something more was necessary to his success than good professions and good speeches; he, therefore, answered and said, "But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken to my voice; for they will say, the Lord hath not appeared unto thee." The Lord immediately authorized and empowered him to work miracles. He now goes forth, in conjunction with his brother Aaron, clothed with proper authority, confirming his testimony with signs and wonders, and effects the deliverance of the Israelites from ignorance and bondage. (See an account of this mission, Exodus, 3d and 4th chapters.) The success of his mission Stephen compendiously relates in these words, Acts vii. 35, 36. "This Moses whom they refused, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel that appeared unto him in the bush. He brought them out, after that he had shewn wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years."

Joshua becomes, after the death of Moses, the second missionary in this mission, and is thus authorized, Joshua, i. 5. "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee nor forsake thee." 9. "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Signs and wonders accompanied the ministry of Joshua until he placed the tribes of Israel in their own land and divided it to them by lot. In this manner the first grand mission commenced, progressed, and terminated. Without pausing on the mission of John the Baptist, to introduce the christian era, which was also authenticated by signs and wonders attendant on his conception and birth, and which were noised abroad throughout all Judea, whereby his testimony was confirmed to the people; we proceed to the second in order of time, but in fact the first grand mission to which all others were subservientwe mean the Father's sending his own Son into the world as his great apostle or missionary, and the Son's sending his missionaries to perfect this grand mission. We need scarcely stop here to shew that signs and wonders accompanied his preaching, as every christian, on the evidence of those signs and wonders, receives him as God's Messiah, the Saviour of the world. But how did he send forth his missionaries? He tells them, "As the Father sent me, so also I send you." Matthew informs us, chap. x., that "Jesus called unto him his twelve disciples, and gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and disease." These he commanded to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and to preach the approaching reign of heaven, and to confirm it by miracles" Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons: freely you have received, freely give."

The seventy disciples, who were sent out by the Messiah to go before his face, and to announce the approaching reign, were sent, in the same manner, empowered to confirm their testimony by signs and wonders. See Luke x. The apostles, in the last commission, were sent to all the world; but were prohibited, in the accompanying instructions, from commencing their operations, until they should be endued with a power from on high. Thus all the missionaries, sent from heaven, were authorized and empowered to confirm their doctrine with

signs and wonders sufficient to awe opposition, to subdue the deepest rooted prejudices, and to satisfy the most inquisitive of the origin of their doctrine.

After Pentecost their powers were enlarged and new signs added. So sensible are they of the vast importance of those miracles, that their prayers ran in the following style, Acts iv. 29. "Lord, behold their threatenings; and grant unto thy servants, that, with all boldness, they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thy hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy son Jesus." Those spiritual gifts continued until the gospel was preached to all the world, Jews and Gentiles, and until churches were planted in all nations. Then they ceased. Why? Doubtless, because, in the eyes of Omniscience, they were no longer necessary. The missionary work was done. The gospel had been preached to all nations before the end of the apostolic age. The bible, then, gives us no idea of a missionary without the power of working miracles. Miracles and missionaries are inseparably connected in the New Testament. Nor can it be considered an objection to this fact, should it appear that some persons in the train of the true missionaries wrought no miracles, seeing those that led the van performed every thing of this kind that was necessary. Just as if a missionary were sent to India, with powers equal to those of Paul, with a score of attendants and fellow-laborers, his spiritual gifts or miraculous powers accredit the mission as of divine origin, and are as convincing to the witnesses as though they all wrought miracles. From these plain and obvious facts and considerations, it is evident that it is a capital mistake to suppose that missionaries in heathen lands, without the power of working miracles, can succeed in establishing the christian religion. If it was necessary for the first missionaries to possess them, it is as necessary for those of our time who go to pagan lands, to possess them. Every argument that can be adduced to show that those signs and wonders, exhibited in Judea, were necessary to the suc cess of that mission, can be turned to show that such signs and wonders are necessary at this day in China, Japan, or Burmah, to the success of a missionary.

The success of all modern missionaries is in accordance with these facts. They have, in some instances, succeeded in persuading some individuals to put on a sectarian profession of christianity. As the different philosophers, in ancient nations, succeeded in obtaining a few disciples to their respective systems, each new one making some inroads upon his predecessors; so have the modern missionaries succeeded in making a few proselytes to their systems, from amongst the disciples of the different pagan systems of theology. But that any thing can be produced, of a credible character, resembling the success of the divine missionaries, narrated in the New Testament, is impossible; or, that a church, resembling that at Jerusalem, Samaria, Cesarea, Antioch, or Rome, has been founded in any pagan land, by the efforts of our missionaries, we believe incapable of proof. Is, then, the attempt to convert the heathen by means of modern missionaries, an unauthorized and a hopeless one? It seems to be unauthorized, and, if so, then it is a hopeless one. How, then, is the Gospel to spread through the World?

The New Testament is the only source of information on this topic. It teaches us that

the association, called the church of Jesus Christ | is, in propria forma, the only institution of God left on earth to illuminate and reform the world. That is, to speak in the most definitive and intelligible manner, a society of men and women, having in their hands the oracles of God; believing in their hearts the gospel of Jesus Christ; confessing the truth of Christ with their lips; exhibiting in their lives the morality of the gospel, and walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blamelessly, in the sight of all men. When spiritual men, i. e. men having spiritual gifts, or, as now termed, miraculous gifts, were withdrawn, this institution was left on earth, as the grand scheme of Heaven, to enlighten and reform the world. An organized society of this kind, modelled after the plan taught in the New Testament, is the consummation of the manifold wisdom of God to exhibit to the world the civilizing, the moralizing, the saving light, which renovates the human heart, which elevates human character, and which prostrates in the dust all the boasted expedients of ancient and modern times. The church of the living God is therefore styled the pillar and ground of the truth; or, as Macknight more correctly renders it, the pillar and support of the truth.

The christian religion is a social religion, and cannot be exhibited to the full conviction of the world, only when it appears in this social character. An individual or two, in a pagan land, may talk about the christian religion, and may exhibit its morality as far as respects mankind in general; but it is impossible to give a clear, a satisfactory, a convincing exhibition of it, in any other way than by exhibiting a church, not on paper, but in actual existence and operation, as divinely appointed. The ambassadors of Christ, or his missionaries to the world, were commissioned to go to all nations in quest of materials to build this pillar of truth, this house of the living God; and then to place and cement these materials in such a way as to bear the inscription of the blessed gospel, and to exhibit it in such conspicuous and legible characters, as to be known and read by all men. This work the apostles accomplished in having made of twain one new man, i. e. of Jew and Gentile one new institution, or associated body, the church; and having placed this in all nations, in the most conspicuous and elevated situations; in the most populous countries, the most commercial states, and in the most renowned cities, they were taken to heaven, and left the church, by its doctrine and example, to christianize the world. All that has been necessary ever since was to hold fast the apostles' doctrine and commandments. If this had been faithfully done, there would have been no need, at this moment, to talk of converting the heathen. But it has happened, by the woeful departure of ambitious and ignorant men, from the ancient simplicity of the new religion, that the same awful crime is justly preferred against the people called Christians, that was, by an apostle, charged upon the Jews, viz. "The christian name has been, through your crimes, blasphemed among the heathen." Yes, indeed, so blasphemed, so disgraced, so vilified, that amongst those pagans that have heard of it, the term christian denotes every thing that is hateful and impious. If the channel of the vast Atlantic were filled with tears of the deepest contrition, they would not suffice to wash the "christian nations" from the odium and turpitude of crime with which they

of the approbation of the pagans that know them best. Nothing can be done worthy of admiration by the christians of this age, with any reference to the conversion of the pagan nations, until the christians separate themselves from all the worldly combinations in which they are swallowed up, until they come out from amongst them that have a form of godliness, but deny the power of it; until they cast out all the selfish, money-lovers, boasters, proud, blasphemers, drunkards, covenant-breakers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, without natural affection, slanderers, incontinent, fierce, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up, and lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; until they form themselves into societies independent of hireling priests and ecclesiastical courts modelled after the forum, the parliament, or national conventions; until they cast to the moles and to the bats the Platonic speculations, the Pythagorean dreams and Jewish fables they have written in their creeds; until they return to the ancient model delineated in the New Testament; and until they keep the ordinances as delivered to them by the apostles. Then suppose a christian church were to be placed on the confines of a heathen land, as some of them must inevitably be, the darkness of paganism will serve, as a shade in a picture, to exhibit the lustre of christianity. Then the heathen around them will see their humility; their heavenly-mindedness, their hatred of garments spotted with the flesh, their purity, their chastity, their temperance, their sobriety, their brotherly love; they will observe the order of their worship, and will fall down in their assemblies, as Paul affirms, and declare that God is in them of a truth. Then will be verified anew the words of the Saviour-"If ye love one another, all men will know that you are the disciples of the Saviour of the world." They will say to one another, and proclaim to their countrymen on every occasion, "These christians are peaceful, benevolent, humane, forgetful, and forgiving of injuries; they hate war, oppression, theft, falsehood, detraction; they are always talking of the hope of a glorious resurrection from the dead, and are looking for the coming of him whom they call their Lord. In their assemblies there is order, peace, love, and harmony. Their chief guide is not distinguished by his dress, as our priests, nor does he, like them, live upon the sweat and sacrifices of the people. He works with his own hands as those who meet with him in their assembly. They repay the curses of wicked pagans with blessings, and their benevolence is not confined to themselves. They are as benevolent to all our people as to themselves-come, see if their religion is not better than ours-better than all others." When the christian church assumes such a character, there will be no need of missionaries. She will shine forth in the doctrine and in the practice of her members, as the sun in the firmament, and the brightness of her radiance will cheer the region and shadow of

death.

If, in the present day, and amongst all those who talk so much of a missionary spirit, there could be found such a society, though it were composed of but twenty, willing to emigrate to some heathen land, where they would support themselves like the natives, wear the same garb, adopt the country as their own, and profess nothing like a missionary project; should such a society sit down and hold forth in word and deed the saving truth, not deriding the gods nor

own works and example to speak for their religion, and practicing as above hinted; we are persuaded that, in process of time, a more solid foundation for the conversion of the natives would be laid, and more actual success resulting, than from all the missionaries employed for twenty-five years. Such a course would have some warrant from scripture; but the present has proved itself to be all human.

We do not intend to dwell much on this topic. We have thought the above remarks were due to the great interest manifested by many in those enterprizes. We know many of the well disposed are engaged in these projects; nay, it is not long since we ourselves were enthusiastic in the missionary spirit. Let the reader remember our motto-let him "prove all things, and hold fast that which is good."

Missionaries to Burmah.

EDITOR.

gave them the right hand of fellowship, "that they should go to the heathen." The Rev. Lucius of Cyrene offered up the concluding prayer. The services were performed in the Rev. Mr. Simeon Niger's meeting-house. The day was fine, and the assemblage was very large, and proved, by their fixed and silent attention to the services, how much they felt for the world that lieth in wickedness; and by a collection of $86 25 cents, they shewed a willingness to aid the Rev. Mr. Paulus and the Rev. Mr. Barnabas in carrying the gospel to the heathen.

Mr. Paulus is a young man, and a native of the city of Tarsus; he received his classical and theological education in the theological seminary in Jerusalem. He appeared before the committee a man of good sense, of ardent piety, and understandingly led by the spirit of God to the work in which he has now engaged."

It is then plain that the above notification is just in the spirit and style of this passage from the 13th chapter of the Acts. But in the common translation the original loses much of its aptitude and beauty; for, lo! it reads thus: "Now there was in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as, Barnabas, and Simon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."

ON Wednesday, the 11th of June, at Utica, New York, the Rev. Jonathan Wade and his consort were set apart as missionaries to the Burman empire, by a committee of the board of managers of the Baptist General Convention. An interesting sermon was delivered on the occasion by the Rev. Nathaniel Kendrick, from 2 Tim. ii. 10. "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." Rev. Alfred Bennett led in offering up the consecrating prayer. Rev. Daniel Hascall gave Mr. Wade an appropriate charge, and the Rev. Joel W. Clark gave him the right hand of It is much to be desired that the Baptists in fellowship, "that he should go to the heathen;" the western country will not imitate these preceRev. John Peck addressed Mrs. Wade, and Rev. dents of pompous vanity, so consecrated in the Elon Galusha gave her the right hand of fellow-east; and that they will rather cherish the spirit ship. Rev. Elijah F. Willey offered the concluding prayer. The services were performed in Rev. Mr. Atkin's meeting-house. The day was fine, and the assemblage was very large, and proved, by their fixed and silent attention to the services, how much they felt for the world that lieth in wickedness; and by a collection of $86. 23 taken on the spot, they showed a willingness to share in the pleasure and expense of spreading the gospel in all the earth.

Mr. Wade is a young man, and a native of the state of New York. He received his classical and theological education in the theological seminary at Hamilton. He appeared before the committee a man of good sense, of ardent piety, and understandingly led by the spirit of God to the work in which he has now engaged. Mrs. Wade is from a respectable family in Hamilton, Madison county, daughter of deacon Lapham. Her early piety and active zeal in the cause of her Redeemer, has encouraged the hope that she will be eminently useful in the cause of missions with her husband.-[Latter Day Luminary.

Note by the Editor.-How accordant is the language and spirit of the above to the following passage from the 13th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles: "On Wednesday, the 11th of June, A. D. 44, the Rev. Saulus Paulus and the Rev. Joses Barnabas were set apart as missionaries to the Gentiles dispersed throughout the world, by a committee of the board of managers of the Baptist General Convention, met in the city of Antioch. An interesting sermon was delivered on the occasion by the Rev. Simon Niger, from Isaiah xlii. 4. "The isles shall wait for his law." Rev. Lucius of Cyrene led in offering up the consecrating prayer. Rev. Manaen gave Mr. Paulus and his companion (Mr. Barnabas) an appropriate charge; and the Rev. John Mark |

and copy the style of that much despised little volume called the New Testament. Then we know they will remember that it is spoken by our Lord, "Be not called Rabbi," or Reverend. Then they will confess that many things of high reputation in this age are an abomination in the sight of God.

The Boston Recorder.

THE editor of the Boston Recorder, in a late address to his subscribers and to the public in general, has made a very generous proposal to the American Education Society, that if, by any means, he can get a thousand names added to his subscription list, (which at present amounts to 3500,) who will pay as well as subscribe, he will give a thousand dollars to the Education Society; and so in proportion for a greater or smaller number above the present 3500, in each As an inducement to their succeeding year. liberality, he gives a nearly correct list of the annual income of all the principal missionary and charitable societies of the day, which is as follows, viz:—

English Education Society for propagating the gospel, annual income, 253,080 dollars.

Society of the United Brethren, 32,000 dollars. Wesleyan Missionary Society, 119,360 dollars. English Baptist Missionary Society, 58,666 dollars.

London Missionary Society, 130,708 dollars. Edinburgh Missionary Society, 14,715 dollars. Church Missionary Society, 146,000 dollars. London Jews' Society, 50,000 dollars. American Board of Foreign Missions, 59,397 dollars.

American Baptist Board for Foreign Missions, 18,000 dollars.

United Foreign Mission Society, 11,948 dollars. | harvest is great and the laborers are few." British and Foreign Bible Society, 460,884 Hence, then, the necessity of the American dollars. Education Society."

American Bible Society, 38,682 dollars. London Religious Tract Society, 41,000 dollars.

New England Tract Society, 3,691 dollars. Besides these there are Domestic Missionary and Education Societies in nearly all the United States.

How very different the course recommended by the Recorder to enlighten the world, and that recommended by the Saviour and his apostles! The scheme of a learned priesthood chiefly composed of beneficiaries, has long since proved itself to be a grand device to keep men in ignorance and bondage; a scheme, by means of which the people have been shrewdly taught to put out their own eyes, to fetter their own feet, and to bind the yoke upon their own necks. From this iniquitous scheme, a knowledge of the New Testament is the only means that can

No. 3.]

OCTOBER 6, 1823.

The Clergy. No. 1.

Thus one million four hundred and thirtyeight thousand one hundred and thirty-one dol lars, or about one million and a half per annum, is spent in the various schemes of the day. He represents the great need of more learned divines, and of more readers of religious news-set the people free. papers, such as the Recorder, from various considerations. Among others we find the lamentable condition of the New England states and the state of New York adduced, amounting to about four hundred thousand families, "and of these one hundred thousand may be supposed to be christian families," and but few of these, for want of religious intelligence (for want of his paper and others like it) "take any deep interest in these mighty movements which are now making for the conversion of the world." Yet, with all the "mighty movements," he supposes that three hundred thousand families in the above states are not christianized, i. e. threefourths of his own people! Religious newspapers, learned divines, and missionaries are much wanted in New England on this writer's hypo

thesis!

He then suggests to his present readers the necessity of regarding as a "sacred duty" which they owe God and their country, to persuade their neighbors and friends to take his paper; to "ministers of the gospel," the necessity of recommending it from the pulpit; to "enterprizing females," the excellence of persuading others; to "students of colleges," especially the beneficiaries, to spend a part of their vacations; to "teachers of schools," to extend their usefulness; to parents, and "persons travelling," "having a commission from the publisher," to do good by circulating religious newspapers in their respective spheres.

NO CLASS or order of men that ever appeared on earth have obtained so much influence, or acquired so complete an ascendency over the human mind, as the clergy. The christian clergy have exercised, for about fifteen hundred years, a sovereign dominion over the bible, the consciences, and the religious sentiments of all nations professing christianity. Even kings and emperors bowed with deference to their authority, acknowledging their supremacy, and not daring to wield the sceptre until consecrated and crowned by a minister of religion.-Though vials of wrath have been poured from heaven upon the kingdom of the clergy; though many of them have gnawed their tongues and bit their lips with pain, at the loss of their former magnificent and mighty sway-yet, still their dominion, though much impaired, exists to an alarming extent; and their eagerness to have an unrivalled control over public sentiment, in all religious affairs, remains unabated. Behold the arrogance of their claims! and the peerless haughtiness of their pretensions! They have said, and of them many still say, they have an exclusive right, an official right to affix the proper interpretation to the scriptures; to expound them in public assemblies; insomuch, that it would be presumptuous in a layman to The Boston Recorder casts his mite into the attempt to exercise any of those functions which treasury of the American Education Society. they have assumed. They must "christen" To make learned teachers of christianity is his the new born infant; they must catechise and grand object, next to enlarging his subscription conform the tender stripling; they must celebrate list. "The reasons," he says, "why the Educa- the rites of matrimony; they must dispense all tion Society was formed, may be found in the ordinances in religion; they must attend the following facts: One hundred and forty-six corpse to its grave, preach a funeral sermon, towns in Maine; forty-five towns in two coun- and consecrate the very ground on which it is ties of New Hampshire; one hundred and thirty-laid. This dominion they at first obtained by nine towns in Vermont; fifty-three congrega- slow degrees; but from its great antiquity and tions in Massachusetts; three hundred and eighty-nine congregations in the Presbyterian church in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio; forty-six counties containing three hundred and four thousand inhabitants, in Virginia; three hundred and thirty-two churches of different denominations in South Carolina, all Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Michigan, except so far as a few ministers can supply a population of three hundred thousand scattered over a territory almost three times as large as New England; one thousand churches in the Baptist, and four hundred and fifty-one churches in the Presbyterian connexion, are destitute of educated ministers. Add to these appalling facts, the unparalleled increase of our population and the disproportionate increase of our religious institutions, and to these the deep darkness that

general prevalence, it is almost universally acquiesced in, approved, yea, even admired by the devout community. From this dominion over the feelings and consciences of mankind, it was not difficult to slide the hand into the purse of the superstitious. The most artful, and, indeed, the most effectual way, to get hold of the purse, is to get a hold of the conscience. The deeper the impression is made on the one, the deeper the draft on the other. Thus it came to pass that the clergy obtained worldly establishments, enriched themselves, and became an order as powerful in the state as in the church. The history of France before the Revolution, and of Spain until the establishment of the Constitution and the Cortes, is a convincing proof of the truth of these positions. Niles, in his "Weekly Register," informs us, that in Spain,

clergy, monks and friars, &c., was one hundred istration of their government, and the securing and forty-eight thousand, two hundred and what were called the interests of the church. forty-two. Nuns and religious women, thirty-Many sermons have been delivered on the netwo thousand; total, one hundred and eighty cessity and importance of a special call to the thousand, two hundred and forty two. These ministry; on the necessity and importance of persons occupied three thousand convents." the confederation of the ministry, in the form "The property," adds the same writer, "belonging to the clergy, in lands and buildings, amounted to the enormous sum of eight hundred and twenty-nine millions of dollars! exclusive of tithes and various other taxes and dues."

of general councils, synods, assemblies, associations, and conferences; in order to their securing the interests of religion, which seem so completely identified with the interests of the clergy, that many have been tempted to think that the phrase, "the interests of religion,"

In the kingdom of the clergy there are many ranks and degrees, as respects influence, author-means, the interests of the clergy. ity, wealth, and dignity. From the haughty Now, although I feel myself as able to depontiff that sits upon the throne of an imaginary monstrate and prove that both the one and the St. Peter, down to the poor curate who sells his other of these positions is false, as I am to prove fifty-two sermons per annum, for a starving that there is a God, the creator of heaven and advance of twenty per cent. on the first cost; earth; yet, I cheerfully admit that there are now, what a diversity of rank, of authority, of wealth, and there were formerly, many good men who and dignity!! Perhaps it may be said, that the have advocated the necessity, and expatiated on kingdom of the clergy was designed to bear a the importance, of a special call of the Holy resemblance to the kingdom of nature, which Spirit to the work of teaching the christian reliexhibits an endless variety, that it may please, gion, and, also, who have earnestly contended delight and instruct us. Thus, from the mighty for that confederation of the ministers of religion elephant, down to the oyster that clings to its as above stated. Nay, that many good and emnative rock, what a variety! And from the inent men have really thought such things indisgorgeous majesty and wide dominion of his pensable to the promotion of christianity. But holiness, down to the humble class-leader, shall we be deterred from examining any princimarching at the head of twelve "candidates for ple because good and great men have espoused immortality," what a diversity! But with all it? Nay, verily! Should we adopt this course, this diversity, what a unity of spirit, of aim, and all examination of principles is at an end. We of pursuit!! The class-leader would become a shall then venture to ask one of these called local preacher; the local preacher, a circuit-rider; ones to furnish us with the evidences of his havthe circuit-rider, a presiding elder; and the ing been specially called by the Holy Spirit, to presiding elder, a bishop. Then the highest the preaching and teaching of the christian reliround of the ladder is possessed. No further gion. The purposes to be answered by such a exaltation; no higher preferment in one pro- call, it is replied, render it necessary. What vince of the kingdom of the clergy. But in then are the purposes to be answered by such a another province of the same kingdom, there call? It is answered, that they are two; first, is a greater diversity of gifts, honors and emolu- the qualification of the preacher himself; and ments; but still the spirit, and temper, and aim, secondly, the regard to be paid to the instrucare one and the same. The bishop is an infe- tions which he communicates. Doubtless, then, rior dignitary in another province of this realm; it is necessary that the call be evidenced to those he views with envious eyes the superior dig- to whom he is sent. For if the instructions are nity of the lord archbishop, and when promoted the more to be regarded, because of the preachto this honor, his ambition is circumscribed by er's call by the Holy Spirit, it is absolutely nehis circumstances. Every member, then, of cessary that his call be well authenticated, that this kingdom of priests is aiming for one and his instructions may be well received. It must the same object; and though, in other provinces, either be criminal or not criminal to disregard the ranks may be fewer, and the honors less, the instruction of a teacher of the christian relithe desires, and aims, and pursuits of the priest-gion. On the supposition of its being criminal, hood are specifically the same. To say that the criminality must arise from the neglect or every individual of this nation of clergy is actu- despite of his authority to instruct; but his ated by such motives, and such only, is very far authority to instruct must be rendered appafrom our intention. There have been good and rent and manifest before it is criminal to neglect pious kings, and there are good and pious clergy. or despise it; therefore, it is necessary that he Yet we confess it is much easier to be a good demonstrate his authority, to render it criminal and pious king, than a good and pious clergy- to neglect or despise his instructions. How then There are, in the christian religion, does he demonstrate his authority? By producconstitutional principles that must be trampled ing a license, or a certificate, from Papists, Episupon, before a man becomes a priest; but none copalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, or Baptists, that impede his advancement to the throne as a that they considered him competent and authorpresident or as a king. The exceptions to the ized to preach and teach christianity. Does this general spirit and aim of the clergy, are, how-prove that he is called by God. No, assuredly; ever, so few, that we may safely ascribe to them, as an order of men, the above views, aims, and pursuits.

man.

But, to descend from general to particular remarks on the kingdom of the clergy, let us inquire how they came to invest themselves with such authority and dominion? If we mistake not, they acquired their authority and dominion by the use of two grand means; the first is, that of an alledged special call of God to what is commonly called the work of the ministry; the other, the necessity of a consociation of these called ones, for the better admin

for then God calls men to preach different gospels and to teach different kinds of christianity!! This will not satisfy the conscientious. Will his saying or his swearing that he is moved by the Holy Spirit to preach and teach christianity, prove that he is so moved? No; for many have thought that they were so moved, who afterwards declared and exhibited that they were mistaken. And many have said that they were so moved by the Holy Spirit, who were conscious at the moment that they were not so moved, but sought the office for filthy lucre's sake. Nothing of this kind will be admitted as evidence