{164} I am well pleased to see an exposure of some of the errors in the “Whole Duty of Man,” inserted in the “Gospel Magazine,” vol. 8, new series; a book, the writer remarks, that has gone through more impressions than any other work, the Bible and Common Prayer excepted—The “Whole Duty of Man,” “New Week’s Preparation,” “Companion to the Altar,” &c. are books forming no part of my small library: for of such books and their admirers, it may be truly said—“They are blind leaders of the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” For, as Mr. Huntington solemnly remarks—“If he is cursed of God, that causeth the blind to wander out of the way, to what a curse must that man be entitled, that gives him his hand to lead him into the ditch.” The author of that miserable performance says, of parents’ duty to children “a duty that belongs to their souls, is their bringing them to the sacrament of _baptism_, whereby to procure them early right to all those precious advantages which that sacrament _conveys_ to them.” This is a duty the parents ought not to delay, it being most reasonable that they who have been instruments to convey the stain and pollution of sin to the poor infant, should be very earnest and industrious to have it _washed off as soon as may be_. Yea, Mr. John Wesley says—“that he lost all the grace that was given to him in his _baptism_, by then he was ten years old.” And who can doubt it? On the Lord’s Supper, the above author says—“When thou art about to receive the _consecrated_ bread and wine, remember that God now offers to seal to thee that new covenant made with mankind, in his Son; but then remember that this is all upon _condition_ that thou performest _thy part_ of the new covenant.” On alms-giving it is stated, “that the _motive_ is to be the hope of that eternal _reward_ promised to this performance—to gain a _title_ to endless felicities, and to be sure to make this our _sole aim_.” On the mercy of the gift of Christ to man, we have a curious account. Speaking of the Son of God, “who came to make known to us the whole _will_ of the Father, in the performance of which we shall be sure to be _accepted_ and _rewarded_ by him.” Reader, what mercy to be _better_ taught! {169} One quotation more from the old “Whole Duty of Man.” That blind author tells us, “Christ came to enable, or give us strength to _do_ what God requires of us; this he doth by taking off from the hardness of the law given to Adam (which was never to commit the least sin, on pain of damnation) and requiring of us only an _honest_ and hearty endeavour to _do_ what we are able, and where we _fail_, to accept of _sincere_ repentance.” How directly contrary to the gospel method of salvation, as laid down in the Holy Scriptures, and clearly stated in the Prayer Book of the Church of England, is the above statement of the grand errand of Christ? “From all blindness of heart, from all false doctrine, and contempt of thy Word—Good Lord deliver us.”