Note 164 — PART II.

I am well pleased to see an exposure of some of the errors in the “Whole Duty of Man,” inserted in the “Gospel Magazine,” vol. 8, new series; a book, the writer remarks, that has gone through more impressions than any other work, the Bible and Common Prayer excepted—The “Whole Duty of Man,” “New Week’s Preparation,” “Companion to the Altar,” &c. are books forming no part of my small library: for of such books and their admirers, it may be truly said—“They are blind leaders of the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” For, as Mr. Huntington solemnly remarks—“If he is cursed of God, that causeth the blind to wander out of the way, to what a curse must that man be entitled, that gives him his hand to lead him into the ditch.” The author of that miserable performance says, of parents’ duty to children “a duty that belongs to their souls, is their bringing them to the sacrament of baptism, whereby to procure them early right to all those precious advantages which that sacrament conveys to them.” This is a duty the parents ought not to delay, it being most reasonable that they who have been instruments to convey the stain and pollution of sin to the poor infant, should be very earnest and industrious to have it washed off as soon as may be. Yea, Mr. John Wesley says—“that he lost all the grace that was given to him in his baptism, by then he was ten years old.” And who can doubt it? On the Lord’s Supper, the above author says—“When thou art about to receive the consecrated bread and wine, remember that God now offers to seal to thee that new covenant made with mankind, in his Son; but then remember that this is all upon condition that thou performest thy part of the new covenant.” On alms-giving it is stated, “that the motive is to be the hope of that eternal reward promised to this performance—to gain a title to endless felicities, and to be sure to make this our sole aim.” On the mercy of the gift of Christ to man, we have a curious account. Speaking of the Son of God, “who came to make known to us the whole will of the Father, in the performance of which we shall be sure to be accepted and rewarded by him.” Reader, what mercy to be better taught!