3. That I by no means take the high ground on which the Doctor presumes to stand, when he contends that his writings

are in perfect harmony with the gospel of Christ and his apostles.'* I am free to acknowledge, that I see but as through a glass darkly," and "know but in part.” Yet I venture to claim that attention and regard from my readers, which are due to upright intention, an entire deference to the authority of the sacred oracles, a diligent and prayerful examination of their contents, and a most sincere conviction that, where I differ from the venerable Doctor, I am supported by the word of God, to which both of us equally make our appeal as the only and perfect standard of divine truth.

4. That it is matter of just surprise, not to say suspicion, that an author who claims for his writings perfect harmony with Christ and his apostles,' should so exceedingly differ from them in his phraseology; so that, in few authors who write on divine subjects,

* Appen. p. 5, 6.

are to be found more unscriptural expressions than those which appear in the writings of Doctor Hawker.

5. Not to give an opinion whether humility or presumption appears most prominent in the claim to' perfect harmony with Christ and his apostles,'—having been long in the habit of thinking and acting in opposition to as high and much more generally allowed claims to infallibility, so far from being intimidated by such an assumption, I am rather the more induced to examine the principles on which it is founded, and to search the scriptures in order to see whether it be really so.

6. Whilst I cannot but strongly express my disapprobation of the spirit indulged by the Doctor towards other ministers, so far as I know my own heart, I feel no resentment; but great pity, that so aged and so venerable a minister should, in the close of life, employ his extensive influence to excite prejudice against those who love our Lord Jesus Christ sincerely, and preach him faithfully.

7. That I esteem it my honour to be of the

number of the evangelical ministers who come under the Doctor's censure. In the following observations I place myself on the defensive, whilst I endeavour to shew that I am subject to the Doctor's censures, solely because he entertains and promulgates a defective and contracted system of theology. Within the circumference of that system, from my regard to revealed truth, my respect for the honours of righteousness, my loyalty to God my Saviour, and my concern for the salvation of my fellow-men, I cannot suffer myself to be circumscribed.

SECTION II.

Doctor Hawker's General System of Theology

defective.

"SOME indeed," says the apostle Paul, "preach Christ even of envy and strife, and some of good will. The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds; but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the Gospel. What then? Notwithstanding every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."*

The spirit manifested by the apostle in this language, well becomes the ministers of the gospel in their observations on each other's ministry, especially when they find themselves obliged to express their disapprotion, or to pass a censure. It is not only

* Phil. i. 15, 16, 17, 18.

unjust to pass sweeping censures on whole communities of men, on account of individual improprieties; but it may be equally wrong to condemn the whole ministry of an individual, because there are weaknesses, defects, or even some errors in his ministry. We may justly rejoice that the foundation is laid, whilst we deeply lament that much wood, hay, and stubble are built thereon. It is on these principles, and with this frame of mind, I would state it to be my most decided opinion, that Doctor Hawker's general scheme of theology is very defective, and that he adopts and maintains a part only of the system revealed to us in the oracles of God. He says The following may be considered as a specimen of all I preach or write.'

"The sovereignty of Jehovah, in his trinity of persons, manifesting his grace to his church in Christ before all worlds; and conducting her through the whole of this time-state to glory, to be holy and without blame before him in love for ever; this is the

• True Portraiture of Antinomianism, p. 6.