Page:History of all religions.pdf/15

15 concerning the doctrine of the Aſſurance of Faith, viz.

They say, As faith and doubting are oppoſite principles, ſo no true Christian can have any doubt of the truth of the goſpel; that is, that leis Chriſt is the Son of God, and the only Redeemer of God's elect; nor of their own ſalvation, or both reſteth on the fame teſtimony;" He that believeth ſhall be ſaved," &c. Mark xvi. 10.

They are independents, and allow infant baptiſm, although ſome of them are very ſcrupulous on that head.

They fay, that people ought to remain in no doubt of their believing, and conſequently of their being ſaved; for ſuch as do so, are in the all of bitterness and bond of iniquity.

Mr Barclay aſſerts, in a letter in a friend on the doctrine of aſſurance, That he has no more doubt of his ſhining as a ſtar, in the kingdom of heaven after death, than he has of the prophets Iſiah and Jeremaiah being already in that happy ſtate, becauſe it is poſitively said, " He that believeth ſhall be ſaved." And therefore, he was perſuaded that he did believe the goſpel, he ſaw no reaſon to doubt of his salvation.

He had a peculiar talent for religious poetry, publiſhed a new verſion of the Pſalms of David in metre, adapted to the Chriſtian diſpenſation; in which he applies all the Pſalms to Chriſt and to his church.

He alſo publiſhed a volume of Spiritual Songs, to the tunes of the most common songs ſung by the young women of Fettercairn at their wheels, prevent than from proſtituting their muſical