A series of letters on important doctrinal and practical subjects, addressed to Rev. Samuel C. Aikin ... To which are annexed a Bible creed and six letters to Rev. D. C. Lansing ... on the subject of a course of lectures delivered by him against Universalism, in the winter of l830.

Front matter

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Letter II

Favorable results of first Letter — Further admoni-^ Horn — Brs, Ely and Beecher — American Sunday School Union — Unitarianism and Universalism, 13

LETTERIII.

Happy omens from first two Letters — Modern revival" ists — Messrs. Finney^ Beman, Lansing, Nettletoii^ Beecher, Porter, Edwards, and others — Ludicrous aspect of the two contending parties of Preshyterians at the New-Lebanon Convention, .... 20

Letter IV

Discussion of Scripture testimony — 1 John iv : 1 ; 2 Tim. iv : 1-7 ; Mark ix : 43-47, xvi : 16 ; John iii: 36; Matt, v: 29, 30 . . 204

L E T T E R V.

More charges of inconsistency — Impeachment of Divine attributes — cases of Noah and Antediluvians, Sodom^ Gomorrah^ Corah and his company^ Judas^ Infidels^ &c. — David's representation of the righteous and loicked. . » 212

LETTER VI. Unequal distribution of rewards and 'punishments

If present misery is compatible with the goodness of God, lohy not endless 1 Tioo characters set forth in the Bible — Faith and repentance conditions of salvation — How can any one be redeemed from hell ? Where shall the ungodly appear ? Responsibility of ministers — Ezek. iii : 16-21 ; Mai. ii : 7, 8, 9. — Concluding admonition. . 221

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Preface

In presenting the second edition of these letters to the public, it becomes necessary for the author to state the circumstances under which they were first written and published, and the reasons that have induced their republication in the present form.

The letters to Rev. Mr. Aikin were commenced in the Spring of 1829, finished in the Autumn of 1832, and published along the intermediate time as they were written, in the third volume (first series) of the " Evangelical Magazine" and the three first volumes (new series) of the Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate." They were commenced under a deep sense of the importance of the subjects to be discussed — for none can be of greater moment to man than these — and the necessity and advantages to the cause of truth, of a free and full investigation of the popular doctrines of the day, with the firm conviction that when truth and error grapple with each other, having ''an open field and fair play," the latter must quail beneath the power of the fiirmer, and he who yields to the povver of truth, though vanquished, is nevertheless the fortunate man. There appeared also a necessity for some work of the kind, that should take up in order, and systematically discuss, the leading doctrines of the Presbyterian church, and their tendency, and present them in their true light, in contrast with those doctrines and principles held by the denomination to which the writer belongs, in a manner which is not usually done in the fugitive and miscellaneous articles that commonly appear in our weekly, or periodical publications. It has been the writer's aim thoroughly but candidly to pass in review all the peculiar and distinguishing doctrines of Presbyterianism ; to refute, botJi by Scripture and reason, whatever appeared therein untrue, incompatible with the character of the Deity, or of bad moral tendency in society; and to establish, in lieu thereof, a system reflecting the highest possible honor on the character of the former, and exerting the most salutary tendency on the lives and happiness of the latter. How far he has succeeded in this aim, the reader must judge.

He regrets that this labor had not been performed by an abler hand, or that, falling to his own, he had not possessed leisure and opportunity for more critical research during the time the letters were in progress ; and that the cares of a family, the duties of his ministry, his parochial avocations, and editorial and publishing labors, allowed him only opportunity of seizing now and then a leisure moment to pursue his design.

PEEFACJE*

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The writer did flatter himself, from the great importance of the doctrines discussed, from the place and station occupied by Mr. Aikin, and from the solemn appeal and earnest call made upon him for a reply, that, at least, some attempt to answer the letters would be made by the latter, or some of his brethren of kindred faith. He hoped for this, if it were for no other reason than that the weakness of error might be made to appear from the impossibility of its defence. But no such attempt has been made ; nor is it now probable there ever will be. Mr. Aikin, so far as the public and these letters are concerned, remains silent as the house of death.

It is true that Madam Rumor says — and she is not always mistaken in her report — that the question was gravely debated by Mr. Aikin and the officers of his church, with some ministering brethren, in secret conclave, whether it would be best, or mosi politic, to remain silent on the subject, or attempt answering the letters ; and that, by unanimous concurrence, it was concluded that silence was by far the safest course for Mr. Aikin to pursue — that the moment he should attempt a reply, public attention would be called more generally to the subject, the letters would be read by many who otherwise might never see thern, consequently, many more might embrace the doctrine of Universalism, and Presbyterians would be the losers instead of the gainers, by such notoriety — therefore, the least said, the greater the safety for Mr. Aikin. This, no doubt, was the most sage conclusion for those who choose darkness rather than light, and prefer popular error to unpopular truth.

In regard to the peculiar style of the first three letters, I have merely to refer the reader to the explanation in letter fourth, for the reasons inducing me to adopt that style, believing that will satisfy every candid and discriminating mind, of the perfect propriety of the course adopted ; and asking the reader not to lay aside the book till he has read through the explanation — then, if he does not choose to read further, or is afraid of having his faith in modern Orthodoxy, so called, sliaken, he had better lay it aside.

The reasons inducing me to puhlish a second edition of these letters, are, First, A belief that they will be the means of exciting inquiry, and leading many to further investigation. Second, The fact that thousand* have read a part of the series, who have never seen, and cannot procure the whole. During the yearin which the first twelve letters were published, there were circulated of the Evangelical Magazine (in which they appeared) only about seventeen hundred copies; since which lime, and mostly during the progress of these letters, the patronage of the paper has increased to seven thousand : and those who have the last part of the series are anxious to procure the whole. And,

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PREFACE.

Third, The publication of them in the present form, has been repeatedly and urgently requested and recommended, both by ministering and lay brethren, in whose discriminating judgment T place much more confidence, in this case, than in my own. Such as they are, I commend ihem to the candid and prayerful perusal of all into whose hands they may fall, with a sincere and devout desire to Almighty God, that they may be instrumental in his hands of overthrowing error, falsehood, infidelity and vice, and promoting the spread of Gospel truth, virtue and happiness among men.

The letters to Dr. Lansing are in a style somewhat different from any and all of those addressed to Mr. Aikin. The difference of character in the two men, will sufficieatly account for the difference of manner in which they are respectively addressed. Dr. Lansing removed from Auburn, to this city, in the Fall of 1829, (after the letters to Mr. Aikin were commenced.) Having recently adopted the new school divinity and the system of revivalism pursued by Mr. Finney ; full of the fiery zeal and blind infatuation of a lawless fanaticism, and determined to eclipse the glory of all predecessors and rivals in that kind of warfare in which he had engaged, he commenced in January. 1830, a course of lectures, or rather inflammatory harangues, against the doctrine of impartial grace, with all the bitterness and acrimony with which John Calvin pursued Servetus to the stake. A part of these lectures I heard delivered myself, and the rest w^ere faithfully reported to me by those who were present. And feeling it a duty to rebut his slanderous charges, and expose and refute his sophistical arguments against the truth, I addressed him the six letters which are here annexed. They sufficiently explain themselves and the object of the writer, as well as the character of the Doctor, without any further comments upon either, in this place. It is proper to inform the reader, that these letters were none of them ever ans-wered, nor any attempts ever made to answer them, either by Dr. Lansing, or any of his friends. The Doctor's popularity, however, instead of being promoted, very rapidly declined, and aff;er lingering along till last Autumn, he finally took his departure for the city of New- York, \vhere he is now endeavoring to organize a band of kindred spirits with his own.

Many have expressed a strong desire that these letters might be republished in the same volume with the series that precedes them, w^hich course I have concluded to adopt. That they may promote the cause of truth as it is in Jesus, and be a benefit to others, (even though Iia may bo beyond the reach of benefit from the labors of man,) is the fervent and sincere prayer of The Author.

Utica, November^ 1833.

I.ETTEIIS TO REV. S. AIKIF, &€.

LETTER I, Introductory — -Humorous expostulations and admonitions

Dear Sir — You will doubtless acknowledge it is the duty of every servant and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ to do all the good he can in the world, and, whenever he sees any one in a great error, to use his best endeavors to reclaim him from that error, and set him in the right path. I have long considered it my duty to address you on the subject of this letter and those which are to follow: and I assure you, dear Sir, I am not without my hopes of being the humble instrument, in the hand of God, of converting you from the error of your ways, and bringing you to a knowledge of that truth which alone can make free indeed. I acknowledge I have a two-fold motive in this undertaking — it is not only to reclaim you from dangerous and pernicious error, but to enlist your services in the cause of truth and righteousness, where, if your eminent learning and distinguished talents were properly employed, you would do incalculable good, in arresting many other deluded souls in their wild and fanatical career, and bringing them to the knowledge of God and the practice of virtue.

When I picture in the mind's eye, the mighty contrast between what you now are, and what you might he, were your talents rightly employed; when I reflect that you are now a principal leader in the cause of bigotry, intolerance and error, with a vast multitude of souls at your heels, who are ready to follow wherever you lead them, to believe implicitly whatever you believe, and to do whatever you bid them ; and think of the great good you might

LETTERS TO REV. S. C. AIKIN.

be instrumental of doing*, were you to renounce your errors, embrace the truth, and gently lead those many souls into the green pastures of peace, and unto the side of still waters — when I reflect on these things, I say, I do assure you, dear Sir, my heart is filled with the various emotions of pain and pleasure — as the thirsty soul pants for water, even so do I ardently desire and pray for your conversion. I feel the more encouraged to hope for this happy change in you, from the consideration that you are a man of talents and discrimination. That you are both discriminating and talented, every one must acknowledge, after witnessing the adroitness of your management during, and after, the violent raging of the Finney fever in this city, three years ago. For at that time,

When civil dudgeon first grew high,

And men fell out, they knew not why ;

When hard words, jealousies, and fears,

Set folks together by the ears,

And made them fight, iike mad or drunk,

For dame Religion as for punk ;

Whose honesty they all durst swear for,

Tho' not a man of them knew wherefor:'*

at that time, I say, very few, even of your warmest friends* believed you could so manage as to let down the people of your charge from that supernatural elevation to which they had been raised, without their being either " dashed to pieces on the ground," or falling through, and continued to

descend, " down, down, ," like Milton's devil when

hurled from the battlements of heaven. But to the astonishment of all, you let them down very gently, with the loss of but few souls. You so perfectly understood the nature of the disease, that you managed them with uncommon skill — when the ardor of the fever began to abate, your friendship for Mr. Finney and his measures began to cool, (at least the public expression of it,) and continued to decrease in exact ratio to the subsiding of the excitement ; and you very shortly found yourself peaceably occupying your old ground, with a great many more young men and women, or boys and girls, (particularly the latter,) at your command, than you had before. Thus, your success must have been owing to your superior skill in the management of such an affair. For I know not of a single case beside your own, in which any minister has concurred wjth Mr. Finney in getting up an excitement of thi?^

LETTERS TO REV. S. C. AIKIN.

kind, in which he has not ahnost, if not entirely, lost his popularity, both with professors and non-professors of religion.

I must, however, caution you, dear Sir, against being vain, or puffed up with pride, at your success in this case : for the same scene will not bear to be reacted in the city of Utica for many years — certainly not during your life time, if ever. As the Grecian king said, after obtaining a slight victory over the Roman General, " another such victory would ruin me," so you may rest assured that another such an excitement as that to which I allude would ruin you : i. e. unless you should be converted, and embrace the truth, and so lead your flock into a better pasture than they have ever yet fed in. For the time is approaching, yea, it has already arrived, when people will think for themselves, and see through the artful management that has so long been employed to keep them in bondage. A numerous society of believers in the unity, and impartial and universal benevolence of God, is springing up in this place, and daily increasing in numbers and strength. And what is still more encouraging to us, is, that our meetings on Sunday, for public worship, are not only fully attended by respectable people, but even by many of your own society and church ; which shows they have a relish for the truth, and would gladly hear the Gospel preached by you, if you only understood it. It also proves, clear as demonstration, that the people generally are arousing from their lethargy to see and embrace the joyful tidings of a world's salvation, and will no longer receive the dogmas, which you are pleased to call orthodox, as the truth. — These things should admonish you to serious and prayerful reflection, and to " examine your own self, whether you be in the faith."

As a preparatory measure to your conversion, I advise you to break ofl" all connexion and intercourse with Josiah Bissell, Jr., of Rochester. For he is really, in my opinion, too despicable and scandalous a character for any man of reputation, honor, or standing in society, to have any communion or intercourse with, whatever. True, he professes a great deal of piety — so did the ancient hypocrites — but I do not believe he possesses one spark of vital religion, the religion of Jesus. And I candidly believe his mad career will end in disgrace to himself and all who continue

LETTERS TO REV. S. C. AIKIN.

eonnected with him. He certainly out-Herods Herod i"^ why, Mr. Finney is a fool to him, as to brow-beating, proscription, money-begging, stage-running, &;c., &c. I do really hope, dear Sir, for the honor of your name, that you have had no hand in encouraging or countenancing, in any shape or manner, the late ebullitions of his spleen and holy wrath against Senator Johnson's Report on Sunday Mails, and those political Editors who have accorded with him in opinion on that subject — in which he scandalously associates Col. Johnson's name with the names of Thomas Paine and Frances Wright, and shamelessly denounces those Editors who approved of the Report as ^' Infidels, enemies to religion," &c., when it is well known that Senator Johnson is a pious and devoted member of the Baptist communion, and in that Report, conformed strictly to the letter and spirit of the Constitution of the United States. Whether you were one of his counsellors, when he was last in this place, and addressed that scandalous production to the Editor of the " Sentinel and Gazette," that appeared in that paper of the 24th ult., I do not pretend to say — I hope not. For if you were, I should hardly be willing to acknowledge and confide in you as a brother, even after you shall have embraced the truth ; fearing lest the influence of former associates might draw you back again to the beggarly elements of the world.

Whether, with Mr. Bissell, you hold the purse-strings of any of the nominally benevolent institutions of this country — branches of the Bible Society," " Missionary Society," " Tract Society," " American Union for the sanctification of the Sabbath," &;c. — I cannot say. I hope you do not : because if you do, I fear that silver will possess

* T had designed in this edition to leave out the name of Mr. Bissell, and consequently the whole of this paragraph, on account of the death of that distinguished leader of Finneyism and Pioneerism in Western New-York, which occurred some time since this letter was written. But on farther consideration, and taking advice from my friends on the subject, have concluded to make no alteration, either in this or any other particular. For 1. the picture drawn, I believe is true to the life, as far as it goes. And 2. though probably the equal of this individual lives not now, yet there are many who still aspire at the kind of distinction he sought, and copy after him so far as their abilities allow : therefore the same necessity exists now, as then, for holding up the beacon light to give warning of the danger. Though he is gone, (peace to his ashes,) yet others live in his place.

LETTERS TO S. C. AIKIN.

so great a charm in your eyes, that it will greatly retard? if not entirely prevent, your conversion.

I intended in this letter to have given you some other admonitions, particularly against yielding to the influence of popular names so far as to continue any longer subservient to Doctor Ely's electioneering, and Church-and- State-uniting schemes, or following the example of Doctor Beecher, at the East, v^ho has lately fallen, I fear, no more to rise. But I have already exceeded the limits of what I intended merely as an introductory letter, and shall reserve these things for a future number. In the mean time, I assure you, dear Sir, I shall not forget you, but shall pray fervently, night and day, that God, in his infinite mercy, may open the eyes of your understanding, enable you to see the truth as it is in Jesus Christ our Lord, and embrace it to the unspeakable joy of your and my souls.

I am, dear Sir, very respectfully and affectionately.

Yours in the bonds of the Gospel

Letter II

Favorable results of the first Letter — Further admonitiom — Doctors Ely and Beecher — American Sunday School Union — Unitarianism and Universalism,

Dear Sir — I again resume the delightful duty of addressing you on the all-important subject of your conversion, and would here observe that my hopes of success in this arduous undertaking have been greatly strengthened since I wrote my introductory letter. Indeed, that letter was far more successful than I could rationally have anticipated, under existing circumstances. For it had the effect to make many of your most devoted followers, and some of the leading Finneyites " exceedingly mad:" and this you know is with your great prototype, Mr. Finney, a sure prelude to conversion ; so that I have strong hopes (not of you only, but) of the conversion of the principal and leading members of your church. For who can doubt.

LETTERS TO S. C. AIKIN.

from your brother Finney's extensive acquaintance with human nature, the correctness of his judgment as to the symptoms of conversion 1 or that he is right, when he calculates that if he can get people ungovernably wrathy, so that they will say and do things for which they will feel guilt and remorse of conscience, he can then urge successfully the doctrine of total depravity, persuade them that their anger proceeded from the natural corruptions of their hearts" and their " enmity to God and religion," and thus spread his net over and convert them ? And now, dear Sir, who can tell but that these same members of your church, who are so angry just before their conversion, will, when they come to knoio ^nd feel the power of divine truth in their hearts y render me great and incalculable service in my benevolent undertaking, and thus greatly accelerate the conversion of their present much loved pastor? For I cannot believe you will have the hardihood to stand out a great while, or be very stout-hearted against the truth, after all of your principal supporters shall have left their seats in your church for want of the "bread of life," and begin to admonish you to forsake a system as rotten as yours is, which although " it may do to live by, will not answer to die by."

But really, dear Sir, it is somewhat surprising that your friends should any of them have got so indignant at me, (however much good may result from it,) merely for undertaking to effect your conversion, in the way I have. — For surely nothing unfriendly — nothing but what breathed the most entire good will and benevolence to you — w^as manifested in my first letter ; nor do I intend any thing in this or any future number that shall indicate a want of the most pure and disinterested friendship. Why, my dear Sir, your friends were generally very much pleased with your conversion three years ago, under Mr. Finney; and why should they be c^i^pleased with a prospect of a similar event noio ? for surely it must be full as desirable now as then. When you and Dr. Lansing, of Auburn, and several other Orthodox clergymen in this region, after having preached and been settled pastors of churches, ten, fifteen, or twenty years, confessed (as I have been told you did) that you "had never been converted — had never known what true religion was till brother Finney can^

LETTERS TO S. C. AIKIN.

along, expounded the way more perfectly unto you, and brought you to feel yourselves, for the first time, the happy subjects of renewing grace," or words to that effect; your warmest friends were well pleased, and said one to another, " then hath God granted to our beloved pastor also repentance unto life." And yet, now, strange as it may seem, those very friends appear to be afraid of your being converted a second time ! By the way, I would observe, you ought to be very modest in your pretensions, and very diffident of your judgment as to the genuineness of your conversion under Mr. Finney: for if you preached fifteen years, or more, under the deceptive impression that you had been converted to the knowledge of the truth, and afterwards discovered that you had not, but had been deceived all this time, you ought not to be very sanguine in the opinion that your last conversion was not likewise spurious. I am as well satisfied that it was, and that you need another conversion, as I am that you are pastor of the First Presbyterian church in the city of Utica. And as soon as I can get you to begin to distrust the genuineness of that conversion, I shall think myself in a fairway of soon obtaining my object.

I will now attend to what I promised in my first letter, viz. to give you some advice and admonitions against yielding to the influence of popular names, such as those of Drs. Ely, Beecher and others, in endeavoring to obtain objects beyond your reach, or which, if attained, would be most disastrous in their consequences. Now, friend Aikin, were you really in league with Dr. Ely, in endeavoring to prepare and incite the public mind for the union of Church and State? and were you and he the appointed organs of your party to communicate the scheme to the public, simultaneously, he in Philadelphia, and you in Utica? Your language and his, used on the 4th of July, 1827, are so perfectly synonymous that it would induce the belief, (if you were not above suspicion,) that it was a preconcerted plan between you, to take that time to prepare the public mind for the event above named. You and he both seem to put great confidence in Sunday Schools, as efficient means of accomplishing your purposes. And it must be acknowledged, such is the human mind, that, generally, *' just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined;" so that in this you discovered considerable foresight. You say you " have been surprised to see the apathy of our enlightened statesmen on the subject of Sunday Schools; surprised that they look upon them only as religious institutions, when it is so plain that their political energy must very soon, if it increases with the same ratio it has for fifteen years past, totally regenerate our Legislatures and the very halls of Congress.^^ You, however, seem rather to rejoice in this apathy, and to exult in the certainty of success in your plans by its existence among enlightened statesmen. (Of course " enlightened statesmen" would oppose you.) You say " in such cases it is well that this blind apathy exists, for instead of it, there might have been opposition : but it is now too late to oppose. It has been wisely ordered by divine Providence that this little rivulet should silently flow along until it has acquired the strength and majesty of the ocean." It is not difficult to determine what is meant by the ''^regeneration'^ of our Legislatures and halls of Congress^ even from your own statements. — But the designs of your party are rendered, if possible, still more indubitable by the Philadelphian Doctor.

Dr. Ely says, " I propose, fellow-citizens, a new sort of

union, or if you please, a Christian party in politics

I am free to avow that, other things being equal, I would prefer for my Chief Magistrate, and Judge, and Ruler, a

sound Presbyterian.,. Our Presidents, Secretaries of

Government, Senators, Representatives in Congress, Governors of States, Judges, State Legislators, Justices of the Peace, and city Magistrates, are just as much bound as any other persons in the United States, to be Orthodox in their faith The Freshyterians alone could

bring half a million of electors into the field The

electors of these five classes (of Orthodox sects named) united in the sole requisition of apparent friendship to Christianity in every candidate for office whom they will support, could govern every public electionin our country, It will be objected that my plan of a truly Christian party in politics^ will make hypocrites. We are not answerable for their hypocrisy, if it does." Again he says in an appendix to his report of the American Sunday School Union : — " In ten years, or certainly i7i twenty ^ the political power of our country would be in the hands of men whose characters have been formed under the influ' ence of Sabbath Schools

Thus you and Dr. Ely seem to anticipate glorious times when your " Christian party in politics" shall come into power and " totally regenerate our Legislatures and the very halls of Congress when the salutary restraints of an Orthodox Inquisition shall compel all to become " sound

Presbyterians" or "hypocrites," and but I forbear—

the picture is too revolting to dwell on. 0, for shame> friend Aikin! Can you and the Doctor be so foolish as to think of making all of the intelligent and enlightened people in this country " sound Presbyterians^' ? or even of bringing them so near it as to make them all " hypocrites''^ ? If you are, I sincerely pity you. But pause a moment, dear Sir, while I ask you, if it is not barely possible that you are deceived and blinded by the love of popularity and the influence of great names? Suppose you should succeed in your undertaking — of which I think there is but very little prospect — but suppose you should, are you certain you would not afterwards repent of it? You have children— suppose after you had succeeded in getting an Inquisition established in this country, with all the appendages of terror and torture that ever characterized that dreadful engine of priestly power in Spain, that you should discover, in your old age, that one of your own children had renounced the barbarous dogmas of your creed, and embraced the mild and benevolent religion of the Gospel, the belief that " God is the Saviour of all men," " good unto all, and his tender mercies over all his works," and in consequence should have to feel the tortures of that dreadful engine — what, I ask, would be your feelings as a father? Would they not be indescribable 1 Would not the sight, with the refleccion that you had been instrumental, however unwittingly, in paving the way for his sufferings, bring down your gray hairs with sorrow to the grave ? Such things, Sir, are not impossible, nor, indeed improbable, if you and Dr. Ely should succeed ; for I have often known the sons of Orthodox clergymen (and I apprehend the instances will be more frequent hereafter than they have ever yet been) to embrace the truth as it is in Jesus, and come out boldly in vindication of the doctrine of universal salvation.