SECTION XXI. Mr. Drew contemplates a philosophical investigation of the tenets of Wesleyan Methodism - His Essay on the Being and Perfections of God published - He is urged to write on the Eternal Sonship of Christ — His sentiments on that subject. HOWEVER competent Mr. Drew was to discharge faithfully the duties of the historian and biographer, we think that in these departments of literature he was out of his congenial element that element in which he might be said to live, and move, and have his intellectual being.' Of this he was conscious; and, even while laboriously occupied with the works described, his thoughts dwelt upon loftier undertakings. Those who take an interest in the determination of the great question upon which philosophers and theologians have been divided from the earliest ages, -whether man be a free or a necessary agent, will scarcely peruse the following letters without a feeling of regret that the contemplated investigation was never accomplished. "DEAR SIR, 66 Permit one who is a stranger to your person, but an admirer of your talents, to address to you a few lines, on a subject in which he feels a deep and a lively interest. I have heard, with no small degree of pleasure, that you have expressed a willingness to publish a refutation of the new modification of Calvinism, as given to the world by the late Dr. Williams, in his Essay upon the Equity of Divine Government, provided you could meet with suffi cient encouragement. Respecting this, I am concerned that you entertain any doubts. The subject proposed for discussion is of considerable interest, your talents are well known, and I hope the Methodists are still alive to the importance of those doctrines which they profess to regard as divine truths. 66 If you will undertake this very desirable work, and publish a volume upon the subject, I will gladly subscribe for at least fifty copies; and I think I can procure the sale of a still greater number. "The Rev. Messrs. Wesley and Fletcher did much to check the progress of the calvinian doctrine, by proving that Jesus Christ tasted death for every man, and that the decrees of God, according to which the eternal states of men will be appointed, are not absolute and unconditional in their application to individuals, but are respective of character. Modern Calvinists, in effect, acknowledge the force of the arguments contained in the writings of those venerable men, by giving up a part of their old system. It seems, therefore, desirable, that the noble efforts of W. and F. should be ably seconded, and the errors of Calvin, in their various modifications, exposed. "Dr. Adam Clarke, in his Commentary, is promoting the honour of God his Saviour, by demonstrating the Universality of the Divine Philanthropy; and nothing seems wanting but the efforts of an acute metaphysician, to expose the speculations of Dr. W. and the divines of his school, respecting negative causation,' &c. Every one observes that these are subjects suited to your talents, and that, by the investigation of them, you would promote the honour of the adorable God, and the interests of genuine Christianity. "Should you deem these lines an impertinent intrusion upon your time and attention, I hope you will forgive the writer, whose only motives in thus addressing you, are, an admiration of your talents, and a regard for what he considers the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. "I am, dear sir, 66 Your's truly, "THOMAS JACKSON." “Mr. Samuel Drew, St. Austell.” "DEAR SIR, “St. Austell, Cornwall, Sept. 25, 1816. "In reply to your letter of the 10th instant, I cannot but say, that I have long wished to see the great and fundamental doctrines of Methodism fairly examined, and permanently established, on the ground of philosophy and rational argument. The Church of England has its Hooker, the Quakers have their Barclay, and the Calvinists have their Edwards : but Methodism, though it has produced a Wesley and a Fletcher, has yet to seek this philosophical ground. "Conversing, some time since, with Dr. A. Clarke, on this subject, I expressed my wish that such a work might be undertaken, and intimated my willingness to assist in its composition. But my wish was, that it might be made a permanent work of Methodism, in which its doctrines might be defended on rational principles; and that, passing through the ordeal of such as were competent to judge, it might be considered as a standard work among the body. Dr. C. most heartily approved of the design, but plainly informed me, that, if this work were the production of the present day, I must undertake it, and navigate the ocean nearly alone. He would readily render me such personal assistance as his time would allow; but the work must be my own. I intimated the improbability that Conference would officially sanction such a work, unless submitted to their criticisms, (to which, while the work remained my own, I might not im plicitly bow,) and the difficulty of obtaining a proper circulation unless I could procure some sanction;that a deep metaphysical work, which, in its details, must pursue the windings of Destiny, and pass through all the diversified terms of Liberty, Necessity, Freedom, Power, and Responsibility, could not be expected to find a great number of readers, especially among the Methodists, to whom it would be most particularly interesting; — and, finally, that I should be involved in a controversy with those whose opinions I must necessarily oppose. To this his reply was, 'Produce the work, and you need not fear of finding support.' Here the affair terminated, and here it now rests. "How far my name may be known as a metaphysician, in the literary world, I have no means of extensively knowing. I know that, in a local sphere, my publications have met with a favourable reception. At present I am so deeply engaged in a history of Cornwall which I am editing, that all my time is completely occupied; nor do I expect any leisure until it shall be completed. After this, if favoured with health, I shall prepare my essay on the Being of God for publication, the success of which will influence my future conduct. For my support in this essay I do not look exclusively to the Methodists:on the subject you recommend, all besides will only furnish auxiliary aid. "But, whatever the event may be, I sincerely thank you for your kindness, in offering so handsomely to assist me. Such generous offers would furnish the sanction that I want. I am well aware, that what I do on this subject I must do quickly. Life, with me, is on the ebb; and the tide once past will return no more. I scarcely know any work in which I should be more ready to engage, than in that which you mention and am inclined to think that the talents with which God has been pleased to bless me, lie immediately in that department. Still, I am not without my fears, whether I should meet with that support which would be necessary; and to risk an edition is to incur a certainty of expense, on, perhaps, a doubtful issue. The cast of thinking into which the methodistic mind is turned, is not, in general, very congenial to abstruse studies. Some, who could not appreciate the tendency of a long chain of argumentation, would condemn it, as destitute of spirituality; and others would fancy that every thing must be vain philosophy' that was not crowded with chapter and verse. "I am satisfied, however, that multitudes would rise above this local prejudice, and hail such a work, if properly executed, as the dawn of a new era in the history of Methodism, and use every exertion to promote its success. Could I assure myself that 2000 copies would be sold, if life and health continued, I might seriously contemplate the undertaking. But, prior to the arrival of your letter, I had dismissed the subject from my thoughts for many months. At present I have no time; but if, through the course of another year, I can discover any general wish for the appearance of such a work, I will revolve it seriously in my thoughts, and come to some final decision. If I hear nothing relative to the subject, it is rather doubtful whether I shall ever undertake it. At present it seems to be a work that is allotted for another, the accomplishment of which I shall never live to see. I cannot but think, that it would be a valuable acquisition; but circumstances do not seem happily to combine for its completion; and we must wait the flight of future years to discover the favourable coincidences which may be necessary. "With my sincere thanks for your wishes to see the work undertaken and accomplished, and your generous offer to assist me in its publication; and with my earnest desire for your welfare, both temporal and eternal, I am, dear sir, "Your's, most respectfully and sincerely, "Rev. Thomas Jackson, Sheffield." |