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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film§ d partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 3t3 Tur». W m 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 FA APPRO A2^' !^^ t ^^^S*7 ARTIOLBS OF FAII [[ AND PRACTICE VrlTH . THE CHURCH C0VEJVJJV1\ APPROVED BY THE DANVILLE ASSOCIATION, AND t ADOPTED BY THE CHUHCHES. # TO WHICH la 4DDED AK ESSA¥ OH COMMI7NION. BY A FRIEND TO TKUTU. P BHOCKVILLE, U. C. PRINTED BT WI!UAM BUSLL Ja. & Co 1829, S- ■ !. m mmm \ T. m irt. 1. |g«; be and B irt. 2. »pine89 iobedie tesS. irt. 3. idom uned ei 119. Lrt. 1. divine forbidc It. 8. I Msed 10 ipable ( le, Gi |I0, 8, krt. 3. natural voluut the) :t<)ts rt. 4. lence < A£lTI€£.ES&a PART FIRST. DOCTRINE FIRST. OP 60D, 'Arl. 1. ^e believe in GoJ, Supreme io bifdoraiuion, and infinite , hia being and perfections : the Creator, Posseasor, UphcMer, and ispoaer oiall thiogfj. Deut. 6. -fj lilCof. .". 4; Epb. 1. £; Job I, 7, 8; Prov, J 6. 4. prt. 2, The mode of Divine existcr.ce i? t)n,ity \u Trinity, (three one,) Father, Son, uijd Holy Gho-il ; ooe in nature ; ca-e(ina!, ct>- iienlial and coetcrnal : equally »»orthy of ()i?ine hoGoar* and reh- «ua irorship. latJohoS. 7; Mat. 28' 19 , John 11: iOand:/0; 80. 1. 26; Heb. 1. fi, 8, 10. ypocT. 2. Of the Holy Scriptures. God ban §iven us a Revelatlori fliia mind and tvill in the Scriptuiea of the old and nevr Testament, ||ef which being given by inspiration of God, are of Divine authori- ^pnd our only ro!e of Faith and Practice. 2d Tim. 3. 16 ; £d Te- I 1. 19; Rev. 22. 18; Isa. 8. 20; Luke 16. 29; Gal. 1. 8. y DocT. 3. Ofman*sJlr3t state. prt. I. God created mau at first, holy or upright, in the dlrfnn ge ; being n rational, immortal or living soul ; was capable cf eer- and anjoying God. Gen. 1. 2, 26, 7; Eccl. 7.29; Mat. 10. irt. 2. The condition of life, or the perpetuity of holiness onf^ tpiness in that paradisical etate, was perfect, personal and nnceiu* ^obedience. Gen. 2. 17; Roni. 2. 14, 15, 10, 6; Gal. 3. 10; ies2. 10. LFt. 3. This covenant being made with man, he was left to the sdoro of bis own will, that is, not by any necessity of naturn col~ uned either to good or evil. Deut 30. 19; Josh. 24. 15; Jobu 119. DocT. 4. Of man's fallen state, Lrt. 1. The fall of man consisted in his voluntarily transgressing divioe will, by adhering to the temptations of Satan and eating forbidden fruit. Geo. 3, 6. 13; 2d Cor. 11. 3; Rev. 20. 2. ;rt. 2. By sin mankind lost the Divine Image, became defiled and fased 10 all the powers and passions of the soul, and consequently ipable of serving or enjoying God truly, until he is renewed by :e. Gen. 2. 17; Titus 1. 16; Geo. 6. 5; Jer. 17. 9; Uoiu, [10, 8, and 7. itU 3. As this depravity does not consist in a privation or luck of I natural powers and fncukies necessary to serve God ; but in a to- voluntary and wicked love of sin and aversion to God and holi< they are still under obligation of perfect obedience, to all the [ctnts of law and gospel. John 3. 15: 8, 44. Prov. 8. 4. rt. 4. Adam being the natural head or root of mankind, in con> luence of our relation to him, we all came into the world poUuteil or defiled with tin. Rom. 3. 9, 18 ; and 6. 19 ; Pea. 61. 6 ; Job M.jchrigt \i' \s^ and 15. 14; John 3. 6. DocT. 5. Of Election, Art. 1. Oodin mere mercy haa beco pleased before time, to vi«a,fl way for man's recovery by the gospel. Tilua 3. 4^ 6 ; Pr 8. 12, 23; K|»h. 1. 4, 11, and 2. 8, 3 Art. 2. Ood'« eternal purpose of saUatioo called Election, inclu the subjects of salvation with all the necessary means and qualifi lions for obtaining it; 1st Pet. 1. 2; Eph. 1. 4, and 2. 10 Tbe83. 2, 13; Ist Peter 5. 13. DocT. 6. Of Christ's atonemejit: Art. I. God the Son, or the secotid person in the Trinity, inkvi!l per derto open the way tor our Salvation, came down from Heaven. tAo ^3 upon h;jn human nature, in which nature he obeyed the law ; sufff * ' ed death, rose from the dead, aacended to glory, and lives to m inlerccpsion for his people. Phil. 2. 5, 11; John 3. 16 \ Ist C 15. 3, 4 ; Heb. 7, 25. Art. 2. Although there i=? an infinite fulness in the atonement m(ir!ts ofGhnst 6i;r1icient for all mankind ; yet none are justified rofuled lonriy of ihn spiritual benefits of it, until thev are united C(,r,#(^y faith. Eph. 2. 3; Mark 16. IC; John .3. *1 8. Art. 1 •aised fi Art. 3. Christ has procured all spiritual blessings for his peop ^.q^jj^ I act of ( Sane ence of more a Icrease i his lif( 3; Ro AlHr The ' eek ur nd wor 58. 13; which ore freely bestowed on the elect for his sake, as a mere ac| grnce, and not at all on account of any T^orthiness oflheir own. TjiD. 1. ^; Eph. 2. 4, 10; Rom. 4. 14. DocT. 7. Of Regeneration, Art. t . Although there is a moat full and free declaration of me in the Gospel, to mankind, through faith and repentance, yet throi the native opposition of the heart, none ever do, will, nor can savin acquiesce and receive Christ until the heart be renewed. Ist C 2. 14 ; R jm. 2. 7 ; John 6. 14, and 3. 3. Art 2 Regeneration is usually preceded by deep convictio Mn, and followed by divine comfort and exercise of grace ; but change Itself IS wrought instantaneously by the powerful operatic the div.ne spirit upon the heart, by which its enmity is elaiu. , (he creature disposed and enabled to receive Christ, and dep^jod h.m as a whole and complete Saviour. John 16. 8; Acts 2. I John 5. 25 ; U{ Peter 2. 4. 7. ... DocT. 8. Of Adoption. Art. 1. All believera are adopted ; that is, received into I ^^' ntm;oer, entitled to the privileges, and by the Father acknowledg ''' fi ,R '^f ??'^ ^*'- ^' ^ ' ^'^"^ ^- »2 ; Horn, 8. 17 ; 2d C* o. 18 : ist John 3. i. Art. 2 vicked 1 OF TJ 01 1 Art « Tho grace of adoption is freel, gi^en ns a token of ace in nra 23'; Gal. 4. 6. ttoia. 8. r X V ^^^' ^' ^f Justification. i rue behevore are justified freely through the righteoUfne«i Art. 1. nd fellon ie true C 8, 1 ; Re i*t Thes. Art, 2. orld, ton 22, 23, r* Art, 3, ' its disci] or. 3. 21,5 Alt. 4, leir own < embers. Is propei iie or mo I ev. 2. 2, 20 Alt. 1. ( ich only irne of ih( 36, 37, 38 ; Art. 2. I >l.6; Job uj fore time, to » 3. 4, 6 ; PrJ JectioD, inclu(^ ins and quaiifil , and 2. 10 ; J Trinitj, ia nm Heaven, to the law ; saifj id lives to mi 3. 16', Iflt Cj le atonement B are justified ev are unitei! 8 for his peo] as a mere acl flheir own. sration of me 3ce,yet thro nor can savin wed. Ist Ci Chnst; received by faith without the deeds of the Law it l.aine an act ot God'd free grace. Rom. 3. 24, and 4. 5. 28, ' DocT. 10. Of Sanctijication. Sanctification, or growth in grace, is a gradual progressive influ- ence of the spirit of truth on the heart, wniercby a beli-ver is enable 1 more and more to bring under and mortify corrupt nature, and in ^creasein g-ace, spiritual knowledge, &c.^but is never perfected m this lite. John n. 17; Rom. 6. 6, i4 ; 2 Peter 3. 18 ; Mat. l3 3i tS3 ; Rom. 7. 23 ; Phil. 3. l2 ; Johu t. 8 ; Eccl. 7. 20, ' * ' DocT. 11. Of Perseverance. All true saints being kept by the power of God from final apostacv wiU persevere m laitb, and finally obtain salvation. Thil i G • John 10.28,29; lstPereri.S.9; 1st John 3. 9. i-t>,John rru xxT DocT. 12, Of tht Sabbath Day. Ihe V\eekly Sabbath is to be observed on the first day of the ■eek under the Ne»v Testament, and wholly employed in 'devotion inu worship, except works of necessity and rnercy. Ex. 20 8 • Isa '8. 13; Acts 20. 7; mCor. 16. l. 2 ; Rev. i, 10; Mat. 12,1.13. ' DocT. ^B. Of the Resurrection. Art. 1. The bodies both of the Rigiiteous and the wicked, will be •aised from the dead in the great day, and judged accoiding to their "^ o °r • ^^ 5 •'^^'n ^' 28, 29 ; Acts 24. 15 ; 2d Cor. 5. lO. ■ I ^'j .,. . ^^PP'oess of the righteous a-d the punishment of the icked will be endless. Mat. 25. 46 ; Mark 9. 44 ; Rev. 19. 3. PART SECOND. OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH, ITS ORDSR, DISCIPLINE, &C. . , , ., CHAPTER FIRST. OF THE CHURCH. n^Trln l.^^''''^** of Christ is a number of Saints by mutual ac(|uaintance ep convictioii?e tr, l^'ill^t^Vn T-'^'^'^^'r""*'^ or embodying together, maintaining ep convicliOMie true Gospel Doctrine, Ordinances. Worship and Discipline. Mat 16 grace ; but i^, 1 ; Rev. 14; l.t Cor. 1. 2, and 12. 12, 13 f Heb. lo. 25; kcts 2 '42; rful operationj'^' ^hes. 5. 14; 1st 1 im.3. 15. lity is slain, ag ^.'J-^. Allsuch regular and orderly Churches or branches thronshout the and ^o^^'^ "^'"^^ <=^^^"^^^' including all human authority 20. and 2. 1 ^^3.^:^3^^^^^^^^ Epb.l.22; Mat. 23. 8, 9; ^ ,.t! « "*• Vl"" ^'"'?^*' olChiist has po^ver to choose and call to onlinalioa icivcd into I ^'^" /'"^"lmo its r acknowledJr^"*^^"' *^.*'- ' t^ioiigh .n difficult oases, and u hen the Church is divided. r ackoowledi h 17 ; 8d C token of ace . horn, 8. ighteouflneii «,L ii^ to call the a^<^islai!cc and concurrence of si4fr Chmchcs, and V 2 AT r.?'^^T' <^^; Christ. 1st Cor. 5. 1 1, 12, 13; 2d .!ohn lOth vorse ; p. ^. *,20, IVaat. /. lo- Ari. lo 6, 22; 1st Cor. 3. 22, and 12. 28; Mat. IH. ]7. . . Chap. 2. Of Bavtism. \.1^W' ^"^^^* BaptiMu is to he administered hv ordained ministers, to mpn?L''p f,"*' ^vidcMceof true fajih, hy immersion in w.t.-r, in th« 3Mt38;& Mat.28.19; Jolml5.16; Acts Art. 2. BvUiJs oidinance belie. ers are admitted into the visible Chururied forevcl 7. 3, 4. 2d with by the dence, by {\h B church untti . 18, 16, 16 th ly siiit^Mj on conf^iSfiioj luse of Chfii ) ; Ut John l| Art. 5. Though personal iojaries are to be forgireo oo suitable traction ; yet, one indoiging babitj at scaudalou* imtnoraliy should lot be restored without amendment. Prov. 20. 13; Luke 17. 3- 2ti "^hesji. 3. C; la Ccr. 5. 11. , ' ' Aft. 6. Those who openly deny the gospel, or maintain heresy, |iay be openly admonished, by letler or otherwise, and rejected if lue adomonition prove inelTectual. Tit. 3. lOi 2d John lOlhiind lith ' irses; Ut Tim. I. 20, and 6. 20. ^ Art. 7. A member under labour by the churcli, should be sus- leuded from communion until hiscasa be decided. Mai. 16. 17. CiJAF.l.OfCivilCauset, Art. \' As ft 13 unlawful for brother to go to Inn- mlh brotber, the jhurch shall appoint one or more wise and diacerniog brethren, with lili power to judge and decide nil civil causes and coutiovetfies long its members, ht Cor. 6. 1st to the 8fh. Art. 2. A member refusing to submit to the judgement of the arch, it becomes a crimtJ, and should ba dealt with accordir|:ly. at. 18. 17, 18.. * THE COVENANT. We do now, in the presence of the great, all-seeiog, and most glo- ous God, and before angels and men, give up ourselves to the Lord hovah. Father, Son, and Holy Ghoat ; and avouch bim this day to our God, our Father, our Saviour, and our leader; and receive \m as our portion forever. We give up ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, and engage to ad- |ere to him as the head of his people, in'the covenant of grace, and dy on him, m our Prophet, Priest and King, to bring us to ettroal essedness. I We acknowledge our everlasting and indigpensoMe obligation to 'orify God, by living a holy, righteous and godly life in this preseot orld, in all our several places and relations ; and we engage, by the isifltance of the Divine Spirit, to impr3ve our time, strength, talents id advantages to his glory and the good of our fellow-men, promw- g, by divine help, to walk in our houses as becomes those profes*- g gt)dlincs.a, and to maintain the worship of God iu our families, ind to train up those ut der our care in the ways of religion and iiloe. We also give up ourseUes to one another in covenant, • promicing conduct towards each other as brethren in Christ, watching over loe another in the love ofGod, a*id to watch not only against the iOBt gross evils, but also against all foolish talking and jesting, which re not convenient ; vain disputing about words and things, w liich ender strife ; disregarding promises, and not fulfilling engagements ; ultling and backbiting; spending time idly it taverns or elsewhere, nd vain and unnecessary worldly conversation on the Lord's Day, [nd whatsoever else is con'radiclory to sound doctrine, accordiivg |o the glorious gospel of Christ ; promising to hold communion to- other in the wpr?hip of God, end in the ordinances and di«cip!ii;e of his church, according as we are, or shall be, guided by the spi™ of God in his word, expecting that he will yet further and more g|l nously open his word and the mysteries of his kingdom; anpU to the blood of the everlasting covenant for the pardon of ' our mai errors ; and praying the Lord would prepare and strengthen us j] every good work, to do his will, working pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, lit whicii is wi and ever, •Amen. to whom be glory fore ADEFEWOE -^^^^^^ OF THE DISTINGUISrHNG SENTIMENTS OF THE liAPTr^T^j nv rriiiiviMu ,.»;»/. NION.IN WHICH IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ^RE TnsWERED ''^'^-''^^ BY A FRIE^'-D TO TRUTH. ''^'^^^^''^^• I am sensible there is a graat handle made of close communi( as It IS held and practised by the BaptiMs. The followinK sla ments will give the reason why we, as a denomination, practice we do. I do not intend to enter into an investigRtion of the subie and mode of baptism ; this will not be necessary. I shall just giv*i, mar candid statement of the reasons why we cannot, consistently ^^l!' The our views commune at the Lord's Table with other denom initi^ fcta be. VVcv.cw he ordinance to be a gospel institution, and we have | am rule to judge the qualification of subjects to come to that solel ole.uar dmance only the practice of Christ and the Aposlles-and wrdalZ ua Z Z ^^%^r?'f ^r^"^?' "^ ^^"^^ «« DOD-essentials. thai mln r u.a be accommodated to the feelings and prejudices of every individ^Ifo^^^^^^^^^^ let them be ever so heterodox ia their views 'o«»viaui»jorai q K. * TI °?'^ '^f'^'i^^ *"^ qualifications of subjects to come to th^ Tin or o '^:Atli:L '"^^ ^^P^^- to notici the conduct 0/ Jhlfr i^ Christ administered the ordipance to his disciples : and it is evideiom^ k to me hat they were bapt.zed believers, (excepting Judas and iS^e^ce probable he had been baptized) though we have no account of tieio all d baptism : it is eviden that they were baptized by John, for he c X^^ L^e77mVnr.t;lt 'Jlted'^flfollif h A^^ T T' ^^^^^^^ and I think itList ap,.ar" .^i^Kourf 'doi:;;;^^^:^ ^'1^:^^ ^*"' ^'' among the number ; font does not look rational to suC e th Christ would submit to baptism, himself, and call andTud' fo unbaptised persons as Apo.tles, and it ie evident that John's baoti was gospel baptism. Wark J. 1 and 4. Matt. XL 13 Luke XvT 1( Some have supposed that John's disciples were rerbimitd .r they take it from Paul's statements to the twelve di/rill^r 1^ sus. The statement isthis-Aqts 19 -!' ifr ' ^'f ^^ ^P^l «h;i^ ^^r.^\^ _. r^ ... ^r" . ^' • 9"^ It came to nas«. th^i •.„,.--. .:.pp„„u3 »ifU5 ui v^orinin, laul came • ' ' "" certain disciples, he said unto them, H fc:p lesug, and find m Ghost since you believed ? and they 'said. We h heard whether there be any holy ghost. And h ave you received the floh ave not so much as e said unto themj ed by the spu er and mo,re g| ngdono ; appljj [!on of our mai trengthen us 1 t whicli is w be glory tovf ISTS ON COMM ANSWERED. ose communi following s'lall on, practice n of the fiubj shall just giv onsistently wjl ' denominationi od we have that solemn oi I — and we dai itiaU, that m very individu come to the Tj iduct of Chril and it is evidei, Judas, and it| account of ihei in, for he ca ]oi give urn (hi ized numbers! Apostles wcr| suppose, (h ind seud fort Joho'g l^aptis Luke XVI. itl -baptised, an plea at Ephe le to na JTjdge vrhen Ihey sftaJl have p^.^^v,^ ...^ a».,v..„.^.iia t.jui, • I will now proceed to answer the questions proposed. First— Why do not the Baptists commune with other deoomioa- lions ? Iharity ire autt Answer.—Because they vie^v baptism such a term of communioojre*"^! ne with iiobaptized persons, and they con.f °^^P^' that they cannot commune aider all »vho liave not been immersed in water, in the nameVf thei ^^ a lioity, ipnb Trinity, by a regular administrator uobaptized. Whether ♦»«- »^— ♦:- =-— '- " - - not, the sim ler the Baptists are consistent in their views of baptism ofP^'P ^ ^ simple statement as made above is sufficient to convincJf'*^y •'* every candid person, that if we, as a denomination, are honeat aoB*" f««*»i conscientious iu our views, we cannot come to the Lord's Table wilMP^s^ ■ ®' those who are to us unbnptized. (BVpher, But I ana not insensible that this will not satisfy the minds of those f**y ^^^ who are disposed to bring forward close communion as the lust wee J * pre pon they can use against us. They will plead conscience, sinceritj* gf^at and chanty as sufficient grounds to fellowship them on. Their fltate#" ^ui laents are, baptism is only the answer of a good conscience, and wM*^^^ " are smcere and are satisfied with our baptism, and we can fellowebipl'^ws o yours, for we do not think thai baptism consists in any particolar^ '^o c m3de---It 18 immaterial how we are baptzed— and if any think it n«l I»'i8^ ^^ their doty not to submit to water baptism any way, only let theni^^<^o*o" answer their conscience, and it will be acceptable ; and it you had ai J"r pra( much charity as we have, you woold fellowship as, seeing we trepre no! siDccre ; and these separations would all come down. Let me tak« «each al the liberty to observe, that we have a conscience loo; and we proJostles. tefs to be sincere ; and we cannot in sincerity fellowship that for baii- h^^ '^a tism. %trhich we view not according to the command of Christ, or the lelievec practice of the Apostles. To us it is no baptism. And finally rwerf ap^'sm are sorry to say it) it does look to us like treating the ordinanie o^^e coni the gospel with contempt, and is saying, it it any thing, and every "^^ded t( tiling, and nothing, just as our fancies wouid have if. Ihen the We sincerely believe, that baptism is a prerec^uisite to lh« coram o-^o i^e o b«t It IS necessary to be adminsitered according to the order of tbe^cts ii. Rospei. We do not make sincerity a rult ; we view it our dutv tePct mus be sincere, and sincerely right ; but the gospel we wish to swbmit tJed toti ai he rule of action, and we think that ten thoos.nd sincere e^ro * break will not make ene troth. Tow can On'^hL^K^'^^l^^'i'J'^T*^"'''* to be gratified as well as others 'f'ith tho Oar brethren who differ from us in points of sentiment, bring forward|bould o I li I reaf degree of |^e«r good conacfence as being suflRcient to iotrodace them to oar feMowship ; and because we do not unite with thetn in the ordinance ong, permit me #f the sdpper, they give us many hard names. I conclude that they ;ht against th&«ever thought we have a conscience too, and that it would be direct- ive been charg 1}^ contrary to our conscience, to manifest fellowship to that which others, stand *e have no fellowship in. ^tituteofchari As to the charge of being uncharitable, we do not feel guilty of the candid tol^^at. It is true we do not extend church fellowship to those we lat follow. "fi^sw unbaptized. When they extend that fellowship to us, or pre- sed. lend to, and can do it with propriety, because they view us* baptiz- her deoomina*^'- .<^ur thus withholding fellowihip from them, is not the want of charity ; it is the want of evidence that they are baptized, or that we of communion, »re authorized to receive into visible fellowship, or to the communion and they con. nobaptized persons. " e name of (he We are laught by the Apostle, that ** Charity rejoiceth not in in- iquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." That chanty which will fellow, of baptism ofP'P '7 brother m an essential error, is not that charily which rejoiceth »t to convince ^y »^^^« ^*'«<^« The best we can make of it is, human exerciseg ire honeat tmM^ feelings which ought not to be gratified : for to gratify them we d'g Table willjO^uat leap over the special Command of Christ, and treat it as a mere lypber, when we ought to love the command of Christ belter than minds of tho8ef**y christian brother on earth. IS the lust wee , * presume our charity for our brethren of other denominations, ts Jnce, sincerityi* gf«»^ *'or them as theirs is for us ; but we cannot, while we po«- . Their stated" our present views of the order of Christ's visible kingdom coro- ience, and wc%"a« *v>th them at the Lord's Table, without doing violence to our can fellowebipi^*;'^* ^^ truth, and our conscience. any particolaif ^o come on the ground of open communion, one of (wo things ny think it ni»ll»«8t be done. We must give up our idea of baptism bein« a term only let them |^coinm'mion or receive that for baptism, which we renounce by d it you bad ai |"r practice as no baptism. The former we cannot— the latter wc eeing we irejf**"^ not : for, from the command of Christ to his disciples to go and Let me tak««^ach all nations, baptizing them— and from the practice of the A^ ; and we pro- 1**^^^^8» ^^^ «^'d not delay baptism, but •'commanded the candidates ip that for ba ji- J'- "G 'baptized, and administered the ordinance the same day thev Christ, or th« felte^ed, or the same hour of the night,'* it appears evident that id finally, (we^japtJsm was the first gospel ordinance the apostles administered to ordinacice ot^^ converts of the christian religion in their day. And they were g, and cvery.f^^ded to the visible church the same day they were baptized : and ihenthey were in a situation to attend to the communion accordiRx to th« coramo.lF the order of the gospel. ♦* For they continued stedfastly m the and nothing ;|rP0'fJe8 doctrine and fellowship, and breaking of bread and prayers." order of tbe^^ts ii. Here the Apostles have lefl us a rule to act by. The sub- tour duty te|«ct must first receive the word gladly, then be baptized, and be id h to submit tti^^ to the church, then continue stedfast in doctrine and fellowship ioccre error* breaking of bread, and prayers. I now ask the candid question.' Pow can we, consistent with our views^ come to the Lord's T-*--'- lias others ?l»»th those who arc only bapti; d in irifancy? For by doing ir'^we bring forwardf^ould manifest that we fello>.«ible token of feliowship. Can any rational being snppoae that the od nf order can approbate such a fellowship as this ? Further, before another couimnnloa season v/c '.vilj attend the meetinjjs the difFi^rent cominunicaiits, and what shall we hear ? We shall ar from the pulpit of the Arian, Socinian, Jesus Christ repre- iited as bring far inferior to the Father, and very hard charges brought airist the I'rinitariany, as being: inconsistent in worshi|j[)in;; fhree equal )ds. Fiom the pulpit of the Trinitarian we shnll hear Arianisra and Kiiiianism ropresentcd as being but a little better than iiilidt^Iity, and atitdestn.ys the loiinda' ion of the christian religion. From fhe pulpit the Armenian we shall hear salvation represented as being wholly at the »posal of the creature — thai it is in his power to obtain it today, and to- heart is ne- ^rrow dispose of it, and die and be damned. The dortrine of Ejection represented as being from the bottomj^ss pit, and onjihl to return there ain, and that it ha> been the mf»ans of the damnation of thousands of Ills. From the pulpit of the Calvinist we shall hear salvation rrpresen- [] as being wholly the work of grace, be^nu by Cio.m r*>pr<'sf»nten of m. From the pulpit of the pedo-h«pli^t» »t> •'hall h*ar inf^iiit haptism idirated with al) the air of pu!pit ffo!. »i nity. 7t\\xS that ttmse nbo nrj>tf;ct get their cl>i!drrii bi[)tizcd are euHty of a jjrcAt t.ror, and !i>,:y he ♦?«- minated lieathen. So we may go from one putpit to another, »nd S4;e em all at sword's point«, bearing each othf rs Ry»le?n ifovn—vct all sub* ;ts of one communion in professed lellowship ? Win* (ontfndH for Mith id of fellowship ? Is it a baptist? he hardly d^i^efviiif the iK-mo ; for it in ;ecHy opposite t.)^ the baptist sentiment, the RitMe, and ♦•reTy ratitmal ■jnciplr. I wi<.h Mr. Hall had ihou^iit oi tljcse thiugs'^n-tore he bad pub- lied his liberal sentiments to the worid. JBitRa^sa brother, who eontends for oprn communion, this i«i not what ran by open cf»inmuaion. \ would not ext nd it in a general, uuHmitedi isgreasors. iVD with the faot flprink- i fellowship manifest th them, in 3 with infant )een sprink- s when they d be iocon- Is a variety n those who erally used, II christians. us believers tn was deci- ther things, eotal errors, poaal of the t, to arrive le of saving rietian expe baodooed by lay join the U3 sins are is called, ig of the Lord the christian (or Jehovah gl€d lystem. t the aiooer zea it — that t the wicked ally be burnt other tbiogi ery probable hem. aid in part— sp them all re, for sin- WM^^S^S& Mi : m ^ ' M t f^^n i i Wt i i I 1 If V &■, 1 w 14 6<»n%c; I wotild only commune occafiionally with soraft other denominatio iits to of oF thristiaai. Who shall be the jiidj^e what part of thechristiau world y id receive sljall commnne with, yo'irseU? You will soon he charijed with bigoti evfaccor( and the want of chanty, tor another can go further than yon can, « comiiuiue with more of the christian world than yon can, and if you had great charity as he ha«, and conhl rover as many great imperfections as lioes, yoH would cxt«nt brethren hccorae dissatisfied wi nd mo in thfcir baptism ; they see their pastor and myself tojeUier, they manif( le prereqt their feeling'^ to u<, and wish to be baptized; they propose to the past to baptize them — he refuses, and o')serves you are now baptized, and Another < >quaiutan( lurch in edo-hapti: I conr lu< > get ahuj ee, part There ai ith unbaj no wn thf caiMiot re-bapti:5e you. IJut their eonviition i> such, that they are unba] i^d Arnjei tized, they cannot he satisfied without suhntitting to the ordinance, acco di»^ to the ofder of tite gospel : they turn to me — Can you baptize us Til which I reply, O yes, I can ity of stati ig to him that they had no faith in Infant spiiuklinj, ?.u that he coidd not expect to have any of his clsildren sprinkled in the felloiv e ntimpiit ship of their ch*ireb, or b.y their pastor. This would nianifest that thpfvorship, annotv 'able. CO V aptized. rouid ceai ught to bi ommunio r am SOI dopt the ommunio consider him an tj.nhaptized person; therefore they would be ineonsivtentd making I view 1 !o-bapt iiide 1 ca I have I lo that. )'ilpit anv reccive*him. If t)\cy viewed him bap/tized because he thought so, the nitled lo ought to l>a;>tixu his 'jl»ildrcn upon his think so. eucy in u Once more — A Baptist might move mto a society of pedo-baptisl?, an{ )uilseU', he would ohserve he had no faith in iid'aut spthskliufr, and that could not oilVr up l!i=* children ill sprinkling. To rf'ru-.f; to reecive hiii^^ow let t >vould bti iu ou4stent with open com-mnion ; and to ret (uvc him the] billing to mu*it leaj; CiV liix children in baptism. 'I'liey to accom nodate and obtain J ci^pber,. slipped over tlmt, essen'iala! tide which obligates believing pa i sters of C I Wsiiij Hut - -I What i I couclu(l wine. T )ou the ] r denorninafio nU to offer np their chiWren in baptism, a^ though it h»? ."Yrtlt?"*! istiau world y d with bigot til yon can, « iiul if you had |icrfections as icnunion mnst id received him into foHowship. I dare not lorm essential articles, 1 ew according to the gospel, and slip over them in this manner. Another curious circumstance hag takea place within the t'rcle of my hnuaiutance. A i»ian who was a memb(^r of a churcli. dissented Irom the H.rch in some things, and went out of their fello^vship and wen to a. ?do-haptist churoh, and joined Ini^m in conanunion. and travelled wiiu ive \vesoma ,em years successively, while not a metnber ot any visible ihnrtM. though it wai ;ospel. ;iation«, whoni the subject a cul'ics we sh vith a pedo-ba nance alterna dissatisfied w 15 Now while these incon?is:teucif6 and difficidties remain, 1 cannot commuac isiblv with mv pedo-baplist brethren.— As I before said, I have a conscience, . y'' . .. .. • _ *„!.!., .}'.tT,^„H;..c rom'^•m^ if fnrhicJs inv doin2 it. ion, I only wj ,d fwhile these insurmountable dimc.iltie^ remam) it torbuls my do ig it. I couf ludc. under our present views and practice, there is no better way ) get ahng than to walk logt ther as lar as we can, and wherein we disa- •CR, part inl'ticndship. , . ,. There are many of my pedo-baptist brethren I view w>>au.n.u ni nd mo iu sentiment, only in baptism. We do I'ot d.ff.r jn our v.cvv^ «t r, theymanift le prerequisites to come to the comm-iuion. Ihey will n^' ^^"'"""^ se to the past ith unbaptizcd persons, t'lough they may be ever so p.ous. /"^ » f ^J*' baptized, ana nown them to refuse to act in the ordination oi Ari;uis aiid feocin ans they are unba, ^d Armenians, and to exchange pulpits with them ; and I *'«>""'";'| ''"^^ 'dinance, aero aanot, consistently with their condnot comm;me w, h tl^<^«^ '^^ the l^ords ^ou baptize us Table. Who can they commune with then? V.th regular Calv.m^t^ I have alwai Japstits. Why can they commune with then ? Because ley view hrm :h- brethren ai', ajltized. I wish we could say so ot them-the duficnlty «^ctwecn us k!es uucouseioi rould cease to rxist at once. But we cannot view thi:m '^l'^'^!;'' ;';[y nfant sprinkliui ught to be willius we should tako the liberty tliey ake o debar from the IIS be done, an «^r in the utmo ; inronsistencie lid be under th ornmimion unbaptizcd persons, and h.ive no hard thoughts of us. r am sorry to learn that some of my pedo-hviplist hrethren are ahmit to dopt the sentiment of IMr. Hall, that is, that baptiMB is not a term of i.a DC un.er t-iommunion. They made any thing of baptism before. Now they are her. A ped( oing to make nothing of it. The last error is not ni.'ch "orse an tho.e •avels with'tlie. hey had before practiced ; only it is putting more of them together. an"«;-'« ™y ,'ilpit any time wh n. if is Mot occ.tpiod. I sh^.dd not be willing to admit f'ccivc him the ilie duty for be )ti III. elievor, wiioh^i id no fiith in in te and obtain 2 IS believing pa' )li m. )'iipili'H^ UliMJ >rii 11 :. .^ " .- r - - . f, "iitriAntur ^ spirit has brti;o my pulidt those I view -ailty of essential errors m the iumlamental io( trine of th< irospd. .. , , r^ - ,.«f r-hrUf Hut I .nu.t coH..^. to t!t :• soconl qup^lo.i, which Is.-Docs not Chrivt h:andwishedt. What is nu anl ! y Lh.i.fs rc.mmuning ^''^h '^^»«'"''!;^'!. ;'^^"1,^,^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ him without hii I coucl.id. it cannot be that he ■ ctually communes wdi \f^*''" "» ' '^,^^^^^^^ Iwine ThMi 1 cnnol.id*^ xi'intii 1 communion is intended. This commim- iou the Baptists hoUl with- all real christians, 'f we could bo coiivmccil iIm. 16 ■ that Christ or his Apostles erer visil)ly communed with unbaptizcd pcrsoiH Of those wh ) were sprinkled in infancy, it wonSd be our duty and privileH to do the same ; but as long as we have uo evidence that that was the caiH T'e dare not. H Third Are we not bound to one heaven? Will there be any bars or seH amlious in heaven ? Answer — All Christians are bound to the sitfl heaven, and there will be no bars or spparations there. ■ Fonrt^ — If we all expect to rommune together in hcavrn. why ran « not on earth? -The answer im ubvioi!?. On eurlli ive arc nnt agree(B therefore we cannot walk together in some of the external!"! of reli^iou. ■ conceive it as necessary we rommiine to;2;ether in one ordinance, as the otlH tr ; and as wc cannot coinmune in baptism, \v*e cannot commune with aifl I>ropriety at the Lord's Table, lint "hen we arrive at Heaven, that hoH place, where no unclean thuio; can enter, our wood, hay and stubblo will ;jM be consumed, ajid we shall be united in one complete harmony of praifl around the throne of the Lamb. ■ Some have slated that it is necessary there sloidd be as many dcnominiB tions as there are, ^nd that it is all for the best. That God suffers it to hi so is evident ; but to say it is necessary, and for the best, is to say that erniB is necessary : for there cannot be so many different sects and they all bl rio^ht; for the Bible reqiiires us all to " he of one mind, and one judgmenfl ami all speak the same thin;:s — nnd to bf^ rooted and groiuided in the trutfl — And contend for the faith once delivered to the saint?.*' I If it is necessary there should be as n»any denou)inations as there are, il is necespary there sIjou!d cannot bo pleased with. For me to oiTsel my unknown errors against those I discover in others, would be a crime in mej If I rf tain an error and it is roa