ΤΟ Α

GENTLEMAN,

UPON A VARIETY OF

SEASONABLE AND IMPORTANT SUBJECTS

IN RELIGION.

BY

JONATHAN DICKINSON, A. M.

LATE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT ELIZABETHTOWN, N. J.

PHILADELPHIA:

PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION.
JAMES RUSSELL, PUBLISHING AGENT.

1841.

M

CONTENTS.

PREFACE,

LETTER I.-The Danger of Infidelity briefly represented

LETTER II.-A brief and general view of the Evidences of Chris-

tianity,
16

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9

LETTER III.-A Historical Account of the Birth, Life, Passion,

Resurrection, Ascension, and Future Kingdom of our Blessed Sa-

viour, collected from the Prophecies of the Old Testament,

29

LETTER IV.-The certainty of those facts, upon which the Evi-

dences of Christianity depend,

43

LETTER V.-Some of the Internal Evidences of Christianity con-

sidered,
53

LETTER VI.-Some Objections against the Internal Evidences of

Christianity considered and answered,
67

LETTER VII.-The Doctrine of God's Sovereign Grace Vindicated;

and some Exceptions against it considered and answered, 78

LETTER VIII.-The Difference between a True Saving Faith,

and a Dead Temporary Faith, distinctly considered,

91

LETTER IX.-The Difference between a Legal and Evangelical

Repentance distinctly considered,

108

LETTER X.-The Seventh Chapter to the Romans contains the

Description and Character of a Converted State,
130

LETTER XI.-The doctrine of a Sinner's Justification, by the Im-

puted Righteousness of Christ, explained and vindicated,
151

LETTER XII.-Whether we are Justified by Faith and Obedience

to the Gospel, as a New Law of Grace,

174

LETTER XIII.-The notion of a First Justification by Faith, and a

Secondary Justification by Sincere Obedience, discussed and con-

futed,

201

LETTER XIV.-The Apostle James's Doctrine of Justification by

Works, in his Second Chapter, distinctly reviewed, and set in its

genuine light, by a comparison with the Apostle Paul's doctrine

of Justification by Faith,
202

LETTER XV.- Wherein is considered in what respects Good

Works are Necessary; and our Obligations to them represented

and urged,

242

LETTER XVI.-The Nature of the Believer's Union to Christ

briefly explained and the Necessity of it asserted and de.

fended,
265

LETTER XVII-Antinomian Abuses of the doctrine of Believers'

Union to Christ, or Pleas from it for Licentiousness and Security in

sinning, considered and obviated,
286

LETTER XVIII.-Particular advice and direction for a Close and

Comfortable Walk with God,
309

PREFACE.

THE irregular heats and extravagancies of some late pretenders to extraordinary attainments in religion, their imaginary divine impulses, and ecstatic raptures, with other effects of their disordered fancies, have cast such a blemish upon the Christian profession, in the eyes of unsettled and unthinking people, that it is well if too many are not in danger of calling Christianity itself into question, from the manifestly false pretences and enthusiastic flights of some, who have put in a claim to so eminent an experience in the divine life. It is therefore thought needful, as well as seasonable at this time, that a brief and plain confirmation of the Christian religion be sent abroad among our people, to establish them in the foundation of our eternal hope. This has been my special motive to the publication of some of the first of the ensuing Letters.

On the other hand, whether for want of duly distinguishing between delusive appearances and the genuine effects of an effusion of the Holy Spirit, or from whatever cause, such has been the violent opposition of some to the late revival