fo the Son of God affumed our na- In order to this, every chosen vefture, obeyed the law, fuffered and fel must be gathered in and renderdied, that there might come forthed perfect both foul and body m a new and more beautiful creation by the Holy Spirit. the glorious likeness of the Sav- ple, in which he will delight to Since then the operations of the When the perfons of the Trinity are distinguished in their operations, the great work of making effectual application of the benefits of the Redeemer's purchase, isual, living and moft glorious temmanifeftly attributed to the Spirit. It is God the Spirit who arrefts finful men in their stupid and mad career down to eternal ruin, who convinces them of fin, and after effectually humbling them, ac-and fo happifying to man, they are quaints them with the things of Jefus and leads them to embrace the Saviour. Thus by faith he constitutes a vital and most blessed union between perifhing finners and the Lord of glory. As the Spirit regenerates or begins the work of fanctification, fo he effectually carries it on under all circumftances thro' life, and at length prepares the happy fubject for glory complete and ineffable. It is the glorious character of the fame God which fhines in creation, redemption and fanctifica tion. Is worthy to be recorded and had In this view authentic narratives But in redemption and fanctification, with the greatest poffible brightnefs. Hence we read of the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the faints. This aftonishing work of grace on the hearts of thofe who were chofen by the Father in Chrift Jefus and fore-ordained unto eternal life before the world began, which is daily carrying into effect by the Holy Spirit, is the crowning point or grand iffue of all the operations of the Deity of which we have any knowledge. And when They exhibit to the world the, it shall stand forth in all the perfec-moft inconteftible evidence of the tion of Jehovah we may reft affu- reality, excellence and importance red its glory and beauty will far of religion. As they are moft furpafs all which the eye of man powerfully calculated to awaken, hath feen or his heart conceived. convince and convert perifhing fin ners, fo perhaps no means are more frequently bleffed to this end. They are eminently calculated to quicken, edify, comfort and fupport the Lord's people. As their hearts are bound up in the profperity of Zion, fo no news can be to them fo refreshing. In this way they become extenfively acquainted with what God is doing in the earth. Their hearts rejoice and they give glory to God. By intelligence of this kind exhibited of late in Rippon's Baptift Regifter, in the London, Miffionary, and Connecticut Evangelical Magazines, how is the revenue of Divine glory increased, how many thousands of Chriftians are made acquainted with the moft gracious and wonderful works of the Spirit, and with thofe dear brethren and fifters whofe faces they never faw in the flefh! What a foundation is thus laid for those delightful perfonal interviews among the redeemed, recognizing each other and recapitulating their particular hiftories, or the dealings of divine mercy in bringing them feverally home to glory; which may probably occupy no fall portion of the firft ages of a bleffed immortality! The writer is aware of an objection which may be raised to an encouragement of publications of this kind, viz. There is fuch danger of impofition, and fo many fpecious appearances prove abortive, that it is more prudent to leave all these matters in an undigefted mafs, and wait the decifion of the great day. In anfwer to this objection, it is to be obferved, that tho' no man can pretend with infallible certainty to determine the heart of another, yet these aftonifhing changes are manifeftly wrought by the power of divine grace, which fatisfy the mind of every believer, and hardly admit of a doubt. Now fhould we forbear to notice fuch inftances because poffibly we may be deceived in fome, we fhould neglect to acknowledge the finger of God when most confpicuous, and undoubedly grieve the Holy Spirit. For if God the Spirit be indeed operating upon the hearts of fome of the children of men in the manner supposed in this essay, it manifeftly calls for the most grateful acknowledgments and the fublimeft praise of heaven and earth. Should thefe hold their peace the stones would immediately cry out, Undoubtedly he defigns to make his own efficiency fo confpicuous in these operations that those who do not acknowledge him, must be fealed up under the condemning fentence of unbelief. Undoubtedly there are genuine marks by which a true work of the Spirit of God in the revival of religion in any place may be known, a denial of which would be very prejudicial to the caufe. It would be yielding a point highly gratifying, no doubt, to infidels. But fo long as there are any remains of the precious faith of God's elect on the earth, this point will never be conceded. It is ever to be remembered the present is a state of great imperfection. The wheat it must be confeffed it little in bulk to the chaff, but bleffed be God, there are fome kernels, and for these we never can be fufficiently thankful. In the exercises of the foundest converts or the best faints on earth,there is a mixture. There will be falfe and impure affections mingled with thofe which are genuine, but fhall we on this account throw away the whole? God for bid. Wherefore let God be praised for all his wonderful works, but above all, for the gracious operations of his Holy Spirit. PHILO. How a perfon becomes juftified by faith? MESS'RS EDITORS, and the remarks upon it, are fubmitted to the Editors of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine. Matthew iv. 5, 6. "Then the Devil taketh him up into the holy city, and fetteth him on pinnacle of the temple, and faith unto him, if thou be the Son of God, a IF you fee fit, please to give the following a place in the Mag-caft thyfelf down for it is written, azine. N God, for the fake of any N° O perfon is juftified before one merit there is in his faith; though it be, in the gospel, a fixed term of pardon, reconciliation to God, and of eternal life; yet thefe precious benefits and ineftimable favors are not bestowed upon any of the finful human race, for the fake of any merit there is in faith. In the gofpel, we are repeatedly faid to be juftified by faith; but no perfon is from thence to conclude, that any is juftified, for the fake of any merit there is in faith; but by it (faith) as an inftrument and means, in fpecial ordained of God as the believer's union to Christ, and interest in the faving bleffings of his purchase as the righteoufnefs of Chrift (the result of both his active and paffive obedience) is the fole meritorious caufe of the believing finner's juftification, as faith is appointed of God as the inftrument and means of believers in Chrift becoming united to him, and interested in : : he fhall give his Angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they ball bear thee up, left at any time thou dash thy foot against a ftone." IN N this affault on the Son of God, the grand adversary was more artful and plausible, than in all his other temptations. He transformed hmfelf into an angel of light, in coverfing with Chrift upon the decrees. He admitted the dochimfelf down, because it was writtrine in full, and urged him to caft ten, or decreed, that the angels should have charge over him, and bear him up in their hands, fo that he could not at any time dafh his feet against the ftones. The plain import of his reafoning with Chrift upon the decrees, was this:"You profefs and claim to be the Son of God. I challenge and demand the proof. For if you make this high profeffion, and pre-tend to be the Chrift, you must fhow a fign from heaven, or excharacter and claims. Now if hibit convincing evidence of your you his righteousness (the only merito-be really the Son of God, and rious caufe of juftification, and of not an impoftor, you will acknowall the faving bleflings of the cov-ledge this obligation on yourself, enant of grace) in this fenfe only, I apprehend, any can be faid to be juftified by faith. PHILALETHES. The decrees of God, your profefand comply with my propofal.fed father, fhall be the criterion, to try, whether you are in reality his Son. Thefe are eternal and immutable. If God, by his abfolute and unchangable decrees, owns you for his Son, the matter will at once be decided. In his holy word, this particular decree heaven, earth, or hell; but as foon as you even begin to defcend, the angels will inftantly appear, eafe you in your paffage down, and gently reft your feet upon the ground." Thus reafoned Satan the grand deceiver, upon the decrees, which he faid, were written and revealed in the bible. But he reafoned no more abfurdly from the doctrine, nor perverted fcripture any more, than many of mankind do, at the present day. The following are their statement and reafoning upon the decrees.→→→ "God hath abfolutely and unal terably decreed and fixed all events and things from eternity to eterni. ty, and hath unconditionally elect ed to falvation, all thofe, who will finally be delivered from the wrath to come: Therefore, if we are to be faved, we fhall be faved, let us live in fin, or do as we pleafe; but if we are to be damned, we fhall be damned, let us do what we may. is written and revealed concerning the Meffiah. "He fhall give his angels charge over him, and in their hands they fhall bear him up, left he dafh his foot against a ftone." Now prove, by fulfilling this everlafting decree, that you are the Meffiah.. Caft yourfelf down from the pinnacle; and if the angels come and bear you up in their hands, I mutt believe and acknowledge, that you are the Son of God. This will be full and demonstrative proof, be your own witness, and the witnefs of God, your Father, to your profeffion and claim to be the Chrift. Hishonor and your own, are equally concerned in the manifeftation of your perfon and character. You cannot reafonably refufe to comply with the propofed trial; for it is obligatory on you to exhibit evidence of your divine miffion; proof of your claim to be the Meffiah, or otherwife, you ought to be confidered and treated, as a vile impoftor. If I were only in your fituation, and there was fuch a decree concerning me, I fhould not refufe to fatisfy any one in fo proper and reasonable a requeft, bat fhould be pleafed myfelf, to have my father acknowledge me for his Son by his eternal decrees. I fhould not hesitate in the leaft, to take the flight; for whatever God has decreed and fixed, he is neceffitated to fulfil in the minutest particular. He cannot lie; and therefore, cannot break his own abfolute decrees. You need not indulge the leaft diftant apprehenfion of danger in cafting yourfelf down. The angels will as certainly come, and bear you up in their hands, as the everlafting and un-ling to be fatally deceived. Chrift, changeable decrees of God are certain of accomplishment. Thefe decrees never were, and never can be broken by all the powers in The decrees of God, they ftate juftly; but the conclufions, which they draw from them, are abfurd. They reafon upon them in a fimilar manner with Satan, the fubtle adverfary; and answering him, will equally anfwer them. The following remarks will fhow the deception and fallacy of Satan's reafoning with the Son of God upon the decrees. 1. The reafoning was his own, and like himself. He is a liar and deceiver, the father of lies, and the truth is not in him. Since his fin and rebellion against God, his con ftant object has been, to deceive. This liar from the beginning, is not to be credited, unless we are wil our example and pattern, did not believe Satan, nor comply with his temptation, which is a clear proof, that his reafoning upon the decrees was falfe, and is an admonition to us, not to believe his fuggeftions, nor comply with his fubtle devices. 2. The reafoning 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 complied with his propofal, and caft himfelf down. The tempter knew, that he, as a man, would have dashed against the stones. was his fole object, to tempt the Redeemer to kill himself. This 3. Satan, in his reasoning 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 prefumptuously 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. were to keep him in all his ways. He was to ufe means to preserve his own life; and not use means to deftroy it, as the tempter's reafoning implied. There are two extremes into which men run, in reasoning upon the decrees. The one is, to fepa rate means from the end, and run every thing into fatality. The other is, to deny the doctrine wholly, and run every thing into chance. 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 themselves. Created anew in Chrift Jefus unto good works, which good works, God before ordained, that we should 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 thole, who feparate them, and run all things into fatality, reason just as abfurdly, as their father, the devil, did with Christ. "Ye are of your father, the devil, and his reafoning ye will ufe." Before this fubject is difmiffed, it will be proper to take notice of Sf |