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others, in supposed knowledge, virtue, or endawments: and many have been, and are proud both, of Calvinistick, and of Anticalvinistick, opinions. But he, who judges and feels, respecting himself, according to the statement above given, will find little to feed his self-complacency; but much to stop his mouth, to silence his objections, reasonings, and attempts at self-justifications, to silence his murmurs, resentments, and censoriousness; and much to inspire gratitude, admiration, and love of God; and to encourage hope, in the exercise of good-will to men. For there can be no sinner so vile and hardened, but the same grace, which has softened and humbled, and won his own heart, would not soften, humble, subdue, and win him over. So far, is the doctrine of the divine sovereignty, in "having mercy

on whom he will have mercy," from being popular; that when stated as above, (as I trust most, if not all, the evangelical clergy do state it, who at all introduce it into their publick instructions ;) it is in all places, (except where the doctrine is well known, and over-rated; and perhaps rather incautiously inculcated,) the most unpopular part of our ministry. Many receive our instructions, in other respects, whose hearts revolt against this; and after all the zeal of Calvinists to make proselytes, the small number of avowed Calvinists, (in respect of personal election to eternal life,) found in this nation, compared with the mass of the population, not one in ten, to speak much within compass; or even of the whole multitude of those, who seem in earnest about religion, is a full proof, that every man, who seeks

popularity, in a new station, where Calvinism is not much known, must be very careful how he introduces the subject; for the hearts of his hearers will be sure to revolt against it. So far is man's proud and selfish nature from being easily facinated by the doctrine! It should be remembered, that all the followers of Mr. J. Wesley, are, in this respect, Anticalvinists, and several other companies, which appear earnest in religion, and a considerable proportion of évangelical clergymen and their congregations.

P. cclxxxiii. Note. In tracing, &c." I should not have previously supposed, that a protestant bishop would have deigned to quote the infidel Hume in such an argument; who, as it easily might be proved, shewed as much ignorance, when he presumed to write about religion; as he did sound and accurate infor mation on other subjects: and who never, throughout his whole history, meets with any thing like christianity, among papists or protestants, Calvinists or Arminians, churchmen or dissenters; but he shews most clearly his bitter enmity and sovereign contempt of it; and that always in proportion, as the enemy to be assailed approximates to the religion of the New Testament. I disdain to answer Hume's accusation of enthusiasm. I only deny its truth: and I rejoice

In tracing the coherence among the systems of modern theology, we may observe that the doctrine of absolute decrees ' has ever been intimately connected with the enthusiastic spirit; as that doctrine affords the highest subject of joy, triumph, and security to the elect, and exalts them by infinite degrees above f the rest of mankind. Hume.

that his testimony is against us; it is the highest applause, which such a man was capable of bestowing on religious characters.

The con

P. cclxxxiii. l. 18. I do not, &c." cessions, made in the former part of this quotation, make a sort of honourable amends to the Calvinists, who before were classed with avowed infidels and atheists, as not less dangerous to our church than they. St. Peter was fully aware, that these doctrines, as stated and enlarged on, by his beloved "brother Paul, according to the wisdom given unto

him," were peculiarly liable to abuse. We also are aware of the same; and bestow great pains to distinguish between the genuine use of the doctrines, in rendering the believer humble, thankful, patient, meek towards all men, and joyful in temptations, and afflictions; and the perversion of them, in feeding the pride of self-preference, in buoying up, in carnal minds, false confidence; in giving needless

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I do not however deny that these doctrines have been adopted and maintained by some persons eminent for their learning and in high stations in the church; but I think that the

• adoption of these opinions may in general be traced, in writers of an early period, to the abhorrence of the impious doctrine of human merit, which it has been frequently observed, was one of the chief points of controversy with the church of Rome, rather than to their unbiassed judgment of the sense of Scrip<ture. I am most ready to allow that many Calvinists have been 'pious and excellent men; and I am fully satisfied that there are ⚫ in these days zealous christians of that persuasion, who would be · among the first to deplore any evil, which might befal our Con⚫stitution in Church or State. But I contend, that Calvinism is a system peculiarly liable to abuse."

2 2 Pet. iii. 15, 16.

discouragement to the unestablished; and in fostering a hardness of spirit, in those who take them up, in a speculative and unscriptural manner, and not experimentally and practically.

P. cclxxxiv. l. 13. The perversion, &c.'1 The perversion of these doctrines has been, and will be, the instruments of 'great mischief, by wicked and 'designing men ;' and so will be every tenet of christianity, when perverted. But, I apprehend, that the established church is at present, as much in danger, from the active hostility of men, professing Anticalvinistick doctrines, as by Calvinists. The Socinian and Arian dissenters are zealous for the dissenting interest, and comprehend a large number; the Wesleyan Methodists, that very numerous body, are Anti-calvinists; and the success of the Calvinistick dissenters is not owing to their principles on these subjects, but to their evangelical doctrines in other respects, and their zeal in promoting them; along with their peculiar opinions, concerning churchgovernment, and against establishments. This is fully known, to those, who are well acquainted with facts for they, who are the most systematical Calvinists are far from being the most zealous persons, either in promoting village-preaching; or in the other means, by which numbers are drawn off from

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The perversion of its tenets has in former times been made, by wicked and designing men, the instrument of great mischief; ' and I fear that at the present moment the interests of real christianity suffer not a little, and that the Established Church is ' in no small danger, from the active hostility of those who pro'fess Calvinistic doctrines.'

the established church. Indeed they, who are decidedly Calvinists in judgment, seldom adduce their principles very prominently, except among such as are already gained to their side: for if going into villages, and among those who are strangers to the peculiar doctrines of Calvinism, instead of shewing men their need of repentance, faith, renewing grace, forgiveness, in short the salvation of Christ, and urgently pressing them to accept of it; they should begin with predestination, election, non-election, &c; they would not only act unscripturally, but would be left in empty rooms. Since those, whom they proselyte, by preaching familiarly and zealously the simpler parts of christianity, could not at present receive these doctrines, and would almost universally revolt against them. How far the general interests of real christianity suffer by this, I am not prepared to say; but the church of England is in no small danger, not so much from the active hostility of Calvinists; as from the zealous exertions, and evangelical tenets of men, who, however they may be thought inferior in all other respects, are certainly more earnest and active, and intent in preaching, and in teaching from house to house, than the parochial clergy in general are.

P. cclxxxiv. 1. 21.

Let, &c." I most earnestly

! Let the Parochial Clergy, by persevering zeal, combined with knowledge, and tempered by charity, be instant in their endeavours to heal the divisions which rend the Church of Christ. Let them labour to understand and set forth the gospel in its original purity; not by dwelling on a few detached passages, which have been, and ever will be, the subjects of con

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