21. Which of these graces are first after Regeneration? 145 22. What are the consequences of Regeneration? 23. What is adoption? 24. What is sanctification ? 25. Can no evidences be given by which we may know whether we have been regenerated? 146 146 147 148 SECTION X. Natural Ability, Q. 1. Has the sinner by nature power to comply with the terms of life? 148 153 152 154 154 2. If men are able to obey, why do they need a Saviour? 3. If men are able to obey, why is the agency of the Spirit necessary to their salvation? SECTION XI. Election, Q. 1. What is meant by the doctrine of Election ? 158 2. What evidence have we of the truth of this doctrine? 155 3. Is not the purpose of God in Election arbitrary? 4. Does not Eelection make God a respecter of persons ? 158 5. If the doctrine of Election be true, how can salvation be sincerely offered to all ? 6. Does not this doctrine represent God as unjust? 7. Does not this doctrine destroy the agency of men? SECTION XII. Perseverance of the Saints, Q. 1. what is meant by the Perseverance of the Saints? 163 2. What evidence have we of the truth of this doctrine? 165 3. Do not some passages imply danger of final opostacy? 171 4. If it be morally impossible for saints to fall away, why should they be admonished as though they 5. Does not this doctrine encourage sloth? SECTION XIII. Means of Grace, Q. 1. What are the Means of Grace? 172 173 174 174 2. What evidence have we that God works by means? 174 175 4. What evidence have we that family religion is the duty of all parents? 179 evidence, that he must have been the work of an infinitely wise Being! Q. 4. Has not the world, and its race of inhabitants, existed from eternity? A. 1. If the earth has existed without beginning, its surface must have been long before this time reduced to a perfect level. That the hills are wearing away, and that the channels are filling up, is a fact about which, we can have no doubt. We can easily see, that the smallest continual change of this nature, in a duration of infinite length; would have reduced the surface of the earth to a plane.* 2. It is difficult to conceive, how that which is eternal, can admit of change. As the natural state of matter is rest, it must be apparent, that if there be no additional impulse, the earth with every other body with which it is connected, would have either ceased to move, or that all its motions. would have become perfectly and unalterably regular. 3. It is incredible that the world has existed without beginning, since we have no historical accounts, on which we can place the least dependance, of more than six thousand *If it should be doubted whether the channels of rivers and seas are thus filling up, the reader is desired to look at the following statement, which may be relied on as correct. The tongue of land on which Alexandria was built, 900 years before that time did not exist. The nearest mouth of the Nile has been literally filled up, and the lake Mareotis is almost reduced to nothing; and that within a period so recent as to leave no room to doubt the faithfulness of history. The Rhine, the Po, and the Arno, since they have beeu confined within dikes, have been constantly elevating their beds, and pushing forward a large bank of alluvial ground iuto the waters into which they run The river Mississippi, it is well known, has deposited such immense quantities of alluvial earth, as to create banks by its side, and to raise its own bed above the land that lies back of these banks, for more than a hundred miles. Romana, in the time of Augustus Cæsar, enjoyed the privileges of a sea-port; but is now a league at least from the sea. Adria, which gave name to the Adriatic, was once the chief port of that sea, is now inland six leagues, That a sim ilar process may be seen at the mouth of all the important rivers, the reader will be stisfied by looking at Faber's Difficulties of Infidelity, Sec. This fact affords an argument against the eternity of the world, of no inconsiderable weight and importance. years. What alterations have been made in our world-what improvements in the arts and sciences within the space of three thousand years! and yet, what is that period compared with eternity? Can we conceive that our race has existed without beginning, and so little improvement was made till within three thousand years, when so much has been made since that period? If, to evade this, it should be said that by various accidents and calamities, mankind may have been nearly destroyed, and their improvements lost; we answer by inquiring, how many times this must have been done, during a space of eternal duration? and what, unless it be an Almighty and infinitely wise agent, could have preserved the world through an infinite series of such narrow escapes? Ev 4. If the world has existed from eternity, there must have been an eternal series of men, of days, of years, &c. Now an eternal or infinite series of events or things, is a contradiction in terms, as may be shown in various ways. ery individual in a series, is a unit; but a series of units, however long, may be numbered: it cannot, therefore, be infinite. Again, every individual in this series, must have had a beginning, and of course, the series itself, must havehad a beginning. Again, if there have been an eternal series, there must have been an infinite number of days, and twenty four times that number of hours, and one thousand four hundred and sixty times as many minutes. Thus it is plain, that the notion that the world has existed from eternity, in many ways, destroys itself. It must have been created by an Almighty and infinitely wise agent. It may be remarked, that however conclusive the arguments from the light of nature may appear, to prove the existence of God, such as are still more irresistible, may be drawn from divine revelation, Every argument that proves, that the bible is a revelation from God, is equally conclusive in proof of his existence. Thus for instance, the fulfilment of every prophecy, proves that there is a Being, who is as well acquainted with the future as the past, and who, of course, must be God. Dwight's Theology-Boyle's Lectures-Doddridge's Lectures-Difficulties of Infidelity-Campbell's LecturesPaley's Theology. Q. 1. SECTION II. Truth of Revelation. What evidence have we, that God has given to our world, a revelation of his will? A. 1. It is highly probable from the fact, that we stand in great need of some light and knowledge, that we cannot otherwise obtain. We have already shown, that from the light of nature, we cannot obtain clear and satisfactory views of the moral character of God; that we know nothing of that worship with which he will be pleased; and that we are left entirely in doubt and uncertainty with regard to our existence in a future world. Is it to be believed, that a being, who has exhibited so many marks of benevolence towards our world, would leave us wholly in the dark, on points as important as these? 2. It is evident that the Bible is a revelation from God, because it contains precisely that kind of information that we most need. However obscure its representations may be on some subjects, on every question connected with our present duty and interest, or our future and eternal destiny, it speaks with unambiguous plainness. As far as it can be investiga ted or comprehended, the moral character of God is clearly revealed. On this subject, so intimately connected with our present and future happiness, we have no longer a doubt, if we believe and understand the Scriptures. The service which he requires of us, the feelings we must cherish towards each other, together with the principles on which we may satisfactorily explain his providences, and all the knowledge that we need concerning a future state of existence, is explicitly set before us. Our curiosity is not gratified with an answer to every question that might be suggested concerning the manner of our existence in the future world; still, so far as knowledge on that subject is requisite, either to direct or encourage us in the discharge of our various duties, there is no possible deficiency. The character we must sustain in order that we may cherish the fairest hopes, and the certainty of a future existence, are revealed with a plainness, that effectually removes every doubt. 3. The doctrines and precepts of the Bible, are such as we might have expected from a being of infinite wisdom and perfection, could we have known beforehand that a revelation of his mind and will was intended. Although we can form but imperfect conceptions, a priori, what it would be suitable for such a being to reveal; yet we may rationally conclude, that it would be on the one hand adapted to the ne cessities of men, and on the other, to secure the dignity of his own character. Would it not be safe to conclude, that if he give us any rules for our conduct, they would be such as might be perfectly obeyed, without intruding upon the rights of each other? Much as mankind are inclined to differ in their opinions about the meaning of the bible, do not all that pretend to believe it, acknowledge that such is the tendency of the divine law? If the spirit of this law were perfectly obeyed, it is obivous that every thing that disturbs the peace |
