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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I ■''^li^' TWO ESSAYS AND A SERMON, BY ALEXANDER STEWART. ■# ay meaning) |y to use evety ^^oihtoutthe na- t in that kingdom. ^ment &c. they may ^C'N, ^^t^>.^\\^ ^"^^^ *-f"*>~4%^ %%<*>. *^*>*% .^ •-•^^Vv -Uor \ V I'RII LI TWO ESSAYS: «f3 rii THE FIRST, ON THE GOSPEf ; THE SECOND, ON THE KINGDOJVI OF CHRIST ; AND WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING REMARKS ON LATE PUEUCATIONS : BV ALSXANDSR STEWART Minister of thk Gosi'Eii YORK, UPPER CANADA. -Moreover, b. othren, r declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ve have received, and wherein ye stand : by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in me- mory what I preached unto you, unl.^ss ye have believed in vain. For I dc livered unto you part of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures ; and that he Wiis buried, and Jliat he rose again the third day. according to the scriptures. 1 Cor. 15. 1, o 3, 4. Jesusanswcred, my kingdom is not of this world. John 18. 36. One Lord, one faith, one baptism... Eph. 4. 5. il|^tt)eaning) PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE COLONIAL ADVOCi'm'Z' ——'^ LYON MACKENZIE, PRINTER TO THE HOUSE OF ASSEV^*""* °"* ^^ "^' ^^„^"^^f^^'^ ^^^ SONS--YCRK, KINGSTON, AND Un that kingdom. BY ALL OTHERS ENTRUSTED WITH SUESGRIPTl> ' ' may /'■■ ■m^m # A f^V PREFACE TO THE READER. Dear reader :~The celebrated Principal Chalmers of St. Andrews, in speaking of the Newtonian Philosophy, says, that its author, Sir Isaac Newton, took nothing for granted, but rested his systems of philosophy and theology upon PROOF. All I wish from my readers in perusing the following pages, is to adopt the same maxim. I have addressed myself to those who profess to receive the bible as the only revelation from heaven respecting religious subjects. Let them make it the standard, and I shall rejoice in the consequences— but I wish them to let the bible explain itself. Let every religious system taught by men, be laid aside, and let the language of the bible be understood upon the same principles as other writings, and then truth will shine. When men examine the word of God as lawyers sometimes examine the Statutes, not in order to learn the law from them, but in order to make the Statutes speak in favour of their client; then they are sure to err— but when they adopt the principles of Cornelius and friend of wishing to hear what God speaks to their souls, the blessing and benefit must follow. Neither the love of gain nor the desire of applause has induced me to write the following sheets. I do not expect such sale as to bring gain, and I know my subjects to be so unpopular that enmity and evil speaking will be my earthly reward. My wish is to lead you to consider the scriptures for yourselves, to lead you to believe that gospel which saves the soul ; and to obey its author. In handling all the subjects I have studied brevity and clearness, having no wish to please the learned by a high style, or a flow of imagery-my aim is to mak- the poor understand me, (not doubting but the rich may guess at my meaning) and to lead them to understand and obey the truth in all its parts. I make no apology for publishing, as I consider it my duty to use every means in ray power to propogate the gospel of Christ-to point out the na- ture of his kingdom— and the ordinances he has set on foot in that kingdnj; If any one be disposed to criUcise my style or arrangement &c they may ^^7^5 i I lia\»' their pains (orflw i ain rv.uiy Jo (|,.f,.,i(l •U'sist fiimi t|„. roiulmt !»• I know tlu' sword ■i'Tfwnr.l; and «l,i|,. n,y f,,,,,, ,„„, "IH kinplnm with itH di.clrini- Mild ord •-i'UH.- i |,;,vo „„( a silvrr nio.jntrd Mtihl •'!• «'nal.|rs me ( iniuica :— i,or Hindi I ''r:":::::r:::r;r:::r''7 '-• ::;::r;;;zt:r;z:r:tr:;:;r::;:: f ted to Uud. '"'""^^ """' '""'• '""'■'"« "'"y ^- -nvc- «erc to risi« fi-nm »i.-. i ■ j « nristian fathers Though I have nia.l,. the scripture, my only criterion v.. I h -al im^rtant hints, partic.darly on the 4di ^ ;Z; J^^ X ^ ^ rharles ....art minister of Cramn.nd's sennon on the same snh" I' no.u an essay from the pen of the late Ahrahan. Booth of London! '^'^ "-"O" on haptism is given as it was prcache.l some years a-^o in the to^nsinp ot Chmguacousy, at the haptism of a professed helicver. My aim in the whole is to instruct helievers, and convince sinners -md if I «hall succeed in either, my lahour wil, not be lost. Remend^r e •' Id r you and I mnst meet at the Judgment seat of Christ-I trust iL T der a sense of this .ct-Do you read under a sen:^ X^ ^^ g«ve you understanding in all things." ^ I am, Dear Reader, Your affectionate servant, ALEXANDER STEWART. york, WhJuli/, 1827, \ ^C n «'iiali|rs iiK- ( f» :— nor mIuiII r '•' ««• thht with. iiiiriHt ivory fu- t I raniint ooii- no may fhink I iin'if ii(u<('K!r whom J r,>- sr what is sni«l my be convcr- •tout;-— rahu ■• If any one Hi":h rom«»m- •istian fathers I would p;iy y rhurrhmen nul thfi other avfi cited se- the late Mr. Vieet, as also •9 ago ill the lers, and if I lear reader, ye wrote un- ly the Lord AIT M^^AIC ON Tin: coHpKr-. ^VART. TiiK gosinl of Christ, thonghthe most important oi" all snhferts, has becrt very miirli mi9iui;l..rstoo(l and prrvrrtrd in the presi-nt age. The word gospel IS in evn-y one's montii-pron.ss.'d and spolven of hy evory sect, yet it is to be feared that very few in reality imdrrstand the trne application of the term as nsed m the scriptures. If we attend to liie great mass of sermons delivered from be pulpit or written, by those called preachers of the gospel, and compare them with the apostolic gosp.d, as recorded in the New Testament, we shall Inid an astonislung dilTerence hetwi-en them-and if w., take a view of the ef- fects which these gentlemen's gospel have, upon themselves, and upon their hearers are we not ready to exclaim, .nrely this cannot be the gospel of Christ ' No The gospel of Christ produces holy fruit like itself in all its preachers" ;;; :f;;;T" ^";'",'""T" "' I'--''— -J »H-a.-crs, are devoted to the enice of God. They love Gon and keep his commandments. They walk, Wot according to the flesh, but according to the spirit." Rom. «. 1. In order then in correct this ex il, I shall endeavour to point out the nalun «nd ejects of the gospel of Jesus Christ-its import as preached by the apos T1.E8 and recorded in the New Testament-and its effects as point Jd out in the commandments given by Christ anil his Apostles and exemplified in the fust christians. ^ ^' In this attempt, let mc observe, I shall pay no regard to the writings of men of any description. Those writings which explain and enforce the true gospel, cannot be hurt hy an additional essay up(,„ the subject-and those that oppose the pure gospel, will I trust, be exposed and confuted. I do not design this essaj ns a piece of controversy, though I may occa sionally oppose error in it; but only as an exposition of plain truth which of course must overturn all the errors opposed thereto. t!on nf I^l ^''^ *'''"^ ^^""^ *"'"''"' ''"'■ ^"''"^'"" «" ^^'^ «"^i«ct is the explana- t.on of the term gospel. This is the more necessary because few can give a scriptural answer to the question. What is the gospel ? ^ i-^A- '^^'^^'^''^ ^«'"'* («"angelion) generally translated gospel, means glad tiding?, eood or mvfnl nen-q • h '•t- ^ ,-•-.= - , & l ' "icauagwu ■^'•' ^-^^i "^"'.^ «i= tictnsiawuij in our couiiuon version of I ^ip 8 An Essay On The Gospel. 1^ the Now Testamont in th« following passaRPH. Luke 1. li,. &2 10 & p , In o..r exp!anati.»ns of the wonl of Oo.l we m.,«t ahi.le by the plain moan .„« of wor^s-otherwi... w. ,n..t lot the Holy Spirit explain^ c v^^: ^ : I" by comparing one ,,art of his dicti.,n with another. It is very unfair t.Zi^ ":i:;:.:;::s:;:;::;;r'"^"''" '-"'''''''' ^^'^""-^-^ '^-'^-^-. The orii^inal Greek wonl, which oernres about a hundred times in the New Te t m,.nt. m.ght w.th the greatest propriety of language, in every . rnce ,^ tran^lat d good news or glad tidings. Thus the Apostle, preaC.ed the glad dn.gs of sa vatioo through the suTerings and death of the Lord J 1 Chri t and those wh..hei.eved this gospel obtained eternal life. «-"-8Usl.Un9t,and «vMha, „K,ch was „.t." Luke .9. ,0. It i, called the gospel of peace E„h Acts SO. 21 In other words, it i, the joyful news of tlie manifestation „f il.. free, sovereign, favonr of Jeltovah towards the children o7™u . 17. h I the Rospel of salvation. Eph. ,. ,,,. because it reveal, a frr^n!, full salvation to the vilest of transgressors; and herause all who eallv nndr. stand and believe the gospel ,,re immediately jusUfled and freerfr™ !v demnation. •• Be it known unto you thereTo're men a , b ^^ ^Th Hlrh «^» man ,, pre,,ehed unto you the forgiveness of sins, .Thy him "°S ;*b„.i„christ.esu,,:h:;iLo?Xrr;e:,:r„:r^^^^^^^^ res„ifrr.lti:::f ri*; 'r rr'- *° "p'"'''' »p^^^^^ «o», orte,r:;,''x,:ire:Ste:;7,ve"iry'rt:;^^^^^^ and .0 the receptionor rejection of which imUnTclltZ a^ attrS dSetrin' ^a;™' y Jesu'Tchrr ^'.^^'7 '^ "''"' ^" "■» '■"™" °' maintains it i, ..L V ' ^" •"' '^'^^ ^"^ institutions : another mau^ta^ns it » some private declaration made to himself personally of his be- ^2. 10. &8. 1. 52. 7. Si 61. 1. tlie plain mean- lis own meaning unfair to admit li as the above my foundation, mes in the New fry instance he led the glad ti- ns us Christ, and '< is. It is cal- because Christ erning his per- ■aiise it is good to seek and to ►f peace, Eph. I good will to- 5 grace of God station of the I. Herein the 1 work of the ful. Rom. 1. »ls a free and really under- ►m every con- , that through hin» all that e justified by ation to them the spirit."-- •o it, and the cular declara- of a sinner ; are attached. lave so much the points of ns : another ly of his be- Aiy Essay on the Gospel d Inj! a favourite of Heaven; and a third mppmon the termmeanf. the whole New Testament. It would he an endless task to foHow all the vain suppositions of professors upon this subject. I shall therefore notice that the gospel of Christ or the good news of the tree favnnr of God to the guilty, include, in it the fol- lowing things. ■ ■', . ' ' I. The declaration that Jem.s Christ came into the world to sav* sinners. The apostle says ;• This is ti faithful saying & worthy of all acceptation." that Je»»,8 Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom, he adds, I am a' chief. 1 iTfh \ n '^' Tt ''"''" *" '""''^''' ^'^ P'^'''" ^ho came, his appointment ^ « J-" «o"Sht the more to was hlT'f r J ""u- "'^ ^'' ''•"'^^" '''' ^^^'^''th. butsaid also that God was his father, making himself equal with God." John 5. 17, 18. The perfections of Jehovah are applied to Jesus Christ; such as, omnipotent. ^m„.cu .ce, omnipresence, eternity. Isai. 9. 6. John 3. ,3. and 2 "iTe"^ . These are what are generally termed God's incommunicable perfectiois :viZ:trero^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^V^oltZ':Zi:^^^^^^ P™-*^ f-™ his works. creatLgrndunhnir^^ -^^^^^ "''^ '""'^ ''""""' '""'^ ^^' ** ges."Tsa;i. 45 5-81172 8^ f ^/^ ^^'^^^ "^ »>'« P-- ^o graven ima- Christ. John ,. 3. Col 1 5 U ^ a Je h Tk"""^: "'^ ""''^' '' "'""' AS God Heb 1 lo lU i ^*'''*'' ^""'"^^ "''^"^^^ them to him pture, such as his miracles wrought by his own proper power; his re- iO An Essay on the Gospeu sun-eclion from the dead by which he is declared to be the son of God withpow- «,Rom.l.4,andh.sbe,„gappoi„tedtheJudge.fq„ickanddeedattheS^^^ coLt'thl^flLrLr?^^^^ ^*^^ '''' ^""^ «*""?« of his having man-yea ev«^ «„ A . T^ . * "^^J^^y^"' "^^« *° ^ear thata mere ^nor^eoXro h"^ ' "''. *"''"" "P'*" *'™ *« ««^« «'»"«^". ^ "either the *e Zht G^d T ^"T'^"^'*''^ "*^*-»'"* *« »^««r that the Great God-! *d?afalih ,n^ ^*^^"^ Bein, whosees, knows, from the bit auSntthTK ""''"''' ^" *'""^^' «*'''• *• «' l«--tohear. a« every onfrl. ^', ^ ' '"'"" ^'^ '^^" «^"*'"' "^^"""t fail to excite joy. thatrjei "1 rf:,^ ^^ r^ f* '^^ '^-•^ — p««h the work, 'a;; andthatheh^ i^ re«1if '"°'^'. '' '^'' '' ''^^ '=*'«'^^^'- "^ ^^e Saviour, is set a soM " t ! '? "T^"^ T' "" '''" ""d^rtaken, the work, andthemind Saviou wt is Chn .?h f T^'- '"^" ^"" " '^«"' ^" »he City of David a wiu orougnt by the angels to the shepherds of Bethlehem. tant oZTnr *f ''''"''^^' *' ^PPoJ"'»«''t of Jesus of Nazareth to the impor- Acts4.27. and 10. 38. John 1. 41. Isal. 61. l.Comp.Luke 4, 18. From these nToV;?r I'^.'^ri" °^" deCarationTjohn li. ^6. ^TTt ^^ «eb. 10. 29. ,t ,s evident that Jesus of Nazareth was appointed for the purpose Pf ^ mg smners ; yea that it was for this very purpose the Mighty God vd^ t rf Z„t/^^ ™^'« •" r "'^""^ °' ™^"- '"'he 40th psflm VmIs iah not I r ' " ''TV\' ^^*«'- *^"---" S-"fi- -d offering thou didest n^ reo^red^rrr . t '''" °^'"''' " '"•"* *^«"^""8 ^^'^ «^^"fi'«« thou hast o?^e brk;thi Old T r '"^'^""'^ '' '°' ''^"'"^^ •" ^hevoluma Omy God " Testament), .t is written of me. I delight to do thy wUI, ^Itiamt for us to pry into the hidden council of Jehovah, as many have done, to find out when this appomtment took place in the Divine mind-secret thingi Won? to God, and the things that a,, revealed to us and to our children. W^ know oftheappomtment. and of the fulfillment. In these we rejoice ; The development of the sacred purpose is to us glad tidings, or gospel. 3. We come now to conai Jer the appearance of this great personage in the fl^h-the commg of the true l.ght into the world. The manifestation was just Inwt wl 7i ^•■''^""'''^ ^'''^''''''^ •* should be-he appears, "meek and K^rllir?''"' ^TJ!' ^o™*""^!^' why we should d*»ire him ;" but manifested ,,, ^o,j.. j,.^^ ^^^ certainty of Jesus of Nazareth's being P,fh fo T"''^'" '''• '"^ ^"'' thetestimony of the Angels, of th« S^wtiol '^"^'^ ''^^^^P'^^r «f W« works, of W, .ufferings. and of hi» \a An Essay on the Gospel. U nofGodwithpow- leed at the last day. ings of his having lie great God that 5 hear that a mere Srs, as neither the : the Great God— ; who sees, knows, 1.3, 10.— to hear, fail to excite joy, b the work. All r of the Saviour, ork, and the mind ! City of David a it joy to aH man* th to the impor- ted. Psal. 2. 2. 18. From these 36. and 17. 19. for the purpose ghty God vailed ulm the Messiah Bring thou didest Mifices thou hast e : in the volume ; to do thy will, lany have done, 1— secret things children. We B rejoice ; The el. lersonage in the station was just irs, " meek and but manifested azareth's being Vngels, of the mgs, and of hin I 1. Of the Angels. When the son of God was about to appe&r an Angel waa sent from Heaven to anounce the glorious event, Luke 1. 26. 39. This messenger told his mother that the babe that should be bom of her should be the Son of the Highest; a Saviour, and a King to sit upon the Throne of his father David. His name was to signify his character, for the term Jesus signi- fies Jehovah a Saviour. This was told Mary when the Angel foretold his birth, Luke 1.31. and again repeated to Joseph ; Matth. 1 . 21 . When Jesus was bom, a host of Angles came to anounce the event; not to Herod, nor to tho High Priest, nor to the Jewish Shanadrem, but to the hum- ble, unassuming, shepherds of Bethelem. The Scriptures were th^ so far ful- filled that the Holy Child was bom in a stable, and laid in a manger. Then one of the Heavenly Host spake thus to the shepherds, Luke 4. 10—16. "Fear " not, behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. " For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ " the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped •' in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger." Then the whole host of an- gels began to praise God, for the glad tidings of salvation— for the goi,pel sent by them to the sons of men. We have little account of Jesus Christ, during the first thirty years of his life, only we are told that Herod murdered all the children in Bethlehem, in order to have him slain, but that Joseph and Mary had fled to Egypt with the child of promise. So true is it that, "Kings and rulers rose up against the Lord, and against his anointed." Psal. £. 1. Having retumed from Egypt at the command of Jehovah, his pai-ents lived at Nazareth, that the scriptures might be fulfilled, Matth. 2. 23. Some years after we find him disputing with the doctors in the Temple, Loke 2. 46. after which we are toid he was subject to his parents, Luke 2. 52. and, " increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." The next particular account we have of Jesus, is in Matth. 8. 13. where we are informed of his coming to John to be baptised of him. At this time he was about thirty years of age. John was so sensible of the superiority of Jesus Christ that he told him he had more neod to be bap- tised of him. Yes, John well knew that be was not worthy to bear, or unlose the shoes of this great personage. 2. I proceed to take notice of the Father's testunony of the character of Jesus Christ. As soon as John had baptised Jesus Christ a voice came from Heaven to de- ~ - iTiaiiii. o. S.S. ■■ /iiiu io a voice irom iieaveri sayiiig, tiiiit i» my beloved son, in whom I em well pleased." The same language is used by the Father respecting him on the mount of transfiguration. Matth. 17. 5. Comp. 2 Peter 1. 17. Isai. 42. 1, &c. Matth. 12. 18. Nor was this the only testimony of the Father respecting him— the pouring out of the Holy Spirit io n Av Essay on- the Gog. EL ".-Pe »•■ C.m„M,., .™„,..«!'™f j„tl'r°' '"""' "■" ™« -" -» "li" ''• ^•"st comps tho dirprf t-«*- Witness to the truth. Hpto !'"°"^ *'''*'•'" '^'•P^'t. John 5 33 ,1 , Bndegroom of the Church of God - Th,t h " *"' '«•" '^'''^^ he wa« the han s Th«tf„ithi„theso„wasa^^^^^^^^^^ and given al, things' into hi everlastu^gwrath of Jehovah, John 8. srl'th^etT ' "''"'' ^"'"''^ "'« "'eregreat and manifohl Hi, J V "* ""^^ * *• 10. The work^ nf i vprmo., u 1 . '"""• '''3 oh(Mu>nri>fo»h,. T 1 *"" ♦^O'KsofJesu* rr';.*--c.es. but notb^'thelT^^tr ^'"'''' '^^"■•■'^' ^^ *'- Ap t.^ f ''y the power of God. as 'a test of 27 m ':''''"'' """^ """^"•''ty. They d d J-s wrought miracles 'as a soTovl 'C ^ "" ' t""'' ^^«/^"«h^.H v.Is and none durst r.fuse. He c Jled L T ,"?"' "' ««'«'"anded th^ de- P-er-he healed all manner oTtkne! alf r"" ""' ^--^^'^ ''^ '"s d ifne not matter whether the diso«,.> T ""'^ ^''•'««« ^'th a word and J w-I ' y*- 'haJI die in your sins ?" John 8. SLi. ^ ^'"'''*' £ to tf;r S^^Glf ;^--- o^;Hst, is his su«.rings. These p.ve of the Almighty ? Could drink Ithl/ruP""'"" ""'"'^ •'"•''"•^ the wra^ d'vme person could make atone.Z r T "'^ ''" '^""^ •"'^•^«''«" •' Who but^ tjatory vicUm for sin 1 Who b'ta 1 •' *'''""«^«^«'«"' hy becoming the prop ' 8'ven Jesus to do---aon.I "^t 'it '"' ^•'""" ^'^"''^ ^«'^* the !hnU ^I'l --iemnation. JesuV;.;,;t:;:"l"f -.'^<^«h-r a guilty j:.;;: ----niyeouid^ryo:--rS.r^^.--- er. ^w was the sign giv^„ in 1. 33. Comp. John •that the Father who »e voice and seen th« 9hn 5. 33. He bon* " the Lamb of God That he wa« the '>"ve and spoke the 'n aJI things into his e obtaining of eter- 8houid endure the ch arises from the stress than on the rhe works of Jesu» "ess of him, as ne- ' and deed. One armless, undefiled fnouth." ^oil. Hence he r man did, they have no cloak for 'nd the Apostles ^rity. They did liey taught; but "nanded the de- 'P by his divine word, and it did «'ay, saith he to ith, maid, I say "If ye believe These prove hire the wrath I' Who but a ing the propi. ; wHqU »r^-i. — > — „,ji-^ y world from the sacrifice y could say, An Essay on the Gospel. 13 i« Father I have glorified thee on the earth ; I have finished the work Mk.u gavest me to do." What joyful news ! The person smitten for the sheep is God's J>,]I.)W ! The very lature of the work he had to perform proves him a divine person. The Centurion and others who saw his sufferings, and marked them. to the very last, till the vail of the Temple was rent and darkness covered the earth, exclaimed, •• Truly this was the son of God." Matth. 27. 54. 5. Lastly, the resurrection of Christ from the dead, proves his divinity. Thus Paul says to the Romans, " And declared to be the Son of God, with pow- er, according to the spirit of Holiness, by his resurrection from the dead." But as I shall treat more at large of the resurrection afterwa.ds, I shall leave thi^ part of the subject resting upon the above Apostolic declaration. We ask now what truth is established upon such evidence ? Not only is the evidence extensive, but the witnesses are beyond measure substantial. Th- Great God who cannot lie, stands at their head; and the others are such as every one must acknowledge are decisive. Here then rests the ground of the believers faith. The appearance of the (Jreat God in the flesh to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself is proved to his lull satisfaction-this is gospel-glad tidings of great joy to a guilty sinner. Further I remark, that the tidings of the appearance of Jesus Christ In h.s world includes the end he had in view in coming, viz: to save sinners. Jesus repeatedly declares that he came to seek and save that which was lost.-. Luke 19. 10. Matth. 18 U. & ,5. 24. &c.-That Jehovah sent him. not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. John 8. 17.-That he came not to call the righteous, but sinnei-s to repehtance-and Paul declares that, » this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chnst Jesus came into the world to save sinners ?" 1 Tim. 1.15. From all these testimonies it is evident the design of Christ's coming into the world was not to seek out, or to select the righteous; or those who had either no need of salvation, (if any such could be found) or who had partly if not wholly, purchased their own salvation, (if this were possible ;) but to save those wretched miserable creatures who had sinned against God, and were un- der his curse ; and utterly unable to do any thing to save themselves. A de- claration from Heaven, that a person of such a character, had made his appear- ance on earth, for the exact purpose of accomplishing such an object, must be matter of pure and boundless joy to those concerned-yea the Angels, who were nofjursonally concerned, shouted with joy when they brought the good news. Alas for those to whom it is foolishness ! .Vu.A "" '^^^ ^"'P^' '"*''"*^^' "' '* *^"^ *'«^'"88 of Christ's having suffered, and «»ed, as a substitute for the guilty. m m m 14 An hUnKY on thk (»osi.rl. .h.. iH. .„«^«, „„, „„!; ' :^ , : 2 2;'"'" ":" ■"•• -« "I'rin,., >.« VUmt took iiimii |,i,„„.|f iliHr w.lv,.(lo« I ' ' '<«»^ftMfl wlinn r;""--™ "». J.- .;.::;: : "r";;:r;;r,r"r- ■ ir.« Movor ,v«, „ HUM of wrnlh. nor im.l.,r .i. J''"'""!!*! by Impiitifion. ♦n„./r „«,/,, Mr/,„,^||. volu ."ri r ''"""'."'^ '"" '"»^' '"'^ '"• ^v..« "PO" «.ln. ,o !>.,„.. our «i.,.. ^ , T"'' "'" ^r"' ''"- '" ">"•'••- ■". look would hl« (oy H.r«.««« „,,„„ IhI "" ''"""« '" ''"V ''«« "••'••>« i but how b« .loon w«. tl,« cHlli,,, |,|,„ r„. h *I r '""'"' *'"'•"" *'"" •*^'""''<"<« >«• «.,. ,„., ,.,.,v 1,0 <«iN ,1.1 1 To ;.. 1 , ti rr" "•"' »""'' ^^c .„„„„.„,« tormontinMrcu«„Uo„«of tlLowo COM io^^^^^^ ''"!• "'"' '""^- "•" Oo,i«ud R-l-mor..-.a,H>kuu,o uH r^^ :;"-»'•" •"""iA-l •• thu-sHMh le, hi.n oo,„,. uuto n,,. ao,l drink/' To &c ." *""■'' "'" '''"' III. Ohrht. Th, K„,,,o, i„.,„Je. ,„o .Mi„p .,r „„, ,,„,^„„„ „, ,^,, ,^^_^^ _^ Thry nowrxultod in hnvintt .rot th!, i, ». ..... &« «ay. without anv resist uirfi ft...... V."" ' ■■'■7" " "" '^'•'^ ^^as^^'l *'««". out of inonmifR'iinRn, hut '•II nrn rhiMii.n of 'rhnnnfliifl wlmn liy ^\v\>^...U^^ ,„„,t iJI'l »>y ImimtiUion. odmrH- .|r». (odii III In our ntPnd ttmlr nil) (or im (n «>y hin lilMMfy— tl •hoi'normouH '/ th«h- pnnlon, VHnof (hftf vory I" thi< I'mpholi, on Rlnv«i of n\n nii'l iindrr Ihn ''"fa niuriiAil '»•' h« yr RaviMl, (h«) LordJi'H thnuKhf fhoy hat hin fi>nr(Vi| lo nir. Thf'y ' rhl..f Vrlmt Bction of the i him, out of plea were de. Uis onainicn An Pmw ON thr Oospkl. 15 bu ., I ttl. («lth h„d hi, ai.dp|., i„ ,.,« r rn,.ti..„ o„ th« third d«y. that th^j did », t look for It n«y th.y w.-n, ««(oni«h.d to h.„r th«( »«ch .„ «v«,.t had t*^ kru |,la.... n„d th.,y would not h..|i,.v.. U.Hr o>.„ .y.., ^f.nn h. npp.arod pll- .....ally among th.,m. Luk. f4. tt. «7. 41. Hut hH.old what JfrtiL p a... .unonj hl« .,„.ml.. «nd wl.„t Joy «„,o„« ,.,« di..ip|.« when th. con , ^'rr ttrlwrn and nhnwN himnHf hy 1,0 mar.y hiftdlibln pro.,(H. Ill- «n.mln« nrn now put to th.lr wif- «nd. Th« vrry gufird th.y h.ul nu r«r.Mly placed t«pr.r.„thkl.HnKtak.n «w«y, „omn (orlrd ..ui'd I J U.«t the con,u«ror had lnd«.ul ari h.foro ,h.,y ,o(t tlu, ..p„IH»«. Now tZ t II iioH ot the rink of thHr own liv.m. U wan .loath for a Homan Holdior to tzzn^ ;r "t; :""""" "^^" "^"'^" ^" -^ ''"' '^''^^^'^ '^^^^'^^ ^ r '""'L T''' """ •''" '""'• ''^""' ♦''"''• •-'•••• «'"'-• ♦'•• '"-iPK t , IMhno. had too litt,« ftdth in J.. .,.,1 ,00 mud. foar of tl.Hr own .,Vty to allow them .„ much a. to vimt tin, n.fmU-hr.. Thm w (Y to a fmv poor this UiBy had no Idoa, but to aiu.iut liirn with Hpic«H. J..u« howcvrr, contrary to all cxpmtation. nroM, l^-om the .lend on that very day which ho had appointnd. Hi. resurrection wa« proved, lot to 1 1 he poopio, but ,0 hlH chosen witneMe«. by many infallible «!«»„. If^^ Zwed him Hpcar In Mn aide. He ap,H,«red not merely to one or two. but at different timer the twelvo. and at one time to Ave hundred at or.ee. f.uke U. All. 1 Cor ,» .>--». Indee.1 juch waa the prejudice of the very Apo.tl«a that they were noi raady convinced , hut every opportunity waa allorded. and they ..vaiLT t ,1 -elv«.of theae "They aaw him with their eyea. they looked ,fpo„ .1^ |T mmutely «x«,nined all hia f«ot..rca, wou„<1h &c.) and handled him 7" I Jdm ( i .' Thi, truth iann important part of the ^oapel. The belief therefore „ abao- ..t,>ly neccaaary to aaivation. Kom. !(.. ». It, importance ariaea (h,m the fol huvu.K coua. erationa. ,st. It ia the most deeiai.. proof of the c «^ f U r at a, a dlv.ne peraon. «„d. It ia the atrongeat ,,roof of th. comple. I« of Ida obedience to the .1 ivine will. 3rd. It ia a direct pledge of the re cct on of all hia people to eternal life. * ^ " *'^" 1 . It ia the moat deciaive proof of U»e character of Chriat «a a divine peraon. J««.. himaejf aaid while in the world, John 10. 17. 18. "Therefore doth mv tak.thitfro«n,e, but I lay it down of myaelf : I have power to lay it down, 16 An Kssay on the Gospel. itti. m "undlhnvepowrrtntakeit again." See John «» m r • voluntHrilv. not hy power of torture, .aid Iw "hi, , f!' T' f/"' '"" vigour, "It i,jlnisHe4, „„.< gav« np the ghost^' Jo „ o gionnca din^o^"Zf'' "' ^r* "''"' '^' ''''"'^''^^ °f Je»u» Christ is glad ti- dmgs of great joy. V/hat can give greater joy to a poor condemned sinner deli t\Z:Z 1'"' :"" 'T '-' '''' ''' ''' '•- ^« aJetr h dead a, a proof of his glorious character as the Son of God-ns a proof that 1 pVd^etfT^eTl ^"''"•"'' "^ '""^ ''''''^' 'y '^^ F«the:rnd as a gain for our justification. **"*^ ^""^ °"'' "'"'' ^"^ ''"'^ ''• 4. '"ha" now notice one thing more as included in the cosoel vl^ th. f "be troubled, ye believe in GoTbe Le « ,0 tn me "' ''".^ '"''' "house are many mansions- If if » V 1 ^' '" "^ Father's " prepare a place ^ To" and iM L" T ' """ ''"^ ^"'^ ^«"- ' «« *<> " come agaiS, and rec'e^ve' ; to'm;: If'TT \''''\ ''' ''^' ' -» "may be also." Hence the ^os,.pi1 ^ 1 '^^'^ ' "•"' »•»««•« y« second coming of tL L. .r7j: J ChH t^' t'^!: \^'' ^^ '^^' ^°^ '''' If in this life only believers h«,l .1, ^.u ^^' ^*'^' **• ^^' »7' «<>• most miserablej'^-or I e : befc nT:^ Chnst they must be of all men the sense as their chif^od- and tl T'^^^ -«> made as the filth of the arth 1 thf 7 ""''''' ''""'"''^ P"^^'^"^*'^' tan are at constant war ^ t't.^m VhtT^VVl '''""''' ''" ""^ ^'- against the world, the devil, a dl fill ' bTj '«''^\r«!'«' «*"-*'- the good news of eternal li;e to 11,^: J 7,- "T r ^^ ^'""" '""^ g.veth his people eternal life through hr'son^^lThn f n'"!'' '^ u"' '" cended on high to prepare a ni.o,. *• .u . ^' * '* *^*''"'' has as- i, prepare a place for them, and he comes again to take them I'ii An Essay on riw. Gospel. iffi appointment It tmin.. « . i • "' *"" ^^''"'« ''••«'?'« "I I»i9 -o'ti^poLtde ' to:l^^^^ ''••«"^" —•'"«" '<- oron earth. In cnn3i.vr^ '"'!? "^•""'' •^''^^'' '''""«''^ "^'" ''-v. n Most Hi,h; rt ^x,:;ir; ;: :: r:;;: :^'':- -'•- 1- '--"tio„ or t^o mo^t wretched c.f »|| haWtndonr, V, r ""'^'' "' """"' '"'" ^^c i^orks which «rc. th to . Z .'„ ' " ' "" '^'■"""'''' "'"' '''•«' "^ -•"•''-- ingniadeunde r ;^^^^^^^^^ Propitiatory victim for «in-.hls bo- som for tr«„gressor, kJ' mu ,"''•"?''' r'""--"j^ ^'^'"K himself „ ran- assurance of his second cTmin.S T^'T '" *^'^'' "S''* "«"'»' «"'» I'- sufferinKs. The deZatir h^I t.: ctisf r^", '/ "'^ ^''"'^"^ ""'» "gain from the dead, ascended to glory as fl r f '«'•«'":«!— rose comes again to take them to himselLfL 11 H / '"" """"''• "'^ on the stage of time Glorv to nn\ u I , *^ "'"^''"^ ""*^' «^«'' «P«ken Now redemption is completed, Death, and hell, are vanqnish'd foes ; Jesus has our foes defeated, Let us triumph in his cross. Some hold out that the gospel includes m ;♦« «;♦ .i i"!c u consists III ihe irlari fii4in»^= »r . . ' " "' ^' '' "iCrc- tified to sinnersla' d't he s ranee of" 7'" "'""•''• ""' ^'"'^ '•°'-^''' ^ *- promise .nnexed to the ,e IZ of th "1""/° '''''' ""'« '"^"^^ '^ '« » otner,ce;,<,o« of the gospel. It is true that the fuiniment of n Unn ro«f>rvcd fo^ •*Koo(l will (if Je- iHt has "hccnmo ' UvU. 5. 0. Tim ) hlms«'|f, JH, nn It ewB full and coin- glorions mossnge prclunida, ns we Iho Son of (Jod. )le dtisigii o( Ilia nccomplisli iho Jit of ill hcnvcn iclanitlon of {ho iscomnlntotho >i'9t of works— those pure bo- lt good npws ; room of triins- or sin— his be- limsclf a ran- rojrothnr with hand, and (ho s coming and mr sins—rose I'hurrh, and ever spoken oclaimud on 'St of salva- faith being declaration ' " ; Iticre- ^th, or tes- ieve it is a ilfilraent of An Ehsay on the Gospel. 19 this promisf, is perfectly certain to those who believe, but the proof of our iiidiVHlnal belief must ariHe from another souroe than the certainty of the truth of the gospel. Of this, however, I ahull take more notice afterwards. III. Thirdly I «hall endeavour to Hhew to whom the gospel of Christ is ad- dressed. I observe, in g.meral, that the gospel must, from its very nature, he addres- sed to aimers. The news is a proclamation of pardon an.! peace to sinners therefore it musi be addressed to the guilty. But men have racked their brains and puzzled their imaginations to distinguish one sort of sinners from another hnd to confine the gospel to one kind of guilty criminals. Surely this is charg- ing the Holy S|.irit with folly in his not specifying the sort of sinners whom ho addressed m the Scriptures. Christ tells his Apostles to go unto all the world, and preach the gospel to every cheat ure. Homo tell us the gospel is addressed to qualified sinners, whom they distin- guish by their lung course of mourning for sin, their fears of death, their des- pair, the.r terrors of eternal damnation, Uc. Yet many of theso sensible, or, as I should call them, frightened sinners, on their hearing the gospel make light of It, and despise it. What qualifies a person for tho gospel's being ad- dressed to hnn, IS his being a transgressor of the law of God, whether he {3 sensible of it or not. The siek man. whether sensible of his sickness or not. needs the phys.c.an ; and a sense of his disease does not increase his need of a cure. So a man's sens^ of sin. allowing an unbeliever could have a real sense of sm, as such, which we think cannot be. does not make him a whit more qualified for the gospel than he was when he lived in careless security aud inaeniibihty. vmihj Others say that sinners have a share of common grace by the improvement o. wh.ch they are fitted for the receptioa of the gospel of Christ. What they inean by th.. common grace I am at a loss to guess. That sinners have an understanding, a w.ll, a memory, reasoning powers, and affections is evident from their common transactions in life. If this be what ia meant by common grace, I believe all but idiots have it; and surely it is by the exercise of their understandmgs, memories, and reasoning powers that men come to the know- ledge of the truth, ^ut all men, idiots excepted, are on a level in this case of rational powers, though all have not the same degree of them ; yet sucb are smd not to '' know the things of the spirit of God-they are foolishness to them, neither can they know them because they are spiritually discerned." I «^or. 2. 14. All tho sons of Qt mun n«^ i, ,1 I ., . "— o"«iiait;d from the iife of liod. «. h 7!. Z Ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their hearts. Man ,s naturally (that is always till born again) at enmity with God -yet lies a rational, accountable creature, and as such raust suffer tf.c rnnsequencos of diiol)eying God. 20 Aw Kl,«4Y ON ,,„.; Oo,m.. r! t it .frz:r:r:;;:-rt:rrr ••-••• • p..Mll,|. ,„ ,,,,,,, „,,„.. ^^ '*" •'«• •H.y Uo. , for .. ,vl,h,M,| f„„„ I, ,, ,,„. Rnf li>t itii> rttiitMfik lit. I ,u ^, .« .1,. ,.,H,n.w,v or .hn Holy ^ ^^^ '"■ ""^ «"'"' ^'-'^ •niiJty with ,i ftif I nil(lti>Mr>tl. Ai^ ?«">••. A«(-.»i-,|- K iM'fnkpM of 1 Imvp Hip f.nrU •»•«•! I tiriil ihoij •'<• ilowii fiorii nonn/lloin. rt. npnibmhiii) of ♦•». Tlulm- ••••PV "f Hill Id f "«fi>n III ,|„. »mtliPiihlrili. ii" ltp«r»Nnro«i •« for tlio iiB- ••"mlrmnlng Ic nioiitlu nra li**"" of wralli ">«mI. mill nil ») of (he |a,t An KdK/w ON Tiir, (^,NP^t.. 2I Iiii|mH»mI Io (hniii 01- tliny muat mil- rl|tht«nuMnpns of n Jimi ppr.oii niiml l«. itriih for Pi§r TIi.nni,,,..| ihnr, I. ,|,. „„,v, „f ,,„,,,„„ ,„ j,,^ ,„ ,^ ^n.ml.. nf ,J..,,. Tim „h,M,..M. of „.. , ,,,,, . ..f^ v^^^^ t? IK. r r"' r;: " ""^ '"•" • "^ '"•••'""• ^ ••'•"' tm/, t; N«hihit.M| llinMiKlitlip „t«„,,,nrn( of f|,o hoiil Jp«n« <'l..l . i '" "uny (» Jth* go,,.r| rail «.ldr..,hH|...Kv..ry mal« »l f..,..«l,. ii ^ ^ '^''""' '' jjbcuidos mn tlinro la no Hnvlour." *^"''* "'"^ IV. I .hall point out « l,„i U \n to t.vMy, tho go,pp|. tlu, receiving of Cl.rUt n,dT« i; /^^^^^^^ ^.^ "^^^^ "-••« •"- by iKo r.oly 8,.|H, i„ Cm^H i. tI l" h" *"7"--t- «iv«n of -«c.«r 01. p..f«cti„ Kxod. H4' « Ham ^ T wl """"""'«"'« «•»- il. PmI.SI. 1. nod 44. 80 «„d iiu n. i I ' '^'"«'' '' 47. nod 14. ».«0. R«v. 15. 4. Many. ..!".. "' ""'^ *'*• '^^^ "'"« 7». «. John 17. ' J"»". 0. 4». nod 1« .^0 and ,. T^l . *""" ''^ '»"' ^l'"»""»- Mark. 1. ,&. c«i- th. go,:; . t M^:: i:::z;; :;::• r """'^^ •- -r '^«^ •« ^- tiuiogfl, witiieus, or record which W. •c-n CTcaua Chiitt. h&i ./ in 22 An Kssay on the Gospel. 51 M ! The atone j„u;cVrtt:;:o^^^^ 'i-e. In hi, character and wo k i h , lu ' " " "'""" "''" ''- ^orkof Christ, or obim of tie ;i' 7^'*''V""«" ''"P^ted ; that is, the he is thereby ju tlLd I '^""^' ''' ""P"'*'*' »» ^he sinner, and nal hfe. '•^'^•'"^'"'^^' "" «'»» a^e pardoned, and he i, made an heir of eter some, includes our belief ?nnl "' ^''"''*' '' ' ^''•^''•''■•'••^ f^'th say the promise of ::,:.:;nCe:tM^^^^^ "'"f"' ''^^'^ ^«^«^" ^'•«' a promise annexed to believinTi ht „e ' h* ? " ^'^ "' ''"' ««"»'«'• ''"' be saved, but it Is equally true .hi-t 1 n 7' """' '^'' "'^'^ ^^''-«' »»''*" lief of the gospel bL„ « ,n '« h ^ •^'""■' '""' ""' '"^"''•^'"•«- ^he be- believe.but this consdousrsH ." ^•>"''^'"'»"«*b that it is the truth we It immediately ipTeraZeb!?' '""''"' '''''' ^"" "--ance of faith. Full confidence nee Jthe l!f f 1""" ""' "•""""' ^'^ *'"'"'"^« certa.nty.- soul, and fruit i tife life to' re„l V'"' "' '''' '^''* °' ^"^ '"»''« n^ust come on afterwa^^ TJ T !" '""" '^"^ ""' ^° «"^'^'P-t« «h«t Christ is nopart of ha tpelXhV'"' ''*^ '•'''•^'"^ -^"^ -'" '"^--^ - to every crea'ture through t:v.l":vrd'">:' ''' "^""^^ ^'^P^^''^^ "ions, precious truth wlu-.h '^^ ^^'''' ^^^P*^' stands a glo- -n. Of them give am;:;'';";!,"';:;:^:^""^'* ''''''-'' ""^ ^^^^^ To believe the gospel, or to receive if U tu truth testified by the holy Suir t T . « ••^"Pt.on, or belief of that GodconcerniughisSon O ii ^"'''*"'''' "^ **'"''^' «« ^'^•"•♦'^ord ofj that It is the tes nonvof rVi ^'°'^ ""' '''''' treated above and shewn and resurrectirn f"; s'us ni Wstir P° I'' «'^--^— -ffe-gs-death •' ver, brethren. I dechre u ' v lu '"^'' ' ^''' ''• '' •'« " ^oreo- "which alsoyeh L; r^rd anH^^^^^^^ '''f' preached unto you. "saved. ifyeLep in mem 0';::':'™:^;!^^!' '• ""f ^'" ^'^ "« " less ye have believed in vain An Id- J ^'""'"''"'^ ^"'^*' y°"' ""' "I also received, ho.v that ChH t-l nf ""'° ^''' ' '* ''^^■' ^^at which " and that he w s b i d a^dThJ T "" "" '"''^'^'"^ ^° ^'^^ -'•'P^-".- •' the scriptures." HeThoTJi i .1- ''' '="" '''* ''^'''^ '^^y- ^^^o-'ding to ved ; but'he who be e eth Z sh H ^^ "h""";'' '* ^^^*^"^''' «'^«" ^-- bis disciples to preaci he .Id ' )\^'''''""^- ^^hen Jesus sent forth "veth you recLet mean, h ?r "'^ *"'.' '■''^"' ^' «^"'' " He that recei-l giving credit to M.V meas^g at 1^ frSth ^^'J V' Ambassadors of Christ/ the Son. 2 John 9. *^*'^' '•««»eth the Father and The of the '^satisfuc f)er8on f f a fri« This Jibsolut' 'of Jehc [and to horah lin Chris who bel jcondemi 2. A| jThey arc idoption 'hess. 5, i" but fell |2. 19, 1 [his royal into the f '1.2. As 12.23. They ai in this wo with Chris sinner that believes In •ifori! God. is justified. I to the sinner who he- imputed ; that is, the ited to the sinner, and » made an heir of eter- An Essay on the Gospel. 23 V. Fifthly.--I shall now take notice of the conrnjucncos of receiving [the gospel, as they relate to the receiver personally, to iod. and to othTrs ^JlJif ''!'.' "''""""""'^.'^f. *° t''« '«ceiver. are. ju^lincation, adoption into iod's famdy. and eternal life. ^ 1. Those who believe the gospel are justified. » z. that the gospel in t ; therefore faith say . I said before that irt of the gospel, but t every believer shall t believers. The be- lat it is the truth we II assurance of faith, absolute certainty.— spirit of God in the Jt to anticipate what oui own interest in is apostles to preach gospel stands a glo- many of those who falsehood, of which Justificaiion (that is the term) has two acceptations. It simifles f.ra^ r-sons b.ing declared free from a .-ertain crime laid to li ch rKe I d o"f course free from the condemnation attached by law to tha cHmf ' Th bury after hearing all the evidence brought forward iTy the 00^^. " fa supposed criminal, declares him not guiur.- e nolgu t o^^^ t^^^^^^^^^^^ against hi™. Thus he is justified by L pL., and h^ age ^-T''^ [The law can hold him no longer. It can infiict no punishment upon him ™' The other sens, of the t«rm justification, is when a person is found guilty of the cnme hud to his charge, but is released, or s.^free on accou„ If pt.s.act.on given in his stead by some other person. Wh^ Z i J^an^ 1 rrson .s unpnsoned for debt, he cannot get free until the debt is paiSbut If a fnend pays the debt, that moment he must be released. ' n, or belief of thai li. as the record o d above and shewn —sufferings — death lij- l.r*. "Woreo- )reached unto you, which also ye are 'fi,;d uotoyou, u' • t ot'ai! that which ; to the scriptures; day, according to I truth, shall be sa 1 Jesus sent forth " He that rucei- eth him that sent ssadors of Christ, ithc Father and This latter case Is the sense in which a sinner is justified before God Up !, .so,„tely guilty underthe just sentence of thelawof God!!! „dl the " JI of Jehovah : but he is set free on account of the satisfaction gU en to the law .. nd to the just.ce of God, by Jesus Christ the friend orshnars jT hovah justifies him freely by his grace, through the redempZ that s" ...Chnst Jesus. Rom. 3. 21. The solemn declaration of God r that a who beheve the gospel are thus justified. Acts 13.39. or fuhy Ld froJ^^ condemnation and from the just wrath of God. ^ "" 'Th%a''re1aVeV:lL'ft'': ''^'"''^' - adopted into the family of God. ^joey are called out of darkness into God's marvellous li-rht an^ • .u H..p.io„ „r children. Se. Horn. 8. ,5-,8. G I ° ' '"eI ^^ ^ re,, 5. P™„, h.„cef„«h, .. .he, .,e n,. „„re Ijg „ tV»Lr ^..19, They are called to be saints. Rom. I. 7. To be G,.H>. 1, i .■ his royal priesthood, hi, peculiar people. . Peterlg Th ' ''°''' ""."»"• l.nto th. rel.o.v,hip of God .he Palher! and !,Z S™ Je,rcli ! 'T/Z U^^ As also of Angel,, and ,f the spirit, of jus. „e„ ™ade Jolt. hI'. in ws''„"id?;:traliirhr"°" ^ii'r ''*"'«" '»''"" ^ jc* An Essay ox the Gos PEL. ling in them as the earnest of their future and more durable inheritance be- yond the grave. S. Nor ig this all, they have eternal life secured for them beyond the grave. As I noticed, they hnve the Spirit of God a^ an earnest of their inheri- tance-this is the i^al by which Jehovah seals them as his own, Eph. 1. 13, 14, the same as a man seals hh prop.-rty for preservation and security. Who can brea' the seal which Jehovah has fixed on his blood-bought property » They "are kept by the power of God through faith, unto salvation ready " to be revealed." 1 Peter 1. 5. Their salvation then is secure. People may tell us of the saints falling ; but God says, " though th,. righ- teous fall he shall rise again." Prov. 24. 16. Psal. 37. 24. Job. 17. 9. Psa|. 87. 17. fe 55. 22. Some may reprobate the perseverance of the saints^ but such, "know not the scrptures, nor the power of God " They sav salvation is connected with continuing in the faith ; this is true ; but it is also true that the power of God is engaged in keeping them in the faith, and that the Holy Spirit has sealed them as Jehovah's eternal proper- ty. They shall have salvation; for, "He that believeth shall be saved." Mark 16. 17. «»He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." The certain consequence of believing the gospel is everlasting life. 2ndly. Let us now notice the consequences of a sinner's receiving the gospel as they relate to God. Here the perfections of God are displayed. The Divine justice, holiness and unchangeablcness of God, are exhibited in strict unison with his mercy love, and goodness. " Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have embraced each other," in the salvation of guilty man ; and every additional sinner that believes the gospel, is a farther display of Divine grace, in unison with Divine righteousness. How important then is the reception of the gospel ? Glory is brought to God in the highest, and peace is not only proclaimed on earth, but also experienced in the hearts of the guilty who be- lieve in Jesus. Sdly. Let us mark the consequences to others. These are great; for every sinner who receives the go«pel, becomes, in one way or other, a seri- ous, diligent preacher of that gospel. Thus the proclamation of peace from heaven is spread from kingdom to kingdom-brought into neighbour-f hoods, cities, families, workshops, market-places, kc. One proclaims the gospel publicly in cities, towns, vi llages. He goes to the highway and hedges and compels them (by persuasion) to come m that Christ's church may be filled. Another preaches the gospel by ^B 1 As fected one se ed by gospel cause its pro Ghost unifori of the Notwii tion, p whole only di moves of the aflfectio ment o natural in our < ablo inheritance be- 1 beyend the grave, est of their inheri- s own, Eph. 1. 13, and security. Who -bought property? nto salvation ready secure. '* though th«' righ- k Job. 17. 9. Psal- ince of the saints, God." They say 3 is true ; but it is them in the faith, 's eternal proper- :h shall be saved." lasting life." The ife. ler's receiving the ne justice, holiness on with his mercy, rigbteousness and y raan ; and every ay of Divine grace, is the reception of 1 peace is not only the guilty who be- !se are great; for ly or other, a seri-, . lamation of peacei ht into neighbour- One proclaims the! (by persuasion) to | :hes the gospel by | An Essay on the Gospel. 25 conversation with his friends and neighbours. Another by teaching his children and servants, and perhaps his neighbours' children and servants, the nature and glory of the good news. Another by his just dealings, attention o b LTness and holy conduct, powerfully points out the gospel. ^Another by hi p Zc e and resignation, under severe and long trials and afflictions, b^-auLly elhTb ^ the heart cheering doctrines of the cross, &c. &c. burr*^'".-''!"'u" host of missionaries, each preaching in his own war ^ut a„ according to the gift given them of God. All these ways of JoL7Z' owever, have been countenanced of Jehovah, and made useful to th alva inc^el^ltv si ''' \"7' •''" r' ''"^PP"^" "'■ '""^ '"'-f^'t-^^ «f heaven are ncreased by nnersbei.evins the gospel. The wisdom of God is made known p„nc.pal.t.es and powers in heavenly places by the church " And 'Z" the spirits .f jtt;:; rperLr;Ti::,niI^Tf r'r ^'^'^ ^"'^ perfections of .Tehovah. It is Lere his ^ d^^ cy hto L^-thlnt -''"'T est splendour.-It is here his mercy rejoiceth ov7judt™ent '^" '"^*- fecteVb;iLXr't,^l':^ '''77'''' "^^"••^^'« tobeint.eleastar. one seed! sown in th one sor^Th ' T' k *'''''' ""^^ '' ""«' '^ " «.« of the Spirit of God SP.Z" uJ C^ u'"'"' '^ *'"^ ""^ ""''"«"» -«-« Notwithstanding the app re "t d^.T' ' '""'''''' ^"' ''^ ^'^ ambassadors. tion, prejudices Ic sti t^" tf T '"""" ™*'"' ^"^'"« '''"" theireduca- whole hu nan ra'ce hie he t T J'"' " "'^""^"^ *'^« ^^^^^ «'-• '^^^ only difference Ln'rder;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ''""^'^ 1 ™'"^' '" ''"'-^^ moves fnom the hr„f. ? ,• ^ ^^''^^«' ^^^o seems but a few re- or th^^r Z^:^;;:::z: t::.i"r!f rr '' t '''-" '----' affections, as the most polite^ourtier ^t " Tf' '"■^""''' '''"' ™'^'""''y' ment of the faculties of ma7lased;o ?•'""'"'' r' '""""'^ onm,>rove- natural wicked principles 0?^!^. ^^^» '""««»« "^ manifestations of the in our civilized couZesflutZ^^^^ '""^' ^" ''^^ ^^'^ '""-- «f -™- uunmes, tai au.passes those among many savage nations. The 4 66 An Khhw on rif?.; (io^prr,. Pfntf> of (Ihi Inimnn luvirt. mm it n-irinl^ r:.i.? :. #i II, nfi II ri c.inis »<(»(!, n III,. Himn' in ovorv inimfi'v nnl rl... »,|,|,.n„.s.. „r,.. ,M ,hiH ,.,.,„.,(. ,.„ „„. „„„„. ,„,,.,. Tho .lifl-.n.nn. i„ ?">!;: :!::r,.:,.:;; ^:;: ""t^'t-, ^"' "^ -"^ - ^ ^i-or.ne..j;::^;:;";:;;;;;;:::;::^:- -7 •.'•=-.• -sn-ip. «o., ; ;, ,,/,:; ''r 7""""" ''-^'••'--•"'<-»'',i„...f.n„,i|,io„bHoro '<> Hi. n. 'r Ki . : 1 7 T • '"•;' •'•' •"'''^•'"^' '""' '"'•>' "'^^- -'-"^ '"'" far.wr. smi. ;, , '"•■"^"•"'""' «'» -v. hi-ns.-ir-h, ,h.-rHon. s,an,I,su- ivhon J.s,HChri" -^ . :' rr ""•;';• •'•'- " -as with S„n. of T.rs„H, '* R»>ho|(} ()f> i)i>'i<>r,t'i " fi • 1 • - p™>-r,.f M„, I,,., J :„,,iH ;:,:;;: '"';';' i"-'.v" ii./"-.',...„„,i i, i,„„i,. ,„„ lic'vi-r, l.,.in,-,„.,.,.,.f,l,r, ,; \ . , '' "'""" ""•I"".-.'" of „„l„.- '■-■■".".v -vn„™:l , .1 ;;r.. ":'i ■:l'''' ^"'■•■'- ■■"■^: ' « •"' '»• '-,. u rtMif 1 tHiiiily iihsiml an- f, or • tl.ii.- flu. r.fhcr knows h,. dnv^ not f.rl tl onus of prayrr. If a cliild asks I woirfd hurt liiui, how would li* IIS pa- ln> need of, or for a tiling that. aiiswiT ? And siiali \\v ..xpc-ct to b.. hoard re- nvory rniinfpy, nnl liiiri-ntnify iijjcnirist 'r, and the savjinn 'I'li»« 'lifl'crciirc in '!;«''itlniiMii, Willi lout (Mimily (i;;:;!iiii> KOH])!'! •m iIh' lic^riiiiiliiK. >r flic HDSpi'l nuiHf ol" ovcry (Icscrip- I'V' .'mxioim (o o!(- >< <>r flu- )liin:vs of lilooiiHticHs and of 1 «'i)nditinn hrlbro ii)Id llir rroMs f|f 1 iiiton-sf in llicHr M prayrr In find. Y law runin^ liiin liin>r(n-(> stands a- iid formal, or nii- kiM-ncst desire (if f^ani of Tarsus, onf i(s (l(>Hir»'H in nnd if is only (Iio pra >troceedB from thei! hav„.K peace w.th fJod. The man that H, not peace with God canno wi tlie lorwaidmj; of his glory. " «oln!;rr^ '"''"'""""''"'" *"'"''''°^*^^^^^^ •""'"•" "^'•'•^vant of n. ,s u.ivM.e-l ..ahard master, reaph.^ whe.v he hathnotsown, and gather- .»« wbere he hath not .trewed." We cannot act to such a one as our friend It is not consistent with the nature of the .^ospel that a believer thereof should ^at.on ,s exactly suitable to the state ofevery .inneron earth-Therefo,., when «>Hcune..tsa,e understoo.l, . nd received as truth, peace must ensue, h it poss.ble that any sin.ier can believe it to be a faithfii! Mav;.,.r arnl ^...rthv of """acceptation, that Christ .lesus came into the world tV sTive sinner." »nH iiol have peace restored tt mind Tiie gospel proclaims pc-ice on earth, and good will low,)iU H uieii. Can till? It.'. An Essay on the Gospel. Z" He' t'ut"" ''' ""'"' " ^""'' "^''•^ ^'^^ ---^'^y «f that God .vha reign oILIirist IS called a reign of peace PsiiJ 72 q 7 i.r- j n to hm people." Psal. 85 8 " tLv h^r * " G"*! ^v.il speak peace Psal 119 ifi5 up l'„^ ^ ^'''''' «'••'•■»* P«^'''*-« wh« '"ve thy law." rsai. 118. 165. "Peace shall be upon Israel." Psal l '5 -. Th . r .u M. »„r„ly ,h»,o p,,s„,ge, are ,„fflci™. to ,hu. ,h. mou.h of „. Jgain™ be dlS:.. '" *"* ■"""■"'" "■«" "" »»™''. -O he .h.. believe* „„. ,h.,f PS r«l thLhl^l^trdbv'f^iihh' '"';' ^'^'^ ^"^^^'" '^'"y- The Apostle say, -our a„j !;thip » tt^h" °'!'r P-'^^-'t^' «»^' -<' -cess to his I Rou, 5 \TT ^"•t that they rejoTo ,n the hope of the glory of God.- "uf he wells of Tf 'r •"" ''''' '^"'^^"^" ^^""'^ ^-- -'-• -th joy ioyand ITf r ' ''"'• *' •'• ^hat the redeemed should return with taneous re<,u"t nfLV .. T^e-^tament represents Joy. as the instan- ture of the Ifn l ;. • ."^ " ''" ""^'^t which must arise from the na- tion, s eethe i-y ChZ '"f '''''• '""^^' "'"'^^ ^ ^''"^ °^ -"^-"a- of h s salva io,/ o hi. . '' T""'"" "^^ "''^ ^-ilty, and the suitableness heaven ad 1'^^ as a wretched sinner, and to hear the invitation of fteaven add.essnig hun to come to .fesus and take of the waters of life freelv without money or price, and abstain from rejoicing Here howov.r ^' aga.n -U i.,.e with a certain Cass of professor^. Zy^!:Z^'^ZZ ^le^l^U:^''"i^'t''t'T ''' ^"--'^-ty-yea some think thes^l gospel of cC' No -Th Tr 7^"V""^' '^"*^^^ ' °« ^hey believe the saved Th. I. . J ' ^''""^ '^^ ^^'^ ^hey are such sinners as cannot be tOsav ■ It til.. r.„„>i. iJ!t,ii.i.. tt """"" ""'" "- joon e, 27. The reason then that professora do not fp£ ty of that God who the scriptures. The '0(\ will speak peaco ho love thy law." The peace of the .2, 19. See John • & 14. 17. Gal. 5. of every galnsayer, 3 plain, then, fro m lo! mtist be an im- ry mind which be- of peace of mind, !'l that Goclhasa ill his people have le condemned — for believeth not shall ' rhe Apostle says 1 access to his fa- ; glory of' God iw wate • with joy hould return with lem the oil of joy joy, as the instan- 14. iThess. 1. 6. rise from the na- ise of condemna- d the suitableness r the invitation of ters of life freely, however, we are lin thata real he- irs, without any some think these they believe the iiers as cannot be it pardon them — 1 of these viewu i to save those to I that " his blood ontpadlcung God i cannot pardon, ometh unto me ;>rofe8sor3 do not An Essay on the Gospel. 39 ve>,lcei„ that they do not beheve the gospel ; for it proclaims pardon to the gudty and al wi.o bei.eve .t must reyoice. As to God's hiding his face let UH hear tl... I n.ph.> : •' your .ni.p.iti.s have separated between you and your God. and yo..r sins have h.d his face from you that he will not hear." iLi. 5U. 2. 3. \ third i,„ n. liate result of the belief of the gospel, is the hope of e- ernal he. Here another class step in and say it gives certainty. It is perfec l ly certain t^^at he who b-dieveth shall be saved, but it is not so certain' th^ a] professors beheve. I noticed before that the belief of the gospel carries with it acousaousnesaof its being the true gospel, but still there L possibility^" mistake Not that the true believer is in danger, but that a professor may oftiuth. A false gospel will give a false hope, a false peace, a false joy and create false feelings in the mind not easily detecte,|-not even by th pZ's ^ the^i^t,T' """f ''''''^•^"' '"^ may all his brethren.' 1. ^:;::^^ the hght that .s ,n a professor may he darkness ; hence Christ warns hi disci- ples oi this delusion. Luke 11. 35. it Tnll'ff r'''"' "r"' ^-^T' " '"'^'^ "^ ''''''''^ '■"■«' ^"'•"e'Jiately upon belie, ir,,- , and believers have this hope '. as an anchor of the soul both sure and s'e J ^fast. which entereth within the veil whether their forerunner has en e "''1 Rom 5 2 , Peter 1. 3. Heb. 6. 19. The hope, as well as the f-.! ^ the gospel admits of increase. Justin proportion as the believ.r has p oo' of ht growth in grace, and in knowledge &e. so his hope is strengtheneT un^ he ruth of the gospel, in this view believers receive the word in much assur „ e for this assurance comes from God, and is full in the very outset as to kind but the believer comes to the assurance that it is the trutl^ an '.t 1 Zuutl gospel he believes, by a further examination of scripture and comn- r^n J VHnvs with them, and by the feeling of the power of tL litl n Is ow ^ i T and witnessing ,ts truth in his continual holy conduct. 2 Cor. 1 ^ 2 l^t Ga . 6 3. 4. From these he draws a fair inference, viz. that his faith is VusV and o course his hope. This is plain proof to himself and other,,, le holds the pure Apostol ic gospel-and the professor that walks contrail to U. th •s proved an unbeliever, both to himself, and to all around him * cannot bo mistaken as t"your ow,, bS-^J hf * fj°/'t,^^^^^^ ' '^" ""' "S"-"" that you "tl.i8 wc know that we are nassoT (mm Z i . };• u *" ""'•''' P»«''aKfs. »»v.h a.s "by M "Take heed biethreiHesrthere be in «L 7 """* '' f'u ''"'^''T '^^ '»*'' "'« »"t'tl..ra"-^ 1 " the living ■ J. Let evcrv m.,n nrovnT- -''°" »\^^'' heart of unboHef in departini; fron. i ::seif aionL„d;,ot7n'.aot;;^,.:"" ^:z hrzTk'\k''z t^' i^^'"^ ^t'-i^- - 'li- m ii,'"»' ^oriiUhmnB who were Duffed un an,! nnrV^lUT- ' Im YV"- J- raiii iol,i tlie bons-, fntit wi God. he 30 A\ KSSAY ON THE GoSPEL. 4. Another innepfrahle eject nf the gospel is. patience, or resignation to the will of God, under the trials and afflictions of life. Jesiis Christ told his disciplr-s, that in this wor' a they should have tribulation. Paul says, •' if any man live Go My in Christ Jrtsus he shall suffer persecution." TheH.-brews, " took joyfully the spoiIin<; of their goods, and the Apostles " rejoiced that they were reckoned worthy to suffer shame for Christ's sake." The gospel teaches patience and long-suffering to all who receive it, both under the common trials of life, and under those they endure for the truth's sake. Peter says it is nothing to exercise patience when we suffer for our own faults, but that if we take our sufferings for righteousness sake patiently this is acceptable with God. See 1 Peter, 4th chi»p. (all.) 5. The gospel produces a meek and humble disposition in all who believe it- Pride and arrogance an- true characteristics of Satan and of his children, and are peculiarly hateful in the sight of God. " God resisteth the proud, but gi- veth grace (or favour) to the humble." Those who believe the gospel are brought low in their own eyes, and ijianifest a meek and quiet spirit. 6. The gospel infiames the soul with love to God and nan. The naturat enmity of the heart against God, against his people, against his laws and ordi- nances &c. IS slain by the gosj)eI as soon as it enters the soul. The first si"-ht of the glory of God, exhibited in the face of Jesus Christ (the gospel) capti- vates the soul and fills it with love to God ; and this love is manifested to every object in which God appears. To his people as bearing his image.— To his laws and ordinances as so many exhibitions of his glorious perfections— yea even to his enemies as the productions of Jehovah. This love is not like the love of false professors, in word and in tongue, it U in deed and in truth. The believer's love to God is manifested by his keeping his commandments; and his love to the people of God is manifested by acts of kindness to them, such as feeding the hungry, clotinng the naked, &c. His love to God's laws and ordinances is known by his delighting to walk in them, and to hold them forth to others. 7. Another invariable effect of the knowledge of the gospel is, that the be- liever ceases to do evil and learns to do well. In other words, the gospel teaches all who know it, to " deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." Tit. 2. 11. First it teaches them to deny ungodliness &c. The believer dies unto sin through faith. Rom. 6. 1. Sin has no more dominion over him, because he is under grace. He does not obey sin in the lust thereof— The lust of the eye the pnde of life &c. have no more power over him ; for he has crucified the flesh, with Its passions and lusts. Thus he becomes a new man in his whole life and conversation in the world; having been renewed in the spirit of his ■■I >r resignation to have tribulation. rcr persecution." nd the Apostles Christ's sake." receive it, both e for the truth's [Ter for our own i patiently this is who believe it.— s children, and ! proud, but gi- spel are brought . The naturat i laws and ordi- The first sight e gospel) capti- ifested to every 5." -To his laws IS — yea even to the love of false The believer's d his love to the as feeding the 1 ordinances is to others. is, that the be- ds, the gospel ts, and to live 11. dies unto sin , because he is ist of the eye, I crucified the I in his wholei le spirit of his An Essay on the Gospcl. 31 tomd by the gospel. In a word, he hates, and forsakes, every practice whicik he knows to be sinful, or in any degree contraiy to the mind of Jehovah. See Roifl. 6. chap throughout— and 1 John. 3rd chapter. But, secondly, he is taught to do good. Many think all is well with them, because they do not live in open sin-their goodness is negative goodness. The tree that bears no fruit, however, must be cut down, the same as the tree that bears bad fruit. The believer brings forth the fruits of righteousness, which are, by Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory - . God. lie lives soberly, in eat- ing, drinking, ( ress, equipage &c. according to his income. If God gives him nches, he uses it to his glory. If he is poor he cares not for it knowing that in.s wS! h- ? r'^'^T"' " ^""' ^""- "^ '^ '-'S'^^--' - .)-t in his deal- ings with his fellows m the world, not taking advantage of the weakness or i.^- norance of the person he deals with. He acts righteously, to the best of his Knowledge, as a parent, child, husband, master, servant, ruler, and sub- Cn 1 ! "" I, ■ ' '" "'"'■^ ""'"' '° ^"' ""' ^' '^""^^'^ it, is the sole rule of ZTct "\'^Sodly i. e. devoted to God, and all he needs, to make him obey God, ,s, to know his will. His eyes wait upon God to run wherever he commands; anditisashis meat andhis drink to obey God. Finall^.^In all these things he perseveres Much has been said about per- nallylost. Whence do they learn this? They say they have seen such Yes. they have seen professors 1-.II, but did they search tl.i hearts for the truth o^ TZ^r^r^'l f"' ^"'^^'^^"'^ rail proves the fallacy of thefrpofe si - rs^iewterZ-tt'; ":,"•• '-^"'^'-^thout works is dead; and tho' who cease J^woX (i th" ^ r ^'"•■'^" '"^" "'^ '■'"*^- " -^'^-^ •-« thy fath by thy - Chap. Such as have not works, are hypocrites. Th.- Lord savs " be th:,t heheveth shall be saved;" and 'Mie that ei.dureth to the end ha b 'saved "J would seem fromthis that it is only he who ..ndureth to the end I^t b 1 teth Again Christ says he gives to his sheep, who know him, .' eternal odtt; cTat trrt7"''"'- ";"'T ''"' --^ '"""^ ^'"- -^ ^^ ^is hind., n ; 1 -i Ti..f ,u 7 ""^ "*^'''^''' f'f words of Peter. 1 Peter. 1 . o. That they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation All the warnings of scripture against backsliding, makin.^ shipwreck of foifh tt^nl'^lT" "": ^" '''''''''' '"^ ^^^-'- tl^mselve;! o' L fb^^^^^^^^^^ ly tli : ;;;:r" "^ ^-f-— ^ so many caution, to believ^ k'^Lh : inVn^'^'f ^^'""'-'"^ '^'•'"^' ^•«'»«"««'' "1-n their Lord and M..f.r V M t t "". ' T ""'"' ''' ""'' wallowing in the mire, they shew he xvorld. what was true (though unknown) before, v.. that their faith wa only In^iil ! . I n Alv Kps,\Y o\ tiif, dn^vF.i. I n know "ot riKht ni,l, (J.,.,. „,„ „„. |,..,,Vv,.r ...l.rHh , • , 7 r ^T^'^'"*' n.«k.> lum sf„,„|. M. oo..ri,.,H.H i,. n,„. „, , ' "«" '"■ 1 " "'''" " »r. .ai,l t<. hav. hHi..v..., „.„, nHonva 1 "Z, Iri^^;"^ jj'^""" an.l o,lu.,.-p..-.„o ...,. fl. ,,,„... <,,;,, .."„ ,h^. ' ^;7",^"f"« thdrnu-,.. .„i,| lohavol,HM.v..l. Jolu, « l n ' !, ! '"''''^* " "^ 'h«"l«v.l lu tha(.lu.y,,n.r™UolM.Ii..v.,. ' '' *'"' '"*'""" """«•". (h«„ *' When hr wnK in JiMiisalcm pt flir nnn«nvi.r n« «h„ r . j ;;n.n..niM,,..e.r .o U..n. ....... ,.. ,.,.,, ,.„ l^; .„1, r;;n n:! «lio,.I.J h.st.fy <.f ,„a„ : fi.r he k,„.w ,vl,af was i„ ,n,m." ^ He knew well .Kei,. faith was v„i„, „ „„.,., ,„,„.,,,„ , „„„ „,,,, ..n.Ie,HfanH h,s ehararteror n.iHsi..,,. Sneh isfh.^aso wi,|. „„ n.e .L ol f«ller« lion. j!;raee that n-e hoar of. Thev m-.v l,..v., r,.n V ' an,, ,,,.„.„ .„„.„..,„ y.,,.H,.,...^;:;;'H:;;r^r::K:::L;;;:;:frs 1 he Rospol pro(h.rea experinier of the parent an.l most dumhlr n-.turo Tf chanKe-s ovn-y pnneiph, of (he soul, an.l ceal.-s ontii-e ,.ew f.-H „t ulZinrl ei.t.i-e new fi-din^v. in its uossrssoi- .-is it re.n 'st » .m e f^ ,7 dean ,ps. In .n. that is in my tle.h. dwelldh no ^ood tl iVi 'T ut ' f w Id ,io p;oo. ev,| „ present with .ne, &c." ,H»r is this cry . n e ,. v h ', o- c itu-al sonnd-he has a .-...d fo.dinj; in his son! of the ..Meet of his u,:/?' p a..,t. I fea,- ,nanj who talk n.n.-h of expe.ionc: halv'no , ' co ic.i; .T but they are eonmion fo rvery rhild of (Jod. it-Hona, At th.> sanietime it prodnees that peaee joy and hope dcsnUi^d ilmvo // f f amiKOod. Ilohasa real, exprrini.-ntal. feelin- ..f th!« .l,...,^,. ^.".'i •' .:^ v,«w. ol ,h,. justice, hoh,.e8H; iov. and ,„e,Tv' of (Jod, tlKal o ;;-.-i;.iiove;r « , I • I -.-... . ,. V.., .,„, Mi.-.;iii^i,-ii ,11 I nisc I lor nis lorini'r n'i<«i>iit of »iily profi'Ksrd Ut 'IMHrctI like whit- •tlicir lipnrlH w^re ■<»r CJod is nhir (o <• will Hiiy ; xonn' ns Himnn MaRim M "f (lu< «l»>vil (o US no iTW)r»> than /, many iMJirvoil "i( JfHiis i.'iil not Jed not tliiil any Iia( (hoy ilid not I tli<^ pntoiuliMl in many uraci's, liiMnMi of (fod n that lanij), arc I in all this. The hut lu> coiifrnds •ill); parlinilara. H of iiiihclicf as iMt l»«'j;inniiij!; to wcroat enniily ifitr naturo. ft )!;«• It prodiirca hIh'ws him hitt liali I arisivrr— a people ofiin- i?:a ; for whoo I I «'nipty, hypo- his hittrr rom- d\ convictions, al)ovo. Hffnfs is Saviour, and lopp of eternal ini a hard maH> lafh not sowed. His whole at- leinK holy just ■ _ r*!!cn is his [' iVi'ls jirievt'd, ner inalttntion igainst God, of An Essay o:v the Gosrnt. 3a Seventhlif-l .nhnll now notice, ,o,m of the hindrahcra to the reception of th pure fiospd. On.' w.miI.I think nothinR Hhonid liindor the hooh of men from be- lieving an.l olieyin^ their creator; and particularly that nothing should hinder loM ruined Binners from hearing and renivin^ n m.HHnji;c of p.uc, and of re- concdi »tio,. with a,. odVnde.l (Jo.l. Yet hoth scripture and exi.crience prov. that they manliest the most stuhhom resistance, to tin. will and voice of Jeho- vah in ..very case. I am not capahl., of pointing out th., many particular pro- Judic'H of th.. human mind against the r.-ception of the gospel of Christ. To of iMt . I- lm.;s towards his fellow creatures. The former objects of hn I. .re th" p,. ,pie ul (i„ I. ,r,. now his delight. He lov.-s God, and loves Ins l,rolh.'r also. Phes. ar,. his experimental fe..|in, Kosp..| r.'^nlafe his words and con, ii.- : Ills eonduct to God. to his christian brethren. t'> the world in Sem, ral, t.i his enem.es. yea cvn t<» tl... brute .•.vali.ni. lie (e.-ls u d.^cided hatred Ml I 1'^ ''"!'■ """.'" '""■"^■•' '."'"'•^' '"' ''''^ i"'*"-" *^ith God through the ^'\'\ J'-.^"'*/ 1"'^'. and n-jou-es in the hope ..f th.- >r|ory ..fG.id. I Ills ,s chn.tMu. exp.-rience. This is the true f.-elin/of the truth. I lat^tn.e christians in.iy at times h .v., f.-.-liiiKs contrary to th.'sc, is freelv f:nin."d;b.i that IS not christian. .xperience. It is the elf.Jt of c.mtuo nature^ .'.,;;;;:•/'; ^'"■'•'•'"•■•'- J"^' .^^ »•«••« answers .0 fac, still th.,r/is a di£' r. n e n .11 (heir feeinKs. ,:vrr,,t wh.it are prod.ic.l by the Rosmd Th.'se -ire P."rMMtly unKonn. We pity Nej^roes. an.l Indians for reckoning .mI lel^rm tv Wauly. and lor pan.t.n, (Inir fu-.-s to make them look bette 1 r„?.'sw8 otten act the same Th.-y n .kon what they on^ht to be ashanu^l o frLh a! tlK.r .larkn..s» an.1 .listi.m. in (Jod) a eause of Joy, an emS Ohi-isdan experi.M.ce. Th.'se have n..thin^ t.i do w5h chris ianit; In the verV oah'^os^d'ofrhZ''^ T Y "'T^^^T^ - trn.. religion but fte md IS oi ttie Kospe of (.hrist. 1 .. such aH call dream.s and visions christian exoeri- wln:;, Vr;;;!;I t^:''- ''•'' "'*^" - ^'•^"'" '^^ '-" ^^" '^' -^ •- ^hat haS'my cll'Vtl' !■'']'? "■•''";"« tl'c i.irirmitics, or even the failings, of the people of God wthhghti.ess; but the evils arising from the substitution of the vah. Wh.iever attends som.; m.>.-tings in this country, will hear plenty of enthusi- in the^i 1^ r''''';T "«^''"" f^'t •■'* «»^h meeting,: The tlw.v " • ^' i"; ''''";''' y- *'''' t-^v^tous, the extortioners, &c. will tell v",, (hey hat.1 sin, and love holiness: an.l th:,t tl.,.„ -,....:,.,. ':r^..„-_ . M.y* Iheir i.eiirhbours see tl„.i. ,(..:i.. .:...;.:.:i:"r" :"" -^ "- »sf''"'f'fe 'H ^.avc^ wmiu all The rs see th.-ir daily growth in sin and vanity S' ^"/-^ ':'?"^'''*'"' ^^r- "'^^'' ^'t'' its passions and lusts, and il d "SSH,.^::i7S'^^lr-- •hathJ.lieve the gospd. are sanctitied 111:11* m our God J.nnnca .l,ron,.r,UU. i„ ■«;-;;;,;„ru;i„rdX;&°SW te spirit of 34 An Essay o.n the G OSl'fcX. the Jews it was a rtutnhling block, atul to the (irv.,k, (bolishnccs I .h.U u. nrof 7?'- "'«^''«"''*'«"«t8endthHr children to christian teachers nor professed chnsuans their children to heathen teachers. Ungodly men "; "o Phi^sl is Th. H ' f r' 'f ""P"^"'"' ^"'^ """-^"'"-y. It is not, as the phrase .s, the order of the day, nay the reverse is proved in every country iliTzrT'"'''''- '' -"^^ »>« -*--y •" --'y piacesf to :s piruTf ;r ".^'^'iT^^"'- "-'- the specious name of religion, but the tTmll 'T ^'^"'" " ^^'"^' '"'^ '^^ P'""''^'^ ''^'''^«"«^- Children thus grow up C he f TIT' "' """ •"^'^ °' «"^ «S« ^''^I^"--^^ ^he idea' of for- saking the fa.th and the customs of their forefathers. Hence if you propose the 17 ~''rr '"""""' ^„,^,, ,f Christ to such, they look' pon' ou ! the Athenians d.d upon Paul. " a setter forth of strange gods." The cry is KoLel of Ch T' ''. ""■ '""''^^'"^ " • " ^'"^ '^^y «» '-* '■" Thus'th;, onlv h !^M "u " '^°"'^*''»"«d, if we may so speak, without a hearing. They only hear fll they see that It differs from the creed of their fo^efatherl and of earth Tu ^TJl ^7'' '^'" '^' ''^ '' "^^'^y^ith such a preacher from the it an: I T u '"' ''' '^^"'"^ "'*' "-"' '•^^^t ' «^^'«y ^'th such doctrine-and, 1 ought not to be permitted to be taught. They wonder government can allow f h. K^K?" r *" P'"''*™ ^^^'' ""popular harangues. All this from not .ising gospel "' "^ ''^ '^*^'""'' '^'''"' ''■' '^''' 'y^' ''^"* •''Sauist the pure Secondly^False teaching stands as a strong bar against the reception of the doc „ne of Chnst. Christ said, " beware of false prophets ; they come to you in sheep s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Many of the preachers of Christianity in our day are hirelings; i. e. men whose frat/e is preaching, and who preach for wages ; and who, if their wages fail, immedi- ately become silent. They would not, in this case, go about like Paul, work- ing with their hands for their own support, preaching Christ ciucified. These men not only conform their preaching to the principles of their party, but of- ten m opposition to the better principles of their own parties, and to' the ivord of God, conform their preaching to the prejudices of their tiearers. Some of these can preach Episcopal doctrine the one part of a Lord's day and Presbyterian doctrine the other. Some can subscribe, and swear to a Cal ' vinjstic creed and articles, and preach ArminiuntioctriHes. Some can preach c.'s. I shaJI, how- to shut tile mind t'get sons like him- ples and prtuticK. e strain as that of tian teachers, nor ;o(lIy men do not tronp prfjudice in n their neighl)Our- JUJd imbibe tliem. It is not, as the in every country, places, to attend religion, but the ren thus grow up B the idea of for- '■ if you propose look upon you as 1." The cry 13, :)st?" Thus the hearing. They efathers, and of reacher from tlie h doctrine — and, nment can allow 3 from not using against the pure reception of the *^ ley come to you Many of the whose trade is s fail, immedi- ke Paul, work- icified. These r party, butof- ind to the tcord ITS. ' a Lord's day, iwear to a Cai- me can preach An tjsSAV ON THE GoSPEU 9f Calrioiam and Ariniuianism at difTorcnt U.nes-yea mx them in the same dis- course. I* .t any wonder the hearers are led astray/ Is it any wonder that sensible men become deints ? Nut knowing the. pure gospel themselves, a,^ o-usfug to he.r hare. ng teachers, and judging cf the gospel by what th^ hear from these hn-ehngs, they see such glaring contradictio.;s in U.eir » nt^ r" • "?u :" ',""'' ""'"^'^' *^""''"^ •" ''"^'^ '"'-• ^-' the conclusion they 'Jraw .8. that rehgion must be altogether a system of rricstcr^ft. ^ But let us look a little farther into this greatest of evils-f^dse tcacluns 1 hose gentlemen, who come in sheep's clothing, but are inward yr^g .solves caremg nothmgfor the sheep, but earnest in pursuit of the fleece- tk ng the charge of the people, not of a ready mi,J. but for AUlay lucre' 'sake hemg. not examples of holiness and sobriety to the flock, but U^ reverse t^ ordmg over God's heritage; holding men's persons in ^doMratL b lusrof U . .St 1 hey are not ashamed to cry out against th^ simple faith ef the ros, P^. and to substitute their own mysterious and nonsensical Jargon i^it^^Zd They cry up virtue as the only .,uahfication to obtain heave, but th y ret ITT ?, ^'"'^ ''■■y ^'"t ^Saiflst salvation by grace. throuRh faitb • Thev 1 rT'"" '^'^ '^^•^'"^' ''"'*^ ^«'-^h works a^'ufe cause of Iftbn.' imt'tb '^V"""r"' ^^'"'^''^ '^'^y ^'"'^ heavy burdens, and lay t em upon tl e shoMluers of tl,eir hearers.-burdens which neither we nor our f« he" hem! r ? f'-*'««««- '>y works) yet they themsolv«s wiU not t„S the^. wi h one of their fingers. Thus they despise U.e righteousnes 7cUr^ . nd go about to establish their own righteousnes, at h J teacrS 1^ tl* do so; for truly few of themselves have even a form of rodLi if 1 not collider themselves, it seems, under any obl^Z ^t r^Lo^^^:^: Oiey are paid fur teaching som,tt,ing under the name of religion to 01^1^ attend to some of the outward forms of th.ir party, b-t U^e spir^is ^1 v!- the very articles and confessions of their own party are of tenh .t.H ^T'J''* t..ete,el.rsatU.„dedUym.u,yhiourday.apds:ch^^^^^^^^ I forbaar hr.ng.ng forward wlxat I know of the blasphomouT^U of some m^* i. ers couceramg th« sontiments of others of thfiir own party, .pd of re wTck' ed conduct of some professed amba.sadorsof Christ 1 kno v « ..! m only makea christian mind sh,nk with horror, ^1;^^;^^^^^;:^ I lately had a conversation with a sensible deist from London and 2 Mdm. any o^; hoi del " Tl '""V'''''' *'^™ ^"' their r.ljgion. Indeed t^o^U Z.l! T their religion he couUn^t be cPHvicted of a crime aTh :;ii;:tZ*:s::::r^^^^ ■If ^■■i- , : law. Gal, S. 10. M An Essay o.v tiir Gospel, ;■" "<( i H » f • ■ Others teach their liearers thnt they muHt he so and so prepared hefor^ they have a right to believe the gospel.-They must meet the Lord, as it w-re, half way by preparationB.-They must strive-they mnst cry-.-they must stretch forth the withered hand-they must stay at the pool-f hey must prepare their hearts for the gospel by a long course of mourning and penance ; and such, say they, and such only have any warrant to hiieve the go!.p..|. Thus poor ainners are kept labouring, and heavy laden, and still forbid to apply to the true source of relief. Thus do their teachers excinde them from that very spring of comfort and salvation, to which they ought to lead them-^he blood of atonement. Some preachers have experienced so, and so, and it would be sacrilege, lu their view, to apply the l.lood of Christ in any other way. If one iota of their experience is awanting, though this may have been all the workings of a natu- ral mi.id, ail \- ,*Tong— the person is pronounced unfit for the gospel. Others lead their hearers, not to the gospel of Christ, but to religion, as they call it, and exhort their hearers to strive to get this peari of great price. And what is this religion ; this peari of great price ? Why it is a violent agination of the body, something like the ague, the palsy --or some nervous disorder. This is called a work of God. A work of God without regard to tha g(.spel, and in which it has no hand ! This is without any knowlolge of thJson of God, whom to know is eternal life ! Yea the faith of the gospel, witlfcut this convirsion, as it i? called, is made light of— and such as have not had these agitations are pro- nounced as destitute of experimental religion. No wonder such teachers deny perseverance, for it is not easy for those who are in health to persevere in fits. A healthy person may be surprised into fits for a time, but when his groundless fears arc over he keeps calm. But to be serious upon this subject, those whd have had these agitations without the faith of the gospel, cannot stand in the faith, for they never had faith. When they fall, they fall not from God, for he never knew them, nor they him. Such is part of the teaching that shuts up the mind against the gospel of Christ. You may tell your neighbour to repent and believe the gospel, and bring forwp. d his daily conduct to prove him an un- believer, but he will tell you he was converted at such a time. You may an- swer him, yea, but you was often drunk since, or you have been covetous, or an extortioner, &c. O yes— he was then fallen, but now he has gone through a- nother fit, and he is restored, &c. &c. Indeed time and inclination would both fail in pointing out the many false doctrines taught and their awful evils ; but one thing is manifest, viz ; that the simple doctrine of the cross is despised through the teaching of these doctrines of men. I do not mean to deny that conviction of sin which ia of the operation of the Holy Ghost. These are very different from it. He works all by the word only, but these are without the word. When he convinces of sin, he convinces also of rJEbteQusnesH, .^ind of judgment. Kvery man made system of religion leads to keep sinners from re- ceiving the gospel of Christ. No wonder Christ shoujd warn his disciples a- gainst false prophets. Rpar<>(l before the y r(\, as it wre, half -thpy must stretch must prepare their Bnance ; arjd such, ifp*'!. Thus poor apply to the true 1 that very spring em — the blood of Id be sacrilege, !u Pone iota of their rtrkings of a natu- ! gospel. Others IS they call it, and And what is thi» tion of the body, . This is called , and in which it ' God, whom to conviTsion, as it itations are pro- ch teachers deny persevere in fits. !n his groundless bject, those whd inot stand in the iom God, for he ig that shuts up ;hbour to repent >rove him an un- You may an- 1 covetous, or an gone through a- tion would both iwful evils; but TOSS k despised lan to deny that These are very re without the iiianAoa an/1 nf sinners from re- his disciples a- An Essay on the Gosprl. 37 It is (tenerally held out by these hirelings, tliat dissenters, U,nt go about preaching for nothing, or without hire, are the false prophets. Christ save "By their fruits ye shall know them." We can find great abundance of the' fhnts of unrighteousness with those who wear the gowns and l)i,n'l«, and whose rchgious systems are supported by law. We ought - to try the spirits, whe- ther they are of (Jod." Let the false prophets, or false teachers, be judged of by their fruits, whether among establishments, or among dissenters. It is not of churches we are now speaking, but of false doctrine, held forth by false Thes'"" ""' "^''°'* "" ***'"^' *"'^ ^"'"^ ^'^ ^'""^ which is good." 1 People in general trust teo much to teachers, and are thus led astray. They think they need not puzzle their brains examining about religion, while they pny the preacher to examine for them. If the duties, and interests of teachers harmon.zed-we might expect better teaching. But it is the duty of teachers to preach pure truth, and to warn their hearers of the danger of refusing to hear that truth. The hearers do not relish such truths, and warnings, there- fore It becomes the interest of the preacher, in order to conciliate his hearers to yreach smooth things.- Besides, the natural inclination of the preacher is against truth the same as that of other men, and if that inclination is not quite overcome by the powerful grace of Gpd, he will not relish the declaring of truth. This much to show how f ilse teaching obstructs the gospel. A third hindrance to the belief of the gospel is, the natural propensity of man to sin. Every sinner sees, at first sight, that the gospel forbids, and dlscounte- nances every species of iniquity-hence they will not come to this light, lest their deeds should be reproved. John 8. 30. Those that love darkness (error or sm) hate the light ; and every thing that opposes their favourite system ; yea even their friends they shun and hate if they oppose them. Therefore thev cannot bear to hear the truth, and they are settled in their minds against it vvhen they do hear it, as an enemy to that which they love. The desire of pleasing others, or the fear of being thought worse than others, or some other motive may, and does make them read and hear the gospel, but they hear it with a determination not to receive or believe it, lest it should cut them off from those sins which they love. 4. Fourthly..-I shall only mention one thing more that operates as a hin- drance to keep men from receiving the gospel, and that is, the natural enmity ofthe human heart against God, and against his gospel. It is possible so to overpower a man with arguments, that his conscience will agree, that early education, custom, false teaching, and even the love of sin should be laid aside anu ^ou obeyed—but sUll something lurks within that opposes the gospel.- Still he " will not come to Jesus that he may have hfe." A man may hear he may search the scriptures, from a conviction that tliey raveal eternal life, and 38 An Essay on the Gospel. thaUife ''''''"' ^^'^ ^'''^''' ^^'■°"^^' ""^'"^ ''""'" ^'^ "^'^^ P^'^^«f« of An apoBtJe tells us tliat the natural mind, or the mind of the flesh, is enmity against God, it is not subject to him, neither can be. To the Jews the ffosnel was a stumbling block, and to the Greeks Toolishness. There is abundant evi- dence for the truth of the gospel, and of .ts suitableness to the state of man yet man will not receive it. It is in the will the evil lies. All the sons of men taken toge her cannot convince Jesus Christ, or hi. apostles of any error in doc- trine for the gospel they preach is proved true by incontrovertible evidence, yet they u .11 not believe them ; and they can give no reason but that they ,r.7 no. Men now act hke the Jews at the crucifixion ofChrist. Pilate asked them when they cned for his life, " Why ? what evil hns he done ?" They could a^Iinst^I w?"T any evil, they knew they had employed false witnesses against h.m when true witnesses could not be found, and that even their false witnesses dul not agree-still they cried out crucify him ! crucify him ! Ianlur!e '^f hiT "."'"' "' '""* "'*^ *'^ ^"^^^^ **' ^'^'"'^t' ^^^"he perpetual language of his heart ,s, away with it. He hates-he abhors it. Truth as it . w/T"'"^"'' boars witness to its truth) he will not receive it. Ho rFa^h t 1^7"^ l"^ ''' '^"''""■■'" ^"^ ''''' ^"'^ ^^'^'^ both Christ and powe:canre™::ei; '^""'^^ '''"' ^^ ''^ ''''''''''''' "''^^'"^ ^"^ !>-- 8. I shall now point out the oUigation of all to receive the. gospel. fh!n/'i"M ""'/ ^^^ ^"''"''^'' °^ sinners to have an offer of mercy made to them through the at.^ement of the Lord Jesus Christ, but it is the absoluLditHf eve-GnL" 7 ' "T *'' ^"^P^' '"^ '^"«^« ''■ W« --^ -™««>ber that what e^er God declares for our assent, we are bound to believe; and what^oevThe commands us we are bound to obey. This obligation rcst^ upon us as the Se- ated, supported and protected, creatures of God. Paul says we a e all hi offspnn for It ,s in him, or by him, we live and move, and have o JLng.- We then, as the oflspring of God, are bound to believe and obey him. wL- ever he points us to, and commands us to believe in, we are bound to look to and beheve m that object. He calls upon all to bolieve in his Son H^s t^ guage IS ..this is my beloved son iu whom I am nell pleased harvMl^> Mi;t;'r;-'rT"r"' ^'^'^^^^'^ -->- the^i„o?'th:3d"L Son in!; -l . '^''*'"' '• ^'' ^'- ^«^^ ^-ommands us to believe in hi. Son, and it ,s at cur peril we refuse to do so. John. 6. 29. i JohnT 23 i^eut. 18 15, 18. ThisProphet isJesusofNazartth, *— -- ' • - course, the ... - ^ "» vlio do not believe God's witneg 'respecting him, shall perish.- made partakers of An Essay on the Gospel. rthe flesh, is enmity the Jews the gospel lere is abundant evi- to the state of man, All the sons of men 3 of any error in doc- trovertible evidence, in but that tlioy ivill t. Pilate asked them ine ?" They could )yed false witnesses that even their false •ucify him ! 8t, yet the perpetual tiors it. Truth as it not receive it. He 5d, both Christ and nothing but Divine h.e gospel. lercy made to them, the absolute duty of imember thatwhat- and whatsoever he upon us as the cre- saya we are all his 1 have our being.— obey him. What- •e bound to look to his Son. His lan- ased, hear ye him.'* in of the world."-^ us to believe in hia 1 John. 3. 93.1- et like unto Moses, io pass, thai who- nong the people." . 7. 37. And, of bim, shall pf rish.- 39 They dodc,.,,ite „„ oHePllrt rr """' °"''""'' "" »"l>out merit.- "presence of the lord and fo^"^^ . '"*'' ''""''^''"S destruction from the It is the beunden du^'then^^aTl who h ';' '' ^^"^^•" ' ''''^''' '■ «' «• not believing it will be reckoned ! Z f 'P'' ''^ ^'^'''''' •^' «"'^ "^^'^^ "Hethatblvethnotshal bed^^^^^^^^^ '""'^''''^' ^'"^"'°"«'^^ ^""'^- CONCLUSION. ^0^:;:^:::::, ^^^ sr r :^:f *^^ «^ ^- ^^y - ^^ ^-Ht, we have seen, we are men TfrJ ''"""' '=«"«'^^'-ation, because, as Let us then s riTircrsider b! ''^""^ 'u' '^'""^^' "^^ ""^^ «"- - «th;rs. dinners, the .o«r rom w Jch k on. ! "' ''' ^"''^'' "^ «'^^^' ^"^-^s us as rejecting it. "^ '* comes to us, and the awful conae^^ence* of our The gospel is an address fi-om Heaven to ti» » " sundry times and in divers J^ZZT V v "' '''^ '"'"• " ^«*J' ^^'l»« « " Prophets; hath in le^ZZZTL^lZ^ ''■^''T'^ "- ''^^he. by the " Son, whom he hath appointed he of a^tlTr^^^ '^''^" '^ "^ ""^ *»'« " worlds." Heb. 1. ,, i. Paul aTds th f u ^ ' ^''^"'" ''^" ^^ '"^^^ **»« " more earnest heed to the tWnl !h- K u"" '"^'*' ^''''''^'''''-^ '"* S'>« the " should let them 1 p " T^^X T '" '."'"'' '"' '^^ ^"^ ""'^ ^^'^ •' firmed by those that heard f^ C .H ,"' ." '''"'^'^" '^ ^'^ ^'•^' ^'^ -- " wonders, and gifts of the Ho v Gho; •""'"'' '"^"^"' ^'^'^ ^'^"« -^ ^ oi me ttoly Ghost, accordmg to his will." Heb. 2. 1-5. aU a,em above .' „te' ^^i" '' T "'"^'■'" ""'""S'""' "»""' « controllins the pasZ, „T ™e„ ^'"": f'P''™™. ""tades, and power m they do L rJZZ:"r:i: T.T'^ '."»■ -:• ■"■»« "« -- »ep.ie, if weished the matter cin"'»itl,UM i.'""" "' ^"''' "° ■""" "'"' ■"" seriouslj 40 An Essay on the Gospel. fili Christ is a truth, which must stand true, whether we believe it or not. Our unbelief does not make the faith of God a lie, (that is the object of faith pre- sented by him.) Rom. 3. 3. Num. 23. 19. 2 Tim. 2. 13. No! This truth has far more evidence of its truth, and of its divine origin, than there is for any writings of equal age. Yea, the very language of scripture, has the stamp of truth, and of divinity on its very face. But the believer of the gospel needs -fo external evidence for its truth. He needs not spend the midnight oil in searching the writings of Josephus, Justian Martyr, or Polycarp. No ! He feels the evidence of the truth of the gospel in his own soul. He feels the comforting, cheering influences of the gospel, and rejoices— insensibly rejoices, in the hope set before him in the word of God.— He knows that God is true, and will stand true, if every man should be a liar. Since the gospel then is the voice of Jehovah from heaven, spoken to us, the guilty sons of men, of how much importance is it for us to examine it! We know how much interest men take in general in searching out the sayings, and actions of gr<'at men ; of how much more importance is it for us to examine the sayings and actions of the greatest of all beings— The King of Kings, and Lord f^^ Lords ! We ought to pay attention to the gospel, no^ only from the assurance we have that it is the voice of Jehovah, but also because it is so exactly suitable to our own individual rases as sinners. We have seen that it is addressed to sin- ners, as such— and we must acknowledge that we are sinners. I have said that we are anxious to learn w hat great men have to say, but we are the more so when they speak exactly to ourselves. God speaks t(» us individually in the scriptures— He addresses our understandings, and affections. He addresses our hearts— speaks to the innermost recesses of our ouls. The gospel is intended to reach, and discern the thouglits and intents of our inner man. Heb. 4, la. We ought then to pay particular attention to this heavenly voice. Think then, O reader, think of the folly of those who reject the gospel ! They reject Jehovah. He, says Jesus to the seventy, that rejecteth you, (i. e. their preaching) rtyecteth me, and he that rejecteth me, rejecteth him that sent me. Such despise the wisdom of God in devising the scheme cf salvation, his love in sending his son to die for sinners, and in sending his spirit to declare his salvation to us. They despise the love of Chris^t in humbling himself, and bearing our sins. In short they say the whole scheme of salvation, from first to last, is all vain parade— such is your language, O vain sinner, in rejecting the gospel of the Son of God ! Thus you reject your own mercies also. This gosptl, which you reject, is the only means appointed of God for the justifica- tion, sanctification, and eternal salvation of sinners — the only means of comfort in this world, and of glory in the world to come. Nothing good, nothing pleasing to God, can he performed by you while you reject the gospel, for An Essay on the Gospel. 41 " wifhoitt faith it is impossible to nleasp him " v„.. that will please your neighbour wht'ou Ike Im TLT'u f '"' ?"« you: and how think ye Win God relisfthis fond ™ at yoril^^ poor smner. hear his voice ! " Recent ye. and believe theTo!;," "" '''"' reiSll^^hr'^'^'f ''"'"''^'■"'" " •""™'^"* °"th« a^fi'l consequences of believeh not thf V lu""'^ """ '^^ ^""' '^^^'^ ^^^'''^^t'^g «&• He who ueiieveth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrafh nf r^A wa *u him." John 3 Sfi Th:= =: . "' ^°" abideth upon givenes of sranS H ? '" ^t'''' Justification and all ita consequences, for- musthearoTrd;^^^^^^^^^ v TT l^ ^""'"•'•^- •'^''"^^•* -"«• - " to every crealrPhl .h uV^ ' u*"" '" ^'^^ ^^'■'''' ^"*^ P^'^^'^h the gospel •'notsha^bedlne";;*' .t Ic ^ t'! '^.rf^T'"' ''^' ''^ bringing forward anv of m! J *""''* ""'^ •^^*^" ^'^^ «"bject by other • 'ratTs th! I r' -"^' "" P'"''' ''^^ '=^''^'"^3^ of the one or th« leave the mind to rest upon these sayings of Jehovah. It clo« not mn[to«'her;Li ,.■'"'' '"""' P'^-"-"""!™" opinion.. h.a™g raise docw L ;?;LtrLtT„r:h '"? ''"""■'°' " '•"'"■ o.o-„.a„d»d „, ,„ ..Take hs:;:v "if hL'-r" .T„^'^'^H^ ■■" 1-ear," Mark 4. S3, sn. Luke 8. 18 MaH^s 7 h . "^ ''°"' "' and hold 4a, «... „,,.i.h „ ,„„a , ^h ' ■. TlrM "T '", '""*'' •" Md, lei u, pr„,e all by its e^ntent, „™ ,1 ' '' " *° ""'>■ "^- men-prove what «e halT'^^'TK *" °°"'""'" *"' ""'' "'"»™ "f youth-prove whatA.-^ ^ ° '' "^ '''""'" "' «""*"» f™" °™ nor^lnat r.L:„" er^7J;:\" "-J- •••« to ourselves, and to hearken to GodLvI 7 """"f """"' '"'''"'''' '"Judgefor Jehovah will require the blood of tt !iVn "'rt •''«*=«"-^n««f our souls. watchman.-but we shall dieTn our sir 'h^ "^""^ '^^ '''« ""^^^hful r •:""^".''^ ""^ -^«"«f. i^ :e ::r!:..;ii.!:^- .^'^•^^ i-^ --^^ of ««. ^ ,", '"'y '^"^ «P'"ts Whether they are of God " 'r , . ^ I" "'''"^' ^^^ "" and how wo hear. He who hears false "^' . ' "" '"^ '^^'^'^ '^''^^ «« hear. «Peed. is partaker of his evil deeds. tjoh"To!"r,.°' ''' '''''''''' ""'"^ -- -I. study the scrip.re» for ourse,v.-„they testify or. e... They u. .11 ^^ f M .1 ; 1 u An EtiSAY ON TIIK GosrisL. ennUin non* of tho errors of th« pri*<'nt ago. In them wo Iii\to tho piiro goipvl, and hII the menlioii th«y mnka of error l« to oppoin It, or point out its puninhmunt. In thitin w« haw th« words of utnrnal lifu, and all who undorttand and bolievo them shall not coino into Gonderanation. Some may think that I apeak with prejudice and irritation agalniit other taachorv. and that I also would HCco|)t of (>ccli!siuiticnl |)r«f«>rmnnt if I could obtain It. I can assuro such thoy are mistaken. Tl.at I ahhor th»doctrln« i» true, but I wish their aalvntion. As to preferment I would not accept of any. 1 trust t have liiglivr motives. Some have thought that I oppoM the support of ministerl of the gospel, but I hold the very reverse. I believe those '* who preaoh the gospel should live of the gospRl"— and that " the lahourer is worthy of his hire." Those proA!«!»ors wiio do not support (ho gospel, Very ill deserro the ntiaic. 'X Iinro the piiro It, or point out fu, and all who Ml. It ngiiitiMt othnr nnnt if I rould or th»drtctrin« d not AGCapl, of AN ESSAY ON TIIK KINGDOM OF CHRIST. I of th« goip«l, a |Ofiprl Bliould I hire." Thoifl naaac. It wn« rorealwd hy ancient TroplirlH tlint the promined Mnwiiih Hhould he u KINO, whoH« dominion nhoiiltl li« milvermil ; $wl iho chom-n trib«» in ev«ry ngr, expected his appuarnnce under the icgul chnracter. While the general idcB, however, of that expectation was fully warranted by the uplrit of pro- phecy, the grrnlor part of Abrnham'ii nntiuni pontcrity were undtir a gro»» mistako respecting the true design of McHniuh's nppearance, and llie real na- ture of his kingdom ; which niiwtnke liad tlie mottt pernicious influence upon their toiupcra and conduct wh<)n the gracious promiao of his coming wan fulflllud. Ignorant of their own spiritual wants, utid (lushed with n false persuasion of interest in Jehovah's peculiar favour, on tli« ground of their carnol dnseonl IVora Abraham, and of the covenant made at (lureb— -the appearance of the doctrines and the claims of Jesus were oiTcnsivo to tiiem. llis not appear* ing as A temporal Prince, his discovering no disposition to free them from the Homan yoke — and his frequently addressing their consciences with keen re- proof on account of their pride and hypocrisy, superstition and covetoiMh ness, led them to reject, witli determined opposition, all the evidence of bin Divine commission, to treat him as an impostor, and to procuro his cruciflx- ion. After he was risen from the dead, and ascended up to heaven, some of them believed, and professed tlie christian faith ; but the great majority oi t) bear ,h« christi,.., T ^Jt ^d ' '"'" ""' -"■"'"""> °^ '^"■"•■-- "thn,.,,, jt shall „„t be clMi.n.dr.' "'' '""'' ""' ''•'«'• '"" ""''t^'y •• very different subject. I W^^^^^^^^^^^ ' '"" " '""« ''"^ -"^ -K" i- "vor " ••.n, plan of rnl'ng. ic " Tb !T T \"^"T ''^' "'"' 1""« " ^'^'^*- nerd not look for worldiv hnn ''"'"•■'' '''" ^'"^'l''"" t''«t they «^ir..th^grace of God. ''"^ ^' *" "'*° *''=««vc the gospel said enough upon this part of the sublet' . ." '"*' """^ ^'"""^ ^« h«ve great corner stone of every lioo^^ u- ! '^"T'"« ''"'^y' '^"^ ""« '« the "Pon it. This is the heart stTZ, -T /f ^'^ *='"""* ^^^ »«« """"h away the peculiar character of jL^ of V "' ?' ^'"'•' ^^"P^"''^^- Take faith, and nr«.ti.-K».™.." ^^ ^"^""-ctli, and nil is cone-eh„r.b ordinary perso^ HeT^he'' son"of Ah"f ^' "'T' '^^'' '^'"^ "f ZIon is^no «-h, but he is .,,0 Da^WuLT Psal. itT.^' "' ''"''' ^""''"^ *^ *^^ \; '\. Ill J ST. pnssngo in nil the rliristian rliurch, 'iiHlil.V of Millions ' world, snyH fho i» BiiHwi-ii'd Filnto < ri-nr hin pnrtLly •ny rr ign is over ttiul qiiito a diffo- i»ci|»I«'8 that tliey ianncnf. Christ'a He rstablished • lie site on Da- Abraham ncconl- R gosjH'I churclj, it. RolBtiv<« to ■ " I have set my tl when onr Lord rp(M'ivcd gifts for >igh. Then waa New Testament Jf jusk men made He gave some ith fcifts of the surroupded with 'iile, ••tin all his > every creature, and he is " head le. or church, is caches to them, I respects those 'icve the gospel gdom, We shall think we have . but this is the say toomufch ptures. Take cone— church. ; of ZIon is no cording to thp An Essay on tiik Kingdom of CmugT. 47 ThlH person k no leas than the oti-rnnl Jehovaii nianifrHted in the flesh. 1st. This appears from (he nameH and titles of Jehovah heing o|ipli(Hl to lym. In Isui. l». n. he is calltMl both the mighty Ood. and the everlasting Father; mid this is the perwni liiiit wih. to bo king on David's throne, ^^^IW^ goveni- n.ent and peace nhall luive no end. v, 7. In Isai l«. a. he is cd|W Jel^Mh that is, the self-existent. In isai. 41. i.'j. 14. he is called JehovaCOod, ( or Lord (;..d ) and tluj holy one of Israel. The same is said, Isai. 4B. 19. Thai 11 iH Jesus, that is meant in all thpse passages is evident from his l*1ng styled file redeemer. Ho Is called (Jod in the following p«»,«g„8 also. John 1. I. Rom. 0. 5. 1 Tim..-}. 1«. Tit. 2. IS. l John .-). «o. Jude85. «nd. This appears from the incommunicable perfections of Jehovah being applied to him, such as Omnipotence, Rev. 1. 8. Omnipresence, Matth. 11). i:o. Kternity.Heb.l. 11. Omniscience, John 21. 17. Rev. «. a."}. Immutabi- lify, Heb. 1. 10. &c. »nd HI. 0. He has life in himself, John 1. 4. and through the knowledge of this life uien are justified. It is the light of men. 8. Jehovah claiinn the praise of creation, in all its wi(h!st extension. Isai. 44.24. Yet these works arc attributed to J.'suH Christ. John 1.2. Heb. 1. H). Col. 1. 16. Surely creatioa proves Godhead. Rom. 1. 20. Jesus Chrigf claims equality with God. Mtn 5. 17. & 10. 33. And counted it no robbery to be equal with him. Phil. 2. «. But the Divinity of the King of Zion is seen from what happened in this world. 4. The manner of his delivering his testimony was such as made his liearem marvel, for «'he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes." Matth. 7. 28. This manner was, " verily, verily [ say unto you." He wrought his miracles in the same way, " Lazarus come forth." And, " cphphatha, be thou opened." An.l, " 1 say unto thee come out of him and enter no more !" r>. Ills redeeming sinners is a strong proof of his Divinity. Comp. Psal. 28 with John 10 & 1. Peter. 5. 4. Who but a (Jod could bear eternal wrath, and dniik up that eternal cup at one draught! " The cup which my heavenly fath " hath given me shall I not drink it!" ler 6. His instituting ordinances, and sending forth ambassadors in his own mmc. shew his character, 1 Cor. 11. 23. 2 Cor. 5. 20. And some of these ordi- '"^ nances went to the changing uf stome other ordinances Instituted by Jehovah from the beginning, such as the Sabbath, of whicji he is Lord ; and to the total extinction of other ordliuiiu'oa aiwh na anr.ri 48 Aiy EssAv ON TiiR Kingdom op Christ. •' i il i'v' Itfia John. ft. «fl. &, «. .'JS. Yoa. Ang.ls must womhip him. Hob. 1. fl. Rev. 5. 13. Ohristmn h«ptism is to be ndministorod m|iially in his name as in th« FaUier'e. iWatth. 48. 10, 10. Thus putting thpin on a level. «. HiH being appointed judge of the quick and dead points him out as • divine person, partieiilarly ns he h not to judge by the evidence of othm ; for he IS to judge the thoughts of men-us also his raising the dead to be fu«JKod... John. 5. «8. Rom. i. 16. Who can pry into the secrets of men, andgiverach according to his inward motives, but an all seeing Jehovah ? ft. I shall only notice one thing more, vi/,. that the same faith is requfred iu the Son as in the^Father. John. 11. 1. In short all the worship of the church, on earth and in heaven is to him, and thm^gh him. " To him that loved «., and washed us from our sins in his own blood, be glory and honour." Rev. 0. l«, 13, & 7. 10. &,c. See the f(jregolng essay. Might we not wonder that any man who has his sober sense,, and ackncnv- Mges the^bible to be of 0„d, can hesitate for a moment to ncknowle.lgo th.- Supremc D.vmity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet such is the enmity of the hu- man heart, that every art must be recurred to. and every just rule of criticism must be VIC .ejl, tooppose this grand-this fundamental doctrine. Men wouhl be gods..-would be independent of Jehovah.-and therefore deny the Divinity of Chnst. .„ order to get rid of his atc.iement, and of salvation by the sovei' ST .P' ■/'■"'" "''"''"^■•' P"'^**^^' ''«^«^«'-' ''^ i«Pl'»n beyond n doubt, from the uniform witness of J.Kovah, by all his servants, as well as by his own aucuble voice from heaven, that Jesus Christ is, according to John's od of this person that he should be a King. Zech. 0. 0. Comp. Matth. 21. , e was promised the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for h.s possession. Psal. 2. Ifo was anointed King. Psal. L 2. c Heb 1 And all judgment, is committed into his hands. John. 0. 22. & 17 m the following pases. It ,s a kingdom of redeemed sim.ers-of men and women bought by the blood of the King ; and translated out of the kingdom of darkness, and of Satan, into the kingdom of Jehovah's dearhj beloved Son. I. The GOSPEL KINGDOM is not of this world with regard tp its origin. From tl,e time of Nimrod to the present age, secular empires have generally originated m the v.cious passions of th. ir first founders ; for in almost every In- stance avarice and pride, ambiUonand lust of dominion, have been conspicu- ous . But not so with reference to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. By all com- i„t;„.7""' «■;";■"' ""Y""'"'^ S«uunos3 ; lor the giory of God and the ever- lasting benefit of man, the remote foun.Ialion of Christ's dominion, was laid in the counsels of Heaven before Ume commenced-and the.immediate basis on In its ORIGIN. An Essay ok the Kingdom op Christ. 49 which it stands io. hi. .)wn v.caiiious obclience to the diTine law both «. ♦« of h.s k.ngdom then, is the love of God to the fallen race of Mank nd anS ing cause of thfir being given to Jesus. John 17. 2. 6. 8. U. U, «4. 8. The, vnjzcr, of the kingdom of Chrint are not of tki$ mrld. John 17 14 It In true that, in one sense. Christ rules over all. The FatL hath .Iv.n : X^o """'" as the son of .nan. so that he shall rl^hfs.t^ as with a rod of ,ron ; and break Uiam :n pieces as a potter breakoth hJ. n« lll« f K "''^ "'"■ '"'""" ^"^ ■•"'*" *• ''''• °«" distinct and seperatl people : of h.s spiritual subject, who are one in and with him. Men in .. ivorldly lusts, passions, and maxims-and walk according to this world Such person, arc what the scriptures call sinners. They delight in sin .Td God. and this enm.ty is m«„if«stcd in their disregard of his authori J and duc , and he. natural propensities of the human heart, the common custom, of the world ; the gain, riches, honours, applause kc. of the worir .« • made the rule of human obedience. The c,i;stion. with such. I, not ^W what wilt thou have me to do 7" but " What shall I eat 1 what shall I drinM and Wherewithal shall I be clothed 1 And how shall I gain the r che Lno™ ease, applause and dignity &c. o." this world 7 ' tur!r^r**^' V' ?r"'"^ '" '!*' """""" °^ ^°^ " «hibited in the «.rip. tures; they set up their own wisdom. i„ opposition to the wisdom of gZ ::usS:sfo7GoT"^^' "'"^°^" ''''----' -- ^^pp-^"- - ^^^ ngtl: These are properly styled the children of this world. •♦ They are of th« world, they speak of the world and the world hear them." and delil In hem. They are children of darkness, because the knowlLdge of God. of the nature and privileges of his kingdom, and of his will, as revealed in th. devilT' has no place in their minds. They are called the children J he God . Wh" ' IT"' '"": '""'• '"' ^" ^""«« ^l'-^' ^hat please not God. "Whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God. neiCher he that bveth not h.s brother.'. They not only hate Sod. but th*; hate his pe J e also. In a word, they are of their father the devil, because they do hi, worki! John. 8. 44. and are led canfivA hv him afT»:= „,:ii « m:_- ^ ^^ ^ ., . account also are they called the servants of sin. because the motions of sin. as they originate m their own hearts, and spring from their lusts and passions, are their Jeaders. ,They walk not according to the spirit, but according to the fleuh. Su€h ore not subjects of the kingdom of Chript-they are not 7 «. ; t^ ,il /Kh An Essay on the Kingdom ov Christ. taught by him, nor are they subject to his rightentis gnvernment. They are ootonly ali«na, but the jnost determined rebels against the Almighty. The subjects of Christ's kingdom are all born of God—hnm of the spirit, and of water; born of the incorruptible seed of the word of God, which liv- cth and abideth forever. John 3. 3. 1 Peter 1. 22. This change takes plac* upon them through the knowledge and belief of the truth. Hence they are •aid to be, "of the truth, and to hear Christ's voice." Such have the luw of God written in their hearts according to the ancient promise. Jer. 31. SI, — S4. Heb. 8. 8. 9. Instead of their being, as formerly, carnal minded, and of the world ; of the law, and under its curse ; of the wicked one and children of wrath— they are of God ; and spiritually minded: of grace, nndfree from the curse of the law ; they arc God's children, adopted into his family, and have all the privileges of his holy inheritance. Hence they are new crea- tures, old things with them are passtd away, all thitigs are become new. God dwells in their hearts by faith, and they are wholly under his controul; for Christ reigns as a spiritual Monarch in their hearts. Thfy love him be- cause he first Icved them, and they manifest themselves his friends by keep- ing his commandmeuts. Hence they are called by new names, such as, children of the light, and of the day, saints, sanctified in Christ Jesus, holy persons, royal priesthood, holy nation, peculiar people, kc. The character, the sufferings, the death, the resurrection, the ascension, the intercession, the reign and second coming of Jesus, are a|l precious in their eyes. They de- light in his laws and ordinances, in his people, and in his precious promises. They look for his second coming with joy, and exclaim ; " come Lord Jesus, come quickly." * The Jewish nation were typically holy. They were members of the church then existing in virtue of their descent from Abraham, and of their at- tention to circumcision and other typical ceremonies— they had a relative ho- liness in virtue of their birth. Under that covenant people were acknow- ledged as the people of God, whose hearts were disaffected, and their obedi- ence formal. Judges 8. 23. 1 Sam. 8. 6. 7. &: U. 13. 1 Chron. 9. 8. But the gospel church is under a better covenant, established upon better pro- inisea — having a better priest, a better sacrifice, and better and more dura- ble privileges. Jehovah has written his law in the hearts of all its members, has put bis spirit within them, and they are heirs and jointbeirs with Jesus Christ their Lord. ! :•! In vain do sinners imagine that their being born in a christian land and of christian parents ; baptised, or sprinkled, in their infancy, and when they coxne to age admitted to the Lord's supper, will make them subjects of the kingdom of Christ. This is false doctrine taught by ignorant, or selfinterested men. The axe is now laid to the root of the trees, and all the rotten, none bearing trees shall be cut down, and cast into the fire. " Every branch which my hea- Tf^nly Father hath not planted aliall be rooted up !" Only those who are born '■*k.. [IIST. ment. They ar« Almighty. irn of the spirit, ' God, which liv- lange takes placa Hence they are ich harb the liiw :se. Jer. 31. 81, rnal minded, and wicl a. mission mto the Jewish church-circumcision alone em . to this. w^h »71k *'^^,»'^^'-f'^"'f "«ccssary token. But now circumcision is lud aside. w,th ah tho rther bloody rites of the law, and fuith in Christ Jesus is absolute- church""" '" ^''""^ *'''''' '" °'"'^"" ^"^ ^"''^'' *" '•admission into the gospel The apostles received no members into the New Testament churches but such as appeared to have received the truth in the love of it. They must be all taught of God. Even Saul of Tarsus, who was as good a member of the Jew- ish church as any in Jerusalem, was refused admittance into the church of Chns till they got ample proof of his faith in Christ Jesus. Acts 9. 26. 27.- True the Old restament church is called a holy notion, hut so is their city, then- land, the.r tempie. with all its utensils. The ground and its produce, &P. were all holy, that is set apart, or separated (as the term means) from a eomrn.M, use to the service of God. These were all relatively holy-holy as be- ing God s people, as a nation, God's temple, God's land, &c. as the King of Israel. The divme presence was among them, and thus were they made rela- tively holy. But the holiness of the members of the New Testament church begins m the sorjt. They have their hearts purified by faith. Acts 15. 9- They are justified, sanctified, and purified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by thespintof our God. 1 Cor. 6. 11. They are saved, "by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." They are "holybre- thren, (i.e. truly set apart to God) and partakers of the heavenly calling." As men arc not made members of the church of Christ by birth neither will incntal or literary accomplishments make them such. The way of holiness, pointed out under the new dispensation is such, that the wayiaring man though a fool shall not err therein : but still it is .i stumbling hlnck *n th« J^-^ sr-d *- t!ie Greeks foolishness. The wisdom of this world" is made foolish by 'the gos- pel ; for " after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, It pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save those who believe.*' 52 An Essay on the Kingdom op Christ. ' V j' .1 II I m ^11 i . Some of the most accomplished scholars have been ignorant of, and enemies to the gospel of Christ. The teaching of the spirit of God only, fits a man for meraj^ership in Christ's spiritual kingdom. I need not here enter into a discussion on the nature of churches of human formation, for if the kingdom of Christ, or the New Testament church, consists Of the real disciples of Christ— men who know the truth, love God, love one another, and walk .under the influence of the gospel, "denying all ungod- liness and worldly lusts— living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present trorid — looking for the blessed hope and glorioui appearance of the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ " — then every church which bears not these marks, must be antichristian. The true marks of Antichrist are, the want of the knowledge of the faith and of the obedience of the gospel. 1 John 2. 22. and 4. 3. 2 John 7. No one denied that Jesus of Nazareth had come in the flesh ; nay the whole Jewish nation saw him, but they denied that this person was Jthovah the Messiah— or the great God manifested in the flesh,— this every one does who doth not attach just ideas to the Bible. When the apostles forme^l the church of Christ into distinct bodies, accord- ing to their local residence, to attend to the ordinances of his kingdom, they Were cautious, lest wood, hay or stubble should creep in among the gold, silver, and precious stones — and they declare that *' if any man defile the temple of God, him will God destroy," 1 Cor. 3. 17. These churcJi^s, though entirely independent, id subject only to the Lord Jesus Christ, still had the closest fellowship with one another. They had no universal head, as Pope '>r Bishop. All the rulers they knew of, were the el- ders, or overseers of each particular church. These bishops, presbyters, eJHers, or overseers (only different names for the same office ) had no authority over one another, far less over other churches of which they were not members. The modern schemes of giving one bishop authority over a number of pas- tors, or elders; or of all the bishops meeting togelher in a presbytery, synod, or generial assembly, to settle the affairs of different churches, were not then known. Such schemes never entered into the minds of the Apostles, save •when the spirit of prophecy inspired them to speak of the great apostacy, which was to take place when the man of sin should change the laws of the kingdom of Christ, and set up a church, or churches, upon principles foreign to the New Testament. It is plain as noon day, from that blessed volume, that wherever the gospel was believed, the believers professed their faith by attending to the ordinance of baptism ; ^immersion) and then joined them- selves to the disciples. Thus united, they met together every Lord's day to attend to the Apostles' doctrine^ D.nd fellowshiD-^breakinz of breads and prayer. Acts 2. 42. The Apostles' dortrine— the preaching of the gospel, f«llur.''>ip or contribution forthn poor—breaking of bread— the Lord's supper- (xayer, and praias, were joined together. These churches looked out among 1ST. [)f, and enemies , fits a man for ches of human ;hurch, consists ove God, love ying all unpjod- ' in this present the great God, bears not these the want of the I^ohn 2. 22. and me in the flesh; lis person was —this every one bodies, accord- kingdom, they the gold, silver, B the temple of ily to the Lord They had no ►f, wers the el- esbyters, eJHers, i authority over •e not members, lumber of pas- sbytery, «ynod, , were not then ! Apostles, save great apostacy, the laws of the rinciples foreign ilessed volume, d their faith by en joined them- !ry Lord's day !Z of brc&d^ snd ig of the gospel, Lord's supper- oked out among An Essav on the Kingdom op Christ. 63 themselves, (not to colleges) for persons fitted by the Lord Jesus Christ ^who was exalted to give gifts to men) for the office, (not offices) of bishop, pres- byter, or elder. 1 Tim. 3. and Tit. 1. point out the qualifications. Having found such out, they solemnly, with prayer and fasting ; set them apart to the office, by laying on of hands, not to confer spiritual gifts, but to point them out as the objects of the church's choice. Acts 14. 23, "and 13. 3, and e. 6. 1 Tim. 4. 14, and 5. 22. This being the phr. appointed by the spirit of God, they looked upon these ovei-seers as appointed by the Holy Ghost, and as such they submitted to them. Acts 20. 28. Heb. 13. 7, n. They next ordained deacons, servants or ministers in worldly things, to take charge of their temporal affairs. Acts 6. Some of these preached, but not as dea- cons, for that was a temporal office, and the only one of the kind in the king- dom of Christ. Thus the first churches had their bishopf and deacons in one church. Acts 20. 17. Phil. 1. 1. There were also teachers, or evange- lists— that is, persons who preached the gospel, such as Philip, Uc. but had no other office in the church.— These preached Christ crucified, in th.' hurch- es, and to the world at large, as Philip and Timothy. These churches had nothmg to do with the state ; hence the civil magistrate had no power in them. The king and the beggar were on a ' vel as members— for there was no superiority, because of riches or learning; all the distinctioif known in these churches was that of office, and of course office belonged to those who were qualified of God; neither was any authority owned among them but that of Jesus Christ. HI. The Kingdom or Christ it not ofthisurld, tvitk regard to the tneam he employed in its first establishment, and tbose appointed for its enlargement and support. Craft and violence, injustice and cruelty have been often used in founding, supporting, and extending secular kingdoms. The Roman Empire was' founded on, and grew to its height in blood. Even the Jewish republic was established, enlarged, and defended by force of arms, which was a plain proof that it was a kingdom of this world; and the Jews expected Messiah to set up such a kingdom. The princes of this world do not employ men of the greatest benevolence, integrity, piety, and philanthropy in general, to esta- blish, maintain and extend their dominions. They generally choose tbose most eminent for political prudence, or martial bravery ; for secret intrigue, or open hostilities- those who are best qualified to persuade by eloquence,' to circumvent by cunning, or to subdue by force. Very difierent were the characters employed by Jesus Chri« our Lord, to -...J , ..._..g^ ..._ „..._„y... ... j^j.j. ^y{jj-;^^, 'i'jjtiji «ere ciiief- ly of low birth, and mean occupation. They had no academical or court ad- vantages, and tbey knew ..ot military tactics. They knew little of philosophy or eloquence, and were strangers to courtly address, or political quibbHng. fjii- .s •d4 An Essay o:* the Kingdom op Christ*. 'j i I The apostles of Christ, his only ambassadors, to whom hn coramltted the keys of the gospel church ; who shut out, and take into it, give it laws and ordinances—laws to suit bodies of suhjects united upon the truth, and to suit every individual, in every possible state in which they may be placed in this world :~1 8*y, these ambassadors had a mean appearance as to dress ; their language was vulgar, so that they were known to be Galileans— in u word, they had no outward pomp or worldly show among men, but the very re- verse. 'UJ ! ' Yet these men were the chosen witnesses of the King of Kings— his ambas- aadors, his secretaries for home and foreign departments. These were the confidential servants of the crown, and the sole promulgators of the will of their Sovereign. They declared the laws of life and death to the whole world; they preached glad tidings of salvation to sinnei-s, and pronounced a curse upon all who would not hear them : and they are, to this day, the sole umpires to decide all religious questions and disputes. He that is of G(»d heareth them, but he who pays no attention to them, who doth not believe their testimony, and who obeys not their laws, is a rebel against the King of Zion. In vain do emperors or kings, popes or prelates, synods or presbyte- ries, associations or churches, set up their laws, decrees, or resolutions a- gainst them— all these taken together, with all their councils, will be spurned at by the king, and the whole of the Apostolic doctrine, laws, and ordinance9 approved, confirmed, and forever established. Not one word they have re- corded for our acceptance shall ever be rescinded — The violation of none of their laws will be dispensed %vith. Fearful and everlasting vengeance awaits the despiser of apostolic faith or practice — utter destruction from the pre- sence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. As the persons employed were of mean birth and appearance, so the means employed by them were very different from the means employed for establish- ing common or earthly kingdoms. The apostles used no craft, (though Paul's enemies charged him with this) sent forth no spies, threatened no worldly punishment. They used no sword but the word of God. They went forth declaring the character of their king, and the love he had manifested in re- deeming his subjects by laying down his life for them, the glorious privileges and blessings he would bestow on all who would submit to his authority, and the certain destruction that awaited those who would not hear him. They preached, they prayed, they persuaded men to embrace the truth; and they manifested their own faith in that truth by patience and fortitude, under all their trials and persecutions, and by a life of obedience to the gospel they pro- claimed. All the compulsion they used was persuasion, and even in this they did not use the enticing, or ensnaring words of man's wisdom, but by mani- festation of the truth in its simplest form, they commended themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. '"The weapons of their Warfare were not carnal, but mighty through Qod, to the pulling down of strong holds," IT. )ramUted the re it laws and th, and to suit placed in (his J dress ; their 18 — in w word, : the very re- ;3— his atnbas- hese vn'.re the of the will of to the whole pronounced a iday, the sole tat is of God >th not believe ist the King of Is or prfisbyte- resohitions a< vill be spurned lid ordinance) thpy have re- ion of none of igeance awaits from the pre- , so the means d for establish- (though Paul'3 ed no worldly hey went forth inifested in re- rious privileges authority, and ir him. They uth ; and they udc, under all iapel they pro- vp.n in this they I but by mani- themselves to r their Warfare awn of strong An Essay on the Kingdom op Christ. 55 Satan had deluded the subjects of our gracious sdveri-ign, but he jmid the: ransom for their transgressions, and sent forth his aposth-s with the graciwi message of free unmerited pardon to the rebels. This was the efli«.ctual bat- tering ram to overthrow the kingdom of tho wicked one. Neither sword nor musket, cannon nor rocket, were employed by the apostles—only the armour of truth on the right hand and on the left. <,»-.' yji- ... As these were the means of the first founding his kingdom, they are tlie means of establishing and supporting it. The arts and devices of men are of no use. The church of Christ stands in no heed of the power of emperorg and kings— of ukasses, and acts of parliament to support and defend it— their help are but poor props— It is established on a sure corner stone, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. It has stood eighteen hundred years al- ready, the greater part of the time under the oppression of all the great me!» of the earth. The beast and the prophet had enHsted all the emperors, kings, and pfinces of the earth in their service to destroy this heavenly king- dom, hut it triumphs still. Not one stone of that heavenly fabrick has fallen out of its place— therefore it stands in no need of parliamentary props to up- hold it— a powerful skilful pilot sits at the helm. Human laws are of no use to extend the kingdom of Christ; the preaching of the cross only will gather the subjects of Jesus Christ from among the nations of the earth. He may or- der these things that stand in the way of the spread of the gospel to be taken away in any way he pleases, and he may order circumstances to take place for the forwarding of his cause in any way that he sees for his glory. He may do these things by a whirlwind, by an ukasse, by an act of parliament, or an order of council ; but the spread of the gospel only will increase his subjects. Men have devised many schemes to uphold and increase, what they call the kingdom of Christ, but all to no purpose. Laws have been passed, pen- alties have been decreed, and provisions have been made for its preachers. The professed preachers of the gospel have been made a distinct oMcr of men under the title of Clergt. These men are provided with high livings, and exempted from many burdens, so that their office has been made an object of ambition. The consequence is, that men have pushed into the oflSce for filthy lucre's sake. The living is sought after, while the duties of the office are not only neglected but in many cases hated. These pretended ambassadors of Christ must have dresses and titles corresponding to what they call their station and income— they cannot preach in common clothes, nor be called Peter, Paul, James, and John ; they must have carriages, mansions, equipage and servants;* cloaks, gowns, and surplices. The must be called holiness ! right reverend * I am far from denying worldly titles. I approve of Majesty, Excellenc)', Sir, Mr. dtc. aa worldly diatinctiong, neitner do 1 condema men for liviitK uccurding to their station in society, eitlieraB to dieas, houses or equipHge. But the«etliiiig8 do not belong to minigters of Chriit aa such. All Huch titles, so far as the pastors of churches of Christ are concerned, come from Ba» onbyl tb« great, themotber •)' Iiari9ti*-4i«nce maoy of all (iouominations have refused tlieot.. ..i4| '. i ^ i yi t 56 An Essay on the Kingdom of Christ. li)- l^i' m > father in Gnd ! reverend ! very roverend ! venerable ! M. A. D. D< dec. They must h« und»r the care of emperora, kings, queens, princes, legislative ucts, &c. &e. How unlike ttie kinii^om of Cbriat ! These things have done much to op- pose the kingdom of Christ. The unscripturni sentiments, the foppery, the carelessnpss, and al>ove all, tlie covetousness and unholy conduct of iht) clergy, have m»de naany deists, and created in thu m<\jority of mankind a dislike to religion. Thus tlie means devised by the madom of man for the extension of what they cull the kingdom of Christ, or the gOHp(>] cbiu-ch, have turned out to be onr of thoso bulwarks of Satan, against which the true gospel, and the true church of Christ have to struggle. -Jesus Christ did nut allow his dis- ciples, nor even his Aposlles, to be called eahbi, nor to receive (ijonour of men ; he had no collej^e of learning for the church ; all he thought necessary was the t«!aching of the Holy Ghost— and his chosen ambassadorsi either lived on the wuitipulaUd bounty of their brethren, or wrought with tlieir hands fur their own maintenance. They had neither mansion nor carriage, neither equipage nor servants, cu- rat*!, sexton, or session clerk. As for popes, archbishops, bishops (i. e. over- seers of clergy), presbyters for settlinp; church affairs, ruljng elders, claM leaders &c. the apostles knew notlnng of them. These all are the offspring of carnal windom — perfectly unnecessary, if not hurtful appendages of the New Tostatnent. Had Christ seen those things necessary for his church, it was far more easy for hini to establish them than for the king of England or the British parlia- ment: Ife eould have commanded Ophir and Peru to yield o/j their gold in one day. He could have placed his npostles upon tlie different tlirones of Eu- rope and Asia. But no ! These plans did not suit his spiritual kingdom. While he reigned over Israel as over a secvdar kinjsidom he allowed many such things ; but they rejected him as tlieir king, and he has rejected them as a people, and has set up a spiritual kingdom, under a new covenant, having new subjects, new laws, and n«.w ordinances. This kingdom is estiiblisbed of a different kind of subjects, and promoted on a plan entirely new and spiritual, suitable to ^hese new spiritual subject^.. IV. Christ's kingdom is not ^ovtrned by woauity laws. The people of God must l»e considered in two points of view, viz. as mem- bers of civil society, and as members of the church of Christ. As members of civil anciety they are bound to submit to the laws by which that aocietv is governed. Nor is there in this case any set or invariable code of laws, that belong to them. They are to be subject to the laws of the country in which they live, and if they remove to a country that has different laws they ar^ to be subject to them also. In a word, they are to obey the powers that be, in 1ST. . D. D. &G. ces, legislative } much to op- ) foppery, the : of the clergy, id a dislike to a extension of ivo turned out )spel, and the allow his dis- iye (lonour of Light necessary irs either lived tlieir hands for ■ servants, cu» )ps (i. e. over- ; elders, claw ■e the offspring indages of the \ far more easy British parlia- II their gold in thrones of Eu- igdom. While lysuch things; a people, and new subjects, of a different jal, suitable to VIZ. as raem- As nifinber.s that society in i of laws, that intrjr in which IV9 they ar^ to in that be, in An Essay on the Kinkoom of Christ. 57 •very case, and in every country in which they statedly reside, save what di- rectly opposes thi! authority of the Lord JfHus ChrJHt. His claim is para- mount, anti must extitij^ulHli every human claim. They are to give " tribute to whom trihutf^ is due, custom to wiiom custom, honour (support) to whom honour, fear (or rtvtrencc.) to whom fear." This they are to attend to not J through fear of punishnitnil, or merely to please men, but as direct obedience to tiieir king, Jesus Ciirist. Tiiis is bis will and these are his commandments, and as loyal Hui)jectH to his authority, his people are to attend to these things. Those then that are not subject to tlieir earthly rulers, and do not obey th« laws of the country in which tliey live, are rebels aj^ainst the authority of the King of Kinj^s. An unloyal cbriatiau is a contradiction in terms, for Jesus countenances none such, and iiis churches ought to exclude such from their fellowship. But we are to consider them as subjects of the kingdom of Christ dis- tinct from the world — As members of Christ they are "to call no man mas- ter," neither to pay any rcjgard to laws made by sessions, presbyteries, sy- nods, assemblies, |)opes, cardinals, couMcilH~bishops, archbishops, parlia- ments or kings. They are to lend a deaf ear to any, and every, law made by men to regulate religions affairs, whether these laws respect faith or practice. The spiritual laws delivered by the Holy (Jhost. through the instrumentality uf the Apostles, are to be their only rule of faith and practice. Christ ride* all bis snl»ject9 by his word, not as explained by bishops, popes, or particular church(;s, but as understood by ail those who are taught of Ciod, in consisten- cy with common sense. Much has been said by the enemies of Christ res- pecting the scriptures bt;ing contrary to reason, but those who speak so, not only shew their ignorance of the scriptures, but also their ignorance of right reason, or common sense. 'J'he whole world cannot point out one unreason- able sentence in the won! of Hod.* 'J'iie Apostles are the only lawgivers in the kingdom of Christ. They have the keys of the kingdom of heaven---" who- soever's sins they remit, they are remitted, (by (Jod) and whosoevcr's sina they retain, they are retained." God has '•committed to them the ministry of reconciliation," and all the rule uiiil aulhority in his kingdom. Yea, say some, but the authority of explaining the scriptures, and of making laws, or acts, agreeable to the scl•iptul•ei^, is conveyed down to tiieir successors.— But •That many iruths are revealed iti the scriptures whieh the rejisoning faculties of man cannot comprehend, is freely graiittMl. 'J'liere are also many thin^^s iii nature that reason cannot comprehend ; yet neither the one nor the other are contrary to reason. It is one tiling for a subject in nature or in religion to be above reason, or beyond its comprelunsion, and quite anotlier to be contrary to it. In order to prove a thing contrary to reason, it muat first be proved that that subject, in all its parts, is within the sphere of reason. Reason, for in- stance, cannot comprehend the Almighty, for he is inccnnjirehensible, but it is not contrary to reason to believe the revelation he lias been pleased to give of himself. In truth right reason teaches us to believe w halever Cod hassaid, and to o!>ey what he commaiuls. This is the rljrht use of reason. y ' 51' 'J L, 58 An Essay on the Kingdom of Christ. who are the Apostles' successors? His holiness at Rome claims all to him- self, while others call him anUchrist. and divide his authority among them- selves. The truth is, that every individual, and every church, that take up- on themselves to make laws for the kingdom, or church of Jesus Christ, in to far anUchristian. Antichrist is not a single man, nor a succession of men, it is that usurpation of power to change the laws p^- Christ Jesus, and to make otiiers, that has .^xisted in the worid for a thousand years-- and though that church which /irst usurped the power is the mother of harlots, yet all those churches which follow her example, are harlots also, and they shall share her plagues in proportion as they have heen guilty of her crimes. The sheep of Christ will neither hear nor ohey such laws. They know Christ's voice in all he says and they follow him, and a stranger will they not follow, for they kuow not (i. e. acknowledge not) the voice of strangers. Whether Jesus speaks threatening or comfort, reproof, or direction, his sub- jects hear him— but if all the churches, sessions, presbyteries, councils, con- ferences, bishops, popes &c. on the face of the earth, should begin to reprove or threaten them, to comfort or direct them, they pay no attention any farther than these can shew that they speak the mind of the Holy Ghost. His voice they regard, come through what channel it may. O how foolish are those who submit to laws of man's making ! Why may not every one make laws for himself ?— One man has as good a right as an other. Some boast of their ordmation &c. as laying a ground for their authority— perhaps we could trace all their ordinations to the mother of Hariots. Let them shew us Christ's au- thority and we will believe them— to this we bow, for he is our king— but we cannot become subject to any other. We will not take the glos.«f'S of interest- ed attornies for truth-i. e. the attornies of si < and satan. Satan himself ap- peared in the shape of an Angel of light, and h.s ministers f ome in the garb or profession, of ministers of righteousness. One said, if certain books contained any thing that was not in the Koran, it must be error; and if they contained only what was in the Koran, they were unnecessary— therefore in either case they ought to be destroyed. The same may be said of creeds and confessions of man's making. The bible is enough. In this blessed volume Christ gives laws to his churches as such, and to his people as individuals. He points out to his churches whom to receive as members, how to love and serve, comfort and cherish them as such— how to watch over one another— how to rebuke those who sin— how to restore them and confirm their h.ve to them when they repent-and how to exclude them If they do not repent. He directs them to assemble themselves in his name, on his own day, and then to attend to his ordinances— such as singing, pray- er, reading the scriptures, exhortation, eating the Lord's supper, collcctins for tne poor saints, and preaching the apostolic doctrine. He appoints all these to be attended to, decently and in order. He has left us beautiful examples of all m tho^ie churches which were formed and guided by the Apostles. These ST. -as all to him- among them- that tuke up» t'Siis Christ, is ession of men, 3, and to make d though that I, yet all those ey shall share s. They knoTf ger will they ! of strangers, ction, his sub- councils, con- gin to reprove on any farther it. His Toice lish are those ne make laws boast of their ve could trace 3 Christ's au- king — but we f s of interest- n himself ap- n the garb or >ks contained ley contained in either case id confessions 1, and to his o receive as ich — how to restore them xclude them in his name, nging, pray- collcctina for s all these to examples of ties. These An Essay on the Kingdom op Christ. 59 laws of Jesus reach also to private conduct. He teaches his subjects how to art to one another, in love, pity, courteousness &c. in forbearing with one ano- ther's inflrmitips and weaknesses ( for his sheep are not all equally strong ) and in forgiving one another, when overtaken in a fault, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven them. He teaches them how to act in this world as hus- bands, and wives, fathers and children, masters and servants, and as subjects to civil governments In all these cases they are to act as the servants of Christ. A christian wife is not to rebel against her unbelieving husband, ex- cept his orders contradict the will of Jesus— a christian child is to he obedi- ent to its ungodly parent in all lawful things-a christian servant is not mere- ly to obey the wise and prudent, but also the froward-and a christian subject 13 to obey Wicked rulers in all lawful things—fhat is, in every thing that docs not come in contact with the authority of king Jesus. If any superior prohi- bits obedience to the laws of Christ, or makes other laws in his name and de- mands obediancc, the christian is to act like those of old who said, we are not careful O king to obey thee in such matters. It would be direct rebellion against their Lord, for christians to admit of any law as their guide not sanc- tioned by the Apostles. The bible is the christian's book of statutes : to it he pays respect and walks m Its light ; it is the light to his feet, and the lamp to his path ; he hides it in his heart that he may not sin against God ; it is the man of his counsel all the day long. There he sees the will of God written as with a sun beam. Others may adhere to their articles, creeds and constitutions, but the new testament is his only guide-there he finds the true faith, the true practice, and the true constitution of the churches of Christ. All the vain attempts of men to im- prove upon the apostles, is darkening council by wo-ds without knowledge. The Westminst(;r divines and others may have been good and wise men but we affirm that the Apostles were better and wiser, and therefore ou-ht to be heard in preference. Sliall we have the old cant brought forward, that these confessions make things plainer? We answer; the holy gliost could speak plainer than any common man. To say that any book is plainer than the new testament, is directly to impeach the wisdom and power of God. Divine wisdom has been forever engaged in contemplating the faith and prac- tice revealed by Christ and his Apostles, and in dictating every part of the di- vine record-hence all the taught of God understand thi? book. All is plain to him that undcrstandeth— to that man who is taught of God. V. The kingdom of Christ has vo woildlv s»/«M//our.— The «t,"s-pa! -pie- dour and court equipage of the emperors and kings of this world we need not describe. The rich attire, the splendid apartments, and the delicate Hvine of earthly princes and of their court favourites have no place in the kin-dom of Jesus. The king himself appeared in a humble form-was born in a stable and laid m a mnuj^er-.-and all along appeared in the humble habits of a poor #. GO An Essay on the Kingdom or Christ. It -. % I' man — the carpenter's son. He rode only once, and that «tn a colt the foa! of an ass— and then all his attendants were a few despised discipltis, and a few chil- dren. 'Tis true tliey saluted him, and rejoiced in his presence as the king of Zion, but not with any worldly honour. His earthly crown was of thorn% and a reed was put in his hand as a mock for a sceptre. His ambassadors, the highest ministers of his princely court, were chosem IVom the fishermen of Galilee, had no uncommon learning, and appeared in the ordinary costume of the country. When they were sent out lo preach the good news of his reign, they were ordered not to take extra clothing or money with them. They were to live upon the bounty of the worthy wherever they went. During the whole of their ministry we find them wandering on foot from place to place, and often under great tribulation ; they were counted as the filth of the earth, and the offscouring of all things ; their places of worship were neither consecrated nor decorated, an upper room, or a school house waa thought sufficient. There they stood, without robes, gowns, surplices, or bands, proc/fliming- salvation to perishing sinners— not in the learned harangues taught by man's wisdom — but accbrding to the simple diction of the holy ghost, com- paring spiritual things with spiritual. In {»rder to see their preaching we need only read the new testament — there we have a fair specimen of their matter and style. They entreated — they besought — they prayed — they commanded sinners to repent and believe the gospel. " They taught every man, and warn- " ed every man in all wisdom, that they might present .<"very man perfect before "God." Col. 1. 28. What a striking contrast between the appearance of the kingdom of Christ, as seen in himself and in his apostles, and that system called Christianity in our day. Now we have splendid and ornamented houses, with altars, choirs, or- gans, &c. connected with great and numerous ceremonies. The houses are •onaecrated, and so is the preacher. The preacher appears in the clerical uni- form with his suit of superfine black, liis gown, and bands, or surplice and gown, and perhaps an elegant fire-shovel hat. Having mounted the rostrum, and gone through his man made forms of worship, he gives out a text from the bi- ble, (perhaps the only scriptural thing he does for the day) and then begins t» display the orator, either in the way of discoursing about undefined virtue, or railing against those who hold the apostolic/aer, was com- le mount ;— If tiie prac- approved of leir faith ?--- of what the us to believ* as far as they ipostoHc gos» a life of pure elievers must >r fellowship, 6. 17. Rev. !IE9, OR HON* fit upon their :3 attached to ) the kings of c nobles of a »• after them, n general the tent of peer- u the consci- his plentiful Isgrace to the )ok at Ham- inces arc sel- le riches, up- piritual, and uce, and the 1, sanctifica- f, fellowship in the holy nunities and and durable •t favourites, und ennobled An Essay on the Kjvgdom of Christ. 63 The honours bestowed by the Lord Jesus are far superior to wordly ho- liours. He makes all hi« subjects king«, a,.d their kingdoms shall last like themselves, through the endless ages of eternity; " ihey shall reign with Chnsl forever and ever." In this worll they are minors, and n.ust submit to the tuition and privations, trials, and suffHrings «f that state. Their chief meicies are reserved until their minority be over-then shall every one have a ku.gdom and a c.own of glory that shall never fade. Under the Jewish dis pensafon. health and long life, riches, honours, and victory over their enel mies, were promised by Jehovah, to their eternal obedience. Exod. 15. «'i £6.fc23.25~28. Lev. .6. 3-14. Deut. 7. 12-U. & 8. 7-10. & H. 13- 17. & 28^ 3-13. Their punishments against flagrant breaches of the Sinai covenant were of a temporal kind-Lev. 26. U-39, Deut. 4. o^, 20 27 te 11. 27. k 28. 15-68. k 29. 22-28. [See also Dr. Erskine of Edinburgh', theological dissertations, pages 2-^-29.] This is understood strictly as to the Sina, covenant, for it was the duty of the Jews to believe and obey God with .1 their hearts, and it was through faith only they had eternal life; unbeliev, ers among them could not enter into his heavenly rest, Heb. 3. 19. Still eternal obedience, such as a monarch (say a christian monarch) requires of his civil subjects had temporal immunities added thereto-and a shortcoming of that eternal obedience was punished with corporeal punishment. Our glorious Sovereign mar still punish transgressions in this life at hir pleasure, as all power in heaven and ou earth are in his hand ; but as his gifts are spiritual, and bestowed upon spiritual subjects, his punishments of them nesr-'" Tirol.'? «P'"^"«' -^--^«-" to make them partaker, of his holi- TL f K !?'""' "^ '^' P'"P'' "^ ^"•^ '^ '•^^"'•d^d in this life, not by suing of them the mammon, the ease, the honours, or the dignities of this Zl Ih / T'"^ '*•"" '" '""'■' '^''' communion with himself, deliv- itu!l waZ H ''"""' "f '.'"■■ ''"""'' ^"^•"'«^' ^''•-'^-S for their spi- ritual wants and increasing tluir faith and hope of the glorv which awaiU them beyond the grave. He gives durable honours, everlasting riches. The immunities he bestows i„ this life are worth thousands of worlds, and these are only very small foretastes of the inconceivable, incalculable, indefinabh nches that await them beyond the grave. - No eye hath seen, nor ear heard, neither hath It entered into the heart of man to conceive the blessings laid up by he Lord for those who love him." Oh the folly of those who make this world their portion ! Oh the madness of those who hear not the voice of Jehovah as plainly revealed in the new testament! What riches, what mer- huttng their eyes against the truth of God. Nothing will, nothing can ex- cuse a sinner for not hearing God. Every sinner, every minister, D D. Bish -, e jwc. who havi.- Hcara the gospel, or read the scriptures, will b« justly condemned if they do not believe and obey the truth, just as it is laid down m the scriptures. How daring, how hardened in rebellion against God are thos. who take upon them to make alterations in the doctrine, laws, an4 !„•! 64 An Ei^SAY UN THE KlMiDUM OP CilillSl'. onlinnnccs of Cluist ! How can tlu-y ••scape tli*". i1amnati(Hi of holl ! *' Fuli me\l do such lay w\dv the cotuiiiaiKiiufnts of Uoit to fstaltlisili tlieir uwn tra- dilions,"— j-fs, they will iiol recrivt> ti lueiuber into their cuniiiiuiiiun wilbuul the murk of the beast in his forehead. VII. The Kingdom of Chrht hai> no limits as to PtAcr. pkopi,k or ouratioh. Thf kitiKdoiiis of Ihis worldextciid only o\er ii limited upace of the globe, and u«.' know their rrigin ii, changeH, but the kingdom uf Christ is far otherwise. " He shall have dominion fnnn sea to «ea, and from the river to the rods of "Iherarth. All thin^iitcasts from [), the savage id rejoiced in Ibi-s of Jacob, icntiles— Ye;i list is to Inst, rliiMtin|>;. His irruptible, un- be called the 5 greatest dis- world. It in subjects arc rhey are go- lonours whicii eve, the bless- ' possebs have nsciences, the lion, is carried iling, a cheer- soul : heaven- ly spirit leads lesrts bv thi^ supports theui on in this pre- 11 is from h«a- An Essay o?i the Kingdom op CiiniiT. 65 "When the law was given by Moses, Jehovah appeared in awful majesty, ■ and, "if so much as i\ beast touched the mountain, it must he btoned or thrust ' through with a dart." Every thing under that dispensation was calculated * to strike the people with awe and reverence. The magniffceucc of his pa- * lace and all its utensils ; his numerous train of attendants ; the splendid f 'robes of the high priest, who, though his prime minister, was nut allowed ' to enter the iioly of holies, save once a year ; and, in all hiii adminiktrations, * was obliged to discover the most humble veneration for the king of Israel. ' The strictness witli which all impurities and indecencies were forbidden, as 'things which though tolerable in others wcru unbecoming the dignity of the 'people of God, especially when approaching to HIM : all these tended to * promote and secure the respect due to their glorious Sovereign." But un- der the new dispensation, " God as husband of the gospel church, claims from ' his people inward affection and love, and accepts them only who worship him * in spirit and in truth"— Dn. Chskink's Theo. Dis. p. p. t. 5, 6. This is just to THE POINT. All who arc born again, worship and serve God in truth, and are acknowledged as his people, and none else. Now the meanest be- liever has full access to God, and full fellowship with him-- -all draw nigh to him crying Abba Father. No terror crowns the brow of the king of saints; his rule is not tiie rule of a tyrant, nor of a haughty and austere commander, it is thatof the kind and loving husband, or of the tender affectionate parent. Ho rules by love, and such is his own amiableness, such are his tender dealings with the weak of the Hock, that he is served with cheerfulness and delight.— His subjects do not embrace him by half measures, they give him their hearts, and he has the chief place in their affections, they enter into all his revealed plans, do all in their power to forward his cause, and take peculiar delight in the success of his kingdom ; they are forward to e.\ert their utmost powers to put honour upon their beloved. A true subject is always expected to ivalk in the statutes of the kingdom, and the subjects of Jesus shew their friendship by forwarding his cause, and their love by keeping his commandments. They have a heavenly mind con- formed to the mind of the Angels, to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to that mind which waft in Christ Jesus their forerunner and head, in their measure, and they manifest this mind by their attachment to the per- son of Christ, to his worship, and will as revealed in his word— and in their obedience to his whole will. Their minds are sunk as it were into the will of God, they are dead to the taw, dead to the world, dead to sin, and to carnal enjoyments; their minds are heavenly, and their affections set on things a- bovp where Christ sitteth at the ri;;ht hand of God. In a word, they ar« new spiritual heavenly creatures in their souls, their citizenship is in heaven, and their minds are there also— this is not their home, they look for a city beyond the skies, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. — They are the kingdom of heaven. s-i 1 .* ^( 66 An Essay on the Kingdom of Christ. i 3- Vlir. I shall now tnkc notice of the kingdom of Christ as it appears in tl»p world in distinct and unparati! cnaRCHE«, or co.ngrkgatio.ns, and of the wor- ship and ordinances to wliich his suhjects attend. When the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the di-ad, he told his disciples timt "all power in heaven and on earth was given unto him," and proceeded to give them directions as his prime ministers of state, how they should set in order the .liTairs of his kingdom. Universal authority over men and Angels is given to Jesus Christ as the son of man, and lie has eslablislied the fisher- men of G lilee m his secretaries, and amI)assadors of state. These produce their credentials, they shew us their high commission as delivered to them I»y their glorious sovereign. " Go ye," saith the king of kings, " unto all thn "world, and preach the gospel to every creature ; he that helieveth and is " baptised shall be saved ; but he that helieveth not shall be dai.ined."— " Mirk 16. 15. IG. " Go ye therefore, and teach (lit. disciple) all nations, "baptising (immersing) them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of "the [loly Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have " commanded you ; and lo, [ am with you always, even unto the end of the "world Amen." Math. 28. 10. In this manner exactly, did the apostles fulfil their commission. They waited at Jerusalem, according to the com- mandment of Christ until the holy ghost came upon them— Acts. 1. 4, and then they bore witness of Chri.t in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and unto the r.ttermost parts of the earth. Acts. 1. 8. Wherever tlie people heard and believed the gosp.l.the apostles immersed all wiio believed, in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. It was thus they professed their faith. Acts. 2. .SB, 41. and 8. 12, 13, 38. and 9. 18. and 10. 47, 48. and 18. 8. and 22, IG. Rom. G. 3. Gal. 3. 27. Those who were baptised united tlicmselves together, into congregations or churches, to attend to the ordinances of Christ. Hence we read of the churches of Jerus;.lem, Anlioch, Galatia, Rome, Ephesus, Corinth, Phillip- pi, &c. &,c. We have the most ample evidence that these churches were made up <.f baptised In vers. A sincere belief with the heart, and confes- sion with the mouth, were recpiired by liie apostles and evangelists. They iniH;ht be mistaken, as in tM,; cases of Ananias and Sapph^ra, Acts 5. &, of Simon Magus Acts 0. but they were very cautious in baptising, and receiving members into I he churches. Witness the case of Saul of Tarsus. " when he "came to Jerusalem (three years after his conversion) he essayed to join "himself to the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, and believed'nol "that h.' was 1 disciple." Barnabas had to bring proofs of Paul's conver- sion. Pail himself tells the Corinthians to take heed least they should mix ;vOn,1, !r.y, and stubble, willi Uie gold, silver, and precious stones; assuring them th.t all the churches were to he tried with fir*, and that whosoever "defiled the temple of God, him would Goddcstroy," A$ts.: 9.. 20. 1 Cor. ' "'"V l^K .^i". ►pears in the I of the wor- isciplos timt rocfcded to loiild set in and Angels I the fislier- 'so produce •cd to thcni unto all thfl veth and is lai.int'd.". — all nations, Son, and of •ever I have ' end of the Lhe apostles :o the com- s. 1. 4, and ind unto the heard and water in the y professed 1 10. 47, 4«. yngregations read of the ith, Phillip- irches wore and confes- lists. They cts 5. k, of nd receiving "when he yed to join )elieved not Ill's conver- should mix is; assuring whosoever 20. 1 Cor. An Essay ox the Kingdom of Christ. 67 3.12,17. They were to receive those who were weak in the faith, noni. 14. 1, but to have no fellowship with unbelievers— 2 Cor. C. It. &c. Were PanI to apply now to some existing churches I fear they would re- fuse him upt.n very diflcrent grounds from those of the ch.uch at Jerusalem —some would exclaim, begone Paul, you are not of our teuets-you say our earnest endeavours to keep the law will not save „s~you preach salvatioQ by grace only-your faith is (oosimph'for us~you preach individual election to eternal hfe-you preach the necessity of convorsion and beiuga new crea- ture- -you preach peraeverance-you put all the clergy on a level, and set a bad example for mi.iisfers to work,-you are too strict about holy c 'uct- you are an Mid.-pendenl, au.l have the impudence to order particular ciu.rches to settle then- own aflair. ; thus despising bislu.ps, presbyteries, sessions, eun- lerences. &ic.-youarea baptist-y<.u oppose oratory-yuu are an enthusi- ast, a bypocnte, a sectarian-you separated the discipl. from the synagogue though we know thej.wishand the christians churches are one-Ur-'one' you can have no fellowship with us— it is not fit such a Allow »h,.uld live. This IS no van. picture-it is what Paul's followers meet with d .ilv, and have met with (or 1800 years. True i.ulced the same people would not join in rvery part 01 this great oulcry-some would prefn-one charg. und oUi.'rs another charge, butwhe:i tin, whole charges are collected together the great mass is formed. Like the Mahometans about eating the swine, they disagree amonir themselves about that part of the hog into which the devils entered, hut they eat ,t up among them. Thus professors make up the above catalogue of charges against those who follow the great apostle of the (jentiles. I wish all these opposers to mind that thus they oppose the Lord Jesus Christ and of course must be reckoned his enemies. Th.seonly are his servants who do whatsoever he commanddh-thia did Paul, and he was a.iproved of by Jesus Christ. ■' All the members of the first churches had a right to all the privileges and ordmances of these climches, and were reckoned members of the body of Christ. Hence their titles. " holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly cal- hng, saints and faithful brethren in Christ Jesus." The apostolic epistle, are all written tosamts, and all address them as such. exc»,pt the epistle of James which seems intended for believers and unbelievers, f.u-he sometimes addivs! SOS brethren in the Lord, and sometimes his Jewish brethren-thai is bis brethren acconling to the flesh. The epistles of Peter, th.mgh called gener- al, are evdenlly written to the Gentile churches, hence he addresses them as tue sheep of Christ, What a wide dilTerence there is between the apostolic churches, and the churches of our day ! JVow, people are made mcmbe.s of churehes in infan- cy by pouring ou,.^^n-i«kling a httle water upon them, while they are con.'es- «edly destitute.,of ib^fcuuwledgc and iHrlicf of the truth. Indeed neither i|.. W^ I'.' 60 An Essav on tiir Kingdom of Ciiiiist. ■j faith of the gospel, nor its obedience, are reqirired--only a general acknow- ledgement of something vaguely caWeA ckmtianity by parents, or godfathers. The most strenuous advocates of this Christianity will not attempt to define it, nor will they attempt to prove that eren the majority of their church mem- bers are real christians. When I speak of real christians I do not mean t» allow that there are christians who are not real--l mean only to distinguish christians from professors. The whole earth consists of two families. — The children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus, and the children of the devil. All unbelievers are the children of the devil. -Tho apostles did not knowingly receive any such into fellowship. The apostolic churches, as I hinted before, when in full order, had office bearers, these were bishops and deacons, Paul told Titus that his design in leaving him in Crete was " to set in order the things that were wanting, and "ordain elders in every city, according to his appointment." It seems from this that it was the appointment of the apostles, that every church should have elders, bishops, presbyters, rulers or overseers (one office). Hence we read of the elders of the church of Jerusalem, of the church of Ephesus, &,c. and the bishops of the Phillippian church— Acts 15. 4. &;20. 17. Phil. 1. 1. These elders, or bishops, were to be pointedly proved before their ordina- tion. Paul commands Timothy to " lay hands suddenly on no man"— evi- dently cautioning him against rashness in ordaining to office. It is evident the apostles did not look to universities, or colleges, for bishops, though thou- sands might have become college learned during the period between Christ's resurrection and Paul's writing to Timothy and Titus. They looked frona among themselves for persons qualified by the holy Ghost. Paul describes the jjualifications, 1 Tim. 3. 1— S, k Tit. 1. 6—10. The examination was not to consist of their knowledge of grammar, \ogick, elocution, moral and natural philosophy, mathennatics, astronomy, latin, greek, and hebrew, nor of the knowledge of tbt divinity of the schoolmen, &,c. The gospel of the apostles did not r/eed such additions. The Bishop must be apt to teach, that is, he must speak intelligible language so as to convey just ideas of his sub- ject, and that is all the learning required. But a greal deal was then necessa- ry that is now dispensed with, such as being " blameless, not selfwilled, not soon ^^ angry, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; a lover of •• hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate, holding fast " THE FAITHFUL WORD, kc. He must bi! patient, not a brawler, not cove- " Tous; must ruie his own house well,— must not be a novice, (i. e. a new " believer)"— but (look to unbelieving bishops) must have "a good report of the world." Tit. 1.1. Tim. 3. These are the qualifications for olfice in the ohurchcs of Christ, and woe be to the churches that overlook them— they certainly wrong themselves, besides despisi.ig the authority of Jesus Christ. Every one of them can new be dispensed with. If many of the clergy of the l^'^:. %%' ral acknow- • godfathi-rs. pt to define: hurch mem- ot moan to I distinguish nilies. — The e devil. All ; knowingly , had office lis design in ranting, and seems from urch should Hence we of Ephesus, 10. 17. Phil. their ordina- man"— evi- t is evident hough thou- reen Christ's looked from ul describes lination was moral and brew, nor of ospcl of the } teach, that of his sub- hen nccessa- illed, not soon s ; a lovtr of OLDING FAST r, not covK- (i. e. a new I report o( the ollice in the them— they Fesus Christ, clergy of the An Essay on the Kingdom of Christ. 69 present day could get the, nola, and noes blotted out of the first part of the above description, and placed in other parts of it, it might suit them better. When it would read, covetous, greedy of filthy lucre, soon angry, kc— and no« a lover of good men, of hospitality, he. not sober, just, &ic. Thus ha- ving been proved, they were solemnly set apart to the office, by prayer and fasting, and laying on of hands.' The deacons were set apart in the same way, ActsG.G. &cl3.3.fcl4. 23. 1 Tim. 4. 14. & 5. 22. The deacons were the temporal servants of the church. We have often wondered how the clergy m general, have managed so well ^o keep the deacons in their own place, while they have usurped so much unlawful authority for themselves— autho- rity never given them by Jesus Christ. The first churches, being thus organised, if we may use the expression, at- tended to all things which Christ h.-.d commanded them. As I noticed be- fore, these things consisted in prayer, praise, reading the scriptures, exhorta- tion, preaching the gospel, eating the Lord's Supper, and the fellowship or contribution for the poor. There is not a doubt but the elders presided at all the meetings, and at all the ordinances, though we have no proof that at- tendance on ordinances depended on the existence or presence of elders - nay we think it can be proved that the disciples always attended to the or- dinances every Lord's day from their uniting in church fellowship— and they could not ordain elders till they proved them, yet they had gifted brethren. That ;7HWtc prayers, not only of the elders, but also of the brethren, according to the directions given them in general as a body-(Rom. 12. 12. 1 Cor. 11, 4. and 14.14. Eph. 6. 18. 1 Tim. 2. 1,1. Jas. 6. 16. Jude ver. 20. andas was exemplified in the first churches— Acts 1. 14 and 2. 42 ) should be attend- «d to, admits not of i doubt-and to their pi ayers and thanksgivings the whole church should say— Amen. l.Cor. 14. 10. •• Praise is comely for the upright in heart." The first churches sang psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. xMatth. 26, 30. 1. Cor. 14. 15. Col. 3. 16. but they had neither organs, viol?, nor flutes— neither had they singing bands of ungodly people set by themselves— it was the church which sang the praises of God as such. The public reading of the scriptures was attended to by the Jews every Sab- bath day, and the same end seems to be had in view in writing the new testa- ment revelations, Acts 15. 20. 21, which was also commanded to be read in the churches as it was given forth ; Col. 4. 16. 1 Thess. 5. 27, and so Timo- thT IS exhorted tn iriv» attanAanna, tn .0.^:^0 a- —..U -- t- --■ '-'■- 1 - -. 5j.. . , ... ,,, itauiiJg, aa rrcii as lu C.\IIuriUllun UHU tli^hlZ'^P ".'*" ''"5'P";*!;;' I>y the church, so far as ti.ey wcro able to do so. but not as a du- tver«to,,™ . 2. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Acts 13. 1. he.) h part of the apostolic practice— .\ct3 2. 42. They taught publicly and from house to house— Acta 5. 42. and 20. 20. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Another ordinance to which the first churches attended, but which is now generally (as a godly friend of mine once remarked) thrown out at the doors of mectinp; houses, to make way for the si)lendid talents of the preachers, was the mutual erhortations of liie brethren--A duty expressly enjoined, Col. S. Hi. 1 Thess. 4.18. Meb. 3. 13, and that when the churches were assembled to- gether publicly. Heb. 10. 21, 20. The/c7/ou\s/)ip (kolnonia, contrihndon, communication, distribution, as in Rom. 15 36. 2Con. 0. IrJ, Phil. 4. II, 15. iTim. 6. 1». Heb. 13.10.) was the collection for the poor and oth r necc:isary uses ; Vnh the church at Jerusalem coniinued steadfastly in, Acts 2. 42, and the apostles assign the first day of the week for it. 1 Cor. IG. 1,2. The first churcher eat the Lord's stippcr wlien met together. This seems a social ordinance. Though the nnmbt-r of Christians w ho meet together to nt- tend to this ordinance need not he great, still the ordinance is intended to shew their unity, as well as Christ's dying h)vc— Matth. 18. 20. Luke 2i. 30, 35. 1 Cor. 10. 1' 17. Chap. 12. The main design of the supper is to ket p in memory the < ath of Jesus Christ. Luke 22. 10.— The bread and wiiu- being omblems of the body and blood of Christ, Mattli. 23. 26. 28, thobc who sur- round his table see Chrisi a; it were crucified before their eyes. (Jal. 3. 1. It is the duty and the privilejje of the people of God to attend to this ordinance. The above quoted passages, in their plain meaning, aside from the quibbling cf schoolmen, and friun the glos^^es of those interested in denying these or- dinances, prove to a demonstration, that they were all constantly observed by the fir«t churches. It now remains to ascertain the stated time, or whe- ther they had any stated time. Variims particular reasons are shewn in scrip- ure tj induce tliim to observe tlit; first day of the week as the stat«d time f>i:- this [)urpose. On this day the Lord Jesus arose from the dead. Matth. 28. 1 — 7, manifested himself alive unto his disciples, Luke, 24. John 20. 19, 20, poiu-ed out the holy Spirit upon them. Acts 2— and it is called the Lord's day, Rev. 1. 10. The first christians, under the direction of the apos- tles, kept this day sacred to the memory of Christ's resurrection, and upon it they statedly assembled to observe the ordinances of divine worship.— luirch as tUo rch— 1 Tim. rk of elders, niir in word i part of ilie a iiouse to ihirh is now at \hv doors •fachers, was d, Col. 3. Hi. ssemblcd to- ihiition, as in loll. la. 10.) he church at ;s assign the This seems a ngdher toEt- nded to shew ;e 52 i. 30, 35. is jo kci p in lid vviiu- being liobc whosiir- s. Gal. 3.1. Iiis ordinance. the quibbling ^mg thi'se or- iilly observed ime, or whe- lewn in scrip- staled time uad. Matth. 4. John 20. [ is called tiie I of the apos- on, and upon e w(jrship."- An Essay ox tiik Kingdom of Ciiuist 7i .1..., f , , oi!*p.ite .ilKMii keeping the first day of the week ai a d..y o restand devotion is forever settled by i,s bein, called ihX^ dav and observed as such by .he apostles and first cln-l-hes ; . .te r . S disciples eat the Lord s supper every Lord's day. The church .1" rr" :''"'"■' "" ^'" '"-^^ ''"^ "'■ ^^'" -'"'< '--• "- very p Pp e....ng the Lord's supper. Acts 20. 7. and this seems to have been hi J naryprac.ico. It was the sa:no in Corinth. , Cor. U. ,8 . " t .1 pare with chap. 16. 1. 2 \ ThMchnr^h r t . ' ^ ' (•^"'"" suoner n, J » h*' church of Jerusalem attended to the Lord's supper as often as to preaching &tc. Acts 2 42 If ,i,i<. •- ^<»-a 3 «in.|.l., apostdic olllZ •"""""<"'"<:<■, k^. (lia! ,„ „a,lc to ll,i, cnc« arise, (lioiiuli lie l,„ p,„o„ :„ , ? ""''^ '""' '"convcni- ry week w„,„„ l..n„„r ■ ;: ;' "'""'""S '" ""^Lord', ,„pp„ eve- IS the case. The oftener n ^i..: r . • , .^*^°""" • ^"- The reverse cbrist. the .ore wi.[\:i^^:-:;r;i-;l;; t:z '" ^" ^"""^^ " Those who attend to apostolic evample wil] find it .l^^^l- -— -rucuve. lUere is no pomp, nor worldly shew in it bu i.' t'"T" ""-'I "" -•»-»-pi-.»wv;::t:;rii::;:,'^-j:::-:-;: # fi . lit ' I 72 An Essav on the Kingdom op Christ. mind with solid joy and peace. Let me urge all believers to follow apostolic example— the Gentile churches were commended for f.illowing the churches that were in Judea in Christ Jesus. If we do not follow their example we have neither precept nor exam))!.! to guide us. The npostle tells th« Corin- thians (1 Cor. II. I.) that he will praise them if they keep the ordinances as he has delivered them ; he also says that he ordains the same things in all the churches (1 Cor. 4. 17. and 7. 17. and H. 16. and 14. 35.) what he re- ceived of the Lord he delivered to the chur(5hes, 1 Cor. 11. 23, and those who consent not to apostolic doctrine are not of God, 1 Tim. 6. 3 ^c. Some hide themselves under a cloak of their own weaving, viz. that we have no fixed rules laid down in scripture, and contend that if the Lord m- tended us to follow the first churches he would have said so and so. Is Jeho- vah obliged to reveal his will in tiie words we think proper ? Can we lay down a better arrangement for him than his infinite divine mind can devise and es- tablish ? Shall my horse or my ox find fault with me for not speakmg my mind in other language? "Vain man would be wise though born as a wild ass, colt ;" and would dictate to the cre.itor though he is only the clay m the hand of the potter. Rom. 9. 20', 21. But why not contend for a new faith ? We have no doctrine spoken particularly to us in the New-Te?tameBt-all the faith was spoken to the first churches, and^the practice was all commanded them. All we have then is an account of the laith and practice of apostolic churches; and if we think their faith necessary to our salvation, that f nth must bring forth their practice. The same spirit indites both, and for the same end, viz. that we may believe and obey. But mark ye, brethren, (believers only can obeyj Jesus gave a pointed commandment to his apostles, to go and disciple all nations, and teach them to observe whatsoever he had commanded. Matth. 28. 18. 19. The com- mand to teach all Christ's will is as pointed as the one to disciple and baptize. The apostles did as Christ commanded, th.-y disciple.d by preaching the gos- pel, they gathered the disciples into churches, and taught them to do Christ s will This comma nd reached to all nations and to the end of the world. The apostles being dead yet speak in their writings, and Jesus countenances none but such as believe their doctrine, and walk in the commandments they gave, and in the ordinances they approved of and set on foot. Whosoever joms their directions and example have a plain rule of obedience in every possible •ase. It is quite astonishing how people can profess to be the disciples of Christ a„d -et live in sH-hI nH^Iect of almost all his own will. I fear many such will discover a hole h, tieir mantle at last. By wh.t auii ority some strcnuousiy contend for holiness of life in one's general con> .r..ation, and neglect almost the whole of God's ordinances, I cannot conceive. The same God who s(U.J, -be ye holy, for I am holy," hath al.o said, "repom..-^ be baptised ci-eri,- im An Essay on the Kingdom op Christ. w apostolic le churches ixample we tU« CorJn- rdinances as things in all what he re- 3, and those 3^c. 7S wieof you forthr romission of sins," and also, "do this in renjenabranre of me," &ic. I fpar some are like the Jews of old, tht-y believed (that is profcs sed) but they did not confess the Lord Jesus, lestthKy should be put r it of the synagogue ; " for they loved the praise (approbation) of men, more than the praise (approbation) of God." "J7n/c<,., a num forsake all, take up his *ro3t and follow me, he cannot be my disciple." "Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you." "If yv love me keep my commandments." "My sheep hear my voice and follow me." John, 15. 15, 21, 13. 1 John, ST. 5. & 5. S. John 10. 37. r'lz. that we le Lord in- 0. Is Jeho- we lay down Bvise and es- peaking my is a wild ass, in the hand faith? We nent— all the commanded of apostolic in, that faith and for the fe a pointed d teach them I. The com- ; and baptize, hing the gos- to do Christ's t world. The ;enanccs none its they gave, osoever joins svery possible lies of Christ, lany such will le strenuously leglect almost God who s;ud, baptised evertj CONCLUSION. DEAR READERS : F rom what you have iw gone over, you have seen that Jehovah, to whom all things, past present and to corcc are knoi(vn, determined to erect a kingdom in this world upon the ruins of the kingdom of Satan ; and that knowing from everlasting what would happen, he loved the sons of men, and determined to save a people for himself through the atoning pacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, his only begotten son. You have seen that great and pre- cious promises were made to mankind after the fall upon this subject, and that, in due time, all these promises were fulfilled. ' God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten son, (into it) that whosoever believed in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Jo.hn. 3. 16—20. Thus in due time when there was no other remedy, Jesus Christ came to rescue man from the curse of the law— from the wrath of God due to him for sin. " He died the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God :" He became the propitiatory victim for sin, that we poor lost criminals might be justified thro' faith ill him without the works of the law. All who believe in him shall be saved whatever was their former character ; whether they wallowed in open sin, drinking up iniquity like the thirsty ox drinking water, being led captive by the devil at his will; or whether they were immersed in the honours, the pleasures, the riches or the cares of thisworid, or industriously engaged in establishing their own righteousness, in opposition to the righteousness of God. He that believeth, of any or of all these characters, shall be saved, and whosoever believeth not, however religious he may appear among men, and however good he may be in his own eyes, shall be damned. You have seen, reader, that every believer is adopted into the family of God, and become a subject of the kiiigdom of Jesus Christ through faith. Jesus is exalted a prince, and saviour. God hath set his King upon hii holy hill ; and all who believe the gospel, and none else, are the subjects of his kingdom, or members of his church. Such are enlisted under his banner, and are by him clothed, armed, and taught the christian warfare. They are 10 74 An KasAY ON THE Kingdom of Christ. rnadp a holy pt'opl", df v.iH^J to the Berfice of the Lord Jesus Christ, and are governed hy hU ipirltwil I noa. They are not endowed with the riches, ho- nours. Im'ntMities. or "^ple )dii'ir-i of t'lis world— i!iy they are the poor and despised, tho hsifed and perseciifed amoig mnnkitid— hut they are lovt d by Jehoviih, and heirs of an everlu'^ring ineorruptihie king;diitn beyond the ftxavc. Toil h tve see-i th tt this '.in'jjdo n is not only distinct fro-n all earthly kinj^doms, but distinct from that established by Jehovah himself at Horeb. That was the type, this the antitype ; that was the shadow, this the substance; that was the shell, this the kernel. This kinj^doin is established upon better pro- mises. That had eirthly promises, this has heavenly promises: that bau earthly priests, this a heavenly priest ; that had sacrifices of animals, this the sacrifice of God manifested in the flesh; that had laws relating; to outward conduct, this laws to regulate the heart as the source of all conduct ; that had earthly prospects, this heavenly prospects — in a word the one was a reign of Jehovah on earth as the prince of Israel, the other is the reign of heaven in and over the hearts and afiFections of men — The one had carnal people and carnal ordinances, the other has spiritual subjects, governed entirely by spiri- tual laws, and attending to spiritual ordinunces. i What then, dear reader, is your duty ? Surely you ought to examine whe- ther you are enlisted under the banner of Jesus Christ — whether you are a- dopted into this spiritual kingdom, and have your name written in heaven.— Yonought to make "^our calling and election sure." You ought to enquire whether you are clothed with the robe of Christ's; righteousness— have put on Christ — have his word dwelling in you — are sealed with the holy Spirit ol promise as the earnest of your inheritance — have put on the whole armour of God — &t are standing fast in the truth contending against the wiles of the devil. You ought to see whether your affections are "set upon things above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God"— whether you are "i'artaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" and are " crucifying the flesh with its passions and lusts." Examine whether you desire the riches, honours, applause, and pleasures of this life, or "the riches which cometb from God only." Is it the continual cry of your soul, " Lord teach me thy precepts"— anc, Lord what wouldest thou have me to do !" Do you love the people of God as such ? Have you joined their fel- lowship ? \re all the N.nv Testament laws and ordinances precious in your eyes? Have yon come out from among the world, and publickly professed your faith in Jesus Christ ? And are you now his devoted servant? If my reader can answer these questions in the presence of God with a clear conscience, his state is happy hitwevermuch he may be despised in this world. Christ lays jipon vni!, d'-,!- !}rother, no other hinden thnn to hold fast till he comes. " Lo, 1 come quickly, hold fast that Ihou hast, let no man tate thy crown." KS* irist, andar* richts, ho- \c poor and re lov< d by id the ftxave. y kins^doms, That was stance ; that 1 bt'tter pro- s: that hau nals, this the to ontward ict ; that had as a reign of if heaven in people and ely by spiii- camine wlie- r you are a- in heaven.— t to enquire -have put on oly Spirit ol le armour of of the devil, bove where taker of the hrough lust" ine whether life, or "the >f your soul, I have me to led their fel- ious in your ly professed nt? God with a )ised in this itnix ixj :iulu. t, let no man Hymns. INCREASE OF THE CHURCH. Shout, for the great redeemer reigns, Through distant lands his trumpels spread, And sinners, freed from Satan's chains. Own him their Saviour and their head. 2 God's sons and daughters from afar, Daily atZion's gates arrive; Those who were dead in sin before, By sovereign grace are made alive. The love of truth unites their souIh, Hence they are one in Christ their head, His fare by faith they all behold, His holy paths they cheerful iread. 4 In Christ their King they all rejoice. His laws are written in their hearts ; They know their shepherd by his voice, And from his fold they ne'er depart. 5 O may his conquests still increase. And may his pow'r his foes sui'due, While angels celebrate his praise, And saints his growing glories shew. 6 Loud Hallelujahs to the Lamb, From ali below and all ab(»ve, In lofty songs exalt his name, in songs as lasting as his love. 75 SPIRITUAL TEMPLE COMPLETING. Sing to the Lord above. Who deigns on earth to raise A temple to his love, A monument of praise ; Ye saints around, through all ils fiame, The builder's name harmonious sound. Beneath his eye and care, This edifice shall rise, 76 Hymni* Majestic strong and fair, ,Aiii;tin, Sure earnest of the riting aun. The friends of truth assembled stand, (A chosen, const^crated bund.) The standard of the cross displaVr And cry alodd, Behold the wayr The north "gives up," the south no more "Keeps back" iwv consecrated store; From east to west the messaKH runs. All lands, and islands, yield their sons. Auspicious dawn, thy rising ray With joy I view, and hail the day; Thou sun nrise. supremely bright. And fill th'j world with purest light. THI LAMB TRIUMPHANT OVER ALL HIS F0E8. 1 O ' Tls a sound should fill the world ! The sound of mercy through the lamb, Lo, Satan from his seat is hurl'd. Unable to withstand Christ's name. From heaven like llght'ning see him fall, Struck by the arm that conquers all. Lord give the word! — and wak'd by thee, Let many tongues thy vict'ry tell ! That helpless sinners now may see. Thutthou hast vanquish'd death and hell : Sound, sound the joyful truth abroad, And draw poor sinners near to God. A SERMON ON BAPTISM. Cohssians II. 12. )E8. Burkd with him in baptism, wherein also ye ore riitn with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised himfrtm the dead. The Scriptures arc given us by the inspiration of God, the Spirit. W hat* ever he reveals, we arc bouml to belii-ve, and whatever he commands, we art fcoundtoobey. The Spirit of God does not amuse our minds with non-es- sentials, as some would have us to believe ; but Rives us important doctrin-ftto believe, and important ordinances to obey. The ordinance of baptism i^ i one •f the least important. It is not only a positive institution, but in this i?istitu- tion, or ordinance, we have very important truths fiyjiratively heM forth to our Tiew. The consideration of this ordinance witli its figurative or spiritual mean' ing shall form the following discourse. I shall consider the subject under the following headi. I. Baptism is an ordiimnco of Christ. II. This ordinance is figurative. III. It is a profession of faith in Christ. IV. It is a binding duty tm believers. V. Then' is but one baptism. VI. It is a prtjfession of our having taken Christ's yoke upon ua, &c. I. Baptism is an ordinance, or institution of Christ. The word baptism is a New Testament word, and holds forth a New Tr-sta- ment ordinance, or institution. Thoir^h there were divers baptisms, ;is the Greek term means, Heb. 9. 10. under the oil. or Jewish dispeusiition. Num. 19. 7, 19. they were carnal ordinances, imposed upon a carnal people, porify- ing ceremonial uncleanesses — and only shiidows of Kood thinp-s tocome. Hob. 9. 9, 10. The N. T. baptism is an institution of Christ, given f.. .i new crea- tion of men, holding forth the most important doctrines of the prospel v?z.— The death and resurrection of Christ as the substitute for sinners— an I the be- iievers death auto sin, aud resurrection to newness of life, througU faith i> Christ Jesus. This 'ordinance began with John the baptist (see Watth. S. fl. Mark 1. 4. Lwke f. »— «1. John 8. 2a. to the end) was continued by Christ, John 4, 1, / 78 A Sermon on Baptism. t. and by him institute)! as a stiindinp; ordinanro in his church to the end.— Mntth. 28. 19. M;.rk 16.1(1. Some disput»*s liave arisen 'ihout a suppiised difference between th • baptism of Jolm anri tlie baptism of Clirist; an t it has been sai 1 that P ul rebaptisc.l John's disciples — Acts 10. S, 4, 5: this is a ■fiistaiie. Paul is here ilecl.riof!;. I'lhn'.s doctrine an'l practice. John baptiicd into the faith of Clirist as just at tian'i, & .lecl.ired salvation through faith in him, John .S. 36, and till refttrc tills was ."loygh. Those disciples had been bajitis- ed into tiie faith of the ch >* u t.r oi Oluist. In Christ's commission to his a- postles, Matth. 28. 19. he comaian.i.s lltose of all nations who should become disciples to be baptised. Here then we have a plain account of the instit i' tion :— let us see what the institution itself consists of. 1st. Baptism is an immersion in tenter. This appears, first, from the me-aning of the word baptism. The word is « •reek word, adoptrd into our Iaiig;uage without translating it, with a varied termination. The Grc^ek words ar-j, bapto and h.iptismo— and in all the Lexi- cons £ havB seen— as, Hchrevelli. Parkhurst, Kwing. Wore &c. they are trans- lated, dip— plunge— i'timerse, but never sprinkle, or pour. I shall here r s we must conclude, that the baptism instituted by Christ, is immersion in tcater. A Sfumon on Baptism. 79 the rnd.— . I Buppnsed ; an I It has 5 : th'iH is a in baptiicd faith in him, be««n baptis- ion to his a- uld herom* ' the instit't- he word is a ith a varied ill the Lexi- y are tr^ns- here nuote . McKni^ht says, in his t — " he was ---ARain, p. hn. " I ana sof persons upon their water. So Hows : " for 1 of the el- i little water m." In his )e observed, are different ; the second for bapfizo lefiled wlien iipbcll says, •son a bfitter word bap- plunge, to te critics of be regarded of scripture, Ihe baptisna This appears, 8KC0NDLY, from the examples of baptism recorded in the New T Mla.nent. lii Mark 1. «J. :,>. .. are told, " that Jesus came from Na- zareth ti) Galilee an! was hunt led of J-hn iti Jor Ian, and strii-htway cm- ini? up out of the water" &r. (Dr. .'\.,npbel|) '• as soon as hi; arose out of the water." How natural this ace -inf. lohn immersed Jesus in the river Jordan ; and he arose, or cane up oi.. . ; ih ^ater, and the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descen led, s. Even John the baj)tist refused baptism to those whose conduct did not evidence their repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Their fleshly relation (which is contended for in the case of infants) was of no avaH. A new dispensation, and new ordinances requi- red new men. Matth. 5. 7 — 11. Luke. 3. 7 — 10. 17. Christ baptised only those who became disciples. John 4. 1. Peter baptised only those who glad- ly received the word, Acts 2. 41, after having declared to them the necessity of repentance as a thing previous to baptism, v. ,n the sorcerer was baptised when he professed the faith. When the Ethiopian Eunoch said, " Here is water what doth hinder me to be bap- tised," Philip's answer was, " If thou belie/est with all thine heart thou may- cst." Then, upon the profession of his faith, Philip baptised him. It is per- fectly plain, from these examples, that a profession of unfeigned faith in the gospel of Clirist, and a corresponding conduct, only entitles to baptism. — Moreovei, it was \^hen Peter saw the effects of the Holy Ghost on the family and friends of Cornelius, that he commanded them to be baptised, Acts 10. 47, 4u. It was when the Lor 1 opened the heart of Lydia to receive the gospel preached by Paul, that she was baptised, Acts 16. 14. Yes, say some, bother household were baptised, and they are not said to have believed. Arc they said not to have believed ? W y should we restrict the grace of God in Lydia'm kouse more than in other houses. The household of the nobleman, John 4. 53; Cornelius, x\cts 10.2; the jailer of Philippi, Acts 16. 3t; Crispus, Acts. 18. 8; Aristobulus, Rom. 16. 10. Narcissus, Ron. IG. 11; Onesiphorus, 4 Tim. 4. 19; Stephanus, 1 Cor. 1 16. 5t 16. 15 ; were evidently believers ; and why not the family of Lydia ?-~ If w iMve proof of tbe faith of ein;ht fanilies, and a ninth not mentioned, and that the fumiiy oi" a widow, of wiiieu there is no proof th.it ever she had chil- dren—can wttcune.lutte that her household wore iidkntsand that they were bap- ! with rfigard 'onvprts int« ofthechiris- tliey make en, as critics inder the ne- • contend lor I. Our sta- the militia, e hiTh-ways work on the :ir doing so ? laptism. from the uni • tism to those faith towards d for in the nances requi- baptised only tsc who glad- the necessity id the Sama- , Acts 8. 12. aith. When ne to be bap- rt thou may- n. It is per- 1 faith in the to baptism. — on the family 3ed, Acts 10. ve the gospel 3ome, but her d. Arc they lod in Lydia'« ;s 10. 2 ; the Rom. 16. 10. js, 1 Cor. 1 of LyJia ?-~ >ntione(l, and she had chil- ley were bap- A Sermon on Baptism. 81 Used, contrary to the command of Christ, and to every other example of scrip- turcj His household were brethern, Acts 16.40. The jailer and his houce were baptised when thtiy believed the gospel, Acts 16. 29.— 85. Here Paul de- clares the jailer and his Louse should be saved if they believed in Christ. He preached the gospel to all the household— the jailer and his house believed, and rejoiced in God :— This was the man and the household that Paul baptised. Nothing but the most obstinate blindness of mind, and the most stem prejudice, can lead any man to deny the faith of the jailer's household. Ail the prelates in England, joined by all the learned Pedo-baptists oneai-th, never can find in- fants in Lydia's, or in the jailer's families, nor make their case an exemption from the general rule of baptising believers only. Here then we have the strongest possible proof— .proof arising from the plain commandment of Christ, & from the uniform practice of John the baptist, of Christ, of his apostles, and evangelists, without one ci if a doubtful nature presanting itself to our view, that believ- ers of the gospel only should be baptised. True a profession of the faith only is required, but it is such a profession as includes the knowledge of the truth, or gospel, and a corresponding conduct from the commencement of that profession. Faith without works is dead. A practice the reverse of this has been p. avalent. Infant baptism was intro- duced, and by it believer baptism has been almost totally laid aside. Infant baptism began first about the third century. It arose from a wrong view of baptism itself and of tne way of salvation. It was first contended that baptism was necessary to salvation—then that infants had as much need of salvation as others— and that, therefore, infants should be baptised. This is the origin of in- fant baptism. Now men plead for it on various grounds, widely difiering from one another. Some call it regeneration, in direct opposition to the whole word of God. With such it is not worth the pains to contend, if it be not fr>r the good of others, as their views shew their complete ignorance of the gospel of Christ, and of all its effects. Some, however, who give reason to hope that they have tasted that the Lord is gracious, hold this practice as an ordinance of Christ. They plead, 1st. The household of Lydia, and of the jailer, and say, that it is proba- ble there were infants in them. Probability is no proof. Positive precept, or example must be brought forward to prove this subject, as it runs contrary t* Christ's commandment, and to the example of the apostles. Inference how- ever plausible, will never lay aside a command of Christ— nor establish a prac- tice which he has not instituted— all such practices are will-worship. 2nd. Some say circumcision was the initiating ordinance under the old dis pensation, and that infants were admitted to it; that baptism came in its place, and therefore infants ought to be baptised. Very plausible reasoning if true.- Here, however, two particular things must be proved. 1st. That baptism caine in place of oircumcigion. To prove thi» it is contended that circumcisien 11 I / 82 A S'eumon on Baptism. Ml was a seal of the go«pel covenant, for which Rom. 4. U. is quoted. Thin text proves no such thing. Circumcision wns a seal of tii«' righti'ousness (just- ness) of Ahniham's faith. A testimony to Ahraham that what he helievcd wm the true gospel, Rom 4. Jl, and a token that Jehovah was to be his God, and the God of his seed. Gen. 17. 7, II. Instead of its iM'ing a seal of the gos- pi*l covenant it was a covenant (institution) of itself, Acts 7. ft. instituted t* •ertify Abram's faith and God's relation to him as the God of his seed ; and a sign that the land of Canaan shoull h« given him— Gen. 17. Again— Baptism, fay they, in said to he the circumcision of Christ. C«d. 2. 11. It is not bap. tism, hut the circumcision of the heart. Deut. 10. 16 & .10. 6. Jer. 4. 4. that fs here meant, by which the sins of the flesh are crucified. Therefore there ifl no proof that baptism has come in place of circumcision. But though it wer» allowed, which I am not inclin<>d to tleny, that baptism, as well as circumcision, is ail initiating ordinance— II remains to be proved, --"Jndly. That the Old Tes- tament and New Testament churches are the same. The reverse of this \n plain. The people, and the ordinances thereof are quite diirerent. The JcW- isli church nas made up of the seed of Aliraham ac ording to the flesh, holif or unholy ; but the N. T. qhurch is made up of converted sinners— members of the body of Christ. Gal. .S. 26 to end. In Matth. 9. 9, 10, we arc told that fleshly connection even with Abraham, the father of the faithful, is of na avail — that the axe is laid to the root of the trees —and that every tree, or pro- fessor, that has nofruit is rejected. In John 1. 12. \9. That parentage does not give a title to be members of the church of Chl•i^.v, or sons of God. But that all such must be born again tlirough faith. In 2 Cor. b. 16, 17, we are told that the apostles acknowledged no man after the flesh, i. e. for his fleshly rela- tion ; but that all those whom tliey acknowledge are new creatures. Yea they acknowledged Christ no longer as the son of Abraham, but as the son of God, —and Lord of all. And lastly Paul tells us, Ileb. 8. 9. &c. that the old church, with all its ordinances, are done away, and a church established, whose mem* bers all know th*. Lord, from (he least of them to the greatest. It is plain fi-om the above passages, and m'uiy others that might be quoted, that the N. T. •hurch is madt np of believers only, and that to them only belong the ordinan- ces of Christ. All baptised persons I- 3 a right to membership, and to the liord's supper, indeed to all church pi leges. There may be unworthy mem- bers in a church of Christ; such was the case in the apostolic churches; but the wholesome discipline of Christ, will bring them to repentance, or putthera away. Matth. 18. 18, 19, 20. Srd. Next we are told the children of godly parents are holy— (witness the families of Abraham and Davi 1) as the apostles state, 1 Cor. 7. 14. This ho- liness is neither of heart nor of life-— and we know of no other. — It is no more than legitimacy the apostle has in view. Holiness signifies being devoted !• God— when any prove tliemselvw so, they havo a right to baptisMt N« ratn xnoy forbid wat«r. V ■ .- A Sermon on BAPrrsM. 83 [uotod. Thin oiisiinsB (just- y believed wm liis God, and il or th(! gos- instituted t* seed ; and a in— Baptisnii It is not hap- T. 4. 4. that rofnrc there m iou|e;h it wer* circumcision, ; the Old Tes- [^rse or this is t. The Jew- R flesh, hol^ rs— members we are tf)Id hful, is or n* ■ tree, or pro- ircntaRO does >f Cod. But ', we are told s fleshly rela- s. Yoa they son of God, iRoid church, vhose meni« is plain Ooni it the N. T. the ordinan- , and to the worthy mem- lurches ; but , orputthen (witness the i. This ho- t is no more '.g devoted tt m. N* nitn •ith. The long practice of infant baptism is broiiichl forward. It is very true, the practice! began, as I noticed before, upwards of (\ttwn litindred years ago ; but it did not bey;iu with the apostles of Christ. It began with tlio cniruptiun of ♦he gospel, and has been its consUuit attendant. Men iiave long lived in sin.-- Will this prove sin a duly ! I know of no greater sin than supplaiitiim »" "rJ'- ■nnce of Clirint l»y an ordinance of man's makin;;. Men have lung despised Christ's ordinances.— Will this prove a warrant for rejecting thes«' ordinances ! More than two thirds of the human race reject the Hcripturea — Is this a reason for our neglecting them 7 If we call ourselves chriiitians, let us drop the sys- tems of men — and let us hold fast the doctrine and practice of the jiposllcs of Christ. To them Christ committed the keys of the kin?;dom of heaven ; llatth. 10. and 10. 10. John 20. 28. «!S— all that are of God hear them. 1 John 4. 0. One sentence from an apostle of Christ, is of more weight than all the councils of popes and prelates, and priests tiiat ever were held in the world — yes, and a plain man, taught by the spirit of God, underbtands tht. yord of God better thnti them all. The wisdom of this worbl can never lind •ut the will of God. The teaching ofthesjtirit on/y leads a tinner into thj^ knowledge of tlie truth of God. 1 Cor. 2. 0. to the end. The other reasonings, in favour of infant baptism, are not Worthy of notice. They are the carnal re.isonings of the human heart. The above are the chief grounds I ever knew held by believers. Early education, and the reiisoningK •f interested men, have made an impression on some of the minds of the peo- ple of God by the above things ; but I hope the day is now in its dawn, when all God's children wiiall see bis authority and ordinances alike. What ji pity that the people of God should stand at a distance from the ordinances of Christ, t from one another, while the * riptures are so urgen* for their obeying Christy and loving one another. Rom. 16. 26. 2 Cor. 10. 6. 1 Peter I. 2, Rom 6.17. Rom. 2. 8. SThess. 1. 8. 1 Peter 4. 17. iJohn 4. 7. 16. John 13. S5. Rom. 12. 9. Gul. .'). fl. 1 John 3. 10. and 5. 1. and 3. 14. It i,i perfectly evident theue paHsages pointedly condemn the p.acticc of many pro- fesL rs. Many professors, can scarcely shew common civility to a baptist, though their own conscic^nces tell them these are godly people — and many baptists act the same to other proi'cHsors. Let these read the above portioi^ •f the word of God. II. This ordinance is figurati. ^ 1st. It represents Ci»vint'': burial, which includes his death, and the beli* ver's death and burial to sin through faith in him. Our text says, th(! Colossi- ans were bnrie.d with i\ir>i by baptism, and that in the same rite, they were raised with him tii >, '^h the faith of the operation of God. Paul sr.^s lo the Romans, not only that they were buried with him by baptism, but that timy were also raised with him to newness of life — moreover,' that their old man was crucified wtU him, so as the body (or pow this explained, 2 Cor. 12. I. The be :r=VrF S5 purmed xJt htizTi by filth. Aclg i». v. iud the sainc uiith ptififics his 1—4. Tliey tin in, im o- I. Rom. 8. |{(iin. II. 5, ', »niickor»'iI in (liH|>*'llcd, ism. The ns, pointod (0 piling in »f (^lirisf as tliiit purity tliiit aw!iit«i Bvur tlioK It THiirrrrtioi ikin)!; ri)i;iirp ylui8t---;ind fp.. Ah Jc- 1(1 paHsions, ltd ItoliricHH, of Christ it the GosprI, pl«' stipposf. pel is very a religioiin ppear little lovah. The ikI in (jod's it faith it is t,» of actioB Ills 8i-rvit^»'R, he. belii'ves t in then he anxious in- do !" All ted to UB in piM of ihn id a flKure, t of the an- The he- A I^FTtMON ON fiAFTlSlVf. 86 eJndnct— «o that he is mnnifented to have heen made a partaker of the divine Hntiir.". hy iiin h;iviiiK escaped the polliitlon that iHiiith*- woill through hmt.— 1 Peter 1. 4. Thiin feelin- the power of the truth, piirifyiii« hin heart and life, he has the answer of a ximmI eoimeienee. Aniuuiiii« eommandN I'unl. Aetn Hli, 10. to arise and he haptii»ed. w. -ihinu; away hin miiH. The water in ImptiHm eai» never wash away sin, hut ha.itltnn lepreHcntu the purifying of the soul hy the Mood of CIniwt— .and the heliev^.r in haptiMm, profemies to he. tlnm wanhed in the Hood of atonement. Hapfintn i^ then a flyjure of the piirideation of the noul and conduct of the helicver, through faith in tho Mood of Clirist. 4th. nnptiBsn !« a nRiire of the heliever'n heing filled with the Jloly rJlin«t.— John tellM hm diseiplen, whom he l.aplised, that he haptined only with water, hut that ChriHt would l>apiiie them with the Holy t.Mnmt. Matlh. .T 11. Home •tmtend for RprinkliiiB;, poorin;; &,e. from thin nmnre— hut mirely a full immer- Bioii iowiterisa filter r..[>re»enta1ioii of the whole houI'h hein^ (Ihed with the Iluly Spirit. The outward ni^rn then in a lit rej.ieHentation of the inward lde«. 8iii«;. The si^u in all one whether of a thiiiR Hoon to he poHHenned, or of a t\wz poHHe.H(Ml already. All the oeople of CJod are partakers of the Holy .Spirit, Horn. II. i». and it i«h. that (ueratesin enlightening their minds, and in rndxlu iiig then- nat ' .rough the truth 5th. Baptism is a figure of the heliever'3 resurrection to eternal life, lloni. •• .■>. Those that now p.»f,,ss ih-.J,. f.,i(|, •„, |,i,„ i^ h„,,,i„„ „j,„|| |,^. „t ,,„t planted in the, likeness of his resuneetiim. They ,iow rise to newness of liti;, but they shall then rise from Ihe dead and enter upon everlasting glory. This hope is pro.'u.-ed in their houIh hy faith in his resurrection. I Peter I. S. What a Kl.)riouH hop.- ! H„w worthy of our taking up the cross, and of •hey.og all Christ,'* commandments ! M.ny. i„ their zeal for the subjects and mode of baptism have, in their discussions of this subject, fpiite over- looked its figurative representations— hut these should be our chiff study. The ordinance becomes peculiarly sweet when we look at it in this point of view. We obey it as a command, but its figures fill our minds with comfort. Every subject /ills the child of God with pleasure in which he beholds Christ. III. Baptism is a profession of our faith in Christ. The common account of baptism is, that it is a sacrament, which signifies an oatL whereby we hind ourselves to give over evil and to do good. We learn nothing of this from the scriptures. What w arn from them is, that It IS an act of obedience to Christ, whereby we pn.fess our faith in him. Paul says I Cor. 10. 2, that the Israelites were baptised unto Moses in the cloud, and m tlie sea-meaning that they were initiated into the faith of the doctrine of Moses, by being immersed in the sen and cloud. This was a most decid- ed profession of belief in wi.at Moses spoke to them. Who would venture irrto the heart of the sea, while the water stood in heaps on each side of them, umier Ui« shadow of « thick and dark cloud, on any other principle than pure i«.^ S8 A Srhmon on Baptism. ftitli in the promised protection of God ^iven by Moses. So the believer is ba|.ti,.-d ii.to Christ, Rora. C. S.-inIo the faith of his death and rcsuirection. What el8« but faith, unfeigned faith in the d.ath of Christ as the only atone- ment could make a man forsak.- all,-all his self righteousncBs-^ll his good works— prayer.»---tears— and r.Iigions frclings :ind exeK-ises, lite, and take up hiH cross and follow Jesus Christ.' Whnt h.it real faith in the promise of Christ, of everlasting life, would, or could, make a man become the butt of the enmity, malice, revenge, und persecutions of his relations, friends, and neighbours, and deny himself to every fleshly and every worldly gratiflca- tio.i ? What but faith in, and love to the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only sa- viour of the guilty, could make a man devote Auuae// and his all to the ser- Tice of God— and make him willing to suffer even unto death, oot only for Christ himself, but also for his laws, and his ordinances— and his people? How true is it thatfuith purifieth the heart Acts lb. 9. overcometh the world, I John *. 4. worketh by love Gal. 1> 6. and leads us to endure every trial and every atBiction in this world, see lleli. It. throughout. Baptism is a fair and open profession of this faith. It is the first ordinance of the gospel, an en- teranc.5 upon a new life of constant dependence upon Jesus Christ, and of unfeigned submission to bis will,— and devotedness to his service. See Heb. II &£, 12. 1—6. IV. Baptism is a binding duty on the people of God. Whatever God commands, his people are bound to obey; if he has placed them in circumstances y«whidi they can obey. There may be circumstance* in which it is impossible to obey, such as deep distress. In such cases God will have mercy and not sacrifice. This is quite a different thing from ab- staining from baptism for fear of p.rsecutiixi. want of convenience, &c. It has been asked how men can be immersed where there is no water, and that there are some places where water cannot be found. This is trifling with the will of God. Can it be serimtsly thought that any person would live in a place where there could not be so much water found as would cover his body ? Would u man t.ot Havel oi.e «»r two hundred milts for gain or at the command of his sovereign— and is it t.io bard if it be absolutely necessary, to travel that distance to obey Christ ? Where is the man in Canada that could not reach a lake or river 1 " He who knoweth his master's will and do- «th it not, shall be beaten with many stripes." Many will tell us they cannot see this 8ubject,-take heed lest y-.n get stripes for sh.ttting your eyes on a plain precept. When Christ innlituted the preaching of the gospel, he in- stituted the baptisin- of ail who should l»elieve it. There is nu exception made. If any would tell Peter or Paul that they believed the gospel, but could not submit to baptism, they would reject them— for it was thu*the first Christians professed the taith. How would it sound with the Apostles to tell them that one professed their faith in infancy, through fathers, or godfathers. What! profess faith before yoti h d it! profess faith by proxy! This would look to the Apostles, as rank tciU-icoTsMp. A Sermon on Baptism. 87 SIb the pointed command of 4nnanias to Paul— 'trise, and be baptised, why tarriest thou !" Why do ye Iinj;t'r in oiH7ii)g Gud? Was it not your prayrr on the way, "Lord what wouldest thou have me to do 7" Christ would have you, Saul of Tarsus— you, latv'^ly the violent persecutor— Christ would have you to profess your faith in him by baptism— arise, and obey his will— Manifest your faith in him. No argument can excuse the neglect of this pointed command. Peter in his address to those who were pricked in their hearts on the day of (jentecost, told them to rtpenl and be baptised. It was no less tht'ir duty to be baptised than to npent. The one was necessary t« their believing thf gospel, (a change of mind) the other to their professing it. The same Lord commanded both — and all who profess to know the gospel, must manifest their knowledge by obedience. How many cry like Saul, " Lord what wilt thou have mc to do," and lend a deaf ear to Peter's com- mand. Astonishing. That a baptism, instituted by men in opposition to the baptism of Christ, as to mode and subjects — attended to in many cases by ungodly ministers, ungodly parents— and in all to ungodly children— %\\on\A be called the baptism of Christ— and should blind men's eyes on a plain com- mandment of the Lord Jesus. Some will be apt to say that we make every thing of baptism: no * we make it what it is; a pointed commandment of Jesus Christ, which must be attend- ed to, at the risk of his displeasure ; but we place every one of his command- ments on the same level. All must be attended to in their proper places. Those who believe must be baptised — They must join themselves to the peo- ple of God— love the brethren— obey all Christ's commandments, and attend to all his ordinances. This is a true manifestation of Christianity. It is the character of God's people that they tnmhle at his word- that they know Ghri jt's voice, and follow him— that they hear and obey the apostles. V. There is only one baptism. Some people, in order to throw dust in the eyes of their hearers, to keep them from seeing the truth upon this important subject tell us there were ma- ny baptisms under the law— and that the mode, if not the subjects of the N. T. baptism is of trifling moment. If the ordinance is attended to, it matteni little in their view, whether it is in childhood or in old age ; whether by sprink- ling or by immersion— any resemblance of baptism is enough. There we have three or four distinct ordinances attended to, all under the name of christiaa baptism. Yea some will acknowledge the primitive mode— and subjects— but tell us .hat times have altered, climates differ, &c. and that this warrants ^ different conduct in this respect. It is good if they do not apply the same rea- soning to the faith of the gospel. Indeed some do so to regeneration, and to the influence of the Holy Spirit. It is as just to apply this reasoning to the faith as to baptism. The application ov< rthrows Christ's authority as much m the one case as in the other. Such would do w.ll to weich the words nf 3amu«l to Saul, 1 Sara. 13. 18 and 1». 22, 28. " Te .bey is better than saoii- / / 88 A Sermon on Baptism. rti. flee, and to hearken than the fat of rams. Rt^bellion is a»the sin of witchcraft, anti stiibhoriint'89 a? ini()iiity and idolatry ; becatise thou hast rejected the wor* «f the Lord, he also hath rejected thee from being king." Paul sayfi, Eph. 4. 5. that there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. There is one (lod and Father, our creator, who has a right to coinmand us as he pleases — one Lord Jesus Christ, the only mc'difitor between Gt»d and man, throuf:;h %vhom the chief of sinners are olTered a free and full salvation— and one laplism, by attending to which we sht'W oiir faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and our obe lieiire to )iis will. The verses that close the N. T. ought to have their Aill f(»vcf upon our minds. R<^v. 2"!. 18, 19. " For I testify unto every man that hearetli the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto tliese thinais, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book ; and if any man shall take away from the words of the hook •f this prophrey. God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and <'Ut of the holy city, and /rom the things which are written in this book." What solemn language ! It is the character of antichrist to change laws and times, Dan. 7. 25. and the people of God had better retire from Babyhui, lest thuy partake of her plagues. Rev. IC. 4. Christ has ordained one baptism, and the man wh« changes, rejects, or despises this ordinance is accountable to him. What chris- tian does not tremble at the i lea of sujiporling antichrist— yet all who support infant baptism, are, however unwittingly, guilty of this crime. VL Though baptism is neither a sacrament, nor an oath, it is evidently a full profession of our having put on Christ's yoke, and enlisted under his ban- ner; and we are bound by this profession to d«fvote ourselves to his service. — Paul says, Gal. 3. 27 — As many as have been baptised into Christ, have put on Christ. Put on his ]>rofessinn.— encased in his s.Tvice. Ifu.-e we profes* ourselves to be the purchase of '^hrist's blood, and therefore profess our en- tire obligation to serve him with our bodies and spirits which are his. The o- bligations under wiiich we are laid are great and many. " I beseech you there- fore, brethren, by the mercies of Go I. that ye present your bodies a living sa- crifice, holy, acceptable unfo God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this worl i, but be ye transformed by tlie renewing of your minds, that ye may prove what is that good, ami acceptable, and perfect will o( G»d." Roi». 12. 1,2. See also Col. 3 all— Phil. 2. 1—17. "^^\ ^ A Sermon on Baptism. 89 witchcraft, 1 the wor4 CONCLUSION. n. There id us as he and man, 1— and one Christ, and have their every man shall add ire written r the book ife, and "Ut k." What . 7. 25. and ake of her > man wh« kVhat chris- t'ho support evidently a Jer his ban- s service. — at, have put ! we profes* )fess our en- lis. The 0- h you there- i a livinji; sa- :e. And be irinji; of your terfect will ol 1st. Prom what has been said you will see, that though baptism neither saveb the soul, nor rlcanses it from its pollution, yet it is of |;reat importance as an •rdinance of Clirist ; and also as a fifrure. of that which puri^le^ the soul from all its fllthuH'SK— and fits it for the heavenly kiiimloui. It is an outvvar 1 figure of an inward j^race, alrealy possessed by the believer. It is a profession of faith in that blood which justifies thetm'^odly, and purifies the eonseience from dead works to serve thelivin;; God. The outward ceremony brings the sinner no nearer to (lod than he was before— it neither purifies the heart nor the con- science— but is an act of obedicMice to Christ, in which the baptised professes t« be a child of (3od, and servant of Christ. 2iil. From what we have said above it is pliin, that it is the duty and the privilege of every child of Cod to be baptised. The duty arises from Ihe coinman.hnent of Christ— and what a privilege, for a poor guilty sinner, for- merly the enemy of Cod, to confess Jesus Christ as his saviour— his prophet— his priest— his king— his eMer brother— his fellow heir— and his everlastinj portion. Tiiis he does in baptism. Srd. Some will think we are keen to make people haptints. This we deny. If tins were the cast! we shoidd not live five years among you, yea, seven years in Canada, without preaching on the subj.ct. We never shrunk from giving our view on this or on any other subject when it came in our way— but we ne- ver til) now selected the subject. We are not keen to make baptists. We would not, on any consideration, baptise one in whom we had not t!ie fullest uoufidence as a christian. We are keen to get people converted to God, and then we would urge such to he baptised, and to observe all things that Christ Lath comnaanded. This is our faith in the word of Go.l, and thus have we ac-'\ ted for seventeen years. We are not amoti^ those that court controversy, but V we shrink not from the fullest investigation of our faith and practice. We are ^ yi'ry confident of h iviog the right side of the question, and we know the more j it is examined, controverted, and opposed, it will become the plainer. We wish t!very man and woman to be fully persuaded in their own minds. Blmd ' obedience is not acceptable to God. It is the duty of every htuirer and reader, to "prove all things, and hold fast that which is good." To "try the spirits whether they :ire of God." May the Lord open tht; eyes of sinners to see the gospel— and the eyes of believers to see his whole will as n^vealed in\he scrip- ttjres. If the above have either of these effects our la()our will not be m Tain ; and if otherwise we are confident we have done a duty nliich we ewed 12 APPENDIX. I'i l^-A It is written, Isaiah 59. 19. " When the enimy shall come in like a flood j th<^ «pi'it of the Loid ^hall lift up a standard againHt him." This 8ti«ndard of thu spirit of thf Lord must he lifted up through his people. They are •oininaiided to prove the spirita whether tht-y are of God, 1 John. 4. 1. an4 to contend for the faith delivered tu the aaints. Jude. 3. Many atteinpt8 have been made in Canada, to prejudice the minds of the people against the scriptural view of christian bi.ptism: and to exhort them to ol-edience to the commandments of men in baptising infants. The des ga of this appendix is to take brief notice of two of these attempts— the one by a periodical worf called the Christian Recorder and the other in a small tract, said to be the production of the bishop of St. Asapli's. If the doctrine taught by these books b.- true, it must he a very sinful thing to neglect infant bap- tism. In the first of these the editor says, p. 91. "Let all christians re- member that baptism is a solemn admission into the visible church— a title to grace and remission of sins, and that the grace promis^ed, is n.»t merely offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost in this sacra- ment, upon all who truly fepent of their sins." Where is the scripture proof of this non.^ensical jumble of ideas ? We are first told that " it is a solemn admission into theVisible church." Of this no p oof is offered. The apostles admitted no infants. J.khn 1. 1«, 13. Secondly, " it is a title to grace and remission of s,ns." Does not this lo..k like purchasing remission by submission to baptism ? But where is the promise ] Perhaps in Mark 16. 16. i^ Acts 2. 38. Here however repentance, and the belief of the gos- pel precede baptism ; each of which infa.nt9 are incapable. Next we are told, '• this grace is confeir.d in this sacrament." Upon whom ? h tt on infants 1 Ho ' " Upon all who t.-nly repent of their sins." Then as infants cannot re- i,ent, they cannot have this iriace conferred upon them in baptism. Nay ' they are thus excluded from baptism. But where do the scriptures say ih.t Kraceis conferred in baptism ? No where. Grace and remission ,n scr.Pture are connected with repentance and faith ; and the gift (or grace) of tu aoly spirit was conferred sometimes h, fore baptism, Acts 10. 47. and so,neti,ne9 after baptism Act. 8. 16. Wnai then is the grace conferi-ed -n baptism .- We know ol none hut their being received into the church of Kngland, and we' know thiH is not the work of the holy spirit. If ma have not the grace of God previous to baptism, the scriptures do not warrant their be,„g bap- tised, is for th. authority of churches, or bishops, we are not conc^en.d about them, any more -.han about that of a Quaker, who d--:«J^7"i'"^. ,, i,.._ »r,. th" vamp rinrnnrt lathe reasoning ot me e Aphendix. 91 ke a flood ; is sti'iidard They are I. 4. 1. an4 inds of the xhort them The des g« -the one by small tract, riiie tau;i;ht infant bap- iiistians re- rch— a title lot merely I this sacra- e scripture lat " it is a (Tered. The is a title to ; remission ps in iMark of the gos- ve are told, un infants 1 a cannot re- ism. Nay, •es say lb tt in scripture Df tu aoly soinetiinea (iiptism ?— igland, and »t the grace being hap- concerned 3 the ordin- ng of the e- ditor's correspondent, S. G. only he adds sompthing more ^ross; via. That infaifs are regt-neratt'd, mide members of Christ, children of Ood, .tnd in- heritors of the liingdoin of heaven, p. 94. This is speaking out ! The bishop •ays, " baptism, as halh been observed, la the appointed rite- of admission ii»to the corenaiit with God, ttiroiigh the merit of Christ. By such admis- sion, we are removed out of that state of nature, wherein we were born the children of wrath, subject to thed'iDin of that original si i, wiiich we inherit from our first parents; and are placed in a state of grace and salvation, and made heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Children are just as capable of this benefit from baptism, as persons of ripe years." Caution against the dan- gerous errors of anabaptists, page 8.* The first paragraphs in p. p. 9 k 1 1 are to the same purpose. I am sorry to discover in these quotations, an error of much more cons«- quence, than a wrong view oi ither the subjects or mod-- of baptism. Ma- ny who contend f(»r baptism as a privilege, and duty of Christian parents, Vi'ould spurn at the above d>tctrine, and exclaiin---what i tissue of false d»»c- trine! S. G. declares infants nre rtgeiierated in baptism ; that is, says the bishop, in a quotation from Irenoeus p. 12—" (a new birth) unto God." The regeneration, or new birth, spoken of in scripture takes place upon the mind, and is the eflect of the powerful operation of the spirit of God, operating by the word. '* Except a man be born of water (or of the word Eph. 5. 25) and of the spirit he cannot see the kingdom of God." John S. 3, 5, 7. 1 Peter 1. 23. It is not the corruptible seed of a little water pour- ed upon the head that begets a sinner tu God. but the incorruptibJe seed of the word of God. See also, John i. 13. Jas. l. 18 && 1 John 5. 1. The word regeneration occurs twice in the English translation of the N. T. In the first, Matth. 19. 23. it signifies the new state of things, or new dis- pensation. In the other. Tit. 3. 5. it evidently m ^.nOj- ^.^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET {MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 13.2 *^ lilM V 14 2,5 1.8 14 |||i|!.6 fiioujgiBpnic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 \ % V # \\ ^? \ ^^ '9> I,-* 92 Appendix. its iiifiiicnoe, tliat constitutea a man n christian, or gives liim any title to any ordinanc* of Christ. Is this the rp»enpration for which our. authors contend as tailing plact*. it baptism ? 1 fear not ! Infants are incapable of this regenenition. ReptMi- tance and faith are its foundations, and infants are incapabh; of either. The command of Jesus is not, as the bishop affirms, "to baptise all nations," but to discipl.' the nations, as he himself proves p. 4. and then baptise them.-" Both these authors, however, laxj aside the renovation of t!ie spirit of God, and substitute spri.ikling with watir in its place. All who hold this scriptural Tiew are by them denounced heretics, and enthusiasts. Such however, wa« the enthusiasm and heresy of the apostles of Christ—such was the profession they requiredof those whom they baptised, and to whom they gave the Lord's supper, and we think no shame to bear r -proach for holding their doctrine--and acting according to their practice. See, 1 Peter I. 9,3. Eph. 2. 1, 10. Acts If/. 9. Rom. 6. 2, 17, 18, 22. 1 John 3. 4. fci. :». 8, 9, 10. The fruits of the new birth are (iescribed. 1 John 3. 9. &, 4. 7 &- &. 4, 18. &tc. Here then ia an important error— an error that subverteth the soul, Act« 15 24. — A laying aside of that spiritual, inward change, which ('hrist says is absolutely necessary to any onts entering into the kingdom of heaven. The bishop has a gloss upon this text, John 8. 5. and presses it into hi« service — but he cannot prove that the water in the text means baptism—the reverse is evident as the birth nmst be from above— by the spirit — and the word is the sword of the spirit- by it he begets to God. Jas. 1.18. 1 Pe- ter 1. 22, 2.^. His translation of John 3. .'». & M;itth. 28. 19. 20. is Just and joes directly to prove our views of the sul)ject. We are not afraid to meet a fair translation of scripture. Where the bishop found the dictionaries that translate bapt!zo,oi-its root orderivatives only to tvash we know not,(f he truth is, it signifies a particular kind of washing viz. by dipping, plunging, or immersing. It is not common to wash by sprinkling) but we have never seen them; and we have read many books on infant baptism, but none of their authors told us that they had seen such dictionaries. They must be scarce, and made by in- terested men. We know Ui. Campbell would have notited th^ m had they existed in his days. The church of England decided against them in her best days. S. G. and the bishop both maintain that infants are made members of Christ and children of God in biiptism. What a pity tliey do not continue so. As soonast'iey come to age they manifest themselves members of this world,— servants of sin, and eliiidreu of the devil. This is the case with them universally. They shew that they are still in a state of nature and chil- dren of wrath by walking after the maxims and practice of the world. Eph. 2. 2, .-i. Tit. 3. ?. It will puzzle S. G. and the bishop to shew twenty or thirty of those baptised in irifaticy growing up holy and devoK d to God from their youth. IVotwithstandwig the bishop's horror at leaving children without, T'T^r Appendix. 98 title to any :ing placti ia >n. Rf'ptMi- ilher. The ations,'' but ise them.-'- irit of God, is scriptural twever, wat e profession e the Lord's octrine-and I, 10. Acts fruits of the ! soul, Act* ihrist saysii aven. s it into his iptism---lhe rit — and the 18. 1 Pe- ls Just and aid to mnet nnan'es I hat [the truth )s> immersing, them ; and uuhors told made Ky hi- n had they 1 in her best le meml:eri ot continue )ers of this ! case with re and chii* orld. Eph. twi'rily or ) God from en without, wh« he calls, thf.,r i^ord's mark-yet his own children, and all the children of Hi! the hi.hops &, Drs. inF.„gland & Canada, without one exception, shew themselves children of the devil till conv.r.ed to God through the h.lief of the gospel. Baptised and unbaptised children are the same i-, principle and conduct till they b.liev.. ,he gospel. True, the bishop would call unbaptised ch.ldren, heathen, but as his baptised or christian children are the .ame in pr.r,c.ple and practice, the name only does hurt. It makes ihe.n think them- selves christians, while they are the children of wrati.-SpR,xR,.ED Hfa- THEN From all we can learn from the scriptures, men are mad^ members of Christ, or members of his church, by faith in ihe testimony of God, and IV no other way. Rom. 4 1??, U, 16. Gal. A. 2, 7. 11. Eph. 4. 5 Heb U 6. Rom.3..J2,2^,3o.&,.o. 1. Gal. 2. 16. k 3. 22, 24, 26. Eph. .^.' Ig! Acts ,3 38,39. John 6. 40. 45. 51, 53. This faith is manifested by its fruits, Jas. 2. 14 to ,he end. 1 John 2. 3. 4, 5. 15. (^ 3. 3 to the end. If Ihese passages speak truth, all on. baptised infants, are not the children of ^..d. They are only sprinkled heathen, who.e conduct from the womb, Fsalin 58. 3, 4 prove them to be the children of the devil. John 8. 44 1 John 3. 8. ^»i * As to their being made heirs of the kingdom of heaven by baptism, it h of uom'iThi" J T' "' '«-'-^^*""« *'■'•'"•• Let Christ and his Apo.tles speak upon this subject. Rom. 4. .0. 1^ 8. 17. Gal. 3. 29. 8. 4 7. Heb. 11. 7. J n.es S. a. Peter 3. 7. From these passages we see that those only who are made children by faith in Christ J.sos are the heirs of eternal life We do not say .hat children will no, be admitted to hea.en-„ay we believe all dv- .ngininlancy will go there -.-oot by baptis.n-but by the sovereign m.Jy of God. Neither baptism nor any other ordinance, iv.8 a titl. to the hea- veiny kingdom; but the faith of the go.pel ; John 3. 36. and the grauof As to the appointment of god-fathers, and god-mother., it is of man's ma- king. But It IS truly astonishing tha, a„y .u.e io his senses would coined . der such engagements. Can they fuliil their promise ? Can they convert ^''Z:i^Z Z' ' .,^'-^'^«^^-" an enemy of God to Lodship vvi.h him ? Can they reconcile sinners unto God ? What a burlesque upon common sense to re.p.ire persons to become securities for what thev cannot peitorm! Read 2 Cor. 5. .7 to the end. From this passage! and a Z: made clinslian." M.-ht w,. not Hsk ■Ctl.P ri.,.,i..„r. '.■.i , j- much joy of ynur new by R|.nakun^ w;..er up , ts r' ' A.p ,1 p .! "' "": . •■^'''/'''''''^ "jakc an i„innt a cl.rist.a,, f.;.,; I,..a,h..ili„,„ „ , ; ,i3,i';'L ,|,t't.|'n,r "'?""'''''■'" """ke''il'l'-0" ar. turned irnd« rhnstians in a lew v ar. tur on .'h-, I, . '*''■'' J''", "'i' " **'^->'" ""■"•^ ""^ Tiny (TO astray from (Jo,rt,' n" .r"we.n.< l^ VV." "^ "'%'^r''' '""' ''" '''« ^^"'•'^•• and .w..,r to hrm- .hem u,. m lie' nZZ^ it a "''' '/ \^'''^'' P'o-ents tl.at vow, lie ami cheat thair 'ieiillboure. ' """^ admonition »t the Lord, teach them .6 ,- i / 94 Appendix. sand others that mi(;ht he quoted, it is plain, that the turning of a sinner from a state of nature to a statt- of n^mce, from a state of enmity against God, to a stale of reconciliation; from being an heir of everlasting destruction t > ba an heir of eternal life, Sic. Sic. is the vork «»f the spirit of God, through th« medium not of bapti-«m or of any other ordinance, but of the word of thr li- ving God as preached by Christ and by his Apostles. With respect to the bishibp's quibbling upon var'ous passages of scripture to escabiish a mode of baptism contrary to tkie word of God, and to the articles and long practice of his-own church, we pay little regard to them. We have shewn the mode and subjects of apostolic baptism above. If the command of Christ, understood according to the plain rules of just criticism, & the example of the apostles are to be regarded, all his explanations fall to the ground. It only remains that he did not understand the scriptures, a thing too common with men of his coat. Those who wish to know the mind of Christ, will see, from what we have said above, what is meant by baptism, and to whom It belongs : as for others, they would not believe, if even an old bishop were to arise from the dead and tell them the same thi gs. Our authors would have us to notice that it ie the church that has ordained soi and so. Be it so. What is the church to us I We ask the church ; we ask all its votaries; who gave them this autho- rity? It was not Christ — It was not the Holy Ghost — It was not the Apos- tles. No ! it was Irenoeus, a corrupter of the doctrines and ordinances of Christ. Justin Martyr does not say it was by baptism that christians were made disciples — uo, 't was by faith. It is the bishop that changes his mean- ing. As to the bishop's forms of prayer &c. he may enjoy them for himself— we know all that are taught of God will pray by the influence •"..i direction of the Hilly Spirit in their own minds, i om. 8. 26, !27. Forms of prayei may be convenient to those who know not God, and who know not their own wants, but their prayers are abomination to the Lord. The Bishop more than hints that baptists were among the worst of charac- ters, and may be so now ; but he does not tell us who they were. It is a thrust in the dark. If he, or any of his friends, have any thing against the present baptists, let them come forward mhnfully and declare it. They may call our doctrines blasphemy, so did their forefathers in sentiment, tlie Scribes and Pharisees call the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles. If our lives are wrong they ought in charity to correct us. If we are against the state, (a very com- mon charge against the pe»»ple of God) let them apply the whitlesome laws of our country to us. We shrink not from the fullest investigation. We have always denied fellowship to those who have, in any manner, acted con- trary to the laws, or against our Sovereign King George. Our conduct, in this respect, has uniformly proved the ai.icerity of our profession. We may liecharge:peak perverse things, and that wolves should enter among them, Acts ilO. 2'J, 30, Let me conclude with advising the Bishop and others of the same cast to consult, Gal. 1. 8, 9 and Rev. 22. 18, 19. Can tlittf overturn thtae paasas;ea mt thf judgment. I have nothing persmial against the above cited authors, nor against any minister or member of their church— a regard to truth— to the dortrine and ordinances of Christ— and regard for the good of the people of God, is my only motive. I know of nothing in the world that would give me more joy than to learn that any or all of these gentlemen were converted to God--b(>iM of God- -and made ubcUient tu bis will. TUen we ibouldhave' chaiufions ou Christ's side. N. B. From the author's desire to encourage the manufacturers of paper in Canada, the work ha-l to In- pruiteil on four kinds of paper. This was una- voiilable witiiout a great iel,iy,J»iji not known till 40 ftageswere printed. He hopes, however, his readers will litok mare to the m itbT of the bo(»k than to the pap.T. As the work isprinteJ in an octavo form it is not (juite 100 pages, bad itbeen in 12 mo. as first proposed, it would exceed 120 pages. The reader is requested to correct the following mistakes with 1. pen — Title page 1 Cor. '5.1. &c. 4th line from bottom read^rst instead of part. p. 32—17 line from bottom read — 4 line from bottom dttest dvttct. 41-— 7 do. do. do. act for set an.l diieci, for directing. 41 — (3 lio. do. do. leave out how jfter oath. P. P. P. P. P. P. P. 43-11 from top — insert have after or who. m — 2 do. do. insert demands a/i(i— before penaltiet, :)5 — Bottom line real Babylon. 8£-,"i2i2 fr«ra top insert we s«e after the verses. ^'