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INTRODUCTION.

CHRISTIANITY has its theory and its practice. Its theory is the Sacred Writings of the Apostles and Evangelists of Jesus Christ; its practice, the life of the Christian. The Christian profession is not now what it once was. It has become secular and sectarian. The members of the church of Christ were formerly called “saints," ," "elect of God," "a chosen generation," "a royal priesthood," "a peculiar people." Now they are called "Churchmen," "Dissenters," "Romanists," "Protestants," "Episcopalians," "Presbyterians," "Independents," "Baptists," "Methodists," &c. &c. &c. The church was once "a spiritual house," whose members were addressed as "justified," "sanctified," 99 66 'adopted," and "saved." It was a holy nation" whose citizens had their citizenship in heaven. Such were its designations, and such was its general character. The exceptions were comparatively few. These mostly renounced the profession and went back into the world. "They went out from us because they were not of us," said the beloved John; "for had they been of us they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

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But that such would not always be the character of the Christian profession, was clearly foreseen and distinctly foretold by the holy Apostles. "There shall come a falling away”—“ an apostasy," said Paul. He adds, "A MAN OF SIN," THE SON OF PERDITION," will come, and must be developed. His character is delineated, as proud, haughty, and secular. He was, indeed, to be a churchman-to "sit in the temple of God." He

would exalt himself amongst and above the gods of earth—the kings and monarchs of nations. This mystic character would gain the ascendency by assumed powers;-" signs," "miracles of falsehood," and "with all the deceitfulness of unrighteousness," amongst them "who did not love the truth," but had pleasure in iniquity. Indeed, "the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter days" a portion of the Christian profession "would depart from the faith," giving heed to seducing preachers, and "to, doctrines concerning the spirits of dead men;" "speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared as with a hot iron." They would preach a monastic life, advocate celibacy, "forbidding to marry," observing lent, "commanding to abstain from meats which God has created to be received with thanksgiving, being sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

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Indeed, the Apostle informs us that "as there were false prophets among the people" in former times, so there should be false teachers as well as false professors among the people of God, who should bring in "condemnable heresies ;"-reprobate schisms, and "destructive sects." While acknowledging Jesus as a teacher or prophet, and from God, they would undermine his divinity, "denying the Lord that bought them," "who gave his life a ransom for many," and "who redeemed us to God by his blood." He adds, "Many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." Now all this will be done “for filthy lucre's sake.” Through covetousness shall they with feigned words" (of piety) "make merchandise of you." Their example will lead to skepticism and general infidelity; "for," says the same Apostle, know this especially, "that in the last days scoffers shall come, walking after their own lusts," saying, "Where is the promise of his coming; for all things go on as they did from the beginning of the world?" The mother of all this apostasy and infidelity is compared to a charlatan, or rather to a courtezan very gayly and fashionably attired. "She is arrayed in purple and scarlet, decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden chalice in her hands full of abominations," the rewards of "the filthiness of her fornications." She wears a splendid tiara magnificently adorned; but when deciphered and fairly interpreted, it means, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS," and Parent of all Abominations.

Such is a portion of the fortunes of the Christian profession as foretold by the Apostles. We have seen it; nay, we live in the midst of it. This "Man of Sin" still lives in Rome, and pretends to be "the Vicar of Christ" and "the Prince of the Apostles."

A reformation of Popery was attempted in Europe full three centuries ago. It ended in a Protestant hierarchy, and swarms of dissenters. Protestantism has been reformed into Presbyterianism, that into Congregationalism,—and that into Baptistism, &c. &c. Methodism has attempted to reform all, but has reformed itself into many forms of Wesleyism. None of these has begun at the right place. All of them retain in their bosom, in their ecclesiastic organizations, worship, doctrines, and observances, various relics of Popery. They are, at best, but a reformation of Popery, and only reformations in part. The doctrines and traditions of men yet impair the power and progress of the gospel in their hands; and, therefore, as communities, they are not distinguished by the ancient piety, zeal, and humanity, nor for their efforts and success in evangelizing the world at home or abroad. It is probable that as many of their own offspring are converted to the world, or to infidelity, as they have reclaimed from the world and the various forms of infidelity, during any given period of years. Most of the Socialists, Agrarians, Fourierists, Owenists, Rationalists, Puseyists, &c., now in Protestant countries, are of Protestant ancestry. Our missionary gains from heathen lands do not more, at most, than fill up the apostasies from Protestant households to the numerous and various forms of infidelity.

Living then, as we do, in the midst of such abortive efforts at reformation; seeing the progress of error, and regretting the feeble and slow advances of the gospel upon even the outposts of error, infidelity, and abounding iniquity, we are constrained to inquire, if any thing can be done; and, if any thing, what should it be, and how attempted? To fight the old battles over again, to rally under the old banners of Calvinism, or Arminianism; to propose some Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Congregational, or Methodist platform of improvement, either of theory or practice, or to adopt Scotch, English, or American Baptistism, could promise nothing better than that which already is, or has heretofore been. These have all been tried. Their whole moral and spiritual power has been made to bear upon the present condi

would exalt himself amongst and above the gods of earth-the kings and monarchs of nations. This mystic character would gain the ascendency by assumed powers;-" signs," "miracles of falsehood," and "with all the deceitfulness of unrighteousness," amongst them "who did not love the truth," but had pleasure in iniquity. Indeed, "the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter days" a portion of the Christian profession "would depart from the faith," giving heed to seducing preachers, and "to, doctrines concerning the spirits of dead men;" speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared as with a hot iron." They would preach a monastic life, advocate celibacy, "forbidding to marry," observing lent, "commanding to abstain from meats which God has created to be received with thanksgiving, being sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

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Indeed, the Apostle informs us that " phets among the people" in former times, false teachers as well as false professors among the people of God, who should bring in "condemnable heresies ;"--reprobate schisms, and "destructive sects." While acknowledging Jesus as a teacher or prophet, and from God, they would undermine his divinity, "denying the Lord that bought them," "who gave his life a ransom for many," and "who redeemed us to God by his blood." He adds, "Many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." Now all this will be done "for filthy lucre's sake." 'Through covetousness shall they with feigned words" (of piety) “make merchandise of you." Their example will lead to skepticism and general infidelity; "for," says the same Apostle, know this especially, "that in the last days scoffers shall come, walking after their own lusts," saying, "Where is the promise of his coming; for all things go on as they did from the beginning of the world?" The mother of all this apostasy and infidelity is compared to a charlatan, or rather to a courtezan very gayly and fashionably attired. "She is arrayed in purple and scarlet, decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden chalice in her hands full of abominations," the rewards of "the filthiness of her fornications." She wears a splendid tiara magnificently adorned; but when deciphered and fairly interpreted, it means, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS," and Parent of all Abominations.

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