University of South Carolina Libraries
l'Vo/H the Southern Christian lleruhl. No. 7. I propose in this number to discourse of rcitivK " total deprnvi y." ' Pride, ambition, envy, malignly, deceit and emnity against (hrl eonstitute the cliarue'er of the Devil; and these, wherever they exist and prevail, are the imago of the Di vil. Hut God is lov", and holiness, and truth.?Now let facts decide whether men in general, all over the world, in every age. apart from the grace of the (lospel, have most resembled and do most resemble that holy (?<> 1, or that great enemy of God."? [Scot's Theological Works, p. 9. J Again : * Fallen man is an unmixed, incorrigible mass of pollution and depravity, incapable of rfV-c ual amendm'-nf except by the grace of the (losjicl, and this enhances the v;dne of the Gospel inn.:ei;> '.'."?[Mem, page I find the nature and rx'cn; ;>r to';;! de . ii i i .. t*? _ i r i [tr.urv so wi-.i <_\\p: vssi'U liv ruopii'.'lJ 1 i. Tyng, I CI)., Hector of JSt. l\iul*s Church, INidadtlphia, :hat ! shall eopv the same, as sta ing no: only the <!o t:i;ic, hut Ws/vn uinr\'i?a! importance. 4,I. Tiie (JospC funis you lofct under a hu.dcn of inconceivable guilt. I'.very prec [ft of ilic divine law testifies against you. Th? re is no* a du*v roouired of you wliicli has n-?t }>'"vi J.-ft uu??o?n*. Tin r is no? a transgression prohibi <*?i?;:i winch.by !..o;gh: an I purpose if not in word and act, you have no engaged. \ ou were bora in sin;ni:d from the birth have gone os'ray. One transgression would have exposed you to eternal ruin ; and you have multiplied your t ausgressions as the sand of the sea. Kv. I OAO.. lif<i I\O/?OHOA ennnt m uo ** " v u<mi yji \ \' ?i ujVf i/v^vuiicv o|t%. v ii? 4 helium against C?od, is a record of condemnitioii; ami there is not a single hour, which, if you were tried by i*, would no' sink yon into unutt rable despair. Vonr guilt is, therefore, inconceivable: for until you have wri f"ii down eery sinful purpose and f eiing :>f your lives, and marked the ree.mpciiso of everlasting condemnation as its prop r desert, and then have added up she siiiii of a'l these innumerable purposes, and taken the amount of condemnation \\ hir!: ii! re-sal: fromyourcstimatc.youiiavc attained no just measure of your guilt. It is h'g'i as heaven ; what can you know ? It is deep as hell; what can you do? It is utterly beyond the power of your minds to comprehend the ex'ent of actual guilt which II upon every one of your souls. You are lost beneatli a load which the arm of omnipotence alone can heave off from you: and in this condition the Ciostx'I comes to ... - - - - i S?.k m?d s.ive you. 'J. The Gosp.l finds you lost in the extremity of personal corruption and sinfuln *ss. Tlio depravity of your fallen nature is exceeding great, and it extends to every power of vour mind, and to every* a flection -Vt of your heart. It is vain to dispute about the u >r.!s/o atdrpravibfyWhicli a re often used the st.it" '?? express of man l>v nature. I mean, by my asser ion, that there is nothing in you by uaure which is not sinful, that your hearts are full of evil. Vour understandings a?e dark ; your wills are perverse ; your affections are sensual: your conscience is partial; your memory will not retain heavenly truths ; your bodies are under the influence of a depraved mind; and every member, instead of being an instrument of boliness, is a willing servant to sin. And from the head lo the foo\ you are dcs'i'iite of soundness or spiritual health, and Ailed u iili llltliness and nolluiion. Through your whole lives, aud iri your whole character there is no: one good thing. And if your c\ erkisliag salvation were ollbred you upon the single condition of finding a thought ot desire which was not sinful, in the whole compass of your past existence, the requisition would defy your power in compliance. There is none of you who hath done goo I, no, not one. That there may he depravity heyond yours, none will doubt: b j! that there is any thing but depravi y in vou hy nature, the word of God denies.? Lost in this extreme of sinfulness, the object of the Gospel is to seek and to save you. 3. The Gospel finds yon lost in a st ate of enmity to God. The natural mind of every man is enmity to God. In some it may break forth into more open acts of hostility than in others. Hut it is r.ot less really enmity to God, where it is cloaked with a fair exterior, and shut tip under false professions of inditference or friendship. I mean to say, that there is a direct hostility 1? 'tween the mind of God and the mind of <*verv unconverted sinner. They pursue opposite and entirely inconsistent ends; while one is gathering, the other is laboring to scatter abroad. Many may not be conscious of dis:inct purposes of opposition to the will of God ; many may deny that they have such. The reason is, simp'v, either that they do not s.'op consider what /vf i 1 r\A I ^ tnnf t h/itr f! iJIL' 'II >71 V>I"I 1.1) 171 I.IUV ill' y ikii^ i\fi iii* ?iic!i erroneous views of his character that jtiiey have ma le him altogether such an one as themselves. To a God of perfect holiness, a God who cannot abide transgression, a God who will by no means clear jtoe guilty, there is not an unrenewed sinner upon the earth wlio is not tut enemy. Your whole course of character and conduct, in ** unconverted state, is o;>cra!ing to thwart the divine purposes in the redemption of the world, to make iniquity abound, when he would makean end of sin, and to diveri from Jesus :hc heart which he would bring Jio.ue To his dominion. And thus, by these wicked works, you prove yourselves the i pernios of God. *i. J ne Gospel onus j ql. .os. tn a sta.e of utter inability to return to God. or to restore to yourselves the divine image .and favor. So far are you from being able to recommend yourselves to God, that every imagination of the thoughts of your heart is only evil continually. Go J alone can enable you to will or do any tiling that is good. You have not a wish cf your own to be reconciled to God. Your dispositions and affections are so entirely averted from him, and you love darkness and sin so much better than you love Jight and holiness, ihu' you have no natural desire to be brougb to a knowledge of yourselves or to t* knoW'Odce of God. This r.vorsiors r.f ! your minds forms sn u:Ut incapacity ol I yourselves to return to God ; and were then? no other power to operate in the conversion of souls hut the determining power of your own wills, Kzckitl might as well preach to tlie dry hones as we preach the Gosp< I un'o yon. isill more beyond your power is it to r-'s'ore to yourselves the divine fivor and image which have been lost by sin. This is a path which no human wisdom hath ever trodden, ami no mortal eye could even* discern. And except as tire result of God's unsearchable riches oi grace, a!; possibility of reconciliation to him would cease, for as it regards a way to render God merciful to tiro .sinner's soul, or tc bring this soul hack to God. though the united wisdom of ail creatures should be collected to decide upon the method, the Gospel fun's von ulter'v lost, and inns! s ek and save you as von are. This i> the condition in which the Gospel finds \ou by nature. Von are lost unJ.a* a load of intolerable guilt, in the extrenil v ofsiuii.Iness and corruption. in the en iji ;v ofvonr hearts to God, and in an uttor inability to restore yourselves to his favor. ; I have no disposition to overs ale thi* matter. Hut unless you do discern your actual state by nature, and become acquainted with \<>:;r !.eer<>ities, i; is vain to point youi no to tii". provisions winch the Gospel has ma Jo lor your rescue and relief. W e cannot better illustrate the natural condition of fallen man than by comparing it with the actual condition of fallen angels. They contracted guilt and were unable to remove it. They lost the divine image in which they were created, and were unable to restore it; and having no provision made lor them by God himseif, tlicy are left to endure the penalty of their transgression in endless, irremediable misery. I know not tl.-ir ilicro k :i shadow of difference between us and litem in this respect, except so fur as tiic sovereign grace of God in which fhnj found no interest, lias interposed for us.? This, I believe, to be the very truth before t iod ; and all the difference between us and them, is the difference which grace has i i' ? maoc. Hut if this truth were really felt among you, our work, in establishing the truth of the Gospel, would have no difficulties to enI I ! counter. It is the pride of your hearts which interposes the great obstacle to your accejitar.cc of the Gospel. You are so avers3 'o see your necessities, so disposed to contend lor some remnant of goodness ( or power in yourselves, which shall lessen your obligations to God, that the provisions of the Sun of man arc shut out from you and despised. But could you feel and ac}?I l?r. yfrhnllIaoI fltirl Ivliuu i ugt; iv/oi, unu forever !osJ, you would bo ready to hear ol a Saviour with thankfulness, and to embrace with anxious desire the salvation which has ben provided for you in the Gospel. You would rejoice that "the Son of inan had . come to seek and to save that which was lost."?Dr. Tynfs Parochial Lectures o, the Laic and the Gospel, See. 10. I have preferred to state this doctrine in words copied from known " modern evangelical ministers" of the Protestant Episco pal Church, rather than in those of "old dead orthodox Prcsbi/tcrian Calvinisls , Having represented the import of the exj pression "total dopiavitv," [for the New School have no objection to the adoption ol . the words, but to the things signified there' by,] I wish to add the Scripture testimony ' to this doctrine. This is to be deduced, 1st, From God's description of the moral character and heart of man, as expressed in the Bible; and 2nd, From his judgment and sentence upon tliis moral being, man, declared in the ' word. 1st then, God saw the w ickedness of man 1 that it was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, Gen. vi. 5. The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. < 'Oil. viii. 21. The heart of the sons of nice is fully set in them to do evil, Keel. viii. 11. The Bible calls some children of the Devil, John viii. 44 ; also, 1 John iii. 10. For from within, out of the heart of ; man, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders, thefts, covefousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousncss, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the ! man, Mark vii. 21?24. I know (says ' Ban!) that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwclIeth no good thing, Rom. vii. 18. The carnal mind is enmity against God, Rom. I viii. 7. There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none that understandoth, there is none that seeketh after God. They arc all gone out of the way, they arc together become unprofitable; there is none that doI eth good, no, not one. Their throat is an i open sepulchre; with their tongues they hnvci injfil ih'Cfir: the unison of asns is un * ? i 1 i I der their lips; whose mouth is full of curs, i ing and bitterness; their feet arc swift to ! shed blood ; destruction and misery arc in their ways, and the way of peace have they , not known. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them that j arc under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become j guil y before God, Rom. iii. 10?*20. Thus | much for the mode in which the moral chai raptor and heart of man is described in the ' Strictures, ; '2nd, Let us consider the T)\\me judgment ! and sentence. We find the very words of the Judge ' written in the book, which will bo pronounced upon every child of Adam, unless he be washed, and justified, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God, The judgment and sentence is thus expressed by the Lord Jesus : u Do. part from me ye cursed, into everlasting lir<\ prepared for the Levi) and .his angels," i .Matt. xxv. 41. The same doom in kind is awarded to the Devil and his angels, and to unrenewed man : iiis moral nature, therefore, cannot be of a superior order or kind, without in1 voivitig the sentence in injustice. Reasonin'* upon *? *< suh'T-t ar.svcr0 r:<? roed put. [*' pos". After s'ating the doctrine according j < i jo Scripture, the proper answer to pride, \ i . j wrath, scll-rightcousness and cavil, is that j of Paul, " Nay but, O man, who art thou |i tJiat rcpliost against Clod ?" Rom. ix. 20. ' i Persons who do not understand nn a feel! < ' the true malignity of their depraved and sin-: j ful natures; who have not been convinced I : j bv the Holy Ghost of sin, [John xvi. 8.] j i never go to Christ. They are not "sickJ 11 ihov have no "need'1 of the physician. :! They may acknowledge and feel that they ! i i Iiavc a "/das" to evil; that their will is not; i precisely "in equilibrio hut they do not !; f(C,l themselves to be now ios!; they fear they ! >! shall be lost by and bye, unless they have grace given them to keep the command- : t. mcnts, and they go on "trying," in a legal: way, to do better and better, and really think t they are advancing in holiness, and arc very ; | " devoted," because they do many things ; j ; and they trust and believe in these many ; -: things which they have done, and are do- i , ins, or arc to do ; for all of which doings ! 1 O7 7. O I tliev say they arc indebted to grace;?and i ' * -* * i - -1 - - " _ r T iins is ino oiny grace incy conceive 01: jc. sus has died to put them in a " saleable"; j s:ate. I?ut these persons forget two Scrip- j ; tures? i 1st. That without faith it is impossible to I . please Clod, Ileb. xi. G. j And 2nd, Tins is his commandment, that; II we should believe 011 the name of his ?on,j j Jesus Christ, John iii. 23. I; Persons of such a religions experience j [; do not trust and believe in what Christ has . | done in his life, in his death, and in his re? surrccfion; and therefore their rightcousi, ncss docs not exceed the righteousness of '! the Scribes and Pharisees, Matt. v. 20.? ; '! They reject Christ and his salvation by rc- : < I fusing to believe,?to trust in his righteous- ; II ncss, and by confiding in their own, Pom. ; ; x. o?10. They trust not in a righteous- j ': noss of/W//i,but inn righteousness of works,i' ' i which proves them to be s ill under the 11 ' j curse, Gal. iii. x. And they never will reaso j < to have some confidence in the flesh, [Phil. ; 11 iii. 3] fill they perceive and feel their own j l j " total depravity." Never, till then, will j < ;; thev go to Jesus and be saved, < I ' LUTHER. i j ^ _ J i Front the Christian Observer, fur 180* >. , SUBJECT FOR SELF-EXAMINATION*. j I ITavc I Juring the year that is past, re ! . garded the favor and everlasting enjoy- ;! j ment of God as the great end of all my |1 J schemes, and have I labored to maintain a 1 j constant reference to him, in all the actions 1 ' of my life ? | j ; Have I, in pursuing that end, placed my 1 ! whole reliance on Jesus Christ, regarding his olicdicnco, sacrifice, mediation, and in- 1 .! tercession, as the only ground on which I ' . could hope to obtain the pardon of my sins, f l>eace with God, the sanctifying influence of I the Holy Spirit, or any other spiritual Dies- ' |sin-? . , . . I! j Have I kept continually in mint] the in- 1 I dispensable obligation I am under, to walk I in the steps of Christ, and to be holy as he 1 j is holy, if I would enter into Heaven : and j 1 have I been constantly and earnestly en- J1 j -aged in prayer for bis Holy Spirit, in the |( i firm belief that by him alone, can I bcena- i ! bled to fulfill that obligation ? | Have I been employed in cultivating r.n i1 ! habitual sense of God's presence, and of; J , my accountablcness to him; of the shortness j1 of time, and of my obligation to improve ii?; ; Has it been my study to appear well, not ( t so much in the sight of men, as in the sight j 1 j C? 7 o . of God ? And to that end have I been par-1 t licuiarly on my guard against the love of ' j human praise, or distinction, and the fear 1 of shame: desisting from my purpose, when 1 , i porccivca inese iu uu um* inumw, ' and endeavoring to overconic them when I 1 I C perceived them to mix with sucli as were (: I more pure ? j? i Have I been in the habit of considering 1 ( I . ? i love to Hod, and zeal for his glory, as my i, 11 highest duties ? Mas it been my daily la- j1 . bor to improve in these divine affections ?:; (j And have I judged of my progress in ' ;! them, not by transient fervors of the mind,; : but by my habitual temper, by my punctu- j* i; al performance of the self-denying duties J , of Christianity, by my cheerful acquios-!' ''cenceinall the dispensations of the Al-!' ' mighty, anil by the love, the humility, and ! the meekness which I have been enabled :( i to exercise to all around me ? J , Can I savof myself that I have lived a :( : life of dependence on Christ, and of faith 1 ! in his word; and that I have made that i I word the exclusive measure of my belief ;s | and practice ? j 1 I Has it been my particular study to re-! j strain all wandering of the mind in the pub- i 1 lie, and private exercises o( divine worship, 1 and to guard also against the evils of vanity ( and formality in worshipping God ? < Have I banished as much as possible.!1 i vain and wordly conversation from my lips,:: j and vain and worldly thoughts from mv I * j mind on the Lord's day; and have I taken J1 | delight in its appropriate duties? Have I been careful so to arrange my j5 i duties, and my domestic concerns, that i ! neither I myself, nor any of my family, nor I any one employed by me, may experience , any unnecessary hindrance to a regular j . attendance on the public worship of God, ' . or bo deprived of the time which is requis-: i ! itc for duly hallowing the Sabbath ? * 1 Have 1 been particularly studious to guard i i t j against the intrusion of impure thoughts; i ( j turning away mine eyes from whatever; j , i might excite them, shutting my ears against t | polluting conversation, and restraining my ! ] ,; tongue from every licentious word ? I j Havel been vigilant in repressing equal.'. , i Iv every rising of covetous desire, and every i ( tendency, to improper expense, or the care.; j less prolusion of any of the gifts of God ? j | Have I regarded myself in the light i * merely of a steward of the bounties of Prov. i < j idence; and have I sought out proper sub. j I 'i jects with whom to share them ? Remem-1' j bering that to God 1 must give account | J for the employment of all his gifts, let me I j now inquire whether in the last year my I ! heart has devised and my hand has cxecu. 1' i ted liberal things ? What proportion of my J l gains have I given to God Is it a sufii-1; ejent proportion 1 Might it not have bc:n ' enlarged by the abridgement of vain and ( 1 superfluous expenses ? j hiti Have the temporal, but especially the scr spiritual miseries of my fcllow-creatures j the excited any serious concern in my mind,, pci or led mc to join in plans for their relief? j of ^ Have I been careful to improve my time, j the that invaluable talent ; redeeming it from j Ihe unnecessary sleep, and from frivolous con- j the vcrsationand pursuits; resisting every temp- j oni tat ion to procrastination and sioth; applying | yoi myself with activity to the business of the j mo> present day and hour; & always exercising I (ui self-denying attention to what is my proper j tio, works ? : rca Have I kept truth inviolate in the smallest go as well as the greatest matters; even in ca- ma sos where my worldly interest or my world-! ly credit might seem to be at stake ! . of Have I conducted mv worldly affairs . ny, with strict uprightness rod fidelity, as in the co: sight of God; not concealing from others : act o # ' O that which they ought to know, or taking i spc advantage in any degree of their ignorance wit and dependence ? , fro Have I been careful to look up to God Go for his blessings on all my undertakings, j h:s avoiding every pursuit, whether of pleasure vai or business, in which I could not freely im- tliu ploro him to prosper my way ? i bet flnvc I cultivated a teachable spirit? tioi flavc 1 been open to convic'ion, and been 1 clu ready to receive reproof meekly and thank- Nc fully"? " mo When engaged in dispute have I been thii nj)t to indulge any sujK-rciliousness in look slu and manner, any sourness of mind, any im- t:oi patience of contradiction ? Or have I been ! Ion in the habit of listening with patience and the kindness, to the arguments and reasonings the of others, however absurd and inappropri- ( sen ate tliey may have appeared to be? j sin In my domestic relations especially, have j aiu I home contradiction or dissent, with kind- j as ness and good humor? Or have I been apt cut to show impatience on any symptoms of difference in opinion ? I art Have I cherished .1 temper of benignity (Je[ to all around me, carefully attending to the 'ah July of Christian courtesy, to the outward w'ri expression of love and kindness; and avoid- ?y | ing every thing, whether peevishness and ; 'ak ill-humor, or coldness and neglect, which Hh might necessarily wound the feelings of. stl" others ? due Have I watched against all hastiness of ucl spirit towards inferiors, and especially to- His wards those who depend on me and need be my help ? And have I been ready cheer- :,na fully to listen to their representations, and j ncc :o show them all the kindness in my power,! 11 consitcnce with my other duties ? | Have I allowed the ill conduct of others 1 o lessen my kindness or good will to them,' , >r to irritate me to return evil for evil ? In reproving servants have I been care- j "ul to avoid harshness, and has my general conduct towards them, proved that I am * j really anxious 10 promote mcir everlasting t QC( ntercst ? Have 1 been apt fo indulge passion and 1 0f xtevishness, towards my ciiildren ? Have i q [ watched over them as one who must give {|ie m account of them to God, being prevent-1 poj ?d neither by false tenderness nor indolence,' {|1C xom correcting their faults ? j *1' Have I exerted myself as much as I j scj, night have done in leading my children, j ovc my servants, and all over whom I have any j t;m nflucncc to God ? ; jon Have I been punctual in devoting a pait , ?|)C :>fevery day, to those great concerns which 0f ic between God and my soul ? j tjlc Have I been in the daily habit of read- j tjlc ng the Word ol God with mediattion and : no^ >raycr ??and how has the du'y of secret | rejj prayer been performed ? 1 aj/ Have I every day made these graces of wj1( h? Christian temper, in which I know my- ' fon self to be defective, the subject of special ' uj0 ind earnest supplication at the throne of ? yjr Brace? L.ai Have I been accustomed to retrace the jsjej innumerable instances of God's providential s|m goodness to me, and to adore him on ac- t0 | :ount of them ? iuj^ Has my mind been properly affected with j .0q .he blessings of redemption, and in the con- i u:s ;cmp!ation of them have I been willing to j Jevotc myself entirely to the service of my fi Redeemer ? kjn Have I been in the daily practice of re- j ner Jailing io memory my innumerable offences anc igainst God, and preserving the recollection i jjjj. )f them, as an incitement to gather watch- CQ[} nlncss, circumspection, and self-denial ? ! Have I daily engaged in the work of ?jn self-examination, and has that duty been anc; aithfully and diligently performed ? ! Lai Have I anxiously studied to reform what i *yu [ found to be amiss; and has the discovery : )f my failures led me more deeply to repent c Kj )f sin. more highly to value the love of my ! ajj], trucified Remember; more implicitly to j jnff ely on his atoning merits for pardon and j ^jj icccptance; and on the grace of the Holy ! paj, snirir. for victorv over sin and advance rmm"j licnt in holiness ? i ^ Ilavc on the whole heen advancing in my ; aL spiritual course during the last year ! ! tjie : of < From the Christian Intelligencer. j par Tholuck's Opinion* on the Character [ tint vnd tendencv of professor StUART's j klK 1'heological Sentiments.?In the Church- thu nan of last week, there is an article headed.' ovc ' American Theology/' (from some re- its linrks in which we would wholly lisscnt,) reli :opied from the British Critic, a quarterly the periodical, edited by members and devoted j she o the interests of the Episcopal Church in the England. In this article, the theology of j a c< he works of Professor Stuart, and of Jacob i Abbott's Corner Stone," is severely con-' Th lemncd. In the course of the remarks, i 1 ;he opinion ot the celebrated and excellent1 t Professor Tholuck, of Halle, in Germany,; ' :is to Professor Stuart's Theology, is intro- tun Juccd as quoted from a periodical edited by nor him, entitled the "Litcrarischrr Anzcigcr." 'Ih The quotation is from the number dated , thu April 7. 1934. wr< Mr. Stuart somewhere observes >n relation ani to the doctrine of original sin,4hat tlvc whole ; pol subject needs in this country, an investiga- cor tion, and review dc novo, such as it has not it, < vet received. < >n this the reviewer tTliol. bin ?>bsrrvc? t To this review, do novo 31. Stuart has | ma iscIf contributed. When now, one ob- | err ves how he conducts his examination of! to doctrine of original sin, free and inde. fro rdent of honored names and confessions an< faith, and liow he in part brings forward difl same objections which the rationalist Hi< ologians among ourselves set up against pro letter of the church's doctrine?and when dei > anticipates further that among the is ; uigcr theological race of America, this not de of proceeding will continually spread, ent id that calling to their aid our ra~ mn nalisl German books,) one cannot Imt ah bio dy anticipate that North America, must it \ through the same crisis into which Gcr. hut ni/ has been brought" I it 1 U'c ask the attention of our readers and j agi iiic American Churches, to this tcstimo-1 ed Wo confess, that although deeply I All ivinccd of the dangerous, and evil char- no! er of Professor Stuart's criticisms, and ex< :cuiations," we were nor prepared to meet en< h a testimony so full and explicit as this wo m Tholuck. Distinguished as he is in of rmanv, among the evangelical men for eve able and efficient opposiuon ,o the pre- am ling neology, yet he has not embraced j fre< peculiarities of Calvinism, and it has ! sin m thought that in some of the exposi- esti is, there lias been somewhat of a similar upi iractcr with those of Professor Stuart.? j ole testimony from any source could be j Bil ire unprejudiced than that of Tholuck in j tiio s ease. Some months since, we gave a 1 e? >rt extract from a review of the last cdi. j i of " Stuart on the Romans," in that g established and excellent periodical, S( " Christian Observer." The editor of A ! Christian Observer, pronounces the itiments of Professor Stuart, on original , and justification by faith, at direct vari- q ' :c with the doctrines of the reformation, and set forth in the confessions of the difier. ti,) Protestant Churches, and with evangel- ^at 1 truth. Distinguished as Professor Stumay be for industry, and ability, in the rartment of Biblical Literature, yet his ccp, ors as spread before the public in bis . is ? tings, appear to us to have been serious- j *?rr i productive of evii. lie seems to havel^ ' 1 the basis for the extreme of the New j s<0,j unity as it is now displayed. Is it not; ncc ingc that while such men as the con-1 pre? tlors ofthe Christian Observer, and Thol- ?,al :, speak so unequivocally, andstrongly of i tjjc sentiments on original sin, that he should | t|lo< considered nearly as oracular, by so i firt) ny who still solemnly snbscribe in con- ! Chv :tion with their vows of oflicc, the j ~'?1 ?stminister confession of Jaith and Cate- inp sms. circ - . . for c Establishment and Progress of the jn c Christian Religion prove its Divine ori- per t/jj. j doir [luring the lapse of near four thousand jdcr1 . 1 unr irs, the nation of Israelites, with all their j ^ itical and religious rites and ceremonies, Chi ;upied the Territory, at the liead of the I wai ditcrranean sea, called Judea, a country tle(1 tnmicnlnm u-oc 'inrl ??ill t! ?n ! W I IIVsl I tltl IMUIV.IN U1IU pi(ol. During this Jong period of time, the changes among them, cither mora!, i flrn itical or religious, were few. Within j and same period, how many large and flour- I(-1!1 ing Empires arose?extended them- * la r i ?. anc res from sea to sea, and as a mighty 'j ilaiiche gliding down into the valley of of t e, inched and passed away. The Baby- j GIw ish?Egyptian?Grecian?gone! Judea, i strong inheritance of the mighty people i God, in tenancy to the Romans; and in j ir low estate behold a Jew arises within i adv limp of their Territory, about to change, j S the substance but the face of their own j CC1V gion, and both the substance and form of! the other religions, on the face of the i, le earth. This Jew appeared in the the in of a man; his birth said to lie mirac.! Pos1 us, (for lie claimed to be born of a j n ' gin;) his parentage from the ordinary | or a Iks of life; his opportunities of cultivation muf ider; his followers were at first, a few < pie hearted fishermen. Yet he claimed inS x) the son of God, with power from on It. He was believed on. His doctrines ( k root in the hearts of men. He and | Wil followers were persecuted even unto j 1;LS th; yet his religion lived and still lives, j e Jews and Romans, have had their j q gdoms, and laws, and religion, and man-! Mci ?? 1- i * _ s, orw cusroms, aiui inoruis upruun-u i .vgi I overturned by this religion taught in the tie, notwithstanding every engine which | ^ J ild be devised bv civil power, religious ain< judice and fanaticism, and Infidel cun- in f g, have been brought up to bear upon, and I contend against it. Malignant enemies and e scorned and slandered it; false! 'aids in their worldly pride,, and ambi-I.. \ 1 and avarice and licentiousness, have [ jaR leavored to corrupt it. But escaping \ i ;e from the bloody sword, and cncrvat- ? , corrupting embraces of the world, the j gion of the Bible lives. She rejects the jm icly claimed Divine right of Popes, their J ular power, the alliance of Courts, and the is li ictmcnts of Senates, for her aid,& walking j oad proclaims in the presence ofthe world. Bible. My only foundation, is the word nec God. Truth, unaided by man has thus J Iosi won its wav in the world, and will con- { ... . . 11 p .1. _ ; an i ic lo prevail until the earth is tun or nie )\v!edgo of the Lord. Could it have ^ s prevailed, dear reader, under all the a?I( Twhelming prejudice against it, had no/1 ths origin been Divine? The Mohammedan ?ati gion prevailed by bathing the sword in Pr??* blood of its enemies. The Christian by ?jn~ s dding Us own blood to save the lives, vea; the life of the souls of its enemies? What [ con] antrast is here. j ?'vc | put e Purity of the Doctrines and Precepts j conl aught in the Bible, proves its origin to j \c Divine. 'The heathen writers represented the na3 of Cod as embodying human imperfec. ~ is, and they worshipped him as such." ^ < eir false religion countenanced those A igs, which right reason pronounces to be >ng, and injurious tojpersonal happiness, 1 the purity, peace, and prosperity of _ ideal institutions. The Bible, on the itrary, represents ail things contained in j ^ connected ith the best interests of the j {j nan race, as holy and pure. God, the j an(j frtmcr cf *Tf* universe, the maker of I in, the sovereign of the world, the Govtor and Judge of all the earth, is revealed us, as a Holy Being, infinitely removed m all impurity. His law is Holy, just 1 good. His people are a Holy people, [bring from *11 the world around them. 5 laws and institutions are Holy, and his eepts opposed to sin in every shape or jree. Heaven, the home of the righteous, x holy place. "Nothing that is impure, hing that defdeth, or maketh a lie, shall er into that Holy place, the rest; that re. lineth for the people of God." If the Bihad been the production of men, would lave spoken the language concerning nnan nature, which it now speaks? Would lave pronounced thecoma/ mind enmity xinst God ? Would it havo so represent' the character of our race, as tt does I I gone astray, * that none doeth goody no i one?" Meihinks not. It would have ;uscd, or palliated human conduct, as the imies of truth add holiness now do. It uld have apologized for the aberrations the sinner in heart and life, as many arc* m now disposed to do. The doctrines J precepts of the Bible are calculated to e men from their selfishness, the root of , to instil into them principles of disinter. ?d benevolence, to form them pure, and ight and holy, promoters of their benevnt maker's glorv. The purity of the >le, stamps it with the seal of Divine aurity. PROSPECTUS OF Tltfi )UTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. T the late General Confidence oftheMeth L odist Episcopal Church, resolutions were scd, authorizing the publication of weekly re. ous papers, on the same footing with the istiari Advocate and Journal (of New York,) tho Western Christian Advocate (Cincinna. at Ri Innond, Nashville,and Charleston. At ihville, the paper thus authorized, has already a issued. The one intended for Richmond, !, we doubt net, soon be put forth. And the >rgia and South Carolina Annual Confcrcn , for whose districts the paper at Charleston specially intended, havocach taken measures its early publication. 'lie Act of the General Conference authorir these publici tions, was called for by tho it hern Delegates, on the ground of its being cssary to an equal distribution of the Church's ?s to all parts of her communion ; and cspclv, in view of the peculiar political aspect of - A l-f. J P.. tunes. \\ lUnn me range comempiaica ior paper at Charleston, leaving equal scope for :e at Richmond and Nashville,there arc about r thousand whites in the membership of the ireh. Here then are, probably,ten thousand Lhodist families, and a much greater number ched to the Methodists who have no weekly cr published among them. This, under any umstancos, might be held a sufficient reason (Itc publication wc propose; but considered onnexion with the feeling which is known U> rado all classes of men on tho subject of our lestic institutions, it not only justifies our urtakingas one that is expedient, but strongly es it as necessary to the Church. Ve propose, therefore, to publish at tho city of irlcston, as soon as the subscription list shall rrnnt it, a weekly religious paper, to be cntiI The Southern Christian Adrocato; which II be zealously devoted to tho promotion of d morals and religion?to give expression to views and feelings of our people, kindly, but ily, on all subjects bearing on the Churcb~ in particular, to sot forward the cause of Lstiun benevolence, as embodied in tho Bible, sionary, Sunday School, Tract and Tempere Societies. 'his paper shall be printed on an imperial shec'# .lie same size and quality with that of tho isti in Advocate of New York; with new J, Ion^ primer; and the typography, in all >ects, shall closely resemble the New York er. 'lie price will be Three Dollars, to be paid in ancc. ubseriptions paid within one month after reitig the first number, either to the publisher n authorized Agent, will be considered as in ancc. n any ease of discontinuance during the year, subscription for the year must be paid, and tnge of the order to discontinue, kll communications, whether of business onr tcr for publication, unless remitting money, ubseriptions, to the amount of ten dollars, ?t be j>ost paid. 'omuiunications involving facts, or respect, persons, as accounts of revivals or religious itings, "obituary notices, biographies, &c. ?t be accompanied with the writer's name, 'ommunications may be addressed to the Kev. lliam Capers, Charleston, or to either of tho toral Ministers of the Methodist, Episcopal trcli in this city, who aro members of the dishing Committee. .'he Itinerant Ministers and Preachers of tho Lhodist Episcopal Church, are all authorized :nts of the Southern Christian Advocate, to mi payments may be made. .'he proceeds of this paper, as a part of tho icral Book Concern, will be equally divided )ng all the Annual Conferences, to bo applied iprcadiug the Gospel, and aiding distressed superannuated Ministers, and the Widows ' * 1 * -E-'I ? tirAfl orphans ot those wno nave uiou 1U iiiv ? VIA* WILLIAM CAPERS, Editor, ^ublishiw* Committer.?Nicholas Talley,Goo. Pierce, Bond English, Whitcford Smith, jun. ics Scwell, John N. Davis. Charleston, Jan. 38. Davidson College. 1IIE Second Annua! Instalment on tho Sob. . scription to this Institution is now due. It loped Hat the subscribers will meet it prompt. ?The collectors appointed in the several con (rations last year arc requested to act in tho ic capacity this year. The present will of essity, be the year of greatest expense, as the titution will go into operation on the first ilarch next. Aro thcro not some who feel nterest in this entcrprizc, who have, as yet, : ...Icifinoa ??nrwi will thev Ml it 11? PCCUIIIUIJ u?j?w?vv . now, in this time of its greatest need, lend 'lping hand ? Who will give us books for Library It was suggested to one congreon, that each one having the ability should sent to tho Library one or more volumes, as e\v Year's Gift. This suggestion has brought levcral valuable liooks. It is proposed that friends of tho Institution in all the other grcgations act on the hint. Let each one ! at least one volume. The Books may be into the hands of the pastors of the respective gregations. Books on any subjeet will bo ikfnlly received. Will the pastors bring this ect before their congregations ? r. J. SPARROW, Agent of Davidson College. 3i* sale at the Bookstore. N Appeal to Young Men in the Presbyterian L Qburch. By Professor Howe,of the Theo. cal Souiinary in Columbia. The proceeda to devoted to tho education causo. Psalms & Hymns | p the General Assembly of the PresbytcriW an Church, large and small edition, itifine common binding. Enquire ct the Bookstore. >?? . 07, /