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5

THE

PREFACE.

TH

HE irregular beats and extravagancies of fome late pretenders to extraordinary attainments in religion, their imaginary divine impulfes, and extatick raptures, with other effects of their difordered fancies, have caft fuch a blemish upon the Chriftian profeffion in the eyes of unfettled and unthinking people; that it is well if too many are not in danger of calling Christianity itself into queftion, from the manifeftly falfe pretences, and enthufiaftick 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 feasonable at this time, that a brief and plain confirmation of the Chriftian religion be fent 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 first of the enfuing letters.

On the other hand, whether for want of duly diftinguishing between delufive appearances, and the genuine effects of an effufion of the HoLY SPIRIT, or from whatever cause, 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 feem now by too many not only rejected and oppofeci, but even treated with contempt, under the opprobrious character of new light; as if they had never before been heard of, or profeffed among us. This I take to be one of the darkest fymptoms upon this land, that we have ever yet feen. It muft on that account be

not unfeasonable, to reprefent to our people in a clear and diftinct view, the experiences of vital religion, which are neceffary to constitute them Chriftians indeed. This is aimed at in the publication of most of the following letters. The danger we are in of prevailing Antinomianifm, and the actual prevalence that it has already obtained (especially under the name of Moravianifm) in fome 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 discover its dangerous tendency.

If any are inclined to cenfure me, for troubling the world with new difcourfes upon fuch fubjects as I had publickly 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 most particular illuftration, that there is at this time a fpecial 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 fubjects; and, I trust, with fome additional evidence to the truth.

If any of my readers are fo curious as to enquire, to whom these letters were directed; it is fufficient anfwer, that they are now by the prefs directed to them; and if they can improve them to their fpiritual advantage, it will anfwer the end of their publication. May the bleffing of GOD attend them to this purpose!

J. D.

ON A

Variety of RELIGIOUS SUBJECTS.

LETTER I. Wherein the DANGER of INFIDELITY is briefly reprefented.

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SIR,

Heartily rejoice to hear from you, that you are at come into a ' refolution, immediately to enter upon a ferious and impartial examination of the 'Chriflian religion.' What you obferve is certainly true, that this is an affair of too great confequence, 'to be carelefly neglected, to be decided at the club, or to be rejected by wholefale, with the too common arguments of mirth and raillery, fneer and banter.'I fhould therefore be inexcufable, fhould I refufe a compliance with your request, to maintain a correfpondence with you by letter; and affift you, what I can, in your inquiries into the truth of Christianity, the ' nature of the Chriftian inftitution, and the character ' and qualifications 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 alloppofition? Have not its poor deluded oppofers been covered with thame and confufion, in all their feeble attempts to fubvert our faith, and to destroy the blessed hope of our future happiness? And are not thefe books in your hands?-Read them, Sir, with that attention,. which fuch an awful and important affair demands of you; and I think, you can't fail of obtaining conviction and fatisfaction.

To your inquiry, How fhall I first enter upon a

B

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