CONTENTS. THE Views in Theology will continue to be published semi-annually, in May and November, and be devoted chiefly, as heretofore, to discussion on the Doctrines of Religion. Four numbers will form a volume. Those who desire the work will please to give notice to the publisher, at 142 Nassau-street. Ministers and theological students of whatever denomination, will receive it, if desired, without charge. THE BIBLICAL REPERTORY'S REVIEW ON THE CALVINISTIC DOCTRINE OF DEPRAVITY. THE author of the Review in the Biblical Repertory for April last, of Dr. Cox's Sermon on Regeneration, introduces the discussion to which its numerous pages are devoted, by deprecating controversies generally on subjects of religion; especially such, it would seem from his intimations, as those respecting moral agency, which have now for several years, to some extent, attracted public attention,as the offspring of ill-judged zeal, fruitful of obstructions to the piety and peace of the church, and from the passions which they are thought to exhibit and to be adapted to excite, unbecoming the christian name. To the utterance of this censure, however, he was obviously prompted by the conviction that the views of those whom he reprehends are essentially incorrect, and their controversies consequently in effect, mere efforts to subvert the truth and give currency to error; and the justice of his reproach is accordingly entirely dependent on the propriety of that assumption. If the system of doctrines which he entertains, is as demonstratively the system of the gospel as he imagines it to be, and is thence causelessly called in question by those whom he assails, they undoubtedly merit, for intruding their discussion on the peace of the church, not only his animadversion, but still severer rebukes from those who have unhappily been betrayed by their instrumentality into the adoption of their sentiments. This, however, it should have occurred to this writer, is the very point in debate, the assumption of which, apart from all discussion, can with no more propriety be made by him, than might a similar assumption by those to whom he stands opposed, in favour of the sentiments which they entertain. He is undoubtedly sufficiently confident of the truth of the doctrines which he has undertaken to defend, and will be happy by his statement and commendation of them, to persuade others of their truth. But those on whom he has thought proper to cast his censure for venturing to teach their differing sentiments, are not less firmly assured of the truth of their doctrines, and equally regard themselves as under obligation, and claim an equal right to inculcate and maintain them. That he cannot have meant to denounce all theological controversy without exception, whatever may be its object or character, is obvious from his having immediately stepped forth and taken so strenuous a part in this discussion; and to have advanced such a sentiment, were even worse than to have taught the doctrine of physical depravity. It would be to exhibit the circumstance, that others had given publicity to sentiments peculiar to themselves, no matter to what subject they might relate, nor how erroneous or hurtful they might be, as not merely presenting to all others a |