Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

try, nor treat others ill, that they may profess they believe certain doctrines, which they do not believe; all such are received by these, and also invited to this table. It is manifest indeed, that communion cannot be maintained with him, who makes use of force to impose his opinions upon others; who worships other gods, besides the true God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; or who, by his conversation, shows that he makes light of the precepts of the Gospel; or who owns any other laws of salvation, than those wrote in the books of the eternal covenant. But he, who behaves himself the direct contrary, is worthy to have all Christians maintain communion with him, and to be preferred to all the rest who are of a different opinion. No mortal man, nay, no angel can impose any new Gospel upon Christians, to be believed by them. Now, according to this Gospel, he is a true disciple of Christ, who from his heart believes his doctrine, and his only, so as to obey it the best he is able, according to the infirmity of this life; who worships one God, loves his neighbour as himself, and lives temperately in respect to all other things. If anything be diminished from this, the laws of the covenant, which none but God can abate anything of, are maimed. And if anything be added, it is a useless yoke, which none ought to impose on Christians. Such laws can be received from God only, who alone is the determiner of eternal salvation.

Perhaps some may here ask me, by what name these Christian societies, which I have now described, may

be distinguished? But it signifies nothing what denomination they go under. The reader may conceive all churches to be meant, in which, what I have said, is to be found. Wheresoever that only rule of faith, and that liberty which I have described, is, there they may be assured true Christianity is, and they need not inquire for a name, which makes nothing to the purpose. I believe there are many such societies; and I pray the good and great God, that there may be more and more every day; that at length his kingdom may come into all the earth, and that mankind may obey it only.

INDEX.

A

Abauzit, Firmin, biographical notice of, I, 95. Settles
with his mother at Geneva, 96. Travels into Holland
and England, 97. Fond of theological and scientific
studies, and detects an error in Newton's Principia,
98. His theological writings, 99. Translated by Dr
Harwood, ib. Eulogy on him by Rousseau, 100. His
habits and character, 101. His views of mysteries in
religion, 103. Of the honour due to Christ, 121.
Power of Christ, 136. On the Holy Spirit, 141.
On Christ's charge to his Apostles, 149. On the
Lord's Supper, 152.

Adoration, in what sense the word is used in the
Scriptures, I, 122.

Aikin, Dr, Eulogy on his character, as a successful
teacher, and amiable man, III, 186.

Akenside, Dr, his Ode on Bishop Hoadly, I, 251.

Ambition, episcopal, a fruitful source of schism in the
church, V, 34, 35.

Ambrose, first ascribes to the Apostles the creed com-
monly known by their name, I, 26, note.
Ammianus Marcellinus, quoted, I, 56.

Apocalypse, Newton's observations on the, II, 226.
Apostles, Christ's charge to them to teach and baptize,
I, 149.

Apostles' Creed, I, 25. History of the, 26. Changes in
the, ib. note. The foundation of Christian faith in
the primitive ages of Christianity, VI, 41—48.
Aretius, on the unity of the church, I, 60.

Arius, his controversy with Athanasius, VI, 355.
Articles, fundamental in religion, what they are, I, 8.
False marks of such articles, 20. How they may be
distinguished, 28. Concerning the number of them, 37.
Articles of the English church, changes in them, I, 225.
Antiquity, not to interfere with the right and duty of
private judgment, V, 63.

Athanasius, his character described by Clayton, VI, 255.
Athanasian Creed, Clayton's account of the, in his famous
speech before the Irish House of Lords, VI, 254.
Austin, on the plainness of fundamentals in religion, I, 33.
quoted. 61.
His two books of Retractions, II, 31.
Agreement among Christians in all essential points of
doctrine and practice, VI, 301.

B

Balcanqual, Scottish commissioner at the Synod of Dort,
his account of the doings there, V, 8, 9.

Bangorian controversy, began by Hoadly, I, 244.

Baptism, meaning of the text in which the Apostles are
charged to baptize in the name of the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, I, 149. On baptizing in the name of

« AnteriorContinuar »