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ed the creation of the univerfe, in oppofition to the advocates for the eternity of it. article refpecting the Meffiahthip of the Lord Jefus Chrift, in oppofition to the Jews, who looked for another; as alfo, those falfe Chrifts who then obtruded themfelves on the world. The doctrine of his Sonthip was ever maintained, in oppofition to all the malice of the Jews, who perfecuted him to the death, because he laid claim to that high character, and fo made himfelf equal with God. The doctrine of his Crucifixion ftood always in contraft with that of legal righteoufnefs: And the doctrine of his Refurrection and future glory was qually neceffary, as a comfort to his people in fuffering; he being the first fruits of them who flept: As alfo, in regard of the oppofition made to it by the Jews denying the fact, on the one hand; and the Philofophers, Freethinkers, and Sadducees, who denied the poffibility of it, on the other. The doctrine of his Dominion was not only neceffary, to exclude every ftrange lord; but alfo as a badge of loyalty among all who named his name. And the affurance of this article preferved his inftitutions in their purity and fimplicity, as long as it was entertained by his followers.

FROM this fpecimen it is plain, that thofe articles which formed the Creed of the primitive Church were the PRESENT TRUTH in Ffff

that

that age,-THE WORD OF CHRIST'S PATÍENCE; and the TESTIMONY of his followers.

BUT when the Church began to spread abroad, and ftand forth as the pillar and ground of Truth, fhe was far from being fecure from the attacks of her enemies. A fpecies of them, ftill more formidable than any yet mentioned, began the attack within her own walls. These were fuch of the heathen Philofophers as had embraced the profeffion of Christianity ;-they endeavoured to blend divine myfteries with the peculiar fyftem of the feet to which they belonged: And temporizing Chriftians, who fought to trim the inspired system into an accommodation with the dogmas of the heathen religion. The former tried to spoil religion through philofophy; and the latter through vain deceit. They began to be weary of contending against the multitude, and ftriving against the stream of oppofition to which the former Chriftians had been expofed: They thought it eafier, by much, to fail with the wind, down the current of vulgar prejudices; and to borrow the reputation of philofophy, to fcreen their fyftem of divinity from ignominy.

THE Church was in danger of this infection as early as the days of the Apostles; but it raged with far more fury afterwards. The

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mixture was so dreadfully dangerous, that we need not greatly wonder, if the faithful overfeers of the Church ufed every lawful precaution to prevent it. This fhews the propriety of keeping perfons, who fought admiflion into the church, fo long in the ftate of catechumens; as alfo of the diligence they used, both in inftruction and examination, before they admitted them to actual membership, and fpecial fellowship.

THIRDLY, Should any enquire, What were the Effects of thefe Tranfactions? We fhall mention only two of them.

1. DISTINGUISHED HOLINESS in the lives and converfations of Chriftians. While the care and watchfulness of the Church excited her to bring all her members under folenn engagements, both in refpect to their profeffion and converfation, her fuccefs bore fome proportion to her diligence. Their enemies. were obliged to acknowledge their innocence and purity in all things, except in their obftinacy in cleaving to the Truth. Pliny feems forced to own their innocence in all things, excepting with refpect to their God: "I put two female flaves to the torture (faid he);-but I could discover nothing more than an absurd and exceffive fuperftition."

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2. ANOTHER Effect of thefe Tranfactions was Courage and Conftancy in Death. Mr Adam, in his controverfy with Glas, gives us the following anecdote: "When he (Irenæus) was bishop of Lyons, in France, he brought his congregation under a folemn bond to adhere unto Chriftianity, not only in oppo fition to Heathenifm; but likeways to the ma ny Sects and Herefies which then prevailed; and wrote unto the neighbouring bifhops to do the fame Of which engagements he minds fome of his friends, when they were going together to martyrdom *" For which he quotes Eccl. Epit. p. 58. by I. S. Upon which Mr Adam makes this reflection, "So that this Father looks as like an old Scotch Covenanter as any thing I can imagine."

See Adam's Review of Letters, p. 50.

DISSER

ON THE

FOEDERAL TRANSACTIONS

WHICH OBTAINED IN THE

REFORMED CHURCHES ABROAD.

DUR

URING the reign of Antichrist, the Witneffes of Jefus prophefied in fackcloth, and were driven into corners; neverthelefs he ftill referved unto himfelf a feed to do him fervice in the world. It were a task fufficiently worth while, to attend unto their Testimony, on the one hand; and unto. the image of divine ordinances, which the Man of Sin fubftituted in the place of Chrift's inftitutions, on the other hand: As alfo to trace this corruption unto its genuine fource; but these things require more room than can be spared in this treatife.-I. I fhall furvey the Teftimony of the Waldenfes and Bohemian brethren, who were a noble prelude of the Reformation.II. I fhall fpecify fome of the most remarkable Federal Tranfactions which obtained in the Reformed Churches themfelves.

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