Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-01-17

ing by the Rev. DR.. Taylor, OF n. Haven,
the Rev. DR.. Beecher, lately Of Boston. but
now Of Cincinnati, and others, to revive, IN
this country, in somewhat modified and
disguised form, the exploded hcreslcs of the
Pelagians. The letter from which we
make the following extracts, was addressed
by the late eminent DR.. Porter, of Andovcr,
Mass to DR.. Recghcr, or this subject.
The whole letter is too long. end partalics
too much of sCctanln character, Tor our
columns. But as thc hcrcsics referred 10
have spread more OK less among Gl.Frcnt
religious denominations, especially at the
North and Wcs, those of our readers WHO
regard these things, will take some interest
in anything on the subject from the pen OF
one among the most judicious divincS ever
produced by our country.
fyou ;sk me here to specify what think
wrong in your, or Dr. Tayor's views -
one OF ,he wors; faults | find. is the ndcti-
mite and obscure character Of these views.
IN all the annals of Theoloyic%I discussion.
| have seen no match for DIR. TavIor's OBJ
security. | mean when Il man has good
sense, as he has, anil can preach with per-
spiculty. And as for You. who certainly
can speak ana wrc as clearI Y as any man
on common subicc:s, | undcrs' and that you,
as well as DIR. Taylor, are beginning 10
complain (as system. makers have been wont
TO do) that YOU are misunderstood. So far
as | have any distinct conceptions Of lhc
new views embraced by you, or ascribcd TO
You, the faults | find are chiefly these. viz.
That these views arc not built on the Bile,
but on philosophical theories rs to mans
mind and powers of agency: that your
preaching does not draw It's proof from the
Scriptures, and therefore does not lead man
10 " Search The Scriptures" as much as the
plain. s"rious preaching common in New
England pulpits; that You cxaIt hrm1n
agency, so as virtually to lose sight Of IS
correlate, hum1ndcpemtcnce; and thus make
regeneration so rcsult of means and in
Strameats'ity, that tho sinner is born rather
of hood or the will of man. than ofGo:l;'
and finally, thet your views would cherish
presump. uous reliance on means and min
isters. and in pcni:cnt sinners, so as Gin d.
rect con ravention Of YOUR own mcaning)
to frustra,c r,v:vuls Of religion. 1t is Ger
tlinly more consis ent with the Bible to rc-
present well instructed, anxious, inQuring
sinner us more likely to be saved, than one
who is igncr mt and careless, or else means
would bc useless. And though | presume
your meaning goes no farther than this, |
apprehcnd your system goes much farther
in cff;ct, as YOU are understood; for YOU
are understood to propose that You will take
u sinner, careless though he may be, and in
cer;ain process, Of means, attended on
with an unholy heart, you will, in mole
rate period, return him a convcrcd man.
The real Gospel, however SkiIlully pub
ished, if preached c!car will be opposed.
Experience has indicated this. If You
say, this has resulted from the wrong mode
preaching. add-God has decided in his
word that ",he carnal mind is enmity against
himself" Christ preached wisel y, no doub,
yet to his hearers he says, (no., We would
have loved me and my Father, ifye had
seen our ch ,racier truly, but) '1r hare seen
aud hated both me and my Father" You
alarmed me, brother Bcccher, when you
explained, rs Uniiarians do, the opposition
of Christ's learcrsin:o their natural preju-
dices, as Jews; implying that Christ's preach.
ing would not BE- opposed now. If this is
50, Paul made great mistake when he
classed Jews and Genilcs together as enc
mics TO God.
regret the impression you have been
making because The grand danger of the
ministry always has been tendency to
modify the Gospel to appcasc opposition.
There is large number of orthodox minis.
tiers in New England who from family all;-
;,nces, from constitutional dclicacy of tcm-
per. &C., &C., as hin:ed above, will tenn
rorize, and make smooth work, from an
honest conviction that full disclosure Of
the truth would ALLEVIATE their hearers. The
bitter revilings of base men have been grad
ually and insensbly leading Christian min
listers to hide their colours, and rcccdc from
their ground. DR.. Springs church at New.
burypor;, and Park street, especially in DR..
Gritfin's day, and few others have s.ood
like the Macedonian phalanx, but 0 hers
have gone backward. CAUTION. CAUTION.
has been the watchword of'minis: crs. When
they do preach the Old standard doctrines,
it is in so guarded phrascology that they
are not understood to be ,hc same.
And tho case becomes still more i'm.
pcratve, if your most substantial and in
telligent brethren are apprehcnsivc too.
These brethren, if / understand the case, arc
among the most discriminating and cycrl