to the new hemisphere. They did not come hither to receive, but to give instruction; "non ab aliis corrigendi, sed alios corrigere." Some of this description there are from New-England, who were once professed Hopkinsians-stars in the Zodiac "But, O, how fallen!-how changed!" Of this number is the Queen of Sweden's little cannon, who, little as he is, is a sharp shooter. He it was, as I before said, that shot off the "Contrast." A disappointment in love, it is commonly reported, made him, at once, an anti-Hopkinsian and a poet. His poems were so lucky in the article of flattery, to certain great men he wished to please, that they effectually did his business for him; and I suspect few have read them without feeling a strong propensity to do the same for themselves. There goes a pleasant story with regard to this man. It is said, after his total defection, wishing to convince a certain audience of the enormous errors of the Hopkinsians, he read them, as a specimen, one of his former sermons. I believe few will wonder that his audience should be struck with horror. His poems fully indicate his disappointment, as they abound in the well known "Hair-brained, sentimental grace." Not grace in Calvin's sense of the word, for neither his poems, Contrast, nor conduct, show much of that. But whether the Hopkinsians have reason to regret the cruelty of his mistress, or the lovers of poetry to rejoice in it, I leave for future consideration. Perhaps these men will consider it as matter of joy and exultation, that this city has, from the first, shared little in the great and frequent reformations prevailing to the north and east; nor do they consider, that the comparatively small number of professors of religion found in this city, would be still much smaller if restricted to those whose profession commenced in this city. Confused, unsettled, and bewildered, like all great cities, with an immense heterogeneous mass of strangers, of no certain character, overwhelmed in business, dazzled with wealth and show, and occupied with every thing more than religion, yet willing to have enough of that to be fashionable here, and go to heaven hereafter, at some very distant day; this city has ever afforded a field of operation and influence for teachers of a complexion likę its own; and they have not been wanting in sufficient numbers and activity. And they have prevailed thus far, at the dreadful expense of the eternal welfare of thousands of souls. Their motive, for I will not shrink from the truth, in excluding the reformers and reformations, the doctrines and principles of New-England, is not at all of a religious or moral nature. The love of truth, as I said above, does not produce persecution, enmity, pride, ill will, disdain, overreaching, undermining, intrigue. They deceive the people of this city by assuming false and specious motives; and never was deception more exquisite, more profound, or imposition more gross and triumphant. Were they actuated by the love of truth and the fear of error, very different would be their aspect and behaviour. But it is the love of self, and the fear of a rival, that urges them on. It is ambition to acquire and maintain a poor, wretched, shortlived, pitiful, ghostly power and influence over men. They feel little of the love of truth, or the love of God, or the love of men, in this unhallowed system of opposition and intrigue. The word of God out of the question, were they influenced by human authorities, they might blush for the course they are pursuing. The names of Fuller, and Hall, and Jay, and Ryland, are sufficient to show them, that the sentiments they oppose are not without the support of talents and eloquence beyond the Atlantic, in a comparison with which, I leave them to find a place for themselves, if they can. It is not the love of truth by which they are led; they therefore know, and have studied well, the chequered part they are to act,the tortuous course they must pursue. They know in what companies to be all meekness, gentleness, condescension, and humility; so that a harmless, credulous soul, will compare one of them to John the beloved disciple, another to Moses the meek lawgiver. They know when and how to burn with devotion; to soar in flights of faith; to appropriate all the promises to themselves; to knock at the gates of heaven with violence, and boldly demand a seat near the filial throne. Ah! says one, it is surely Daniel or Isaiah come from heaven; says another, it is a second Elijah in his fiery car; or, says a third, more like St. Paul wrapt in the third heavens.* : Would that I could stop here; but there is another part to this picture and in the sight of heaven I will not shun to declare the whole truth. As far as I have gone, they very often hear from their flatterers:-they shall hear the rest from a better friend than a flatterer. They know when and how to change their dove-like plumage into scales, and their snowy fleece into brindled spots, and threatening fangs. There is but a little distance between a sigh and a hiss, or between a smile and a grin:—and once a hiss was succeeded by a stab. They know how to dart on their victim like a basilisk from the sand, or to reach him like a Scythian with an arrow from behind a hedge. A man engaged in his own concerns, unsuspecting and unprotected, is their favourite mark. And let the public know, as there is one man who dares to say what he knows, that I have not made one of these assertions without a correspondent fact in my eye. The people of this city are entitled to know the grounds of this whole business; they ought to know it, and they shall know it, if they will read. The men in this city who hold to what is usually styled New-England sentiments, have entered into no dispute with any one. They have with all possible endeavours cultivated the friendship and esteem of those who differed from them. They have even generally avoided entering on disputed points, in their own churches, that they might avoid all appearance of controversy. What has been the consequence? They have been attacked with great virulence and hostility, and in a manner, in short, which justifies every thing which has been said in these numbers. What are their errors? But they are accused of great errors. Why, they hold to a general atonement. So does a great portion of the protestant church. The sentiment is clearly taught in the scriptures. They cannot even show that Calvin himself held differently. Most of the standard writers since the reformation hold the same.-Well-they deny original sin. This is not true. They deny imputation of guilt and a transfer of character; and • One of them has been denominated the St. Paul of America. so did Calvin. And if any one will examine the opinions of the reformers, together with their confessions of faith, he will perceive the doctrine of imputation by no means prevalent or general among them. They held to the original and entire corruption of human nature, by the fall, and so do we. In a word, the preceding remarks apply with equal force also to the doctrine of depravity. But, why is all this uproar? A majority of the Synod of New-York and New-Jersey are full in the sentiments I have advanced. And will these people unchurch the Synod, and turn them out of doors? The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church may be nearly equally divided; though, in that body, the number in favour of what I consider correct sentiments is rapidly increasing. In a general survey of the protestant church in America, these men cannot pretend to a majority. But having acquired a little influence in this city, their arrogance and presumption seem inclined to leap over all bounds. Were they inclined to fair and open controversy, they would be answered to their satisfaction; but they desire no such thing. Their plan and their hope is by manoeuvering, by secret working behind the curtain, by art and intrigue, to undermine the reputation of the men who hold to the sentiments which prevail in New-England, and drive them from the city. The question is, whether they will succeed. All triumph, short of the triumph of truth and righteousness, is as shortlived as it is impotent and vain. There was a day when the parasites of Hildebrand adored him as the vicegerent of Christ, and as the lord of men's consciences. We may turn to the page of history, which represents him parading through the streets of Rome, like a blazing star; the triple diadem sparkling on his head, and the imperial purple floating from his shoulders. The thrones of Europe shook when he frowned; and monarchs were obsequious to his powerful mandate. There, one would be ready to say, was solid food for ambition; there was an object worthy of toil and intrigue. But he vanished like a dream! Ages have rolled away since he went to his final audit before that God who respects not the persons of princes, I saw the wealthy wicked boast, "Till at thy frown he fell; "His honours in a dream are lost, "And he awakes in hell.” Is there a menial slave, of piety and virtue, who followed at a distance the chariot of Gregory the Seventh, whose character and destiny any christian would not prefer to that of this spiritual tyrant? The worst that can befall an ambitious spirit, is to succeed in his utmost plans and wishes. But, whether he fail or succeed, he is more an object of pity than resentment. And from my soul I pity these busy men, the very vital principle of whose scheme is selfishness and ambition; for, could they achieve what they aim at, it is but the tinsel of power, spread thinner than ever the gold beater spread his leaf: could they gain all they seek for, and for which they dig, and climb, and creep, and whisper, and trim; for which they have in store a thousand smiles, and frowns, and sighs, and hisses, and winks, and nods, and flatteries, and threats, it would all evaporate in a few blasts of applause, not made of the purest breath; it would perish "Eike the baseless fabric of a vision, But, should it be seriously asked what evidence there is that ambition is at the bottom of this conduct; I reply, that this, and this only, is sufficient to account for what they do; God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. The whole conduct of these men is such as might be expected from an ambitious man, labouring to supplant his rival and enemy. They show no love nor condescension-no meekness nor humility-no openness nor magnanimity. If you condescend, they vapour-if you resist, they are enraged-if you retreat, they pursue and if you submit, they triumph. Ambition, always vain, was never vainer than in this case. What if they triumph? There is not the splendid chariot, the triumphal arch, the adoring millions; there is not the crown of Hildebrand, heavy with gold and gems-his splendid throne and |