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for myself, but to be at God's disposal, and to follow the calls of Providence.* I therefore determined to accept the first offer that was made me of entering into business; for I did not suppose I should be offered any thing not becoming and proper for one in my circumstances. It was most customary for persons circumstanced as I was, to take a school, for some time after they came out of college, before they preached. And a few days before I took my degree, the people at Sutton, about fifty miles from the college, invited me to take a school in that town. This was the first offer or invitation that I had, and accordingly I took it for a call of Providence, and soon after taking my degree, I went to Sutton, and taught a school for nearly a year. Mr. Hall, the minister of the place, was agreeable, both as a minister and a friend. Before the year had expired, I was solicited by particular persons to begin to preach, and the committee of a vacant congregation came once to invite me; but I had no license, or regular introduction, and therefore I did not see that it was a call of Providence to preach. Beside, I was much afraid to take a step toward the ministry. It appeared to me. a great and weighty thing. I had at times considerable fears and dark apprehensions concerning the state of my soul; and I fully believed that a graceless person ought not to go into the ministry. I feared I had not grace; tempta*The editor thinks it may not be improper for him to state, that his father earnestly inculcated on him the adoption of the principle which he here mentions as having governed his own conduct, and that the paternal advice has been remembered and followed with the greatest advantage, through the whole of the editor's past life. And he has realized what his father remarked, that on the plan recommended, when unavoidable difficulties occurred, self-reproach would be avoided, and prayer for divine aid and direction might be made with freedom.

tion, or conscience, often told me. peremptorily that I had none. I was also afraid I had not learning enough; had not studied enough; and I was also bashful and diffident. But one or two friendly ministers, and some other people, so encouraged and persuaded me, that I was greatly perplexed, and knew not what was duty, or the call of Providence. At length I concluded to bring the matter to a determination, by visiting and talking with three ministers in and near Boston, whose piety, learning, and judgment, I had a great opinion of; and to preach or not, for the present, according as they advised me. The first I went to talk with, asked me how long I had been out of college; and finding I had not been graduated above a year, he advised me not to preach as yet. He asked me no questions about my experience, or my views, but observed that we ought not to be hasty and sudden, in rushing into the ministry; that in general, scholars ought not to preach till they had been out of college three years, &c. I was a stranger to the minister; he knew nothing of my character; but his advice in general suited my inclination. I did not go to talk with the other two ministers, but went back, satisfied that I ought not to preach as yet.

When my time for keeping school at Sutton was expired, and I on a visit to my friends, waiting, as it were, to know to what, or where, Providence would call me next, the famous preacher, the Rev. George Whitefield, then travelling through these parts, invited

*This surely was good advice, and it is to be regretted that it is not oftener given and taken. It is believed that what precedes and follows this reference from the narrative, is worthy of the consideration of candidates for the ministry generally, as well as of those to whom they look for advice and direction. There is much mistake and much sin committed, by rushing prematurely into the sacred office.-EDIT.

me to go to Georgia, to take the care of the orphan house. It was an unexpected and surprising thing; but upon the advice of some friends, and viewing it as the first call I had after I was out of business, I concluded to go. Mr. Whitefield went on in his circuitous preaching southward. I agreed to settle my affairs and go to him at New York, in about four weeks from the time of our agreement. After visiting my friends, &c. I went towards New York, and overtook Mr. Whitefield at Elizabethtown, in New Jersey. Upon finding him, he told me that since I had seen him, he had received letters from Georgia, informing him that some subscriptions, &c. had failed, so that he could not manage the orphan house as he expected-that he would, however, fulfil his agreement with me for half a year, if I chose to go on with him; and that if I chose to stop, he would defray the expense I had incurred in coming thus far. I consulted Mr. Dickinson, at whose house we then were, and he advised me to stop; and he, with Mr. Burr, of Newark, prevailed with me to stay, and be licensed and preach here, and not return to New England. I had a great regard for Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Burr-their advice swayed me. Accordingly, I was licensed in September, 1745, at Elizabethtown, and the first place that invited me to preach, was Hanover, in Morris county, New Jersey. I endeavoured to be as passive as I could conveniently be, as to being disposed of; and thus following the calls of Providence I was led to Hanover. Here I preached one year on probation, was called to settle, and was ordained in November, 1746.*

*The subject of the sketch remained the pastor of this congregation till the time of his death, and appears to have preached his first sermon where he deliver ed his last

"He ne'er had changed, nor wished to change his place.'

I had great fears, anxiety and difficulty, as to entering into the ministry. Some months before I was ordained, I thought at times I would give over preaching. I found much corrupt nature unmortified, and I had times of being in great darkness. I viewed the ministry as a great and difficult work; I was but a poor speaker; and on the whole, I shrunk away from the work. I made known my difficulties to two or three ministers, who I thought did not fully enter into my case, but told me it was a temptation, and the design of Satan to keep me out of the ministry -or to that purpose. Some short time before the appointment of my ordination, I had such dark apprehensions of my own case, and such discouraging views, that I was determined to give up preaching. To accomplish this, I wrote my case largely, and represented myself so bad that I supposed the ministers would not encourage my preaching. I gave the writing to Mr. Burr, with my own hand, telling him I would have him show it to other ministers, if he thought proper. He read it through deliberately, and then put it into the fire before my eyes, and talked to me in a very friendly and encouraging manner. If my difficulties were a temptation, the Devil was disappointed; but if they produced the proper remonstrance of conscience, I got into the ministry when I ought to have kept out of it. God knows how it was. I have been a poor, unprofitable creature in the ministry, and have many a time thought that I was never really fit for the work.*

(To be continued.)

*The son of this humble minister of the gospel of Christ may be permitted to say, what he knows to be true, that his father's attainments and qualifications for the sacred office, were estimated by others very differently from the estimate made by himself. He was an erudite man, both in the learned languages, and in mathematical science. His knowledge of Hebrew was surpassed by few in our country. He

THE DOCTRINE OF IMPUTATION.

The following short paper from the Christian Observer, it will be perceived, refers to a previous article in that excellent work. What we insert, however, is perfectly intelligible by itself, and is evidently the production of a learned biblical critic, and a man of sound

doctrinal sentiments. It deserves to be read with care and attention.

We have Italicised one sentence, which contains the scriptural doctrine of imputation; and shows that those who hold that nothing is imputed till it is actually possessed, deny altogether the doctrine of imputation, as taught in the volume of inspiration, and as held by the

Protestant reformers.

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To the Editor of the Christian Observer. Your correspondent J. in your number for June, is perfectly right in calling the attention of your readers to the plural form of the word translated "righteousness" in Rev. xix. 8. I do not, however, think him correct in interpreting the word to mean righteous acts performed. The verb dixaio is to justify, acquit, or declare innocent; and all its derivatives partake of the same meaning. Henee dixa

is properly the act of acquitting; dixon the state of acquittal; and dixaiwμa the acquisition of that state, whether by imputacertainly was not what is usually called

eloquent; but his audience were occasionally melted into tears, by the simple pathos of his address. His preaching was eminently doctrinal and didactic, but always with a practical application; and it wore well. To the last, his authority and influence with his people were unusually great. He had formed such high ideas of what a minister of the gospel ought to be, that his own attainments and labours always appeared to him to be of a very inferior kind. Would it not be well if there was more of these views and feelings?

⚫tion or service; or, secondly, it is any institution which may help us to obtain it. In the first of these two senses the word is used in in Luke 1. 6, Rom. i. 32, ii. 26, Rom. v. 16, viii. 4; in the second, Heb. ix. 1, 10, Rev. xv. 4. In the passage under consideration it is been employed in seeking justifiimplied that all the saints have cation, every one for himself; and the various methods by which they have severally sought and eventually obtained it, are summed up in the "fine linen" which is given them. Thus is the righteousnes of the purest saint a free gift at last. He is invested with the righteousness of his Redeem

er.

I also apprehend that J. is inaccurate, in stating that it is the effect (that is, the rewards and honours merited) of the perfect obedience of our blessed Lord, which God imputes, reckons, or accounts to the benefit of all true believers in him. To impute, is one thing; to give, another. God imputes to the believer the spotless purity and innocence of the Redeemer, and therefore gives him the reward which his Redeemer has merited. The whole doctrine of imputation rests on this principle, that something is attributed to the believer in Christ, which, at the time of the imputation, he does not possess. The imputation, therefore, is perfect at once, in this life; whereas the reward and crown of righteousness are not fully bestoweď till the next. Both as respects justification, however, and reward, your correspondent and I entirely agree, that the Lord is graciously pleased to treat the faithful disciples of his Son, as if they were entitled to all the privileges and blessings which his gratuitous obedience has earned for them.

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!" D. D.

THE PRESENT STATE OF THE PRESBY

TERIAN CHURCH. No. VII.

There were two powerful excitements which operated on the minds of the New School Presbyterians to rally their forces, with a view to secure a dominant influence in the last General Assembly; the first was the case of Mr. Barnes; the second, the change of the Board of Missions-the former affecting more immediately the doctrines of our church; the latter its ecclesiastical order, or government. On the subject of missions, we have already made some remarks, and reserve it for conside. ration whether we shall hereafter add to them or not. On the case of Mr. Barnes, we have as yet said nothing, except to mention it as connected with other topicks. But the manner in which this case was disposed of, was, we believe, entirely novel-a complete unique, in the proceedings of the Supreme Judicatory of our church, and hence it serves to mark, in no inconsiderable degree, the present state of that church. We shall therefore devote to its consideration the remainder of our present number, and perhaps the whole of

our next.

We shall, in the first place, lay before our readers all that appears in the printed minutes of the Assembly, relative to the case in question. The dates of the several items of record, are of no material importance, but we shall notice them, that the progress of the business may be seen.

The second day of the session, A. M. "The Permanent Clerk informed the Assembly that there had been put into his hands the following papers, viz. "Complaint of the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, against a reference by said Presbytery of the case of the Rev. Albert Barnes;" and "The case of the Rev. Horace Belknap, referred to the General Assembly, by the Presbytery of Harmony." These cases were referred to the Judicial Committee." "The Permanent Clerk reported that there had been put into his

hands a complaint from Thomas Bradford, Jr. Esq. against certain proceedings of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in relation to the Rev. Albert Barnes. This complaint was referred to the Judicial Committee." Second day, P. M.-"The Permanent Clerk reported that there had been put into his hands the following papers [several are specified, one of which is said to be] A complaint by the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, against the proceedings of the said Presbytery, in the case of the Rev. Albert Barnes.' These cases were referred to the Judicial Committee." "The Permanent Clerk announced to the Assembly that there had been put into his hands a reference from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, of the whole case of the Rev. Albert Barnes before that Body. This case was referred to the Judicial Committee." Sixth day A. M. (inclusive of the Sabbath, and Wednesday, spent in devotional exercises.) "The Judicial Committee reported the complaint of the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia in the case of the

Rev. Albert Barnes, and recommended an

order to be pursued in hearing their complaint. This report was accepted." Sixth day, P. M." The Assembly resolved to take up the complaint of the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in the case of Mr. Barnes. The Moderator, agreeably to a standing rule, announced that the Assembly was about to pass to the consideration of the business assigned for trial, and enjoined on the members to recollect and regard their high character as judges of a court of Jesus Christ, and the solemn duty in which they were about to act. The Assembly united in prayer for direction in this business." Seventh day, A. M." The Assembly resumed the consideration, of the complaint of the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in the case of the Rev. Albert Barnes. The whole proceedings of the Presbytery in the case complained of, and the printed sermon of Mr. Barnes, entitled 'The Way of Salvation,' which led to these proceedings were read." Seventh day, P. M.-"The consideration of the complaint of the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia was resumed; and their complaint was read. The parties then agreed to submit the case to the Assembly without argument; when it was resolved to refer the whole case to a select committee. Dr. Miller, Dr. Matthews, Dr. Lansing, Dr. Fisk, Dr. Spring, Dr. J. McDowell, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Ross, Mr. E. White, Mr. Jessup, and Mr. Napier, were appointed this committee." Tenth day P. M.-"The committee to whom was referred the whole case in relation to the Rev. Albert Barnes, made a report, which being read, was adopted, and is as follows, viz.

"That after bestowing upon the case

the most deliberate and serious consideration, the committee are of the opinion that it is neither necessary nor for edification, to go into the discussion of all the various and minute details which are comprehended in the documents relating to this case. For the purpose, however, of bringing the matter in controversy, as far as possible, to a regular and satisfactory issue, they would recommend to the Assembly the adoption of the following resolutions, viz. "1. Resolved, That the General Assembly, while it appreciates the conscientious zeal for the purity of the church, by which the Presbytery of Philadelphia is believed to have been actuated in its proceedings in the case of Mr. Barnes; and while it judges that the sermon by Mr. Barnes, entitled, "The Way of Salvation," contains a number of unguarded and objectionable passages; yet is of the opinion, that, especially after the explanations which were given by him of those passages, the Presbytery ought to have suffered the whole to pass without further notice.

"2. Resolved, That in the judgment of this Assembly, the Presbytery of Philadelphia ought to suspend all further proceedings in the case of Mr. Barnes.

3. Resolved, That it will be expedient, as soon as the regular steps can be taken, to divide the Presbytery in such way, as will be best calculated to promote the peace of the ministers and churches belonging to the Presbytery.

"With respect to the abstract points proposed to the Assembly, for their decision, in the Reference of the Presbytery, the committee are of the opinion that if they be answered, they had better be discussed and decided in thesi, separate from the case of Mr. Barnes.

"The Judicial committee reported that the other complaints, and the reference in relation to the case of Mr. Barnes, they considered as merged in the report just adopted. This report was accepted.

"The Assembly having finished the business in relation to Mr. Barnes, united in special prayer, returning thanks to God for the harmonious result to which they have come; and imploring the blessing of God on their decision."

We have now to ask that the following particulars may be well noted. 1. That up to the time when this case was submitted to the Assembly, the whole of the proceedings had been in strict conformity with the order prescribed in our church government, for the conducting of a trial in our ecclesiastical courts. All the papers in the pending cause had been committed to a judicial commit

tee; that committee had reported
on them, and pointed out the order
of proceeding; the moderator had
solemnly announced that the As-
sembly was now to sit as a court
of Jesus Christ”—and had formally
called on the members "to recollect
and regard their high character as
judges" in such a court; all the
papers, containing the evidence
in the trial, had been read to the
court, and also the protests and
responses in the courts below, to-
gether with the complaint to the
highest court; all which, taken to-
gether, contained in substance, the
pleadings deemed necessary by the
parties on both sides-contained
the whole of the evidence, and so
much of the arguments pro and
con, and this in writing or in print,
as to be a strong inducement to
waive any enlargement on them,
in oral pleadings, before the su-
preme court; and accordingly the
whole cause, as is sometimes done
"submitted to
in civil courts, was
the Assembly without argument."
We wish these last quoted words
of the record may be marked and
remembered. It was to the Su-
preme Judicatory, or highest court
of the Presbyterian church, then
formally and solemnly sitting as
such, and to no other arbiters what-
soever, that the parties submitted
their cause without argument.

The

2. From the time that the cause was submitted, the prescribed course of judicial proceeding laid down in the constitution was abandoned; and one of a different kind, and entirely novel in such cases, was adopted in its place. constitutional course, after parties are heard, is specified in the third section of chapter vii. of the Book of Discipline. The section indeed relates directly to appeals, but since no other prescriptions are contained in the constitution relative to the mode of proceeding in a judicial process, and the 5th and 6th articles of the fourth section, which relates to complaints, dis

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