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while I am prosecuting this great design, and preparing a rich

Compendium of Christianity*,

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I shall keep my eye steadily fixed on the subsequent passage of the inspired Code; and shall endeavour to arrange its important contents in an order, so perspicuous,

* I know of nothing, that can apologize for the general inattention to this vast subject, when it is recollected, that every thing in the true nature and genius of Christianity-not in the false, mutilated, and corrupt editions of it is adapted to promote the real Excellence, the substantial Good, and the unfading Glory, of MAN. But, when we say this, we consider him, principally, in relation to his rational Constitution-his moral Agency-and his eternal Destiny. Including all these particulars in the use of that complex term, we argue, that, Christianity has the highest claim to the most intense application of his mental faculties, when it is surveyed in all the different views, in which it is proposed to our acceptance; whether, as "The wisdom of God"; as, a grand Scheme of Redemption; as, the most sublime manifestation of all the divine Glories, and Perfections; as, the richest Display of Grace, Mercy, and Peace; as, a Spirit of universal Benevolence; as, "The one thing needful;" or, as "The whole of Man." I offer these, as a Specimen only of the surprising and attractive variety of mode, in which it invites our most serious regard; and to shew, that merely to glance at it, and not to contemplate it, in its integrity, in its completeness, is no less an act of Injustice, and Ingratijude, than of irremediable Injury to our immortal concerns.

and demonstrative, that their light may the mind, with as much facility,

dart upon

as the rays of the Sun upon the Organ of

natural vision.

Ephesians ii. 8, 9, 10, 7.

Τῇ γὰρ Χάριτι ἐςε σεσωσμένοι διὰ τῆς

Πίςεως καὶ τᾶτο ἐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν· Θεῖ τὸ δῶρον

Ουκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται

Αὐτᾶ γάρ ἐσμεν ποιήμα, κτισθέντες ἐν

Χρισῷ Ιησᾶ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς· οἷς προητοίμασεν • Θεὸς, ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν.

Ινα ενδείξηται ἐν τοῖς αιωσι τοῖς ἐπερχο

μένοις τον ὑπερβάλλοντα πλετον τῆς Χάριτος αυτέ, εν χρηςότητι ἐφ' ημας εν Χριςῷ Ἰησε.

"By GRACE are ye saved-through Faith: and that, not of Yourselves : it is the Gift of God:

« Not of Works; lest any man should boast:

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For, we are his Workmanship-created in Christ Jesus unto good works; which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them :

"That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his GRACE, in his Kindness towards us through Christ Jesus.'

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The primary and most fundamental Truth, which obviously forces itself upon our notice, from this passage, may be expressed in these terms

ASSERTION 1.

SALVATION IS BY GRACE.

Here then it will be incumbent on us to consider, what is intended by " Salvation;" to shew, that Mankind are not their own Saviours; and, to explain, how it is that they are "saved by Grace."

SECTION I.

What is Salvation*?

* We shall see presently, that this is a Question, which necessarily involves in it all that we mean by, what is Truth? what is Reason? what is Virtue? what is

To a person of the least proper reflection, it must be evident, that, the very idea of being "saved" implies, or presupposes,

Religion? and the like. Because, all the sublime pleasures of mental Satisfaction, moral Beauty, and true Glory, are contained in it. Every thing that is pure in Sensation, decorous in Self-love, noble in Ambition, delightful in Imagination, amiable in Sympathy, or elevating in Theology, assembles in this comprehensive idea, when it is scripturally analysed. We shall soon discover, in the prosecution of our present design, that, Salvation is, in fact, the Illumination of the Understanding; the Rectitude of the Will; the Peace of the Mind; the Joy of the Heart; the Grandeur of the Affections; the Order of the Life; and, in its ultimate issue, the perfect Consummation of all Blessedness. So that, whatever comparative value it becomes us to set on any intellectual Acquirements, which have no immediate connection with this-however highly the false maxims, the artificial manners, or the political institutions, of the world, may seduce us to estimate its Riches, and its Honours-every thing of this sort is utterly eclipsed, upon an impartial judgment, by the infinitely superior worth of, Salvation. The Pursuits of natural Philosophy, through all its numerous branches, have, no doubt, their appropriate charms: so have those, of polite Literature: you may add, if you please, the fine Arts: but, what are they, when compared with the far more exalted, and exalting investigation of divine Philosophy, and sacred Lore? which will lead us, gradually, through all the paths of heavenly

some antecedent State of difficulty, danger, and distress: or, in still plainer language, that those, who are saved, were previously in a lost estate-which rendered such Salvation expedient, and necessary. This, in the very nature and reason of things.

Regardless then of all the idle and illusive conceits of those, who chuse to wander uncontrouled in the regions of a lawless imagination, what do "The holy Scriptures" assure us the human Race have lost, by the fall of their first Parents, and the entrance of moral evil into the world? They uniformly represent us to have lost the Image of GOD, in which Man was originally created, and which constituted the true dignity of his nature; the Favour

Light, from the Origin of all things, to the winding up of this mysterious Drama; and, eventually, to the great universal Revolution in the history of Man! Here indeed is a Το πλάτος, και μηκος, και βάθος, και ύψος, which surpasseth knowledge.

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