From the Boston Gazette, 20. OЯ. 1747• Elizabeth-Town in New Jerfey, 10. Oct. 1747. N Wednesday Morning died here, of a pleuretic Illness, that eminently learned, faithful and pious Minifter of the Gospel, and Prefident of the Colledge of New-Jersey, the Reverend Mr. Jonathan Dickinson, in the 60th Year of his Age, who had been Paftor of the first Presbyterian Church in this Town, for near 40 Years, and was the Foy and Glory of it. In him confpicuously appeared thofe natural and acquired, moral and Spiritual Endowments which conftitute a truly excellent and valuable Man, a good Scholar, an eminent Divine, and a ferious devout Chriftian. He was greatly adorned with the Gifts and Graces of his heavenly Mafier, in the Light whereof he appeared as a Star of fuperior Brightness and Influence in the Orb of the Church, which has fuftained an unspeakable Loss in his Death. He was of uncommon and very extenfive Usefulness. He boldly appeared in Defence of the great and important Truths of our most holy Religion, and was a zealous Promoter of godly Practice and holy Living, and a bright Ornament to his Profeffion. In Times and Cafes of Difficulty he was a ready, wife and able Counfeller. By his Death, our infant College is deprived of the Benefit of his fuperior Accomplishments, which afforded a favourable Profpect of its future Profperity under his Infpection. As he lived defired of all, fo never any Perfon in thefe Parts died more lamented. 10 FE 60 THE THE PREFACE. HE irregular Heats and Extravagancies of fome late Pretenders to extraordinary Attainments in Religion, their imaginary divine Impulfes, and extatic Raptures, with other Effects of their difordered Fancies, have caft fuch a Blemish upon the Christian Profeffion, in the Eyes of unfettled and unthinking People, that 'tis well if too many are not in Danger of calling Christianity itself into Queftion, from the manifeftly falfe Pretences and enthufiaftic Flights of fome who have put in a Claim to fo eminent Experience in the divine Life.-It is therefore thought needful, as well as feafonable at this Time, that a brief and plain Confirmation of the Christian Religion be sent abroad among our People, to establish them in the Foundation of our eternal Hope.This has been my Special Motive to the Publication of fome of the firft of the enfuing Letters. On the other Hand, whether for want of duly dif tinguishing between delufive Appearances and the genuine Effects of an Effufion of the Holy Spirit, or from whatever Caufe, fuch has been the violent Oppofition of fome to the late Revival of Religion in the Land, that the Doctrines of Special Grace, and of experimental Piety, seem now, by too many, not only rejected and opposed, but even treated with Contempt, under the opprobrious Character of New Light, as if they had never before been heard of or professed among us. This I take to be one of the darkest Symptoms upon this Land that we have ever yet feen.It must on that Account not be unfeasonable to reprefent to our People, in a clear and diftinct View, the # PREFACE. the Experiences of vital Religion, which are necef fary to conftitute them Chriftians indeed.-This is aim'd at in the Publication of most of the following Letters. The Danger we are in of prevailing Antinomianism, and the actual Prevalence that it has already obtained (efpecially under the Name of Moravianifm) in feme Parts of the Country, is a fufficient Juftification of the Attempt I have made to fet the Foundation-Error of the Antinomians in a true Light, and to difcover its dangerous Tendency. If any are inclined to cenfure me for troubling the World with new Difcourfes upon fuch Subjects as I had publicly treated on before, particularly the Evidences of Chriftianity, the Sovereignty of divine Grace, Faith and Juftification; they may confider, that these are most important Points, and deferve the moft particular Illuftration; that there is at this Time a Special Call to remove the Objections against them out of the Way; and that this is now attempted in a different Manner from my former Difcourfes on thefe Subjects; and, I trust, with fome additional Evidence to the Truth. If any of my Readers are fo curious as to enquire, to whom thefe Letters were directed, 'tis fufficient Anfwer, that they are now by the Prefs directed to them; and if they can improve them to their fpiritual Advantage, it will answer the End of their Publication. May the Blessing of GOD attend them to this Purpose. J. D. CON LETTER I. THE DANGER of INFIDELITY, -II. The Evidences of Chriftianity, Page t 9 -III. The Hiftory of our Saviour, collected from the Prophecies of the Old Testament, 25 -IV. The Certainty of the Facts reported in the 4[ -XVII. The Nature and Neceffity of our Union to LETTER I. Wherein the Danger of SIR, Heartily rejoice to hear from you, that you are at last come into a "Refolution, immediately "to enter upon a serious and impartial Exa"mination of the Christian Religion." What you obferve is certainly true, "that this is an Affair of "too great confequence to be carelefly neglected, "6 to be decided at the Club, or to be rejected by "Wholesale, with the too common Arguments of "Mirth and Raillery, Sneer and Banter.". -I fhould therefore be inexcufable, fhould I refufe a Compliance with your Requeft, to "maintain a "Correfpondence with you by Letter; and assist you, what I can, in your Enquiries into the "Truth of Chriftianity, the Nature of the Chri"stian Institution, and the Character and Qualifi❝cations of those who are intitled to the Rewards "therein promifed." But what can a Gentleman of your Capacities expect from me? And has not this Caufe been clearly and fully handled, efpecially of late, by a Variety of Authors? Has it not triumphed over all Oppofition? Have not its |