t 
 
1 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY, CONSTITU 
 
 RULES OF DISCI 
 
 (O(0)ir]F 
 
 2 
 
 >!■ 3Fiv=ST 
 
 ®i&e Cralbinistic iBctijotitgtg, 
 
 IN WALES. ' 
 
 DRAWN UP BY THEIR OWN ASSOCIATED MINISTERS. 
 
 (Wai 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY PARRY AND SON, CHESTER. 
 
 AND SOLD BY HAMILTON, ADAMS & CO. 33, PATERNOSTER 
 
 ROW, AND HUGHES, 15, ST. MARTIN'S-LE-GRAND, LONDON ; 
 
 OLIVER & BOYD, EDINBURGH; AND ROBERTSON & CO 
 
 LOWER SACKVILLE STREET, DUBLIN. 
 
 M.PCCC. XXXIV. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 ■*>»••• « ■ 
 
 The denomination of Calvinistic Methodists had exist- 
 ed in Wales about sixty-five years, from the period of 
 its formation, without having published any Treatise, 
 declarative of the nature of its Constitution, — its Arti- 
 cles of doctrine, — its Rules of Conduct, or any other 
 particular relating to it During this period, every 
 one had therefore to form his own opinion on the 
 subject. 
 
 In the year 1801, its Rules of Discipline were first 
 published, explanatory of the order and form of its 
 Church Government, and laying down the Rules by 
 which its Members were to conduct themselves : but 
 neither a Code of Doctrinal Articles, nor a Confession 
 of Faith, were yet drawn up. 
 
 After a lapse of 87 years from the origin of this 
 denomination, it was judged expedient and necessary 
 on several accounts, and it was therefore unanimously 
 agreed upon at the Associations of Aberystwith and 
 Bala, in 1823, by the Members of this Connexion, 
 through the whole Principality, that this deficiency 
 should be supplied through the medium of the press. 
 
IV. INTRODUCTION. 
 
 preceded by a brief sketch of its early History, detailing 
 the progress of the Lord's work by the instrumentality 
 of its ministers. This has lately been done in the 
 Welsh language, by the joint labour of several of the 
 ministers of South and North Wales ; and the follow- 
 ing pages are a free translation. The individual who 
 has been entrusted with the superintendency and cor- 
 rection of the press, has taken the liberty of appending 
 a few explanatory notes, there being some things in 
 the book which might otherwise be unintelligible to 
 the English reader. The references to the Appendix 
 are thus marked : — (A.) (B.) &c 
 
 London, 
 January, 1827. 
 
HISTORY, 
 
 Man is by nature a sociable being, and possesses an 
 innate disposition to enter into the bonds of friendship 
 with his fellow creatures. By a union of interests, 
 mankind become to each other a reciprocal benefit, pro- 
 tection, and support. It is true, that the grace of God 
 effects a marked change in the objects of his favour, 
 yet it alters neither their nature nor their inclinations 
 as creatures ; it affects them only as they are fallen 
 creatures, or sinners. He who is made a new creature 
 retains his natural dispositions, with this difference, 
 that, by the operation of the new birth, they become 
 reneioed, from their corrupted state of sinfulness, to the 
 image of holiness by the sanctifying influences of the 
 Holy Spirit of God. He has therefore as great a bent 
 to fellowship and friendship, as he was ever wont tQ 
 have; but it is now indeed, of a more excellent kind, 
 because he becomes sociable for holy 'purposes, and be- 
 cause the Spirit of grace makes it to be a gracious 
 friendship. 
 
 The Church of Christ is a spiritual association, de- 
 riving its rise and progress from the union of its mem- 
 bers in their one Head, the Lord Jes«s, All the true 
 members are inseparable in this their great Head ; 
 and the same delightful spirit of love and sympathy 
 ^A hich exists in the Head, circulates through all the 
 
 £ 
 
members ; so that by virtue of this union, they par- 
 take in each other's joys and griefs. The Church is 
 undoubtedly an exalted fellowship : its members are 
 united to God, as to a Father : — united to Christ, as 
 to a Head, and as to a Husband ; — united to each 
 other in him ; and the Holy Spirit being the ever- 
 lasting bond and life of this union. It is evident that 
 the mutual enjoyment of this union will greatly en- 
 hance their happiness and joy, both here and here- 
 after. "I in them, and thou in me/' (says Christ to his 
 Father,) " that they may be made perfect in one.' 
 John xvii. 23. Without being knit into this fellow- 
 ship, there exists not, and there cannot exist, any per- 
 fection. " Behold," therefore, " how good and how 
 pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity !" 
 Psalm cxxxiii. 1. 
 \ A consideration of these things, together with the 
 example of the Apostles and the primitive churches,* 
 as well as the many scriptural exhortations to the same 
 purport, induced the establishment of Private Soci- 
 eties, or Meetings of Church Members exclusively^ 
 among the Methodists. They incorporate themselves 
 as members of Christ's church militant, to pray with 
 
 * That the churches of Christ, and sometimes their leader, 
 have been used, from the first ag^es of Christianity, to hold Pri- 
 vate Meetings (apart from the public assemblies in which be- 
 lievers and unbelievers vs'ere promiscuously addressed) is man- 
 ifestly shown, from the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles 
 to the Epistle to the Seven Churches of Asia in the Book of 
 the Revelation. Let the following, and other Scriptures be 
 taken under consideration ; — Acts, i. 13 — 15; ii. 1 ; iv. 23, 31 ; 
 vi. 2, 6; xi. 1, 4, 22; xii. 12; xiii. 1, 2; xiv. 22, 23, 27; xv. 
 1—6, 22, 23, 32, 40, 41; xvi. 40; xviii. 22; xix. 9 : xx. I, 
 7, 18. 19, &e.; xxi. 4, o, 17, 18, 19, &c. 1 Cor. 5. 4, 11— 
 13; xiv. 19, 23, 26. Col. iv. 16. Heb. x. 25. 3 John 9, 
 10. Jude. 12. Also all the Epistles to the churches of Rome, 
 Corinth, Ephesus, &,c. prove the fact; it being beyond a doubt 
 that the primitive Christians held Private Societies. 
 
and for each other ; — to teach one another ; — to com- 
 fort the feeble-minded ; — to warn the unruly ; and to 
 support the weak; — being desirous of speaking a word 
 in season to fainting souls. Thousands in Wales can 
 bear their unequivocal testimony to the advantage, the 
 consolation, and the spiritual edification which result 
 from such meetings. They have been much slandered 
 by impious deriders and blasphemers ; but the slan- 
 ders of such characters are no proofs that these soci- 
 eties are not of God : no, verily ; for, were they not 
 instituted by Him for the spiritual improvement of his 
 people, why should his enemies, and the enemies of 
 his people calumniate them ? 
 
 We shall now enter a little more at large into the 
 history of the origin, increase, and regulations of the 
 Connexion. / 
 
 In the Revival which began in Britain at the com- 
 mencement of the eighteenth century, the name of Me- 
 thodists, was given to those who took a prominent 
 part in the Revival, and who promoted it ; and also to 
 their followers. This Revival was kindled at Oxford, in 
 the year 1729. About the month of November, in that 
 year, a Mr. Morgan, Mr. JohnWesley, and a few other 
 serious young men, all being collegians, agreed to 
 meet for the purpose of devoting some evenings to 
 the joint perusal of the Greek Testament and other 
 books. Shortly afterwards, they resolved to visit the 
 prisoners in the castle once a week, where they were 
 greatly encouraged, by perceiving their services to be 
 acceptable, and their spiritual exhortations productive 
 of good to these poor creatures. Emboldened by their 
 success, they ventured to give greater liberty to their 
 talents than the confines of a prison would peimit, and 
 
consequently, went to the evirons of the city to read and 
 to pray with the poor in their afflictions, and to bestow 
 on them the little pecuniary aid they could afford for 
 the mitigation of their temporal necessities. 
 
 In the year 1735, the celebrated Mr. Whitfield join- 
 ed them, beino^ then eighteen years old. By this time 
 their number had increased to about fourteen. Hav- 
 ing persevered in the laudable practice above alluded 
 to, for some time, on account of their methodical and 
 orderly lives, they were denominated methodists. A 
 young man, observing them, remarked : — "A new sect 
 of Methodists has arisen," alluding to some old phy- 
 sicians who were thus called, because they had reduced 
 the science of medicine to method and order.* 
 
 The leaders of this little Society did not long con- 
 tinue the same in sentiment regarding the principles 
 of religion : so that, in 1741, the Methodists in Eng- 
 land became two distinct sects; the one Calvinistic, 
 with Mr. Whitfield; the other Arminian, with Messrs. 
 John and Charles Wesley ,f 
 
 As similar causes are productive of similar effects, 
 so in this year, (1735,) the Revival reached Wales, 
 and, with it, the appellation of Methodists, in the fol- 
 lowing manner. A gentleman of Trevecca, in Breck- 
 nockshire, Howel Harris, Esq. had intended to take 
 holy orders, and for that purpose entered himself a 
 student in one of the colleges at Oxford. He soon, 
 however, became disgusted at the disorderly and im- 
 moral conduct which he witnessed there, and conse- 
 
 * Gillies' Historical Collections, vol. 2. page 53—60. Buck's 
 Theological Dictionary, p. 111. Hanes Crefydd yn Nghymru, 
 tu dal. 627. Hanes y Bedyddwyr, tu dal. 54. 
 
 f Evans's Sketch. Buck's Theological Dictionary. Hanes 
 Crefydd yn Nghymru. 
 
 tu 
 
quently returned to his friends in Wales. He was 
 not long at home before he ventured to go from house 
 to house, in his native parish, to exhort sinners ; and, 
 gradually, he extended his sphere of usefulness to the 
 adjoining parishes also. His fame soon spread itself 
 over the whole country, and great multitudes attended 
 his preaching; it is said, that such was the authority 
 and power with which he delivered his discourses, that 
 many could not refrain from crying out aloud, being 
 overpowered by the awful exposition which he made 
 of their condition as sinners. Family worship was 
 now set up in several houses which hitherto had never 
 heard the voice of prayer. The enemy could no long- 
 er repnain inactive; and now he showed every opposi- 
 tion in his power by mockery, derision, and threaten- 
 ings. Nothing daunted, however, Mr. Harris contin- 
 ued in his ^'labour of love," without suffering very 
 great inconveniency by these hindrances, until the 
 close of the year 1736. At this period, by the desire 
 of several individuals, he established a school at Tre- 
 vecca, and thence removed it to the parish church, 
 whither many of the youth flocked to him to be more 
 largely instructed in the things which concerned their 
 soul. He frequently attended the meetings, which 
 they held for the purpose of teaching each other to 
 sing the praises of God, that he might thus have an op. 
 portunity of impressing them with a sense of their 
 eternal state. It appears, that, on these occasions, 
 many were convinced of their sinfulness. This en- 
 couraged Mr. Harris to establish regular meetings of 
 serious persons for religious conversation in several 
 other places ; and this was the commencement of those 
 Private Societies which have ever since ('taking into 
 b2 
 
6 
 
 consideration the great importance and strictness at- 
 tached to their observance) formed a principal feature 
 by which the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists may be 
 distinguished from every other denomination of pro- 
 fessing Christians. The following year, 1737, a gen- 
 tleman of Radnorshire sent for Mr. Harris to preach 
 at his house ; this was the means of bringing many 
 of the higher order of that county to hear him, and of 
 causing him to be well received by them. Up to this 
 period he had continued to superintend the school, 
 although he preached on week-nights, on the sabbath, 
 and on holy-days. He was no longer allowed to take 
 care of the school at the parish church. This pro. 
 hibition turned out for good ; for now he was at per- 
 fect liberty to go whithersoever he was called, day or 
 night, to preach, which he frequently did, three, four, 
 and even five times a day ! 
 
 As he became more and more successful, the op- 
 position against him waxed stronger. The magistrates 
 threatened to punish him ; the clergy preached against 
 him ; and the common rabble were generally prepared 
 to disturb and to pelt him At this time he was not 
 accustomed to preach from any text, but merely to 
 deliver to the people what the Lord at that instani 
 gave him to say ; generally in a thundering and con- 
 vincing manner. 
 
 The cause so greatly flourished, that, by the year 
 1739, he had established about three hundred Societies 
 in South Wales, about three or four years after he 
 commenced his public labours, as he is stated to have 
 told Mr. Whitfield, in a conversation which passed 
 between them at Cardiff, the 8th day of March in that 
 year. Tiiough these celebrated men were previously 
 
acquainted with eacib other, by report, and through the 
 medium of torrespondence, yet they had never before 
 this period the pleasure of converse the one with the 
 other. This interview was the means of greatly en- 
 livening and rejoicing the spirits of both. The 14th 
 day of the following August, Mr. Whitfield undertook 
 bis second voyage to America.* 
 
 We must be permitted a short digression from our 
 own immediate history, to say something of a very 
 eminent Clergyman of the Established Church, the 
 Rev, Griffith Jones, Llanddowror, Carmarthenshire, 
 who at this period was a true friend to his countrymen, 
 not only by the faithfulness of his public ministra- 
 tions, but also by his unbounded charity and benevo- 
 lence. He was instrumental in procuring for them 
 two editions of the Bible, and in establishing ftW 
 schools for the children of the poor in almost every 
 part of the principality. For twenty-three successive 
 years he published an annual account of these schools; 
 from 1737 until 1760. Tn this last-mentioned year 
 he had 215 schools, and 8687 scholars. Though 
 the schools had commenced six or seven years before 
 the period above cited, their history goes back no 
 further than 1737* He was an animated preacher; 
 well versed in Scripture; diligent, laborious, and 
 very successful in his work. Though this renown- 
 ed champion for the faith kept within the pale of 
 the Established Church, yet he frequently itinerated to 
 preach at many other churches besides his own, and 
 was a means of preparing, in that part of the country. 
 
 * Gillies' Historical Collection, vol. 2. page 110. 
 
 * A full, particular, and interesting account of these schools 
 were published in a Tract in English, entitled *^Welsh Piety." 
 
8 
 
 the way for the Revival among the Methodists. He 
 was in the ministry about twenty eight years before 
 Mr. Harris began to preach ;f and we have been told, 
 but cannot vouch for the authenticity of the statement, 
 that it was through his ministry Mr. Harris was called. 
 
 The first minister of the Establishment who ventur- 
 ed without her walls, to assist Mr. Harris, in promo- 
 ting the Revival among the Methodists, was the Rev. 
 and justly renowned Daniel Rowlands, of Llangeitbo, 
 Cardiganshire. His popularity and eloquence were 
 such, that persons have been known to come the dis- 
 tance of one hundred miles to hear him preach, on the 
 Sabbaths of his administering the Lord's Supper ! 
 And it would appear, that in the pulpit, he seemed 
 more like an angel sent down from the immediate 
 presence of Jehovah, with a commission to fallen man, 
 than like a messenger chosen from among the chil- 
 dren of Adam. 
 
 Here we subjoin an extract from a work published 
 by one of another denomination, who was cotemporary 
 with the above mentioned individuals, and acquainted 
 with them. 
 
 "A great number of the youth and others in Wales, 
 were wholly irreligious, and accustomed to meet for 
 the purposes of dancing, intoxication, and other sinful 
 practises. These, for the greater part, reckoned them- 
 selves among the Members of the Church of England. 
 Mr. Harris, in his journies through the country, thun- 
 dered terribly against swearers, blasphemers, drunk- 
 ards, fighters, liars, sabbath. breakers, &c. so that, if 
 
 f Trysorfa, llyfr 2. Hanes y Parchedig Griffith Jones. See 
 also his Life in the Gospel Magazine for July, 1777. 
 
we may so speak, he showered among them living 
 sparks of the fire and brimstone of the bottomless pit. 
 He exhorted in and out of doors ; he cared not where, 
 so long as he could attract people to listen to his mes- 
 sage from God ; in this respect he was preceded by 
 Mr. Walter Cradoc, and Mr. Vavasor Powell, about a 
 century before. But in our days, this was a great 
 novelty, and vast multitudes therefore congregated to 
 hear him. About the same time, the Rev. Daniel 
 Rowlands, a clergyman of the Established Church, in 
 Cardiganshire, began to preach in a very extraordinary 
 manner in the church. T recollect having heard him 
 about the year 1737, in Carmarthenshire; a great 
 number were present, and I heard some of the Inde- 
 pendents, in returning home, say ' We never heard 
 any one to be compared with him in the Church of 
 England, unless it were Mr. Griffith Jones. Tn our 
 days there has appeared no such light among the 
 members of the EstabUshed Church.' Soon afterwards, 
 the Rev. William Williams, and the Rev. Peter 
 Williams, in Carmarthenshire, the Rev. Howel Davies, 
 in Pembrokshire, and several others in the Principality, 
 left the church, and attached themselves to the 
 Methodists. They became Itinerants through the 
 whole country, and many arose, of different degrees of 
 usefulness, to exhort the people ; some of very bright 
 talents, and others who preached occasionally ; so that 
 the country became greatly moved. The people forsook 
 their sinful pleasures, and began to converse about 
 religion, and to meet together as religious assemblies. 
 Thus a great Revival took place in the country, and from 
 that to the present period, the knowledge of God has 
 been wonderfully diffused through Wales, and mul- 
 
10 
 
 titudes who were never used to approach a chapel, and 
 seldom a church, now went gladly to hear the word to 
 dwelling houses — yea, even to the highways and 
 hedges."* 
 
 Another author speaks of the Revival in this manner- 
 — " This awakening was the means of not only estab- 
 lishing a new sect in Wales, but also of reviving the 
 old sects which had a previous existence there : for 
 though there were celebrated and useful men among the 
 Independents in the Principality, yet a torpidity and 
 listlessness in spiritual concerns had to a great degree 
 crept over every denomination. This Revival by the 
 Methodists, was hailed by all the Calvinistic sects, in 
 Wales and in England, as the longed for dawn of day, 
 and the rising of the sun, after a protracted, and 
 wearisome, and starless night. "f 
 
 The whole kingdom wore the same gloomy aspect in 
 a religious point of view, as Wales exhibited at the 
 commencement of the Welsh Revival. " It is said, 
 that the whole kingdom of England was rapidly verging 
 to infidelity. ' It has come,* says Bishop Butler, 
 * I know not how, to be taken for granted by many 
 persons, that Christianity is not so much as a subject 
 of inquiry, but that it is now at length discovered to 
 be fictitious : and accordingly they treat it, as if in the 
 present age, this were an agreed point among all 
 PEOPLE OF DISCERNMENT, and that nothing remained, 
 but to set it up as a principal subject for mirth and 
 ridicule by way of reprisals for its having so long, as it 
 were, interrupted the pleasures of the world.' (Preface 
 to the Analogy, 1736.) There is every reason to 
 
 * Hanes y Bedyddwyr yn mhlith y Cymry, tu dal. 53. 
 t Hanes Prydain Fawr, tu dal. 567, 568. 
 
11 
 
 believe that the Methodists were the instruments of 
 stemming this torrent.*'* 
 
 An eminent minister of the Established Church, 
 speaking of Mr. Whitfield, says, " He was raised up 
 to shine at a dark season. Religion was at a very low 
 ebb in our church, when he began to appear in public. 
 I speak the truth, though it may give offence to some. 
 Before his time, the doctrines of grace were seldom 
 spoken of in the pulpit ; and there existed only a faint 
 glimmer of the life and power of godliness. Many of 
 the more spiritual among the Independents, mourned 
 when they beheld so great a decay in their midst. "f 
 Another person, quoting Mr. Newton's words, says 
 " I believe (in a few words) this to be the truth, 
 regarding religion through England and Wales, before 
 the Revival among the Methodists. "t 
 
 The Revival, like a mighty conflagration, spread 
 wider and wider, in spite of all the torrents of opposition 
 with which it had to contend : they served only to make 
 it burn brighter and stronger. By the year 1742, ten 
 minister's of the Church of England had become auxil- 
 iary to this Revival, so that Mr. Harris, in a letter to 
 Mr. Whitfield, dated Oct. 15, 1742, observes, " I have 
 heard most glorious news from Wales, of the success 
 which attends the brother Rowlands, and many others. 
 Sinners are * pricked to the heart,' by scores, and thou- 
 sands assemble to hear the preached word. There are 
 ten clergymen now in Wales, who are owned in a re- 
 markable manner by the Lord Jesus Christ.* 
 
 * Buck's Theological Dictionary, page 111, second volume. 
 + The Rev. John Newton's Funeral Sermon for Mr. Whit- 
 field, from John y. 35. 
 
 I Hanes y Bedyddwyr yn mhlith y Cymry. Rhagym. td. 4. 
 
 * Gillies' Historical Collections, vol. 2, page 34. 
 
12 
 
 Another individual, in a letter to the publisher of the 
 Glasgow Weekly History, in the above-mentioned year 
 and month, giving an account of religion in Wales at 
 that period, and of the Rev. Daniel Rowlands, says, 
 " He has, for some time past, had two thousand com- 
 municants in his church. Almost all the lower part of 
 Cardiganshire is become religious, since Mr. Harris 
 and the Methodists labour there.f 
 
 It is supposed that the Rev. William Williams was 
 the first minister who entirely separated from the com- 
 munion of the Established Church, during this Revival. 
 He left in the year 1743, haying been a minister therein 
 for three years. He was never in full orders, as the 
 Bishop refused to ordain him priest, because of his 
 disorderly conduct in preaching in unconsecrated places. 
 
 About the same year, the first Association among the 
 Calvinistic Methodists, was held at the house of Mr. 
 Jeflfery Davies, of Rhiwiau, in the parish of Llan- 
 ddeusant, in the County of Carmarthen. There were 
 present at this meeting, Mr. Hovvel Harris, the Rev. 
 Daniel Rowlands, the Rev. William Williams, and two 
 or three lay preachers. Though it was small with 
 regard to number, yet it was greatly honoured by the 
 presence of the Lord.+ 
 
 A pious gentleman (Mr. Joseph Williams, of 
 Kidderminster) has inserted in his diary, under date of 
 June 28, 1746, four years after the period above spoken 
 of, that he had that week been in an iVssociation at 
 Trevecca, which met to worship in a barn, (A.) near 
 Mr. Howel Harris's house : that there were present 
 three clergymen, — the Rev. Daniel Rowlands, the Rev. 
 
 f Gillies' Hist. Col. p, 135. + Trysorfa, Uyfr 2. td. 445. 
 
13 
 
 Howel Davies, and the Rev. William Williams, to- 
 gether with about twenty lay preachers ; and that one 
 of these preachers, Mr. Richards, delivered a sermon, 
 and prayed in Welsh. Having noticed the brotherly 
 love and union vihich existed among them, the success 
 which accompanied them, and having offered several 
 useful remarks on the meeting, which we have not room 
 to insert, he goes on to say ;— " I learned from them 
 how the Lord had, in an extraordinary manner raised up 
 the Rev. Daniel Rowlands, in Cardiganshire, and Mr. 
 Howel Harris, in Brecknockshire, at the same time as 
 Whitefield and the Wesleys appeared in England, and 
 that He had mightily prospered their endeavours to 
 spread the gospel over the greater part of Wales, and all 
 in the space of eleven years from their commencement.'' 
 He then proceeds to state, that there were in Wales at 
 that time, about six or seven clergymen,* forty lay 
 preachers, and one hundred and forty religious societies 
 belonging to the connexion of Calvinistic Methodists. 
 " Mr. Rowlands," he adds, " informed me that he had 
 three thousand communicants ; and that Mr. Howel 
 Davies had two thousand in Pembrokeshire: so mightily 
 and powerfully did the word of God prevail thereof 
 
 From that time to the present we hare continued to 
 hold these Associations quarterly. We are informed 
 that Monthly Meetings were in being among the Me- 
 thodists so early as 1747. In this year, a chapel was 
 erected by them at Builth, in Brecknockshire, which 
 was the first ever built by this connexion in Wales. 
 
 * He does not appear to have been correctly informed of the 
 number of the clergy, as Mr. Harris tells us, that in the year 
 1742, ten were assisting the Revival. 
 
 f Evangelical Magazine for November 1814, page 418. 
 
 C 
 
14 
 
 The following- year, two others were raised in Carmar- 
 thenshire. + 
 
 While the great cause prospered in many places in 
 South Wales, it was cruelly persecuted and oppressed 
 in North Wales. Some poor people, who gave re- 
 ception to the gospel at this time, were fined in the 
 sum of eighty pounds. Some were entirely ruined, 
 being robbed by this means of all their little pittance, 
 the hard-earned fruit of honest labours. To such a 
 height did the enemy's rage ferment, that in some in- 
 stances, it deprived these poor mountaineers of all the 
 goods which served to furnish their humble cottages ; 
 yes, the pillow even has been taken away by these.s©ns 
 of Belial, from beneath the head of the helpless and 
 unoffending babe, while it slept in its cradle !* 
 
 During the above-mentioned year, the brethren in 
 South Wales were diligent in making collections to 
 assist their impoverished and injured brethren in the 
 North, and to defray the law expenses which they had 
 unavoidably incurred by protecting the cause of their 
 God.f 
 
 The brethren in the South continued faithful and 
 kind for several years, sending preachers, and paying 
 their expenses, to their dejected Northern brethren, to 
 console those under their afflictions, who still adhered 
 to the Gospel. Many of these preachers were in some 
 
 X See the Christian History, or a General Account of the Pro- 
 gress of the Gospel in England, Wales, Scotland, and America, 
 pp. 179—180. 
 
 * Some of the descendants of the individual, who was ring- 
 leader in this persecution, are now alive, and manifest a friend- 
 ly and kind disposition towards the gospel, in more ways than 
 one. We therefore feel no inclination to enlarge on a subject, 
 alike painful to us and to them. 
 
 f ChristianHistory, pages 180, 181. 
 
15 
 
 places exceedingly ill used, and some have had even 
 their lives in jeopardy from the evil intentions of wick- 
 ed men. 
 
 Notwithstanding^ the torrents of opposition, and the 
 rude storms of persecution, deeply and effectually the 
 Gospel planted its banners on the mountain-tops, and 
 in the valleys of North Wales. Multitudes soon 
 flocked around them, and cheerfully enrolled them- 
 selves among the soldiers of the cross : thus our little 
 sister, who had hitherto *' no breast,*' now became the 
 "joyful mother of children ;' and if she now were to 
 consider her former unfruitful state, she well might 
 exclaim in amazemeat, with the prophet,— ^"Who hath 
 begotten mo these, seeing I have lost my children, and 
 am desolate, a captive^ and removing to and fro," 
 Isaiah, xlix. 21. By degrees. Quarterly Associations 
 and Monthly Meetings were held in this part also of 
 the Principality. Chapels, too, were erected ; but 
 that part called Gwynedd, for some years had not so 
 many hearers of the word, as the other parts. The 
 Lord was pleased to raise some eminent and success- 
 ful preachers here also, and some clergy left the 
 Church to join the Methodists, as we have already seen 
 some of their brethren to have done in South Wales ; 
 and by their joint efforts, the cause greatly prospered, 
 as we see to be the case in our days. 
 
 Besides the assaults with which this connexion has 
 at several times had to contend, from open enemies, 
 and from fiend,like oppressors, — it has also been 
 assailed from, time to time by the shafts of error. Be- 
 fore the year 1760, Antinomianism, with its fair but 
 serpentine, speeches, endeavoured to win over some of 
 our party to the side of carnal liberty. Towards the 
 
16 
 
 year 1765, Sandemanianism, with its brazen front, 
 most impudently attempted a breach of our ranks. 
 About the year 1770, Sabelianism, with its unhallowed 
 views, made an effort to enter itself in our midst. 
 Soon after the commencement of the present century, 
 Neonominianism, newly clad from head to foot in 
 comely dress, priding itself on its consummate order, 
 and being extremely plausible in its natural reason- 
 ings, founded on false philosophy and vain deceit, 
 obtruded itself among our people. To these errors — 
 these wolves in sheep's clothing — a few, of whom we 
 had hoped better things, fell a prey ; but through the 
 kindness of our God, the connexion may in general 
 employ the words of the apostle, — "But out of them all 
 the Lord hath delivered me," (2 Tim. iii. 11.) 
 
 The Lord, from time to time, continued to raise 
 some who were laborious and faithful for the truth, 
 who, like watchmen on the walls of the city, de- 
 fended his cause from treachery and stratagem ; and 
 rightly dividing the word of truth, dispensed food in 
 due season to the inhabitants of Zion, Besides the 
 eminent persons, already mentioned as having been 
 very useful and successful at the kindling of the 
 Revival, the Almighty in mercy called others to his 
 work, so that the cause should survive, and continue 
 to prosper, when those faithful servants were taken 
 home to rest from their labours. Many of these 
 younger ministers were cotemporary with the fathers of 
 the Revival, and greatly assisted them in their work 
 during a great part of their lives; as Joshua was 
 brought up under the eye of Moses, and Elisha by the 
 hand of Elijah, so were these under the immediate 
 inspection of the elder ministers, and designed by the 
 
17 
 
 Lord to occupy the vacancies which would occur in hi& 
 church, when he translated his aged servants from 
 their labour to their reward. 
 
 Many of these had received Episcopal ordination, 
 and the Lord at this period called many laymen to his 
 work, who became very eminent and useful preachers. 
 A few of these are yet alive. Two clergymen in Pem- 
 brokeshire, who at one time were very assiduous 
 amongst the Methodists, the Rev. Nathaniel Rowlands, 
 son of the celebrated Evangelist, the Rev. Daniel 
 Rowlands, (of whom we have already spoken) and the 
 Rev. David Griffiths, Vicar of Nevern, both learned 
 and gifted ministers. The Rev. Howel Davies, of 
 Pembrokeshire, the Rev. Peter Williams, and the Rev. 
 William Williams, of Carmarthenshire, whom we 
 have already quoted, have entered on their eternal 
 rest. The memories of Mr. John Harris, and his son 
 Mr. Evan Harris, are still fondly cherished in Pem- 
 brokeshire, where, with several others whom we might 
 mention, who also have departed, they were honoured 
 and useful preachers. Glamorganshire weeps in com- 
 mon with the whole of Wales, and some parts of 
 England, while she thinks of her departed son, the 
 Rev. David Jones, of Langan, who, together with the 
 Rev. William Davies, of Neath, was extraordinarily 
 eminent, faithful, and successful in the work of the 
 ministry. Mr. William Thomas, of Pile, Mr. David 
 Williams, and several other truly excellent and useful 
 preachers resided in this county, some of whom yet 
 remain. Cardiganshire has still spared to her, the 
 faithful and unremitting labours of the Rev. John 
 Williams, formerly the clergyman of Lledrod, in that, 
 countv, who is now grown aged in his Master's employ. 
 c2 
 
18 
 
 But she no longer bearsthe voiceof Mr. David Morris,, 
 Mr. William Richard Lloyd, of Llangeitho, nor of; 
 several others who, in their days, were the Boanergesses 
 of Wales. Carmarthenshire has not ceased her lamen- 
 tations for those lively, convincing, and erangelical 
 preachers, Mr. William Lloyd, of Gaio, and Mr. John 
 Evans, of Cil y Cwm. Caernarvonshire has lost Mr. 
 John Pierce, and Mr. Robert Roberts, who were high^ 
 ly honoured, and greatly owned in that county ; but 
 she is still favoured witb continued services of the 
 much respected and venerable Mr, Robert Jones. In 
 Denbighshire a very useful preacher, Mr. David Jones, 
 of Adwy r Clawdd, lived ; and in Flintshire, Mr. John> 
 Owen, of Berthen Gron. This individual erected the 
 first chapel for the Methodists in that county, Berthen 
 Gron chapel, in the year 1775 — 6-; but died a few days- 
 before it was opened ; in fact, after he had engaged 
 Mr. Rowlands to preach at its opening I From Mer- 
 ionethshire, Mr. John Evans, of Bala, a very champion 
 in the Scriptures, steady and immoveable in the prin- 
 ciples of the christian religion, was taken to glory, after 
 having been a faithful witness for the truth, in doctrine 
 and discipline, for the space of seventy-five years : an. 
 incident of no common occurrence ! Mr. Thomas Jones, 
 of Denbigh, a highly respected minister, continued one 
 of the most useful servants of the Lord among us, till 
 death deprived us of his highly appreciated labours as 
 an author and a preacher. 
 
 Had we room, we easily might mention several 
 others, who have laboured most assiduously in culti- 
 vating the moral deserts of Wales ; but we must 
 proceed to notice how the denomination became so- 
 regularly, organized: as at this^ day it is> seen to be;, 
 
w 
 
 We cannot, however, pass on without s;iying something" 
 of one, the Rev. Thomas Charles. A. B. of Bala, who- 
 will not be forgotten when the billow of time shall 
 have cast many a generation yet unborn, on the shores- 
 ef eternity j the loss of whose labour from the pulpit, 
 and by the press, has caused Wales to assume the 
 widow*s mournful attire, and of which she can never 
 be induced U) divest herself. Though we have 
 mentioned him last, it is only that we may the more- 
 uninterruptedly indulge our griefs, and give full vent 
 to our sorrows, when we contemplate the removal 
 of so excellent, and so revered a parent. We may, 
 with the greatest propriety, say of him, as Solomon 
 does of the virtuous woman, — " Many have done 
 virtuously,, but thou excellest them alL" (Prov. xxxi» 
 29.) As an account of his life has already been 
 published, (in Welsh and English,) and as our limits 
 and plan will oblige us to confine our observations to 
 the essential services which he rendered the cause of 
 God among us, as a body, a sense of duty obliges us 
 at present to suppress (reluctantly we must own) our 
 private and individual feelings. 
 
 It may be necessary to premise,, that he was born, 
 and. spent the earlier years of his life, in Carmarthen- 
 shire,, where,, with a view to- the work of the ministry, 
 he received, in its^ first schools, the rudiments of his 
 education.. Thence he went to Oxfordy where, having 
 taken his degree of A. B.. he was ordained in the year 
 1778, and for seven years ministered within the walls 
 of the Established Church-. 
 
 In 1785, he united himself tO' the CalvinisticMetho^ 
 dists, among whom, he was^ truly alaboui?er eminently 
 successful,, till the day of his; decease.. In. the month* 
 
20 
 
 of August in this year, it seems thai the Rev. Daniel 
 Rowlands heard him preach at Llangeitho, when he 
 exultingly exclaimed, — 'Charles is a gift bestowed by 
 the Lord on North Wales.' His historian remarks, — 
 * Yea, truly, and it muy be added, on South Wales 
 also.' Yes ; and we will not hesitate to go further* 
 and say that his value has been felt not only in every 
 part of the Principality, nor merely through the whole 
 of Great Britain, but from side to side of the habitable 
 Globe. None can be ignorant how extremely service- 
 able he was in the cause of God and religion, in a 
 multiplicity of ways, especially in aiding, (shall we 
 not say in establishing, for who can gainsay us ?) the 
 British and Foreign Bible Society; as well as 
 in promoting the interests of the Missionary and other 
 Societies, which have in view the amelioration and 
 evangelization of the entire world. But alas ! alas ! 
 earth shall reap no further benefit frora his personal 
 labours, — Wales shall no longer hang on his lips, — we 
 shall no more, on this side of the grave, see his face ; 
 and who then will wonder, if we still continue to ' weep 
 sore,* and * refuse to be comforted,' when we think of 
 our very great, heavy, and irreparable bereavement ! 
 
 The Methodists had no settled form of church 
 government when they began to incorporate as a distinct 
 sect. All rules and regulations were adopted by us as 
 circumstances required, taking for our guide, the Holy 
 Scriptures. As when the natural body increases in 
 bulk, its cloathing must be proportioned to the additional 
 grovvth, — so this religious body of Christians, when its 
 churches multiplied, found it necessary, from time to 
 time, to make new and less circumscribed laws, relative 
 either to the discipline of the whole connexion, to the 
 
21 
 
 duties of the officers, or to the conduct of the particular 
 members. 
 
 Mr. Charles was the principal instrument in bring- 
 ing us to our present order. In this he had, however, 
 the assistance of his ministerial brethren. At an 
 Association held at Bala, June 9, 1790, the following 
 Rules were agreed to, regarding the proper mode of 
 conducting the Associations or Quarterly Meetings : — 
 
 1. That the Quarterly Association in North Wales, 
 receive none as members, excepting such as are in 
 office in the church, ministering in spiritual things, 
 either as preachers or as leaders, 
 
 2. That as many as are able of these members, meet 
 together once every quarter of a year, the time and 
 place to be agreed upon by themselves, at the previous 
 Association. 
 
 3. That the Preachers, and none other, convene at 
 ten o* clock the first day of the Association,^ for the pur- 
 pose of inciting, instructing, and warning each other in 
 the spirit of love, so that union and brotherly love may 
 be cherished among them ; and that by mutual assist- 
 ance, they may continue the * light of the world,' and 
 ' salt which hath not lost its savour.' 
 
 4. That the whalt body (according to the limitation 
 of the first Rule) meet at two o'clock in the afternoon 
 of the same day, and at eight o'clock the following 
 morning. That the chapel doors be closed precisely at 
 half-past two, and at half-past eight. That if some 
 brother seek admittance after the closing of the doors, 
 the door-keeper shall ask the permission of the mem- 
 bers of the body then assembled, who have authority 
 to comply with his wishes, if it appear to them that 
 he has a sufficient plea to urge for admissioa. 
 
22 
 
 5. That the society, before it enter on the discussion 
 of any subject, select some brotber, whom it may 
 judge most suitable, to act as Moderator of the said 
 Society, whose office shall be, to see that very thing be 
 conducted ** decently and in order," in a manner the 
 most profitable for the edification of such Society. 
 
 6. That every one have liberty to speak o-n the sub- 
 ject in hand until it be decided, but at no great length, 
 unless the body deeming the matter of discussion to 
 be of such importance to its interests, as to require 
 that it be treated of more at large. 
 
 7. That one meeting be devoted exclusively to the 
 c&nddefation, of spiritual things, by which, we mean the 
 doctrines of the gospel, together with the spiritual ex- 
 perience of them, — religious exercises, chiurch disci, 
 pline, &c. x\nd that circumstantial matters be taken 
 under consideration at the other meeting, according 
 to the regulation of the body. 
 
 8. That if no specific matter demand the attention 
 of the meeting, the body may converse with one of its 
 members tben present, relative of his acquaintance 
 with the doctrines of the gospel, his experience of them, 
 and his communion with God. These are things wbieh 
 cannot long be omitted, without causing the body 
 sensibly to suffer ; and they will not be neglected, 
 while the life of religion, and power of godliness exist 
 among us. If circumstances occur to render this in- 
 convenient, a part of the Bible is to be read deliber- 
 ately and intelligibly, and observations on some portion- 
 or article of religion are to be offered. 
 
 9. That every controversial point be settled by a 
 majority of the body, with due deliberation, and that 
 those who m,ay hold different opinion., conduct them-* 
 
23 
 
 selves peaceably and kindly towards their dissentient 
 brethren. 
 
 10. That the Monthly Meeting of every county, 
 give its members who belong to the Association, a 
 printed ticket, having the bearer's name inserted on it, 
 and the name of the Society to which he belongs. With- 
 out producing such a ticket to the door-keeper, no ac- 
 cess can be obtained to the Private Meetings of the 
 Association. 
 
 11. That it is the friendly and sincere wish of the 
 connexion in North Wales, that whosoever of their 
 brethren from South Wales should happen to be pre- 
 sent, have the same liberty as ourselves in expressing 
 their sentiments on the subject under consideration, 
 desiring, as we do, lo preserve the unity of the body 
 through the whole of Wales. And we feel bound to 
 acknowledge our thankfulness for being permitted a 
 participation of similar privileges in South Wales. 
 
 The connexion continuing to grow larger, and there 
 not being a sufficient number of clergymen among us, 
 proportionable to the increase, it was seen necessary 
 that some mode should be fixed upon to have the sacra- 
 ments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper more regularly 
 administered among us than hitherto. We cannot do 
 better than to quote here the words of the late Rev. 
 Thomas Jones, of Denbigh, on this subject. About 
 the year 1809, he thus says ;— ** Here I should observe, 
 that many of my brethren, myself also included, have 
 been endeavouring, the last year or two, to have the 
 ordinance of Baptism established in the body of which 
 we are members, and to have that of the Lord's Supper 
 oftener, and if possible, more regularly administered, 
 so far as regards time. Our people have, in general. 
 
24 
 
 been used to have their children baptized in the Church 
 of England, and several have been taking the Sacrament 
 of the Lord's Supper there also, though these have been 
 gradually decreasing. Among ourselves, the few cler- 
 gymen who have united themselves to us, administer 
 the ordinance in several places. But being so few in 
 number, and the connexion having, through the great 
 goodness of God, so multiplied in Wales, many congre- 
 gations are destitute of this ordinance, and not a few 
 bave never had it administered among them." 
 
 Mr. Jones thus writes to a friend on the same subject, 
 adducing his reasons for the necessity that these ordi- 
 nances should be administered in the connexion." 
 
 " It appears to me, that the following are very 
 weighty considerations on this point : — 
 
 1. That the Scriptures so clearly and explicitly com- 
 mand the use of these two Sacraments in the church of 
 Christ, and that they evidently intimate, that the Lord's 
 Supper should be administered more frequently, if not 
 more regularly, than it is done with us. 
 
 2. That no author (to my knowledge) describes the 
 visible church, but as a congregation of people, having 
 the word of God faithfully preached, and the sacra- 
 ments at set times administered to them, 
 
 3. That Baptism, generally speaking, is not admin- 
 istered in our connexion. 
 
 4. That in many of our Societies, there are several 
 very unwilling that their children should be baptized in 
 the Church of England by its ministers ; and that this 
 unwillingness, as well as the number of people who are 
 the subjects of it, is on the continual increase. And 
 again, very few of our people are inclined to take the 
 sacrament in the Church of England. 
 
25 
 
 5. Thiit from all appearances, many of our fellow 
 members are undoubtedly very uncomfortable, at being 
 oblii^ecl to baptize their children in the Established 
 Church, by those of her ministers who they do not 
 consider evangelical in their doctrines, &c. 
 
 6. That many apply to have the Lord's supper given 
 them by ministers of another denomination, though 
 unwillingly on several considerations. 
 
 ?► That to compel any of our members to seek for 
 either sacrament in any other than our own connexion, 
 is a thing of which we ought not to be guilty, it being 
 contrary to the word of God, and the general practice 
 of his Church in every age and country." 
 
 The above subject was taken under serious and deli- 
 berate consideration, by Mr. Charles and others. The 
 nature of the ordinances were discussed at several As- 
 sociations. Afterwards, a number of elders, or leaders, 
 were chosen from the several counties of North Wales, 
 who were deemed most competent to judge on this sub- 
 ject, being also men of eminent seriousness and piety, 
 to form a Committee, and Mr. Charles was appointed 
 Chairman. Their unanimous decision was, that a 
 certain numberof the preachers should be chosen from 
 each county, to administer the ordinances. In .June, 
 1811, eight were therefore ordained in the form and 
 manner described in the annexed Brief View, &c. And 
 in August of the same year, thirteen were ordained 
 in South Wales after the same manner. 
 
A 
 BRIEF VIEW 
 
 OF THE MANNER AND ORDER AGREED UPON, TO ORDAIN SOME 
 OF OUR PREACHERS TO ADMINISTER THE ORDINANCES OF 
 BAPTISM AND THE LQRD^S SUPPER IN THIS CONNEXION. 
 
 In every Society, it is requisite that its members should 
 in general lay aside their own peculiar views, so that 
 each may be able to meet in one common centre about 
 which all are agreed, and in which all will unite and 
 co-operate in a manner becoming a Society of Chris- 
 tians. Should any one be found unwilling to accede 
 to this, we do not consider him to be a proper person 
 to retain his place as a member in either of our Soci- 
 eties. We demand not that he should entirely change 
 his sentiments, but merely that he should give way to 
 other opinions than his own ; or if he cannot do this, 
 that he no longer consider himself to have a claim to 
 the privileges of the Society We own that it would 
 be highly improper to expect that every individual 
 should, in every particular, coincide with the views of 
 another ; and we are far from thinking it to be the 
 duty of any one to adopt the other's peculiar creed. 
 
 The Methodists in Wales are, in these days, a very 
 numerous people ; it were unreasonable to expect that 
 every member of so large a body should see eye to eye 
 in every particular relating to the circumstantials of 
 religion. Men greatly differ from one another in their 
 degrees of knowledge and of grace ; and the prejudices 
 of education implanted in the human breast at the 
 period of childhood, often shoot their fibres to such a 
 
27 
 
 depth, as not to admit of a total eradication in after 
 life ; these, to a certain degree, must therefore be borne 
 with, lest the peace of the body be disturbed, and lest 
 it otherwise suffer. If some central point could be fixed 
 upon, in which all could without hesitation unite, it 
 would be proper and advisable to do so, as it would 
 have an evident tendency to benefit the Connexion. Up 
 to the present period, union and brotherly love have to 
 a great degree prevailed among us ; and this has been 
 one chief cause, through the blessing of the Lord, of 
 our success and usefulness in Wales. Controversies 
 and contentions are real preventives to spiritual growth 
 and improvment. In general, all our members are 
 one in sentiment on every important subject, relative 
 either to doctrine or to discipline. A change of cir- 
 cumstances jftquires a correspondent change of regu- 
 lations, in order to preserve comfort and to insure use- 
 fulness. 
 
 Taking these particulars under consideration, the 
 following Regulations were unanimously agreed to by 
 the whole Connexion, being established on grounds so 
 liberal, that none should have to complain that they 
 were called to subscribe to any thing which they could 
 not conscientiously admit. 
 
 The number of clergymen of the Established Church, 
 who minister in otir Connexion, being insufficient to 
 administer the ordinances and sacraments in our se- 
 veral Churches, which are now so rapidly multiply- 
 ing, — the great inconveniency which is being felt 
 among the Welsh Churches, which exist in some 
 towns in England, by not having any to administer 
 the Sacraments to them, — and other reasons which we 
 might mention, -^render it proper and necessary, — 
 
 I 
 
» 28 
 
 1. That a certain number of preachers, in the sev- 
 eral Counties, be ordained to assist the clergy who 
 now officiate in the Connexion, in the administration 
 of the ordinances. 
 
 2. That we judge it proper that the elder preachers 
 of the Connexion be first chosen to this work who 
 have given satisfactory proofs of faithfulness, sobriety, 
 sincerity, piety, and suitability to the work. 
 
 3. That, as the Apostle exhorts Timothy to lay 
 hands suddenly on no man, and thereby make him- 
 self a partaker of other men's sins, — and again, not to 
 choose a novice in the faith ; — we are of opinion, that 
 no person ought to be selected for the purposes already 
 mentioned, without the Connexion's having had proofs 
 of his ministry and conduct for at least five years. 
 
 4. That the leaders of Societies, togetlfer with those 
 who have been ordained to administer the ordinances, 
 consult together at a Monthly Meeting in each County, 
 once every year, to know whether there be a necessity 
 to add to the number of those who are already or, 
 dained : and if such a step appear requisite, that they 
 would fix upon one or more from among the preach- 
 ers whom they may judge most suitable : then two 
 leaders are to be chosen as their Representatives, to 
 make their wishes known at the Quarterly Association, 
 where the subject shall be submitted to the consider- 
 ation of the Representatives of each County, and their 
 decision to be reported at the next Monthly Meeting 
 of every County. 
 
 5. That the choice of the Representatives of the 
 Monthly Meetings of each County, be made known to 
 Representatives of the whole Connexion, assembled at 
 the Quarterly Association, and that such choice be 
 
29 
 
 approved of by them : and as a greater number are 
 cong:reirated at the Associations held in the summer 
 months, we think it best that the subject should at 
 this season be yearly settled. 
 
 6. That no preacher, who shall be chosen and set 
 apart by the body, view himself as belonging to one 
 branch of it more than to another * but that all ac- 
 cording to the present mode, administer the ordinances 
 to every branch as opporlimity occurs, or as a call 
 may be made for the r services. 
 
 7. That their numbeis be increased in proportion to 
 the increase of the body. 
 
 8. That they beset apart in a solemn manner, after 
 the unanimous consent of the Connexion shall have 
 been given in the following method : — The third chap- 
 ter of the First Epistle to Timothy is to be read, and 
 the first chapter of Titus ; then an elder brother to 
 pray; afterwards, a number of suitable questions are 
 to be submitted to the persons about to be ordained, 
 relating to the doctrine of the Gospel, &c. ; and, finally, 
 the body, through its Representatives who are then 
 present, is requested to signify its approbation, by their 
 lifting up their hands; and not by laying on of hands;" 
 unless that, for some particular reason, should be 
 deemed more proper and desirable. t 
 
 • Some object to our order because those which we set apart 
 are not chosen by any particular branch of the Church, nor 
 appointed as pastors over any particular flock. 
 
 Answer. What has ever been established without the oppo- 
 sition of contentious men ? They are chosen by every branch 
 of the Connexi<»n throuuh the Representatives of the d.fferent 
 Churches, and they are required to superintend, and to watch 
 over them all, so far as they are able. 
 
 f We do not consider imposition of hands to be essentially 
 necessary for the appointing^ of any one to a sacred office. We 
 liave examples of some having been appointed to church offices 
 
 D 2 
 
30 
 
 9. That the present general mode of administering 
 the Lord's Supper, be adopted as nearly as possible, 
 without imposing any strict rules on any one regard- 
 ing doubtful and controversial matters, but granting 
 a liberty in all our administrations, correspondent with 
 the liberty of the Gospel dispensation, so that all may 
 unite without offering violence to their consciences, 
 
 10. That those who are ordained, be at liberty to 
 administer the two ordinances. Baptism and the Lord's 
 Supper. 
 
 IL That every church, and every Preacher, who 
 submits not as well to these Rules and Regulations of 
 the body, as to the others, forthwith separate them- 
 
 without this form having been observed ; such was the case 
 with the twelve Apostles, the Seventy, the Apostle Paul, &c. 
 Choosing and ordaining were formerly observed in two ways ; 
 viz. — 1. By prayer and casting of lots ; so Matthias was chosen 
 in the stead of Judas, Acts. i. 25. He was called to occupy an 
 extraordinary office, even that of an Apostle in the place of 
 Judas ; and the special interposition of the Lord was requisite 
 in his appointment. 2. By the choice of the people, signified 
 by raising up their hands : " And when they had ordained them 
 elders in every church." Acts xiv. 23. The Greek word Chei- 
 Totonesantes signifies a choice, by taking the sense of the church 
 by raising up of hands. This word in 2 Cor. viii. 19, is tran- 
 slated " chosen," — " who was chosen of the churches j" — and 
 also in Acts x. 41. We have no example of laying on of hands 
 on any ordinary minister at the time of ordination ; nor indeed 
 on any but extraordinary persons by extraordinary individuals ; 
 and even that, not by ordaining them. Paul and Barnabas 
 had been in office for a long while before the imposition of 
 hands, which is recorded in Acts xiii. 1 — 3. They were extra- 
 ordinary j)ersons, called to an extraordinary employ among the 
 Gentiles. Timothy received, by the laying on of the hands of 
 the presbytery, not ordination to an office, but gifts. I Tim. iv. 
 14. But, as ministers have now nothing to bestow, we see no 
 propriety in keeping up the ceremony which in former times 
 was observed. It was an extraordinary act, performed by men 
 in an extraordinary office, on extraordinary individuals. We 
 are therefore of the same opinion as those many learned men 
 who hold the imposition of hands to be irrequisite at ordina- 
 tion, unless something could by that means be bestowed as in 
 former ages. (See Encyclopedia Britan. Imposition of hands.) 
 
31 
 
 selves from the Connexion, and exclude themselves 
 from all its privileges. 
 
 The entire denomination in South and North Wales, 
 consented, without a division, to these Rules and Re- 
 gulations, and hitherto the greatest peace and har- 
 mony have dwelt among us. We are of opinion, that 
 every body of Christians has a right to make Rules, 
 which it may deem most accordant with the Scriptures, 
 and most beneficial to themselves; and that such as 
 are not able to give their concurrence to such Rules, 
 are not bound to remain in connexion with that body, 
 but it is proper that they should withdraw. 
 
 The Form and Order observed in setting apart at the 
 Association, held at Bala, June 19 and 20, 1811, 
 eight of the Brethren to administer the Ordinances. 
 
 Mr. John Evans, of Bala, the eldest, and one of the 
 most respectable preachers in the Connexion, com- 
 menced the service, by reading 1 Timothy, 3rd chap- 
 ter, making several very appropriate remarks of the 
 qualifications, which in that chapter were required in 
 the ministers of the Gospel : he then prayed in a very 
 devotional and solemn manner. The Rev. Thomas 
 Charles then read the names of the persons who were 
 chosen by the Monthly Meetings of the several Coun- 
 ties, in the hearing of the assembled body : — Mr. 
 Thomas Jones, & Mr. John Davies, of Denbighshire ; 
 Mr. John Elias, and Mr. Richard Lloyd, of Anglesea ; 
 Mr Evan Richards, of Caernarvonshire; Mr. John 
 Roberts, of Merionethshire ; Mr. Evan Griffiths, and 
 Mr. William Jones, of Montgomeryshire. 
 
32 
 
 Havino^ read these names to the Representatives 
 of the different Churches, (of whom about three hun- 
 dred were present,) Mr. Charles asked them whether 
 they wished him to put a few questions to the persons 
 who were to be ordained, regarding the fundamental 
 Articles of the Christian Religion* If that was their 
 desire, that they would signify the same by raising up 
 their hands, which all immediately did. Then he sub- 
 mitted the following queries to those who were then 
 about bemg set ap.irt, and obtained highly suitable 
 and satisfactory answers. 
 
 What is your opinion regarding, — ■• 
 
 1. The Being of God, and his attributes? • 
 
 2. The Trinity ? 
 
 3. The Word of God? 
 
 4. The decree of God, and election } 
 
 6. The providence of God over the world ? 
 
 6. The fall and corruption of man ? 
 
 7. The moral law? 
 
 8. The Person of Christ f 
 
 9. The office of Christ? 
 
 10. The sacrifice of Christ, and Redemption ? 
 
 11. Justification? 
 
 12. The person of the Holy Ghost ? 
 
 13. The work of the Holy Spirit in the plan of Sal- 
 vation ? 
 
 14. The call of the Gospel ? 
 
 15. Perseverance in grace ? 
 
 16. The Resurrection ? 
 
 17. The General Judgment? 
 
 18. Which were the ordinances of divine' appoint- 
 ment ? 
 
 X9. What were their sentiments regarding Baptism 
 
33 
 
 and the Lord's Supper : — their end, their use, and 
 their signification ? 
 
 20. Did they sincerely approve of the present order 
 of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Connexion 
 through Wales? 
 
 21. Did they intend, so far as in them lay, to pre- 
 serve the unity of the Connexion, in the manner in 
 which the Lord had hitherto so greatly prospered it; 
 and did they purpose to withstand all useless and 
 contentious debatings, which have a tendency to cre- 
 ate quarrels? 
 
 Having obtained their solemn and enlightened re- 
 plies to these questions, — he demanded of the Repre- 
 sentatives whether they chose these brethren to admi- 
 nister the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Sup- 
 per among them ? If they did, to signify it by hold- 
 ing up their hands. This was done without excep- 
 tion. 
 
 He then inquired of the brethren, 
 
 22. Whether they consented to the call of the 
 Connexion to administer the ordinances among them ? 
 and did they willingly yield up themselves to be 
 faithful, laborious, and diligent to feed the flock of 
 God by devoutly administering the ordinances, ac- 
 cording to the assistance which they should receive 
 of God? 
 
 They answered in an humble and serious manner 
 that they did ; and earnestly desired the prayers of 
 the whole Connexion for them. 
 
 The venerable brother, Mr, Robert Jones, of Caer, 
 narvonshire, gave them in conclusion, a word of ex- 
 hortation, and otfered up an earnest prayer, appropri, 
 ate to the subject. 
 
34 
 
 At a Meeting at LI andilo-fawr, in Carmarthenshire, 
 the following brethren were set apart, in the same 
 manner on the 7th of August, in the same year, (181 1) 
 to assist the clergy who had united with them in 
 South Wales. Mr. John Evans, Mr. David Rees, 
 Mr. Arthur Evans, and Mr. David Charles, of Car- 
 marthenshire ; Mr, James James, Mr David Parry, 
 and Mr. Evan Evans, of Brecknockshire ; Mr. Eben- 
 ezer Morris, Mr John Thomas, and Mr. Ebenezer 
 Richards, of Cardiganshire ; Mr. Evan Harris, of Pem- 
 brokeshire ; Mr. Hopkin Bevan, of Glamorganshire ; 
 and Mr. John Rees, of Monmouthshire. 
 
 The Rev. John Williams, of Cardiganshire, began 
 the service with prayer ; the Rev. Thomas Charles 
 asked the questions ; and the Rev. John Williams, of 
 Pant y Celyn, Carmarthenshire, concluded with 
 prayer. 
 
CONSTITUTION 
 
 AND 
 
 CHURCH GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The Welsh Calvinistic Methodists are, through Wales 
 and England,* but one body. This body contains 
 several Societies, as, 
 
 I. — Private Societies. (B.) 
 II. — Monthly Societies. 
 III. — Quarterly Societies, or Associations, 
 
 I.— OF THE PRIVATE SOCIETIES'. 
 
 1. The Private Society is to include, among the 
 number of its members, those persons, and those only, 
 who are described by their knowledge, grace, experi- 
 ence, and conduct, in the Rules of Discipline of the 
 body, (see from the 1st to the 27th Rule, which we 
 shall presently detail at large,) together with their 
 children : they are to meet once every week privately, 
 and of course are to attend the public means on the 
 Sabbath, and whenever an opportunity offers. 
 
 2. Every such Society is to be under the superin- 
 
 * There are several Societies in England belonging to our 
 Connexion ; for instance, in London, at Liverpool, Manchester, 
 Bristol, Chester, Shrewsbury; whose worship, public and pri- 
 vate, is performed in the Welsh language. "And we have in 
 some parts of Wales, and on the borders of England, where 
 the English language is most prevalent, the worship conducted 
 in that tongue; but the same constitution, union, and church 
 order prevail in every place. 
 
36 
 
 tendance of two or more leaders, who have been chosen 
 by the whole Society, approved of by the Monthly 
 Meetinij:, and possessed of the qualifications reqai;ed 
 in the 33d Rule. 
 
 3. All such Societies are to receive members into 
 the Connexion,! and to discipline them according to 
 the 28th, 29th, 30th, and :Ust llules. The manner of 
 conducting the Private Societies is specified in the 
 32nd Rule. 
 
 4. Every Private Society has authority and a right 
 to regulate all its own concerns, if it be able to dispose 
 of them in an useful and edifying manner, in accord- 
 ance with the views and judgment of the body in gene- 
 ral, regarding the truth in doctrine and discipline, in 
 spiritual and temporal affairs : but if there be a division 
 of sentiment on some important subject, it is to be 
 referred to the decision of the Monthly Meeting, as 
 directed in the 34th Rule. 
 
 5. Though neither the Private Society, nor any per- 
 son belonging to it, is placed by the body under the 
 yoke of bondage, yet every one is to behave himself 
 humbly, and in unison with the judgment of the major 
 part of the Society of which he is a member ; and the 
 whole Private Society is to submit itself to the Monthly 
 Society of its own County, in its treatment of the cause 
 of Christ, relating either to doctrine, discipline, or the 
 external order of the same amonof them. 
 
 f No person who has been excommunicated from one Society 
 can be received into another, but on the ground of repentance 
 of the fault which caused expulsion. Again: when a member 
 of the Society is, in the course of Providence, removing to 
 another place, it is required that such an individual take with 
 him a ticket to our Society at that place, signed by the leaders 
 of the Society which he left, or he cannot be admitted into 
 any other. 
 
37 
 
 6, Every Private Society is to declare its circum- 
 stances at the Monthly Meeting of its own County, 
 before it choose its leader ; and if it be deemed ne- 
 cessary that such Society should have another leader, 
 two or three messengers are to be sent to assist and 
 direct them in their choice. 
 
 7. If there be any person in the Private Society ma- 
 nifesting an inclination to the work of the ministry, 
 and the Society perceive him to possess some degree 
 of suitability for it, let it be reported to the Monthly 
 Meeting of the County, which is required to delegate 
 some men of judgment to assist the Private Society in 
 forming an opinion whether the individual has quali- 
 fication in point of experience, knowledge, good cha- 
 racter, piety, and talent, which are indispensable to a 
 Miuister : let the persons who were thus sent as mes- 
 sengers make their Report at the next Monthly Meeting 
 in that County, that the Connexion may be enabled to 
 decide on his behalf; and, if satisfaction be had in the 
 particulars above mentioned, he is permitted to enter 
 upon the work on trial. None are to commence 
 preaching but in this order ; and none are to be re- 
 stored to office, who, on account of error in doctrine, or 
 in conduct, have been silenced, but after this same 
 Rule. 
 
 II.— OF THE MONTHLY SOCIETIES. 
 
 1. The Monthly Societies are to reckon none as its 
 Members excepting such as are in church oificesi as 
 Preachers or Leaders of Private Societies within the 
 County ; and as many of the officers of other Counties, 
 who may find it convenient to come. They are to 
 
 E 
 
38 
 
 meet once every month in their own County, the time 
 and place being fixed upon by themselves. 
 
 2. It is requisite that every Monthly Society, besides 
 having public services for preaching, (C.) keep also 
 Private Meetings, to inquire into the circumstances of 
 religion in the place wherein they are met ; and also to 
 converse with some of those who are in the ministry, 
 and the leaders of that Society, in reference to their 
 experience of the things pertaining to salvation, their 
 spiritual demeanour, their growth in grace, the pro- 
 priety of their conduct, together with the method they 
 employ in their dealings toward the flock of Christ ; 
 giving them warning, encouragement, and every neces- 
 sary instruction, to observe a proper behaviour in the 
 house of God ; and pointing out to them their duty to- 
 wards the souls of men. 
 
 3. The Monthly Meeting of every County is to take 
 particular care of all the Private Societies within the 
 County, and to smother every thing which is likely to 
 create strife among them ; to arrange the Ministry, so 
 far as it is able, in such a manner, through the County 
 in general, that every Society, or Church, might have 
 the Gospel preached to it on every Sabbath, &c., and a 
 regular administration of the ordinances of Baptism and 
 the Lord's Supper ; and also that it see that the publi- 
 cations of the Preachers, who from a distance visit that 
 County, be properly distributed, and to take care that 
 none ^ive their publication (D.) to leave their ov\n 
 County without the consent of the Monthly Meeting. 
 
 4. The Monthly Society of every County is r<?quired 
 to take care that proper persons be sent to the assistance 
 of the Private Societies, where there is occasion for 
 an additional number of leaders ; and also to judge of the 
 
39 
 
 qualifications of such as offer themselves to the work of 
 the ministry ; and, further, the Monthly Society is to 
 catechise those who have just commenced preaching, 
 with regard to their experiences, principles, incentives 
 to the work, and their present views of the subject. It 
 has also to fix the limits of their ministerial labours ; 
 and when the whole County is in possession of satisfac- 
 tory proof of their suitability to be preachers, so as 
 fully to approve of them, they are to offer themselves 
 to the Quarterly Association, 
 
 5. The Monthly Society of every County is diligently 
 to see that there be nothing either in doctrine contrary 
 to purity, or in discipline dissonant with the word of 
 God, and with the Rules of the Connexion, existing in 
 any of the Private Societies under its inspection. 
 
 6. Every Monthly Society is to act according to the 
 judgment of the major part of the individuals who may 
 be present ; and in submission to the Quarterly Asso- 
 ciation in every thing relative to the affa^irs of the 
 Church of Christ in their midst. And it is required 
 that the subject which have been discussed, and the 
 decisions which have been made at the Quarterly Asso- 
 ciation (so far as they relate to the whole Connexion) 
 be made known to all the Private Societies, and to see 
 that they be acted upon for the profit and edification of 
 such Private Societies. 
 
 7. It has also to superintend the externals of the 
 cause of Christ in its County ; such as the building of 
 Chapels, the raising of funds answerable to the expen- 
 diture on such occasions ; (E.j to choose and to place 
 Trustees wherever a Chapel is erected ; to have posses- 
 sion of, and take charge of the Deeds belonging to 
 them, and to provide new Deeds and Trustees for old 
 Chapels, as necessity may require. 
 
40 
 
 8. It is required, that every thing which the MonthU^ 
 Societies settle, should be accordant with the word of 
 God, and with the Rules of the Connexion, founded on 
 that word. 
 
 Ill,— OF THE QUARTERLY SOCIETIES, OR 
 ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 1. The Association is to reckon only such persons 
 as its Members who were in church offices ; such as 
 Preachers and Leaders of the Private Societies of 
 the Counties of Wales, and of the Societies in those 
 parts of England where the Connexion is established. 
 
 2. The Association is to be convened twice every 
 quarter of a year; once every Quarter in South Wales, 
 and once every Quarter in North Wales. The time 
 and place is to be fixed upon by the Association, which 
 is required to act in conformity with the wishes of the 
 Monthly Societies of the several Counties, on that sub- 
 ject. 
 
 3. At every Association the wbole Connexion is to 
 be supposed present through its Representatives ; and 
 the decisions of this Meeting is deemed sufficient 
 authority on every subject relating to the body through 
 all its branches. It has the prerogative to superintend 
 the cause of Christ among the Welsh Calvinistic Me- 
 thodists through Wales and England ; to inquire into 
 the affairs of all the Private and Monthly Societies ; 
 and to direct any changes or alterations which it may 
 think requisite. 
 
 4. The nature and order of the Quarterly Associ- 
 ation require, that every one, who may be present 
 thereat, should view himself as bearing relation to 
 
41 
 
 the whole Connexion, in the same degree, in- every 
 place, divesting himself of all his local prejudices, lest 
 his partiality for some particular place, should so affect 
 the decisions of the Connexion, as to cause the general 
 good, by that means, to be overlooked. 
 
 5. The Association thinks it proper, in every Quar- 
 terly Association, to choose a Moderator and a Secre- 
 tary, for the sake of preserving order, and of facilitat- 
 ing the business of such meeting at its Private Soci- 
 eties. 
 
 6. The Quarterly Association is to consist of the 
 public preaching of the Gospel, (F.) according to the 
 general practice of the body for some years, and of at 
 least three Private Meetings of the Preachers and Lead- 
 ers only. In the Private Societies of the first day the 
 temporal affairs of the Connexion are to be treated 
 of; and, in that of the second day, matters which re- 
 late to doctrine, experience, and discipline.* 
 
 7. In every Quarterly Association the affairs of the 
 Connexion in the County in which it is held, are to be 
 first introduced to the notice of the assembled body, 
 unless necessity should require otherwise; afterwards, 
 the affairs of the Connexion in general. All who are 
 engaged in the work of the ministry, are to be con vers. 
 ed with at the Private Society of the Association, be- 
 fore they can be permitted to preach in any other 
 County than their own, with regard to their experience 
 of the Holy Spirit's work on their souls, their koowledo-e 
 
 * The Monthly Society of that County in whicli the Associa- 
 tion is held is required to send two or three preachers and lead- 
 ers as Messengers for the County to the Association, whrr are to 
 meet together at eight o'clock in the morning of the first day 
 to fix on the principal subjects which are to be brought under 
 the consideration of the Private Societies of that Association. 
 
 E 2 
 
42 
 
 of the elementary truths of the Gospel, and the mo- 
 tives which induced them to become preachers. 
 
 8. In the Private Society of the Quarterly Associa- 
 tion, those shall be approved of who shall have been 
 chosen to administer the ordinances of Baptism and 
 the Lord's Supper ; and it is there that authority will 
 be granted them to engage in that work, according to 
 the Rules which have been established by the body 
 on that subject. 
 
 9. The Quarterly Association, in all its decisions, is 
 to keep its eye seriously fixed on the word of God, and 
 to conduct its affairs according to the settled Rules of 
 the Connexion; and if at any time it should bethought 
 that some Rule is unnecessary, or incomplete, it is at 
 the Association to be either annihilated or corrected, as 
 may then be deemed best ; but, before this is done, it is 
 to have the serious and deliberate consideration of at 
 least two Quarterly Associations; then, if the whole 
 body, or even the major part of it, is of opinion that a 
 change is necessary, the Rule is either to be altered? 
 or to be entirely dispensed with. 
 
 10. It is advisable, that every subject which shall 
 be brought under the notice of the Quarterly Associ- 
 ation, should be placed before the Connexion as clear, 
 ly and conspicuously as possible, that it may be pro- 
 perly determined by the greater part of the assembly ; 
 but, important points, either of doctrine or of disci- 
 pline, if the body be greatly divided on the subject, 
 must be dealt with deliberately, at several Associations, 
 until the far greater part of the Connexion become 
 of the same opinion ; or if this cannot be effected, the 
 subject must be dropped either in part, or entirely. 
 
43 
 
 11, As this body has not been formed by joining 
 several Societies or Churches together, but, at its for- 
 mation, already possessing within itself such Societies, 
 (as the natural body, at its formation, contains all its 
 members,) it cannot, according to the law of its nature, 
 permit any secession from it, by allowing some of its 
 Societies to form themselves into distinct Independent 
 Churches : nor can it suffer that any of its Ministers 
 should labour among such seceders. 
 
RULES OF DISCIPLINE. 
 
 — »®« — 
 
 For the purpose of securing order (G) and method in 
 our Societies, we think it necessary that some settled 
 Rules (brief and clear,) should be given to our mem- 
 bers, by which we wish and expect them to regulate 
 their conduct. We are of opinion the following will 
 be found to have their foundation in Scripture ; (which 
 we take as our unerring guide ;) and we cannot receive 
 any as members of our Private Societies, who will 
 not consent to them, and who will not do their utmost 
 to walk according to them. 
 
 I. That they be in some degree convinced of sin, 
 by the Holy Ghost ; possessing some degree of poverty 
 of spirit, of godly sorrow on account of sin, and of an 
 earnest desire of deliverance from its bondage. John 
 xvi. 8. Acts, ii. 37, 38; xvi. 39. 
 
 II. That they be, in a measure, more or less con- 
 vinced of their need of Christ, his righteousness, and 
 his grace ; feeling their ne<^essity of Him, i^s an all-suf- 
 ficient Mediator, and an all-powerful Saviour. John, 
 xvi, 8. 9. Phil. iii. 8, 9, 
 
 III. That they feel such a hunger and thirst for 
 Christ and his righteousness, as to make them diligent 
 in attending the means' of grace ; hearing the word, 
 the use of the ordinances of the Gospel, and the as- 
 sembling of themselves together apart from the world ; 
 that they may grow in the knowledge of Christ, and 
 in their likeness to him. Matt. v. 6. Heb. x. 25. Rom. 
 X. 17. 
 
 IV. That they hold no opinions or tenets contrary 
 
15 
 
 to the fundamental principles of Christianity. (See 
 the Confession of Faith.) 
 
 V. That they be not contentious, proud dispaters, 
 ** doting about questions and strife of words ;" but 
 humble, meek, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, 
 and willing to be taught in the way of God more per- 
 fectly, Acts, xviii. 26. I Tim. vi. 4. James, iii. 17. 
 
 VI. That they be willing and determined in the 
 strength of the Lord, to forsake every evil way; to 
 renounce the pomps and vanities of this wicked world : 
 to dissolve association with sinful companions : to ab- 
 stain from all corrupt praetices, such as card playing, 
 going to plays, and assemblies for dancing ; from in- 
 temperate feasting, rioting, and drunkenness ; and to 
 behave themselves as becometh Christians, in all 
 holy conversation and godliness. 2 Cor. vi. 7. Rom. 
 xii. 2. iCor. X. 31. Eph. v. 1, 4, 7, 18. Phil, iv 3. 
 Tit. ii. 11, 12. Isaiah, v. 22. 1 Pet. iv. 3. 
 
 VII. that they be not unequally* yoked in the mar- 
 
 • Besides the heathen nations, who have never been favour- 
 ed with the Gospel of Christ, we deem the following charac- 
 ters as in the rank of unbelievers, though they bear the name 
 of Christians : — 
 
 1. The enemies of the power of godliness, and the persecu- 
 tors of such as would live godly in Christ Jesus. 
 
 2. Those whom their unholy lives prove destitute of that 
 faith which purifieth the heart. 
 
 3. Heretics, who deny the chief and fundamental doctrines 
 of Christianity, such as the Godhead of Christ, Justification 
 by faith, and the person and work of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 4. Those who do not conscientiously attend the means of 
 grace, and who are not diligently observant of religious duties, 
 both public and private. 
 
 If good Jehosaphat, king of Judah, was reproved by the 
 Prophet Eliezer the son of Dodavah, for forming a mercantile 
 partnership with wicked Ahaziah, King of Israel, — how 
 much more worthy of blame are they, and how much more 
 deserving of reproof, who form the closest union for life -with 
 the ungodly ? 
 
46 
 
 riage state with unbelievers; and also, that in their 
 previous intercourse, as well as in their manner of 
 entering into that state, they would conduct them- 
 selves with all dec««cy, sobriety, and godliness. 
 2 Tim. ii. 22. 2 Cor. vi. 14, Deut. vii. 3* Ezra, ix. 
 1,2, &c» MaLii. 11. 
 
 VIII. That they be not covenant-breakers;* but 
 conscientiously fulfil all their lawful engagements to 
 the utmost of their power. In every covenant there is 
 " an oath of the Lord,'' who is witness to it» ''The 
 just man sweareth lo his own hurt and changeth riot." 
 
 1 Kings, ii. 43. Psalm, xv, 14. Rom. i. 31. 
 
 IX. That they worship the Lord in their families, 
 at least twice a ay ; that they rule well their own 
 houses, and bring up their children in the nurture 
 and admonition of the Lord. Jer. x. 25, Psalm, 
 Ixxix. 6. Eph. vi. 4. 1 Tim» iii. 4» 
 
 X. That they and their families keep holy the 
 Sabbath-day, by an holy resting from all such worldly 
 employ as may be lawful on other days, such as buy- 
 ing, selling, and all worldly transactions ; all un- 
 necessary words and works about worldly employ- 
 ments and recreations; idle talk, and idle visits; all 
 vain and foolish conversation. But that they spend 
 
 * Covenants and engagements are the bonds of all societies, 
 with which the different members are tied and united together 
 in one body. Covenant breakers, by loosing and destroying 
 these ligaments, destroy the body itself, and throw all into disor- 
 der and confusion. They open the door for all unrighteousness, 
 dishonesty, and misery. Unfaithfulness in fulfilling our law- 
 ful engagements is a breach of the Ninth Commandment, which 
 requires, that not only our testimony respecting our neighbour, 
 should be just and upright, but also that we should faithfully 
 perform all our engagements to him: "They have spoken 
 words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment 
 springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field." Hos, x. 4. 
 
47 
 
 the whole day except such parts of it as may be 
 requisite for works of necessity and mercy, in public 
 and private exercises of devotion ; — in instructing 
 their families, and poor ignorant neighbours, in those 
 things u hich tend to promote the knowledge of God and 
 his will, and the spiritual edification and comfort of 
 immortal souls. Fourth Command. Isaiah. Iviii. 
 13. 14. 
 
 XI. That every member be temperate and sober in 
 eating and drinking, neither a glutton nor a drunkard. 
 Surfeiting and drunkenness overcharge the heart, 
 unfit us for God's service, and prove our state to be 
 such as will at last prevent our entrance into the king- 
 dom of heaven. Luke, xxi. 34. 1 Cor. vi. 10. 
 
 XII. That they are to avoid all such peculiar modes 
 and fashions in their dress, as are indications of pride, 
 indecency, and prodigality ; but adorn themselves with 
 modest apparel, t such as becometh those professing 
 godliness, with shanie-facedness and sobriety. 1 Tim. 
 ii. 10. 1 Pet. iii. 2. 
 
 XIII. That ihey be a people of pure speech, sparing 
 in their words, avoiding all corrupt communication, but 
 speaking that which is good to the use of edifying, 
 ministering grace to the hearers. That they do not 
 swear, nor take the name of God in vain, in common 
 convcrsjition. That their words be few, not indulging 
 themselves in filihiness, foolish talking and jesting ;f 
 
 * Modest apparel, dillad ^weddus, katastole cosmios, orderly, 
 decently: trefmis, gtieddus, not filthy or disorderly, nor yet 
 costly array. It may be decent and orderly without heihg 
 costly. 
 
 f Eutraphelia. The word properly signifies one who can 
 easily or readily turn his discourse, and accommodate it to the 
 present occasion, for the purpose of exciting mirth and laugh 
 ter. 
 
48 
 
 not double tongued, nor given to detraction, back-biting, 
 evil-speaking, lying or slandering ; well knowing that, 
 by our words we shall be justified, and by our words 
 we shall be condemned, as they are the indication of 
 the inward disposition of the heart. Third and ninth 
 Command, Zeph. iii. 9. Mat. xii. 37. Eph. iv. 29 : 
 V. 3, 4. 
 
 XIV. That they use not too many words in buying and 
 selling, speaking too highly of the «ommodity they have 
 to sell ; and when they buy, crying " It is naught, it is 
 naught ;'' or, taking advantage of the ignorance of others, 
 to ask more for their goods than their real value; 
 but that they ask and give to all what is just and 
 equitable, as far as they can understand the state of 
 the market. ** If thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, 
 or buyest ought of thy neighbour's hand, ye shall not 
 oppress one another ; but thou shalt fear thy God." 
 Eighth Command. Lev. xxiv. 14, 17- Deut. ii. 6, 7. 
 Piov. XX. 10. 
 
 XV. That they do not trade or deal in smuggled or 
 unlawful goods ; but conscientiously " pay tribute to 
 whom tribute, and custom to whom custom is due." 
 Fifth and Eighth Command. Rom. xiii. 7. Luke,xx. 
 22, 25. 
 
 XVI. That they speak no evil of dignities, but that 
 they conscientiously honour and obey the king, and all 
 that are put in authority under him; showing all 
 fidelity in word and deed to the Government we happily 
 live under ; acknowledging, with gratitude, the pro- 
 tection, the liberty, and the great privileges, both of a 
 temporal and of a religious nature, which we so abun- 
 dantly enjoy. ''Thou shalt not revile the gods,* nor 
 
 • Welsh, Swi/ddofiion ; i. e. Magistrates. 
 
49 
 
 curse the ruler of thy people." Speaking- evil of 
 dignities is mentioned by the Apostle as one black 
 and distinguishing mark of false teachers. Fifth 
 Command. Exod. xxii. 28. Jer. xxix. 7. Rom. xiii. 
 1. 7. 1 Tim. ii. 2, 2 Pet. ii. 10. Jude, 8—10, &c. 
 
 XVII. That they be not covetous,f oppressors,* 
 but merciful, tender-hearted, and liberal ; ready to 
 
 4 
 
 + Covetous. There are two Greek words made use of in 
 the New Testament, which fully express the nature of this 
 sin: Philarguria, loving money; pteonexia, deshing more. 
 From the inordinate love of money there ariseth an insatiable 
 thirst for more !— not only more than Providence is pleased to 
 give, but a desire of having or possessing what does not law- 
 fully belong to us ; whence proceed fraud, extortion, oppression, 
 &c. Covetousness is no better than adultery in the sight of 
 Him who searcheth the heart; (Col. iii. 5;) and the secret lust- 
 ings of the heart after the world, and the things of the world, 
 are most sinful in God's sight ; yet it is not a proper object to 
 animadvert upon in church discipline, till it break out in 
 overt acts of cruelty, unmercifulness, fraud, oppression, &c. 
 
 * Oppression may be committed many ways. Satan oppresses 
 men, when, by temptation or possession, he terribly torments 
 them, (Acts, x.) Men oppress one another when they offer 
 violence to each other's persons, estates, or consciences. Per- 
 secutors of the Church are sore oppressors. With humiliation 
 and deep self abhorrence, St. Paul acknowledges himself to 
 have been an oppressor in this sense. (1 Tim. i. 13.) We op- 
 press when we crush and overburden others, as the Egyptians 
 did the Hebrews, thus grievously harrassing and enslaving 
 them. (Exod. iii. 9 ; Deut. xxviii. 29.) We oppress, when w« 
 fraudulently, or by force, take the property of others from 
 them; (Lev. xxv. 14 ; Mai. iii. 5; Job, xx. 19; 1 Thess. iv. 6;) 
 or when we exact too great a profit on the goods of which we 
 dispose ; when we demand unlawful interest for money; or 
 any interest at all of the poor who borrow to supply themselves 
 with the necessaries of life; when our houses or lands are 
 rented too high ; when we forestall the market with a view of 
 raising it; w^hen we join house to house, and field to field, till 
 there be no place for our poor neighbours that they may be 
 placed alone in the midst of the earth. Isaiah, v. 8. "They 
 covet fields," saith the Phrophet Micah, (chap. ii. 2,) " and 
 take them by violence; and houses, and take them away; so 
 they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heri- 
 tage." « For the stone shall cry out of the wall '» against such 
 oppressors, " and the beam out of the timber shall answer it " 
 Hab. ii. 9— 11. 
 
50 
 
 give, according to their abilities, for the relief of the 
 distressed ; " doing good to all, especially to those 
 who are of the household of faith." Sixth and Eighth 
 Gommand. Gal iv. 10. Mat v. 44. Prov. xxv. 21. 
 Rom. xii. 20. 
 
 XVJII. That they "do no unrighteousness in judg- 
 ment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.'' Eighth 
 Command. Lev. xix. 35, Prov. 20. 11. 
 
 XIX. That they do not borrow or get any thing 
 upon trust, without conscientiously endeavouring to 
 repay, and having at the time some hopeful prospect 
 of being able to fulfil their engagements. It is the 
 character of the wicked man, that " he borroweth and 
 payeth not again." Psalm xxxvii. 21. Eighth Com- 
 mand. 
 
 XX. That no brother go to law with another, but 
 that they place the matter in dispute before the 
 Church, and that they be submissive to the judgment 
 of the Church in every such affair; and where there 
 is a debtor and creditor, and the debtor be in circum- 
 stances that he is aVjle to pay, and yet remains ob- 
 stinate, without discharging so much of his debt as is 
 within his power, let hiui be excommunicated ; then 
 shall the creditor be released from the requirement of 
 this Rule. 
 
 XXI. 1 hat no one be allowed to continue a Mem- 
 ber of these Societies who has failed in any trade or 
 occupation, leaving his just debts unpaid to his credit 
 tors, unless be can give evident and satisfactory proofs 
 that he has conducted himself with diligence and 
 care in his trade and calling; not livins? wasteful'y 
 and prodigally above his income; that his accounts 
 have been kept fairly and caiefully ; and that he has 
 
51 
 
 endeavoured, to the utmost of his power, in his dis- 
 tressed circumstances, to do justice in an equal por- 
 tion to his creditors. " The unrighteous shall not 
 inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Cor, vi. 9. Eighth 
 Command. 
 
 XXIT. That they are not, on any account, or in 
 any case whatsoever, to have recourse to witchcraft, 
 or consult wizards, or fortune-tellers, or those who 
 have a familiar spirit. First and second Command. 
 Lev. xix. 28, 31 ; xx. 6, 7. 
 
 XXIII. That those whose habitations may be 
 situated near the sea-coast, be required to show all 
 acts of humanity and kindness towards those who 
 may appear to be in imminent danger on the sea. 
 And if a vessel should be in any danger, or should be 
 wrecked on the coast, near their dwellings, they are 
 required to exert themselves, to the utmost of their 
 power and ability, to save the lives of those who are 
 on board ; and also to secure the property with which 
 such vessel is freighted to the rightful owner or 
 owners. A conduct opposed to this, in any Member, 
 expels him from the Society at once ; and he is never 
 to be received back again, unless he make restitution, 
 and manifest hopeful signs of contrition for his very 
 attrocious crime. " Thou shalt not oppress a 
 stranger:'' — "All things, whatsoever you would that 
 men should do to you, do ye even so to them.*' Sixth 
 and Eighth Command. Exod. xxiii. 9. Mat. vii. 12 * 
 
 XXIV. That no one is to beadmitted, or continued 
 as a member, who lives in habitual idleness ; but 
 
 • Read the exemplary conduct of the barbarians towards 
 Paul and his companions. Acts xxvii. 
 
52 
 
 every one is to " labour, working with his hands, the 
 things which is good, that he may have to give to him 
 that needeth." Eighth Command. Eph. iv. 28. 
 1 Tim, V. 13. 2Thess. iii. 11. Prov. xxxi. 27. 
 
 XXV. That no one is to continue a Member who 
 is implacable and unforgiving towards his brethren 
 who may have offended him ; nor such as is contenti- 
 ous and quarrelsome among his neighbours. On the 
 contrary, all our Members are to show all meekness 
 towards all men, "putting on bowels of mercies, kind- 
 ness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, 
 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another; as 
 Christ forgave you, so do ye." Sixth Command. 
 Tit. iii. 2. Col. iii. 12, 13. Eph. v. 2. 
 
 XXVT. That every Member be careful and atten- 
 tive in faithfully discharging the several duties enjoin- 
 ed him in the word of God, according to his respective 
 relation and situation in life ; as. 
 
 Husbands to love their wives, and honour them as 
 the weaker vessels, and not to be bitter against them. 
 Gen. ii. 24 ; xvi. 6. Ruth, iii. 9. 1 Sam, xxx. 18. Prov- 
 V. 18, 19. Mai. ii. 14, 15. 1 Cor. vii. 33 ; vi 9. Eph. v. 
 25—31. Col. iii. 19. 1 Pet. iii. 7. 
 
 Wives to love their own husbands; to submit them- 
 selves to them in the Lord, and to obey them. Prov. 
 xiv. 1. xix. 4. 1 Cor. vii. 34. xiv. 35. Eph. v. 22. 24. 
 33. Col iii. 18. 1 Tim. ii. II. v. 14. Titus, ii. 4, 5. 1 
 Pet. iii. 1. &c. 
 
 Parents to love their children, and not to provoke 
 them to anger ; but to govern them, and to bring them 
 up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Gen. 
 xxiv. 2, 4. xxx. 30. Deut. iv. 9. vi. 7, 20, 21. vii. 3. 
 2 Sam. xii. 1 6. Job i. 5. Ps. Ixxviii. 5, 6. ci. 2. 1 Chron. 
 
53 
 
 xxii. 14, 16. Prov. i. 10. xiii. 24. xix. 18. xxii. 6, 15. 
 xxiii.l3.xxix,15. 17. Eph.vi.4. 2Tim.iii. 15. 1 Tim. 
 iii. 4. V. 8. Col. iii. 21. 2 Cor. xii. 14. Jer. xxix. 6. 
 
 Children to love, honour, and obey their parents in 
 all things in the Lord. Gen. xlvii. 12. Exod, xx. 12 
 Numb. XXX. 5. Judg. xiv. 2. 1 Kings, ii. 19. Pjov. i. 
 18. X. 1. xiii. 1. XV. 20. xxix. 3. Mai. i. 6. Eph. vi. 1. 
 Col. iii. 20. 1 Tim. v. 4. 
 
 Masters to be just and kind towards their servants, 
 and to forbear threatening. Gen. xviii. 12. 19. Exod. 
 XXV. 43. Lev. xix. 13 Deut xxiv. 14. Josh, xxiv, 15. 
 Job, xxxi. 13. Jer. xxii. 13. Mat, viii. 6. Eph. vi. 9. 
 Col. iv. 1. 
 
 Servants to obey their masters in singleness of heart 
 as unto Christ ; not with %e service as men pleasers, 
 but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God 
 from the heart, — not answering again, not purloining. 
 Fifth Command. Mai. i. 6. Eph. vi. 5, 6, 7. 1 Tim. 
 vi. 1, 2. 2 Tim. ii. 9, 10. 1 Pet. ii. 18, 19, 20. 
 
 As it is the necessary and indispensable duty of every 
 Church Society to support the cause of the Gospel 
 among themselves, and to contribute to the necessities 
 of the poor, it is expected, 
 
 XXVII. That every person will, as God has pros- 
 pered him, cheerfully give towards such necessary 
 purposes. Third and Sixth Command. 1 Cor. ix. 11, 
 14. Gal. vi. 6. 2 Cor. viii. 7, 14. ix. 6. 10. A continu- 
 ance in a conduct different to this, shows unfaithful- 
 ness to the cause of the Lord, and manifests such as 
 remain so, to be unworthy a place among the flock of 
 Christ. 
 
 XXVIII. That none be received as members, without 
 givino: due notice of their intention to one of the Lead. 
 
 2 F 
 
54 
 
 eis, or Members, who are to make strict enquiries re- 
 garding them ; and, if satisfactory, that they be then 
 admitted; a proper examination is then to be madeof 
 their principles and experience by the Society, and 
 proper and careful enquiry respecting their walk and 
 conversation ; not what they have been, but what they 
 are now : whether there are some hopeful signs of re- 
 pentance, a steadfast purpose to lead a new life, follow- 
 ing the Commandments of God, and to walk hence- 
 forth in his holy ways. If any doubt remain respect- 
 ing their sincerity in these points, let them wait be- 
 fore they are admitted, until futher satisfaction be ob- 
 tained. '* The judjj^es shall make diligent inquisition,'' 
 Deut. xix. 18. Lev, xiii. 
 
 XXIX. That if any acctiteation be lodged against 
 any Member, the Society is to examine impartially into 
 the nature of thea ccusation, — whether the charge be a 
 crime against the word of God : — whether upon suffici- 
 ent evidence, the person be found guilty of it : — 
 whether it be an occasional sudden fall into the sin, or 
 whether by long practice he has acquired the habit of 
 it. When he is rebuked and disciplined, let it be 
 proportioned to the malignity and heinousness of the 
 transgression, according to the concurring rule of God's 
 word, and in the spirit of meekness, with the view of 
 restoring such an one, considering themselves, lest they 
 be tempted. Ninth Command. Deut. xix. 15, 16, 
 17, 18. Gal. i. 6. 
 
 XXX. That, if any Member see a brother guilty of 
 any trespass, he must go personally to tell him his 
 fault, in the spirit of love ; then let him wait for a 
 short season, to see what eflfect the reproof has had to- 
 ward the restoration of his offending brother. But if 
 
55 
 
 he will not hear him, then let him take one or two 
 more, and those the most spiritual of his brethren, 
 (Gal, i. 6.) that in the mouth of two or three witnesses 
 every word may be established ; let them reprove him 
 in the spirit of meekness and love, with a view to his 
 recovery ; but if he neglect to hear them, let it then be 
 told the Church, and not before; and if he neglect to 
 hear the Church, let him be turned out, and be unto 
 them as a heathen man or a publican. Ninth Com. 
 mand. Matt, xviii. 15, 16, 17. 
 
 XXXI. That no expelled Member be readmitted, 
 without giving satisfactory proof to the Church of his 
 repentance for the offence, which caused his expulsion. 
 Luke, xvii. 3, 4. 
 
 XXXII. That every thing may be done orderly 
 and for edification, the following Rules are to be ob- 
 served in all Society Meetings. When they are assem- 
 bled together, let one of their leaders, or any other Mem- 
 ber capable of it, in the first place, read a chapter 
 from the Bible distinctly and deliberately ; then let 
 him give out a hymn, and afterwards go to prayer, for 
 the Lord's blessmg on them and their Meeting ; for 
 their king and country ; for all men ; and, in an 
 especial manner, for the success of the Gospel over the 
 world. The remaining part ©f the Meeting is to be spent 
 in free conversation, for instruction, admonition and 
 comfort. Nothing is to be introduced that has not a direct 
 reference to the state of their souls. " Let nothing be 
 done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of 
 mind, let each esteem other better than them- 
 selves.'' Particular care should be taken to^avoid wast- 
 ing too much time in their assemblies ; two hours are 
 deemed sufficient for the Meeting, unless something 
 
56 
 
 of more than ordinary importance demand a more par- 
 ticular attention. The Meeting is to be concluded 
 with prayer and praise. Phil; ii. 3. Psalm, Ixvi. 16. Mai. 
 iii. 16. 1 Pet. ii. 9. 
 
 XXXIIl. That none take the lead in either of 
 these Societies, but those who are chosen by it, and 
 approved of by the monthly Society in every County. 
 In judging of the qualifications of the persons who are 
 chosen leaders, the directions given in the word of God 
 are to be carefully observed : — ** By their fruits 
 ye shall know them. ' (Matt. vii. 20.^ They are to be 
 not only men of gifts, but also men of grace, of a 
 humble temper, spirituality of mind, and such as love 
 Christ. They must hold the mystery of tne faiih in a 
 pure conscience ; be temperate in all things, liberal 
 and not covetous, or greedy of filthy lucre; given to 
 hospitality; not brawlers, but meek and patient ; ruling 
 their own houses well; and having their children in 
 subjection with all gravity. Leaders without these 
 qualifications are of men's choosing, and not of God's 
 appointment. He never appoints contrary to the rule 
 of his word ; and such leaders of men's choosing can be 
 of no edification to the Church ; foremen do not ga- 
 
 * Mystery of the faith ; the doctrines to be believed, which are 
 mysterious. In these they must be instructed, and hold a clear 
 knowledge and experience of them, and a firm profession of 
 them, in opposition to false doctrine, heresy, and schism. Hold- 
 ing them forth doctrinallt/, for the instruction of others, "in a 
 pure conscience." The truth is of apurifyiniji nature; and where 
 it is received by faith, it purifieth the conscience by the appli- 
 cation of the blood of Christ. A pure conscience implies uni- 
 versal purity in our whole walk and conversation; honesty 
 and sincerity towards God. Whatever detilement there may be 
 in the outward or inward man, in thought, word, or action, it 
 pollutes the conscience; and nothing but the blood of Christ 
 can cleanse it. Heb. ix. 14. 
 
57 
 
 ther grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ;" by their fruits 
 and sound doctrine and good works, and not by their 
 gifts only yV/Q are directed by the Saviour to distinguish 
 the true from the false teachers. 1 Tim. iii. passim, 
 John, xxi. 15. 16, 17. Gal, vi. 1. Mat. vii. 15-20. 
 
 XXXIV. That every matter of dispute, or of a 
 doubtful nature, which may arise in any society, be 
 considered and examined coolly and deliberately; 
 and that it be determined, if possible, with humanity 
 among themselves, to the satisfaction of every one. 
 But if that cannot be done, that the matter in disputt? 
 be laid before the Monthly Society, to which that Pri- 
 vate Society belongs ; and if it cannot be determined 
 there, that it be brought before the Quarterly Associ- 
 ation, whose decision is to be final. 
 
CONFESSION OF FAITH. 
 
 »<SK< 
 
 I. OF THE BEING OF GOD. 
 
 There is one God ; and there is oili/ one living and 
 true God. Natural reason, apart from revelation, de- 
 clares this Bein^ to have existence. The Gentiles, for 
 the greater part, own something- to be a God; or some 
 things to be gods The natural conscience of man, by 
 condemning him for the commission of some acts, and 
 by exculpating him for the performance of others, are 
 proofs to the same point, and that he is respotisible to 
 this Being for his conduct.a The creation as clearly 
 attests this, as an effect does the existence of a cause : 
 it being as impossible that it should be otherwise, as 
 that an effect should arise out of itself,^ The being 
 of man, likewise, forms a most substantial evidence of 
 this fact; for if it be seen that every man is the natural 
 offspring of some other man, it must of necessity be 
 concluded, that the first man could not have been self- 
 created, but must have had a Creator. 
 
 The order, the beauty, the propriety, and the harmony, 
 of the creation, as vveil as the support which one part 
 of it affords the other, are further proofs that an all-wise 
 God brought it into being ; and that it is He who pre- 
 serves and governs the things which exists,^ The 
 creatures could not have ordered or intended themselves 
 to the use for which they are employed ; it therefore is 
 
 a Rom. ii. 14, 15. h Psalm xix. 1—3. Rom. i. 19, 20. 
 
 c Isaiah, xl. 26. Psalm cxlviii. 6. 2 Peter iii, 5—7. 
 
59 
 
 evident that they are under the control of some mighty 
 Governor.^ And the awful judgments, and terrible 
 alarms of conscience with which some of God's enemies 
 have been visited in life and in death, after having de- 
 nied his being, are strong arguments to the same pur- 
 port. 
 
 ' II. OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, 
 
 The Holy Scriptures, the written wor(i of God, or 
 the Book, commonly called the Bible, is now contained 
 in all the Books of the Old and New Testament. 
 
 THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, ARE, 
 
 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, 
 Joshua, Judges, Ruth, ] Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 
 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, J^ehemiah, 
 Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Solomons 
 Song, Isaiah^ Jeremiah, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Eze- 
 kiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos^ Obadiah, Jonah, Micak, 
 Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, 
 and Malachi. 
 
 THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, ARE, 
 
 The Gospel according to Sf^ Matthew, — according to 
 St. Mark— according to St. Luke, — according to St, 
 John, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistle of Paul to 
 the Romans, — the First and Second to the Corinthians, 
 -^io the Galatians, — to the Ephesians, — to the Philip- 
 pianSy-^-to the Colossidns, — the First and Second to the 
 Thessalonians,—(he First and Second to Timothy, — to 
 Titus, — to Philemon, — to the Hebrews, — the General 
 Epistle of James, — the First and Second General Epis- 
 
 d Exod, Y. 2. ix. 27. and xiv. 25. 
 
60 
 
 ties of Peter, — the Firsts Second, and Third Epistles 
 General of John, — the General Epistle of Jude, — and 
 the Revelation of John. 
 
 The whole Scriptures, comprising the Old and New 
 Testaments, are the Word of God : and He it was that 
 indited them to the holy men who delivered them to us. 
 They contain a sufficient, compete, and perfect revela- 
 tion of the mind and will of their Author, relating to 
 every thing which is necessary that we should know, 
 in order to be saved ;a and furnishing us with the only 
 infallible rule for the regulation of our faith and obedi- 
 ence. 
 
 The greatness and importance of the truths which 
 they unfold, regarding God and the perfections of his 
 nature, are things which no one could have revealed, 
 excepting Him who is perfectly acquainted with him- 
 self :6 the piety and self-denial of their penmen : the 
 purity and holiness of their truths ; the consonance of 
 the whole, though written by different persons, at se- 
 parate periods :c their continued preservation in the 
 world, though the strongest endeavours have been made 
 to annihilate them : and their chief aim being to exhibit 
 the greatness and glory of God, are indubitable proofs 
 of their divine authenticity. </ The authority and 
 effects which the Scriptures obtain on the hearts and 
 lives of men, together with the superiority of those 
 nations who possess the Scriptures in every age, over 
 those who are destitute of them, with regard to moral- 
 
 a Isaiah viii. 20. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16. Romans xv. 4. Lukexvi. 
 29, 31.Rey. xxii. 18, 19, 
 
 b. Exod. iii. 14. Is. xlii. 8. Josh. xxi. 45. Is. xlii. 9. Psalm 
 cxix. 18. 
 
 c 2 Pet. i. 20, 21. Psalm xii. 6, and xix. 8. John x. 35. 
 
 d Isaiah lix. 21, and xl. 8. Matt. xxiv. 35. Rom. iii. 1, 2. 
 
i61 
 
 -ily,' knowledge, and'the practice of every other virtue, 
 are strong arguments to warrant the conclusion, that 
 an infinite God was their Aiithor.^ 
 
 Besides, it would be unreasonable to suppose, that 
 angels or men were their authors ; it cannot be thought, 
 that wicked men, in the primitive ages, composed the 
 Scriptures, or it- must be granted, that the nature of 
 -wickedness has uridergone a change since those days ; 
 -and it- is certain, that the fa:Hen angels never formed 
 the weapons, which are instrumental to the overthrow 
 of their own government in the human heart; and it 
 would have been inconsistent with the purity of the 
 elect angels, and with the holiness of pious men, to in- 
 vent falsehoods in the name of the Lord of Hosts: 
 therefore it must unavoidably be admitted, that the 
 Scriptures have originated with God, and with God 
 alone./* 
 
 III. OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD. 
 
 Though the natural light which is in man, the works 
 of creation, &c. clearly prove the being of a God, and 
 reason evinces that there is only one true God ;a yet 
 we cannot comprehend what kind of a Being he is, 
 without a special revelation of himself from himself :6 
 none perfectly know God, excepting himself.c In the 
 Holy Scriptures, we have his own testimony on this 
 subject, and according to what we find therein declared, 
 we are to think and to believe concerning- him. The 
 
 e Heb. iv. 12. Psalm xix. 7. I Cor. xiv. 36, 37. Rom. i. 16. 
 /Hosea viii. 12. Psalm cxi. 7, 8- 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. Rev. xxii. 
 18, 19. 
 a Romans i. 20. 1 Cor. viii, 4—6. Deut. vi. 4. 
 b Matt. xi. 27 1 Cor. ii. 14. 
 c Heb. i. I. 2 Pet. i. 19. 1 John v. 9. Matt. xxii. 29—32. 
 
 G 
 
62 
 
 true God is a pure, invisible, and self-existent spirit, 
 without body., parts, or passions ; eternal, having neither 
 beginning- nor end, and being subject to no change: 
 infinite and incomprehensible: Self dependent. Omni- 
 present, Omniscient, and Omnipotent ; perfect in holr- 
 ness, righteousness, wisdom, goodness and patience: d 
 gracious arid merciful ; forgiving iniquity, transgress- 
 ion, and sin ; neveriheless, fearful in his anger, not judg- 
 ing guiltless the wicked, but visiting sin with that 
 punishment which it merits. e 
 
 By the attributes of God, we are to understand those 
 things which are essential to him: all his attributes are 
 infinite, and every perfection is inherent in him, and 
 essential to himy 
 
 IV. OF,THE PERSONS OF THE TRINITY. 
 
 Though there is but one true God, and it cannot be 
 otherwise ; yet the Holy Scriptures testify, that there 
 are in God Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and 
 the Holy Ghost; and these three are co-eternal and co- 
 equal ; neither being before or after the other; neither 
 being greater or less than the other ; but they are one 
 God ft Each of the Persons is a true God, and yet 
 one Person is not the other, yet are they but one God. 
 The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, are neither 
 names, offices, nor attributes, — but Divine Persons \b 
 
 d John i. 18. John iv. 24. Job xi. 7. 1 Tim. i. 17. Heb. i. 12. 
 James i. 17. Mai. iii. 6. Jer. xxiii. 23, 24. Psalm cxlv. 3. Gen. 
 xvii. I. Rom. xvi. 26. Is. vi. 3. Eod. iii. 14. Eph. i. 11. I 
 Kintjs viii. 27. . Rom, xi. 36. PsaU cxlv. \1. & cxxxix. 1—16. 
 e Neh. ix. 17. Exod. xxxiv. 6. 7. Heb. xi. 6. Ps. cxxx. 4. Neh. 
 ix. 32, 33. Ps, V, 6. Neh, i. 2—8. / Ps. xxxix. 6. Jer. x. 7. 
 Is. xl. 18. Gen. i. 27. Col. iii, 10. 
 
 a 1 John V, 7. Matt, xxviii. 19. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. John i. 1.2, 
 14. and xv. 26. Gal. iv. 6- h Heb. i. 3. Col. i. 15, 16. Acts v, 
 3, 4. Ps. cxxxix. 7—10. John v. 26. Matt, xvii, 5. Acts xiii. 
 2 — 4. XX. 28. and xv. 28. 
 
63 
 
 t?he Father is an eternal Person, tiie Son is an eternal 
 Person, the Holy Ghost is an eternal Person, — yet One 
 eternal God. And though different offices and oper- 
 ations pertain to one Person rather than to the other, in 
 the scheme of Salvation, yet have they the same divine 
 attributes, — eternity, omnisciency, omnipresency, om- 
 nipotency,c &c, in each Divine Person, as in the 
 other : in like manner also, the same holiness, goodness, 
 and love, &c. in the Three Persons ; the objects of the 
 love of the Three Persons are likewise the same :d and 
 the purpose of the Trinity is the eternal purpose. 
 Though we cannot comprehend the doctrine of the 
 Trinity, yet we ought to believe \i,e because that thus 
 God has- testified of himself, who knows himself per- 
 fectly,. and who is the God of truth. Therefore it is 
 our duty firmly to believe the testimony which he has 
 given of himself. 
 
 V. OF THE DECREE OF GOD. 
 
 God, from eternity, according to the counsel of his 
 own willj and for the manifestation and exaltation of 
 his glorious attributes, decreed all things which He 
 should perform in time and to eternity, in the creation 
 and governing of his creatures, and in the salvation of 
 sinners of the human race; yet^in such a manner that 
 he is neither the Author of sin, nor does he force the 
 will of his creatures in the fulfilment of his decree \a 
 
 e Col. i. 17. John i. 1. and xxi. 17. Matt, xviii 20. Rev. i. 
 H: Is. ix. 6. Geta. i. 2. Heb. ix. 14. 1 Cor. iii. 16. and ii. 10. 
 Luke i. 35. 
 
 d John XV. 9. and xvi. 27, &c. and xiv. 21. Rom .xv. 30. John 
 iii. 16. 2 Cor. riii. 9. John. xvi. 14, 15. 
 
 e Job xi. 7—9. Psalm cxlv. 3. 
 
 a Eph. i. 11. Acts xv. 18. Isa, xlvi. 10, 1 1. Isa. xiv, '^4, 27. 
 Psalm cxlviii. 6. Job xxxviii. 10, 11. Prov. viii .29. Jer. v. 22. 
 
64 
 
 and this decree of God is not depended on any thing^ 
 in a creature, nor yet on the foreknowledge of God ; 
 but rather, God knows th^t such and such circumstan- 
 ces will take place, because he has ordained that it 
 should be so. 6 Gbd's decree is infinitely wise,<7-per. 
 fectly righteous,^ and existing from eternity :e it is 
 a free,/ an ample,^ a secret,A gracious, i holy./ 
 goodjJt' an unchangeable,/ and effeclualm decree. 
 
 VIl OF THE CREATION. 
 
 In thie bfegining, God (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,) 
 created the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that 
 therein is, for his own sake, **for his pleasure they 
 are and were created.*' He hath done whatsoever he 
 hath pleased. The things which are seen, were not 
 madeof things which do appear, but *' He spake the 
 word, and so it was,« he commanded, and it stood 
 fast;" and all in six days, and all very good.a 
 
 Vn. OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD IN UPHOLD- 
 ING AND GOVERNING THE WORLD, 
 
 Goid, iii his wise, holy, and righteous providence, 
 upholds' and governs all creatures, and all their actions.a 
 His providence embraces every place, incident, change,- 
 
 Deut. xxxii. 8. Dan. iv. 35. Acts xvii. 2& Job xiv. 5. Actsiv. 
 28. Matt. X. 29,' 30. 
 
 h Jer. xviii. 4—10. Matt. xi. 26. Is. xlvi. 10. Rom. ix. 19— 
 21. cRom. xi.23. dPs.cxlv. 17. eEph. iii. 11. /Rom. 
 ix. 15, 16. g Eph. i. 1 1. h Deut xxix. 29. i 2 Tim. i. 9. 
 
 Eph. i. 4. Rom. viii. 28. * Rom; viii. 23, 29, 30. 1 Job xxiii, 
 13, 14. Rom. ix. 11. m Isaiah xlvi. 10. 
 
 a Genesis i. passim. Hebrews i. 2, 3. Job xxvi. 13. and 
 xxxiii. 1. Rev, iv. 11. Ps. cxv. 3. Prov. xvi. 4. Heb. xi. 3. Jer. 
 X. 12. Rom. i. 20. Ps. xxxiii. 6. Col. 1. 16. Aft% xvii; 24. 
 Ps. xxxiii. 9. Gen. ii. 1, 2.- Exod. xx. 11. 
 
 a Heb. i, 3, Psalm ciii. 19. 
 
65 
 
 and tinie.6 The dispensation of God's providence is 
 full of eyes to perceive, and full of strength to perform ; 
 and he will make all things to work together for good 
 to them that love him.c Its over- ruling government 
 extends over the sinful actions of man ; but it is 
 neither the cause nor the occasion of sinfulness in 
 him.// 
 
 VIII. OF MAN IN HIS ORIGINAL STATE OF 
 INNOCENCE. 
 
 The Lord God made the body of the firsl-nwia. Adam, 
 out of the dust of the earth, and breathed into his 
 nostrils the breath of life, and the mafl became a living 
 a spiritual, a reasonable, an imiuortal soul.a He was 
 made apright,' and all his posterity in him ; after the 
 image and likeness of Godj possessed of knowledge, 
 holiness, and righteousness-, having the law of God innate 
 in his heart,6 and possessing every strength and advan- 
 tage requisite for preserving it there; yet liable to 
 ciiange, and a possibility existing for him to (nW c 
 While he kept the commandment he stood, and at that 
 time hfe was* perfectly happy, at peace and in communion 
 with God^.and lord of all the creatures of the world. rf 
 
 6/Dan. iv. 34. 35. Acts xvii. 25, 26, 28. Job xxxviii. xxxix. 
 xl, jrfi. Ps. civ. 24. 
 
 c Prov. XV. 3. Mat. x. 29. 30. Is. xiv. 24, %1. xL 26. & xliii. 
 13. Rom. viii. 28. 
 
 rf Ps. Ixxvi. 10. 2 Kingsxix.28.<Oeu. 1. 20. Ps. 1. 21. 2 
 Sam. xxiv .1. I Chron. xxi. 1,1 Kdngsxxii. 23. 2 Sam. xvi. 
 10. Acts ii. 23, 24. & iv. 27, 28. 
 
 a Gen. i. 26, 27. & i>..7., Eecles. xii. 7. . Matt. x. 28. Heb. 
 xii. 9. Acts vii. 59. 60. Matt xvi. 26. 
 
 b Cedes, vii. 29. Col, iii. 10. Eph. iv. 24. Rom. ii. 14, 15. 
 Gen. ix. 6. 
 
 c Geu. iii. 6; Ps. xlix. 12. Rom. v. 12. Eccles. vii. 29. 
 
 il Gen. i. 28. and ii. 19, 20. Psalm viii. 6, 7. 
 
 G 2 
 
m 
 
 ik; OF THE COVENANT OF WORKS: 
 
 God was pleased to condescend to make a covenant: 
 with the first man, Adam, which was suitable to him in 
 his state of innocency, containing a command, a threat, 
 and a promise : the positive command, the keeping of 
 which was to be a test of his obedience, was, to abstain, 
 from eating of the forbidden fruit ; the threat was death: 
 if he ate thereof. The nature of the command, and. 
 threat, leads us to conclude, that, in this covenant, a 
 promise was also contained of life and happiness, by. 
 the observance of it, in opposition to the death which, 
 was threatened for its breach. « Tb€ whole law of our 
 nature was comprised in this covenant, so that it was 
 impossible to transgress the positive command, without 
 at the snme time transgressing a^rainstthe whole law of 
 our nature.6 The place which Adam ocgu pied in this, 
 covenant, was not merely as a natural root to the 
 whole of his posterity, but also as their representative ;: 
 as their happiness or misery, as well as his own, de- 
 pended on his obedience or disobedience. c 
 
 X OF THE FALL OF MAN, AND ORIGINAL SIN. 
 
 Though man, when God made the covenant of v/orks 
 with him, had power to obey and perform the con- 
 ditions of that covenant, yet he disobeyed and broke 
 the covenant :a the serpent deceived Eve, and Adam 
 hearkeae 1 unto the voice of the woman, and willingly 
 brake the commandment of his. Creator, by eating of 
 
 a Gen. ii. 16, 17. Hos. vi. 7. Rom. v. 12—21. 1 Cm-, xv. 
 
 22. Matt xix. 17. 1 Cor. xv. 45—49. Rom. vii. 10. ami x. 5. 
 f> Jiiines ii. 10. 
 
 r Gen ii. and iii. 1 Cor. xv. 22. Rom. v. 12, 18, 19. 
 
 a Eccles vii. 29. Rom. v. 12. 
 
67 
 
 the forbidden fruit* He thus broke the covenant witfik 
 Godjb forfeited his right to the life which wa»> 
 promised to him, and became the subject of that death: 
 with which he was threatened.c He lost his original 
 uprightness,, and his communion with God, and he 
 became totally corrupt in soul and hody.d As he 
 was the root and representative of mankind, his first 
 sin is imputed to them,; and every one of his seed: 
 which by natural generation proceeds^ from him, par- 
 takes of his corruption.^ Through this natural defile- 
 ment, all maukind are become impotent, and opposed to- 
 every good thing,, and prone to every evil; and from. 
 this corrupt inclination,. every sinful action proceeds./ 
 Original sin, and every subsequent actual sin in soul 
 or body, is a transgression of the holy law of God ; it 
 brings the sinner uuder tlie curse and indignation of 
 God, and makes him tlwi subject of spiritual, temporal, 
 and eternal misery.^ 
 
 XI. OF THE STATE iW MAN BY NATURE. 
 
 All mankind are by. nature in a guilty, sinful, and:? 
 wretched condition.a In their relationship to the first 
 Adam, they are under the law as. it stood in the cove- 
 
 6 Gen iii. 13. 2 Cor. xu a GettiimO— 8. Rom. iii 23 
 c Rom V. 12. and vii. 10. Gal. iii* 10. Epli. ii. I. Tit. iii 
 
 3. Jer. xvii. 9. 
 
 d Eccles. vii. 29. Psalm xiv» 1—4. Rom. iii. 10—19 Job 
 
 xiv. 4. Mark vii. 21— 23. Rom. viii. 7j 8. Tit. i. 15.* Col. 
 
 e Rom V. 12—23. Acts xvii. 26. 2 Cor, xv. 21, 22, 45 49 
 
 /Rom. V. 6. Gen. vi. 5. and viii. 21. Rom, iii, lo. Jam 
 i. 14. Eph. ii. 2, 3. Matt. xv. 19. James iii. 2; Rom vii 
 1 4. Rev. XX. 9. 
 
 g I John iii. 4. Rom. iii. 9; 19. vi. 23 and i. 18. John 
 iii. 36. 
 
 a Isaiah Ixiv. 6. Eph. ii. 3. Psalm Ii. 5, 
 
6S- 
 
 iiant of works: and by his first transgression, thley Be- 
 ing in him, were all brought under the curse of the 
 law-,6 which declares all to bfe cursed thkt abide not 
 in all things written therein. They are all by nature 
 dead in trespasses and sins, and enemies in therr minds 
 by wicked works, and ev«ry imaginationof the thoughts 
 of their hearts, is only evil continually, without any 
 inclination to know the Lord and to obey him; and 
 justly deserving eternal d^ath (r- 
 
 XIL.OF THE ELECTIOI^ OF GRACE. 
 
 G«d from 'eternity elected and ordained Christ to 
 be a Covenant head* a*Mediator, and a Surety to his 
 Chmch ; to redeem' and to save it.(a^ God also 
 electedin Christ a conntless multitude out of every 
 tribe, tongne, people, and nation, to holiness and^- 
 everlasting 'life ;b aud every means were employed to ^ 
 effect this purpose most securely.c This election is-^ 
 eternal,^/ righteous.^ sovereign,/ unconditional,^ pecu-^ 
 liar or personal,/i and unchangeable. i It wrongs none, . 
 though God has justly left some without^ being ^ 
 el«cted^ yet he has not wronged them : , they are in 
 the same condition as if there had been no^electiou ; 
 and had there been no election, no flesb- had rbeen 
 sav^d.j 
 
 b Rom. V. 12, 18. I Cor. xv. 22. Deitt^jexvii. 26. G^b. ill. 10. 
 c Eph. ii. 1—3. Col. i. 21. Gen. vi. 5: Eph..iv.\ 18.H Job xxi. 
 14. Rom. viii. 7. Gen. ii. 17. Rom. vi. 23.' 
 
 a Is. xlii 1. Eph. i. 22, 23. Psalm Ixxxix.; 19.*. Epb. v. 25. 
 Heb. vii. 22. 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. Gal. i. 4. Matt. i. 21. 6 John 
 xiii. 18. Eph. i. 4, 11. Rom. viii. 29^,30, 33. 2 Tim. i. 9. 1 
 Thess. V, 9. Rev. v. 9. 10. & vii. 9. c amt-xxviii. 18—20, Acts 
 xxvi. 18. d Eph. i. 4. & iii. 11. e Rom.dx. 13, 14. Ps. cxlv. 
 17. /Rom. ix. 17—24. g Eph: i. 5, 11. Matt. xi. 23, 26. 
 Luke xii. 32. h John xiii. 18^ i Rom. ix. 1 1. & xi. 28, 29. 
 j Matt, xxiv. 22, 24. Rom. xi. 23. Matt. xxiv. 3). 
 
XIII. OF THE ETERNAL COVENANT OF GRACE. 
 
 There is a covenant, a dispensation, and a gracious 
 institution ordered in all things and' sure, made by 
 God from eternity, with respect to^ the salvation of 
 men.a The parties in this covenant are the blessed 
 Persons in the Godhead ; the Father, the San, and^ 
 the Holy Ghost.6 The Father defending the honouu 
 and glory of the attributes and government of God,., 
 which would be despised and dishonoured by.man.c 
 The Son, as a Covenant Head, and a mighty Sitirety, . 
 standing for and representing all the children of men • 
 which were elected, and which would believe in him 
 for their salvation.c? And the Spirit engaging to 
 work in the elect as the Spirit of Christ, the part of a 
 Sanctifier and a Comforter.^ The condition of this 
 covenant^ on th6< part * of I ObrLsfe, therS^ret)r\ of This ^ 
 peopld was to fulfir on their bth^lf lall thdt was dile • 
 from them to God, and to his law/ Very great and 
 precious promises have been given by the Father in 
 the covenant, to Christ and to his seed ; and the sum > 
 of all the promises to the Surety which are to be per< 
 formed bn his covenanted seed, is life everlasting y 
 
 a Ps. xl. 6~8: Is. xMx. 1^6; and liii. 10^ 12. Johns viii 4. 5;i 
 
 b» ps. lsxxix^,3. Zech/ yi. 13; 
 
 c John X. 18. xii. 49. xiv. 31, and xviii. 11. HeK i'u 10. ii- 
 15, 17. & X. 5— la. Zech. xiii. 7. Is. liii. 10, 12.^ ' 
 
 d Ps. xj. 6—8. Heb. x- 5—10. and vii. 22. Jobnivi. 39. and 
 xvii 2. 12. Eph. i. 22. 23 & v, 23. 1 Cor. xv. 21, 22, 45—49. 
 
 e Is. lix. 21', Heb, ii, 3, 4, Johfa vii. 39, and xyi,i8, 9. 1 Thess, 
 1. o, 6i 2 Cor. iii, 6, 8, John xivr 16, 26. a«d xv. 26. Gal, iv. 6. 
 /4s. liii,=5, 6, 10, 11. Ps. xK 6-^. Romi-Yiii. 3, 4, & v. 6. 2 
 Cor. V. 21. Gal. iv. 4, 6. Matt. x«, 28, 1 Pet ii. 24, 
 
 ^ Ps. ex. 1—3. John xvii. 4, 5, Is. xlixt5-8. Acts ii, 33—36. 
 Is. liii 10, 12, John vi. 39, 44, Tit. i. 2. Jiihn xvii. 2, Rom, v! 
 10, and viii, 33, 34, 2 Tim. i. 9, Rom, viii. 27, 1 Cor, i, 30 2 
 Cor, i, 20. 
 
TO 
 
 Gbd, in his own time, through his Gospel, mauifestS' 
 this covenant to all his people, and hrings thera to* 
 approve of it, and to embrace it, thus bringing them:< 
 into the bond of the covenant, and making them, in 
 their own persons, to be the possessors of the graces,, 
 gifts, and privilegeSj/i of this covenant. The cove- 
 nant of grace was revealed gradually, and underr 
 several dispensations : but the Gospel dispensation is 
 the last and most glorious. i This covenant is free,- 
 sure, holy, beneficial, and eterual.y 
 
 XIV. OF THE PERSON OF THE FATHER, AND THE; 
 
 WORK WHICH IS ATTRIBUTED TO HIM, 
 
 IN.THE PLAN OF SALVATION. 
 
 The Father is called a Person :a he is called a' 
 Father, to show his relationship to Christ, his only 
 begotten Son, who is in his bosom ;6 and there exists 
 such a union between, the Father and the Son, that 
 the one cannot be denied without denying the other; 
 The Father is in the Son, and the S^n in the Fathenc 
 As Persons, they are distinctive ; but together witb 
 the Holy Spirit, they are one essence.^ No one 
 l^noweth the Son, but the Father; and no one- 
 knoweth the Father, save the Son, and him to whom 
 the Son will reveal him.c The-election of Christ to- 
 be the Saviour of sinners/ in the plan of salivation, is 
 
 h Ezek. XX. 37, Zeck. ix. H, Is. xlixy 24, 25,. Rom, viii, 1. 
 33. Heb. viii, 8. 10. Ezek, xxxvi. 24—28. JGferem, xxxi. 40. 2 
 Timotiiy i. 1. John xvii. 24. Rom. viif, 17^ Eph, ii. 8. 1 Cor, . 
 iii. 22, 23, 1 Johni, 1 25. i Heb, i, 1, 2, viii. 8. xii. 28, & iv. 2. 
 2 Cor, iii. 6—18. j Hos. xiv. 4. Is. liVj 10. Luke i. 72. 1 Cor. 
 iii. 21, 23. Zech. viii, 8. Heb. ix. 12. , 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. 
 
 aHeb, i.3. iJohni. 18. cl John il,22,23. John x, 30,& 
 x)fii,a 1,,21, ^2. d J John, v. 7. e Mat, xi. 27. / Isa* xlii. J. 
 
7i 
 
 attrtbuted to the Pather ; «s well as the ordaining of 
 the humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ,^ and the ap- 
 pointing Him to be a Propitiation , A placing the sins 
 of his people upon him, bruising him for their sins,* 
 and raising him up from the dead to show that he 
 had been satisfied by his death.J Electing sinners in 
 ChristjA: — drawing them to him,/ — and glorifying 
 Christ, and his people with him, at Ihe end of the 
 world. m 
 
 XV. OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST THE 
 MEDIATOR. 
 
 in the fulness of time, the eternally begotten, and 
 true Son of God, one of the infinite Persons in the 
 Godhead, coequal with the^Father, the express image 
 of his Person, the true God, took upon him the nature 
 of man, true and complete humanity in the womb of 
 the Virgin ; holy, and without partaking of her cor- 
 ruption. A body Was ordained unto him by the Father, 
 and formed by the Holy Spirit of the substance of the 
 Virgin, without the^east degree of defilement, and this 
 body he took into union with his own Person ;a there- 
 fore, a Divine Person and a human nature have been 
 inseparably united in One Mediator, changing neither 
 the nature of the Divine Person, nor the humanity, nor 
 yet blending the one with the other. But the Divine 
 Person, Christ Jesus, is a true God and a true man ; 
 
 g Heb. x. 5, k Rom. iii. 25. i Isaiah liii. 6. 10. 2 Cor, v, 
 21. j Acts ii. 24. Rom, iv, 25, * Eph. i, 4. ? John vi. 44. 
 6.5. m Ps, ex. K Rom. viii. 17. 
 
 a Gal. iv. ^ Rom. viii. 3. John iii. 16. Rom. i. 3, 4. John 
 i. I, 2, 14 John v 20. Phil. ii. 6. Heb. ii. 14, 16. 1 Pet.iii. 
 18. 1 Tir .1. 16. Col. ii. 3. and i. 19. Rom. ix, 5. Luke i, 
 27, 31, P Heb, ii. 17, and iv. 15. John v. 27. Acts x, 38, 
 
T2 
 
 -yet one Mediator between God and Manj-^Em- 
 manuel.6 It was necessary that the Mediator shoiild 
 be God-Man, for it was requisite that the Surety 
 should go under the law in our stead, to obey per- 
 "fectly, to suffer its curse, and to die for those whom 
 he represented ; which he could not have done were 
 he not a man ; it was necessary that virtue and irifi- 
 'nite'vilue should be in his obedience,' in his suffer, 
 ings, and in his death, which would have been im- 
 possible were he not a God.c But being a God-Man, 
 he magnified the' law, he satisfied justice, and honoured 
 all the attributes and government of God. Through 
 Ms perfect obedience and his sacrifice,^ he made 
 reconciliation. In the mediation, Christ acts accord- 
 ing to both natures, each nature performing its own 
 appropriate work; still, on account of the union, the 
 openations of the one or the other, are attributed to 
 the Person e The union of the two natures is eter- 
 nally permanent in the Person of Christ, he will for 
 ever continue to be a God-Man./ 
 
 XVI. OF THE OFFICES OF THE MEDIATOR. 
 
 Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between'^God and 
 man ; he is the Mediator of the new covenant, (or 
 
 b Is. vii, 14, and ix. 6. Psa'lm ex. 1. Mic, v. 2. Heb. xii. 24, 
 1 Tim. ii. 5. Phil, ii. 6—8. Zech. vi. 12, Jer, xxiii. o, 6. Heb. 
 iv. 14, 15, 
 
 c Psalm xlv, 7, John iii, 34, Heb, vii, 26, Psalm xl, 7, Heb, 
 X. 5, 9, Gal, iv, 4, Matt, iii. 15, and v. 17, Phil, ii. 8, Gal, iii, 
 13, 2 Cor, V, 21, H6b: ix, 22. v, 1—6, & viii, 3, Rom, viii, 3, 4, 
 
 d Isa, xlii, 21. Ga!, iii, 13, Matt, xvii, 5, Rom, iii, 25, Heb, 
 ix, 14, 24, Acts ii. 23—27, 1 Cor, xv, 3—5, Heb, x, 14, Eph, 
 V. 2, Col.i, 19,20. 
 
 eHeb. ix. 14. 1 Pet, iii, 18. Acts, xx, 28, and iii 15, I 
 Cor, ii, 8. John iii, 13, 1 John iii, 16, 
 /Rom, ix, 5, Mat, xxv, 3], Rev, v, 5, 6, and xxii, 16. 
 
73 
 
 Testament ;) a Saviour, a Deliverer, and a Shepherd ; 
 of a Divine and covenanted appointment and approba- 
 tion ;a and having in himself every fulness, and glori. 
 ous suitability on account of the greatness of his 
 Person, of his eternal appointmenti and of his being 
 anointed with the Holy Spirit in his graces and gifts 
 beyond measure. 6 And he fills this extensive office 
 as a Prophet, by bringing God to view with his 
 counsel, and all his will in the Holy Scriptures, 
 through the instruments which he has employed, and 
 his own personal ministry in the days of his incarna- 
 tion :c and the continuing work of the Spirit, by the 
 means which he has ordained, savingly to enlighten 
 the Church in the things which are necessary to be 
 known, in order to ensure salvation.t^ 
 
 As a Priest, in his humiliated condition, in the 
 place of his people, and under the imputation of their 
 sins, through the whole of his active and passive obe- 
 dience, he gave a sacrifice, an offering, and a perfect 
 unblemished propitiation to God for his whole' 
 Church.c In his exalted state, he intercedes in 
 heaven for all the transgressors which were given 
 him, and which were redeemed with his precious 
 blood. He will continue to intercede, till he shall 
 see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied/ 
 
 «^^^- \^: J,5- Eph. y. 23. Matt i. 21. John x. J 1. Heb. xiii, 
 29.- 5i*°l,"»- 25. John vi. 27. b Col. i. 19. & ii. 9, 10 Heb 
 vn.26. Ps.xlv.2. Prov. dii. 23. Is. xi. 1-3 &Ix 1 2 fnlm 
 iii. 34. Acts iv. 27. & X. 38. Heb. i. 9. \ Deut^'V ii. Jsf '9 
 John 1. 18. Matt. xvii. 5. Acts iii. 22, 23. Luke vii 16 d\ 
 fllVVr' ^2-.Eph. iv 11, 12. 1 Co;, xu. 6-11 John xvi 7 
 ex, 4. Matt. 20, 28. & xxvi. 28. Heb. v. 8-10. vii, 26 27 ix ll ' 
 24, 25. John xvii. 24. Rom. v. 10. & riii. 33, 34. 1 John il 1. 
 
As a King, he is head over all things to the Church, 
 ordering every thing with a view to its benefit, con 
 tinuance, and increa e ; gathering and humbling 
 sinners to become his subjects ; graciously reigning 
 in their souls ; preserving, protecting, and thoroughly 
 delivering all his redeemed, and rewarding them in 
 another world.^ 
 
 XVII. OF THE HUMILIATION AND EXALTATION 
 OF CHRIST. 
 
 Christ, according to the decree and the eternal 
 covenant, was appointed to be a Mediator, and he- 
 executed that ofiice from the period the seed of the 
 woman was promised, until his incarnation. He was 
 to perform his mediatorial offices in two states, — 
 that of his Humiliation, and that of his Exaltation. a 
 In his state of humiliation, he wa> a true God, who 
 came to take upon him the nature of man ; to be a 
 real man, partaking of flesh and blood : He who was 
 in the form of God, was to take upon him the form of 
 a servant : He who knew no sin, to be made sin for 
 sinners \b assuming his manhood in the womb of a 
 poor Virgin ; laid in a manger when he was born ; 
 persecuted ; brought up in poverty ; the subject of 
 calumny, falsehood, and reproach ;c bearing the 
 greatest contempt and sufiferings in his body and soul 
 
 g Psalm ii. 6. xlv. 3—6. and ex. ii. Eph, i. 22. Matt, xxriii, 
 18. Prov viii. 15, 16. John xvii. 2. Luke i. 33. Col. i. 13» 
 Phil. ii. 9, iO. Col. iii. 3. 1 Pet. i. 5. John x. 28, 29, and xiv. 
 2. 1 Cor, XV. 24, 25. Rev. iii. 21. and xxii. 12. 
 
 a Is. Iii. 13—15. and Hii. 2, 12. h John i. 14. Gal, iv. 4. 
 Heb. ii. 14, Phil. ii. 6, 7. 2 Cor. v. 21. c Luke i. 35. and ii, 
 12. Matt. ii. 13,. 14, 23. and viii, 20. 2 Cor. viii, 9, Is. liii, 3. 
 Heb. xii. 2. Eph. iv. 9. 
 
75 
 
 from men and from devils, and even from God himself, 
 as from a righteous Judge. He was obedient unto 
 death, even the death of tha cro>s.G? In his conde- 
 scension, his sufferings, and his death, he magnified 
 the law, satisfied justice, glorified all the attributes of 
 God, overcame the devil, and destroyed death. The 
 chastisement of sin was placed upon him to the 
 utmost ; he gave a sufficient and unblemished sacri- 
 fice, and satisfaction, so that he blotted out sins 
 through offering himself ; he redeemed his Church, 
 brought in everlasting righteousness for it, and opened 
 a fountain to cleanse it thoroughly.^ 
 
 Christ administered all his mediatorial offices in his 
 humiliation ; he taught the multitudes, but more par- 
 ticularly his disciples./ He overcame men, unclean 
 spirits, the elements, diseases, and even death. He 
 governed and protected his people.^ By sacrificing 
 himself, he rendered every other sacrifice unneces- 
 sary ;A he interceded for transgressors and blessed 
 the people.i 
 
 When he had made a full and perfect end of the 
 work assigned him to perform in his state of humili- 
 ation, God exalted him above all things.j As a God 
 it had been impossible to exalt him : with respect to 
 his godhead, he was infinitely above all, even while 
 wearing the form of a servant in the lowest depths 
 
 d 1 Pet ii. 21—23. & iii. 18. Heb. v. 7. Phil, ii, 8. Zech. xiii. 
 7. Matt xxvii. 46. & xxvi. 38, 39, Luke xxii. 53. John xviii. 
 II. e Rom. X. 4. Matt, iii, 17. & xvii. 5. Ps. Ixxxv, 10, 1 1, 
 John xvii. 4. Col. ii. 15. Heb. ii. 14. Hosea xiii. 14. 1 Cor. 
 XV. 55, 56. 57. Rom. viii. 3. Is. liii. 5, John i, 29, Heb. ix, 14. 
 Dan. ix. 24, Gal. iii, 13. Eph, v, 2.5, 26. Rom. v. 19. 2 Cor. v. 
 21. Zech. xiii. 1, /Matt. xi. 29. g John xviii. 6. Mark 
 i. 27. and iv. 41. h Heb. x. 12. i John. xiv. 27. j John 
 
 xvii, 4. and xix. 30. Phil, ii, 9—11. 
 
76 
 
 of his humility.^ But as a Mediator, he was very 
 highly exalted in his glorious resurrection, his tri- 
 umphant ascension, his welcome reception at the rio^ht 
 hand of the Father, and in his appointment to be 
 Judge of the world-/ 
 
 Christ is a Mediator in his state of exaltation also ; 
 there is no way to the Father, but through his medi- 
 ation, nor are there any saving blessings descending 
 lo men, but through him.m He now in heaven is 
 ejigaged in discharging his mediatorial offices. Asa 
 Priest, he appears before God interceding for sinners ; 
 as a Prophet, he sends his Spirit, and qualifies instru- 
 ments for the edification of his people ; and as a King, 
 he rules and protects them, and orders every thing 
 for their benefits 
 
 XVItl, OF REDEMPTION. 
 
 . As the law was magnified, justice satisfied, the di- 
 vine government honoured, every attribute glorified 
 by the life and death of Christ, — so also the Churcha 
 was fully redeemed from earth, from among men, 
 from the curse, and from every sin, unto God, for a 
 price, through a ransom, and by the precious blood of 
 Christ. The unspeakable love and favour of the Trin- 
 ity was the original cause of Redemption. 6 In a de- 
 cree and an eternal counsel between the Father, the 
 
 k Epb iv. 9, 10. John iii. 13. I Is. lii, 13, 14, 15. Acts ii. 
 24. Rom. viii. 34. and iv. 25. Ps. xlvii.5. Acts i. 9, 10. and iii. 
 21. Heb. i. 3. Ps. ex. 1. Acts. x. 42. & xvii. 30, 31. m Heb, 
 viii. 6, John xiv. 6. Acts iv. 12- John i. 16. Epb. iii. 8. and i, 
 3. n Heb. ix. 24, 1 John ii. 2. John xvi. 7. Acts ii,33. John 
 xvii, 2. Matt, xxviii. 18. Eph, i. 22, 23. Acts x. 36. 
 
 a Gal. iii. 13. Rev, v. 9, and xiv, 3. Tit. ii. 14. Matt, xx, 28, 
 Acts XX. 28. 1 Cor. vi. 20. Gal. iv. 5. 1 Pet. i. 18. b John 
 iii. 16. 1 Johniv, 9, 10. Rom. iv,6— 10, Eph, i.7. 
 
77 
 
 Son, and the Holy Ghost, relating to the Redemption 
 of sinners,c the Son was chosen to be a Redeemer ;d 
 it was ordained that He should be possessed of a 
 human nature, that he might be a kinsman, and hav- 
 ing a right to redeem his brethren.^ It was decreed 
 that his Person should be placed in the stead of those 
 persons (and of those only) which were given him to 
 redeem./ In the fulness of time, he was made of a 
 woman ,^ under the Law, that he might redeem them 
 that were under the Law ; and all the sins of those 
 who were given to him, were imputed to him. *• And 
 the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all," * 
 •* and he bare the sin of many." '* He hath made 
 him (by imputation j to be sin for us,t who knew no 
 sin/' (through natural corruption, thought, or action.) 
 " I give (saith Christ) my life for the sheep."|| He 
 bare in his own person, the chastisement which the 
 sins imputed to him deserved. 
 
 ** Christ once suffered for sin, the just for the un- 
 just, that he might bring us (for whom he suffered) to 
 God.'* Thus he redeemed a numberless throng, by 
 giving a complete satisfaction for all their sins.A Grace, 
 glory, and every other good thing accrues to them 
 through the Redeemer, and through the Redemption 
 which is in Christ Jesus ; therefore Redemption en- 
 
 c Ps. xl. 6—8. Heb. x. 5—10. Eph. iii, 10, 11. Zech. vi, J 3, 
 Is. xlix.3— 7. Acts iv. 28. 
 
 d Ps. Ixxxix, 19, Is. xlii, 1, 
 
 e Heb. x. 5. and ii, 14—17. Lev, xxv, 25, 
 
 /Heb. vii. 22, and v, 1. Eph. v, 2. 25, 26, John xviii. «, 9i 
 and xvii, 2. 9, 
 
 g Gal, iv, 4, 5, Rom. viii, 3. 
 
 * Is. liii, 5. 6, 1 1. 12, f 2 Cor. v. 21 1| John x, 15, 
 
 h Is. liii, 5, 1 Pet iii. 18. Heb. ii. 10, ix. 28. and x. 10—14. 
 
 h2 
 
78 
 
 sures their being called, their justification, tlieir sanc- 
 tification, their perseverance, and their glorification. i 
 Though it v^ould be improper to say, that he pur- 
 chased the Holy Ghost for his people, yet on account 
 of the Redemption, and the satisfaction which Christ 
 made for our sins, the Holy Spirit and every good gift 
 pertaining to salvation, is bestowed upon them. Re- 
 demption has removed all difficulties, an I established 
 communion between heaven and earth. Thus, through 
 this ransom, (the blood of Christ,) they shall be deli- 
 vered from sin and its results, and they shall be 
 brought into eternal glory J 
 
 XIX. OF THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. 
 
 Christ, in his human nature, is constantly interced- 
 ing for his people in the presence of his Father.a 
 Christ, when he was upon the earth, gave an excellent 
 pattern of the nature of this intercession in heaven. 6 
 The intercession of Christ for his people was then be- 
 coming his humiliated condition ; but now that he is 
 ascended to the right hand of his Father, it is suitable 
 to his state of glorious exaltation.^ Christ intercedes 
 with his Father and the Father of his people.rf The 
 Person of the Intercessor is infinitely glorious, — is dear 
 and acceptable to the Father,^ and this intercession is 
 perfectly righteous, as it is the intercession of Jesus 
 
 i Gal. iii. 14, and iv, 5. John i. 16. Col. 1, 14, 19, Rom. riii. 
 32. Tit. ii. 14. Rom. viii. 29, 30, 31, 33, 34. Eph, ii, 6, Heb. 
 ii. 10. John xvii. 24. John vi. 39, 40, and x. 28. 
 
 j John xvi. 7. and vii. 39, Acts ii. 33. Gal, iii. 13, 14, and 
 iv, 4, 5, 6. John xiv. 6. Heb, x. 20. Heb. ix, 12, Matt. i. 21. 
 Eph. i. 7, 8. 1 John v. 11. John vi. 39, 40. Rom. v. 16. 
 
 a 1 John ii, I. b John xvii. passim. c Heb. xii, 2, Eph. 
 iv. 9, 10, Heb. i, 3, viii. I, 2. ix, 12, 24. and x, 12, d John 
 XX. 17. e Matt, xvii, 5, 
 

 Christ the righteous, who is the Propitiation.y He in- 
 tercedes for those whom the Father himself loves.^ It is 
 a prevailing, and an effectual intercession, not only (or 
 his Church in general, but also in particular for every 
 individual of his people in all their circumstances and 
 temptations, to the support and increase of all their 
 graces, and that they faint not./t Through the virtue 
 and effect of his intercession, they shall be kept in the 
 faith and favour of God, and their services are ac- 
 ceptable in the sight of God.i 
 
 XX. OF THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE 
 HOLY SPIRIT. 
 
 The Holy Spirit is a true God, a real and distinct 
 Person in the Godhead ; equal in power and glory to 
 the Father and to the Son. a Divine names are given 
 to him ;^ — divine attributes appropriated to him;c — 
 <^|vine worship is offered to \\\m,d and divine opera- 
 tion have been, and are performed by him, which 
 none other than God could, or ever can perform.e 
 Though it is the Godhead of the Three Persons that 
 worketh all things, yet particular works are attributed 
 to each of them ; as Creation and Election to the 
 Father; Redemption to the Son; Sanctification and 
 Sealing to the Holy Ghost./ To the Holy Ghost is 
 
 / 1 John ii. 2. g John xvi, 27. h John xvii. 24, and 
 
 xviii. 9. Luke xxii, 32, i 1 Kings viii.22— 53. Rev. viii,3. 4, 
 
 a I John V. 7. Matt, xxviii. 19. 2 (;or. xiii. 14. Acts v. 3, 4. 
 
 h Deut. xxxii, 12. Ex. xi. 5. Is. Ixiii. 10, Heb. iii. 7, 9. 
 and i. 1. Ps. Ixxviii. 56. 
 
 c Heb ix. 14. Ps. cxxxix. 7. and cxlvii, 5. Is. Ixiii. II, 
 
 d Is. vi. 3. Acts xiii. 2, 3. Matt, xxviii. 19. 
 
 e Gen. i. 2. Ps, civ. 30. Job xxvi, 13. and xxxii, 8. Matt, 
 xii. 28. / 1 Pet. i, 2. Eph. i. 13. 
 
also attributed the formation of Christ's spotles human 
 nature in the womb of the Virgin,^ and bestowing on 
 it every gift and grace without measure.^ It was He 
 that inspired those who wrote the Sacred Scriptures.e 
 It is He that calls, qualifies, and sends his servants to 
 the work of the ministry : and it is his also to grant 
 them success.; It is He who reproves the world of 
 sin ;k regenerates men ;l leadsw and comforts?t the 
 children of God ; and He is to be their resurrection 
 at the last day.a 
 
 The work of the Holy Spirit on those who are to 
 be saved eternally, is a gracious,/? holy,^ efFectual,r 
 and a perpetual^ work, — in accordance with the ever- 
 lasting covenant,/ the effect of eternal love,M and 
 the fruit of an efficacious Redemption.?; 
 
 XXI. OF THE NECESSITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT'S 
 WORK IN APPLYING SALVATION, 
 
 The applying of Salvation is as necessary for the 
 saving of sinners as is its existence ; for without such 
 an application, it could answer no purpose to them. 
 It must be applied as well as prepared by an infinite 
 Person, or men will not make use of it, or even receive 
 it though it be ready for them.a God, foreseeing this 
 from eternity, when he purposed in his eternal love 
 to save sinners, not only ordained his Son to be their 
 
 g Luke i. 35. h Is. xi. 1, 2, 3. John iii. 34. i 2 Peter 
 i, 21, j Matt. ix. 38. Acts. xiii. 2. 3. xvi. 5, 7. xx, 28. and 
 ii. 33, 37. 1 Cor. xii. passim, Luke xxiv, 49. k John xvi. 8, 
 I John iii, 5, 8. m Rom. viii. 14. n John xiv. 16. 
 
 o Rom. viii. 11. p Eph. ii. 8, q 2 Thess. ii. 13. 1 Peter 
 i. 2. r Acts ii. 37. « Phil. i. 6. t Jer. xxxii. 38—40, 
 u Jer. xxxi 3. v John. xiv. 26. & xvi. 7, Gal. iv. 5, 6. 
 
 a John V. 40. vi, 44. viii. 24. and iii. 36, Luke xiii, 3, John 
 iii. 3, 5, and xiii, 8. 
 
81 
 
 complete Salvation, but the Holy Spirit also to apply 
 it ; so that none of the objects of his love should be 
 lost for want of applying it, more than for want of 
 providing and completinfj Salvation for them. 6 
 
 The Spirit is an Infinite Person, and loves the 
 objects equally with the Father and the Son, and is 
 fully as faithful to perform the work which he under- 
 took in the everlasting covenant, c 
 
 XXII. OF THE CALLING OF THE GOSPEL. 
 
 T \e Calling of the Gospel contains a general pub- 
 licat on of good news to lost sinners, through Jesus 
 Christ,a and strongly urges them lo return to him 
 for their eternal salvation. 6 Where this callis effectu- 
 al, the promise of God works through it in a gracious,c 
 invincible,*? and savinge manner, for the quickening 
 of deceased sinners/ the casting down of imagina- 
 tions in the thoughts of men,^ delivering them from 
 the power of darkness, translating them to the king- 
 dom of his dear Son,A making them willing in the 
 day of his power,* and leading them into all truth j 
 All those to whom the Gospel is the power of God in 
 a day of grace, shall at last be received into eternal 
 glory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.^ 
 
 6 Jer. xxxi. 33, 34, Ezek. xi. 19, 20. and xxxvi. 25—27. 
 John X. 16. and vi. 37. Phil. ii. 13. e John xvi. 7—9, 14, 
 Rom. XV. 13, 30. 1 Cor. ii. 10. Is. xxxviii. 17. & Ixiii. 9. Jer, 
 xxxi. 3. John ill. 16. 2 Thess, ii. 13, 14, 16. I Thess. v, 24, 
 
 a Mark xvi. 15. 1 Cor. ii. 2. Acts iv. 12 Rom. x, 17. 
 
 b Is.lv. 1—7. Matt, xi. 28. Prov. viii. 4, 5. 
 
 c 2 Tim. i. 9. Rom. viii. 28, 30. Acts ix, 4. 
 
 d Ps. ex. 3. and xlv. 5 Rev. vi, 2. 
 
 e Rom. i. 16. 1 Pet. i. 5. /"John v. 25. Eph. ii. I. 
 
 g 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. h Acts xxvi, 18. Col. i. 13 t Ps.cx. 
 3. j John xvi, 13. k 1 Pet. v. 10. 
 
82 
 
 XXIII, OF UNION WITH CHRIST, 
 
 Those who are effectually called, are brought into 
 a mystical union with Christ.^ Though they were 
 elected in Christ from eternity, and though he repre- 
 sented them in the everlasting covenant,^ yet are 
 they by nature children of wrath, even as others, 
 enemies to God and alienated from Christ,c until the 
 Holy Spirit is sent to convince them of sin, to show 
 them their wretched state, to reveal Christ to them, to 
 draw them to him, and to create them in him : then are 
 they members of his mystical body, and branches of 
 the true Vine ;^ then he and his salvation become 
 theirs;— then the Holy Spirit dwells in them; — and 
 then they receive every grace from the fulness of 
 Christ.e This union is near and dear, lively and 
 fruitful, powerful and eternal ; for, as the Head 
 liveth, the members shall also live./ These are no 
 longer in the first Adam as a covenant head, nor 
 under that covenant, nor under its curses ; but they 
 are in Christ the head of the covenant of grace, and 
 having a right to all the blessings of this covenant.^^ 
 
 a 1 Cor. i 30. and vi. 17. John xvii. 26. Eph. ii, 21, 22. 
 and ill. 17. Col, i. 27. 
 
 b Eph. i. 4. Heb. vii. 22. 2 Cor. v. 21. 2 Thess. ii. 13. 
 Rom. xvi. 13. 2 Tim. i. 9. Tit. 12. Heb. ii. 13, 14. 
 
 c Eph. ii. 3, 11—13. Rom. xvi. 7. 2 Cor xii. 2. 
 
 d John xvi. 8— 10. Col. 1,13. Epli. ii. 10. and iii, 17. 
 2 Cor. V. 17, John xiv. 20. vi. 56. xv. 4—7. and xvii 21. 
 Col. i, 27. I John v. 20, 1 Cor. vi. 15. 
 
 e 1 John V, 11, 12. Gal. ii. 20. Col iii. 3, 4. Heb. iii. 14, 
 1 Cor. vi. 19. 2 Tim. i. U. Rom. viii. 11. Col. ii. 19. Jofen 
 i. 14, 16. 
 
 /Rom. viii. 17. Eph. iv. 16. and v, 30. 1 Pet. ii. 5. Col. 
 i. 18. and ii. 7. Gal. ii, 20. John xiv. 19, 20, 
 
 g Rom. V. 12—21. vii. 4, and viii. 1, 1 Cor, xv. 22. 23, 49. 
 Heb, viii, 8—12, Eph, iii, 19, Phil, iv, 19. 
 
83 
 
 XXIV. OF JUSTIFICATION. 
 
 Justification is an act of the free grace of God, judg- 
 ing and proclaiming mao to be righteous, through im- 
 puling" to him the righteousness of Christ, which is re- 
 ceived by the sinner through faith, a God manifests 
 his justice, and the honour of his law, as well as his 
 grace and mercy by justifying sinners ; for he justifies 
 them "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 
 whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, that he 
 might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth 
 in Jesus." 6 The righteousness of Christ, through 
 which sinners are justified, is called the righteousness 
 which is of God by faith.c It would be as improper 
 to attribute the righteousness of Christ to faith, as to 
 attribute the light of the sun to the medium through 
 which it is transmitted to us. Justification includes 
 in itself a forgiveness to the transgressor of all his 
 iniquities, so that he shall not die on their account ;rf 
 an exaltation of the person to the favour of Godje and 
 a bestowing on him a lawful right to enjoy never-ending 
 happiness. It is called the "Justification of life,'/ 
 for the transgressor, through its means, is made an heir 
 of eternal life.^ 
 
 a Is. xlv. 24, 25: and liv. 17, Jer. xxiii. 6. Phil, iii. 9. 
 2 Cor. V. 21. Rom. v. io, 19. & iv. 5, 7. & iii. 22, 24, 25, 28, 
 Acts xiii. 38, 39. Rom, v, I, 11. 17, John i, 12, Dan, ix, 24, 
 Eph, ii, 8, 
 
 b Rom. iii. 24—26. v. 8, 10, 19. and x, 4. Heb, x. 10. Dan. 
 ix. 24, Is, liii, 11, 2 Cor. v. 21, Eph, t, 2, and ii, 7, Rom, iv, 
 25, Tit, 3, 7, 
 
 c Phil, iii. 9, Gal, ii. 16. Rom, iii, 28, iv, 16, & v, 1, John i, 
 12, 
 
 d Ps, xxxii. 1, 2, Rom. iv, 3—9, e 2 Cor, v, 21. Rom. v, 
 1, Is, xxxii, 17. / Rom. v, 2, 18. g Tit, iii, 7, Rom viii, 
 30, 
 
84 
 
 XXV, OF ADOPTION. 
 
 Those whom God j ustifies he adopts through Jesus Christ 
 to himself ;a he receives them as children, and bestows 
 on them the liberty and privilege of children. He places 
 his name upon them, and gives them the spirit of adop- 
 tion, grants them the privilege of coming boldly to the 
 throne of grace, and strengthens them to cry, Abba, Fa- 
 ther. 6 He sympathizes with them — provides for them, 
 teaches them — protects them — and chastises them as a 
 Father,c when there is occasion ; be will not, however, 
 cast them out, but seal them to the day of Redemption. 
 They are children and heirs.c/ 
 
 XXVI. OF REGENERATION. 
 
 The new birth consists of a gracious and a super- 
 natural change by the might of the Spirit of God, in 
 all who shall be saved to life everlasting, by making 
 them partakers of the divine nature,a which is a prin- 
 ciple of that holy life which effectually worketh in the 
 whole man, and which therefore causes him to be 
 denominated a " new man. ''6 The holy niiture which 
 is received at the new birth, acts in all who are parti- 
 cipators of it in direct contrariety to every corruption, 
 but entirely conformable to God its Creator. c This 
 
 a Eph. i, 5, Gal. iv. 5, Rom, viii, 17. John i. 12, h Jer.» 
 xiv.9. 2 Cor. vi. 18. Rev. iii. 12. Rom. v. 2. and viii, 15. Eph, 
 iii, 12. Gal, iv. 6. Ps. ciii, 13. Prov. xiv. 26. Matt. vi. 30. 1 
 Pet. V. 7. c Is. Ixiii, 9, Matt, vi. 30. John vi. 45. Ps, xci. 
 pass. Heb, xii. 6—8, 10, d Eph. iv, 30. Heb. i. 14. & vi. 12. 
 Lam. iii, 31, 1 Pet, i. 3, 4. Is. Ivi. 5, 1 John iii. 1, 2, Matt. 
 xxT. 34, 
 
 a John iii, 3, 5, 8. 2 Cor. v. 17. 2 Peter i. 4, Gal. vi. 15. 
 b Eph. iv. 24, 2 Cor, v. 17. c 2 Peter i. 4. Gal. v. 16, 24. 
 
 Col. iii. 9. 10. 1 John v. 1, 4, 18. & iii. 14, Eph. ii. 10. Phil, 
 iv,13. Ezek.xxxvi.27. Rom.vi. 12, 13, Heb. ii. 13. 
 
85 
 
 change stamps the entire man with a living represen- 
 tation of God's holiness as the likeness of a child to his 
 father is confirmatory of the relationship.^^ God alone 
 is the author of this change, which he generally effects 
 by the preaching of the word. It is in Scripture 
 spoken of under several names, as ;— quickening,- 
 forming Christ in the heart,— partaking of the divine 
 nature,— and circumcising the heart.e The end of 
 this change is, to bring men to glorify God, by bring- 
 ing f trth the fruits of righteousness ; and to purify 
 the 8 )ul that it may be meet to hold communion and 
 fdlov'ship with God for ever/ 
 
 XXVII, OF SANCTIFICATION, 
 
 All who are invited to Christ and justified by his 
 righteousness, are also sanctified. They receive that 
 virtue from his death and resurrection, which renders 
 them dead to sin, and alive to righteousness.^ Their 
 Sanctification is not imputed, but personal and real. 6 
 The word and Spirit of God dwell in them ;c the 
 power of the body of sin is destroyed, their several 
 lusts are deadened and become feebler from day to 
 day,<f while every grace obtains new strength to the 
 performance of every holy purpose ; — for *' Without 
 holiness no one shall see the the Lord."e Sanctifi- 
 
 d Matt. V. 48. 2 Cor. iii. 18. Rom, viii. 29. e John i. 13. 
 and iii. 27. 1 Pet. i. 3, 4. Ezek. xxxri. 26. Eph. ii. 4, 5. and 
 iv. 24. 1 Tim. i. 14. James i. 18. 1 Peter i. 23. 1 Cor, iv. 15. 
 Philem. 10. Eph. ii. 1, & iii. 17. 2 Cor v. 17. / 1 John, iii, 
 9. & V. 1, 4. Rom. viii. 17. 
 
 a 1 Cor. vi. 11, Phil. iii. 10. Acts xx. 32. Rom. vi. 5, 6. 
 b Heb, xii. 14. 2 Cor. vii. 1. Gal. v. 24. Rom. viii, 13. 1 Pet. 
 ii. 11. c John xvii. 17, 2 Thess, ii. 13, Eph. v, 26. Col. i. 1 1. 
 Eph. iii. 16—19. d Rom. vi. 6, 14. Col, iii, 1—4. I Pet, iv. 2. 
 Rom. viii. 13, e Ps. Ii. 6, 10. 1 Pet. ii. 2. & iii, 4. Eph. iv, 24, 
 
86 
 
 cation obtains through the whole man ; yet it is im- 
 perfect while he is in the world, on account of the 
 corruption which remains in every part of him./ 
 Hence arises the continual state of warfare which ex- 
 ists in the saints between the fleshy and the spirit. 
 Though this war will continue, and though corruption 
 will be very strong, often so much so as greatly to 
 injure the saints; yet, through the intercession of 
 Christ for them, and the renewed assistance of the 
 Spirit of grace, the divine principle shall at length be 
 sufficiently strengthened to overcome./i They shall 
 grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God ; 
 the good work which ivas commenced in tbem, shall 
 be completed ;i then shall they have neither spot nor 
 wrinkle, nor any such thing.j 
 
 XXVIII. OF SAVING FAITH, AND ITS EFFECTS. 
 
 Saving faith is a gracious principle, instilled into 
 the heart by the Spirit of God,a by means of which 
 the soul is brought to believe the testimony of God in 
 his word, regarding every thing contained therein ;b 
 regarding the commandments until they are obeyed, — 
 regarding the threats until they produce a fear of sin, 
 — regarding the promises until they are embraced,c — 
 in a particular manner regarding the fact that we are 
 
 f I Thess, V. 23. 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20, Rom. vi. 13, and vii, 18, 
 23. 1 John i. 9, 10. Phil, iii, 12, ^1 Pet, ii, 11. Gal, v. 17. 
 Rom, vii, 23. Jas, i, 14. h Rom. vi. 14, 1 John v, 4, Eph. 
 iv, 15, 16, 2 Pet, i. 4—8, and iii. 11, 13, 18, Phil, iv, 8. Heb. 
 xii, 1, 2, 3, 12 Pet iii, 18, 2 Cor, iii. 18. and vii, 1, Prov, iv. 
 18, Phil, i 6. j Eph, i, 4. and v, 26, 27, Rev. vii, 14, 
 
 a Eph. i. 19. and ii, 8. Col ii. 12. John iii. 16, & vi 35. 2 
 Thes. i. 11. Heb, xi. 1. & x. 39. Rom. i. 16. &x. 17. b 2 Thes. 
 ii. 13. John iv 42. Acts xxiv. 14. 1 John v. 10, c Gen. xii. 
 ?, 4. Is. Ixvi. 2, Heb. xi, 7, 8, 13, 1 Tim. iv. 8, 
 
87 
 
 entirely lost and undone sinners, without Jesus Christ, 
 and that, through his propitiation and righteousness 
 alone, we can be saved -^d for, through this faith it is 
 that we receive Christ, and depend on him, and on 
 him only for salvation.^ This is the faith of God's 
 elect, a faith which is the gift of God ; a saving faith ; 
 a justifying faith; a faith working by love; a faith 
 which purifies the heart, and which overcomes the 
 world. It is an abiding faith ; a faith unfeigned 
 without hypocrisy. It seeks for God ; it flies to take 
 hold of he hope placed before it ; it lays hold of the 
 strength of the Lord ; it trusts in Him; it puts on the 
 Lord Jesus Christ ; it feeds upon Him ; and it lives 
 to Him/ In degree, it is not as great in one Christian 
 as another, nor as great at all times in the same per- 
 son.^ But the least particle of it is of a very different 
 nature from that of the hypocrite, being possessed of 
 those things that accompany salvation.^ It is never 
 found without good works, these being its natural, 
 necessary, and indispensable fruits.i 
 
 rfRom. i. 16, 17. iii. 25. v. 17—20. vi. 21, and vii. 9. Acts 
 ii. 37. iv, 12. xv. 11. and xvi. 30, 31, Phil. iii. 9. Gal. ii. 20. 
 € John i. 12. iii, 14, 15. & vi, 47. Acts iv. 12. & xx, 21. Eph. 
 iii. 17. 1 Tim. i. 1.5. 2 Cor. v. 17. Rom, viii, 1. Phil. iii. 9. 
 /Tit. i, 1. Eph- ii. 8. Heb. x. 39. Rom. iii. 28. iv. 13. and v. 
 1. Gal. iii. 24. and v. 6. Acts xv. 9. 1 John v. 4. 1 Tim. i. 5, 
 2 Tim, i. 5. 1 Cor. xiii. 13. Luke xxii. 32. 2 Thess. i. 3. Is, 
 xlv. 22. Luke xv. 18. Is. xxxviii. 2. Num. xxxv. 15. Josh.xx. 
 
 3. Gen. xix. 17. Heb. vi. 18. Is. xxvii. 5. Matt. ix. 20. Ps. xl. 
 
 4. Isaiah xxviii. 16, Rom, xiii, 14. Gal. iii. 20. John vi. 54. 
 a Heb. v. 13, 14. Rom. xiv. 1. and iv, 19, 20, Matt. viii. 10. 
 and XV. 28. h Luke xxii. 31, 32. Eph. vi. 16. 1 John v. 4, 
 
 5. Rom. viii. 17. i Eph, ii. 10. James ii. 17—26, Heb xi. 
 1-39. 
 
88 
 
 XXIX, OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE, 
 
 God, by calling some (in age and possessed of dis- 
 cretion) through his grace, gives them Repentance 
 unto Life ; or a change of opinion, views, and lives, 
 together with a sincere sorrow for sinning against 
 him.a And forasmuch as there remains some cor- 
 ruption in the best of men upon earth, and since they, 
 through the deceitfulness of their own hearts, and the 
 temptations of Satan, fall short in many things, God 
 has made provision in the covenant of grace, that 
 when such as believe do offend, they showld be re- 
 newed through Repentance.6 
 
 Through this evangelical grace, the Holy Spirit 
 makes man palpably sensible of the great evil of sin ; 
 through faith in Christ, to become humble, and to 
 hate himself on its account ; to hate sin with godly 
 sorrow ; earnestly to pray for pardon for past sins ; to 
 seek for strength to withstand them in future ; and to 
 be quite determined, through the aid of the Spirit, to 
 walk before God, to all well pleasing of him in all 
 things.c This grace is to continue through the whole 
 of the Christian's life, and this is necessary because 
 the body of death remains, and it is a man's duty to 
 repent, not only of sin in general, but also of his own 
 particular sins.c/ 
 
 a Zech, xji. 10, Acts xi. 18. and xx. 21. Mark i. 15. Jer. 
 xxxi. 19. 6 1 Kings viii. 46. Ps. xix. 12. and li, 3, 4, 7, IQ. 
 and Ixxxix. 32, 33. &. cxxx. 3, 4, and cxUii. 2. Hos. xiv» 1 — 4. 
 Jer. xxxii, 39, Luke xiii. 5. & xxii. 61, 62. Heb. iii. 13. Jam, 
 iii. 2. c Ezek. xvi. 61—63. xviii. 30, 31. and xxxvi. 31, 32. 
 Is. XXX. 22, Ps. li, 4, and cxix. 6, .59, 106, 128. Jer. xxxi. 18. 
 Joel ii. 12. Amos V. 15. Hos, xiv. 2, 4. 2 Kings xxiii. 25. 2 
 Cor. vii, 11. Luke i. 6, Eph,i, 7. dRom. vii. 24. Ps. xxxii. 
 5, 6. and li. 7—14. Prov. xxviii, 13. 1 John i. 9. Luke xix. S. 
 1 Tim, i. 13, 15. Josh, vii, 19, 
 
89 
 
 There is such a provision made in the covenant for the 
 safety ol" believers, that though there is no sin so small 
 as to be undeserving of damnation, yet the greatest 
 will not brin!4- him under condemnation who sincerely 
 repents.e Therefore the preaching of Repentance is 
 always necessary./ 
 
 XXX. OF THE MORAL LAW. 
 
 Thougl Christ fully redeemed his people from un- 
 der the ci rse of the Law as it stood in the covenant of 
 works,a still, the Moral Law, the substance of which 
 was written on the heart of man at his creation :6 
 which was published by God on Sinai, in the Ten 
 Commandments, to show his authority over men, and 
 ** that the offence might abound ;" to show the neces- 
 sity of a Mediator, and to be a school-master to bring 
 us to Christ \c the same Law which was published by 
 Christ in the Gospel, in two principal commandments, 
 love to God and love to our neighbour ; the first spring- 
 ing out of, and acting as a test to the latter, of— remains 
 a perpetual rule of obedience to man, in relation to his 
 Creator, without the least degree of change under any 
 dispensation. e This perfect Law is spiritual, righteous, 
 holy, and good. It contains all that the Lord ret^uires 
 of man, without a possibility existing of altering one 
 
 e Luke xiii, 3. Acts xvii. 30. Rom. v. 12, vi. 23. viii, 1, 
 Matt. xii. 36. Is. i, 16, 18. and Iv. 7. 2 Sam. xii, 13. /Luke 
 xxiv. 47, 48. 2 Tim. ii. 25,26. Acts viii. 22. 
 
 a Gal. ill. 13. and iv. 4, 5, Rom. vi. 14. viii, 3, 4. and x. 4. 
 b Gen. i. 26. and ii. 17, Rom. ii. 14, 15. x. 5. vii. 10. and v. 
 12. 19. Eccles. vii. 29. Gal. iii. 10. Job xxviii. 28. c Exod. 
 XX. 3—17. Deut. v. 6-21. Rom. v. 20. Gal. iii. 24. d Matt, 
 xxii. 36—40. and v. 17—48. \ Cor. ix. 21. Rom. xiii. 8, 10, 
 e Rom. ii, 14. iii. 3L and xiii. 8. Matt, v. 48. & xxii. 36—40. 
 Ps. xix, 7, James i. 25, 
 
 i2 
 
90 
 
 of the commandments, while God is a Creator and man 
 a creature./ To honour this law Christ appeared in 
 the flesh, to perform the work of Redemption;^ and 
 this law is written by the Holy Spirit on the hearts of 
 the Redeemed, and thus he renews them to the image 
 of God.h 
 
 XXXI. OF GOOD WORKS, 
 
 No works can be good but such as are commanded 
 by God, conformable to his will, a sprins^ing from a 
 good and righteous principle, performed in faith, and 
 with a pure end in view ; viz. the promotion of the 
 glory of God: for, as it is necessary that the tree be 
 good before the fruit be good, so a sinner must be re- 
 conciled to God, united to Christ, and partake of his 
 Spirit, before he can perform any good action. 6 The 
 best actions of the best men are but imperfect, there- 
 fore they deserve nothing at the hand of God, nor do 
 they gain Salvation for men ;c yet they are very ne- 
 cessary, being ordained and commanded of God,— 
 
 / Deut. V. 32, 33, and xii. 32. Ps. cxix. 96, 128, 151, 160, 
 Rom. vii. 12, 14. 1 Tim. i. 8. Ephes. v, 1,2, Jam. ii. JO. Matt. 
 V. 17, 18. g Gal. iii- 13. and iv. 4, 5. Romans viii. 3. and 
 X. 4, Matt. V. 17. and iii. 15. Is. xlii. 21, 1 Peter ii. 22, h 
 Heb. viii. 10. and xii. 28, 29, Ps, xix. 11. and cxix. 4, 6, 101, 
 104. Rom, vii. 22, 25. I Cor, vii. 19. and ix. 21. Matt, v. 19, 
 Gal, iii. 21, James i. 21— 23. and ii. 11. 1 Pet. iii. 8—12. 
 Ezek. xxxvi, 27. Jer. xxxi. 33. Epli. v. 1, Phil, iii, 13. 14, 2 
 Cor vii. 1. 1 John iii, 3. i 
 
 a Rom. xii. 2. Mic, vi. 8. Heb. xiii. 21. Matt. xv. 9. Isa. 
 xxix. 13. 1 Pet. i. 18. 1 Sam, xv. 21—23, John xvi. 2. Rom. 
 X. 2. b Eph. ii. 10. James ii, 10,18,22. Matt, v, 16. and vii. 
 16—20. 1 Tim. i. 5. and ii. 9, 10. 2 Tim. ii. 21. John xiv. 15, 
 and XV. 1—8. Rom. xiv. 23. Tit. ii. 10. and iii. 14. c Job ix. 
 2. Neh. xiii. 22, Luke xvii, 10. Rom. iii. 20. iv. 2—5. vii. 16 
 —24. and viii, 18, Eph. ii. 9. Titus iii. 5—7. Job xxii. 2. and 
 XXXV. 7, 8. Psal. xvi. 2. cxxx. 3. and cxliii, 2. Isaiah Ixiv, 6, 
 2 Tim, i, 9, Gal. v. 17. 
 
91 
 
 being ornaments to our profession, — being examples 
 to others, — and having a tendency to pull down the 
 ignorance of fooUsh men. They are always to be per. 
 formed to the utmost of our miaht.f/ 
 
 XXXir. OF PEACE OF CONSCIENCE, 
 
 Believers in this world enjoy Peace of Conscience a 
 Though their consciences be truly awakened to testify 
 for Gbd in anison with the truth, opposing every sin 
 in heart ar d lifcj declaring the great evil of sin, the 
 wretched scate of a sinner, and his desert of the wrath 
 of God, 6 yet, since the sinner receives the reconcili- 
 ation, and trusts, through faith, in the sacrifice and 
 propitiation of Christ, the conscience becomes ap- 
 peased in that which satisfied God, — enjoys true 
 peace through the blood of the cross, and bears wit- 
 ness that we have peace with God.c A peaceful con- 
 science will not allow its possessor to live in sin ; but 
 it is a tender conscience ; ever alive and always faith- 
 ful to oppose sin of every kind, and boldly to testify 
 against the deceits of Satan, and against the corrup- 
 tions of the human heart.fi 
 
 Those who profess themselves to have peace of con. 
 science, and yet live in sin, deceive themselves.^ 
 
 rf Johnxir. 15. and xv. 8. Eph. ii. 10. Tit. ii. 5, 9—12. 1 
 Tim. vi. 1. I Pet. ii. 12—15. Phil. i. 1 1. Rom. vi. 22. 1 John 
 ii. 29. and iii. 7, 10, Heb- vi. 11, 12. Col. i. 10. 
 
 a 1 John ii,3. iii. 14, 18, 19, 21. 24. and v. 13. Rom. v. 1, 
 2, 5. b Gen. xxxix. 9. 2 Cor. xiii. 8, Rom. vii, 14, 18. 1 
 Tim. i. 19. Acts xxiv. 16. c Rom. v. 11. Heb. ix. 14, x. 
 19—22, and xi. 4, 5. 2 Cor. r. 19. Rom. v. 1—5. Heb.vi. 11, 
 18, 19, 2 Cor, i. 12, Rom, viii, 15, 16, 2 Pet. i. 10. 1 Cor, 
 ii. 12. rfjobxxxi. 30. Dent. xxix. 19. Matt vii, 22. 23, 
 Rom. vi. 1, 2, Col, iii. 1—3. 2 Cor vii, 1. 1 John iii. 3. Jude 
 23, 1 Thess. v. 22. I Pet, i. 15. and ii. 11. el Thess. v, 3, 
 
 Deut, xxix, 19, PJiil, iii, 18, 19, Jude 12. 
 
92 
 
 Though peace of conscience rests not on the experi- 
 ence of man, on the purity of his motives, nor on the 
 exactness of his conduct ; yet, pure motives, and a 
 walkin;^- circumspectly in the ways of God, are truly 
 advantageous to the preserving, tmd the enjoying of 
 this peace of conscience.y* The conscience sometimes 
 accuses the believer of sin, and declares him to be 
 deserving of the wrath and chastisement of God, 
 though it does not condemn him.^ A peaceful con- 
 science is invaluable in prayer, in affliction, and in 
 death. A 
 
 XXXIII. OF ASSURANCE OF HOPE. 
 
 Assurance of Hope, is the result of true peace of 
 conscience, and a careful walk through faith with 
 God ; though hypocrites deceive themselves with a 
 false hope, and a sensual presumption that they are 
 at peace with God, in a good state, and that they shall 
 be saved ; — but their hope shall perish.a But those 
 who believe in Christ, love him purely, and endeavour 
 to walk before him in all good conscience, may have 
 an assurance that they are in a gracious state, and 
 rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, — which hope 
 shall never be confounded.6 This is not a doubtful 
 
 /2Cor. i. 12, 1 John iii, 19—21, aud i. 7, John xiv. 21, 23, 
 Is, xxxii. 17. and Ixiv, 4, 5. Ps, :^viii. 23, 24, and cxix, 165, 
 Aetsix. 31, John XV. 14, I Thess. iii, 13. g Ps. li. 1—14, 
 & XXX. 7. Jer. ii. 17. Is. Ixiii. 10, Jer, iv. 18. Luke xxii. 61, 
 62, h Ps. Ixvi. 18—20, Heb, x. 22, James iv, 8. 2 Cor. i. 
 5, 6, 12. Ps, Ixxiii. 20. 2 Pet. i, 10. 11. Piiil. i, 19—23. Luke 
 ii. 29. 1 Cor xv. 55. Rom. v. 2. 
 
 a Job XX. 5. Prov. xi. 7. Is, xxviii, 15, 17, 18. Luke vi. 49. 
 Matt. XXV. 11, 12. b Heb, vi. 11, 17—19. 1 John ii, 3, 2 Cor, 
 V. 1. 1 John V. 19. Rom, v. 2, c. 
 
93 
 
 conjecture founded on a false or feeble hope ; but the 
 *'full assurance of faith," built on the blood and 
 righteousness of Christ, as they are displayed in the 
 Gospel, — the internal manifestation of saving grace 
 in the soul, and the testimony of the Spirit regarding 
 Adoption. The fruit of these things is to make the 
 heart more humble, and more holy.c A true Chris- 
 tian may be long before he posseses this Assurance, 
 and have to ontend with many difficulties before he 
 has a partici oation thereof,^? yet through the Spirit's 
 aiding him ,o make a proper use of the means of 
 grace, the ordinances of God, and teaching him to 
 know those things which were freely given him of 
 God, he may attain unto it without any miraculous 
 revelation.^ It is the duty of every Christian to be 
 diligent in making his calling and election sure, that 
 he may largely taste the love of God, the joy of the 
 Holy Ghost, and pursue his path of duty more courage- 
 ously, more usefully, and more cheerfully/ This 
 Assurance may be shaken and injured in many ways, 
 through falling into some sin, grieving the Spirit, 
 losing the light of God's countenance, and thus walk- 
 ing in darkness \g but the good seed, the life of faith 
 and love to Christ which God has deposited in the 
 
 c 1 John 1. 3, 4, 7. Heb. x. 19—23. Rev i. 5, 2 Cor. iv. 14, 17. 
 Phil. i. 21. Ps.lxiii. 8. 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. Rom.xiv. 17. &xv. 13. 
 1 John iii. 2. 24. Rom. viii. 15, 16, 2 Cor. i. 21,22, & v. 5. Eph. 
 i. 13, 14. d\ John v. 13, & ii. 28. 1 Pet. v. 12, 2 Pet. i, 10. 
 Rom. xiv. 1, 1 Cor. iii. 1, 2. Heb. v, 1 1—14. Is. 1. 10. Mark ix, 
 24. e John xiv 26, 27. & xvi, 22. Rom. \iii. 26, 27. and xv, 
 13. 1 Cor. ii. 10. 12. /2 Pet. i, 10, Rom. v 5. Tit, iii, 5— 7, 
 Ps, iv. 6. and cxix. 32, Eph. iii. 17—19. Rom. xiv. 17. Acts 
 ix. 31. g So', Songs v, 2, 6. Psal, Ii. 8, 12, 14, and Ixxvii, 
 1—9. Matt. xxvi. 69—72, Psal. xxxi, 22. Is. 1. 10. Ivii. 17, 18» 
 and Ixiv, 5. Eph. iv. 30. 
 
94 
 
 Christian, cannot be lost ; and the Assurance through 
 the Spirit will be renewed unto him in God's own 
 good time, until which time he shall be kept from 
 falling into despair. The evil of his sin will be mani- 
 fested unto him, and he will be chastened by the Lord 
 on account of that sin, that ^he be not condemned 
 with the world; but he shall be assisted in all his 
 trials, to hope in God; yes, he hath '' hope^in his 
 death." 
 
 XXXIV. OF PERSEVERANCE IN GRACE. 
 
 Those whom God has made acceptable in the Be- 
 loved, whom he has effectually called, and whom the 
 Spirit sanctifies, cannot completely and for ever fall 
 from a state of grace, but they shall assuredly be sup- 
 ported unto the end, and they shall be saved. a Their 
 Perseverance depends not on their own will, but on 
 the unchangeableness of the purpose of God, the elec- 
 tion of grace, the power of the Father's love, the suffi- 
 ciency of the propitiation of Christ, the success of his 
 intercession, union with him, the indwelling of the 
 Spirit within them, the seed of God implanted in their 
 souls, the nature and strength of the covenant, and the 
 promise and oath of God. Founded on these things, 
 Perseverance is certain and unfailing. 6 Though they 
 
 h 1 John iii. 9. Luke xxii. 32. Job xiii. 15. Psal. Ixxiii. 15; 
 Mic, vii, 7 — 9. Jer, xxxii. 40. Isaiah liv. 7 — 10. 
 
 a 2 Pet. i. 10. Phil. i. 6. John x. 28, 29. J«b xvii. 9, 
 1 Pet. i, 5, 9. 1 John iii. 9. Prov, iv. 18. Ps. Ixxxiv. 7. 
 1 Thess, V. 24. John vi. 35, 39, 40. h Rom. ix. 16. 2 Tim. ii. 
 18, 19, Phil, ii, 13. Jer, xxxi, 3, John xiii. 1. Rom. viii. 
 31, 32, 34—39. and ix. 11. Job xxxiii, 24, Tit. ii. 14. 
 1 Pet, iii. 18, Heb. x. 10, 14, xiii, 20, and ix. 12, 15. John 
 xvii, 11, 24, Luke xxii. 32. Heb. vii. 25. John xiv. 16, 17. 
 1 John ii,27, and iii. 9, Jer, xxxii, 40. John x, 28. 2 Tbess. 
 iii. 3, 1 John, ii. 19, 
 
95 
 
 may, through the temptations of Satan and the world, 
 the great power of their indwelling corruption, and the 
 neglect of using the means for their support, fall into 
 sins, and remain in them for some time, and thus dis- 
 please God. grieve the Holy Spirit, injure their grace, 
 lose theircomfort, harden their hearts, sting their con- 
 sciences, draw a temporal judgment upon themselves, 
 harm others, ai d disgrace the cause of God ;c — yet 
 they shall be kept by the power of God through faith to 
 Salvation, thoi.gh their falls will be felt most bitterly 
 by them.c? 
 
 Those who continue to live quietly in sin, and com- 
 fort themselves that they are in a gracious state, show 
 evident signs that they are self-deceivers, e For, by 
 Perseverance in Grace is not meant the continuing to 
 enjoy and to inherit external Gospel privileges merely ; 
 but a continuance in holiness, diligence, watchfulness, 
 a holy temper and walk, and a scrupulous observance 
 of every duty. There is nothing more opposed to sin 
 than a Perseverance in Grace ; and whosoever shall 
 thus continue in grace to the end, shall be saved./ 
 
 XXXV. OF THE .CHURCH. 
 
 God has had a Church in the world in every age, 
 and under every dispensation. It contains all the 
 people of God who are now upon earth or in heaven ; it 
 
 c Psalmli. 8— 14, Matt. xxvi. 70— 74. 2 Sam, xi, 27, Ps. 
 XXX. 7. Is, Ixiv. 5, 9, Rev, ii. 4. Sol, Songs v, 6. Is. Ixiii. 17, 
 Mark xvi. 14. Ps. xxxii. 3. 2 Sam. xii, 14, d \ Pet. i. 5. 
 Jude 23, 24. Is, liv, 7—10. Jer. ii, 19, ill, 12. and iv. 18. 1 
 Cor. xi, 32. Ps. Ixxxix, 31, 32. e Rom. vi. 1, 2. Jude 4. 
 Phil. iii. 18, 19. 2 Pet. ii, 9, 10. Heb. iv, 1. and xii. 14, 15, 
 16. /i. Pet. iii. 8. and i, 13—16. Rom. ii. 7: Heb, xii; 1, 
 2; xiii: 7, and vi. 11:2 Pet. i, 5—8. 2 Tim- ii. 3--5. 1 Cor: 
 ix. 23—27. Matt. xxiv. 13: Rev, ii: 10. 
 
96 
 
 may be viewed as a militant, and as a triumphant 
 Church. The Church militant comprises all the pro- 
 fessing Christians, who are diffused over the face of the 
 whole world and it may be considered as a visible, and 
 as a mystical Church.a 
 
 The general visible Church which is in the world, in- 
 cludes all as members who have been called out and 
 separated for holy ends, to profess the Christian religion, 
 to make use of the word of God and the ordinances of 
 the Gospel. It consists of professing Christians and 
 their children,', unless the parents by their negligence 
 disinherit them of the privilege of the kingdom of hea- 
 ven, (H.) or that the children should despise, like Esau, 
 the privilege, or that they should grow up to be perse- 
 cutors or mockers, to be cast out like Ishmael.6 
 
 The particular vi&ible Church is a congregation of 
 ih^ faithful and their children, who are gathered to- 
 gether with the officers of the Church, to a place where 
 the true doctrine is preached, the ordinances adminis- 
 tered, and the discipline which Christ estaJDlished in 
 his Church observed.^ 
 
 The mystical Church is the one which was loved by 
 God, redeemed by ClAt, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, 
 
 a Gen. iii. 15. Col. i: 18. Actsvii. 38. Heb, xi, 2— 40. Matt, 
 xxy, I — 4 
 
 h Ps, ii, 6, Rev, vii, 9, Rom. xv, 9—12, Eph. iv, 11, 12, 1 
 Tim, iii. 15, 1 Cor, i. 2, and xii, 12, 13. Matt, xiii, 47. Is.ix, 
 7. Eph, ii. 19—22. and iii. 15, 21. Acts ii. 39, Gen. xvii. 7, 
 12. Romans xi, 16, Deut, x. 15. Ezek. xvi. 20, 21, xlvi. 16, 
 18. and xlvii. 22, 23. Jer. xxx, 20. Ps. cxlvii. 13. Is. Ixv, 23. 
 and Ixvi. 22. Joel ii: 16, 17. Esther x. 3. Neb. ii. 10, Ps. xe. 
 16. Prov. xxii. 6. Aets ii. 39. 1 Cor. vii. 14. and x: 2. 
 Eph. ii: 13: and vi. 4. Mai. ii, 15, Is. xliv. 3, 4, 5. Gen. 
 xxi. 9, 12, Gal. iv; 30. Gen. xxv. 33, 34. Hab. xii, 16. 
 
 c 2 Cor, i, 1, Gal i. 13, 22, 1 Thess, i. 1, Acts xv, 41, 
 2 Cor. viii. 1. 1 Cor. xiv, 34, Rom. xvi, 4, Col, iv, 15, Rev, 
 i, 11, 20, and ii. and iii. 
 
97 
 
 and which he will present to himself a Ch-irch without 
 spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. The true Church 
 can be but one, " she is one ;" and Christ is her only 
 Head, her Prophet, Priest, and King.rf 
 
 XXXVI OF CHURCH COMMUNION. 
 
 The saints, \ y virtue of their union with Christ their 
 Head, are unitjd to each other ; there is a particular 
 communion between them, the one being partaker of 
 the other's gifts and graces,^ and it is incumbent on 
 them to perform such duties toward each other which 
 may serve for their mutual benefit and edification.6 
 Those who profess Christianity ought to unite with one 
 another, in the public worship of God. They ought to 
 love each other as brethren, and do good, especially to 
 the household of faith, through dispensing to each other's 
 necessities according to their abilitit s in their several 
 stations.^ 
 
 But the spiritual or religious fellowship which sub- 
 sists between them as Church Members, by no means 
 weakens any natural relationship, nor does it annihilate 
 or take from them in the least degree, any right or 
 
 d Eph. ii, 4, Rom. v,8. 1 John iv. 10, Eph. r, 25. Acts xx; 28: 
 1 Pet. i; 2. Acts xx. 32. Eph; i, 10, 22,23. and v. 23, 25—27, 
 32. Sol. Songs vi, 9, 1 Cor, xii. 13, 20, 27. Matt,xvi, 18. Col. 
 i. 18. Heb. xii. 23. Acts iii. 22, Heb, iv. 14, 15. and vii,25, 
 
 26. Psal, ii. 6. and xlv. 13—15. 
 
 a 1 John 1. 3. Eph. iii. 17—19, and ii. 5, 6. 1 Cor. xii. 25— 
 
 27. 1 John iii. 14. Eph, iv. 3—6. Acts ii. 42. & iv, 32. b Rom. 
 i. 11—14. and xv. 5—7. 1 Thess. v, 11—14. Eph. iv. 15, 16. 
 1 Cor. xii, 7. iii, 21, 22. and xiv. 12, 40, c Luke ix. 49, 50. 
 Eph. iv. 3—7. Heb. x. 24, 25. Acts ii. 42—45. Is. ii. 3, 1 Cor, 
 xi. 20, 1 John iiiv 16—18. Acts xi. 29, 30. Gal. vi, 10. Rom: 
 xii. 5. Mai. iii. 16. Gal. vi, 2. Col iii. 16. Heb, iii. 13. 1 Pet. 
 iv. 10, 11, 1 Thess, V. 14. 
 
 K 
 
98 
 
 claim which they may have, personally or civilly, in 
 things pertaining to this life,fl? 
 
 XXXVII. OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE GOSPEL. 
 
 Christ, the Head of the Church, has established or- 
 dinances, means, and order of worship, to be attended 
 lo in his Church, and by his people individually, do- 
 mestically, and congregationally.a God, through these 
 ordinances, w^hich are preaching, reading, hearing the 
 word, praying, praising, teaching each other, convers- 
 ing with each other, employing every branch of Church 
 discipline, and attending to the sacraments of Baptism, 
 and the Supper of the Lord, 6 gives grace, and cherishes 
 and increases the grace which he gives. 
 
 These ordinances are to be observed particularly on 
 the Lord's Day, (the first day of the week,) which has 
 been sanctified to be entirely spent in the service of 
 God.c The ordinances are to be observed at other 
 periods also. We have no special rules with regard to 
 toe length of time to be employed in their observance. 
 
 d Exod. XX. 15. Eph, iv. 28. Acts v. 4. I Cor. vii, 24, 39. 1 
 Pet. iii. 7. I Tim, v. 1, 2, 3. Eph. vi, 1—9. 1 Tim. v. 17. Rom, 
 xii. 6 — 16. 
 
 a Deut. V. 32. 33. and xii. 32, Jos. xxiv. 14. Mark. xii. 33. 
 Col. ii- 23. John XX. 23. Eph. iv 11—14. Psalms cxix. 68, 
 Prov, viii. 34. 2 Cron. xxxiv, 31, Luke i. 6. 
 
 b Matt, xxviii. 19. Mark xvi. 15. Acts x. 42, 1 Tim. vi. 3, 
 2 Tim. iv. 2, Rev. i. 3. Acts, xv, 21. John v. 39. James i. 22. 
 Acts X. 33. Matt. xiii. 19. Heb. iv. 2. Is. Ixvi. 2. Phil, iv. 6. 
 Eph. ii. 18. Col. iii, 17. Ps. Ixv. 2. John.xiv. 13, 14. 1 Pet. 
 ii. 5. Rom. viii, 26. John v. 14. Ecc, v. 1, 2. Heb, xii. 28. 
 James v. 16. Mark, xi. 24. Matt, vi. 12—15. Col. iv. 2. Eph. 
 vi. 18, 1 Cor. xiv. 14. Ps. Ixxiv. 7. Col. iii. 16. Eph, v. 19, 
 Jamee v. 13. Heb. iii. 13, and x. 24, 25. Acts ii. 42. Mai, i. 
 11. John iv. 21. I Tim. ii. 8. Jer. x. 25. 2 Sam, vi. 18. Acts 
 X. 2. 1 Pet, iii, 7. Matt, vi, 6, c Exod, xx. 8, Is. Ivi. 6, 7. 
 Acts XX. 7, 1 Cor. xvi. I, 2. Rev. i. 10. 2 Tim iv, 2. 
 
99 
 
 of the manner, nor of many other circumstances con. 
 nected with it, but the Church is to judge, and to act 
 according- to the general rules. Let every thing be 
 done in love, unto edification, decently and in order.d 
 
 X5 XVIII. OF BAPTISM. 
 
 Baptism is gn ordinance of the appointment of 
 Christ, as a King in his Church, and to continue 
 therein to the end of time.a It is to be administered 
 only by the ministers of his appointment and mission,6 
 to be administered properly by sprinkling or pouring 
 water on the baptized, in the name of the Father, and 
 of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.<? This ordinance 
 should be administered only once on the same person.^/ 
 Professing Christians and their children, have a scrip- 
 tural claim to this ordinance.^ It denotes a death unto 
 sin, and a newness of life unto righteousness/ This 
 ordinance is not indispensable unto salvation, yet it is 
 a sin wilfully to neglect it, as such neglect would be 
 a disobedience of Christ's positive command.^ Il is 
 
 d 1 Cor. xiv. 26, 40. and xvi. 14. Eph. iv. 2, 15 16 
 
 a Matt, xxviii. 19, 20. Col. ii. 11, 12. Gal. iii. 27. John i. 
 
 33. Rom. VI. 3—6. John iii. 26. & iv. 1, 2. b Matt, xxviii. 19. 
 
 Heb. V. 4 c Matt. iii. 11. & xxviii, 19. Acts viii. 36. 38. & 
 
 X. 47 1 Pet, iii. 20. 21. Mark vii. 4, 8. Lnke xi. 38. 1 Cor. x. 
 
 2.^ Heb. IX. 10, 1 Pet. i. 2. Heb, x. 22. and xii. 24. Jsa. Iii. 
 
 10. Ezek. xxxvi, 25. Acts i. 5. and ii. 33. d Eph. iv. 5 
 € Mark xvi. 1.5. 16. Acts ii, 41. and xvi. 33. and viii. 37, 38 
 I Pet Hi 21, Acts ii. 38,39, Gen, xvii. 7. 1 Cor. x, 1, 2. Isa' 
 hi. 15. 1 Cor, vii, 14. Gal. iii. 9, 14. Col, ii. 11, 12. Ps cxxvii. 
 3 Isa. xl. 11. Mark x. 13-16 Luke xviii. 15. 1 John ii. 13, 
 13 1 Cor 12, 13. Gal. iii, 27-29. / Rom. v. 18. Eph. 
 
 11, 3. Isa. Ixiv. 6. Job xiv. 4. Psal, Ii. 5. Zech, xiii. 1 Heb 
 IX. 12-14 and xii. 24. 1 John i. 7. Gal, iii. 27. Tit, iii. 5 
 *^°™•/^^-^ CoJ- ■'^- 11-13. Eph, V. 26, John iii. 5, a 
 ^Gal. VI. 15. Acts viii, 13, 23, Exod. iv. 24-26, Luke vii 30 
 
100 
 
 to be administered publicly in the congregation, un . 
 less there exist circumstances to render that inconven- 
 ient.^ 
 
 XXXTX. OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 The Lord's Sapper, in the same manner as Bap- 
 tism, is an emblematical and a sacramental ordinance; 
 and only these two are thus emblematical and sacra- 
 mental.flt In this ordinance, through breaking, giving, 
 and receiving the bread, giving and receiving the cup, 
 and drinking thereof, — our Lord's death is shown in 
 the Churcb, till he shall come on the clouds.6 This 
 is done by his command, in remembrance of his Per- 
 son, his love, his humiliation, his suffering, his death, 
 and hi^ all-suflficient propitiation ;c and that we 
 might thus profess that we truly receive him, believe 
 in him, love him, feed by faith upon him, are united 
 to him, to each other in him, are g^ood soldiers of his, 
 and that we live to him who died for us.d 
 
 This ordinance is for the nurture and growth of 
 o^race ; to be frequently used in the Church by those 
 members who can properly discern the body of our 
 Lord, examining themselves, and doing this in re- 
 membrance of him.e Ministers of the Gospel are to 
 distribute this ordinance after the example of Christ : 
 they are to set apart the elements of bread and wine, 
 by prayer and thanksgiving ; to break the bread, to 
 
 h Acts ii. 38, 39. and x. 2—43. 
 
 a 1 Cor. xi. 23—26. x. 16, 17, 21. an^ xii. 13. b Blatt. 
 
 xxvi. 26—28. Mark xiv. 22—24. Luke xxii. 19, 20. 1 Cor. xi, 
 26, c 1 Cor. xi. 25. and v 7. Heb. xii. 2—4. d John i. 
 12, and vi. 53—58. Eph. iii. 17. 1 Cor. x. 17. 2 Tim. ii. 3, 4. 
 2 Cor. V. 15, Rom. xii. 1. el Cor. xi. 26, 28. Acts ii, 42» 
 
 46. and xx. 7, Heb. ix. 26. John vi, 54—57. 
 
101 
 
 take the cup, and to partake of the elements tliem- 
 selves, and then to distribute them to the Church./ 
 The ignorant, and those who are openly profane, or 
 such professors of the Gospel as hare fallen into 
 some sin, and remain impenitent and unchanged in 
 their conduct, an unsuitable to be partakers of the 
 Lord's Supper; md if they partake, they will be 
 guilty of the body and blood of Christ, and they will 
 tat and drink damnation unto themselves.^ 
 
 XL. OBEDIENCE TO THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 God, the chief Governor, and King of all the 
 world,a has ordained Kings and those who are in 
 authority, to govern under him, for his own glory, 
 and the common benefit of the people. 6 He has in- 
 vested them with authority to be the terror of evil 
 doers, to avenge on them when occasion requires, 
 and to be the support and protection of such as do 
 well.c All the subjects are bound to reverence them, 
 to honour them, to obey them in every thing which 
 accords with the word of God,c? to pray, and to give 
 thanks for them, to have respect, and to give obedi- 
 ence to their laws, and to pay all taxes, tributes, &c. 
 which are required by them, without murmuring, 
 concealing, or defrauding.^ We ought to consider 
 
 / 1 Cor, iv. 1. 2. Rom. x, 15. Matt, xxviii. 19, 20. 1 Cor. x. 
 16. Mark xiy. 23, 24, q \ Cor. x. 20—22. and v. 6— 13 
 
 2 Thess. iii. 6. 14, 15. Matt. vii. 6. Psal: 1. 16, 17. 2 Cor vi 
 16, 17. 1 Cor. xi: 27, 29, 30, 
 
 a Ps. xlvii. 2, xcv. 3. & ciii, 19. Dan, iv. 34,35, 37. Jer. x. 10 
 Prov. viii. 15, 16. 1 Tim.vi. 15. 6 Rom. xiii, 1. 2,4. Ps.xxi. 5' 
 and Ixxxii. 3, 4, Is. xlix. 23. & Ix. 16. Ps. cxxxviii. 4, 5, Rev, 
 XXI. 24. Ezra vii. 27. c Rom. xiii. 3. 4. I Pet, ii, 14. d Rom 
 xiii.l. lPet,ii. 13, 17. Tit. iii. 1, 2 Pet. ii, 10, 11. Jude 8, 9," 
 c 1 Tim. ii, 1, 2. Ezra vi, 10. Neh. i. 11, Ps. xx. and Ixxii. 1 
 ProT. xxiv. 21. Exod, viii. 8,9, Jer-xxix, 7. Rom. xiii, 5—7 
 
 k2 
 
102 
 
 our obligations to honour the King, and to obey him, 
 as arising from the ordinances and authority of God, 
 to whom the King is a minister, and not as being de- 
 pended on any moral virtues in the Governor./ 
 
 XLI. OF DEATH AND THE STATE OF MAN AFTER 
 DEATH. 
 
 Death is the separation of soul and body from each 
 other for a tinie.a Though man in his created state 
 was not liable to death, yet, forasmuch as he sinned, 
 every man is rendered subject to death : "It is ap- 
 pointed unto men once to die.' '6 The godly and un- 
 godly are open to death, the one like the other ;c but 
 the godly are delivered by Christ so far from being in- 
 jured by death, that it is an actaal gain to them ; but 
 to the ungodly the loss will be unspeakable, and an 
 introduction to eternal death. </ At deith, the bodies 
 shall be returned to the earth and shall see corruption, 
 but the souls are spiritual, they shall neither die nor 
 sleep, but at once shall be borne to stand before the 
 throne of God. e Then the perfect spirits of the just 
 shall be received into glcry, and ihe.e, in the perfect 
 enjoyment of God in Christ, they will wait the re- 
 demption of their bodies/ 
 
 But the souls of the unjust shall be hurled into hell, 
 where they shall be kept in pain, in uttermost dark- 
 
 /Rom. xiii. 4, 6. 1 Pet ii. 13, 14, 15, 17. Tit. iii. 1, 2, 
 a Gen. iii, 19. Eecles. xii. 7. Act? xiii. 36. Luke xxiii, 43. 
 h Rom, V, 12, and vi, 23. Ps. xc. 3, Heb. ix. 27. c Ps. 
 
 xlix. 7—10. Eecles. ix. 2. d Phil. i. 21. Luke ii. 29. 1 Cor. 
 
 XV. 55. Ps. xxiii. 4. Luke xii. 20. and xvi. 22, 23. e Eccle?, 
 
 xii. 7. Acts xiii. 36. Luke xxiii. 43. Heb. ix. 27. /■2 Cor. 
 
 F. 1—4,8. Phil. 1,23. Hebrews xii. 23,' 2 Tim. iv. 6, 7,' 8, Acts 
 
 Hi. 21. Eph, i. JO, 14, Rom. viii. 23. 
 
103 
 
 ness, to the judgment of the great day. There is no 
 other than these two places, for departed spirits,^ 
 
 XLII. OF I THE RESURRECTION. 
 
 All the dead, just and unjust shall rise at the last 
 day ; then, those who shall at that period be alive, 
 and who have not tasted of death, shall all be chang- 
 ed. a And notwithstanding the number of bodies 
 which shall have been buried and mingled with the 
 dust of the earth, they shall all arise individually, en- 
 tirely, and generally, those who have done good, and 
 those who have doae evil, through the power, and in 
 obedience to the voice of the Son of God. Every 
 soul shall be reunited to its own body ; the body 
 which was committed to the earth shall rise, the same 
 in substance, but different in quality and form. 6 This 
 truth is certain, being declared by the clear testimo- 
 ny of the word, and by the examples in the Old and 
 New Testament of some who have arisen. The body 
 is a companion to the soul, w^hether in a state of sin or 
 of holiness ; and since there will be a general judg. 
 ment, there must also be a general resurrection.c The 
 resurrection of Christ proves that of the saints ; he 
 rose as the first-fruit, he redeemed the entire man, 
 body and soul, and all the person is united to him, 
 and so is also all the true Church ; and by virtue of its 
 
 g Luke xvi, 22, 23. Job xviii, 18. and xxvii. 8, Acts. i. 25. 
 Jude 6, 7, 1 Pet. iii, 19. 
 
 a 1 Thess. iv, 16.— 18, 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52. b John xix. 25 
 —27. Luke xxiv. 39. Matt. xxii. 31, 32. Dan, xii. 2. 1 Cor. 
 XV. 42—44. Acts xxiv. 15, John v. 28, 29, c 1 Kings xvii. 
 
 22, 2 Kings iv. 35, & xiii, 21. Matt. ix. 21. Luke vii. 15. John 
 xi, J4. Acts ix. 4. 
 
104 
 
 union to him, and by virtue of his resurrection as its 
 Head, they shall be raised in strength, glory, and in- 
 corniption, in the likeness of his own glorious body.rf 
 The bodies of all the unrighteous shall be raised by 
 Christ as a just and mighty Judge, to shame, con- 
 tempt, and everlasting pain. To the unrenewed man, 
 the Resurrection may appear improbable, if not im- 
 possible ; but those who believe the word of God, be- 
 lieve also in the Resurrection, and the doctrine is of 
 the greatest import ince and replete with comfort to 
 the children of God. To deny these facts is a con- 
 tempt of the truth and power of God, and undermines 
 the foundation ef the saints' hope.e 
 
 XLIII, OF THE GENERAL JUDGMENT- 
 
 God has appointed a day in which he will jud^^e 
 the world in righteousness by Him whom he hath or- 
 dained. a The justice of God requires such a day ; 
 the convictions of the natural conscience are testi- 
 monies of its certainty; the relationship which exists 
 between God and bis people shows its necessity ; the 
 exaltation of Christ is an indubitable proof that such a 
 day will come ; and the special testimonies of the 
 word of God, render every doubt on this subject 
 nugatory.6 God appointed the judgment day for the 
 purpose of displaying the glory of his love and grace 
 in the salvation of the Church ;c the glory of bis jus- 
 
 d I Cor. XV, 21—23, 42—50. I Cor. vi. 20. John vi. 40. 
 Matt. xxii. 32. Acts xvii. 18, 32. e Dan. xii,2. John v. 29. 
 
 a Acts X. 42. and xvii. 30, 31. John v. 22, 27. b 2 Thess. 
 i. 6, 7. Rom, ii. 15. and xiv, 9—12. Matt. xxv. 31.— 46. 2C«r. 
 V. 10. I Thess. iv. 16, 17, 2 Thess, i. 7, 10. Jude 14, 15. Acts 
 xvii. 31. Rev, i. 7. c Matt, xxv, 31, Rom, ii, 5, 6, Phil. ii. 
 9, 10, 11, 1 Thess. i. 10. 
 
105 
 
 tice and power in the damnation of the unrepenting 
 sinner ;</ and the glory of his righteous government 
 over all men, in all things, and through all ages,e by- 
 judging " every man according to his works." God 
 has ordained Jesus Christ to be the Judge of the world, 
 that he (who at his first coming humbled himself, con- 
 cealed his glory, and suffered himself to be despised,) 
 should appear the second time to all, in infinite great- 
 ness and glory/ Christ will therefore be the Judge ; 
 and the subjects of his judgment will be men and 
 devils \g the rule by which its proceedings will be re- 
 gulated is found in the books which will then be 
 opened ; and the time when this will take place, will 
 be the day appointed for this purpose. This is sure 
 to be, a general, a just, and a final judgment on every 
 subject ; irrevocable, and eternal. 
 
 Christ was pleased clearly to manifest that there 
 would be a Judgment, to restrain men from sinning 
 presumptuously, and to comfort the Righteous under 
 their afflictions.^ Though the day is appointed in 
 which he will judge the world, yet it has not been his 
 pleasure to specify when it will occur, that men might 
 be careful, always watchful, and ever keeping them- 
 selves prepared.! 
 
 a Rom, ix. 22, 23. iii. 19, ii. 5. & iii. 5. 2Thess, i. 6—9. 
 
 e Gen. xviii, 25. 1 Sam. ii. 10. Psal. 1. 3—6. xcvii. 13. and 
 xcviii. 9. Jude 15. Rom. 11. 4, 5. 
 
 / Acts. X. 42. Phil, 11. 6—9. Rom, xiv, 9. Matt, xxvl, 64. 
 and XXV. 31. 
 
 q 1 Cor. vi. 3. 2 Pet. il. 4, Jude 6. , 
 
 h John V. 27. Matt. xil. 36, 37. & xxv. 31. 2 Thess. i. 5—7, 
 Luke xxi. 27, 28, Rom, vlli. 23—25. 
 
 i Matt, xxlv. 36—44. Mark xlii. 35—37, Luke xii. 35, 36. 
 2 Pet. Hi. 11, 14. Rev. xxli. 20, 
 
106 
 
 XLIV. OF THE ETERNAL STATE OF THE RIGH 
 TEOUS AND UNRIGHTEOUS. 
 
 In the General Judgment the Righteous and the 
 Unrighteous shall be fixed in their eternal habitations, 
 where there will never be a change of place, of state, 
 or of circumstance.a Through the power of the sen- 
 tence of condemn ition, proceeding from the moutli of 
 the Judge in the great day, to the multitude of Un- 
 godly at his left hand — " Depart from me, ye cursed," 
 &c.^ they shall go away into everlasting punishment. 
 This is sure to be a just punishment, since it is the 
 Omniscient who knoweth every secret thing, that will 
 punish them, — the Judge of the whole earth, — the 
 essentially just God, to whom it is impossible to wrong 
 a man in his matter.c Their punishment will com- 
 prise the entire extinction of every happiness, comfort, 
 and hope ; the suffering of undescribable torments, 
 as it proceeds from the Lord, and from the glory of 
 his might,^/ " their worm dieth not, and the fire is not 
 quenched;" — their being cast into the lake which 
 burnetii with fire and brimstone, into outermost dark- 
 ness, bound hand and foot, weeping and wailing and 
 gnashing their teeth, without intermission and with- 
 out erid.e 
 
 a Heb. vi. 2. Matt, xxv, 46. h Matt. xxv. 41, 46. 
 
 c Gen, xviii. 25. Deut. xxxii, 4. Lament, iii, 36. 
 
 d Matt, vii, 23. and xxv. 41. Luke xvi 24, Rev. xiv. 11. 
 Jude 7. Matt. iii. 12. Mark ix. 45. Jude 13. Malt. xiii. 
 42, 50. and xxvi, 24. 2.Thess. i, 9, 
 
 e Mark ix. 44, 46, 48. Rev. xix. 2. Matt, xxii, 13. Gal. vi. 
 7, 8. Job. iv. 8. Prov, xxii, 8. 2 Thess, i. 8. Matt. xxv. 46. 
 Prov. xvi. 4. Job. xxi. 30. Matt. v. 26. Rom. ix. 22. Is. xxxiii. 
 14. Ps. xi. 6. Jer, xxx. 23. 2 Thess, i. 9. 
 
107 
 
 But the rit^liteous at the benign call of the Judge 
 shall enter upon life eternal ; upon a life perfectly 
 exempt from sin and its results ; upon a life of the 
 full enjoyment of every felicity, glory, and comfort, 
 which it is possible for the perfected man to enjoy./ 
 To gaze at the glory of the Lord, shining in all the 
 perfections of his nature ; living at continual peace 
 with him ; admiring him ; loving him; rejoicing in 
 him; serving him; and being assimilated unto him, 
 will be the substance of this glory : and its endless 
 duration, will be the crown of its excellency.^ This 
 eternal glory of the saints is spoken of in Scripture, 
 as an "entering into the joy of their Lord;" an 
 " eternal weight of glory ;" a '' being satisfied with the 
 image of God ;*' and a reigning with Him uninter- 
 ruptedly, and interminably \h 
 
 f Matt. XXV. 34, 46. 1 John ii. 25. Tit. i. 2. Rom, viii. 30. 
 Phil. i. 23, Matt, xxv. 21, 23. 2 Cor, iv, 17. Psal. xvi 11. and 
 xvii. 15, 1 Thess. iv. 17, 18, 2 Thess. i. 7. 10, 1 John iii. 2, 
 Col. iii. 3, 4, 2 Tim. ii, 12. g 2 Cor. iii: 18. 1 Cor. xiii. 12. 
 Phil, iii, 21, 1 John iii. 2. h Matt, xxv, 21, 2 Cor. iv. 17. 
 
 Psal. xvii. 15. 2 Tim, ii. 12, Rom. viii. 17. I Peter i, 4. Matt. 
 xxv, 46. 
 
 3 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 (A.) Page 12. 
 
 So greatly has the att€ndance at these Associations increased, 
 that, now, the largest Cliape) in Wales or in England would 
 often be found far too small to accommodate half the hearers, 
 which frequently amount to ten, hfteen, and sometimes even to 
 twenty thousand. The services are therefore held in the open 
 air. in the Evangelical Register for July, 1826, a very in- 
 teresting letter appears on this subject; written, it would 
 seem, by an English Minister, who was present on one of 
 these occasions, 
 
 (B.) Page 35. 
 
 By Private Societies, is not meant secret, but separate, or 
 apart from th* world. The Private Society is generally held 
 in the Chapel: and the most convenient day of the week for 
 to hold it, is generally mentioned b^ public notice in one of 
 the services of the previous Sabbath, 
 
 (C.) Page 38. 
 
 The Monthly Meeting occupies a part of two days. The 
 order of the Services is as follows : — 
 
 P'irst Day. — Private Society atone o'clock; and two Sermons 
 at four o'clock, p. m. (called, in England, a Double Lecture.) 
 
 Second Day. — Private Society at eight o'clock ; and two 
 Sermons at eleven, a.m. 
 
 (D.) Page 38. 
 
 By Publication is meant the list of places which a Preacher 
 draws out before he commences his journey through any part 
 of the Principality at which he purposes to preach ; specifying, 
 also, the day and hour. This he sends, beforehand, to the 
 Monthly Meeting of the County he intends visiting, by one of 
 L 
 
no 
 
 the Leaders of that County, from the Association, where all 
 the Leaders and Preachers meet; and the Monthly Meeting 
 takes care to forward the intelligence to every place mention- 
 ed. It is to be borne in mind, that the Preachers of this de- 
 nomination are all Jtinerants, like the Apostles of old, and 
 their great Master, who 7vent about doing good Though their 
 labours are more confined to the several Societies or Churches 
 of their own County, at all of which they officiate frequently 
 during the year, yet they generally, once during the twelve 
 months, or oftener, if circumstances peraiit, leave their home 
 and family circle, to make a tour of some distant part of 
 Wales, which occupies a month or two of their time. During 
 this period they preach twice every day, and, occasionally, three 
 times; always at different Chapels, from three to ten miles 
 distant, the one from the other. They travel through all 
 weathers; and often, when in the greatest need of comfort, 
 are obliged, in many instances, to put up with accommoda- 
 tions ill suited to the requirements of a wearied and weather- 
 beaten traveller. But, where this is the case, they feel con- 
 tent ; being well aware that the poor people, who open their 
 doors for their reception, do all they can to make them com- 
 fortable. Every Society or Church raises a fund, by the 
 monthly free-will pence contributions ol' its Members, Out of 
 this, a trifle, scarce a tithe of the compensation, bestowed 
 ordinarily for a discourse in England, is given to them after 
 each sermon, with which they depart perfectly satisfied. 
 Their reward is in Heaven. 
 
 ( E. ) Page 39. 
 
 It is an invariable rule in this Connexion, that each County 
 bear and discharije the expence incurred in building its own 
 Chapels, unless it be two poor. In that case, if it be in North 
 Wales, the other Northern Counties assist it : if in South Wales, 
 the other Southern Counties act in the same brotherly 
 manner. 
 
 (F,) Page 41. 
 
 The order of the public Services at the Association is the 
 following; — 
 
 Afternoon of the First Day. — Two Sermons at four o'clock. 
 
 Morning of the second day. — Two Sermons at six, and two 
 at ten o'clock. 
 
 Afternoon of the Second Day. — Two more Sermons at two, 
 and two again at six o'clock. 
 
 (G.) Page 44. 
 
 A practice has prevailed among the Welsh Calvinistic 
 Methodists, which on account of its seeming want of order, 
 has drawn down upon them, not only the calumny of enemies, 
 but also the disapprobation of many true and enlightened 
 
Ill 
 
 friends of religion ; viz. Jumping, accompanied by loud ex- 
 pressions of praise, during- the solemnization of public wor- 
 ship. The object of this note is not to endeavour the convic- 
 tion of any with regard to its being a necessary part of the 
 worship of God,— but merely an explanation of its nature, 
 (which is very limitedly understood,) and an attempt to prove 
 that it is neither such an innovation, nor so great a crime, as 
 some regard it to be. 
 
 It is the effect of great joy ; and, excepting in the particular 
 of praising God aloud, is minutely, though unintentionally, 
 described by Mr. Walker, a standard author, in his Elements 
 of Elocution, page 337, Second edition. He says, " When 
 it" ^J'*y) " ^^ sudden and violent, it expresses itself by clap- 
 ping the hands, raising the eyes toward heaven, and giving 
 such a spring to the body, as to make it attempt to mount up 
 as if it could fly." It has been supposed by some, that this is 
 deemed a necessary qualification t<> prove the piety of a Mem- 
 ber of this denomination: but, when such are told, that many 
 of those who are classed among the most consistent and 
 spiritual individuals, have never been known thus to be 
 aflfected, it is to be hoped that none will in future harbour an 
 idea so erroneous. 
 
 It would seem that this practice was not unknown under 
 the Old Testament dispensation, for it is recorded in 2 Samuel, 
 vi, 16, that, "as the Ark of the Lord came into the City of 
 David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window, 
 and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord ; 
 and she despised him in her heart." If the king of Israel 
 was despised for thus jumping for joy, no wonder that the 
 poor of Wales should meet with no better treatment. Matthew 
 Henry has an excellent note on this historical fact,—" If we 
 can approve ourselves to God in what we do ic Religion, and 
 do it as before the Lord, we need not value the censures and 
 reproaches of men. If we appear right in God's eyes, no 
 matter how mean we appear in the eyes of the world." The 
 circumstance just cited, does not seem to be either a singular 
 or a solitary instance. In the book of Lamentations, v. 15, 
 an allusion is made to it as a thing of neither uncommon nor 
 individual occurrence. "The joy of our heart is ceased; mir 
 dance is turned into mourning," Again, Psal, cxlix. 3. •' Let 
 them praise him in the dance," &c. 
 
 Under the New Testament dispensation, the instance of 
 the lame man, on whom Peter performed the cure, is a fact 
 worthy of notice. Acts, iii, 8. " And he leaping up stood and 
 walked, and entered with them " (Peter and John) " into the 
 Temple, walking:, and leaping, and praising God.'' Did Peter 
 reprove him for disorderly behaviour ? //he did, St. Luke the 
 penman, has forgotten to say so. Probably it will be said, 
 that he leaped meiely to show the reality of his cure. That 
 he stood, and walked, and entered into the Temple, were amply 
 sufficient for that purpose, for he could do neither before. 
 Surely it is more reasonable to suppose that, if he had do 
 
112 
 
 higher end in vievr, he would have been afraid, immediately 
 with such violence to exercise his limbs, lest, unfortunately, 
 they might snap; and to be so prodigal of hisnewly-acquired 
 strength, lest perchance he might again lose it. Surely it is 
 more reasonable to suppose, if this were his only motive, that 
 he would have gone home to show himself to his friends, and 
 to those who had that morning borne him to the Temple 
 Gate, instead of entering into the Temple. And how incom- 
 patible vvould it have been for him to have leaped to show 
 his cure to be complete, at the same instant that he was prais- 
 ing God ! Those that worship God, must worship m spirit and 
 in truth. But to proceed, Luke, in the 6th chapter, and 23rd 
 verse quotes very remarkable words of our Saviour himself, 
 who introduced the New Testament dispensation,*' Rejoice ye 
 in th&t da,jf and leap for joy," To attempt an explanation of 
 so clear a passage, would be to offer an insult to the under- 
 standing of the reader of this article. 
 
 But this body of Christians, together with jumping, break 
 out into loud expressions of praise. There are many Scrip- 
 tural precedents for this. In Job, xxxviii. 7. these words may 
 be found, "the morning stars" (the Angels)" sang together, 
 and all the sons of God," (the Angels,) shouted for joy. Again; 
 Ezra iii. 11, &c. "all the people shouted with a great shouts 
 when they praised the Lord." Again, in Luke, xix, 37, 39, 
 it is said, that the disciples attendant on the entry of our Lord 
 to Jerusalem, " began to rejoice, and to praise God with a loud 
 voice :" and, when the Pharisees bade the Saviour rebuke his 
 disciples, He answered,— " If these should hold their peace, 
 the stones would immediately cry out." And it further ap- 
 pears, that these disciples were guilty of what some would 
 certainly, in these days, consider as great an extravagance as 
 jumping. They stripped themselves of their garments to 
 carpet the highway about to be trodden by the poor beast 
 which was to carry the Lord. Was this decorous? Had this 
 question been put to the Pharisees, they would very probably 
 have answered, " No ;" as such conduct was very likely, deem- 
 ed by them, to be more befitting the inmates of a lunatic 
 assylum than rational beings, and followers of the amiable 
 Jesus. Yet, He, whose eye was ever open to detect impropri- 
 eties, did not blame them ; but on the contrary, it seems to 
 be intimated, that he was pleased with this their act of respect. 
 
 Possibly, it will be a matter of doubt with many, whether 
 one instance, excepting in Wales, can be adduced of any 
 civilized individual giving way, in these enlighted days, to 
 such strange and unbecoming gestures, as some deem them to 
 be. Though at last completely dragged off Scripture ground 
 the Palm will not yet be yeilded. It has been said in commen- 
 dation of the fine feelings of d living statesman residing in 
 England, that, when he was informed his Bill for emancipa- 
 ting Slaves had passed through the Commons House of Par- 
 liament, he actuUy jumped of the ground, clapped his hands, 
 and loudly exclaimed « God, be praised !" or words to that 
 
113 
 
 effect. And shall the Welsh Mountaineer be branded as an 
 enthusiastic fool if ho jump for joy, when the Holy Spirit 
 reveals to him a way of escape to his own soul from the fetters 
 of sin, and from the power of the Destroyer ? Would it be 
 strange to hear, that a prisoner, under sentence of death, 
 thus gave vent to his feelings, when his Sovereign sent him a 
 free pardon? Surely not: neither is it to be wondered at, 
 that those who have already been liberated from the errors of 
 Druidism, and afterwards from the superstitions of Popery, 
 when they now again see a Saviour ready, and willing, and 
 able to rescue them from the jaws of eternal death, should 
 thus testify the genuine feelings of their bossom. One ad- 
 ditional instance forces itself on notice, which will prove this 
 practice to have a more frequent and more general existence, 
 even in England, than some perhaps have considered. The 
 case certainly is very analagous. Who, that has frequented 
 the Public Meetings of the Religious Societies, even in the 
 Metropolis of Great Britain, has not heard the stamping of 
 feet, the clapping of hands, and the deafening applauses which 
 prevail there? Is this essential ? Is this decorous? Surely, 
 those who are guilty of this practice will not, cannot, in future 
 blame their less refined Brethren of the Principality for being 
 the subject of the same emotion in kind, though perhaps a 
 little stronger in degree ; and so it should be ; for, in En- 
 gland it is done generally in praise of man ^ in Wales, always 
 in praise of God. 
 
 It is hoped, that this article has not been misunderstood. 
 It was not written with any intention to hurl weapons of war 
 against those who do not thus testify their internal joy, but 
 merely to hold up a shield for the defence of those who do. 
 The Preachers of this Connexion have been said to encourage 
 jumping ; nothing can be more false. And the whole de- 
 nomination have been called Jumpers, as if jumping were the 
 whole or at least the chief part of their religion ; this is unfair 
 and unwarrantable. Let it henceforward be kept in mind, 
 that jumping for joy, (to speak logically,) is not an essential 
 mode, or attribute, but a mere accident, or non-essential of Welsh 
 Calvinistic Methodism. 
 
 (H.) Page 96. 
 
 Every Member who has children, is enjoined to bring them, 
 at the earliest dawn of reason, to the Private Society, or Meet- 
 ings of the Church, (into which they are initiated by the or- 
 dinance of Baptism,^ where, unless they manifest any immor- 
 ality of conduct, they are allowed to remain with their 
 parents, entitled to the instructions, admonitions, and watch- 
 ful care of the Society, and subject to its discipline. But 
 they are nevertheless withheld from the Lord's Supper until 
 they arrive at years of maturity, — until, by their conduct, 
 they evidence a change of heart, — and until they express a 
 desire to commemorate the Saviour's dying love. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Introduction iii. 
 
 History 1 
 
 The Method observed in Ordaining Preachers to Admin- 
 ister the Ordinances ^6 
 
 CONSTITUTION AND CHURCH GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Private Societies, or Church Meetings 35 
 
 Monthly Meetings 37 
 
 Quarterly Meetings, or Associations 40 
 
 RULES OF DISCIPLINE 44 
 
 CONFESSION OF FAITH. 
 
 I, Of the Being of God ' oS 
 
 II. Of the Holy Scriptures 59 
 
 III. Of the Attributes of God 61 
 
 IV. Of the Persons of the Trinity , 62 
 
 V, Of the Decree of God 63 
 
 VI. Of the Creation 64 
 
 Vn. Of tlie Providence of God in Upholding and 
 
 Governing the World 64 
 
 VIII. Of Man in his original State of Innocence .. 65 
 
 IX. Of the Covenant of Works 66 
 
 X. Of the Fall of Man, and Original Sin 66 
 
 XI. Of the State of Man by Nature ., . 67 
 
 XII. Of the Election of Grace 68 
 
 XIII. Of the Eternal.Covenant of Grace 69 
 
 XIV, Of the Person of the Father, and the Work 
 
 which is attributed to Him in the Plan of 
 
 Salvation 70 
 
116 
 
 XV. Of the Person of Christ, the Mediator 71 
 
 XVI. Oftheofficesof the Mediator 72 
 
 XVII. Of the Humiliation and Exaltation of Christ 74 
 
 XVIII. Of Redemption 76 
 
 XIX. Of the Intercession of Christ 78 
 
 XX. Of the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit 79 
 XXI. Of the Necessity of the Holy Spirit's Work 
 
 in applying Salvation 80 
 
 XXII. Ofthe Calling of the Gospel 81 
 
 XXIII, Of Union with Christ 82 
 
 XXIV. Of Justification , 83 
 
 XXV. OfAdoption 84 
 
 XXVI. Of Regeneration 84 
 
 XXVII. Of Sanctification 85 
 
 XXVI II. Of Saving Faith and its E flFects 86 
 
 XXIX. Of Repentance unto Life 88 
 
 XXX. Ofthe Moral Law 89 
 
 XXXL OfGoodWorks 90 
 
 XXXIL Of Peace of Conscience 91 
 
 XXXItl. Of Assurance of Hope 92 
 
 XXXIV. Of Perseverance in Grace . . . , 94 
 
 XXXV. Ofthe Church 95 
 
 XXXVI. Of Church Communion 97 
 
 XXXVII. Of the Ordinances ofthe Gospel 98 
 
 XXXVIIL Of Baptism 99 
 
 XXXIX, Of the Lord's Supper 100 
 
 XL. Of Obedience to the Civil Government 101 
 
 XLI. Of Death, and the State of Men after Death 102 
 
 XLII, Of the Resurrection 103 
 
 XLin, Of theGeneralJudgment 104 
 
 XLIV. Of the Eternal State of the Righteous and 
 
 Unrighteous , 106 
 
 A PPENDIX ^ . . 109 
 
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Theological Semlnary-Speer Library 
 
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