which were preached by the Apostles, when they were sent forth, endowed with miraculous powers, to preach the GOSPEL, were those, which we have described as primitive doctrines, believed by Christians of every denomination :-It is also a fact, that the expressions, upon which the disputed doctrines of inference are founded, were not only incidentally used, in their epistolary correspondence, but occasionally urged, as containing the sublimest motives to the practice of every religious and moral duty :-It is, moreover, a melancholy fact, that the obscurities which, in the present day, surround these passages, have given them a decided preference to more obvious, and more important principles! They have been forcibly detached from the connections, which rendered them peculiarly applicable; have been made the subjects of disputation; have been converted into fundamental articles of faith: and that moral preaching, which they were adduced to enforce, has been stigmatized as a heathenish deviation from Christianity! Teachers of morality have been censured as "Apes of Epictetus," instead of being honoured as the followers of him who was pre-eminently the Preacher of morals!

The natural influence of the primitive doctrines of Christianity, is to promote harmony and bro

therly love. They cherish the sentiment that we are one large family, gratefully surrounding the throne of God, in the character of a reconciled Parent. We all agree that Christ died, and rose again, and hath provided a heavenly inheritance for his faithful followers.-But hisfaithful followers obey his commands; and his commands are to love one another. We all agree, that he came to proclaim pardon and remission of sin to the penitent; and we all know that much of our criminality consists in the hatreds, discords, and oppressions, so prevalent among the children of God. But, such is the perverseness of men, that this very embassy of mercy has augmented our animosities! Disgraceful contests have arisen concerning the person of the embassador of peace, or the precise share he may have in the proposals of reconciliation! and thus do the professed supplicants for grace, augment the very crimes which he came to pardon!

It is these speculative tenets and doctrines of inference alone, which have stained all the pages of Church history with blood! Nor has the zeal of contending parties been excited, in proportion to the intrinsic importance of the question agitated. The merest trifles appear important to agitated minds; and by such are rendered the occasions of infinite mischief. Such minds mis

take opinions for faith, and the vehemence with which they are propagated, for zeal for gospel truths. The more frivolous the subject, the more acrimonious the contest! Debates among venerable Patriarchs and Pontiffs, about the precise day on which the celebration of the passover should commence; the degrees of heresy that will invalidate the ordinance of baptism, and render it inefficient to wash away sins; the dispute whether the body of Christ was subjected to corruption, and whether he had two distinct wills, in consequence of the union of his two natures, &c. &c. have desolated nations, and convulsed empires!

The disposition to divert their attention, from the things which alone are able to make a man wise unto salvation, to subjects of controversy and doubtful disputation, soon discovered itself in the primitive churches; and it is severely reprehended by the Apostles. Such disputes St. Paul distinguishes from the genuine Gospel which had been preached to them, by denominating them "the words of men's wisdom ascribing them to the spirit of the world, in distinction from the things which the Holy Ghost teacheth; and he considers this disposition as characteristic of the carnal mind. "For whereas there is among you envying and strife, and divi

sions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal ?"* But, in the severity of his reproofs, he still preserves that spirit of charity which is so ornamental to the true Christian, and which is so soon extinguished in the carnal mind. He declares, "other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now, if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is. If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss yet he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

Whatever may be the precise signification of this passage, it contains a menace, which demands the attention of every builder of systems; and, before he engages in the office, he should certainly be cautious not to mistake wood, hay, and stubble, for gold, silver, and precious

stones.

III. Notwithstanding we have endeavoured

* 1 Cor. ii. 12, 13.

to prove, that the primitive doctrines preached by the Apostles, when they were converting Jews and Pagans, are the only essential doc trines of Christianity; we have admitted, that there are other principles of no small importance, having a tendency to animate our hopes, excite worthy affections, augment our diligence; and, had we not been convinced that the principles advanced in this disquisition, and which we have endeavoured to elucidate and establish, are peculiarly calculated to produce such effects, we should have spared ourselves the trouble of writing it. We know that to elicit truths by deduction is an hazardous attempt. It is treading upon dangerous ground; we have endeayoured to tread cautiously, and we must leave it to others to judge, whether we have been treading securely. We should deeply lament the possibility of being confuted in the leading articles advanced, as they appear to us most honourable to God, most honourable to the Saviour, and most conducive to universal happiness. But, although we shall suppose that partial errors will be detected, we cannot be apprehensive of a complete confutation. We have strictly conformed to the rules that were proposed upon our entrance upon the subject; giving the preference to those sentiments which