THE LAW-GIVER AND THE LAW. IT It may be well to state distinctly, in the First Number of the Tracts on Church Matters, which have been announced for publication, what the precise design of these pamphlets really is. The persons who are united in this effort to promote the cause of pure Christianity, would wish to have their purpose fully understood; not indeed on their own account, but for the sake of evangelical truth. They do not enter on this series of publications merely to uphold or to defend any sect or denomination whatever. It is possible some of the principles they intend to enforce may bear upon the State Church of England; and some may have relation to Diocesan Episcopacy; but, however this may be, it is quite certain some classes of dissenters will fall within the scope of observation on the various important topics which are to pass under review. The writers of these tracts do not intend, therefore, to assail the Establishment or Diocesan Episcopacy as such, neither to advocate nonconformity for its own sake. They intend to enforce the sole kingship and priesthood of Christ in the Church; let this great truth favour or condemn whomsoever it may. The subject of the present number is, the Law-Giver and the Law in Church Matters. The question to be answered is simply this, Is there any authority beside that of Christ, and any rule beside that of scripture, binding on Christians in matters of religion? This is the real question at issue, and is stated thus plainly and briefly at the outset, that no person may be in doubt as to what is meant. We have not to do with those who avowedly deny the divine origin and inspiration of the scriptures, but with men who agree in the professed belief that these writings do constitute the word of God. The question is not one between believers and unbelievers, but between men who profess to hold in reverence, as divine, the same volume, and yet do not agree on the question, whether that word constitutes a clear and complete declaration of the will of Christ. It happened, once upon a time, in a kingdom comprising a vast number of subjects, and whose sovereign resided at a distance, that great disorder and confusion arose. In the distracted condition of that kingdom, it became a matter of much importance to ascertain what laws had been ordained for its government, and whether the sovereign had empowered any persons to act in his name and behalf. Great discord and debate arose on this question. Some of the people said that their sovereign had given them a full and explicit statement of his royal will in a certain volume which they possessed; that he left it to their desire for his approval when he should return, to prompt them to the observance of its requirements; and that, therefore, he had not commissioned any one to act as his representative so as to enforce those laws. Others said, however, that, though they agreed with their fellow-subjects in acknowledging that that volume which they held in such high esteem, was really published by command of their sovereign, yet they had found a great many other writings which were even of more importance than that volume itself, because it could not be understood without them. These persons affirmed also that no one had any right to explain that volume but themselves; and, more than all, they said that their sovereign had given them such authority to act in his name, that all men were bound to observe every thing they said, and would be punished or rewarded by that sovereign on his return, accordingly as they had acted towards them who were appointed his representatives to the whole kingdom. Now this was such a demand on the submission of their fellow-subjects, and such an assumption of the king's own power, that a considerable number of the people thought they were entitled to ask the men who claimed such authority to prove that they had been so appointed, and that the additional writings which they produced had been really sanctioned by him as of equal or superior authority to that volume which all admitted to have been published by the sovereign. A great deal of noise was made by the men whose authority was thus disputed; but still, the others kept them to the question"Where is the warrant under which you act? and what is the evidence that these writings, which you so much extol, are of equal or superior authority to this volume which we all profess to believe to have been given by our king?" Now this is precisely the question to be considered in this tract. Has Christ given authority to any person or persons to make laws for his church? and has he himself given any other laws beside those which are contained in the bible? The importance of this question cannot possibly be exaggerated. On it depend many others:-salvation by the church, which claims to be the interpreter of scripture; or, salvation by Christ, who is the subject of scrip |