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riences of vital religion, which are necessary to conftitute them Chriftians indeed.-This is aimed at in the publication of most of the following Letters.

The danger we are in of prevailing Antinomianifm, and the actual prevalence that it has already obtained (especially under the name of Moravianifm) in fome parts of the country, is a fufficient juftification of the attempt I have made to fet the founda. tion-error of the Antinomians in a true light, and to discover its dangerous tendency.

If any are inclined to cenfure me for troubling the world with new difcourfes upon fuch fubjects as I had publicly treated on before, particularly the Evidences of Chriftianity, the Sovereignty of divine Grace, Faith and Juftification; they may confider, that these are most important points, and deferve the most particular illuftration; that there is at this time a fpecial call to remove the objections against them out of the way; and that this is now attempted in a different manner from my former discourses on these subjects; and, I trust, with fome additional evidence to the truth.

If any of my readers are fo curious as to inquire, to whom these Letters were directed? It is fufficient anfwer, that they are now by the Press directed to them; and if they can improve them to their fpiritual advantage, it will anfwer the end of their pu. blication. May the bleffing of GOD attend them to this purpose.

J. D.

CON

PM.

FAMILIAR LETTERS

ON A

Variety of RELIGIOUS SUBJECTS.

LETTER I. Wherein the Danger of Infidelity is briefly reprefented.

I

SIR,

Heartily rejoice to hear from you, that you are at laft come into a "Refolution, immediately to "enter upon a serious and impartial examina"tion of the Chriftian Religion." What you obferve is certainly true, "that this is an affair of too 66 great confequence to be carelessly neglected, to "be decided at the club, or to be rejected by "wholesale, with the too common arguments of "mirth and raillery, fneer and banter."I fhould therefore be inexcufable, fhould I refufe a compliance with your request, to "maintain a correspond"ence with you by letter; and affift you, what I can, in your inquiries into the truth of Chriftiani

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ty, the nature of the Chriftian inftitution, and the "character and qualifications of those who are in"titled to the rewards therein promifed." But what can a gentleman of your capacities expect from me? And has not this caufe been clearly and fully handled, especially of late, by a variety of authors? Has it not triumphed over all oppofition? Have not its poor deluded oppofers been covered with fhame and confusion, in all their feeble attempts to sub

vert our faith, and to deftroy the bleffed hope of our future happiness? And are not thefe books in your hands? Read them, Sir, with that attention which fuch an awful and important affair demands of you; and I think you cannot fail of obtaining conviction and fatisfaction.

To your inquiry, "How fhall I firft enter upon "a proper difquifition of this caufe?" I answer, in a few words. Confider the importance of it: Cor. fider, I intreat you, that it is an eternal concern. Were this duly confidered, it would be impoffible for you to content yourfelf in fuch a ftate, wherein there is fo much as a peradventure as to the dreadful and astonishing confequences of a disappointment.

You may perhaps have hitherto concluded all revealed religion to be but a mere cheat and impofture. -You may have borne your part in the converfation at taverns or coffee-houses, against prieftcraft, cant, and enthusiasm.-You may have ridiculed all pretences to vital piety; and exploded all the go. fpel doctrines refpecting future rewards and punithments, as unreasonable, or unintelligible dreams and fictions.-Well! fuppofing you were in the right, What happiness, what comfort or fatisfaction would your infidelity afford you?-What rational man would envy you the confolation of imagining yourfelf upon a level with the beasts, and of expecting that death will terminate all your hopes and fears! -What believer would part with the glorious hope of eternal and inexpreffible happiness and joy, for the gloomy profpect of annihilation!

It is certain, upon this fuppofition, the believer can be in no danger; he has nothing to lofe, or to fear; but has every way the advantage of you. He has the prefent fatisfaction of being a favourite of Heaven. He has a continual fource of fupport and comfort, amidst the darkest scenes of Providence,

from

from the gracious Promifes of the Gofpel.-He can overcome the miseries of life, and the terrors of death, with the ravishing view of a blessed immortality. And it is certain, if mistaken, he will never lament his disappointment, but fleep as quietly in a ftate of non-existence as you can do.

But perhaps I have mistook your fentiments. You may poffibly have given into an opinion of a future existence, though you have called the truth of the Gofpel into question.-Be it fo. Yet, upon this fuppofition alfo, the believer has vaftly the advantage of you. He has all the happiness in this life which Christianity affords; and this you must be a stranger to. He can live in comfort, and die in peace.His religion deprives him of nothing, which can any way contribute to his rational happiness and delight; but every way tends to subserve and promote them. And certainly (even upon your own principles) he may have as fair a claim to Sincerity, in his endeavours to approve himself to the glorious Author of our being, as you can have; and confequently as good a profpect of future blessedness.-So that, up. on the whole, it is evident that he has nothing to fear from his principles, whether they be true or falfe. He has no cause for those stinging reflections, What if I am mistaken! What if my fentiments fhould prove falfe, when it comes to the decifive trial!

And now, let us turn the tables; and confider the bitter fruits of your fatal mistake, if Christianity fhould at laft prove true.-You cannot but acknowledge, that there have been great numbers of men of the best moral qualifications, whofe intellectual powers were no ways inferior to theirs on the other fide of the queftion, who have profeffed the truth, and experienced the power of that religion, which you have defpifed.-How many most excellent perfons, of the greatest integrity, learning and fagacity,

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