Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

CHAP. XX. MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS. 491
It is all very good to warn people against legality ;
but I see there is a party goes too far into the other
extreme towards Antinomianism. I see generally
where there are errors in a church, the orthodox side,
the warm, zealous party among them think they can
never go far enough from the error, and so run them-
selves over a precipice on the other side. I desire to
be found in the way of truth, shunning extremes on
either hand. I know a pious minister who said, that
he believed that serious, solid piety and religion have
been upon the decline, since there has been so great
an outcry against legal doctrine. It is not all gold
that glitters. I think religion is much mistaken by
many persons in Scotland, who tithe mint and anise,
and neglect the weightier matters of the law, righteous-
ness, truth, and sincerity. Lord, remove prejudices,
and every thing that hinders our spiritual edification.*
July 21. Sabbath. Hearing a stranger, our minister
being dead. Lord grant, that the mantles of our de-
parted Elijah's may descend on their successors. The
town Was much taken up with his preaching, and
* " Legal preaching" at that time was so unpopular, as to to be al-
most accounted heresy. Ministers who courted the favour of the
people, were sometimes weak enough to accommodate their discourses
to these prejudices, in a ridiculous degree. The Colonel mentions a
young preacher, a candidate for one of the charges in Stirling, at that
time vacant, who gave in so far with the popular strain, as to use this
expression in his prayers, Lord, save Us from the crooked path of mora-
lity ! The Colonel's remarks upon this are rational and judicious,
" Had he said the crooked path of self*righteousness, it would have
been right ; but I never like to hear ministers, especially young men,
speak slightingly of morality ! But I observe, when a young man
sets up for a high-flier, or to gain applause, and a name for etrictness
among country people, the best way to attain his end is, to run down
morality and legality."