eyes of her friends, however, her christian graces could not be concealed, and they saw her descend into the valley of the shadow of death, after long preparation in the school of affliction, with "lamps trimmed and burning," and all the cares and anxieties of life laid aside, at her Saviour's call. Few, if any, ever more faithfully discharged their duties, or more nobly endured, the trials and afflictions. of life. Her reward must be great in the kingdom of her Father. Sacred be her memory! Happy those who imitate her example! Weep not for her who has joined the society of angels, and the spiits of just men made perfect, who is now with Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and God the judge of all.

From the Religious Intelligencer, Jan. 19, 1828.

DEDICATION AND INSTALLATION.

On Tuesday, the 1st inst. the new meeting-house in the north part of Boston was dedicated to the worship of God, and Rev. JusTIN EDWARDS, D. D. late of Andover, was installed Pastor of the Church collected there, called Salem Church. Sermon by Rev. Prof. Stuart, of Andover. The following Hymn, written by Mr. N. P. Willis, was sung on the occasion:

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The perfect world by Adam trod,

Was the first temple-built by God:
His fiat laid the corner stone,
And heaved its pillars one by one.

He hung its starry roof on high-
The broad illimitable sky;

He spread its pavement, green, and bright,
And curtain'd it with morning light.

The mountains in their places stood,
The sea-the sky-"and all was good;"
And when its first pure praises rang,
The morning stars together sang."
Lord 'tis not ours to make the sea,
And earth, and sky, a house for thee-
But in thy sight our offering stands-
A humbler temple "made with hands.**
We cannot bid the morning star,

To sing how bright thy glories are;
But Lord, if thou wilt meet us here,
Thy praise shall be the Christian's fear.

THE

CALVINISTIC MAGAZINE.

"Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

No. 2.

FEBRUARY, 1828.

PASTORAL LETTER

VOL. II.

OF THE PRESBYTERY OF LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA,
ADDRESSED TO THE CHURCHES UNDER THEIR CARE.

OCTOBER 20, 1827.

Dear Brethren—Being appointed to watch for your spiritual interests, we think it our duty at this time to address you in a pastoral letter of more than usual length. The churches in our presbytery are mostly in a languishing state. While other regions are visited with frequent revivals, and stirred up to a diligent practice and a vigorous promotion of the gospel, we have fallen into a general coldness, and have experienced a long suspension of divine influences. In some places, death, emigration, and apostacy have diminished the number of church members more than the means of grace have increased it. In short, some of our wisest and most experienced men think they see amongst us the symptoms of a long and fatal decline. Still, however, we rest on one ground of hope and consolation. Our churches, we believe, contain many sincere children of God, who have an interest at the throne of grace, and daily supplicate the Father of Mercies for a blessing on our public ordinances, and for an effusion of the spirit upon our churches.— Therefore, we trust that we shall not be finally deserted; though we may suffer a severe chastisement for our abuse of past favors and present privileges.

Judging from the history of former ages, we apprehend that the two most alarming symptoms in a church are: 1. The omission or negligent performance of duty; and 2. A departure from sound doctrine according to the scriptures.

1. The omission or negligent performance of duty weakens the pious feelings of the heart-wounds, and then hardens the conscience-opens the door for temptation and delusion-offends God, and grieves his Holy Spirit-and, when it becomes general in a VOL. II.

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church, brings on a crisis which must soon terminate either in a revival of penitence and zeal, or in a fatal breaking up of the church. Remember our Saviour's warning to the church of Laodicea.

2. A departure from sound doctrine, however, appears from history to be yet more dangerous. While the pure and sanctifying truths of the gospel are retained, there still exists a principle of life, from which a decayed piety may be restored to health and vigour.-But when the truth itself is materially corrupted, and the gospel of the Son of God turned into a system of human inventions, religion is poisoned at the fountain-head. Few, if any instances are on record, of churches having recovered after drinking deeply into the spirit of error.

Whether our churches are most in danger from lukewarmness, or from error, we shall not undertake to say: but we would earnest ly admonish our beloved flocks to be on their guard, as those that watch for their lives, against both the evils we have mentioned.

We are persuaded, brethren, that our church in her public standards, professes the pure Christianity of the Bible. We pretend not that every expression in those standards is precisely correct, as if given by inspiration. We claim not a popish infallibility for our judgments; nor for those of the reformers, of blessed memory, whose system of doctrines we hold unchanged. But our belief of these doctrines is confirmed, not only by our examination of the word of God, but by the experience of their efficacy for three hundred years, in keeping up a sober and practical piety wherever they have been sincerely professed. No opposing system of doctrines has for ages maintained so steady and so purifying an influence over the human mind. Other systeins have led either to empty formalisın, dark superstition, or wild fanaticism; while the system of Luther, Zainglius, and Calvin, as professed by the Presbyterian and other churches, has always overcome the temporary influence of formalism, su perstition, and fanaticism.

Yet no form of Christianity, perhaps, has had to encounter such obstinate prejudices, and such violent attacks from all quarters. In our own age and country, and within the bounds of this Presbytery, we have witnessed what would seem to be a concerted and resolute effort to destroy our church. Means, both open and concealed, both ordinary and extraordinary, have been put in requisition to render us odious and unpopular. At least, several things have lately oc curred, and are likely to occur again, which seem to manifest a spirit of implacable hostility against our doctrines and institutions.

Justice to ourselves, and faithfulness to what we believe to be the

cause of truth and piety, call upon us at length to break silence-to lay aside false delicacy-and to expostulate frankly with our chief opponents. You too, brethren, we must affectionately warn of these attempts, and endeavor to fortify your minds against them.

Most of you, from your knowledge of facts, already understand, that we allude to a society whom, as Christians, we would love, but against whom, as persevering assailants, we must at length defend ourselves; we mean the Methodists. But we wish you and them to know that we complain not of any fair arguments which they have used against our doctrines: we complain of the line of policy which they seem to have adopted, which certainly they have too often pursued respecting us.

Harmony and fellowship cannot subsist between two religious denominations, unless they treat each other with decent respect, argue their differences candidly and temperately, and pursue towards each other an open, fair, and friendly line of conduct. We often hear friendly professions from the Methodists; sometimes we experience friendly acts, and rejoice in them. We have wished to live with that society on terms of mutual forbearance and reciprocal kindness. But how frequently, in the midst of their charitable professions, have even their pulpits resounded in various places, with severe denunciations against us-representing us as a set of hypocritical formalists, as holding doctrines which came from hell, and lead to hell! Have they not, times innumerable, reviled our ministers as avaricious hirelings? Have they not taken up scanda lous statements against ministers, elders, and people of our church, and circulated them in a printed form, with all the zeal of a Tract Society? Statements too, which bore marks of the author's injustice and malignity on the face of them? Can we move in brotherly concert with a society whose professions of friendship are mingled with acts like these?

We allude not to these things for the purpose of provoking an open rupture, and an angry controversy. Our aim is, if possible, to prevent such a deplorable issue by a candid exposition of our sen timents. May we not hope that the more liberal and considerate portion of that society will, when they hear of our wounded feelings, exert a salutary influence on their brethren; and check a course of conduct which, if continued, must lead to consequences that every good christian should deprecate?

But if our well intended remonstrance have no such desirable effect-if that society are resolved to prosecute hostilities-then our next wish is that it may no longer be a war in disguise, but that our

remonstrance may produce from them an open declaration of their intentions respecting our church. If they have wrought themselves into the opinion that the Presbyterian and other like churches, must be put down, in order that they may substitute a better form of religion, let them boldly say so at once. We shall then know both

how to estimate them and how to meet them.

We shall know how to estimate them. As matters now stand, we are doubtful what to think of their character and designs; holding out, as they do, at one time and place, the right hand of fellowship; at another, the sword of battle. If they candidly declare their intention, under a sense of duty, to destroy our church, though we may think their views illiberal, and their measures harsh, we can nevertheless give them credit for honest intentions and fair dealing.

Then, too, we shall know how to meet them. We shall go without hesitation, and without complaint, into the field of fair controversy; and either prove that our doctrines and institutions are more scriptural than theirs, or consent to give up the cause, and let Methodism rule the world.

They owe it not only to us, but to other denominations, to explain their views. The frequent appearance of double dealing in their policy towards others-the proselyting spirit which they often manifest their exultation when they make a breach into other churchestheir constant attempts to form societies in the heart of congregations fully supplied with the means of grace-their apparent eager. ness to swell and magnify their numbers, and the exceedingly easy terms on which they enrol their members-the occasional boasts made even in their publie assemblies, that the Methodists will "take the world"—these, and other things, have infused a general suspicion of their harboring ambitious designs. Nothing short of a disavowal of such designs, and a correspondent change of conduct, can remove the suspicion. We do not, by these remarks, mean to accuse them of aiming at universal domination in spiritual affairs: we mention suspicious circumstances in order to give them occasion for explanations.

While they pursue a doubtful and unfriendly course towards others, the general cause of religion suffers: jealousies, heart-burnings, and collisions, disturb the harmonious movement of the christian world against the common enemy. This consequence of the sectarian spirit, we believe many of their own pious members wish to avoid Once more, then, we say, let there be candid explanations, and an undisguised line of policy on their part. Our sentiments and conduct have been open and easily understood. We desire peace