ruins of human apoftacy; we behold her occupied from eternity paft in laying the foundation, gradually carrying on the fuperftructure in time, notwithstanding infinite oppofition, and at last compleating the building amidst the mingled fhouts of men and angels, GRACE, GRACE unto it. THE author frankly acknowledges that nothing new is contained in this volumn, and he may with equal freedom affert that nothing new is affected. The corruptions of the natural man are the fame now that they were in centuries paft, and his falvation must be promoted by the inftrumentality of the fame word of the living God illuftrated and applied. Sinners, through the fovereign operations of Jehovah the Spirit, must be awakened by the fame law revealed in its terrors, and encouraged by the fame gofpel exhibited in its confolations by which they were either awakened or encouraged in the age of apoftles and reformers. Faith yet must come by hearing or reading, and this hearing or reading exclufively by the fimple, unaffected word of God. The gofpel muft ftill be preached, not with the wisdom of human words, left the cross of Christ be made of none effect; the moment that the doctrines of the ministry of reconciliation lose their native fimplicity, they lose both their efficacy and glory. ALTHOUGH the subjects, illuftrated in the following pages, have often occupied the pen of controversy, yet I have cautiously avoided entering the field. To have ftated and answered the various objections must neceffarily have fwelled the work to an immoderate fize, and might in a great measure have defeated the defign of the publication. My intention, was not to contend with the adverfaries of our falvation, but if poffible, by a plain exhibition of the truth to efpoufe finners to the Saviour and advance his own children to the measure of the feature of his fulness. The apprehension that any doctrine contained in this volumn fhould prove offenfive to a profeffed follower of the Lamb is unutterably painful; it is peculiarly humiliating that with the fame bible before our eyes we should entertain fentiments widely different in matters which concern our common welfare. But as I firmly believe, I have freely spoken and written. With refpect to those who may not affent to all the truths here delivered, I have one request which is made with the pureft friendfhip; before they reject a fingle principle, let it be deliberately and impartially compared with the unerring oracle: if it is not confirmed by a thus faith Jehovah, I ask them not to believe; but if it appears fupported by this high authority, it is dangerous in the extreme to reject it. Let God be true, and every man or angel a yar that dares to contradict him. I HAVE Only to lament that the work is not ex ecuted in a manner more worthy of its importance; but I have this confidence and confolation that it is not by might, nor by power, but by the SPIRIT of the LORD OF HOSTS it is neither elegance of diction, nor propriety of arrangement, nor even energy of argument which fecures efficacy to the ineans, but Jehovah's bleffing; and this bleffing easily can, and frequently does make foolish things to confound the wife, and weak things to confound the mighty, and even things that are not to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh fhould glory in his prefence. To his fovereign, almighty operations, the author now fervently recommends it; fhould Ifrael's God, in his abundant mercy, render it effectual for the converfion of a fingle finner, or the eftablifhment of a dear child in the fpiritual family, he would moft cordially mingle his note in the general fong of falvation, Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy and for thy truth's fake.-AMEN. SALEM, Sept. 13, 1806. Reconciliation with God unattainable by Hu- ROMANS iii. 20....Therefore by the deeds of the The Righteousness of Jefus infinitely fufficient |