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"capacity that was neceffary" for fuch laborious and useless investigation. Yet the command is general, and fufficient inftruction given, how to proceed in discharging the duty enjoined. There is a "good way" pointed out for walking in, among the "old paths," which are to be found out by asking," with earnestness and circumfpection."Stand ye in the ways, and fee, and ask for the old "paths."—" Asking" implies fome perfon or thing, of whom enquiry may be made; as where the children of Ifrael were commanded to "ask their fa"thers," and to "afk of the days that were past,' for fuch information as was neceffary for directing their conduct. The fame inftructive information may still be obtained, if we are at due pains to apply for it, and do not trust too much to that inward "consciousness," which often promises reft to the foul, without the trouble of any outward inquiry about "coming" to that Saviour, in the way and manner which he has prescribed, who alone can beftow this inestimable bleffing, and "give rest to "the foul that is weary and heavy laden."*

Having therefore already confidered his holy reli gion, the only way in which we can "come to him" for fpiritual rest and comfort, as, like himself-"the "fame yesterday, to-day, and for ever;" and being I hope, well convinced, that it ought to be received

and

*St. Mat. xi. 29.

and embraced, just as it is represented and held out in the scriptures of truth, without "adding thereto, "or diminishing from it," we shall now proceed, in confequence of what has been faid, to establish another no less evident and important fact, which shall be the fubject of the following chapter.

CHAPTER II.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, IN WHICH HIS RELIGION IS RECEIVED AND EMBRACED, IS THAT SPIRITU AL SOCIETY, IN WHICH THE MINISTRATION of HOLY THINGS IS COMMITTED TO THE THREE DISTINCT ORDERS, OF BISHOPS, PRIESTS AND DEACONS, DERIVING THEIR AUTHORITY FROM THE APOSTLES, AS THOSE APOSTLES RECEIVED THEIR COMMISSION FROM CHRIST.

WHEN the converted Hebrews received this command from an infpired apoftle-" Obey them "that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourσε felves; for they watch for your fouls ;"* they were thereby put in mind, not only that they had fouls to be "watched for," but also that the power or authority, which these watching rulers had over them,

Heb. xiii. 17.

them, was of a fpiritual nature, and fuch as had relation to that fpiritual life, which after being begun on earth, was intended to laft for ever in heaven.This fingle observation prefents us with a juft view of the difference between these two sorts of government, which have the things of earth, and the things of heaven for their several objects: A diftinction, which St. Paul in another place feems to point out as worthy of our notice, when he tells us, "the "first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man "is the Lord from heaven."* Our earthy man must therefore be ruled and directed by fuch means and inftruments, that is, by fuch forms or modes of government as are fuited to the various fituations of things on this earth; where we are placed for a while, as in a school of instruction, to fit and prepare us for a more pure and permanent state in that heaven, from which came the second man, the Lord, -the Almighty Restorer of our nature, to establish a government fuited to the gracious defign of his coming, and most admirably calculated to qualify and dispose his happy subjects for the poffeffion of that unfading inheritance reserved for them in "his "everlasting kingdom."

Looking forward, with prophetic eye, to the establishment of this fpiritual kingdom, and to the folemn inauguration of its heavenly King, the inspired Pfalmift might justly say of it; "This is the Lord's doing,

* I Cor. xv. 47.

"doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes." The fetting up a pure and spiritual kingdom in the midst of a carnal and wicked world, and in fpite of all the oppofition which the prince of this world could make to it; the founding this fpiritual building on a rock, "against which the gates of hell should not prevail," was furely an astonishing exertion of divine power, and such as evidently fhewed the hand of that Almighty Lord, who can do what he pleaseth both in heaven and in earth.

The "doings" of men are fometimes a little "marvellous in our eyes," when we see them not only pulling down and destroying thofe venerable fabrics of civil government, which have stood for ages, the pride of human policy, but even attempting to fubvert the foundation of that ecclefiaftical system, which, refting on the folid ground of divine institution, is not to be altered or new modelled, as the work of human device, or in conformity to the manners, the prejudices, or civil conftitutions of the different nations, in which the Chriftian church has obtained a fettlement. Here we cannot but observe a remarkable difference between the "doing of the Lord," and that of man, with regard to the nature of their respective works.What the former does, is done at once, and produced in full perfection, according to the nature of the work, and the defign which God has in view

by

+ Pfalm cxviii. 23.