Since Christianity is so intimately and indissolubly connected with the temporal and eternal welfare of all, the disagreement amongst its professors, the differences of opinion even in regard to its fundamental doctrines so extensively prevalent in the present day, are to be regarded as of primary importance; demanding, in justice to ourselves, the most rigid scrutiny into, and patient investigation of the alleged claims of each: for though in matters of science and literature, there ever will be-from the influence of early education and constitutional temperament-considerable

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diversities of opinion; not unfavorable perhaps to the extension and improvement of the powers of the mind, by exciting their latent vigour, or promoting their increased exertion, even in defending fanciful theories and ingenious speculations : yet, no analogy must be imagined between these comparative trifles and the sacred requirements of religion; then important dissimilarity becomes an evil exceedingly to be deprecated, since it involves at least one party in the charge of dangerous apostasy from the truth. If the heresiarch, moreover, be learned and acute, the error is extensive and mischievous; his writings and example deceiving many, his tenets being data in the eye of his partial disciples, on which to found additional innovations, till the spark becomes a flame, the flame a conflagration, extending wider and wider, blasting and desolating all around with its moral blight. If we remember also the solemn nature of religion, the awful sanctions by which its requirements are guarded, the fearful consequences resulting from misapprehension and mistake; we have indeed sufficient motives to rein the dubious speculation, and regulate our creed by that unerring standard of divine appointment, which can alone "make us wise unto salvation." Yet, at first sight, how perplexing and uncertain this confess

edly infallible guide seems to be when we consider the widely differing sentiments entertained by many of those who profess equally to bow to its decisions. This consideration ought not, however, to deter from the subject by inducing us to suppose, that some insuperable difficulty attends the investigation of it; or, that its nature precludes the possibility of our arriving at any definite or satisfactory conclusion; but should rather stimulate our zeal, by convincing us of the folly and uncertainty of either adopting the opinions of others, or forming them ourselves from a partial and insufficient examination: for we must not suppose that the totally opposite views adopted by many believers in the same Revelation, arise from any uncertainty in the Revelation itself; much less, that the Deity has designedly interwoven difficulties to perplex the enquirer; since this last supposition would afford an obvious and just argument against his goodness and the adaptation of his revealed will to its intended purpose: but may more correctly trace heterodoxy to a careless investigation of the sacred volume, or to perverse self-confident reasoning, which aims not to understand and obey, but rather to re-model the word of God, according to its own absurd theories.

Of all the various opinions which have

divided the christian world, the subjects of Election Reprobation, &c, appear amongst the most important: these doctrines, from their antiquity, their being supported by many eminent writers, and professed by large bodies of Christians, merit serious investigation. To say as some seem to have insinuated, that both these and the opposing sentiments are equally true, is little less than blasphemy, as it would affirm God to be the author of falsehood and confusion, and would monstrously countenance the charge of the infidel Paine, that the Bible is full of contradictions; one must be true and the other false; a modified view of each, in order to reconcile doctrines essentially contrary, is absurd and puerile, and this "medio tutissimus ibis;" the favorite maxim of the prudent worldling and Laodicean christian, accustoms its votaries to a state of wavering imbecility or often fearfully plunges them into a settled unbelief.

In pursuing the subject, though we might satisfactorily bring these doctrines to the bar of reason, and show the absurdity and impiety of Supposing that the supreme Being would promulgate a code of laws for the guidance of his intelligent creatures, when he had previously implanted in every one of them a conscience which, untutored by sophistry, would instantly reprobate

these as inconsistent with every natural idea of mercy and justice; yet, as reason and conscience, obscured by prejudice and superstition, have lost the brightness of their first estate; as metaphysical science has refined to unintelligibility the one, and fanaticism has thrown her cloud over the heavendirected eye of the other, to what test can we satisfactorily bring them-"To the Law and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

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