Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-10-01
From the Fresinan's Journal.
a rAsTosAL LETrER

From the treRnan y . oui ia's
A PAsT0RAL LETTER
]ffhe Synod Of Philadelphia, toths Pres
byferies and Churches Under then,
care.
|c'dRIsTIAN BaETHREN,
The Synod. assembled in Lancaster at
The present time. consists Of greater
lumber OF me p0srs than have been con
|ycned at any Meeting for many years !;
and from their free conversation on the
state Of religion, it appears. that all the
|preshyteries are more than commonly
|alise to the Importance OF contendins
|earnestiyfor the faith once delivered to
the SAINTS; and of resisting the introduc.
ton Of A,-ian, Socinian. Arminian, and
tIepkinsian heresies. which are some OF
The means by which the enemy Of souls
would, If possible, deceive the very
|elect.
The Synod desire to cherish stronger
regard for the truth as It is in Jesus.
THAN they End atpresent subsisting among
themselves; and, because they ere not
Ignorant of the disposition OF mahs good
lmento cry g peas ." where there should
he no peace; and !" there is nodanger,0
|; in cases in which God commands Us to
ssvoid the appearance of.evil; they would
IaaectionaieIy exhert each Presbs terry IN,
der their care, to be strict in the exanntlt
lstion Of candidates for licensure or ors'-
mate. upon the subject of those Exclusions
Iof the present age. which seem to he a
lconbination Of most OF the Innovations
made upon Christian doctrine in forme
times.
Nav the time never come, in which
| our eccles astical courts shall determine,
that Hopkinsianism and the doctrines OF
Iour Confession OF Earth are the same
Thing or, that men are lessexposed now,
| than in the days Of the Apostles, to the
danger ofperverting the right ways OF the
Lord.
The Synod would exhort particularly
Ia,l the Elders of the Churches to beware
| of those who have made such pretended
discoveries in Christian theology as re-
,ouire an Abandonment of the Is form OF
lsound words" contained in our excellent
Confession and the Holy Scriptures.
| In some portions of our Synodical
hounds, exertions have been made, but
with little effect, to propagate the doc
Urine of universal salvation. We rejoice
THAT the shafts of Satan should fall inef-
lfeciual from the shield OF Jesus; and we
ldesire all persons under our care to pre-
Isent this shield, by maintaining and did,
lfasing assidaousiy tie sentiments OF the
Word of God, in opposition to every
Idamnins error.
Many of our congregations, when their
Imembers were few in number, erected
large places Of worship, with design TO
accommodate their posterity. These
Have, generally speaking, become tall q
lalthough many persons remove from US
lie the southern and western parts OF our
lcountfy yet new tabernacIes for the God
Iof Jacob lave been found necessary.
nine new churches have been formed
within few years, whicb arein flourish
ling condition some Nhich we're ready
Ito die, rave beea revived and in most
fof our assemblies "a more general, Golf
!stant. and solemn attendance has been
|aiven of late than formerly; but alas !!
1.-THE increase of churches bears no proper
|tlon to the increase of population.
Three or tour OF our churches have
Iexrlefienced what is commonly called a
revival OF religion, and to them aecessions
ofcommunicantsfave been numerous but
ia many other congregations a gradual
but almost constant multiplication OF the
nrofessed friends OF Zi0n, reminds us,
tia ifihe thunder storm in summer ex-
cites the most attention, it is the continu-
| ed blessing from the clouds which repleu-
|;shes the springs, and makes glad the
harvest of the hushandnan. FOR the
many, who areuaited in a short time, and
|for the many, who are gradually sathel-'
led TO Christ, not by the great and strong
wind that rends The mountains, nor By
the earthquake, bnt by the still smalr
Voice. which cometh not with observation
we would give our Redeemer thanks; x
desire the churches to bless him, no less
for the daily dew, and the latter, than
the early rain.
1t is with deep regret too we have as
Iceltained, that only few of oar vacant
congregations assemble, when destitute
ola ministerial supply, for public worship
on the LORDS day. We. would unite our
voice with that of the general assembly on
this subject, in recommending TO the ell
ders of such churches, to convene the
[nennle of their charge regularly on the