manifest that the testimony they heard concerning him was adapted to comfort and gladden the heart-even of the chief of sinners. By this test, reader, you may try the various doctrines which are current in the world under the name of the gospel. Whichsoever of them has not this tendency, whichsoever is not adapted to produce this effect immediately in any sinner who believes it,-that doctrine is not of God; it must be different from the Gospel which the apostles of Christ testified: and those who maintain it, however they may put on the appearance of ministers of righteousness, 2 Cor. xi. 13, 15. yet come under the awful sentence pronounced by Paul of old, "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Gal. i. 8, 9.

The testimony of the apostles to all whom they addressed, was this; 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved;" -saved by him, beside whom "there is no other name under heaven given unto men, whereby we must be saved." Acts iv. 12. And this doctrine does not flatter the pride of the human heart, by addressing any, as persons well disposed, and possessed of some power to recover the favour of God. It does not point out to them what "they shall do to be saved;" but it proclaims to all alike, the work which Christ Jesus has done for the justification of the ungodly; and the office which he sustains, as the Saviour of the lost: declaring on the authority of the God of heaven, that his righteousness is unto, and upon all of them who believe the divine record concerning him; that the gift of God to them is eternal life, and that this life is in his Son. Rom. iii. 22. vi. 23. 1 John v. 11–13. Many talk of believing the Scriptures, and of believing in Christ, who avowedly disbelieve the things that are written in the Scriptures concerning Christ. Some deny the scriptural testimony of his God manifested in the flesh:" and thus impiously person, as attempt to introduce idolatry, under the mask of divine revelation; representing a creature as the object of that trust and confidence, of that allegiance and devotedness of heart and life, which cannot, without idolatry, be transferred to any other than JEHOVAH. Many who are professedly religious, deny the scriptural testimony concerning his office, and his work; while they paint him as a friend and favourer of the worthy and the good,-a kind of helper to the feeble, but well-inclined, and a partner with them in the business of their getting to heaven: in opposition to his own plainest declarations, that ' he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance;" that he came to seek and to save that which was lost." Matt. ix. 13. Luke xix. 10. Others, who even speak highly at times of his righteousness and grace, hold out what they call his righteousness, as that which the sinner must labour to obtain,―must seek and strive after, till he lays hold upon it; and describe those alone, who are devoutly exercised in this unbelieving effort, as the objects of what they call his grace; and all this in opposition to the word which reveals him, as the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth," Rom. x. 4. even the most wicked and ungodly; and thus brings it nigh alike to every

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sinner who hears the joyful sound. And others again, in calling him their Saviour, mean nothing more than that they hope he will give them a kind of impunity in sinning; while the word proclaims that

His name is called JESUS, because he shall save his people from their sins:" Matt. i. 21. that he " gave himself for their sins, that he might deliver them from this present evil world, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works." Gal. i. 4. Tit. ii. 14.

Many talk of the gospel, profess to preach it, and to believe in it, and yet its real glory (as a divine revelation of mercy and salvation to the lost) appears out of their view; and they seem to prize it chiefly as a convenient instrument for producing some imaginary reformation in the heart and life of a sinner.

The one and only true gospel, when perceived, does indeed produce in the sinner "a new mind" and " a new spirit," and is in this repect, as in every other, 'the power of God unto salvation." The people "that know righteousness," are a people that have "his law in their hearts,"-Is. li. 7.—even that law which hath gone "forth out of Zion;" as in the same new covenant, in which God declares, "I will be merciful to their unrighteousness," he also declares," I will put my laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts." But they know nothing as yet of either blessing, who conceive, of any fancied reformation of the heart or life, as advancing the sinner towards the remission of sins; as preparing him to receive the gospel doctrine, or placing him in likelier circumstances than others for being brought to the belief of it. Repentance, or a new mind, and the remission of sins, are inseparably connected, and both alike accompany the belief of the gospel. The divine testimony concerning Jesus, presents an object so glorious, and reveals such a view of the distinctive character of the only living and true God, (as the just God and the Saviour, just and justifying the ungodly,) that whoever discerns it, whoever believes the report, has at once peace with God, and has that new mind of the spirit which is according to the mind of God. He delights in that one object, in which alone God is well pleased, and abhors all the course, and all the sentiments which he before most admired. Being now made "free from sin," and become a servant to God, he has his fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life; in the good hope of which he rejoices, and is taught by that grace (or rich mercy) of God, which has brought him salvation," that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, he should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world:" and he now sees the friendship of this world to be enmity with God, as he sees, that in all its most specious forms, it is opposed to that revealed truth of God in which all the divine will is manifested.

These various errors, which so generally abound, mark the ignorance of the Scriptures that prevails in this country; and men's attachment to these errors, and aversion to the truths of Scripture, mark their character as haters of the only living and true God, who reveals himself in his word.

From a great part, indeed, of the inhabitants of Ireland the Scriptures are shut up by their human guides; or, if they venture to look into them at all, they read them under the influence of a persuasion, that it is a damnable sin to call in question the interpretation which their guides have put upon them. And thus, under a name and profession of Christianity, they are led blindfold in all abominable idolatries, as gross as any the heathen world ever adopted; worshiping angels and the spirits of departed men; yea, worshiping as their God and Saviour, what they take into their mouths and eat; persuaded that some bread and wine, which they see or taste, is human flesh and human blood.

To such—to all—even to the most benighted, and the most ungodly, the glorious gospel comes, as it did of old, proclaiming "glad tidings of great joy," peace made by Jesus Christ for the rebellious, sin taken away by his one offering up of himself, once for all, in place of the guilty, everlasting righteousness brought in by his obedience unto death, the “just for the unjust," complete salvation for the lost-assured to every one alike, who believes the "faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

Reader, if you are given to believe it, and to "know the grace of God in truth;" whatever you have been hitherto, you will now be "turned unto the living God, to serve him, and to wait for his Son from heaven;" 1 Thess. i 9, 10. you will be "constrained by the love of Christ" 2 Cor. v. 14, 15. Rom. xiv. 8, 9. John x. 27. to yield yourself to him, and follow him, as your gracious Lord and good Shepherd. Neither will you be ashamed to confess his name before a gainsaying world; nor shrink from "suffering the loss of all things" for him, Phil. iii. 8. who, “though he was rich, became poor for our sakes, that we, through his poverty, might be made rich;" 2 Cor. viii. 9. yea, stooped to be "made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Cor. v. 21. His word abiding in you "will work effectually," as it doth in all them "that believe;" 1 Thess. ii. 13. and will “ bring forth fruit in you," even the fruits "of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God." Phil. i. 11. Col. i. 6.

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God;" 1 John v. 1. born of that Spirit, which is " the Spirit of truth." John xvi. 13, 14. As a child of God, he is "led by that Spirit;" Rom. viii. 14. walking in the truth, and not "after the flesh," or principles of corrupt nature-which ever" lusteth against the Spirit," and is contrary to it. Gal. v. 17.-If you then would know "how you ought to walk and to please" him who has redeemed us by his own blood, search the Scriptures. In the writings of the apostles, his words, and the precepts delivered by them in his name to his disciples, stand on record; and form the only sure and authoritative rule for their conduct to the end of the world. That rule has been set aside, as out of date, by the great mass of the world called christian; and various precepts and traditions of men have been substituted in its place. Even disciples have been awfully led astray by these devices of the adversary.

But let it be remembered that no man, or body of men, has authority to abrogate any of the laws of Christ's kingdom,-either to take from them, or to add to them. His apostles were commissioned and qualified by him, to instruct its subjects in his will. They convey the same instruction, on the same divine authority, in their writings, at this day and at this day it is as true as it was of old, "that whosoever heareth them, heareth him." Luke x. 16. Those therefore who confess his name need to decide whom they will serve, and whom they will obey. If they will obey men, rather than God, they may continue in connexion with the various bodies called christian churches, but regulated by human tradition, and founded on a systematic rejection of the apostolic precepts. But if they will consistently maintain their allegiance to him, whose name they bear, they must "come out and be separate" from all such spurious churches. As belonging to a kingdom, which is "not of this world," John xviii. 36. they must receive their laws from him, whom Jehovah has set as "King upon his holy hill of Zion," Psalm ii. 6. and must acknowledge no other legislator in that kingdom, but himself. As a people "sanctified by the truth," John xvii. 16, 17. separated unto him from all the nations of the earth and one in him, they must walk in fellowship with those-and with those alone, who hold the same great truth as it is in Jesus, and who follow him according to his revealed will.

But, reader, if you reject that truth, if you disbelieve the divine testimony concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, it matters not what outward church you are connected with. Indeed, false churches are the fittest for those who hold a false gospel. However this be, the word of God testifies, that unless "He give you repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth," 2 Tim. ii. 25, you shall assuredly perish. As to the notion so generally current in the world and fondly cherished by it, that there are various ways of getting to heaven, and that it is of no essential consequence what set of religious opinions men adopt, it is a notion suggested by the "father of lies,"-contradictory to the most express declarations of Scripture,-and inconsistent indeed with the persuasion, that the Scriptures contain a revelation from the God of heaven. For if they do, can it be that sinners may reject it with impunity?

The same word which declares, "he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life," declares also, "he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." John iii. 36. And if you continue in unbelief, the truth of this testimony shall yet be confirmed in you. A day is coming, "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." 2 Thess. i. 7, 10.

II.

THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING EXEMPLIFIED.

READER, in this country which bears the name of christian, there are great multitudes who have never seriously considered what the GOSPEL of CHRIST is; and among those whose minds have been seriously engaged with that inquiry, there are great differences of opinion, and various disputes upon the subject. Among a dozen of those who profess, or even preach, what they call the gospel, it would be easy to find a dozen different meanings annexed to the word; and no two of them intending the same thing, by what they all term the gospel of Christ.

From this fact some, who wish to take the matter easy, borrow an argument to justify their indifference and unconcern about the ques tion. What use,' say they, in our attending at all to a subject which appears to be involved in such perplexity?' And others, by a similar consideration, are persuaded that they ought not to judge for themselves upon the matter, but give implicit credence to what they are told is true, by those whom they submit to, as their guides in religion.

But in fact, it may with certainty be concluded, that any teachers, who wish the people to give implicit credence to their dictates, are deceivers and blind guides. And it is a great mistake to imagine, that they alone shall be responsible for the delusions in which they lead their followers. It is written, Matt. xv. 14. that, “if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

It is equally certain, that the subject is of such high importance to every man, that indifference and unconcern about it is nothing short of the most awful madness. And I add, that the subject has none of that intrinsic perplexity, to which many impute the various and contradictory opinions prevailing upon it. These spring from quite another cause. But the question itself-what the true GOSPEL of CHRIST is-admits a simple and easy determination, if men would only try the question in the plain and obvious way, open alike to every one that can read English; and would then submit to that determination of the question, to which this way must lead them.

Now, what is that way of which I speak? It is this:-The apostles were commissioned and qualified by the Lord Jesus Christ to preach his Gospel to all nations: and they did so in obedience to his command. That Gospel, which they preached, was the true Gospel; and we have it on record in various narratives contained in the Acts of the Apostles, where we are expressly informed what they said to