works." Thus, in the mean time, receiving it anew out of the hand of Heaven, it would illy become us, as Unionists, to anticipate and start difficulties; it will be soon enough to advert to them, when they occur. Our great and only concern must be, truly to understand, believe, and obey the Book. And, for this purpose, to make the proper use of it; beginning with the divine orders for the universal exhibition of its contents, which gave rise to its publication; and, of course, made it public property. Thus we shall have its divine contents brought fairly before us, every thing in its proper place: see Matth. xxviii. 16~20.; Mark xvi. 15, 16.; Luke xxiv. 46-48.; Acts ii. 32, 37-39. "The eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And Jesus came and spake to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and on earth. Go ye, therefore, into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, disciple all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you.-He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned:—and, lo, I am with you always, even to the conclusion of this state." Moreover he said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that reformation and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things."

3. Now from these orders, thus delivered to the Apostles, all the contents of the Book evidently proceed in the very order in which they are presented to us, for they proceeded accordingly. For thus beginning in Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost, in the midst of a great congregation assembled out of all nations, they first preached the gospel in order to faith, as exhibited by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as far as the case required. In the second place, they preached repentance, or reformation, and remission of sins through baptism to every one who believed it; saying, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.-This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.-Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth this which you now see and hear.-Therefore, let all

the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men, brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts ii. 22., &c. Thenceforward in their Acts and Epistles they teach the baptized all things whatsoever they should observe and

do.

Thus have we got a prospectus of the contents and order of the blessed Book fairly before us. What remains, then, but that we go seriously to work? 1. To ascertain the true character and doctrine of Christ; that so believing in him, we might have life through his name; John xx. 31., and thus be prepared for baptism. 2. That thus believing we be baptized for the actual enjoyment of the promised salvation; that is, for the remission of our sins, and for the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is given to all that believe. Acts ii. 38. 3. And that we henceforth continue stedfast in the Apostles' doctrine, as did the primitive converts. diligently observing all things that they have commanded us. Acts ii. 42. "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls; and they continued stedfastly in the Apostles's doctrine, and in the fellowship, and in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers

4. Thus are we divinely instructed to proceed in order to a life of holiness; which, in this world, is the ultimate intention of the gospel; and without which none shall enjoy the divine presence in a life to

come.

Now, as to those "all things," which the Apostles were commanded to teach the believers to observe-it appears from the Book-1st. That as soon as they were baptized upon their professed belief of the gospel, they were associated as fellow-disciples and brethren in Christ-Acts ii. 44, 46, 47. All that believed were together, and had all things common. And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house. And the Lord added the saved daily to the church. 2d. That those societies, called churches, were committed to the superintendence of bishops and deacons: see Acts vi. 2-6., and xiv. 23.: Phil. i. 1. "Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples, and said, It is not fit that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look you out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom

we may appoint over this business: but we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And they chose seven -whom they set before the Apostles; and when they had prayed they laid hands on them"-"And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed." To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

3. That those were elders, or elderly persons, heads of families, possessing special qualifications; 1 Tim. iii. 2—12.: Titus i. 5—9. “A bishop must be blameless the husband of one wife, vigilant,sober,of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, not a striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection ) with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of them that are without, lest he fall into reproach, and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. Let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must the women (deaconess) be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well."For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee. If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot, or unruly; for a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men;-sober, just, holy, temperate; holding forth the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort, and to convince the gainsayers."

4. That the former were also called stewards, pastors, and teachers; officially teaching and ruling the churches for their spiritual edification and comfort. The latter-called deacons, or servants; officially attend. ing to the distribution of the contributions of the churches, for charitable and religious purposes: Acts 6. 2, 3; Rom. xvi. 1, 2. "Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples, and said, It is not reasonable that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this

business."-"I commend to you Phebe our sister, who is a servant (or deaconess) of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord as becometh saints; and that you assist her in whatever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succorer of many, and of myself also."

5. That those officers chosen by the people for whom they were to officiate, were regularly ordained with fasting and prayer, by the imposition of the hands of Apostles, or of Evangelists, or of the presbytery of a particular congregation: Acts vi. 5, 6,; and xiv. 23.; 1 Tim. iv. 14.; and v. 22.; Titus i. 5. "And the saying pleased the whole multitude; and they chose seven, whom they set before the Apostles; and when they had prayed they laid hands on them."-"And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed."-"Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery."—"Lay hands suddenly on no man; neither be partaker of other mens' sins: keep thyself pure." -"For this cause left I fhee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee."

6. That as those officers, teachers, and rulers were invested with an awful responsibility, for the due and faithful performance of the arduous and highly important duties of their office; so also were the brethren for whom they officiated, equally bound to submit to them, and to sup. port them in the execution of their official duties: Matth xxiv. 45.; Acts xx. 28-35.; 1 Cor ix. 1—14.; Gal. vi. 6; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13.; 1 Tim. v. 17, 18.; Heb. xiii. 7, 17, 24. "Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant, whom the Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily, I say to you, that he But and if that evil servant

shall make him ruler over all his goods. shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the Lord of that servant shall come in a day that he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites."-"From Miletus Paul sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said to them-Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Therefore watch, and remember, that, by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one, night and day, with tears. And now, brethren, I

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commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified."-"Do you not know, that they who minister about holy things live of the temple? and that they who wait at the altar, are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they who preach the gospel, should live of the gospel."-"Let him that is taught in the word, communicate to him who teaches in all good things." "We beseech you, brethren, to know them who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work sake."—"Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn."-"Remember them that have the rule over you, who have spoken to you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation:-Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.-Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you."

7. That the churches, thus organized, met respectively on the first day of the week, called "The Lord's Day," to celebrate his resurrection, and to commemorate his death; and for other exercises of spiritual edification; viz.-praying, singing, teaching, exhorting, and contributing to the relief of the poor: Acts xx. 7.; 1 Cor. x. 16, 17.; and xi. 20-34,; and xiv. 1-40.; and xvi. 1, 2. "On the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul discoursed to them."-"The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, the many, are one body; for we are all partakers of the one loaf."—"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you; that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed took a loaf, and when he had given thanks, he break it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this loaf, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he came."-For the furthe edification of the church by the proper use of the spiritual gifts prima rily conferred for that purpose, see the 14th chapter throughout. "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every