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A

VIEW

OF THE

ECONOMY

OF THE

CHURCH OF GOD,

AS IT EXISTED PRIMITIVELY,

UNDER THE

ABRAHAMIC DISPENSATION

AND THE

SINAI LAW;

AND AS IT IS PERPETUATED UNDER THE MORE LUMINOUS

DISPENSATION OF THE GOSPEL;

PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO THE

COVENANTS.

BY SAMUEL AUSTIN, A. M.

MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

HIS KINGDOM IS AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM."

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" AMICUS SOCRATES, AMICUS PLATO, SED MAJOR AMICA VERITAS."

WORCESTER :

PRINTED BY THOMAS & STURTEVANT,

For the AUTHOR; sold by him and by ISAIAH THOMAS, Jun. in Worcester; by
THOMAS & WHIPPLE, Newburyport; and by THOMAS & TAPPAN, Portsmouth.

1807.
EPB

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 160792

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILBEN FOUNDATIONS. 1899.

L.S.

District of Massachusetts, to wit:

Be it remembered, that on the sixteenth day of April in the thirty first year of the Independence of the U. States of Americà, SAMUEL AUSTIN of said District, has deposited in this Office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, th/wit

"A View of the economy of the Church of God, as it existed primitively, under the Abrahamic Dispensation, and. the Sinai Law; and as it is perpetuated under the more luminous dipensation of the Gospel; particularly in regard to the Covenants. By SAMUEL AUSTIN, A. M. Minister of the Gospel in Worcester, Massachusetts.

H13 KINGDOM I SCAN EVERLASTING KINGDOM.".

"AMICUS SOCRATES, AMICUS PLATO, SED MAJOR AMICA VERITAS.

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the U. States, entitled, "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned;" and also to an Act entitled, " An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, an Aot for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving, and Etching Historical, and other Prints.

WILLIAM S. SHAW, }

Clerk of the District of
Massachusetts.

INTRODUCTION.

73

SEVERAL works have been published within a few. years, both in Europe, and in this Country, concerning the Church of God; particularly, the qualifications which are requisite for membership in it, its institutions, the persons to whom they ought to be extended, and the discipline which its officers, and ordinary members are to maintain in it. The "Baptist controversy, in which all these subjects are more or less involved, has been lately revived. Books are multiplied, without bringing this controversy to a close. Difficulties still Temain, to perplex the humble enquirer, and keep up the vehemence of debate. Much truth is exhibited. But a clear, consistent scheme, disembarrassed of real difficulties, seems to be wanting. Such a scheme the Bible undoubtedly contains. To elicit this scheme is the only way to bring honest minds to an agreement. Whoever will candidly review the most ingensous Treatises which have been published in the Baptist controversy, will perceive that the Padobaptists have a great preponderance of evidence on their side of the question. It will, at the same time, be perceived, that they are not as united as could be wished in the principles of their theory. Some rest the evidence that the infant seed of believers are proper subjects of baptism, almost wholly upon the covenant which God established with Abraham. Others have not so much respect to this kind of argument; but prefer to rest the defence of their opinion, and practice, upon what they apprehend to be the clearer intimations of the Gospel, and upon the records of history. Different views are entertained of the nature of the Abrahamic covenant. It is debated whether this covenant was strictly, and properly the covenant of Grace; what was the real import, and who were the objects of its promises. Different opinions are entertained, and contrary.

T

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