By THOMAS BOWMAN, M. A. The Fourth Edition, with many Additions. LONDON: Printed for C. DILLY, -M. DCC. XC. THE PRINCIPLES O F CHRIS ΤΙΑΝΙΤΥ. LETTER I. To a CLERGYMAN. REV. SIR, HE leading doctrines in the following difcourfes are, "That all mankind became finners by the firft difobedience of Adam, and are by nature children of wrath---that we can be restored to the Divine favour, and made happy hereafter, only by faith in the Word of God-that, for the fake of the death and merits of Jefus Chrift, whofoever believeth in him fhall not perish, but have everlasting life life-that we must be renewed by the Holy Ghoft, before we can lead a life of holinefsand that, unless we are thus born again, we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." Of these doctrines, you have groffly expreffed your disapprobation; frequently and openly declaring, that they are falfe and enthufiaftic. A heavy charge this, and coming from a perfon of your years and character, tends to have weight with, and unhinge the minds of many. It ought, therefore, to have been made good. But you have not, as far as I can learn, offered any reafons to prove them fo. You have even refused to make me acquainted with your objections, though I requefted to know them with a proper respect. You have refused to meet me, with a friend or two, in order to examine the propriety of what I have advanced. I am therefore conftrained to addrefs you in this public manner. For the proof of my opinions, I refer you to the discourses themselves; in which I have endeavoured to fupport them by Scripture and Reason; and shall now chiefly undertake to prove, that they are the doctrines of the established church, of that church of which you call yourself a member, and in which you have long officiated as one of its ministers, ART, |