two ideas which naturally occur. 1. The doctrine of the decrees is a true doctrine. If the doctrine had been false, Satan would not have misrepresented and perverted it. This would not have been agreeable to his nature and object. He would by no means pervert false doctrines; but on the contrary, he uses all his influence to make men believe them. He often transforms himself into an angel of light, and takes true doctrines from the Bible; but before he leaves them, he mutilates and turns them into false ones by drawing wrong confequences and conclufions. This was the cafe in his temptation with the Son of God. His use of the decrees with him, is a clear proof, that the doctrine is true. 66 2. The subject affords a seasonable warning to those, whom Satan tempts by reasoning upon the decrees, and whose consciences he is quieting in lives of fin. His language to them is : The decrees are eternal and fixed. If you are included in the election of grace, you will be faved at last; therefore, eat and drink; indulge your selves without reftrain in the gratification of your paffions and inclinations, and take your fill of pleafures. But if you are destined to mifery, you cannot help it, nor alter the cafe in the leaft; there fore, give yourselves no anxiety, or concern, about your future state, but enjoy as much happinefs as poffible, through life." Such perfons are in a very alarming state; on the dangerous ground of the subtle adversary of fouls. The decrees are emphatically, his strong hold. He used them in one of his temptations with Chrift; and we may be affured, that he would ufe his most likely means to succeed with him. With out doubt, he more often fucceeds with mankind, in this, than in any other way. Many at the present day, appear to be taken by him upon this ground, and Arongly holden. Their mouths are full of the fame kind of reasoning upon the decrees, which he ufed with the Saviour of the world. They are now led captive by him in the fame way to ruin, in which thousands and millions of the human race have been before them; and unless a sovereign God have mercy on them, and dispossess Satan of his strong hold, they will ere long, to their everlasting forrow, fee the fatal deception of his, and their reasoning upon the divine decrees. PROTEUS. Nymphas to Sofipater. DEAR FRIEND, W HAT friend of Jefus, who that loves his name and wishes well to mankind, but must feel grief and a pious indigna tion in contemplating the zeal of the scoffer, to deftroy the Chriftian religion, and to take away the key of knowledge ? Who will not themselves enter into the kingdom of heaven, nor fuffer those who are entering to go in. Like the old Pharifees, they compafs sea and land to make profelytes, and are unwearied in their exertions to spread the poison of their infidel principles, far and wide. Ought not their zeal to put the friends of Christ to the blush, who have ef. poufed the fame glorious cause, which brought him from heaven, and yet are so very lukewarm, fo very indifferent as to its success that it is almost hard to say whether they be friends or enemies, or to what camp they belong. Is not this, my friend, lamentable ? | it, in the glorious and yet too fee ble exertions which have been made for the spread and furtherance of the gospel in our times. May there be more and still more, of this Christ-like Spirit, and may ministers and professors remember from whence they are fallen, and be led to imitate the fervor and ardent zeal of their divine Master and the first churches. When we remember the Son of God, a person of infinite dignity, become incarnate, lived, bled and died, to be the light of the world, to be a witness to the truth, and that all the interests of God and his holy kingdom are involved in it, we might expect all its real friends would burn with a pious zeal, that their fouls would be inspired with the most fervent defires to do every thing in their power that the gospel might run and be glorified, and unnumbered millions who now fit in darkness, might see the heavenly light and walk in it. It would seem each one would be a Paul, ready to pass through many regions to proclaim the good tidings of great joy to all, to the utmost extent of his power. It would feem, like him, each one would be nothing moved by the most threatening dangers in his way. It would seem impossible the enemies of the truth should be more engaged to exterminate it from the world than its friends are to diffuse the sweet knowledge thereof far and Especially when it is remembered that the glory of God, the honor of the Redeemer, the salvation of finners, and the glory and the highest felicity of that kingdom which shall continue forever, are all concerned and infeparably connected with that truth which scoffers oppofe and hate. When we consider the beauty, the sweetness, the excellency and infinite importance of that system of truth the Son of God testified by all he said, did and fuffered, and sealed with his very blood; it would feem all its friends would be zealous and indefatigable in their endeavors te be possessed of it, and to have it dwell richly in their hearts; yea, more, that they would be indefati- ❘ gable in their most vigorous endeavours to diffuse the knowledge thereof, far and wide, even to the ends of the earth. Indeed this is only to suppose what was real fact, when the sweet light of divine truth came into the world by Jefus Christ. The apostles and the first Christians seemed inspired with the very Spirit of their divine Master, and expressed the most ardent zeal to diffuse the heavenly light through the world. It is reported of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, paftors and teachers, that they went every where preaching the gospel; that their found wentinto all the earth, and that the brethren were fellow-helpers to the truth, and gloriously exerted them-wide. Yet alas! it is a sad fact, selves for the furtherance of the gofpel. It appears that every Christian church was a pillar of the truth which was inscribed upon it, to be known and read of all, that it resembled the fun, the light of the world. Blessed be God, this Spirit of Christ is not entirely gone from the world. There have been pleasing appearances of The contrary to all supposition, the are fleeping, while its enemies are | never be relieved from his com all awake and doing with their might what they find to do. These things ought not to be fo. Contemplating the present state of things, my head would be waters ⚫ and mine eyes a fountain of tears, were I not myself stupid and unfeeling, plunged in the cares of the world and troubled about many things. I trust you more fenfibly feel, and it is my earnest with the Lord may grant you abundant communications of his grace and enflame your whole foul with love to the truth and an ardent zeal for its defenceand furtherance. May you blush to come behind the scoffers of the present day in the zeal and the fervor of your endeavors, and may you fenfibly feel your dependance on the Lord, for grace to direct and assist you. The caufe in which you are embarked is indefcribably grand and glorious -all heaven is on your side the truth is great and will prevail. Soon its weight like a rock will fall on its enemies and grind them to powder, while it will forever remain the broad foundation of the joy and confolation of its friends. That you may every day see more and more of its beauty, taste its ineffable sweetness and feel its energy and infinite importance, is the fervent with of your affectionate friend. A letter to a friend upon the subject of converfing with the fick. Belfast, (Maine) Nov. 15, 1801. plaints, but must die in the com. pass of a few days. From a long acquaintance with the family and as long experience of their kind. ness, I felt deeply interested in their welfare and heartily fympa. thised with you in your affliction. I thought it must greatly mitigate your forrow and comfort your mind, provided your child should give fatisfactory evidence of re. pentance toward God, and friendship to his character and govern ment. For in that cafe, your lofs would be his greater gain. I therefore requested you to fend for the minister, as you probably remember. He was accordingly fent for, and speedily came. As he was going to the apartment of your now deceased son, you requested him to say nothing about death, or upon the subjects of religion; not so much on account of his weakness, as the uneasiness it might give to his mind. I mult tell you, fir, that I was greatly surprised at your requeft, fince I supposed that you faw, and, in some measure, felt the importance of religion, especially on the near approach of death. The minifter was as much surprised as myself. He immediately halted upon hear ing your request, and returned the following answer: " I cannot fee your fon under this restraint. I must converse with him according to my best judgment; and I utterly refuse to fee him, unless I have liberty to bring up to his view the all-important fubjects of religion, to call his attention to the character and danger of the impenitent sinner, and to the obedience and blood of a crucified Saviour as his only hope. This is a duty I owe him as a fellow-creature, as a friend, and especially as one committed to my charge. If I neg lect this duty, and, in consequence | consideration, that you tempted of it, your fon perish, my own confcience will give me no peace, and his blood, God will require at my hand." I thought that with this refolution, you very reluctant ly allowed him access to your child. But I no less admired his answer and the spirit which it breathed than I was surprised at your request. I am apprehenfive that you have become one of those fashionable Chriftians, who wish to think favorably of the character and state of their dying and departed friends without any reason, and who with to keep religion at a distance, in health and in fickness, in life and in death. However contrary to your opinion and practice, I am fully perfuaded that this modern treatment of dying friends is only a refined scheme for landing them in destruction. As you may again be placed in fimilar circumstances, please to allow me the liberty to suggest several ideas upon the fubject, which now occur to my mind. your minister to omit what both he and yourself knew to be an indispensible duty. You endeavored to perfuade him to be unfaithful. Your want of fuccess can be no confolation to your mind, since it was your hearty defire to succeed, and you would have rejoiced in it. Due attention to this idea will furely prevent you from doing the like again in similar circumstances, I obferved that the attendants of your fick friend would frequently inquire of him about his feelings; whether he was in pain, or thirsty, and wished for drink or medicine; in what posture he would fit, and how he would lie. These queftions he answered correctly, and often inquired concerning the affairs of the family and business of the farm. Wherefore the mention of death and religion was not omitted because he was unable to difcourse or could not endure conversation. But could it be, fir, that you thought religion unimportant? You believe there is a holy and just God; that the foul is immortal and finful; that there is a Saviour provided for fuch as trust in his merits, and that all who reject him by unbelief muft perifh. With these ideas upon your mind, how could you refrain from inquiring after the state of his foul, and exhorting him to repentance? And especially how could I thought that you placed your minister in a very disagreeable condition. Since he greatly loved and respected you and your family, he was very loath to give you offence by denying your requeft, or do any thing, by which you might suppose he forfeited your friendship. To grant your request, he must be unfaithful to his own con- you refuse the pastor this liberty? You wished your friend to recover; and did you not wish his foul to be saved? The immortal part is infinitely the most valuable, and therefore the greatest care should be taken of it. We have reafon science, unfaithful to your beloved fon, and unfaithful to God. I should by no means wish to place any perfon in such an uncomfortable state, and I prefume you will blame yourself when you reflect upon your conduct. You cannot be insensible, fir, that we incur great guilt in tempting others to fin or to neglect duty. It is therefore worthy your serious to believe that seasonable and suitable conversation with the fick, upon fubjects of religion has, in fome cafes, been a mean of exciting the attention, enlightening the cause. And fuppofing it were; is not the life of the foul of more worth than the life of the body. mind, and converting the foul to the truth. If there has been but one instance of the kind, the falvation of the foul is such an impor-Allowing that we destroy one tant object, that we should be juftified in making it an universal practice to converfe with the sick upon the things of the gospel. And we have also reason to fear that many have died senseless and stupid who might have been greatly profited by religious discourse. If one foul has perifhed through such neglect, it is a sufficient reason why ferious conversation with the fick should never be omitted. To hide from them their danger, and let them go out of the world thoughtless and secure, without once calling their attention to the things of religion, is acting a most unfriendly and cruel part. This part you was acting, fir, with respect to your fon, when you made the request to your minister we noticed above. If any human measures would probably prevent his repentance and falvation, and render his destruction certain, you doubtless adopted them in what you did. You was far from doing a friendly office to your child. You seemed to strip yourself of all parental tenderness and your conduct was like that of an enemy. chance in ten for the recovery of our friend by converfing with him upon religion and by this means create one chance in a thousand for his salvation, we should be wife in doing it. For the foul is not only immortal, but capable of the fublimest happiness and the most exquisite misery, as durable as the foul itself. It is likewife to be remembered, that the physicians who attended upon your son were unfriendly to religion. We are not therefore to be surprised that they cautioned you against speaking to him upon religious fubjects. They wished to hear nothing about religion and fee nothing of it in their patient. I observed that I admired the answer of the minister to your request. I repeat it. For I think he manifested a suitable concern for the best good of your child, and felt his accountability to God how he discharged the duties of his office. And I would now put the question to your own confcience, Sir; How could he have anfwered it to himself, to his divine mafter and to your fon, if he had neglect Perhaps, you will say, in excuse for yourself, that the physicians ❘ed to call his attention to the things urged the neceffity of perfect filence upon the subjects of death and religion, in order for a favorable operation of medicine. But, be ferious, fir; is there one instance to a thousand, in which we have reafon to believe that a fick man's recovery is prevented by cal ling his attention to the truths of the gospel? I have visited many people in their fickness and never have met with an instance, in which the efficacy of medicine was thought to be injured by this of his peace? Confidering his place and business, would not such an omiffion of duty be an implicit declaration to the dying man that he was going to reft, however unfit for the kingdom of heaven? I am perfuaded, Sir, that if you will speak the language, not of your heart, but of your confcience, you will join with me in this sentiment, that it is the indispensible duty of ministers to use their exertions to awaken the stupid sinner, on his death-bed, and fummon his atten |