ANTINOMIANISM :-FROM THE LIFE OF THOMAS SCOTT. THERE was a weekly lecture at the Lock chapel, on the Wednesday evening, which the evening preacher and I were to take alternately. All circumstances considered, I did not expect much usefulness from this service. I therefore intreated the acting governors to allow me, in addition to it, to preach a lecture on the Friday evenings; the service to be altogether my own. This, after some hesitation, was conceded. The congre With gation, which might be expected to attend, I was aware, was decidedly Calvinistic: but I was fully determined to bring forward at this lecture (which indeed I had desired almost exclusively for that purpose,) every thing, in the most particular manner, relative to the Christian temper and conduct. this view I formed, as I foolishly thought, a very sagacious plan. I gave notice that I would lecture, in an expository manner, on the Epistle to the Ephesians, in order. At first I was very well attended, my congregation_generally consisting of more than three hundred persons. This continued while I was going through the more doctrinal part of the Epistle; though I applied the doctrine very plainly to practical purposes, and often intimated my hope, that I should be favored with equal attention, when I came to speak more particularly on Christian tempers and the relative duties.--But the Lord took the wise in his own craftiness. When I arrived at the latter part of the fourth chapter, the alarm was spread, though I stamped every exhortation strongly with an evangelical seal. But at length, when I preached from the fifth chapter, on the words, See that ye walk circumspectly, &c., the charge was every where circulated, that I had changed my principles, and was become an Arminian: and, at once, I irrecoverably lost much above half my audience.-The Sunday morning congregation also greatly decreased: dissatisfaction was manifested in the looks and language of all the acting governors, even such as had been most friendly and I seemed to have no alternative, but that of either receding voluntarily from my situation, or being disgracefully dismissed. I had, however, no place to which to retire: every door seemed to be shut against me. On this emergency, amidst very many interruptions, and under inexpressible discouragement, I wrote in the course of a week, and preached on the Sunday morning following, (November 26, 1786.) my sermon on Election and Final Perseverance. By the next week it was printed and ready for sale and a thousand copies were sold in about three days. A second edition was printed: but the public were saturated, and few copies were disposed of. While I was preparing this sermon, I dined with rather a large party, many of the company governors of the Lock, and zealous, in their way, for Calvinism. In the evening, it was proposed, according to custom, to discuss some religious subject: and, being really desirous of information, I proposed a question concerning the precise boundaries between Calvinism and Arminianism, respecting which so much prejudice against my ministry had been excited. But in conference they added noth ing unto me: and, two dissenters excepted, no one offered any thing sufficient to shew that he understood the subject. So that, when I concluded with my own remarks, it was allowed that I was more decidedly Calvinistic than the rest of the company This was suited in one way to gratify me: but it was still more calculated to convince me, that I was placed in a most unpromising situation. I well remember, (says Dr. Scott's son and biographer,) the utter astonishment which my father expressed on returning from the party here alluded to. He had not conceived it possible, that men, known in the religious world, could have allowed themselves boldly to take a side, and to talk loudly in favour of a system, of which they scarcely knew the outlines, and the grounds of which they were not able to explain, still less to defend.-It is much to be hoped, that so instructive a record, as we are now considering, will not have been written in vain. That some, at least, will allow themselves to be put on their guard against being scared by the terror of a mere name; and will be induced, after the honorable example of the Bereans, to 'search the scriptures,' concerning what they hear, and to ask, not by what distinctive appellation it may be described, but whether it is according to the oracles of God' or not.-It is to be hoped, also, that some persons, immersed, perhaps, in secular business, from Monday morning till Saturday night, may be induced to doubt whether they are quite so well qualified to decide upon difficult theological questions, as they may have taken it for granted that they were. I fear it is but too obvious, with respect to many of the numbers who were irrecoverably' driven from the Lock, when my father proceeded to unfold and apply the parts of St. Paul's writings which treat of Christian tempers and relative duties,' that their real objection was not to Arminianism, (of which they very probably scarcely knew the meaning,) but to half, or more than half, the word of God. They had been accustomed to overlook it themselves, and could not bear to have it pressed upon their notice by another. New Series-vol. IV. 37 My father continues: I had at this time many instructers as to my style of preaching; and some at the Lock board assumed rather a high tone of authority: while others were disposed to counsel me as the messengers of Ahab did Michaiah.* But I disposed of the dictating instruction very shortly. Gentlemen," I said, 'you possess authority sufficient to change me for another preacher, whenever you please; but you have no power to change me into another preacher. If you do not convince my understanding that I am in an error, you can never induce me to alter my method of preaching.' HYMN. Faint not, poor traveller, though thy way Nay, sink not; though from every limb, Thy friends are gone, and thou, alone, Bear firmly; yet a few more days, Christian thy friend, thy master prayed, Oh, think'st thou that his Father's love Go, sufferer, calmly meet the woes, Then, rising as thy Saviour rose, Go, his eternal victory share. * 1 Kings xxii. 13, 14. REVIEW. ARTICLE XIII. A Catechism, in three parts. Part first, containing the elements of religion and morality; designed for children. Part second, consisting of questions and answers, chiefly historical, on the Old Testament. Part third, consisting of similar questions and answers on the New Testament, designed for children and young persons. Compiled and recommended by the Ministers of the Worcester Association in Massachusetts. Cambridge. An Introductory Catechism, by Dr. Carpenter; and also, a Catechism of Scripture names, by Dr. Walls; to which are added, Prayers and Hymns for children. Baltimore. THE first named of these little books is compiled and recommended by the Worcester Association of Ministers, who deserve praise for their repeated attention to this important subject. They several years ago published a catechism for the benefit of the children in their several parishes, which being now out of print, they have attempted to improve upon it in the present publication, and have sent abroad what we conceive to be a very valuable work of the kind. It is in part a compilation, and in part original. Many questions and answers are extracted from the little manual for small children entitled Elements of Reli gion and Morality,' which has been for many years extensively used and highly valued. The catechisms of Watts also, which have been freely drawn from by all who have made similar compilations since that good man lived; and of Priestley, who laboured alike for philosophers and for children, have been in some instances consulted. The result is a judicious and useful book, which may be introduced with advantage to schools and families. It is divided into three parts. The first part contains the simplest principles of moral and religious knowledge, and the most important precepts of religious obedience, in language perfectly adapted to the comprehension of children. Amongst these we were particularly gratified to find some of our Saviour's prominent instructions introduced in the very words of scripture. We were also pleased with the answer to the 50th question, as introducing to the notice of children the early obligation of the Lord's Supper, the consideration of which is too apt to be postponed as a matter with which none have any concern until they arrive at man's estate. The second part contains questions on the Old Testament. They are principally historical, relating to those persons and events, an acquaintance with which is of most consequence in reading the sacred volume. Some are chronological, giving the date of those remarkable events or distinguishing epochs, to which the rest of the history may be referred. Some are geographical, pointing out the situation of many important places. Some relate to those circumstances in the contemporary history of other nations, to which allusions are sometimes made in the Bible. Some describe the great feasts of the Jews, about which children are apt to be told nothing, and therefore to have erroneous conceptions of some passages. It is readily perceived that all this is valuable information, which must essentially aid the intelligent reading of the Scriptures. Children are thus furnished with a sort of key, by which they will be able to unlock many difficult passages for themselves. The plan we believe to be new, so far as relates to this particular. The third part contains questions on the New Testament, upon a similar plan with those on the old. They are confined principally to stating general principles and leading facts, the knowledge of which is necessary and sufficient to illustrate much of the gospel history, and which does not ordinarily find place in catechisms. We esteem this exceedingly judicious and useful, As examples of what we mean, we refer to Part II. qu. 54, 55. 64. 68. 69. 81, &c. and Part III. qu. 29. 33. 75. 76, 77. (together with the note, which perhaps might well have made part of the answer,) 93, &c. The other work, whose title we have given above, is the republication of Catechisms by Drs. Carpenter and Watts. That of the former is designed for the youngest class of learners, for whose use it is excellently suited. Its great peculiarity is a greater fulness on the character and offices of Jesus Christ than is usual in works of this sort. That of the latter is a catechism of names and places in the Old and New Testaments, conveying useful information in a concise and easy form. We recommend both these publications to the attention of parents and teachers. Some may probably find the one, and some the other, best adapted to their design or suited to their taste. But there need be no interference between them. Both may be advantageously used in the instruction of the same children. Teachers of schools, and ministers in parochial instruction, may give them to different classes of their pupils, |