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LETTER

TO

NATHANAEL CHRISTIAN.

If you adjudge that the following reminiscences of modern Church Courts will "please your neighbors for good to edification," you may transfer them to a printer. All Rabbis and Church Courts, who apply to themselves my reproofs and admonitions, will distinctly understand, that they were intended for them alone "Qui capit, ille fecit." So I commence with the prayer that closed the sermons of our predecessors "May the Lord add his blessing! Amen."

The expunging of factitious titles in these delineations of Church Courts, proceeds from a conviction that the multiplication of collegiate honorary appellatives has peculiarly tended to augment the assumptions of antichristian lordliness by priestly rulers, and to coerce the cringing of those Issachars, who, because they think that rest is good, and the land of false peace pleasant, "couch down between two burdens, and become servants to tribute."

A*

A Boanerges of the last century accurately illustrated that topic. "The term Doctor is now a title of honor, and does not signify any office or duty. It has the same meaning as Rabbi among the Jews, and so must be understood. 'Be ye not called Rabbi!' Therefore, Doctors are very presumptuous to pretend to be Christ's disciples, while they openly break his commandment. The title Doctor has no more relation to true religion than the title Devil. Both of them were first obtained through pride and inordinate ambition. Hence, the title Doctor in Divinity is antichristian; and the title Devil is as much Christian as the title Doctor, when applied to preachers of the gospel. Satan was the first creature who affected to be called Rabbi; and he rebelled against Jehovah, because he could not obtain that longed for diploma !-He seduced the two inhabitants of Eden into his rebellion; and promised that they should be as "gods, knowing good and evil," if they would "eat of the tree of knowledge." Arrogant as it was in Satan and our first parents to affect such high titles, yet they took a better method to obtain preferment than many who have been influenced by that spirit and temper. Satan directed Adam and Eve to take first of "the tree of knowledge," before they could obtain the title of Rabbi. Satan did not choose, like modern universities, to prostitute his degrees, by conferring diplomas upon

asses."

Many of the "Beast's abominations," and of the "False Prophet's strong delusions" still are embodied with the reformed churches. The "refiner's fire, and the fuller's soap" are now as requisite as they were in the days of Immanuel, when he drove from the temple of God the Rabbis and their parasites, who had transformed "the house of prayer into a den of thieves."

Through the "bright and blissful Reformation," many vociferously boast of their emancipation from the manacles of kingcraft, and the fetters of priestcraft. Notwithstanding, among the Protestant churches there exists and very powerfully sways, that enemy to all truth and sanctity which the Apostle John emphatically entitles-"That Spirit of Antichrist." Two most mischievous characteristics are unfolded by it a deceitful, time-serving conformity to the world, as a substitute for the "love of the Father;" and a daring usurpation of the divine prerogatives by its exaltation in the temple of God.

Open encroachments of ecclesiastical despotism are so directly opposed to all the notions of freedom in our country, that protestant priestcraft, if exhibited without disguise, would instantly be repelled and denounced by all citizens. Yet, in its concealed operations and masked exterior, that "working of Satan" which is an emanation of the great "falling away" and departure from the faith that the Apostle Paul predicted, is now producing its "lying won

ders," in a pestiferous indifference to evangelical institutions, and in a perversion of the gospel, which is evidently so little valued, by the practical disregard of its hallowed appointments.

The carnal security and the irreligious stupefaction which so widely reign and are lamented, are among the portentous "signs of the times;" because due inquiry is not made either as to the causes or the effects of those spiritual evils. There must be an iniquitous system stealthily operating, which can produce pernicious results so extensive and diversified ; or so many Christian denominations would not be ingulphed in that paralyzing influence.

The watchman who has been upon the walls of Jerusalem, during the last twenty-five years, unless he has been "sleeping, lying down, and loving to slumber," must have seen an ugly spirit and a suspicious power, with consummate craftiness, gradually strengthening; the effects of which are destructive of "pure religion," and derogatory to the government of "Him who is head over all things to the church."

It is not the union of a lordly priesthood with infidel and ungodly statesmen-nor is it the direct infringement of Christian liberty, and a usurpation of the mastery of conscience, through oppressive and persecuting legislative enactments-but it is the covert assumption of antichristian authority, and the developement of Babylonian motives and claims, by ecclesiastical assemblies. Under different names and

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