Henry Martyn's Sermons.

but was arrested by the disease, under which The friends of the church will learn with he laboured, on arriving at Middletown, in pleasure, that a volume of sermons, on the Connecticut, where he expired. Mr. Cransleading doctrines of Christianity, and its im- ton had a taste for the belles lettres, and was portant duties and privileges ; by the late a good scholar. His disposition was amia. lamented and zealous Henry Martyn, is now ble, and his morals pure. He has been early in press in this city, The great interest called to rest from his labours, and his works produced by his memoirs, so favourable to will follow him. the cause of missions, and the effects which recent accounts from Persia state to have resulted froin his personal and zealous la. [We have received, from an attentive and bours, warrant the expectation, that the errata in our account of the state of the

valued correspondent, the following list of doctrines of the cross, in these sermons, will church in Pennsylvania. As our desire is to be exhibited with that clearness, simplicity, and warmth, which so eminently belong to give an accurate statement, we take this me

thod of expressing our obligations on the the style and character of their author.

present occasion, and of soliciting, from our Obituary.--One who was formerly ac

correspondents in general, the correction of quainted with the reverend Walter Cranston, tick accounts, as well as any further infor

any errours which may occur in our statislate rector of Christ church, in Savannah, mation they may think proper to communiwhose decease in July last, has been announc

cate.) ed in the Churchman's Magazine, feels it a duty to pay a brief tribute to the memory

To the Editor of the Gospel Advocate. of a gentleman, who had so many claims to TAE August number of the Gospel Advothe esteemi of his friends and the publick. cate is before me. The manner in which the Mr. Cranston, for several years, discharged proceedings of conventions, &c., are stated, the office of a Greek tutor at Harvard uni

is very excellent, and promises much good. versity in such a manner as to render him a

There is an appearance of considerable acpopular and useful instructer.

At the same curacy-which I am sorry to say the actime, he officiated as a lay reader in the count of the Pennsylvania convention does Episcopal church, at Cambridge. Soon af.

not sanction. Give me leave to point out a ter taking orders, he proceeded to Savan- few errours. There are forty-two instead of nah, in Georgia, having been invited to be thirty-six congregations in nineteen counties. come rector of Christ church, in that city. Instead of “one is president of the college,” He there acquired the esteem and respect of read, “one is provost of the university of his parishioners, and the publick at large, by Pennsylvania." For “one a master of the his pleasing manners and correct deportment, grammar school," read, "one mnaster of the and by his exemplary fidelity in the ministe- grammar school of the university.” For rial office. While the yellow fever was inak- “confirmations in nine parishes," read eieing great ravages among the people of Sa- ven. For John C. Clay, read Jehu. For vanah, in the summer of 1820, he remained Muhlenburgh, read Muhlenberg. And for at his post, and by his assiduous attendance " there is a female adult Sunday school conon the sick and dying, and by his charitable nected with St.James's church," read, there assistance, in that season of calamity, was is a female adult school in." I observe one greatly instrumental in alleviating the dise inore, there are eleven, not five congregations, tresses of bis flock. His health having be- in Philadelphia county ; and to these we come much impaired, he concluded to make hope to add two is not three by the next cona journey to his native state, (Rhode Island,) vention,

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The poetical communication of E. J. will be inserted as soon as our limits will permit, in consideration of the excellent sentiments which it expresses, although the poetry is not quite such as we should wish to present to our readers, especially considering the small portion of our work which ought to be devoted to articles of this kind.

THE

GOSPEL ADVOCATE.

" Knowing that I am set for the defence of the Gospel.” Phil. i. 17.

No. 24.]

DECEMBER, 1822.

[No. 12. Vol. II.

THEOLOGICAL.
To the Editor of the Gospel Advocate.

the perusal of the late attacks of Mr. OX TUE INCONSISTENCY OF SOME PRO. Sparks, and his reviewer, on the FESSING. CHRISTIANS.

Episcopal church. Her liturgy and The publication of Paine's Age of articles form an insurmountable barReason, was intended to demoralize rier to the infidel, and to the impugnthe world, and introduce into every Her battlements must be overthrown,

ers of our Lord's essential divinity, settled Christian government, all the horrours and blasphemies of the French and her bulwarks levelled with the revolution. This horrible purpose,

ground, before her fidelity to her Lord however, was overruled by the provi

can be corrupted, and the most holy dence of God, and made subservient places of the sanctuary be surrenderto good. Had the infidel* never pub

ed to the spoiler. While these distinclished his Age of Reason, bishop Wat- tive mounds exist, the deity of Jesus son would not, probably, have written Christ must be preached by her clerhis unanswerable apology for the bi- gy, and must be the ostensible faith, ble ; nor would many other excellent at least, of all her worshippers. It works in defence of revealed religion, cannot be hoped for, while her liturgy have probably seen the light. God is so constantly read to the people, has in no age “ left himself without that the faith of her worshippers can witness” of his mercy and goodness change. She must herself remain unto our fallen race. In whatever clime changed. The “ faith once deliver. disease exists, there its antidote is ed to the saints," is equally now the usually found. Wherever vice and

faith of her clergy and people, as in irreligion seize upon the vitals of a

the primitive days of the Christian nation, there, able defenders of the church. There is no instance, I be faith, and of the moral government of lieve, in the United States, at least I God, are raised up by the gracious know of none, of a single Episcopal interposition of Providence. For these church, under the ministry of an Episevidences of the divine goodness, let copal clergyman, becoming unitarian. every, Christian heart " rejoice and be All these secessions from the faith glad."

have happened principally among the These reflections were produced by presbyterians and congregationalists.

, * Lest some fastidious individual in this age of liberalily, should deem this appella- joy and gratitude to God, in every tion harsh, I will here quote Tom Paine's sincere believer in the deity of Jesus, opinion of the bible." Before any thing can

that there is a church whose bulwarks be admitted as proved by the bible, the bible of faith cannot be overthrown by the itself must be proved to be true. Speak inpugners of our Lord's divinity ? ing for myself, if I had no other evidence that the bible is fabulous, than the sacrifice

Amidst the errours and corruptions I must make to believe it to be true, that alone which human invention has introduced would be sufficient to determine my choice." into the sanctuary, and which have 45

ADVOCATE, VOL. II.

defaced the order of harmony, and the writers have quoted from the fathers, “ beauty of holiness," ougħi we not and I think have shown conclusively to rejoice that there is a “church built that Jesus Christ was worshipped as upon the foundation of the apostles and God in their days. Among the earpropbets, Jesus Christ himself being the liest writers of the fathers, we find the bead corner-stone," “ against which celebrated Ignatius. He was personal

the gates of hell shall not prevail ?" ly known to some of the apostles ; was If the deity of Jesus be an essential made bishop of Antioch by St. Paul, article of Christian faith, as we are A. D. 69; and suffered martyrdom, taught to believe in the bible, ought after the death of St. John. There it not to be guarded by unchangeable can therefore be no question as to his formularies, against the attacks of un- being a competent witness of the faith, believers ? It certainly appears to me practice, and discipline of the primito be reasonable and proper. And as tive church, in the apostolick age. If the protestant Episcopal church was, the writings of this father can be provunder God, the bulwark of the resor- ed to be authentick and genuine, we mation against the machinations and can have no hesitation in believing corruptions of the church and court of what he has written on these subjects

. Rome, so will she continue to be the And the more so, as we know that the bulwark of the “ faith once delivered miraculous influences of the Holy Spito the saints," against the attacks of rit, continued with the church, long those who would bring " the Lord after the age of Ignatius. The author that bought them,” down to their own of the “evidences,” in a note, p. 61, level, and who “think wickedly," as states that the smaller epistles of Igthe psalmist expresses it," that God is natius are acknowledged to be aueven such a one as themselves.” thentick and genuine, but the larger to

The attacks of the unitarians on the be spurious. He refers to “ archtrinitarian faith, have been met by the bishop Wake's translation of the aposorthodox as became good soldiers un- tolical fathers; Horsley's controverder “ the Captain of our salvation.” sial tracts, pp. 133-139. Jortin's The reverend professor Stuart, a congre- remarks on eccl. hist. 1. pp. 54.gational divine of Andover, has proved 61. Milner's church history, I. pp. the deity of Jesus, by some profound 158. Doddridge's lectures, I, pp. criticisms on the original text. The 400. Euseb. hist. eccl. lib. 3. cap. reverend Dr. Dalcho, an Episcopal 35. gr. vel. 32. Han. Lardner's works, clergyman of Charleston, South Ca- (a unitarian,) I. pp. 315, 316. 4to rolina, bas proved the divinity of Jesus edition. Simpson's Deity of Jesus, Christ from the testimony of Christian pp. 468,469, and Kett's Bamptop and beathen writers; and the learned, lecture, notes, pp, 22–25; where a and reverend professor Miller, a pres- further list of authorities are referred to." byterian clergyman, of Princeton, New Jersey, bas, in a somewhat similar shipped as God, in the first three centuries. manner, ably refuted the impugners of have not an opportunity of consulting larger

,

Designed, chiefly, for the use of those, who our Lord's divinity.* The two last or more critical works. By Frederick Dal

cho, M. D, assistant minister of St. Michael's * Letters to the reverend W. E. Channing, church, Charleston. 1820. containing remarks on his sermon recently Letters on unitarianjein; addressed to the preached and published at Baltimore. By members of the first presbyterian Church, in Moses Stuart, associate professor of sac. lit. the city of Baltimore. By Samuel Miller, in the theological sensinary, Andover, 1819. D. D. professor of ecclesiastical history

Evidences of the divinity of Jesus Christ; and churcb government, in the theological with the testimony of Christian and heathen seminary of the presbyterian church in the writers, that he was called God, and wor- United States, at Princeton. Trenton, 1821.

a

From a careful perúsal of these au- That an Episcopal divine should thorities, I am satisfied that the small- acknowledge the epistle of Ignatius to er epistles of Ignatius are the genuine be genuine, I do not wonder ; but I writings of that father. When Dr. confess I was a little surprised to find Miller's book appeared, I was pleased a presbyterian clergyman, and å unito notice the same acknowledgment, tarian dissenter, subscribing to that by that learned writer. In a note to fact. It does appear to me to be a p. 122, he says; “ The author is little inconsistent, to acknowledge the aware, that the authenticity of the genuineness and authenticity of a work, epistles of Ignatius, has been called in and yet to deny a matter of fact requestion, as well as that of Barnabas, corded by the writer, who is allowed before quoted. It is iinpossible, in a on all hands to be a competent witwork written on the plan, and with ness of that fact, and who has laid the design, of these letters, to enter down his life, in support of what we into the merits of controversies of this all acknowledge to be the truth. It sort. It is sufficient for his purpose to is true, however, that both Dr Lard say, that the great body of learned men ner, and Dr. Miller, have made a salvo. consider the epistle of Barnabas, and The smaller epistles, are, in the main, the smaller epistles of Ignatius, (and say they, the genuine writings of Igfrom these alone he offers quotations,) natius. Now I presume this exprésas, in the main, the real works of the sion to mean, that the general scope, writers whose names they bear. Of the principal or chief part, the bulk of this opinion was the eminently learned the epistles, are really and truly the unitarian, Dr. Lardner."

writings of Ignatius. Now two of the The opinion of Dr. Lardner, is given principal statements, made by the holy in these words: “I make little doubt, martyr, are the deity of Jesus Christ, but the smaller epistles, which we now and the existence of the three orders have, are, for the main, the same epis- of the ministry, bishop, presbyter, and tles of Ignatius which were read by deacon, in the church, during the life Eusebius, and which, it seems pretty of some of the apostles. From this plain from Origen, were extant in his publick declaration of these facts, time." Again, “ Considering then made on the eve of his martyrdom, these testimonies, which I have alleg- we must believe that the deity of ed from Irenæus, Origen, and Euse. Jesus was the faith, and Episcopacy bius, and also the internal characters the practice, of the church in bis day. of great simplicity and piety, which And we must likewise believe, that are in these epistles, (I mean the if the Episcopal government of the smaller,) it appears to me probable, church was not adapted to its best inthat they are for the main, the genuine terests in its militant state'; if it was epistles of Ignatius." And again,“ To not consistent with the divine will, in conclude: as the epistles which we the minds of the inspired apostles who now bave of Ignatius are allowed to organized the church, the apostles be genuine by a great number of learn- would certainly have abolished it, as ed men, whose opinion I think to be the corrupt invention of ambitious men. founded upon probable arguments, as they would have left in their writings, I have also shown in the testimonies such an avowal of its inconsistency here alleged) I now proceed to quote with their opinions and practice, as them as his."'*

they have done of various heresies * Lardner's Works, I. p. 315. Lond. 4to. But we' find no such thing. Ignatius 5 vol. 1815.

was acquainted with some of the

further says,

apostles ;* was made bishop of An- your bishop." S. 1.-—"For what contioch by St. Paul.t about A. D. 69, cerns my fellow servant Burrbus, and and suffered martyrdom for the faith at your most blessed deacon."-" That Rome, Dec. 20, A. D. 107, seven years being subject to your bishop, and the after the death of St. John. Ignatius, presbytery, ye may be wholly and therefore, must have known the faith thoroughly sanctified.” S. 2.-—“Let of the church, and the practice of the us take heed therefore, that we do not apostles.

set ourselves against the bishop, that It appears from the general testi- we may be subject to God.” §. 5.mony of the ancients, that Ignatius “ It is therefore evident that we ought was the second bishop of Antioch, to look upon the bishop, even as we after St. Peter. That he was not a would do upon the Lord himself.” S. 6. congregational bishop, presiding over From the epistle to the Magnesians. a single congregation, may be proved “Seeing then I have been judged worfrom his own genuine writings, wherein thy to see you, by Damas, your most exhe distinctly names the three orders cellent bishop; and by your very worof the Christian ministry, bishop, pres- thy presbyters, Bassus, and Apollonius; byter, and deacon. Dr. Lardner, in his and by my fellow servant Šotio, the history of Ignatius, quotes the testimo- deacon." S. 2.-“ It will therefore ny of the ancients to the Episcopal bebove you, with all sincerity to obey order of this holy martyr, . And be your bishop; in honour of him whose

“Beside the bishoprick, pleasure it is that ye should do so, the martyrdom of this good man is because he that does not do so, deanother of those few things concerning ceives not the bishop whom he sees, him, which are not contradicted.”I but affronts him that is invisible. For None of the ancients, then, deny that whatsoever of this kind is done, it reIgnatius was a bishop; and as he was flects not upon man, but upon God, a bishop, according to the common who knows ihe secrets of our hearts.” acceptance of the word, during the S. 3._“I exhort you that ye study to life of the apostles, we are safe in do all things in a divine concord : concluding the office to be of apostoli- your bishop presiding in the place of cal appointment, and necessary to the God, your presbyters in the place of perfection and government of the the council of the apostles ; and your church of Christ.

deacons most dear to me, being enI shall now proceed to give some trusted with the ministry of Jesus extracts from the genuine epistles of Christ.” S. 6.- As therefore the Ignatius, to show, conclusively, as a Lord did nothing without the Father, matter of fact, that in his day, and being united to him; neither do ye doany. while St. John the evangelist was still thing without your bishop and presbyliving, the government of the church ters.", S. 7.-“ Study therefore to be at Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, Phila. confirmed in the doctrine of our Lord, delphia, &c. was Episcopal.

and of his apostles ; that so, whatsoFrom the epistle to the Ephesians. ever ye do, ye may prosper both in “ I received, therefore, in the name of body and spirit; in faith and charity; God, your whole multitude in Onesi- in the Son, and in the Father, and in mus; who by inexpressible love is the Holy Spirit; in the beginning, and ours, but according to the flesh is in the end : together with your most

worthy bishop, and the well-wrought Chrysost. Hom. in Ignat. 1. p. 499. spiritual crown of your presbytery ; Socrat. Hist. Eccl. lib. vi. cap. 8. Lardner's and your deacons which are according Works, I. p. 313.

to God. Be subject to your bishop, + Cave's Lives, II. p. 222.

&c. S. 13. Works, I. p. 313.