II. NARRATIVE OF SURPRISING CONVER- VI. ON THE NOTION OF THE PRE-EXIST- SIONS. ENCE OF CHRIST'S HUMAN SOUL. III. THOUGHTS ON THE REVIVAL IN NEW VII. MYSTERIES OF SCRIpture. ENGLAND. IV. AN ATTEMPT TO PROMOTE EXPLICIT VIII. OBSERVATIONS UPON PARTICULAR IX. THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS. X. SIX OCCASIONAL SERMONS. NEW-YORK: LEAVITT, TROW & CO., 194 BROADWAY. LONDON: WILEY & PUTNAM. MDCCCXLIV. INTRODUCTION. THERE is no question whatsoever, that is of greater importance to mankind, and at it more concerns every individual person to be well resolved in, than this: What re the distinguishing qualifications of those that are in favor with God, and entitled his eternal rewards? Or, which comes to the same thing, What is the nature of true eligion? And wherein do lie the distinguishing notes of that virtue and holiness that acceptable in the sight of God? But though it be of such importance, and though we have clear and abundant light in the word of God to direct us in this matter, yet here is no one point, wherein professing Christians do more differ one from another. would be endless to reckon up the variety of opinions in this point, that divide the Christian world; making manifest the truth of that declaration of our Saviour, "Strait the gate and narrow is the way, that leads to life, and few there be that find it." The consideration of these things has long engaged me to attend to this matter, ith the utmost diligence and care, and exactness of search and inquiry, that I have een capable of. It is a subject on which my mind has been peculiarly intent, ever nce I first entered on the study of divinity. But as to the success of my inquiries, it ust be left to the judgment of the reader of the following treatise. I am sensible it is much more difficult to judge impartially of that which is the subct of this discourse, in the midst of the dust and smoke of such a state of controversy, s this land is now in, about things of this nature. As it is more difficult to write imartially, so it is more difficult to read impartially. Many will probably be hurt in eir spirits, to find so much that appertains to religious affection, here condemned: nd perhaps indignation and contempt will be excited in others by finding so much ere justified and approved. And it may be, some will be ready to charge me with consistence with myself, in so much approving some things, and so much condemng others; as I have found this has always been objected to by some, ever since the eginning of our late controversies about religion. It is a hard thing to be a hearty ealous friend of what has been good and glorious, in the late extraordinary appearnces, and to rejoice much in it; and at the same time to see the evil and pernicious ndency of what has been bad, and earnestly to oppose that. But yet, I am humbly it fully persuaded, we shall never be in the way of truth, nor go on in a way acceptble to God, and tending to the advancement of Christ's kingdom, till we do so. There indeed something very mysterious in it, that so much good, and so much bad, should e mixed together in the church of God; as it is a mysterious thing, and what has uzzled and amazed many a good Christian, that there should be that which is so ivine and precious, as the saving grace of God, and the new and divine nature dwellg in the same heart, with so much corruption, hypocrisy, and iniquity, in a particur saint. Yet neither of these is more mysterious than real. And neither of them is new or rare thing. It is no new thing, that much false religion should prevail, at time of great reviving of true religion; and that at such a time multitudes of hypoites should spring up among true saints. It was so in that great reformation, and vival of religion, that was in Josiah's time; as appears by Jer. iii. 10, and iv. 3, 4, id also by the great apostasy that there was in the land, so soon after his reign. So 142875 |