in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." Col. ii, 18,

This is the true character of all angel worshippers; for if on any pretence people forsake Christ as their Advocate, and attach themselves to angels, to act in his place, they lose all the reward which he has purchased for them. To prevent this, the apostle warns the Colossians to let no man beguile or hinder them of their reward, in the virtue of Christ's atonement and advocacy. This is however done by many, of their own mere voluntary choice, having no scripture warrant for it; who thereby commit the sin of idolatry; and being too wise in their own eyes to be taught by truth, but vainly puffed up by their fleshly minds, they rush forward into that gross evil against which God has manifested so much of his displeasure in all ages of the world. Angels are not proper objects of worship or divine homage, as they have no part in man's creation, redemption, or advocacy with the Father in behalf of mankind; for the greatest saint now in heaven, is as much indebted to redeeming love, as the greatest sinner upon earth who stands in need of mercy; and the highest order of angels cannot comprehend its mystery, for they have desired to look into it but in vain; therefore they have no part in the disposal of it, only to rejoice in its interest to returning sinners.

Christ proved to be the Rock on which his Church is built, and not St. Peter, or any other.

WHEN error is introduced amongst any denomination of people, and permitted by them to predominate over the better part, either by spiritual negligence, or from secular motives, it is like the commencement of a plague, that disseminates its poisonous contagion throughout every part that comes within reach of its influence; and no mortal can tell the ultimate limits of its baneful ravages and devastation. When the Church of Rome began to deviate from the written word of God, the only true standard of moral and religious conduct, and turned aside to Popery and human inventions, she opened the flood-gates of antichristian error, and deluged the christian world with idolatry and superstition.

But

But it is not intended here to irritate her advocates, who endeavour to establish the propriety of their sentiments by assertions without proof. reason, history, and scripture, step forward to bear ample testimony to the facts here asserted; which are, that Popery is an infringement on the prerogative of Deity. For the Pope declares himself to be the head of the true church, having power to pardon sin, give or retain spiritual and divine favours, &c., all of which peculiarly belong to God, and not to men or angels. For although the Pope pretends to succeed St. Peter, in being

the head of the church, and the rock on which it is built, Jesus Christ says, that he himself is the Rock and Head, and not Peter or any other.

Thus in his discourse with his disciples at the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked them, saying, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt. xvi, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Hence it is evident, that our Lord had no reference whatever to the person of Peter as the rock, but to himself, who was the subject of Peter's confession and declaration, that he was Christ, the Son of the living God: and upon this rock or doctrine expressed by Peter, that Christ is the Son of the living God, the church is built, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.

And Peter himself makes good this assertion; for, after his conversion, when he became a worthy champion for his Lord, being filled with the Holy Ghost, he disclaimed all right to supremacy, and gave all the glory to Christ, and preached him to the people as the only rock and chief corner-stone of the church which he had established; for when

Peter and the rest of the apostles were called in question at Jerusalem respecting the healing of the impotent man, Peter stepped forward boldly, and preached Christ, and not himself, saying," Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner: neither is there salvation in any other." Acts iv, 10-12. And St. Paul corroborates this testimony when writing to the church at Ephesus, saying,-"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ HIMSELF being the chief corner stone." Eph. ii, 19, 20. Here St. Peter has only his part amongst the apostles and prophets in that foundation which is laid on Christ, "the chief corner-stone;" who has been head and foundation of his church in all ages of the world; of whom Moses spake, saying,-"He is the ROCK, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he." Deut. xxxii, 4. And St. Peter again says in reference to Christ being the rock,— Wherefore also it is contained in the scriptures, Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." 1 Pet. ii, 6, 7.

Now, from so many declarations contained in

both the Old and New Testaments, concerning Jesus Christ being the chief corner-stone and head of his church, it must appear to be antichristian as well as antiscriptural, to ascribe these offices to Peter or any other. Our Lord allowed no supremacy amongst the apostles; for when there was a strife amongst them which of them should be accounted the greatest, he said unto them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors; but ye shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he that is chief as he that doth serve. Matt. xxii, 24, 25, 26. And again, "Be not called Rabbi; for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." Matt. xxiii, 8. Where is supremacy here? or where can the Pope find authority for St. Peter being prince of the apostles, and head of the church, and he his successor, after so many declarations of God's own word to the contrary? Therefore, let all those who believe and teach such opinions, “take heed unto themselves and to their doctrine," for this same Jesus, whom they reject as their foundation and head, shall be their Judge; and if error accompany them to the awful tribunal, St. Peter, whom they prefer as their head, cannot save them.

Connected with this subject, there yet remains one thing more to be considered; namely, what is to be understood by the keys given to Peter, and what was the extent of his commission in binding and loosing, remitting and retaining. Our Lord said to Peter, "I will give thee the keys of the