A LETTER TO SOME CHURCH-MEMBERS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN Persuasion, IN ANSWER TO Certain SCRUPLES lately proposed, in proper QUERIES raised on each REMARK.
A LETTER, &c.
_New-York, November 1, 1740._
_My dear Friends_,
LAST night and this morning I read your queries and scruples. Whether they were compiled by church-members, or ministers of the presbyterian persuasion, I shall not take upon me to determine. I think I may say with _David_, though on another occasion, “_Joab_’s hand is in this.” If your ministers were really the authors, and you only their representatives, they have not acted simply. They had better have spoken out. I should as readily have answered them as you. _Solomon_ says, “He that hateth reproof, is brutish.” And if I know any thing of my own heart, I should think myself obliged to any one that convinces me of an error, either in principle or practice. I therefore assure you, that I do not find the least resentment stirring in my soul against those (whoever they be) that proposed the queries, or against the reverend presbytery that advised you to send them to me in a public manner: no, I rejoice in it; because it gives me an opportunity of doing what my friends know I have for some time proposed, the correcting some passages in my printed sermons. I think it no dishonour, to retract some expressions that formerly dropped from my pen, before GOD was pleased to give me a more clear knowledge of the doctrines of grace. St. _Austin_, I think, did so before me. The LORD’s dealing with me was somewhat out of the common way. I can say, to the honour of rich free distinguishing grace, that I received the Spirit of adoption before I had conversed with one man, or read a single book, on the doctrine of “Free justification by the imputed righteousness of JESUS CHRIST.” No wonder then, that I was not so clear in some points at my first setting out in the ministry. Our LORD was pleased to enlighten me by degrees; and I desire your prayers, that his grace may shine more and more in my heart, till it breaks forth into perfect day.
But to come to the exceptionable passages in my sermons. You blame me for saying,
Volume II. page 17. “That _Adam_ was adorned with all the perfections of the Deity.” It is a wrong expression: I would correct it thus: “All the _moral communicable_ perfections of the Deity.” Again, “Man was the perfection of the _moral_ and _material_ world: let it stand thus: “The perfection of all the _visible_ world.”
Volume II. page 22 and 23. “Washes the guilt of sin away by the tears of a sincere repentance, joined with faith in the blood of JESUS CHRIST.” This is false divinity: I would now alter it thus: “Recovers his former peace, by renewing his acts of faith on the perfect righteousness of JESUS CHRIST.”
Volume I. page 79. “And which alone can render any of our actions acceptable in GOD’s sight.” It should be, “And without which, any of our actions cannot be acceptable in GOD’s sight.”
Volume I. page 16. “Who vainly depend on their own righteousness, and not on the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, imputed to, and inherent in them, as necessary for their eternal salvation.” To avoid all mistakes, I would express myself in this manner, “Who have neither CHRIST’s righteousness imputed to them, for their justification in the fight, nor holiness wrought in their souls as the consequence of that, in order to make them meet for the enjoyment of GOD.”
Volume I. page 7. For, “To qualify us for _being savingly in_ CHRIST,” read, “To qualify us for _living eternally with_ CHRIST.”
The seeming contradiction in my sermon, Volume II. page 128. compared with page 137. I think may be reconciled by that passage of the Apostle, “After you believed, you were sealed by the Spirit of promise.” Your arguing on this head, page 21. section vii. I think is not so clear. Might you not as reasonably have blamed JESUS CHRIST for saying to a dead man, “_Lazarus_, come forth?” However, instead of _quickening Spirit_, volume II. page 137. let it be read, “sanctifying Spirit.”
Volume II. page 33. “The man CHRIST JESUS is spiritually formed in your hearts.” I would alter it thus, “That CHRIST is formed within you.”
Volume I. page 53. “The many souls that are nourished weekly by the spiritual body and blood of JESUS CHRIST by your means.” Let it be altered for these words, “Nourished weekly at the LORD’s supper by your means.”