THE CALVINISTIC AND SOCINIAN SYSTEMS EXAMINED AND COMPARED, AS TO THEIR MORAL TENDENCY: IN A SERIES OF LETTERS, ADDRESSED TO THE FRIENDS OF VITAL AND PRACTICAL RELIGION. SIXTH EDITION. TO WHICH IS ADDED, A POSTSCRIPT, Establishing the Principle of the Work against the Exceptions BY ANDREW. FULLER. GRACE BE WITH ALL THEM THAT LOVE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN SINCERITY. PAUL. London: PRINTED FOR T. GARDINER, PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE; 1810. PREFACE. THE HE following Letters are addreffed to the friends of vital and practical religion, becaufe the author is perfuaded that the very ef fence of true piety is concerned in this controverfy; and that godly men are the only proper judges of divine truth, being the only humble, upright, and earnest enquirers after it. So far from thinking with Dr. Priestley, that "an "unbiaffed temper of mind is attained in con fequence of becoming more indifferent to religion in general, and to all the modes and "doctrines of it;" he is fatisfied that perfons of that defcription have a moft powerful bias against the truth. Though it were admitted that falfe principles, accompanied with a bigoted attachment to them, are worfe than none; yet he cannot admit that irreligious men are deftitute of principles. He has no notion of human minds being unoccupied, or indifferent: he that is not a friend to religion in any mode, is an enemy to it in all modes; he is a libertine; he doth evil, and therefore hateth the light. And fhall we compliment fuch a character by acknowledging him to be in " a favourable น The "fituation for diftinguishing between truth and "falfehood?* God forbid! It is he that doeth his will, that fhall know of his doctrine. humble, the candid, the upright enquirers after truth, are the perfons who are likely to. find it; and to them the author takes the liberty to appeal. The principal occafion of thefe Letters, was, the late union among proteftant diffenters, in reference to civil affairs, having been the fource of various mifconceptions; and as the writer apprehends, improved as a mean of diffeminating focinian principles. In the late application to parliament for the repeal of the Corporation and Teft Acts, the diffenters have united without any refpect to their doctrinal principles. They confidered themselves as applying merely for a civil right; and that in fuch an application, difference in theological fentiments had no more concern, than it has in the union of a nation under one civil head or form of government. This union, however, has become an cafion of many reflections. Serious men of the eftablished church have expreffed their furprise that fome diffenters could unite with others. fo oppofite in their religious principles; and * Discourses on various Subjects, p. 95. |