a falfe refpect and veneration in the minds of others; and they introduce a worldly influence, destructive, as far as it goes, of Christian principle. To violate this rule, then, is not fo light a matter as many feem to fuppofe. Those who are acquainted with human nature, and with the importance which many poor deluded votaries of Rome attach to the garments and titles of their priests, will be convinced of this. Indeed these have had no small influence in maintaining that fort of worldly distinction between ministers and people, which has been fo anxiously contended for. As to titles, Dr Campbell juftly observes, that in proportion as real religion declined, these were multiplied. The only object of titles or of peculiarity of habits, must be to procure refpect for minifters, by working on the prejudices and weakneffes of mankind. But neither Jefus nor his apostles ever fought honour by such means. They are human inventions, very neceffary, it may be, in the kingdoms of this world, but can never prove of real benefit to religion. Let minifters of the gofpel, by all means, avoid contempt; let them ftudy to maintain the greatest refpectability. The word of God fhews them an excellent way to obtain it: "Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the beliein word, in converfation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity," 1 Tim. iv. 12. vers, Elders and deacons, we have seen, ought to In a prefbytery. Thus was Timothy fet apart to the work of the ministry, 1 Tim. iv. 14. church newly formed, where there are no elders, or indeed where there are, it feems very proper that elders and others, as meffengers from neighbouring churches, fhould affift at their ordination; but this can by no means be said to be indispenfable. Yet it tends to promote love and union among the churches, which is of much importance; for although they are completely independent of one another, and responsible for their conduct to Chrift alone, they ought, as ferving the fame Mafter, and affociated for the fame purpofes, by mutual good offices to cultivate brotherly love... The apoftles ordained elders by prayer and fafting. This is recorded for our imitation, and certainly ought not to be omitted, confidering the importance of the office, and that all depends on receiving the Lord's bleffing on the fervice. It is worthy of remark, that while fo many difputes have taken place as to the mode and validity of ordination, on which the Scriptures are in a great measure filent, fo little attention fhould have been paid to the character and qualifications of the perfons to be ordained, which are amply described in the word of God. It is ftrange, too, that even as to the mode men have fo generally departed. from the Scriptures; for fafting upon fuch occafions has fallen into general disuse. CHAPTER IX. OF THE ORDINANCES OBSERVED BY THE THE apoftles not only taught the disci ples to affemble together, and to chufe elders and deacons, but also to obferve certain ordinances. Some of these are mentioned in the account of the church of Jerufalem, Acts ii. 42. "And they continued ftedfaftly in the apostles' doctrine, and the fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers," all of which they obferved regularly. on the first day of every week or Lord's day. We find the church alfo, when affembled, finging the praifes of God and engaged in fasting. SECTION I. Of the Apostles' Doctrine. THE apoftles received a commandment from Chrift, to preach the gospel to every creature. Kngusow, to preach, properly fignifies to perform. the office of a herald, to make proclamation. Thus Jonah preached to Nineveh, Jon. iii. 4. See alfo Matt. iii. 1. iv. 17. x. 7. Mark xvi. 15.. Acts x. 42. &c. To preach the gospel always fig tidings of falvation. It does not mean in Scrip ture an explanation of or a comment on a doctrine, or any chain of reasoning, but a proclamation of facts, and of truths connected with thefe facts *. It was by the preaching of the gospel that churches were gathered, and as we are ever prone to let the faving truth flip from our minds, it is neceffary that the churches be conftantly put in remembrance of it. Thus Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye ftand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keepin memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain : for I delivered unto you, first of all, that which I alfo received, how that Chrift died for our fins, according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures," 1 Cor. xv. 1,-4. Upon this glorious truth the apostles founded every exhortation which they delivered to the churches. nance. But preaching is not exclufively a church ordiThofe who labour in the word and doctrine, ought to account it their duty and privilege to publish, wherever they have opportunity, the glad tidings of falvation; to be inftant in feafon out of season. Nor ought others who have talents for this to confider themfelves at liberty * See the Preliminary Differtations to Campbell's Tranflation CHAPTER IX. OF THE ORDINANCES OBSERVED BY THE THE apoftles not only taught the disci ples to affemble together, and to chufe elders and deacons, but alfo to obferve certain ordinances. Some of these are mentioned in the account of the church of Jerufalem, Acts ii. 42. "And they continued ftedfaftly in the apoftles' doctrine, and the fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers," all of which they observed regularly on the first day of every week or Lord's day. We find the church alfo, when affembled, finging the praifes of God and engaged in fasting. SECTION I. Of the Apostles' Doctrine. THE apostles received a commandment from Chrift, to preach the gospel to every creature. Kngurow, to preach, properly fignifies to perform. the office of a herald, to make proclamation.. Thus Jonah preached to Nineveh, Jon. iii. 4. See alfo Matt. iii. 1. iv. 17. x. 7. Mark xvi. 15.. A&ts x. 42. &c. To preach the gospel always fig |