would obtrude upon the world under the name of the apoftolic gofpel. I am loth to affirm it, but it is too evident from the ftrain of their writings, and the temper of their minds, that, however much they may affect to declaim against the tyranny, pride and fpirit of Antichrift, they are his genuine fons, as having not only imbibed his fpirit, but adopted his fentiments with regard to the moft material articles of the Chriftian doctrine. And what they want of his worldly power and grandeur is too apparently made up by their pride, felf-confidence, and enmity against the pure truths and doctrines of the gofpel; which while they pretend zealously to contend for, they do really attempt to determine and overthrow, so as to deprive men of all the benefit and comfort of them.

The truth of this charge will clearly appear from the reflections made by the author of the letters on the fcriptural and falutary doctrines taught and inculcated in that valuable work, intitled, THERON and ASPASIO, or, A feries of Dialogues and Letters upon the most important and interesting Subjects.

After paying his compliments to the author of the Dialogues, he obferves fome things very justly concerning the great importance of the article of juftification thro'

the

the imputed righteoufnefs, and fignifies his approbation of a paffage quoted from the famous Witfius, fhewing the ftrong influence which the doctrine of juftification, according as it is well or ill ftated, has upon the whole ftructure of the Chriftian religion. In this we readily agree with him, and do allow, that the remark is extremely just and pertinent; but while he profeffes an uncommon zeal for the purity and fimplicity of that doctrine, and against all the various ways wherein it has been artfully corrupted, and accommodated to the pride and lufts of men, we have too much reason to suspect his fincerity, or, at leaft, to question his knowledge concerning the ufe and improvement that ought to be made of it! for afterwards we will find his zeal spent, not in detecting any real corruptions or abuses of that doctrine, but in recommending and defending an imaginary fcheme of his own, altogether inconfiftent with fuch an improvement thereof, as can afford any folid peace or comfort to the fouls of men, for whofe benefit it was revealed, and to whom it is fet forth in the gofpel, as a fure foundation for their faith, hope, and confidence before God to reft upon, while deprived of any other, or to use his own phrafe, which is abundantly proper, " thoroughly pinched with the impoffibility of hope

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b 2

"hope on every other fide." He indeed infinuates, that his chief defign in writing to the author of Theron, &c. was to warn him, and others, of the errors and abuses by which this fundamental article of the Chriftian faith has been fo corrupted and perverted, as to deprive thofe who are impofed upon by them of its genuine favour and benefit; and has even the affurance to quote, as applicable to his purpofe, the words of the great apoftle of the Gentiles, who, from his great affection to the Corinthians, among whom he had laboured in the work of the gofpel, and a tender concern for their fpiritual welfare, expreffed his fears, left they fhould be feduced from the purity and fimplicity of the gospel by the fubtil artifices of falfe teachers who lay in wait to deceive, addrefiing them in this manner; I am jealous over you with godly jealoufy: for I have efpoufed you to one busband, that I may present you as a chafte virgin to Chrift. But I fear left by any means, as the ferpent beguiled Eve through bis fubtilty, fo your minds fhould be corrupted from the fimplicity that is in Christ *.

The letter-writer would have us believe, that the oppofition he makes to the author of the Dialogues, and his new friends, proceeds from the fame godly zeal, and concern

* 2 Cor. xi. 2, 36

for

for the fouls of men, that moved the apoftle to write in this manner to the Corinthians; but from the fpirit that breathes in his letters we cannot help fufpecting, that it must flow from a very different principle: for the bitter invectives which he throws out against a number of godly minifters, who preached the fame doctrine with the apostle Paul, and who, we have reason to think, were honoured to be inftrumental in the converfion and falvation of many fouls, are more like the language of one fretting and gnashing his teeth with pain, on account of the fuccefs that attended the miniftratións of thefe worthy men, and any honour and respect that have been, and are ftill paid to their memory and character by serious and well difpofed perfons, than that of one who, like Paul, is fet for the defence of the gospel, and moved with juft indignation against those who by their fond imaginations, or fubtil and perverse reasonings, have endeavoured to corrupt the fame.

If it can be made appear, that this author belongs to the latter class, and deferves to be placed in the first rank with feducers and perverters of the gofpel of Chrift, it must be owned that the application he makes of the paffage above quoted is extremely impertinent, and that he has wrested it to a meaning quite contrary to the scope of the b 3 apostle;

apostle; but thofe who will take pains to examine his letters, and compare the tenets and opinions advanced and recommended therein with the doctrines taught by Paul and the other apoftles, will find it no difficult thing to prove the former; they muft therefore conclude, that his high pretenfions. to zeal for the apoftolic gofpel are both unjuft and prefumptuous. Had he intended to deal ingenuously, fome could have directed him to a paffage of Scripture more pertinent, and much better adapted to the scope of his performance, namely, that in the epiftle of James; The spirit that dwelleth in us lufteth to envy*.

It is well known that error and a malignant oppofition to the truth, have often affected concealment under the mafk of zeal for the purity of the gospel. For proof of this we need only take a view of fome paffages in the 11th chapter of the fecond epiftle to the Corinthians, from which the quotation formerly mentioned is taken, where the apostle intimates, that there are falfe apoftles, deceitful workers, who transform themselves into the apofiles of Chrift; profefs great zeal for apoftolic doctrines, or the true and ancient gofpel, while in the mean time they are using their utmost efforts to corrupt and overthrow

* Jam. iv. 5.

them.