ON SOME IMPORTANT SUBJECTS IN DIVINITY; IN A SERIES OF LETTERS TO A FRIEND. BY THE REV. DEVEREUX JARRATT, Rector of Bath Parish, in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Baltimore: PRINTED BY WARNER & HANNA. 1806.- THE following letters, being written at the request and intended merely for the satisfaction of a friend, were not intended for publication. Indeed they contain nothing new; for the same sentiments may be seen in the writings of many authors, who have treated on these subjects. If they have any thing to recommend them, it is the plain, simple and concise manner, in which the thoughts, are expressed. What has filled volumes, is here held forth in so small a compass, that all the leading truths, and most important doctrines of the gospel, may be seen in one view. I know not that any thing is omitted, which is necessary for a christian, or even a preacher to know, relative to the distinguishing principles of christianity, and the scheme of salvation through Jesus Christ. Some may fear that the first four letters savour too much of Calvinism, and tend to Antinomianism. But if the reader will suspend bis judgment, till be read the last letter, be will see that all his fears were groundless. That letter, in perfect consistence with all the former, guards the doctrines of grace from abuse, and tears up Antinomianism by the roots.-That God may render them a bleessing, to all who read them, is the prayer of Bath, Sept. 3, 1791. D. JARRATT, LETTER I. (ON JUSTIFICATION.) MY DEAR FRIEND, * Bath, June 3, 1790. INDUCED by your request, I take up my pen to write my thoughts on some of those important points, which were the subject of our conversation, at our last interview. I am sensible there can be no greater pleasure to a humane, humble and inquisitive mind, than to communicate and receive truth and more especially such truths, as concern the present comfort, and future happiness of immortal souls. I am aware that the bounds of one letter would be too limited, or narrow, to illustrate the several essential doctrines, Let it be observed, that by justification in this letter, and also in the three letters following, I mean justification from all the charges of the law or covenant of works. on which we conversed, and on which you wished to have my thoughts, in writing. I find myself, therefore, obliged, in order to do all the justice I can, to the several particulars, to treat of them distinctly, in a series of letters, as my time and opportunity will permit. In this first letter, I intend to treat of the justification of a sinner, before God, and shew what is implied in it. Undoubtedly, it would have appeared more methodical, if I had first treated of the fall and ruin of mankind. But as the whole doctrine of justification stands upon that ground (the fall of man,) for the sake of brevity, I have chosen to treat of both, in one and the same letter, and at one and the same time. Man when he first came out of the forming hand of his Creator, was perfect and upright, as being created in the pure and holy image of God. In this state he was, when God gave him a perfect law to keep, suitable to his nature. This law, which is also called the Covenant of Works, required perfect obedience, on pain of death. But man, being in honor, continued not. He broke this law of God, and incurred the threatened penalty. Accordingly the penalty was executed upon him. For his soul died, immediately, a spiritual death, by being separated from God; and his body, became mortal, and hasted to die a natural death. So that death then seized both on soul and body, and rendered him liable, every moment, to death eternal.And as all mankind were contained in him, (that is Adam,) as the common parent, and representative of us all; so through his offence, sin, death, judgment and condemnation, came upon the whole human race. And this is the ground, as I said, upon which the whole doctrine of justification is founded. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God: we stand exposed to the curse of the broken law, in its full extent; and also to the strokes of incensed justice. We are all become bankrupts, and have nothing to pay, or give as a ransom for our souls. In a word, we are become weak and helpless, and unable now to keep the law; or to make any attonement for the least sin. But here it is to be remembered, that though man had sinned, and rendered himself helpless, as well as guilty; yet, as we did not, thereby, cease to be God's creatures, nor he to be our Lord; so he did not destroy his own law, nor discharge us from our obligation of perfect obedience |