which, with one consent, you all profess to believe. Whence is it then, that, thus possessing a common and acknowledged standard of supreme authority on every subject connected with salvation, there should prevail amongst you so much discord of opinion and disunion of heart. It

OF THE SCRIPTURES.

Tothe Editorofthe Christian Observer.

IT was customary in former times to convey much salutary instruction in the way of supposed visions or dreams. To this the classical pages of Addison and Johnson, not less than those of that powerful uncultivated genius Bunyan, sufficiently testify.

Should you not object to such a mode of imparting truth by means of acknowledged fiction, which deceives no one and may edify many, you will oblige me by inserting what follows in your publication.

H. S. C. H.

Meditating deeply on the various controversies which divide the visible church of Christ upon earth, I fell into a profound sleep, the repose of which was soon interrupted by the following dream.

I thought I was transported to the foot of a lofty hill, situated in the midst of a rich and luxuriant valley. This valley appeared to be filled with professed Christians of all denominations, who were discussing their different views in no very low or monotonous accents. Suddenly there was seen on the summit of the mountain, a celestial being clad in glorious robes, who, with a look of ineffable dignity and kindness, commanded silence in the assembly; and, universal attention being directed towards the heavenly messenger, he thus addressed them: "Professed disciples of the Son of God, give ear. The great Eternal, whose I am, and whom I serve, has graciously vouchsafed to you a written revelation of his will, in

you are in some measure dissatisfied with those inspired oracles which have been written for your learning. Listen, then, to the proposal which I am about to make in the name of their Divine Author. I am empowered to invite each separate body among you candidly to declare the grounds of your dissatisfaction with what infinite wisdom has dictated, and to specify what alterations in the Sacred Book you respectively think would promote peace and general edification. You will depute one of each division to declare the sentiments of the rest, and I remain here patiently to listen to the suggestions of all."

After the surprise occasioned by this address had subsided, much mutual conference ensued, and at length the assembled multitude proceeded to obey the extraordinary summons.

The first that stood forth was a Roman-Catholic bishop. Having prostrated himself with deep reverence, he began: "Illustrious saint, whosoever thou art, I willingly undertake to be the first to obey thy gracious command. The true church however, whose bishop I am, has but little to suggest of alteration or of addition, in reference to the Sacred Volume. It may well be supposed unlikely that we should be anxious to alter particular parts of a book, the whole of which we consider so unfit for the perusal of mankind in general, that our greatest zeal has been employed to keep it from their view. Had we not been thwarted in this our benevolent design, another word would now have been needless. But certain restless and heretical persons, calling themselves Protestants, have, by their

pestiferous exertions, given almost universal circulation, and that nearly in every language of the world, to a book fit only for the holy eyes of the privileged priesthood. Even for the members of the true church, we do therefore now feel some solicitude. It may not then be amiss for us, as this opportunity is afforded us, to suggest some changes in the book itself, both in the way of alteration and of omission. Let there be inserted, then, we would humbly ask, a few verses so plainly declaring the infallibility of the pope, Christ's vicar upon earth, as shall in future leave no room for dispute. Let there be, we would further entreat, a few lines added to the sacred text positively commanding the adoration of departed saints, the praying for souls in purgatory, and the use of images in Divine worship. With reference to the last, indeed, we have long taken the liberty of omitting that part of the Second Commandment which prohibits them; but we should be still more gratified by a positive injunction in their favour. There are also, allow me to add, several passages in the Holy Bible which seem almost to intimate that it was designed to be universally read, and even searched into with diligence. These we should rejoice to see entirely expunged, because there are multitudes of unlearned and unstable persons, who thus perversely understand them. I have now nearly done: my only further request is, that the description given of the man of sin by St. Paul, and the whole Book of the Revelations, be in future omitted. This will not appear unreasonable when I state that these portions have been most provokingly exhibited by heretical expositors, and especially of late, by some obtrusive meddlers calling themselves students of prophecy, as minutely descriptive of the Church of Rome, which we know to be the only true church on earth. As suredly, therefore, the sooner these are got rid of the better." The CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 336.

bishop here bowed very low, and retired.

The next person who came forward as the representative of his brethren was a leading preacher amongst the sect of the Socinians. After a slight obeisance to the celestial messenger, he spoke as follows:-"The learned and respectable body in whose behalf I appear, desire to assure you, most worthy stranger, that they feel all due regard for that book known by the name of the Holy Scriptures. For every part of that volume indeed they do not entertain the same respect; but nevertheless, as a whole, they would speak of it with honour. We consider it as bestowed by the great Father of the human race on his rational creatures, to guide them in the way of virtue and righteousness, to teach them how to live, and how to die, and how they may attain at length their due reward in heaven. Now, if no further use were made of the book than this, we should be content to leave it as it is. But most unhappily the great majority of those who profess to receive it as Divine, deduce from it doctrines to which we as rational creatures can never assent. The triune nature of Jehovah, the Deity of the Son of God, and the Deity and personality of the Holy Ghost, the atonement made for sin by the vicarious and infinitely meritorious sacrifice of Christ on the cross; these and several other doctrines connected with them we have carefully brought to the test of our reason, and have pronounced them incredible and unworthy of God. Certainly then we should rejoice to see those parts of Scripture removed which seem in any manner to counteract their promulgation. These indeed are so numerous, that were we to insist on the removal of all, we fear we should too much mutilate the book. We shall be content therefore to have the most prominent expunged, and we shall with care explain away the remainder.

5 C

To be short then, if

the first fourteen verses of St. John's Gospel were entirely taken away, and all the doctrinal parts of all the Epistles were cleansed from all expressions which seem to the unwary to favour such doctrines as those we have alluded to, we should be satisfied that the rest should remain as it is; and how unspeakable would be the benefit accruing to the world!" The Socinian speaker having thus concluded his address, hastened to rejoin his companions.

The next person who advanced to wards the foot of the hill was a Wesleyan minister, and, as I was told, the president of the Conference. After a humble and reverential salute of the angelic ambassador, he thus proceeded:-"I represent a numerous and pious body of Christians who glory in the salvation of the Lamb, and earnestly desire to honour his name and adorn his doctrine through the sanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost. To the Bible as the inspired word of God, and to the works of Mr. Wesley as founded on that word, we are most deeply attached. With respect to the former, however, although we entirely differ from the Socinian gentleman who last spoke, and desire to bring our reason to the test of revelation, and not revelation to the test of our reason, yet, most blessed stranger, I candidly confess, there are some doctrines deduced by many good men from the Scriptures, which we think are inconsistent with the goodness of God, and the safety, holiness, and happiness of his creatures. The doctrines of personal election, imputed righteousness, indwelling sin in believers, and the final perseverance of the saints, ate those to which I allude. Far be it from us to desire much alteration in those sacred oracles which were all given by inspiration of God; but if a few of the strong expressions of St. Paul, in the commence. ment of his Epistles to the Ephesians and Thessalonians, could be modified, -the latter part of the

eighth chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, say from the 29th verse, and the whole of the ninth chapter, could be taken away, and one verse added to the seventh chapter to declare that he did not there speak of himself as a believer, I think we should be satisfied. Thus, we conceive, would much evil be prevented, and great good result to the church.” The president bowed respectfully, and retired.

A decided disciple of the venerable Calvin, a minister among the Independents, was now seen approaching to declare the sentiments of the body to which he belonged on the subject in question. Respectfully bowing, he began,-“ Į am, most holy messenger, the representative of those who, on a few points, not, we hope, essential to salvation, most entirely differ from the speaker who has just concluded his address. Those parts of the sacred volume which he has proposed to remove, we value above gold and precious stones, as the grand sources of our comfort, the chief security of our peace, and the effectual nourishers of all our holy affections and graces. We think the doctrines of original sin, of human depravity and helplessness, of the Divine Sovereignty, and personal election to knowledge, faith, holiness, and eternal life in the Saviour, are indissolubly interwoven, and cannot be separated, and therefore we would earnestly implore that the passages in question may be for ever retained. To affirm, however, that we are perfectly satisfied with the sacred records as they are, would be going too far. There are, I will confess it, a very few passages which we think we should not have written; and which, as we are invited to speak out on the subject, I acknowledge we should not be unwilling to see altered. I say not this, because we cannot manage to understand them consistently with our other views, (and for fear of perplexing our hearers, we preach on them

seldom), but because they do in a measure afford a handle to the opposers of the fundamental doctrines of grace. I need not say that we are as jealous of the necessity of good works, and of personal holiness, as the brethren to whose president we have been listening, but still we are of opinion that there are some exhortations to sinners, in the Divine record, which might be altered for the better, and some expressions relating to the extent of Christ's sacrifice, which require to be qualified. A propitiation for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD,' is, for instance, rather stronger language than we should have used; and the same may be said of other similar expressions, which I need not particularise, as they will readily occur. Now, if the single word elect could but be inserted in such places, we should be perfectly at ease. Having presumed to offer these few suggestions, I will not further trespass on your patience."

A man, of somewhat a stern aspect, now advanced, and requested to be permitted to add a few words to what had been said by the brother who had just retired. "I bless God," said he, "I have been made to reach a higher form in the school of Christ, than the last speaker; for, though I would concur in the greater part of what he has suggest ed, yet his whole view is very muddy. I go much further. The body which I represent are not numerous. We confess ourselves to be few, but we hail this as a favourable sign. It is, however, our unanimous request, that all the passages of the Bible which contain any thing in the shape of offers from God to man, and all the practical exhortations, as they are called, especially the latter parts of Paul's Epistles, and the whole Epistle of James, may be expunged from the sacred pages; for they are very liable to be misunderstood, and they prevent the glorious doctrines of grace from having such free course as they would otherwise obtain. The Ser

mon on the Mount is also too legal for free Gospel privilege. I will only add our earnest desire, that the few passages of Holy Writ which seem to countenance the doctrine of reprobation should be made very much plainer and stronger; or if a new verse, plainly declaring that great truth, were inserted, our satisfaction would be increased. I was not surprised to hear the last speaker say that the belief in personal election might not be essential to salvation; it was like his minglemangle system; but I affirm it is, and wish a text inserted to prove it." The Antinomian here stopped, and disappeared.

The next person who claimed the attention of the angel was a tall, portly, and respectable Baptist minister. With suitable reverence he bowed and proceeded in the following manner:-" It is not my purpose, angelic spirit, to detain you long. What I would have urged on other points has been already anticipated by my Calvinistic brother. But there is one subject on which I, and the considerable number whom I represent, differ from all the rest of the Chri tian church. We entirely disapprove of infant baptism, and think that no one has a right to the sign and seal till he has received the thing signified. Now the additional request which we have to prefer is, that a positive prohibition to baptise infants should be introduced into the New-Testament Scriptures. This, I would humbly submit, is the more necessary, because those who are in error on this point urge, and with a measure of plausibility, that the task of pointing out such a prohibition lies on us; the sign and seal of the covenant of grace having been administered by God's express command to infants in the visible church, from the time of Abraham till the coming of our Lord. Now, say they, if there be no command in the New Testament to discontinue this act of grace in the visible church, the natural in

ference is, that it was designed to be continued. And then, moreover, the reasonableness of our request will further appear by recalling to your mind that the truth which we hold respecting infant baptism was not brought to light till sixteen centuries after the day of Pentecost; so that our opponents have the practice of the primitive church, from the apostolic age until then, wholly on their side. We submit, therefore, that it would greatly help to set the question at rest, and promote the peace of the church, if a few lines were added to the New Testament, declaring infant baptism to be contrary to the will of God. I have nothing more to say."

An aged Quaker, with a hat of many shapes, and a countenance remarkably benign, now walked slowly towards the hill. He neither moved his body nor his hat, but at once began: "Heavenly friend, I am a man of few words, and there fore thou needest not fear I shall detain thee long. The body to which I belong respect without overvaluing the Scriptures. I have come forward chiefly to express my regret that any Christians should think it necessary, either to alter or add to the sacred records, and to declare my conviction, that if all my Christian friends would cultivate more than they do the light within, they would see less reason to wish to disturb the Divine oracles. At the same time, however, I will add, that even we should be as well pleased if those passages which relate to the outward ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper were withdrawn. I thank thee for thy attention, and retire into stillness."

A way being now made, there emerged from the crowd a man of dignified appearance, who announced himself to be an orthodox doctor of the Church of England. With a respectful obeisance he commenced his address:-"It has been with the deepest concern that

I have listened to the varying sentiments of those mistaken persons who have preceded me in the important work to which you have invited us. I have seen in that variety a new proof (if proof were wanting) of the infinite evil of a schismatical separation from that apostolical church of which I have the honour to be a minister. While, however, I deplore these disastrous effects of the abuse of private judg ment and unauthorized ministrations, I confess I am not wholly uninterested in the important question which has been brought before us to-day. I certainly feel disposed to unite in some of the requests which have been preferred while I view others with the most unqualified abhorrence. I can by no means accord with my Roman-Catholic brother in pronouncing the Bible unfit for the general perusal of the people; and yet I do in a measure sympathize with him in his fears of the consequences of that indiscriminate circulation of the Holy Book which is now taking place. It appears to me, that if a passage were inserted simply requiring that the inspired volume should always be accompanied with a copy of our excellent Common-Prayer Book as a corrective, that all apprehended evil would be prevented, and general good would be effected. And now permit me to add, that although it is no pleasure to me ever to be found according with any who do not worship in our Establishment, yet I cannot but feel disposed to concur in the alterations, addition, and omissions proposed by the disciple of Mr. Wesley. The sentiments of all the rest of the speakers I denounce as utterly heretical. I have only further to express my earnest desire for the addition of a few lines to the New Testament, explicitly forbidding any to preach who have not been Episcopally ordained, and declaring that all who dissent from our church can have nothing to trust to but the uncovenanted mercies of God."