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It has been frequently observed by Calvinistic authors, that Pelagians, Roman Catholics, Socinians, and Arminians maintain, that our first parents, in their primitive state, were either entirely destitute of a holy bias, though free from an actual tendency to sin; or, that their bias in favour of obedience was connected with a tendency to transgress: and that they have adopted these different hypotheses, in order to their more plausibly defending some other articles of their several creeds. But that Dr. Williams embraced the novel notion to which I advert under a similar influence, I dare not assert.*

Were my opinion asked respecting the origin of moral evil, the answer would be, I have no opinion upon the subject: nor dare I form conjectures about it. Having long been fully persuaded, that a satisfactory solution of the question lies far beyond the reach of human intellect; I consider it as more becoming my feeble reason, and much more respectful to Divine Providence, to exclaim with Paul, O THE DEPTH! than to indulge speculation on a subject so mysterious; lest I should fall under the righteous reproof of Jehovah's interrogatory to Job, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

* See, in reference to this particular, Turrett. Institut. Loc. ix. Q. vii. § 3. Mastrich. Theolog. Lib. iii. Cap. ix. § 41. Braunii Doctrina Fœderum, Vol. i. Pars ii. Cap. xv. § 17-21. Heidegg. Corp. Theolog. Loc. vi. § 94, 95, 96. Tom. ii. p. 224, 225. Gurtheri, Institut. Theolog. Cap. vii. § 23-32. Peltium, Harmonia Remonstrantium et Socinian, p. 39, 40, H. Altingum, Theologia Problematica Nova, Loc. vii. Prob. vi. p. 401–404. and Doctor Owen's Display of Arminianism, p. 88, 89, 90.

Of this, however, I have no doubt, that the existence and prevalence of moral evil, in the rational creation, are completely consistent with all the perfections of God, and with all his eternal decrees; and that, under the management of supreme wisdom, when the great system of Providence, respecting both angels and men, is finished, the conduct of God, in reference to evil, both moral and natural, will be to the praise of his glory, in the eyes of all holy creatures.

FINIS.

INDEX.

ADAM, and Christ, compared as fœderal heads, i. 178.
Adoption, meaning of the term explained, i. 196. distin-
guished from reconciliation, 197. a peculiar blessing of
the new covenant, 198. displays the riches of divine grace,
199. what honour and dignity it confers on sinners, 200.
the privilege illustrated, ibid. its greatness contrasted with
all earthly honours, 203. the doctrine improved, 204. con-
sidered as a motive to sanctification, 225.

African slavery, not authorized by the jewish law, iii. 198.
an inhuman traffic, founded on power, not on right, 202.
sketch of its enormity, 203.

Aged persons, addressed on the subject of death, iii. 249, 258.
Amen, inquiry into the meaning of the term, iii. 100. how
applied in the Old Testament, 101. and used in the
primitive churches, 102. abuse of it by some modern
pro-
fessors reprehended, 103. the important truths suggested
by it, 104. particularly, that we should pray with under-
standing, fervour, and expectation, ibid. reproves the use
of all unintelligible language in public prayer, 115. all
quaint expressions and turns of wit, 116. and all contro-
versial attempts, 117. forbids the exercise of angry, en-
vious, and malevolent passions, 118. with every thing that
counteracts devout attention, deep solemnity, and the exer-
cise of holy affections towards God, 119. it should caution
hearers against negligence in regard to the time of atten-
dance on public worship, 120. and against wandering
thoughts and inattention during prayer, 123. enforces
union and love on those that unite in social worship, 124.
forbids the use of language which is not that of the heart,
125.

Angels, how interested in the work of human redemption,

i. 319.

Antecedent holiness, how opposed to the doctrine of justifi-
cation by grace, ii. 164. a view of what is included under
that term, 171.

Apology for the Baptists, ii. 329. question between them
and the Pædobaptists stated, ii. 348. preliminary con-
siderations, 355.

Application of the atonement, must not be confounded with
the atonement itself, iii. 79. is the work of the Holy Spirit
within us, 82.

Arminians, place the particularity of redemption in its appli-
cation, iii. 83.

Atonement for sin, only effected by the shedding of blood,
iii. 25. investigation of an hypothesis respecting its limi-
tation, 78. whether its particularity consist only in its
application, ibid. what to be understood by its application,
79. the atonement itself must not be confounded with its
application, ibid. Christ's intention in making it, to be
regarded, ibid. his death a voluntary act, 80. his atone-
ment not made for those who shall never be benefited by
it, 81. the atonement how effected, ibid. was entirely with-
out us, 82. gives the highest display of God's love to
sinners, 86. its principal design was to manifest that love,
19. mistakes concerning it rectified, 90. how distinguish-
able from redemption, 93.

AUSTIN, prohibited unbaptized persons from the Lord's
table, ii. 342.

Baptism and the Lord's supper, in what respects connected,
ii. 360. their claims to priority discussed, 361. in what
sense the former is essential, 442. must not be dispensed
with in order to communion in the latter, 461.-futility of
the pleas for the contrary practice, shewn, 462. the im-
portance which the New Testament attaches to baptism,
484. more frequently enjoined in the New Testament than
the Lord's supper, 497.

BAPTISTS, unjustly accused of bigotry, ii. 333. why they
refuse communion to Pædobaptists, 349. charged with
being too strict by some of their own brethren, 353. those
who hold free-communion, inconsistent with their own
principles, 367. their practice applied to the case of the
Lord's supper, 389. inquiry how far the Strict Baptists
are justifiable in employing Pædobaptist preachers and
refusing communion with them, 469.

BARCLAY'S Apology, quoted, ii. 432.

BAXTER, Mr. quoted on the necessity of baptism preceding
the Lord's supper, ii. 346.

BEART, Mr. his Eternal Law and Everlasting Gospel,
quoted, i. 384. on the gospel considered as a system of
free favour to the guilty, ii. 18. note. on the justification
of the ungodly, ii. 186. note. referred to, on a sinner's
propensity to self-righteousness, 194.

BELLARMINE, his sentiments on preparations for justifica-
tion, ii. 170.

BINGHAM'S Antiquities of the Christian Church, referred to,
ii. 304. note.

BLACKSTONE, Judge, his Commentaries quoted, ii. 393.
BONAVENTURE, quoted, ii. 343.

BOOTH, Mr. Memoir of his life, i. 17.

BOSSUET, his sentiments on justification, ii. 170.

BOSTON, Mr. Thomas, quoted, on the nature of repentance,
ii. 118. on the hunger, thirst, &c. which precedes faith in
Christ, ii. 190, and on the reverence due to divine institu-
tions, 462.

BRAGGE, Mr. quoted on church discipline, ii. 359.
BRADBURY, Mr. his remarks on spurious charity, ii. 455.
defended the importance of baptism against the Socinians,

486.

Brotherly love, what is and what is not a test of it, ii. 350.
is rarely promoted by the practice of free communion, 451.
BRUCE, Mr. his Travels to the Source of the Nile, quoted,
ii. 302. note.

BUNYAN, JOHN, the parent of free communion, ii. 864. the
grounds of his plea, 384-386. differed little from the
Quakers as to the importance of baptism, 433. specimen
of the contemptuous language which he uses respecting
baptism, 491.

BURN, Dr. considers the thirty-nine articles part of the
statute law, ii. 264. note.

Calling, effectual, a link in the chain of man's salvation,
i. 79. is produced by divine agency, 80. wherein it con-
sists, ibid. displays divine grace, 81. its operation de-
scribed, 82. is the work of the Holy Spirit, 90. by means
of the gospel, 91. leads to faith in Christ and dependence
on him, 92. how the blessing should be improved, 95. is a
powerful motive to sanctification, 224.

CAMPBELL, Dr. George, quoted on the meaning of the
gospel, ii. 14. on the term preaching, 15. on the source of
corruptions in the kingdom of Christ, 241. note. on the
pastoral character, 181.

Character of God, how represented in the Scriptures, ii. 135.
and iii. 328. exhibits a ground of hope to sinners, 156.
Character, of a Christian, formed by the gospel, iii. 348.
should resemble the character of Christ, 363. in his con-
descension to the poor of his people, 361. in feeding the
hungry and clothing the naked, 362.

Charity, how concerned in the dispute about free communion,
ii. 441. and 450. rarely promoted in churches by the latter
practice, 451. description of true and false charity, 456.
Charity, catholic, considered by many, a substitute for chris-
tian unity, ii. 456. how it stands affected towards the
sayings of Christ, ibid. the ground of its rejoicing, not the
saving truth, 458.

CHARNOCK, Mr. quoted on justifying faith, ii. 80. how he
distinguishes between love and mercy, 86. quoted on

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