Page images
PDF
EPUB

change. And though we cannot conceive how this change is to be wrought, yet, I. suppose, few are so rash as to imagine it impoffible that any infants can be faved. The fame power that produces this change in fome, can produce it in all. And therefore I am willing to believe, till the scripture forbids me, that infants, of all nations and kindreds, without exception, who die before they are capable of finning after the fimilitude of Adam's tranfgreffion, who have done nothing in the body of which they can give an account, are included in the election of grace. They are born for a better world than this. They juft enter this state of tribulation, they quickly pafs through it, their robes are washed white in the blood of the Lamb, and they are admitted, for his fake, before the throne. Should I be asked to draw the line, to affign the age, at which, children begin to be accountable for actual fin, it would give me no pain to confess my ignorance. The Lord knoweth.

2. A people hidden among the most degenerate communities, civil or ecclefiaftical, that bear the name of Chriftian; where ignorance and fuperftition, or errors, which, though

more refined, are no lefs contrary to the gofpel, have a prevailing dominion and influence. What can be more deplorable, in the view of an enlightened and benevolent mind, than the general state of the Roman and Greek churches! Where the traditions, inventions and doctrines of men, a train of pompous and burdenfome ceremonies, a dependance upon maffes, penance and pilgrimages, upon legends and fictitious faints, form the prin cipal features of the public religion. Many nations are involved in this grofs darkness, but they are not wholly deftitute of the fcripture; fome portions of it, are interwoven with their authorized forms of worship; and we cannot, with reason, doubt, but a fuc→ ceffion of individuals, among them, have been acquainted with the life and power of true godlinefs, notwithstanding, the difadvantages and prejudices of their education. There are, likewise, amongst proteftants, schemes of doctrine, fupported by learning, and by numbers, which are not more conformable to the standard of the New Teftament, than the groffeft errors of popery; and yet, here and there, perfons may be met with, who, by the agency of the holy Spirit, enabling them to

VOL. II.

E e

under

understand the scriptures, are made wiser than their teachers; and who, though still fettered by fome mistakes and prejudices, give evidence in the main, that their hopes are fixed upon the only atonement, that they are redeemed to God, and are partakers of that faith which worketh by love, purifies the heart, and overcometh the world.

3. I will go one step farther. The inferences that have been made, by some perfons, from the apoftle Peter's words, That God is no respecter of perfons, but in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him*, are, undoubtedly, rafh and unfcriptural. They would conclude from thence, that it is of little importance what people believe, provided they are fincere in their way. That the idolatrous heathens, even the inoft favage of them, whofe devotion is cruelty, who pollute their worship with human blood, and live in the practice of vices difgraceful to humanity, are in a very safe state, because they act, as it is fuppofed, according to their light. But if the light which is in them be darkness, how great is that darkness! Such * As x. 34, 35.

- a lax

a lax candour as this, tends to make the gofpel unneceffary; if they who have it not, are, therefore, excufable, though they neither love nor fear God, and live in open violation of the law of their nature. The declaration, that without holiness no man fhall fee the Lord*, holds univerfally, and without a fingle exception. But if we suppose a heathen, deftitute of the means of grace by which converfion is ufually wrought, to be brought to a fenfe of his mifery, of the emptiness and vanity of worldly things, to a conviction that he cannot be happy without the favour of the great Lord of the world, to a feeling of guilt, and a defire of mercy; and that though he has no explicit knowledge of a Saviour, he directs the cry of his heart to the unknown Supreme, to this purport, Ens entium miferere mei, Father and fource of beings, have mercy upon me ! Who will prove, that fuch views and defires can arise in the heart of a finner, without the energy of that Spirit, which, Jefus is exalted to bestow? Who will take upon him to say, that his blood has not fufficient efficacy, to redeem to God, a finner who is thus disposed, though he has never heard of his

[blocks in formation]

name? Or who has a warrant to affirm, that the fuppofition I have made is, in the nature of things, impoffible to be realized? But I ftop-I do not often amuse you with conjecture. And though, for want of exprefs warrant from scripture, I dare not give the fentiments I have now offered, a stronger name, than, probable or conjectural, I hope I do not propose them for your amusement. They will prove to your advantage and my own, if they are helpful to guard us against a narrow, harsh, and dogmatical spirit; and if, without abating our reverent fubmiffion to the revealed will of God, they have a tendency to confirm our views of his goodness, and the power and compaffions of the great Redeemer.

SER.

« PreviousContinue »