AN

ESSAY ON TRUTH:

CONTAINING AN ENQUIRY INTO ITS NATURE AND IMPORTANCE ; WITH THE CAUSES OF ERROR, AND THE REASONS OF ITS BEING PERMITTED.

THE multifarious and discordant sentiments which divide mankind, afford a great temptation to scepticism, and many are carried away by it. The open enemies of the gospel take occasion from hence to justify their rejection of it; and many of its professed friends have written as if they thought, that to be decided amidst so many minds and opinions were almost presumptuous. The principal, if not the only use which they would make of these differences is to induce a spirit of moderation and charity, and to declaim against bigotry.

To say nothing at present how these terms are perverted and hackneyed in a certain cause, let two things be seriously considered:-First, Whether this was the use made by the apostles, of the discordant opinions which prevailed in their times, even among those who "acknowledged the divinity of our Saviour's mission ?" In differences among Christians which did not affect the kingdom of God, nor destroy the work of God, it certainly was: such were those concerning meats, drinks, and days; in which the utmost forbearance was inculcated. But it was otherwise in differences which affected the leading doctrines and precepts of Christianity. Forbearance in these cases would, in the account of the sacred writers, have been a crime. Paul would they were even cut off who troubled the Galatian churches, by corrupting the Christian

doctrine of justification. And it is recorded to the honour of the church at Ephesus, that it could not bear them that were evil; but had tried them who said they were apostles and were not, and found them liars.* Secondly, Whether an unfavourable opinion of those who reject what we account the leading principles of Christianity, supposing it to be wrong, be eqaully injurious with a contrary opinion, supposing that to be wrong? To think unfavourably of another does not affect his state towards God: if, therefore, it should prove to be wrong, it only interrupts present happiness. We have lately been told indeed, but from what authority I cannot conceive, that "The readiest way in the world to thin heaven and to replenish the regions of hell, is to call in the spirit of bigotry." Far be it from me to advocate the cause of bigotry, or to plead for a bitter, censorious spirit, a spirit that would confine the kingdom of heaven to a party: but I do not perceive how this spirit, bad as it is, is productive of the effects ascribed to it. If, on the other hand, through an aversion to bigotry, we treat those as Christians to whom an Apostle would at least have said I stand in doubt of you, we flatter and deceive them; which is really "the readiest way in the world to thin heaven, and to replenish the regions of hell."

Surely there is a medium between bigotry, and esteeming and treating men as Christians, irrespective of their avowed principles. Certainly, a benevolent and candid treatment is due to men of all denominations but to consider all principles as equally safe is to consider truth as of no importance.

Let us candidly inquire, Christian reader, whether, notwithstanding the diversity of sentiments in the Christian world, truth may not be clearly ascertained? Whether it be not of the utmost importance? Whether the prevalence of error may not be accounted for? And, lastly, Whether the wisdom, as well as the justice of God, may not be seen in his permitting it ?

WHAT IS TRUTH?

In attempting to answer this question, I desire to take nothing for granted, but that Christianity is of God, and that the scriptures are Gal. v. 12. Rev. ii. 2.

a revelation of his will. If Christianity be of God, and he have revealed his will in the holy scriptures, light is come into the world, though the dark minds of sinful creatures comprehend it not. It does not follow, because many wander in mazes of fruitless speculation, that there is not a way so plain that a wayfaring man, or one who "walketh in the truth," though a fool, shall not err. The numerous sects among the Greeks and Romans, and even among the Jews, at the time of our Saviour's appearing, did not prove that there was no certain knowledge to be obtained of what was truth. Our Lord considered himself as speaking plainly, or he would not have asked the Jews as he did, Why do ye not understand my speech? The apostles and primitive believers saw their way plainly and though we cannot pretend to the extraor dinary inspiration which was possessed by many of them; yet if we humbly follow their light, depending on the ordinary teachings of God's Holy Spirit, we shall see ours.

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Truth, we may be certain, is the same thing as what in the scriptures is denominated the gospel, the common salvation, the common faith, the faith once delivered to the saints, the truth as it is in Jesus, &c. and what this is, may be clearly understood by the brief summaries of the gospel, and of the faith of the primitive. Christians, which abound in the New Testament. Of the former, the following are a few of many examples: God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.—The Son of Man came to seek and save that which is lost.—I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.-To him gave all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.-I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.-Moreover, brethren I declare unto you THE GOSPEL which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and WHEREIN YE STAND; by which also ye are SAVED, if ye hold fast what I preached to you, unless ye have believed in vain : for I delivered unto you first of VOL. IV.

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all that which I also received, how that Christ DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures.-This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS, of whom I am chief.This is THE RECORD, that GOD HATH GIVEN TO US ETERNAL LIFE, and this life is IN HIS SON.-Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.

If language have any determinate meaning, it is here plainly taught that mankind are not only sinners, but in a lost and perishing condition, without help or hope, but what arises from the free grace of God, through the atonement of his Son; that he died as our substitute; that we are forgiven and accepted only for the sake of what he hath done and suffered; that in his person and work all evangelical truth concentrates; that the doctrine of salvation for the chief of sinners through his death was so familiar in the primitive times as to become a kind of Christian proverb, or saying; and that on our receiving and retaining this, depends our present standing, and final salvation. If this doctrine be received, Christianity is received: if not, the record which God hath given of his Son is rejected, and he himself treated as a liar.

When this doctrine is received in the true spirit of it, (which it never is but by a sinner ready to perish,) all those fruitless speculations which tend only to bewilder the mind will be laid aside; just as malice, and guile, and envies, and evil speakings, are laid aside by him who is born of God. They will fall off from the mind, like the coat of the crysalis, of their own accord. Many instances of this are constantly occurring. Persons who, after having read. and studied controversies, and leaned first to one opinion and then to another, till their minds have been lost in uncertainty, have at length been brought to think of the gospel, not as a matter of speculation, but as that which seriously and immediately concerns them; and embracing it as good news to them who are ready to perish; have not only found rest to their souls, but all their former notions have departed from them as a dream when one awaketh

Corresponding with the brief summaries of the gospel are the concise accounts given of the faith of the primitive Christians.-Whosoever believeth that JESUS IS THE CHRIST, is born of God.Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus IS THE SON OF GOD?—If thou shalt confess with thy mouth THE LORD JESUS, and believe in thine heart that GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, thou shalt be saved. The sacred writers did not mean, by this language, to magnify the belief of one or two divine truths at the expense of others; but to exhibit them as bearing an inseparable connexion: so that if these were truly embraced, the other would be certain to accompany them. They considered the doctrine of the person and work of Christ as a golden link, that would draw along with it the whole chain of evangelical truth. Hence we perceive the propriety of such language as the following: He that HATH THE SON, hath life, and he that HATH NOT THE SON, hath not life.-Whosoever DENIETH THE SON, the same hath not the Father.

The doctrine and the faith of the primitive Christians were summarily avowed every time they celebrated the Lord's supper. The leading truth exhibited by that ordinance is the same which, John calls the record; namely, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Under the form of a feast, of which we are invited to take, to eat, and to drink, are set forth the blessings of the new testament, or covenant, and the medium through which they were obtained; namely, the blood of Jesus shed for many for the remission of sins; and the way in which they must be received; that is to say, as a free gift, bestowed on the unworthy for his sake. If this simple doctrine were believed with the spirit of a little child, and lived upon as our meat and drink, we might take an everlasting leave of speculations on things beyond our reach; and that without sustaining the loss of any thing but what were better lost than retained.

IMPORTANCE OF TRUTH

If the above remarks may be thought sufficient to ascertain what is truth, its importance follows as a necessary consequence. If, as transgressors, we be exposed to the eternal displeasure of our