sive to the enemies of truth, and should be more currently used and more highly esteemed by its friends. The name, indeed, they must bear ; and the way to prevent its being a term of reproach, instead of a mark of distinction, is not timidly to disown it, but clearly to explain it, and honestly and unreservedly to state, elucidate, prove and defend the rational and scriptural system of doctrines and duties to which it is affixed.

It is not apprehended, that the intelligent friends of real orthodoxy, will think the need of such a work, as the ILOPKINSIAN MAGAZINE is designed to be, at all diminished ; when they consider, how small a proportion the religious, periodical publications of the day, bear to those, which are merely literary or political, and that most of those of a religious character, are designed rather to convey intelligence, than doctrinal instruction ; and that but very few are open to the free admission and discussion of all those points, which are viewed as essential in the true system of evangelical doctrine and duty:The taste of the religious public has been vitiated by the insipid and flatulent, or stimulating and narcotic aliment, which has been so plentifully administered, and can be corrected only by the sincere milk of the word, which is of all things, the most innocent, palatable and nourishing. The great inquiry is, for something new, or striking; while many nominal Christians turn away with indifference or disgust, from those plain, simple, solemn, searching truths of the gospel, which sustained the picty and kindled the zeal of Edwards and Bellamy, of West & Hopkins, & which are the proper nutriment of humility and submission, of patience and meekness, of self-denial and charity, and of every other Christian grace and virtue. These are the "weapons, which are mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strons holds, casting down imaginations and every high thing, that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ?'' By the propagation of these truths, must the Christian world be purified, and the Heathen world be converted to Christ.

In vain do we send out missionaries to the ends of the earth, unless they carry with them the principles as well as the spirit of Brainard and of Pau!.. In vain do we Hatter ourselves, that the millennium is to be introduced, by a mode of preaching, which however eloquent and pathetic, gives no disturbance to the selfish heart—or by revivals of religion, which cannot bear the test of the whole counsel of God.

The usefulness and even the continuance of this work, must depend upon the endeavors of the friends of undisguised truth, to circulate it, and furnish suitable matter for its pages. They have ample means and ability to do both, which, it is hoped, they will feel constrained to em ny and exert. An increase of patronage & of the number of writ rs for the work, brightens the prospect of the second volume. The Evtor feels his responsibility, and desires to unite with his readers, in frequent prayers, that he may be guided and supported in his arduous labırs, and that they may receive saving benefit to their own souls, from the truths which he shall be enabled to set before them.

or

not

SERION.

of that patience, forbearance and II. TIMOTHY, 2. 25.-In meek- compassion, which they ought to niss instrurting those that oppose exercise towards them, may be inthera-elren; if God, peradventure, clined to treat them with neglect, will give them repentonce, to the ac- to deal harshly with them, kuiging of the truth.

and answer them according to Tle eristles of Paul to Timothy, their folly and malignity. Hence were designed to instruct him in he gives the direction in the text, his duty, as a minister of the gos- "In meekness instructing those pel. They are the result of long that oppose themselves; if God, erjerience and a deep acquaintance peradventure, will give them rewith human nature. And as they pentance, to the acknowledging of were written under the guidance the truth.” and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, We are naturally led by these and made a part of the canon of words, to consider, sacred scripture, they are

I. The character of opposers. of any private interpretation, but II. The proper manner of inare intended for the direction and structing them. And, adınonition of the ministers of III. The motive for instructing Christ, in all ages of the Church. them. We are, In the passage before us, the a

I. To consider the character of postle teaches Timothy and all oth- opposers. er ministers, how to treat opposers.

By those that oppose themselves, He knew, that mankind are natu- the apostle evidently means such, rally averse to evangelical truth as make opposition to the truth, and duty, and that they are inclin- which it is the duty of the ministers ed to set themselves in opposition of the gospel to preach. This is to every preacher of the gospel, evident from the last clause of the who faithfully declares to them the text, “if God, peradventure, will counsel of God, and urges upon give them repentance, to the acthem the duties which they are knowledging of the truth.” Opbound to do; and he also knew, posers will not acknowledge the that ministers are men of like pas- truth : they set themselves against sions, and liable to be irritated that truth which every faithful with the opposition of" unreasona- preacher feels constrained to exble and wicked men,” and instead hibit.

It is the duty of every minister tion. Some are too ignorant to of the gospel, to declare all the manifest the enmity of their hearts counsel of God, and luy manifesta- against the truth. This is true tion of the truth, to commend him- of the millions, who inhabit the self to every man's conscience, in Pagan world, who have never had the sight of God. “ All scripture opportunity to hear the gospel or is given by inspiration of God, ani form the least acquaintance with is profitable for doctrines, correc- its doctrines and precepts. And tion and reproof;" and a preacher this is also true of millions in the of the gospel must keep back noth- Christian world, who have either ing that is profitable. God has re- ne glected to read and hear the gosvealed nothing in his woril, which pel, or have seen and heard it so it is needless, or usele:3, för men misrepresented and distorted, as to know. “The things that are to become entirely aroiher gospel, revealed, belong unto us, and to and who remain r.early or quite as our children forever.” The min- ignorant of'the true gospel of Christ, ister of Christ is bound to speak as the leathens. It is easy to see the whole truth, revealed in S2- tnt all those, from whoin the goscred scripture, so fir as time and pel is thus hill, can neither exerciso ability shall be given liim. lle positive enmity, nor make open opmust exhibit the whole truth res- position to the truth. Some, who recting the nu.de of the divine er. have a partial knowledge of the istence--the character, works, and doctrines and duties of the gospel, decrees of God-ile native char- are so much engrossed with worldacter and condition of mon---the ly cares and polistlits, as to feel very personal divuity and meditorial in liiłerent towards every thing of work of the Lord Jesus Chri:i-- a religious nature. Such is their the terais of the gospel--the per- spiritual laadness and insensibility, sonality, livinity and work of the that they are not themselves conHoly Siritto di arrested na- scious oi either love or hatred toture of true religi09----!12 general war is the truth, nor do they manijudgment--all the endles??ris fest the feelings of their hearts toand punishments of tie future warls it, in the view of others.world.

Avain, there are those who have too To the truth on tese, and all lille betief of the truth of the JOSother divine subjects, impenitontpel, openly to oppose it. They men are, at herrt of";'os!. Every view it, as they do the the mythol. impenitent, wurenewed man, is an opy of the poets or the legends of evil doer; and “he that cvetli e il romance. There are others still, hateth the ligit.” The hearts of who have too much belief of the unrenewed wen, are opposed to duvrines of the gospel, openly to the truth, because it condemns Opose them. They are convinced, their principles and practices. sits that the gospel is of God, that its their characters in an odious licht, peculiar doctrines are divinely disturbs their faise peace, and a trile, and that they must cordially wakens their fears of the wrath to embrace then, in order to be siircome.

ed. llence th”y dare not make But, though all impenitent men open opposition to the truth. are, at heart, opposed to disine But whin the impenitent and truth; yet they do not all o;enly mrenewed hear and read the gusexpress and act out t.eir oppusi- pel with some attention, gain so ne

understanding of its leading doc- those that oppose themselves ?trines, and are so far awakened and The apostle answers, “ In meekconvinced, as to fear, at least, that ness." This is a calm, patient, they may prove true ; then they mild and unruilled state of mind, seldorn fail to make known the proceeding from humility, self-anative enmity of their hearts a- basement, and submission to the gainst the truth. This is done, in sovereign will of God. It is a various ways. It may be done by branch of that supreme love to misrepresenting, or by reasoning God and disinterested benevolence and objecting against the doctrines to men, in which a minister onght advanced. It may be done, by di- to discharge every part of his duty. rect contradiction and blasphemy; Meekuess stands opposed to a suas when “ Panl was pressed in percilious, proud, scornful temper, irit

, and testified 10 the Jews, to an overweening regard to one's that Jesus was the Christ; they ease, reputation and dignity, to opposed themselves and blasphem- a hasty, passionate, and revengeed.” Sometimes enmity to the ful spirit. This grace is perfect

. truth is expressed by railing at the ly exemplified in the conduct of preacher, slaudering his character, our Savior, who was “meek and and withholding his support. Ir lowly of heart," who, when he was these and such like ways, i 2 im. reviled, reviled not again, and penitent often make open opposite when he suffered, threatened not. ton to evangelical truth, when plain. The same is forcibly inculcatrd in ly and fully preached by the faith, that precept of our Lord, “ Love ful ministers of Christ. We are your enemies ; bless them that to consider,

curse you ; do good to them that II. The proper manner of in- hate you ; and pray for them that structing those that oppose them- despitefully use you and persecute selves.

you”-and in that injunction of the However unreasonable and ab- apostle, “ Be not overcome of evil, surd their opposition may be, and but overcome evil with good.”however base and malignant the The minister of the gospel should disposition which they manifest feel willing to suffer shame for towards the truth and them that the name of Christ. He should dre set for the defence of it ; they be willing to plead the cause of

are not to be abandoned, as incor- truth and righteousness, through rigible and hopeless. They must honor and dishonor, through evil still be instructed. The truth must report, as well as good report--to still be held up before them and in- bear the alllictions of the gospeleucated upon them; whether they to endure all things for the clect's will hear or whether they will for- sake, that tbey may obtain the salbear. The preacher must not suf- vation which is in Christ Jesus, fer himself to be induced by their with eternal glory. The servant opposition, to deviate from the word of Christ should esteem it stufcient of the Lord, to say cither more or honor and enjoyment, to be as less. He must go on, instructing his Moster. He should consider him, and particularly in those the native opposition of his own Jolte, which they most gross'y heart, to the pure and saving truths pert rt, and most bitterly oppose. of the gospel-his present deficien

b': in what manner must the ey in duty, and unwort:iness in pituluer of the gospel instruci the sight of God--and the lightness of his sufferings, compared to However whole and safe they may those of the innocent and conde- think themselves; they are in the scending Savior, who ' suffered 'gall of bitterness and bonds of inthe contradiction of sinners against iquity.' The wrath of God abideth himself.' He should pity the op- on them ; and except they repent, posers of divine truth, who often they will all perish. know not what they do ; who are 2. Religious instruction is the always acting an unreasonable and appointed means of bringing opcriminal part ; and who are un- posers to repentance. It is by wisely and perversely exposing means of a clear and full exhibition their own souls to destruction.- of that precious truth, which they With this spirit and temper, every hate and reject, that conviction is minister of the gospel, should pro- produced in the minds of impeniceed in explaining, 'establishing tent sinners. And conviction must and enforcing the truth, with the always precede, though it is not alutmost plainness, seriousness and ways followed by, conversion. It engagedness, upon the understand- is only in view of divine truth, that ings, consciences and hearts of his repentance can be exercised. Rehearers, even of those, who most pentance is a voluntary, holy exangrily and violently oppose them- ercise ; and every such exercise selves. He should preach under must have an object. The object, a solemn sense of duty, and with a in view of the mind, when true resincere aim to profit the souls of pentance is exercised, is the truth his hearers. Which leads us to respecting the holiness of the diconsider,

vine character, the goodness of the III. The motive for instructing divine law, and the odiousness and opposers in the manner described. guilt of one's self, as a. sinner, “ If God, peradventure, will give transgressor and rebel. It is by them repentance, to the acknowl- the preaching of the truth, that the edging of the truth."

proper motives are set before opIn order to perceive the nature posers, to induce them to repent and feel the force of this motive, it and turn to God; such as the hateis necessary to consider, distinct- fulness and criminality of impenly, the several particulars implied itence, their ability to repent, the in it. And,

assurance of pardon, if they will 1. The opposers of the truth repent, and of endless punishment, need repentance. They are in an if they will not. In every view, it

. impenitent, unrenewed state. All is as important to instruct the optheir open opposition to divine posers of divine truth, as it is, that truth, arises from the impenitency they should be brought to repentand hardness of their hearts. No ance, and have their sins blotted one, whose heart was penitent, out, when the times of refreshing humble and holy, ever made oppo- shall come from the presence of sition, understandingly, to the pe- the Lord. culiar and fundamental truths of It is possible, that when opposthe gospel ; for they are all doc- ers are meekly instructed, God trines according to godliness, and may cause them to repent. They perfectly pleasing to all such, as never will repent, without a spechave received the love of the al divine influence, bowing their truth, that they may be saved." wills and cleansing their hearts.

Opposers, then, need repentance. Repentance is the gift of God, as