Page images
PDF
EPUB

wait,

"Now smilling angels round him And waft his spirit to that state, Where nothing shall his peace

annoy,

know those servants, and chil-view, he was more unwell, and dren of my heavenly Father, became debilitated in his speech, with whom I took sweet coun- and for a few days before his sel while on earth. Yes, I shall death, could not communicate know them as quick and with as intelligibly, the transporting much certainty as Peter knew views he had of another world. Moses and Elias, when they de- But his serene and smiling scended from heaven to Mount countenance and gestures, were Taber to converse with Christ. powerfully combined to shew I am not afraid to die, for my unto us, that the arms of infiLord Jesus will be with me, and nite strength were underneath, I shall fear no evil. I know in and the light of God's countewhom I have believed, and am nance beaming upon his soul. sure that he will keep that, Mr. R. Rogers, his Nephew, which I have committed unto and myself were sitting by him, him. What is that? It is my when he fell asleep in Jesus upall, for I have been enabled to on the 23d of August 1802, give myself into his hands. without uttering one groan to Therefore I am not troubled pierce our hearts. about his property, for he knows how to keep it." One morning I called upon him, just after he had recovered from a fainting, and with a smile upon his countenance, he said, "I did not think of seeing your face again in the flesh one hour past; for I expected to have been with Jesus in heaven before, this moment. Yet I do not wish you to think that my Lord will tarry too long. His understanding is infinite. He is unchangeable. I have lived to a good old age and have seen the salvation of the Lord. I long to see my Saviour in glory. He will come quickly. For me to die is gain. The death of the righteous is called only a sleep. Them who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. We shall then be like him, for we shall see him as he is. He will change our vile bodies, and make them like unto his most glorious body. Then shall I be satisfied, &c.

Where dwells unutterable joy ;
Where trees of life for ever grow,
And springs of living waters flow.
O! may he hear, from Christ the
Son,

The happy plaudit of well done,
In bliss supreme O, may he shine,
With a refulgence all divine.”

He left only one daughter to mourn the departure of one of the best, most dear, tender, pious and affectionate fathers, that has lived on earth.

This amiable daughter paid every attention to her father which was possible for a child to do in this vale of tears; and I may safely say that he was worthy of such universal attention. it was his carnest prayer that she might experience the efficacy of rich grace, and we have the happiness to believe she has; for since his death our dear Lord has given her a good hope, through grace, and she has join

A little after this blessed inter-led the church.

Here the dear flock of God

saw their under shepherd cloathed in death, and laid among the dead. Multitudes wept over his dust. He went down to the grave beloved by all denominations who knew him; for his character was unblemished and truly dear to the hearts of the pious.

Upon the 25th of August the | The friendship which I entertain ministers of every denomination for you is real; it is a friendship for in the town, and some from the your eternal as well as temporal adjacent towns, and a large mul- concerns; it is an ardent desire titude attended his funeral, when that you may be happy in eterthe Rev. Stephen Gano, of Pro- nity as well as in time. As an vidence, delivered a suitable dis- expression of this friendship, course from Rev. ii. 10. I have, after much deliberation, determined to address a letter to you on a subject which most men think important, I mean the subject of religion. Whatever your opinion may be of the sentiments which my letter shall contain, I feel a confidence that you will do justice to my motives in writing, that you will believe I am influenced by no sinister views, that I am, as I profess to be, governed by a real regard for you. Let me request you to peruse what I write with candor and with attention; condemn not my sentiments without examining them; and let them have that influence upon you which, upon mature reflection, you shall think they merit.

Thus, dear sir, I put into your hands the small sketch of the life of your uncle, and leave it with you to make that use of it, which you may think best for the interest of religion and subscribe myself,

Yours, affectionately, JOSHUA BRADLEY. Mansfield, (Conn.) Oct. 1808. Mr. Joseph Rogers.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CON-
NECTICUT MAGAZINE.

REV. SIR,

We have often conversed together upon religious topics; and I have heard you advance sentiments which, if my ideas are right, evince you to be in a very dangerous situation; whereas if you are right and I am wrong, I am as safe, both as reTHE following letter, ad-gards my present and future well dressed by a Clergyman to one being, as you are. There is this of his parishioners, is submitted very great difference in our reto your disposal. You will pub- spective systems, that upon your lish it or not, as you shall think plan we are both safe, but upon best. mine you are not only in an error, but an error which endangers your eternal happiness. You will not wonder then that, if I am sincere in believing as I profess and as I preach, I should feel concerned for you, as I have heard you advance sentiments diametrically oppo

A

DEAR SIR,

Yours, &c.

S you have ever treated me in a friendly manner, I cannot but be deeply interested in your welfare, and feel a sincere wish to promote your happiness.

site to mine on some important therefore, furnish no argument in their favor.

points.

But you will say, Why these remarks upon infidelity? You will tell me you are not an infidel; that you are a believer in Christianity, according as you understand it. I reply, there is a loose, vague, indistinct belief of the Christian religion very little, if any better than open, avowed infidelity. And here, my friend, I candidly confess, I fear lies the difficulty with you. Let me turn your attention to a few fundamental points.

That man dies, after spending a few years in this world, is a certain truth; and, so far as our senses are any guide to us, he is no better than brutes in this respect. We see him die and waste away like them. Now, is that the end of man? Does he cease to exist at death? That

In forming your ideas of what Christianity really is, let me ask you first of all, not to judge of it simply from the conduct of its professors, or even of its ministers. That there are in the Christian world many hypocrites, cannot be denied ; and that some Christian ministers do not believe what they preach, may also be true. But, my dear Sir, does it follow from this that Christianity is not a good system; that it is not of divine original; or that there are no sincere professors or preachers of that system? Let not then the misconduct of any who call themselves Christians lead you to discard the system, without a full and candid examination of what Christianity is, as taught by Christ and his Apostles. And let me ask you to look for your-you have often thought upon the self in this respect. Many men, young men especially, embrace loose, infidel principles, because such are the principles of men who have distinguished them selves in the republic of letters. But let me ask you, have there not been men on the side of Christianity equal in strength of natural genius, and in acquired learn-cult to prove it from reason only. ing to any who have been on the Many things approve themselves opposite side? I will not men- to our reason when discovered, tion any Ecclesiastics, because which reason alone could not at they may be considered as in- first discover. It is well known terested in the question. Were that the ancient Greek and Ronot Lord Bacon, Sir Robert man philosophers expressed Boyle, Sir Isaac Newton, and doubts on this subject. They many other eminent civilians, were not at least fully satisfied. equal to any of the champions of And are there not many modern infidelity in strength of judg- philosophers, who openly assert ment, in deep, penetrating re- that death is an eternal sleep? search, in force of mind? The True, it has been the popular number and abilities of infidels, belief of all nations, that the soul is immortal. But I appre

subject I fully believe; and as I never heard you express a doubt on that point, I shall take it for granted that you believe in a future state of existence. Let me ask you what proof you have of this? Will you tell me, reason teaches it to you? I believe, Sir, you will find it diffi

reject the bible as a divine revelation, or wholly receive it. What is to be the situation of after death? Happy, you What proof have you of

hend this came originally from a revelation made to man; because I cannot rationally account for the idea upon any other sup-man position; and I confess that did say. I not believe in the scriptures this? Will you tell me that as a divine revelation, I should your reason teaches you so ? have no evidence which would Look a little at the idea, and satisfy my mind, that I was to see if it is not your wishes rather exist after death. Is it not the than your reason. I have before case with you, that your belief intimated, that it is at least doubtof a future state arises either ful, whether unassisted reason from tradition, or from what you can prove a future existence.see in the scriptures? If from But, admitting that it can, it the former simply, you surely, cannot inform us with certainty, as a reflecting, judicious man, any thing concerning the condicannot be satisfied with it. If tion of man in that state; at from the latter, that is, from most it cannot insure to us hapthe scriptures, it must be because piness. It is a just philosophical you believe them written by di- maxim, that the same causes vine revelation. But, my friend, will always produce the same if the immortality of man is to effects. What occasions most be believed because it is taught of the misery in this life? Is it in the bible, are not other doc- not the improper, sinful conduct trines contained in that book to of men? What evidence have be believed also? Is it consistent you from reason, that men will with reason,-is it consistent be better in a future state? And with the wisdom and goodness if not better, can they be hapof God, to suppose that a book, pier? Do men as they grow purporting to be a revelation older in life, always grow better? from him, should be partly in- They lay aside some of their spired and partly not. If in- youthful vices it is true; but spired, it can contain nothing is their temper, is the state of but truth. The consequence their minds better? And does appears to me unavoidable. If not happiness depend on the one doctrine is to be received state of the heart? Perhaps you as true, because revealed in the will say, the benevolence of God scriptures, every other doctrine will lead him to make man hapcontained there, ought also to be py. But why does not the same received. We here get beyond benevolence induce God to make the province of reason. Having all men happy here? Surely by reason, established the divine his power and wisdom will not inspiration of the scriptures, it be greater hereafter than they will not do to bring any religious are now. Upon the principles sentiment to the test of reason of reason alone, therefore, we alone. If it appears to be clear- cannot prove that any will be ly taught in the scriptures, it is happier in another life than they to be believed, if the scriptures are in this. Besides, a belief in are acknowledged as true. Con- the existence and perfections of sistency requires this. Wholly God, necessarily involves a be

part. I admit that the bible clearly holds forth the idea of a future state of immortal glory and blessedness; but I hesitate not to say, that it also clearly reveals that glory and blessed

lief of man's accountability. And if man is accountable, what evidence does reason afford that God will pardon his sins at all? True, we might hope it, but we cannot be certain of it. Justice is an attribute of a perfect be-ness will not be the portion of ing as well as goodness. From those who die in their sins, bewhat source, then, will you cause, in the first place, jusdraw arguments, which are con- tice requires that they should clusive, that God will pardon be punished; and, secondly, your sins, and make you more they are not fitted for the enjoy happy in eternity than you now ment of such a state; sin in are? Are you sure that repent- its very nature leading to misery. ance alone will propitiate his It is not, my dear Sir, from the favor? And if it will, are you bible, that the doctrine of unisure that if you die without re-versal salvation is derived. penting, you shall then repent? I hesitate not to assert, that human reason cannot give a satisfactory answer to these ques-lar passages, and separating them tions. Men, while engaged in the busy scenes of life, and therefore thinking little of them, may suppose they are clear enough; but it becomes a wise man to reflect, and consider on what he is risking his eternal happiness; it certainly becomes him not to erect hopes of happiness, till he sees whether he has a foundation that will support them.

Men

may criticise upon the meaning of certain Greek and Hebrew words; they may select particu

from their connection, gather from them an idea which suits their preconceived notions, and their depraved wishes, and in this way build up a scheme, which to them, appears right. But is this a reasonable,-is it a fair mode of proceeding with the scriptures? Take and view them as a whole, and you will find them representing the human race as consisting of two general classes, different in their views and conduct, and to be differently disposed of after death. Now, have you closely

But you will say, perhaps, it is from the bible you adopt the idea of being happy in eternity. Here, again, let me ask you to be consistent. If it is from that book only, that you can de-examined the bible, with that rive any satisfactory evidence of serious attention which a quesa future state, or of the nature tion of such importance demands, of that state; then why not look and thence derived the belief there only for information on the that all mankind are to be saved? subject, why not believe the Or have you not rather embraced whole system there contained? the idea from that desire of hapIt is an absurd supposition,-one piness which is natural to man, which a man of your good sense and from some indistinct ideas ought not to admit, that one of the benevolence of God, with part of the system of Christian-out inquiring into the real cheity comes from God, and that racter of God; into the real nathere is no truth in the other ture of sin and holiness, and in

[ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »