the result of their labours,; and they contemplate, with gratitude, the goodness of God, who has caused such ample instruction to be treasured up in the New Testament, so varied and diffuse, as to answer all the exigencies of the Christian, whether in his private capacity, or in the fellowship of the gospel.

The laws now selected and submitted to the church not only prove the excellency and sufficiency of the scriptures for our government-but, if attended to, cannot fail to

wean us

from all preconceived opinions, and promote that unity of sentiment among us, so necessary to our welfare; and while we fully expect to behold the happy effects they will produce among ourselves, we are ready to anticipate the pleasing influence their beauty and consistency will have upon the minds of Christians in general; and we trust our conduct will evince, that a close adherence to the laws of Christ has a tendency not only to strengthen the bond of union, but to render it indissoluble; for we are fully persuaded, that where men are divested of party views, and an attachment to human traditions, the commandments of Christ must meet with universal acceptance, especially as it is generally admitted that the doctrines of Christ and his apostles form the most beautiful system of ethics, calculated in the highest degree to promote universal philanthropy and peace. And although we do not yet behold all the effects such a system might be expected to produce, it must be evident, that, wherever the gospel hath been received (notwithstanding the veil thrown over it by tradition), it hath ameliorated the manners of mankind.

One of the greatest obstacles to Christian philanthropy arises from the contrary opinions and contracted views that professors entertain of the character of God: which instead of acknowledging him to be (as the scriptures affirm) the father of his creatures, a being of infinite purity and impartiality, frequently represent him as a hard master, who makes distinctions among his creatures, merely for the purpose of displaying his sovereign power; electing some of the children of men to the highest enjoyment and felicity, while he is regardless of the rest; leaving (if not absolutely decreeing) them unceasingly to feel the direful effects of his wrath ;-a doctrine that not only reflects the highest dishonour upon the character of Jehovah, but is subversive of all morality and virtue, being the principal prop of infidelity, and that which furnishes the strongest arguments against revelation: for it may be truly said, if any of the doctrines taught in the scriptures have a tendency to set the attributes of Deity at variance, the divinity of their origin al may justly be questioned.

In tracing the various directions of Christ and his apostles,

of

and the particular evils they were calculated to guard against or cure, your committee think they have discovered many the sources of those corruptions with which the church of God hath been deluged for the fondness of some in adding something to the simple doctrines of the gospel, on one hand, and the negligence and supineness of Christians in resigning their right of judgment on the other, seem to have opened the floodgates of error; while the setting up one man exclusively to teach such doctrines as are calculated to please the party he is employed by, or to support the tenets they avow, has spread the contagion far and wide; especially where emoluments have been annexed to the priestly office, which too often influence to interest rather than duty, inclining men to court the applause of their patrons, rather than promote the cause of truth; especially as the true design of public preaching was not to instruct the church, but, by travelling from place to place, to call sinners to repentance, who, upon giving proof of their faith and sincerity, by a submission to the ordinance of baptism, were to be united to a church, to be further instructed in the doctrines of the gospel; such practices, together with the scriptures having been represented as open only to those who possess the key of knowledge (human learning), have served to rivet the chains with which men have bound themselves, rendering the cloud of ignorance, with which they have been inveloped, by these means still more impenetrable. We trust, however, this veil will shortly be removed, and that men will be inclined (with us) to contemplate the scriptures with admiration, where the character of Jehovah is set forth, and his designs in providence and grace made known in so glorious a manner as to prove his wisdom, power, and goodness; and that the revelation we are favoured with is worthy of his character, and perfectly adapted to the condition of man; for unless these points can be established, it does not appear how gainsayers are to be withstood, particularly such as contend for the exercise of the reasoning faculties; for it appears to us that the proper basis of truth is the reasonableness and necessity of it; and, when recommended by these, it becomes incontrovertible.

Your committee are persuaded that it was the glaring errors in the doctrines of the church of Rome, and the tyranny of priests, that first produced a reform: but as all reformations were guided by, or have since dwindled into, party zeal, no partial alteration in doctrine or discipline, can answer the purpose of delivering the church of God from the shackles of superstition and under this impression, they think nothing less than a return to first principles can dissipate error, and promote the knowledge and love of truth.

VOL. II.

:

A A

If the feeble attempt now made should have a tendency to unite Christians together, and influence them to follow our example, by conforming to such laws as the scriptures enjoin, pure and unmixt with human invention, we shall have cause to rejoice, as such a conduct cannot fail to produce the most beneficial effects; for as error first crept in from a disregard or inattention to the commands of Christ and his apostles, a return to a simple obedience thereof is the only means whereby a purity of manners and a uniformity of sentiment can be produced, such as characterized the first Christians. And should so desirable a change be effected, it is to be hoped that the mistakes of former ages, and the direful consequences thereof, will serve to secure Christians in future from departing from the simplicity of the gospel, as the punishment of Israel in their captivity cured them of idolatry.

The necessity and advantage of a church established upon such principles, cannot but be apparent, where every sentiment can be freely investigated, abstracted from party views or interested motives-where also the grand fundamental truths of the gospel are strenuously contended for a privilege, which, having been given up, has been the true reason of the exaltation of error, at the expence of truth. And here it is necessary for us to point out the difference there now is in the design of the church of God from that at its first establishment; for in the first ages of Christianity it was to preserve truth: but now, by a laborious attention to its true nature, and the nicest examination of every thing presented to us under that name, to search it out, thereby to exhibit it to the world in all its native simplicity and loveliness.-Now also the church is the school where young converts are to be instructed in the doctrines of the gospel, which, while they serve to guard them against a fondness for men and their opinions, from viewing their fallibility, enable them clearly to discern the commands of Christ from the dogmas of a party; at the same time enforcing the necessity of maintaining good works, thereby to shew forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into marvellous light, and lead them to improve and exercise those gifts which God bestows upon his church for the edification thereof, by provoking one another to love and good works, and not leave that to the priest which is the privilege of every Christian brother; for we are persuaded, that every church, however small its gifts, is fully competent to its own wants, independent of a hired preacher.

Not to enlarge upon the benefit of a society formed upon the proper equality of its members, and the limited authority of those who bear rule therein, who are accountable to the body for the due charge of the duties of their office, and for whose

benefit (not their own emolument or ambition) they are elected; we cannot omit calling your attention to the excellency and beauty of the Christian doctrines and discipline, inculcated in your laws; a submission to which cannot fail to advance the glory of God, the cause of religion, and your honour as a church; for though a small body, with inconsiderable talents, under many discouragements, professing to be governed thereby, you stand forward as advocates for the unity of the Deity, the universality of his love, for rational religion, and free inquiry; acknowledging also the supremacy of Christ as the only head of the church, and way to the Father; influenced by whose bright example, and following whose precepts, you now determine to walk as strangers and pilgrims in this world, unbiassed by its customs, and uninfluenced by any honour or advantage it may present; patiently waiting for the reward of your fidelity in the kingdom of Jesus, when he shall claim the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession.

By acting up to the spirit of your laws, you cannot fail to become good subjects, good husbands, good wives, good parents, good children, good masters, and good servants; for by thus filling our several stations in society, and submitting to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake (when, such ordinances do not militate against the commands of Christ), and following peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man can see the Lord, you will prove yourselves the true disciples of Jesus; for as his kingdom is not of this world, you are restricted from bearing arms on any account, and ought not to interfere with the politics of the world; but rather, as the followers of the Prince of Peace, recommending his doctrine by your examples; as by so doing, you cannot fail to enjoy peace in this life, and ensure your happiness hereafter.

While your committee rejoice at the prospect of the success of their labours, they are sensible much remains to be done; being convinced that it is possible the laws now presented may still need some addition to comprehend every thing necessary for the direction of a church of God; but they flatter themselves, however defective the selection may appear, it will evince the consistency and harmony of the scriptures, and shew the necessity of their being better known, and of an implicit submission to them, as the best means of promoting our real happiness. They therefore indulge the pleasing expectation, that this partial view of the subject will incline men to make the holy scriptures their study.

Although every thing necessary to establish these laws may not be set down at large, your committee have endeavoured to select what appeared best adapted to the various heads under

which they are arranged, referring to such other parts of scripture as tend to confirm the matter more fully; in some few instances they have added texts that apply to local circumstances and antient customs; but where these occur they have generally endeavoured to explain their view of them by a note annexed; therefore, upon the whole, entertain an earnest hope, that while the church accepts these laws as the rule oftheir conduct, their labours will not only be acceptable to them, and be in some sort a memorial of their attachment to their service, but in the end, will be highly beneficial to the Christian world; serving as a sufficient proof of the excellency of the revealed religion of Jesus; a submission to which will be the best defence against the baneful influencé of infidelity, as well as tend to erect a glorious standard of truth for all serious and enquiring Christians to rally under and flee to, during the desolating judgments that are about to be poured forth upon the anti-christian nations; for the cry is gone forth," Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him," and therefore we ought to attend to the voice of the angel uttered in Rev. xviii. 4- Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues ;" for the time is at hand when such as are built upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles will be manifest, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, and when a distinction will be made between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

What is subjoined under the head of Bye Laws, relates only to such regulations as every society stands in need of; designed to provide for certain contingencies, for which specific directions appear to be laid down in the New Testament, and apply to such rules as have been thought necessary to prevent a perpetuity of office, from whence we conceive many corruptions have sprang. Commending, therefore, the laws to the cordial acceptance of the church, as a sacred deposit of the truth, as far as our minds have been led, and them to the special protection of the God of truth, whom we pray to keep and to protect us, we subscribe ourselves your servants in the gospel of his THE COMMITTEE.

son,

ON THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE SCRIPTURES.

To the Editor of the Freethinking Christians' Magazine,

SIR,

AS S an admirer of the principles of the Christian church of which you are a member, I take the liberty of addressing this letter to you, and of begging your patience in perusing it. Having been educated in the principles of the established