understandings*; converted in their hearts; they believed in the REDEEMER; obeyed his Gofhel; and, through infinite and unmerited grace, were eternally faved. Why then fhould not you purfue the fame measures, if you have any fufpicions every thing is not with you as it fhould be? You must allow, if the Gospel-account of things be true, it is inconceivably important. Treat it not, therefore, with contempt, neglect, indifference, but examine the matter to the bottom. Follow the example of WEST and LITTLETON, on a former page, and let no man lead you by the nose to deftruction, or fneer you out of salvation. Examine the evidence, and, with all fimplicity and humility of mind, judge according to that evidence. And if you are finally convinced, that JESUS is the CHRIST, act nobly, confefs his name, like ROCHESTER †, to the teeth The reader will find a very clear and concife account of the true foundation of all human knowledge in the Letters of the celebrated EULER, the greatest mathematician of the present age, to a German Princefs, vol. 1. Let. 115. p. 511. This extraordinary man, fecond to none but the immortal NEWTON, was a ferious and confcientious Chriftian, and avowed his belief in CHRIST upon all proper occafions. And while his great Mafter declared that he found more fure marks "of authenticity in the Bible, than in any profane hiftory whatever;" he writes to the above Princefs, that "the holy life of the Apostles and "of the other primitive Christians appeared to him an irrefiftible proof "of the truth of the Chriftian religion." Letter 114. For the above declaration of Sir ISAAC NEWTON, fee Bishop WATSON's admirable Apology for Chriftianity in answer to Mr. GIBBON, Let. 3. p. 287. + We have another very refpectable and honourable inftance of this nature to prefent to the reader, which has juft taken place, and which others of our deiftical gentlemen would find their advantnge in imitating Dr. OKELY, fon, I believe, of the late eminent Greek scholar, Mr. FRANCIS OKELY, who is now phyfician to the Northampton Infirmary, fome months ago, published an octavo volume, entitled," Pyrology, or the Connection between Natural and Moral Philofophy, with a Difquifition on the Origin of Chriftianity; " in which it was completely exploded, together with the doctrine of a future ftate. It has pleased GoD however, to fhew Dr. OKELY the vanity of his philofophy, and he has done himself the honour to publish the following manly renunciation of his errors. "The Author of PYROLOGY feels himself irresistibly impelled to make known, that he is now thoroughly convinced of the moral government of God, the immortality of the human foul, or future ftate, and of the truth of Chrstianity in its fullest extent. For his involuntary error he confidently hopes to be pardoned by Almighty GoD, through the merits of teeth of his oppofers, and strive like him, to undo all the mischief you may have been the occafion of to others. "But, if we fhould be fo feriously religious, as you "feem to think neceffary, we fhall lofe all the comforts "of life, and become dull and melancholy." If this were true, one hour's enjoyment of the glory of heaven would more than make amends for all your prefent lofs. It is not, however, true. The ways of godliness are grievously belied. For there is no happiness like the happiness of religion, even in the prefent world; and no peace like that of GOD, which passeth all understanding. "The Men of Grace have found of JESUS CHRIST; but at the fame time thinks it his duty, in this public manner, to folicit the pardon of his readers for having, as much as in him lay, though he trusts ineffectually, contributed to lead them' aftray." Mifionary Magazine. We may obferve upon this fubject, that there are other converfions in the prefent day from Deifm to Chriftianity, befides this of Dr. OKELY, and those we have already mentioned in these papers. Dr. VANDERKEMP, a Dutch phyfician, was convinced and recovered from Infidelity by an alarming providence, and has devoted himself as a Miffionary for the converfion of the Heathen. Captain WILSON alfo is another remarkable inftance, who, in gratitude to God for his goodness to him, undertook to convey the Mionaries to the Southern Ocean, and has accomplished the undertaking with great and furprifing fuccefs, without putting the Society to the smallest expence. We are told in the Walpoliana, that GRAY, the poet, was a Deift, though a violent enemy of Atheists; and it does not appear that ever he was changed. Month. Mag, for Oct. 1798. HENRY REDHEAD YORKE, Efq. one of the gentlemen who was fentenced to a long imprisonment for feditious practices, may be mentioned as another inftance of a perfon, whofe mind has undergone a great change during his imprisonment; and he has been open and honelt enough to avow it. "The vices and frauds of the profeffors of Christianity," fays he, "have nothing to do with Christianity itself. To know what it is, we muft look to the only proper place, THE SCRIPTURES. The Chriftian religion is peculiar to itfelf; it has nothing in common with the other fyftems of religion which have existed in the world. It has God for its founder, and reafon for its bafis. It is every where uniform, confiftent, and complete." See this Gentleman's very valuable Letter to the Reformers for more fentiments to the fame purpose. X 2 "Celestial "Celestial fruits on earthly ground, "A thousand facred fweets "But I fhall be fingular!"-This is partly true, and partly otherwife. And fuppofe you are fingular; how will this injure you? You will have the approbation of your own mind. You will have GOD, and CHRIST, and angels, and all good men your friends. And is not this fufficient, but you muit have the approbation of the devil and all his fervants too, the children of vice and folly? Miftake not, fond man; the approbation of both is incompatible. You cannot ferve GOD and Mammon; neither can you have the friendship of GOD, CHRIST, angels, and good men, and at the fame time poffefs the approbation of the devil, and his fervants, whofe portion is in this life. The thing is impoffible. You may as well attempt to reconcile light and darkness, fire and water, heaven and hell.-But fuppofe you fhould become a convert of the Gospel of CHRist, and be truly in earnest about the falvation of your foul, and, of course, fingular in your way and manner of life; what inconvenience would you fuftain? or what real dishonour would you undergo? Was not SOCRATES fingular among the Athenians? Were not ENOCH and NOAH fingular among the Antediluvians? Was not ABRAHAM fingular in Canaan, and Lor in Sodom? Were not ELIJAH, ELISHA, ISAIAH, and all the prophets very fingular perions in their day? Our bleffed LORD, his holy Apoftles, and all the primitive Chriftians, were they not uniformly the fame? And where was the misfortune of all this? When we read the ftory of thefe ancient worthies, don't we admire their wifdom, their courage, their choice, and their noble fuperiority to all thofe poor creatures who oppofed them, and caft out their name as evil? What man of talte does not approve the conduct of ABDIEL in MILTON? Never character was more enviable, or more worthy of imitation: "The 166 "The feraph ABDIEL faithful found Nor number, nor example with him wrought 66 "And with retorted fcorn his back he turn'd "With his own friendly Pow'rs, who him receiv'd Return'd not loft. On to the facred hill They led him high applauded, and prefent Against revolted multitudes the cause Of truth, in sword mightier than they in arms; "And for the teftimony of truth haft borne Univerfal reproach, far worfe to bear "Than violence; for this was all thy care "To ftand approv'd in fight of GOD, though worlds From all these confiderations it is evident, that there are times and circumftances, when if a man will be truly religious, and preserve an unshaken fidelity to his CREATOR and his SAVIOUR, he must be fingular; he must step afide; he must beg to be excufed in a variety of cafes. He must be fingular, or lofe his foul. Let not the fear of this odious imputation, therefore, deter any man from exemplary piety. The giddy multitude, and the fons and daughters of pleasure, falfely fo called, may pretend to fneer and deride; but yet, notwithstanding, they will fecretly applaud your virtuous conduct. There is a certain dignity, a real nobility, a fecret charm, in a confiftently religious character, which none can despile*. And fooner * Lord PETERBOROUGH, more famed for wit than religion, when he Lodged with FENELON at Cambray, was fo charmed with the piety and X 3 virtue fooner or later, the whole human race will be of one opinion concerning it. Inftead of being Heroes in wickedness then, or ringleaders in the cause of Infidelity (for there are not a few who make a mock at fin, and glory in their fhame) let it be your highest ambition to become Chriftian Heroes Heroes who can forgive, and love, and bless your enemies; who can conquer the world and all your own degenerate propenfities; Heroes whofe heads are big only with fchemes of mercy and of kindness; whofe hands are continually stretched out in prayer and acts of benevolence! and who are never at eafe, but in going about doing good to the bodies and fouls of men; Heroes † in whom religion fits, virtue of the Archbishop, that he exclaimed at parting: "If I ftay here "any longer, I shall become a Chriftian in spite of myself." * Sir RICHARD STEEL'S Chriftian Hero, is a little book worth the attention of the reader, especially of the reader who is difpofed to reject the Gospel. It contains an argument to prove, that no principles but thofe of Religion are fufficient to make a great man. In this little book we have a fort of comparison between the characters of CATO and CESAR, BRUTUS and CASSIUS, JESUS CHRIST and St. PAUL. Thefe illuftrious Heathens make but a very poor figure, when placed by the fide of these Chriftian Heroes. + One of the most illuftrious Heroes that England ever bred, a man equally celebrated for valour, for genius, und for learning, was not afhamed to addrefs his wife in the views of approaching diffolution in the following pious ftrain:-" Love GoD, and begin betimes. In him you fhall find true, everlafting, and endless comfort. When you have travelled and wearied yourfelf with all forts of wordly cogitations, you fhall fit down by forrow in the end. Teach your fon alfo to serve and fear GoD whilft he is young, that the fear of Gop may grow up in him. Then will GOD be an husband to you, and a father to him, an husband and a father that can never be taken from you." This is true Heroifm! Such was Sir WALTER RALEIGH! How different is the conduct of the French and the English during the courfe of the prefent unhappy war, on the fubject of Religion. It does not appear, that the former have ever acknowledged the government of the DIVINE BEING, or afcribed any of their fucceffes to his all-fuperintending Providence; whereas the Generals and Admirals of the latter have frequently, if not conftantly afcribed all their fucceffes to his bleffing. The gallant Admiral NELSON very properly introduces his account of the victory with which he has been favoured with the tremendous "ALMIGHTY GOD has blefied his Majesty's arms, in the late "battle, by a great victory over the fleet of the enemy." This is proper; this is infinitely becoming a brave man; this is the way to in name. fure |