results, with many others which could be cited, of a general, as well as of a personal character, so exactly anticipated? Because, by the catalogue of members in 1817, it was known, that there was a large preponderance of independent, conscientious, and intelligent brethren, who could not be befooled-and because that infamous Assembly of 1818 was impelled by a horde of "stealers of men,' and some dough-faced Rabbis, who for the sake of their churchcraft, consented with those "sinners of the first rank, who are guilty of the highest kind of theft.”—Presbyterian Confession of Faith, Larger Catechism. Ques

tion 142.

Those Church Courts which during fifty years past have constantly been sustaining slavery, by winking at its existence, and by palliating its enormities, are the grand criminal accomplices of the menstealers. They have. tacitly approved, and have actually pronounced to be a "part and parcel" of American Christianity, an iniquitous system, which simultaneously violates the whole decalogue.

Slavery is equally impious towards God, and a curse to man. The impiety, profaneness, and Sabbath-breaking which it ever instigates, are only paralleled by its disruption of the marriage covenant and all the bonds of domestic relationship; by its ceaseless tortures and destruction of human life; by its complicated and dreadful uncleanness; by its theft, robbery, kidnapping, and piracy; by its falsehood and perjury; and by its insatiable covetousness. By admitting slave-drivers into their communion as Christians, they have directly proclaimed that all the multifarious tur

pitude of slavery is consistent with the moral law of God as expounced by Christ and his apostles. Therefore, upon them rests all the past guilt, and all the existing evils, and all the prospective curse of that appalling un- godliness.

The remark of Bishop Hall respecting the "hardened and aggravated depravity" of the Benjamites in defending the men of Gibeah after their abominable murder of the Levite's wife, may justly be applied to those American Church Courts who have held "fellowship with the throne of iniquity which frameth mischief by a law." "Instead of punishing the sin, they patronise the actors, and will rather die in resisting justice, than live and prosper in furthering it! The abetting of evil is worse than the commission; this may be an infirmity, but that must be on resolution. Easy punishment is too much favor to sin-connivance is much worse-but the defence of it, and that unto blood, is intolerable."

That result has been displayed. The concave of heaven peals with the startling address-"The voice of your brother Lovejoy's blood cries to me from the ground" of those Church Courts, who practically maintain that the ceaseless nefarious crimes inseparable from slavery are "Bible doctrine that will stand;" and that burglary, arson, and murder are essential to the prosperity of "the church!" It is true, those Ecclesiastical Judicatures have not enacted in so many words that proposition; but they have really carried it out in practice for fifty years; until they dare not now attempt to resist the Delilah who bewitches, and the Moloch who intimidates them.

What are the consequences of that corrupt partiality, and of that unrighteous prejudice which notoriously sway all Church Courts? The contempt, or disregard, or extinction of all evangelical order in administering the discipline of the gospel of Christ. Statements which certain men who fill "the chief seats in the synagogues" disseminate, and which formerly would have been received as oracular, now are rejected as only the effusions of irritated pride, or of unprovoked malevolence. Church censures, that once were dreaded as the greatest evil which a conscientious Christian could realize, in all ordinary cases, and especially if connected with disputations originating in the various efforts to produce a moral reform, in any of its more exciting departments, now are justly considered as the mere offspring of malignant duplicity; and, therefore, are generally decried and uprightly contemned. What has produced that most pernicious effect which has paralyzed all Christian discipline, and which also has broken down the barrier that should sever the church from the world? The only true answer is this: It is churchcraft-or in other words, it is the antichristian proceedings of Ecclesiastical Judicatures.

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It requires indeed very little evangelical perspicacity to recognise the predominance in Church Courts of that 'spirit of antichrist" which the Apostle John portrays— that unholy system which amalgamates the contest for preeminence," Jesuit juggling," "the love of the world," and a rancorous opposition to every measure and person who would establish the gospel as the sole directory of faith and manners, and who would banish from the king

dom of God, all that is derogatory to the gracious Redeemer's supremacy, and incompatible with the force of truth, the prevalence of holiness, and the love of the brethren.

Men who profess that they have received the Holy Ghost, deliberately publish to the world a system of theology, which they call " Articles of Religion," or a "Confession of Faith," that none may mistake or be deceived. They subjoin a lengthened series of minute illustrations of their design, that all persons who desire to belong to their consociation, may clearly discern the precise obligations which will devolve upon them, if they assume that relationship. Notwithstanding, they sanction the practical abrogation, and it has often been developed, and the theoretical contradiction also of their own avowed dogmas, with the constant erasure or contempt, and the habitual infraction of their own general rules of government and discipline. To which they add, whenever the " that worketh in the children of disobedience" prompts them, the effusion of the most virulent calumny upon every person who conscientiously believes his own creed of faith, and who is anxious that the regulations which are obligatory upon all the consociated community should reciprocally and steadfastly be enforced, or by general consent be openly annulled.

"spirit

That is old fashioned Roman churchcraft in perfection, under a modern name, only divested of its naked and most fearful hideousness. It is that identical offspring of "the Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit," which first rescinded Sigismund's imperial safe conduct, and

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OPERATIONS OF CHURCH COURTS.

then burnt John Huss and Jerome of Prague. To appropriate the Lord's emphatic description, it is that kind of devil which "goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

From present appearances, some of the Church Courts will soon unavoidably disband, or they must be regenerated, by casting out "the image of the Beast." It is probable, that ere long the New England Methodists will obtain from their Lord, in answer to prayer, that precious boon, the transfer of their adversary to the herd of swine. Pray on, brethren! always pray! Faint not, and "continue in prayer!" God will avenge his own servants who ery day and night unto him, though he bear long with you. Luke xviii. 7. Seize that enemy and slayer of Christian pilgrims, churchcraft! Trample under your feet, prelatical usurpations ! "Win and conquer, never cease!" until you have ejected the power of "the Beast," the snares of the "False Prophet," and the temporizing sway of the world. Persevere all of you, followers of Jesus, of every name, until you have taught the Rabbis, to become as "little children,"-to exchange churchcraft for church fellowship,-to abandon the usurpations of "Ecclesiastical Judicatures," for evangelical government and gospel discipline,-and to esteem "the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures in Egypt."