finite atonement is nominal, and not real; and that the definite atonement, in respect to the merits of Christ's death, the invitation of the gospel, the offers of salvation, and the divine purpose, is quite as extensive as the other.

II. In this letter I propose to examine the second claim of the New School; which is, that their views on this most interesting subject are more compatible WITH A

FREE AND GENERAL PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL, AND AN UNFETTERED AND UNRESERVED OFFER OF SALVATION TO ALL SINNERS.

To this claim we cannot yield. It is a mere gratuitous assumption. You well know, the advocates of the doctrine on this fundamental point that has prevailed in the Presbyterian church from its foundation in this country, and by the teaching of which this church grew and flourished for more than a century, have felt no embarrassment in preaching the gospel indiscriminately, and offering salvation to all, to whom it was their privilege to bear the delightful messages of vine grace.

With the utmost freedom have they published to all their hearers, the great and precious truths embodied in the gospel. They have delighted in celebrating the infinite love and unmerited mercy of Jehovah in providing salvation for sinners, by the mission of his own Son into our fallen and ruined world; and in proclaiming the grand and fundamental truth, that the Redeemer, by his obedience unto death, made a full satisfaction for the sins of his people, and wrought out for them a complete justifying righteousness. They have constantly exhibited him as an all-sufficient Saviour, able and willing to save unto the uttermost, all that will come unto him; assuring their hearers that his blood cleanseth from all sin, and that his righteousness can make the vilest sinner righteous in the eyes of immaculate Purity. They have not ceased to invite all to come to this glorious Redeemer for salvation; urging the acceptance of the invitation, by showing that all are commanded to believe the gospel message, and that God has promised that he will cast

D

out none who come to him. They ground the offer of salvation on the atonement of Christ; and proclaim it as an infallible truth, that whosoever believeth on him shall, without a single exception, be saved. And to all they add the awful truth, that all who refuse the overtures of Divine mercy, and continue in unbelief, will burden their consciences with aggravated guilt, and bring down upon themselves a more terrible condemnation.

Now, in the enunciation of these truths, consists the preaching of the gospel-in exhibiting the infinite love and unmerited mercy of God towards our fallen world, and in setting forth the death and righteousness of his Son, as sufficient for saving the vilest of sinners, and every one who believes; and in grounding on the merits of Immanuel's atonement, a full and free offer of pardon and life, to all who will accept of them on the terms prescribed by Infinite Majesty.

What more can the friends of indefinite atonement add? Will they reply-We can assure all our hearers that Christ died for

them? But in what sense? Did he die with an intention to save them? No; he died intentionally to save the elect alone; God did not design by the atonement to secure the salvation of others. And how does this view of the subject show the consistency of offering salvation to all, any more than the view we take; who represent the merits of the atonement as sufficient for all, and therefore on this ground offer salvation to all who will accept it? Can they make the offer on any other terms? Can they tell unbelievers that they will be saved? By no means. They declare, as well as we, that he that believeth not shall be damned; and that none can partake of the saving benefits. of Christ's death, unless it be applied by faith.

It will, we know, be said, that as Christ, according to the definite scheme, made atonement only for his elect, the offer in preaching the gospel,' is made to them alone. But this is a groundless assertion. Ministers are not entrusted with the execution of the secret purposes of Infinite Wisdom; nor

are they acquainted with the elect of God, any further than he is pleased to designate them by the bestowment of his grace. Election is no rule to them, in discharging their official duties. They must publish the gospel to all, and tender salvation to all indiscriminately; leaving it to the Most High to make the application, and to call his chosen to the enjoyment of salvation, in his own way and time.

Still it may be objected, that, if the atonement has not been made for all, the offer of salvation to all cannot be grounded on the atonement. Why not? The atonement is, in its own nature, sufficient for all; and if it were applied to all, every son and daughter of Adam would be saved; but because Jehovah, in his adorable sovereignty, is pleased to apply it to some, and not to all, it certainly does not follow that the benefits of it cannot be offered to all.

But suppose, it may be said, a non-elect person were to believe in Christ and accept the offer of salvation; would he, for whom no atonement has been made, be saved?