NOTICE.

The author of the following pages having for a considerable time been considered by several of his lately associated brethren, as an heretic, on account of his differing from them in opinion, with respect to the doctrine of the Trinity; and having been denied, by them, an interchange of professional labors, while they assigned no distinct or precise reason for this their denial-was, by a sense of duty constrained, in the month of January last, to express to the members of the Association, then convened, the regret and concern which he felt from the treatment he had received from them.

The communication which he made to his brethren was dictated, by a spirit of fraternal affection-by an ardent desire to promote brotherly love and union, and to advance the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom. Nor was the communication made, as he believes, in a manner which was indicative of any other, than a spirit of candor, of serious concern, and of respectful fidelity. But to his great disappointment the communication was, at the time, treated by his brethren, with the neglect of expressive silence.

Early in February,however, he received a letter from one of the members of the Association, the Rev. Mr. Thomas of Abington, containing some notices of the communication above mentioned. To this letter the author of the following, prepared an answer with a view to the publication of both, conjointly. But as Mr. T. "cannot give his consent" that his letter should be published,

and as he has, in a personal interview with the writer of this, so explained and qualified several incorrect statements and exceptionable passages in his letter, the author of the following, thinks it advisable and expedient to suppress his answer to it, so far as it relates to those statements and passages. And most gladly would he suppress the whole of it but for the considerations that the duties which he owes to himself to the beloved and respected people of his pastoral charge -to his brethren in the ministry-to christian churches and societies to the cause of truth and religious liberty-to God and the Saviour, require him, as he believes to make it public.

That it may be read with a candid spirit, and with serious and prayerful attention; that it may be happily instrumental of removing misapprehensions, of rectifying mistakes, of developing truth, of ameliorating an uncandid and censorious temper, and of promoting christian charity and union, is the heart's desire and prayer to God of the

AUTHOR.

The following extracts from the solemn address of the eminently pious and candid Dr. Watts, which was made to the great and ever-blessed God, on a review of what he had written in the Trinitarian controversy, is earnestly recommended to the serious perusal of the reader, as containing the sentiments, the views and desires of the author of the following pages.

ADDRESS.

Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee; yet I may talk with thee concerning thy judgments. Permit me, O my God and Father, to plead with thee concerning the revela tions of thy nature and thy grace, which are made in thy gospel. And let me do it with all that humble reverence, and that holy awe, of thy Majesty, which becomes a creature in the presence of his God.

Hast thou not, O Lord God Almighty, hast thou not transacted thy divine and important affairs among men by thy Son Jesus Christ, and by thy holy Spirit? and hast thou not ordained that men should transact their highest and most momentous concerns with thee, by thy Son and by thy spirit? Must I not know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ thy Son, whom thou hast sent, that I may fulfil all my respective duties towards thyself and thy Son, in hope of eternal life? Hath not thy Son himself, appealed to thee in his last prayer, that eternal life depends on this knowledge? And since thou hast made so much use of thy holy Spirit in our religion, must I not have some knowledge of this thy Spirit also, that I may pay thee all these honors thou requirest from this divine revelation ?

Hast thou not ascribed divine names, and titles, and characters to thy Son and thy holy Spirit in thy word ? And yet art not thou and thou alone, the true God?

Holy Father, thou knowest how firmly I believe, with all my soul, whatsoever thou hast plainly written and revealed in thy word. I believe thee to be the only true God, the supreme of

beings, self-sufficient for thine own existence, and for all thy infinite affairs and transactions among creatures. I believe thy Son Jesus Christ to be all-sufficient for the glorious work of mediation between God and man, to which thou hast appointed him to fulfil the blessed works for which thou hast exalted him, and to govern and judge the world in thine appointed time. I believe also thy blessed Spirit hath almighty power and influence to do all thy will, to instruct men effectually in divine truths, to change the hearts of fallen mankind from sin to holiness, to carry on thy work of illumination, santification, and consolation on the souls of all thy children, and to bring them safe to the heavenly world. I yield myself up joyfully and thankfully to this method of thy salvation, as it is revealed in the gospel. But I acknowledge my darkness still. I want to have this wonderful doctrine of the all-sufficiency of thy Son and thy Spirit, for these divine works, made a little plainer. Is it a vain and sinful curiosity to desire to have this article set in such a light, as may not diminish the eternal glory of the unity of the true God, nor of the supremacy of thee, the Father of all?

Hadst thou informed me, gracious Father, in any place of thy word, that this divine doctrine is not to be understood by men, and yet they were required to believe it, I would have subdued all my curiosity to faith, and submitted my wandering and doubtful imaginations, as far as it was possible, to the holy and wise determinations of thy word. But I cannot find thou hast any where forbid me to understand it, or to make these enquiries. My conscience is the best natural light thou hast put within me, and since thou hast given me the scriptures, my own conscience bids me to search the scriptures to find out truth and eternal life. It bids me try all things, and hold fast that which is good. And thy own word by the same expressions, encourages this holy practice. I have, therefore, been long searching into this divine doctrine, that I may pay thee due honor with understanding. Surely I ought to know the God whom I worship, whether he be one pure and simple being, or whether thou art a three fold Deity, consisting of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Dear and blessed God, hadst thou been pleased, in any one plain scripture, to have informed me which of the different opinions about the holy Trinity, among the contending parties of christians, had been true, thou knowest with how much zeal, satisfaction and joy my unbiassed heart would have opened itself to receive and embrace the divine discovery. Hadst thou told me plainly, in one single text, that the Father, Son and holy Spirit, are three real distinct persons in thy divine nature, I had never suffered myself to be bewildered in so many doubts,