New-Xort,

PUBLISHED BY N. BANGS AND J. EMORY, AT THE METHODIST

PRINTING OFFICE, CROSBY-STREET.

Azor Hoyt, Printer.

1825.

NO. 1.]

FOR JANUARY, 1825.

[VOL. 8.

DIVINITY.

THE TRUTH, BY WHICH GOD SHOWS HIS WILLINGNESS THAT ALL

MEN SHOULD BE SAVED:

A discourse in behalf of the Wesleyan Missions, preached at Great Queen-street, Lin;

coln's Inn-fields, London, May 2, 1824.
BY THE REV. ADAM CLARKE, L.L.D., F.A.S.

1

1 TIMOTHY ii. 3-6. Τούτο γαρ καλόν και αποδεκτον ενώπιον του Σωτήρος ημών Θεού. "Ος πάντας

ανθρώπους θέλει σωθήναι, και εις επίγνωσιν 'Αληθείας ελθείν. Εις γάρ Θεός, εις και Μεσίτης Θεού και Ανθρώπων, "Ανθρωπος Χριςός Ιησούς. “Ο δους εαυτόν

αντίλυτρον υπέρ πάντων, το Μαρτύριον καιρούς ιδίοις.* “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all

men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus ; who gare himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

In these and the preceding verses, the apostle enjoins a most important duty, PRAYER for all sorts, states, and conditions of men; and this he recommends by motives and arguments the strongest that can be conceived. “I will, therefore, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Prayer for the pardon of sin, and for the obtaining of necessary supplies of grace, and continual protection from God, with gratitude and thanksgiving for mercies already received, are duties which our sinful and dependant state renders absolutely necessary. That intercourse between God and the soul, which constitutes acquaintance with him, is essential to religion and piety. It is a good thing in itself; it argues a heart dependant on God, and conscious of its dependance; and it is acceptable to God, because, as it springs from, so it leads to him, and when it is exercised in behalf of others, it is the means of begetting and extending charity, humanity, and benevolence : and God crowns it with the blessings for which it is exercised. For these reasons it must be good; and all good in principle and practice is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.