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 1 
 
 2 
 
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 6 
 
 I 
 
!^ 
 
 A 
 
 a^ 
 
 111 
 
 ^^m^smi 
 
 or 
 
 Cfje ^Ineient anlj i^oliem 
 
 CEEMGY. 
 
 or 
 
 >1> 
 
 H. LLOYD. 
 
 gjiiM<3i!^fii^d sa<DS7!r:oA2)d ^^s}. 
 
 " O Israel, thy Prophets are like Foxes in the Desert,^^ — Ezekiel 
 13 and 4. 
 
 " But there were False Prophets awiug the People^ as thtre shall 
 be false Teachers among yoUy^ — 2cl Peter, 2 and 1. 
 
 i* 
 
I 
 
 !^ 
 
 %* 
 
SKETCHES, &c. 
 
 A HE Reader is respectfully informed that, with the Clergy as 
 men, the writer neither has, nor ever had, any quarrel ; and con- 
 sequently is not actuated by any pique at^aiast them. And 
 while it is attempted to shciw how awfuHy they have depart- 
 ed from the simplicity of priuiitive Christianity, it is with a view 
 to convince, net to offend. 
 
 There is nothing more common, than to brand those who at- 
 tempt to correct and expose the errors of the Church, as enemies to 
 the Slate. 
 
 In reference to this, I declare, that I am bound by the law of 
 the King, whose kingdom is not of this world, lo be subject to 
 the Powers that be, in every thing that reiz;arJs civil conduct. In 
 ftvery thing that docs not affect my duty to God; and even 
 should it so happen, that the civil power were to restrict the liber- 
 ty of my conscience, I would not be at liberty to resist, but if 
 persecuted in one city, to flee to another. Therefore, it is not my 
 design, in the following pages, to meddle with state matters ; but to 
 exhibit, in their true colours, what passes tor Holy and Reverend 
 among men, while such high sounding titles are assumed to op- 
 pose the simplicity of the truth of God. 
 
 Universal ob?ervation shews, that the soul ol Man is formed for 
 the Worship of God. With this intiate disposition, Mankind 
 have, among all nations and tribes, something in the shape of re- 
 ligion. Whatever religion any people einbrac.-d, there were al- 
 ways to be found among them some who assumed to themstlveg 
 the cliaracter of being in a higher degree of intimacy and favour 
 with the particular divinity the people fancied, than the rest. - 
 And it is equally true, that the number and respectability of those 
 alwHvs have borne, and do bear, a proportion to the emolument 
 attached to the profession. 
 
 Thai it may be understood whom 1 mean by Clergy, I denomi- 
 rate all by this appellation, who become religious teacnersj for 
 livelihood, whether Pacran. Jewish, or Christian. 
 
 'agan, 
 
 J^Ho'it 
 
These men corrupted the traditionary traces of the true God, liy 
 mixing therewith their own inventions, till soon they delucned tlie 
 wo* id with the most brutish fooleries, " professing themselves to 
 be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incor- 
 ruptible God into an Image made like unto corruptible man," " and 
 «ven creeping things." There is one invariable treat of their cha- 
 racter, they were very fond of money. Their temples were gene- 
 rally the richest treasuries in the nations, and every attentive reader 
 of the page of history, must be horror-struck with the assassina- 
 tions, brutal murders, slaughters, and carnage, which desolated 
 the earth, to which the responses of oracles and intrigues of wicked 
 ^avaricious priests, have been made subservient. 
 
 India, China, and Africa exhibit, at this day, a striking parallel 
 to Egypt, Syria, and Greece, in ancient times, 
 
 5!ctoi^l) economy* 
 
 When the people of the nations, with their sage leaders, had near- 
 ly obliterated every trace of the character of the only livmg and 
 true God ; he called a man, whom he constituted the Father of a 
 Typical people. This people were honoured to be the deposito- 
 ries of the connnunications of God to the world. To them wero 
 given laws and institutions, and among them were appomted a 
 Priesthood to serve in the Tabernacle and Temple. _ ^ 
 
 But soon did the gold become dim, soon did appear in the Priests 
 office (A.) Sons of Belial, *' they knew not the Lord," manilestmg 
 they were such by their avarice. The Jewish people were very 
 prone to idolatry, and they always found numbers desirous of 
 the censor and ephod. If the King feared the Lord, they were 
 lept in check ; if otherwise, they were among the iirst to unhirl 
 the banners of idolatry. *' Put me into the Priest's othce, that I 
 may eat a piece of bread " was intimated to be their ruling motive. 
 The denounciations of the Prophets, who were inspired ot God to 
 testify agMinst them, shew their character m their true colours, 
 (B.) •' Hia watchmen are blind," " dumb dogs:" yea, they are 
 
 /* \ 1„* C„^ It lO in Ifl. 
 
 IfS,^ 131 tJHIW - It .— --- - -• 
 
 B. i^aiab LYl. lOandllr 
 
 :j h. - ♦*** ^1 
 
K 
 
 greedy dogs, which can never have enough." (C.) " Ye eat th« 
 
 fat, and clothe you with the wool, but ye Feed not the flock."- 
 
 They, like the Heathen Clergy, were cruel, as well as avaricious, 
 and their rancour was directed chiefly against the prophets of the 
 Lord, who testified against them, so that Stephen, full of the 
 Holy Spirit, could charge the High Priest and his Brethren ; 
 (D,) " which of the Prophets have not your Fathers persecuted ?" 
 " In due time, the great Prophet sent from God, (to whom all 
 the Prophets gave witness,") ap])eared ; their malignity now arrived 
 at its highest pitch. They held him up to the people as a " deceiv- 
 €1," " a friend to Publicans and Sinners," " a wine biber," ascrib- 
 ed the miracles he performed to infernal agency, arraigned him as 
 guilty of " blasphemy and sedition," on which charges they pre-, 
 vailed on the Roman proconsul to sentence him to death. (E) Thus 
 *' He, who was by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of 
 God," to be the great final sacrifice for si u, was by them put ta 
 death, under the mfluence of the worst and basest of motived. 
 
 The founder of this institution, in the days of his ministry on 
 tarth, chose certain persons to be his attendants, and thereby be 
 more qualified for the great work in which they were to be employ- 
 ed (F). He informed them that when he should enter into his glory, 
 he would constitute them law-givers in his Spiritual Kingdom; 
 when about to leave them, he addres .d his Heavenly Fatlier in 
 their hearing, and said, (G.*) '* As thou hast sent me into the 
 world, even so have I also sent them into the worM." 
 
 After he arose from the state of the dead, he continued forty days 
 with them, instructing them in the things concerning his king- 
 
 (C.) Ezek XXXIV. 3. 
 
 (D.) Acts, VII r)2. 
 (F.,) People generally talk of the Scribes and Pharisees, as a very ir- 
 religious people, and s-o they were ; but in one sense, as far as man cauhi 
 judge, they were a very pious lioly set of men ; they hiid selrcteH tf'xt* 
 of scripture, which were written on their foreheads & garments ; ihey fast- 
 ed, prayed, sacrificed, as frequently and deceuilyi ad uny rcligioui peo- 
 ple could do, but self was the ruling motive, 
 
 (F.) Math. XIX ,28. 
 
 (G ) John, XVll. 18. 
 
 ♦*** ^% 
 
tloiTi ; and having ascended to Heaven in tiieir sight, he shed forth 
 a miraculouH effusion of the holy spirit upon them. 
 These Heralds of Heaven went forth into all the world. '' Tlu? 
 Lord working with (or by) them, confirming his word with signw 
 following".(H)" These disinterested servant^^ of Jesus, announced tho 
 working of Antichrist in their own day. That truth which never 
 could be overcome by open enennes, began to be tJtrnislied by false 
 friends. Paul wrote to the Cimrch in Pliilippi, " -weeping over 
 the io who were enemies to the cross of Christ, whose end, says he, 
 " is destruction, whose God is their belly, who mind earthly things.'* 
 "Were he to visit what is called Christendom now, the inference is 
 easy. These inspired servants of God finished their course, and 
 Avere called home, havinic h>ft " the mind of Christ" on record, as 
 the only infallible rule for the government of his church to the end 
 of the world. 
 
 Things were not allowed to remain long in the purity the A- 
 postles left them : as tht re were false Prophets among the Jewish 
 people, so false teachers appeared in t lie church. Fanaticism and 
 her austerities, mortification:, visions, false miracles, and reve- 
 lations, were the first engines the prince of darkness set in motiou 
 to defeat and tarnish the cause of God in the world. 
 
 The iron hand of persecution under the reigns of Nero, Domi- 
 tian, Sevcrus, Trajan and others, kept worldly pride in check; 
 but when a calm or cessation was obtained, Prelatical arrogance 
 raised its unhallowed head. *' The let (hindrance) thai prevented 
 the revelation ©f the mystery of iniquity," was taken out of the 
 way, and then connnenced the Clerical Harvest. Constantine, the 
 Great (but not the good) for the lirst time, brought' the religion of 
 Jesus into nadonal repute ; instantly it exchanged humility, self 
 denial, and vital godfiness, for pomp, luxury and sensuality. 
 
 Heathen and Jewish Clergy now entered their names on the 
 Christian list, and carried with them a convenient portion of their 
 old religion to mix with the new. They soon disagreed, consigned 
 one another ahernately to damnation, and .ach made his court to 
 the civil power, to be the arbiter. Councils were now convened, 
 and their dogmas irsued forth with the high tone of infallibility. 
 1\, complete the deformity, the Tiara is invented, infallibility con- 
 fened on its wearer, the Keys of Heaven, slung by his side, and 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 (H.) Mark XVI. 20. 
 ilA '2a Thess. 11- 7. 
 
n 
 
 Clergy and Kings taught to tremble at his Ji-pl. a^iire, Jesii^, 
 who while on earth, " had not where to lay his head," luid now 
 a Vit^ar on earth, wlio arrogated to himself such dignity, that he 
 deemed it coudericension to allow even a King to kiss his toe ; and 
 instead of the harmless, mild, meek, and mereiful dejiortinent of 
 Christ and his Apostles, more cruelty, intrigue, bloodshed and 
 misery to mankind, diverged from the Conclave of Home, than 
 from the Oracles of Delphos or Ecbatana. 
 
 In process of time, many Kings and people, too long the dupes 
 of this arrogance, threw oiX a part of Clerical domination ; civil 
 rulers resisted the idea, that they were bound on pain of forfeiting 
 Heaven and their Crowns^ to butcher every one of their subject^, 
 (how-ever good otherwise,) that did not receive the Roman Pontiff, 
 or his Missionaries, as lords of their coMscienco. 
 
 Things having now tak..n a turn, the Clergy, always worldly- 
 wise, generally adopted the religion that was embraced by their 
 respective rulers, whether Episcopalian or Presbyterian, while 
 some, with a false zeal, stirred up opposition te the rulers, (because 
 their party and creed were not adopted into court favour,) con- 
 trary to the spirit and doctrine of Christ and his Apostles. 
 
 The party who obtained court patronage, no sooner acquired 
 this darling object, than they stirred up persecution against all 
 who differed from them, (though the hue changed, the stmg wa-^ 
 the same,) embroiling the nations into feuds, till at length, in the 
 good providence of God, the Britisii Legislature digested a con- 
 stitution, which put a check to the narrow and wicked policy of 
 the Clergy. One important feature of which is, " that men are 
 not subject to pains and penalties, on account of their reHgiou* 
 opinions, if good members of society, and loyal subjects of the 
 stale." Thrice within these last thirty years was the old hue and 
 cry raised, (K,) " The Church is in danger." 
 
 But the British Scepter is now wielded to guard a man worship- 
 ing God according to his conscience, as well as to intimidate and 
 restram evil doers, shielding the conscientious disciple of Jesus, 
 from the all-devouring machinations of spiritual wickedness in high 
 places. 
 
 I formerly mentioned that I appropriated the appellation Clergy 
 to those who set up for religious teachers, for the sake of liveli- 
 
 (K ) The riot sifrainst Dr. Priestly, The Ediuburgh Pa:!toral Adraoni- 
 iiiiW uiiU Lord bidiiiouib'ii^ill. 
 
 I 
 
8 
 
 k'i>d. Tins fVat'.^rniJy, from the wearer oF the diadem, fringed 
 roix', or the gown and bands, to the poor lazy grunting lanalic, are 
 all actuated by the same sordid motive. I wish to be understood. 
 It is self-evident, that the man wlio attaches himself to a profession, 
 for the sake of advantage., would not attach himself to it, werif 
 no advantage conneitetl with it. 
 
 This selfish avarice* is by no means confined to the Gentlemen wlio 
 have their salaries hxed by the laws of the land, who apply from 
 time to time for an increase, in proportion to the increased value 
 of land in their parislies; who, when a " better livmg" i-5 vacant, 
 b.tit every hook to obtain it, 'ind having " got a call" to this be- 
 neiice, state as a reason for leaving their former adherents, that 
 they have a cail iVom God to leave them ; which call, and which 
 God, if tried by the test ot truth, would be found to be " the god 
 of this world." 
 
 Avarice, even in a more covert manner, is equally chai^eabl« 
 on Dissenters, (many of whom are such because they cannot get 
 into tiie cstabliohm Mits,) who to obtain a party, enter on the 
 cralty stratagem of declaniation against this or that practical error 
 in othe/s, and preach up their ])artition tenet, perhaps baptism — 
 indejKHident church-go-ernment, patronage, the covenants, or 
 somethins; else, geticrally any thmg but the truth concerning 
 Christ. This would not answer, this would not gather a multi- 
 tude, that from collections aud seat rents, would yield a sum suf- 
 ficient to maintaiii the Minister in the station of a gentleman. No, 
 the ungodly sordid motive could r .jver be gratified by copying 
 Apostolic doctrine, while something vastly different from Apos- 
 tolic practice is th<' moving cause of the procedure : on the con- 
 trary, in public, toe feelings are wrought uj)on by the fervour of 
 the preacher; in [)rivau^, die v>'eahhier part of the audience are vi- 
 sited, and almost sulibcat» d, by the designing adulation of the in- 
 cense bearing Ministt^r. To receive honour from such a quarter, 
 is gratifying to the palate of Conceited man ; an interest is generat- 
 ed in his betiall ; certain persons are united as managers; they 
 gather subscriptions, borrow money, for which they unite in a 
 bond ; t* house is built ; it is advertised, th t if ye pay rent for a 
 seat, you will get leave to iiear the gos[>el,orcomeas a poor person, 
 and you will get leave to hear for r.othing. A man whose '* pt-rson 
 is held in ad'.niration because ot advantage," is advertised to preach, 
 at which time coiUriions are to bo made at the doors. I'.very 
 iikcaus which uvaiice can dictate, or xmercenary cunning devise, is 
 
c.-nployed by what are called preachers. What is called a church 
 are gathered, and the uniting bond, the Queen Bee of this hive, is 
 the Minister ; the study and consideration of the scriptures is left 
 to him, " that is his business, he is paid for it." Trie people come 
 to church as to a religious theatre, at least a part come to see and 
 be teen, and <heir after talk is, this, that and the other person's 
 dress and appearance ; and others with real, though mistaken se- 
 riousness, to hear sermon, their after conversation generally is the 
 man and not the matter, "He was very bright to day;" '' \yas 
 he not clever on this or the other idea ?" Again, if any little thing 
 be fashionable and obtain the sanction of the managers, it is im- 
 mediately complyed with ; and if any advantage to the preacher is 
 connected with it, it is even advocated ; for instance, the man who 
 never saw any other instrument than the lips used in the promis- 
 cuous praise of God, he was accustomed to, complies with a pipe 
 or flute, and a select band of not the most pious of his congrega- 
 tion, to raise some other melody than that of the heart. The man 
 who never saw a Miniriter aticnd a funeral, but as a private 
 Hend, complies with the fashion (and is paid for it) to attend in 
 an official capacity to have the dead body brought into a house, 
 and over it to speak to the people, and concerning the deceased, 
 which requires but a small transition to be converted to opening 
 a passage to the deceassd into Heaven. Baptism, Marriage, the 
 whole hfe and exit out of the world, is converted by the Clergy, 
 as far as may be, to mercenary purposes. 
 
 This being one of the most lucrative professions extant, peo- 
 ple train up their children for it, as for a civil or mechanical pro- 
 fession. A boy is sent to the college, and there instructed in all 
 the wisdom his capacity can receive, and taught to speak on reli- 
 gion, and practise for the pulpit, as for a religious theatre ; but 
 as sure as the word of God is true, it is not in the combined 
 power of all the colleges on earth, to give to one man the know- 
 ledge that qualifies h m to be a preacher of the glad tidings con- 
 cerning Christ. The knowledge .ind belief of the gospel are " the 
 gift of God,''' (L.) " The mdural 7t,an reieivetk not the things 
 ef the Spirit of God^ for they are foolishness unto him, neither 
 
 •an he know them, because theif are spirituaUij discerned,^' 
 
 The divine teacher saitli, (M.) " Every one that hath heard ami 
 
 (h.) 1st Cor. II. 14. 
 |M j John VI. 45. 
 
10 
 
 learned of the Failur, cometh unto ME." It is wonderful to 
 reflect, hov. custom and unheli.-f reeconcile to the most palpable 
 deviations fropi divine truth. To the present age is applicable t le 
 expostulation, (N.) " The Prophrts prophecy falsely, and the 
 Priests bear rule by their means, and my (profes. d) people love 
 to have it so, and what will ye do in the end V No wonder that 
 the (profession of) religion of Clergy and People has contributed 
 to lead men who choose to be candid, and not to be lexl by la- 
 shion, to discard religion altogethor as a solemn farce. 
 
 If those who set up as toi'chers for hire were to assume to them- 
 selves merely the character of teacliers of morality civilization, 
 domestic and political economy, &c. I would say that they do 
 immense good to society and to the state, ana as .ueli are richly 
 deserving of state and social rexvards. But_^ when men, calhng 
 thems8l.es rci,gious, have in the plcnnude of '';';>^"!^f2' " 'j 
 ro-ated to thSnseKes the titles oi the Eternal God "holy and 
 re;erond." the titles of the " Apostles of the LavrA," " Ambas- 
 ,adorB for Christ," while no t.ace of the zea and disn.teres ednes. 
 ol the Apostolic character is to be '^^P'-f^^'u them while they 
 cause divisions andollences, conUary to the doctrine tl'« Apostles 
 taudit, serving their ov..a belly,(0.) " and by .';-d w-f ""^^^ 
 «,«cl.e-. dcceiv" tiie hearts ol the srniple : let the Uisupleg 
 
 try^d pomp of the Christian Ciergy all .long from the days of 
 ronstai t-.n-'o th-. present time, been consistent wah divine appro- 
 fa fot 'a on hie tosup^^ke, that .ho dispensation which th. 
 
 S Godintrod...ccd, would li.ive '^'?™"""««' '" ^^.^^t^r 
 
 diroctlv contrary? Instead of appearing as a root out ot a dry 
 «cuui do iXs the t'onnder of Christianity would have been 
 E:l\i:.annlycnas«o.dor.per.r^^^^^ 
 
 llZ^:? r'aftiltili::^™. nshernu., Hi. atU.ndams 
 company oi , ' -^ and men ot Herculean courage 
 
 ""7 1? . n h"/ 1 i. no\ "a-ioniible ,o suppose, that his ines- 
 'n ' ' o t e wo'ld w^^^^^^ h«vo be.« arrayed vvilhaU imaginable 
 pomp m> pendour ! P.. - ll.e heavens are higher ,han the 
 '.? ^o me the ways of God higher than man s ways, rhat 
 :' h'ii irinlV.ly esteeined an>ong men, is abomma.-o.i in h. sight 
 .. (.odhaih c/,os.« Ik,' Joon.U i,.n§. or "'^,,- :,;■;». " 
 
 Iht 
 
 \k lliin'js 
 
 f tkt 
 
11 
 
 ful t» 
 Ipable 
 >le the 
 id the 
 e love 
 er that 
 ibuted 
 3y ia- 
 
 theoi- 
 isation, 
 ley do 
 richly 
 calling 
 ty, ar- 
 ly and 
 Linbas- 
 itednes.? 
 ile they 
 Ipostles 
 and fair 
 iisciplei 
 Pagean- 
 days of 
 ? appro- 
 diich th« 
 inner ho 
 of a dry 
 ive been 
 led by all 
 ead of a 
 ttendunta 
 \ courage 
 his mes- 
 naginable 
 than the 
 fs. That 
 . his sight. 
 I in con- 
 o-s of tka 
 
 world, to confound things %vhich are mxgUij, and hase things of 
 the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, and 
 things which are not, to bring to nought things that are ; that w« 
 Jlesh should glory in his presence:' (P.) 
 
 The greatness of the work effected by such unlikely means ; 
 the undaunted courage and unwearied pati^^nce under singular 
 privations and sufferings ; the disinterestedness and utter contempt 
 of worldly allurements, manifested by the Apostles of Christ, ar» 
 irrefragable arguments proving tkat their doctrine was from God ; 
 hence°it follows, as a necessary consequence, tliat their example 
 forms the only laodel of obedience of which God approves. I 
 do not presume to call in question the propriety of Governments 
 establishing and endowing any form of religion they please: nei- 
 ther is it my province to say, that one system of national religion 
 is better than another ; because I am convinced, that every sys- 
 tem of national religion, in all the essential features of its charac- 
 ter, is altogether different from the spiritual kingdom over which 
 Jesus is exalted. An accurate observer will easily perceive, that 
 dissenters are generally as nalional in their systems, as those that 
 have obtained state patronage, aud frequently require to be more 
 accommodatingtothe vices of their par tizans, on account of their 
 dependant situations. In short, wherever promiscuous worship, 
 collections, seat rents, (all of which are equally unauthorized and 
 unprecedented in scripture,) are in practice, there is Antichrist : 
 There is that corruption of the pure holy rehgion of Jesus, which 
 now 'exists in a greater or less degree in all societies called Chris- 
 tian on earth, which rearea his monstrous head, by setting aside 
 the word of God, and substituting in its stead, the doctrines and 
 commandments of men. Unbelievers are equally the objects of 
 the divine displeasure, whether they be professors of the national 
 religion or dissenters ; in both cases they hold the truth of God 
 a lie. To them the following expostulations of the word of God are 
 not addressed, but to tliose to whom it is given on the behalf of 
 Christ to believe in hi, name, who have by habit, education and 
 example, })een blinded by the ag(ints of the god of this world. 
 To them are addressed tlie words that are only mighty through 
 God. *' Be ye not unequally yoked togcfher with m'believ- 
 ers, forwhat fill nwship hath righteousness with unrighteousness'^ 
 a:nd what communion kutJi Ughiwilh darknass? and what concord 
 
 (P.) htCor. I.;JT, iH^^) 
 
12 
 
 hath Christ with Belial ? or mlmt part hath he that helieveth with an 
 unbeliever V (Q.) wherefoie come out from among th^rn^ and 6e 
 ye separate saith the Lora, *' Come out of her my People^ 
 that ye he not partdkers oj her sins, and that ye receive not of 
 her iMgwsy (R.) 
 
 The Apo&tolic example is enjoined on those who serve Christ : 
 *' Be follov:erfi -of nw" says Paul. He sent for the Elders of 
 the Church o\ Ephesus ; and, among a variety of other charges to 
 theiTi, said, " I have coveted no mans &iher or gold^ or ap' 
 parel, yea yourselves know that these hands Jiazic ministered t9 
 my necessities^ and lo them that were with me, I have shewed you 
 all things, how that so labouring, ye ought to support the wak ; 
 and rtmember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is 
 more blessed to give than to receive. ^\ii.) They (the Apostles) could 
 apj eal to those among whom they laboured, and say, Nei- 
 ther at any time used we flattering words as a cloak of covet- 
 QUsnessjJodiswitness.(T.) Ttiose that went forth in ancient timeg 
 " went forth'' for his name's-sake, tuklng nothing of the Gen- 
 tiles.'' Paul could challenge the Ministers of Satan, who trans- 
 formed themselves as the Ministers of Righteousness, and the 
 faction they stirred up, and say, Did I make gain of you ?" (U.) 
 Instead of this disinterestedness, to those men who, with sordid 
 motives, become preachers, may be said, what God by his servant 
 of old said to the Jewish Cltrgy, * Who is there even a- 
 mong you, thai would shut the doors for now^Ul neither do yc 
 kindle a fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in, 
 vou, saith the Lord of fios<s."(V.) All ! but the advocates for emo- 
 lument liave two cogent arguments to use in Cavour of their plaa 
 of procedure, viz. " The times are now altered," and the scrip- 
 tures sanction ilint ''they who preach the Gospel, should hve of tho 
 Gt)spel." T()^^orl ^y iMolessors, who must have some form or 
 profession of religion, ;v;id \v!.o adopt what goes under the name 
 ot Christianity ir, die country in which they hve, as they would 
 auoptthe iVlahcmtvan or linu osian religion, were they in either 
 o( these couiitre? ; it is inip'):v-ible to give an intelligible descrip- 
 
 (Q) 
 
 VI !4, '5 Sr 17= 
 
 (K ) H^v XVm »v 4. 
 (^ ) Art., \X. . 3.S. 
 l\ ^ bt ;h<' II 5 
 
 (r ) ^2.! "or xn & 17, 
 
 (V ) Jittl, I dilU. 
 
13 
 
 tlon of the kingdom of God, and of Christ. " Excojd a man 
 he born again, (from above,) he cannot SEE the Kingdom of 
 God"(W.) Conviction here is both hopeless and unprofitable ; But 
 if the believers in Jesus examine the scriptures, with a child-like 
 disposition, thty will discern that there is no eh an sje in the Head. 
 He is " the same yesterday, to-day and for ever, (X.) There is no 
 change in the laws of the kingdom. " He that knoweth God, 
 hearethus (the Apostles.)(Y) He that is not ofGod,heareth not 
 7is. Hereby know we the spirit of U^th, and the spirit of error''* 
 And there is no change in human nature. " The Carnal (the un- 
 renewed) mind is enmity against God V\7j ) Therefore, the Chiircli 
 of Christ must be now, what it was in the days of the Apostles, 
 and every deviation from the pattern of the Tabernacle of God, 
 which they set up, must be the invention of the wisdom of thi* 
 world, which cometh to nought. 
 
 As to the raaintainance authorized by the Scriptures to those 
 who lab ur in word and doctrine, it is very evident, that what is 
 said on this subject, differs widely from the system of mercenary 
 accumulation of wealth founded on it. It is also very plain, that 
 all the exhortations to duty in the New Testament, are exclusively 
 tMijoined on the Disciples of Jesus; and if so, it follows, that the 
 Disciples are to give according to their ability, to support those 
 •who labour amonG; them. The 6th of 1st Cor. is not written to all 
 the inhabitants of Corinth, but " to the Church of God at Co- 
 rinth^^ agreeably to what the Churches in Galatia were enjoined — 
 " let him, that is taui>:ht in the icord, communicate to him that 
 ieacheth in all good thingsj*^ All that the Apostles either exem- 
 plified in (their ow n practice, or enjoint^d on the Churches, is as 
 far removed from any thing sordid, as the service of God is from 
 the service ot Mammon. On thi.i head, the Apostles guarded 
 those who would take the oversight of the Churches, <hat it was to 
 be of a ready mind, and '* not for filthy lucre.^^ All the vota- 
 ries for collections, seat rents, &c. are incapable to produce any 
 thing from the practice or commandments of the Apostles, which 
 can possibly be construed to sanction taking any thing from those 
 
 B. 
 
 
 (W.) John 111. 
 (X.) Heb Xlll. 8. 
 (Y) John IV. 6. 
 (Z.) Roir „ VIII. T. 
 
14 
 
 who did not maVo a credible profegsioA of believing theGosp«l, foi 
 the support ofits preachers. 
 
 !^ 
 
 Conclusion* 
 
 There is ©ne capital error, vrhich is the fertile source 
 from which all others flow, viz. the false and unbelieving 
 notions entertained by the Clergy respecting the Gospel. Endea- 
 Touring to set this deviation in as clear a light as possible, I shall 
 contrast a few specimens of Apostolic and Clerical preaching, on 
 oppossiie pages.* 
 
 Mtt^tiOtl 
 
 i;?rimititje anb Hpo^stoliit It^rcaciffutfl:* 
 
 The reii^n of Heaven was U8hf3rpd in by the Lord himself. 
 Mark f. 1 5. " The time is fulfilltd, the iv wg-f/om of God is at 
 hand : repent ye and believe the Gospel.'' " John Xlll. 6, " Jesus 
 said, Verihj, Ver'H;, I say unto thee^ except a man be born of 
 Water and «f the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of 
 Gn</." " The word which at first began to be spoken by the 
 Lord, was confirmed by them that heard." Acts 18, " Ye shall 
 receive , power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you, awl 
 ye shall befVITNESHES unto we inJemmhm.and in all Judea, 
 and unto *he uttermost parts of the earths Agreeably to whicli 
 instruction, they commenced. Acts U 2*2d to 37th verse, and drevr 
 the cuuclusioa : '' T/iis JesMs, (to whom all thePro])liets gave wi,t- 
 
 
15 
 
 Clerical !l)reatljnijj. 
 
 Among those who have assumed the cliaracter of Preachers o i 
 the Gospel, since the days of the Apostles, a very couspicuou* 
 pumber, multitudes have entered on this function, who were not, 
 and are not, behevers thereof. They were such behevers as 
 their hearers. They believed their christian creed, the same way 
 that the Heathen nations bL4ieved tlieirs. And many who have 
 received the love of the truth, were, and are so blinded by edu- 
 cation, habit and example, that the ApoStolic manner of preaching 
 has been, and is, overlooked by them, or inapplicable to the 
 worldly situations in which they were, and are, placed. It has 
 been remarked of those unbelieving Preachers, that " they wer« 
 like posts which pointed out the road, but went not themselves." 
 
 * — t do not mean to confine myself to verbatim specimen' 
 of Clencal Preaching ; but to contrast a sketch of the main scop* 
 of the preaching ?nd teaching of those men, who make a gait 
 ofGodhness; who attempt to teach others, that of which they 
 are ignorant themselves ; whose minds are occupied with what they 
 compreliend—Earthly things, science, logic, morality, and virtue 
 are subjects within their reach: but when they talk of the things 
 taught, known, and learned by the Lord opening the heart, they 
 are merely speaking- Machines, talking about what they do not 
 comprehend. No man can speak to others to edification, on 
 a subject he does not understand. No man can point out to 
 liis audience, the perfection of the attonement of the Son of God, 
 •while he is destitute of die hope of eternal life through the merits 
 of that atonement iiimself. Even were such an one to borrow, 
 from the evangelical labours of some other person, an essay on 
 that subject ; his own words into it would be like doaU llicb ia 
 the Apothecary's ointment. 
 
16 
 
 I 
 
 Sp00ttAit }ptcacl)iu0* 
 
 A«ss,) hath God raided i(p, whereof we all are fVITNESSES. " 
 Acts III. 13. '* The God of Abraham, and of haac, and of 
 Jacob, the God of our Fathers, hath glorified hia Son Jeans, 
 .U'honi ye delivered up, and denied hiui in the presence of Pilate, 
 ii'hen he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy 
 0710 and the Jnst, and desired a murderer to be granted unto 
 ■i,ou, and killed the Prince of Life, whom God hath raised from 
 'the dead, whereof we are ^ViTN ESSESr The Historian records, 
 Acts IV. 33, " Jnd with great power, gave the Apostles WIT- 
 NESS of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.'' Acts V. 30, " The 
 (lod of our Fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, and hanged 
 on a tree. Him hafh God exalted with his right hand, a Prince 
 and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness 
 of sins, and we are his JVITNESSES of these things.'' 
 
 The Apoi'tles were witnesses to two important facts, which 
 they called the Gospel, viz. The death and resurrection of the 
 Lord Jesus. Paul writing to the Church oF God at Corinth, 
 says, 1st Cor. XV. 1, " Moreover Brethren, I declare unto you 
 the Gospel, which I preached unto you, ichich aho ye have re- 
 ceived, and wherein ye stand, By which aho ye are saved, if ye 
 keep in memory (hold fast) what I preached unto ynu, unless ye 
 have believed in vain ; For I delivered unto you, FIRST OB^ 
 ALL, that which I also received, how that Chrid died for 
 our sins, according to the Scriptures ; jind that he was buried, 
 and that he rosa again the I hud day, according to (he Scripture^S'' 
 Again, referring to his first coming to them, he thus expresses 
 himself, 1st Cor. II. 1, " And I Brethren, when I came to you, 
 came not with excellencij of speech, or of wisdom, declaring un- 
 to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any 
 thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucifed.'' " And 
 my speech, and my preaching icas not with enticing words of 
 mail's wisdoyn." Acts XIII.38. " J5«^ He ichom God raised again, 
 saw no conniption. Be it known unto you, therefore, that through 
 (his man is preached unto yoii the forgiveness of sins : And hfj 
 Kim all that believe are justified from all thing'^.'" Tlie AposlK-a 
 nnderstood the term Gospel, (or glad tidings) to be a declaration 
 
17 
 
 €kma\ I^ccacptg, 
 
 '» 
 
 Hut lamentable experience, too evidently proves, that their preach- 
 ing has a contrary tendency. The necessary result of the Wind 
 leading the blind, is both falling into the ditch. 
 
 'I'he false teachers under the law, ignorant of the righteousness 
 of God, went about establishing a righteousness of their own. 
 
 This error is brought to maturity in modern times. If a man's 
 natural fears are awakened, the first and only idea that naturally 
 occiu-sto his mind, is to do something to avert the danger ; and 
 the main scope of modern preachers, i.^ to set men to work. The 
 serious orthodox preachers, as they are called, reverse thi> 
 Apostolic plan. They turn the atteation of their audience to a 
 particular disposition of mind, point out its ai«"ableness, the be- 
 nefit derived from the cuhivation of it : and after (instead of dwel- 
 ling on that truth, from the belief of which alone, all good prin- 
 ciples and dispositions can flow) stating a great many scripture 
 truths, enforcing this good disposition, they bespatter and pollute 
 the ^^hole, by falsely asserting, that it tends to render the cuhiva- 
 tor of it acceptable in the sight of God. 
 
 Oihei^ set^hcir votaries to work, by pressing on them the du- 
 ties which in the scriptures are enjoined on behevers, thus making 
 the duties (which believers are to y)erforin from love to that God 
 who first loved them) to be perronned, as they call it, .•; means of 
 
 conversion. 
 
 But it is abundantly certain that, according to scripture, every 
 work of obedience attempted to be performed, previous to be- 
 lieving and obtaining hope of eternal I'fe, through the all merito- 
 rious DOING of Jesus, is but a tacit n.jection of him ; and perrorm- 
 i.'ig something from covert, mercenary, selfish principles. Jesusi 
 saith, '* Whosoever shall give unto one ot these little ones a 
 cup of cold water only, in the name of a disci[)le, shall in no wls-i 
 lose his reward:" now, it is plain, that if for the sake of the re- 
 ward I give, my motive is mercenary ; but if from love to Cliritit, 
 J give to his disciple." " He that loveth him that begat, lovcth 
 him that is begotten," is the principle of ac ion. 
 
 The good works a man performr, niast be alwny^. of a kind 
 with his owa state and character in tl;e ^ii;lit of Gud. Tl<e wiily 
 
 I 
 I 
 
18 
 
 3IIjp3.sftolJc pvcac^ins. 
 
 ■■O Wl ito^HP i i— 
 
 respecting Christ, his Disiriity, obediencp, death, restirr-ctioii 
 4v. i-oui^ioii to the right hand of God, and his comin^;^ to ju*1:!,vth- 
 world at anappoiiited Day. 'I'hese Ibrmed the sum ofthi'ir pn^'i«;he 
 ing ; and they added the sanction c'" their Anadieina, aj;iiiiH all 
 and every one that would pervert this Gospel, or substitute sonu; 
 thing else in its stead. Galat. [. 8, " Though we, or aa Angd 
 from Heaven, -preach anij other (jo^pel unto ijou, than that which 
 ice have preached unto you, let him be accursed.'''' 'J'he efleet^ 
 of the ancient Gospel, on those who received it, tend not a little 
 to shew, that what is now substituted in its place, is spurious. — 
 Those who received and believed the Apostolic Gospel, received 
 " it gladly,''^ "7t\-. « on their way rejoici^gy " It caused great 
 joy in that city ;" they " rejoiced, believuig in God." The be- 
 lievers had a filial disposition of mind implanted in them, ** to 
 cry, Abba Father. " They had the most powerful stimulus to their 
 obeiience. 2d Cor, V. 14, " For the love of Christ consirain- 
 eth us, hecau?.e we thus judge, that if one lied for all, (hen -were alt 
 dead. And he died for ail, that they ivho live, should not hence^ 
 forth live to themselves, hut unto him who died for them and 
 r .se again.''^ The scriptural character of the believers, is dis- 
 cipLs, (scholars.) learning the mind of Christ, communicated by 
 the word and epistles of tlie Apostleis. The disciples were sepa- 
 rated from the world, " fi^oing forth unto him without the camp, 
 bearing his reproach;''^ visibly distinguished IVom the rest of the 
 Ivorld, *' as a city set on a hill ;" exhibiting to the view of all a- 
 round them, the power and intiuence of the doctrine they hutl 
 believed, as" the pillar and ground of the truth.^'' The Apostles 
 adc'rcssed those who believed, as " of God, and the whole world 
 lying in the wicked one.'''' They were informed, that as they 
 were not of the world, therefore tho world would hate them.— - 
 A I'd in the execution of their misiien, they ap[)cared wielding 
 their spiritual armour, cj)posed to the world, and the world opposjed 
 to ihem, and no quarter, no compromise. They demanded 
 a complete surrender to the King of Kings, of " every thought 
 and inttUt of the heart,'^ ae.d denounced all opposers, as Walk- 
 ing " according to the Kpiril, that now worktlh in the childrenof 
 disobedience.'''' 
 
 
JO 
 
 €Ucml l)tcadymt^. 
 
 
 v>ork that is acceptable in the sight of God, i.s tlio work of Imim 
 who is emphaticiiHy called, ''THE LORD OUR RICitlTK- 
 OUS}siESSy He being the only medium of access, the person* 
 and services of those wtio believe in him, are acceptable throu<rh 
 him, tne beloved. Tlierefoij, to point out a routine of duties to 
 be performed by an unbeliever, is deceiving, leadiig in a devout 
 path to the shades of death. Ir, husbandry it would be esteemed 
 a mad project, to be rearing ihorns and ttiistles, expecting a crop 
 of vines and figs ; equally perverse is the conduct of all who urge 
 to the performance of actions, while the principle from which 
 they ought to flow is wanting. " Up and be doing." " Sirive, 
 " wrestle, be regular and constant in attending to the means of 
 ** grace ; keep under tlie workmg of Satan in your iieart ; be 
 " regular in attending to family and secret prayer, &c. and 
 ** then you may expect to be able to say, My Beloved is mine 
 •' and I am his." 
 
 Volumes of such pious oppositions to the truth taught by the 
 Apostles, are written and spoken. Others more desirous to keep 
 their own and their hearers' consciences at ease, direct their atten- 
 tion to eulogiums on the divine character, manifested in his works, 
 keeping their admiring audience, hearing the Gospel for months, 
 descanting upon eighty millions o( worlds, amusing disquistions, 
 theatrical eloquence and gesture, declamation, apostrophe and 
 personification ; in fact, any thing spoken in a pulpit, is substi- 
 tuted for the Apostolic Gospel, vvhile that name is now given' 
 to it. 
 
 Tho ancient appellation, Christian, is now changed. Instead of 
 signifying aBeUevcr in Christ, as it did at first, it has now dwin- 
 dled down into a national term, contradistinguished to Heathen, 
 Jew, and Mahomedan. The Apostles uniformly made a distinc- 
 tion betwixt the Church of Christ and the world ; but the Clergy 
 have as uniformly attempted to destroy that distincdon. In fact, 
 language is incapable of expressing; or the imagmation of conceiv 
 ing, the nujiil responsibility of those men* who set m> a false 
 representation of the Clnistian character, and of the Church of 
 Christ, dejrtroying their own rsouls, and the s^ouls of their follow- 
 
 I 
 
20 . 
 
 To t!,o scaratKl, di^inct, aTid clUting-,i.shc>d D.sciples of J ■suj. 
 t'le Apo3t)c.s paveth.. rules, luw^ and raga ationx of C.in»t s 
 1 ,a;e^o 1,0 observed as r.-corJcJ i. tl.e ep.slles, ,ylnel, are 
 addres;.dlo tliem, and to tliem alor.e; svhich they are enjm ,ed to 
 
 eadTand «'ith the word, .l.-rein ^vrit.en, tl.ey are to exhort one 
 amrther Let the believer, of tl.e truth. con.erM.ng Jesus, hear 
 r voice ofCiod, adnro,„.hi.,g than of Ae danger and unp,e y 
 of oonfidin^ii. man, in n.atter. of rehgion. Cu,,ed v.th, nun 
 thai truMh t-« man, a id makelh fle^li Um-m. Jer. ^V H 5. 
 
 Let them hear the voice of Christ. " Be:oare of jaU po- 
 vheh which come to ,jou in sA«,/s clothing, bat mv:uydlythey art 
 
 •<»'»; ^ « o/re..." Math. VII. 1 5. " Ve thsr.fore bdoved seeing 
 ["o these things before; beicare leU ye ako, beingled ajaj, 
 ^iU^U. error oflh. iioked, M fro.n your «- '^'f f «^V 
 
 Hut srow in srace, and in the hioided«e of our Loid and .^au 
 
 j,r JeZ Christ. To him be glorj, both «o« andjor ever, amen.. 
 
 2d Pet. III. 17. 
 
 
 !! 
 
 postscript* 
 
 Keadert Thou bast an immortal Soul, which must bo for ever 
 3rfectU- hanov or miserable. This consideration i^ the most 
 
21 
 
 €Ifrit£tJ liJrwtl^iiiff, 
 
 
 1 
 
 «rs, while they either withhold the word of God from them alto^ 
 gether, or represent it as a dark mysterious book, intelligible on- 
 ly to the learned, and shew the p.oi'iirdity of dieir erudition, by 
 making a great deal out of a little bit of this puzzle book, v/.»ich 
 BO person ever would think it meant. 
 
 '--^ '•" Is tliis 
 
 " To stand a way mark in tlie '•oad to bliss *, 
 Himself a wanderer from the arrow way ? 
 His silly sheep, what wonder .f they stray ? 
 Go cast your Orders at your Bishop's feet ; 
 Send your dishonoured Gown to Monmouth Street, 
 The sacred function in your hands is made — 
 8ad Sacrilege ! no function but a trade.'* Cowper, 
 IVoe unto you. Scribes and Pharisees, tor ye shut up the king- 
 dom of Heaven ag-ainst men ; ibr ye neither go in yourselves, nei- 
 tlier suffer ye them that are entering, to go in. Math XXIII. 13. 
 
 n 
 
 «( 
 
 t( 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 and each of the human race (consequently you) involved in a 
 state of alienation from, and in a state of condemnation before, 
 God. It is written, Rom. III. 10, " There is none righttous, 
 no not one.'' 18, " There is no fear of God before their eijes.'^ 
 3 9,'* Every mouth maij be stopjjed, and all the world become gu'd- 
 Uf before God. ^' The inspired volume (far Irom lulling man in a 
 state of delusion) informs him rtspecting real, imminent, eternal 
 danger. " The wrath of God is revealed irom Heaven againirt ail 
 ungodliness and unrighteousness of men," Rom. I. 18. While 
 God denounces you a sinner, He at the same time declares, that 
 
 I 
 
23 
 
 « ' 
 
 I -i 
 
 riio wages of sin is (eternal) dealli." Rom. VI. 23. Bat so 
 amazing, so rich, sosupcnibounding, is the Love of God, mani- 
 fested in the Scriptures, that always, Mfhen tho sinfulness and dan- 
 ger are pointed out, the all-sufficient remedy is also proclaimed. — 
 Help is laid on one that is mighty. By transgression, man is not 
 only become obnoxious to divine justice, but alienated from God, 
 The whole faculties of his soul are perverted." ** Every iuiagina* 
 Hon of his heartis on/j/EVIL coniinuahf (EVIL,) Gen. VI. 5. 
 I., such circumstances, to entertain the least shadow of hope from 
 doing any thing, in order to be reconciled to God, nmst be delu- 
 sive in the extreme. As the Bible reveal^^ tho guilt of man ; As 
 the Bible reveals tho righteous judgment of Almighty God to be 
 executed on Sinners, (who die in unbelief;) As the Bible reveals, 
 that man cannot do any thing to merit the divine favour, and thu« 
 shuts man's mouth, and lays him low indaed ; '^o the Bibte re- 
 Teals A Saviour, who is able to save to tho uttermost, (ever 
 more,) all thatco:iie to God by him." A Saviour who is the me- 
 dium through whicb MERCY is extended to guilty man, consis- 
 tently with the honour of Divine Justice, A Saviour, at whose 
 «]ipea ranee in this world, it was anounced by a Heavenly host, 
 that through him, " glory redounds to God in the highest, on earth 
 peace, good will toward men,"— A Saviour who, ere he yielded 
 up his Spirit on Calvary, cried with a loud voice, " JT IS FI- 
 NISHED." There is an " end made of offering i'or sin, an ever- 
 lasting righteousneses is brought in." That righteousness by which 
 God is glorified, and the believing sinner saved, was then com- 
 pleted. And, reader! this same Bible declares, " Neither is 
 there salvation in any other; for there is none odier name given 
 under Heaven, among men, whereby we must be saved." Di- 
 vine revelation anouncesthe hopeless state of the sinner, m himself 
 considered, and the all-sufficiency of Jesus. " His blood <^'.^-mse'h 
 ■')om all sin.'' " Reformation' and remission of snis are now 
 preached in his name among all nations:'' " It is a fearful thing 
 to fall into the hands of the Living God.'' The farm, the mer- 
 chandise, the trilles which perish with the using, may divert the 
 attention, may wear out the long suffering patience of God, may 
 keep your mind at raf^e in the pursuit of objects, which cannot 
 satisfy in this world, and are ot no avail iti elernity. Eternal 
 life is the gift of God: and this gift is through the Lord Jesus 
 Clirist. To believe in him, is to give credit to what God, ia the 
 
 t 
 
23 
 
 .. 
 
 Scriptures, ftays, concerning him. The declarations of God re- 
 specting Christ, when believed, and received as faithful sayings, 
 exliibit to the believev, such a display of God as is calculated to 
 overwhelm him, in adminng and adoring gratitude. Beholding 
 the glorious plan, by which sin is punished, and the siuner saved; 
 by which God is just, justifying the ungodly who believe in 
 Jesus; by which righteousness and peace embrace one another: 
 This is the only display of God, which begets love to him ; and 
 the necessary consequence of this love, is obedience. If it 'were 
 possible that the obedience of man, could procure the favour of 
 God ; such an infinitely valuable sacrifice as that of die only be- 
 gotten Son of God, would have been unnecessary. ' The decla- 
 ration of divine truth is, God so loved the world, that he gave his 
 •nhj begotten Son, that whosotoer helieveth in him, should not 
 perish, but have everlasting life:' " He that believelh not God, 
 hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that 
 God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath 
 given to us;' the believers, " eternal life, and this life is in his 
 Son:'' ^ " Through this man is preached unto yon, the forgive- 
 ness of sins; and bij him, all that belie' je^ are justified from all 
 things:' "Beware, therefore, lest that which is written in the 
 prophets, come upon you. " Behold ye despisers, and wonder, 
 and perish, for I work a work ii: your. day, which ye will in no 
 wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." Time is tran- 
 sient ; gratiHcation a bauble ; eternity to each is at hand. " He 
 -that believeth, and is, baptized, shall be saved • aiic! ho that be- 
 hereth not, shall be condemned." 
 
 
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