THE Arminian Magazine, For the YEAR 1792. CONSISTING CHIEFLY OF EXTRACTS A N. D ORIGINAL TREATISES Ο Ν Univerfal Redemption. VOLUME XV. LONDON: Printed by G. PARAMORE, North-Green, Worship-Street; то тнЕ Subscribers of the Arminian Magazine. Tmust be deeply felt by every lover of Religion HE lofs of the late venerable Mr. WESLEY, and Literature that has been acquainted with his writings; more efpecially by the body of Methodifts, which he guided, under God, both by his difcourfes and his pen. Though we are now deprived of the perfonal inftructions of that great Luminary (for which we mourn ;) yet his writings will ftill prove a bleffing to thoufands: and with refpect to the Arminian Magazine, we give you to understand that it will be conducted on the fame plan as Mr. WESLEY left it, under the care of a Committee appointed by the Conference for that purpofe; who, with the affiftance of God, will omit no attention that may tend to give you fatisfaction. Many have urged, that the tenets of Arminius have not been fully or clearly laid before them, notwithflanding the account of his Life given in the firft Volume of our Magazine, which has borrowed its Title from the name of that great man. We have therefore introduced the prefent Volume to yr notice with the leading tenets of Arminius, tranflated into English by Tobias Conyers in the year 1655. We have providentially another opportunity of gratifying you, by four manufcript Sermons of Mr. WESLEY, lately found in his Study at Briftol; which fhall be inferted in our Magazine during the enfuing months, and we doubt not but they will be very grateful to you, as as well as to the Public in general. In the other parts of the Magazine alfo we fhall pay particular attention to the profit and entertainment of our Readers. The Prints have of late years been juftly complained of: but the Editors are refolved to go to a greater expence in this refpect than ufual; and to ufe their best endeavours to have more acceptable Prints in future. They alfo purpose to give better Paper than has been given for a few years paft. And, in fhort, to render the whole, not only pleafing and edifying to the prefent purchafers, but alfo ufeful to pofterity. As many, perhaps, may defire to know how the profits of our Magazines and other books fhall be applied in future; for their fatisfaction we affure them, that the whole will be appropriated, jointly with the yearly collection, to fupply the deficiencies in the little falaries of the Preachers, and of their wives and children, on those Circuits which cannot defray them, together with the expences of thofe that are fick and alfo to fupport the work of God in every neceffary point, in the North of Scotland, the North of Ireland, Wales, France, (where God has been pleafed to open a door lately for the preaching of the Gofpel by us!) and alfo in fuch Circuits in England as the Conference (under whose direction the whole will be managed) fhall think needful, Sub Judice lis eft. Should our endeavours come short of your expectations; we fhall ftill have this confolation-that the will was not wanting. But, if we are fo happy as to give you fatisfaction, we fhall give God the glory; and fhall enjoy a pleasure ourselves, in ferving and obliging you. We are, with great fincerity and refpect, your humble and devoted Servants, Lendon, Nov, 1, 179. The EDITORS. 1. THE firft abfolute Decree of God, concerning the falvation of finful man, is that whereby he decreed to appoint Jefus Chrift to be a Saviour, Redeemer, Prophet, Pricft, King and Mediator, who fhall abolish fin by his death, recover (by his obedience) loft righteoufnefs, and by his virtue communicate the fame. The fecond abfolute Decree is that whereby he determined to receive into favour, repenting and believing perfons, and thofe continuing, and perfevering to the end, to fave in, for, and by Chrift. The impenitent, and unbelievers, to leave in fin and under wrath, and to deftroy as aliens from Chrift. The third abfolute Decree, is that whereby he ordained to adminifter fufficient means, neceffary to repentance and faith, and these to be given according to his wifdom, whereby he knows what becomes his mercy and justice, by which he fhall the fame in execution. VOL. XV. put B Hence |