A PASTORAL LETTER PREPARED BY REV. A. DOUGLAS, AND ADOPTED AND CIRCULATED BY THE ASSOCIATED MINISTERS OF THE Congregational Churches in Berkshire. DEAR BRETHREN, ON being appointed to address you in a short Circular Letter, we were induced to think on the nature of your union, and the end proposed to be answered. As these are exclusively religious, we are led to infer that our proper subject is true religion. If we admit that human existence involves great interests, that the pious character possesses real excellence, that the design of the Christian ministry is highly valuable, and that the express declarations of Holy Scripture are full of truth, then religion is obviously very important; it is indeed the "one thing needful," eminently the "good part." Is it not, therefore, the imperative duty of every one, to inquire into it? Ought we not to proceed in such an inquiry with a devout spirit? Surely the manner of our investigations should correspond with U the nature of the subject we examine; that which has the highest claim, should have our best attention. In such a state of mind, you will not be offended, because you find not in this paper, either the charms of novelty, nor the beauties of literary composition; nothing more is proposed than a few plain remarks, calculated to excite your regard or increase your attachment to real godliness. The religion of our Lord Jesus Christ is the only true religion; this we consider it to be as opposed to Paganism and Mahometanism, and as distinguishing it from what is termed Natural Religion, and from Judaism. We will not now occupy your time and attention by arguments for the truth of Christianity, and to show that the religions of the Heathen and Mahometans are false; this is unnecessary—you have full satisfaction on these points, but we will offer an observation or two on Natural Religion and Judaism. By the "Religion of Nature" we would be understood to mean whatsoever is discoverable of God and duty by the light of nature unaided by divine revelation. Let this be rightly explained, and kept in its proper place, as adapted to man in a state of innocency-his original state; and we can have no interest in depreciating it, nor do we subject ourselves to the charge of doing so, because we unequivocally assert that it is altogether insufficient to recover a sinner from his state of defilement, guilt, and misery. As it does not proceed on the supposition of depravity and weakness, of demerit and condemnation, the awful circumstances in which we all are before God-so in vain shall any expect to find in it relief and deliverance. No, it is peculiar to Revealed Religion, to make known this gracious provision,-"the wisdom which comes from above," conducts us to "a Saviour, and a great one," able to deliver us, to supply us, and to bless us with eternal life. The religion of our Lord Jesus Christ in the gospel is also to be distinguished from Judaism. While that dispensation of religion was in force, Christ was its substance and glory; we would not detract from the worth and utility it once possessed. The Jewish economy was plainly typical and imperfect, subordinate and transitory, "which glory was to be done away;" it has been fulfilled and superseded by a better dispensation, which is to remain. Therefore, the Jew who retains it, to the rejection of Christianity, gives awful proof that a veil is on his heart, nor will it be removed until he shall turn to the Lord. To give some method to the observations we are now about to submit to you, we will take a cursory view of religion, As a divine system of truth and grace. As a vital, governing, permanent influence. As a practical course. When we state that Christianity is a system, we are not disposed to maintain that every thing it proposes is in a systematic form, still there is a regular connexion of its parts; and as a whole, it exhibits order and perfection. It is so perfect that no part |