net, but all who are lovers of God and lovers of one another, in whatever place they may be, they compose the church, whether collective or not, Christ by his Spirit presides as head over them. When together, they are as lively stones-a Spiritual house and a holy priesthood to offer up Spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.-Holiness is their motto, and love to God and love to man is their tenet, and to this all the doctrine of the prophets, Christ and his apostles point as the sunbeams point to the sun. When the scribe acknowledged to Christ, that to love God with all his soul, and his neighbor as himself, was more than whole burnt offerings and sacrifices, Christ said to him in return, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God," see Matth. xxii. 37, 38, 39. Our Saviour never taught that his gospel stood in meats nor drinks. When Christ represented the principles upon which the world was to be justified, Matth. xxv. 31; he did not begin to cominend them on the right hand, for some ceremonial observance, as in sacraments, but, said he, "I was an hungered and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in: naked and ye clothed me: I was in prison and ye came unto me; for these they on the right hand were accepted, but for not attending to these they on the left hand were sent away, and it was said to them " inasmuch as ye have not done it unto one of the least of these [my disciples] ye did it not unto me. Saith Christ, "a new commandment I give unto you, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER, John xv. 12. Saith the apostle, Rom, xiii. 8, 9, 10, * * * “he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law-for this thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely: 'THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF-love worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore LOVE IS THE FULFILLING OF THE WHOLE LAW." Come reader, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man," (Eccl. xii. 13,) and " this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, -THAT WE SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER," 1 John iii. 11. THE END. Errata --Page 1-In motto, for encompasseth, read encampeth. page 150-In the 2d line of poetry, for effect read affect. Page 208-In the 2d line from the top, after dispensation read by the term gospel. Page 269In the 5th line from the top, after water read by virtue of that commission. Page 307-For Justin Martin, read Justin Martyr. Page 352-In the 2d line from the bottom, for potential mood, read subjunctive mood. CONTENTS. Trials of mind on the doctrine of unconditional election and reprobation, and a gracious deliverance from a despairing mind, by God's appearing by his Spirit.-Page 12 to 18. The doctrine of unconditional election false; otherwise sa- tan is but the servant of God-a subject of reward, as he Religious reflections while in the army, and a convincement of the impropriety of war; retirement from the army, and many promises made to God forgotten in a retired Resolutions for a reformation of life, with a sense of crea- Religious resolutions publicly manifested, and confirmation of God's loving kindness, by the interpretation of a for- mer dream. Trials of mind about baptism, and attach- ment to the Free-will Baptist church.-47-52. Trials about preaching-instruction by dreams. Religious Doubts occasioned by the multiplicity of religious opinions, and the mind inadequate to find the truth by the scrip- Temptations to disbelieve the existence of a God and Sa- viour overcome. The Jewish dispensation preferable to the gospel dispensation, supposing the scriptures to be the only rule for faith and practice.-70-76. gospel too frequently prostitute their functions by light and trifling conversation.--97--100. Duty shown by the vision of the night.--101--105. CHAP. VI. First public testimony against the ordinances, and the opposition met with, of some in society. -106-117, By doubts and fears reduced to distrust a religious attainment and every witness known.-Confirmation by the revelation of God's Spirit at noon-day-118-128. CHAP. VII. Delay of duty, and adversity considered to be in answer to prayer.--Untimely vocal prayer, reproved.--131--139. Adversity considered as instruction.--The use of the sacrament attempted for the last time.--140--148. The pretended benefit of the sacrament found to be groundless, by the examination of others, and a dismission from society, requested.--149--154. CHAP. VIII. Ordination refused. A dream showing the condition of the church.-156--165. Dreams, a christian privilege, and the means by which God gave instructions to his people, from the patriarchal time, to the time of the apostles and early christians. A letter from society; ordination refused, with an acquaintance with Friends.--166--180. PLEA ON BAPTISM. The law of types given to man after the fall-what man fell from, and what man must be restored to.-188-197. The tabernacle and offerings, with the washing of water and the anointing of oil, taught the worshippers that mankind were polluted, and what they must be, to be restored to the image of God.-197--199. Baptism under the law of Moses. The term gospel rejected, and the term kingdom of heaven shown to be most proper, to show the distinguishing line between the legislation of Moses and Christ, and John a prophet, and by birth a priest, and in life restricted by the law. John come to make known Christ. John preached the baptism of repentance, not water baptism; by repentance a people was made ready for the Lord. 206--217. John was to Christ what Moses was to John. 218-220. CHAP. II. John fulfils his mission in pointing out Christ to Israel. Christ baptized under the law. The kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven, preached by John, by Christ and his disciples as yet to come. Christ did not teach water baptism. 221---227. Christ's transfiguration on the mount, taught his disciples that the kingdom of Christ was yet to come, and that the law dispensation could not end until Christ was crucified, Mark, xi. 50. Luke, vii. 30; hence no reference to the baptism of water. John come in the way of righteousness, Matt. xxi. 52.-228---232. Christ suffered according to prophecy, in the last of Daniel's weeks, and the order of the tabernacle; the rending of the vail plainly shows when the proper christian dispensation commenced, and shows that water baptism, with other things, were under the law till then. 233 240. CHAP. III. The commission given to the apostles, Matth. xxviii. 19, did not include water baptism, but the baptism of the Spirit; a baptizing virtue which was to attend the preaching done by the influence of the Spirit. 241 260. Five reasons why the commission should not be received for water baptism. 261 268. CHAP. IV. The apostles were men of religious prejudice, as well as other men. Cornelius and his household the first and the last instance of Gentile baptism. The three thousand (Acts ii. 41.) were Jews, The Samaritans were Jews. The Corinthians, the Eunuch, Lydia and the Jailor were Jews, the twelve baptized by Paul, (Acts xix. 5.) were Jews. The council of elders and brethren at Jerusalem clear the Gentiles from baptism by water with other things. 269 285.. The apostle Paul was not sent to baptize with water, and he believed in the one baptism of the Spirit as the one, and only christian baptism, Rom. vi. 4. 1 Peter, iii. 21. 1 Cor. x. 2, have no reference to the baptism of water. 1 286. 502. ON THE SACRAMENT, OR LORD'S SUPPER. Christians disagree on the sacrament. The eucharist and sacrament, not mentioned in the scriptures of truth. Papists, Luther's and Calvin's notion about the sacrament; their jealousy towards each other manifested in the great sacramental contest in Germany. 303 316. |