THE

EXTENT AND EFFICACY

OF THE

ATONEMENT.

BY

HOWARD MALCOM, 1799-

PRESIDENT OF GEORGETOWN COLLEGE, KENTUCKY.

1879

SECOND EDITION.

NEW-YORK:

ROBERT CARTER, 58 CANAL-STREET.

ENTERED, according to Act of Congresss, in the year our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty, by ROBERT CARTER,

in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of NewYork.

UNIVERSITY PRESS-J. F. TROW, PRINTER.

PREFACE.

THE following dissertation was originally an introductory discourse before the Boston Baptist Association, and was delivered before that body at its session in Newton, Mass., Sept. 19, 1832. It was afterward published, with an Appendix, which, for want of time, was omitted in the delivery. The edition, though large, was soon sold, and has been long out of print. It is now arranged anew, and somewhat enlarged.

The author feels no misgiving as to the propriety of keeping up the Church's attention to doctrinal points. It is only thus that we can prevent extensive misunderstandings, destroy that secrecy which nurtures erroneous opinions, and maintain in the minds of our members that regard for foundation principles which is the essence of rectitude.

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It has always been fashionable in a decline in the Church's purity, to decry controversy, and discountenance doctrinal preaching, while the pastors boast of confining themselves to the inculcation of practical virtues. Such congregations soon slide into open enmity to doctrines which at first they only deemed it unprofitable to discuss; and instead of being found to excel others in practical piety, become unstable in principle, and liable to be drawn aside by every seducing spirit.

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"All Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,* for correction, for instruction in righteousness. The doctrines of our holy religion should, on all becoming occasions, be fully preached, even in the minor ramifications. The meeting of an ecclesiastical judicatory is a fit opportunity for the abstruse and thorough discussion of great truths; but the press is a still

*

Eleyxov; literally, confutation. Compare, in the original, 2 Tim. 4: 2, and Titus 1; 9.

better mode of conducting controversy, because the teacher is less likely to be misunderstood, and his arguments less likely to give offence.

Let but our inculcation of doctrine be conducted in Christian meekness, and without admixture of a contentious, artful, obstinate, or jealous disposition, and instead of creating or inflaming dissensions, we shall prevent or cure them. Instead of widening the distance between denominations or persons, good feeling will be promoted by the settlement of exact boundaries. Instead of growing negligent of practical virtues, we shall discover their very foundations, and be impelled to them by force of principle. Instead of weakening mutual esteem, and disgracing religion, we shall renovate friendship, disarm enmity, discover error, establish truth, increase holiness, and please God.

No one who surveys the present state of Christianity in this country, can fail to perceive that almost the entire energies of the Church