of church government, how imperfect fo ever, by any fet of men, who really believe on the Son of GOD, and who worship GoD, according to their confciences. We have not "fo learned CHRIST," as to prefer the forms, however perfect, to the power of godlinefs; or to be fo defirous that men fhould become declared members of our church, as that they become members of the "houfe"hold of faith," the holy fociety over whom the LORD prefides, in whom he dwells, and who dwell in him. We well know that a profelyte may be "twofold more the child of "hell" than before his avowed converfion: a Samaritan may be preferred to a Levite: Judas Iscariot, a devil, was of the twelve, a member of the family of JESUS CHRIST.

BETWEEN the church which claims infallibility, with her hierarchy and Jewish and heathenish pomp and fplendor and ceremonies; and the modes of Quakers, Independents and Quietifts: between those whose regulations, as to worship and church order (for there must be fome in the most independent focicties), are few, fimple, unfixed, and changing; and thofe whofe ufages are

numerous,

numerous, are imperiously imposed, and rigorously and obftinately enjoined and maintained; there are many gradations, and many diftinctions among Chriftians. Nor is it for us to say that falvation is excluded from this or that, or is totally impoffible in any. A Church confifts of members, focieties cannot fubfift without common laws and forms. A fociety of Chrstians, or a church, like other focieties, finds advantage in uniting together. Chriftians are commanded to unite together, and all true Chriftians rejoice in uniting for religious purposes, for worshiping God together, for celebrating the ordinances of the Gospel, teaching and preferving the truths of GOD, and promoting the divine life in themfelves and others; and in a word, all that is meant by the interests of religion; by every method in their power.

THE differences of opinions, and of modes and systems in Christian societies and churches, that have obtained from the beginning, and are unhappily fo numerous and various, and fome fo oppofite, at prefent, neceffarily occafion a distinction to be made, and a preference to be given. It is unquestionably

our

our wisdom and our duty to become of that church or fociety of Chriftians, and to adhere to it, which, in our fober judgement and beft informed confcience, approaches the nearest to the apostolick church; and in which the ends of edification, the success of religion, the glory of our God and Saviour, are most effectually promoted and fecured.

THE Minifters of the Church of Scotland have, all of them, deliberately and folemnly declared that her system of doctrine and difcipline, and modes of worship, are of this defcription: they folemnly and deliberately declare their adherence to this church, and engage never, directly or indirectly, to follow divifive courses. According to these engagements, thousands of eminently ufeful, exemplary and pious Ministers have lived and died, in all good confcience.

AND thousands of thousands, the members of the Church of Scotland, by regularly uniting together in public worship, and, more particularly, in celebrating the facrament of the LORD's fupper, more than virtually, declare that they prefer this church;

that

that they belong to this fociety; and will continue in this profeffion. That they did not this by constraint, but willingly, may be concluded from the liberty they enjoy in this country, of worshipping GoD according to their confciences, without moleftation. You, our stated hearers, make the profeffion of your forefathers and predeceffors, in joining with us in celebrating the ordinances of the Gospel: their " faith," you “follow, and "the end of their converfation," who lived and died, with all good confcience, members of the Church of Scotland. Nor are you, I truft, at any lofs to give a reason of your becoming of this church, of your remaining firmly attached to our communion, and in a fixed purpose to follow no divifive courses.

IN common with all Proteftant churches every where, you find that you are fully justified in feparating yourselves from the antichriftian church; whofe claims and ufurpations, and doctrines of demons, and mass of fuperftitions, debase and pervert the Gofpel. GOD fays to you, "Come out of her,

my people, that ye be not partakers of her "fins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

PERHAPS

PERHAPS I fhould not have mentioned on this occafion, our preference of the Presbyterian to the episcopal churches, in which beyond all question, are men eminent and diftinguished for their piety and learning, their zeal and exemplary behaviour, had not, even at this enlightened period, in this age of liberality and enlarged philanthropy, the long exploded bigotry of unchurching us altogether been revived, and affiduously propagated; and all but epifcopal orders, in one sense of the word epifcopal, been reprefented as null and void, as intrufion and ufurpation. This is a doctrine fo very abfurd, that one should think it could never have been contrived or broached, not to fay maintained and propagated, by any who are acquainted with the first principles of moral science : a doctrine fo harfh and cruel, one fhould think, as never to be entertained one moment by those who are acquainted with that bleffed fyftem which God hath given to mankind: "GOD hath not given us the fpi"rit of fear," of unmanly fuperftition and bigotry," but of "but of power and of love, and of

"a found mind.”

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