These observations will apply to the atonement. Were a nonelect person to believe in Christ, he would receive all the benefits of his death; which, in that case, would actually become to him an atonement; for let it be remembered, it is the applica-tion of his death that makes it truly an atonement or reconciliation. The purpose of God to apply the merits of his Son's death to his chosen, ensures the application to them, and their consequent salvation; but this divine purpose does not create any hindrance to others; it only leaves them to the influence and operation of their native depravity and wicked unbelief.

The answer we have given to the question, grounded on a sup~ posed case that will never happen, can be justified on the principles that regulate common conversation, and on the principles that governed the language of inspired teachers, by the infallible connexion between faith and salvation, and by the nature of the atonement

1. On the principles that regulate common conversation. Of a man who has just escaped from the flames that consumed his dwelling, we say, he would have perished, if he had slept longer; and of one lost at sea, he might have been living, if he had not gone on that voyage. The farmer, says, I should have had a fine crop, had it not been for that drought which withered my grain; and, again, I should have made a profitable sale of my articles, if the market had not been so glutted. Ten thousand simlar observations are made; all predicating a different state of things, on the supposition that the cause that has produced the existing state of things had not occurred.

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2. The principles that governed the language of the inspired writers, justify the answer. That perverse generation of Israelites that came out of Fgypt, failed to enter into the land of promise; and from the event it is certain that it was the Divine intention. not to bring them into the possession. Yet this generation was commanded and encouraged to march forward, and take the promised inheritance. "Behold," said Moses to them, "the Lord. thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not neither be discouraged." And when they were dismayed at the report of the spies, their leader said, "Dread not neither be afraid of them. The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes."-Deut. i. 21-29, 30

The event also proved it to be the secret purpose of Jehovah to establish the kingdom of Israel in the family of David; yet hear the language of Samuel, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, on the supposition that Saul had been obedient

to the Divine commandment; "And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee."-1 Sam. xiii. 13, 14.

Tyre and Sidon, the Saviour assures us, would have repented in sack cloth and ashes, if the mighty works that were done in Chorazin and Bethsaida had been done in them; and he also says, that if the mighty works that were done in Capernaum had been done in Sodom, it would have continued to this day.-Mat. xi. 21-23.

When Paul was in danger of shipwreck, as he was sailing to Rome, he was assured, by promise, that his life and the lives of all on shipboard, for his sake, should be preserved. No condition was annexed to the promise; it was absolute. Yet this inspired man, who had unshaken confidence in Jehovah's word, when he saw through the sailors' design to escape with the boat, under pretence of casting out anchors, did not hesitate to say to the centurion and the soldiers: "Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved." From this declaration we may unquestionably infer, that they would have perished, if the sailors' design had been accomplished. What then would have become of the promise? But Jehovah took care of his own faithfulness. The warning of Paul produced its effect. "The soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat and let her fall off." Thus the promise of God, like his other promises, was accomplished by appropriate means. See Acts xxvii. 22-25. 30-32. See also 2 Kings viii. 10. ch. xiii. 19.

3. Our answer can be justified by the certain and infallible connexion which God has established between faith and salvation. "I am the resurrection and the life: and whosoever liveth and believeth on me, shall never die." "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." But I need not cite passages to prove what will not be denied. Now, this infallible connexion between faith and salvation, authorizes a minister of the gospel to assure every individual to whom he preaches, that if he believe he will most certainly be saved. Jehovah has pledged his word, and he can and will fulfil his promise.

4. The nature of the Redeemer's work will justify the reply. In what did this work consist? In his obedience unto death in our nature; or in his active and passive obedience. In regard to the first branch of the Saviour's work, it is manifest, that, while obeyVOL. III.

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ing the precepts of the Divine law, in the room and stead of his chosen people, he observed them as perfectly, and his obedience was as glorious, as if he had been acting as the representative of many millions more. And in regard to the second branch, we believe, that the great Redeemer, in effecting the salvation of all who shall be saved, submitted to as much humiliation, and endured as extreme misery, as would have been demanded from him, on the supposition that the sins of all mankind had been imputed to him. He bore the curse of the divine law, the punishment due to our sins: and by the infinite dignity of the sufferer, more honour was done to the penalty of the law, than would have been done to it by the everlasting punishment of our whole race.Hence while the atonement is definite, being intentionally made only for those given to Christ by the Father to be redeemed by him, it was necessarily in its own nature and intrinsic value, suffic cient for the salvation of every son and daughter of Adam.

Now, on this infinite work of the atonement, are grounded the general invitations and offers of the gospel. In preaching, we are not indeed authorized to tell every man that Christ died specifically for him, or that an atonement was made for him: but we are authorized to say, that the Son of God came to save sinners of our race; that he has, in our nature made an atonement for sin, suited to the case of human sinners, and that in its intrinsic value, it is infinite; and that he is able and willing to save unto the uttermost, all that will come to him. On this basis we invite all to apply to him for salvation, and tender to all the offers of Divine mercy; assuring them that if they will accept the offers made, they shall certainly be saved: for the mouth of the Lord has uttered the promise, and it cannot fail to be accomplished. It will follow, then, that if a non-elect person were to believe, he would certainly be saved.

Let this be further illustrated, by adverting to the covenant made with Adam, who represented all his natural posterity. Such was the nature of that covenant and of his representative conduct, that had his posterity been two-fold more numerous than they in fact will be, the consequences of his disobedience would extend to them the same destructive influence that will reach all who shall actually descend from him. Similar was the nature of the covenant of redemption, and of the work of obedience, done by the Saviour as the representative of his people. Had it pleased his eternal Father to have increased the number given to him to be redeemed, no alteration in his work of suffering and obedience would have been required.

In regard to Adam's posterity it is true, that as the number had been determined on before his apostacy, the number could not

be increased after that fatal event; because this would have brought evil on immortal beings not originally represented by him, and so an act of injustice would have bee done to them.But were the number appointed to salvation to be increased, no objection could be made to the increase on the score of injustice; because they would be made partakers of a benefit, and not of an injury. Besides, were any to whom it was not the Divine intention to apply the merits of the Redeemer's death to believe, they would, by their faith, be brought into a saving union with him; and consequently would come into contact with that blood that cleanseth from all sin, and gain an interest in that righteousness "which is unto all and upon all them that believe." Thus united to Christ and interested in his merits, they would be sheltered from Divine wrath, and be entitled to eternal life. "There is therefore, now, no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

In this representation, I do not perceive any inconsistency with the statements made in my former letter. For whatever was said in regard to the connexion between the death of Christ and the Divine intention, it was shown, that, in strictness of speech, the death of Immanuel is not an atonement to any UNTIL IT BE APPLIED; and consequently it follows, as stated above, that it will infallibly produce reconciliation between God and all and every one, without excepting any individual, who shall believe, and thus have its efficacy applied to his soul.

But will it be objected, that, on the ground on which we reprepresent the offers of salvation to be made to the non-elect, they might be made to devils? We think not, for two reasons: first, because our commission does not extend to them; and this reason our brethren must allow, precludes the offers of salvation to damned spirits, for whom, they say, the atonement was made; and secondly, because the atonement is not suited to the case of devils, not having been made in the nature of angels, but in the nature of man. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also, likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through death were all their life long subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.Wherefore in all things it BEHOOVED him to be made like to his brethren, that he might be a merciful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." Heb. ii. 14-17.

It now appears, I trust, that, on the plan of definite atonement, the invitations of the gospel can be most sincerely given to all who hear it preached; that the offers of salvation can be most freely and unreservedly presented to all who will accept them; that it is the duty of all to believe, because Jehovah commands them so to do; and that those who refuse the overtures of mercy, and wilfully reject an offered Saviour, will be justly punished for their unbelief, as well as for their other sins. No unbeliever will, in the day of judgment, be able to discover in our views of the atonement, as its opponents imagine, any thing insincere or unreasonable, on which to found a fair excuse for unbelief. It will then appear, that although Christ died to make an atonement for his own people, yet, if others had believed, his death would have been an atonement to them also, and would have saved them from the curse of God, under which they must forever sink in hopeless misery.

Very affectionately yours, &c.

Summary of Religious Entelligence.

EUROPE.

Great Britain -According to the last report of the British and Foreign School Society, it appears that since the commencement of the Society's operations 21 years ago, there have been educated upwards of 240,000 children; there are 60 assistant Schools in London; at which 10,000 children are receiving instruction; the number of schools on this system, in Ireland, is 1761, and the number of children educated, is one hundred thousand.

Scotland. The General Assembly of the church of Scotland at their last meeting, appointed a committee to take into consideration the subject of Gretna-green marriages, with a view to their prevention for the future.

France. A Roman Catholic Society has been formed at Paris, for supporting Roman Catholic missionaries, (Jesuits,) in Asia and America; the contributions last year amounted to 80,000 franks,-about 16,000 dollars.

Malta. Successful resistance has again been made to Popish impositions at Malta; the fruit, we have no doubt, of the christian firmness of Captain Aitchison and Lieutenant Dawson, on a former occasion. Five individuals have recently left the Roman Catholic church, and become Protestants. A German printer and two missionaries have arrived at Malta; others were expected to join them, when it is their purpose to set out for Egypt, which is their destination.

ASIA.

New South Wales.-A Seminary for New Zealanders has been established at this place; Mr. Marsden the principal writes, that five are under his tuition, and that this is the place from which the light of the gospel will shine on many islanders of the South Seas.

Sandwich Islands.-By the last letters from this interesting mission, it continues to prosper. In the course of the last year, 16,000 copies of Elementary lessons were published, and are nearly all in use; large churches are building at different places. The females belonging to this mission are exposed to privations and difficulties peculiarly distressing. Most of them have suffered great