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kings, and captains, and great men, who shall be put to confusion when our Lord and Master shall make his appearance. And shall not every man and every woman, who knows the worth, and the power, and the faithfulness, and the glory, of Immanuel, be all nerve and all action in his service,when the word is given,-"Occupy till I come. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest."

"BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY: HOLD FAST THAT WHICH THOU HAST, THAT NO MAN TAKE THY CROWN. BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND I WILL GIVE THEE ▲ CROWN OF LIFE."

APPENDIX II.

The following productions of father Rice are re-publish ed in this work for the following reasons:

1. They are important historical documents, giving, it is believed, a pretty impartial account of the state of religion in Kentucky at the time of their first publication. And,

2. They are specimens of his labours and fidelity in the cause of his Master, under very discouraging circumstances. At an advanced age, when the hearts of many were fainting, he traversed nearly the whole of the state of Kentucky, and several parts of the state of Ohio, to ascertain what was the real state of religious opinion and religious feeling, and to reclaim, if possible, by public and private admonition, those who were going astray.

AN EPISTLE TO THE CITIZENS OF KENESTUCKY, PROFESSING CHRISTIANITY; PECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE, OR HAVE BEEN, DENOMINATED PRESBYTERIANS.By REV. DAVID RICE. (First printed in 1805.)

ABOUT twenty-one years ago, I came from the state of Virginia to this country, animated, in some measure, with a hope, and a pleasing prospect, of cultivating the vine of the Gospel in it; and thereby doing honour to

my Maker and Redeemer, in promoting the happinesss of my fellow men. In much weakness, and many imperfections of a serious nature, I have laboured ever since to promote these important purposes: and sometimes I have entertained hopes, that if not my labours, yet the labours of others engaged in the same cause, were crowned with success. At present, however, upon viewing the state of morals and religion in this land, my hopes are dashed, and my heart sinks within

me.

I am not in the habit of being much distressed by a diversity of opinion about the modes of worship, &c.; but when the fundamental principles of the religion of Jesus are struck at, I tremble for the ark of God—I tremble to see the temporal and eternal happiness of my fellow citizens and fellow sinners, placed on a tre. mendous precipice. I find the religious opinions of my fellow christians revolutionizing with so much rapidity, and with so much confidence, presage the conséquences, that my harp is hung on the willows, and my days are spent in mourning. However, I have determined not to give myself up wholly to despair, but to make one or two more feeble efforts, if God shall enable me, before I breathe my last.

I shall endeavour to trace out to you the way that leads from the truth, as it is contained in the word of God, to Atheism, or a degree of Scepticism equally pernicious. I mean not to enter into any argumentation upon any of the points of doctrine I shall mention; but do little more than trace out the road of error, and give my opinion.

I believe that the doctrine of Particular Eternal Election, when properly guarded against Antinomianism and Fatality, when so explained as not destroy free Moral Agency-to supersede the use of means, nor to prevent the natural operations of second causes, is the truth, according to the sacred Scriptures, and according to sound philosophy-that it is the only doctrine that can afford a truly convinced sinner any rational ground of encouragement to seek religion in the use of means, or that can save him from black despair, and the only doctrine that can support, in the mind of a real Christian, the hope of eternal life.

I believe that the doctrines taught by the first Reformers, commonly called the Doctrines of Grace, viz. Of the total Moral Depravity of Human Nature-of Regeneration by the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Sacred Trinity-of the Atonement of Justification in the sight of God, by the imputed Righteousness of Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity-and of Sanctification by the Spirit, through the truth, are important Scripture truths, naturally connected with the doctrine of Election. These are called the Doctrines of Grace, because they consider man as totally ruined by his apostacy from God, and make his salvation wholly depend on the free grace of God, in Christ, and naturally lead true believers in Christ, to say-"Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name be the glory."

These doctrines are all mysterious, and some of them, at least, above human comprehension; and hence the mind of man labours to get rid of them, and to display its ingenuity and gratify its pride in weeding them

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