"1. It is a maxim with me, that INDULGED CHILDREN ALWAYS ARE A ROD BY WHICH GOD CORRECTS THEIR PARENTS. And this applies to ministers and their flocks, as well as to families: and many pious and even eminent ministers have so humored and indulged their people, as to render them captious, self-conceited, and ready to take offence at every faithful and needful reproof and expostulation. Good Mr. Newton, than whom few stand higher on many grounds, had erred in this respect at Olney to that degree, that he could not preach a plain and practical sermon, without exciting inquiries throughout the town, 'What has been the matter? Who has been telling Sir something that led to this subject?'-By this and other concurring circumstances, though exemplary, meek, and loving, in the highest degree, he became an Eli at Olney; and really could not keep his station, having lost almost all his authority and influence. And, when it was known that he was about to go, it seemed the determination of the people to thwart and oppose him in all his plans for their benefit: which made him more disturbed than I ever saw him at any other time.*

"2. Aversion, carried to extreme, against controversial discussions often makes way for this declension of esteem and usefulness, by opening the door to false teachers, especially antinomians, to corrupt the principles; or to per sons who differ, as dissenters, or antipedobaptists, to unsettle the minds of the people. Here again, good Mr. Newton used to say, and was. admired for saying, "That it was enough to preach the truth; for, that being established, error would fall of itself." Now, if truth were as congenial to the human heart as error, or more so, this might be the case: but who does not see that, if St. Paul had been so averse to all controversy, the false teachers of Galatia and Corinth would have wholly supplanted him, and ruined those flourishing churches? In consequence, Olney, when Mr. N. left it, swarmed with antinomians; and, when I about a year after became curate of the parish, most of the profes sors of the gospel joined the dissenters; and I had to attempt raising a new congregation, in opposition to the antinomianism and anti-churchism, so to speak, which prevailed. In a population of two thousand five hundred people, often not one hundred got together on a Sunday morning till nearly

* Scott's Life, pp. 110, 129.

the end of the service, and half of these from other places. A great majority of Mr. N.'s best people had died before this time: but the antinomians and dissenters had quite undermined his influence; while, laboring assiduously to carry off his people, they met with no opposition.

"3. On the other hand, a harsh and sharp spirit, and over-eagerness in controversy, or in self-vindication, often carries matters, by the opposite road, to the same point; by giving opposers the advantage of exclaiming against the spirit manifested by the minister; and even as disgusting his own people.

"4. Few pass through life without some false step, or the appearance of evil: and this is far more noticed, and produces far more effect, in a stated minister, than in one who goes from place to place: and often it imperceptibly gives occasion to many to grow shy of him, and to lend their ears to those who, with voluble tongues, and superficial but specious talent, and with hints of censure, &c. steal the hearts of the people, as Absalom stole the hearts of Israel from David, after all his services, and in his old age. I have known many instances of this, in eminent characters; where, on a general view of things, the alteration has not been perceived, but where it has been painfully felt by those concerned.

"5. Even when a man's faculties and powers of mind do not decline as he grows old, there is a natural tendency in old age to abate vigor and activity, and render a man's ministrations less fervent and pathetic. If this be not watched and prayed against, it will render his ministry less acceptable; and likewise give further opportunity to those who are more vigorous and active, in drawing off his people, and counteracting his usefulness; and this sometimes to an astonishing degree. For, without something very peculiar in a stated minister, which unites the people to him by love, esteem, and veneration, counterbalancing all other things; men naturally grow tired of hearing the same voice, and are eager after something new, or newer still: and, even where many are steadily attached to their old minister, there always will be more thorny ground, and stony ground, or wayside hearers, who will either prefer a smoother gospel, or go back into the world. They went out from us, because they were not of us. And where situation, as in many country parishes, prevents an influx of new hearers, and especially when new places are opened in the

neighborhood, by plausible and zealous persons, it cannot but be that a man's congregation must be diminished: but often by this very process the vine is pruned, and the heap of corn winnowed and purified.

"6. Ministers are too apt to yield to discouragement in these circumstances, and, instead of being more fervent in prayer, and zealous in labor, and instant in season, out of season, and considering what further can be done, they be come heartless; their hands hang down; they go on indeed with their ministrations, but there is less life and vigor in them; less pains taken privately; and more of a disposition to seek comfort and amusement in other studies and pursuits. This often exceedingly increases the evil, and gives their rivals every advantage against them. And this is still worse if they take it up as merely their trial, and the appointment of God, and so quiet themselves in a heartless use of ordinary means, instead of being stirred up to extraordinary exertions, and to inquiries, Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me? What can I do more? When men slept enemy sowed the tares. Therefore watch, &c. Acts xx, 30, 31.

the

"These hints may suggest other causes, not before reflected on, to those who are discussing the subject; and the duties, &c. resulting from them, will readily be

seen.

"For myself, I never had any popularity to lose till I came to this village: and then for several years I was so attended, and all I said or did was so favorably received, that I used to say, I hope God will give me wisdom and grace to adopt proper measures only; for I seem as if I might do what I pleased. But at length a meeting opened at Haddenham, (as well as others in the neighboring vil lages,) with some other changes, so altered the case, that my congregation was so much reduced, and circumstances became so discouraging, that, had I died three or four years ago, mine might have been considered as peculiarly a case in point on the question: and yet, on a full review of the whole, I cannot ascribe it to any false step, either previously or during the secession; though doubtless more simplicity, fervor in prayer, and zeal, might have counteracted it. But my peculiar situation and engagements were such as prevented my doing many things, which in other circumstances might have been attempted; and the numbers who became dissenters, and perhaps the greater

numbers who became absenters, and the deplorable instances of such as grievously disgraced and gave up their profession, depressed me exceedingly. Lately, however, things have taken a more favorable turn. Many have come forth from other places, and several have joined us as communicants; and, though our congregations are much less than once they were, yet probably much more good has been done.

"We ought not therefore to yield to discouragement, but to wait, and hope, and pray, and labor; to endeavor to out-pray, out-preach, and out-live those who are preferred to us; to expect also, and not to complain, but be thankful, if others increase and we decrease; and to rejoice that Christ is preached to the ignorant and careless, though we be eclipsed; and to hold fast this maxim, that it is FAR BETTER TO DO A LITTLE GOOD THAN A GREAT DEAL OF MISCHIEF; and that there is joy in heaven over ONE sinner that repenteth, though ten thousand continue impenitent.-May God help us to be faithful unto death, and give us the crown of life, and numbers to be our joy and crown of rejoicing at last! "Your faithful brother in Christ,

"THOS. SCOTT." "Pray for me that I may have patience and fortitude to the end."

To the Rev. G. Knight, Harwell.

On the Question, What direct Influence have the Doctrines of Predestination, Election, and Final Perseverance on the Characters of Believers, when those Doctrines are scripturally stated and received?

"MY DEAR SIR,

"Aston Sandford, Oct. 16, 1820.

"My many publications, especially my answer to Bishop Tomline, and Account of the Synod of Dort, or, in a shorter Abstract, my Sermon on Election and Final Perseverance, might well be pleaded as superseding any necessity for me to give my thoughts on the question to be discussed at your clerical meeting; as also my increasing infirmities might be deemed a sufficient excuse. Yet as you so wish, as it should seem from the repeated forms of application to me, that I should send my views on the subject in writing, I will try to give a succinct abstract of

them. I must observe that the word Calvinistical, as applied to scriptural truth, can only be admitted to avoid circumlocution, and with some latitude. What I consider as the doctrine of scripture relative to these deep points, I will endeavor briefly to state; premising that assuredly something is revealed in scripture concerning them; and that therefore it must be assuming ourselves wise above the inspired writers, to suppose the subjects of no impor. tance, and that they had better in no way be brought for ward in our public instructions. Whatever is a part of the whole counsel of God should be declared, in proper or der, connexion, and proportion, as far as we are able.

"1. It appears to me then, that the scripture represents man, every man, born of fallen Adam's race, as wholly corrupt, an apostate, an idolater, (seeking good in the creature, not in the Creator,) a rebel, an enemy to God in his heart; a child of wrath, and in himself a vessel of wrath fitted for destruction: that, in whatever peculiar course this depravity may run, it is by nature equal in every man: that there is in no man either will or power to return to God, any more than in fallen angels; and that therefore there is nothing, antecedent to preventing grace, to cooperate with the influences of the Holy Spirit; but that every thing fights against them. The mind and conscience may be convinced, but the conviction is hated and opposed: cor repugnat, as Melancthon says.

"2. That salvation is, in all senses and respects, and in every view of it, altogether of grace; undeserved, contrary to all our deservings: the eternal salvation and felicity of those who in the judgment of God deserve eternal damnation and misery. Submission to the justice of this decision is a very hard thing: it is, I confess, a very hard saying, who can hear it?

"3. Salvation may be considered, either in the impetration of it, or the application and reception of it.

"It is less difficult to procure assent at least to the posi tion, that the impetration is all of grace, than that the reception is so. The whole plan of redemption,-God so loving the world as to give his only begotten Son to be the Saviour of the world, and the propitiation for the sins of the world; and all things connected with the incarnation, righteousness, atonement, and mediation of Emmanuel; are such as man can have no plausible reason for regarding as in any degree merited: though few conceive of them as 50