games. The same allusion, upon the same subject, is employed in the Epistle to the Philippians. "Stand "fast in one Spirit, with one mind striving together, "σuvaDouvres, wrestling together, for the faith of the

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Gospel, and in nothing terrified by your adversa"ries." Firmness and intrepidity become the warrior in the day of battle. An appearance of timidity and irresolution will give the enemy occasion to say, that we are not sincere; that we distrust the goodness of the cause in which we are engaged. The spectators of the combat will easily be led to think so, and fall off to the adverse party. Of two contrary opinions men may be at liberty to profess either; but both are not therefore true. In a matter of so much moment, neutrality must be criminal. 'Why halt ye?" says the prophet. In other words-" Use your judgement; choose your side; and adhere to it, till you see good reason to the contrary." easy to foretel the issue of a conflict, if all be activity on one part, and indolence on the other. Athanasius once stood single against the world, and prevailed. But the faithful have not yet so far ceased from among us. Numbers of great, good, and able men are left sound in faith, and mighty in the Scriptures. A field worthy of their abilities and attainments is open before them, and there are many adversaries. Some opinions may be safely trusted with the public; they will die away of themselves. of themselves. But others are of a nature so flattering to human pride, so congenial to the prejudices of an age long trained to despise mys

* Phil. i. 27.

It is

teries, and propagated with so much industry, management, and confidence-that they ought to be withstood. Tares will be sown, if the husbandman sleep; and he may be astonished, when he awakes, to behold the luxuriancy of their growth. No mischief will arise from discussion. Truth always has been, and always will be a gainer by it. It is a wholesome exercise for us. It excites attention, and prevents INDIFFERENCE, the enemy, of all others, most to be dreaded.

But while zeal is recommended, let not charity be forgotten. They are by no means incompatible. Who more zealous than the great apostle of the Gentiles? And where can be found a brighter example of charity? Boldly confuting and reproving false doctrines and corrupt practices, but ever ready to devote himself for the welfare of those among whom they prevailed. After his own example he directs others to be αληθευοντες εν αγαπη, to speak the "truth in love";" so to maintain truth as not to violate charity a golden precept, worthy to be engraven on the hearts of all who may be called forth to "contend for the faith;" that they may do honour to their cause by the arguments proposed, and no dishonour to themselves by the manner of

:

1 They have been withstood, and well withstood. The thanks of the church of England are due to Dr. Horsley, for his seasonable, learned, and judicious writings, in her defence. Let him occupy the department he is so thoroughly qualified to fill, and go on frustrating the attempts of our adversaries to deprive us of the argument from tradition.

m Ephes. iv. 15.

proposing them. The weight of the reasons will not be at all diminished by the courteousness of the address: in its effect it will be much increased. Mankind care not to be driven; they must be led into all truth. It was the method practised by the apostles; it should be practised by their successors. Thus, and thus only, they are to "heap coals of fire on "the heads "" of their opponents. The dross will separate, and the metal flow pure, Logic should be used without acrimony; and wit, if it be used at all, tempered with good humour, so as not to exasperate the person who is the object of it; and then, we are sure, there is no mischief done. The disputant ought to be at once firm and calm; his head cool, and his heart warm. Thus a controversy sometimes begins; but thus, alas! it seldom ends; the irascible passions being generally excited, and full utterance given to them in its progress: allowance must therefore be made, on all sides, for the failings of humanity. That the ODIUM THEOLOGICUM exceeds every other, is said, perhaps, without sufficient reason. The vehemence of a contest will be in proportion to its supposed importance, the length of its continuance, or the frequency of its repetition. When men are earnest, in short, they are apt sometimes to be violent. Our adversaries have taken to themselves and their opinions the epithet of LIBERAL, as well as that of RATIONAL. It may be, with equal reason. For why it is more liberal to deny, than it is to affirm, the doctrine of the Trinity, seems

Rom. xii. 20.

hard to say and some pages might easily be filled with language concerning that doctrine, employed by the Polonian fraternity, which would make every ear in this audience to tingle°.

There is another property which one would most devoutly wish a controversy to possess, namely, brevity. A great book in this way is indeed a great evil, if the point can be settled in a small one. The superfluity of naughtiness should be cut off; all flourish and declamation, self-adulation and personal altercation, rhetorical amplification and digression, every sentence not immediately ad rem, as useless and noxious excrescences, pared away; that point discovered, on which the dispute turns, and the opponent closely confined to it". Terms should be

Plenty of it may be seen in that useful work, Dr. Jonathan Edwards's Preservative against Socinianism.

P In doing this, no disputant, perhaps, ever excelled Mr. Leslie. "The polemical skill of a Leslic," is an expression of Bolingbroke. A clergyman's library should not be without this author's theological works, in two volumes, folio, containing his picces against Deists, Jews, Romanists, Socinians, and Quakers. He is said to have brought more persons from other persuasions into the church of England, than any man ever did; his skill in conversation being equal to that in writing. Allowance must be made for a style, which, though sufficiently perspicuous and nervous, is not according to the modern ideas of correctness and elegance. "Bayle styles him a man of great merit and learning. Mr. T. Salmon observes, that his works must trans"mit him to posterity, as a man thoroughly learned and truly pious. But a better and more disinterested judge, Mr. Harris, "informs us, that he made several converts from popery; and "says that, notwithstanding his mistaken opinions about govern"ment, and a few other matters, he deserves the highest praise for

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defined, to prevent ambiguity and evasion; arguments and objections carefully collected, and methodically arranged; stated and answered with all possible conciseness and perspicuity; leaving as little room as may be for replies and rejoinders; the sad consequence of which is not only loss of time and temper to the writers, but disgust in the readers, who grow weary, and, despairing of being able to fix their opinions, resolve to give themselves no farther trouble about religion. For general utility, perhaps the didactic form, with the objections duly noticed and obviated in their places, is preferable to the strictly polemical. The latter is often laid aside with the dispute which occasioned it; but the former, if well executed, may continue to be read and referred to, as a stable and standard book of instruction on the subject of which it treats, from age to age.

The conduct of our opponents of different denominations impresses one lesson upon us with great force. It is this; however our studies may be employed, never to lose sight of the grand object, but to keep it constantly in view, and contrive by all means to forward it. It is marvellous to behold in

"defending the Christian religion against Deists, Jews, and "Quakers, and for admirably well supporting the doctrines of "the Church of England against those of Rome." See Biographical Dictionary.-Mr. Leslie's writings have been neglected, because he had the misfortune to be a Nonjuror. But since the age is disposed to drop prejudices, it is a pity that this alone should be suffered to remain; especially as the subject of it is now "waxed old, and ready to vanish away."