The Socinians say, that Christ died a martyr to the truth. But the charge upon which he was arraigned, tried and condemned, was that of blasphemy; and this crime consisted in his making himself equal with God. With their views of Christ, therefore, as a mere man, they ought to agree with the Jews in considering him as a blasphemer. How can they consider him as a martyr to the truth, while they deny that very doctrine, the open confession of which cost him his life? But, my dear friend, I have not room to enlarge. These are a few of the many proofs of the divinity of Christ, with which the scriptures abound-and the more carefully you study them, the more strongly I am persuaded they will appear to establish this truth. The Divinity of Christ, is, I am convinced, the impression that the multitude would receive from reading them. I think that from this brief and necessarily imperfect sketch, you will be disposed to agree with me, that if, in em bracing the divinity of Christ, we embrace an error, it is an error into which, from reading the scriptures, and especially the New Testament, we may very naturally slide. In my next, I propose to shew what the scriptures teach concerning the work which Christ came to accomplish; and whether he did not die as an atonement for sin. I propose, also, to glance at the respective tendency of the two opposite systems. I am, my dear friend, affectionately yours. REGISTRATION. OF BIRTHS. In our last No. p. 111, we inserted a letter from a Learner, with a view to introduce, for his information, and for the information of any of our readers who may need it, the following extract from "A Sketch of the History and Proceedings of the Deputies appointed to protect the Civil Rights of the Protestant Dissenters." "The Deputies of the several congregations of Protestant Dissenters, in and near London, finding that a General Register of Births of Dissenters' children was much wanted, and would be of great utility, established one in the year 1749, with the consent of the Trustees, at Dr. Williams's Library, in Red Cross Street, near Crippelgate, London." This Register has been continued from that time; and Certifi cates may be had of the Librarian, who also keeps the Register, any Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, between the hours of ten and three, except in the month of August, and the Whitsun and Christmas weeks, when the library is shut up. of the birth being in words at length, and not in figures; and they must be signed where the letters I. K. and L. M. are placed, by two or more persons who were present at the birth; and if such persons cannot write, but only make their marks, those marks should be attested by at least two credible persons, who shall add their places of abode to their names, in order to authenticate such certificates, (in case it should be necessary after the deaths of the persons present at the birth,) whose marks it might otherwise be impossible to prove to the satisfaction of a Court of Justice. Great care should be taken to write the certificate accurately and plainly, in order to prevent mistakes in entering it in the Register Book, which might render the entry useless, at the time when it may be wanted, and when no other proof can be obtained. Any person may have a child registered while the witnesses to the birth are living; but the sooner it is done after the birth the bet ter. The certificates being entered in the register book, are attested by the keeper of the register: one of them is filed at the library, and the other is returned to the parents or friends of the child. The expense is one shilling, which must be paid when the certificates are applied for. And this register being under inspection of the deputies, they are warranted in asserting it to be accurately kept.' The deputies recommend the use of this register to the protestant dissenters in general, who frequently suffer very great inconciences and losses, from the ne glect of it, (though it is open to all others who may choose to use it,) as it not unfrequently happens, that there is either no register kept in the meeting house to which they belong, or only an inperfect one, which often renders it impossible to prove the birth of their children, when necessary. The use of this register by no means precludes the use of others, where such are kept. As a register of births, it will be peculiarly useful to the Baptist denomination; and to all others it will have this recommendation, that the birth being registered instead of the baptism, the age of the child is ascertained with the utmost precision, which it cannot be where the time of baptism only is registered; which usually does not take place till some time after the birth. The expense of searching the register book, to ascertain whether any individual has been entered therein, is one shilling; and that of a certificate of an entry in the same, is also one shilling. " HINTS TO CHURCH MEMBERS. On attending their own places of Worship. This is one of those duties, which, though much neglected, is seldom disputed. Indeed, if this were denied, there would be no solid ground on which to expect the regular worship of God in any place. If it be the duty of one to stay at home, and another to wander wherever his inclination may lead him, (without necessity,) it cannot be proved the duty of any to assemble where prayer is wont to be made; of course, what has often been brought about by degrees, might occur at once, between 1 itching ears, and indolence, a society be ruined, and a place of worship be totally deserted. Allow me to offer a few remarks, with a view to caution you against the practice of wandering from place to place. 1. By such a conduct your own comfort will be prevented. I knew a man, who in the early part of his life indulged his curiosity, hoping, that with age, it would subside; but the more he gratified it, the anore it grew. Every new minister that came to the neighbourhood, was a temptation for him to leave his family and friends, which he could not resist and he spent many of his sabbaths in seeking after some new thing. After some time his brethren reproved him; but he still persevered, saying, he had a a right to please himself: and although he allowed that unnecessary journies were sinful, on the sabbath-day, still, as he always attended worship at some place, he thought all was well. After long forbearance, his pastor was under the painful necessity of observing to the church, that he could no longer consider any one a part of his charge, who wandered when he would, and where he pleased, without giving any satisfactory reason for his conduct his brethren also said, with much regret, that their fellowship was at an end: they could no longer strengthen, or watch over him, seeing he had, in effect, withdrawn himself. It was therefore agreed that the last office of love they could do for him, was to separate him from their numberto take those privileges from him, which he wantonly despised, hoping that he would "consider from whence he had fallen, and repent and do his first works." Now, he thought he could walk at large. He pacified his conscience with the thought that as he was accused of no gross immorality, the sentence of the church was too severe. His wandering soon became a proverb; and, as might be expected, his family soon followed his example. Himself and six children were known to be at seven different places of worship the same day. He was often disappointed, and seldom happy. When hearing one stranger, he was tormented with the thought that there was another, in another place, that he could not hear at the same time. By attending to every wind of doctrine, he became unsettled in his religious principles. Clouded with error, and weakened through age, he is now stooping with sorrow to the grave, saying, "Alas! that ever I gratified vain curiosity at such an expense. Oh, that I had hearkened to the voice of my teachers, and never despised the fellowship of my brethren. Had I made the same exertion to meet them that I did to follow strangers, I might have now had the companions of my youth to comfort my age, whilst we had gone to the same house of God in company! But I loved strangers, and after them I would go, and now my house is left unto me desolate." 2. Such a conduct will prevent your profit in hearing the word. The pretence of some is that they cannot hear their own minister with profit; that may be true, and yet the cause of that unprofitableness rest where you least suspect it. Unless your attendance be regular, there is not a fair opportunity of giving to every one a portion of meat in due season. Perhaps your minister has made your case frequently a subject of study; and has often come forth prepared to comfort and admonish you in particular; and as often found your seat empty! Is it at all surprising if you should not be profited by him? Had you been at home in your place, waiting upon the Lord, and praying for your minister, you might have been fed at your own table till your cup had run over. Thomas, the disciple, was only once absent from his place when his brethren saw the Lord, and how much did he lose? He was walking in darkness, for several days after the other disciples were rejoicing in their risen Lord. It is true a change of scene, a strange voice and manner may awaken attention and excite the feelings, and this is often mistaken for being edified. But by their works ye shall know them; and we never find that those who neglect their privileges at home increase much in the fruits of righteousness, by what they think they gather abroad. They are seldom happy, and never highly esteemed. They wish for variety, and they have their desire, but along with it God "sends leanness into their souls." 3. Such a conduct will have a most pernicious effect on families. Heads of families do well to consider, what will be the consequence if their children follow their example. Whether are they hely to become steady and use ful members of society, or a kind of vagrants, whose religion consists in speculation? In their conversation, it is true, there is a great deal about religion, but it is about those things in it which least concern us, such as the learning of Paul, the eloquence of Apollos, or the different talents of modern preachers. blind partiality to some, or a criminal indifference to all, is the general result of incessant variety; and where either of these prevail, adieu to peace and the growth of piety. Frequent wandering is certainly hurtful to the cause of religion in the place to which you belong. The congregation will certainly plead the example of the members, and they of each other, till in judgment the candlestick may be removed from them both. And I need not add that nothing tends more to weaken the hands and discourage the heart of your minister. Permit me now to offer a few considerations, with a view to promote stedfastness in your christian profession; and a regular attendance at your own place of worship. 1. i. A consciousness of your being in the path of duty will tend much to your enjoyment of the means of grace. The apostle, in one place, cautions us expressly against the "forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some was." And it is in the path of duty alone, that we are to expect the divine blessing; without which the most novel scenes and splendid talents can profit you nothing. It is supposed by your joining the church, that the church, that you are convinced that their sentiments and practice are agreeable to the scriptures; and we are exhorted not only to abhor that which is evil, but to : cleave to that which is good. At pany parents may hope that having trained up their children in the way they should go," When they are old they will not depart from it." S. A regular attendance at your own place will contribute much to the comfort, respectability, and prosperity, of the socie ty to which you are united. Whilst the first christians continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, with the brethren in breaking of bread, and prayers; the common remark of their enemies was, See how these christians love each other!" 2. It will add much to the comfort of your families. The true christian not only depends upon the mercies of the everlasting covenant, but he longs to have his house so with God. And no outward circumstance can add more to his comfort in the house of God, than to reflect that "His children are about him!" And how animating to him that leads the devotions of his fellow-worshippers, if, when he enters upon his work, he beholds the families of Jacob all seated and composed in the assembly of Zion. As he looks around, the affectionate and exemplary parent gives him a look full of meaning-he seems to say, "Here am I, and the children whom God has graciously given me." And here am I," says another, &c. "We are all here present to hear all things which are commanded thee of God." They all sing the same song-join in the same prayer, and hear the same sermon: And whilst they all eat at the same table, every one receives his portion of meat in due season. Such Vol. VIL 4. Finally; such a conduct will be rewarded now by the affectionate regard of your pastor, and the cordial esteem of your brethren. And a day may not be far distant when these considerations will be of greater importance to you than all the compliments you may now receive from persons of other denominations, for your liberality of sentiment, or fashionable taste. Few that wander among strangers, but would wish to die at home, among their friends; and I hesitate not to say, that it will afford you greater pleasure upon your death-bed to be able to say, that you have behaved consistently "in the house of God, which is the church of the living God," than to be able to say, " there was never a strange minister that came to the neighbourhood, but I was ready to leave all, that I might go and hear him.". To be stedfast and immoveable, is the way to abound in the work of the Lord; and such may be assured their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. V J. E. 1 |