963 Vindication of Remarks on Passages of Scripture. 964 VINDICATION OF "REMARKS ON PAS- | faithfulness? Is it the grace of God SAGES OF SCRIPTURE." MR. EDITOR. SIR, I am not displeased, that your correspondent, H. B. has given me occasion (col. 841) of resuming a discussion of the subject contained in a former paper, (col. 375,) for it is not to be expected, that the rubbish, which systematizing divines have thrown upon the passages referred to, could be cleared away by a few passing remarks. alone, in the heart of the believer? or is it grace, and free agency, taken together? If it rests on the former, the indefectibility of the saints follows as a necessary consequence; but, if on the latter, the contrary is the truth. And that the security for man's faithfulness rests on God's grace, and man's free agency,is evident, for it is written, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: for it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do, of his good pleasure," Philip. ii. 12, 13. Again, every promise made to Two Calvinistic opinions-eternal believers, is made to them as distinelection, and absolute final perseve-guished from others, not by person, rance,—are drawn from the passages to but by character; for, "God is no which I have referred. Your corre- respecter of persons, but he that fearspondent gives up the former, but eth him, and worketh righteousness, maintains the latter. That he does not is accepted with him," Acts x. 34, 35. consider those passages as favourable That such views of the economy of to the support of eternal election, is grace are correct, will appear evident, evident from two reasons; first, he upon applying them to the investigation does not attempt to prove it, and in of a few passages of scripture. I shall the next place he virtually denies it, begin with the one, upon which your for he says, "If we allow that these correspondent founds his objection; I passages had reference to the disciples shall quote the connection also, “But only, it cannot be denied, that, by the I said unto you, that ye also have seen agency of the Spirit of God, they were me, and believe not. All that the Father given to the Son." But, if our Lord's giveth me shall come to me, and him disciples were not given till they be- that cometh to me, I will in no wise came the subjects of the Spirit's influ- cast out. For I came down from ence, they could not have been given | heaven, not to do mine own will, but from eternity. Your correspondent, the will of him that sent me. And this however, strenuously maintains the is the Father's will which hath sent indefectibility of the saints; for he me, that of all which he hath given me adds, in immediate connection with I should lose nothing, but should raise the foregoing quotation, "And that in it up at the last day. And this is the consequence of this gift, none of them will of him that sent me, that every should be lost, but that every one one which seeth the Son, and believeth should indeed obtain everlasting life." on him, may have everlasting life; Again; "Our Lord declared, that and I will raise him up at the last none of those who were given to him day," John vi. 36-40. We shall in should be lost; his honour and power vain look to this passage, for the comare both engaged in behalf of his peo-plex idea of the indefectibility of the ple: to suppose, therefore, that any who are really given to him shall be lost, is to limit his power, and reflect upon his honour." The indefectibility of the saints, conveys to our minds a complex idea, viz. that God will remain faithful to his promise, and that the saints will continue obedient to his will. Hence there must be security for faithfulness, both on the part of God, and on the part of man. There is no doubt concerning the security for God's faithfulness, for his goodness, truth, and power, are engaged. But what, we may ask, is the security for man's saints. There is a promise of a blessing to believers, but no promise for their continuance in the faith. When our Lord treats of the adherence of believers, he speaks in a way very different from what your correspondent would have us to believe. Addressing his disciples, our Lord declares, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman; every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for severed from me (margin) ye can do nothing," and can bear no fruit. "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered," John xv. 1, 2, 5, 6. In this passage, we have one simple idea, viz: that unfaithfulness is followed by inevitable ruin. In the preceding passage we have another simple idea, viz: a promise of eternal life to all believers. If we put both these together, we have a complex idea, viz: That Christ's power is conditionally engaged, for the eternal salvation of his people: thus each simple idea is supported by internal evidence, and the complex, by an harmonious agreement. If we suppose the first idea to be complex, then it is destitute of internal evidence, and is manifestly opposed by the latter. Having thus, by the examination and comparison of two passages, sufficiently established the defectibility of the saints, I am bold to assert, that every passage, upon which the opposite doctrine is made to rest, admits of a similar solution. Let us, for the sake of producing a deeper conviction in the minds of such as are open to conviction, apply the same mode of reasoning to other two passages, which, on account of their close connection, ought, perhaps, to be considered only one. "And you, that were some time alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight," Col. i. 21, 22. These words, in their unconnected form, are reconcilable with both the defectibility and the indefectibility of the saints; but, if we pass a moment's reflection on the subsequent verse, we shall find that the latter doctrine is entirely indefensible. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel." 966 heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should run out, [as leaking vessels, (margin.)] For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we [believers] escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which, at the first, began to be spoken by the Lord." How light does your correspondent's objection become, when put into the balance of eternal truth! "To suppose," says he, "that any who are really given to Christ shall be lost, is to limit his power, and reflect upon his honour." Most certainly, if his power is engaged, and his honour pledged, to prevent unfruitful branches from being cut off, to present, holy and unblamable, those that are moved away from the hope of the gospeland to keep full those vessels that continually run out: but, if the promises of the gospel are tendered to us on equitable conditions, then Christ's honour remains unsullied, and his power unimpeached, though some should, at last, "become castaways,' " or "draw back unto perdition:" for "what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?" (Rom. iii. 3.) "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself." 2 Tim. ii. 13. Z. of Aberdeen. (To be continued.) Literary Notices. The Elements of Anglo-Saxon Grammar, with copious Philological Notes, by J. Bosworth, will shortly be published. Also, by the same Author, Latin Construing, and Introduction to Ditto. A Dialogue between a Traveller and Dick Hardy, the Hostler, 2 Parts, 2d. A Dialogue between a Traveller and a Coachman, Id. Queen Caroline, by the Rev. J. Evans, Malmsbury. 1s. A Sermon on the death of her late Majesty, The Warning voice, being a Narrative of A M by the Author of the Legend of Stutchbury. Mary Nelson, or the Narrative of a Widow's Family. In 1 vol. In addition to the evidence which I have already adduced, I would give one argument more: the argument is, that the scope of a whole epistle, the Epistle to the Hebrews, is grounded on the defectibility of the saints. Violent tortuosity has, indeed, been used with this epistle, to render it as crooked as Calvinism, but its powerful elasticity has overcome the most ingenious operations. The key which unlocks this treasury of sacred truth lies in ch. ii. 1-3. Therefore we [be-Edition of the Old Cevennol, by Rabant St. The Rev. Mark Wilks is preparing an English lievers] ought to give the more earnest Etienne. Dialogues between Farmer Watson and his Man Harry. Mental Discipline, or Hints on the Cultivation of Intellectual Habits, addressed particularly to Students in Theology,aud Young Preachers. By Henry Forster Burder, M. A. COMMERCIAL REPORT, LIVERPOOL, 25th SEPTEMBER, 1821. 968 THE proceedings of the last month, have displayed a variety and interest rarely equalled— the prospect of a plentiful harvest, was suddenly clouded, by the intervention of such ungenial weather, that the scene was at once changed; prices of all descriptions of grain advanced rapidly-speculation was also busily employed-and the advance approached nearly fifty per cent, in value. However unfavourable the season was, it happens that it has only had a partial influence; and in consequence of the London Market remaining stationary, and latterly exhibiting signs for decline, our corn market relapsed into a state of languor, and latterly it has undergone a material declension, A sudden impulse has, however, been felt in most articles of colonial produce, as the opening of the ports for the free admission of grain, appeared at one time more than probable which would consequently have operated in reducing the rate of foreign exchanges, and in giving increased facilities to the export of our manufactures and colonial produce. To this circumstance may be attributed the extensive sales of cotton wool during the last 14 days, which have amounted to upwards of 30,000 packages: the sales of the past week alone have reached 14,500 packages, at the following prices: Sea Island, 14d. 23d. Stained, 103d, to 12d. Pernambucco, 12d. to 123d. Bahia, 111⁄2d. to 12 d. Maranham, 114d. to 12d. Mina Gera, 10d.. to 101d. Demerara, 11 d. to 131d. Barbadoes, 9 d. to 10d. West India, 94d. to 9 d. Carthagena, 74d. to 73d. New Orleans, 9d. to 12 d. Tennessee, 9d. to 94d. Bowed, 84d. to 11d. Surat, 74d. to 83d. Bengal, 6d. to 6d. The dealers have been the chief purchasers, which indicates a peculiar healthiness of character in our manufacturing districts. British Plantation Sugars have gone off pretty freely at an advance of 1s. per cwt. for good brown and middling qualities, and other qualities are steady at full prices. Coffee and Cocoa are limited in demand. Rums have been in great request, and prices have advanced 2d. to 4d. per gallon-it must, however, be remarked, that the principal part of the purchases have been in speculation, in consequence of the advance on grain: to the same cause must be attributed the advances which have taken place in Rice. Pot and Pearl Ashes have been in much request for export. In Dyewoods the transactions have been most extensive, and the different descriptions of Logwood have advanced 20s. to 30s. per ton. Fustic, Cuba, has been sold at £7. 17s. 6d. to £8. per ton, which is a decline of 19s. per ton. Naval Stores maintain their value. Turpentine sells at 12s. to 12s. 6d. per cwt.-American Tar 18s. per barrel.-Stockholm and Archangel rate at 18s. to 19s. per barrel.-Brim · stone is but dull.-In Oils there is but little variation. Seal Oils are in pretty good demand Palm Oil firm at £32. per ton.-Tallow is still very dull. The demand for Hides continues very brisk.-Buenos Ayres have sold at 10дd. to 11 d. per lb. German Salted Hides at 5 d. to 6d. Grain Market. This day we had an abundant supply; but the buyers having of late sup plied themselves, the trade altogether was exceedingly dull, and nearly every article was offered on much lower terms. The decline since this day sevennight may be rated as follows: Old Wheat 1s, new 2s. per 70lb. Oats 3s. 4d. per 45lb. Malting Barley 6d. Grinding Barley 9d. to 18. per 60lb. Peas 2s. to 4s. Beans 4s. to 5s. per quarter. Flour and Oatmeal, each 2s. per sack. Malt, Rye, and Indian Corn, were held at late prices. Rapeseed £1. per last dearer. In this immediate neighbourhood, most of the Wheat, and upon the whole, about two thirds of the harvest, is secured,-the condition and quality is of course very various. Total Import of Corn, from the 1st of January to the 17th September, 1821, inclusive. Wheat. Rye. Oats. Barley. Malt Beans Peas Flour. Qrs. Bags Qrs. Qrs. Bags Qrs. Cwt. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Barl. | Scks. Ireland 223552 407 23508 23277 40 2677 220 Coastways 16077 20595 109034384 16769 2120 Canada 3611 Foreign 6 20956 73858 225 118 58089 243240 27 413 265134 43872 1130 34384 19416 2458 58089 74083 Oatmeal: Ireland, 8582 loads; Coastways, 934 loads, 15 qrs.-Total, 9516 loads, 15 qrs. LONDON: PRINTED AT THE CAXTON PRESS, BY H. FISHER. |