то A YOUNG LADY, IN WHICH THE DUTIES AND CHARACTER OF WOMEN CHIEFLY WITH A REFERENCE TO PREVAILING OPINIONS. BY MRS. WEST, AUTHOR OF LETTERS TO YOUNG MEN, &c. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. Prov. xxxi. 30. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, PATERNOSTER-ROW. LETTERS, &c. &c. &c. LETTER VI. Further Obfervations on the Calvinistic Controverfy. MY DEAR MISS M In justice to our opponents, we must now acknowledge, that the doctrines of Calvin, arrayed in all their original horrors, are too fombrous for the adoption of all who arrange themselves under his distinguishing banner. A more limited (and we must add indistinct) idea of predeftination is entertained by many who, in the present times, VOL. II. B times, affume the title of moderate Calvinifts. As thefe feceders feem rather inclined to difpute with us for words than for things, and are in many respects highly valuable members of Christianity, we are in this inftance rather called upon to lament infirmity, than to reprobate. grofs error. A defire of being wife above what is written, a contentious spirit, and the abfence of clear ideas, are failings which we should seek to remedy in ourfelves, and meekly endeavour to reform in others. Our ableft logicians affirm, that the phrafe moderate Calvinifm* is a folecifm; that this fyftem must be adopted * Some explain moderate Calvinism to mean people who hold the doctrine of absolute predestination themselves, but do not confider fuch belief to be neceffary, to falvation, or an effential article of Chriftian faith. Some explain it to be, only holding parts of that reformer's fingular opinions. wholly, wholly, or totally rejected; that without reprobates, no meaning can be affigned to the word elect; and that without human agency, there can be no virtue. I am not equal to thefe niceties of disputation; it is fufficient for my purpose, that the above appellation is adopted by many, who use it as the fign of their diffent from the great body of the establifhed church. To me it appears a diftinction without a difference; or rather, that the disputed points are of fuch a metaphysical fubtile nature, as to elude the research of ordinary understandings. It is not my wifh to lead you into a maze of controverfy; but only to guard you against all fchifmatical perfuafives, which may come recommended by the impofing names of ferioufnefs and extraordinary piety, or of more profound gospel knowledge. Instead of profcribing piety and ferioufnefs, our church requires them B 2 |