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on the same footing with the Jews, made them enquire, "What advantage then hath the Jew? These two questions are answered by the Apostle, in the 3d. chap. of his epistle to the Rom. The third question, was levelled at the very vitals of christianity itself; for the remission being granted on the principle of faith, and consequently by a favour, and neither by works of law, or righteousness, which men had done. The Jews, from an ignorance of human nature, and the true character of God, mistook the tendency of the Apos tolic doctrine, and ask thirdly, whether Christianity was not essentially this, "Let us sin that favor may abound? In reply, the Apostle shows that it was by faith and favor, that both Abraham and David were saved, and that law had originally issued in the death of the first of men, and in all who came from his loins while the law of Moses which they all knew was good only for showing how severe and universally sin had taken hold of mankind.

The casting off of the infidel Jews, gave occasion finally to the question-Whether God had not departed from his former character and violated his promise to Abraham? This question is answered in the famous ninth chap. of the same Epistle, a portion of Holy Scripture which some Sectaries have most shamefully abused, but which I hope this view of the matter will ultimately redeem from their partial and limited systems-Here the Apostle shows them that they considered it no more infringement of the divine character when for popular purposes, he preferred their fathers, Isaac and Jacob, to Ishmael and Esau; and raised to the throne of Egypt Pharoah by whom he wished to make his power known, and who on account of his own bad character, should have been damned long before he was either drowned, or even made monarch of the land of Ham; but both Ishmael and Esau and Pharoah, and even they themselves, when cast off were treated by God in the only way their abominable character merited; and therefore, God dealt with them as the potter does with a dishonorable vessel; he dashed and would dash them in pieces.-Moreover, the Apostle lets them know that the blessings of christianity, were never held out or promised indiscriminately to Abraham's seed, but only to so many of them as believed. Justification from sin is a blessing, which, indeed, it were folly to offer to an unbelieving man, whether Jew or Gentile.

Having given the reader a clue to the question of God's Sovereignty, I shall now review some Scriptures which have been quoted as opposing the doctrine of the Christian Baptist, againstthe partial pickings of sectarianism.

1. It is said, Romans viii "Whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified."Now what is this, but that God, as may be seen from fact and from the ancient writings of the prophets, foreknew, that the Jews and Gentiles, indiscriminately, would believe on his Son, and for that, had predestinated or appointed them to share in his honors, he therefore, in the fullness of time, called them; remitted their sins,

and glorified them as his only worshippers, by making to rest upon them, the Spirit of God and of Glory.

But it is said: "Well then, he has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will, he hardens." This is true-and blessed be his holy name, that he will, if the Scriptures mean what they say, have mercy on all who believe, not of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles also; and the unbelieving wretch who will not accept of pardon on the gospel plan, ought to be hardened and heated seven times in a furnace of fire; Romans ix. The ancient idolators were hardened, and the case of the modern Jews, illustrate this verse. Again, it is said, Eph. 1st Chapter, "According as he has elected us in him, before the foundation of the world." This is also very true, and means just what it says; but, observe that it is one thing to elect us in him, and quite another to elect us to be in him. It would be one thing to elect a Jacksonite, and another to elect a man to be a Jacksonite; the one would be to make him a Jacksonite, and the other to elect a Jacksonite to some other matter; but there it was "Before the foundation of the world." We many times determine who shall fill certain offices, so soon as we have succeeded in the election of a superior officer. Many Jacksonites were marked out for offices long before the General was inaugurated; and so the disciples of the Messiah, were chosen to love and purity, before the foundation of the worldwhile the disciples of Mahomet, Confucius, and others have been appointed to no such distinction.

But again, No man can come unto me unless the Father draw him." How common is this form of speech, even among ourselves! Who has brought you here, and what has drawn you here, are phrases which are current every where, and yet, who ever thinks that the charm or power, by which one person is drawn after another is a physical one. The power of drawing is moral, not physical, and so the Saviour, in the 5th John, says that no man could come unto him, unless the Father draw him, because the political mob which he addressed, had followed him, from the gross and animal reason of having got their bellies filled the night before, with the loaves and fishes; paying no regard to the divine power, which wrought the miracle, "Verily, I say unto you, ye followed me not because ye saw the miracle, (Father in the miracle,). but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled. PHILIP.

TENNESSEE CHRISTIAN REGISTER.

I AM glad to acknowledge the receipt at this office, of a prospectus for a work of the above title, to be edited by Mr. George R. Fall, of Nashville, Tennessee, devoted to the interests of religion, letters, and the cause of temperance. This paper, issued once-a-week, at 3 dollars per annum or 2 50 in advance, is, in so far as religious, pledged to no sect or party, but to those of the same profession and practice of those called "Christians first at Antioch." Mr. Fall, I have understood, is a young gentleman of much promise. I wish him much success in all the laudible objects proposed in his paper. I am sorry that the limits of our little periodical forbids our inserting his prospectus in full.

We also received by the next mail, the proposals for publishing in Lexington, Kentucky, a periodical, titled, THE CHRISTIAN EXAMINER AND MILLENNIAL HERALD, by J. NonwoOD. Brother Norwood happened almost to hit upon our title; but as we had first made the appropriation, and as he has two titles, and I have but one, I hope he will either drop the latter, or find a substitute that will be less confounding in the constant reference of the public. I am also much pleased with his prospectus and the object of his work. A prominent object in the "Tennessee Christian Register," and in the "Christian Examiner," is the exposition of the evils and sin of sectarianism and the exhibition of primitive christianity. It is not, then, surprising that the association of the ideas of peace and union among christians, should have called up the term millennial in the recollections of brother Norwood. A few more works, equally dispersed over the face of this country, ably pleading the cause of the ancient gospel and the ancient order of things, will, no doubt contribute much to the introduction of this peaceful, intelligent, and happy era. I hope that none of these efforts of our young volunteers will be treated with neglect; but that the friends of the best of good causes will hold up their arms until the Midianites are routed.

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IS now out of press; and it is hoped that, as it is to be sent to six different Book-Binders, who have stipulated to have it substantially bound, it will soon be in the hands of the subscribers. We have made the pages much larger than we at first intended. They are equal to an octavo, and contain much matter. As we had to send a part of this work out of our office, we divided it into two volumes; (a part of the second volume was printed in Steubenville, Ohio;) but they will be bound in one book. As this work is much needed, I hope that it will soon get abroad and obtain an attentive reading.

EDITOR.

ERRATA. In the September number of the Christian Baptist, page 37, line 11 from top, supply not between 'only' and 'commanded.' Same page, line 34 from top, for precedence,' read precedents. Same page, line 3 from bottom, omit the word 'either.' Page 38, line 31 from top, for breathe the breath of life;' read break the bread of life. Line 40, same page, for Staith, read STRAITH.

NEW AGENTS.—KENTUCKY-North Middletown, Major N. L. Lindsey, instead of C. E. Williams, Esq.-Lawrenceburg, Anderson co. Mr. Wm. Monday. VIRDINIA-A. Snow, Christiansburg.; Bro. W. Bootwright, instead of Mr. Harrison Gray.

"Monthly Receipts," omitted for want of room, shall appear in

our next.

{No.

No. 4.

BETHANY, BROOKE CO. VA.
MONDAY, Nov. 2, 1829.

{Vol. VII. }

"Style no man on earth your Father; for he alone is your father who "is in heaven; and all ye are brethren. Assume not the title of Rabbi; "for you have only one teacher. Neither assume the title of Leader; for "you have only one leader-the MESSIAH."

Matt. xxiii. 8-10.

"Prove all things: hold fast that which is good.”

Mr. EDITOR:

Paul the Apostle.

To the Editor of the Christian Baptist.

King & Queen County, May 10, 1829.

IN your remarks on the 16th Query, in the Christian Baptist, of March last, you say, "Millions have been tantalized by a mock-gospel, which places them as the fable placed Tantalus, standing in a stream, parched with thirst, and the water running to his chin, and so circumstanced that he could not taste it." There is a sleight of hand, or a religious legerdemain, in getting round this matter. In your answer to the 19th Query, in the Christian Baptist of April last, you have, I think, though I dare say without intention on your part, (as I believe the remarks on the 16th Query were specially intended for the populars,) given us a key to un-. lock the mystery contained in the sleight of hand business quoted above. The query reads thus: "What does the Saviour mean in these words: 'He said to them, It is your privilege to know the secrets of the Reign of God, but to those without, every thing is veiled in parables, that they may not perceive what they look at, or understand what they hear." Now you say "he means just what be says. The language is exceedingly plain," &c. And I think so too; and now for the key to unlock the sleight of hand, &c. You say, and I suppose you mean what you say, &c. You say then, "Some persons in a future state will be beyond the reach of mercy; some are in the present; they have shut their eyes, alienated their hearts, seared their consciences, and most stubbornly resisted the Spirit of God. There is a certain crisis beyond which the moral disease becomes incurable, as well as the physical. Some men have survived this crisis for a period. In the physical disease they live hours and days when all physicians know they are incurable. It is not true in physics, that "while there is life there is hope;" for there is life when there is no hope. Neither is it true as the hymn sings:

While the lamp holds out to burn,

The vilest sinner may return.”

Now many of the Jews, in the days of Joshua, of the Lord Jesus, and of the Apostle Paul. had survived this crisis. The Saviour treated them accordingly; and will he not be as merciful when he VOL. VII.

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sits upon the throne of final judgment, as when he stood on earth, saying, "Come to me, all ye weary and heavy burthened?" &c.Most assuredly he will, yet he will condemn the wicked. Those persons then, from whom he studiously veiled the gospel, were those characters he knew to be such as to exclude them from forgiveness and repentance. This is a fact, and an awful fact, that, under the Reign of Favor, it is possible for men to become so depraved, so wicked, so hardened, as to be beyond the reach of cure. Unless this fact be apprehended and regarded, there will occur many passages in both Testaments inexplicable;" and I think so too, Mr. Editor, and thought so too, before I saw your remarks on the 16th Query, and I think the remarks on the 19th Query, afford a key, as I said before, to unlock this mysterious sleight of hand! Now the Scriptures tell us that man is born into the world as a wild ass's colt; yet vain man, would be wise! But the Apostle tells us, "For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wis dom knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. Now from your remarks, it appears that there were at different periods of the world, men living, from whose hearts the gospel or grace of God, was studiously veiled, while you admit it may be so, at the present time. Now as none of our popular preachers do certainly know, whether there may not be some of this class of persons among the congregations to whom they preach, from whose hearts the Lord studiously veils the gospel, how would you have them to preach? Would you have them to tell a lie? and say, that each and every one of you can, by reading the sacred Scriptures, become partakers of the divine nature? When the Lord may have seen fit to suffer a part of them to fulfil that promise, which says, "Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish, for I work a work in your day, which ye shall not believe, though a man declare it unto you! Now if it ever pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save those that believe, I have no doubt, but it pleases him yet. For the gospel is preached by living witnesses, having the Spirit of Christ, who stand as in Christ's stead, for the purpose of turning the minds of men, towards these things which are able, through Divine grace, to make them (from whom the gospel is not veiled) wise unto salvation; namely, the word of God and prayer. One thing I do know, that the populars about here, (unless they be hypocrites,) think so, for they labor night and day; and they preach the ancient gospel too, which I heard, before I heard of you, Mr. Editor! They preach as they always have done, saying, "The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, repent ye, and belive the gospel." They say too, "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." And they say too, "Come unto me all ye weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." That "the Spirit and the bride say come, and let him that heareth say come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let him come, and take the water of life freely." They warn people, too, saying, "Take heed lest this come upon you." "Behold, ye despisers! and wonder, and perish! for I work a work in your day, which you shall not believe, though a man declare it unto you!" Now, this is the

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