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ft $ th emptoyed fifty seven propositions , ana sixty explanatory theses , in illustration of this glorious and Important truth , which St . John hath clearly and emphatically . expressed in three sentences ! It hath been said 8 f this eminent divine , that he was
** unhappily subtle and metaphysical in every thing . " The term subtle , in a bad sense , is ill applied to Mr . Baxter , but he is certainly liable sometimes to the charge of metaphysical obscurity , which , as must ever be the case , renders his
works far less useful than otherwise ihey would be . But , not to digress , it is to be observed , that although the text above citecj , with many others , fully establish this important principle , and thereby decisively prove the acceptableness of natural religion , where no other is to
be obtained ; yet , it by no means follows that our best endeavours should not be exerted , to promote the knowledge and influence of Christianity , where it is at present unknown . On the contrary , possessing as we do , in the enjoyment of this Divine gift , immense privileges and
^ vantages , we should be solicitous , as far as we are able , to communieate these blessings to the com paralively benighted corners of the habitable globe , and to labour as well as pray , in the use of reasonable , probable , and allowed means , ( as to the
nature and application of which we must be supposed to differ ) , " That the light of the glorious gospel of Christ , who js the image of God , may shine inte them . " AVith this view , much expense and labour have recently been
employed in this country , by different denominations , in the institution of Missionary Societies , for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts , into the degrees of the success or failure of which we do not now inquire . We may conceive , however , of various methods which ministers
of different religious sentiments might naturally be led to adopt in the prosecution of this important object . Let us suppose a zealous Calvinist , engaged in this arduous undertaking . He will probably begin his work with the history of the fall ; the supposed
consequent inherent depravity of human nature ; the utter incapacity of man , in his natural etate , to do a
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good action , or even to think a good thought . He would then proceed Id the doctrines of irresistible grace a triune Deity ; the necessity of infinity merit to atone for infinite guilt * which he imputes to a frail , finite and fallible creature , because corn . r
mitted against an infinite Being ; ari&l the assertion , that if they die without the Christian faith , even when it j £ as been but briefly proposed to therji and they have had little time to ek £ amine its evidences , they will be
infallibly condemned to all eternity ,. If they should express astonishment at some of these positions , as " things , hard to be understood ! " and are dreadfully alarmed at the idea pt infinite and everlasting vengeance , jhjb will presently soothe their fears , fern informing them , that though tt | gir
case is at present desperate , it is sja far from , being hopeless , or withou ? remedy , that it may be changed f&f the better in an instant ; that they have only to accept of Christ , by « fe strong and lively faith , and the wort is done : Thai he hath wrought ov £ a free and full salvation for all his .
elect , of which number , each incJvvidual to whom he is preached , m % jfl hope to be one , seeing we cannqj * search the book of God ' s decrees ^ and who can never finally fall from * his grace , for whom he loves , " h ^ loves to the end : " That it is trueV
this faith should operate to the mending their manner ? , and reforming their wicked lives , and that thj £ . it will infallibly accomplish ; but that at the same time , they must alwayjk be exceedingly careful not to pay ai ^ iy undue regard to the good wprl ^ s which they may perform , whicnl
being imperfect , can neither be , tn £ cause , matter , nor condition of $ \ uf justification , arid which , in any Wige confided in , will ultimately deprive them of all the privileges and oteSiSings of gospel grace . He will guard them against Satanic influence , tftfe author of which , he will describe SI ?
a kind of demi-god , possessed of at Aspecies of omnipresence , having access to the minds of men in all times places and circumstances , apd tempting them to kinds , and degrees of sin , far beyond the extent and discovery pT their own natural powers and corrupt
tions . The writer Relieves , that ^ does not misrepresent a species of preaching , to be met with in no
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| H Thoughts on Missionary Societies
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1817, page 24, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2460/page/24/
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