and your other children, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And now, as you travel through the country, for I understand you are become a great traveller, and gain admittance into all companies, and among men of all denominations and character, I advise you to use your utmost influence to diffuse a friendly spirit every where, among all your acquaintance, in this controversy. Particularly, urge it upon parishioners of your acquaintance, to treat their ministers in a respectful manner, while they apply to them for light and instruction, or when they undertake to dispute these points with them; especially, wherever your influence extends, let no man on our side of the question, treat his minister ill because he is in the opposite scheme. It is not manly, it is not Christian-like, it is not prudent, to do it. For there is no way to promote truth so effectually, as to hold forth light in love; and to treat your opponents in a kind and friendly manner. For my part, I have a high esteem for many in the ministry, who differ, in their practice in the admission of persons to sealing ordinances for themselves and for their children, from what I think is right. For it is a controversy which has not been attended to, nor is it an easy thing, at once, to get rid of the prejudices of education, and in the face of a frowning world to espouse the true Scripture plan. I have great hopes, however, that ere long we shall think and act nearer alike, when there has been sufficient time to understand one another, to weigh and deliberate, to get rid of the prejudices of education, \etc. In the mean time, I most earnestly desire, that the controversy may be carried on, in the most open, fair, honest, cool, calm, friendly manner possible. Who this letter-writer is, is not known by the public, as he has secreted his name. And whether it was with design, or through inadvertence, that he hath given up the doctrine of total depravity, as held forth in Scripture and in our public formulas, I shall not determine. Perhaps, on second thoughts, he will retract every thing he hath said, which hath that aspect. I wish he may. But if it should come to pass, as I fear it will, that in the course of this controversy, numbers should openly fall off to the Arminian scheme, in order to defend their lax manner of admission to sealing ordinances, I advise you, to keep by you, and to spread every where among your acquaintance, the Westminster Confession of Faith, and larger and shorter Catechisms; a book which will be of exellent service to teach people sound doctrine, and to guard them against Arminian errors. To conclude, I shall always retain a most grateful sense of your kind treatment of your minister, when acting yourself, and be always ready to do every kind office in my power, which either you, or any other of my parishioners, shall need at my hands. I esteem it among the great blessings of my life, that I live in a parish, and among a people, so well disposed to treat a minister with that respect which is due to his office. And I hope you may never find me wanting in any instance of kind and friendly conduct towards you. I wish you the best of Heaven's blessings. My dear Parishioner, adieu. INDEX. The Roman numbers designate the volume, the figures designate the page. A. ABILITY, natural, extent of, i. 93, 100. Abraham, wisdom of God in his dealings with, i. 33, note. vocation of, i. 320. ii. 23. how justified by works, i. 380, 395. Abrahamic covenant, ii. 463. (See Covenant.) Acceptance with God, way and manner of, for sinners, what, i. 332, 333. Adam, the public head and representative of his posterity, i. 36, 155, 224, 230, his sin imputed to them, i. 223, 224. moral image of God in which he was created, what, i. 135-137. how lost by the fall, ii. 635, 636. made a free agent, i. 275, 276. his love to God before the fall, ii. 628-636. his original obligation to love God, what, i. 183, 225. his obligation did not cease, nor was it diminished by the fall, i. 242-244. guilt of his first sin, what, i. 226, 227. his conduct after his first sin considered, ii. 582, 583. his trial just, i. 225, 226; and good, i. 228. his representing his posterity, justice of, i. 228, 229. Adoption, spirit of, what, i. 351, 352. Advantages of the heathen, what, i. 107. of the Jews, what, i. 111-116. Affections, holy, excited by divine truth, i. 509. ii. 439-444. hinderances to piety, i. 551, 552. Antediluvians, dealings of God with, i. 317-319. wickedness of, ibid. Antichrist, reign of, i. 324. Antinomians, definition of, ii. 311. doctrines of, i. 524, 525. ii. 213, 214. errors of, respecting humiliation, i. 206, 207. respecting faith, i. 291, 298. ii. 161, 601. respecting satisfaction for sin, i. 290. respecting the law and its requirements, ii. 584. have no true idea of the grace of the gospel, ii. 311; nor of their need of are enemies to the gospel, ii. 311. Antinomian spirit, the source of infidelity, ii. 319. Antinomianism, gross and refined, difference between them, i. 524. blow at the root of, i. 491-525. Angels, elect, ii. 53. confirmed in holiness, when, ii. 54. -uses of the fall of angels and men to them, what, ii. 53. Angels, their reflections, ii. 55-57. on the death of Christ, ii. 57. Angels, their reflections on the death of Antichrist, and millennium, ii. 59. their glory consists in, what, i. 581. Apostasy of angels and men conducive to the glory of God and the good of the Aristocles, minister of the church in Siena, character of, i. 607. Arminians, errors of, respecting the doctrines of grace, what, i. 307. religious exercises of, not according to the gospel, i. 390, note. Atheism, practical, what, i. 529, 530. Atonement of Christ, necessity of, i. 257–272. ii. 284, 294, 295. made by his blood, i. 280. opens the way for the free exercise of grace to sinners, i. 286. not as paying a debt, i. 291. extent of, i. 292–296. sufficient for all mankind, i. 279–285. consequences of supposing it limited to the elect, i. 294. ii. 187, 188. importance of the doctrine, ii. 282. necessary, why, i. 301-310. taught by the Mosaic dispensation, i. 391. the importance of seeing our need of it, i. 270; seeing our need of Christ, Assurance, Christian, attainable, i. 177, 178. ii. 658; and how, i. 501. ii. was possessed by all Christians in the apostolic age, ii. 236, 237, 657. not of the essence of faith, i. 494-496. controversy about it, considered, ibid. Authades, account of, i. 607. Awakened sinners, doings and exercises of, considered, i. 156, 166-168. B. Backsliders, to return to God, how, i. 317, 318. ii. 243. Baptism, qualifications for, what, ii. 490, 492, 640, 641. design of, what is implied in this covenant, ii. 492, 669, 674, 675. duty of those under baptismal vows, what, ii. 675, 676, 689, 691. infant, a covenant entered into by the parent, ii. 508, 675. Dickinson's notions of, ii. 652. does not entitle the subject of it to all church privileges, ii. 511, 512; nor directions given to persons, how to become fitted to offer their children in and the Lord's supper, seals of the covenant of grace only, ii. 488, and Believers, and their services, accepted in Christ, i. 55; and rewarded, ibid. not justified for their faith, i. 397. how justified, ii. 398. their spiritual conflict, i. 176, 177. their views in believing, what, i. 401. Believing that our sins are forgiven, not justifying faith, ii. 502, and passim. |