family. When they have given liberally to the poor and afflicted, or for the promotion of benevolent objects of a public nature, I have not hesitated to express my approbation, and my hope that God would graciously reward them for what they had done. But I have seen my inconsistency; I have resolved to reform; and I hope for your aid to promote a reformation in all the members of the church."

After hearing much of this nature, one of the deacons professed to be prepared to go all lengths with the minister in his proposed reformation. The other deacon hesitated; but after a little reflection he utters the following sentiments: "I gave my assent to our articles of faith in the belief that they had been formed by wiser and better men than myself; and I supposed that they must be true in one sense or another, though I could not very clearly see how they could be so. I certainly never had a thought of reducing them to practice in the logical form proposed by Mr. Lacon. I cannot do it in my own family, nor among my neighbors. My wife has not joined the church, because she fears that she has not experienced such a change as others have professed. Yet you are aware that she is very kind to me and to her children, and very circumspect in her conduct. My children are images of their mother. Shall I change my conduct towards these objects of my tender affection? Shall I put on a countenance of disapprobation when I see in them expressions of love to me and to one another? No, verily! Sooner will I consent to lay aside our party creed, and take the Bible as my rule of my faith and practice. Those of our parish

who are not professors of religion, have indeed often heard Mr. Lacon teach, that all their actions are sinful while they remain unregenerate; but as their consciences did not accuse them, when they thought they did right, and as he often applauded many of their deeds, they supposed it could be only in some technical or mysterious sense that he considered all their actions to be sinful. Besides, they were doubtless conscious that many of their actions were wicked; they therefore made little complaint of his preaching, though it implied that they as really sinned when they spoke the truth as when they liedwhen they did deeds of kindness, as when they oppressed their fellow men-when they were temperate, as when they were intoxicated. But should he in future change his conduct towards them, go on with his proposed reformation, and urge the church to follow his example, it is my opinion that he will injure his own family, throw the parish into a state of confusion, and 'reform' himself out of employment in this town."

What the result will be in brother Lacon's parish, the reader must judge for himself. By adopting the proposed hypothesis, such inconsistencies as have now been illustrated may be avoided. The divine law, and not a party creed, will then be the standard by which human actions will be estimated.

Of what real use can a doctrine be which is daily contradicted by the practice of those who profess to regard it as an essential article of faith? As actions speak as loud as words, one of two things may be inferred from facts; either that a belief in the doctrine of total sinfulness by nature, is not essential

to the character of a Christian, or that there has never yet been a practical and consistent Christian in New England. If any of my brethren should be disposed to censure me for my dissent from the doctrine, let him review the book of his own daily practice, and he will probably find that it contains as clear and as loud declarations of dissent as can be found in any thing which I have written. If he will resolve to delay censuring others, till he shall have reduced his own practice to a consistency with his creed, no one will in future have any reason to fear being reproached by him.

PART II.

SUPPLEMENTAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

our race.

NO. I.

Remarkable Individuals.

Adam was not the only man by whose disobedience many were made sinners; nor was the Messiah the only person by whose obedience many were made righteous. Though sin and death entered the world by the apostacy of our first parents, yet other individuals may have been much more guilty than they were, and have done more to corrupt and destroy The murder of Abel might be a consequence of Adam's sin, yet Cain might be a greater sinner than Adam. He was the first homicide or warrior, and to his influence may perhaps be traced the innumerable instances of manslaughter which occurred before the flood. But Cain himself might be far less criminal than many of his warring followers, who have been praised for the magnitude and multiplicity of their mischiefs. In one of the preceding chapters, mention was made of Jeroboam as one who caused many to sin; and every age perhaps has produced its Jeroboams.

As others beside Adam have by their disobedience made many sinners, so others beside the Messiah have by their obedience made many to become righteous. But in this respect the Messiah, above all others, has the pre-eminence.

He was truly

Some others,

"the captain of our salvation." however, may be mentioned, who contributed much to the righteousness and salvation of their fellow

men.

According to the scriptures, all the present inhabitants of the earth are as really the children of Noah, as they are of Adam. He among the degenerate antediluvians was found "upright;" and on this account he was selected to be preserved with his family from the ravages of the flood. Noah acted for his posterity, as well as Adam by his disobedience exposed his posterity to sin and death. Noah by his obedience, faith and righteousness was the instrument of preserving his immediate posterity from death by the deluge, and of giving life to all who have since been born. Besides, his obedience or righteousness may be said to have been a cause of all the righteousness and salvation which have occurred since the flood. He was indeed, "the salt of the earth," and perhaps the most eminent type of the Messiah, whose name is on record.

Abraham was another individual by whose faith and obedience many have been made righteous. By these he obtained the promise that in him and his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed. Abraham, too, acted not merely for himself, but for his posterity, and for the world of mankind. The promise made to him, in consequence of his faith