THEOLOGICAL WRITINGS PART III. AN EXPOSITION OF CERTAIN EVANGELICAL TRUTHS AND A FEW REMARKS ON THE Present State of Christendom. "Watchman, what of the night • Watchman, what of the night? The Watch man said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come "--Isaiah xx: 11, 12 ERRATA. NOTE.-The most of the following errors, are justly chargeable to the proof reader, and not to the author. PAGE 25, line 17 from top, for "scene" read "scheme." 2 line from bot tom, before Emanuel put the word "our." "26, line 11 from top, for "thorne" read "throne." "40, line 11 from bottom, drop the word "their." ⚫ 108, line 5 from the top, drop the word "old." "112, line 9 from the top, instead of the word "as" read "this is." "124, line 8 from top, for the word "sinners" read "us." "184, line 17 from bottom, read "her head" instead of "the head." "335, line 10 from top, for "prosecutor" read "persecutor." "409, line 1 from bottom, after the word "mind" read "that glorifies the name of God." "416, line 17 from bottom, for "word" read "world.” PART III. CHAPTER I. AN EXPOSITION OF CERTAIN EVANGELICAL TRUTHS; AND A FEW REMARKS ON THE PRESENT STATE OF CHRISTENDOM. VARIOUS are the opinions of the professors of Christianity on the subject of the religion, or the doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And it is a stubborn fact, that according to their views and opinions of this all-important subject, do they generally conduct themselves. How necessary then, that those views and opinions be in accordance with the thing itself! I mean the religion of which Christ is the Author. It is certain, that, in the days of the Apostles, there was not such a variety of notions and opinions entertained by those who made the good profession. It is true, that there was some jarring with regard to the reception of the Gentiles into the kingdom-and there were also some little heresies introduced into the church at Corinth. But there was a Paul, a James, &c., who soon exposed those innovations; and thus the leaven of error was irradicated, and the Church, preserved in unity and love. But, alas! since the departure of the Apostles, things have got into a very bad state. Christendom is divided into numerous sects, and all distinguished by different names, so that every one can know his party. Every sect has itsparticular views and laws for the regulation and government of its Church, and no two sects have the same views and laws: consequently, from this diversity arises the bone of contention, for each party contends that its government or creed, is in unison with the Testament. And if it be so, I must say mystery, mystery !-for I cannot solve the matter. The Testament a book of inconsistencies or contradictions! A book which reveals itself in a thousand different ways, as man would have it! But I have and always had, a better opinion of the good book, than to believe that it is the author of the above confusion. A query presents itself to the mind. From whence, then, does all this smoke and confusion arise? According to the light which I have received, I can answer, from the bottomless pit, and, of course has no foundation? that is, it hath not the doctrine of Christ for its support. We read in the 9th chapter of Revelations of a bottomless pit; and from the account given, it is a place of smoke, and out of said smoke, hurtful creatures do proceed, and by reason of the smoke, the sun and the air were darkened. How very applicable to the present condition of Christendom. For instance bo.tomless-no foundation-which agrees with what we ave already remarked on the condition of christendom, that mystery, babylon-or the confused and contradictory order of things in our so called christendom, has no foundation in the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by reason of which smoke that is confused order of things-the sun and the air-that is the Gospel and State of the church are darkened and thereby rendered hard to comprehend. The bottomless pit will finally become the prison for the devil and all the evil spirits. See Rev. 20th. The Devil has always been the author of confusion. He began his work in Heaven among the bright Seraphims of glory, and caused the fall of many. But as the presence of Deity cannot endure confusion, the Devil and all his adherents, were expelled from those peaceful regions, and ever since his expulsion from heaven he has not ceased to prosecute his hellish work among the sons of men, and will no doubt continue so to do, until he is laid hold upon by a certain mighty angel. Rev. xx. We see him at work with our first parents-the representatives of the human family -and, to the great astonishment of heaven and earth, succeeds in causing Adam and Eve to transgress the law of their Creator, and displaces them from that happy state and beautiful order, in which they had been situated by their Creator. If our first parents had kept their post, it is highly probable that there would have been an end to the work of the Devil; but their fall made it an easy matter for him to carry on his work of confusion and destruction. His throne is now erected in the heart of the natural man, confusion, disorder, and all manner of vice are the principles of his kingdom, so that wherever those principles manifest themselves in Church or State, the Devil is not far off. Yea, he as there. God, in order to counteract and destroy the works of the Devil, sent his only begotten Son into the world, and communicated his will unto the children of men. The will of God was delivered plainly and very intelligibly ; and that it might not be forgotten, the Evangelists and Apostles put it upon record, and the sacred record is known by the name of the New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And whilst many of the records of men have sunk into oblivion, and are no more to be found upon the earth, God, by his infinite wisdom and power, has preserved and handed down the sacred record from one generation to another: and over this sacred record the devil has no power. The record is tho same now as it was when it came from the hands of the |