^ particularly from Caithness to Inverness.
iSut it ,» both a deceitful and contemptible practice ; and I verily thought
Tnd ? IZtln Tu'v '^' """' .°^ '^- ^ P''^ y°"' Sir, with all my hefrt.
And I cannot but believe your religious condition to be awfully dangerous.
It IS not dilhcult to see through your lines the dark and dreary state of
Vn^fr'?' 1 .r ?'*'-^7*' ^°''^ yourself and your unfortunate adherents.
ourh in^rr M :• '"'''.pf T '°, ^'''' ""P°'^^ "P°» thousands of our
uJnr t il'gWanders. The Lord in mercy convince and correct you
before ,t is too late. You are not qualified, Sir, for your office ; but you
do net properly believe it; nor would you wish me, or any other to
believe it. Do you not know that one may be very humble-minded, and
merrv7 ''rf ^'"' '? '^'' Jt"''^.' ^"'^ °^ ^^'^ g^^^'«"« «"d sovereign
mercy ? By grace I am what I am— and his grace bestowed upon me
was not in vain." &,c.-St. Paul. Why would you for a moment be in
suspense whether you should leave your congregation, when thry are so
generously good and kind to you : and when you believe that there are
some ol the excellent ones of the earth among them V And if you
do not mean to leave them, why not tell is at once, without any hesita-
tion ? I hardly think that you would choose them to know of this un-
generous mode of correspondence. You seem to my neighbors to be
also pretty Keen for the world, although you endeavor very slily to dis-
guise your prmciple on this head. You hare played long enough amoncr
the simple to inure you to hypocrisy ; because your conscience is alarm*!
ingly dormant. 1 sincerely wish I could be of any spiritual service to
.vL i! ?'Y ^'''^ ^?" f'^\ ^''^ ^°^^ "^y^^^f ^"'^ ^y f'^ithful warning
tc you. Ijut do not think that I write at random— no, no: I know so
inu<jh oi my own deceit and duplicity by nature, that 1 find no difficulty
in seeing through your letter, the very prnciple of your soul, for all
your Silly art to conceal it. You are at ... variance with your official
bretliren, but so lar as it may gain to you credit among half and hollow
Christians; and the same way re^rardii.g people of quality, when your
abilities will not bear you out in natural or acquired knowledge, accord-
jng to heir taste and talents. My dear neighbors, with met desire to
bless lleaven that they are not entirely left to the dotage of the general-
ity of the world on the ground of our correspondence, and choose far
rather or their life to remain under their present destitution, than to be
lettered or foundered by the stumbling and stunning administration of
n n? r. >'■' "'f • V!^'^ ^^''""'^ '^"^ ^he blind, they shall both fall
into llie ditch. 1 conclude with tiie ancient and sacred proverb " The
wounds ot a Iricnd are better than the kisses of an enemy;"
And remain, Rev. Sir,
Yoiii's oincerely,
an never at*
)r all this I
f selfish and
likely mode
len over all
) Inverness.
rily thought
11 my heart,
dangerous,
ary state of
! adherents,
inds of our
lorrect you
:e ; but you
ny other to
linded, and
sovereign
id upon me
ment be in
hry are so
t there are
Lnd if you
any hesita-
)f this un-
bors to be
lily to dis-
igh among
e is alarm-
service to
il warning
I know so
) difficulty
3ul, for all
ur official
tnd hollow
t'hen your
e, accord-
desire to
e general-
;hooso far
hau to be
tration of
both fall
erb^The
cT,***
2^
SHORT REMARKS ON THE FOREGOING CORRESPONDPNCE
It is maintained here by persons pretty well ac(iup;nteu with the posi-
tion of the first Correspondent, that the circumstances of his employers
can hardly have admitted them — from [)0th their paucity and poverty
to afford the annual salary of .i'200 ster'=ng to their humble Pastor.
For, by the bye, though the people concerned are all but the true chil-
djen of the Church of Scotland ; yet, as a kind of relief from the Ibath-
some law of Intrusion, they choose rather to be at the trouble and
expense of supporting thei- darling choice of a Minister, than be left to
the fearful prey and pationage of their Mother. And notwithstanding
thpir fond fancy, and refined reserve, on the subject, a man of any ordi-
nary good sense and soberness, might be thought, in an enlightened
generation, like ours, to find no difficulty in discerning the moanful and
melancholy, stale and stumbling selection, of the pious and purblind
people concerned. And what is the great blessing of their preference
and privilege, in their doted position ; though they have to boa^t that
they are not— like the generality of their brethren, and fellow Christians
— left under the violence or vassalage, obeisance or oppression, of power
or of patronage ; when their own exact and expensive choice is perhaps
to them, one of the surest and severest spiritual curses and cumbrances
imaginable ! If he has not the amount of support alleged, we pity his
shanrieful falsehood ; and if he has, we, not the less, despise his avarice
or disguise, in his treating of his either intended or pretended thoughts
of removal to this distant country. And when the Reverend gentleman
acknowledges to have in his congregation "some of the excellent ones
of the earth," and all the rest of the community most generous and kind
to him, what a fearful degree of hypocrisy or ingratitude, on his part,
ever to think of leaving them in the lurch, after" the utmost proof and
pride of their due discriminaiion and genuine generosity, in selecting
and sustaining him, as their perfect preference among the sound anr'
sage, soft and serious, hot and haughty host of all the Highland Clergy I
There is another point of notoriety and vory open remark, in the pre-
ceding correspondence : — That althouo'. e party slanderously nick-
named Normanists, are, from time to time, by their envious or ignorant
persecutors, charged as maintaining and manifesting principles opposite
or hostile to the original constitution and conduct of the Church of
Scotland ; yet that these very people, and humble Norman himself at
their head, are the party here, of the intercourse, who have, in more
instances than this under review, manifested their anxious desire of
obtaining eligible and efficient Ministers of the Church of Scotland, for
their Pastors— if such they could possibly find. And that they have
never ceased to show their anxiety and endeavors on this solemn and
serious ground, till dire despair of success, from long repeated defeats,
has, at last, mortified and muriered all the powers and passions of their
souls, on this doleful and diieful score. And though their disnppoint-
ment hereon is sad; yet their defence is thereby insured, in the estima-
tion of all intimate and unprejudiced people concerned. The writer of
E -J
i
< .1
II
Il I
El
1 r
334
these remarks 'limks it far below his aim to animadvert on the deficiencc
of style and grammatical construction, so very conspicuous, in the letter
of the famous Scottish Clergyman ; thougl: it is iomething curious and
strange to find both Miese so manifest, as coming from the centre of that
enlightened and improved kingdom, and from a party whose ministers
here boast themselves so highly upon their own superiority over their
dissenting brethren on this grouud. There is one general cirse, how-
ever, that is peculiar to those pretenders to a more than ordinary degree
of sanctity, and familiarity with Heaven — whether Ministers, or other
noted religious profestjrs, but espjcially the former— namely : Th^t
whatever play or plan, game or gain, credit or covenant, they wish to
compass, it tnust, forsooth, be sanctioned and sanctified by the Holy
Ghost; and you must take it at their own bare word for it ; otherwise
you are to be ranked nrriong the worst sceptics, or the most notorious
unbelievers ! For to make any proper use of your common sense, or
natural reason, on this grounrl, in order to detect, or to deplore the
fallacy or folly, vanity or wickedness, of those choice favorites of Jehovah,
ifi to purchase to yourself the sour mess and the sure merit of being
identified, not only with that once odious and oppressive sound — a
Dissenter ; but of being classified with the intolerable and unpardonable
designation— a Normanist ! Implicit faith and obsequious obedience,
on the part of the laity, are in a high degree (for the author writes in
perfect seriousness, and so purposely avoids any hyperbole) as necessary
in our Missionary Churches — and the same of course under all our
ecclesiastical Establishment, though nominally styled Protestant — as
under the grating knot, and galling yoke, of Popish priesthood !
Popery and priestcraft could never gain, or have held, such fatal
ascendancy, over the minds and manners of men, otherwise intelligent
and judicious, but for their inexcusable blind and implicit acquiescence
in the unscriptural, unreasonable, chimerical, ridiculous, impossible
Infallibility or inerrauility, of fallible and wi '^d men ; who are as distant
from possessing that faculty, power, or cii,^acity, eitiier as individually, or
collectively, as the very simplest or silliest Indian in the world ; though
they arrogantly and absurdly assume Uj themselves the power and pecu-
liarity of the Apostles, on this ground; assumption as blasphemous as it
is preposterous, for any man, or body of men, since the apostolic days,
fill the end of time. And the hypocritical pretences of our Protestant,
and Presbyterian clergymen, on the ground of their supposed free access
to heaven on every vain and frivolous occasion, render the evident power
and pride of their black and blockish nature — as in the case of the
Inverness correspondent— as nothing but a genuine limb of the cursed
prank and presumption of Popery; though under different guise and
garb, in order the better to impose on the foolish credulity and con-
sciences, of such as are more apt to be scared and scowled by the mere
name and nunien of evil and errors in their religious nominal contrasts,
and opposite controversialists, than to search and suspect— either them-
selves, o- their once fostered, though lalse ghostly guides. Other A^ise
they would far more dread and deride, aver and avoid nanacy and 'oisco-
1 a
Wit
pacjf at home than abroad ; and might boou find, to their sorrow and
ihame, the popish and primatical authority to wliich they unaware yield
their willing, if not their wilful, allegiance, under the fond and famoui
face and features, of Gospel homage, and obedience, to the Lord's holy
saints, and honorable servants !
Want of real love to the truth of the Scriptures, is one sure and solemn
cause, of the swing and sway, of the dark and damnable, spirit of popery
and perverseness under whatever shape or sound, name or uo'i-o, it rnny
rally or rule, rape or reign.—" Because they received not the love of tlio
truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all mig' • be
damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unriuhteousi. ss "
— 'iThess. ii. 10, 11, and 12. ^
Though there is one prime and proud Pope in the world, bearintr moat
dreadful and dangerous dominion over the minds and manners of^mer, •
yet our Protestant and Presbyterian Popes are, in their ov.n sphere, and
according to their sway, more dangerous to us ; and more imposing upon
their own popish-protcstant adherents. Nay farther, every profane and
proud, false and foolish man in the world, has his Pope and Popedom •
for he IS Pope to himself: and, if he could, as he would, he should be
Pope over the Universe. This is the evil and awful conr-quence of our
original fall, and first yielding to Satan's temptation — " Ye shall be gods."
And ihis is the spirit that so far pervades the drift of correspondence
contained in this little work, and which unavoidably rules, according to
his civil and religious swing and circumsta'ice, in every child of Adam •
for which sad and solemn reason, the merit of Jeses Christ, effectually
applied by his Holy Spirit, is so absolutely necessary, for our begun
redemption, and eternal salvation.
.'luthenfi^ i^ftra t; of a recent Correspondence betwixt two religiouafnendt,~bv some
people called JVormanisla,-in consequence of one of them havinT Uitelv been in
ZlSrs""' *' ^' ""'* '** '^'"-^ "*""'''■ ''•^""'' '^'"'"''' "'"""" *""*' "'*"''
Dear Sir,— In consequence of the late interview you had, at VV B
with our famous Minister, Mr. M., I wish to see somethincr from your
own hand, upon the subject. What were the chief heads of converaa.
tion or debate, and the conclusion of it? Had you both, or either of
you, any great excitement of mind ? How did the people present behave
--and was the meeting numerous. I shall feel much surprised if you
have not, by deep experience, got some additional lessons by that contact
tor, according to the Scotch trite old adage, " C/ia'« io^niit an t-olc
f/iaicinn agtis a c/daistinn." To meet the evil i^ diflfereiit from the
hearing of it. When I, at times, happened to hear the mn, ster in que-.
tion pre aching, I could not, in some respects, but wish you to be present,
"The meeting of the abovo-named persons seems to have heon of no antecedont
aosign, since neither of the "urti'es Rrinfin.^!!'.- rmrrrp.sjj .-o"!.-" Ksv" •••■•'-•-' '
known either the circumstance'i of the'interview, or been Ictuaily^desirouB^of .^ ^
^^
Mil >
1
^1
-i i
-4 -
! 1'^ I
■ ] \ ill '
^J .Mil,
>
226
in order to know personally the strange and varnished incoherence of
h»8 sermons; and conaequently the misery and danger of a people that
can be so tamely satisfied with sugared poison for gospel truths, as the
food of their souls. Aud not only coi 'ent themselves with their black
and personal mistake on this ground, bu» the far greater number of those
misguided creatures, have long since lost their balance; for wrath and
wranghng ire their best weapons, whenever their own case, on this
score, or the extraurdinary piety or wisdom of their spiritual guide is
called in question. But the civil and sacred proverb is here verified—
" Like people, like priest."
1 shall e.xpect your candid answer, at your earliest convenience. —
And in the meantime, 1 remain, your's, &,c. J M
Baddeck, 16th October, 1842.
REPLY.
Dear Sir,— In r-ply to your lines of the I8th inst., the adage quoted
by you was indeed one of the first thoughts that struck my mind after
the interview in question. For I have never formerly so far understood
the temper of my opponent. For though I partly knew of it before, both
by some personal conversation, and ample hearsay, yet I freely acknow-
ledge, that till this last conversation, 1 have still' been half ignorant of
his endless evasions, and shameless sophistry ; as well as his irritaMe
disposition, and contemptible flattery. And if I did not believe that in
the hand of divine Providence it might, though indirectly, prove to my
instruction, I should, from the very bottom of my soul, regret my having
fallen into contact with that unfortunate Minister; if it is indeed proper
to bcbiow that title upon any such miserable characters. But the habit
of the world exacts of us the bestowment of many unmerited appellations ;
but the worst grain of that exaction is, not seldom, on religious grounds,
as in the case in hand.
There was no " great excitement of m " on either side. The num-
ber of people present, I think could nc. exceed 3 or 4 dozens. There
were no particular heads of debate of any consequence; for my match
would not but evasively reply to my first interrocration ; so that I
did not choose to play at random. But I humbly hope that the said
interview may prove a good le-sson to me for the future in various ways;
as first, to iiKike me more cautious how to enter upon the borders of
similar leinptalioiis, v itlioui clearer light of some very important duty
at stake. Se.-.ond— 1 have never felt, with more life and light, the pri-
vilege of exeriiplioii and freedom from both the civil and refigious con-
nection and fellowship of foolish and formal, deadly and deceitful pro-
lessors; especially the prominent leaders; who are generally like our
present subject, both daring and dastard, proud and prattling; and hav«^
their chief art and aim consisting in frivolous and false excuses in their
own favor, as well as in endless and invented, silly and sly digressions,
in order to elude the point or poignancy of any trial or truth, which may
hear hard upon their own measures and misrule. Third— I feel more
than ordinary sympathy with those pitiful souls that ore under the fearful
827
and fatal influence and imposition of those spiiitually blind and bloody
guides; who not only leave their unhappy adherents unedified and un-
improved, but must drain and dry up the very remainder of their natural
goodness and kindness, and convert those qualities into the very reverse
of Heaven's appointment. And fourth, that soul-sickening interview
has proved the oblique medium of extending my knowledge of several
sacred scriptures .—As first, Matthew xxi. 25, 20, and 27. Here we see
the chief priests and elders' wickedly dextrous mode of reasoning
.between themselves, in order to evade our Saviour's query to them. I
asked of our minister a very plain and important question, viz: What
was his general opinion of the religious public character of his official
brethren in our neighborhood ? But he would not answer, but in silly
and sly evasions. Why ? Because he knew very well, if he should say
that he did not think them to be pious, or converted men, then we would
answer, Whv do you thon hold church fellowship with them? And if
he should reply to the contrnry, he was sure that their general character
and conduct could not bear him out. — Now we see it is not the w£.nt of
natural reason, but of a good conscience, that is the curse and plague of
our clergy, like those priests in the days of our Saviour. And indeed
an evil conscience, the sure companion of a corrupt heart or will, and
not necessary or excusable ignorance, is the bane of every deceitful and
wicked man in the world, who has the revealed will of Heaven formally
in his head, and freely in his hand, but more especially public Teachers
and Preachers.
The next scripture that has impressed my mind on this occasion ia
in 2 Thess. 3 ch. 2 ver.— " Brethren, pray for us * * * * that we may
be delivered fom unreasonable a,.d wicked men." Not the absence of
reason, but the abuse of it, made those opposers of the apostles so very
dangerous and disagreeable; especially at Athens, whence this Epistle
was written. The third text of my contemplation is, Timothy— 6 ch.
5 ver., — "perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of
the truth, supposing that gain is godliness : from such withdraw thyself."
Those here again from whose association and conference, Timothy was
to expect no benefit, but the reverse, were not the unavoidably ignorant
or untutored ; but the supposed Teachers, according to the context ; or
their close disciples and adherents — men whose dangerous influence and
fellowship consisted more in the corruption of their minds than in the
darkness of their natural understanding. My present thoughts of the
corruption of the views and feelings of our. Clergy ; and especially the
lead of them, and said thoughts augmented and confirmed in consequence
of my late interview, indeed beggar all description. The Lord, in
sovereign mercy, look upon our place and people !— **0 my soul, come
not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not
tiiou united !"
Here 1 will repeat my question, and give also the scope of Mr. M.'s
reply; and then make some remarks.
Uuestion.— " What is your opinion of the religious public character
G» jvui ujiJwiui u.'uiuruu iM vape jireion f
■■il
i
Answer.-" It was with the Church, and not with these Ministers, that
J connected niyseii at my ordination ; for I did not then know at all
A ^^ '?J/^«"'d be cast in the world.-I believe there are some good
and godly Mmisters in the Church; but if there are here present any who
have any tlnngs particularly or remnrknblv unlawPil with which to charge
Ihe conduct of those our neighboring Minister., let them produce the
same and I will treat of them, in private, to those Ministers concerned."
i he said question repeated—" What is your opinion," &c
Ans.— "Hovvcver our Church may be defective, yPt the Church of
England, as well as other Churches, is far more degenerated. And at
Me host times of the Church there were deficiencies, and defective men
and Ministers in it. But it were better to treat of, and look to the
wounds of the Saviour* for the benefit of souls, than to be always
Bpeaking of the defects of Ministers," &c. «fcc. ,
Again and again the same question was repeated, " Will vou tell us
your opinion." &c.
Ans.— " You are always insisting too much on that and similar points.
It IS now too bite— It should be a long time that would end the dispute—
we would need trace the history of Church of Scotland from the earliest
limes— but you deviate from the rules of the Church— we had written
you to show us your iocuments and credentials on this score, and what
kind of answer you returned us ! But we shall look after you yet on that
ground ! We know not where have you obtained your divinity license
or ordination, if you have any. You weaken my hands in my endeavors
to do good by your opposition and reflections— but I forgive you— I
ircely and f ully forgive yo u allt— I wish to treat you with the respect
*To speak so plausibly on the subject of " tho wounds of the Saviour" mav
sound very imposingly m the ears of Mr. M.'s fanatical, or unintelligent hearers :
an,! :.nsvver, l.kevyise, at times, as a muzzle in the mouth of just reflections: but i
s st.l only l.ke thr rest of His Reverence's evasive and vagie arguments. But on
th,s ground >t ruvAM be asked, Why did not St. Paul treat of the wounds of the
saviour, when he was opposing and exposing the folly and falsehood, vanity and
w.ekednesB ..f Mymas the sorcerer : And why not St. John ; when he was writing
or the pride and prating presumption and persecution, of Diotrephus; and so of
thousand other matters of the same and similar texture and tendency. It is quite
fl^'o"n . r"" ^'"''"'' .'"'T''-?'' ^'"'^ ""'^'" "'''pessary subjects are, in their proper
nme and turn, connw^ted with that most important point-" To treat of the wounds
of le .Nav.our : and that the evasive Mr. M. himself, with all his specious flutter
on that wing, does n.-.t but occasionally treat ofthat topic more than his opponents.
t I he Kev. Genileniaii does not once suspect that himself is chargeable with any
guilt or < rime against his opponent, so as in the least degn either to request or
regan! forgiveness; although it is notoriously known by every unprejudiced an.l
mteil.gent mmd concerned, that he is deeply mistaken in his own supposed inno-
cence on this score. Ibis is, however, some of the .spirit of the times. Cut the
writer of these remarks does not think the lavished remission of his good and kind
leighbor once worth a single cent on this ground, cither to the remitter or the re-
r ittrd : according to the common proverb : '• What comes with the wind goes with
Xl.e r.uM . Such vapidness and vacancy, tolly and frivolity of mind, are alas ! but
come ot the marked curses and consequences of men's assumption of that awfully
responsible function, th» Ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as spintuallv un-
quahhed-uncalled : a sin while uurepented of, leaves its miserable subject inmeni-
tent anri innnrriarihla in oM >.;„ -,<! _.,:i. __j _ .. ■.. .. ^ ,•' ..«. ,
vi-ki . r-p.Ji.. in .1!! },!:, ._,t}ici gum ituii tjuarrciung — "For tiiui winch ib
«igiiiy esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."— Luke xvi. 16.
no
inisters, that
know at all
e some good
sent any who
ch to charge
produce the
concerned."
c.
^ Church of
;d. And at
:fective men
look to the
) be always
you tell U3
nilar points.
le dispute —
the earliest
had written
;, and what
I yet on that
lily license,
y endeavors
ive you — I
the respect
aviour" may
leut hearers ;
tions; but it
Mits. But on
aunds of the
, vanity and
! was writing
s; and so of
It is quite
their proper
fthe wounds
Bcious flutter
opponents.
blc with any
o request or
;judiced and
pposnd in no*
:!s. Diit the
>od and kind
;cr or tlie re-
nd goes with
ire ahis ! but
that awfully
iritually un-
ijoct inipeni-
ui whic-ii is
ce xvi. 16.
dut to age. And if all the«e people present, and their neighbors, «i. Jose
to hear you rather than me, let them follow you,' &-c. &c.
I do not mean to affirm thai the above quotat-ons .Hre exactly, in every
sentence, in the same arrangement in which they were spoken • but
there is nothing added, nor any turn given to them, but what is necessary
in the translation. Mr. M. and I spoke some more words, at the time :
but winch were all ot little consequence for good, either to ourselves, or
our nud.ence; for which, on my own part, I wish to make this open and
nuniDle acknowledgment.
On the first of Mr. M.'s answers— which was, "that it was with the
Church, and not with the present Presbytery, that at his ordination, he
connected himself," I remark that the words are very curiot:? and glossy
indeed ! just as if a man should say of his wife, "that it was with the
tooman that he connected himself, at the time of his marriage, and not
with her ]uvgs or limbs, so that he has nothing now to answer, for her
hips or hands, lap or legs, in her stealing or strolling !" A Minister has
nothing to answer for his connection with an inefficient or ungodly
Fresbytery, or Synod, because it was not with them, but with "the
J^hurch, which includes these, as some of her component parts or mem-
bers, that he " connected himself," &c. Fine divinity and loaic indeed !
In fact, I felt at the time quite struck dumb to hear this strange and
strangling argument from the mout!. of an extraordinarily noted Minister
—the great instrument of our revival ! I was perfectly stunned and
astonished, and admired the effrontery of the highly reputed servant of
Heaven on this subject. What part ,i (he Church with which he has
or could have more concern now than those Ministers and members with
whom he so closely or necessarily associates ? Or, can he form a Church
without parts, more than a wife without members ! If he esteems his
functionary brethren here as sound members of the body ecclesiastic
why not as such freely own them? And if as offensive or rotten limbs
—more hurtful than useful— why not endeavor to " cut them off and
cast them from him,'V according to Christ's injunction, in similar cases.
— Matt. y. 29. But the fair and fearful truth is, that there is none here
among the members" more offensive and oppressive than himself; and
80 his ogic is according to his leprosy. Pity ! Oh, thrice pity, those
spiritua victims, who are fully satisfied, and feel never otherwise with
such sriy and shameless sophistry I See again the man's flatteiy, and
pretended acquiescence. " I forgive you," &c. What! to forgive me
my great anH aggravated sins, committed against him, as the eminent
and extraordinary servant and minister of Jesus Christ j without the
least acknowledgement, or sign of repentance on my part I Who, I ask.
has guided or commanded him to absolve me, the heinous sinner, in my
Jong and lusty, open and outrageous impenitence on this ground ? But
tnis sly appearance of kindness is sufficiently powerful to impose upon
the fond and foolish minds of his doted adherents. One additional Jessou
1 desire to learn, in consequence of the interview, under remark, is
that 1 intend, if possible, to have no intercourse, or correspondence
ry'n^i^i^ cnaracLers as these in view, for the future, but witn mx peri
and Bibhe in my baiKJ, in their personal absence, before the public'
1 rif
ii i i>
m I
ft' i
210
For, O! the frarfui absence of natural integrity and truth with thli
order and description of men! Here is some of the npiritual mystery
of Christ's curse upon the fig-tree in the Gospel, which had green leaves
without niiy real fruit. Blessed for ever be the Lord, for r.iy early and
happy dissent from this kind of unholy and unhappy beings!
Ill their present principles, disposition, and conduct, let my life and
death and eternity, O most gracious Heaven ! be entirely separated from
their futile and fatal condition, and from their hurtful and hateful asso-
ciation. — AiMen! 1 am, &c. N. McL***.
St. Ann's, 24th October, 1842.
Mstract of a late Correspondence betwixt tico distant friends — the one yet in tkt
highlands o/ Scotland, and the other in Cape Breton — but who lived in their yonth
close together in the former place.
At R — , Pari&h of A — , Sdtherlard-shire, N. B.,
August 20th, 1842.
Dear Sir, — Owing to some changes in my own religious views and
circumstances, since you left this country, as well as from different re-
ports concerning your sentimenta and conduct, on ecclesiastical grounds;
and more especially, in consequence of some of the remarks of your
correspondence with two of my neighbors, during last winter, I feel
desirous of communicating with you on a few subjects; and would think
it a favor if you should endeavor to avoid, as much as possible, the ordi-
nary vein of your sarcasm, hyperboles, and high-toned metaphors — so
natural to your 7eniub — in order te enable me the more easily to arrive
at your real meaning and mind, on points, to me, of very serious import-
ance. There was a remark in one of your letters lately to this place,
" That in existing circumstances Church Patronage is hardly an evil."
This has surprised me and several others; and also offended not a few
of your old acquaintances; since there is hardly any point of greater
evil iu our Church, according to the long opinion, tnd present alarming
struggle, of our best men and ministers on this score. Ycu wrote also
in another of your letters that " every good man must now be a Dis-
senter;" and yet you said that "a Dissenter is in as much danger to
lose his soul as those from whom he separates " Again, that "our Min-
isters are persecutors of one another, and are generally manifest haters
of good men, whenever situated near them." In another paragraph you
observed that " most people care nothing for one Church or persuasion by
another, but from mere habit and external circumstances." But the most
strange of all your observations is the following — that " all the Churches
in the world are but Dissenting Churches ; and consequently every min-
ister and member of them is a Dissenter, only of different degrees, and
on different grounds." And that "Popery fill^ the Christian world."
These curious and extraordinary doctrines, no doubt, need explanation;
for in their uuipialitied present form, they seem to be but mere absurdi-
ties, and manifest inconsistencies ; and ihef efure fur tnure like the fteaki
I with thii
al mystery
reen leaves
y early ind
ny life and
irated from
ateftil asso-
VlcL***.
jtie yet in th$
n their yontk
IRE, N. B.,
s views and
lifferent re-
al grounds;
ks of your
nter, I feel
vould think
e, the ordi-
;aphors — so
ly to arrive
ous import-
this place,
ly an evil."
I not a few
of greater
nt blarming
wrote also
vv be a Dis-
h danger to
" our Min-
ifest haters
ragrnph you
irsuasion by
iut the most
e Churches
every min-
egrees, and
ian world."
xplanation ;
ere absurdi-
e the freaks
231
of fancy, or the bantlings of brains, than the real resulta of iound expe-
rience, or serious investigation. I expect, then, according to lur former
familiarity and friendship, that, at your earliest opportunity, you will be
pleased to return me your candid exposition, and plain reconcilement of
these quotations ; which are otherwise but self-contradictory, or appar-
ently at variance with every sound reason and ru.aination. Meanwhile,
I am, dear Sir, your's truly, A. B.
REPLY.
Cafe BRETorj, Ist November, 1842.
Dear Friend,— In answer to your letter of August last— which came
to hand in due course— thof'gh I do not alway.-, retain duplicates of my
ordinary correspondence, I dare say I may have written the remarks
which you quote ; and I allow that they may require some explanation ;
but I think they had not been sent abroad, without a litfle more modifil
cation than ihe solitary position in which you placed them. But as I
never feel reluctant to comply with the reasonable requests of my friends,
especially on religious subjects, 1 will endeavor to satisfy your mind, as'
far as I can, on the points in question. But after all my poor attempts,
It may still be <M§of my power to give you the satisfaction, which you
may anticipate ^p^this very serious ground.
As to " Patronajpe," none can be more against its very existence in the
Church than myself. And I know, without reserve, it is hut an old rotten
l:mb of Popery ; and, in itself, I would freely wish it were for ever done
aM-ay with, out of the world. But the present dominant spirit, and open
ctinduct of our Clergy, and of the people in general over whom they
preside, appear to me to be so far from the rule of sacred truth, that I
fully and Ireely think, that the privilege of electing a Minister, 'by the
majority of a congregation, is nothing in their real favor. That privi-
lege, no doubt, most mightily, feeds their foolish pride, and fond fancy;
and the simple creatures greedily believe that— like Micah of old— the
Lord will certainly bless them, now that they enjoy their blessed choice
of a famous gospel minister ; when, in reality and truth, they have ordi-
narily an additional curb and curse, to stimulate their sorry souls, to more
deadly security and selfishness, than when under the galling yoke of
Patronage. Why? it may be asked. I answer; because our more
popular Ministers aie generally more hypocritical and imposing; and
consequently more stumbling to their deluded adherents. Why other-
wise- 1 again ask— could they, from year to year, during their function-
ary lives, sustain the religious and scclesiastic fellowship and brother-
hood, of their openly erroneous, heretical, and wicked official brethren'
" Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." " The companion
of fools shall be destroyed." *' Dost thou betray the Son of Man with a
kiss." " What communion hath light with darkness?"
And the present keen contention of the anti-patronage party in the
Church, under the specious pretence of being evangelically zealous, in
the. csuss of trut.b, and popuiar right and privileges, against ecclesiastical
oppression and intrusion, has wofully and shamefully imposed upon almost
r'j
1'';
■ I
E!
Ii::,i
W' ■
ill^L
i.l!|| !
all the ?resbjiterians In the world ; so that from rarious and distant parts,
both in Europe and America, we hear and read of their gracious and
grappling sympathy with the good and godly party, in the glorious
Church of Scotland, who now, so manfully, fight th? battle of the Lord
against the mighty Erastian bondage. Whereas it is, in my own hum-
ble view, but a mere sham fight, though under a sad disguise, to the
generality, even of serious and zealous people. For the proud-spirited
party in the General Assembly, who took the original lead against the
Strathbogie Intrusion, have felt the unexpected consequent opposition
to their own measures, as dominant and selfish men, and not at all a.t
godly Christian Ministers ; since in other respects, unless some of them
in mere name, they are generally nothing singular from the generality of
their present opponent brethren. But because the nominal ground of
their dispute and opposition, is in itself a good cause, this nnti patronage
party take very unworthy and dextrous advantage of that point, as if
there was nothing short of the glory of God, and the spiritual privilege of
their fellow-men exciting their minds, and spurring their conduct in this
struggle.
In several of their public speeches, as partly quoted by the " Aberdeen
Herald" of last summer, some of their greatest champioDi — and the great
Dr. Chalmers for one — impliedly threaten to dissolve l^lir ecclesiastical
connection with the State ; and to turn Indepen'Jents, in case the
Government will aot grant the abolition of patronage. But, for my own
part, I feel very sceptical on that score ; and I must see it come to pass
before I can bring my suspicious mind seriously to believe a word of the
story. For the good things and sou'-ds of this lower world have always,
in my opinion, been uppermost in the views and feelings of these good
and great Ministers ; and I should therefore feel very much surprised,
that they would unadvertently throw away their State endowment ;
although we are sure that their hot and haughty souls cannot but feel
very heavy affliction in their present dire dilemma. Righteous Heaven
proves them, but not to themselves, nor to their credulous adherents, or
distant sympathisers. If their zeal were sincere against the sinfulness
of Patronage, it would equally prove so against other evils of the same
and similar tendency, and of darker dyes and greater extent, according
to their known and apparent degree or danger. "For he that said. Da
not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill." We seldom hear a word
of blame for licensing candidates, though none but the stark-'>lind can
fftr a moment doubt the fearful and fatal open inefficiency of, at least,
the majority of their probationers. I repeat that righteous Heaven
proves and tries the Clergy of the Church of Scotland ; and especially
the nominally orthodox or evangelical party of them ; who are manifestly
more aggravated in the sin of imposition, as having still a sounder tongue-
creed, and vocable-zeal, than the opposite number. And yet, for the
sake of the world, and in the absence of a good conscience, (hey havo
held the fellowship, and supported the association of those denotniuated
pun
4U.~. *U> If k_<»^J»_il r.».*.,
'.iSCU!, lis— -
ishment
.... — __ _ — .. -.j-^^ lvt3*-5V7
permits these very heretics to be as "pricks in
J >
233
their sides," on the verj ground en which, or for whose sake, they sig-
ned together, viz : State endowment — the very mate and minister ol
patronage. And it is very probable that the " sound divines," after all
their popular and passionate struggle, must either obsequiously retract
their plea, or abandon their long, and loud, and lucrative Dependence.
And O! dread*"'!! to say or think, if they lose their dependence, they
will be then "Independents;" which is the same sound with the awful
thunder Dissenter ! Don't say that I am now sarcastic — by no means
I feel still but upon quite serious grounds. For there is hardly any
alternative, without contemptible compromise; since it is so very impro-
bable that the British Legislature ; and especially the Tory members of
Episcopacy, should ever yield to anti-patronage. For Prelacy and Patron-
age must, in a high degree, live and die together ; as both insure the best
pillar of support to an Erastian Government.
As to what you think " so strange" in my former remarks — "That
all the Churches in the world are but Dissenting Churches," &c., I am
not without grounds on that point. See for instance, in the first 'place,
the Established Church of England : what is she now, and has she been
since her reformation from Popery, but a Dissenter ? What was she under
Papacy, and had she been long before her present designation ever
sounded, or a Pope existed, but a sad and sound Dissenter, from the
Apostolic Church ? For, strange as it may seem to you, it would be easy
to prove, except to her own tenacious members, that Prelacy — which
through ambition gradually sprung first out of Presbytery— is both the
mother and the daughter, as well as the close sister of Popery. For
the title of prelate, primate, or archbishop — taken here as convertible
terms— is, in its present meaning, or common usage — as anti-christian
in kind, though not in degree, as that of Pope. And consequently Pre-
lacy— according to its existing form, though far from the same extent of
error and evil — is as destitute of real foundation in the word of God, as
Popery. And I am freely one of those, who fully believe, that when the
millennial happy times shall have, unavoidably and forever overset the
latter, with all its folly and fallacy, vice and wickedness, the former shall
crush and crumble in its total and tremendous ruins ! " Be not partakers
of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues." "And a mighty angel
took up a stone like a great mill-stone, and cast it into the sea, sayincr,
Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down an'd
and shall be found no more at all."— Rev. xviii. 21. Read the whole
Chapter. Again, what are all Presbyterians, and their Churches, but
Dissenters; and that both from each other, and wholly from Papacy and
Pielaoy? And lastly, what are the various classes of Independents, but
Dissenters also from one another, as well as from ail Established Churches'?
And in short, the same may be said of every other religiou- persuasion
in the world ; so that you must observe, there is nothing in existence
more volatile and various, mutable and mysterious, stationary and stormy,
in its rise and rest, result and resen-e, meaning and motion, than the rare
and ringing, rubbing and random, vocable, Dissenter ! It implies and
iavoives all disgrace and disregard, disappointment, disagreement, dis-
oU
n
i'-^i
I
It
m
)
{^>
[I !
234
content and desolation ; yet fortune and fortitude, fame and fj /or, peace
and propriety, power and praise. The cliameleon in its colors, or a
venal in its rounds, a doll in its dressing, or a dandy in his downhauls,
the phasing of the moon, or a fool in his nuisance, is not more change-
able than the proper sense of the word Dissenter ; so that you may un-
derstand the human form or the two-legged creature (for I know that
when I left you, you would think huge'y strange of this anomaly of
creation,) thus described, may be the most hopeless or happy, loathsome
or lovely, wicked or wise, being in a kingdom. Now don't charge me
of hyperboles, for I need not their service on this open ground. But if
you, or any others, would ask, what may the index of a good, or a bad
Dissenter? I answer, in general, that when any man judiciously finds,
or forms a party, better, upon the whole; or in other words, more agree-
able, in their sentiments and conduct, to the plain rules of the sncred
Scriptures, than the community from which he separates, it is so far a
favorable sign ; and vice versa. You know that 1 most heartily abomi-
nate, the vain and wicked pretence to the private or peculiar privilege or
right, of any person or party on earth, to the interpretation of the word
of God Nor yet do I think our gracious common benefit on this grand
subject at ".'i a point of little weight, or unimportance to any man in the
world. On this ground "Infallibility" is one of the blackest, and most
deadly bitter roots of Satan in mankind ; which poisons both ihe princi-
ples and practice of the unconcoiviibly unhappy community that wickedly
hatches and harbors it; and which, of itself, would render it a most ne-
cessary and imperative duty to any man to dissent from it. " Search
the Scriptures," said our Saviour. For my own part, I have, for several
years past, thought it a good rule for myself, to flee or favor any Church,
according to its less or greater known degree of Popery. And this sen-
timent stimulates me to dread the dark dyes of Prelacy, as fearfully too
similar to the features of " the man of sin." See for instance the same
laughable and lofty, fabulous and foolish pretence of both the Churches
in question, on the score of " Apostolical succession." Apostolical suc-
cession ! ! What a sad mockery of Heaven ! A man of thought would
hardly believe such ridiculous pretenders to be in their wit, or sober
mind. For it is as wise, and as agreeable to truth, to assume Apostle-
ship, as to pretend being their successors. For the Apostles could have
no successors. And if they could, it is clear that those shameless,
senseless, husky, haughty, greedy, gorgeous, dry, and dronish sinecures;
who most pretend to the thing, would, of ah others, least obtain, and
last deserve it; as showing by their open lives and lineaments the very
contrast of Apostles! "He that is greatest among vou, let him be a
serf ant of all " "Not lor filthy lucre, but of a ready mind ; neither as
being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."
" God resisteih the proud."
On the remarks, you quote from my letters, that " our Ministers are
persecutors of one another, and are generally manifest haters of good
men, whene.er placed near them," I did not mean much more on the
first sentence, thaa ihe wild struggle in your own kingdom at present
h lor, pftaco
colors, or a
downhauls,
ore chr.nge-
ou may uri-
know that
anomaly of
', loathsome
charge me
nd. But if
d, or a bad
lously finds,
more agree-
the sncred
k3 so far a
rtily abomi-
privilege or
of the word
n this grand
man in the
it, and most
I the princi-
at wickedly
, a most ne-
, " Search
, for several
uiy Church,
nd this sen-
earfully too
ce the same
B Churches
stolical suc-
tught would
it, or sober
xie Apostle-
could have
shameless,
1 sinecures ;
obtain, and
nts the very
et him be a
; neither as
the flock."
inisters are
;rs of good
nore on the
n at present
nmong the Clergy of the Church of Scotland. Though I might descend
to a long score of particulars on the subject, where, and whenever, they
feel offended, either over there, or in this country. Cut as to the last
clause, "that they are haters of good men," that is notoriously manifest
to all, but those who love darkness rather than light. I do not now in-
tend to enlarge upon this point, of which I know so much by long obser-
vation, if riot experience. But in this our own Island, what is visible to
all, might indeed teach a good, though a grievous lesson. You may still
remember good neighbor D. M. from G. C, who resides now here at
G. R. A more honest, serious, and sincere man, according to his meas-
ure of knowledge, can hardly '3 met with, among ten thousand; and
notedly meek and humble-minded, in the same degree. None, you would
thmk, could deny this testimony. You can also well recollect Mr. J. M.
from L. A., who is settled at L. V., and is now Teacher. He is now far
more mtelligent and discerning, than when in Scotland ; 3nd possess'JS
likewise the good qualities of his neighbor, al-eady named. J. C. from
L. E., has, for the long time since he left the North, been settled at W. B.
All who know him must bear witness to his most upright and Christian-
like behavior. For my own part, I have seldom, if ever, met a man less
exceptionable in his general character, according to his circumstances,
and the means and measure of his information and knowledge. I give
these three instances, instead of many more, which could be shown on
this ground : My intention in this is to exhibit the fearful and unhappy
state of mind of our (Clergy, on the subject, wh^n you read that there
are none in Cape Breton with whom our Ministers are so much offended
and it pposition, as these very men, and anv others of their stamp, or
disposition and discrimination. Why ? you will ask : I answer ; because
the reason is quite natural ; for these good men see, without disguise,
that our Missionaries are but unqualified for their high calling; whicll
is wofully evident by all their administration : and when the former can-
not contradict their own light and conscience, or use violence to their
feelings, in rendering respect, and yielding obedience, to the latter, like
other tame and di.tTed creatures, the offence is taken for that cause. And
It IS on this ground that these good men must become Dissenters ; be-
cause our Clergy are all inefficient, and are men evidently unconverted,
secular and secure ; prouil, passionate, and plain-proof, to any serious
and sound correction ; especially the ring of them.
But we have our Presbyterial Popery, Implicit faith is as necessary,
in order to glue and glomerate, to coop and coil, our sheep and shepherds
together, as among Romanists; though, to speak seriously, not in the
same high degree, Without this wilful and woful, blockish and blind,
Jicquiescence, on the part of the people, they would, at once, throw oil
their hireling pastors; who are obviously far more a plague than a bless-
ing to any audience, that have otherwise any free access to the sacrtid
Scriptures, and several other useful publications, for their religious in-
struction. But our day is an awful time of spiritual judgment, and judicial
' r ii^i— ... u..,. ja^i, ijgiiicsjas, iiiiu .-suvurcign uispieasurc ••;
lieaven, upon a sinful and secure generation ; for their wilful abuse ot
i!vl
'M
23G
|4 1 ii
I -^k
superior means of Scripture noon, and knowledge. Protestant papacy
is a fearful leaven infused unawares more and more into all our ecclesiastic
administration : And though more highly and openly under Prelacy, yet
not the less sure and snaring under Presbytery, and Independence. — In
the Church of England, according to her Liturgy and Ministry, '* all are
regenerated by baptism — confirmed in grace by the bishop — assured that
Christ's body was broken, and his blood shed for them individually, at
the communion of the Supper — absolved from all their sins when sick —
and declared to have gone to heaven at death." " With the mere excep-
tion of unbaptized infants, excommunicated |iersons, and self-murderers,
all who die go to heaven, whatever was their previous character '"'
There is nothing worse, nor partly so bad, in Popery itself on the subjec': ,
except the delusion of purgatory. Our Prcsbytcrial Popery, though far
less notorious, and more shy and shuffling, is yet notless enticing and
entangling, in its texture and tendency, qccordiug to its degree. For
you may convince a Pope or a prehte of the anti-christianity of his toga
and title.s, fifincl and fees, pomp and power, lordship and laziness, as soon
as one of our Presbyters of the guilt and gall, doom and danger, plot and
prostitution, pest and pollution, of his mimic and mercenary, mawkish
and mavvmish, mastery and ministration ; or his fond and foolish, wilful
and wilde'ed charge, of their own hapless and hopeless count and con-
dition, under the influence of false confidence and comfort, or fanciful
terror and torment ; awfully and aptly fulfilling the sacred metaphor,
"If the blind lead the blind, they shall both fall into the ditch." For
our Popish Presbyterians — pastors and people — under the manifest signs
of their unregeneracy, and downright contrary to their own professed
cant and creed, abusively administer and obtain the most solemn ordi-
nances of the gospel; and that now either universally, or almost withoui'
any discrimination, or distinction, of cast, character, or conduct; so that
not only f very lawful Minister, but all loyal members of the Church,
must of course, go to heaven, right or wrong, foul or fair ! " Wo to them
that heal the hurt of the daughter of my people lightly, saying Peace,
peace, when there is no peace." "And my people love it to be so."
As to the vast number denominated Independents, they have in a lessor
larger degree their own proper share of Popery ; according to the graces
or grossness, goodness or guile, virtue or vileness, not merely of their
codes or creeds, books or bawlings, sentiments or science, but also of
their choice and chocks, heat and hate, principles and practice, decision
and dissension, discipline and disposition, horror and hilarity, adhesion
and association. Motory and mental, practical and pontic Popery, is far
more dangerous to us, than professed or professional, open or audible,
molded or marked. Popery.
Popery is the Gospel of Lucifer, in all Christianity, as Idolatry is in
heathen f'-ountries. But this gospel is yet like himself; and ris l^as been
already impliedly observed, is of a transformable and transfusible nature.
And though it has, with little modification, sustained its uniform trammels
QVPf tbp ininrls nnrl mnnrKar nf >nillir>rie nf \i-r\fn} i-i/»«imo {ry -^ tUnticnnA
v/ » w . -..w ......^w ....^« :.i»....w. >, . ... ........ .....till.?, is^j tt t. itvv(i7nliM
;t, in a circumscribed and qualified mood, its shapes and sides,
i
(■ears
237
lant papacy
ccclesiaatic
Prelacy, yet
idence. — In
ry, '* all are
issured that
viduaily, at
hen sick —
Tiere excep-
-murderers,
;haracter '''
he subjecl ,
though far
nticing and
!gree. For
of his toga
ess, as soon
er, plot and
y, mawkish
jjish, wilful
nt and Con-
or fanciful
metaphor,
tch." For
nifest signs
1 professed
tlemn ordi-
ost withoui
uct ; so that
be Church,
Wo to them
f'lng Peace,
to be so."
in a less or
• tlie graces
?ly of their
but also of
;e, decision
y, adhesion
)pery, is far
or audible,
oiatry is iii
ris l^as been
ibie nature,
m trammels
a thousand
and sides,
models and maggots, are as mutable and multiform as the meaning of the
word Dissenter ; and its dyes and dimensions more numerous than seventy
times seven the seven colors of the rainbow. For a sulky selfish man,
whatever is his crape or creed, is, as such, and so far, as infallible in his
own conceit, as his infidel infallibility of Rome : And so also of any
other Popish error or delusion ' hatever.
But as to the quotation " lVl(,.t men care nothing for one Church or
persuasion by another, but from mere habit, and external circumstances,"
i wish it were more difficult to prove it by daily experience, and the
general open ''"nduci of mankind. But this is a large field for speculation ;
and -I feel not this indeed the happiest moment to range it : For it is now
deep of night; so that I far more incline to roost and to rest, than to write
or to roam. — Of one point, however, I am confident, upon the safest
ground, that the more evident the truth of the quoted proposition appears,
the less self-application it is like to gain. But generally folk can find
no difficulty in forming a judgiinent of opposite parties and persuasions,
quite agrteable to my position. Why otherwise are men ordinarily found
of the religion of ♦heir parents, and predecessors; and this not seldom
in a long row and raige; perhaps for many successive geneiations; and
yet living and dym,f most sadly and securely under the open power of
most dangerous, or damnable errors, of judgment, or practice ; or of both !
And those not only such as are unibrtunately and wickedly prohibited,
and prevented from the free and favorable, blessed and beneficial, aom-
menJcd and commanded, salutary and safe perusal of the sacred Scrip-
tures — as under the accursed asperity and authority, devotion and delu-
sion, doctrine and darkness of Rome ; but men who enjoy the fresh and
full, frank and fruitful, bought and binding, broad and bettering boon of
access to the holy oracles of Heaven; for their guide and guard, con-
viction and correction, companj and comfort, satisfaction and salvation.
Again you may observe that, except in, or near populous places, people
are more generally, especially in long inhabited countries, like yours,
of the same religious outward cast and creed ; and yet, very frequently,
and in multitudes, with tne word of life and light in their hands, in their
families, or at least, in their close neijrhborhood, and public places of
devotion; they pass their days together till their last gasp, either in fear-
ful neglect and neutrality, on the score of their eternal concerns; or
satisfy both themselves, and one another, with mere religious formalism,
or sore superstition. Some have sound creeds, and indifferent, or im-
moral lives — others prove their conduct better than their creed ; as we
meet in some Socinians and Unitarians— a third sort show both their
principles and practice to be at variance with the sacred truth with
which their memories and mouths are so richly stored. The majority of
men in almost all places, care more for the name of their party and pro-
fession, than for the doctrines taught, or the conduct pursued by their
leaders ; provided that no innovation come suddenly and unvarnished ;
or too expensive and unredeemed, to iheir own humor or interest; Not
atAtsr /AfKofc
' • - " " t. • 1 ^' I i;
\n
"very quarter, -.voulu shift ihcir creed and conduct to
the worse, with every new moon, for a paltry improvement of their
Ill
MB.!
i^li '
•2.18
xvoriaiy circumstance , provided their names, for so d^uig, be not pul.-
lished on the house-tops. Myriads of others would lose their scaip and
skin, blood and bile, from credit or conscience, for the sake of a Church
and religion, which would be sure to launch them into the gulf of eternal
perdition : But more especially, of such as most miserably and implicitly
take the blessed Bible (or far rather its hellish shadow and substitute)
on wicked men's trust, or at long second-hand. According to their cir-
cumstances, or connections, you may not seldom find people— not only
the silly and shy, vulgar and void ; but even the otherwise efficient and
intelligent admonished and advised, composed and courageous, corn-
pacted and combined— to be fearfully apprehensive of the charge of a
religious name or gnomon, seal or sound, 6ye or designation, different
from their established denomination; and this when the transfei or
change of their index might be more beneficial than injurious • As for
examples, A Papist is nick-named a Protestant— A Prelatist is hooted as
a Presbyterian, or a Methodist— An establishment Presbyter is doomed
a bece.ler, an Independent, a Dissenter, a Schismatic ; or, if possible
something more fatal. And yet all this mutation of sounds— if properly
merited, and graciously embraced— might prove, to its subjects, one of
the most invaluable titles, privileges, and benefits imaginable, for both
lime and eternity. But the weakness of our nature is sadly manifest on
this ground. Or if you happen seriously to object to the unscriptural
and stumbling mode of indiscriminate administration of baptism, you
must be branded as an Anabaptist.* And yet we find not few excellent
individuals of that party; especially of late years— see for instance, Dr,
Carey of Calcutta, Mr. and Mrs. Judson, with some of their associates
~^r ,""^®*^ ^"^ ""^'®' ^^'"^'^ ^^^ venerable, guides and Christians.
Ihis last paragraph will not be thought as indicating partiality ; as you
know that I am not now of that persuasion on the point of baptism, more
lh;in when I left you. But 1 heartily esteem and admire the missionary
spirit and labours of these good people: Though at the same time I
humbly regret that such good men should not have more effectually felt
the stiff and strong tide of evidence ngainat them on this ground; both
in the testimony of so many good and great men, and ministers, and
martyrs of modern times; and the numerous consequential and cogent
bcripture significations. And I candidly believe tiiat whenever the ne-
cessary investigation is made, it will not leave uii.sliaken the best foun-
dation of the Baptist, on this score. But I wish to trsat very tenderly
on this point ; for it had cost my own poor soul many a restless night,
and painful day, serious investigation, and earnest prayer, before I arrived
at my present conclusion. Bui the mere silence of the New Testament,
on the positive administration of Infant Baptism— which I conceive to
be the best resort of Antipaedobaptism— is but too weak and invalid to
sustain and overset, all the sound, serious, and sober weight of the argu-
ments arrayable and relevant against it.— But I have completely forgot
* Baptists, or rather Antipasriobaptisti, arc not seldom, either in contempt, or from
ignoranes, denominated Anabjiptistn
239
e not pult'
scalp and
a Church,
'of eternal
1 implicitly
substitute)
their cir-
— not only
icient and
J0U3, COflT-
iiarge of a
1, different
ransfei or
13 : As for
1 hooted as
is doomed
f possible,
if properly
ts, one of
, for both
lanifest on
iscriptural
)tism, you
excellent
ance, Dr,
associates
Christians.
r \ as you
ism, more
nissionary
le time I
tually felt
ind ; both
sters, and
»d cogent
er the ne-
est foun-
I tenderly
5SS night,
I arrived
estameii»,
nceive to
invalid to
the argu-
ely forgot
iptjOr from
my »iibject— the>e last lines are mere digressions: For I thonght 1 w»t
aotuaily pleading with my worthy friends, of the Baptists; whom I would
by no means unnecessarily choose to oUend.—I w»i to sutrijest that
comparatively iG\y, people know but very superficially their own professed
religious tenets; or t».ose of their serious separatists, and open oppo-
nwits; and far less the real grounds of their principle-whether well or
III tounded. In most places, and with most persons, religious concerns
-but to be neighbor-like— are, alas! of as little real regard as blind-
man s-buff with children.-The work of grace, and of eternal salvation
IS so very rare in the world, that not one in a thousand, even am >ng
nominal Christians, cares for, or knows the least serious and sober noti-
tion of It. The mere sound of religion, and designations of persua-
sionl^ without any proper sense of human guilt and corruption ; and in
the absence of all saving light and life, fill the Christian world with
wohil fatalatity and bpi.M.al death. The very general run of religious
wrath and wrangling, 0. .sions and distractions, is similar to the idola-
trous commotion in "Acts."—- Some cried one thing, and some ano-
ther; for the assembly was confused; and the more prrt knew not where-
fore they were come together." " For," saith our Saviour, " wide is the
gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there
be whir.h go in thereat . Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the
way, wh4ch ieaaeth unto life, and few there be that find it." " There is
a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end tl reof are the
ways of death."— Prov. '« Counting one by one, to find out the account
—one man among a thousand have I found."— The Preacher " Not
every one that saith unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
Many arc oaUcd, but few are chosen." — Christ. "They loved the
praise of men more than the praise of God."— St. John " Jesus an-
swered them and said, Vwily, verily, I say unto you, ye seek me not
because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves 'and
were filled. ' " For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers
having Itching ears." &c.-St. Paul. "Wo unto you, hypocrite, and
i»v;yers — or false and wicked comment tors of Scriptures, and pretend-
era to infallible decision and judgmeni— " for ye have taken away the
key ot knowledge"— prohibited the common gift of the word of God
and violently and vainly monopolized its propagation and explanation \
and thus so far— " shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ve
enter not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered"—
according to your influence and power, by your phiz and falsehood, bells
and bulls, pranks and prongs, pry and proscription, pride and pollution,
pretence and prosecution. " From a child thou hast known the hoU
fecriptures wh h are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through
faith which IS in Christ Jesus "-2d Tim. "I write unto you. litfle
children because ye have knowr. the Father." &c. " The Bereani were
more noble— in that they searched the Scriptures, dailv."— Actg
vViiat but wretshed inditterence, false ze^l. or the influence of corrupt
N
•240
will, and vile affections, under the power of erronaous means of edifica-
tion, could render men to force the sacred Scriptures to speak language
quite contrary to their plain and unsophisticated meaning, in order to
correspond with fond, favorite, and fabricated systems ! Here, for ex-
ample, take the peculiar frame of Arminianism. You need not stir or
stare, trim or trope; for I intend not, on this ground, to enter upon any
vain or varnished, sublime or supralapsarian disquisition ; but only to
give you a little plain story of the poor bedrid, neighbor Nancy. Well,
as I was to tell you, I happened the other day to visit poor auld Nancy ;
and on entering her cabin, she was, as ordinarily, dining on her couch,
with her antique pair of spectacles on her skeiet a nose, and her half-a-
century Bible open in her trembling hands. ' Now, Nancy," I said,
"what is this you are reading to yourself at this time?" " Indeed, Sir,"
the replied, with a smiling pathos, "I was reading, and marking, here
and there, some plain and gracious texts, for my own great comfort, in my
weakness and vicissitudes. And I think it very strange that any folk of
good sense and sound reason— not to speak of ministers and magistrates
— should once nistake, or make others mistake, the clear meaning of
them. These gracious truths" — she continued — " seem to rne, as if our
merciful heavenly Father purposely appointed them for ot:r particular
support and consolation; and especially, for times of trials and tempta-
tions." " But," 1 asked, " what particular point, or points you have in
view 1" " O ! Sir," she answered, " the glorious and grand doctrine of
the fi^'al perseverance of the saints; which is clearly founded on eternal
election; accord' g to the sovereign and unchangeable love, and free
grace, of God t Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; and effec-
tually applied, aiid carried on, in due time, by the blessed operation of
his Holy Spirit. And," still she continued, " however useful the works
of other good books and great authors are, in their own measure, I see,
in this blessed boon of heaven, of itself;" pointing to her Bible, " a
sufficient clue and connection, of both pith and plainness, for the free
and full su[)port and satisfaction of a gracious soul, in the meanest cir-
cumstances; and otherwise, under the humblest means and measure of
edification and knowledge." " I freely wish," said I, ' to know some
of those Scriptures, which you have particularly in view." "Thay are
indeed very numerous," said she, " both in the Old and New Testa-
ments ; but, at your leave, I will read a few of them ; as 'irst, ' The
righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall
be stronger and stronger.'—Job xvii. 9. ' Though he fall he shall not be
utterly cast down ; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.' — Psalm
xxxvii. 24. ' Th'.)u shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward re-
ceive me to glory.' — Psalm Ixxiii. 24. ' They that trust in the Lord shall
be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removeds but abideth forever.' —
Psalm cv. I. ' But the path of the just is as the shining light, that
shineth more and more unto the perfect day.' — Prov. iv. 18. ' Many
waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.' — Cant, viii.
7. ' For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were
dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not mado with hands,
241
of edifica-
i language
I order to
re, for ex-
not stir or
upon any
ut only to
iy. Well,
Id Nancy ;
iier couch,
her ha!f-a-
," I said,
ieed, Sir,"
•ng.
here
fort, in my
my folk of
[lagistrates
leaning of
}, as if our
particular
id tempta-
>u have in
loctrine of
on eternal
1, and free
and effec-
teration of
the works
lure, I see,
Bible, " a
jr the free
eanest cir-
r.easure of
now gome
'TliRV are
[ew Testa-
irst, 'The
lands shall
hall not be
J.'— Psalm
erward re-
Lord shall
forever.' —
light, that
3. ' Many
-Cant, viii.
:iacle were
vim iiailua,
eternal in the heavens.' — 2 Cor. v. 1. ' What shall we then say to these
things? If God be for us, who can be against us?' &,c. 'Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ f &c. ^ 'Nay, in all these things we
are more than conquerors, through him that loved us.' — Rom. viii.
' Who loved me, and gave himself for me.' — St. Paul. 'The peace of
God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.' — Phil. iv. 7. ' Henceforththere is laid up for me
a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall <rive
me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love'his
appearing.' — 2 Tim. iv. 8. ' Beloved, now we are the sons of God; but
it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know, that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is.' ' And
every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is
pure.' ' These things have 1 written unto you that believe on the name
of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life.' dtc.
* And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an under-
standing, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is
true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal
life.'—l John. 'All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and
him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.' — * And this is the
Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me 1
should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.' 'And
this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son
and belicveth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up
at the last day.' 'Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth on
me hath everlasting life.' ' This is the bread which cometh down from
heaven, that a mau may eat thereof, and not die.' — ' I am the living
bread which came down frora heaven : if any man eat of this bread, he
shall live for ever :'— ' Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood,
hath eternal life ; and I will raise him up at the last day.' — John, 6th chap!
— ' But whosoever drinketh of the water that 1 shall give him shall never
thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water
springing up into everlasting life.'—' Verily, verily, I say unto you. He
that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlastimr
life, and shall not come into condemnation ; but is passed from death
unto life.'— Ibid. Now, Sir," said Nancy, " I stop, lest 1 should too far
impose on your generous indulgence, and more than kill your kind
patience. I could continue a lengthy catalogue of such gracious texts
to the same purpose ; which, in the course of my daily reading are, with
so many other truths, so exhilirating to my poor soul. But for all this,
none must think that I pretend to treat of these scriptures, according
to the critical notions of scholars in controversy. No, no ; but I seriously
believe it would be far safer for people to endeavor to r.nderstand the
spiritual meaning of these and such sacred testimonies, for the life of
their own souls, than by carping or captious dealing, to endeavor to
tempt, or to deprive other humble and sincere souls, of the saving con-
solation of these most glorious heavenly benefits to mankind. And T
feel also most confident—although, I trust, in humility— that all the
f-J
242
1 ■!
opposition of earth aad hell -hall never be able to invalidate or overset,
the general view now taken Ci the scope of what has just been advanced.
— I have added, however, one verse, for obviating an objection, more
than for confirmation of my main principle ; namely, " And every man that
bath this hope in him, pur.fietb himself even as he is pure.' For I hope
I know by experience thit this is the genuine result of all saving hope
and faith, on the ground I sustain; whatever active, or passive abuse to
which this divine doctrine is, or may be, otherwise exposed ; either by its
Antinornian and Solifidian professors, or its Armiman and Latitudinarian
opposers. Tlie I7th chapter of St. John, as an epitome of our Saviour's
intercession with the Father, in the special behalf of his peculiar people
—though I was obliged to waive it for brevity's sake— would, of itself,
prove a stable pillar of this great gospel article of faith ; the support and
comfort of which I would not lose for all the treasures of the A-orld. And
as to the specious common objection, that admonitions, exhortations,
■watchlulness and fear, would not work, on our ground, it is only a mere
phantom ; and the result of fatal ignorance and error; or rather to serve
a turn. It is on this ground that all the persuasions and dissuasions,
threatenings and promises, in the word of God, can operate to purpose;
and comparatively, but ineffectually, on any other possible system. Will
any generous servant desert or despise his beneficent and bountiful master ;
or neglect, not only his right and reasonable, but his apt and amiable,
proud and profitable services, merely because — as the best stimulus to
insure obedience— his said lord and master, binder and benefactor, most
graciously engages to give and grant all powerful and permanent succor
and support, in struggles and straits, vapidness and weaknes.s, dizziness
and despair, necessary for the present performance, and final perfection
of the doings exacted, and the duties enjoined ! Who, but a rogue or n
rascal, a knag or a knave, could ever be capable of abusing such benefi-
cence and bounty ! And who, but miscreants or madmen ; and what
but folly and vanity, could onto prefer a different mode of engagement,
on the part of a ruler, in secular and civil concerns? But who can de-
scribe the frenzy and fatality of fallen and forlorn nature, in despising
aud deriding this most gracious and congenial, this benignant and sur-
pnt'ing compassion and condescension of Heaven, in favor of sick and
soaked, sad and saped mankind ! Or who can conceive the ignorance
and insolence, the mist and mockery, the puff and pride, of corrupt and
crazy, fragile and frigid, fallen and foiled humanity, in preferring any
differi-nt or diverse system or styptic, destiny or dispensation; without
feeling, at once, the powerful conflict of the softest commiseration, and
the soundest indignation !"
Here poor Nancy respired. And while I admit the style has under-
gone a slight tinge of my pen, I assure you, and all concerned, that the
sense aud substance, drift aud divinity of the remarks are wholly her
own. And without r.ny comment from me, on her sentiments, I could
heartily wish that all the country, and the world at large, would prove,
by the correctness of their conductj the coodnesa of their nrincitjifis as
well as the soft and savory, humble and holy, bedrid auld Nancy. ' I have
343
r overset,
advanced,
on, more
f man that
or I hope
ing hope
abuse to
;her by its
udinarian
Saviour's
ar people
of itself,
pport and
rid. And
ortatiuus,
ily a mere
r to serve
ssuasions,
purpose;
jm. Will
il master;
I amiable,
imulus to
;tor, most
nl succor
dizziness
)erfection
ogue or a
ch benefi-
and what
[agement,
can de-
despising
t and sur-
sick and
Ignorance
rrupt and
rring any
; without
ttion, and
as under'
, that the
'holly her
I, I could
lid prove,
.,. J. .,,.., ....
I have
now spun out my letter to a tedious length ; although my subjects are
but comparatively briefly handled. You can readily overlook the ira-
methodical order in which I have taken up your quotations ; for 1 saw
no reason for cny particular arrangement, on thet score. I have treated
on the quoted remarks just as they struck my mind ; and reserved to the
last, that which appeared to me as of greater importance than the rest,
viz: The general, fearful, and fatal indifference of mankind about their
spiritual and eternal concerns.—This is a subject which I can hardly
abandon.— It is but a heart of steel, that feels neutral on this awful
ground ; althmugh some of my old neighbors there may give me, on this
point, but little thanks for my pains; still my hearing and anxious soul
springs from place to place— skips from kingdom to kingdom— and flies
trom pole to pole— musing and masking and mourning! To see man—
precious man— to whom most gracious Heaven declares, that if he should
gain tne whole world, it were still but loss, in losing his own soul; To
see I say, this, this glorious being fast asleep under the injurious power,
and ungenerous pride of his cancerous and confirmed native corrupiioa
and guilt ; either in the absence of maans of saving knowledge, or in
their formal and false enjoyment, feeding on fancy and vanity— loving
Hattery and falsehood— hating purity and plain-deaiing ; To see, I repeat
this mysterious sub-deity— second-crealioa—first-born of Jehovah, under
his probationary and portentous, fortunate and fatal destiny, thus stand
careless, if not cureless, on the very break and brink, verge and vortex
ot life or death eternal— is a sight and scene most arousing, most arrest-
ing, most alarming. The least and loftiest, the humblest and highest
the peasant and the prince, the kidder and the king, the Presbyter and
the Priest, the pauper and the Pope, are all on a level on this most
logomachious and lamentable score:—" As it is written. There is none
righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none
that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are
together become unprofitable." &c. " Let the wise become fools, that
they may be wise." " For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with
(jod." " They hate him thu rebuketh in the gates."— Amos. " Having a
lorm of godliness, but denying the power thereof."— St. Paul. The waters
of Jordan and Jacob's-well, of Thames and Tigris, of Nile and Teptune,
are equally ineffectual for our spiritual baptism and purification ; without
the operative and experimental, fructiferous and famous, sanative and
saving, application of the " fountain opened to the house of David, and
to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness." But which
few do know, and not many desire. "If any man love the world, the
love of the Father is not in him." "The secret of the Lord is with
them that fear him." " If ye love me," saith Christ to his disciples,
"keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall
give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever ; even
the spint of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him
not, neither knoweth him ; but ye know him ; for he dwelleth with you,
and shall be in you." "Judas saith unto him, (not Iscariot) Lord, how
IS it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto ub, and not unto'the world I
I
» I
<■ il
^ '4
344
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my
words ; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and
make our abode within him."— St. John xiv. " He that loveth father or
mother more than me, is not worthy of me : and he that loveth son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not
his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me."— Matt. x. 37, 38.
The subjects of your letter beinjr both serious and numerous, I could
not have passed them over without this trial of your patience. If you
find my ren)arks any wise agreeable to your wishes, you can continue
the communication, upon these, or any other important topics; but if
otherwise, you are welcome either to start your objections, in a candid
and dispassionate spirit, or to drop the correspondence.
With sincere desires for your present edification, and eternal interest,
I remain, dear friend, your's, &,c. C. D.
1 Summary of a late Correspondence, on the subject of the diversity and contrariety
0) religious sentiments in the world, betioecn two acquaintants : The one in the
State of JVeto York, and the other in Cape Breton.
Ilfliaii
At C jCou.NTY OF L , State of New York,
September 7th, 1842.
Dear Sir, — Owing to the late vigorous and violent spread of so many
and various branches of religious persuasions in this country, and its
concomitant and consequent confusion and distraction, struggles and
strife, now even in my own neighborhood, I wish to resume our corres-
pondence ; in hopes that you might assist or relieve my mind, on some
of the subjects more immediately affecting my concern, since I received
your last friendly letter in the year 1838. Calvinism, Arminianism,
Mysticism, Universalism, Deism, Idealism or Scepticism ; and some tints
of Popery from Baltimore, where a Bishop of that denomination is estab-
lished. As to Quakerism, it has been deeply rooted all around us ;
especially in Philadelphia, and all th« State of Pennsylvania, since the
days of its founder, the famous William Penn. There is a swarm of
other branches, under the general name of Nevvlights, which would be
tedious to enumerate ; but the worst pests we have, are the proselytes of
the well-known name Tom Paine ; whose work is now likely *o deluge
the whole land, with dark and dangerous infidelity, and outrageous
immorality. But as to such as deny the sacred Scriptures, though their
influence is fearfully pestiferous, over the minds and mimners cf the
ignorant and the unstable ; yet I feel more concerned how to carry my-
self towards these, who not only acknowledge, but zealously admire, and
pretend to venerate the word of God, as the main or only rule and standard
of their principles and practice, conduct and conversation. — The main
point of my inquiry is, How to decide with certainty, on controverted
subjects? Or to know, Whether there is any fixed or established, in-
fallible or unsubvertible criterion, in the Scriptures themselves, by which
245
ill keep my
o him, and
th father or
relh son or
taketh not
I. X. 37, 38.
us, I could
;e. If you
n continue
ics; but if
in a candid
al interest,
C. D.
d contrariety
he one in the
Ew York,
of SO many
;ry, and its
uggles and
our corres-
I, on some
I received
minianism,
some tints
m is estab-
iround us ;
, since the
swarm of
1 would be
■oselytes of
f *,o deluge
outrageous
lough their
lers cf the
carry my-
dinire, and
id standard
-The main
)ntroverted
}lished, in-
i, by which
people, especially simple and unlearned men, like mvself, could arrive
at unerrmg decisions, as to the main difference between right and wrong,
heterodox and orthodox principles, which are so hotly debated between
powerful and numerous parties? And if there is such a criterion or
estimate. What is it ; and how to find it ? For it is in my own view a
most melancholy and desperate condition, to be left here^ like a vessel
without helm, or her captain without compass, at the wild mercy of
waves and winds; or as a football for the mad sport of every religious
wrangler, or the duped victim of every tossed and twisted disputation.
Your deliberate and candid answer, therefore, at your first convenience
cannot fail of much obliging, Dear Sir, yours, &c.
S. M.
REPLY.
At S. a..., Cape Breton, 22d x\ovember, 1842;
Dear Sir,— I but very lately received your letter, dated the 1st Sep-
tember last; whose contents, though very reasonable and important,
would devolve on me a task, in a high degree, I seriously much fear|
too far beyond my compass and capacity, of apprehension and decision.
Not that your inquiries have at all surprised, or taken me at unaware;
lor they are but such as my own difficulties, on the same and similar
subjects, not seldom suggest to my own mind ; but I most sincerely tell
you, I would a hundred fold far rather obtain, than attempt to return
any answer to them. J think there might be given on this ground,
something like postulates, axioms, or fundamental propositions, which
would, in a certain degree, assist the anxiously inquiring mind, farther
than any thuig of the kind, with whicli I aim yet favored, through ail my
life, in my limited means of information and knowledge. And buried
alive as now I am, and have been, in this thicket of comparative darkness,
for the space of a long score of years, I have but little access to borrowed
assistance on this serious score. But though I do not presume to give
any fully satisfactory answer to your q-^eries,! will write you some ot"the
rules by which I endeavor myself to I jided in searching the meaning
of any text of: Scripture, or point of cont. uversy under doubt or discussion.
— As-first, To examine carefully v.^hether the same text is to be under-
stood literally, or metaphorically. This will sometimes require a good
deal of caution and candour ; but in the more important cases for all ;
but especially for ordinary readers, both the context and parallel scrip-
tures will help much on this point. Without this rule a Prelate or a
Fope, IS as apt to blabber and to blunder, as a pauper or a peasant.
1 here never has been any thing in the religious world, of greater con-
sequence for good or evil, faith or falsehood, error or orthodoxy, than
the preserving or perverting of this particular point. Heresy would
starve to death but by trespassing this rule. Some taught "that the
resurrection was already past."— 2 Tun. ii. 18. Popery would be lame
nut on the same ground. Purgatory and transubstantiation would expire
toffether. hut in tho Ki-on/.!! nC *u\^ ,.,u p.,_ ii.. -^ _ ■ i i
,-' ' ~ "■■•• •" '"''' lu:--. fur iiiauiy Biiuiigc, anu uias-
pheinously wicked, as it appears to every other sober person, Christ,
246
oar ever blessed Lord and S«viour, and a silly wafer — consecrated by
the wicked mummery and mumbling of a wicked priest — are one and
the same to the deluded Papist. And all this wilful and wicked impo-
sition, on the part of the priesthood, continued, under the light of the
niripteenth century, and in the midst of Protestantism, merely by mis-
taking the figurative sense of a most plain text, for its literal meaning : —
Hoc est meum corpus — " This is my body." The folly and wiles of hell
could not fabricate nor foster a more maggoty, monstrous, and mad ex-
planation. Yet it is possible that the provoking sins of Popery, against
clear light and knowledge, on the part of its clergy — although otherwise
in a high degree with its blind laity — draw upon its wilful priesthood,
such judicial blindness, permitted by the sovereign dispensation of
Heaven, as renders, at least some of its very leaders themselves to believe
in such ridiculous and blasphemous explanation, as this under remark;
According to 2d Thess. chap. 2. " Because they received not the love
of the truth, that they might be saved — for this cause God shall send
them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might
be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteous-
ness." Mark, for instance, how ridiculously absurd would it be to ex-
plain, in a literal sense, the following text .spoken by our Saviour to his
disciples: — "Call no man on earth your father, or your master:" And
the words of St. Paul, to the Thessaloni^ns ; "Let us not sleep as do
others." And on the other hand, to deny the literal import of the ensu-
ing scriptures, would involve similar absurdity : " Every house is builded
by some one:" — "One star differeth from another star in glory:" or, as
in the original — For star differeth from star in glory (in light). — St Paul.
And so of thousand other examples. The second general rule I observe
for myself is, that when many, or several texts, are apparently contrary
to each other in their meaning, I feel fully assured that one of the two
opposite clusters, must not be taken freely in its apparent sense. My
next step is, to compare very deliberately, as in the sight of Heaven, and
with as little prepossession as possible, the said apparently opposite two
clusters; and to see which of them is more plain in its meaning, without
any violence or change. 1 ordinarily find here — blessed be the Lord —
at least two advantages, going hand in hand : Where I meet the plainer
meaning, I find also, by far the greater number of texts. This is a point
of blessed notoriety. thi.i never fails ; nor can escnpe the notice and
knowledge of the s.n.ple and sincere examiner of sacred truth. This
rule holds also the same, whether we have two or three; or a score of
varieties and opposiies to compare. And there is not a possibility of
disappointment to the man that can properly try and tend it. It is as
necesf-arily true as a mathematical axiom. And the Infallibility of Rome,
and all its foolish and wicked pretence or imitation, is but a mad con-
fusion in this comparison. This is the gracious gift of Heaven, to fallen
mankind ; and it is worthy of its glorious and condescending Author.
My third grade, in this process, is, to try the opposite series or order, by
i\\o nnalnrru f»f nihnr nlnin afrinlnrpa • a"d 'hp C'lSfiUenfe IB. that wliat-
'" oJ '" "' " 1 "f" "~ ! "" """ 1 " '
ever seeming opposition, or contradiction this latter cluster bears to the
rated by
one and
sd impo-
it of the
by mis-
aning : —
53 of hell
mad ex-
', against
)therwise
iesthood,
sation of
:o believe
remark ;
. the love
hall send
all mio[ht
iofhteous-
be to ex-
iir to his
:" And
jep as do
the ensu-
3 builded
:" or, as
-St Paul.
I observe
contrary
the two
use. My
aven, and
osite two
r, without
e Lord —
le plainer
is a point
otice and
Ih. This
score of
iibility of
It is as
of Rome,
mad con-
I, to fallen
r Author,
order, by
:hat what-
irs to the
247
former order, it can still be explained without any real violence (o it.
exts; but quite agrt.able to its contexts; and at the .ame Virne as co-
respondent to us former seeming opposite. Thi, is both a e Tnd and n
simple harmony in the word of God. But lest, in this experiment I
should be part.al. from prejudice o. bigotry, arising from ocle y or se?fi;h.
"?' r' r ]""''''''' ^ ''^'' ^ ''""^'h turn; and that is in try nfto
t I Zo "'''"''. PT'"'. '" °'"^^'- '" '''' ^"^ ^^r i' i« possible to m^ak°
•t I armomze with other plan, parts or portions of the scriptural account
of fallen humanity and of the glorious scheme of salvation. butT
nenr^^T.r;'- '''•"'' '"'^ ""detached-all is confusion and de ng
concerned FoZ '" P'"''"'"" '' '^' ^"^"''^' ^'^'S'^^ ^'''^e subjec s
concerned. For th s is a most gracious and universal method ; and most
conspicuous through all the revealed will of Heaven ; that aciordinTto
the co,nparat.ve importance of any sacred truth, its undisguised s^mZity
or plainness is in the same proportion. In the fifth place. 1 rec Ho mJ
TofZZ^'''"'T' 'f '''•'' '^ '''"' '^"'""'^y and'thankfulne s to t e
a'ce' MvlTi"" ^'"""T ^PP«'"?«"^ «nd condescending assist-
ance. My sixth step is, to endeavor, in the perusal of scriptures to mark
a particular distinction between extraordinary and ordfnayiiftsar J
graces ; believing, as I fully do, that the former have forever ceaC wi h
AndthT,°" T' '"^- "''^ "" ^^'''^' ^'^"' '" '^'^ "Rev ation''
And that therefore it is as arrogant and wicked for any man, o^ set of
to thp^lT'' 'T''"^, t° "Infallibility of judgment and d cision or
Lif or " n^"^ '/ "'"■'''''= "' '\'^' possession of any extraordinary
^ll* A ^ ! "° common to good and gracious men in general as to
pretend o Apostleship. Whenever this distinction is once^ransgressed
or overlooked adieu to the sense of truth, humility and hdmess'
Connected with this head is, in my view, to give due deference to the
^r.^M "'""'' '"^ conduct of eminentlf good and learned men
especially Ministers and Martyrs; who have nolably showed,-by "he ;
ives, and suffering; and especially by martyrdom, or endurance of Z.
rXlnn ^°""7"' imprisonment and death,-the power of truth and true
m„ ir lu , '.""^ °'^" P^'^' ^'^""gh """« <^«" reprobate, more than
myself, the evil of implicit faith, in the absence of the clear' revelation
of Heaven for our foundation, yet I still wish to feel tender fear and
hesita ion. in refusing or adopting any principle or practice, of any serious
importance ; in the very face of a vast majority of such eviderfce ever!
partly the first means of stimulating my own exertion on this my method
of Scripture examination. And I much pity the man, who pretends to
be an anxious inquirer after truth, that has never experienced serious
hesitation on the same ground. As for example, where, I ask can
-aourr W?"" ^"^ ''''■"'''' "^ '^' "^''''^ Worthies." and the
Cloud of Witnesses" m its own favor? Never did. and never will
iMor, ndeed, I am humbly confident to assert, any other party or deno'
rJ."!^r '.'"/'- r'^K-^'^ "'"P^- '' ^"'^^'" P--P'- or P7a'ctice the
r-^..== oi vvnai the subjects ol the said eminent memoirs, professed' an J
supported by their life and death. The more I examine the word of
248
k.
revelation, according to my method, the more I ngree with the principal
religious sentiments of the good and great and numerous cloud under
consideration. Let noi such as vainly acknowledge the propriety of these
last remarks; but who are far the very contrast of those deservedly
commended, anywise pride themselves, upon the score of a mere name ;
which will never stand the touchstone of the word of " testimony." My
next purpose, is in the seventh place, to be never stubborn or refractory
on this point ; but to stand always, in the fear of God, open to conviction ;
especially for improvement; and in this mind to make use of every likely
means for my correction, admonition, edification, confirmation, or com-
fort; and in this mind to endeavor, during my life on earth, to be either
under the most likely practicable means for my own religious instruction ;
or to attempt, according to my circumstance and measure of knowledge,
to instruct others ; and this last point, as free of self-interest and worldly
gain as possible : According to the text, " Freely ye have received, freely
give." — And Christ said, " Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted,
and become as little children"— that is, humble and properly teachable
" ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."—" The wisdom that
is from above, is easy to be entreated." &c. If, after my previous
acknowledgments, any should be apt to say, that I write but a sham
account of my religious tenderness, and that I never suspected my own
judgment, or my power of investigation according to my seeming self-
diffidence, I answer that 1 have written nothing but serious and unvar-
nished truth, in my reply to you. And moreover, I tell you positively,
that my zealous anxiety, from my youth, after Scripture knowledge,
exposed me to great temptations, of which the generality of even religious
people are, by experience, quite ignorant. By my keen thirst, or per-
haps, in a long degree, rather my curiosity for religious improvemeut,
never allowed me, in my earlier years, to pass any opportunity of reading
any religious book falling in my way. Through my sad ignorance of the
powerful influence of sly errors on an unexperienced mind, 1 was, by this
means, for a certain period of my life, a Papist ; though you know I was
bor« and bred up a Protestant. After sore struggles, which would be
tedious now to enumerate, I got disentangled from that dreadful delu-
sion. The next trap for me was Universalism. I was taken in that snare
for about a year and a half; which, after sucking very plausible doctrines
indeed, I found as destructive as my former deception; and yet that is
enough indeed ! Heaven knows what mental suffering these things cost
me ! " After that Infidelity ; or in other words, both Deism and Atheism
infernal terms— arrested and infested my very soul, for at least the
space of two whole years ; But not so much, like my othev errors, by the
reading of wicked or infidel books, as by deistical and atheistical sugges-
tions, piercing, not seldom, as it were, my very spirit through and through :
The Lord permitting these long and sore temptations, I hope, for my
subsequent spiritual advantage. Don't think that I write these things at
random ; for I think them too serious to treat them lightly. Q,uakery
aftected my mind, rather unknown, at the time, to auy but myself. For
some time, however, I relinquished secret devotion ; not from any disre-
principal
ud under
y of these
leservedly
ire name ;
ny." My
refractory
Dnviction ;
ery likely
I, or com-
be either
struction ;
nowledge,
id worldly
^ed, freely
converted,
teachable
isdom that
' previous
It a sham
id my own
ming self-
nd unvar-
positively,
nowledge,
1 religious
it, or per-
»rovemeut,
ot reading
ince of the
/as, by this
now I was
would be
idful delu-
that snare
3 doctrines
yet that is
things cost
,d Atheism
t least the
ors, by the
cal sugges-
d through :
pe, for my
e things at
Q,uakery
..;-~\r
any disre-
249
i^ard to religion, or its serious concerns; Imt from Qnakerly fipnliments,
as fearing it more offensive to Heaven to perform any Hevotional duties
without what I esteemed the presence and previous lively exercise of the
Holy Spirit, ihan a suspension of my external worship. This brought
on me a lingerin^f decay in the inward man; till I was drawn into the
gulf of temptation, and a sad condition to purpose. O! the sad state,
even of religious zealous men, without the real guidance of the word of
God ! My next trial and temptation fell out on the ground of Arminian-
ism. I read much on that subject; and induljied my family to do the
same, probably too far. But under a long and heavy fever, rnd in n)y
great weakness of body and mind ; and under deep desertion of my
wonted .<;piritual peace and joy, for tlie space of six weeks, I believe<l —
or at least fearfully dreaded — I was fallen from grace. This was by far
the heaviest aHliction that ever hits arrested my soul. But it has, I humbly
trust, proved, in the hand of Divine Providence, an effectual means to
stimulate my mind to a more and more serious examination of the prin-
ciples more directly and commonly in contrast, on ttiis ground, viz :
Arminianism and Calvinism. You know, I am not going now to dispute
these principles. And I know that good people may be tinted with
Arminianism, as well as with other errors of judgment. But after the
freest deliberation, and the closest investigation of it, 1 am lully persua-
ded that very few errors, if any now in the Christian world, exclusive of
Popery, o'c; of equal evil and danger with it. This insinuating, sly, and
slaying principle has, for a long time, filled the religious world with its
fatal influence. But it was not the principle of the prophets, or of the
Apostles. And where, I ask, besides, will you point out to me, any
eminent martyrs, pui)licly professing the fundamental pomts of this
principle (as opposed to Calvinism), and showing forth the praise of the
Lord, in prisons, and on scaffolds, as freely excited and assisted by the
lively presence and spiritual influence of the Holy Ghost, as both a per-
sonal and public token of Heaven's approbation of their witnessincr and
suffering. Ileal Arminianism, to use a figure, will spread most, and
thrive best, in temperate zones. It will patiently and punctually undergo
lesser and lower privations and suffering; for these shall well agree with
its genuine spiritual pride and boast, of self-suflicience, and legal merit:
But the [..ord has never yet shewed, and never will show, his divine
approval, of any principle contrary to his own revelation in the Scrip-
tures ; as this delusive and dangerous heresy certainly is. There arc hard-
ly any controverted points, in the word of God, among Protestants, more
richly conspicuous throughout the Bible, especially in the Psalms, am!
the New Testament, than liie perseverance of real believers, as connected
with, and flowing from, their particular and eternal election and pre-
destination ; and the total spiritual incapacity of fallen humanity, for its
own recovery or saving redemption. For where there is no will, theru
is no power. It is as easy to prove that there is no sun in the firmament,
as the reverse of these points. The religion that is farthest above and
against fiUen nature, is the religion of the Bible; but this is, by no
means, the religion of Arminius; but a thing, in a long degree, within
Iji'i
if'!
250
the grasp mid ^rip of my native liiimauity ; but too flattering and favor-
able to my self-power mid pride to be true ! I would not veMlure my
«oul, on that sandy foundation, for a tbouisand worlds ! " Who c-j bring
a clean thing out of an unclean?"— Job. "Behold I was shapen in
iniquity; and in sin did my rnotiier conceive me." — Psalma. •' There is
none that dorih ^ood, no not one." " For I know tba in me (that is
in my flebli) (hvclielb ho jjood thinjr.'— St. Paul. Bi i how safe and sure
IS the state of true believers.— " And we know that all tliinas work
together for L'ood to tliein ihat love God, to them who are tlPe calif d
accordinnr to his purpose."—" For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to tbe iniarre of his Son, that he might be
the first-born among many brethren."—" Moreover, whom he did predes-
tmate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified •
and whom he justihod, them he also glorified."—" What bliallwe then
say to these things? H God be for ns, who can be again.^t us?"—" lie
that spared not liis own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall
he not with him also freely give us all things ?"-" Who shall lay any
thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."— " Who
IS he that condeir.neth? It i.s Christ that died, vea rather, that is risen
again, who is even at the ri-bt hand of God, who also maketh intercession
for us."—" Who .shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribula-
tion, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?"— "As it is written. For thy sake we are killed all tbe day long;
we are accounted as dieep for the slaughter."-" Nay, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." — " For 1 am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come," — "Nor height,' nor
depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us fromllie love
of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans viii. Vide 1 Pei. i.
10 and 11. Why would any serious or tender-minded Arminian feel
angry, at the rehearsal and af)plication of such sacred texts, as the imme-
diately foregoing blessed mode of reasoning, infallible affirmations and
conclusions, and implied most triumphant promises, left on record by the
Holy Ghost, through the medium of St. Paul, as Christ's " chosen vessel,"
for the encouragement and comfort, confirmation and gratitude, of all
good Christians and true believers! For if he is once under the'suving
influence of divine grace, he is included in those most gracious promises ;
and if he has no permanent right to them, he has nothing yet that cari
efficiently sustain his faith at death, or absolve his soul at judgment.
For the solemn and sacred texts, under remark— let it be noted— are not
detached, solitary, or obscure points, requiring exposition, or circumlo-
cution ; or subject to various or double meaning, at the mercy of every
captious and carping critic. No, no: They are open, free, and full;
spacious, unvarnished, and fundamental ; so that if tl;e Apostle, when
he wrote them, under the infallible dictation and influence of the Holy
Ghost, did not infallibly believe his own eternal salvation, and that, at
least, of all his gracious correspondents, to be infallibly sure; as. by a
most gracious and sovereign climax, or necessary chain, connected with.
'251
g and favoT-
veMiure my
'ho c.") bring
'as shapen in
•' There ia
me (that is,
safe and sure
tilings work
re the called
, he also did
he might he
e did predes-
Ifo justified :
lall we tlien
us?"— "He
,11, how shall
hall lay any
h."— " Who
that is risen
intercession
5hall tribula-
or peril, or
le day long ;
these things
"For 1 am
ipalities, nor
height, nor
om tlie love
i^ide 1 Pel. i.
minian feel
IS the imme-
nations and
ecord by the
)sen vessel,"
itude, of all
r the saving
IS promises;
fet that can
I judgment,
ed — are not
)i circumlo-
cy of every
g, and full ;
)ostle, when
)f the Holy
and that, at
e ; as, by a
lected with.
and proceeding from, eternal, unchangeable and particular or special
election and predestination, I know not what is the use or sense of his
language through all his writing : And I challenge the world to give here
a dilferent explanation with any consistency, propriety, or shadow of truth.
As to many simple victims, that are enticed and entangled by the per-
suasion untie'- consideration, who have more zeal and sincerity, than
proper sense and circumspection, I would not choose to write any thing
harshly about them : They are, in my view, more to he pitied than up-
braided; since they have hardly any judgment for themselves, in religious
concerns; but their all, on this ground, is in the sleeve of their leaders.
But for such as are possessed of a good stock of biblical knowledge, as
well as natural understanding, there is nothing but the power of prejudice
and pride, in support of a favorite system, and in the ni)sencc; of due
concern and investigation, could leave them, for a long life, under their
fatal blindness, and opposition to such meridian sacred light, as the
glorious scriptures last quotcH. necessarily suggest and shed around them
at first sight, and undisguised to every sensihie and unprejudiced mind
in the world ; the very simplest humble Christian not excepted; so that
the man, who dares once wrest them from their divine and simple drift
and scope, may trifle or tamper at pleasure with any other texts in the
♦hole word of God. I do not choose to speak or to write unadvisedly,
of men in great repute and esteem, among numerous, sober, and respect-
able people. But whatever degree of good the famous Wo.sleys have
efl'ected, by their example and writing they have done incalculable evil.
'J'hose commonly denominated Wesleyans, ere generally so quiet, kind,
.aid unassuming, both in their moral and religious behavior; and also so
zealous, patient and persevering, in endeavoring to do good in the world,
that 1 feel, in sincerity, very reluctant to suggest any tiling untcnderly
or disrespectfully of them. But by their being in a less or greater degree
leavened with Arminianisfn, I am fully sure that, so far, their tenets and
doctrines are dantfcrous and unsafe. And moreover the Wcsloys taught
some uiiHcriptural principles beyond Arminius himself; ^specially sinless
perf(&c!,ioii in this life, and a total falling from grace, to bei*ossible; and
on their plan, likely in the same person. But many of their followers do
not choose to admit that they professed these points. But I have the
Catechism of Mr. John Wesley on the subject, just now before me, laying
on the table; which runs as follows : —
"Uues. What is implied in being a prrfect Christian I
" Ans. The loving of the Lord our God with all our iieart, and with
all our mind, and soul and strength.
"Q.'Does thirf imply that all inward sin is taken away?
" A. Without doubi : or how could we be said to be saved from all our
uncleanness? Ezek. xxxvi. 29." "We grant that many of those who
dieil in the failli,yea, the greater part of those we have known, were not
sanctified throughout, not made perfect in love, till a little before death."
"Q,. What, then, is the point wherein we divide;" [/. c differ froiu
our brethren.]
''A. It is this: Whether wc should [expect to be saved from all siu
before the ariicio of dcuth ?
; -'il
•I
" U. U Ihcre r.ny Scripture pnuuises of this, that God will save us from
all sill f
"'^•. '^'l'^',';,.'''.^'''- cxxx. 8. "He bhall re.lrein Israel from all hi»
itJiquitics. J Ins IS more largely expressed in Ezek. xxxvi. 25 29 " ^c
in some of the account of his life, I rend where this same Mr. Wesley
acknowledged freely to some of his religious friends, that he believed
liimse.l to lave attained to this perfection, of which we treat. Now this
IS a man, with all his knowledge and profession, yet showing his fearful
Ignorance, both of himself, and of the Scripture account on the subject
I'or my own part, I can think it nothing short of spiritual lethargy, or
religious madness. If there was nothing in the Bible, but the 7th
chapter of Romans, to keep Scripture readers off this rock, of fa-iciful
perfection, you would think it fully snflicient ; l;esides that the longer
any experienced Christian lives, and the mere he knows of God and of
Christ and of the enjoyment of saving grace, the farther he is from
that dangerous and daring delusion And as to the opposite extreme,
Wesley m his said Catechism, on the point of falling from grace, writes
111 the following maiiMer :— an.
II Q,. Can faith be Just but through disobedience 7
"A. It can not. A believer Hrst disobeys ; inclines to sin with his
heart; th a his intercourse with God is cut off, /. c. his faith is lost: and
after this lie may fall into outward sin, being now weak and like another
ni tin.
It is but quite natural for men who once stumble upon the plainest
truths, that they have no fixed rule to prevent then, from ridiculous and
dangerous extremes and inconsistencies. This ly sidly the case with
this celebrated religious Teacher. Such men, I freely admit, may be
and actually are ; and not seldom, even upon a large scale, the means
of a great deal of stir and change to the better, among their fellow-nien
in a moral and ecclesiastical point of view. But that the Lord would
render these, or similar characters, laboring themselves under the power
of h.igrant heresy, to bt- the immediate instruments, of gracious revolu-
tions, and t^aviug conversions, and that in such a conspicuous manner as
their adherents fondly believe eoucerning the Wesleys, and iheir leading
ollowers, are points quite inconsistent with the will of God revealed in
MS own word. 1 most deliberately and sincerely believe, and that from
long acquaintance of their seiiti.nents and conduct, that there is not
the same degree of morality, apparent humility and kindness, and con-
fniucd religious formalism in any otiier community in the world, with as
litUe ol the real power of godliness, as among Wesleyans. I will here
give you one short example from the leport or journal of one of their
iiineratit preachers; who since a few years, passed through this neiirh-
borhood ; " i.'roni N. R. 1 went to B. D., where I met with Mr M C
the Lord's precious and dear servant in that place ; who, upon mv arri-
val tliere, immediately called together the few brethren of that scttle-
nieiii; vvhom, when they convened, at J. P.'s house, we found to have
comsiited of ten persons (all named) and four of them sisters. 1 preached
and prayed — after which Mr. 11. " ■ ■ '
made some remark
Had iravc a
ave us from
om ail hJM
i, 29." ^c.
Ar. Wesley
le believed
Now this
Iiis fearful
he sul)ject.
ithargy, or
Jt the 7th
of fanciful
the longer
iod and of
le is from
e extreme,
ace, writes
1 with his
I lost; and
ie another
e plainest
ulous and
case with
t, may be,
he means
llow-meii,
^rd would
the power
>s revolu-
naniier as
ir leading
vealed in
tliat from
lire is not
and con-
i, with as
will here
of their
lis neigh-
Ir. M. C.
my arri-
at scttle-
1 to have
preached
il iruve u
word of exhortahon. The Lord was manifestly present.-the little astern-
biy were all melted luto tears-and every one gave expression to some of
their experience. It was far of the evening before they were dismissed.
As tor my own part, 1 could hardly be ., conciled to tin; separation • for
in very truth, I would not have exchanged my situation for the enjoyment
ot angels . 1 his last sentence would have been foolishly and arrogantly
extravagant, in any association in the world. Rut when we know by loni
acquaintance and experience, what silly, dy. and senseless, were, and are
to His day, the very persons who composed the aaaembl- under remark •
and 111 particular, the ignorant and foolish man in the said r^-ort, styled
as the Lord s precious and dear servant," we cannot proi .y admire
the fatality under which such men as this oflicial Reporter are left by the
sovereign permission of righteous Heaven; to be a pla- -.nd stumbling-
block to people who greedily drink up such mad ac...nts; and also
eel much offended at some of their intelligent and judicious neighbors,
vvho benevolently object to the groundless foundation upon which they
build their religious confidence. A few groans now and then-a little
trothy talk of your experience— a sly smile and looking aloft— to whistle
a hymn— to ^e punctual at your exercise of frivolous and fanciful devo-
tion— and i. .urn your common conversation to Script. ire phraseology,
will make you a sound saint among the Wesleyans ; though you should
otherwise be the very nausea and nightmare of the best and ivisest
Christian in the world. Am sure they will be angry-but I cannot help
It I could tire your softest patience about the silliness and shallowness
of the ordinary rate of their religion-not to speak of their gross heresy.
x>reao.u beyond conception and description must be the latter end, of
thousands of these most fat-lly deluded souls; who will not believe a
word of any faiitiful admonition, that clashes with their own once-received
opinions. In siort-although I lay to my account to suffer sad ;. ^.d
sound reproach lor this my sincere reflection— I seriously believe, upon
he maturest consideration, that the Wesleys were the greatest stumbling,
blocks to mankind, that have existed in modern times; and that thou-
sMuds and myriads ol unfortunate souls shall have to rue and regret for-
ever the day in which they were first entangled in their fast and^fatuous
snare Were there no other objections to their real pie'y-wliich is
very br from the case— than their most foolish and wicked profession of
SMI es. ^rfection in this life, it would have, of itself, proved a fully
Mnl.c.ent demonstration of their awful ignorance, both of God and of
tlieir. elves; as well as of their daring presumption in wresting and
f..jbvert.ng some of the most gracious and essential truths and principles
ot tlie (jospcl. *^
The epistle of one of them to the good and great and gracious, Rev.
Jame. lervey-with their other opposition to the justly famed writings
• {that humble-mmded, elegant, and orthodox Author, is another evident
loken of the deplorable depravity of their disposition, against any viaorous
and virtuous opposition to their hateful and hurtful, far and wide! over-
spreading heresy. Lord keep niv soul fior.: thpir s^cr^'t I
mM
iii^
254
■i
I
Ag to Mysticism, Uie common people cio not understand the proper
sense of the phrase; so iliat many of them are in danger of this principle
witlioiit so tnuch as knowinif that such an error now exists, or ever has
been (Maintained, in fl)e world. There is a fearful tinge of it at present,
in different parts of the Highlands of Scotland; and which has been
workinjf there, under the name of " Spirituality," since at least half a
century. The suhjects of it, in that quarter, are all of a Calvinistic
creed, and members of the Church of Scoiland. As for myself, for several
years together, in my youth, I verily thought there were no men on earth
v.'ho had closer communion with Heaven than these Mystics; and I cer-
tainly proposed to myjielf no higher religious attainments than to imitate
some of these deceiving and deceived men. Perhaps I have never run a
greater risk in my devotional career, than by this high and siiblime
delusion. Sut it would be almost equal for you, in my native country,
to object to the good sense and piety of St. Peter or St, Paul, as to the
superior wisdom and spirituality of the men in question ! These spiritual
men will not take a single text in the Bible in its literal sense or mean-
ing; for that would be only legality; and like legal preachers; who have
not the " Spirit." To mystify and to spiritualize the plainest literal and
liistoriciil fiicts, must be the province of these semi-supjrnatural beings!
They will never bow to the servile task of understanding figures, meta-
phors, or parables; nor in the explication of the darkest prophecy, will
they require any rule or estimate, as to particular periods, degrees, ©r
manner of falfilmcnt; for that wou!:: be limitin:;; the Spirit, or the
" Holy One of Israel," in his divine impulse, inf^'uiice, and o^jeration :
For "the wind blowelh where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
(hereof, but canst not tell wheiice it cometh, and whither it goeth : so is
every one that is born" — or "led" — " by the Spirit!" Their implicit
adherents never once tb.ink of doubting the "spirituality" of the wildest
vagaries of tiiese whims. Do not imagine that I exaggerate on the
subject; for I write nothing beyond Hober truth, and fair facts. There
have been none of the clergy, except a very lew of late years, in the
number of those here concerned.
Mysticism, (Quakerism, and Wesleyism run, in some long degree,
quite paiallel. The famous John Nelson, the W°sieyai) preacher, was
a rank Mystic, or f uatic. But 1 once read his book with singular satis-
faction and approbation ; anrl thought the author a man of singular
spiritufility and sound judgment ; but I deliberately now, upon the safest
ground, believe him to have been a wild entliusiast, like his heretical
leaders. 1 could give yoi'. numerous instances, of a very curious nature,
both in tl'.cory and practice, of our own familiar Mystics; bat it would
be too tedious in a letter otherwise swelled to an odd size. But should
you ask me, how I got myself disentangled from tlieir dangerous snare;
I would answer, that it was by the help of the maxims I have partly laid
down already in this letter, for the exjdanation of adopted hypotheiscs or
theories. For as tliere can be no real inconsistency in the words of
sacred scriptures, we should feel the trreatest seriousness, and use the
utmo&t di.liieration in deciding upon apparently contradictory priiici[)!es
255
in the Bible. It is the absence of this circumspection and ciuition
tlKit leaves the religious world such a gloomy chao.s, and u Babel of
contusion.
Socinianism, Arminianism, and in fact every other hetoredox n-inci-
ple, would be soon reduced, but for want of proper fear of bein<r deceived
I he subjects of the former, nannely ; Socinians, or UnitarianMind in the
rvew J estament, lor instance, that Jesus of Nazareth was calird o- sup-
posed to be •' the Son of .ToGeph :" But will this solitary, detached or
parenthetic te . bear any balance, importance, or proportion, to the vast
and valid, sound and tolid, pirun and placid, artruments of Trinitarians
on the opposite ground ; as founded on a large portion of the Scriptures
of both the Old and New Testaments ! i • »
Arminians, and all other heretics, are in the same, or similar predica-
I ''ot, just in proportion to the extent or viciousne^s of their re-^-ective
•isies. Read here the justly-fanied " Scott's Force of Truth "
-.nowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any pnvale
interpretation For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
inan; but ho^y men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
(jhost. —St. Peter. Before I leave the ground of the son'-destr'^yina
leprosy of Arminianism, or Wesleyism, 1 must warn you from the late
pu jlication of Robert Wilson on that point : a more positive a-id poison-
ous p-ece than which has never yet been written on the subiecf i iiave
the book in my little thicket library; and, as a whole, a faithful servant
ot Satan It is indeed ! You do not know, perhaps, that Vv iisoii was one
01 my fe low-collegians, and my familiar companion fur some time
But 1 tell in fact he was : And one of more religions thong and tliirst
tor argument, our whole ring of students did not produce. We included
indeed his counter, for hot dispute, and wrangling contest, though not
lor warmth of passion and pious zeal. Often did these two greedy cocks
or verbal fighting engage and fight their bloody battles, in our spacious
lobby, and at our lodgings. We calle-' he«n "The Cock-Robins •" for
they were actually both Roberts by . .^r first name. One day' after
hearing their endless debate, on dismi ..ion, I took Wilson aside,— for I
indeed loved him, and that, at the time, with apparent return,—'' Bob "
said J " you seriously grieve me, by your fondness for arcrument witiiout
considering, what is apparent to one half of our studlnts; that yniT
zeal evidently supersedes your sense and knowledge; and that you do
not but litlle improve by your foils and frustrations. Your uUta^onist
IS your evident superior, in every branch of your controversy f.vrept
religious zeal and obstinacy ; and by these you hope to overcome him
but in vain. When yon feel your own defc it on one point, you shift
your ground, without admitting your error; and you combat oup text
by another, unconcerned whether it would be easier and safer to recon-
cile their apparent variance on the system of your opponent, or your
own. lius IS neither virtue nor victory— natural light nor loc^ic "
Whatever temporary and superficial efi'ect these friendly and faithful hints
rnight have, at that time, on the mind of my neighbor, I see n:-- r^u;,,!,.
'>y his publication, that he h«s ever been tl °
HI'
le same selfish and stubbor
J'l
256
m
wilful and wily disputant, without the least wise itnprovenient, by his
increase of years, or means of knowledge. I here take notice only of
one remark which runs so often in tlie book of this unfortunate Wilson ;
As in treating of believers, he writes : " If they fall partly ; or that their
graces partly decay, Why not totally?" O, why, it may be replied, but
that Heaven actually both wills and promises the case to be otherwise,
according to the plainest possible Scripture evidence. But it would be
more rational and beneficial to nsk, Why arc tliis x\niiiniua champion,
and all his n'jmerous party, so hotly tenacious of opposition to the most
explicit Scripture acount of the certain and infallible perseverance of
all true believers? In brief answer to this important question, it may
be premised, that an error is never singular, or alone; but always fruitful
and combined. The most ridiculously frivolous and fnnciful, foolish and
false appearance, or apparent change, which obtains, at all times, in all
places, and among all classes, of this sorry denomination, under the farci-
cal and fond name of " Conversion," makes it unavoidable for them to
split upon the rock of fallibility, or "falling from grace," quite contrary
to tlie most positive, potent, and plain declaration of Fleaven : Because
so many ol their own silly and sham converts, fall endlessly, and of course,
from time to time, from tlic-ir scanty and skni-appearance of grace , they
build one error upon another; and instead of humbly reflecting upon,
or adujitting their own credulous belief and confidence, in such superficial
and shallow conversions, in place of the real work of the Spirit of grace,
they rather jump to the wicked and violent expedient of wresting the
word of God, in order to support and maintain their own unfaithful and
unfounded, heretical and hateful system ; A system, liy the bye, though
desperate, which is very congenial to the blind and brackish bias, of
proud and peccant, fallen and foiled humanity. And since these Armin-
iaus ever harp and carp that Calvinists miss the best guard and guaranty
to stipulate or stimulate their exertion and zeal, obedience and contin-
uance, in the Lord's grace and service, by dependence on their perse-
verance, they hereby plainly indicate, that they themselves, place undue
confidence on their servile fear : But no virtuous wife maintains her
fidelity, to her generous husband, mainly or solely from fear of his dis-
pleasure ; nor a filial child, obedience to its wise and worthy parent, on
the same ground ; for both possess and exert some superior passions or
powers, movings or motives, — though not exclusive of generous fear, —
to induce the faithfulness of the one, and the reverence of the other.
And shall the vast and wise manifestation of tlie peculiar lee or iove of
a husband, or a father, the less secure due returns, from its pef-uliar
happy objects! This mode of reasoning is quite conclusive in the case
of the true spouse of Christ, or child of God. Love and esteem are the
predominant ingredients, or graces, in the principles of every real
Christian ; virtues which are engaged, cherished, and insured most
effectually by the Lord's sovereign and choice precedents and premises,
in the spacious and special favor of his own peculiar people. "Charity
never faileth." Read Roni. 8th and 15th, and 2 Tim. i. 7. \nd those
that otherwise view or feel, write or rant, show to all, but to themselves.
o^7
lit, by his
e only of
I Wilson ;
that their
plied, but
•thervvise,
would be
iiainpioti,
the most
jrance of
n, It may
fs fruitful
jolish and
les, ill all
the farci-
• them to
contrary
Because
jf course,
ice , they
u(f upon,
uperficial
of grace,
isting the
ithful and
e, though
ri bias, of
se Armin-
guaranty
d contia-
!ir perse-
ce undue
tains her
r his dis-
larent, on
ssions or
)s fear, —
le other,
ir iove of
pef'uliar
I the catic
m are the
very real
red most
premises,
"Charity
\ni} those
lemselves,
their pefitilent and pitiful state in time ; and their dire and desperate
prospects for eternity. J.ord, forever keep my soul far from their wild
and wilful notions, from their sore and sad delusions. Arminiani may
retort that Calvinists are generally found chargeable with every species
ot inward depravity, and out misconduct— frivolity and talsehood in
religion, and vain and foolish confidence of salvation in common with
their opponem.i; or beyond the measure, with whicli I choose to tax
ihemselves : I thall not attempt to contradict a word of ail that; for it
IS, alas! but too obviously true and correct; but it is still nothin-r in
lavour of false or wicked principles; nor anywise available to depreciate
or overthrow any views or feelings, sentiments or sounds, which are in
themselves, agreeable to the rule of Heaven, more than, if a Paoist
should argue that, Decause many Protestants wear characters as objec-
tionahle as Romanists; or even more so than some of their Popish
neighbors therefore. Popery is equal, or preferable, to Protestantism.
Ihis would oe very bad logic. T^or the abuse of any good, is no fair
objection to its goodness; nc the varnish of any evil, any sound
recommendation of its vilencss. But millions are forever destroyed
lor want of care upon this ground. I will here take the liberty of
sul)|oining some extract from the excellent poem of Pollock's "Course
ol lime;" m commendation of the Bible; and in complete accordance
with my own sentiments, and the principles, in this letter, wiiich I
endeavor to inculcate and sustain : —
" Tlicy might linve understood, the bard rejdied ;
Tlioy liad tiio I5ibio. Hast tliou ever heard
Of such a book ? Tho author, God himself;
Tiic suhject, God and man, salvation, life
And death— ulernal iilb, eternal death-
Dread words ! whoso meaning has no end, no bounds-
Most wondrous book ! bright caHdle of tho Lord !
Star of eternity ! liio only star
By whicii tho bark of man could navigate
Tlie soa of life, and gain (lie coast of bliss
Securely ! only star which roso on Time,
And, on its dark and troubled billows, still,
As generation, drifting swiftly by,
Succeeded generation, threw a ray
Of heavena own light, and to the Jn'lla of God,
The eternal hills, pointed the sinner's eye.
IJy prophets, seers, and priests, and sacred bards,
Evangelists, npostles, men inspired.
And by the IJoly Ghost anointed, -let
Apart and consecrated to declare
To Earth tho couuEcLs of the Eternal One,
This book, liiis holiest, this subliniobt book.
Was sent. Heaven's will, Heaven's code of laws onliie.
To man, this book contained ; denned the bound^j,
Of virn .-nut virlue, , -Mid of life and death ;
Aiid what was shijdow, wiial was substance taught.
Much it revealed; important all ; iho least
NVorth more llian what else Hcenied of highest worth ,
Hut (his of plainest, most essnntini Iriilii
•'hal (iod IS . ie, eternal, holv, just,
26B
l\
Oi«iiij)Ol«Ht, ornnifit«nt, in6nitc ;
Moat wisfl, raoit good, most merciCui au<l true :
In all psrr«cUon most uDchnngenbio :
Thnt msn, that every man of every climo
And hu«\ <»f every age and every rank,
Wfti bad, by nnlure and by practice bad ;
In understanding blind, in will perverse,
In heart corrupt ; in every thought, and word,
imagination, f nssion, and desire.
Most utterly depraved throughout, and ill,
In sight of Heaven, though less in sight of men;
At enmity with God his maker born,
And by his very life an heir of death :
That man, that every man was, farther, vnost
Unable to redeem himself, or pay
One mite of his rait debt to God ; nay, more,
Was most reluctant and averse to be
Redeemed, and sin's most voluntary slave :
That Jesus, Son of God, of Mary born
In Bethlehem, and by Pilate crucified
On Calviivy, for man, thus fallen and lost.
Died ; and, by death, life and salvation bought,
And perfect righteousness, for all who should
In lii.s great name bcliev? : 'i'hat He, the third
In the PtcrnnI Essence, to the prayer
Sincere should come, should come as soon as atked,
I'roreeding from the Father and the Soi,
To give faith and repentance, such as God
Accepts; to open the intellectual eyes,
Blinded by vico ; to bend the stubborn will,
I'Krvcrsely to the nido of wrong inclined.
To God and liis commandments, just and good ;
The wild, rebellious passions to subdue,
And bring them bade to harmony with heaven;
To purify the conscience, and to lead
The mind into all truth, and to adorn
With every holy ornamtint ot grace.
And BimcliVy the whole renewed soul,
\\iuch hcncefurtli might no more fall totally,
But p'jrsfivoro, tl.oiigh erring oft, amidst
The misl? of Time, in pietv to God,
And pocrcri wor'^s of charity to men :
That ho who tluis believed, and practised thus,
Should have his sins forgiven, liowever vile ;
Should be bustnined a! mid-day. morn, and even,
By God'a omnipotent, eternal grace;
And in the evil hour o^'sorc disease.
Temptation, pcrscmlion, war and death, —
For li-mporul deal!), r.lthough unstingod, remainod,-
Beneath the slifdovv of the Almighty's wings
Should sit unhurt, and at the judgment-day,
Shotid share the resurrection of the just,
And reign with Christ in bliss for vermorc :
That all, however named, however great,
Who would not thus believe, nor pra< tise thus,
But in their sins impenitent remained.
Should in perpetual fr-ar and terror live;
Should die unpardoned, unredeemed, unsaved ;
And, at the hour of doom, should be cast out
%9
To uUer darkneiii in the night of hell,
Bj mercy uiid hy God abandoned, tbore
To reap the harvests of eternal wo.
This did that boolt decJare in obvioui phraie,
III most sincere and honest words, by God
Himself selected and arranged, so clear.
So plain, so perfectly distinct, that none,
Who read with liumblo wish to understand,
And asked the Spirit, given to all who asked,
Could miss their meaning, blazed in hoavcBly light. '
More, anil still larger extracts, from the same very eminent Poem ;
whereby are exposed various errors and heresies, wickednesu and
villaniea, dire superstition and damnable superiority, in religion and
religious communities ; but especially in their pretended leaders and
guides; as now, as it were, past remedy, in their eternal distress and
damnation; according to the general scope and scansion of the fore-
going letter ; —
"Many believed; but more the truth of God
Turned to a lie, deceiving and deceived ,
Each with the accursed sorcery of sin,
To his own wish and vile propensity
Transforming still the meaning of the text
Hear, w ;ilo I briefly toil what mortals proved.
By elTort vast of ingenuity,
Most wondrous, though perverse and damnable.
Proved from the Bible, which, as thou hast heard,
So plainly spoke that all could understand.
First, and not least in number, argued some,
From out this book itself, it was a lie,
p'^^^'itilo, framed by crafty men, to cheat
The simple herd, and make them bow the knee
To kings and priesis. These, in their wisdom, left
The light revealed, and turned to fancies wild ;
Maintaining loud, that ruined, helpless man,
Needed n*^ Saviour. Others proved that mea
lyight live and die in sin, and yet be saved,
For so it was decreed ; binding" the will,
liy God left Iree, to unconditional,
Unreasonable fate. Others believed
That ho who was most criminal, debased,
Ccndemiied, and dead, unaided might ascend
The lu'ights of virtue; to a perfect law
Giving a lame, half-way obedience, which
By useless elibrt only served to show
The impotence of him who vainly strove
With liiiito arm to measure infinite ;
Most uscl.'.is effort, when to justify
In sight of God it meant, as proof of faith
Most acceptable and worthy of all praue
Another held, and from the Bible held
lie was iufallible, mcst fall-in by such
Pretence; that none the Scriptures, open to all,
And most to humble-hearted, ought to read,
HllJ priests ; and all wlln vpnUimA fn A]ar-\ntt
priests; and all wh;j ventured to disciai
Ilia forged authority, ineurred th
m
e wrn
ih
mm-K.
"Al^^^ttit
'260
lAV :
.iiii
-N. vf
Of Ilc.tvcn ; and ho who, in tlic blood oCsucfi,
Though father, mother, dauglitor, vvii'e or boh,
Imbrued iiis hands, did most religious work,
Well pleasing to the heart of the Most High.
Othors in ouUvanl rite devotion placed,
In meals, in drinl.3, in robe oi'certain shape,
In bodily abasements, bonded knec:- ;
Days, numbers, placcis, vcstmentH, words, and names ;.
Absurdly in their JieartJ imagining,
That God, like ircn, wan pleastd with outward show
Another, stranger and more wicked still,
AVith dark und dolorous labor, ill applied,
With many a gripe of conscience, and with most
Unhealthy and abortive masoning.
That brought his sanity to serious doubt,
'Mong wise and honest men, maintained that fit',
First Wisdom, Great Messiah, Princo of Peace,
The second of the uncreated Three,
Was naught hnt man, of oarthly origin ;
Thus making void the sacrifice divine,
And 'eaving guilty men, God's holy law
Still unatoned, to work them endless death.
These are a part; but to relate them all,
The monstrous, unbaptized fantasies,
Imaginations fearfully absurd.
Hobgoblin rites, and moon-struck reveries,
Distracted creeds, and visionary dreams,
More bodiless and hideously misshapen
Than ever fancy, at the noon of night,
Playing at will, framed in the madman's brnin,
That from this book of simple truth were proved,
Were proved, as foolish men were wont to prove,
Would bring my word in doubt, and thy belief
Stagger, tliougli hero I sit and sing, within
The pale of truth, where falsehood never came.
But the unfaithful priest, what tongue
Enough shal! execrate? His doctrine may
lie passed, though mixed with most unhallowed leaven,
That proved, to those who foolishly partook.
Eternal bitterness. But this was still
Mis sin, beneath what cloak soever veiled.
His ever growing and perpetual sin.
First, last, and middle thought, whence every wish.
Whence every action rose, and ended both :
To mount to place, and power of worldly sor! ;
To apo the gaudy pomp and equipage
Of earthly state, and on his mitred brow
To place'a royal crown. For tiiis ho sold
The sacred truth to him who most would give
l)f titles, bencllces, honours, names;
For this betrayed his Master; and for this
Made nierchandiso of the immortal souls
Committed to his care. This wjs his sin.
(.)fall wlio oflice held unfairly, none
Could r-i< ad excuse ; he least and last of all.
By ooiohin, awful ceremony, ho
Was set npirt to speak the (ruth entire,
By action an ! by word ; and ruuiid hiiu stood
Thr ppnpj,-, from his lip<; cipccting knovvledgr
an
Pr
an
\vl
its
yo
i:x
ho
nic
lat
tie(
rer
3H{
t.)i»e daj 111 seven, the Holy Sabbath Icrmtd,
They Htood ; for lie had sworn, in face of God
And man, to deal lincorely with tlieir souli;
To preach the g pel for the gospel's aake;
Had sworn to hato and put away ail pride,
All vanity, all love of eiirtiily pomp;
To seek all merry, meekness, truth and grace ;
And being so end'owed himself, and taught,
In thorn like works of holiness to move;
Dividing faithfully the word of life.
And oft indeed the word of life he taught;
But practising aa thou hast heard, who could
Believe ? Thus was Religion wounded soro
At her own altars, and among her friends.
The people went away, and, like the priest,
Fulfilling what the prophet spoko befi're,
For honour strove, and wealth, and place, aa if
The ])reacher had rehearsed an idle talc.
The enemies of God rejoirod, and loud
The unbeliever laughcil, boasting a lifn
Of fairer character tiian his who owned,
For king and guide, the undefiled One.
Most guilty, vilianous, dishonest man !
Wolf in the clothing of the gentle lamb !
Dark traitor in Messiah's holy camp !
Leper in saintly garb ! assassin masked
In Virtue's robe ! vile hypocrite accursed!
I strive in vain to set his evil forth !
The words that should sufriciently nccurse
And execrate such reprobate, had need
Come glovTing from the lips of eldest hell.
Among tlia saddest in the den of wo,
Thou eaw'st him saddest, *niong the damned most damned."
In conclusion, you must still consider, that what I hava suggested
and quoted, is not meant as any formal controversy, or contest, on the
principles or points concerned ; but as a mere string or strain of casuistry
and caution, fit for private and familiar correspondence; the perusal of
which may, by the Lord's blessing, prove beneficial to you, as I hope
its contemplation and digestion have proved to me. And still open to
your further communication, on any serious subject you may choose,
I remain, Dear Sir, yours, &c. M. L.
Extracts of a late correspondence bettreen a man in the \orth of Scotland, a7id his
former acquaintance, in Cf/2)e Breton, on the subject of costume tr habili .caits.
" At a. S. Reay's Country, 12th August, 1S4!3.
•' Dear old Friend,— I wish you would tell me, in your next letter,
how do the people dress in that quarter of the world— whether clumsy,
moderate, or extravagant. Here, I think, we are on the increase of the
latter extreme. What are your thoughts on this ground— Are there any
necessary rules or estimates, to be found on this score, in Scripture,
reasn.K or exnerionce ? Or arc h-o left at mere random, or the ikklc
!*mi wild tide of fondnes.i n<td fashion' Or what can be the readies*
SfiS
Ml
ji
B
reusoo, or lli« moving and main eauss, that the other e«.\ aro geri«raliy
more extravagant tlian we men on this point I And lastly, do you believo
this topic worthy of the serioun notice and notificatiou of the Clergy ;
who are here, but slowly and seldom, likely to take the least considera-
tion of the subject. I am, &,c. K. M."
REPLY.
" At B. D., Cape Biikton, 12th November, 1812.
"Dear old Neighbor, — In answer to your queries, on the subject
of dress, I must premise, without any falsehood, that the intended bearer
of these lines, being actually on the wing, you cannot expect from me,
»t this time, I regret to say, but u mere huddled answer, though at the
aame time, I admit the points, otherwise, very worthy of a serious con-
sideration. The case is here, certainly, much the same as you bespeak
your own country ; to wit, generally and offensively extravagant, and far
more notoriously so, ou the part of the female sex. There certainly aro
proper rules, in Scripture, and reason ; and in scriptural and reasonable
experience : And he that seriously and sincerely consults them, on this
ground, will reap benefit, and walk orderly thereby ; according to his par-
ticular vocation, and external circumstances in the world. Extravagance
in dress is, and has been now for a long time, one of the crying sins of our
limes. Nor is it a solitary, but a conjunctive sin or snare, which involves
in its train, vanity, frivolity, flattery, and folly, lightness and loftiness,
balling and ballading — self-importance, envy and idleness, strife and strug-
gling, diblionesty in dealings, profanity, or religious formalism; or even
both; and in a lii;;li degree, the sure and certain index and indication,
of the fjul and filthy t^pirit of jeering and jealousy, of harlotry and
■whoredom. The lower, if not the very louest grades of the people, are
generally, though not exclusively, the advance and adepts, of this silly
and siui'iil fabhion. And t'^e clergy — being ordinarily and originally,,
of tins superlatively vulgar cast ; and still under the power of their
native passions and pride — are, with their families, commonly found to
be the very paps and patterns of the peasantry on this ground ; which is
a sad and sound rate and reason for tiieir sinful somnolence and silence,
on this score. The Minister's wife — in the majority of cases, especially
in the country, and out of towns — is the very spindle and speedwell,
coquet and cuckoo, j)uppet and peacock, of the feminine pride ; as her
reverend liushaad, —in no rare instances, — is the cocket and cockade,
patrol and parade, rufHe and rainbow, of the dandy tribe ! There is no
excet^s on this point, in any place, but vvhert, the Minister himself is
either a dolt or a drone. As for this extravagance being more notorious
in woman-kind than in men, one certain and original reason for it is,
that the woman sinned away first her primitive innocence ; and so brought
nakedness and its sinful misery into the world; and is therefore more
cursedly uneasy under the indulgent and beneficent protection and pro-
vision of Heaven on this ground. And again, as a just, though light
punishment, for her temoting her htisbar>d to sin, the Lord has doomed
her to subjection to man ; according to Genesis. 3d chapter and part of
,
sot
geritralif
u believo
Clergj ;
ansidera-
L. M."
1842.
) subject
2d bearer
from me,
rh at the
lous con-
bespeak
t, and far
ainly are
asonable
, on this
J his par-
avagance
US of our
involves
loftiness,
nd strug-
or even
idication,
otry and
lople, are
this silly
iginally,,
of their
found to
which \i
1 silence,
jspecially
aeedwell,
; as her
cockade,
lere is no
limself is
notorious
for it is,
) brought
)re moro
and pro-
igh light
j doomed
id part of
the 16th verse: "Thy desire thatl be to thy husband, and ho shall rule
over ihee." Thence the silly and sly woman, to balance, or prepon-
derate her disagreeable inferiority, veers and wastes her breast and
brain to overcome, humorous and amorous, though rigorous and rancor-
ous man, by her gowns and gaudery, bonnets and panlings, caps and
canopy. The greatest zest or zeal for the Lord's day, among the
run of our youth— 1 wish the evil had stopt at this stage— is evidently
in order to see, and be seen, to advantage ; and the hum-drum ineffi-
cience of many of our clergy would stamp a perpetual vacancy on the
pews of our chapels, but for the day of holy rest being turned to a day
of idle rant and fiddle-raiment. Itch and edge for^lressing, on the
otherwise nsele.ss and idle Sabbath, are therefore, in no rare examples,
the best stimulus and security, in favor of the preacher : And how then',
could he discourage his own best gown, and proudest guarantee, on thi.s
" holy ground." You will never find any real wit or wisdom, for time
or eternity, in the ruff or ring of fashion ; or in other words, where the
character is carried on the back or breast, cape or cravat. Even in the
poorest, as far as practicable, the Gospel allows and enjoins tidiness and
decency, but not tatooism or dandyism. Read the beginning of the 3d
chapter of 2d Peter. I fully imagine, Her Majesty Victoria is not half
so proud of her royal reign and robes, diadem and diamonds, as our
mushroom maids are of their own belts and beads, busks and bonnets,
combs and crisping-pins, rings and ringlets, lace and lockram, locks and
linings. No man, or woman, needs be at any loss for example on this
score ; for in every place and part of the world, there are some of both
sexes, sufficiently modest and moderate, by nature and habit, to lead the
inquirer of proper dressing, to examples answerable for imitation, while
Uvjng among them. For the soberer number of the people will al^rays
prove as efficient posts or patterns, according to their various orders or
orbs, stations and stands, on this ground. I write seriously every word
of this very hasty reply ; though apparently sarcastic ; and sincerely
dread that Heaven is provoked— by our generation, on account of our
unchristian, extravagant, mode and madness on this subject— so as to
deal with us, as his ominous frowns already threaten, according, in some
shape, to his ancient treatment of mankind on this ground. — Immoderate
immodest dressing was, certainly, one of the main arid manifest provoking
causes of the Flood, to destroy the antediluvians. For accordincr to
the beginning of the 3d chapter of Genesis, "The sons of God," or'the
professing descendants of Seth, saw the daughters of men, or the wicked
ofTspring of excommunicated Cain, that they were f.iir— or as 1 appre-
hend—immodestly dressed, to allure and altVact, tempt and tense, the
carnal and careless, eyes and airs, powers and passions, of their fickle
and faithless, foolish and formal spectators; which naturally stimulated
the forbidden intermarriages— as now. by the bye, of Protestants and
Papists — which first deluged the world, wiui vice and wickedness, pride
and oppression, and consequently with the destroying waters of the
general fljod. It was also by immoderate and immodest dressing that
the Midtanilish young women imposed on the unguarded Hebrews.
4 if!
m
^ 33S?^Sr'i2^-'Sl^^^
■^01
See thenccountof Moses.in ilie3lai chapter of Numbers— l.Stli and IGili
verses. ' And Moses baid unto them, Have ye saved all the women
nlivo? Behold these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel
ol' Ilalaam, to commit trespass airaiiif-t <he Lord, in the ntatter of Peor,
.v-id there was a plague among the congro;N'Uion of the Lord.' Read
likewise the accounts of the prophet Isaiali — ;ld chapter, and from the
lt)lh verse to the end; for the very same, and similar sins and shame-
lessness ; and the consequent doom and danger of which we treat : I
here transcribe the verses : — ' Moreover, the Lord saith, Because the
daughter-- of Zion are haughty, and walk with slrelched-forth necks,
and wanton eyes, walking, and mincing as they go, and making a tink-
linw with their feel: Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the
crmvn of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover
their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of
their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their
rout)d tires like the moon. The chains, and the bracelets, and the
mulllers. The bonnets, and the ornaments of the I^^s^ and the head-
bands, and the ear-rinus. The rings, and nose-jewels. The change-
able suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping-
pins. The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.
And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell, there shall be
stink ; and instead of a girdle, a rent ; and instead of well-set hair, bald-
ness ; and instead of a stomacher, a girding of sackcloth ; and burning
instead of beauty- Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy tnighty in
the war. And her gates shall lament and mourn ; and she, being deso-
late, shall sit upon the ground.' As soon as Mary Magdalen received
Christ, she changed the former extravagant tufts and turrets of her
head. 'A prude's top is the devil's toy.' The 'Spectator' smartly
observes, that ' There is nothing in nature more changeable than a
woman's head-dress.' It is a just and jostling remark, that whenever
the Lord is about to commence, or to revive the power of religion, at
nnv time, or in any country, the work begins with the priesthood; and
that, on the other hand, the decline, or degeneracy, at any period or
place, originates on the same ground. The despicable and degrading
foppery oT foolery, of the ministerial ornaments and hoods of the popish
and prelatic priesthood, is rude and ridiculous, prodigal and proverbial;
and other denominations are far from free in their imitation ; which is
certainly, at least, one of the chief sources of all our extravagant and
sinful fashions; and especially on the Lord's day and at divine worship;
when and where gallantry and gaudery are more intolerably odious and
otfensive, both in the sigiit of God, and all good men.
" I shall, in great haste, conclude tliese lines by quoting some verses
from the pithy and pious ' Course of Time,' on a wife, or a ' woman of
fashion;' careless of husband, children, and all domestic duties and
'oncerns : —
"As rueful stood liis other half, as wan
Of cliock. Small lier ambition was, but .ilrango.
Tlin distaff, tieedtu, all doiiieslic cares,
Ilcligion, rliildrnn, husband, lioiiio, wore tlniigi
265
I and IGtIi
e women
e counsel
of Peor,
.' Read
from the
id sliame-
! treat : I
cause the
rth necks,
iig a tink-
i scab tl»e
1 discover
l)ravery of
and their
5, and the
ihe head-
le chanije-
e crisping-
1 the vails.
e shall be
hair, bald-
id burning
mighty in
leing deso-
n received
ets of her
)r' smartly
)le than a
whenever
eligion, at
hood ; and
period or
degrading
the popish
iroverbial ;
; which is
I'agant and
e worship ;
odious and
orae verses
' woman of
duties and
She could not bear the thought of, bitter drugs
That Bickoned her soul. The house of wanton mirth
And revolry, tho mask, the dance, she lored,
And in their E<ervice xoul and body Rpent
Most ch( rl'ully. A littlo admiration.
Or true or falic, no matter which, ploai^od her.
And o'er tho wreck of fortune lost, and health
And peaoo, and un eternity of bliss
1.081, made her sweetly srnilo. Slio wa.s convinced,
That God had made her greatly out of tasto ;
And took much pains to make hernolf anew.
Bedaahed with paint, and hung with ornaments
Of curious selection, gaudy toy I ,
A show unpaid for, paying to bo seen !
As beggar by the way, most humbly asking
Tho alms of public gaze, — she went abroad.
Folly admired, and indication gave
Of envy, cold Civility mado bows
And smoothly flattered, Wisdom shook his hend,
And Laughter shaped his lip into a smile ;
Sobriety did stare. Forethought grew pale.
And Modesty hung down tho head and blushed.
And Pity wept, a», on tho frothy surge •
Of fashion tossed, she passed them by, like sail
Reforo some devilish blast, and got no time
To think, and never thought, till on the rock
She dashed, of ruin, anguish, and despair!"
"I could, and would, more fully and freely enlarge on this interesting
topic ; and might descend to various and curious little anecdotes — as
the slender girl's sleeve, which holds a bushel of oat-meal — but I moit
stop, and subscribe myself, Yours, &c. M. L;"
Abstract of a recent correspondence bcticeen a Poss-skire man, in Scotland, and hit
friend in Cape Breton, on the subject of Psalmody.
"Tain, Ross-shire, 10th September, 1842.
"Dear Sir, — Since you left this country, there is a manifest declen-
sion, in many places, from the former seriousness of religious professors ;
although at the same time, we have had a great rush and rotation of
what is termed Revivals; which, by the bye, proves now but abortive.
Our young Ministers, in no few instances — with the religiously muscu-
lar and musical spawn and spirit of the age — increase the innovation,
long since begun, in our public worship and devotion ; and more espe-
cially, in our Psalmody; of which I would desire now more particularly
to treat. Other denominations have, in a high degree, and time out of
mind, publicly abandoned the * Psalms of David ;' but our good old
Presbyterian Ministers and people held long and fast their standing on
this score. But now the case is otherwise, in many churches; and I
fear, we shall all soon have no Paalms whatever, but Dr. Watts' epitome
and paraphrase; or ome other hymns and rhyines, sallies and songs,
34
•06
1:
* i
■Hi
ii
m their oxchanije. Will you please to favor ine, with snme df your
tlioiialita oil tho htiLjecl; and how in the case in vour own (luarter of the
world, oil ihft same ground ' i am, vours, »Lc. W. II."
REPLY.
" S. A., Cave Brktox, l,"iiii JNovembcr, 1842.
" Deah Sir, — In answAr to your favor oi" lOth September, we may
hero mainly mo? on the same key with yourself, on the principal subject
of your coi respondciico. The ground of your complaint has long since
been keenly r;rievous to many a serious douI ; and to me, for one of the
number. And it is most assuredly one of the gloomy siijns of the times.
A frivolous and frisky tpirit, under the mask of pax and piety, has gra-
dually stolen in, and prevailed to a drovvninff flood, of reliirions mirth
and mirage. The fiddle-faddle, dance-aud-drum, balhid-aiid-bawdy
genius, of heathen ignorance and idleness, superstition and prostitution,
IS now ' transfornied into an anccl of light' and lute-devotion; and wan-
tonly iiiul wildly, plays and plights its lusory and lucious gallantry i.nd
gambols in ' Bethel ;' which converts it to a ' Eatli-aven,' in the view of
wisdom. A lucky luuy pulpit p.-a]modist, ^.ith all his bladder-chorus
and the life and lure, of flesh and blood, within his own bark and bones,
trnmps and irilks, in his consecrated bo.\, r his plnystago — views and
vies around ijim, in the sacred theatre, all the female bloom and beauty
of the town or district—Oii, to excite und exalt their si»en song, in
psalter and psalmody— the highest and hapoiest, softest and safest, pro-
mises of the gospel, for lime and eternity, are composed and collected,
selected and sounded, to the silly or sulky, 'cute or coy, key and count,
capers and conscience, of the fond audience. — Softness sings, sound-
ness sleeps, and Satan smiles !
•• I do not choose to be understood, a? denying due merit, to hymna
and spiritual sotigs; as far as they may be found agreeable to tlie word
of God; but I do aot hesitate a moment, in believing that nothing but
a worthless or worldly, careJGss or carnal pirit, that has chased 'away
the 'Psalms of David,' from the public worship o ' God ; for in many
places, r.tid among many parties, they are either entirely obsolete, in
their Psalmody, or grossly mangled and deranged; or as they term it,
modified and modernized; and thus they must be mi-:; ably curtailed,
if not wholly cashiered. Low-ebbed as Presbyterial churches are, at
preset t,I suppose they are still the less culpab! on this ground ; though,
by no means, diachargeabic. Even in point of translation, the Highland
Clergy of the Church of Scotland committed a grievous nd ^ross mis-
take; nay but wilful and violent trespass on the book of Psalms; (thro'
their reviser and modifier, J. Smith, I). D.) printed at Edinburgh so
late a.s in A. D. 1812 ; and more particularly, on the 109th Psalm —
Gaelic version ; where, from the 6»h verse to the SGth, the whole is mis-
applied ; as if the inclusive fourteen verses were not the precative
denunciation of the Psalmist, under divine and prophetic influence, as
representing the true church, and prefiguring Christ, agains* his ene-
mies; but as the nnrrndlv'!? vicious clamor, and erne! execration ^trainst
! oi your
rter of the
W. II.'
r, 1842.
, we may
lai subject
ong siiicp.
>iie of the
the times.
, has gra-
ms rairth
iid-bawdy
jstitution,
mid wan-
aiUry ;;nd
le view of
ler-choru9
nd bones,
views and
lid beauty
I song, in
afost, pro-
collected,
nd count,
;s, sound-
to hymns
tlie word
thing but
iscd away
in many
solete, in
' term it,
curtailed,
!s are, at
; though,
Ilijfhland
.ros3 mis-
is; (thro'
iburgh so
I Psalm —
)le is mis-
precative
uence, as
it his ene-
■>n nwain-st
267
him ; conl.ary to the express application of St. Peter; who quotes from
I .e verses under review :-' il,s bishopric [or oHice] Ut another take.'
vets, lat chapter, t»Oih verse, and lU'Jth P:,alm, 8th verse. This u a
daring iristance of modilication. in the very face and teeth of an .\postle •
1 lave bmith 3 version now before me. on the table , and defy those
concerned to ^ilsify my remarks. Yet this is but a true sampio of the
spirit ot the time,., on this ground ; for almost overy place and narty is
pervaded and absorbed in a los.. or jTrcater de-^ree, by this m'i.stakon
einty and laxity, or latitudmarianism. Since . V-eu has~in these
happy day.^ and hopping era-butone great and gracious allnbute, called
iVJercy; upon which, every poor and prating, tricking and truculent
sinner may lean securely without reserve, or much ado ; especially . ■ ood
dinger ol modern nymns, or modified Psalms ! For «trect-balladin^ and
chur.h.barcing tre now, in fact, become quite similar; except in mere
phrase 1 he old demon of wakes, is now the altar-dame of whistle
lhecwrkc5tsong3tres.sisthe splay-mouth of the sanctuary; and the
jade ol the theatre, the chantress of the tabernachv O, now for mirth
and match, .11 holy ^ynomosy and sing-song ' Thus the spirit of (|,«
woild and of the flesh, loses nothing by the holiness of mere transformn-
tio- or nominal conversion. I seriously believe that church-music, and
ianat.c and wanton humming, have, for a series of years now, been
aniong the best cheers, and bet-jigs of Diahol.is.
No church on earth has either power or permit, to meet or make
the vain and wicked substitution under remark, but at the risk of souls,
and Heaven s displeasure. Oh ! the sweet and savory .sin-rer of Israel
be thus (.xpunged and exchanged, for evory pseudo-psaimographer, o^
upstart psalmodi.t; who may rant, or riiyme together, some elude or
carded prouuct.on. according to liis own fond, fastidious, or fantastic
creed ; or the ignorance, humor, and interest of his misguided adherent.,
i.ie lox m the lion's bed.' 'Mustard for manna.' 'Mushrooms for
niundraKes. An owl for an eagle— a nitter for a nightuKrale "
Yoii may unvagnely estimate the amount of seriousness and soul-
avoidance, of Davids Psalms; especially in stated and public v-orship
Ihc re igious decline and defection, falsehood and formalism, of our
own Church, have for the last past half-century, very evidently kenl
pace with her psaimodical innovation. And, generally speaking you
jvill hiid the state of avery church accordingi;. As for my own part I
have ever found, and .still find, these divino°aid choicest songs, 'to my
lery soul, so fresh and lull, so fruitful and various, so amiable and an-
swerable so ample and arduous, that I sincerely pity the communities
or ndividuals, tiiat detach or despise them, by expulsion or detraction
n alea.ction or mutilation. And as has already been partly observed'
otucr evils have, in our day, crept into church music, besides some of n^
IIZZa^ '',-''''?'T'''' .'.';'""' '"'^ ''''"'' ^'''^ sadly and strangely
changed; and with these, likewise, ,n some places, and"more and ruorc
> ue-icc3, musical in:,tiuments— -where their use was formerlv never
lor mentionod—havc been introduced : and all these in.prove
ii
minu<^d. n
268
hin:
ments — with their accompanying frisk and fury, fuss and facas ; or the
wild and violent, sudden and stormy, muscular motions, and vaunted
vocality — are evidently calculated to feed and foster, animal and ardent,
vile Initiated, fume and feelings, pith and passions : But at the same time
far different from the sedate and sober, modest and mild, placid and
plain, disc and devotion, spirit and specification of th3 Gospel.
" You must, in the mean time, rest satisfied, with these summary
renoarks, and cursory lines from me, till I may have more leisure to
treat more particularly on this serious subject ; only that 1 cannot leave
the ground without subjoining a short and sharp description of \yorthy
poetry and poets from the rare and radiant ' Course of Time,' in the
following verses :
•» ' The true, legitimato, anointed bard,
Whose song through ages poured its melody,
Was most beverely thouglitful, most minute
And accurate of obstTvation, most
ramiliarly acquainted with all modes
And phases of existence. True, no doubt,
He had originally drunk, from out
The fount of life and love, a double draught,
That gave whatever ho touched a double life :
But this was mcro desire at first, and powe?
Devoid ot means to work by ; need was still
Of persevering, quick, inspective mood
Of mind, of faithful memory, vastly stored.
From universal beiwg's ample field,
With knowledge; and a judgment, sound and clear,
Well disciplined in nature's rules of taste ;
Discerning to select, arrange, combine.
From infinite variety, and still
To nature true ; and guide withal, hard task.
The sacred, living impetus divine,
Discreetly through the harmony of song.
Completed thus, the poet sung ; and age
To age. enraptured, heard his measures flow ;
Enraptured, for he poured the very fat
And marrow of existence through hia verse,
And gave the soul, that else, in selfish cold,
llnwarmed bj kindred interest had lain,
A roomy life, a glowing relish high,
A sweet, expansive brotherhood of being-
Joy answering joy, and sigh responding sigh,
Through all the fibres of the social heart.
Observant, sympathetic, sound of ho:id,
Upon the ocean vast of huma.i thought,
With passion rough and stoi-my, venturing out,
Even as the living billows rolled, lie threw
His numbers over them, seized as thcj were.
And to perpetual r.ges left th'jm fixod,
To each, a mirror of itself displayed;
Despair for ever lowerini? dark on Sin,
And Happiness on Virtuo smiling f.ir.
He was the minister of fame, and gave
To whom he would renown ; nor missed himseif—
Although despising much the idiot roar
269
Of popular applause, that sudden, oA,
Unnaturally turning, whom it nursed
Itself devoured — the lasting fame, the praisa
Of God and holy men, to excellence given.
Yet less he sought his own renown, than wished
To have the eternal images of truth
And beauty, pictured in hid verse, admired.
'Twas these, taking immortal shape and form
Beneath his eye, that charmed his midnight watch,
And eft his soul with awful transports shook
Of happiness, unfelt by other men.
This was that spell, that sorcery, wl"ch bound
The poet to the lyre, and would not et
Hini go; that hidden mystery of joy,
Which made him sing "n spite of fortune's worst,
And was, at once, both motive and reward.'
" A dark and dismal off and omen to old Scotland, that lost such an
Author in the very bloom and prime of his exalted poetry, and promising
ministerial usefulness! Meanvvhile I am, yours, &,c. M. N."
Mstract of a recent correspondence, of two friends ; the one in the State cf Ohio,
the other in Cape Breton.
New Lisbon, State of Ohio, 20t!i September, 1842.
Dear Sir, — According to the nature of our correspondence, there
ai-e still some pomts that I would earnestly wish you to handle; as I
acknowledge to have received benefits by what you advanced in your
former letters,
.In the mean time, I should choose to know your judgment upon the
subject of Church Government. For there is here a variety of sects and
denominations; and severally claiming, either precedence, or preference.
And almost every class can find either plain texts of Scriptures, or infer-
ences and deductions, drawn from sacred truths ; or some quotations
from the fathers, as they say ; which are all one and the same, in its own
favor. Some others maintain, that such testimonies as these, are not
riecessary for their support, on thin ground ; because the Apostolic
Church, or Churches, were not to be the complete and permanent
pattern, model, or standard, of subsequent and future times ; but as far
as circumstances might admit and correspond ; or in other words, a«
vi'ould be found practicable.
The leading parties, in the dispute, are Episcopalians, Lutherans,
Presbyterians of various communities; and of late, split into mo.e and
more divisions. Also, Baptists, and Methodists, both Calviniptic, and
Arminian or Wesleyan. A;.d some Roman Catholics. As for Quakers,
and a score of New-light sections, with which the land abounds, 1 leave
them now comparatively behind the counter. I do not mean to afiirm
that all these persuasions are in my own immediate neighborhood ; but
that they aro in a less or greater degree spread over the country. And
that as my business, you know, urges me often abroad among them,
i'^m
ii
,M
•v!
270
1 should feelingly wish tolearii how I ought to carry myself with them,
ijspecially wlieu they draw forth -iiiy disputation with me, on this score ;
which is not always easy to avoid, without incurring the charge of igno-
rance, or diffidence; I feel not, in this case, so much concerned on the
bottom of Popery, as on that of Protestantism ; f«r the former has not
yet attamed but little root or circulation in this country, in comparison
to the latter ; especially, now the prelatic church ; which begins, in some
places;, to assume very lofty claims on this ground, of ecclesiastic form
of government. I beg also to ascertain how far you believe these seve-
ral religious communions to include f?ood, or godly men among them,
according to yonr ordinary estimate of these persuasions, in Britain]
and British America. Your explicit and candid answer, at your first
opportunity, will be deemed very desirable and obliging, by
Dear Sir, yours, &c. G, S.
REPLY.
S. A., Cape Breton, 1st December, 1842.
DcAR S.a,— I received, in course, your letter of date 20th September:
nnd shall now ende. -or, though certainly in great weakness, to write
you some reply. — The form of Church government must always be
disputed, in a less or greater degree, according to the existence and
o.\tent of different opinions on the subject; circumstances which have
ever, in a measure, agitated the aiiiids," and inflienced the conduct, of
all sorts cf Christians, since the days of the Apostles; and that, m this
generation, rather increase than cease. Do not anLicipate from me any
deep or formal investigation of tiiis point, or on this ground; for ihe
■sum and substance of what I intend to oner t!icr3ori, is the result of my
own concern and experience, for my own guard and guidance, more
than for tlie instruction of others. But I don't mean by this to allege
that there is not a pattern or platform, model or mould, in the New
Testament for our example and instruction, on this score; but that it
requires examination and exposition, simplicity and sincerity, caution
and candor, in order to benefit thereby. But since piety and principles
are, in various and changed circumstsnces, more permanent and practi-
cable ; and proportionately more imperative and important, than any
particular modes or manners, forras or fashions, of any church govern-
ment, it would be pesterou.'s and preposterous, to judge or ji igle, that
gracious Heaven should hang or hold religion, on impossshiltties, or
impracticable measures. I therefore conceive that the examples and
instances, on this ground, given in the Gospel^ arc certaiuly, not to be
viewed as rough or random, odd or idle accounts, of no concern to u.; ,
but as precedents or piactices «o be owned and imitated by poste-ij?
periods, and futiue generations, till the end of the woild ; but still, as
iar only as may be comiistent with any things and thoughts, sentiments
and circum;:tances of higlier interest, and greater weight, on the score
of the gioiy of God, and the real interest of men ; ^lccording to the
Jcvealcd will of Heaven: winch is the spiritual balance of the sauctuarv.
"V^ ;tkout tiie^^e prt'limia,iry co'i^idcrations, we are exposed to the danger
1
'^:(V
./^ J
271
-^ of uiiderratrng or overrathg, distracting or distenrling, mutilatinLr or
.i.afrnify.ng, ,solatmg or idolizing, any Itatus or standard of churcl
order or estabhshment, guidon or gubernation, gammut or gov rnme'
^ut those who unan.mou.Iy agree, that a certain form of chtfrch Zern-
, noent ,s prescribed in Scripture, differ widely among themselves ^re^ard-
TJlf Pr-"''•'^^hape, which i. of exclusive div.ie autSty
i\ccording to general views, and Dr. McLeod's Ecclesiastical Catech^^m
here are three principal and distinct forms of Church government To
^"hich all others may be referred, viz. Presbyterv, Prelacy aud liide"
pendency lNow,-as the Rev. Mr. Neilson of Roth.ay.^ob erve i„
annrov ^r'^'"' T ^''^ ^^''^ "'" '^' ^''^''^' Establi.hm^ent "' vvhi e
approximating, and even coinciding u, some point., these systems differ
^o widely ,n their fundamental principles, that if a divine VarT mt or
so lar. destitute^ of Scnpiure authority." A3 to the second of these
f^^^rnjs; namely Prelacy,-or in other words the hierarchy of the Church
Drovp"! r'~il /' IS uothmg. in my own view of the case, more easily
proved, for all its lofty pretences to the contrary, than that it has no
loundation in the Scriptures. The New Testament wil fford o
ground for that monstrous and lordly semi-popish fabric; .-nd he CM
restament is an obsolete and a desperate resort here for au.ili-,rv Do
not think, tor all this, that I would, by any means, be ur2r ood ns
denying or depreciating the merit of good men. found at any perTod o
irom time to time, within the pale, and under the oesign/tion of thi
Church ; of whom the late famous, zealous, and pious. Rev. John New-
ton, was a notable instance. ^nu i^ow
Presbytery and Independency must therefore rival, precedenc- or
prefe-ence on the score. And I believe it will be diffia.lt for' the la'tte-
to overcome ,n Its own favor, the strong claims of the former in hi;
Fm!^ '^-p^ r" "°' '''' ""*''■ "P'''" ^'"^ ^•^P"^^ «'^ ^hc .subject of ay
Elders. Presbytery then, is in my sincerest vi...v, the ncnrest .xi te u
iorm to the Apostolic standard. But here I must disclaim perlea on
and admit the reverse in the best and wisest ecci, .iastical cona u io^'
imitation, and order now in the world. ^""amuuon,
nvir'r"f ^'''' '''\l^o"fe^h church government is not to be indifferently
overlooked or un, errated; yet that it is only, at the best, but an out!
and points of far more ir.porlance. and ' :=nsic weight and vie
Here indeed our Saviour's counsel to th .isees is /ery applic de
C ennse first that which is within the cup and platter, tha thi' on de
of them may be clean also." It is not, however, seldom very obse iv We
that many of those, who most harshly dec. ..e excellent, or esc lable
churcn government of their neighbors. ..e also found th^ mo ' W
le.Iy extravagant to met and magnify their own abused, or absurd forms
Both Popery and Prelacy are notorious on this ground; and Presbytery
ol'SV T^ ''""' no-played a half game, on the same scofj, agS
otlended and oppressed D'ssenters "S«i"3i
But although the Apostolic Torm of Church government is this far
m I
*72
admitted to have been Pre'.jterial or Dependent, yet it certainly con-
sisted with the greatest possible spiritual freedon^ and independence ,
so that for my own part, I see nothing irreconcileable. but most har-
moniou'sly agreeable, in maintaining this seeming paradox or contra-
diction. Don't be surprised ; for I feel well my bottom on this score ;
and that it is impossible for the law and legislation of Heaven to be other-
wise " If the Son," saith Christ, " make you free, ye shall be free
indeed " " And the muliitude of them that believed were of one heart
and of one soul ; neither said any of them that aught of the things
which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common.
How could these be independent on one another? And yet this their
dependence, was their greatest freedom, blessing, and benefit : because
it wa^ both their individual and combined ; or, in other woros, their
respectivt and collective choice, and happiness ; as the genuine and
necessary result of their divine love and unity. The law of love is the
law of liberty— it is self-binding. Every virtuous wife is, in this view,
both dependent and independent on the generous husband of her own
heart and hoist, joint and choosing. Since 1 am myself but a sort of an
ecclesiastic mule or mongrel, conceived of dependence and independ-
ence I hope my dissenting friends there, will take this my sound doc-
trine in good part; for I tell them froely that I find it far easier to justify
my independence from the blessed and bountiful proviso and relnvo, of
the Apostles, than from their own elected and adopted form of Church
government. There is no necessity for tip-toe in my plan.— Ail the
wiembers of a sound body, are in the same circumstance, botn dependent
and independent, on one another. And the mystical members of Christ's
body so far as their love and unity extend, and iheir association or
communication is practicable, are unavoidably similar, on this ground.
It would be the benefit and not the bondage, of a defective or a deform-
ed member to be dependent on a sound body ; and while the said defect
or deformity would be either bearable or curable, neither the body nor
the branch should choose a disunion. Read 1 Cor. 12th and 13th chap-
ters The same parallel holds in spiritual and ecclesiastical bodies and
branches, meetings and members, as far as locality, and other outward
concerns admit. Was it not the blessing and privilege ot good Chris-
tians to be under the immediate oversight and su crintendence of the
\postles, and their elected, or approved Ev.-D:;elists, Pastors and
Teachers Helpers and Elders, Doctors and De icons? If they had
erievances, they were in the best way to obtain r.idress ; so that their
very reliance shaped and secured their very relief. Their due and
demanded dependence, was the best support, and soundest insurance,
of their salutary and suitable independence. And whenever the case
were otherwise, there is no law revealed from Heaver in favor of
Dependence. And it were indeed the greatest vanity or wickedness to
expect '>' " For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as m
all chu les of the saints." Dependents and Independents stand here
upon equal footing just in proportion to the similarity, or disparity of
their respective principles and practice, to the ordinary graces and
ertainly con-
lependence ,
ut most har-
)x or contra-
I this score ;
a to be other-
shall be free
of one heart
f the things
gs common."
et this their
fit : because
words, their
genuine and
af love is the
in this view,
of her own
It a sort of an
[id independ-
y sound doc-
isier to justify
nd reli'jvo; of
m of Church
Ian.— Ail the
»th dependent
;rs of Christ's
jssociation or
I this ground,
or a deform-
he said defect
the body nor
nd 13th chap-
,al be dies and
)ther outward
■ good Chris-
idence of the
Pastors and
If they had
so that their
heir due and
est insurance,
ever the case
r in favor of
wickedness to
>f peace, as in
Its stand here
jr disparity of
y graces and
27. S
commandment, are not grievoos."-St John '' Kp I of ° ''
to one another "—St IVtor '.Pnii T r u "^ -^°" subject
a..L.iiici. C3i. i eier. -Call no man father or masip " Pi,.;.*
left free from sinister c^rolut'thout t^^lTnro^lso ""1'""^^ '''
would be only wreathing our Tcks .mdpr ' ^ , ' ""' '^^
yoke-thougi/under another „l'e-f on/ vh"/hes-.?/ i'f'" '^°'^
our fathers brought themselves and us, to eni; I ' ,e " ed'ir .'^
Dependence— without the full freedom of an en'iil,;«? i '^""'^y-
entirely unknown to the -o.p-^ Offer ns^lf.^^^ consc.ence-is
."sure ^our best interest, or s ^HtuaVnCt; i'^rtu^.^^^^^^^^ ^^''!
no good Dissenter can ever refuse it : proffer anv othpr ., it./ '"'^
the ingenuity and elements, learning and logic Ya 'the ^Id^
us one word of frospel truth in .t^ i\vnr t. ■ i • , \vorId, to show
seUes tl. noton;.^:^Ss ^n J^^i^^ls^of ^J^^i^^^^^ ^1^^^ f T
ofnominalChri^u';" ehe"-^ r,u7bu^'^^^^
M.e New Testament, that any judiciou iVgood mJ^i "'n' k^^r"'^ °'
sconces free, but in so.ne shape or othe/uider ZJ ' '/""■ ''°"'
«h.lter and shroud of either professed or imml f T '^ •' '"^ ^'''^^''"^
merciful relief of the appoSent of hT , '^'''''""'"^>' = ^^ ''^ ^
souls, on this ground : ^Tf it w as n^ ^^ ['^ STr' ""'''''''''
'H the days of the Apo.stles, it is cer ain y be "' 21'^°'"''"^'"^
s.ty ibr it, tJirough dissension or d. m on .^^"^Z"^::^ T'^"
behevers. For ,ho ma.u doom and dano^ o>cVr 1 v" 'f '
association and connection of the Anoulo. am HI ei.- ? ^'■'"" ^^'^
-n, warn,,,,, „,ul,e o„o i.nj, 0. foi,l„d'n„c. r^Ue':;;,!;:'';;!/^:;;
It*
5 l!
274
hijgbeai of Apotitoiicul succeasioii, and invitation, to bind us to oppressive
dependency ; or on the other, to be as fatally fooled and foundered, by
the wild wlmnseytj and whirlwinds, of the numberless sects and senti-
ments of Dissension.
It is but religious madness to think, that whatever form of Church
government, is more particularly prescribed by the authority or example
of the Apostles, it is any further binding in future time, than, while it
consists and corresj)onds with the spiritual benefits and blessing of true
beliovors; both in their collective and individual capacity. Suppose a
case, far from cliinT^rical or ideal ;— I have in my close neighborhood,
two certain mi-jisters or preachers — both equally contiguous — The one
a Presbyter ; or as you please, a Dependent ; the other a Dissenter — the
former a dolt and a drone— the latter excellent and eflicicnt. Now, on
the supposition that Presbytery, as is now admitted, was the semi-or-sole
ibrm of the first Christians, will any one in his sound senses, hesitate a
moment, in pronouncing what is my duty, as a hearer, on this ground :
nnd vice versa. Is any man so doted, as once to dream, that the differ-
ence or preference of the form or fabric, can ever overbalance the
efficience of the one. and inefiicience of the other, of these Teachers !
Or can you ever bring your own sound reason to believe, that any mere
external foim of Church government is, in the prescription, or estimation
of divine wisdom and goodness, a proper substitute, for the personal and
prevalent, particular and pointed-out, qualifications of preachers ? With
mc, however, i,he case has, for u long time, been past all surmise; and
that J'pon t!ie surest *and safest possible ground. For the due qualifica-
tions of ministers are authoritatively, fresly, and fixedly, established in
the Epistles of St. Paul to Timothy and Titus; so that no form of
Church government in the world, can supersede their necessary requi-
sition. My very soul is all life and light, on this most solemn and solid,
stable and steadfast ground. " A bishop then must be blameless, the
husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospi-
tality, apt to teach ; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy
lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well
his own house; having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for
if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care
of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride,
he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a
good report of them which are without ; lest he fail into reproach and
the snare of the devil."-— 1 Tim. iii. 2—7. " For this cause left I thee
in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting,
and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be
blameless, the husband of one wife, having faitliftil children, not accused
of riot, or unruly. For a bishop must be blameles.s, as the steward of
God : not self-willed, not soou angry, not given to wine, no striker, not
given to filthy lucre ; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men,
Eober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the "faithful word as he iiath
been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and
to convince the gsinsiiyers,"~TituB i. 5—9. Oli, how my very soul
to oppressive
oundered, by
:s and uenti-
n of Church
y or example
nan, while it
ssing of true:
Suppose a
eighborhood,
us — The one
issenter — the
it. Now, on
I semi-or-sole
!9, hesitate a
this ground :
lat the dtffer-
rbalance the
36 Teachers !
hat any mere
or estimation
personal and
hers? With
iurmise; and
lue quaiidca-
stablished in
no form of
essary requi-
nn and solid,
lameless, the
ven to hospi-
edy of filthy
t ruleth well
gravity; (for
he take care
p with pride,
nriust have a
reproach and
se left I thee
are wanting,
3: If any be
, not accused
D steward of
) striker, not
f good men,
i as he hath
exhort and
ny very soul
275
a.sgusts the clap and clank, clack and clamor of false and formal wicked
and worldly men, respecting the forms of Church governmen w thout
one ser.ous throw or thought, throe or throb, about the mairrconc ra-
the necessary qualifications of ministers and members of churches ■
Decu'lhr"%'"^TP''/^^'^P°'^''^'^ ^^"""^ °^ ^^"'■'='» government was
peculiar For the Apostles were extraordinary men; and therefore
;mmu b,, ,„ ,,^^i^ extraordinary capacity, could'have ieUher quah v'
cessos 'TT°"\r •" °'''''" ^^^^'•d^' "Either equals, imitators, nor sue:
Churrh' t '' necessary, as it is evident, that all the Apostolic
Church however numerous, in her branches, ministers, and members
was all dependent on, and under the superior ty and control as well as
And^her!""" ''''''T' °^ '""T ^^'^^onUnlry Gospel iiesseligrs
And there \ as as much much utility as duly in the enjoined obedience
to their authority. But in their ordinary function, the AposUes nut
breren";" '>-7''^^' "?^^f^'--. -d iove, on the «ame levZw h th'e
brehren; especially their Christian fellow-presbyters or bishoos • and
on this ground, never assumed to themselves an/ superiority like our
SLmi'lr'^',' ^""r "'' J^^^' ^^P^^ ^"^ P-'^^- ' <^h' deep Z
tZt ? -'"^ mocking, .hame and shaking, on them, b^ Heaven's
merciful visitation and intervention; before they maze' and mis of
Le.uuel • and meet and mate with T.ucifer, the fan^ous and fucrjthe anj
fallen star-son of the morning !- iah xiv. l-).-You will excu e this
S mX"""' 7' 'FT"''' ' ^'^'^ ^'"-""'- ->d serious core
alter my hearing of such tales and tattles, papas and powers lordshin^
and ocusts as claiming their furious and furtive instUution,' ZTZ
trl uJl"f' ^ '"V"! ^^^^^.^^ ^"^P^' °f J««"« °f Nazareth "I
wrote unto the church : but Diotrephus, who loveth to have the nre-
eminence, rece.veth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I wilf remember
h.s deeds which he doeth, pratin, against Ls with mali'cious words ;'tc
tlLl 'i:^ '' D.otreplms-a self-ccnstituted Pope, or pr mate •
stonT:.rlr~^^^^ themselves.-There is no
1 erP U » J '"?' P"''" ""^ P'-ef^^r^nce, when once past due bounds
"ere is, then, at least, one of the best precedents in ali the Bible for
Mther i ope or prnnate ; and is it not worthy boast and iniitation ! i And f
ireely defy all the knot and kniting, ring and rabbins, of the whole order
to show a much better. Vide Luke xxii. 24-28. Papacy and primacy
you see now, stand upon this very high and haughty, load and lo:t;
ground! But do not think, for all this, that I mark no distinction
between these two grades of unscriptural ptrfenaion : For their differ-
ence is sadly and soundly serious ; though their parity is so fearfully
notorious. But though the Apo.tles measured and n.aintamed-na here
and whenever necessary-lheir oxtraordinary authority in the Church'
according to Sd ConnthiaM.. lOth chapter; and especially Sth verse i
For though I should noast someuhat more of our authontv. (which
the Lord hath given us for edi'^cation, and not for destruction,) I should
no. be ashamed ;•■ \ et ui nil their ordinary claims and conducMione
could surpass their disavowal of prcferencraMd prerf^deiice : " \or of
276
SM.
i:-' I il
II
i.
I
men sought we glory, nellfier of vou, nor of others, when we might hnvc
been biirdeasomo to you, aa the Apostles of Christ. But we were gentle
nniong you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children ;" St. Paul. Vide
1 Corinth. 2, 3. " The elders among you I exhort, who am also on
elder," or presbyter ;— St. Peter. "The elder unto the elect lady and
her children," &lc. St. John.
But as to the dispute between Dependency and Independency ; since
unity and uniformity of principles and practice, sentiments and signs,
are, both necessarily, and in Scripture accounts, among the most gracious
and glorious lays and laws of the kingdom of grace and glory, preference
must be in favor of tiie former, whenever practicable. But because its
feasibility — in no few circumstances — is far more uncertain, merciful
Heaven— though few properly prize it — has richly furnished every
Christian, in every period of lime — as has already been partly observed —
with a most favorable outgate, or alterntitive ; (though many abuse it,
and others oppose it,) according to the following Scriptures: — " Now
we command you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that
ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and
not after the tradition which he received from us. For yoursolves know-
how ye ought to follow us : for for we behaved not ourselves disorderly
among you." — 2 Thess. iii. 0. "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark
ihem which cause divisions and olFences, contrary to the doctrine which
ye have learned, and avoid them. For they that are such serve not
the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly ; and by good words and fair
speeches deceive the hearts o' ihe simple." — Horn. xvi. 17. " Brethren,
be followers together of me, and mark them which walk eo as ye have
us for an ensurnple." &c. — Phil. iii. 17. " And ye became followers
of us and of the Lord, *** so that ye were ensamples to all that believe
in Macedonia and Achaia." — 1 Thess. i. (J and 7. " Be ye followers of
me, oven as I also am of Christ." — 1 C«rinth. xi. I. " But now I have
urilten unto you not to keeji company, if any man that is called a brother
be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard,
or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.' — 1 Cosiiith. v. IL
" If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wliolesome words,
even the words of our Lord Jesus Chri.^t, and the doctrine whicli ia
accordnig to godliness, (Slc, from such withdraw thyself." — 1 Tim. vi. 3,5.
Here is a solid bottom, as well as a rich treasure. Here is a directory,
both deep and durable, dear and divine, to decide in full favor of n)y
principle : That Presbytery or Dependency, so f<u- only as the said depen-
deticy is properly feasible ; or without any restraitit upon a good con-
science, and gospel obedience, in any higiier concerns. But the scope
of the texts now quoted, supposes numerous, or endless cases and instan-
ces, in which it were the solemn and necessary and immediate duty of
orderly believers to withdraw and .separate themselves, from their dis-
orderly brethren : and consequently never to rejoin them without answer-
able repentance and reform. Here are, then, supposed ainpic and end-
less grounds, for not only aHowable, but most solejunly commanded,
difscnt , und consequently Indcpcndcncr ju^t in propc>rtir'h to tjie
J 4
iJ77
3 might have
were gentle
Paul. 'Vide
> am also or)
ect lady and
Icncy ; since
ts and signs,
lost gracious
/, preference
L because its
lin, merciful
ished every
r observed —
ny abuse it,
es : — " Now
Christ, that
iorderly, and
rsolves know
s disorderly
ithren, mark
[ilrine which
ch serve not
irds and fair
" Brethren,
as ye have
ne foUowerrt
that believe
followers of
, now I have
ed a brother
a drunkard,
iiiith. V. 11.
some words,
ine which is
Tim. vi. 3,5.
a directory,
favor of n)y
! said depen-
a good con-
jt the scope
! and instun-
Hate duty of
m their dis-
lout ansvver-
plc and end-
:oniraandcd,
tinii to t]if-
ofTenco given, and justly taken ; and not an inoh further. And i veniy
pity the Congregationalist or Dissenter, who ever seeks, or claims for
himself, any greater latitude than this; for neither the letter nor the
spirit of the Gospel can ever support him, on that ground. But a.'*
already remarked, being, ecclesiastically, myself but a moiHrrrl breed
my worthy father having been but a stanch Presbyterial Dependent and
my dear and tender mother a tenacious Dissenter. And though' this
my circumstance passed unheeded, on my part, in my puerility and boy-
hood, yet in my maturer and reflecting years, it became a source of keen
regret and deliberation to me. For though my ever honored parents—
vvho are now no more— were, upon the whole, most corlial between
themselves, in all civil concerns; and lived together in great conjugal
harmony during their connected existence ; yet their ecclesiastical dis-
tinction, excited not seldom, some little debates and emotions between
them; and which, on Fome rare occasions, would border, on such keen-
ness and coolness, as could not fail of both arresting my lively attention
and affecting my reflective mind. It might perhaps assist you, or any
other neighbor there, on our subject, if I should givs you a short sample
of their difference and dialogue, though, at the same time, on my part,
with the greatest possible tenderness; and under the terms Husband
and Wife, in the manner following : —
Husband.—" My dear Meg,"— for that was my ever dear mother's
nanve— " why have you so wildly stept the rounds, by jumping from the
top of Prelacy to the bottom of Independency ?"
^^'*'«-— " ^Vell Sir, Dan,"— Daniel having been my worthy father's
name— "I dure say not, in many respects: yet, in several other instan-
ces, I could not have freedom of mind, in complying with your Church's
form of government."
Husband.— "Pray, 'Rib,' which may be the chief of these instances
of your disapproval I"
Wife. — *' Your dependence on, and connection with, the same objec-
tionable civil Government— to say the best of it, as the Church of
England. Also, great many of your ministers, being manifestly proud,
and unmoral in their outward conduct, as well ;)s otiiers of them, erro-
neous and heretical, in their principles and doctrine ; tliough under the
general sanction and standard of an orthodox Creed and C^onfession of
Faith. And again, that all your Clergy—good and bad— associate
together in religious, as well as civil concerns; and that all your people,
young and old— and foul, or fair, of character— are, indiscriminately^
half, or whole, churcli members. And how can all these excesses and
enormities consist with Go.spel direction or obedience?"
Husband.--"! do not choose to deny the scope and skain of your
objections; and 1 feel seriouHly grieved', that they are all^ alas! but too
well founded : but what can a tender conscience do, when a man must
either endure these sore grievances, or forsake the church ; for, as mat-
ters now Btand, there is no alternative V
Wife.—" I do not deny the aad operation and inlluence of misguided
coiu-ciciicc?: Ix.i! '.viih t!;c g-^ncralitv of intelligent men ; cspeciallv Mims^
i'r,
fprs u IS souietlung eine instead of conscience, th«t binds them fast to
l^ndowed and Establislied Churches ;— such as the pride of popularity
mid the braid of benences—as well as fear of the rudeness and reproach^
poverty and partiality, poaching and prejudice, privttion and persecu-
Hon, to which ecclesiastical Independency is universally and unavoidably
exposed : Subtract and supersede all these obstacles and ousters, amo-
tions and amounts, and then ^jood and kind conscience— I will warrant
the kingdom— shall soon alter its course, and flourish its tail. iJut I
humbly beg your patience and pardon, Sir ; for, in the last of my re-
marks, and in the heat of my zeal, I have completely forgot my real
position, and thought I was, as usually, disputing it with neighbor Molly ;
though I stiil sincerely believe, that I have not an inch surpassed the
bounds of truth and moderation."
Husband.— "All very kind, my good Meg, if you should steer so very
close and cautious at the foibles and failings of your own dear party • or
allow others to do so for you ?" f ./ .
Wife.—" Well, my guide, it is but fair play : And I shall never justify
mysell in appaling.or opposing any fair or favorable means or measures,
either exertod, or designed, for my impression or improvement. If you
are, therefore, anywise inclined, to offer any remarks upon the general
principles and practice of Dissenters, as repulsive or repugnant to right
reason and the rule of sacred truth, pray. Sir, speak freely your mind."
Husband.—" Though I do not choose to be either swayed or swelled
Dy bigotry or prejudice ; yet I think I discern several and serious points
very objectionable in the count and conduct of Dissenters. As first, in
no few examples, their shameful defcience in, and depreciation 'of
iiberal education, on the part of their preachers. I could readily point
out to you a cluster of these spiritual guides, that our little boy mioht
put to the blush, on this ground. I read a letter, which one of our
inerchants received the other day from Mr. Cam, a mighty preacher—
iliey pretend— and were it not thought invidious in me, I could not but
publish It, lor a friendly correction to the more sensible part of that
community But ins people say he has 'the spirit;' and consequently
not so much need of the letter— ' for the letter killeth, but the spirit
givetii hie !' The Apostles, say they, were never at College ! Thoucrh
all nunrht know, that the Apostles were perfectly taught all necessa'ry
Joarning and languages in a miraculous manner, on the solemn day of
1 entecost. The preacher undsr remark is evidently a ' novice'— if not
worse; both in a literal and spiritual point of view— who is prohibited
being 1,1 such public olHce; 'lost, being'— as this unfortunate man ccr-
n.m y i^-—' lifted up with prir'-, he fall into the condemnation of the
<.evil. — 1 1 im. HI. (5. Now, ycu know, that the best Presbyterial Min-
ister in the country is near this Mr. Cam; and that the latter would he
\eiy glad lo get ordained as a Dependent Minister, for any conscience '
to the contrary; altliough nothing but petulance and pride prevent his
oecommg a Presbyterian hoarer I There is manifestly a numerous
Cluster of your dissenting Ministers, in the very same circumstince,
f:om mere selhsh pride, besides their pecuniary support from their hear-
270
iin fast to
(opularity,
reproach,
I persecu-
lavoiclably
ters, amo-
II warrant
I. But I
)f iriy re-
t my real
or Molly ;
assed the
2r so very
party ; or
'er justify
measures,
If you
e general
t to right
ir mind."
'r swelled
us points
s first, in
alion of,
lily point
oy might
le of our
eacher —
i not but
t of that
sequently
lie spirit
Though
lecessary
in day of
i'— if not
rohibited
man ccr-
n of the
rial Min-
ivould be
nscience
2vent his
unierous
mstincc,
eir hear-
ers ; which they would lose at once, by becoming themselves hearers of
otf-ers, instead of their own gross and crude, wild and worthless stale
and stumbling preachment. There is nothing more confrenial to reli-
gious pride than a pulpit, with its ordinary concomitant and conseciuent
credit and cries, of simple and silly adherents; especially humorous and
amorous, freakish and frantic womon. Don't be olfended— my dear
Meg— my heart is too full, on this ground, to be yet imposted or impeded
1 have long thought, with perfect grief and groans, of the capital and
cogent remark of a modern excellent divine— 'That there could be no
heavier cross or curse upon any country, than an ignorant priesthood '
And this 13 mournfully and mockingly, if not madly, the case in the
majority of places, among Independents. For though literary know-
ledge may be, and is, alas ! not seldom abused; yet ignorance in the
priesthood is, of itself, a manifest abuse of the office.— It is as puttinir
a sword to the hand of a madman, to the desperate danger of the handler
and all concerned -around him ; and that in a case infinitely worse thari
k)r the tackling of time :— It is in the vast concern of souls and eternity
But lest you think I take undue advantage of a solitary case, take Mr
Mac, one of the Highland Missionaries— and lately a Baptist :— I hap-
pened last month to iiear him, on my way home from B M He
preached, as the phrase runs, both in Gallic and English. In the latter
service, I can assure you, I felt in perfect balance whether to low or
laugh, to smut or smile ; foi my very spleen and spine, spell and sprain
wrought so violently and warhably, that I knew not whether my indip!
nation or compassion was predoi. inant. For as Mr. Cam wrote without
mutes ; as ' rong, rath, nat, nave,' itc. for wrong, wrath, gnat, knave 6lc
so Mr. Mac pronounced all his own mutes; and quoted hymns, in' con-
trasted stanzas;— for David's Psalms are now superannuated! \u(i
leaving grammatical arrangement, and exordium out of question* he
gaped and gasped even for vuljrnr vocables. But why ! the ' spirituality*
of the man must supply, and sanctify all these, and such deficience '
Both the men under remarks, are plainly destitute of common sense
and common modesty, as well as common acquirement ; but because
they were ' wonderfully converted,' under Independent ministry and
can rave and rant of their ' experience,' to every dolt or dowdy' that
meets them by the hi<jh road, none must dare object, either to their
science, sense, or sanctity ! But, in the second place, look at the gene-
ral discipline of Independency : It is equally lax and languid, with that
of Presbytery ; though not always in the very same channels. But the
majority of the people, of both denominations, are quite similarly, under
the same evident and sad sigr;s of unregeneracv; including both' minis-
ters and members; and on this ground, 1 am sure, the one party has
v^ry kttle scope for boasting over the other. Nothing but putrid pyrrho-
nism, or partiality, can start a single objection on this score. And the
most part of Independents gain nothing by their division from Presbv-
tenal dependency, but the foul and fond drift of an Elysian dream" •
e.Kcept the advantage and advancement of their inefficient and illiterate
preachers, who slyly find it a short cut, and cheap way to the pride and
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
//
^
^
fe
i?/
5r '^/.
4
1.0
LI
1.25
|50 1""==
1^ 1^
IIM
[2.2
|||||m
U ill 1.6
V]
<^
/i
'c-1
e.
^a
c).
/.
%
^
Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
\
40'
^s
9>
'r\*
\
6^
•<^
<^
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) 872-4503
^^^
<i^
<i'
^
^
<*
r/
.($>
€^
mlh
f
280
bufstm mujfr''.?i'T^ ' <!''r«^ ^""r""^' P^^"»"'r''y. or^ « lower scale ;
but still under the fanciful, or wicked disj^uise of a tight and tender
conscience and the fruit and foar of God. But they but "fleelvon
the eeth of tne hon to the paws of the bear.'-Amos v 19 For I, de
liTsc plh/e' "Vor' r, "^^^ ''T'' "^^^^^^"^'^^ ^--^^- ihe cord of
discipline. For, unabused, s:ul unrestrained, consider the vast and
weighty, might and motion, of Presbyterial censure and seizure of de in-
que„cy_the powerful chance and chain, from the lowest link of e Kirk
of whic'h a '"or" '"''. °' ''' ''''''?' ^.f'^^^^ ' ^'^ '^^'P ""d efficien J
suPDerand nnnoH = 7"-and still dependent-for his suffrage.
tKv mL ^'^ ""? '" '"dependent audience-is entirely destitute
er are' n'n n'T '' ^"'^ '''"■^ costumeof Lay and Independent preach^
P cs V n"id" . rr "/"'i !"»«'^^«^''y °ff^"«ive; and rankly savor of
rvesand ';:'.?:='''''•"' unportance. Illiterate clowns, in clerical
4io\e>^^ud gaze can never meet my eye without my deeuest disaust
nnd pr:';:fs "To'r.r '■ r'^ T' r ''^ ^^'^^"-- '^ S preS/g
Grained but } Z ?'^ ''''''''' ?'' '^'^ ^^''" P""^^^^ and pray extempore
..off r '"^^'!"^" '"ay do so also; and sometimes with little or
am 'cdlTct:* ^Z ?'" -"-^-"-' - -herence. Your own ^ --
ii^al I an OS nnd r™°j^ P'"y^''' ^''^^^'^S^ «"d crosiers, rubric and
da s deS/nm^ '^"'^ organs, homilies and holy-
uays, decimals and dedications; tiresome and tedious, danjrerous aiid
i'ZuMis e's.^rbe'r"" r'^ ^"•"'^' '^"' ''''' ^^--- an! rerun
.V;«l f «f easily be hanged to their service, as to the sleeve or slop of
ee-fourths of your pulpit declaimers.-That the surtout of a po cher
and the surplice ot a priest, are. both and alike, dominant and deceitfu '
becomes now proverbial ; and is not at all inapplicable, on our prTsliu
subject of ecclesiastical comparison. .In the fourth and last nh?e X
h.detV,"';''"""" "•' '^'''y' '^ -^ ^°^^>' disavowal and disgust oi
Independents ,n general-though not, I confess, inthe same dSree-
on the score ot all the good books and publications in the worldThlch
have been written, or published, by any dependents. As to those di
senters who profess a different and oi^osi e creed, on this TornJ i
should feel it.le, or no surprise; but lor such as acl nouled.e^r^^
andamental principles; and adopt the same standard of orfhodoxrn
the more essential doctrines of the gospel-thoucrh not the same form o
church government-I feel persuaded 'that their partiality and prSce
n this case must prove too far against them, that they lay nforTt an
due stress upon their own favorite and frivolous, if nof «lfame7u| an
minister. d,.s tinctions; especially when we take to account hSw eaaerlv
and augurially, they will eke and esteem, mete and mncTnifvr'end n ?
ran , every probable or possible item or ima. of merit or moon any wi e
fiddling or favorable, to .heir own peculiar religious distortion's Don'
^"rnuit tf.^"''^'"'?^-'""^^^' ''' °^^-'^'- l-l-aded or behind
ZJT J ''•'"■'' °*^ ^'°"'* P'^'"^'''^' Dissenters, on this ground. For
we read and ruminate with both pleasure and profit, not only the works
of our own von.roblo .;.d favorite church -but also, with imparti.
approach and approba.i.n, the writings of every other f stJied oZZa
281
ower scale ;
and tender
' flee from
For Inde-
le cords of
le vast and
re of delin-
of the Kirk
d efficiency
is suffrage,
y destitute,
ent preach-
ly savor of
in clerical
5st disgust,
preaching
jxteinpore :
Lh Jittle, or
own quon-
rubric and
I and holy-
ferous and
resounds,
or slop of
a poacher,
deceitful,
ir present
place, the
Jisgust, of
I degree —
rid, whicli
those dis-
ground, I
» the same
lodoxy, in
le form of
prejudice
nore than
neful and
V, eagerly
read and
any wise
s. Don't
or behind
ud. For
he works
impartial
or famed
good author. See for instance, how ue admi.e and exalt, without pre-
judicial di.stiaction, tl>e preductioiis of good and godly Episcopalians : —
The notable and ni 'luingale Bishop Ilnl! — the great and gracious .Tudge
Ilale— the ever memorable and Reverend James Hervey — the late very
worthy ?ind Rev. Leigh Richmond — and evea the famous and learned
Archbishop Tillotson ; with a cluster of others loo tedious to be enume-
rated. .Ind also of dissenters fro'u Prelacy— such as the deservedly
noted Dfs. \Vatts and Doddridge — and the excellent Commentator
T. Scott; with several other great and good names that might be men-
tioned. ^ And among the number of worlliy names, wo ought not to
overlook the laborious, heaven.} -minded, and useful instrument of edi-
fication and conversion, the remarkable Richard Baxter. And likewiss
the good authors, who seceded froui the Church of Scotland— say the
famous Erakines, and the very pious and learned Brown. Nor arc we
but far from impartial to Coiigre'Tationalists and Baptists — In.stance the
dear and tender-mindod Mr. and'Mr.s. Newell— Mr. and Mrs. Judson—
Dr. Carey, 6cc. And for ever read John Bunyan. For chough 1 freely
wish to deal a death-blow to the unscriptural and indecent religiou.?
protuberance of Religionists; yet may gracious Heaven ever preserve
jne from hurting in the slightest degree, any point or per.«!on, as such,
that is in the least measure agreeable to the line or lineage, aim or image,
of God and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And now, my ever
dear spouse, as I have for the present, relieved my own mind, under the
cooling shade of your patient hearing; and though I have advanced
nothing, on the subject, beyond my perfect knowledge, and sincerest
conviction ; yet I shall allow you, most freely, to make any exceptions,
or objections, which you think anywise equitable and warrantable."
Wife. — '• Though under the protecting shelter of even your generous
lee and leave, my ever honored hu.«band, I must cordially, though
grievously, acknowledge both the justice, and the judgment of your
remarks generally ; yet I beg to offer some few exceptions : As first, on
the words ' unabused and unrestrained;' for Presbyteri-il church govern-
nient, both in its ecclesiastic and civil connection, is now, and has long
since been— you must very well know. Sir,— quite a stranger to the
proper meaning of the words disabuse and unresfaint ; 'No company
no cumber :' And that is one of the best reasons in favor of dissent
('equal limbs and lining') from its present surly and self-contest, confu-
sion and control. For how could that Church expect or exact aitachment
or obedience from others, which is but a mere and manifest brake and
bramble, brew and boiler, in her own bowels; and between her greatest
champions ! And all this, not of a sudden heat and motion, but of a
serious height and duration. Here, the ancient proverb, — 'Physician,
heal thyself,'— applies then with perfect pith, power, and prop'-iety.—
In the next place, I wish to acknowledge with sincere gratitude, that
you have, my dear Dan, fairly forestalled me in your generous excep-
tions of dissenters, by marking vast difference between man and man,
in a party so nuii.erous ; or rather numberless, 'tnd various, in sectaries
and sentiments, as well as individual cast and character. There is too
lET.
SS2
much food and foundation, for all the rigorous-like animadversion now
passed on the folliea and falsehood, partiality nnd prepossession, of the
swarm of sly and filuggish, proud and pranking teachers and preachers
under conBideration. But you, Sir, and some others of your libernl
dispositi^on, among your own party, are not the whole of your commu-
nity. For I have good reason to believe that a large number of yoiir
people; and including popular pastors; who feel and find, little heart
or interest, in the writing or reports — however vast or valuable — of any
church in the world but their own. The love of our Snviour is neces-
sary indeed, to our impartial love and esteem of his people : On. long
and latent prejudice bears, in our minds, deep and dangerous swing
nnd sway, of which very few of us sincerely choose to be convinced.
Again, lenient and learned men ; and of no less popularity and prefer-
ence ; and who dissent from their brethren, to their own manifest
worldly disadvantage, without any popular or pecuniary redeeming
pledge ; either in prospect or present enjoyment, ought to meet vvith
our particular candour, in our judgment of their motives; far beyond
the common rate of dissenting people; who, either as preachers, have
nothing of consequence, in their own estimation to lose ; but a good
deal of pelf and praise to gain; or as hearers, who have generally neither
search nor sacrifice, of any balance, within their power or poise ; but
who are led by the impulse of mere accidents, loeal circumstfinces,
jnatrimonial connections; or may be, for a moment, a cheaper gate,
and quicker clack to a fool's paradise. Besides all these, there is
another grade of dissenters, which should not be indiscriminately
classified with the generality of their nominal designation ; and of
these I beg to treat a little under the three following divisions: —
As first, a certain number of those called by the general name 'English
Dissenters.' For I verily believe — and 1 hope no intelligent asd gene-
rous mind will oppose it — that, if there is any of the life of'piety — excuse
the expression — now to be found, in our British Island, it is indeed, in
some measure, among some of this denomination. The pious and ex-
perimental savor of some of their late publications, in commentaries,
paraphrases, sermons, tnd magazines, cannot, I think, escape the notice,
nor miss the approbation of every sensible and candid peruser of them.
Second;. — Some dissenters from the Church of Scotland; who have, in
no few instance?, been long oppressed in their minds and consciences,
before they could think of any separation : and indeed many of them
cannot properly be called dissenters ; but rather dissentienis or semi-
dissenters ; who have joined no otiier party of Independents — though
tenfold sick oi the preaching and practice, sentiments and sensualiry.
dismgenuity and discipline of their Clergy : — but are, somehow, similar
to those deplorable people, of whom the Gospel records, that when our
ever merciful Saviour saw them, ' he was moved with compassion on
them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having
no shepliord.' Can any Christian be so cruel or careless, as to deal his
rending or random L!ow to this description of humble and unassuming
mourners ; among whom, I feel the firmest confidence, there are some
m
i
ersion now
iion, of the
d preachers
yoiir liberiil
)ur commu-
ter of your
Jittle heart
Die — of any
IT is necea-
: Ou. long
iroua swing
convinced,
and prefer-
n manifest
redeeming
I meet vvith
far beyond
(hers, have
>ut a good
ally neither
poise ; but
umst^mces,
eaper gate,
e, there is
iriminately
>n ; and of
v'sions : —
e 'English
asd gene-
iy — excuse
indeed, in
us and ex-
mentaries,
the nctice,
;r of them.
10 have, in
nsciences,
ly of them
3 or semi-
s — though
sensuality,
ivv, similar
when our
lassion on
lep having
to deal his
lassuming
are some
srraciouii soula ; though, to avoid prolixity, I now wave som* bright and
binding instances in favor of this uiy reasoning. Third, — I cannot but
feel inclined to mark come distinction, among dissenters in general,
between various and opposite dispositions and characters, even of the
samo distinct, or particular denomination; as ivell as of different
branches of the one generic root. Tliere is in every place a markfid
diversity of both outward circumstances, and individual natural capaci-
ties ; so that dillbrcnt persons are, as it were, in different worlds, or in
different periods of the world, at the same time. On this plain supposi-
tion, therefore, — though 1 never choose to palliate inexcusableness, not-
to call rudeness radiance, or dotage divinity ;— yet ample allowance
must be made in favor of simple aod surmiseless sincerity. In this view,
the man of three-score may fall below par vvith the shot of twelve — the
almond fleece may flourish on the stripling head — the apfed cripple aiusi
be forborne, if he apes the nursling, on the miraculous reverse of his
ankle bones. — 'Of some have compassioii, making a difference.' — Si.
Jude. ' Support the weak.' 'We then that are strong ought to bear
with the inflnnities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.' — St, Paul,
* I write unto you, little children, beeauso ye have known the Father.' —
St. John. ' Thou hast revealed them [spiritual things] to babes.' — Christ.
Wherever I could Hud sincerity, modesty, candor, zeal, and the appear-
ance and acknowiagoment of the impartial love of the Saviour, and his
people, testified by correspondent behaviour and conduct; with whatever
mixture of ignorance and iniirraities, I would never choose for myself
to be rigorous or rancorous, in my exercise or exaction. ' A bruised
reed sliall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench, till
he send forth judgment unto victory.' — Messiah, i humbly admit titat
my exceptions arc indeed very rare; and more especially oa this last
division; but still exceptions they are; and I cannot — for the peace and
pleasure of my own mind — avoid to sustain them : Though, at the
same time, I should feel very sick and sorry to administer thereby, any
help er handle to false grace and confidence, succors and security, vvith
which — Heaven knows — even the religious world is already, most sadly
and strangely, platted and plagued, with little or no redeeming pledge.
But I now conclude, and thank you freely, my ever worthy gift and
guide, for your most generous and cherishing allowance and indulgence,
on this very long and lingering, eairer and interesting topic."
Husband. — " My dearest Meg, 1 acknowledge my special approbation
of both your modesty and prudence, as well as your general mode of
reasoning: Of the former in several respects; but particularly in that
you have made no mention of your own Minister, but left that point with
me ; since you knew very well that unacquaintance, on my part, on that
ground, could not excuse my unexception ; for I know the weight and
value, mettlo and merit, of your worthy Teacher, and his efficiency —
both natural and acquired, moral and religious — very far to surpass that
of the common rate of Dissenting Ministers; and that his Indepe J-
ence cannot have resulted from his ineflicient necessity ; since none of
neighboring Clergy could be ashamed of his ninislcrial qualifications.
\>S4
And if my own worihj Minister, was not in several respects far differ-
ent from the bulk of hh onicinl hrothren—thousrh still, alas much re-
strained in his ireedoin~r .should not Ioit; hesltnte, by heaven's blessin-^
tojoin vour commnn.ty; even under the disadyontage of the gratiirff
sound of the term dissenter, in ihe ea.- of dc;.enr!oni3. Siiil it ig possible
that my petty pride u-nnld not so easily yield to this voluiKary admission,
did yon but ri-orously, tiiough but reajonabiy, insist yourself upon these
fiubjocts ot reiiia»k. And on your mode of reasn^ill.^ 1 must observe*
Uiat, except on very general subjects, I can never satisl}' my own ft-^lin-zs'
or reflections, by any sour or sweeping argument; foriliouTh it may, for
the moiacnt, serve the etlgo of a keen passion ; yet it ever leaves the
mind, not only vr;pid and vacant ; but also unhnppy-uneasv ; and thua
unstrung for t:je soft and sveet service of heaven, luid the nrooer har-
uiony ot social diversio;-;, or devotion : ofherwi.ss iii our cane,* ac'cording
to the sacred text— 'That our prayers be not hindered.'— St. Peter."
Here I now finish the extract, taken from the dialogue of iv.y ever dear
parents, with whirh 1 make ii ee to trouble you ; in hopes it may, in a de'^ree
throw some ralditional liglu on some ofthe subjects of our correspondence'.
But as to the last liisragranh of your letter, regarding- :,;y "ordinary esti-
mate of good or gn,i|y men bein.r among the variou's i^ersuaaions" men-
noned by you, it is a mo^L delicate point : And I do not chocise to enter
upon It, but in a very geuor;;i :md tender manner; esneciallv :,i ice the
extracts already taken do. in a cc'tain d.-iyree, treat of'that subject- and
nre, so far, agreeable to my own sentiments. But there are three distinct
principles or persuasioi!?, nmong yom- sneciiled p.uiiesj which J deem
tar difterent from the rest, in liio vnctmss and ucioi:i3ness, of their res-
pective errors and heresies, ^ iz. Popeiy, Quakerv, and Armiuianism.
As to the first of them: nn.nejy, Popeiy; iie fai.eimod and wickedness
ot Its system ; and especially now, and ioii:?; since, in Protectant countries
and under Prolestani governuumtrf— tlse freedom and favor of '.vhich
greatly aggravate their guilt— are such as ought hardly, at the best be
brought at all under the designation ul ChiiL^tianiry, hut under ihut of
anti-christianity, or "the man of tl ' a^ it is cerlairdy termed in the
New leitanient. To me— in comniOL with mauv good and .rrsat men-
it is certainly a question, whether Safan hiuisclf, could ever invent a more
deceitful and destructive system, where the letter of tiie Gospel has ever
been revealed : it is indeed such a master-piece of hell's frame and fabri-
cation, fastening and foster-dam ! There, a sad and silly rote of saint
and sounding vocables, mummed and muttered over a fool's-cross and
crossings; or some dirty and doubtful relics, and religious rays, rosaries
and repetitions— penitents and penitcnti..:-/— pcaairces and purgatory'
pilgrimage and paternosters- leuts and limiio— litany and legeisdury—
missal and miracles— confessions ai.d consecrations -convents an 1 con-
juration, celibacy and cemetery— vows and vigils, visions and virTinity—
^^pectres and spells, sponsors and si)ittles— briefs and breviary— bldls and
burials— bells and beggary, brothels and bagnios— abbots and absolution
—hosts and holy-water- sacraments and eacrifice— transubstantiation
and tradition— excommunications and extreme-unction - infallibiliiv and
i I
285
i far difTer-
, much re-
's blessing,
he griiting
13 possible
admission,
upon these
pt observe;,
Ml l't;elini/3,
it may, for
leaves the
; nnd thua
jroper har-
accorfliiig
, Peter."
y ever dear
n a degree,
spondence.
linnry esti-
ons" men-
se to enter
■ iiiijce the
bject: and
eo distinct
ch J deem
' tlieir res-
iiiiiianism.
lickedness
countries,
of '.vliich
best, be
er ihut of
led in the
3at men —
3nt a more
si has ever
and fabri-
'i of saint
cross and
i, rosaries,
lurgatory,
jeadury —
3 an \ con-
irginity —
-bulls and
ibsolution
tantiation
ibility and
index-expurgatory, indulgences, invoc tion, and idolatry ;—'* Hoc pro
vobis"— "hsBC pro nobis"*— "Ave Maria, laudem tibi dabo"— O, Dei
n-aler, me nnserere, &,c. &c. These, I ropeat, is Popery ! which by ita
mortal heresies, superstition and idolatry, drowns the simplicity, f?plen-
dor, and spirit of the gospel, to such a dangerous and dreadful decree,
that the salvation of men, under its full power and prevalence, is' impro-
bable, if not impossible, especially, under the meridian light of Piotest-
antcy. But there are exceptions, in regard to different circumstances,
i^.nd means of knowledge and information ; on the ground of which, I
would, by no means, choose to make any rigorous, or random conclu-
^'ions; and more particularly, in countries never blessed with the day-
trar of lieformaiion, or where that has been long eclipsed. I shall
here subjoin a few sacred texts, descriptive of the dies, doom, and dan-
ger of proud, preying, and prowhng Papacy :— St. Paul saith, " Let no
man deceive you, by any means; for that day shall not come, except
there be a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is celled
God; so that he, us God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself
that he is God whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his
mouth, and shi.ll destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him
whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs
and lying wonders because they received not the love of the truth,
that they might be saved, God shall send them strong delusion that they
should believe a lie, that they all. might be damned who believed not the
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." — 2 Thess. ii. 3 — 12.
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of
d'^ils ; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with
a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats,
which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which
believe and know the truth."— 1 Tim. iv. I. "Now as Jannes and
Jambres withstood Moses, 30 do these also resist the truth, men of cor-
rupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. For the time will como
when they will not endure sound doctrine — and they shall turn away
their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables."— 2 Tim. chap.
3 and 4. St. Peter tells us, "There shall be false teachers among you,
who privily shail bring in damnable heresies. And many shall follow
their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil
spoken of. * * * Who have forsaken the right way : to whom the mist
of darkness is reserved for ever; while they promise them liberty, they
themselves are the servants of corruption."— 2 Pet. ii. St John—" And
there came one of the seven angels, and talked with me, saying unto me.
Come hither; 1 will show unto thee the judgment of the Great Whore
* "I1;li' pro )ioI.;s" is a retort made by an oflcnded certain hearer and aptclalur
of a pncst, tor ilic delucivo and tantalizing cxoerscise of tiie laltor, l>oni Snljbatli to
f>a )batii, HI bawling out (o the starved audience, the preceding sentence, " Hoc pro
vobis,' wlien nobody but the actual bibber hiinielf renpcd any benefit from tlu:
eiicharistic wine-bumpor. - Tity the victims of Topcry :
260
I ,
i
1^
thai fiitiei . upon many waters : with whofn ilic kings of llie earth liaVd
commuted fornication:— And the inhabitants of the earth have been
made drunk with the wine of her fornication—And I savf a woman sit
upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, havinrr seven
heads and lei. horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and°scarlet
colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls— And
upon her forehead was a name was a name written, Mystf.rv, Jjarylon
THE Urlat, the Motiiku oi' Haplots and Abominations ov^ the
L.AUTII And J saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints
and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And I heard another voice
from heaven, saying, Babylon the great is fallen. Come out of her my
people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive no't o'f
ner plagues —Rejoice over her, thou Heaven, and ye holy Apostles and
1 ropnets; Icr God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took
up a stone, like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying Thus
with violence s.iall the great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be
tound no more at all."— Revelations, chap. 17 and 18.
As to the silly and sorry br.-^g and boast of Popists on the score of
antiquity or precedence, if far better founded, in favor of their own
Churcn, nothing can be more frivolous or foolish ; for sin and Satan
are certainly more ancient than grace, and Christ's humanity: and vet
never the better, but tlie worse on that score.
Read the excellent works of McCulloch, McGavin, and Anselev ; and
t.ie AwtuI Disclosures" of Maria Monk, the late and famous Nun of
Montreal, on the subject. But I still beg you to observe, that when I,
most Iiearti y, and openly, abhor and abominate, the principles and
practice ol Popery, 1 uisli to love the persons of Papists; and earnestly
entreat, il it were the Lord's sovereign will to open the eves of any of
them, to their own fear.'ul and fatal, dole- and danger, in the time of
IJeaven s g-er.l and gracious, favor and forbearance.
I will liere lake the freedom of inserting an interestincr anecdote, of a
recent occurrence; and published in the Report of the British and Foreign
liib e Society for the year 1S41, concerning the conversion of a once
zealous Jvoinan Catholic priest ; and who is now a Protestant Mission-
ary :_ i,y happening accidentally, and in a singular manner," says he
to read one of the Flemish Testaments, sold by a Colporteur, at tho
tune 1 was about to enter into a monastic life— the day was fixed for my
entering luto a monastery, the strictest of convents, that of the Trappista.
1 suliered great agony of mind. I was about to shut out for ever even
ilu; light. I cast myself on my knees, and gave myself up to God. I
earnestly implored him to direct me. If it were his pleasure for me thus
to sacnhce myself, I begged him to enable me to do it; if not, to plainly
fchevv It me. I felt that I entirely gave myself up to llim. I arose from
my knees J took the Bible from my table, and opened it at the 51st
tsalm; 1 knew it well in l<atin, and had often repeated it, but now it
was fixed m my miud in a manner that I shall never forget: it will be
ever precious to me. My eyes lighted on this verse: 'Purge me with
l!.}ssop, and 1 shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter Than snow.'
287
le earth haVd
h have been
a woman sit
laving seven
! and scarlet
earls. — And
V, Babylon
3NS OF THK
the saints,
lother voice
t of her, m/
ceive not of
Apostles and
r angel took
lying, Thus
and shall be
be score of
f their own
1 and Satan
y ; and yet
nseley ; and
ous Nun of
hat when 1,
ticiples and
id earnestly
s of any of
the time of
jcdote, of a
nd Foreign
of a once
nt Mission-
r," says he,
eur, at the
xed for my
J Trappists.
' ever even
to God. I
for rue thus
, to plainly
arose from
at the 51st
but now it
it will be
;e me with
han snow.'
As to
though
sorts o^
exceptiori
could n'3L
piety.
The Iruth flashed across my mind ; I understood it all. It was not !«y
my inflicting on my poor, sinful, and weak body, pain and Butrerin<rs
that ( oould be delivered from my sins; I saw that was to be df»ne by a
nobler sacrifice : 1 must be washed in the blood of Chriut, which cleanseth
from all sin. The IGth and I7th verses of the fimo Psalm determined
me what to do; from that moment I have had a peace and joy which
surpass all knowledge. I found real for my soul ; I find ii still amidst
all the trials and temptations to which the Christian is subject in this
vale ^f tears. Attach yourselves to the word of God, and not to the
traditions of men : that alone can lead you aright."
Oh: that the fatal votaries and vaasals of "deluding and destroying
Popery, would be once brought to emulate and imitate the meek and
modest, humble and happy, subject of the foregoing short and sober,
open and authentic nan alive; especially, in his active and earnest, un-
shaken and unshackled, pursuit and perusal, of the ever blessed boon—
the free and fresh, bright and broad, safe and sound, searching and
saving, unad il^ . "?d— undisguised, revelation of Heaven, in the sacred
Scripture.s.
■Rry, 5 ^0 r i, f*^'! inclined to say much. Jt is a peaceable,
(gCi j',3 •^'■' uas.v/ii. I have a summary of five different
ra, V*" sv QUO certain party formed, in my view, an
JW Tf , frorr aM the rest of the name; so that I
- c • ,, I, at mere might not have been some real
_ 1 mu bhaued, niid dangerously blended, with errors, and
enthusiasm, in some of its inTibers. Cut as to the generality of this
denomination, they have d?plo»ibly stumbled upon their nominal spirit-
uality; at the very expense of due respect for the letter, and external
ordinances of the Gospel. And there is no doubt that the notorious
general falsehood :!nd formalism of all other sorts and secis of nominal
Christians have, even to this day, been a fatal stumbling-block to this
unfortunate denomination, since its very first and distinguished formation.
And their obstinate ahd incurable, though inobtrusive, self-confidence,
and confirmation, on this ground, are, indeed, very deplorable. One of
this sect has, lately, sent me a present of pamphlets, and for the most
part, the deceptive production of his own community; but including a
piece of the gracious experimental exercise of the noted Christian, the
great Judge Hale. And I could indeed, but commiserate the absorbing
ignorance and augury of my kind grantor, in expecting to impose upon
me, aa it is probable he does on himself, the dangerous and delusive
belief, that the spirit of the ^'ery contrasted publications under remark, is
any wise similar. But alas ! for my friend, the case is awfully the very
evident reverse. The spirit of the Quakers is not the spirit of the gospel;
but the fatal spirit of darkness and destruction ; and which is awful!/
distant and diverse from the good and gracious spirit of the very worthy
and wise, pithy and pious Judge Hale. Besides their evil and heretical
wresting and mystifying of a great part of the Scriptures, Quakers fall
upon three particular and radical errors in common with, nt least, a great
number of Arminians; viz. Partial views and feelings of our original
288
I
.1 ■
J ''
'• 1
.h-A
corruption, sialess perfeciiuii attamablo in this life, aiui lubjeclion iu t
total falling from spiritual grrxe. The full depth of thrso false princi-
ples, seemn to me most dangerous, if not certainly damnable; and lauUIy
partakes of Popery itself. Their disuse and denial of the ministry of thy
word of God, and the sacraments — their shameless and senreleti sini^u-
larity, on the score of dress, titles, and time reckoning — and their cxi)0-
sure to the flood-gates of the wildest notions and no.isensc, by thi.ir free
admission of a private aud putrid spirit to their miniatry, without any
distinction of sex or circumstances, are all but most evident indications
of the dreadful religious pride and plague of this unfortunate denomina-
tion.
But as to the third distinction ; namely, Arminianism — since T wrote
lately to one of your neighbors, A. C. on the subject — I do not now
intend to insist so much, upon it, to you. It is one of the baneful mis-
fortunes of Arminians in general — in common with every other wilfully
erroneous and heretical party — that they can .never, impartially and
earnestly be brought to examine, what is against them, both fruitfully
and freely in the word of God ; and in the works of good r.nd great, and
godly men. It is as difficult for a man — who can tolerably read and
understand tho Bible — to be a sound and steady Arminian — as ii is for
open eyes to refuse the meridian light — but through the wilful, or wicked
influence, of partiality and prejudice. I would challens^e the world to
show rne that complete and confirmed Arminian ; who, in the search of
sacred truth, has sought the Lord's gift and guidance, with the art and
eagerness, tact and- tenderness, fear and forwardness, with which the
banker tries l.is guineas, and the broker his gains— the lawyer the suit
of his opulent client, and the lover the heart cf his osculent maiden —
the navigator his dangerous reckoning, and the theologist his daring
ravages — the miner his earthy fossils, and the miser his hidden treasures.
Real Anninians are, of necessity, dreadfully ignorant of the spiritually
total depravity and impotence of fallen humanity ; and, consequently, of
the proportionate divine rij^hteousness and power necessary for the
renewal, support, and security of frail mankind, by and^ through Almighty
grace; according to the sovereign and spacious, special and spousal,
eternal and unchangeable, peculiar and permanent, love of God in Jesus
Christ. But the vain and wild notions of Arminians prove very conge-
nial and coriUal to the self-power and pride, mettle and merit, of corrupt
nature ; and this is the sad and sure secret of their fatal fondness and
fancy, thirst and throes, for their mad and muddy, sick and sorry «ystem;
which — while ii tackles their vain confidence, aud tickles their foolish
pride — most evidently and odiously, violently and wickedly, outrages
and outmarches, as well as contemns and curtails, the most gracious
and glorious, promises and privileges of the Gospel revelation — robs
God of his glory, and his people of their greatest possible safety and
security, umphire and anchor, hope and help, cast and comfort; and —
for all the vast and valid, benefits and blessings, of predestination, par-
ticular election, pecujiar and permanent sealing, immutable justification
and adoption, persevering — though here imperfect — sanctification, with
iibjt-'Clion to 4
10 false priuci-
le; and luiikly
uinislry of tbt'
snrelcbi siiii;u-
nd their cxi)0-
;, by thi.ir free
r, without any
;nt indications
ate denomiua-
-since T wrote
-I do not now
ic baneful nriis-
othar wilfully
Hpartially and
both fruitfully
and great, and
rably read and
n — as ii is for
ilful.or wicked
e the world to
1 the search of
th the art and
1th which the
iwyer the suit
ilent maiden —
rist his daring
Jden treasures.
the spiritually
onsequently, of
essary for the
ough Almighty
I and i>pousal,
f God in Jesus
ve very conge-
erit, of corrupt
I fondness and
i sorry system ;
s their foolish
cedly, outrages
most gracious
jvelation — robs
sible safety and
omfort ; and —
3stination, par-
ble justification
:lification, with
S89
«H thcif unspeakal.le concomitant and consequent prices and prUllerres
prune, and prehbat.ons-and for all these, I repeat, would "hamele?!],
and senselessly, offer to substitute the fe'eble 'J.ndVutile. toi^^^^^^^^^^^^
nnli T^ll""'^^? "'"^ ^"^4"^^' '''^^'^^°" ""d scarecrow, toggel Tnd
Cnn;rle. toller and tong-the Arminian system ; with all its feorfu ar J
fo.«tmg m.sconceptiou and misconstruction, fo. and He ion f?and nnd
nscol; by wh.ch millions of m.s.uided and'mistaken soTarc c pturea
and controlled, doomed nnd damned, for ever! Though I wouklno^
S^Kf co'r"''"t;"''^ '" ^'^''P °"^ "'"^''^ °" ^'-^ pHlow ;?: om.
TnJ nl '""".'■••^^^' Armin.an; yet a good Christian may be plumped
and plagued With a tmgo or touch of this spiritual malady, ad vveTab
other hateful heresies The Lord keep my soul, for ever.^a anif ee
from Its irost and final influence I vcr, lar anu iree,
«nM,'n !'^^'T^" ""'! '^P'-O'^y ^»' Armininnism, that have so lon-r. and m
fluch a lu.h degree brought so many churches, to their prose.u rrinir"
l.de of formalism darkness, and degeneracy; and so far under tToab-
rTo CiS'J;'V''t '1'"- /-?''J-^'^- ^or6 Chathan" "vV have
in AnH^^nnr E'^gland a Popish Liturgy, Calvinistic Articles, and
an Armin.an Ciergy." And the consequonce is notorious, even at this
tune : bee the late account of Mr. Bristed, of the Cler.y of Im hurch
"Thrirr ''""r^'" ?"''■''" '"^^P"'^' ""^ w4s as follows l:
1 ne cold lileless, formal, uncvangeiical preacIiiu'T of the rreat hnrl«
bven the most decent of these clerical formalists, dole out
•.vorid.
1
I
c.,KKnf:^,.i r T . -"»"='^ »^.c.i.jui lurmaiisis, fio c out
Sabbat.ral discourses, dry. methodical, and unaflectinp. with a deliverv
most calmly insipid; so that, if the peaceful pieacher si ould .^rcLce
peep over the pulpit cushion, which alone he seems to address.^ he ^ioht
nous hum of their clerical instructor. A large portion of ihe Er:disli
na lonal clergy do not even affect to preach 1heir own sermons -they
either transcribe those already in public circulation; or, what is verJ
common, use those which are printed, as if they were manuscripts w i h
bvTheTnT^T ^l°"'"g^-^^ «'--"'-^- Such being consuntly on e
dollars a dozen!" "' ' '' '^" '"''^'"*' ^'''^ °^ ^''' '''''' '''^
J'tt- ^"^'1'"*^ the established clergy are, for the most part, trained up
" ' '^n.r^n'v r'^'""'. '" '''' f"\° '"^""^^ as to any Lcu'lar calling^
«..-. generally live as laymen do, hunting, shooting, card-plavinjr ife.
LnTeTVa r;''"H '""'rf- '"'' "'' -"^-ting. as rnr.sters If 'ti.e'cere.
monie., balls and assemblies, oaimg, drinking, cursing, swearing elec.
iZ"TK""y r ^°'^^f ' /•^--••^-.^ to their means, ability, ani fu'cHna.
t.on, being distinguished trom other mere worldlings/only by their
e.xterior apparel, and not always even by that " ^
C^itilf!! Xr'-\7'':"" °" 'u^ ''•"" subject-- The truth is, the
curates as Gml, by the prophet Jeremiah, speaks of,—' They have healed
he wound of the daughter of my people slightly, crying PeacL peace
when there is no peace.' Whenever they /,v. Ln or Lmantr^^^^^^^^^
37
290
Ml
C -1
for sin, O, say thty, that is hut mad melancholy, God is merciful ; you
never did ill lo any body, what needs you be so feared? And bo they
cured up the wound sligiitly. But they forj^fot that God hath more atlri-
buios than one ; they never told that he was juht and holy, and that
without holiness they should never see God ; so, in so dnin^f, tliey did
not di'claro the whole counsel of God ; in this they erred. Let any
man live as lio pleaaeth all hio life, yet for n httle money they would
preacn a funeral sermon to him at his death, as if he had been a aain* :
yea, there arc some that will preach funeral sermons to one, fifty ycara
after they aro dead at.d goiio. In this they err albo : for i>i all tho
Scriptures we never read of a funeral eermon for any of tlie Prophets «r
Apostles; neither was it ever heard tell of, but ao much as since i'upery
and Frclacy came to the land."
About Lutherans, I do not now intend to write but little. Luther
himself, as their fjundcr, I higlily esteem, as a singular and sp 'cinl
instrument in the Lord's hand, in converting and reforming so mimy of
his fellow-mea, from black and blind Popery, to the way of life and
light, safety an 1 salvation, thtough Jesus Christ. The good and gra-
cious and g'."ciit man, needs not my poor coinmendatior ; otherwise most
humbly and heaitily would I contribute my meed and mite of praise, on
this grouud. But both himself and tiiose called after his name, have
fallen on one particular error, which I v,ish briefly to notice, vi;;.
" Consubstantiation." It was, in faci, one of my own boyish notions :
as it is mentioned in the Gosp'l, that our Saviour presented himself
among his disciples, when the doors were shut, for fear of the Jews.
For several years, in my youth, my I'ancy found no difl'iculty in ima-
gining that the Cmnipoteiit Saviour might — body and spirit, as ail ono
to him — enter by open doors and bra-icn walls, the saiue as if he had
no materiality whatever. This is the silly childishness, or rather tho
wilful and vviclced unreasonableness and absurdity, which so far and
fatally obtains in Popery; and so mjch supports or suspends that base-
Isss and backless fabric. "TrauEubstiintialioii." The Lutheran Cimrch
maintains that, after consccratiun, the body and blood of oui Saviour
are present, together with tlse substance of ihe bread and wine; which
is called consubstantiation or impanation. But Christ's body sustained
its essential corporeity or solidity after his rcourrection, according to hia
own declaration : "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself;
handle me, and see ; for v. spirit lialli not ficsh and bones, as ye see mo
have." Now, according to the doctrine of i.npanaiion, us well as tran-
substantiation, our Saviour must liave no flesh «r boueh; or any other
bodily identity, that can affect cur senses ; because, we apprehend him
by none of them in the Eucharist ; and yet he must have a body of both
real flesh and blood; because the words "thi:; is my body, and this is
my blood," must not be understood in a figurative, but a literal sense or
meaning! On this strangely absurd and abominable supposition, Christ
has, or has not, a body — his body is alive and dead at the s?me time —
it is, at once, and at ail times^ both in heaven and en -earth — it is whole
and entire in one place, and the same in a million of different places at
merciful ; you
And BO they
atli more attri-
holy, and that
nin^, they did
red. Let nny
ey they would
been a siiin* :
mo, fifiy ycara
for ia all tho
lie Prophets sr
3 sinco i'opery
little. Luther
ar and sp xinl
ncf so mi'.iiv of
ly of life and
good and gra-
Dtiierwiso juost
2 of praise, on
Is ntiine, have
lo notice, vi;;.
5yish notior.s :
sented himself
of tlie Jews.
Ticuliy in ima-
irit, as ail ono
3 as if lie had
or rather tho
ich so far and
nds that bnse-
liieran Church
(f out Saviour
1 wine; which
body sustained
icordinfj to hia
it is 1 myself;
, as ye see me
,3 well as tran-
; or nny other
ipprehend him
a body of both
dy, and this is
iteral sense or
position, Christ
1 srme time —
h — it is whole
erent places at
»1
Iho san.e instant of tin.«— a part of Christ's body in equal to ihn wh«ie,
contrary to a mathpuiatici.' axiom, or a self-evident proposition ! On
this Popish and Lutheran ground, the Indian Joa IJurna's miracles aro
to us, ot as much enortjy and evidence, validity and verity, as all the
miracles of the Bible ! For in the absence, or abusa of our sunses, wha» iM
the use or i.tis, shield or service, of all the external wonders ever wrought
in the wovld, for the conlirmation of truth and 'rinity, and tho confu't.'>.
tion of tricks and treachery ! — Janues and Jambres ar<j equal to Moso>
nnd iMe diach— Elymas to Klias—Demons to Daniel— sons of Sceva to
St. Paul— St. Pope to St. Peter— and Jupiter to Jesus Christ ! Finite
ubiquity — inlinitc linitude— substance without accidents, and i.ccidents
withoii: substance ! Fine philosophy, indeed ! \\l sacred and saviui;
doctrine, indeed, for fanatics and favorites, fr -• lungiaes and lunatics!
But not for men of eafo and sound risk and son. In secular and
civil concerns, of any vast or valid interest, r.> could not allow therr-
■clvcs to be thus doted and duped, under the fatal force and farce, of mere
imposition, and implicit ccnfidencc. No parent of any sense and science,
could permit his boy at achooi, to be tau .. the following? sipns:—
5X5^^5. 20— ir>=iJO. 10-r-2=^i0. 2:f5.r<l=-2. 100+50+00X80=0.
0+G+CX 0=100,001'). ^:,c. fcc. And yet the bloated and blas])hen]0U3
absurdity of impanalicn and iransubstr.ntiation, is equally yross and ^lar-
in;!T^ to every intelligent and unprejudiced mind in the world, I swallow
a whole man at a sup, once a month, or a twuivemonth, without any
cxten!=ion, or expansion, of my cheeks or jaws, leg? or lungs, windpipe
or verier; and yet tho said man, at tho time of eating him, is ab far
locally diptant from nic, as heaven is from earth ! For the heaven must
renci>e, or retain, Clirist's humanity, till the ti-ne of restitution— or final
regulation- of nl! things. Acts iii. 21. A real wafer is a red man ; nay.
more, a real Cod ! O, my friend ! you do not but little know the divine
power and pull, prevalen -c and prickpunch of a drossy or drunken
priest, or a dreaming and drawling prelate, humming and mumming
some commonplace and composed vocables of copsecration, over a bit
of paste, and a good bumper of wine ! Yes ! Tdy stars I His mummery
surpasses Omnipotence itself; which can ncvf '• produce any abriuruities
or inconnii-tencies I But fond and fanatic religion can swallow and
sanction, that v.'r.illc is ficslijthat burgundy is blood, and that gross con
fusion ia good conscience! If any man in Jiatural transactions should
tallv or teach according to the mood or niaJness of the people under
rcviovy, he would be immediately set under some eflectua! arrest or
restraint ; for none would tiust their life or limbs to his wild catch and
control. But till the Lord see meet, in h.s sovereign will and wisdom,
to correct the wilfulness and vagary of the fatuous vFctims of these extra-
ordinary heresies, no moJo or match of reasoning in the world, will be
able to convince thiui. And in general, it would be on'y wasting argu-
ment, once to face them on the subject.
As to the •' Fathers," I do not pretend to be very conversant with their
writing; nor is there but little need here of their assistance. I would
2d3
remark, with a recent good author— "That it were easy to adduce impr^
t/idence, from the most ancient and respectable of ihem, in support of
Presbytery. Many of tb Fathers, however, it must be remembered;
were weak and credulous men, who wrote in a very loose and inaccurate
manner ; and hence iheir authority upon such topics as that in hand ia
of comparatively small value. A peculiar infelicity in appealing to them
IS, that there is no difficulty in quoting father against father ; 'yea, one
part of the writings of the same father against another; while there is
scarcely any opinion or practice so absurd, but its advocates may find
ample support from the Fathers."
On the subject of Baptists— as Antipoedobaptists are commonly called
- 1 do not now incline to say but little. I sincerely respect not a few
of them; and believe too that the generality of them think, in sincerity,
that they possess themselves a degr'^e of scriptural knowledf^e and dis-
cernment, so far superior to their opponents on the point of Baptism,
And though J do not judge this ground of dispute anywise essentially
comparable to the other principal distinctions treated in this reply; yel
I verily believe that the majority, even of the leaders of the party under
remark— not to name the bulk of their followers— have certainly, in this
debate, come far too cheap by their conclusions in their opposition to
infant baptism. I do nut begin a dispute now upon this stage. But
I have not seldom felt deeply offended at the religious selfishness
and shamelessness of Baptists, both in Scotland, and this country. They
are ordinarily under the present genera! curse of formalism and frivolity
in their devotion with most other denominations. And by their untender
and indelicate manner in this Island of immersing their members, they
have disgusted many, who have otherwise been not unfriendly to them.
Iheir minister will lead his female subject to immersion out in her bare
smock or shift, in the very face of a cluster of male, and mocking spec-
tators ; without the sign of a blush upon the brow of either him or her
And the obvious reason is, that they arc both blunt and blind under the
talse and fanciful names of faith and fortitude, duty and devotion.— Is
It not very disagreeable, in the view of sober and judicious men, to seo
these immersed people, after all their silly pretence to conversion, noisy
distinction, and superior sanctity, prove, at least, for the most part, to be
evidently distinguished by their selfish foolishness and fanaticism, as
much as by their re-baptism. What can you think of the pitch of enthu-
siasm or wild fancy to which some, even of their Ministers, have arrived,
when I can positively tell you that one of their most prominent number^
in this country, wrote, not long since, in his correspondence with my-
self, in the following strain :— "I may truly say, I experienced, accord-
ing to St. Paul, that whether I was in the body, or out of the body I
cannot tell— God knoweth. 2 Corinth, chap. 13. I have no dependence
on books, according to the general manner of the world— I have no
library but my Bible and Concordance." &,c. &c. Others of them, are
as far on the other extreme ; taken up with mere talk iuid toll, tag' and
toil, about the mere literal shell of edification and devotion ; regardless
adduce impfd
, in support of
remembered;
md inaccurate)
lat in hand, is
ealingtothem
her ; yea, one
while there ia
■ates may find
nmonly called
ect not a few
:, in sincerity,
ed'Tc and dis*
: of Baptism,
ise essentially
his reply ; yel
e party under
tainly, in this
opposition to
> stage. But
is selfishnesa
•untry. They
I and frivolity
heir untender
lembers, they
ndly to them.
Jt in her bare
locking spec-
r him or her.
nd under the
Jevotion.— Is
i men, to see
ersion, noisy
>st part, to be
inaticism, as
tch of enthu-
have arrived,
lent number,
ice with my-
iced, accord-
' the body, I
) dependetice
i — I have no
of them, are
toll, tag and
; regardless
2»8
of anrreal change of disposition and principles. They are immersed of
baptised-they are now in the true church— the Baptists'-t.-ey left the
hetthen world behind them— they were once, forsooth, as bad and un-
concerned as any of their heathen neighbors-they were among the
loolish people who baptized, not only senseless infants, who could have
no faith; bu* also unconverted adults, when at anytime within their
contact! /liey can now bless Heaven for their great chanrro, and
their hopeful and happy association ! = a >
Let none think these remarks anywise invidious, unfounded, or extra-
vagant; tor I have full and founded scope for this my oloomy and
grievous animadversion.
It is remarkable, however, that some nimble and noted, and even
learned and laborious men, arc found both verv frivolous and fanciful
in tlieir religious views and feelings : I might h^re instance the famous
Ui. Clarke : who, in his account of his own experience, tells the world
that he saw Christ visibly, calling him (the Doctor) to draw near to
himself, (the Saviour.) What a dangerous and strange notion, in such
a great scholar, and generous man, as this famous author! No wonder
the fcohsh ai..i vulgar are so often and effectually mistaken, in their
religious notions.
I subjoin some extracts from the evangelical "Gospel Sonnets" of the
just y-famed Rev. Ralph Erskine; which I hope vou will find agreeable
to the subject of our correspondence.
«' Tliough liaiighfy Deisls hardly stoop to say,
That natm-e's night has need of Scripturo day ;
Yet gospel-light alone will clearly rihew
llow ov'ry feoiitcnco hero is just and true,
Expel tlii) shades that may the mind involve,
Andsoon the seeming contradiction solve.
All fatal errors in the world proceed
From want of skill such mysteries to rend.
Vain men the double branch of truth divide,
Hold hy the one, and slight the other side.
Hence proud Arminians cannot reconcile
Freedom of graco with freedom of the will.
The blinded Papist won't discern nor SCO
How works are good, unless ibo.y justify.
Thus Legalists distinguish not the odds
Uetwceu their home-bred righteousness and God'i.
Antinomists the saints' perfection plead,
Nor duly sever 'tween tiicm and their head.
Socinians won't those seeming odds agree,
How heaven is bought, and yet salvation free.
Bold Arians iiate to reconcile or scan,
How Chrjt,t is truly God and truly man :
Holding the one part of Immanuel's name,
The fther part outrageously blaspheme.
The sound in faith no part of truth control ,
Heref.rs own the half, but not the whole.''
294
The Bdicver's perfect beauty, free aeeeptance, and full security, through tha imputa-
tion, of Christ's perfect righteousness, though impurted grace be imperfect.
ti
4
'«0 hapjiy soul, Jciiovnh's briilc,
Tlie Lamb's IkjIovcJ blouse ;
lilroij;; fonsojl.-iiiun'^ flowing tido,
Tliv IliisbatuJ thee nllov/s.
In tlicc, tliouirh like thy futlicr's race,
^ IW nature lila^k a.--, hell,
Yet now, so hcautii'y'd by fiaco,
^ Tliy Kusb;,;,.J joves to chveU.
Fair a.; tljo moon t!iy robes appear,
V/liilo ("races arc in drnss;
Clfar as lim Pun, wliilo found to wear
Tiiy llu.-;b;jnc:'3 ri^i-ijliiouhncsJS.
! graces, ciianging much,
Tiiy n;oGi!-!l„
Ilavo lnr,! ai;d iberc a rpot ;
Tiiy H!i:i-ii;>c glory is not sucii,
T!iy Husband cl;angcs not.
Thy wbilo and ruddy vesture fair
Outvie:; tile rotsy leaf;
For 'inon;r I'ju tliousand b(-auties rare
Tliy Husl;aud is iiie cliiof.
Clotli'd vvilii the sun, tliy robes of light
Tlic njorning rays outs!iine;
The iaiii;j3 of iieav'n are noj; so briglit,
Thy Husband decks ti'co fine.
Tiiou'ni hciiisiisnioke tiiy duties stain,
And sin deform t!ieo quilo;
Thv ouroty'i merit miik<;s tbco clean,
Tiiy Husband's beauty vviiito.
Thy pray 'rs and tears, nor pure nor good,
iiu'i. vile and IcKiti-sonie scorn ;
Yet gain, by dipping in his blood,
T/iy Husbau'l'y ]ii<;"!i esteem.
Xo fear thou starve, iho' v.ants be great,
In him thou art complete :
Thy hungry s^nil may liopbfiil wait,
Thy Musbaiid gives tlieo meat.
Tiiy money, merit, pow'r and pelf
Were squander'd by thy fall;
Yet, having nothing in thyself,
Thy Miisband is thy all.
Law-preeep!s, threats, may both beset
To crave of thee fhcir duo ,:
But jusli(e for lh\ double debt
Thy Husband • .d pursue.
Ihoiigii justice stern as much belong
As mercy to a God ;
Yet juslice suflered here no wrong,
Tiiy Husband'e back was broad.
He bore the load of wrath alone,
That mercy might tak(3 vent;
Heav'n's pointed arrows all upon
^ Thy Husband's heart were spent.
Ko partial pay conk! justice siill,
IS'o farthing w"s rotrench'd ;
Vengeance ciactcd all, until
Thy Hus'iand all advnnc'd.
He paid, in liquid golden red,
Jlach mite the law requir'd,
Till, vviih a loud 'Tis finished,
^ Thy liusband's breath expir'd.
I^'o process more the law can tent;
lliou st..nd'st with its verge.
And may'st with pleasufe now present
I'iiy ljuf,band's full discharge.
Though new contracted guilt beget
Pmcw fear-'i of divine ire ;
Yet fear thou not, tho' drown'dindebt,
Thy Husband is the prayer.
Cod might in rigor thee indite
Of iiighest crimes and flaws ;
Dut on thy head no curse can light —
Tiiy Husband is tho cause."
Comfort to Duicvcrs from the stahility of the promise, notwithstanding htavy
chastisements for sin.
'•Tn!:c well hown'cr Irind Wisdom may
Dispose thy jirescnt lot ;
Tho' hcav'n and earth s'lould pass away,
Ti:y liusband's love will not.
A!! needful help ho will afford.
Thou hast his vo.v and oalii ;
And once to violate his \'.uYi.\
Thy Hu£'.-:!id v/iil be lolli.
To uie and floods wiui thco he'll down,
His promise tiiis iiisnrcs,
^ViJ0be cretiit cannct burn nor drown :
Thy Husband's irutii endures.
Dost tiiou 1:0 more his word bciicve,
As mortal mail's, forsc-uh .'
O do not thus his trpirit rrirvo,
Thy Hu.sband is th«lVufh.
Tiio' iboti both wicked art nnd weak,
His word he'll never rue;
Though hcav'n and earth sliould bend
;ind break,
^ Thy Husiband will bo true.
I'll never leave thee, is his vow;
H' Truth has said the word.
While Truth is trutli, this word is true,
Tliy //usband is the Lord.
Thy covenant of duties may
Trove daily most unsuro :
ills covenant of grace for aye
Thy Husband does secure.
Dost liiou to him thy promise break,
_ And f- nr he bre.ik to thco r
Nay, not thy thousand crimes can mnli'>
Thy Huoband once to lie.
1
S93
gh tha imputa-
imperfect.
'r and pelf
:liyfiill;
thyself,
ill.
fiay both beset
; duo ,:
le debt
suo.
much belong
I no wrong,
was broad,
til ulons,
:o vent;
5 ail upon
were spent,
tice siill,
neii'd ;
until
mc'd.
n red,
[uir'd,
lisbed,
1 cxpir'd.
■ can tent;
verge,
e now present
scliarge.
guilt be{^^et
e;
:)wndindebt,
raver,
indite
flaws ;
J can light —
:iut;c."
inding htavy
irt and weak,
uc;
I siiould bend
true.
lis vow;
void,
i word is true,
ard.
lay
•0 :
' aye
uro.
miso break,
iiCC .''
noscnn mnlm
he.
Ha visit will thy sins with itrokos,
And lift his heavy hand ;
But never once Lis word revolcca,
Thy Husband's truth will stand.
Then dream not he is changed in love,
\Vhen thou art changed in frame ;
Thou mayst by tr.rns unnumbered move,
Thy Husband's aye t'lo same.
H« for thy f(illics may tliec bind
With cords of great distress ;
To mako thee moan tiiy sins, and mind
Thy Husband's holiness.
By wounds he ma/vcs theo seek his cure,
By frowns ins favor prize ;
By falls adVightin^j, stand more sure,
Thy Husband is so wise.
Proud Peter in the dirt of vica
Fell down exceeding low ;
His tov/'ring pride, by tumbling thrice,
Thy Husband cured so.
Before he si'lTir prido (hat swells,
He'll drag thue through the mire
Ofsins, temptations, liitie hclla;
"i'hy Husband saves by f re.
He iu aflliction's mortar may
Squee/ie oui old Adam's juice,
Till thou return to him, and say,
Thy iiusband is thy choice.
Fierce billows may tiiy vessel toss,
And cross..j curses seem ;
But that the curse lias iled tlie cross,
Thy Husband bids tiieo deem.
Conclude not he in v/rat!i disowns,
When iroubin theo surrounds;
Tiicse arc his fivorablo frowns,
Thy Husband's healing wounds.
Yea, when he gives tliu deepest lasli,
Love leads the wounding hand ;
Hh stroke, when sin lias get a dash,
Thy Husband will reman. i"
THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE.
[Copious and correspondent texts of Scriptures are annexed to tho "Kiddle " but
are iicro omitted for brevity's sake.] '
The mystery of the Believer's pardon and security from revenging xorath, notwith-
standing his sins' desert.
I, though from condemnation free,
Find such condemnables in me,
Ad make more heavy wrath my due
Than falh on all tho damned crew.
But though my crimes deserve the pit,
I'm no more liable to it:
Remission seal'd with blood and death,
Secures me from deserved wrath.
And having now a pardon free,
To hell olinoxious cannot be,
ISor to a threat, except anent
Paternal wrath and chasflsoment.
My soul may oft bo fiil'd indeed
With slavish fear and hellish dread.
This from ray unbelief does spring,
My fuitii speaks out some better thing.
Faitli sees no b'gal guilt again,
Though sin and its desert remain :
Some liidden vv iders hence result;
I'm i'ull of .sin, yet free of guilt.
Guilt ix tho legal bond or knot,
Tiiat binds to v.rnth and vengeance hot;
But sin may be wliere giiiU's away,
And guilt where sin can never stay.
Guilt without any sin hiis been,
As in my surely "may bo seen ;
Tho elect's guilt upon him came.
Yet still lie Wii3 tho holy Lamb.
Sin witliout guilt may likewifco be,
As may appear in pardon'd me :
For fhougli my sin, alas ! docs stay,
Yet pardon takes the guilt away :
Thus free I am, yet still involv'd;
A guilty siun r, yet absolv'd :
Though pardon leaves no guilt behind,
Yet sin's desert remains, 1 find.
Guilt and demerit differ lioro,
Tho' oft their names confounded are,
I'm guilty in myself alway.'j,
Since sin's demerit ever stays.
Yet in my Head I'm always free
From proper guilt affecting mo ;
Because my Surety's blood cancell'd
The bond of curses once mn Jield.
The guilt that pardon'd did divorce,
From legal threat'ning.s drew its force :
But sin's desert that lodges still,
Is drawn iiom sin's intrinsic ill.
Were guilt naught (ise but sin's dc=ert.
Of pardon I'd renounce my part -.
For were I now in heav'u to dwell,
I'd own my sins deserved hell.
This does my highest wonder move
At matchless justifying love.
That thus .■secures from endless death
A v.Totch deserving double wrath.
Tlio'.igh well my black dejcrt I know,
Yet T'ln not liable to wo ;
V> i' '. full and oompleto righteousness
InipiUed for my frecdona 'u.
Hence my security from wrath
As fumly stands as Josua' death,
As docs my title unto heaven
Upon his great obedience given
I 1 ^ '
It 'l':
t96
Th«* wntcnf H«aT'n did full pronounco,
Has pardoned all my sins at once :
And ev'n from future crimes acquit,
Before I could the facts commit.
I'm always in a pardoned state
Boforo and after sin ; but yet,
Tliat vainly I presume not hence,
I'm seldom pardon'd to my senso.
6in brings s Tengeemeft on mj titnd,
Tho' from avenginjj wrath I'm frood.
And thougii my sins all pardon'd be,
Their pardon's not applied to mo.
Thui though I need no pardon moro«
1: et need now pardon's every houri
In point of application free ;
Lord, waBh incw, and pardon mo.
The difference hclieeen Jwlifieaiion and Sanctification ; or rirrhtcousncss imputed
and gract imparted; in upicmrds of thirlij particulars.
u
Kind Jesus spent his life to spin
My robe of pcrlect righteousness ;
But by his hipiiil'a work within
He forms my gracious holy dress.
He as a Priest me justifies,
His blood dots roaring conscience still;
But as a K.inj he sanctifies,
And subjugates my stubborn will.
He, ju.slifyuig by his merit,
Imputes to me his rightcouc.icss ;
But, siinclifying by his Spirit,
Infuses in mo saving grace.
My ju^^tifyiIlg righteousness
Can merit by condignity ;
But nothing with mv strongest grace
Can be deserved by naughty nio.
This justifying favour sets
The guilt ol"ull my sin remote j
But sanctifying grar,e deletes
The fillb' and blackness of its blot.
By virtue of this righteousness,
Sin can't condemn nor justly brand :
By virtue of infu.sed grace,
Anon it ceases to command.
The rigbteousness which I enjoy.
Sin's damiiing power will wholly stay;
And grace imparled will destroy
Its ruling domineering sway.
The former is my Judge's act
Of condonation full and free;
The latter his rominenccd fact,
And gradual worj; advanc'd in me.
The former's iiistantaneou.'".
The niomcrit that I first believe :
The latti!.' is, as Heaven allows,
I'rogrpssivo wlule on eartli I live.
The fiist will peace to conscience give,
Tlio last the filthy heart will cleanse ;
The first effects a relative.
The last a real inward change.
The former pardons every sin,
And counts mo righteous, free and just:
The latter quickens grace within,
And mortifies my sin and lust.
Imputed grace entitles mo
Unto eternal happiness ;
Imparted grace will qualify
That heavenly kingdom to possess.
My rightcouGncss is infinite,
Both subjectively and in kind ;
My holiness most incomplete,
And daily wavers like the wind.
So lasting is my outer dress.
It never wears nor wa.xes old;
My inner garb of grace decays
And fades if Heaven do not uphold
My righteousness and pardon la
At once both perfect and complete;
But sanctity admits degrees,
Docs vary, fluctuate, and fleet.
Hence fix'd my righteousness divine
No real change can undergo ;
But ail my graces wax and wane.
By various turnings ebb and flow.
I'm by tlio first as righteous now
As e'er hereafter I can be :
The last will to perfection a;row.
Heaven only is tho full degree.
The first is equal, wholly given.
And still the same in every saint :
The last, unequal and uneven.
Whilst soma enjoy what others want.
My righteousness divine is fresh,
Far ever pure and iieavonly both;
My sanctity is partly flesh.
Anil justly termed a monstrous clotli.
My rigbteousness I magnify,
'Tis my triumphant, lofty flag;
But poised with this, my sanctity
Is nothing but a filthy rag.
I glory in my righteousness,
And loud extol it with my tongue;
But all my grace, compared with this,
I under-rate as loss mid dung.
By justifying grace, I'm apt
Of diuiiio favor free to boast ;
By holiness I'm partly shap'd
Into his image I had lost.
The first to divine justice pays
A rent to still tho furious storm ;
The last to div.ne iioliness
Instructs me duly to conform.
The first does quench the fiery law.
Its rigid covenant fully stay ;
Tho last, its rule embroidered draw.
To deck my heart, and gild my wiiy.
jn my h*«d,
th I'm frood.
pardon'd bo,
,ed to mo.
pardon mora«
every hour,
ree ;
lardon mo.
sncsa imputed
iito,
in kind ;
[)lete,
llie wind.
ess,
xos old ;
ccays
not uphold,
rdon ia
nd completo ;
3es,
nd fleet,
^ness diviiio
idcrgo ;
nd wane,
)b and flow,
ous now
1 be :
on a;row,
II degree.
y given,
every saint :
neven,
lat others want.
; is f'resli,
ivonly both;
sh,
lonstrous cloth.
nify,
oAy flag ;
y sanctity
■ rag.
ne«s,
h my tongue ;
ired with this,
nd dung.
I apt
o boast ;
siiap'd
lost.
CO pays
ious ytorm .:
less
conform.
he fiery law,
ly stay ;
)idered draw,
id gild my wiy
297
The subject of my righteousness
Is Christ himself, my glorious Head ,
13ul I the subject am of grace,
As he supplies my daily need.
The matter of the former, too,
Is only Christ's obedience dear;
But, lo, his hclpir.g mo to do
Is all the work and matter hero.
I on my righteousness rely
For lleav'n's acceptance free, and vvin;
But in this matter must deny
My grace, cv'n ns I do my sin.
Tiiough all my graces precious aio,
^ Yea, porrjct also in d'jsire ;
They cannot stand before the bar
Where awful justice is umpire :
But, in the robe that Christ did spin,
They are of great and high request;
They have acceptance, wrapt within
My elder brother's bloody vest.
My righteousness proclaims me great
And fair, cv'n in the sif.hi of God;
But synctif;-'3 my main od'-set
Before the gazing world abroad.
More juslify'd I cannot be
By nil my most raligious acts;
But the.«o increase my san- tity
That's still attended witli defects.
My rigliteou.sness the safes! ark
'Midst cv'ry threat'ning flood will bo;
My graces but a leaking bark
Upon a raging, stormy sea.
I sec, in justifying grace,
God's love to me does ardent burn;
But, by impacted holincs' ,
I, grateful, love for love return.
My righteougn^jsg is that which drawi
My thankful heart to this respect;
The former, then, is iirst the cause,
^ Tho latter is the sweet effect.
Christ is in justifying mc,
By name, The Lord my righteousness;
But, as he comes to sanctify,
The Lord my strength and help he is.
In that I have tl e patient's place,
For there, Jehovih's act is all ;
But in the other I'm through grace,
An agent working at his call.
The first does slavish fear forbid.
For 'hore his wrath revenging ends
The last commands my filial dread,
For hero parental iro attends.
The former does annul my wo.
By God's judicial sentence pass'd ;
The latter riakes my graces grow
Faith, love, repentance, and tho rest.
The first does divine pard'ning love
Alost freely manifest to ine ;
The last makes shining grnces prove
Mine int'rcst in the pardon free.
My soul in justifying grace
Does full and free acceptance gain ;
In sanctity I hecvenvvard press,
By sweet assistance i obtain.
Tho first declares I'm free of debt,
And nothing left for me to pay ;
Tho last makes mo a debtor yet
But helps to pay it ev'ry dav.
My rightcousness.with wounds" «fe blood,
Discharg'dboth lawand justice' score;
Hence with the debt of gratitude
I'll charge myself for evermore.
I am tedious, to excess, both in my prose and verse. But I could not
give you my views and feelings on this case; anywise bettei- than by
supporting them in the Extracts of the Poem, of the very orthodox
experimental, and happy author j whose works, and particularly this un^r
review, I most heartily admire and esteem, on the serious subjects of
Justification and Sanctification ; on which most heretics break their
necks ; and especially those, more immediately under consideration in
our present correspondence. *
J shall conclude my whole subject, both of my communication with
you, and of my other correspondents, on our religious ground in the
following words of the notable Dr. Young ; and vvith a text or' two of
sacred scriptures :
" Shall all hut man look out with ardent eye,
For that great day which was ordained for man .■>
Great day of dread, decision and despair,
At thought of thee, each svddunary wi«h
Lets go its eager grasp, drops the world.
And catches at each reed of' hope in heaven,
38
I!'
M. .
,1
298
Al thouglil of Ihee ! and art thou nbsont then *
Ah ! no, I eeo, I feel it :
I BOO the judge enthron'd, the flaming guard,
The Tolumo ope..v;d, opened every heart,
A sunbeam poirjting out each secret thoug!it;
No patron, intercessor none, now past,
The sweet, the clement, the mediatorial hour :
For guilt no plea, to pi in no pause, no bound,
Inoxorablo nil, nnc all extremo \"—J\'ight Thovtrkti. '
"For \VQ must all appeai before the judgment-seat of Christ ; that
every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that ho
hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of
the Lord, we persuade men ; * * * * For the love of Christ constraineth
us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead :
And that ha died for all, that they which live should not henceforth livo
unto themselves, but u?no him which died for them, and rose again." —
2 Corinth, v. ^
I am, dear Sir, your ever loving friend, M. L.
Ji
ff«t
Mstract of a lata corrtspondenee^ bttiotcn a man in Old Edinhurgh, mnd his friend
m Cape Breton ; the authenticity ofnhich will be hardly suspected, by any judicious
readers ; since the suhjicfs handled, carry along loith them, too strtng faculties
and features, to be once mistaken for falsehood or fiction ; and which are tktrefore
left n0io to the candid consideration of the public, without any furthtr remark hii
the author.
Edinburgh, 25th Septetriber, 1842.
Dear Sir, — Having, since you left this country, heard several opposite
accounts of the inducements and motives of your emigration; especially
•n the score of the Clergy; and nore particularly in consequence of the
treatment of the Rev. Dr. R. towards you, I should feel very anxious to
hear from yourself some detail on the subject. Som3 people say that it
was your own imprudence, or rather your obstinacy and false zeal, that
provoked the Doctor to his rigorous dealings with you; others, that it
wtfs his own pride and ecclesiasticlordliness ; and a third sort maintain
that the frown of Providence has manifestly overtaken him, in his des-
perate and shaneful bankruptcy, and melancholy dumbness and discredit,
if not disgrace, as so many symptoms of divine retaliation, for his per-
secution of you, as a remarkable species of hi? misconduct: of which
disasters, on his part, not a few of your old acquaiiitances assert that
you had, in some degree, predicted, some time before you left this king-
dom. I know, however, that there vere dilTerent steps of his treatment
to you and others, so very singular that the faithful record of them could
not fail of proving useful for the edification and admonition of any impar-
tial and unprejudiced minds. Wo''!d you therefore feel disposed, at your
convenience, to give me a sketch of them, under your own hand, in a
brief and plain manner ; not only for my own private perusal ; but with
permission to communicate the same with ail my familiar friends here-
aUuuijr, »niu afc au.viOus uii iiic stiujcvii, ii v. yulCI uutiut;isiiL;nuuiy uuiigu.
Yours, &c. M. M. L.
299
Christ; that
ig to that ho
the terror of
constraineth
;re al] dead :
iceforth livo
ie again." —
M. L.
md ins friend
any judicious
'ang faculties
I are thtrefore
i«r remark by
>er, 1842.
?ral opposite
i; especially
lence of the
y anxious to
e say that it
16 zeal, that
hers, that it
)rt maintain
, in his des-
id discredit,
for his per-
. ; of which
assert, that
fl this king-
is treatment
them could
f any impar-
tsed, at your
hand, in a
I ; but with
riends here-
uuiy uuiigu,
1. M. L.
Cape Breton, 25th December, 1842.
1>EAR Sir, — In answer to yours of 25th September, your request, tho'
Veasonable, devolves on me a very delicate duty. There were, no doubt,
some very singular circumstances both introductory and inducive tp my
removal from my native country ; and closely connected with the subject
of your particular notice, in reference to Dr. R. ; in whose Parish 1
resided for the last two years of my continuance in that kingdom. But
some of your friends there would, I am fully sure, be very apt toslumbi*
at the rehearsal of not a few of the incidents involved ir: the correspond-
ence and transaction, which subsisted between the Doctor and me, during
my residence within the line and limits of his ecclesiastical authority,
and intended religious command over both my conduct and conscienc*;
80 that I found it impossible for myself to live within the circle of his
eway, but either under his control or hisconteck ; and at variance with
him, or with heaven. All concerned could agree that his pride and
passions, wrath and wrangling, were exorbitant ; almost to a proverb ;
and the evident means and measures of his subsequent wretchedness
and ruin. IJe wofully abused his shining talents, and fondly and foolishly
dreamed to carry before him every possible opposition, whether political
or ecclesiastical. He could fleetly and fluently preach filter and philo-
sophy, aster and astronomy, chimera and chemistry, to the wonder and
wantonness of the vaporish and vulgar ; and even simple saints -while
Btrangers to his misroute and misrule would think him a terrestrial
nngel.^ As for example, in explaining the text, " Ye are the salt of the
earth;" the learned Doctor tells his audience that the substance salt
may, by certain artificial operaiion, be extracted, from their common
hedges and heath, earth and herbs, rocks and rutil, sea and sorrel ; and,
in short, from almost every thing in the world. Again—" Ye are the
light of ihe world," is a passage as pregnant and prolific as the former ;
tor all the planetary system is at once in blaze, as liie scene and stage of
action— Hercules and Herschel, Neptune and Newton, Poles and Poly-
scopes, are all in motion— the sun is the great and grand, vast and vivid,
free and fixed, source and substance of all light and lumination— the
poor and pale and paintod moon, and her train of void and vagrant jisters,
with the whole stationary dependents of the spheres, enjoy°all but bor-
rowed garbs, as the full and fair bounty of the solar munificencp and
the royal gift of the king of day ! Don't think that I am wild— t need
no hyperboles here— for the eloquent preacher, for a time, fully absorbed
all the powers and passions of the souls of his untutored parishioners, on
this ground. He fed their fond fancies by his scholastic harangues
devoid of real gospel life or light. The name of a sinner, or a Saviour,
would rarely occupy a place in his philosophical discourses; and that
rarity without any serious and sound application. The result was cor-
respondent : no improvement of heart or hand, principles or practice,
• oilowed, on either his, or their part; though for the first period of his
Hiiiiisiry, you migiit potiiiiveiy, as well object to the message of <i;ibriel
\\'(
i'-l
1
i
u
■
300
to the Vircrin Mary, m> to start a vocable against the efficiency of this
sublime evangelist, to his absorbed and astonished adherents. For they
certainly behevcd, that there has not been a gospel messenger on earth
since the Apostles' days, if they had not one in the person of their own
wonderful Minister: Although, at the same time, he most eflecLually
tuned and tantilized, strangled and starved, their very souls to dire and
desperate dearth and death I His law-suits were endless, while he sus-
tamed any cr2dii— he had once five of them in action at the same period.
Une of the.n onginaied in a dispute about a crooked crabbed pine tree
not worth a dollar ; by which he is said to have lost the sum of £\iOo'.
Another prosecution commenced in a debate about a very avoidable
by-iodd, on which, by his mere passion and pride, he was stimulated to
transgress ; in consequence of which he is reported to have lost several
tolds the first amount. A third action was with the master of a vessel,
with a cargo of salt to him ; but who having been detained by contrary
Wind3, could not arrive at the very expected time : but " winds and
weather" being, according to the ordinary terms of seamen, included iu
the conditions, the Doctor lost iiis plea ; and so his plea and purse, at
a lopa and loi.g run and rate. He most disgracefully and unfortunately
engaged in a fourth process with his mother-in-law, commenced on the
ground of some silver spoons, after the death of her husband, and the
two successive heirs of his estate; which ended in the ruin of them both.
1 his was the result of his matrimonial connection with this once opulent
lamily ; whose property, at the time of his marriage with th'i only dau^rh- •
ter against the will and consent of her parents, amounted to ==4'G0,OOO,
in bank or bullio' ; besides cattle, and an estate of nearly ^2000 rental.
In consequence of which the land property becan.e alienated L^eyond
redennption. But without further enumeration of his other "le^al pro-
secutions, which hardly left h\j composition a shilling in the pound— he
artfully aimed one petty shot against my poor self; which, though no
great thing, he likewise lost. The case was briefly as follows :~I enter-
ed his parish as a schoolmaster, under the patronage of the Society in
il-dinljurgh, for propnguting Christian knowledge— and, with hi.s own
approbation, opened a school, at a cert^iin village, about nii'.e miles fron
his residence ; where J taught for a twelvemonth : and read to the villa-
gers, with general remarks on the scriptures selected, or some e.vhorta-
tion, on the Sabbath, in the absence of the Doctor: For his Reverence
preached in our village but i ery seldom. But because I showed no great
regard lor his piety or preuching— since I fully believed he had no reali-
ty in the former, and that the latter was of no benefit to my soul -he
soon began to manifest his sore displeasure, the natural fruit of pride
and spiritual ignorance, in all such circumstances. With other sin-^u-
Jar instances ot his heat and haughtiness, he once in the middle of his
sermon, at our said village; and in the height of his passion, command-
ed all present, who favored or fostered me or my religious service, to
Jeave his meeting and ministration at once, in the very name of Satan,
in Its wildest designation! which made some of the audience sham and
Shake ; and others sham and shift. After that he enjoined my employ-
w
:Iency of this
it3. For they
iger on earthy
of their own
•St eflec^ially
Is to dire and
while lie sus-
same period.
L»ed pine tree,
urn of c£300.
ery avoidable
stimulated to
e lost several
sr of a vessel,
1 by contrary
" winds and
, included iu
and purse, at
jnfortunately
need on the
and, and the
)f tliein both,
once opulent
I only (Jau2;h- •
to ^'00,000,
'2000 rental,
lated L«eyond
er legal pro-
3 pound — he
, though no
s : — I enter-
e Society in
iih hi.s own
B miles fron
to the villa-
ime e.\horta-
i Reverence
/ed no great
ad no reali-
y soul -he
lit of pride
jlher siuicu-
iddle of his
, command-
service, to
le of Satan,
e sham and
my empioy-
301
era to withdraw their children from my teaching on pain of his displeas-
ure; pr to support me, at the forfeit of their church privileges, in case
of my disobedience ; as he termed my non-attendance on hTs ministry
according to the ordinary phrase, in such circumstances. But my very
kmd neighbors and supporters' unanimous non-compliance-except his
nv!! .? t!L' ' ° ^^'^'^^'•^v^ his son, " black Jilneas," the very toughest
tvvig that has ever graced my drill, as no favorable index of the father's
.nTlu T^"""''"^ ! u' ?°''.°'''' "^'"'^ *° ^""'^h « degree, as to threaten
l^ll '' I °"' "^'g»\borhood, as well as myself, in s°o wi!d a manner, as
made us aU sensible, that there was no alternative, but for me to resign my
office; which-after some very tight struggles of mind, on my part, be-
ll ""^ ''"'' °^''"'^', '"'^ ^''•'■^ °f ^'^^^' *" ^y dearnative land, and
among my generous employers-1 intended actually to do. But before my
ernployers could be finally brought to th.s decision-thinking it but shame-
h;rn?/rT";°2^*''P''^°/''^"''' Minister-he summoned me to appec
before his Kirk Session, i shall here take the liberty of givin-r you ^
summary of the result of the Session, and designate m'vself as Panel !-
chfraP, ■" ! ""^ w'^'"= ^ ""'"^^•" °'' articles-" are so many
Charges against you. Were you not at the late meeting here, at th«
time of the communion ?" * *
Panel.—" Yes, Sir, I was."
«ni?r v'"" ^''^ ^m" ?''^'°" y"""" '^*"''" home, deride our religious
solemniies J especially the action sermon, by reflecting that the Alinis-
ters well picked the bones of the Saviour ?"
.nv^!i?^T." ^- "^""'^ deiiy that such words passed ; but I cannot charge
myself of hayiiig uttered them ,n ariy light or luaicrous direction."
off?n"i;rr7flectiofir ^^^^^' '^^^^^ ^^^ ^-S"' ^'-n, can we take your
r..r,T^'T"y ^°"' ^'''' ^"1 ^^'^ '^^^ ^f ^he Session, could have the
patience to bear it many a day my very soul sickened, by hearincr so
much abou. the suflering of our blessed Saviour, from the dead hearts,
and decei ful tongues, ot wily and worldly Ministers ; especially at sacra-
ments ; who openly tell by their habitual civil and religious conduct :
and. in a h.gh degree, by thfeir preaching, that they want the real love
and lite ot J»^8us Christ.
Elders.-" Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! Why, do you hear him !" &c &c
Doctor.- ' Don't you keep the people of U. and its neighborhood
from at ending my ministry, since you have been among them '"
«„flT K no command over the people in question; but when-
ever they choose, of their own free will, to attend my humble service-
especially at such a distance from your ordinary place of worship, f can-
not feel disposed to discourage them."
rni?r i°''"~r" ^ '""'"''^ not impose upon you, or them, to attend here
regularly ; if you yourself should eppenr here now and then, even rarely
say once in a quarter, and show otherwise by your conversation and
conduct your approbat on of my ministry, I could freely indulge, you
totl^m ^JlT/^'"'^'' besides your preachiiig is a stumbliti Jbbck
ll
Panel.—"! don't call my eer vice preaching," (for you know 1 wai
not llien licensed) " according to the general acceptation of the phrase "
Doctor.— " Don't you, any wise, publicly explain the Scriptures; and
What authoiity cun you allege for so doing, from the said Scriptures?"
Fanel— " I ihnik there are some plain texts in my favor on that
ground} instance the following :—' No man,' saith Christ, ' lighteth a
candle to put it under a bushel or a bed; but in a candlestick, that it
•nay give light to all that are in the house.' 'As every man hath received
t le gilt, even so m-.nister the same one to another, as good stewards of
the manilold grace of God.' — St, Peter."
Here a tough contest took place, betwixt the Doctor and me For he
most tenaciously maintained -hat "the gift," in {he latter quotation,
bignified only an extraordinary gift, to which I neither had, nor laid any
claim; but I, on the other hand, as vigorously held, lliat the ordinary
giUs and graces of the Spirit, were included, on the subject. And none
ot us ever yielded to the other on this j-round. It would be tedious
to pursue this meeting any further. But before we dismissed he olfered
me twenty days ol suspense and respite, before 1 should be deprived of
the schoo . Bat I peremptorily told him that that, nor any other time
"r" 1 n-"' "" "'^<^'"'"''^" '" f"} fomiinents or conduct, on the subieOs
01 ditlere-ice between us. He, however, suspended any further prose-
cuiion, till the end of the given period. But a particular circumstance
happjned during the tedious time of the Session, which in some respect
proved a sorer temptation to mo than the dispute : It rained in such aii
extraordinary manner, as swelled the river which runs along-.ide the
meeting-house and the manse ; and so intervened my intended return
home, that evening, 1 had left my pony on the other side ; and the
Doctors best horse could not now cross me over. I stopped at the
river s side, in anxious, but vain expectation of getting horn , till I was
perlectly drenched, and pitch-dark night necessitated my return to shel-
tor. In great confusion of face, I popped into the Doctor's kitchen:
tor ihere was no other house near me. Happily, as I thought, there
was no person there, at the time ; and I tumbled my poor carcass into
an empty bed, not far from the warmth of a-good fire; where I intended
to coop concealed till the morning ; for it was in April. Jjnt, alas ' by
latal destiny,! was soon detected, by tne officious servants; who imme-
diately spread the alarm through the manse; in consequence of which
the generous Doctor sent a mesjage for me to the parlor: where his
lieverence and his lady, with a lew more, sat at tea; among whom was
one ot his Llders— a select member of the Session. I dare say. in truth
1 have never, in my life of sixty, felt so much reluctance and embarrass!
nient at i-ny other invitation, as arrested the very feelings of my soul at
that .noin.Mit. But it could not be helped. Was it fate, or fancy, or
.ascination? No! But it was divine proof and providence, in order
to teach me some further lessons of myself, and also of the clercry, and
tl-eir fondest adherents! The good Doctor and his Elder, who had
lought such a hot and hectoring battle with me throncrh the day, upon
some ol the most serious and sublime isubjecls posbible,°vere now as free
know I wn«
'the phrase."
■iptures; and
jriptures?"
ivor on that
• lighteth a
stick, that it
latii received
stewards of
me. For he
:r quotation,
nor laid any
he ordinary
And none
d be tedious
d he offered
deprived oi'
other time,
the subjects
ther prose-
Ircumstance
)me respect,
in such an
mg-t-ide the
ided return
le ; and the
)ped at the
. , till I was
urn to shel-
's i<itchen ;
tught, there
^arcass into
: I intended
U, alas I liy
who imme-
e of which
where his
whom was
ly, in truth,
embarrass-
niy soul at
' fancy, or
e, in order
clergy, and
, who had
day, upon
low as frei;
300
find frivolous at every chit-chat, at their tea and toddy, toPsts and toys
as little chdJren! J might also by this providence, learn more of mr
own weeds and weakness. For though my very soul disgusted the
vanity and frivolity of the table-talk and toasts, of my prosecutors if
not persecutors; yet thj present shame of being cliargeable of ill man-
ners or indecorum, among superiors, at once disarmed the ordinary
active exercise of my religious zeal, and merited reilection, on the un-
becorrnng conference and conduct of my associates; so as in a decrree
to yield, though most reluctantly, and I dare say. very awkwardly, to'the
current pulse of the company. Fruitless and forma! family worship-
as might be naturally expected— served at last to close the scene. And
the good Doctor himself, in order to show his utmost condescension and
kindness, introduced me to my bed-rjom, with a flaming candle in each
hand— in their silver sockets ; and in the most pleasant and placid
manner bade me good night! All this kindness co.t my poor soul
more than months of adversity and opposition. I spent a night
of solemn and serious reflection, till break of day. much longed
for, for my retreat, and return home.* All the foregoing treatme°nt
However, made no alteration in my sentiments or conduct. 1 carried
on my school, and Sabbath services, just as heretofore, till the end of
the aforesaid given twenty days of probation ; when his Reverence sent
positive and permanent orders— as unalterable as the laws of the " Aledes
and Persians"— io lock the school-house and chapel, being both one •
and to take the key for ever from my keeping and command. '
But the foregoing chase and charge did not satisfy the good Doctor
in divinity; for the majority of the villagers still collected about me on
the babbath ; so that after his depriving me of my school and a year's
salary; I was obliged to serve for a season, in the troublesome and
dangerous Caithness fishing; in order to defray my necessary debts
incurred in sincere dependence on my convenient and comfortable
employment ; for the inclusive annual emoluments of my school amount-
ed to the sum of between ^70 and ^80 sterling. But you will observe
that 1 received tie school fees for my 100 scholars, in n borough town
during my year's service ; though I lost the Society's salary ; which a
leacher m the fijghlands of Scotland cannot obtain, but through the
medium of his Parish Minister.
After these tossings, a cousin of mine, John T , came to visit
my family from one of the adjacent parishes ; who, on account of the
scarcity of wood in his own qua.-ter, wished to obtain a boat load of a
small growth of natural wood, owned in common by the Doctor and iiis
neighbor, 'Squire Mac, of L. M., who both had agreed to get the said
piece o f wood land cleared for pasturage: and for that purpose allowed
; Let me remark hero, also, tlio trouble and temptation of my dear and~dIlieato
wite • who could not rest at home; but eame, in tl.o same dark and dreary nicl.t.
a 1 the aforesaid rough and rudo nine miles; and that alone, in hopes of meeUnJ
me by the road, through every shot ef the said distance; till she arrived at the
overflowng river, ami received intelligence o*" my safety; when she stopt at a
neighbor a house, till she met me gladly earlv in the morninff ^
9G4
m
t| •!
it
one half of the sticka to the cutterfi, for their labor. The trees consisted
of various sorts ; birch and poplar, ash and hazel, aspen and alder, but
chiefly the last kind; so that you may understand the comparntive
worthlessncss of the wood. But, however, my said cousin would have
some of it, as it was thus a game open to all, on the same level ; and so
he insisted that myself and my boy Kenny siiould go with my little flat,
along with him, to our friend 'Squire Mac, for his order : So we went,
and obiiiined free leave in the name of Cousin John ; arrived at the
wood, at the summer-day meridian—met the Doctor's (e -er or woods-
man—asked him where would he choose us to commence ; who told
us any where all one--so all hands to work ; and soon dispatched the
job— returned to my door, without fear or disguise, in broad dayli^bt,
and in sight of all the village; in the little yole loaded with alder !
Contrary winds preventing Cousin John's further trip for home, urged
him to unload hi? alder at my house, till his next expected opportunity.
In the interval I went from home to a communion at L. C, a distance
of forty miles; where I intended to get my first child Jockey baptized
by my relation, the noted L. McKenzie ; whose fame, for sin,"iilar piety,
prompted my hope— though personally unacquainted with him— to find
in him a character so 'Mfferent from the generality of the Clergy an would
exonerate my conscience in treating with him, in the administration of
the said desired solemn ordinance. I do not say now how far my views
on the subject may ha\^e been scripturally reasonable or not ; but I am
sure I was then acting in sincerity according to my best knowledge of
my duty. For I cr.ald not feel freedom to accept any sacrament of
Ministers, whose characters andisguisedly indicated their unregeneracy
—which is still m/ fixed sentiment ; and 1 had thought, at that time,
that the said Mr. McKenzie was so far the reverse of°his official breth-
ren, in his zeal and independence of spirit and authority, as lo super-
sede his ecclesiastic diifidence and embarrassment; in which, however,
I soon learned my sad mistake. For when 1 told him my intention, he
replied that he expected the Doctor to the communion, and would endea-
vor to conciliate us; which I answered to be impracticable. But he
still insisted on an interview between us, in his own manse. I replied
he should see that the Doctor's passion would preclude any sober reason-
ing on our subject; since, by sore experience, it was 'too evident to me
already, ibat he could hardly be-.r my very presence, with any patience;
and far less endure to hear of me nte of brptism ; when I had never
applied to himself on any religiop? groDnJ whatev r ; but still that 1
would not refuse to appear before '!.ei:» att;,eir bidding, for atrial. In
short, on the Doctor's arrival, I was sent for to Mr. McKenzie's study;
where both the Ministers sat alone. And after my being desired, by
the owner, to sit. he immediately introduced our subject, in the words
following : —
Mr. McKenzie.—" Here, Doctor, is a man from the Parish of L. B.
applying to mo, as desirous of receiving baptism for his child : but "
Doctor.—" What ! A man from L. B. here for baptism ! A man, I
say! here from L. B. for baptism ! What!!"
trees consisted
and alder, but
I comparative
in would have
level ; and so
my little flat,
So we went,
arrived at the
-er or woods-
ce ; who told
lispatched the
road daylij^ht,
id with alder !
■ home, urged
J opportunity.
C, a distance
ckey baptized
linfiilar piety,
him — to find
ergy an would
linistration of
far my views
)t ; but I am
knowledge of
sacrament of
unregeneracy
at that time,
official breth-
, as lo super-
ich, however,
intention, he
would endea-
ible. But he
ie. I replied
sober reason-
ivident to me
my patience;
I had never
Jt still that 1
r atrial. In
nzie's study;
I desired, by
in the words
rish of L. B.
d : but "
! A man, I
S05
Mere t!ie Doctor's extravagant passion overcame him eompl'tety • and
triost evidently told—m his coaUcoIored face and feature^, as well a? the
«trangliM|T fume and fury of his voice and vociferation— the superlative
pitch of his perturbation r.f mind. " Well, ' said J, to Mr. McKenzie
lou see now, Sir, what I had every reason lo anticipate; for I was
sure the Doctor could not contain himself on the subject; it is there
lore, in tlio mean time, as well for me to withdraw :" and so I left the
room. But, on dismission of the communion. I visited Mr. Mac again:
and asked his final determination on the subject of my mcsanro. lie
told me plainly and meekly that he believed me to be a propcr^'subiect
for my request ; " but," said he. " I siucerely regret that it is absolutely
oevond my ecclesiastical power to meet your wishes, without the actual
pen ission of your Parish Minister; which I perceive is unfortunately
out of the question." And then he asl;ed me, "How would you act
yourself lu the supposed case following :— There are two Christians at
variance; and their diifercnce is at your decision, wilhou!. any evidei.ce
beyond their own declaration-at the same time, though the opponents
are both good men ; yet one of them is far superior in grace, to the other •
Now would you not. on this supposition, feel aptly disposed to do, nie in
avorof the far stronger, or more experienced and inlclligent of the two?"
I woulo su!d ;. " think it but quite reasoMable." " Well then " he
continued, " that ^ just my very position, in the case between the Doctor
and yourself ; for thour h I believe you to be a Ch-istian, I take you vet
''"irr/'?.''n°"^ '" comparison to him.-And don't you so judge your!
se . ? ' By no means," I replied ; " for though I should, most freely
alow the propriety of the proposed comparison on literary grounds I
shall not admit it, in the least degr.-, in religious concerns; for I do
not believe my opponent to be possessed of any saving grace at ali."
Oh don t you don't you !" said the meek man.* without the least ruf-
fle of temper. I finah^ then enquired of him, if. according to his own
previous admission he thought me scripturally qualified on the subject
of bap.ism for my child Why should he yield to ecclesiastical rules con-
rary the law o Christ? " Well, then," said the kind, simple Minis-
ter, we cannot deny that we have law? in tlie Church con;rary to the
laws of Christ, but we must submit to them." "Oh ihto" 1 said
" that acknowledgment. Sir, is now fully sufliciout for my determination •''
and so bade him final adieu ! I then got my dear spouse and chilu [,
retrace home our dreary forty miles of moss and mountains. But not at
all disconsolately ; for v/3 learned by this trip, several serious and sound
lessons; which, indeed, hive, in the Lord's hind, proved very beneficial
to us, ever since, even to tins day. But I cannot leave this oart of the
subject without remarking, that ) could not but sincerelv love the meek
and humble and undisgr > temper and disposition of this Minister of
Loch Carron ; for in ai: • y interviews with him, on the subje.-t in dis-
cussion I f^aund him as easy of access, and as unrullled in his passions
as a little child. How could I, therefore, but seriously regret his '-.hild-
ish simplicity, in his ever having been, through all his functionary life
tnc sincere dupe of religious imoosition : nnd tl.^ rlanrro^o.-o r.„,i a^LacA
li
39
J iiti'i u; vauiv'i
«r/
i
t'
800
slumbling-block of ihousanda. On this account, both fondness and false-
hood, admired his superior and singular piety and preacliing ; whereas,
m perfect truth, the man was at best, and could not be°but a weak
Christian; since lie was by nature,.but an open somi-simplcton. Hig
subjection, also, from time to time, to temporary mental deran<rement,
or absence of mind ; and especially in his Iatt»r days, worked not^eldorn
on his imagination, to a degree that impelled him to utter incoherence,
or absurdities; which, some of his foolish and fond adherents must
needs constitute or construe into oracles or augurv, mystery or macaroni,
prescription or prophesy. There was perhaps, in his day, none in all
the Ilighlaiiijs of Scotland, who proved a snare to sillv and sluo-gish
religious professors, so much as this shallow and simple-minded Mi'riis-
ler. And yet I should feel very Air from suggesting ouce that he was
BOt a real Christian. But some people )aiay probably feel surprised
when I tell you, it was the man's silliness or debility of intellect, which
so richly excused, or extenuated, his most dangerous religious friend-
ship and fellowship, credit and cronyism, .so manifestly and mistakenly,
exerted and extended by him^ towaids so numerous swarms of the more
ofllcious and oner.sivc, despicable and disgustful characters over a con-
siderable part of the kingdom. For though he may, in the sovereign
mercy and mysteiy of heaven, have, as a •• bruised reed or smoking flax"."
been redeemed; yet I;feel not the least hesitation in maintaining that
he was never qualified for his ministerial oflice; for he possessed nl-ither
discrimination nor discretion, art nor authority, proper for his solemn
and responsible calling. And as a notable instance in favor of this argu-
ment, there were hardly any community or communicants in the North
of Scotland more brackish and brutish, untutored and untamed, than
the majority of his congregation and communicants. These reflections,
which challenge contradiction, are here oflcred, not for the dead, but
for such of the living as much merit their smart, in consequence of their
blind and boastful admiration and imitation of a man, whose incllicience
and indulgence, credulity and craziness, marked him certainly for a
private man ; and not at all, for a public Minister.
Upon our arrival at home, the first sight that met our eyes, wa3 a
summons in the window, from the Doctor, charging me as a thrust and
a thief, in the amount of about i^lSO, or twenty pounds Scots for every
stick of the 'forementioned alder! ^nd in default of restitution, a dun-
geon or a Tolbooth was tdso signified and sounded, in most howling and
harrassing, loud and lofty style and strains, as the due and designed,
inevitable and invincible, doom and desert, of the villain and lelon
Norman ! the dangerous and daring, trespasser and transgressor, stealer
and spoiler, of the goodly and grand, planintion and paradise, of the far-
famed tiller and toiler, tenant and trainer, the reverend Divine! Don't
think that I exaggerate on this rare and round subject; for the pua\nnd
pomp, foolishness and falsehood, of the summons, wore ridiculously sin-
gulp.r; and extensively proverbial; and arc, to this day, freshly rocol-
loctod and facetiously recreative, among some of my merry friends, in
the rich and rcstifl^ woods ..nd wilds of Cape Breton ! For when, in his
807
simplicity, Cousin John set arbiters upon the elicks, they, with perfect
consistency, disputed and decided vvithiu the latitudes and limits, banks
und boundaries, of five and seven shillings sterling ! But by the bye, in
cwisequence of this prosecution, the alder was never removed froin the
end of my house, for any further use than playing clubs to the village
scholars; who mirthfully extolled the virtuous interference of the pro-
eecutor, as well as the benevolence and bounty of their benefactor, the
wood plunderer!* In the mean time, I sent for Cousin John, in order
to go along with me to 'Squire Mac, by whom we had made ourselves
Buro to be released from any further charge, on this ground. But what
were our disappointment and confusion, when he dastardly and bare-
facedly told us, that although he should most freely ackno'vledge his
previous order in a private manner, both to the Doctor, and to our-
selves, yet that he could not venture to absolve us publicly, from fear of
his reverence's censure and displeasure. He admitted his sincere regret
for our unmerited and disagreeable predicament ; and also signified that
our prosecutor wa;3 not ignorant of our innocence, and that himself
knew the ground of the despicable prosecution to be religious prejudice
and pride ; but that, for all this, he durst not legally discharge us, for
the reasons already assigned. — You will be here apt to enquire, why
would this man, and at the time, in a civil circumstance, quite independ-
ent— feel so diffident of ecclesiastical censure: I answer, that though
'Squire Mae was a bachelor, and poisessed then a land estate worth,
alone and exclusive of other property, the sum of c€7000, yet he had the
misfortune of having a bastard child by one of his domestics, at that
very crisis; for which offence he wished to obtain or procure the Doctor's
indulgence. And whether this beggarly misnomer and misobedienco
were, or were not, the price or bribe of his absolution or exemption, it
IS quite evident that he never underwent the ordinary privation or penal-
ty on the subject. Finding ourselves thus defeated by 'Squire Mac's
mean treachery, a.^ well as the Doctor's deep plot of hypocrisy, we pro-
posed that Cousin John should appear at court, in my stead ; and ac-
knowled^ himself the trespasser, at the trial; and me but his servant,
in case his evidence of our innocence would be frustrated. In the
mean time, h.owcver, under nil our confusion, we had the consolation
not only of the testimony of our own consciences, but the full credit of
all our neighbors in our favor, though they did not well know how to
exuicate us, according to the exaction of the law, and the weight and
uilos of OL.' wicked and famous prosecutor. Providence, also, provided
for us a pointed and powerful intercessor, 'Squire McDonald, of L. I.
under whose proprietary, both Cousin John and myself lived for a long
score of years; and who therefore knew well our general cluractcr; aa
well as the real ground of our present distress. lie undertook to pro-
tect us, and first to disclose to the Doctor's attorney the drift of the
prosecution. Me was as good as his word. Cousin John, however,
appeared on the day of trial ; though at the distance of 70 miles from
'he I'oelov w
X:i uljiy a tciiUiit, iiii.:l noi Uic piopi'iotui' of the iildfjr planf.Uioh.
yf.t-
•z^n"
808
uL residence, and 40 miles from mine. Ke returned to my house under
encouraging circumstanced ; but still enjoining from court, the necessity
ot my appearance at the same place on an appointed hour, next Friday
according to a clause in their legal proceedings. None ignorant of the
simplicity of our Highlands, in those times; and of the rarity of legal
prosecution— especially remote rom public and borough towns— can
lorm but very faint ideas, of the natural confusion, then commonly at-
tendant on summons; particularly like ours, for allei^ed villany or felony f
In my case, being keenly tender of my religious "character— and then
placed in a comparative strange situation— I certainly experienced the
lull mea' 'ire of the smart.
The next week, according to authority, I went to court; and as alrea-
dy noticed, at the distance of forty miles, of which eirrhteen of dreary
mire or moss were without the smoke of a house; excejt the hut of one
herdsman. On my arrival at D. W. the Court Town, agreeably to
appointment, on Friday, the interment of a certain famous Nobleman, of
that quarter, took place on that very day; at which all the barristers
and lawyers of the town attended ; so as to supersede a leet. and pre-
vent my access tolhe Doctor's attorney, till the dusk of Saturday :— for,
be It understood, I did not engage any couiisellor in my own favor; but
left the whole burden at thn full and faithful, puunce and poinliutr of
our triend 'Squire McPonald. At sunset, however, I got an interview
with Barrister McRae, the Doclor's attorney ; who, .fter examining me,
in a summary manner, on our subject, very generously told me, that my
answers exactly corresponded with the very evidence of Mr. McDonald,
in my favor— that he regretted I had not made my appearance on the
appointed day, in my summons ; as otherwise I would have legal claims
to damages— that he had no doubt of our innocence.— And that, altho'
he stood on the tender ground of being the Reverend Doctor's attorney,
he could not but feel sorry and surprised for the uuupt and unnecessary,
teeth and trouble of the prosecution— and forthwith and freely released
me with a cheerful farewell ! You cannot but feebly imagine the width
and vigor of my joy, at this lucky moment of my fund and final release,
irom the persecuting clutches of iny tyrannical prosecutor. But on losing
sight of the Court Town, a rough and rainy night began togloom : and ac"^
cording to the anxious expectation of my family and friends at home, I
should, bv ibis limp lif> nn« fnr tV/nn m.r l.,^■,o^ T?, : i... i i . „
"iiv,, uiiu ivcij-vvioiicia iuo'ii_j Willi iier, in
I should not return home Saturday night. But you will observe that 'all
this our excitement arose not from any undue care for my poor carcass
or caption; but for ray credit and character; which were dearer than
limb and life to us. For " a good najne is better than j)recious oint-
ment," and (with this real good name) "the day of death better than the
day of one's birth." For it was pnst all doubt; with every unprejudiced
mind in the country, that my adversary had nothing in view, in all his
bustle oi pfoaecuiion, bntto break my credit, and expose my character ;
809
for hi8 unfortunate envy and uneasiness, on this ground were to l,im
h.gh y .ntolerable. All these circu.nstances conc^rej to s iL ^te m^
exertion to get home wuh as little delay as possible. I therHWe detTr^-
mined to trace my forty miles of breaks and burns on my pair of In.
.no lusty legs ,n the dark and dreary night- without any\es or roo t?
Lin. iaJbl '"^''-""''r ^?/'*'^"' ^"' ^ ■•^^^'-'' '--^ =^^-"t - -
nnn °;mi «]'ornM,a; where Cousin John met me at the door: who
poor lellovv i>ad watched the night, with some others, in anxious susl
s I^'uTtol " ^^Pf^/"!-"-* «'^^ •'- "-- -rious p^rt of my sub "ct
IS yet untold ; and I feel sincerely concerned how to enter upon it -for
hrorhthr' '""'"" ^'r ^^'''^ presence, in realty and t u t , f . o
hrough the journey under remark. I was fully conscious of n y own
nnocence; and my immediate neighborhood had no doubt of if- but
cioufniisret':'" TT' '" °^'"^'"^^ '"^^'''''''> ''"-"^''^ '^"--'t and
^nj nrn 1 P '?^'"" ' '" ^ousequence of which, for a time, bigotry
irieve^ ^ThewT'^'''' ^^V ""^ ^^-volence anil friendship mig t
grieve. 1 he wiles and violence of my wilful and fatuous pursuer were
censurable neighbor, and commonty-tenant, proved notorious All
these particulars had their full weight of impression and or r ion a
once upon my mind. Jn .hort-though a delicate subjec , a .d no
and Zd'l^esr t'' '"'.?'"^' ''T^'' ^'"'"^^^ -^ -'««'--'^. »^>»^>i v
sutSn J OP? ir.''" 'f^'f ' or failings, but conclude that I was actually
JeL Chrlt ' ^ ' """' °^ ' -^""'^ conscience, in the service of
function 'or f-nJ.?i; ''^'' P/e/'i^ti"". I have never pretended to possess that
Lu r ? ,! ' ! "I """;°"' P*""^"'^^ °^ thousands on this ground. But
orco„HL1nn""r<f ""'''^ prophesying now, as previously to the closing
«s at 11 on emi"^ r r'""" "/ Sc'-'P^^re^ "or for evermore, in this world^
l)v no Inn ^ °""^ ''"'^ '''" ''"^^^''^'^ ^^"' "^ «°d '» his word ; yet J
f no lir in n/r'' ''^ •""" '^■^'^'°'" '^^ '•''>'"^"'"' '° ^''0 opposite extr;!', as
houl t .vnir''r''°"' '"]P^^^^'«" «'• i"ipul«ion, dictation or direction,
h oald be e.vpected in any degree, of the Lord's mind, by his Holy Spirit
o or=d • ?v to""''"" '" ^' V"'^ "*■ '''''' ^'•"^•'' b^3'-fd what is'natirai
one^atio^i onr/'"'^ '"'"' f"' ''"' ^^""''^ '^'^ ''"^'^'"^ ^he o^der ani
?nni n e7 iwl ! r"' ^''^ "."'' °PP°'''^ ^°' ^" ^'^i"« revelation, as nell as
hriof I T^'T' ""^' '^-^^'"'P'es in experience on the subject since
iTela! on n.r"^- r^ ^''"\' '"'^ "laintain, therefore, without the least
o the Sr int .r'' " > *=°""-"'^'«t'0". that in conformity and subordination
•ue arul t7tr'7'''r '^"^^ ^P?P'^> "^ at least some of them, have been,
iedae and '""^ "^ '"".°' ''''" '^"' ^^'''''^ ^^'^h some degree of kuow^
leu^.jimljii some singular cases, on subjects past, present, or future,
to
lie
u'n';."'!" •'.? i" nf^'° '^^'""^'.<^ to facetiousnes. on tlie .ubicct, l,v con.o.rin. him.df
■rod : '''''^'' " '"''• * '^'^'" ^ "uraculous release, (rem the confiiument ot
!l
'-<-'■
810
beyond tlie common rate or reckoning, ken or cbunt, of the generaliry
of men, in the general course of Providence. "The secret of the Lord
is .vith them that fear him." — Psalm xxv. 14. " But his secret is with
the rijjhteous," — Prov. iii. 3:2, — i. e. The jirucious meaning of his word,
and the intention of his dark providence. After these preliminary re-
marks, I seriously and freely admit that I had impressions on my mind
during the tedious and troublesome journey in question — and that under
the powerful life and light of the word of God, in overflowing abundance,
over all the j)0wers of my very soul, which were not of common occur-
lence to myself; though not a stranger to them ; nor are, by any means,
ordinary, even to the righteous; and far less to the wicked. I-et igno-
rant or violent revilers sneer or smile, dart or deride, as they like or list,
on this stanch and stable stand. The Lord's gracious presence, and
approbation, of my service and suffering; and his disavowal and disgust,
of the gust and guile, court and ccnduct, of both my pullback and pro-
secutor, were at that time very evidently manifest to my oppressed and
uplifted soul. The blessed Scriptures poured their ample store, from
their righteous and divine, perfect and bountiful Author, upon my soul
and spirit, heart and affections, through all my pointed passage ; and
more particularly the 37th Psalm ; where the Psalmist, most richly and
rousingly, dooms and defines, compares and contrasts, the dispositions,
states, aims, at d ends^of the virtuous and vicious, righteous and riotous,
worthy and wicked. Will you not read the whole Psalm, as it must
sadly weaken my sage and solemn theme to crop or curtail that sublime
and sacred song. As also the following t"xts: — "Though hand join in
hand the wicked shall not be unpunished." " He that seeketh mischief,
it shall come unto iiim. " Behold the righteous shall be rewarded in
the earth ; mucii more th( vicked and the sinner." — Prov. xi. " If ye be
rcproaciied for the name 1' Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glcry
and of God restetli upon you," &c. " If any man suffer as a Christian,
let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this behalf." — 1
Peter iv,
1 believed then very freely and fully that the Lord was deeply displeas-
ed with my troublers — the unfortunate Doctor and 'Squire Mac —and
that his frown would certainly fall upon them visibly in this world ;
although I knew not, nor pretended to know, the particulars of the
impending fat.il and fast-approaching dispensation; all which I told my
dear spouse, alter 'Oy return; and that has come to pass, in a notojious
manner, since that time, in several singular steps of Providence. For
the 'Squire reduced his property by negligence and rioting — lost his
estate and all his credit — turned insolvent — was taken by the neck, and
lodged in the jail of Dingwell (intended for me) as a smuggler and
bankrupt, upon a bunch of straw, under a rug, till at length released,
by his relative Capt. McKenzie, of T T. , who hired him as a catller
common drover and driver, for the remai . of his roving and wretched
life ! His lewdness and dishonesty incurred and insured his wreck and
ruin. He once ptirch-ised of myself three young cowd ; for the price
of '.i liicli, in ijiy u)isu?picioii3 simplicity; I took hispiiv.:tc baie [>roiiii3e ;
r^
the generalifjr
ret of the Lord
i secret is with
-irt of liis word,
preliminary re-
13 on my mind
and that under
itig abundance,
lommon occur-
by any means,
ed. liCt igno-
liey like or list,
presence, and
^al and disgust,
Iback and pro-
oppressed and
pie store, from
, upon my soul
passage: and
lost richly and
le dispositions,
us and riotous,
aim, as it must
lil that sublime
ii hand join in
jketh mischief,
be rewarded in
xi. " If ye be
: spirit of glcry
as a Christian,
lis behalf."—!
leeply displeas-
iiire Mac —and
in this world ;
ticulars of the
hich I told my
in a notoiioug
evidence. For
oting — lost his
the neck, and
smuggler and
;ngth released,
lini as a catller
r and wretched
his wreck and
; for the prico
baie [>iO:i:i3e ;
SU
which was all I ever received for my bargain; though at tho time, he
traded in oatmeal and pine timber; articles of which I then stood in
need ; but that » vould never sell me, lest, by so doing, I should reco-
ver my debt of •■ .gainst his own dishonest grain. I mention these
points to give _ -u u . >mple of his character; which agreed to his desti-
ny. "The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth : the
wicked is snared in the work of his own hands." — Psalm ix, 16.
Rut to return to the Doctor, he has ever since been losing his credit
and ground from day to day ; both politically and religiously— '^' deceiving
and deceived." There are current of him two particular anecdotes
pretty singular; which I shall here briefly relate :— First- A sheep
farmer, in his immediate neighborhood had privately deposited in tho
Doctor's hand, for further use. the sum of ^:500. And without any
receipt, or evidence; as wholly confident in his reverence's integrity.
The dishonest man having soon become bankrupt, and compou'^nded
with his creditors; and in fond expectation of his concealed money;
applied to his secret treasurer; who, under the appearance of unusuaJ
surprise, asked the shepherd— " What do you mean? You havuw
money ! Have you not publicly sworn off as' insolvent— and could you
ever, at the same time, durst have money in reserve ! Away immediately
out of my sight, you staunchest ring of rogues !" Second.— The Doctor
having had a lawsuit with 'Squire M. D. of L. L, gained the action;
for the expenses of which the defaulter passed his bilffor the amount ol"
several hundreds; or a similar sum, with the sheep farmer's; which,
when become actually due, the 'Squire having appeared with the balance'
in his hand, and his evidence at his side, offered the full amount to the
Doctor, between his manse and his chapel ; for behold, it was the Lord's
day ! ' Here," said the 'Squire, " is your money. Doctor !" " What !"
said his reverence, "is it on this day, you would offer me money ?"
•' Yes, Sir," said the 'Squire, "this is my day, according to ihe date of
my bill to you; which I come to release; and if you now refuse the
payment, I take my witness, that you may, in vain, look for it any other
day !" This was a fair trick ; for the debtor, in dating his bill, had de-
signedly aimed the defeat A his inadvertent correspondent ; which he
thus basely accomplished. "And with what measure ye mete, it shall
be measured to you again.'
But to return, the Doctor having los. his action against me, he also
lost a share of his good ground and credit with hi^ people, in issue of
his oppression nnd prosecution of me, with their natural concomitants
and consequents; which he has never redeemed to this day. My kind
reighbors, in general, sympathized with me; and sincerely regretted my
ueprivation of the school; both on their own, and my account. And as
T was, for a season, without any pecuniary employment; and, at the
same time, obliged to c'omesticate, by means of my partner's desperate
indisposiiion, I felt the dilemma of dire destitution, or the disagreeable
contraction of debt. Under these circumstances, much reflection, from
all quarters, fell to the share of my pursuer; though in a long degree
rrivalelyj from fear of his displeasure. And not a' few, even among" iny
If
I
812
own otherwise eincere friends, not to speak of others, would now and
then keenly upbraid myself to my "ery face, for my illiberal religious
sentiments, overheat of zeal, indiscretion and imprudence, or needless
scrupulosity of conscience; which they suggehted, incurred my poverty,
in procuring the Doctor's resentment. Thoy alleged I might be a good
Christian, Miough I should not forfeit the fugue and favor of the clergy,
objectionable as were some of their measures. But though I knew the
reverse, by loud and long experience; yet that soilg and" sound of my
friends, were now and for yenrs past, quite familiar to my ears; but of
as little influence. In the mean time, strange to hear, 'Squire Mac told
me that the Doctor ordered him to allow me a boll of his oatmeal, if J
should send for it. I thanked him ; but made him understand that he
might make any other use he pleased of it. He sent the meal, however,
in my absence; and the messenger poured it in an empty cask, found
in a closet, and so left the house before my return home. After delibe-
ration, I felt no freedom of mind to make any further bustle on the sub-
ject ; and consequently the flour was consumed in my family. But for
my part, I am at a loss to this moment, what was the ruling motive of
his Reverence in thii curious bounty — whether sympathy or selfishness,
vvhether lo pacify hPuven or to please his hearers; and whether to alle-
viate, or to alarm my destitution. For, as formerly suggested, he .vas
at times subject lo strange fits of passions; which produced as strange
ruffles and remarks. He once observed to a neighbor that it was the
uncommon magnitude of my grace that disordered my religious conduct.
At another time, on his hearing of my disappointment of a passage, and
my intention to return to his parish; though he was then sitting among
respectable associates of both sexes, and at a sacramental meeting, he,
under great excitement of mind, and regardless of his delicate position,
exclaimed, " He returns to torment me !"
The manner of his marriage was not less singular : he was fifty years,
when he wooed a lady of twenty-four ; with a fortune of about £2000,
and as formerly remarked, entirely against the will and consent of her
parents. He ordered the next clergyman, to administer the marriage
rites m the bride's chamber, in her father's house, in order, according
to articles of law, to secure her dowry. And after the solemnization of
the ceremonies, he sarcastically thanked his father-in-law; who, with his
lady, was in a pensive mood, espying the scene, in an adjacent open
apartment; and then immediately rode off, with his bride behind him,
to his own manse.
When I was deprived of the school, a common tippler was substituted:
Nay, a mere sot of a drunkard ; and whose wife was of the same charac-
ter. But they were both good Christians; because they were sheep-
submissive to the Church ; which sustained them, from time to time,
anil from place to place, till kerving and kind death, put soon a period
to tlieir wretched lives, by the slick and sly, feral and fatal, demon of
alcohol !
The Doctor once waning in his previous respectability and authority,
declined fast and formally both with his Presbytery and people. From
313
the former, he was chased away wiih contempt; and so the latter feit
proportionately released from their former fear of him : the predominant,
if not the only, locket and ligature then controlling their obedience.
The local division of his Parish, and the consequent induction of a
Clergyman, within his former ministerial bounds, according to the eccle-
siastical arrangements then effected; — who gained not the Doctor's
approbation—provoked his obstinate, but unsuccessful opposition;
which, with so many other concurring disappointments, deeply affected
both his mental and organic constitution. The consequence of all
which has, for some years past, been total dumbness, .vith confirmed
debility of body and mind; to which now, according to late accounts, is
added partial, if not perfect ''eafness; as well as increasing intellectual
derangement; with poverty and disregard, two natural concomitants.
^This man's resources were once ample and accumulated, for the son
of a poor guider, or gardener ; but now, through his own fault and folly,
he is a penurious pensioner, as well as a pitiful and partial pantomime.
For some time of his functionary life he had officiated in Holland ;
where, feeling indisposed, he provided a substitute, for a share of his
considerable endowment, the handsome balance of which attached to
himself in Scotland, during the period of insinuating and procrastinated
suspense, for his return, without any detriment to his salary at home
He was also for years, and under his more auspicious circumstances,
transacting in caitle, and other branches of business, from the mere
love of gain ; when his neighbors would think, that his own emoluments,
with the aforesaid handsome dowry of his wife, might prove sufficient
for his support and comfort^ without recourse to other shifts and sha-
vings, rather mean and meagre, for a man of his position and connection,
both in the Church, and style of the world. But for all this, five per
cent, was the principal received by his creditors, in his first insolvency.
But it 'i6 indefinable, what may be the issue of his last composition : for
it hangs on the tender thread of his life ; and the precarious space of his
church vacancy, during his doomed and dormant existence. For, in
common commisseration with himself, and his dependents, the said
vacancy is sustained by his Presbytery, and his people; in order to secure
the salary and stipend, for the benefit of his creditois, with a stated
allotnrient thereof, for his own and his forlorn family's bare maintenance.
This is now, and bus, for several years past, been the true circumstance
of this unfortunate Minister, and his sad and singular concerns. But
do not imagine that I feel or find any plum or pleasure, in the nature or
narration of the subject, farther than »o comply with your request; and
the justification of God's deep and divine providence. For otherwise
instead of being grieved or gangrened, for his treatment to me, blessed
be the Lord's name, I have, for a long score of years now past, reckoned
and lanked him, though indirectly, among the very best of my friends
in the world. For heaven has truly done me much good, and shown
me singular mercies, both for time and eternity, through his means and
measures. Probablv. I shonlrl upvp . .< ■
)rji(
1!S CO!!!!
her(
T h
met so many benefits and privileges— though certainly l)UMi(Ied wiih
sorj-i
40
Ik
lit •«
I fj'
-■'. i
i-'.
li'nn ^'!r ?w^ tewplations- but for the prosecution, ,f not the pers.cu.
i.^^ o*^ /he main Bubject of my rare narrative; so that I should far
ra her pat and p,ty, than pounce and poker hint; did he even enjoy the
n^tJ.fnn??. ""V''^^"'' n'«y ^"'i pride, of his better days, and fondest
anticipat.on. My sincerest desire is, that Heaven vould errant hira
saving conv.ct.on-though but rarely obtained, in his now almost despe-
rate condition-before his appearance, at the serious and solemn, fatal
and final, tribunal of the great God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
As the history of his faiher-in-lavv's family is, for a series of years, so
closely connected with that of the Doctor; and involves also some sin-
gular circumstances, 1 judge it not superfluous to treat a little further
on the subject. I have already touched on the opulence of this family,
1 heir parsimoniousness squared every inch and item of all their art and
^ llnence. 1 he man, in particular, was the next step to a miser. All
his land property was highly rented to his tenantry. In [.Is youth
through the influence of his haughty and hard-hearte/i mother, his sub'
jects were sorely oppressed ; especially by the pression of young men
for the army. 1 he old lady, m order to obtain these posts of honor for
Her other sons, and to reserve unretrenched, accordincr to habit the
whole estate for him, left no means untried for that pui pose. The cries
and curses of motheis and maidens, of sisters and sweethearts of victims
and widows were dismal and dolorous, terrible and tremendous, on that
account ilis said brothers, who should be glad to enjoy the sweets
and safety of private and domestic life, were chased abroad, by maternal
pride and paternal avarice; where their fatal destiny soon and soundly
repaid the mood and motives of their dark and dire expatriators This
Baron possessed all the necessary arts for amassing wealth. The chan-
nels ot his income were several and sure ; but those of his outlays
shuffling and sparing. His numerous tenants were taxed witn extra
abor besides their -ent; who, during their tithe days, received from
tneir lord only a skinny and scanty dinner— the rest at their own mercy
His domestic servants, especially the male, generally messed on barley
bread and whey-seven banuocks in the lippy-by cook and kitchen
Jaw and legislation ; and all the other household arrangements of the
same standard of economy. He had a hundred milch cows, in two
stocks besides lesser folds ; and sheep and goats in abundance. I have
iormerly named the amount of his revenue and reserve. The heir of
this gentleman at his own death, became possessed of the accumulated
heritage of his father: but behold he was but a fool: though his foolery
not had been legally identified, till it was too late to supersede his prodi-
gality and extravagance. Oi. this ground, he was the ve-y contrast and
counterplot of his father. It would be tedious, and beyond the aim of
these brief and summary remark.s, to enumerate a decimal of the parti-
culars of his ridiculous errors and irregularity. One instance of vvhich
may be sufficient :-Bemg sei.t to College-not to treat of his low and
lan-liable courtship— he was, as was natural, found incapable of proper
improvement; in consequence of which a fellow-student one day accost-
ed him «n the following ironical interrognte • "We!!, Mr, Kenny ! how
■ \.
•t ihe pefsccU'
at I should far
even enjoy the
ys, and fondest
3uld grant hira
w almost despe-
id solenvn, fatal
Christ.
ies of years, so
also some sin-
a little further
of this family,
ill their art and
) a miser. All
In [.Is youth,
lother, his sub-
of young men
ts of honor for
: to habit, the
se. The cries
arts, of victims
•ndous, on that
ijoy the sweets
d, by maternal
n and soundly
riators. This
1. The chan-
of his outlays,
ced wild extra
received from
ir own mercy.
3ed on barley
k and kitchen
ements of the
cows, in two
ance. I have
The heir of
I accumulated
gh his foolery
ede his prodi-
,' contrast and
nd the aim of
1 of the parti-
mce of which
his low and
ble of proper
e day accost-
Kenny ! how
S15
do you come on now with your Greek Grammar V Reply--" Indeed,
Sir, very well ; for I have gone through it." " Indeed !" aaid his feliovr,
"that is excellent beyond comparison." " Och, mind, though," said
Kenny, " it was, as you see," handing over the book, " with the red-hot
pok.^r !" This foolish heritor, after a few years of expensive folly, died
childless ; and, as might be expected, left his estate m the hands of
aliens; and under the clutches of the law and lawyers. T.'e olJer of
his two brothers succeeded him, but for a very short time, when he also
died. The unmanly prosecution of the Doctor against the estate; and
in fond and foolish expectation of obtaining it for his own children, left
no chance for the third and last male of the line; who served then ai
an ordinary clerk, in a mercantile house in London. The consequence
was, as formerly suggested, the fatal and final forfeiture of the estate,
from all the breed and branches jf the family. A rich excommunicated
wretch of seven bastards, has lately purchased it, from the hands of
retainers ; when tho surviving heirs could neither redeem it, nor even
answer the cry, and craving voice, of their own pressing and piivato
demands. " There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth ; and there is
that vvithholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poveity." "He
that trusteth in his riches shall fall." —Proverbs.
I have now finished what I intended on the subjects of your inquiry ;
and you may rest assured that I have stated nothing unfounded ; but
what came either under my own immediate cognizance, or was familiar
and current in my neighborhood. In some instances, I have rather
mitigated than magnified the peevishness and passions, misconception
and m ^conduct, penury and pride, of the heroes of my tale; and for
fear of prolixity, passed over a mass of matter of equal interest, and
similar importance, with what is brought on the stage. As for instance,
the tedious s( ,ggle which subsisted between the Doctor and the moro
eminent religious professors in Ross-shire, on the subject of Judaa the
traitor's efficiencc, or evanescence, expedience or expunction, on the
score of his saintship and -^ervicei; as re^r^rds the imitation and instruc-
tion, or abjuration and abjection of futt re ages. In the dispute of
which, the Doctor, like the generality of his tribe, of the day, strenuously
endeavored to support the claims of this grand and groundvvork-Aposile,
against all his disclaimers and despisers : Judas casting out devils, con-
verting sinners, communicating at the Lord's Supper with Christ him-
self and his disciples, and what not! ergo, a wicked preacher, a vora-
nious poacher, an avaricious purser, and even the very thief and traitor
and devil of a Judns, may now do all well in the Church of God, and for
her benefit and beauty, nutriment and number! !
Without further tedium, till you may choose, if ever, to write me again,
I remain,
Dear Sir,
Yours, Alc.
N. M.
1
310
\
i'- '«.
riOME BRIEF REMARKS, UY THE COMPILER,
OlM ^R^ KO«S' JUDAS. AND PORTERS RECENT PUBLICATION ON
EPISCOPAL ORDINATION AND APOSTouICAL SUCCESSION.
now *i'ht 'J'^'^'f''^ P'i'«» »hat the sacred bones of St. Judas were not
c?»Tnn nf .1 "'^''" r^'"' *°^ resuscitatcd by the rejrular u.e and appli
nf «3. p . L '' ' to"- •" il>at case, this glorious AposUe, instead
of CanterbuX^ 1' T^'^/f '''" '^' ^°P^ °'^^°'"«' ^^^^ Arc'hbilop
cute nf 7' .r^ '^^^p^^o^erator of the General Assembly of the
Church of Scotland ! Th.s would prove a most sublime Apostolical
valid and vaunted ecclesiastical ordination, to both Popery and Prelacy
without any preposterous and painful, padding a.d ^afchinV of the
Ai d vp Tc f ""i ^''^"7«'-'°«^ since never-found consecution;
ThnrA ' . "• ', °[ '' ''''•'' «P''-it"a' service to a vapid or vitiated
or hv ;i • Vr^'u'^^'' r^'^'i' ^''"""Sy'- tJ^ough bragged and boa.ted
«.;H^/n ^^'°"'^"''^'?°°^ '"^ ''^"y' "'"'^'^^'•y ^"*^ mania, new for a thou-
sand odd years together: and whose claimers and clappers, clinkers and
undU .5 . ^? ''JT^'''' "' '" ^'^^ ^'■'^^'•y' '^^'^' ^"d damnable ages,
under he dearth and domination of Popish anti-Ch.istianity. Indulge
me for th.s Inst and light digression ; which is partly excited by the peru!
sal of some late publicaiions-on the subject concerned-most disgust-
ing disconcerted, and deranged. Among {>ther offensive stuff and sfeal
rln^ u""^ M '"« "''"'■^' '' " P''"'^'^ ^^'•"^0". J"«t published in this
rpnlv R . shameless novice; and that is hardly worth any serious
Dan nhlPi i° '^ ""fr ^t^^^^'^"^ conspicuously pervade the whole
l]"J^^^'\ ^^'^y ^''if'^^f^ood.perverswn ^nd pridej compose its very
the'^rood n?onl?%'''°°^ '"^m ^"u"^ ' ^^^^''^ ^''' ^^^^^^ -^ shame for
Inpnfrr^ ^. f . u °"^ "eighborhood, who have any ise been instru-
ZlJ/u 7'"^ !,'''^ ^""'^ circulation ; unless th., purposely intend-
ed thereby, so far to disarm and disgrace, the religious socety expressly
ftlhered, in its pompous publication. It is likely that incensed rigCs
Heaven permits not only the spiritual delusion of high'y-conceitfd rdi-
fSta^S t"\r ''"", ^"^ '■''' ''''''' '' '^''^'^ ignorance abe
extend to v.. ^hese under review-but that their cramp and curse
317
groundless notions of that odd and nM \A\» m,,^ m^i .
tTm h ?"""' ^"'. ^^'•io^s'y vvish to deal tenderly with dl those of
iro^eVlv f^r ;IV.^^ ^^ ^PP^^'-'^ies. to exa^nin^ tile ub ect
nnh 1 i r u ^'.'^'' ^'"^ *'" "'^^ account, are more to be pitied than
ui^b a.dea. for the.r .gnor.nce on controverted articles of f«iih^ To such
Sous Dr Dol^^r''".'" '^''r^^' °'' '^' '«»^ «"'! iearnd pithy and
an uninterrupted succession of bishops, and wh ch maL he val id it of
nVe'th^ lst".rlf ';'?\" "'"'^'"^ '^^^"^ "P- -d! a sue c tin
since there is so great a darkness upon many periods of ecclesiasticn
oi the Church of Rome, though that Church was so celebrated- ami
Euseb.us himself, from whom the greatest patrons of thl doc fne'ha e
made the.r catalogues, expressly owns that it is no eZ mT er ro tei'
who succeeded the Apostles in the government of he Churches excen
n^g such as may be collected from St. Paul's own words/' '.ConSd
elections ,n a most all considerable cities, make it very dubious whch
were the true bishops; and decrees of councils. renderiLail tl.ose ordi
nations null where any simoniacal contract wa^ the founda. o of them
makes it impossible to prove that there is now upon earth any one ne^^
son who IS a legal successor of the Apostles; at least. accSn.rto'^th;
pnnc.ples of the Roman Church. Consequently, whatever s stem is
built on this doctrine must be very precarious " ^
Let us hear the testimony of Dr. Whitbv, a high rooal aufhnri v
upon this point : quoted by the Rev. Mr. N^ilson^of Ro. say.^ o ^^^^^^^^^^^^
some of his own judicious remarks on the same subject :-'« Where s
some compare the bishops to the Apostles," says he "the seventy to
he presbyters of the Church, and thence conclude that d vers orders n
the m.ms ry were instituted by Christ himself. It must be gran ed that
some of the ancients did believe these two to be diverse ordf" and ha
hose of the seventy were inferior to the order of Apostles and some
times they make the comparison here mentioned. But hen'i must be
also granted that this comparison will not strictly hold, for U-eevlty
eceive not their mission as presbyters do. from bishops but 'mediate-
]y from the Lord Christ, as well as the Apostles, and in their fi st m 3-
•'To add'aSir'^ ''"?r'" ^^'"^ '''"■' ^"^ -'^h the same pTwer"
.ama '^1'"° ?!.'::!:°'^ '^'f '!^'^ ^ deliverance from Whitby," Ly. tha
!(h(
were a v.ork of supererogation.
L„
!'l^
1 1'
ti
sii
" I^qiinlly untenable i<* the argument founded upon the extraordinary
office-bearer • in apostolic times. It is a favorite idea of Prelatisig, and
in fact tlie key-atone of the entire hierarchical fabric, that dioceaan
bishops are the immediate successors of the Apostles. Such n supposi-
tion, however, proceeds upon a total oversight of the plain and important
distinction already referred to, between extraordinary-temporary, and
ordinary-permanent office-bearers. That apostles, prophets, and evan-
gelists belong to the former clays is, one would think, too obvious to
need proof or require illustration. Take for instance the Apostle — the
chosen model of the diocesan bial op — and yoi. find that he required
the followinjr qualifications: lie must have personally seen the Lord;
must have obtained, immediately from Christ, his commission; must
have the power not merely of working miracles, but of communicating
miraculous power to others ; and po^^crfs authority, not limited to a
particular congregation, parish, or diocese, but extending equally over
all the churches. Now, if modern bishops will insist upon being the
successors and representatives of ihe Apostles, it is perfectly fair to call
upon then^ to establish the validity of their claim, by exhibiting the
above credentials ; and since this is out of the question, let them at
once and for ever renounce their arrogant and groundless pretensions.
It has been truly and justly remarked, ' that as the office of the Apostles
was such as to requirei extraordinary and miraculous endowments for
the discharge of many parts of it, it is impossible that they can have
any successors in those services, who are not empowered for the execu-
tion of them as the Apostles themselves were.' It is very s'range, too,
by the way, that while the Apostles have so many pretended successors,
there is no actempt mode to find representatives and successors of the
prophets and evangelists. Why should one class of these extraordinary
office-bearers have legitimate dcicendants, and not the other two ? But
the Apostles had an ordinary as well as an extraordinary character, and
they accordingly assumed liic nar.)e,and performed the d Mcs of ordinary
ministers. In this capacity, it is worthy of remark, Oui tney ne\ er took
the designation — bishop — which their pretended successors approprirate
.so exclusively — but that of presbyter, o/ elder. A -ordingly, Peter says,
the presbyters which are among you, I exhort, who am also a presbyter.
(I Epis. v. 1.) In their ordinary ministerial c'laracter they preached
the word — the grand and leading part of their work, in which they
peculiarly delighted — dispnnsed the seals of the covenant — ordained,
although rarely, and by no means exclusively, and exercised the func-
tions of discipline and government. Now, all these were competent to
presbyters in apostolic times, as well as subsequent ages. Yes, presby-
ters exercised l)oih 'the prerogative of government, and the privilege of
ordamii.'g,' — which diocesan bishops claim as their exclusive right — in
common with the A|)ostles themselves. Of the former we have an ex-
ample in the aj)peal irom Antioch to the Apostles and elders- presbyters
at Jerusalem; (Acts xv.) and of the laiter in the fact that Timothy was
ordained by tne layini on of the hands of the presbytery, (1 Tim. iv. 14.)
And in regard to the preaching of the word, which is unquestionably the
lu
*.!;h|-
»xtraortlinary
relntisis, and
that dioccaan
:h a eupposi*
nd important
nporary, and
Is, and evan-
10 ol)vious to
Apostle — the
lie required
in the Lord ;
lission ; must
inmunicating
limited to a
equally over
on being the
ly fair to call
Khibiting the
, let them at
I pretensions,
the Apostles
owments for
ley can have
or the execu-
s'range, too,
d successors,
jssors of the
jxtraordinary
ir two ? But
tiaracter, and
3 of ordinary
;y neier took
s .'ippropriate
y, Peter says,
• a presbyter.
)ey preached
1 which they
it — ordained,
sd the func-
competent to
Yes, presby-
3 privilege of
ive right — in
have an ex-
!- presbyters
Timothy was
Tim. iv. 14.)
stionablv the
far most difficult and important part of the ministerial nork ii will not
be queat.oaed. we presuu.e, that the teaching elder, of Pre by terfa^
churches h .ve copied the example of the Anostles ns fnitl,n.ii„ . i
iLtrr ''^'°^t' ''i'eachin'g.. it hL bC'^el -^^ e ^ !*L'"f
efvic. T'^ I" '^' ^^7''"' ^""^"^^ '^ '» 'h« "'«»» useful an 1 laborious
tinn of' ^IT'l""^ ''^^ '^^ P'-i»cip--^I work of the Apostles. The am b.!
tion of prelates has inverted this divine order Prpu-hin /;« .t
est service in the Popish and Episco;a7churcr"rrn:.;'^-;:
servient to the government of bishops and popes. The bi hoos exal
Li^" T^ be : "''• «°— r - -itE tLm the p'rin^S.;?
rejigion. lo be in power is more dignified than to edify ' This olas»
Apost es, the order of bishops has its foundation in carnal and unholv
asp'jat.cns after worldly pomp and aggrandizement. Se u g "ide " ei^
n'd woToni^AotZ' ""' ^^^^^rr'^ ^-Porary. in t^.e'Slc! '^
fif.^« ° ^''^ creature priest, there is no such name or its use with anv
fitness row in the world. For the word «n«< is surely and p- lv«
Lev.tical designation; and so answers no ^purpoewlatlerJi hfess
' As thereP?:f ' ''"" ''? ""''''^ ^-Pensatfon.' Whlttaker s ays tr f
As there IS now no sacrifice, so neither is there any Driest' ood " A Z
^ar Tn', T^tl ''f'\ -.^-^^^^g-' that^'^^he mi^Llce (of r' '
bp^n ?L • I "S^'."^^" °^ P''^^'^ ^^ t>Pes of the gospel nin.stry ) has
been the original and foundation of many errors.'' ''The Zt,! tor!
E ter'; "--employed in the inspired Llume to poirlt'o'u t'K
TZTJ: . "° ""l ^^^ '"'"3^ departures from Scripture-warrant of
ca one nr'?r"'" '" '^e Churches of Rome and En^nd, t , hey
call one of the c.aers .f their ministers priests." Under the New tI?
anient system, the very name of priest or priests is de es ble exc 'p;
Jesus^Ch^n't "T ^'" 'l^ ^'^'''^^'^ ^^'g'^ P^'«^'. the Lord and SaS
fivP U hn • ^""^ '7 °'^''" '" '''^'^^P^ ^-^ «««"'"e the u.iscriptural apnella
P iP«.h?n.' ^'li"'"'/""'^ of Jewish, Pagan, or Popish antUChri tSJ
mpendmg displeasure, for the puntLent of bolb/af hey have for »
Pone . nl I " ''"f "•""'• °"' """i"-! Proteslantism, and n.,al
cor^d ^b„. rhi?I^n 'y['\ ""P ""' "■»"''" 'OS^'^O'. i" mon's.rous" on-
ioL7rJ.°3%trA':, 1".''. P""" ■"<>;"; according to ,;,e following
- ..... .^,^a ,^^„, an ^.y,; gp,^jj between Abimeiech and tho
d20
:>P'
11
tnen of Sliechem."~-.Tudge9. " They did not destroy the nations, corl*
cerning whom the Lord commanded them : But were mingled among
the heathen, and learned their works. And thev served their idols j
which were a snare unto them. * * * Therelore was the wrath of the
Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own
inheritance. And hegrve them into the hand of the heathen; and they
that hated them ruled over them." &c.— Psalm cvi. " As for such as
turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with
the workers of iniquity." — Psalm cxxv. "A companion of fools shall
be destroy2d."~Proverbs. " The friandship of the world is enmity with
God." — St. James. "I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor
hot : I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot, 1 will spue thee out of my mouth." — Rev. iii.
*' And I heard another voice from heaven, saying. Come out of hei, ray
people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of
her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath
remembered her iniquities." — Rev. xvii:.
Let it be observed that the author sincerely believes, and freely ac-
knowledges, that a great proportion, not only of the useless and offensive,
empty and erroneous, orisons and observances, ceremonies and services,
of Prelacy, was once,— respecially during the first three centuries, ac-
cording to truly authentic Church history,— quite differently induced
and intended, on the part of some of the best and brightest spiritual
luminaries that ever have enlightened our world, from what it now im-
plies and involves; and has, for a tedious time past, merely or mainlv,
sadly or solely, designed , but that a considerable share, even of tlie
mummery and mystery, errors and heresies, of Popery itself, consists in,
or is founded on, usages and umbrages, practices and penalties, which
had, at some former periods, been either partially or pointedly, whaly or
wholly, commissional and commendable, precious -nd praiseworthy.
The abusive or abortive, preposterous or supers!" .^„s, idolatrous or
imbonitous imitation, of rare and real goodness and greatness, is one of
the worst and vastest religious evili' and errors in Christendom. From
Buch abuse, Moses' miraculous serpent, in the wilderness, became
Hezekiah's " Nehustan"— brass or bubble.— 2 Kings. The most, if not
all, of the following superfluous, ceremonious, superstitious, heretical, or
idolatrous, existing exactions or exercises, requisites or rules, had once
been held, in a mott beneficial and benign, extacy and estimation,
among the first Christians, viz : — Anathemas and absolutions, bishoprics
and benedictions, celibacy and cemeteries, crossing and crucifixes,
doxologies and dedication, fastings and funeral-rites, hosties and holy-
days, idolatry and interdicts, lents and lauras, litanies and legends,
rnonasteries and martyrologies, oratories and ordination, penances ind
pilgrimages, responses and relics, surplices and servitesism, tithes and
tradition, vestries and vigils. Vide "Jamieson's Manners and Trials
rf the primitive Christians;" and "Buck's Theological Dictionary."
r, !
^
nations, con*
ngled among
i thfcir idols ;
//rath of the
red his own
eii ; and they
for such as
m forth with
if fools shall
i enmity with
her cold nor
rt lukewarm,
."—Rev. iil.
It of hei, ray
iceive not of
nd God hath
nd freely ac-
nd offensive,
arid services,
enturies, ac-
itly induced
est spiritual
t it now im-
f or mainly,
even of the
, consists in,
ilties, which
lly, whaly or
raiseworthy.
dolatroub or
ss, is one of
lorn. From
ess, became
most, if not
heretical, or
23, had once
estimation,
s, bishoprics
i crucifixes,
Bs and holy-
nd legends,
;nances ind
I, tithes and
3 and Trials
:tionary."
TO THE "MAXIMS
POSTSCRIPT
CONTAINED L\ TflE "REPLY" COMMENCED
AT PAGE 21:3.
In the hurry of other urgent calk, at the time of uriiinfr the fore-
going Maxims, to which the following Supplement refers,! forrrot to
mention one particular subject, Uiat I th^nk should have been p:irtic"ularly
noticed; because, though it is, of itself, unimportant, it is "et neither
seldom, nor in mere shadow, made a bone of contention between reli-rjous
parties, not otherwise at so much void or variance. And tlie arjoptiou
of the wrong side of the point in question— as is generally the case in
such circumstances— renders its adopters far more exposed to other
cindred errors ; and also prouder of their own .supposed superior lio-ht or
learning, attention or attainment; as well as proportionately less clreful
and corrigible: preposterous tenaciousness being one of the native
concomitants or consequents of every unexcusable misconception and
misconduct.
The subject in view regarding " blood, and things strangled;" is what
1, with the generality of New Testament professors, freely believe to
have only been a temporary and discretionary prohibition, ur^red bv the
peculiar circumstances of the Christians, at the timej^and in'volvina no
possible point of morality for perpetuity; but has been evidently su°per.
seded according to a train of Scriptures, boii. by direction and deduction.
Whatsoever is set before you eat, asking no questions for conscience-
sake. 1 know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is
nothing unclean of itself." " But if thy brother be grieved .vith thy
meat, now walkest not thou charitably." " All things indeed are pure
but It IS evd for that man who eateth with offence."— St Paul To find
"fornication" and "the eating of blood" cringed and clasped under the
one and same sad interdict, instead of enjoining their equally permanent
general, and moral obligaiion, does rather show than shade, the merely
temporary binding of the latter; as founded only upon prudential
considerations, urged by incidental speciality.
The supposed necessary perpetual observance of this temporaneous
injunction and an(i.pa3dobaptiim,go now generally— though uncxclusively
—hand m hand. And 1 cannot but sincerely regret that so many
otherwise good and gracious people.' should be fuiind— with so little
hesitation, or refleciion— to adopt principles and practices— which are
so easily contested, or condemned, by far stronger arguments, both
sacred and scholastic— in the very teeth of a hundred to one of other
great and godly men ; whose creed and character, note and number
should point the scrupulosity, and pound the antagonism, of their
religious opponents, " In the multitude of counsellors there is safety "
— Proverbs. ^'
41 •
3-22
11 w
i
■i"'
Any moral, or religious distinction, between meats or meals — poa^
terior to the decent and dutiful, gradual and graceful, embalming and
burial of the ceremonial law — is directly repugnant to the genius of the
Gospel.
I do not choose to censure uncharitably, on this ground, either
any excusable ignorance, or corrigible tenderness of conscience ; but
I fear not to wound the wilfulness and vanity, stubbornness and stupor,
of all who labor under the error here boldly expressed and briefly
exposed.
In conclusion. I take the liberty of quoting a few unequal stanzas
from a recent poem on the distinguishing tenets of Baptists ; wherein
their pretended religious sagacity, or superior knowledge, in the Scrip-
tures, is compared to Esau's born beard ; or sham sageness, and childish
seniority ; and also Leah's tender eyes, as quite serviceable in the dark,
untried by the noon-light. And though I feel far from desirous of need-
lessly irritating them or any other pariy, yet 1 am fully satisfied, that
their communities, in most places, are deeply, if not desperately, under
the common cramp and curse of the frivolousness and formalism, vapid-
ness and vanity, which now manifestly and mournfully pest and pervade
the religious world. The Loru commiserate them, if they take offence
at my faithful, though frightful, admonition and correction, on this
serious subject.
'LA.S Esau's birth with bushy beard.
And Leah's blear eyeballs in bed,
So's proud pretence to texts' infuse
Beyond the muse of us'al breed.
A Baptist wench can quench her soul
In dream, drought, drawl and dearth.
By once foregoing strangled prowl,
And blood expounded death !
Immcrsif ' wipes her white as flower
From Sin, sod, sour, and soot : •
She beats John Knox and Fox in lore;
And dreads no more a doubt !
Ten thousand martyrs fast behind —
As blockheads, blinds, and bats —
She drops: unworthy of her mind,
All * unbaplised' are brats !"
1^,"
W
■ .T
[round, either
SHORT EXTRACTS FROM BUNYAN'S "HOLY WAR."
According to the scopo of the 1st Chapter of the Epistle to the Ephe-
sians — from the 3d to the 15th verse; and numerous other correspondent
texts; a few of which run as follow :—" Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings
in heavenly places in (Christ; According as he hath chosen us in him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without
blame before him in love : Having predestinated us unto the adoption of
children by Jfisus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of
his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made
us accepted in the beloved." * * * "In whom also we have obtained an
inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who
worketh all things after the counsel of his own will :" * * * "In whom
also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise.
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the
purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
HOLY WAR.
"By this time Diabolus had finished his army, which he intended to
bring with him for the ruin of Mansoul ; and ha(' set over rhem captains,
and other field ofilcers, such as liked his furious stomach best; himself
was lord paramount, Incredulity was general of his army. The highest
captains shall be named afterwards; but now for their officers, colours
and esciitcheons. '
" 1. Tiioir first captain was Captain Rage, he was captain over the
Election-doubters; his were the red colors, his standard bearer was Mr.
Destructive, end he- had for his escutcheon the great red dragon.
^ "2. The second captain was Captain Fury, he was captain over the
Vocation-doubters; his standard bearer was Mr. Darkness; his colours
were those that were pale, and he had for his escutcheon the fiery flying
serpent. ^
" 3. The third captain was Captain Damnation, he was captain over
the Grace-doabters ; his were the red colours, Mr. No-life bare them,
r.nd he had for his escutcheon tlie black den.
"4. The fourth captain was Captain Insatiable, he was captain over
the Faith-doubters; his were the red colours, Mr. Devourer bare them,
and he had for an escutcheon the yawning jaws.
"5. The fifth captain was Captain Brimstone, he was captain over
the Perseverance-doubters ; his also were the red colours, Mr. Burning
bare them, and his escutcheon was the blue and stinking (lame.
"G. The sixth captain was Captain Torment, he was captain over
the Resurrection-doubters; his colours were those that were pale,
Mr. Gnaw was his ancient-bearer, and he had the black worm for his
coGiiicheon,
u
\ i
'.> :
' •
^11.
" 7. The seventh captaii. was Captain No-ease, he was captain over
the Salvntion-doiihiera; his vv^re tlie red colours, Mr. Restless bare
them, and his escutcheon was the ghastly picture of death.
"8. The eighth captain was the Captain Sepulchre, he was captain
over the Glory-doubters; his also were the pale colours, Mr. Corruption
was his ancient-bearer, and he had for his escutcheon a scull, and dead
men's bones.
" 9. The ninth captain was Captain Fast-hope, he was captain of those
that are called tlie Felicity-doubters ; his ancient-bearer was Mr. Despair ;
his also were the rc;d colours, ard his escutcheon was the hot iron and
the hard heart.
"Now when Diabolus saw that Emmanuel's captains were come out,
and that so valiantly they surrounded his men, he concluded (that for
the present) nothing from them was to be looked for bin blows, and the
dints of their two-edged sword.
" Wherefore he als-» fnlls on upon the Prince's army, with all his
deadly force. So the battle was joined. Now, who was it that at first
Diabolus met with in the fight, but Cap>ain Credence on the one hand,
and Lord Will-be-will on the other : now Will-be-will's blows were like
the blows of a giant; for that man had a strong arm, and he fell in upon
the Election-doubters; for they were the life-guard of Diabolus ; and he
kept them in play a good while, cutting and baltoring shrewdly. Now
when Captain Credence saw my Lord engaged, he did stoutly fall on,
on the other hand, upon the same company also ; so they put them to
great disorder.
" Now Captain Good-hope had engaged the Vocation-doubters, and
they were blurdy men : bm the Captain was a valiant man : Captain
Experience did also send hihi some aid, so he made the Vocation-doubters
to retreat. The rest of the armies were hotly engaged, and that on
every side, and the Diabolians did fight stoutly. "
•' Now when Diabolus saw that he and his forces were so hard beset by
the Prince and iiis princely army, what does he and the lords of the pi*,
hat were with him, but make their escape, and forsake their army, and
eavo them to fall by the hand of Emmanuel, and of his noble Capt.iin
Jredence ; so they fell all down slain before them; before the Prince,
and before his royal army ; there was not left so much as one Doubter
alive, they lay spread upon the ground dead men, as one would spread
dung upon the land."
After this, some others of these Diabolian Doubters, being found lurk-
ing in Mansoul, were brought to trial and execution, according to the
following statement : —
"Then they called the outlandish Doubters to the bar; and the first
of them that was arraigned was the Election-doubter ; so his indictment
v.as read, and because he was an outlandish man, the subst.-^nce of it was
told him by an interpreter; to wit, That he was charged with being an
enemy of Emmanuel the Prince, a hater of the town of Man?ou!, and an
nnposer of her most wholesome doctriuo.
|l Ij:
325
<X foun<l luik-
^ ^ " Then the Judge asked him if he would plead ? But he said only thig,
That he confessed he was an Election-doubter ; and that was the religiiii
that he had ever been broutrht up in. And said, moreover, if I must die
for my religion, I trow I shall die a martyr, and so I care the loss.
" Judge. — Thei^ it was replied, To question election is to overthrow n
great doctrine of the gospel; to wit, the omniscience, and power, and
will of God ; to take away the liberty of God with his creature; to stum-
ble the faith of the town of Mansoul; and to make salvation to depend
upon works and not upon grace. It also belied the word, and disouieted
the minds of the men of Mansoul ; therefore, by the best of laws, he
must die.
*' Then was the Vocation-doubter called, and set to the bar; and his
indictment for substance was the same with the other : only he was par-
ticularly charged with denying the calling of Mansoul. The judee asked
him also. What he had to say for himself?
" So he replied, That he never believed there was any such thing as a
distir.^t and povy-erful call of God to Mansoul, otherwise than by the gene-
ral voice of ilic word; iior by that neither, otherwise than as it exhorted
them to forbear evil, and to do that which is good; and in so doing a
promise of happiness is annexed.
" Then said the judge, Thou art a Diabolian ; and hast denied a great
part of one of the most experimental truths of the Prince of the town of
Mansoul: for he has called, and she has heard a most distinct and power-
ful call of her Emmanuel, by which she has been quickened, awakened,
and posseised with heavenly grace to desire to have communion with her
Prince, to serve him, and to do his will, and to look fur her happiness
merely of his good pleasure. And for thine abhorrence of this good
doctrine, thou must die the death.
" Then the Grace-doubter was called, and his indictment read ; and
he replied thereto, That though he was of the land of Doubling, his
father was the ofispring of a Pharisee, and lived in good fashion amono-
his neighbors; and that he taught him to believe, and believe it I do, and
will, that Mansoul shall never be saved freely by grace.
•■Then said the Judge, Why, the law of the Prmce is plain : 1. Nega-
tively, Not of works. 2. Positively, By grace ye are saved. And thy
religion settleth in and upon the works of the flesh, for the works of the
law are the works of the flesh. Besides, in saying as thou hast done,
thou hast robbed God of his glory, and given it to a sinful man ; thou
hast robbed Christ of the necessity of his undertaking, and the sufficiency
thereof, and hast given both these to the works oi tiie flesli. Thou hast
despised the work of the Holy Ghost, and hast magnified the wii: of the
flesh, and of the legal mind. Thou art a Diabolian ; the son of < Diabo-
lian;^ and for thy Diabolian principles thou must die.
" The court then having proceeded thus far with them, sent out
the jury, who forthwith brought them in guiliy of death. Then stood
up the Recorder, and addressed himself to the prisoners: You, the
prisoners at the bar, you have been here indicted and proved guilty
crisnes agamcil iiiinmanuel our Prince, and a«T,iu!5i r
iio uoiiuie
32G
of the famous town of Mcnsoul ; crimes for wliich you must be put
to death ; aud die ye accordingly.
" So they were sentenced to the death of the cross. The place
assigned liieu: for execution was that where Diabolus drew uo his last
army against Mansoul ; save only that old Evil-questioning— who en-
tertained them— wns hanged at the top of Bad-street, just over against
his own door."
By the foregoing extracts, the reader may see in what an abhorrent
timation tlie good and gracious Bunyan held those Arminian doubters
and doctrine. " And others eave with fear, nulling them out of the
fire."~St. Jude.
:u
ANECDOTE OF A CLERGYMAN,
SOME YEARS 1»AST, ITINER.\TING THROUGH CAFE-BRETOiN.
The Rev. Mr. M. K. commenced a circuit, for the purpose of baptising
t hildren, in order to obiain the small sums pror'.ured by the administration
of the rite under remark. But as another Minister, Mr. M. L. N., of
greater esteem, in the view of the " pious," was then expected from ano-
tlier quarter, several of the parents of unbaptiaed children objected to the
bervice of the first clergyman ; against whose demurring he assured them
that they had no ground for their present anti. ipation ; for that their
expected favorite w;is not to appear at that period— although he well
knew the reverse— as the sequel proved, even before the first°circuiteer
but scn-ceiy finished his round; a dexterous trick, which keenly otfended
the religious people most concerned, on this subject. For till this day,
they cannot have fostered the slightest doubt of the first tourist's perfect
information of his official brother's time of intended appearance; accord-
ing to resolved ecclesiastical appointment between them, as members of
the same Synod, if not— tho' then rather distant— of ihe same Presbytery.
Oh, the mean trap and trickery, falsehood and fraud; for such a paltry
pittance, as the baptismal fees! And all this peddling manceuvre under
the mask and motion of piety and priesthood, is here" the pensive point
of our admonition and admiration ! " A man sins for a piece of bread."
— Proverbs.
iji
BRETON.
SHORT EXTRACTS
FROM BRAhXERD'S JOURNAL OF REVIVAL AMONG THE INDIANS.
Since our Revivalists are forever found to harp and howl, on the
pretended similarity of their own convulsive and confounded revival,
with that evangelical work which obtained under the gracious instru-
mentality of that justly-noted Missionary of the American Indians, the
Rev. David Brainerd, I cannot but think it duty, to such as are ignorant
of the wide contrast, of the two subjects, to quote a few paragraphs from
the Journal of the sound and sensible Author himself, for their simple
and seasonable information, and serious and sober consideration.
"It is further remarkable," Mr. Brainerd writes, "that God has car-
ried on his work here by such means and in such a manner, as tended to
obv'ate and leave no room foi those prejudices and objections that have
often been raised against such a work. — When persons have been
awakened to a solemn concern for their souls, by heaping the more
awful truths of God's Word and the terrors of the divine law insisted
upon, it has usually, in such cases, been objected by some, that such
persons were only frighted, and that there was no evidence that their
concern was the effect of a divine influence : but God has left no room
for this objection in the present case, this work of grace having been
begun and carried on by almost one continued strain of Gospel invita-
tion to perishing sinners; as may reasonably be guessed, from a view
of the passages of Scripture which I chiefly insisted on in my discourses
from time to time; which I have for that purpose inserted in my
Journal. Nor have I ever seen so general an awakening in any assem-
bly in my life, as appeared here, while I was opening and insisting
upon the parable of the Great Supper ; in which discourse I was ena-
bled to set before ray hearers the unsearchable riches of Gospel grace;
Not that I would have it understood here, that I never instructed the
Indians respecting their fallen state, and the sinfulness and misery of it ;
for this was what I at first chiefly insisted on with them, and endeavored'
to repeat and inculcate in almost every discourse; knowing that
without this foundation I should but build upon the sand, and that it
would be in vain to invite them to Christ unless I could convince
them of their need of him : (Mark xi. 17 :) but still this great awaken-
ing, this surprising concern, was never excited by any harangues of
terror, but always appeared most remarkable when I insisted "on the
compassion of a dying Saviour, the plentiful provisions of the Gospel,
and the tree offers of divine grace to needy distressed sinners. Nor
would I be understood to insinuate, that such a religious concern might
justly be suspected as not being genuine and from a divine influence,
because produced by the preaching of terror; for this is, perhaps, God's
3-28
It f
more usual way of nvvakeniii^ einiierg, nnd appears entirely agreeable to
Scripture and sound reason : but what 1 meant to observe here is, that
(jiod saw fit to improve and bless milder means for the elTectual awaken-
inc; of these Indians ; and thereby obviated the forementioned objection,
which the world might otherwise have had a more plausible colour of
inakincf. And, as there has been no room for any plausible objection
against this work, in regard of the means; so neither in regard of the
.Tianner in which it has been carried on.
"It is true, persons' concern for their souls has been exceeding great ;
tlie' convictions of their sin and misery have risen to a hi"h decree,
and produced innny tears, criee, and groans : but then they have not
been attended with those disorders, cither bodily or mental, that have
sometimes prevailed arr^ong persons under religious impressions. There
has here been no appearance of those ' convulsions, bodily agonies,
frightful screamings, swoonings,' and the like, that have been so much
complained of in some places ; although there have been some, who,
with the jailer, have been made to tremble under a sense of their sin
and misery; nunibers who have been made to cry out from a distressing
view of their perishing state; and some that have been, for a time, in a
great measure, deprived cf their bodily strength, yet without any such
convulsive r.ppearances.
" Nor has there been any appearance of mental disorders here, such
as 'visions, trances, imaginations of being under prophetic inspiration,'
and the like ; or scarce any unbecoming disposition to appear remark-
ably affected either with concern or joy ; though, I must confess,
1 observed one or two persons whose concern, I thought, was in a
considerable measure affected, and one whose joy appeared to be of
the same kind. But these workings of spiritual pride, I endeavour-
ed to crush in their first appearances ; and have not since observed
any afllection, either of joy or sorrow, but what appeared genuine and
unaffected."
There is not the least turn given to the preceding abstract. And
its transcriber is free jn giving it his hearty approbation, and sincere-
ly pities the idleness or ignorance, wiles or wickedness, of such as
have access to the eminently pithy and pious Author's records and
remarks, on the subject; and our contrasted wild and frantic Revival;
and yet dare once fiddle or fancy, prattle or pronounce them, as any-
wise similar, in their instrument or inspiration, texture or tendency.
r,
ii
A DIALOGUE
Uetween alec and billy,
ON THE NEW SECESSION, FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.
Alf.c.-^J nin glad to meet you, Neigh'or Billy, in order to hear your
opinion of tlie late disruption, from the established Church of Scotland :
Who could hitherto believe that so much pith and power should be
found Hithm her pale and pale, as would effect the extraordinary sacri-
fices now made, in the view of the world?
Billy.— I freely admit, that I have myself been one of the number of
stiff unbelievers, lu the measures chosen by the Separatists; for 1 havo
thought indeed, that few or none of those great names would be found
to abandon their long and lordly privileges, whenever they should have
no alternative, but either to retain their former station, under the old
system ; or to turn Independents. But though I feel far from condemn-
ing their Secession— since I cannot but approve the action— yet you
need not expect from me any high opinion in their favor, according to
the general run of mankind, on this ground : Not 'hat I choose herein
to be singular; but that i must not, and dare not be otherwise.
Alec.—A\\(\ '' . you then suspect the real purity and piety of their
motives, when you so far approve their course and conduct?
Billi/.~A few £rnod actions, at the best, without consistency, are but
a meagre plea or p!ny to prove the Christianity of any man or multitude :
1 liough I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and give my body to
be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."— St. Paul.
ylicc— And can you show oiic.i luconsistencv in the general tenor of
these great men's conduct as would justify your suspicion of the pious
sincerity of their separation ?
Bill I/. —Whether I can or cannot form or frame vocables sufficient to
express my meaning, 1 have ample scope for fur more than mere sua-
picion on the subject.
J/tc— What (hen would you presume to allege as the principal
meaning or motives of their disunion? r r
Billy:— I do not pretend to discern what may have been the various
channels of inducement on this ground ; though I feel no hesitation i«
believing that religious pride and obstinacy, and ecclesiastical ambition
o boundless control, were evidently prominent, in all their long struggle,
till they found themselves at last, and almost, or all at once, sadly and
strangely disappointed ; and consequently "shut up," as quite past
remedy, in issue of their previous and buoyant brag and boast of pious
dismtercstedness : For when they finally understood their desperate
pOsUiou, lu tneir reiaiioa to the civil government, it was too late l»-
330
V
i i i
*.
retract, without risking their religious popularity, and superior credit
lor spirituality and sound principles, in the estimation of ail their partial
and blind adherents, and sympathizers, hoth at home and abroad In-
dulge the harsh-like expression, "partial and blind ;" for there is no-
thing short of wilfulncKs and judicial blindness that could ever leave
themselves, or others concerned, once doubtful of what is most manifest
to me, or any others open to conviction, and to ordinary means of infor-
mation, on the subject; according to the strain of my present, and
intended remarks on this ground.
Alec— I am one of those who do not believe that they were " shut
up to the course they adopted ;" for according to the sentiment of the
''Scotsman," "After the judgment in the Auchterarder case was con-
firmed by the House of Lords, a prudent man would have seen that
there was danger in committing himself farther in contending for the
Veto Law." And what, therefore, but eminently high principles of
honor, integrity and piety, could urge those active and engle-eyed, pro-
vident and prudent Ministers, once to resign t! eir several sTngular bene-
fits, and solemn and sounding titles; and, at the same time, to submit
to anticipated privation and reflection, persecution and mortification, of
no low degree, or ordinary mete or magnitude : Even the mere designa-
tion of Seceders, formerly so comparatively despicable in the tinkled and
tender ear of Establislmient Clergymen, should of itself weigh and worry
most mightily the delicate and dandled fibres and feelings of the manse
occupants and owners ; and perhaps, partly, in a deeper tone and tor-
ment, of the female tuft and tribe; whose private objections and oppo-
sition to the intended relinquishment, on the part of their Reverend
relatives, in their respective connections, at tlie mildest reckoning, can-
not be calculated without adding ample weight to the scale of ecclesiastic
Dependence; and must therefore proportionably and properly i agnify
the merit of the manliness and mind, the piety and power, which 'have
so truly and Iriumphntly preponderated -in favor of hitherto degraded
independence— all the forenaiued clashing and combined considerations;
and which are still but a brief summary of the dismal disadvantages that
might, on this score, be fitly and fairly heyed and enumerated ; "and as
edging or far exceeding the inconvenience of our first Seceders.
Billij. — On your estimate of the advantages under review, I feel no
reason to be at variance : Our disagreement is sadly and solely on the
ruling principles of the New Separation ; for when you and your misted
and mistaken party presume to make it all meet and meritorious; and
as running parallel with, or even exceeding the meeiness and merit of
the Old Secession, I am all- quite the reverse in my estimate, on this
ground; and feel most soundly disgusted at the counter and comparison.
But I rather take the balance of the sanctuary — the word of sacred truth
— ihan any other standard, to try the general conduct and conversation
of the party concerned.
Alec.—l boldly invite you, or any others, to try your standard at its
full stretch, in order to measure the principles and practice of our
gracious and glorious non-intrusionists ! Produce your reason and
331
uperior credit
ill their partial
I abroad. Iii-
»r there is no-
uld ever leave
most mnniiest
rienns of infor-
present, and
y were " shut
itimeiit of the
case was con-
ave seen that
riding Cor the
principles of
gle-eyed, pro-
lingular bene-
ne, to submit
unification, of
mere designa-
te tinkled and
gh and worry
of the manse
lone and tor-
)ns and oppo-
iir Reverend
jkoning, can-
•f ecclesiastic
)erly i agnify
, which have
irto degraded
nsiderations;
vantages that
ated ; and as
sders.
vv, I feel no
joleiy on the
your misted
torious; and
and merit of
nate, on this
comparison,
sacred truth
conversation
ndard at its
ctice of our
reason and
iraiiocination at the fullest and freest pitch of your power and poise, on
this nf.ost interesting and admirable subject of our settled sclcouth
sejunction !
Billy. — Since I am not now so ignorant as formerly of the wildness and
wilfulness of your cast of mind, and that of the party, whoso worth and
virtues you so strenuously wish to exaggerate ; and whoso startling and
strnngf vjipidness and vices, spiritual igno- ace and sliameless inconsisten-
cies you aim so eagerly, either to deck and dony,or to va.np and varnish,
I do not but little expect to convince you of your serious error, or rather
stubborn mistake, by any statement, however well supported, that I can
possibly mean or ma!'c on this ground. But some others may and
must hear and understand plain and pointed files and facts. It is not
to be expected that I should here enter on a long catalogue of the sins
and somnolence, heresy and whoredom, deceitfulness and darkness, of
the Church of Scotland, as including the two great parties, before their
final rupture; for that is done elsewhere. But now, if you can have
patience to hear me, I intend to treat at some length of some leading
points, as more express to my main purpose. As first. That there ever
has been, and still is. so little difference between the said parties, either
combinedly, or as component parts, in their moral, or religious conduct.
And if, in some instances, their professed sentiments, as to some arti-
cles of faith, have differed, eince their difference has hitherto had so
little influence on their practice— except some little sham-skirmishes,
chiefly arising evidently from ecclesiastical ambition, and self-interest,
though farcically named otherwise — What, I ask, is the real merit of
the one party over the other? For, if the said difference was of no
serious importrMice, their irreconcileable variance must, on both sides,
as Gospel Ministers, be judged very shameful and sinful ; and if the
ground of tiieir open division, and formal disunion, has been essential,
or eminent, and so worthy the current loft name of the N^w Sece-ssion,
What sort of conscience have these Seceders maintained, during all their
past ministerial years, under the same galling yoke, of double texture,
viz. Erastian oppression by the civil government, and heretical fellow-
ship with their ecclesiastical brethren ; for there was no innovation in
either case, but the same patronage, with its law of Intrusion, in the
state; and the same heterodoxy, with its various lines and limbs, in the
Church, through all the past days of the non-intrusionists, as well as at
the peiiod of their separation: But, in all their windy trumpeting, of
new freedom, and self-ndulalion, with shameless shouts and cheerinws,
far liker theatres and thunder-claps than association and assemblies "of
divines, where or when will you hear any pointed and penitent, humble
and happy, sober and serious admission and acknowledgment of their
bygone sad and sinful eodality and slavery ! In the second place, What
is the great evil of Patronage but through the medium of the Clergy
themselves? Fo), as Sir James Graham justly argues, "Patrons can
have no inefficient ministers to force on the people unless t!ie Church
prepare them into their hands;" for who can license or ordain, approve
or oppose, examine or exclude, recommend or reject, any pastor or
( '
m
U I
f!!;
98a
prencher. whethar good or giddy, il] or hole, «arf or eom.d but thd
Clertfy. and through their means and measures So th t it is mamfl.t
ho bane of ■' Intrusion" originates and ends in .he prVstho ul T h^dlj
the non.mtrus,on,Ms-with all their clack and clamor I he co tra ?'
anrlr/. °"^",''''^''''' evidently deHcicnt ..ui derrnudin,^ defunc
on defo mod on Ih.s ground, as ,he opposite parly. For riis«raml
I ifZl"^' M^'^'""'."" "'■'' "« perfidy wule-throalcd to su^ W
embers to he.r (Imv and (dioush.p, a3 anv Protestant communiiv iri
all tiio country. We need not herein far-fe ch our evidence- o s-^d
CO gh or con.rad.ct.on. cloubt or disposition. For whether our Colo-
..uil Churches-hitheno ,n connection with the Scotch Establishment
j-may or may not hnally side uiih the " Free Church"_as she uoTZel
herself- ,t .s already unden.able, by public journals, that she is wi mr
v.thout any hes.tat.on, to adopt and include them nay. but mo e"?!
o" ?;^7?: "" ''''''' '""'.""^ "'^^ *^"'- Pre^byt/rians-^whetler
m ' h! H .'" clT''~^r ^T ^''' ' '^ '^'y ^'^' '"^^^'y 'ave or rant
Headship of Chnst, Non-Intrusion, Anti-Patronage;'' thonrrh with-
out any consistency, coherence, goodness, or conscience! F^ourthly
1 hough the Ne«- Seceders have manifestly exposed themselves to very
ve^'ufp'r „ '^rr^'T' '''"^^P'-i^''"i""«. «« has already been admitted,
yet hese are far from being uiihout ample redeemin.r pledges: at least
•n the meaniime, both in prospect, and present enjoyment ^
of .h.4!; -^ ''?"«^ ^"," ;» <hemin«r;.y, the considerably large number
01 the beparatis.s; which proponionately shades and shelters them from
the^heat and haughtiness of Establishment rule and reflection.
unA i *':'^^'f^"^^'«»^»'J'^J^^y"'Pa«hy shown them, both at home
nnd abroad, among almost every degree and description of men ; which
now amounts in the:r favour, to marked pride and popularity, far beyond
their former proportion, on this score. »i^ J. ^J'^nu
3rd. The active and extensive preparation made and makin-r for their
serMce and support, accommodaiinn and comfort, in divers cJ.arts and
channels both pecuniary and potential, free and factotous.
4lh 1 heir prognostication and prospects both of pro-sperity and po-
pularity seem to be rather bright than bashful; as their late and lofty
deet^and flattering addresses, to her Majesty the Queen, do partj^
5ih. The manifest pest and plague of the binntness and blindness of
the unhappy recipients; which render them so openly and outraaeouslv
nnueung and unwearied, in their getting and gathering, for themselves
.' nd one another, under the mask and mirage of the famous favorites of
Jleaven, faithful messengers of salvation, and spiritual servants and stew-
nrds of the true Church ; according to iheir designation" and dis.ruise :
who as such, would be " worthy of their meat,- or modus: But? who
m their sad situation, and woful condition, are unworthy of both their
racat nnc mesusge ; and consequently but a nocumentio, and nightmare
M5
tipon the louis uuu ^,„ ^umntances of their miserable adiierehts, who
mus'. now poy dear for Iheir fond and false freedom. " For while they
promise them liberty, they ihemsrives are the servnnts of corruption." —
St. Peter. But more lender pulse and pnssiona would smartly feel the
circumstance of living thus nl the cxpcnce of, and in such deuendonce
on 80 poor and pressed people as the generality of their supporters now
in Scotland. But on the Fifth general head, Infatuation, or judicial
blindness, on tlie part of the Non-intrnsionists, as manife-tly permitted
by Heaven, to prick and punish their Establishment turpitude and
tyranny, pride and prodigality, petulance and persecniioii. Forth."
most sage a d sagacious, when so far left to themselves, can never see
their danger till too late, and past remedy ; nay in this case, eminent
and aggravated sinners, like our subjects of remarks, do not seldom,
both in extraordinary and ordinary manners, entrap, ingulf, or hiher
themselves: as Aliiihophel and Hamnn, Absalom and Pharaoh, Saul and
Shemei, Joab and Adonijah. M Tht not not all these hoary and haugh-
ty, cruel and crafty men, fcrc.. :heir own awful e-iinent doom and
danger ; if not left to their own lond and fatal count and counsels : As
for examples, Pharaoh should thus reason with himself^ and hiscouniers
and CO insellors : " The Red Sea freely opens before us ; but surely not
in our favor; hut for our Hebrew slaves, for whose benefit ten dre'adful
and destructive plagues have already been poured upon us, and our peo-
pie; let us, therefore, at our peril, allow their escape, lest we inevitably
destroy ourselves, by any further pursuit of that extraordinary ca-» of
beings; for whom heaven and earth, sea and signs, combine to work,
in spite of all our might and main, our pant and pride, or craft and cru-
elty. Saul likewise might know that it was not only sinful, but sense-
less, to pursue the life of innocent David, to whom, he well knew, the
Crown and Kingdom vv^re surely and solemnly promised by the word
of the Lord. Shemei — if not infatuated — could plainly foreknow his
own risk, by transgressing his proper bounds, over the belly of his own
solemn oath, and the serious prohibition of Solomon, his vigilant and
wise sosjreign. A::d so of all the rest of our subjects, "lie taketb
the wise in their own craftiness." The Sodomites could not find the
door of Lot's house, though within their immediate scratch and scram-
ble, while under their foil and fatality.
Alexander, you would think, might easily fores, j his own eminent dan-
ger, by presuming to rival Hercules, in his wine bumper and bibacity :
But his fatal vanity and folly overcame all his sense and sanity, range
and reason. Sound judgment would suppose, 'hat great Kings aild
Counsellors— first-rate and field-oflicers— choice colonels and comman-
ders— wise freemen and philosophers— sharpsighted gendarmes and geo-
graphers—with all the font rwid faculty of physicians, both civil and
sacred, for sack and soul, could never be found to compack and com-
bine, under the dole and dotage of not only turning crusaders, but of
repeating tlio grandscale- .oily, after so sad nod sore defeats : and all ti.is
boast and bustle, foil and falsehood, dictated and directed, foamed and
fastened, by the despicable and distracted, brunt and brain, of o.tp of
the lowest gradeji of inonki.sh emissario? anvl enlhur.instis !
'■Is
334
The iiiratuatioti of Bonaparte, was no less evident, in his wild and vile
expectation of conquering the world. The Bishop of Rome, with all
J«is true adherents, as of rate and right aspires still to the supreme Go-
vernment of all the earth, both as a spiritual unicorn, and civil monarch.
And even the Church of England, though nominally, and in some small
degree Protestant, pretends to the cross and chiinf-rical thinff " Ados-
tolical Succession." And after all these, and numberless cogent instan-
ces that might be readily given, is it so very strange or straggling to be-
Jieve— what I here endeavour to sustain, as a point fnr from m/sterious
—that the Non-nitrusionists, as part and parcel of the d .enerale and
deluded Church of Scotland, had been under a heavy dn an and drive
ol similar stupor or stupefaction, on the ground of thoi critical posi-
tion, till they found themselves at once, completely undeceived. And
then being so sadly shut ud by their oivn antecedent and deceitful boast
and brnggardism, of untested disinteiestedness, not only their own haugh-
ty obstinacy, but their oil and interest with the people forbade their re-
traction ; since, in the majority of cases, at least, their respective con-
gregations, would far more oddly and odiously "look aloof" upon
±.vangelical" Recant^rs than either upon " Aiiddleman" or •' Mo-
derates."
Sixthly and lastly, Their disagreeable, offensive, and e.Ktravacrant tri-
tone and triumph, both actively and passively ; and as if favorld with
anipler riieasure of the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost ; than what
ordinarily falls to the share of good Christians; especially as a "spirit
ot supplication nnd prayer,"— according to some of their own very words
—vvithoui any other sign sound, but quite the reverse, of the trut..
ot their presumptuous an ^roud statement ; which in the nose of wise
e.vperience, rankly smells not only of fatal ignorance, and fearful hypo-
crisy; but likewise of sure discontent. For the really happy man or
iruiy contented Christian is, as such, never found vociferous or clamo-
rous, ostentatious or obtrusive, iu his ch-^ers or joy, addresses or advan-
ces, adoption or adherence, reflection or reform. " For as the cracklin-r
oi thorns under a pot, so is the.laughter of the fooI."-Ecclesiastes. °
ihe poor rion-intrusionists, as already hinted, are, alas, too like their
deserted brethren, except the mere name, to be so boastful and proud of
their preposterous separation ; which manifestly wants numerous other
necessary counts and concomitants, to prove its real correspondence with
n^ loud and lofty current name. " Empty vessels sound loudest."
INeu'spapers are by no mepns generally lound the liitest medium to cir-
culate tiie worlv ol saving grace, in the principles or practice of livincr
subjects.^ It is certainly a false and fallow, hot and hollow spirit thai
commoniy thus intrudes and iuiposes on the siily or sickened public.
A gracious action or disposition is neither solitary nor soundintr ; ac-
cording to experience, and sacred truth. Moral consistency and'^svu,-
metry, and also modesty and mildness, necessarily acconipanv the po\ver
of religion, wherever it operates. " F„r whosoevtn- shall ko.-i) the whole
Jaw, at.d yet ofle.id m one point, he is guilty of all. For he that «aid
Uo not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill,"~St, Jme^^ "How cut
u
■■=. ft
J
:ja
o
s wild and vile
■ome, with all
! supreme Go-
civil monarch,
in some small
thing, " Apos-
cogent instan-
aggling to be-
)!n mysterioua
generate and
un and drive
critical posi-
jeived. And
leceitful boast
lir own liaiigh-
bade their re-
jspective con-
aloof" upon
n" or " Mo-
;travagant tri-
favored with
; ; than what
as a "spirit
I'n very words
, of the trutii
nose of wise
fearful hypo-
ippy man, or
IS or clamo-
ses or advan-
ihe cracklinrr
ilesiastes.
00 lik« their
and proud of
nerous other
)ndence with
lid loudest."
iiuni to cir-
ce of livincj
1 spirit that
)ued public.
)uuding ; ac-
y and sym-
iiy liie power
'p the whole
h(! tiiat said
" How can
ye believe, which receive honour one of another and seek not the honof
that cometh from God only ?"— St. John. " Godliness with content-
ment is great gain." St. Paul.
^^ec— Poh ! Do yon respire now ! I have been thinking ihnt your
tedious harangue of a lecture might be more answerable for the grave dis-
cussion of a "General Assembly" than for a homely dispute between two
familiar neighbours. But, passing this, I'll be so candid as to admit
that there is still in my view, a good deal of lit and fair truth in what
yon have advanced ; for I never wish to shut my ears or eyes to any
means of conviction. But it is not easy to convince me of either your
correctness, or consistency, when you assert that the difference of the
two great parties under remarks, is more in sound than in substance ;
though at the same time, you admit that the ground of division, on the
part of the separatists, is, of itself, sufficiently important— or something
to that pujpose — a ground which you have named to consist chiefly in
the three particulars of Christ's Supreme Headship, Non-intrusion, and
Anti-patronage. Now, I beg to ask, How can you reconcile these ap-
parent contradictions ; or How can the points of their condition and
separation, be found both serious and senseless; or at once indifferent
and important ?
Billy.— \\-\ brief answer, just as the divorcing of two or three con-
cubines by a man who still retained a score of prostitutes; several of
whom were on different accounts far more vicious and viie than those
abandoned. And moreover, when you would find this filthy and wick-
ed man, from day to day, and fron> place to place, bragging of, and
bawling out his own singular and sound wisdom and virtues, beyond his
neighbors, who still remained in similar circumstances with himself, be-
fore his eminent reformation, in dispensing with a 'iQ\s of his foul strum-
pets; and at the same time without any blush or bashfulness ; either for
his still retent of his naughty bagnio, or for his conduct previous to his
said reform. But his name and nature would be further odious and of-
fensive, in the view and feelings of virtuous discernment, when the ge-
nerality of people were found here and there, to key and kink to string
and storm, their thumbs and throats, their harps and organs, in the vain
and wonderf.l celebration of this shameless fornicator's high merit, and
singular, and peculiar self-denial, in his gracious resignation of the fore-
told few of his bawdy women ; for whose keeping he held an annual roy-
al bounty ; in lieu and liege of which he is now lO reap an equivalent,
as far as all good and kind hearted men can bestow it ; and also far lof-
tier and larger honors and hooras, joys and cheers, than ever have hi-
therto fallen to his share, under his former premium and protection !
Alcc.—'^\\Q good stars forever protect us! Can you really feel once
sedate or sane, in your— to me and other myriads of sober men- -
highly end awfully dangerous simile— a filthy fornicator, and the Freo
Chiirch I
BilUj. — I truly feel as serious and sober as ever in my life,
^/cc— Pray, then, explain yourself— What can you mean by your
score of strumpets?"
j
836
Billy. — I Uiean nothing more o? itss than the dominantly evil d'lapn-
tiition of their minds, manifested by 'iieir outward conduct, and general
conversation : or, aa the Scripture expresses it, "The lusts of the fleah,
and of the Spirit;" which may b ) described as either negatively, or
positively; or as under a passive, r r an active form ; or even both.
Alec— I beg you then to defire some of them, at least, since you can
certainly, at the lowest rate, enumerate a score !
Billy. — Whether I can, or can not, as to number answer your banter-
ing demand, I know, that every unrenewed man, like these in view, has
his long score, of metaphorical and spiritual prostitutes: such as Madam
Unreg(Mjeracy, Maid Scull-divinity, Lady Pseudo-conversion, Mrs. False-
vows, Dame Misordination, Misses Desecration and Profanation, Mam
Party-zeal, Matron Misrule, Mother Sacrilege, Prude HufF-devotion,
Virgin Good-varnish, Jade Mouth-orthodoxy, Sisters Bigotry aud Blad-
derlove. Bride Shame-evangelic, Witch Mammon, Molly Gates, alias
Gormant, Fret Catharist, and the famous duean Rant-revival. All these
have their respective underlings, or female attendants, possessed of the
very worst and vilest poison and passions in creation; which sometimes
burst out openly, and without disguise : but more generally under a vail ;
which, though but shallow, yet blinds the ignorant and heedless general
mass of all the religious world. Even the Non-Intrusionists, Anti-
Patronageibis, and Supreme Ileadshipists themselves, are certainly as
far rigorous Intrusionists, proud patrons, and heart-despisers of Christ's
Headship, as, at least, any of their Presbyterian opponents ; which they
openly show — but to the purblind — whenever they meet their opportunity.
And it is impossible for natural men, like them, ever to do otherwise.
For "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Hcly Ghost."
— St. Paul. But it would be too tedious for us both to enter now on all
the particulars, and long train of similar prostitutes, that might readily
Oe named, as closely connected with the subject; in order to give full
propriety to my foregoing simile, on this serious ground ; so that the
current estiniaie given and taken, on the score of the New Secession, is
quite extravagant and offensive, fast unmerited and unsound ; and in my
view, is one oi the most delusive and disgustful subjects now afloat in
any Protestant churches throughout the world.
Ahc. — 1 desist now from answering a word, but the strange and
stormy charge of those great and grand '' divines" being left by you, in
the dire and dreadful lurge and labyrinth, of their black and bloated,
naught and natural slate ; for if that charge is appropriate, the iest of
your train must be but natural and necessary consequents; but O, Sir,
the sad and sore singularity of your estimation I But I feel quite ex-
hausted I
Bilhj. — The general cause and conduct of your famous and fond Free
Church, must in the true light of gospel truth evi lently prove her foul
and fatal falsehood, in spite of all the feeble and foolish, daring and
dextrous opposition ever in her favor, And whether, in the meantime,
of religious drift and distractioii, a few or a flood of my neighbors, or
nation, may bless or believe tha serious truth of this my sad and sober
337
itly evil dispft-
:t, and general
is of the fleah,
negatively, or
iven both.
since you can
T your banter-
se in view, has
inch ns Madam
>n, Mrs. False-
fanatioa, Mam
Huff-devotion,
otry and Blad«
y Gates, alias
val. All these
ossessed of the
lich sometimes
y under a vail ;
eedless general
isionists, Anti-
ire certainly as
sers of Christ's
ts; which they
eir opportunity.
do otherwise,
e Hcly Ghost."
nter now on all
might readily
der to give full
id ; so that the
vv Secession, is
ind ; and in my
.8 now afloat iii
he strange and
[ left by you, ia
k and bloated,
ate, the iest of
Its; but O, Sir,
1 feel quite ex-
i and fond Free
prove her foul
ish, daring and
1 the meantime,
y neighbors, or
|r sad and sober
statement, the time is fast approaching, when the present (tost and fif ^s
mist and mama, on this and similar subjects, shall be done away, by the
spirit of light and life, discretion and decision, which is promised, in the
code of heavenly laws, tu be poured out on countries and kini^oms in
the happy millennial period. But as to four or five hundred etninently
pious clergymen being found now together on a hillock, or in a hall, out
of the bowels and belly of the manifestly secular and civic, dominant
and desperate Church of Scotland, is a dare and dream, draft and de-
claration most worthy of herself, in her ministers and members ; as well
as her tickled and tippled sympathizers ! The same number of priests
and prophets, in the days of Ahab, flattered himself, and his people
with false promises, in their formality and wickedness; and so is the
case now both in fatal old Scotland, and our wretched colonies-all flat-
tered and foiled, svvarmed and swamped, with the falsehood and folly
ZiiinTnH 7'"'''''""''°^ °7 Clergy-their dangerous and damJl
able evi and influence, as a pestilential efiluvia ; or the storied effects of
the Dead sea, corrupting and corroding, claiming and cramping, kenneling
b ff rnH"h^o?'7 '''"r^ ''T''' '^ °"^^ ^^"^'" ^'' P^'^'Jli"? ««d poisonous
buff and bounds. For the time will come when they Sill nit endure
sound doctrine ; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears. * * * Having a fofm of godliness buJ
denying th« power thereof. They profess that they know God ; but in
works they deny h.m. Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding
neither what they say nor whereof they affirm. Thou that teaches!
another dost thou teach thyself !"_St. Paul. " Woe unto you when a
men shall speak well of you ! for so did their fathers to the false pro-
phets. "Woe unto you * * * for ye pay tithe, &c.. and have omit-
ted the weightier matters of the law." " Ye blind guides, which strain
at a gnat, and swallow a camel." " Ye love the uppermost seats in the
synagogues, and greetings (or cheerings) in the markets." "Ye are as
graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware
of them. Christ Ihese and similar texts, 1 most confidently take to
be applicable to the New Secession Clergy in their farcical " Free"
form, as well as in their old Establishment; although, at the same time
1 lay to ray account to suffer sad reproach, and sound reflection -for this
my free and faithful tabor and testimony— from the bilbo and bulk of the
party thus exposed, and all their fond and fascinated friends ; who are
generally under the same woeful and wilful bluntness and blindness, with
their ecclesiastic leaders and lords ; for which righteous Heaven n so-
vereign justice, permits the awful fulfilment of His word, in the case of
tliese, and all such miserable pastors and people : " If the blind lead the
blind, they shall both fall into the ditch."
838
SOME VJBRSES
JCztractedfromtht Potmof old Paddle Plain, on different subject, ; especially upoH
his heigmg of the ^ etc Secession compared, as upon a spiritual equality with
the most eminent of our old Scotch Reformers, Covenanters, and Seceders: and
t/iejollowmg stanzas beginning in a precative strain and style.
They ground what sounds their own
defoat,
For strong deceits absorb them.
I pity tho stork ignorance,
Of •'liffhters" that confound
Lord, touch and teach my soul to fear
_My fallow, fire, and foiling;
Direct my thumb, correct my wrongs,
Prevent my runes from roiling.
Excite my zeal to hail thy will,
Through peril.-), pulls, and pains :
Arrest my pride, and guide my feel,
^" j"y» j'"") chills, or chains.
Instill thy grace, unshill thy face,
In times of bates and broils:
Impress my fears, in mid of cheers;
Protect in tears and toils.
And when my censures are most sharp,
Let not my heart be found
To foster vicious resorts.
Or map retorts unsound.
I live in days of dearth and death,
When pious pest abounds,
In shameless shells and formal knells,
Of cheerless reels and rounds.
When sin is owned without remorse,
And folly void of shame,
Or love to God presumed unfcit,
It sears the soul in crime.
He that denies his guilt defies
The frown and fire of heaven j
The boldest sinner is the prize
Of jjottest ire to burn.
Mohammed's paradise of toys.
And Popish purgat'ry,
Shall never ring nor raise my joys.
Nor scare nor bcowI my pry.
My happiness is holiness,
And joyfulness is grace :
The worst mischeers that I can fear
Are false compeers of Christ.
Mad fret, misfrown, air-guns, and grime,
I lay my soul to foci ;
As weapons of all pestilent guides,
Who lead their blind to hell.
I seek the safety of their souls,
And liowl for their miscount.
The folly of their confidence,
And falsehood of their ground.
Oh ! desperate blindness of men,
\Vho cannot, will not bear
To hear of their ily.'^ian dream,
Till di'ath and diuad appear.
Tenacious of self-conceit,
And deaf to self-reforms,
The "Covenanters" with our blinds,
And guides, for their compound.
Thw fame of Chalmers and John Knox
Can't commix on my lyre
With more propriety of coax,
Than that of fo.x and lion.
Our 'Chalmers,' with their Calvin creed
Arminian breed can sooth,
With conscience leaden'd hold their
bread
Where ' Welsh' his head would lose.
Where men provoke, the Lord doth
strike ;
His judgments just are found,
To balaii c oft the malign weight
Of moral rots and rounds.
A worldly priesthood, at all times,
Presume divine contest.
When interest is undermined,
Or credit foiled protests.
All earthly cures, or schemes, or crimes,
Must nought be rh\ med amiss :
Hut sacred to the powers on high
Their brunts and broils must hiss.
Their logic shaped to sophistry —
Theology to law —
All Scripture lore to politics —
And holidays to maw.
The altar sanctifies designs I
And all divines are saints !
Transformed in exercise nnd mind,
Their bane of guile is set !
Their fret and fury suit their zeal ;
Their tameuess, gentleness
Assumes; and sullcnness must gain
The name of seriousness !
Pronounce m6 libeller for troth —
O ye who foster lies —
Which cost my soul much 8ombr«
thought,
With rash retorts and fines.
O, the profanity and pride,
With Stygian stubbornness,
And the gro.ss greediness and guile
Of our Bible pcdiers:*
The words " Pible pedlers" are to be taken in a sense not literal, but eccleataslteal.
'; especially upoH
tual equality with
nd Seceders ; and
3unds their own
bsorb them,
ince,
confound
with our blinds,
ir compound,
a and John Knox
ly lyre
of coax,
d lion.
iheir Calvin creed
sooth,
len'd hold their
head would lose.
, the Lord doth
are found,
lign weight
)und8.
at all times,
test,
rmined,
esta.
lemes, orcrimei,
iDed amiss :
ers on high
}ils mu.st hiss.
sopliistry —
oiitics —
V.
signs I
ia lilts !
so nnd mind,
is set !
t their zeal;
tieness
Bss must gain
less!
for troth —
much 8ombr«
i fines.
ido,
nnesa,
ss and guile
Unforeseen impediments in the Press, have, at a long rate, procras-
tinated the publication of this book ; but, at the same time, the said
delay has furnished unexpected opportunities and facilities, through new
acenes and circumstances, for selecting subjects, and swelling the work,
from the shape and size of a mere pamphlet, as only coftisting of the
first Dialogue, with its immediate appendages, to its present bulk and
braid— as a sort of factotum—quite beyond the anticipation of the
Author.
The Publisher not having at first intended to trouble the public with
any of the contents of this Publication, except the mere Dialogue, has
left the rest of it without that arrangement of parts in which it might
otherwise have been placed. But the various other subjects have fro^n
time to time been sent to the Press just as the circumstances producing
them have occurred ; which has left, on that ground, no alternative to
the choice of the Author.
Lit eccleatastrQal.
'Il
1.1'
.!
*!■
I
; r SI
. .1
5
. 6
7
103
105
119
119
120
123
136
CONTENTS.
t*RErACE
hfT %°?u " n ^''•esiyfery of Capo Breton to the Rev. korman McLeod ' '
Keply of tho Rev. Norman McLeod to the above-mentioned Letier' '
K:fw;t^:nre^ir«:;e"'"^^'^ •' ■
Two short Anecdotes, by u Scottish Emigrant, ^ . . ' ' *
Extracts from Mhry Anxioua's Catechism to her Son, , * ' ' '
^ ttrpjdn.*'" """'^ '' ^"''' °" '''' S^--"^"^ --^ to ii'e Letter, of
Addendum . ' . 137
Some further remarks upon the "Guardian,"" ' JJ?
FrllnT r""" "'" publications, on the evils of relaxed diicipline ' ' ' " ill
Extracts of a correspondence betwixt a man in Pictou, and his friend in Cane Br«
ton, on the subject of re-union between Seceders and tl e Churcli of SPoM?nT loi
ree;^rS° rc^';TchH\"^^'j'^ '" '""^r ''' ^'" and dinTer of fr i';^^
f «VZ= h,^,."^'' ""''a" ''"™o''a'o'" anti-Christian civil government 194
Some correspondence between two religious people in Cane Breton *
"^;"7f riirgirs^rtrent'irth^wtid?^^ -' ''- ^^-^^^ -^ --
'rr^-f :^-^S— ™ ;;;^->ancI and his .iend in Cape Breton.
thTs^ecTof pfahroS; """""'"^^ '"^"' ^""^ ^"^ ^^'^"'^ '" ^^^P« ^-'on, on
''5fc'apfBrito'nr"'"^°"''"''' ''*''''" ' """" ^" Edinbur«h/and his friend ^'
^°Pn,«^''^i ''?'''''• °" ^'■' ^°"'^ J^'^as, and Porter's recent publication' on ''^^^
Episcopal ordination, and apostolical succession, . puoucation, on
ScXnd '"'''" ^^'^ ""^ ^'"^' "" ^''^ ^«^^ S^'=''"'°". f'O'" the Church of
'*'•• = 321
220
225
230
244
261
265
Pi
m
m
ikM*
ERRATA
Pnge 13— fourth line from the top— for 'par/ childhood,' read ';»ffli< childhood.'
rage 18— in the long clause within the nine lines at the bottom— lor « ihe former,'
read 'the latter;' and vice versa.
Page 22— elovcntii line from the bottom— for ' critics assertt,' read ' critics assert.'
Page 24— eighteenth line from the bot'om- for '^motive read ^motites.'
Pago 27— seventh line from the bottom— for '■persecution,' rend * prosecution.'
Pago 30— eighteenth line from the bottom— for ^ man's,' read '/«r a man's.'
Pago 45— twentieth line from the top— for 'three following ' read ' the throe fol-
lowing.'
Page 48— eleventh line from the top— for 'o/,' read ^ on.'
Page 72— seventh line from the bottom—for ' none of icAicA,' read ' none of icAom.'
Page 79- fourteenth line from the top— ior ' as follows,' read ^ as follow.'
Page 84— twenty-first line from the bottom— for 'good look,' read 'good /ucA/'
in the twelfth line from the bottom, for 'doleful Zone,' read 'doleful tone.'
Page 90— fourteenth line from the top— for 'a/lover,' read *ovcr all;' in the 21»t
line from the top, for •speak Mr. C read 'speak to Mr. C
Page [)1— twenty-fourth line from the top— for 'much wiser,' read 'much tka
wiser;' in the tenth lino from the bottom, for ' dare take,' read '■dares take.'
_ Page 94— fourteenth line from the top— for ^ her darling's,' read * his darling's;'
in the seventeenth line from the top, for ^ has boast,' read Uan boast;' in the first
line from the bottc:.., for 'as well the,' read ' aa well as the.'
Page 95— twenty-third line from the top— for 'idolaters' read 'idolaters.'
Page 98— twentieth line from the bottom— for 'or need oC meditation,' read 'nor
need of mediation.'
Page 104-"firtcenth line from the top---for decree, read degrees.
Page 106— fifteenth line from the top— for 'harshly offensive,' read ' harsly un-
founded.'
Pago 107 — eleventh line from the top — for 'sense or science,' read 'sense nor
science.'
Pago 110— twenty-first line from the top — for 'mathematic,' read 'mathematics.'
Pago 114 — elevt
Page 119-
on
Page 132— nineteenth line from the bottoni— for dafted, read daft, o\- daffcd.
Page 133 — seventeenth line from the bottom — for dotls, read dolts.
Page 184 — seventeenth line from the top— for ' dependants,' read ' defendants.'
Page 140— nineteenth line from the top — for ' are following,' read ' are the follow-
in" '
Pago 148— twentieth line from the bottom — for ' mostly,' read ' most.'
Page 152 — fifteenth line from the bottom — for presecution, rend persecution.
Page 153— ^eighteenth line from the bottom — read ♦ functionary requisitea superior.'
Page 156— eleventh line from the top — for 'relieve,' read 'relievo.'
Page 162 — tenth line from the bottom — for ' being,' read 'it being.'
Page 201 — first line from the top — for 'iniquity,' read 'iniquitous.'
Page 207 — twenty-second line frono the bottom — for » Presbyteriaaim,' read 'Pros-
b^'terianism.*
Pago 208 — twentieth line from the top — for 'plead,* yead 'pleaded.'
Page 226 — eighth line from the top— for 'the extraordinary,' read 'th« suppossd
•Jtraordinary.'
V'''Vt
^- 344
Page 228— ninoleentli lina from the top— for «of CliurcJi ' r^n.l •«?#*. /--i.,, i .
Pngo 248-tvvcnty-second lino from tl.e bottom-for ^By mv keen ' r., 1 . ^f.
7L 2M "":f;:v'v''""/'°'"/'7 •'""°"'' <■- '--^. reacts "' ""' *'^
rnge ^oj— eigJitli lino from the Ijottom— for « icAa/ sillv ' ro«A i i.^,h „-ii . t l
pZ ^'iS-and cUevvhere-for Diotrephus, read Diotrepkes.
Pnfe iI::'e!fS eVn,".f iT/*'' '"P---*°'- ' P»''''«='^.' --ead 'Aarf passed."
Pafe 287 twn r?n- r ''"l" V*"" ''°«°'»-f"<- *e, read /o ic.
inS, '''"'^''' ''"' ^'■°'" "'° ^'^""'"-for 'I could indeed,' read « I e.uld not
' ■fiftp?n'lh' I ' • r""" ^''.° »'°«"'"-f«r */m,«, road shame.
•fifteenth hno from the top-for none, read ,t«7Aer.
■eighteenth line from the top-for « I am at a loss/ read • I am at b Iom
Pago 300
Pago 8U2
Page 312-
to krtoio.'
Pago 314
P.ige 315-
-ninth line from the bottom-for ' not had,' read • had not '
paio 32u-eighteenth ^ ^:^.;::;^z:z^:Sy::^^:s^^
.ho'uld^^a;^rnTace'daf;:rS'S^^^^^ the'R r, , Presbyterian Churd,'
of improper Union^tweon Churcl^aid fate "^'"'"^ '" ''"^ ^'" ^"'^ ^""Ser
Cr The Author of this Book having, at the
time of its publishing, resided at
selve. .. fir., sfglf, ™"^.,Tv"S g Tpe °S"r,h'e° ft'".",''; 'f ^'■°" ""■"■
further correction; besides'thnt thZ. J.m- i j work; so as to require no
beyond his own free will for th« P"''''^'\^'- ^°«« "Ot hold himself responsible,
fictitious correspondents ' ' ' «vert'ghts or mistakes, of .ither his' real or
I. ^
4^t^
' of M« Church.'
lad ' brow-proof.'
id contrariety.
In tho aixtoenth
?■
all.'
keen,' TPdA • Mjr
JWBiWy.' In the
the greatest.' la
road ♦confidence
sed.'
•ead « I could not
d ' I am nt a loai
not."
cious.
lily.
terian Church,'
Sin and Danger
hing, resided at
ng proof-siieets,
v<-e but partially
ese uncorrected
to show them-
.8 to require no
elf responsible,
her his real or