ven. Now surely these traditions make the commandment "of none effect." How can the Calvinist "love" the God of his imagination and creed, clothed as he is with attributes the most repulsive and hateful, and exhibiting no one amiable or attractive quality? Nay, even the salvation of the elected few is, according to Calvinism, no proof of God's love to them, because his remorseless wrath parted not with a single victim until the full amount of suffering had been endured by Christ. Indeed, the human mind cannot conceive of a being so, in every respect, odious as the Calvinist's God. He creates this fair world for the dwelling place of his children, he places them in it with a promise of his favour and blessing in case of their obedience; but all this apparent kindness is, according to Calvinism, no more than a cruel deception, for they are all under his wrath and curse except the few in whose stead Christ suffers. With respect to all the rest, the whole heathen world, comprising nine-tenths of the descendants of Adam, and the innumerable multitudes of reprobates in Christian communities, the Almighty treasures up a feeling of remorseless and infinite vengeance. He sends indeed his messengers to call upon them to repent, but this can only be in cruel mockery, as he has himself decreed that they shall, "without doubt, perish eternally." He declares that he has no pleasure in the death of a sinner; and yet, according to Calvinism, the great majority of his children are created by him only to be damned without reprieve, and he will take order that this just decree shall be so executed, that the smoke of their torments shall ascend up for ever. Observe how the traditions of Calvinism war with "the first and great commandment of the law," and effectually destroy its power. The timid may fear, and the bold may hate this monster of the imagination that Calvinistic tradition puts forward in the room of God, clothed in attributes of causeless cruelty and eternal malice; but to love such a being is utterly impossible. Alas! for the men who receive as true such representations of the Almighty! with respect to them tradition has triumphed over truth, and the commandment of the law of God is become "of none effect."

2d, Our blessed Saviour informs us, that the second commandment is like unto the first; viz. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Now, as Calvinism tends directly

to destroy the power of the first and great commandment, so it will be found most materially to injure the efficiency of the second. We are commanded to love our neighbour; but we cannot love what is not, neither seems to be, loveworthy. Yet, Calvinism informs us that all men, except the small number of the elect, are under the wrath and curse of God, that they are altogether evil and corrupt, "utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil." With such a belief in his heart, how can the sincere Calvinist "love" his neighbour of another faith? He can see in him no single trait of goodness or virtue. He believes him to be an outcast utterly abandoned and depraved, a being whom God hates, and will for ever hate, a brand fitted for the burning. How then can he entertain towards him the kind, respectful feeling of "love ?" Can he respect the utterly depraved? Ought he to love him whom God hates? No, it is positively impossible! The Calvinist who really believes in his own exclusive creed (as but a few do) may despise, hate, abhor, nay, if he is a kind-hearted man, even pity his neighbour of another faith, but he can never "love him as himself;" in his mind the tradition wars with the commandment, rendering it "of none effect." This is the true cause of those indecent exhibitions of clerical intolerance which have disgraced Christianity, sometimes exhibited in the conduct of men otherwise peculiarly amiable, but whose narrow sectarian traditions have caused them to violate the great primary commandments upon which the law and the prophets depend. However, then, churches may denounce judgment against those who have emancipated themselves from creed-worship, and are become believers in the pure "truth as it is in Jesus," of this we may rest assured, that, whatever religious party holds the most firmly, and inculcates the most earnestly, the great fundamental principle of our holy faith, love to God and love to man, is the most worthy of our support and adherence; and, of all churches, that is the least worthy of credence and obedience, whose articles of faith have a direct and powerful tendency to prevent the growth of piety and true charity in the human heart; whose dark and harsh "traditions" have rendered the primary precepts of the religion of Jesus "of none effect." Oh, how happy, how thankful should we feel that the gloom of Calvinistic tra

dition has been in some degree dissipated by the cheering light of gospel truth! The object of our adoration is no longer presented to us clothed in the repulsive attributes of a demon, but in the attractive form of a kind, tender, ever-loving Father, to whom, when known, our hearts expand in love, as willingly as the leaves of the young spring open to the soft south wind, as the buds and flowers unfold beneath the fond glances of the summer sun.

From all this it obviously follows, that the duty of the Christian Minister is, to lay before his hearers such views of Jehovah's infinite mercy and boundless goodness as may most readily excite and confirm a feeling of confiding love towards him. And, surely, there are manifestations of his benevolence, numerous enough, and clear enough, amidst his works, to furnish illustrations for such a line of argument. The very act of creation, calling out of nothing into existence the innumerable tribes of living and sentient creatures that people the earth, proves the goodness of the Lord, and the unceasing providential care with which he supplies the wants and secures the happiness of each tribe and being, according to its nature, makes manifest to all the world the infinite benevolence of our God. No nar

row partiality is found to limit the gifts of his goodness, it is only in the bigot's creed that the Almighty is a respecter of persons. In the great theatre of the universe his smiles of love, tenderness, and benevolence, are shed equally upon all his children. He causeth his sun to rise upon the evil and the good, he sendeth rain upon the just and unjust. And, with respect to our brethren of mankind, surely 'tis our duty to believe that, as we are commanded to "love them, they must have, all of them, if we only knew it, something amiable, good, and loveable in their nature. None are altogether evil, and no human being should be reckoned utterly unworthy of kindness and attention. Are we not all the children of the same common Father, and expectants, through Christ Jesus our blessed Redeemer, of the same glorious and happy immortality?

CONTROVERSY IN COMBER.

To the Editor of the Bible Christian.

SIR,- -The following address to the Rev. R. F. Jex Blake, curate of this Parish, from a part of his congrega

tion, and from the Rev. Isaac Nelson, Presbyterian Minister, and a part of his congregation, has, for more than a month past, been, with shouts of victory, carried about here, and was presented, on the 25th July last, by James Birch, Guy Stone, and John Stitt, Esqrs.

Address to the Rev. R. F. Jex Blake, B.D., Incumbent of the Parish of Comber.

Reverend and Dear Sir,— We, the Members of your Congregation, beg leave to congratulate you on your refutation of the motives imputed to you in a periodical entitled the "Bible Christian;" and to assure you, that our previous knowledge of your candour and frankness must have always precluded the supposition, on our parts, of any foundation for such imputations having ever existed.

And, although some might possibly differ in opinion as to the extent to which a Clergyman should interfere with, or the manner and place in which he should express his opinions of the doctrines and dogmata of any religious sect, yet we all cordially unite in expressing our admiration of your zeal and sincerity in the discharge of your ministerial duties; your earnestness in the exposition of the truths of Christianity; your assiduity in the promotion of the edu cation of the young; your benevolence in relieving the necessities of the poor; and the kindness and philanthropy with which you hasten to pour the consolations of the Gospel into the hearts and minds of the sick and afflicted.

That you may long be spared to teach your congregation, by precept and example, the sacred duties of a Christian, and the social obligations of a man, is our earnest prayer.

(Here follow the signatures of the Congregation.)

JOHN STITT, Esq. of Ballycreely, one of the gentlemen who accompanied the Deputation, then, on behalf of the numerous individuals of the First Presbyterian Congregation of Comber, whose signatures were also attached to the Address, expressed their most cordial assent to the sentiments contained therein.

Mr. JEX BLAKE then addressed the gentlemen assembled as follows:

MY DEAR FRIENDS AND BRETHREN, How very gratifying to me is the conviction, that you, at least, have not been "compelled to believe" that "plain, well authenticated statement of facts," as it has been called, which was lately published in the 66 Bible Christian."

And I hardly need tell you, the members of my Congregation, it is a source of heartfelt satisfaction to me that you have so promptly come forward to "congratulate me on the refutation of the motives imputed to me in that periodical," and to assure me that your previous knowledge of my character precluded the sup

position on your part of any foundation for such imputations having ever existed."

"Some," as you observe, "might possibly differ in opinion," &c., but, with that candour and frankness for which you give me credit, I feel it my duty to assure you that " I will be ready with all diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines, contrary to God's Word." This I have promised to do, and this I have hitherto been, and in future shall be ready to do, "The Lord being my helper:" but, in the performance of this duty I shall always endeavour to avoid offence, and to excite no irritation.

To you, my numerous Presbyterian friends, and parishioners, I desire to offer the same assurances of a grateful sense of your kindness and consideration, and of my estimation of your friendship and regard, as I have expressed to my own Congregation; and to assure you, that your "cordially coinciding" in their expressions of attachment and esteem demands, and receives, my warmest and sincerest thanks.

It would be affectation, my dear friends, were I not to acknowledge that your having thus cordially united in so many expressions of attachment and esteem for me has very deeply impressed my mind; indeed, no man, I conceive, could be insensible to such expressions of kindness at any time, but now, when I have been so unnecessarily, and in so extraordinary a manner, brought before the public, your testimonial of regard comes with a ten-fold weight.

I have not heard your address without deeply feeling that I have, indeed, neither so fashioned my own life according to the doctrine of Christ, nor so shown myself "a pattern of good works, that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evil thing to say of me;" yet I do feel conscious of having never so far forgotten my duty, as a Gentleman, a Christian, and a Clergyman, as to justify those representations which have lately been laid before the public.

I again thank you, most sincerely, my friends. Believe me, your affectionate Address can never be forgotten by me; but, still, it shall never be a source of arrogance or self exaltation.

I am not unmindful of my solemn promise when I was admitted to holy orders, but, were any farther motive required to encourage me to be faithful in the discharge of the duties of my sacred office, I should find it in your Address.

I now, my dear Friends and Brethren, commend you to the Author of all good.

May you long enjoy His blessing and protection, and may you daily increase in His Holy Spirit more and more, until you come, unto His everlasting kingdom.

This has been, is, and shall continue to be, the prayer of your affectionate minister, and faithful friend and servant,

R. F. JEX BLAKE.