it comitant causes, be productive of consequences such as cannot but be owned pernicious, while ultimately, by the settled sobriety and steadiness of its application, may work out the most salutary effects. I cannot but cherish the assurance, that, however lamentable the temporary evils resulting from controversial discussion, it will ultimately, by the very excitement of thought and of inquiry, be the means of leading, in many minds, to clearer and more accurate conceptions on various points of divine truth. I would not be considered as having reference to any one disputed point in particular, but in general to the strange, and, in some parts of it, distressing medley of controversy at present existing, when I observe, that even the novelty of the principle may, to a certain extent, naturally account for such temporary evils. Minds that may have long been held in the fetters of human authority, or have reposed their easy faith on the "velvet cushions" of systems and confessions, are very apt, when roused and emancipated, to use their newly found liberty with too little discretion; to adopt views hastily; to spring rapidly from one thing to another; to be flighty and volatile; as if they had a kind of satisfaction in showing off their conscious freedom. Such minds, moreover, are in danger of getting selfsufficient, and "wise in their own conceits:" and of this attribute of mind it is the proverbial characteristic, to be hasty of decision, and impatient of inquiry, -to "Fling at your head conviction in the lump, -But the principle of appealing, on all questions of religious truth, directly to the divine Standard, is, in its own nature, self-evidently good; and, let it but be universally adopted, and, under the influence of a growing knowledge, the result of more extensive and mature investigation, a knowledge that humbles as it advances; let it be soberly and steadily applied, in equal freedom from the volatile caprice of novelty and from the intimidating restraints of prejudice; it cannot then fail to be eminently advantageous, both in eliciting truth, and in promoting Christian union. The principles of free trade are admitted to be in themselves good, though, on their first introduction by any country, they can hardly fail to operate prejudicially:—they want only universality of adoption, and stable and honourable reciprocation, to evince their sound political wisdom and beneficial tendency. Let us, by all means, have free trade in the discussion of truth,-of truth of all kinds. And, in regard to Christianity, let all restrictions be taken off, whether of political penalty or of the self-imposed bondage of system, and let the simple and untrammelled appeal be universally made to the Holy Scriptures; and there will be a greater likelihood at least of agreement:-let all, instead of drawing from any human cistern, which, although professing to have been supplied from above, may yet contain some mixtures from below, come with their pitchers to the one reservoir, filled from " the sempiternal source of truth divine;" and they will find and carry off the same waters. If the contents of these Essays have not been drawn from this heavenly source, let them be rejected. We disclaim all authority. There is a style of dictatorial loftiness, and of almost inspired decision, which has been adopted by some of the abettors of the doctrines examined in the Essays, and by some too of the modern millenarian " school of the prophets," such as no man has had any title to assume, since the "vision and the prophecy were sealed up" in Patmos; and which is as offensive to good taste, as it is inconsistent with the humility of a disciple of Jesus. Away with it. It is not of any man now living, it is of his Apostles and Prophets, who, being dead, yet speak," that the great Head of the Church has said-" HE THAT HEARETH YOU, HEARETH ME; AND HE THAT DESPISETH YOU, DESPISETH ME, AND HE THAT DESPISETH ME; DESPISETH HIM THAT SENT ME." Glasgow, March 15th, 1830. R. W. |