trayed the spirit of genuine Christianity. The atheistic Epicurus, who did not find it convenient to deny, in so many words, the existence of the gods, accomplished his purpose equally well, by representing them as perpetually reclining on couches, quaffing nectar, and enjoying agreeable converse with each other, regardless altogether of the concerns of this nether world. When I hear men speaking of the blessed Jesus as invested with sovereign and unlimited authority, and yet the next moment perceive them acting as if they themselves were the governors, and as if every thing depended on their vigilance, skill, and activity, I am forcibly reminded of the analogy. See I Kings xviii. 26, 27. I am very far from wishing to deny, that there may be something dangerous in the work in question.— Not dangerous to the cause of truth, for truth to however rigid a scrutiny it may be subjected, will come off truth still, but to the cause of error, which has every thing to fear, and nothing to gain from minute and prying investigation. If, therefore, your concern be occasioned by the interest which you take in the former, be of good cheer, it has stood the brunt of many an assault already, and is capable of standing many more without sustaining injury; but if you dread the exposure and destruction of some of the weak points of your cause, I do most sincerely sympathize with you, for scriptural reasoning, it cannot be denied, is a most deadly and unsparing antagonist. It is impossible for you now, consistently, to think or speak of me with contempt. Your considering it necessary to institute a second inquiry into the religious tenets of a man who has been virtually excluded from your body, and to all intents and purposes shut out of your pulpits, for the last two or three years, proves, if it does any thing, that be a person of some importance. sion of contempt, is neglect, and you consider him to The proper expresso long as you per Nor severed in treating me after that fashion, the world, I doubt not, gave you credit for cherishing such a feeling towards me, but now that you are acting upon the principle of "thrice to slay the slain," you have forfeited all claims to be believed, however strongly, in future, you may assert that you despise me. will it do to allege, as the editor of the Christian Herald charitably does, that I am labouring under "mental aberration," for besides that this has often been the last resort of a weak and desperate cause,* it has often happened, as you are well aware, that a man has displayed provoking" method in his madness." I would scarcely recommend you to hurl your anathemas against me. My opinion of these, as well as the opinion I suspect of many others, has been thus admirably expressed by one of the ablest champions of the Presbyterian cause, and one, of whom the Church of Scotland has just reason to be proud,— “When a man's mind is darkened with error, at the same time his temper is soured, and because he cannot reason others into the same opinion with himself, he essays to fright them into it with the argument of damnation."+ : John x. 20. Acts xxvi. 24. See also Corinth: iii. 18-20. iv. 10. 2 Corinth xi. 16. The charge of dogmatism, or decision in speaking relative to what we know on the authority of God himself, comes with a very bad grace from those who profess to believe, that boldness or decision constituted one of the leading features both of our Lord himself and his Apostles. John viii. 55. Yet ye have not known him ; but I know him': and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. See also John vii. 26. x. 34-39. Mark xiv. 62. John xviii. 37. Acts iv. 13, 19, 20. v. 29 -32. ix. 20, &c. + Anderson's Defence of Presbyterian Church Government agt. Rhind, page 218. Edit. 1820. As a small testimony of my respect for many of the individuals composing your body, as well as a proof that my views, in regard to the glorious doctrine of the assurance of faith remain unchanged, I intend soon, God willing, dedicating to you a little treatise on that subject. And now, Gentlemen, in sorrow, not in anger, I take my leave of you. May the Lord enable you to receive in good part, and profit by the hints which I have given you. You will of course understand, that the import of this letter is to intimate to you, that my connexion with you as a body is henceforward at an end. Requesting you to accept personally of the assurance of my high and undiminished respect, I am, SIR, Your most obedient servant, Liverpool, 21st April, 1828. D. THOM. To the Rev. John Lockhart, D. D., Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow. (To be communicated.) Printed by R. Riddick, 46, Lord-street. SOLD ALSO BY ROCKLIFF AND DUCKWORTH, W. GRAPEL, C. GRAY, and the other Booksellers, Remarks, by the Rev. DAVID THOM, Minister of the Scotch Church, Rodneystreet, Liverpool, on a series of charges recently preferred against him, before the Reverend the Presbytery of Glasgow, by certain individuals connected with the management of the said Church. With a copious Appendix. Memorial submitted by the Rev. DAVID THOM, to the Presbytery of Glasgow, regarding the Theological points of his case. A Letter to the Rev. Richard T. P. Pope, adverting to some important mistakes committed by him in his recent controversy with the Rev. Thomas Maguire. By OBSERVER. Three Questions Proposed and Answered, concerning the Life Forfeited by Adam, the Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Punishment, by the Rev. DAVID THOM. Also may be had Remarks on the Paraphrases of Passages of Scripture, used in Public Worship by the Church of Scotland, having been originally intended as a preface to the edition of these recently published with notes, by the Berean Society in Edinburgh, by EDWARD SANG, Kirkaldy, Fife. Brief Observations by way of Reply to Certain Remarks, privately circulated, in reference to Mr. Thom's Recent Publication, BY ALIQUIS. |