ADVERTISEMENT.

THE following Discourses are added to the preceding Sermons, with a view to assist the inquiries of those who are desirous of forming an opinion on the abstruser doctrines of Christianity, to remove the obstacles which the difficulties connected with those doctrines sometimes present to the inquiring mind, and to suggest a few useful hints for the study of the word of God. The author has chosen the subject of election, as it will be found the keystone as it were to our opinions on other speculative points, the discussion of which could not be attempted within the limits of the present work. Those who are desirous of pursuing such subjects still further will find them most ably enlarged upon in Bishop Burnet's

Exposition of the thirty-nine Articles; Doctor Whitby's Discourse on the five Points; and in the Reverend Mr. Fletcher's Letters on Antinomianism. Of these and of other writers the author has occasionally availed himself in the following discourses; sometimes of their sentiments, and sometimes of their language. Persons who are well read on such subjects must be aware, that nothing new or original is to be expected; that little more is left to any one in the present day than to vary the method of stating what hath already been expressed: "Nihil dictum, quod non dictum prius: methodus sola artificem ostendit." Should it prove, therefore, that the author has been so far clear in his method, judicious in the application of his reading, and happy in his illustrations, as to afford a satisfactory view of these subjects to any who may have been precluded by circumstances from consulting abler works, he shall look for no higher praise.

To a military man, who is desirous of possessing a few volumes on divinity, but with whom it is an object that such should be as compendious and portable as possible, the fol

lowing works may be safely recommended, as containing a comprehensive and useful summary of Christian Theology.

"The Old Testa

ment arranged on the basis of Lightfoot's Chronicle, in historical and chronological order, in such manner that the books, chapters, psalms, prophecies, &c. may be read as one connected history in the very words of the authorised translation. By the Reverend George Townsend, M.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge."

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Doctor Macknight on the Gospels and Epistles." "An Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, by the Reverend Thomas Hartwell Horne, A.M." and "Doctor Robinson's Theological, Biblical, and Ecclesiastical Dictionary."

DISCOURSE I.

ON THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION.

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified."-Roм. viii. 29, 30.

Ir is recorded of an ancient philosopher, that being unable to comprehend the phenomena of the tides, he rushed into the ocean, and perished with these words: "Because I cannot receive you, thou shall receive me." Few, I imagine, would be disposed either to applaud him for his wisdom or to follow his example. And yet, my brethren, such is the infatuation of the human mind, in reference to another state of being, that multitudes do not hesitate to reject the blessings of redemption, and to plunge into eternity with the fearful risk of losing their souls, merely because they cannot