decrees was falfe, and is an admonition to us, not to believe his fuggeftions, nor comply with his fubtle devices.

were to keep him in all his ways. He was to ufe means to preserve his own life; and not use means to destroy it, as the tempter's reafoning implied.

There are two extremes into which nien run, in reafoning upon the decrees. The one is, to feparate means from the end, and run every thing into fatality. The other is, to deny the doctrine whol

2. The reasoning was a temptation. Chrift confidered the mat. ter in this light, and faid, "Thou fhalt not tempt the Lord, thy God." But if Satan's reafoning upon the decrees had been juft, there would have been no temptation in it; and Chrift might with fafety have com-ly, and run every thing into chance. plied with his propofal, and caft himfelf down. The tempter knew, that he, as a man, would have dafhed against the ftones. This was his fole object, to tempt the Redeemer to kill himself.

3. Satan, in his reafoning upon the decrees, artfully perverted fcripture, and left out a part of the paffage, in which the doctrine was revealed. The paffage which he quoted is in the ninety-first Pfalm. "For he fhall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They fhall bear thee up in their hands, left thou dafh thy foot against a stone." The part which he defignedly left out, is, "to keep thee in all thy ways." This fhows, that there was fomething for Chrift to do; fome way in which he was to go. When he was on the temple, it was not his way, to caft himself down, as the deceiver urged him. It was not decreed, that the angels fhould keep him in that way, and bear him up in their hands, if he had prefumptuoufly thrown himfelf down, and tempted God.They were to keep him in his way, that is, in the ufe of appointed means of prefervation.

4. Satan, in his reafoning on the decrees, feparated the means from the end. The fcripture, in which the decree concerning Chrift was revealed, connected the means with the end. The angels VOL. II. No. 9.

The true decrees, as stated in divine revelation, are a middle courfe between these two extremes, and connect means with the end. In the decrees of God, the means are as neceffary, and as much appointed as the decrees themfelves.

Created anew in Chrift Jefus unto good works, which good works, God before ordained, that we fhould walk in them." The elect of God are faid to be " chofen from the beginning unto falvation:" but how are they chofen, and through what means will they be faved?" Through fanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth." Their fanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth come in, as means in fulfilment of their election, and are abfolutely neceffary to their falvation. Upon this ground, they are commanded "to give all diligence to make their calling and election fure, and to work out their own falvation with fear and trembling." From the word of God it is manifeft, that the means and the end are infeparably connected in his univerfal and abfolute decrees, and those, who feparate them, and run all things into fatality, reafon juft as abfurdly, as their father, the devil, did with Chrift. "Ye are of your father, the devil, and his reafoning ye will use."

Before this fubject is difmiffed, it will be proper to take notice of Sf

two ideas which naturally occur. 1. The doctrine of the decrees is a true doctrine. If the doctrine had been falfe, Satan would not have mifreprefented and per

verted it. This would not have been agreeable to his nature and object. He would by no means pervert falfe doctrines; but on the contrary, he uses all his influence to make men believe them. He often transforms himself into an angel of light, and takes true doctrines from the Bible; but before he leaves them, he mutilates and turns them into falfe ones by drawing wrong confequences and conclufions. This was the cafe in his temptation with the Son of God. His ufe of the decrees with him, is a clear proof, that the doctrine is true.

out doubt, he more often fucceeds with mankind, in this, than in any other way. Many at the prefent day, appear to be taken by him upon this ground, and Atrongly holden. Their mouths are full of the fame kind of reasoning upon the decrees, which he ufed with the Saviour of the world. They are now led captive by him in the fame way to ruin, in which thousands and millions of the human race have been before them; and unless a fovereign God have mercy on them, and difpoffefs Satan of his ftrong hold, they will ere long, to their everlafting forrow, fee the fatal deception of his, and their reasoning upon the divine decrees.

PROTEUS.

Nymphas to Sofipater.

LETTER I.

DEAR FRIEND,

WHAT friend of Jefus,

who that loves his name and wishes well to mankind, but must feel grief and a pious indignation in contemplating the zeal

2. The fubject affords a feafonable warning to thofe, whom Satan tempts by reafoning upon the decrees, and whofe confciences he is quieting in lives of fin. His language to them is: "The decrees are eternal and fixed. If you are included in the election of grace, you will be faved at laft; therefore, eat and drink; indulge your-of the fcoffer, to destroy the Chrif felves without reftrain in the grati- tian religion, and to take away fication of your paffions and incli- the key of knowledge? Who will nations, and take your fill of plea- not themselves enter into the king. fures. But if you are destined to dom of heaven, nor fuffer those mifery, you cannot help it, nor who are entering to go in. Like alter the cafe in the leaft; there- the old Pharifees, they compafs fore, give yourselves no anxiety, fea and land to make profelytes, and or concern, about your future are unwearied in their exertions to ftate, but enjoy as much happi- fpread the poifon of their infidel nefs as poffible, through life." principles, far and wide. Ought Such perfons are in a very alarm- not their zeal to put the friends of ing state; on the dangerous ground Chrift to the blush, who have efof the fubtle adverfary of fouls. poufed the fame glorious caufe, The decrees are emphatically, his which brought him from heaven, ftrong hold. He used them in and yet are fo very lukewarm, fo one of his temptations with very indifferent as to its fuccefs Chrift; and we may be affured, that it is almost hard to say wheththat he would ufe his moft likely er they be friends or enemies, means to fucceed with him. With-or to what camp they belong.

Is

ble exertions which have been made for the fpread and furtherance of the gospel in our times. May there be more and still more, of this Chrift-like Spirit, and may minifters and profeffors remember from whence they are fallen, and be led to imitate the fervor and ardent zeal of their divine Master and the first churches. When we remember the Son of God, a perfon of infinite dignity, become incarnate, lived, bled and died, to be the light of the world, to be a witness to the truth, and that all the interests of God and his holy kingdom are involved in it, we might expect all its real friends would burn with a pious zeal, that their fouls would be inspired with the most fervent defires to do every thing in their power that the gospel might run and be glorified, and unnumbered millions who now fit in darkness, might fee the heaven

not this, my friend, lamentable? | it, in the glorious and yet too feeEfpecially when it is remembered that the glory of God, the honor of the Redeemer, the falvation of finners, and the glory and the highest felicity of that kingdom which fhall continue forever, are all concerned and infeparably connected with that truth which fcoffers oppofe and hate. When we confider the beauty, the fweetnefs, the excellency and infinite importance of that fyftem of truth the Son of God teftified by all he faid, did and fuffered, and fealed with his very blood; it would feem all its friends would be zealous and indefatigable in their endeavors to be poffeffed of it, and to have it dwell richly in their hearts; yea, more, that they would be indefatigable in their most vigorous endeavours to diffuse the knowledge thereof, far and wide, even to the ends of the earth. Indeed this is only to fuppofe what was real fact, when the sweet light of divinely light and walk in it. It would truth came into the world by Jefus Chrift. The apoftles and the firft Chriftians feemed infpired with the very Spirit of their divine Mafter, and expreffed the most ardent zeal to diffufe the heavenly light through the world. It is re-thing moved by the most threatenported of the apofties, prophets, evangelifts, paftors and teachers, that they went every where preaching the gofpel; that their found went into all the earth, and that the brethren were fellow helpers to the truth, and glorioufly exerted themfelves for the furtherance of the gofpel. It appears that every Chriftian church was a pillar of the truth which was infcribed up-proportion to that of its enemies, on it, to be known and read of all, for its utter extirpation. that it refembled the fun, the light former neither fay or do any thing of the world. Bleffed be God, for the defence and confirmation this Spirit of Chrift is not entire- of the gofpel, compared with what ly gone from the world. There the latter do for its extirpation. have been pleafing appearances of Many of the friends of revelation

feem each one would be a Paul, ready to pafs through many régions to proclaim the good tidings of great joy to all, to the utmost extent of his power. It would feem, like him, each one would be no

ing dangers in his way. It would feem impoffible the enemies of the truth fhould be more engaged to exterminate it from the world than its friends are to diffufe the fweet knowledge thereof far and wide. Yet alas! it is a fad fact, contrary to all fuppofition, the zeal of many of its friends, for its furtherance and fupport, bears no

The

never be relieved from his com plaints, but muft die in the com pafs of a few days. From a long

are fleeping, while its enemies are all awake and doing with their might what they find to do. Thefe things ought not to be fo. Con-acquaintance with the family and templating the prefent ftate of as long experience of their kindthings, my head would be waters nefs, I felt deeply interefted in and mine eyes a fountain of tears, their welfare and heartily fympawere I not myfelf ftupid and un- thifed with you in your affliction. feeling, plunged in the cares of I thought it must greatly mitigate the world and troubled about ma- your forrow and comfort your ny things. I trust you more fen- mind, provided your child fhould fibly feel, and it is my earnest wish give fatisfactory evidence of rethe Lord may grant you abundant pentance toward God, and friendcommunications of his grace and fhip to his character and govern enflame your whole foul with ment. For in that cafe, your los love to the truth and an ardent would be his greater gain. I zeal for its defence and furtherance. therefore requested you to fend May you blush to come behind the for the minifter, as you probably fcoffers of the prefent day in the remember, He was accordingly zeal and the fervor of your en- fent for, and fpeedily came. As deavors, and may you fenfibly feel he was going to the apartment of your dependance on the Lord, for your now deceased fon, you regrace to direct and affift you. The quested him to fay nothing about caufe in which you are embarked death, or upon the subjects of reis indefcribably grand and glorious ligion; not fo much on account all heaven is on your fide-the of his weaknefs, as the uneasiness truth is great and will prevail. it might give to his mind. I mut Soon its weight like a rock will tell you, fir, that I was greatly fall on its enemies and grind them furprifed at your request, fince I to powder, while it will forever fuppofed that you faw, and, in remain the broad foundation of the fome measure, felt the importance joy and confolation of its friends. of religion, efpecially on the near That you may every day see more approach of death. The minifter and more of its beauty, tafte its was as much furprised as myself. ineffable fweetnefs and feel its en- He immediately halted upon hearergy and infinite importance, is the ing your requeft, and returned the fervent with of your affectionate following anfwer: "I cannot fee friend. your fon under this reftraint. I must converfe with him according to my beft judgment; and I utterly refufe to fee him, unless I have liberty to bring up to his view the all-important fubjects of religion, to call his attention to the character and danger of the impenitent finner, and to the obedience and blood of a crucified Saviour as his only hope. This is a duty I owe him as a fellow-creature, as a friend, and efpecially as one committed to my charge. If I neg

A letter to a friend upon the fubject of converfing with the fick. Belfast, (Maine) Nov. 15, 1801.

DEAR, SIR,

OU doubtlefs recollect that I

YOU

was on a vifit at your house in the time of your fon M's fickness. We all looked upon his cafe as very critical, and it was the opinion of the moft skilful phyficians you confulted that he could

of it, your fon perish, my own confcience will give me no peace, and his blood, God will require at my hand." I thought that with this refolution, you very reluctantly allowed him accefs to your child. But I no lefs admired his anfwer and the fpirit which it breathed than I was furprifed at your request.

lect this duty, and, in confequence | confideration, that you tempted your minifter to omit what both he and yourfelf knew to be an indifpenfible duty. You endeavored to perfuade him to be unfaithful. Your want of fuccefs can be no confolation to your mind, fince it was your hearty defire to fucceed, and you would have rejoiced in it. Due attention to this idea will furely prevent you from doing the like again in fimilar circumstances.

I am apprehenfive that you have become one of thofe fashionable Chriftians, who wish to think favorably of the character and state of their dying and departed friends without any reafon, and who with to keep religion at a diflance, in health and in ficknefs, in life and in death. However contrary to your opinion and practice, I am fully perfuaded that this modern treatment of dying friends is only a refined scheme for landing them in destruction.

As you may again be placed in fimilar circumstances, pleafe to allow me the liberty to fuggeft feveral ideas upon the fubject, which now occur to my mind.

I obferved that the attendants of your fick friend would frequently inquire of him about his feelings; whether he was in pain, or thirsty, and wifhed for drink or medicine in what pofture he would fit, and how he would lic. Thefe queftions he answered correctly, and often inquired concerning the af fairs of the family and bufinefs of the farm. Wherefore the men tion of death and religion was not omitted because he was unable to difcourfe or could not endure converfation. But could it be, fir, that you thought religion une important? You believe there is a holy and juft God; that the foul is immortal and finful; that there is a Saviour provided for fuch as truft in his merits, and, that all who reject him by unbelief mufb perish. With thefe ideas upon your mind, how could you refrain from inquiring after the fate of his foul, and exhorting him to repent ance? And efpecially how could you refufe the paftor this liberty? You wished your friend to recover; and did you not with his foul to be faved? The immortal part is infinitely the most valuable, and therefore the greatest care should be taken of it. We have reafon to believe that feasonable and fuitYou cannot be infenfible, fir, able converfation with the fick, upthat we incur great guilt in tempt-on fubjects of religion has, in ing others to fin or to neglect duty. fome cafes, been a mean of exciIt is therefore worthy, your ferious ting the attention, enlightening the

I thought that you placed your minister in a very difagreeable condition. Since he greatly loved and refpected you and your family, he was very loath to give you of fence by denying your request, or do any thing, by which you might fuppofe he forfeited your friendfhip. To grant your requeft, he must be unfaithful to his own confcience, unfaithful to your beloved fon, and unfaithful to God. fhould by no means wish to place any perfon in fuch an uncomfortable ftate, and I prefume you will blame yourself when you reflect upon your conduct.

I