Conscious, however, that our success is attributable to his assistance, we pray that he will complete what is in some measure already begun; for our very prayers are an evidence that we are not altogether aliens from God, not altogether destitute of saving grace: we pray that repentance may have its perfect work, and bring forth in us the fruits of a good life. But this doctrine of scripture will not be easily reconciled with the creed of Mr. Hill. 66 Repentance," he says, "is regeneration;" but it signifies little by what name it is called, since, according to his scheme of Christianity, it is the effect of compulsory, irrespective, arbitrary grace.

In his sermon, entitled, "An Apology for Sunday Schools," a conversion is mentioned of

* The instruction of the lower classes by Sunday and weekly schools is so agreeable to the principles of christianity, of reason, and of true political wisdom, that it needs no apology, but is entitled to our warmest wishes and most earnest endeavours for its success. But inasmuch as early education has the greatest influence upon the habits and conduct of maturer age, and consequently upon the state of society at large; insomuch should it be most cautiously guarded from perversion, and directed to the advancement of virtue and of truth. The prejudices which have been raised against it, are easily accounted for, when we find that such doctrines, as those here alluded to, are propagated among thousands of ignorant children, who are thus taught to consider their destiny as inevitably determined by arbitrary power, and that " it is in vain for them to resist the resistless grace of God."

When this lesson, with the inferences usually drawn from it by the Calvinistical Methodists, has been sedulously inculcated,

"one, profligate in the extreme, who was a remarkable instance of divine grace: the faith of

and no stress has been laid on our Saviour's instant exhortations to love and to good works, what regard will be paid to that divine morality which is summed up in this most comprehensive rule of virtuous practice:-Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them? This may be called "the poor thin morality, which an Atheist may practise;" but it is so essential to the well-being of mankind, that many serious persons have felt little inclination to encourage those seminaries in which it is depreciated. Nor will their objections be diminished by the reflection, that the scholar is there also alienated from the established church: that he is taught, even from his cradle, to look upon the clergy, as apostates, and corrupters of the word of God; and therefore, as objects of abhorrence rather than veneration. A persuasion which is always followed by another prepossession, viz. that the government which maintains such an es tablishment, is radically defective, and requires to be purged from these dregs of corruption which render it unworthy of the attachment of the evangelical brotherhood.

These are sufficient causes for the distrust and apprehension. with which these schools have been viewed by many persons who are religiously disposed. But the proper conduct which these circumstances suggest, is not the suppression of such charitable institutions, but a zealous endeavour to counteract these elements of religious dissent, and civil discord, by diffusing the true knowledge of the gospel, and disseminating the word of Christ pure, and unadulterated by false interpretation in a word, by establishing parochial schools, under the inspection of those ministers who are scoffingly denominated a moralizing priesthood.”

Since this note was written, the system of National Education for the Infant Poor has been brought forward with so much success, that the purpose to which it points has been in

the gospel brought her to Jesus, and a long train of sister graces adorned her life, and followed her to the grave. She lived godly and died triumphantly; and all that knew her were constrained with admiration to say, • What hath God wrought?' Can the advocates of mere

a great measure realized, and promises, under divine Providence, the best security against those dangers which might otherwise arise from a misguided and fanatic multitude.

"We are a religious as well as civil community," says an accurate observer of human nature, "and rules have been established for our guidance in both: nor could it be otherwise, for the people will have some imaginations or other concerning the invisible world; if you do not provide them with a rational system, they will run after conjurors, diviners, tales of fairies and apparitions, and lie open to the first crafty or enthusiastic deceiver who wishes to make dupes of them.' Therefore, the polity of a nation would be grossly defective, where no provision was made for instructing the ignorant, warning the thoughtless, and educating children: but how can such provisions be made without a summary of doctrines, and set of articles composing the system to be taught? Or would you have a law enacted, that the people shall be duly instructed, and that parents shall educate their children, without giving the least direction in what manner the instruction and education shall be carried on? But if the system of doctrines established is believed beneficial by those who have it in charge to make provision for the public welfare in all its parts, it is natural as well as incumbent on them to have the benefit secured by the protection of the laws; and this is all that is ever aimed at."* Yet we are accused of bigotry, if we act on this wise and religious principle.

* Tucker's Light of Nature pursued. Abridgement, p. 420.

reason or morality produce such miracles of grace and mercy as these?" *

Such conversions may have taken place, and we hope, have often been the fruit of true contrition, assisted by the Holy Spirit. That there is joy in heaven over a sinner that repenteth, we are taught by Christ; and that to whom much is given, the same loveth much. But it is no where intimated in scripture, that such repentance is the effect of a force that subdues the freedom of man by an irresistible impulse: far otherwise. "Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, saith the Lord God, so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed, and make you a new heart, and a new spirit." The inference which Mr. Hill draws from the case, which he has stated, is in direct opposition to that suggested by the prophet: a direct denial of free agency in man; and an assertion, no less positive, that God compels the sinner to be saved. "What shall we say to these things?" he subjoins. "Is it possible to contradict matters of fact? In vain then does the sinner strive to resist the resistless grace of God. It sweetly disarms resistance, and leads us cheerful captives in the silver chains of obedience and love, while we are made

* P. 25.

† Ezek. xviii. 30, 31.

K

Christ's willing subjects, in the day of his power.

With what propriety the " sinner, striving to resist," can be called " a willing subject of Christ," let those explain who can reconcile such glaring contradictions.

That the minds of youth should be imbued with this tincture of fanaticism, before they know how to distinguish truth from falsehood, when reason is beginning to dawn and the passions to play, is an evil, pregnant with the most fatal consequences. After being taught to surrender their natural faculties, and trust entirely to supernatural light, how easily will they be wrought upon under such an infatuation, by the craft and subtlety of the devil, or man? What a fruitful harvest of iniquity may this seed of enthusiasm produce? The presumption it generates in the tenderest bosoms, is exemplified in the history of a child, named Mary Bartlett, who had been "admitted to the Tabernacle Benevolent Daily School, and was reserved to be one instance among many, of the vast advantage to be derived from schools, founded on the principles of the gospel." The advantage this poor child received, was a confident persuasion that she was favoured with a divine revelation, and that her sins were forgiven. It is related, that " on the