better knowledge of truth and virtue in the world. To accomplish this good work, you are, with diligence, and with earnest affection for the truth, to search the scriptures. They are a deep mine of hidden treasure to those who thus seek for it; in which fresh stores of divine wisdom continually open themselves to the pious and honest inquirer, and furnish him with more clear and extensive knowledge of the will of GOD and of his own duty, and also with new and powerful motives to the practice of it. By being baptized, you do not declare yourself of any religious sect or party; but a christian. For you are baptized into, or, in other words, with reference to the name of Jesus Christ only; not of Paul, or of Peter; not of Athanasius, Arius or Socinus; not of Arminius or of Calvin; all of whom, though faithful servants of GOD, and eminent teachers and reformers in the christian church, were fallible mortals, and mistaken in many things; and, therefore, are to be followed by us, no further than as they followed Christ, our common master, and taught the truth which he taught. This is our lord's charge to his apostles, which belongs also to all his followers; "Every one, saith he, who shall confess me before men, I will also confess before my father, who is in heaven; but, whosoever shall deny me before men, I will also deny before my father, who is in heaven." Matt. x. 32, 33. 1 You are, therefore, to make open profession and acknowledgment of the divine truth of the gospel, so far as you have attained, or shall attain to it; and, at no time, through indolence, or the fear of man, or for any worldly consideration whatsoever, are you to dissemble or shrink from it. If, by the blessing of the heavenly father, you have escaped from darkness and grievous errors, in which others may be involved, you are to beware and guard against the being elated by such knowledge, so as to think worse of their final state before GOD, and better of your own, merely on that account. For this will generate an unworthy pride and self-preference, and contempt of those who possess not the advantages which you enjoy. But, on the contrary, you ought to be the more humble, and to reflect, that it is not the splendour and abundance of the gifts of GOD, but the faithful use and application of them for your own personal purification and improvement, and the edification of others, that will make them of any real value to you, or recommend you to his favour at the last. You will always bear in mind, that we are not Christ's true disciples, neither is our religion the religion of the gospel, if, in any respect, and especially on account of any difference of religious sentiments, it lead us to undervalue, despise, or evilintreat any of our fellow-christians, or any of our brethren of mankind. For he hath expressly said; "I give a new commandment to you about loving one another; that, as I loved you, ye also love one another. By this will all men know, that ye are my disciples, if ye have this love one to another." John xiii. 34. 35. Finally, forget not the teaching of the apostle, "that in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature;" that, as christians, all our knowledge and endowments are only to be esteemed in proportion as they make us wiser and better in our different relations in life; more pious and dutiful dutiful to GOD; more just and kind to others; more strict in the virtuous government of ourselves, our appetites, our passions, and affections; and more extensively serviceable to others, in their present and future interests. May the supreme father and governor of all things, direct and bless you in all your ways, that you may be finally approved by him, and be made a partaker of his heavenly and eternal kingdom, which he hath promised by Christ our lord. Amen. THE THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. The form of publication of the banns of I PUBLISH the bannsof marriage between A-B- of c-, and D- E- of F-; if any of you know cause, or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy matrimony, ye are to declare it. This is the first [second, or third] time of publication. When the persons to be married and their friends are assembled, the minister shall say; DEARLY BELOVED, we are gathered together here in the sight of GOD, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which state is commended by the apostle Paul as being honourable among all men. It is also a state of so much importance to the happiness of individuals, and, by G |