Donations to the Missionary Society of Connecticut, from May 19, tá July 6. May 19. From Deacon David Hubbard, Glastenbury, 28. A friend of missions, to purchase books, June 3. A stranger from Berlin, D. C. 2 5 58 6 Rev. Seth Willifton, contributed in new settlements, 49 63 28. A friend of missions, to purchase Teftaments, 16. 1 29. From a Lady of Vermont, Samuel P. Robbins, Plymouth M.. A friend of miflions, July 6. A friend of miffions, 20 25 5 2 10 125 21 THE Connecticut Evangelical Magazine. VOL. IV.] [PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS.] AUGUST, 1803. God's all-fufficiency a support against despair, and a fource of encour agement, in the view of difficulties in the way of salvation, which it is impoffible with men to fur mount or remove. M ANKIND are very apt to run into extremes; and as much fo, perhaps, in regard to religion and their spiritual concerns, as with respect to other things. Whilst some go along eafy and secure in fin, under a vain imagination that they are able to do all that is requifite to infure their final happiness, whenever they shall find it necessary to apply themselves in earnest to the business; others, perceiving difficulties, which neither they nor any mere men are in all respects able to furmount or remove, may be almost ready, in a kind of defpondency, to abandon the hope and relinquish the attempt of at taining to happiness beyond the grave; haftily concluding, that because it is impoffible with men to effect all that is necessary to their salvation, it is therefore utterly and absolutely impossible. The scriptures, duly attended VOL. IV. No. 2. [No. 2. to and understood, will furnish instructions amply fufficient to guard against both these extremes. It is, however, only with refpect to the latter, that some obfervations will now be made, taking for our guide or ground work, an. important truth mentioned by Christ to relieve the minds of his difciples, when distressed with the view of a seeming impossibility in the way of men's falvation, on account of their love of the things of this world, and attachment to earthly riches. A young man, who very respectfully addressed to Chrift, this serious question, "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ?" upon being told by Jesus to fell whatsoever he had, and give to the poor, and he should have treasure in heaven: and to come, take up the cross, and follow Chrift, " was fad at that faying, and went away grieved; for he had great poffeffions." Upon this occafion, Jesus looked round about and faid to his disciples, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God." His disciples be. ing aftonished at his words, he F anfwered again, and said unto! them, "Children, how hard is it for them that truft in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is eafier for a camel to go thro' the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were aftonished out of measure, saying among themfelves, who then can be saved?" But Jesus looking upon them, to relieve their aftonished minds, faid, "With men it is impoffible, but not with God: for with God all things are poflible." See Mark x. 17-27. Hence, it may sometimes seem, especially to fuch as have any confiderable understanding and conviction of the true tenor and vaft extent of the divine law, and of their numerous tranfgreffions of it and habitual contrariety to it, as though it was impoffible that they or any of mankind should be saved, unl ss the law is repealed or given wp. See Rom. vii. 7-12. With men it was impossible to devise any method, or to make any provifion for the pardon of tranfgreffors, confiftently with the divine law's remaining in full force. But that which, in this respect, was impoffible with men, was possible with God, and is ac In these laft words, this general truth is plainly fuggefted, That all things necessary to the falvation of men are poffible with God. | tually accomplished. Though in other respects, as well as in that which occafioned the furprise and consternation of the disciples, yea, though in ever so many respects, the falvation of any be impossible with men; yet it is not abfolutely impoffible, becaufe with God all things are possible. Therefore, Agreeable to the design, with which this important and interesting truth appears to have been mentioned by Chrift, it may with propriety be improved for the relief and encouragement of those, whose minds are greatly dejected and nearly overwhelmed with a view of things, on account of which falvation may feem impoffible, and really is impoffible with men. Particularly I. Death is the wages of finits deferved reward. The law of God, which is holy, and juft, and good, and muft, at all events, be fupported, curses every one who doth not perfectly obey it. It is alfo fact, that all have finned, and come fhort of the glory of God: that all have tranfgressed and daily tranfgress the law of God. The scriptures inform us with great plainness, that God hath fet forth his fon Jefus Christ, whe is both God and man in one perfon, "to be a propitiation thro faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remiffion of fins that he might be just, and the juftifier of him who believeth in Jefus" - that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us"and that God hath made him to be fin for us," that is, an offering and facrifice for fin in our behalf, "who knew no fin; that we might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him." This divine person, having in our stead, as our representative and substitute, rendered a perfect obedience to the whole law, under circumstances most peculiarly difficult and trying, and borne our fins, or the expressions of God's righteous anger against them, in his own body on the tree, " is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth"-to every true believer in him he is instead of the perfect perfonal obedience required by the law; or in regard | who is rich in mercy, for the great to his juftification before God, he answers for the believer every end, every purpose, which would have been answered by the perfect personal righteousness required in the law as the condition of his juftification. But admitting the fufficiency of Chrift's righteousness and atonement, to render the juftification of every true believer in him, confiftent with the justice of God, and with the honor and authority of the divine law; nevertheless love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in fins, hath quickened us together with Chrift: - and hath raifed us up together, &c.-For by grace are ye saved thro' faith, and that not of your selves: it is the gift of God. For we are his workmanship, cre ated in Chrift Jesus unto good works." The power of God is every way ecual to the production of this effential and all important change. And his grace is like. wife fufficient, and will be difplayed by the effect, in every in. stance wherein it is, on the whole, wife and best, that it should be II. It is still true, that with out holiness no man shall fee the Lord-That the finner, in order to be juftified thro' the righteoufness of Chrift, must exercise re-wrought. pentance towards God and faith But one, and another, whose towards our Lord Jesus Christ, ❘ eyes are opened to fee himself, even faith which worketh by love, and involves the principle or beginning of real holiness. But all mankind are by nature the children of wrath, unholy and finful : and many fenfibly find, by their own experience, that they are dead in fin, prone only to evil, but averse to God and holiness. Hence, to some it may still feem as though it was impoffible that they should be saved-as though there could not be produced, in their hearts, fo great and essential a change as is neceffary for this purpose. With men, it is confefssed, this is impoffible. No man can change his own heart, or produce spiritual life in his heart which is spiritually dead. Nor can any other man do it for him. But this is poffible with God, and hath often been effected. Paul having made to the faints at Ephefus an affecting statement of his own and their former character, as being totally depraved and altogether finful, immediately added, "But God, may yet be ready to say, My cafe is fingular. My fins are so many, so great, and so aggravated-my heart is so hard and stupid, and my will so obstinate, and all man. ner of finful lufts and habits, by long indulgence, have become fo deeply rooted, fixed and confirm ed, that is impoffible that I should be converted and saved. True: This is impossible with men.-By your own exertions you will never overcome the pow. er of fin in yourselves, or break its habits, or make yourselves new hearts, or repent, or believe, or love or obey the truth in fincerity. For all the exertions of a totally depraved heart are opposed to these effects. But the power of God is fufficient to effect all these things in you and for you. And it is possible that he will, notwithstanding the number, and greatness, and aggravations of your fins and provocations. Though your cafe be, indeed, very threat. ening, dangerous and alarming, and you really have great reason to fear and tremble; it is neverthelefs possible that God, in the exercise of his infinite fovereign mercy, may yet display his almighty power in your converfion and falvation. For he is not a man; nor is he like to men with respect to the degree and duration or length of his forbearance and mercy. But in regard to showing mercy, as well as in other respects, his thoughts and his ways are higher than ours, as the heavens are higher than the earth. [See Ifaiah Iv. 6-11.] III. The Christian, confidering the straitness and narrowness of the way which leads to lifethe temptations and difficulties attending it-the oppofition he hath to encounter from the world, the flesh, and the devil; and fentible of his own weakness, of the deceit and treachery of his heart, and the remaining strength of his Justs; and obferving that, according to the fcriptures, they only who endure to the end are to be faved that the promifes are to those only who overcome; may, at times, be ready to say within himself, it is impossible for me to fucceed: I shall one day perish by the hands of these enemies; as David, after numerous, great and fignal deliverances, said in his heart, " I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul." Alas! how much anxiety and distress do Christians undergo and experience, for want of a conftant, lively and firm faith in the all-fufficient power and grace of God, in his infinite wisdom and inviolable faithfulness, and in the inexhaustible merits of Jesus Christ! It is, indeed, impoflible with men, to keep the strait and narrow way, to overcome all tempta-❘ tions and oppofition, from within | and from without, by their own skill and exertions. But hath the Christian, therefore, any reason to despair?-none at all. For the things which are impossible with men, are possible with God. And to the real Christian, these words of the Lord are applicable, "My grace is sufficient for thee : for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, he may be able to do all things through Chrift who strengtheneth him. God's faithfulness is engaged, not to fuffer him to be tempted above that he is able. And he will never leave him, nor forsake him; but will keep him by his power thro' faith to falvation. True, perhaps, one and another may be ready to say; was I a real Christian, these promifes would apply to me, and I might confidently expect their fulfilment. But, alas! this is not the cafe, though I once thought it was. For a number of years, I lived in the pleasing perfuafion, that I was a child of God, and an heir of heaven. Then, as I thought, I beheld the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and loved him, and put my trust in him, and delighted in drawing nigh to him, and had at times, as I then supposed, sweet communion with him. - But now the scene is entirely changed. I have no clear or lively sense of the glory and amiablenefs of God. He rather appears to me as a being of awful majesty and terrible wrath, justly incenfed against me for my numerous fins, and stupid hypocrify. For it now appears to me, that my former hopes and joys, and religious affections, were founded in felfishness, under the influence of a mifaken perfuafion, that I was reconciled to God and in a state of favor with him. If this had not been the cafe |