Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Diftria of Maffachusetts, to wit:

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-fourth day of

Auguft, in the thirtieth year of the Independence of the United States of America, MANNING and LORING, of the faid Diftrict, have depofited in this Office the title of a Book, the right whereof they claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit: "Open Communion with all who keep the Ordinances as Chrift delivered them to the Saints-Eight Letters on Open Communion, addreffed to RUFUS ANDERSON, A. M. BY DANIEL MERRILL, A. M. Paftor of the Church of Chrift in Sedgwick."

In conformity to the Act of the Congrefs of the United States, entitled, "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by fecuring the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of fuch Copies, during the Times therein mentioned ;" and alfo to an Act, entitled, "An Act fupplementary to an Act, entitled, An A&t for the Encouragement of Learning, by fecuring the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of fuch Copies, during the Times therein mentioned; and extending the Benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving and Etching Historical and other Prints."

N. GOODALE, { Clerk of the District

of Majachusetts.

7-12-320AB

To the Reader.

As to the fubject of the following Letters, either the Baptifts or their opponents are in an error. This error relates to what is, or to what is not, pre-requifite to membership in the visible church.

We are agreed, or ought to be, after faying, on each fide, what we judge to the purpose, to leave it with you to determine for yourself. But we think it duty to remind you, that your judgment will influence your practice, and that your practice will be examined, and the confequences of it will be yours, in eternity.

Two things we wish you to believe.One is, That truth will be honourable, when error shall be made afbamed. The other is, That truth embraced and truth practifed is the road to heaven, and the wisest course on earth.

Reader, we do not afk you to believe us, we wish you to believe the truth. We ask you to read, and to read attentively; to read for yourself. We wish you to read with that candour, that refolution, and with that application, with which a rational creature fhould, with which an accountable creature should, and with which one fhould, who is bound to an everlasting state.

Should you be ashamed of Chrift, and of his words, you may need his approbation, when it may not be granted you. Wishing you grace, wisdom and falvation,

I am, reader,

your willing fervant
for the truth's fake,

THE AUTHOR.

Letters on Open Communion.

LETTER I

Open Communion with all who keep the Ordinances as Chrift delivered them to the Saints.

BROTHER ANDERSON,

WHY did you write on clofe com munion? Why not on open communion? • Your brethren, the Baptifts, against whom you write, are as open communionifts as are found among all the followers of the Lamb. Their communion is open and free to all who have refpect to all God's commandments. They begin their open communion where Chrift's forerunner began it, where Chrift's difciples continued it, and where his apoftles every where pursued it. Their communion is as open, free and liberal to all visible believers, as were the waters, the overflowing waters of Jordan, or the many or large waters of Enons Here is the place to begin vifible communion with that kingdom which is not of this world. This is the communion door, nine-tenths of the Pædobaptifts and Baptifs being judges.

There is no other way to become the visible and regular members of the kingdom of God, Jefus Chrift being judge. John iii. 5. Except a man be born of water,-he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'

Now, my dear brother, had you begun where our Lord, his herald and followers began, you would have laid the axe at the root of the tree; and might have been confiftent with truth, and deferved well of the church of our Lord.

Suppofe a visible union among the friends. of Chrift, and their mutual fellowship at the Lord's table, be as defirable as you conceive it, why then not fet an example of condefcenfion, and urge your brethren to the fame? Do not you know, and do not the Baptifts, that your denomination, who teach the Baptifts to do the things which make for peace, and the things wherewith one may edify another, are the firft to tranfgrefs the rule which they prefcribe to others? Befides, fuppofe the Baptifts violate the royal law of love, in refufing to commune with you, you without one juftifiable reafon begin this violation: and thus, to fay the leaft, afford the Baptifts a very plaufible juftification; and, in their judgment, oblige them to refuse you to the fecond gofpel ordinance, by your refufing to fubmit to the

firt.

You, in direct violation of all the commands of Chrift with refpect to baptifm, and contrary from all the precepts and practices of the apoftles on the fubject, refufe communion in the firft and introductory ordinance of baptifm.

« AnteriorContinuar »