the New Teftament.

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cruel enemies. To complete their mifery, the Emperour Nero declared himfelf also against them, and put many of them to death by means the most terrible. Thus oppreffed and perfecuted on all fides, they could neither confefs and practice their religion openly, nor establish any external union among themselves; but every feparate community was neceffitated to endeavour to govern and to fupport itself in the best manner it was able. Even in this 'infant ftate of Chriftianity, there arofe a formal fchifm among themselves: the difciples, who had been formerly Jews, infifted on retaining their paternal law, and mixed with Christianity the ceremonies of Judaifm; while the gentile converts confidered the abolition of the law of Mofes to be an effential article of the new religion, and would be guided by the doctrine of Jefus Chrift alone".

m Acts xv. Rom. xiv.

SECT.