Continent, assailing on every side the venerable fabric of our religion, its professors ceasing to lay an undue stress on their private differences of opinion, should concentrate their scattered forces, and inspired with kindness towards each other, oppose, with one heart and with one soul, the COMMON ENEMY! The biographer of Bishop Burnet tells us, that when making his Tour on the Continent, this great and good prelate "there became acquainted with the leading men of the different persuasions tolerated in that country, particularly Calvinists, Arminians, Lutherans, Baptists, Brownists, Papists, and Unitarians; amongst each of which, he used frequently to declare, he met with men of such unfeigned piety and virtue, that he became fixed in a strong principle of universal charity." Would to God, that an example in every respect so illustrious, were imitated by the professors of Christianity! The good effects of such a conduct would be discerned. The sincere and hearty co-operation of Christians of every denomination, in the great cause of virtue and piety, would promote the best interests of mankind. Nor will you, my dear Sir, blame me for thus venturing publicly to express the gratification I feel in the publication of both Sketch and Sequel at Philadelphia in America. This extension of their sphere of usefulness will, I trust, prove the humble means of aiding in some small degree the cause of Christian liberality amongst our Transatlantic brethren. The period is approaching, when the jealousies and distinctions of party, in every quarter of the globe, shall be lost in the diffusion of pure and unadulterated Christianity! In the present awful crisis of infidelity and lukewarmness, Christians are apt to be borne down by a spirit of despondency. But the energies of their faith ought by no means to be exhausted. Over the attacks of its enemies, and over the infirmities of its friends, the religion of Jesus shall obtain a complete triumph. The day of small things must not be despised. Dispensations the most dark, and events the most unpromising, are rendered subservient to the pur poses of the divine government. The rays of revealed truth which have hitherto only beamed upon us through the clouds of our ignorance and prejudices, are destined to light up the radiance of a more perfect day. THEN, to adopt the energetic language of ancient prophecy-The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard lie down with the kid and the calf, and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. the ox, and the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den. THEY SHALL NOT HURT NOR DESTROY (saith the Lord) The lion shall eat straw like IN ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN. In the mean time, may the GOD of PEACE allay the animosities and meliorate the temper of the Christian world! Thus will the wretched remains of bigotry, which are still to be found in some unhappy individuals of every party, be gradually lessened, and finally destroyed. The glorious Gospel of the blessed God wants not any adventitious aid to extend its empire over the human heart. It is of itself sufficient (under the blessing of Heaven) to purify our affections, and to prepare us for our certain and speedy removal into ETERNITY. That you, my dear Sir, in your advancing years, and your worthy family, to whom I am indebted for the first pupils with which I was entrusted*, may enjoy every possible blessing; and that all my readers (to use the words of my excellent friend, the Rev. H. Worthington, on a public occasion) may be "candid, yet firmenquirers, yet believers-pious, yet liberal," is the wish and prayer of Your's, with great esteem, JOHN EVANS. Pullin's Row, Islington, August 28, 1808. * The two sons of Samuel Brent, Esq. of Greenland Dock. |