North Carolina Newspapers

r V I i i -4 I 1 IN - v i . i ' . 1 I - Jm '4 nnvoTnn to nKUG,ONt si o n a i t v, i i t i: n a t u it i: j a "m ' cj Yn "n Vi i : r " i VOL. V. NO- 23. ' TERMS. Toe Recorder & Wtc3..n is published every nrJay, at $2. 50 per annum, if paid wirhia six mora or S3 it paid subsequently to that period. Any person -who will become responsible for six copies, or who will forward the r.ines of six subscri bers, shall be entitled to a seventh coiV gratis. . No subscription will be received for less than one tear, unless paid in advance ; and no discontinuance will be allowed until arrearages are paid. .. Persons wishing to discontinue vri 11 be expected to give notice to that effect prior to the commencement of a new year; otherwise tney will be considered as re ."ponsibfefor the ensuing twelve mouths. . . - All communications except those of agents v,ho ac ratuitoasly, ta secure attention, -must be post paid. All remittances regularly made to our address by MAiL,shall be at oar risk. Auuiicuit;iiisi; ji luuumpaiiuie wun me oDjectsol the Recorder, wilt be inserted on the usual terms. - For the Recorder and Watchman. ' ANTiaUITY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH. ' No. III. ; . Continued. ' ' "" I have already shown trorn tfie gentleman's own reasoning, that although immersion was universally practised! "for thirteen, hundred years" yet, notwithstanding; ."when corruptions began to come in," which- was in the "second and third centuries" then "baptism began to be administered in different ways," and "sprink ling began to be practiced by some;" then, "those who held immersion exclusively to be baptism were called by the sprinkling party Anabaptists." So the gentleman makes out that the name "An abaptists" was known in the "third century." This, however, does not accord exactly with the statements of his favourite historian, who snrs , "We do not pretend that the primitive saints were called Baptists ; all went under the general de--1 nomination of christians, and when they bean w uje uu iuiu paiiico, iucy iook me names ol the men by whom they were led. No denomi nation of Protestants can trace the origin of its name further back than about the time of the re formation, and most of them have originated since that period." In a note of reference it is added "The Methodists originated in 1729." The Baptists, I presame, claim to be aprotes tant denomination ; and according to Mr. Bene dict can trace their denominational name no fur ther back than the reformation. Proecclesia.how ever, tries to make out that they existed a long time before that period : but history contradicts him and says the name of Anabaptistt was .given in the sixteenth century; and that of Bap- . . . - - . - . a ww. 14. 1.UI11 -mniijrpajrafay3. a company of Independants in England, wno seperaturg itvm thelrown comrounioa, seat one ot their num ber to Holland to receive immersion, after which thev rejected the name of Anabaptists or raenno nite'sand adopted that of Baptists." J . . . " I ... 1 A t-MftA - "Kntihatall the orimiuve cnusuauswuuiu a.5 teen called Baptists, if sentimental names had been in use.&c." This is the opinion of Mr. Ben edict, and I suppose of Mr. Proecclesia also. But Jid the want of "sentimental names," pre sent the "primitive christians" from being cal led Baptists I was under the impression that the ancients were much more remarkable for' significant names than the moderns are. .In deed this is too notorious to require proof, or -admit of a doubt. But that the ancients were not deficient in this matter is ptain from the fact, that in Antioch the I followers of the Saviour were first called christians ;ancl so conscious was ray Newbern friend of the truth of what I am now saying,- that either through forgetfulness or de sign, he in apparent triumph exclaims "upon the authority of these I sayi that John, the harbinger of Christ, was called 'Baptist; that this title was suo--ested by his workj at least one peculiar fea tureof it,that ofbaptizing." Iflhen this "peculiar feature" in his work.su ggested such an appropri ate name for the administrate r,ho w came it to pass that it died with him ? Why were not his follow ers, or those whom he baptized called Baptists? And how shall we account for the fact, that the "significant and proper!' name of "Baptists1 -became obsolete, or . was not found in the ar chives of the church until after the reformation! If the denominational peculiarities of the Bap tist church hare always been on earth, from the arlioef wn nf Christianity, as Mr. Benedict supposes, how shall we account for the back-J wardness of the world j in assigning unto then I their significant and proper "appellation." For Jt seems from the statement of the historian whose words I have' already quoted that the name "Baptist was first assumed by a disaf fected company of Independents of England in the seventeenth century. I shall be much obli ged to my friend Proecclesia if he will do me the .following taVor, Mr. Benedict says, "and when they the christians fbegan to file off into par ties they took the names of the men by whom fthey were led" in the filing off, of .which men tion is here made, rw bo was the leade r of the Baptists, and from whom did they receive their name Now, it seems evident neither Christ nor any one of his apostles was their leader, be cause they were not called by any such name. Jlfout of the --abundance of opposing testimony, ie can find no information on this point, he need Jpot put himself to unnecessary trouble to satisfy iy curiosity. , . . j - - ; j -. ; : ' Proecclesia says, "The point at issue between me and Laurentious now is the origin of the Bantist ChurchJ He asserts that they had no existence before1 the fifteenth or sixteenth centu ry his witnesses say both.. Being somewhat doubtful whether my Witnesses said the Baptist church originated before ' the fifteenth century, I turned to them, and here is tne resuu oi iue ex nmrnntmn T crvpd "she made her appear n.tt;r,r!..... ut iKa otfthr 1524. Kob- ertson'. the: oldest of the historians says, after Luther's appearance &c. Moshetm says m 1523 ; Goodrich, Jabout the year 1524."., What can be thought: ot a man, and o minister who manifests such a disre'rard to nrnMtt.1 I -- tonished beyond measure at his reckless course Oaes he thus act because he knows that the rea dersofthe Recorder have never seen my num. bers, and'are therefore ignorant of what I said? Such a dereliction from candor and honesty, de serves a severe rebuke. Hoping that he may profit by this detection, 1 will follow him in his onward; marchAs evidence of the fallacy of what I said about. the rise of the BaDtist church he gave three facts ;"l. The author ities which he has adduced are all nmiofthe Baptists." . j " - - Does it follow us a necessary consequence that a dilTerenctf of ciniomust be thedfect of v .,.. j i vaunui an inmviuuai nonestiy dissent irom an opinion or practice, and yet be a friend and even a lover of the author of said opinion and practice ? But for the sake of argument suppose 1 should admit that all my witnesses were ene-m,ej-?M.lhe BaPlists; 3 that fact destroy the credibility of their statements. br render them in competent to record the truth ? Would such an objection annul! their evidence before the ju dicatures of the land Do we not rsometimes ap peal to the enemies of Christianity to confirm the truth of scripture events ? To lnstnnre tn N. crobiu j in proof of the massacre of the infants of Bethlehem? To Pilate and Josephus, that Christ was on earth? To Lucian in proof of Christ s crucifixion and doctrine of love 1 : And to Pliny to establish the truth of the prevalence of Christianity ? Admitting the propriety of what I have here said.how perfectly childish is this senti ment, -"Before we can be required to receive the testimony adduced as infallible, it must be shown that peoples' enemies always left the truth whetVfhey speak of their principles and histo ry V' - "i .; ).. ? 2. "Another circumstance to bo taken Into the account is, that the witnesses brbnght for ward contradict themselves Bishop Tomline accordini1 10 the extracts given by Laurentious, allows the Baptists to begin in the beginning of the fifteenth century, Goodrich in the six teenth." - This is further evidence of Proecclesia's "aim at fair dealing" "the witnesses contradict them selves." This is untrue. If it could be shown that they contradict each othert no man can prove that they contradict themselves." Bishop Tom line who is here named in connection with Mr. Goodrich, was not introduced by me to prove the origin of the Anabaptists of Germany ; but their estahjishmenrm England. All the witnesses oap!fsTsJintfeTmanygfeVa they made their appearance j and n doubt their evidence would be" received in any civil court in Christendom. , But suppose there , had been a slight disagreement, would that be sufficient to invalidate their testimony ? If so, then, I will venture the supposition that there is scarcely a fact, of long standing, in the' world but what would be destroyed or disbelieved. Who does not know that the time when St. Matthew's gos pel was published has been made matter of de bate among critics; some fixing it as near to the ascension of our Lord as A. D. 37 ; others extend it to A. D. 62; and others fixing upon several intermediate dales? And that it has also been a matter of disnute whether his gospel was writ ten in Hebrew or Greek T 1 If the simple fact of want of agreement as to the precise date, be of sufficient moment to justify the rejection of all esTTmonv. then b'efore this day. the go,pel of Christ would have been cast 'to the moles and bats,"nd a guilty soul been left to wander a midst the darkness of uncertainty, to a state of terror and despair. I will not follo w up a suppo sition so absurd, lest I offend the common sense of my readers. T . 3. "But what we wish chiefly considered is, that his statements and extracts contradict other, and better testimony I don't know, but I should suppose that the scriptures, particularly in the English version.are as good, if not better author ity than that produced by Laurentious." Am I to judge from the above paragraph that the mind of my friend is undetermined whether to give preference to Go d's word or to human pro ductions? As to my own part I feel no hesi tancy in" saying, j"Let God be true, but every man a: liar." And if Proecclesia will give m'e from that book one : single passage where infants are positively forbiddenthe rite of baptism ; or where the primitive christians were called Bap ists, I will surrender the point. And, again, though irrelevant, il ne win give me upuic to iustify him, and his brethren in rejecting from the Lord's table, those wnom uou naa rcwi.cu, merely because ihey have not been dipped by a baptist minister, 1 will gne up me buujccu - -. Proecclesia admits tnat tne term Auawpuw was armlied. in former times, to the people now called Bantists.by their enemies; and so does Mos- . J . rr J . l . ' . I heim. What seems to anoru uie gcmieiuuii Anban tv. and is in conseauence extremely difficult to hp ascertained!' To a man in ordinary circum stances such a statement as this would afford no pleasure, would bring no satisfaction. It the or-io-in of a thin be : so "hidden" as to render it rtr,mrlv difficult to be ascertained: ana yei the accurate knowledge of the tact is essennauy necessary, what advantage can such proiouno uncertainty be to an individual, or a set of indi viduals ? Suppose a man held in his hands an immense estate, which could only be retained on condition of his finding. the original document which contained the beuesi;. ."ure 'l' search should learn, -ihat that which o ranch desired was so hidden in the depths of aMify ..-1 ..-....;, JifiLr.ult to be ascertained, what effect would such; an announcement ha ve ,B iA i rrt.-u ;t not cast a gloom over t.. .w t v,.-.;1.;.',:wt Not so. however, much pleasure, and on which he lays particular stress, is, that Mosheim says, "the true origin of ih f A aba mists is hidden in the depths of anticnti- I-AMJIGII. SATUItDAY, JULY 13. le.ia with my friend 1 for rether than be deprived of a great antiquity,! he will let his origi.i lie -hij- uen in tho deepest depts of " unctrtainty." How true the adage, "that drowning men will catch at straws.'' But, Mojhcims "depths" mav not reach so far; beyond the period named by the other historian! as the gentleman may imagine. One thing I wish my reader to know and re member, which is' this, Mosheim quotes Jron Robertson, who dates their rise "oqn after the reformation: and to IhisMoshein himself seems to agree in these words, "this uncertainty will n9 appear surprising,1 when itis 'consider ed that this sect started yp sudden!. n several countries, and at fhe Same point "of time, under leaders of very different talents nnr? mtpm;nn. 0wn J fhe very period when the first contests cf the Reformers with the Roman pontiff, drew the attention of the world, and employed the pens of the learned, in such a manner, as to render all other objects a matter ofindifference. If I may be indulged a few moments while I sha I paraphrase this passage, I think a key will be given to the difficulty which Proeccle sia sees in it-i"This uncertainty" as to the true origin of the Anabaptists "Will not ap pear surprising when it is ascertained that this sect started up suddenly in several countries at the same period of time" that the uncertainty. origin, but the spot where thev first commpnnd ucspuncn ui.uoesnoiaiiuaetotne time olth eir and the individual who was the first originator o. the faction.is quite evident from these words by the historian "At the very period when the first contests of the Reformers" &c. Here, the time when they sprang up is clearly defined : and harmonizes with the statements of numerous other historians "Sta'rted up suddenly in seve ral countries at the same point of time" says Proecclesia "If they started up 'suddenly in se veral countries at the same point of time,' then their origin cannot be fixed in any specific coun tsand moreover, they must have existed pre viously." This is specious, but not slid. The contests between the Reformers and their oppo nents, was so absorbing in its character, as "io Tender all other objects a matter of indifference." Availing themselves of this favourable onnortu- nity, it was an easy task fcr those who as Mos- hem observes, were disconcerted under the go- vernment of the lords," and "who declared war against the laws and magistrates ;" to form their plans and even rise simultaneously against their rulers. This will appear still more nlausible when we remember that the sa.ne historian says. 6"- 1M-Mt-JilMm''nn-aUo-l wished to be relieved of some of their burdens. and to enjoy greater freedom ; respetting relig ion they did not say much. But when the tanat ic.. Thomas Muntzer, who had before deceived others by his fictitious visions and dreams, and some other persons of a similar character, had joined this irritated multitude, from a cvil com motion, it became, especially in Saxony and Thunngia a religious or holy war. Vol. a. pp. ikAo Thii i mtinnl nrf unlntinn nf A M M aJk.M ftWMM ft ft Ml W r . I nin .1 . i u n tvK such an insurrectionary commotion. could not such a spirit as Muntzer io with such st R.pe for.rapi eand blood, thev only De ded . (spirit lender d dating by fanaticism to lead them to deeds of horror; and such an onethey found in ThomasMuntxer. : f Once morelProecclesia ; says-" No they were diven into those countries by cruel meas ures, and they :continaed there until the circum stances whichiprepared the way for the reforma tion, Drought them more prominently into no- brot Bi duli his "inse dixit" n this matter. He must tell J -.-. ft I from whence they were driven, and when their flight took place; ana support : nis say so oy in rlnhitable testimonv. -Nothing short of this will suffice? and unless it be given, his assertion will be regarded as tneonspnng oi i iucy. r ON SPIRITUAL DISTRESS. Sorrow is the common lot of humanity; but disappointments in our business, losses in our mnprv bpreavements in ; our domestic circle, diseases in our bodies, or even all these combin fllPS Or CfCU u I tu&ae vwiiivi" U1M'U,.T . . i m id. "0 H-kt. .."".fSirf."". j irw titwu - - n,hih enman the cm QTen 01 won ttioftt r . ... . . . .1 rr-1 -I - mn tvill eiutnin limes subject, me spiniu .... his infirmity1; but a, wounded spirit who can bear? It happens nof unfrequently, that the Christian is troubled oh everyide, yet not dis tressed: at other times the case is reversed; and while all things around are prosperous, he is fil crief, M led with a deep, exquisite, ana aosorunij; Kmc, Ll..u ..,Am .onnnt n H ri tiat el V describe.- io wnicu wuiu. tau..v. - -f :ku AL W thing indeed can . surpass or - laniruage, and the viv.a anu .aj Scripture, for we find auch anguish is xallea, drinking'the cup of wormwood and gall, wa ,i,r,o.. Binlinrr in deen waters, passi Ik throtffch the furnacend the fiery trial. When the infinite evil and awful consequences of sm - ft .l ... Mlnflft Hi A. are dl.tinctly percei.ed. covery ollhe atonement "".5". Chri-t: when .-"W"0; nate nursmts and jelE h . fl"Cs cumuiaiea aioauui s-vr", . i thnnohn and blasphemous ideas w l At r,f Sntan. have oeen Bnot into the soul: and when, as tho last and worn c r- cumsiance, the light of God's counieuuce IS io- the whole matter, and shows plainly that instead sionoi sins f res oesponaingsoui.in nim re of its being "incredible that they should have es an inexhaustible fulness of grace. Take become so numerous at the very point of begin- then the precious ' promisfs i of his word, and try V rr..Tr : " t,,..u impossible. She tinns m every man a u li 1 1 ta r mmi i m r 1 1 r iiriii. cmu.ft.ftJL i i a a & k i nau connuueu in uustunny, in w www.. . . .r .i ri irht into notice by sucn circumstances i -. ,;i;,f fua rA v ft I 4 . I 111 I 1 1 VCLClULli lUkl ww-- it ray JNewbern triend, must paruon my mere- - -- , j::nlin.d- lp . i m . . 3 i inn ii riR ri i iiiiiua iiuokiiib w. "w w . w wlipn T inform him that I cannot receive um ...H.6v-, -r tally hid, while a thiclrnln? etayj clsrurcs ti e evidence of interest in hit favour, whi-'-, de grees, shuts out tvery cheering ht -i ' ' 1 - iuv un-auiui are uie tempestuous t.r; flish across the mind, how trprr.r r V palling is the prospect of death cndjuJ-nu ,t!-l. The distress of pious men is by wc:r uniformly attributed to fanaticism. And ICJIUIOUS men thnnl1 in II.. .: .! world, reflect dijeredit upon religion itself. It deemed therefore by them the Phrt both of gooU.pohcy amf hurityv io advert chieflvrto the cnlm peace and sweet satisfaction,. which the C pel is calculated and intended to produce 3 undoubtedly true, that religion is the only source of permanent comfort and refined joy But it must not be forgotten nor concealed, that Christianity is a restorative system, and though ali us medical prescriptions are bcth.safe and salutary, they often prove from the rtrength pf evil habits and corrupt rpassions, exceedmglv painful in their immediate effects. . Itraust alsc be remembered.that the Christian life is constaqt, iy represented as a warfare; and -though the combat is not always equally fierce and violent, nor do all occupy posts equally perilous, the be liever has not only to engage the enemy at the outworks, fighting behind his rampart, but is frequently called to maintain the arduoui con flict within the citadel itself, where he is ejri roned with darkness, dismay; and confussion. : When we meet with a good man strongly agitated with doubts and fears, or deeply plung ed m spiritual trouble, he haVpowerfub claims upon cur tenderness and sympathy: ,. ; For, with a scul that ever'felt the sting Of sorrow, sorrow is a sacred thing. v Not to molest, or irritate, or raise V A laugh at his expense, is slender p'raise. He that has not unsurped the name of roan, Does all, and deems: too little all he can. 'T assuage the th robbings of the festerM paif, And stanch the bleedings of a broken heart. Let not any one who is severely tried, conclude tnat bis case is singular!; a conclasion which, 10 such circumstances, almost every one is apt t0 draw. Some of the most eminent saints throughout successive ages, have been exercis- ed with the keenest inward conflipb nH t limes weighed down with "a crushing load of woes, wear Uavid: ..'Mine iniquities are c-one s6rrov7 continualtrbeforo me.' Hear the language of Job: 'The arrows of the Almigh ty are within me; the poison whereof drinkelh up my spirit: the terror? of God do set them- selves in array agamsi me. Nor let the man filled with spiritual distress, think his case hopeless. Gilead? Is there not a not Jesus exalted to be a Is there not balm in Physician there? Is Prince and a Saviour, to ffive repentance , unto Israel, and the rerais- . - WW j 1 ft ineir euicacv. nunc a, mw.u um ju mc -flesh, and the messenger of Satan buffets thee, nasien w tuo .ucrum, '"'f lJ ""'"c"- hasten to tne mercuui ana migniy rt,eaeemer. J ""VY""" ":,"-T-""?.: r ? " .""VZ: WIU ,aV7 ,u .! f3 .nfficient fV' in JrSmJ but we know that all things work together for eood to them that love God, to them who are callea accoramgto nis purpose, The Ion? existence of the christian church, would be pronounced upon common principles, natural overcome he boasts gions, no y Kina. x ei ner expecta tion is. that she shall -live forever. To mock this hope, and blot out her memorial from under heaven, the most furioas efforts of fanaticism, the most insrenious art of statesmen, theconcen tmtfd strength of empires, have been frequently nnd nprseverinrlv annlied. The blood of her sons and her daughters has streamed like water. The smoke of the scaffold and the tak. where thotr wnrn the crown of martyrdom in the cause of Jesus has ascended in thick volumes to the skies. The tribes cf persecution have shouted over her woes, and erected monuments, as they imagined, of her perpetual rum. But where l r . . . 1 i i Anrl whfrf art their emmresf VmTh. ilZ since oe to their own . J . . jw place. Their names have descenaea upon me roll ofinfamy. Their empires have passed like shadows over the rock. They nave succes sively disappeared and left not a trace behind. r.,t Kcrnnap nf the church? bhe rose UUk v w . --- - - J 1. . v' - fresh in beauty and might. Ce lestial glory beamed around her. She dashed rlnwti th monumental marble of her foes, and ' - , . , . ihv ho hated hated her fled before her. bhe nas braled lhe funerals I of kings and kingdoms - , , . ril;n;nhd with theUnscriptions of their nride, has transmitted to posterity the .. . '' l.ll records of their shame, now.snau mis pue nnmnnon be exolained 1 We are at this momen witnesses of the fact, rbut Iwho can unfold the L ha, id. wondV, to aSe. : The a . m i inani nnn -T iiiia iiiinu iii i i iilii l,, h God in the mid.t or her is migniy Hia presence; is a fontain of health, and his protection a wall of fire. Armed with d vine ' h roane . secret, si ent. unobserved, en- Mr . e ..: . wiv. v w- ters the hearts of men and sets up an everlasting kinsdom. It eludes all the vigilance, ana Dai Acs all the power of every adversary. Bars and some nrutians are too eager to place it to the account of nervous debility, or morbid melan choly. ! Ihey seem afraid IctitU .nm.rJn. i outwara iorce oi an loin end tlnnrt':.z n ; preach. I amis ; . J t , MtinguisI its iutluencr. it j From tLeChiistlad Ii-J;2 ; TUCK AOENCV. This terra is used by throIoIcRl writrrs to ei; rc3a lhe itate tl mm as crtiturts v u d witu 'power every ..1 way suited to; yield cl 1U )f thcir.MakerJwhi!? at the tucc 10 me laws 01 mcir. .Makers same time they were Uii free, or made to "turn irorn the holy commandment delivered er.to them." The word agtnt, in this connection, simply describes man us capable ci laction ; and free is used to show that that octFon was th res'ult of no compulsory coercion, but produced wholly by j the violation of its agents, of that men act according to the' most pk v i'I-g dis position of their hearts. Thir fn : c : ::y is" that whereby men are the pre; . subjects'of moral law; bound to obey the voice of their Creator, because he have them, in their creation the ability to do so, and therefore requires them to love hivi with all Uheir heart, soul, mind, and trength; but never coerces themf-to this obe dience ;for!this would be to rende their service a mattey of necessity, and not of choice, .votd 'of virtue, an Incapable of giving any honor.' Jin ordefihat men's obedience might be voluntary, virtuous, a nd honoring, to their Creator, ". they must bef to disobey, if tkey. choose to do so. Tis this that renders them responsible for their itctioris-the subjects ; of praise jdr? blame.- Without this they could not be blesied in theif obedience, nor Condemned for ' their jsin.- " .The fact that men have sinned hasf no tenden cy to alter, or change, or abate the claims of their Creator on them, or their obligations of obedience to him, in the least. ' He! has created ; them the subjects of moral government, and commands them accordingly; and it is their duty to obey ; but their foolish heart being fully betit in them to do evil, they will not. They choose their own evil ways and doings, and re-. turn. Thr;refere they are whhout (excuse, and justly oonderaned, and would all perish in their own corruption, if God wa3 not better; to them than they are to themselves. , , ; ,' But God, in the infinite .provisions. of hif mercy, has purposed in Christ tojemplo such divine operations and influences jas shall; irt perfect accordance with : hise agency of men, make his people willing in the day ipf his power. It is believed; that all the saving .operations ,of God in 1 meri are to bring them ts this wil line men,, but always seekato change jOronTTtr evil inclinations, and so to turn them to himself. The evidences of God's favor towards ; any, are therefore not to be sought in forcible restraints, but in the drawings and s weet mcllnings of their hearts to seek the Lord, and to obtain his favor. Now are we to tink these swee drawings are the less certain, ; because they do not' rise jto coercion. The Lord, who formed the heart, knows best how to! govern , it, andjfoTm -it anew to love and serve him with true delight. '- ' ' : i i Extract from Tholuck's Sermon. 1 - . , I - -f . r . . - - i ! ' 1 ;! - THE JOYS OF SALVATION. , . , There is (only one kind of joy jin which th soul is interested, and of which 1 never become wearvr This is the joy and the j peace which) the testimony of bur adoption' byj God brings with it. Oh ye, who are yet atarj On, there-are, yea there are, in the life of the faithful .Christian, . J . l 3 1. .1 ' ' J. .J not only minutes ana nours, mere are uays, aim months, and years, which he could wish to be nroloned to all eternity, and he jconld never bo weary ot them, mere is a ricnness m ibeib periods, and a fulness in them, and a jife and a , stillness, an; activity and a deep repose, ana a steadiness, which fills the whole soul, ana whictk no one can adequately understand, but one who has felt them. And the voice pf .the faithful Christian bears audible testimony, "We have tasted of the good word of 0od, and the Jpower . of the world to come." In what; they already enjoy here below, they have a ibretaste of the future world. '!;-... From this you will understaijc) ,why, in our text, the children, of God arejcalled heirs . of God ; and why the Spirit whch is imparted; to them, 13 called the surely of lhe future inher itance.; The apostle says in jthe subsequent . context, that they who have faith' have received the first fruits of the Spirit, f Now the first fruits' of a harvest are followed by the full har vest. ' In these first fruits Christians -are fully assured how rich a harvest is reserved fur then in heaven, when they shall behoTd in glory what they now hope for in weakness. But so long as you remain destitute o( that degree of faith;! by which you may taste; the .powers of the world to come : so long, Cristiansrvas yott are not made happy men by the; power of your faith, tell me, how can you explain the word of your Redeemer, when he says that 'the man. who has faith has already pressed throqgb, death, and has passed unto life!'.' Tell raeK does there not appear to be a sacred intimation, in these words of Jesus, that-the idea of faith,, involves something more, decidedly more, than that poor and starveling principle, which is alt that your experience comprehends J . But wno" ever ofyou in this ChrisUan asjsemb y can ny, we ha ve felt the po wers of the; wotM. to come, -since we have exexcised fanh we have expe- rienced the first fruits of the Spirit; which will one day be followed by the whole harvest: we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, ---i w.thus received an earnest of our heav enly inheritance : whoever can say this, to you heaven is i secure beyond a doubt. Ye happy ones, to you there remaineth i not a sofitary doubt that heaven shall be your. home. .."Whet f i t- i . -