which, in the same ratio, impede its progress, and deprive mankind of those blessing, which its wider diffusion would impart. One principal reason of the existence and perpetuation of what is here complained of, perhaps is, that each party has some leader, creed, or confession of faith, which it has set up as the infallible standard of truth, which all must acknowledge, and to which all must subscribe, who would share in its communion and privileges. And thus freedom of opinion, and freedom of inquiry, have been interdicted by authority, in each of the sections into which the church is divided. Under such a state of things, it will be next to impossible for the scattered fragments of truth to be collected, arranged, and presented to public view, as a beautiful and harmonious whole. Should the present attempt be found to contribute, in any measure, towards the accomplishment of so desirable an object, the writer's principal aim will be answered. A different fate, however, may await the work which is here submitted to the judgement of the public ; for, “The man who presumes to think, to speak, or to act, differently from the generality, even in matters of singular importance to the common good, is looked upon as an unsocial savage being, who separating himself from his species, is entitled to no share of their regard and affection. It is well, if he is not exposed to the severest effects of resentment and hatred." Brown's Natural Equality of Men. Kirby-Moorside, February, 1844. CONTENT S. CHAPTER I. ON THE NECESSITY OF THE ATONEMENT. . Page a sinner; or, in other words, the sin of Adam is not 8 Sect. III. Mankind do not derive a sinful and depraved nature from Adam, or from their more immediate 12 Sect. IV. The universal pollution, and depravation of mankind, arise from actual disobedience, or rebellion 71 Sect. V. Sin cannot be pardoned without an atonement 89 Sect. VI. Had no atonement been made for sin, Adam must have been cut off for his first transgression . 97 Sect. VII. Since the first act of disobedience was com mitted in Paradise, Adam and all his posterity have 108 Page Sect. VIII. Under the new dispensation, all the poster- ity of Adam owe their existence to redemption, as truly as Adam owed his to creation . Sect. IX. Since all the descendants of Adam are brought into existence through the atonement of Christ, it follows, that the existence of every man Sect. X. If the existence of all men, under the new dis- pensation, be a blessing or favour, it must be granted that they really possess the means of happiness Sect. I. After the law of Paradise had been broken, it was not possible for any being, except the transgres- sor himself, literally and fully, to suffer the penalty which the justice of God required; nor, to suffer what was equivalent to it, without undergoing the SECT. II. It cannot be maintained that Christ endured the whole penalty of the law, or the full amount of punishment due to the guilty, without involving the subject in the utmost confusion and improprieties Sect. III. Christ suffered temporal death in the stead of Sect. IV. The death of Christ fully displayed the glory of God, and vindicated the honour of his righteous Sect. I. The design or object of the atonement was to arrest or suspend the stroke of justice, and to procure for the violators of God's holy law, an opportunity of repentance and salvation, under a dispensation of unparalled forbearance and favour . Sect. II. The atonement which the redeemer made for human transgression, was not only designed to ben- efit the whole human family, but does really confer upon them the benefit designed Sect. III. Forgiveness is an act of Almighty God, where- by he remits the penalty due to the transgressor, on his compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Divine proclamation of mercy to a guilty world. 236 Sect. IV. Holiness or Sanctification, in general terms, consists in obedience to the will of God, according to the capacity and advantages of the individual ; or |
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