There let me oft explore the facred cell,

Where Truth and heaven-born Contemplation dwell;

And, while dear Freedom her loose banner waves,
Contemn the pomp of courts, and pity flaves.

A Prayer for one grievously tempted.

ESUS, the promise made by thee

JEST

We plead, and touching this agree,
To afk it for our friend;

The help thou only canft beftow,
Deliverance from her cruel foe,
A fwift deliverance fend.

The virtue of thy faving name,
To-day, as yesterday the fame,
In her relief exert ;

The fiend who dares thy temple seize,
No longer fuffer him to'oppress,

But bid him now depart.

Thou canst with equal eafe make whole

The body and the fin-fick foul,

Physician of mankind :

Thy patient, Lord, at once restore,

Filled with thẻ spirit of love and power,

And of a healthful mind.

Clothed with humility and grace,

Thy favéd, thy happy handmaid place

Attentive at thy feet;

And never may fhe thence remove,

Till spotlefs in thy fight above

She finds her joy compleat.

THE

Arminian Magazine,

For FEBRUARY 1785.

**

An EXTRACT from Dr. WHITBY's Difcourfes on the FIVE POINTS.

I

[Continued from page 7.]

CHAP. I. Concerning the Decree of Reprobation.

Shall make it appear, 1. That it hath no foundation in the holy Scriptures.

2. That it is contrary to the plain declarations of Scripture.

1. And first, I obferve that the word ads, which we render Reprobate, but might have as well been rendered difapproved, hath no relation in fcripture to any decree, concerning the damnation of men; but only denotes fuch actions of men, as are disapproved by God. Thus thofe Jews, who through the corruption of their minds were indifpofed to receive, and therefore did refift the truth of the gospel, as VOL. VIII. Jannes

I

Jannes and Jambres did of old God's meffage by Mofes, are filed ἀδόκιμοι περὶ τὴν πίσιν, Reprobates concerning the faith, i. e. men indifpofed to receive, or approve of it; and therefore were difapproved by God. And thofe Gentiles who "when they knew God, did not glorify him as God, neither were thankful; but changed the truth of God into a lie," by wor fhipping the creature inftead of the Creator, and liked not to retain God in their hearts, are faid to be given up

por, to a reprobate mind, i. e. a mind that could not be approved of, but abhorred by God and men, as prompting them to do, rà più xa nola, things not agreeable to nature, or reafon. Thus thofe Jews whofe minds and confciences were defiled, are filed Reprobates, because "though in words they profeffed to know God, yet in works they denied him, being abominable, difobedient, and to every good work, ádu, reprobate;" that is, void not only of judgment to difcern what was good, but also of affection to approve of it: and that earth is filed &ópos reprobate, or rejected; which, after all the flowers which fall upon it, brings forth only thorns and briars and that filver, åpropiov åddxipov, reprobate filver, which being falfe ftamped, or coined, will not be received, but rejected. And in this fenfe St. Paul faith, he kept under his body, left while he preached to others, he himself fhould be, adónimos, difowned, and rejected by God. Now all thefe Reprobates being either fo ftiled, not becaufe God was unwilling to have any favour for them, or had any antecedent purpofe to reject them; but because their prejudices and corruptions caufed them to reject him, by difapproving of his truths and ways; or because the actions they did in time, in oppofition to his truth revealed to them, and his holy word which he had given them to direct their actions, were rebellious; they cannot poffibly relate to a decree of Reprobation, or Preterition in God, refpe&ting them before

all time.

2. Secondly,