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ple, have manifested a laudable zeal to retrieve their errours in this respect, and to provide for the diffusion of the sacred oracles, among all classes of the destitute.

In the accomplishment of this object we find a unanimity, which the most sanguine friends of peace despaired to witness, in these days of confusion and of revolution.

It must be allowed, that there are some who doubt the expediency of this measure, who are reluctant to distribute the Bible without note or comment, doubtless from the apprehension, that it will operate to the disparagement of their darling theories. They seem to prefer, that the scriptures should not be embraced at all, rather than that they should be understood to favour any sect, but their own. Hence they identify their human creeds with the pure and unerring dictates of inspiration. They claim for them equal respect, and appear to wish, that they may stand or fall together. It is but justice to add, that of those who have recently published their opinions on this subject, the members of the papal hierarchy have not been the first nor the fiercest to insist on this heterogeneous mixture.

VIII. The good, which has already been done, and which there is an opportunity of still further accomplishing, is an additional animating motive to unwearied perseverance in distributing the holy scriptures.

It is now but twelve years, since our parent country, in the

midst of private and publick disasters, while struggling for all, that is dear to humanity, and while clouds and thick darkness of most portentous aspect hung over the civilized world, laid the foundation of The British and FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY; and what, short of miracles of mercy, has it not been instrumental in producing! From the eleventh annual report, for May, 1815, it appears, that it had given birth to more than five hundred auxiliary societies within the united kingdom; that it had printed, or assisted in printing and circulating, the scriptures in fiftyfive different languages and dialects; tha: it had expended three hundred and forty-eight thousand five hundred and ninety-two pounds sterling, amounting to one million five hundred and forty-nine thousand, and three hundred dollars; and that it had distributed, in various parts of the world, Bibles and Testaments to the almost incredible amount of one million, two hundred and ninety-nine thousand, two hundred and eighty-two!

Who can pretend to estimate the sum of good, which has been produced, and which is likely to result from these unexampled acts of christian liberality? In view of such munificence, and in prospect of its blessed effects, who is not constrained to exclaim, "This is the Lord's doing; and it is marvellous in our eyes!"

But this benevolent spirit, though enkindled in the British nation, has not been confined within its narrow limits. All

Europe, and various parts of America, of Asia, and even of Africa have caught the generous flame. The missionaries, which have been sent forth from the

great centre of light and of heat for imparting a kindred warmth to other regions, have met astonishing success. Nothing but the ample, and impartial reports, which have been made on this subject, can do it justice. Permit me however to remark, in proof of the heavenly spirit, which presides over these undertakings, that, in the midst of the late war with our parent nation, "The British and Foreign Bible Society," with magnanimous superiority to the prejudices, which the vindictive temper, that originated the contest, was adapted to excite, generously contributed to the funds of several of our sister societies in this land; and that, in the same pacifick spirit, our Society, with the aid of our benevolent fellow citizens, refunded the amount of captures, which the rapacity of our privateers had made of Bibles and Testaments appropriated to gratuitous distribution. The interchange of christian sympathies* and congratulations, which these transactions occasioned, do equal honour to their authors, to the institution of Bible Societies, and to the cause of the gospel, which is the cause of peace and of love.

How animating to the friends of peace and of the sacred scriptures, which alone, under God,

can ensure and perpetuate it, is that national tranquility, which is now so universally enjoyed! Not only is it favourable to the control of those lusts and pas sions, which are a disgrace to our natures, and especially to our profession, as christians, and an impediment to our noblest plans of usefulness; but it will give encouragement to commerce, and thus enable us to discern and to supply the wants of our brethren, in every part of the world, who are destitute of the holy oracles.

How reviving to those, who have lately been weeping over the calamities of war, who have seen increasing reasons, and felt new motives for disseminating the principles of the gospel of peace, to witness the pacifick instrument, which has been recently issued by three of the most powerful potentates in the north of Europe! We will not suffer any infidel suggestions to interrupt our hope and our belief, that it is a token for good, that the late tremendous war of de solation has been instrumental, under Providence, of awakening men in the most exalted stations to its absurdities, its miseries, its enormities, and that, under the influence of the Prince of peace, it is about to lead contending powers to other modes of adjusting difficulties, than have been before adopted, and of which the document, just specified, is equally a novel and extraordinary specimen.

*See Christian Disciple, Vol. II. p. 220, and Vol. III, p. 250. + See Christian Disciple, Vol. IV. p. 129.

In the promotion of these great objects, which expand the heart with the noblest emotions, we are called in Providence to contribute our aid. In addition to the exertions, which are making in the old world for the distribution of the scriptures, and the preaching of the word, among the heathen, it is gratifying to witness the efforts of our own countrymen to promote these invaluable objects. Our BibleSocieties amount to about one hundred and fifty. Besides numerous societies for foreign missions, and respectable annual contributions for translating the scriptures into the languages of the East, we have numerous combinations to discountenance vice and to promote reformation of manners. While so many are thus contriving various modes of doing good, it is devoutly to be hoped, that our own amendment will be effectually advanced, and that the wants of all the destitute will, in due time, be supplied.

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ply our own neighbours is to do but little towards the reformation of the world. The process of amendment is, in the nature of things, gradual; and it is rational to proceed from parts to the whole. If we would hope to reform others, we must begin with reforming ourselves.

Let us not limit our views to a supply of the destitute in our own land. Should we ere long effect this object, there will remain much of more extensive good to be done. The enlightened christian will not be inactive, while there remains a scope for his benevolence.

But suppose, that we shall not be permitted to realize in our day, the dearest wishes of our hearts; grant, that there may still be clouds and darkness to hang over scenes, which are now bright and flattering. Admit, that we may not at present be allowed to discern all the pleasing results of our munificence. We know, that it is the cause of God, of the Saviour, of all good beings. There can be therefore no good reason, why we should withhold our exertions. assured, that, if we weary in well doing," although we find not on earth our amplest satisfaction, we shall infallibly be recompensed "at the resurrection of the just."

We are "be not

NOTICE OF THE NEW-YORK CONTROVERSY.

FOR a number of years past, been grieved by what appearmany reflecting Christians have ed to them a hostile spirit in

this vicinity, between professing trines of justification, atonement, Christians of different senti- and imputation, in preference ments; and perhaps no impartial to the Calvinistick. In his person will say, that all the fault opinion, "If the mediation of has been confined to one side. Christ takes away guilt, there is Indeed this is seldom the case in nothing to pardon, and no more controversies of long continu- room for the exercise of grace, ance; and probably it is as sel- than if man had never fallen." dom that either party is duly p. 16. He of course "infers the aware of its own faults. fallacy of that theory of redemption which views our sins as debts, and says the Saviour pays them." But he denies neither the necessity nor the efficacy of the Saviour's death.

Recently our attention has been called to a controversy in the city of New-York. And if the documents we have seen may be regarded as a thermometer for ascertaining the degree of heat with which the dispute has been conducted, there is doubtless much reason to deplore the spirit which prevails in that region, and also some reason for saying, that Boston is now the temperate, and New-York the torrid zone of ecclesiastical controversy.

One of the documents refered to we have already given in the number of the Christian Disciple for July; namely, the Letter by which L. D. Dewey was excluded from a Theological Seminary. Since writing the remarks on that Letter, we have seen the Discourse by which Mr. Dewey drew down the displeasure of his Instructors. We have also seen a pamphlet entitled, "The Triangle." From these it is pretty evident, that the unpardonable sin of Mr. Dewey consisted in his having adopted the orthodoxy of New-England, in preference to the orthodoxy of New-York. In other words, he adopted what are called Hopkinsian views relating to the doc

Mr. Dewey appears to be a young man of considerable talents and reflection. In addition to this, he seems to have possessed a spirit of candour and charity even towards those by whom he was expelled from the seminary. This is apparent in his reply to the letter of expulsion. Had his Instructors possessed an equal share of candour, would his connexion with the seminary have been in such a manner dissolved?

It is pretty evident, not only from the expulsion of Mr. Dewey, but from the writings of "Investigator," the author of "The Triangle," that what is regarded as orthodoxy in NewEngland is supposed to be "damnable heresy" in New-York; and that those who regard themselves as the orthodox of New York "cry out" against those who have adopted the NewEngland orthodoxy, "delusion! heresy! blasphemy!" p. 22. In the same page, in speaking of Dr. Mason and the expulsion of Mr. Dewey, the writer represents that the Doctor has "cut asun

der by one expulsion," "The mighty multitude of Christians composing three fourths of that profession in the United States." He adds-" Had they but one neck, he would serve them as Nero wished to serve the Romans, i. e. in an ecclesiastical sense. He has put them all into the snare of the devil,' and declared them not to be endured, NO NOT FOR AN HOUR!" In p. 74, he observes-" I fully anticipate all that will be said of these remarks; the contemptuous slangs of Arminianism! Socinianism! Ribaldry! Slander! that will be thrown out."

We sincerely hope that neither class of the clergy of New-York are so exceedingly vile and corrupt as the parties are disposed to represent each other. Party passions often lead good men to judge, and talk, and write, and act very strangely. We cannot but hope that our brethren in New-York, who are of NewEngland orthodoxy, are much better men than they are allow ed to be by their opponents; and we should be very sorry to know that those who treat them as hereticks are quite so destitute of uprightness, benevolence, and good manners, as Investigator imagines.

We cannot however, but seriously fear, that this controversy has given the churches in that city much of a militant or military character. Investigator, who says of himself, "I love to talk figuratively," states, that "not only the great gun, but field-pieces, swivels, blunderbusses, muskets, carbines, pistols― even down to pop-guns have,

fired in squadrons and battalions." He says, some other things in this connexion which I shall forbear to copy, the reason will be obvious to those who have read the paragraph, p. 66.

Why, it may be asked, is this account of a disagreable controsy brought forward in the Christian Disciple? We answer: It is done not from an apprehension that, in itself considered, it will afford any true pleasure to the writer or the reader; but from a hope that it may be useful as a warning. It is adapted to show the danger of indulging party passions and a censorious spirit-to show that little reliance is to be placed on the representations of men who are disposed to cry heresy and to destroy the reputation of their brethren on account of diversity of opinions-to show that heresy, as the term is used at this day, is just what a self-sufficient majority may please to call by that name-that the same opinions which are orthodoxy in one place, are heresy in another-and that men who are abused for their religious opinions always, and very justly, consider such treatment as " persecution."

The probability is, that each class of Christians in New-York is in some great errours. The same may be said respecting each class in this vicinity, and in every part of the world. But what a melancholly thing it is to see two classes of Christians blind to their own fallibility, and disposed to defame and injure one another, under a pretext of love to God!

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