conviction to your mind; I muft poffefs far more confidence in myfelf than I really do, to imagine that any thing I fhall fay, will be able to produce that effect.

It was the observation, I think, of the excellent JOSEPH MEDE," that fome opinions are in fome fort fatal to fome men, and therefore, I can, (fays he) with much patience endure a man to be contraryminded, and have no inclination to contend with him. There is more goes to perfuafion, than reafons and demonftrations; and that is not in my power."

You, Sir, it is generally understood, have grown up in an habitual attachment to what is commonly known by the title of the Calvinistic doctrine.

I, Sir, am no Calvinift; at least, in the sense that, I think, you are a Calvinift. The tenet of abfolute unconditional election, with all the dreadful confequences that may fairly be deduced from it, appears to me to be a direct contradiction to the general tenor of fcripture. As fuch, I confider myself bound not to teach it: at the fame time I know it to be a tenet, which has been firmly held by fome of the best Christians, from the days of ST. AUGUSTIN down to the present time. This Calvinistic tenet, therefore, is not the ftandard, by which charity tells me I ought to form my judgment of Christians; because, in the

first place, it does not appear to belong to the effence of Chriftianity; and in the fecond, because in the number of those who have held, and those who have held it not, will be found fome of the most enlightened, exalted, and spiritual members of the Christian church. It may be confidered, therefore, as containing an opinion, the belief of which is not essential to falvation; and upon which Christians may be allowed to differ, provided they break not the bond of charity in fo doing. I may, however, I hope, without offence, be permitted to obferve, that, even upon the fuppofition that it is true, it is an opinion on which all human fpeculations are unprofitable; but should it be falfe, they may be worse than unprofitable; they may be highly prejudicial to the parties concerned, by leading them to build their hope of falvation upon an imaginary foundation, rather than on that fure one, which has been laid down for them in the plain letter of fcripture.

We cannot, without doing great injustice to their characters, fuppose that, if Chriftians of the most oppofite fentiments; fuch, for inftance, as CALVIN. and ERASMUS, Bishops BABINGTON and BULL, and many others who might be mentioned; were to meet, to determine on thofe effential articles of

faith necessary to distinguish the Christian character; whatever difference of opinion they might maintain on fome controverted points, they would all agree cordially in this one pofition, that without charity there could be no Christianity.

Such, Sir, has ever been my fentiment. Under the full impreffion of it my book was written. The object of which was, according to the best of my judgment, to point out the plan which had been laid down by CHRIST and his Apostles for the prefervation of unity and fellowship among Christian profeffors. The work, according to the information given to the reader in the preface to it, was originally defigned for private circulation. It was the refult of. long experience and much obfervation on the character and manners of a particular people, with whom it has pleased God that I should be immediately connected. I fondly flattered myself, that these my peculiar circumstances would, with perfons of candid minds, fufficiently atone for the numerous defects of a performance, not written by one who had been in the habits of writing for the public; and I trusted the world was not yet grown fo ungracious, as to reject the voluntary tender of a mite from a man, who might not have it in his power to make a more liberal offering.

The general tenour of your writings, Sir, has convinced me that we have both one object in view; namely, the promotion of God's honour, and the falvation of our fellow-creatures.

We may be mistaken in the methods we have adopted for our purpose. But this furely furnishes no reason why harsh cenfures fhould be pronounced on either of us; for, though there may be inftances where even involuntary ignorance may be chargeable with guilt; yet, where the intention is fincere, GOD, we are given to understand, accepts "according to what a man hath, not according to what he hath not.

"

As a pious and exemplary Christian, I look up to you, Sir, with respect; I could almost add, veneration; for. I cannot but venerate a man, who, in the midst of great worldly confideration, attends to the first and most important duties of life. You appear to look down upon me with pity, if not with contempt; as a good moral man, perhaps, but no Christian.

Now, though I must think you have not done me justice in your publication, I still have to thank you for the occafion it has furnished me with, of reviewing what I have written; and thereby guarding against thofe conclufions, which either do not neceffarily follow from the premises laid down, or at least are con

fequences which the author did not foresee would be drawn from them..

may

Knowing that man has no pretenfions to infallibility, I fhall, I trust, be at all times ready to bow in obedience to rational conviction; and thankful to the person who undertake to produce it. The object before me is the profecution and advantage of truth, in the way that leadeth unto peace. At the fame time to make use of the words of GREGORY NAZIANZEN, "Non ftudemus paci in detrimentum veræ doctrinæ, ut facilitatis et manfuetudinis famam colligamus.'

There are points upon which, it is to be expected, minifters of the church muft poffefs fome decided opinion; and which, if they act confiftently with their character, they cannot look upon as fubjects of indifference. If upon these points they speak as they ought to speak, it does not follow from thence that they mean to pronounce fentence on every Christian who may differ from them in opinion. Whilst they discharge their confciences by keeping back no part of that truth which they think they have received, left they "fuffer fin on their brethren;" they at the fame time leave the judgment in all cafes to that Being, who, knowing the degree of every man's understanding, and the circumftances of his condition,