free to the most Worthless; and it is no Reflection on Mr Boston's Character, to say, he was saved like other poor Sinners by the free Mercy of God, and not in the Character of a popular Preacher, or a Writer of popular Books. Mr Frazer, and those who proceed on the Plan of the ancient Pharisees, are not disposed to receive the Truths of the Bible till once they can find the Name of some Rabbi prefixed to them; but our Savour's Advice is recorded in this Fashion, Call no Man Rabbi, for one is your Rabbi, even Christ, and all ye are Brethren.[1] While the Names and Characters of Men stand between the Professors of Religion, and the Words of the Holy Ghost, there cannot be a better Office performed to such misled Mortals, than to beat down this Wall of Partition, which hinders them from receiving the heavenly Truth for its own Sake. It is but reasonable that the Righteous be had in everlasting Remembrance; but it is a poor Compliment paid to their Memory to prefer their Names and Works to the Word of God. They certainly never meant to be Lords of our Faith, but only Helpers of our Joy.
The associate Presbytery, in their Act concerning the Doctrine of Grace, have endeavoured to make some Improvements upon the Marrow of modern Divinity, and Mr Boston's Works; and have really improved in all the Absurdities of the ancient Pharisees. They have established an appropriating Act of Faith, which they affirm is necessary for Sinner's Justification before God, and insist up-on
- ↑ Math. xxiii.8.
