Letter Fourth.

From Mr. Ballou, to Mr. Buckminster.

PORTSMOUTH, Jan. 11, 1810.

REF. SIR,

You

OUR favor of yesterday is acknowledged with that refpectful fubmiffion which your age and experience together with the fpirit and import of your note juftly impose, and with gratitude alfo, for an obligation which I wished to be under in being fatisfied of your having received my epistle of the 1ft inft. This I learn by the friendly rebuke in your firft fection in which you fpeak of my reply as unneceffary, and alfo by your con defcending to refer it again in your fourth fection. Had I, Sir, viewed your addrefs altogether in the light which you inform me you did, or had you informed me that a reply would not be expected, I fhould by

no means, have troubled you contrary to your wishes. However, as you are an experienced judge of all fuch matters, so you will condefcend to pardon me if in your judgment my epiftle is deftitute of important fubjects. You are fo kind as to repeat the defign of your address again, certifying me that your object was to difcharge the office of friendship, by ftating to me with franknefs and decifion what you are perfuaded will be the final refult of that fentiment which I have embraced and am adVocating. No man, Sir, will ever be more ready to acknowledge a friendy office with fentiments of gratitude than your humble fervant; but I am furc it cannot be expected by you, that I fhould receive the teftimony of a man, however friendly to me, as a decifion against that gofpel which did not receive of man, nor by man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Your precautions in warning me as they regard your final juftification before God, I hope will be fuperced

ed by the acceptable atonement of the Lamb of God which taketh away the fins of the world; tho' that fhall not render your faithfulness void of approbation in a fubordinate fenfe. The fecret hope which you entertained of exciting me, by your ferious apprehenfions to review my fentiments and renewedly to compare them with the only ftandard, would perhaps ap pear not altogether fo neceffary, did you know that my daily bufinefs is to ftudy the law and the teftimony, which increase their light as they are more examined, and furnifi every hour I ftudy them, new proofs of the unbounded goodness of God to the finful race of Adam. O my dear friend! Could you but know the inexpreffible confolation and peace which I enjoy in believing that he, who gave himfelf a ranfom for all men, will finally fee of the travail of his foul, and be fatisfied, you could not feel concerned about the final iffue of the doctrine which I believe and advocate !

I feel that my bleffed Lord and

kind Redeemer deferves every exertion of mine to perfuade men to the knowledge of that truth which would make them free; nor can I eafily forbear to exprefs my defire that your greater experience and better abilities might be employed in fhewing to poor benighted finners the divine amplitude of Gofpel grace for the falvation of all mankind. I believe, dear Sir, if it should please God to discover this foul rejoicing truth to you, that the angels would rejoice in heav en, and faints on earth would be made exceeding glad; yes, your church and parish would follow you with rapturous joy to the fountain which is open for Judah and Jerufalem to wash in from fin anduncleannefs, and to which the fulness of the Gentiles fhall be gathered.

of

I am not at all difpofed to complain. your decifion not to enter into an inveftigation of the doctrine against the truth of which you have oppofed your teftimony; though I fhould hardly have believed that in your D

-judgment, fuch a teftimony could shave been thought proper unless preAceded or fuccceded by fome color of evidence. No man, my dear Sir, is lefs calculated to enjoy a dry unfruitful controversy on religious fentiments than I am-though I wish to -hold myself in perpetual readiness to -give an answer to every man who may afk me a reason for the hope that is within me with meeknefs and fear.

The arguments of Dr. Edwards and Dr. Strong being difpofed to reprefent the divine economy of grace lefs extenfive than the plain and - pofitive promises of God, the teftimo ony of the Prophets, the word of life through Chrift and the witneffing Apoftles, have declared it to be, ftand forever refuted by that cloud of wit neffes, as they are alfo by the fpirit of Chrift in every humble believing heart. It is far more eafy for the ra tional lover of Chrift to believe those learned doctors, deceived by the vain traditions of the fchools, than to be Leve that the grace of God in Chrift