"one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with GRACE in your hearts to the Lord." Is this addressed only to ten or twelve persons in every congregation? Certainly it is addressed to all Christians; and there is no doubt but that Christianity would flourish more, if due attention were paid to psalmody. Many who are separated from the established church, are influenced, in their separation, by the efficacious method of deriving grace into their hearts, which they experience in their own assemblies, by the pleasing, melting strains of holy harmony. No. IV. A SHORT list of books, recommended to the choice of persons who are not professional students in divinity, but who, occupied in worldly business, read, in the intervals, for the sake of improvement in piety and morality. It is not expected that such persons should procure all which are here mentioned, but select those which they may best approve, or most conveniently obtain. Doubtless there are many more which might be recommended; but, considering for whom the books are designed, I am unwilling to enlarge the collection beyond reasonable limits. I have arranged them alphabetically.. Barrow's Works. Beveridge's Private Thoughts. Butler's Analogy. Family Expositor. Derham's Physico-Theology. Earle on the Sacrament. Ee Certainty and Necessity of Religion in general. Certainty of the Christian Revelation. Gibson's Family Devotions. Grey's Key to the Old Testa ment. Hammond's practical Catechism I DO Do not advise the true Christian to enlist himself under any of the celebrated SYSTEM-MAKERS. Such attachments only tend to make parties in religion, and to destroy charity. The church of England is said to be Calvinistical in its Articles, while the majority of its ministers are Armenians. Dr. Morley, afterwards Bishop of Winchester, being asked what the Arminians held, pleasantly answeredthat they held-all the best bishoprics and deaneries in England. The true follower of Jesus Christ will seek no other appellation than that of Christian. He will select the true doctrine, wherever he can find it, but be bigotted to no NAME under Heaven. "Doctrina Christi," says Erasmus, “ quæ prius nescie"bat AOFOMAXIAN cœpit a philosophia studiis pendere: "his erat primus gradus ecclesiæ ad deteriora prolabentis." The doctrine of Christ, which at first knew nothing of verbal disputes, began to depend on philosophical studies; this was the first step which the church made in its progressive descent to a state of degeneracy. On observing the various, and even contradictory tenets of the system-writers and their followers, one is tempted to exclaim with the poet, O Cecita de la terrene menti In qual profonda notte, In qual fosca caligine d'errore Son le nostr' alme immerse Quando tu non le illustri, O SOMMO SÓLE. A che del saper vostro Insuperbite, O MISERI MORTALI? Questa parte di noi, che 'ntende, e vede, PASTOR FIDO, Act v. Sc. 6. THE END. OF THE PASSAGES FROM THE GREEK, LATIN, AND FRENCH WRITERS, QUOTED IN CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY. MOTTO TO THE TITLE PAGE. “THIS kind of Philosophy is founded on the feelings of the "heart rather than on syllogisms; it consists in the actual con"duct of life, rather than in disputatious theories; it is inspiration "more than erudition; it is the result of a total CHANGE pro“duced in the mind supernaturally, rather than of a man's unasERASMUS. "sisted reason." Only be teachable; and you will have made a great profi"ciency in this PHILOSOPHY. It supplies its own instructor, “even the SPIRIT, who imparts himself to none more readily "than to men of simple and artless minds. On the other hand, "while it condescends to the wants of the lowest among mankind, "it is an object of admiration to the highest. And what else is "the Christian Philosophy, (which Christ himself calls the New Birth,) but the renewal of that nature in us, which was origiERASMUS. nally well constituted by its Author?" 46 "The life-giving Spirit." 1 COR. XV. 45. Page 13. MOTTO TO THE INTRODUCTORY SECTION. It is my object to inquire what is true; but not to acquiesce merely in the discovery of speculative truth; but to find out that doctrine, which, together with truth, unites PIOUS AFFECTIONS SADOLET. to "God. Page 24. MOTTO TO SECTION II. In what consists a faithful belief in Christ? It consists in a faithful obedience to his commandments. SALVIAN. de Gub. lib. 3. |