their country, birth, or what they call baptifm, though they know little more of the religion of Jefus than Mohammedans or Pagans do. Multitudes are zealously attached to the authorized forms of their country, whofe faith is founded on human inftead of divine authority, and whofe fear of God is taught by the precepts of men. Among thofe who acknowledge in general that the word of God is the only rule of Chrif tian faith and practice, there are many who, in direct oppofition to that principle, claim a li→ berty to add to, or difpenfe with that rule, according as the difference of times, eftablished customs, or other circumftances may, in their opinion, require. Many pafs high encomiums on primitive Chriftianity, and profefs to admire the divine purity of its doctrines, and the beautiful fimplicity of its inftitutions, worship, order and difcipline, who yet freely ceafure every attempt to revive it. It is impoffible for candour itfelf to reconcile this with a due regard for the word of God, unlefs we can fuppofe that they look upon the word as calculated only for the first age of Chriftianity, or as authorizing the fuperftitious inftitutions of fucceeding ages. Thofe who would be thought liberal in their fentiments defpife what they call the little fingularities of parties, and they are right so far as thefe fingularities are of human invention. They do not, however, ftop here, but treat many things in the New Teftament itself as matters of indifference or non-effentials: but whatever may be faid of the comparative importance of things, it is effential to the character of a true Christian to confider himself as indifpenfibly bound to believe and practife all things whatsoever Chrift hath hath revealed or enjoined in his word, fo far as he understands it; fo that no article of the faith once delivered to the faints, nor any one of the leaft of Chrift's commandments, however fingular and unfafhionable they may be, can, in the fear of God be treated as the trivial noftrums of a party. True Chriftianity is the most benevolent and generous religion that ever appeared on the earth; it is not of this world, but quite oppofite to the spirit and course of it; therefore fuch as unrefervedly follow Chrift, and confcientiously obferve his fayings, muft neceffarily be diftinguifhed from the world, and looked upon as a party. ON THE WORD OF GOD. We-beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame image. 2 Cor. iii. 18. [Concluded from page 119.] HAVING declared the teftimony which the fcriptures bear to the divine perfections, we proceed to confider the practical inferences to be drawn from what we have advanced. The proper fervice of God fo entirely depends upon juft views of his character, that it would be prepofterous at prefent to addrefs any but those in whom the truth dwells; and therefore the object in view is that which we propofed in the beginning of this effay, "the edification of fuch "of our readers as are furnished with motives re* quifite "quifite for practice, in the belief of the truths "which have been previously stated." Such as have received the Word of God, and have known his Name, are now called to confider in its practical import, the revealed character of HIM whofe they are and whom they ferve; that they may be prepared the better to walk worthy of the Lord, and to be followers of God as dear children. Indeed whatever moral good is manifested in the people of God, flows from believing views of the perfection that dwells in HIM; each real fruit of the Spirit being companion to the perfuafion of that excellence in the divine character, correfpondently to which they are called and constrained to walk. For this purpose doth God manifeft himself unto his people as he doth not unto the world; and for this purpose hath he exhibited in the Gospel they believe, that which nature could not have taught them; for they, whofe minds He enlightens to receive His Gospel, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame image. 1. GOD is Holy. This truth is confidered. both in the Old and New Teftament, as a fufficient motive to the people of God to be holy also themfelves. To the Jews it addreffed itself thus: I am the LORD that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God; ye fhall therefore be holy, as I am holy. To Chriftians it speaks thus: As he which hath called you is holy, fo be ye holy in all manner of converfation. And if the precept was fufficiently enforced upon the fleshly Ifrael, by the confideration of the character which God fuftained towards them, and the works which He performed for them, as their God; how ftrong and constraining fhall it come to believers, impreffed as it is by that fuperior manifef tation of their redeeming God, which the work of their falvation exhibits! Shall not we, who know his name, cleanse ourselves from all filthines both of flesh and spirit, and walk not conformed to this world, but transformed in the renewing of our minds? Shall we not, day by day, put off the old man which is corrupt after the deceitful lufts,-and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteoufnefs and true holiness? Shall we not, as frangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lufts which war against the foul, remembering that we are a chofen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people? Truly, elfe would our faith be but a profeffion of what we did not believe, and our hope the hypocrites hope that shall perifh; for the grace of God (wherein we ftand by faith) teacheth us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lufts, we should live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent world; looking for that bleffed hope, even the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jefus Chrift; and thus as many of us as indeed believe, juftify the declaration of the beloved difciple: Every man that bath THIS HOPE in him, purifieth himself even as He is pure. 2. GOD is Juft. It becomes us to examine how far this truth has found access to our hearts, by enquiring into its influence upon our daily conduct. Let us fee that we be just towards all men whatever with whom we may be concerned; that, while the wicked borroweth and payeth not again, we may uniformly walk in the paths of uprightuefs, and manifeft irreproachable integrity in all our worldly dealings. Let us afk whether we be just toward the poor of this world, not withholding from them thofe things with which we, according to our feveral fituations, G 3 are entrusted for their ufe, and appropriating them to the purpofes of pride, extravagance, or luxury. Let us take heed that we be just toward our believing brethren, in fulfilling all the offices. wherein brotherly love ought to be exercifed, for all of us in common owe this-to love one another. Finally let us confider that queftion of the Prophet, Will a man rob God? and be careful that we have no confidence in the flesh, that we yield no fubmiffion to the God of this world, that we fet up No idols in our hearts, left that awful charge lie against us; but that we render unto God all the glory, all the fervice, all the love which He of right demands. Surely, the righteous LORD loveth righteousness, his countenance doth behold the upright. But, 3. God is Merciful. And do ye indeed pretend to know and believe the mercy of God, amongst whom exift ftrifes or envyings, or hatred or malice? Ye who are eafily provoked, or fpeak evil one of another? Ye who encourage unforgiving tempers, and fuffer fun after fun to go down upon your wrath ?-Be not deceived, Ged is not mocked. Thofe to whom God makes known the riches of his grace, are alfo taught of God to love one another, fo that putting away all bitternefs, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-fpeaking, they are henceforth kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Chrift's fake bath forgiven them. Wisdom. has teftified againft all, who have not fo learned Chrift, as being none of her children; in maintaining that Whofo loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In defcribing the tempers and conduct of Chriftians, as flowing from their believing views of the |