fulfilleth" all righteousness." This surely Dr. D. does not mean to say. Are we then to understand his language thus:-"His obedience was a substantial literal] fulfilment of the precept of the law, and his sufferings a substantial [not literal] fulfilment of its penalty. Dr. D. will not admit this explanation of his language. The word substantial' then as here used (not as here intended to be used) must be equivalent to literal.' But not to torture a word, since words have already occasioned so much misunderstanding what other construction can be fairly put upon it in its connexion with the whole passage? That atonement which is in no sense a substitute for the execution of the law," but on the contrary a substantial fulfilment of its precept and its penalty, "not a departure from the regular course of justice, but perfectly accordant with its immutable principles," does necessarily imply a literal execution of the law on the Redeemer. What language different from this would a writer use who should strenuously contend for this opinion? We do not charge Dr. D. with holding this opinion; we only charge it upon his language and surely it furnishes some apology for our asserting that in this part of his discourse he proceeded on the supposition of a literal execution of the law.. One other quotation we will make, not for the purpose of proving a disagreement which does not exist between its author and Dr. M. but to show how constantly Dr. D. misapprehends the sermon which he controverts, and so beats the air. "I know it is objected to the plain, oldfashioned, scriptural view of the atonement which we have given, that reason disclaims it," To suppose that Christ was really our sponsor, and that he suffered in this character: this it is alleged, "would involve such a transfer of legal obligations and liabilities and merits, as is inadmissible." This objection comes in the guise of philosophy. Yet one of the greatest of philosophers had very different views. Vicarious punishment” says the profound Butler," is a providential appointment of every day's experience." We have italicized the word "legal' in the above passage; also the word 'punishment' as implying guilt in the subject of it. We forbear fur ther comment, for we do not wish to press the topic under consideration. For the same reason we will make no more quotations. It must, we think, be evident to Dr. D.. not only that his own language implies more than he intended, but that he has great ly misapprehended the purport of Dr.Murdock's. Under an impression, however received, that Dr. M.'s discourse was full of error, it was natural that he should feel it to be his duty as a Christian minister to contend against it. But was not his impression hasty and his reprehension; too severe We have a word to say respecting our "insult on the public understanding." If the insult consisted in our having attempted to reconcile the sentiments of Dr. D. with the strange theory which he had extracted, we know not how, from Dr. M.'s sermon-a theory which "subverts the law" of God; exhibits the divine character as "inexplicable and distressing ;' ;"virtually denies the atonement," or reduces it to a shadow or a "metaphor"; sets the bible at defiance," or tortures it into a new sense by criticism;" "and with an imposing and tremendous logic blots out every ray of human hope forever, and plunges all the millions of the fallen family in absolute despair," we must beg to excuse ourselves from such a charge. We made no comparison of the points of difference between this theory and the faith of Dr. D. Nor do we now affirm aught, or deny aught respecting it, save that if it can be found in Dr. Murdock's sermon on the Atonement, we have become strangers to our mother tongue, and its words, to us, have lost their English import. It was with the sentiments, which, upon a careful and candid examination, we found in Dr. M.'s But lest we should seem to take the Dr. up too seriously on this point, we will only say in more sober, perhaps more becoming language, that Dr. D. probably did not reflect that the charge which he thus brings against us rests on the assumption that his own views of the sermon in question were indisputably right, and the views of those who differed from him as indisputably wrong and also that the decision of the public understanding coincided with his own. We are not wanting in respect for the public understanding, but we wish to suggest to such as wonder at the temerity of those who speak peaceably of Dr. M.'s sermon, that the public voice is by no means unanimous in condemning it. Of this we have very satisfactory evidence. But to conclude this protracted article we hope Dr. D. will not only be satisfied with the explanations which have been given, but that he will no longer insist on being at antipodes with Dr. M. If as a prudent man aware of the jealousies and errors of the times, he still regrets that Dr. M. should have clothed his sentiments in a peculiar phraseology, we will not censure him in this. We have ourselves a portion of the same regret. But if Dr. M.'s theology be, and can be shown to be, in no essential point, different from that of his brethren, Dr. D. will surely wish with us that a dissension which had existed in appearance only, should be done away. There are those who with a zeal proportioned to their love of error, and with an assiduity stimulated by their aversion to that system of doctrines whose prevalence it is their religion to oppose, are ever ready to proclaim and magnify division whether real or apparent, among those whose strength is in unity of faith. It was with this fact in view that we took up the subject in controversy. We were aware of the delicacy of the undertaking, yet we felt it to be our duty if possible to close up a breach which we regretted to see growing wider daily, by the efforts of both friends and foes. We hope our labour, however humble, was not "labour thrown away." sub We sincerely join with Dr. D. in his expressions of regret that the atonement should be made the subject of so much controversy, "a subject never designed, surely to perplex our minds with the subtleties of debate, but rather to overwhelm every human heart with a tide of grateful admiration and love." We regret that perverseness and blindness of the human mind which should ever make the tleties of debate" on such a subject necessary. But there are occasions, if we are not deceived, the present is one-when "an imperious sense of duty" should constrain us. We also join with Dr. D. in his prayerthough we cannot make Dr. M. the occasion of it.-that the doctrine of the atonement may never be impaired by the speculations of a bold and unscriptural philosophy—that "this sanctuary for the guilty and wretched of our race may ever remain inviolate." We are compelled to defer a Review of Village Hymns; and also to omit Religious and other intelligence. Owing to unexpected circumstances, the present Number has been delayed several days beyond the time of publication. INDEX TO THE ESSAYS, INTELLIGENCE, &c. OF THE SIXTH VOLUME OF THE CHRISTIAN SPECTATOR. ABRIDGEMENT of Adam's Latin Gram- Adam's Latin Grammar, Abridgement of, Adventurers, Military, 450 Agency, Free, Hints on Sin and, 176 America, Northern Coast of, 377 Antiquarian Society, 376 Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, 441 558 Baptist Mission, 442 Bible Society, 329 Annual Meeting of the, Colonization Society, 324, 601 Blumhardt, Letter from the Rev. The- Board, American, Annual Meeting of the, 558 Missions of the, 98 Bombay; Mission at, 286 British and Foreign Bible Society, 95, 554 Bulletin of the Sciences and Industry Bunker Hill Monument, 550 Burlington College, 497 Butrick, Tour of Mr. 102 Byron's Correspondence, 551 Calmet's Dictionary, 52 Cambridge, Episcopal Church at, 110 Society for the Benefit of the Captive Greek youths, 551 Cathedral, magnificent, 284 Catholic church, renunciation of the, 558 Catholics in England, 377 Celebration of our national independence, Central America, 446 Ceylon, interesting intelligence from, 607 94 Change of religion, 171 Charitable Societies' house, 288 Cherokees, mission among the, 102 the, 500 progress of religion among INDEX. Colony at Cape Messurado, 171 -, portrait of, 94 Comparative estimate of the religion of Concert, new monthly, 577 Connecticut Missionary Society, history Continental Congress, proclamations of Correspondence, Byron's 551 Councils, ecclesiastical, Mosheim on, 467, Criminals in London, 377 Curiosity, literary, 168 Dana, Rev. Dr. letter from, 659 Deaf and dumb, American Assylum for, in Vermont, 665 Death, a peaceful, no sure evidence of Decline of Mahomedanism, 110 Dedication of Yale College chapel, 655 Discovery, 323 Divinity, Stackhouse's, 94 Doctrines of grace, on the spirit which Doing good, 130 Free agency, hints on sin and, 177 testaments, 607 Germany, 172 book trade in, 95 God, duty of praising, 621 Gospel, reasons why mankind reject the, Gottingen university, 323 mountaineers in 438 Hints on sin and free agency, 177 Hobart's sermons, 375 Hodge, Prof. proposed work, 655 Horne's introduction, 94 Hymn in the vale of Chamouny, 309- Indian antiquities, 95 school, notices of, 502 Indians, society for the benefit of, 376 -, a still more expeditious way Infidelity, reign of, 75 of, 393 of Count Rumford, 323 Donations to Religious and Charitable In- Dr. Dana's letter to the Editor, 659 Dr. Chalmers, 94 Duty of praising God, 621 Dwight's Theology, 218, 498 Travels, 498 Ecclesiastical councils in the early ages of the church, 520 Editor, letter to the, 227 Influence of missions upon science and lit- Inquiry respecting the authority of Say- taste upon religion, 629 Insane, retreat for the, 219 Intelligence, Literary, &c. (see Literary telligence.) religious, (see Religious In- Interesting donation, 559 intelligence from Ceylon, 607. John XVI. 8-11, exegesis of, 192 King and Fisk, Rev. Messrs. Journal of, Mission at Bombay, 98, 266 among the Cherokes, 99, 100, 102 Choctaws, 99, 500 to Palestine, 172. 442 Sandwich Islands, 224, 100, 287, 382, 603 chapel at Bombay, 286 Missions, Moravian, 288 in Russia, 110 of the American Board, 98 , influence of, upon science and Missionary Seminary at Basle, 171 Samuel of, 3 of Woung Shwa, 443 Leipsick, death of Professors at, 323 Lexicon, Gibbs', Hebrew, of the O. T. 94 Wahl's, Greek of the N. T. 94 Liberia, emigrants to, 601 Life of Columbus proposed, 168 Lily of the mountain, 410 and Philosophical Intelligence, List of New Publications, 52, 97, 169, 220, biblical collections in, 655 Louis XVIII, death of, 608 Mahomedanism, decline of, 110 Mason, Rev. Dr. resignation of, 323 Maxims, Chinese, 285 Mayhew, improvement at, 500 Manufactories, children in, 219 Mankind reject the gospel, 453 Marquis De La Fayette, invitation to, 111 to Baron De Kalb, 601 Monuments at Waterloo, 658 Mosheim on ecclesiastical councils, 467, Montreal, bookstores in, 95 catholic cathedral in, 284 Moral influence of natural beauty and National sunday school union, 381 Natural history of Japan, 602 Natural beauty and sublimity, moral in- Nettleton, Rev. A letter of, 54 New commandment, 392 New Hampshire Historical Society, 497 New heart, 241 Newspapers in Canada, 658 |