it are called, "born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John i. 13. "Born from above," or of the spirit. John iii. 3. For "it is the spirit which quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing." John vi. 63; Luke xiv. 23. They are given to believe "the record God hath given of his Son," and the belief thereof is the witness within himself, (1 John, v. 10, 11, 12,) because this knowledge of the true and living God," flesh and blood cannot reveal," viz."that God hath given, (mark, not offered,) eternal life, and this life is in his Son."

8. The Scriptures do not warrant any man to say he is exempt from the proclamation of mercy in the Gospel. Whosoever will, let him take freely. If he will not take, then he must blame himself, not God. The value of the atonement is infinite-adequate to the transgressions of the inhabitants of thousands of worlds.

9. Forasmuch as man will not believe the Gospel, unless by the influence of the Holy Spirit which makes him give credit to the record of God, and "set to his seal that God is true," John, iii. 33, the same spirit causes him "to walk worthy of his high vocation;" "to become crucified to the world, and the world to him;" "to bring forth the fruits of righteousness;" "to obey all things commanded by the Lord and his Apostles, and thus by his conduct to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." The real believer is as anxious about all this, as if his eternal welfare depended on it, though he well knows his salvation depends not on his faithfulness, but on the faithfulness of his God.

10. This obedience is as necessary to prove that a man really believes, what he says he believes, as the symptoms of life are to its existence; but it is no more the cause of his belief or salvation, (or gives him no more an

interest in the work of Christ,) than the symptons of life are the causes of life. The goodness of a tree is known by its fruit, and not the goodness of the fruit by the tree: Yet Anti-Christ teaches us to put causes for effects, and effects for causes; to make Christ the author, and man the finisher of salvation; to consider certain acts of obedience the means, or the procuring cause of salvation, instead of, as the scriptures show that they are, only effects or fruits of it. In short, he teaches men to read the Bible backwards.

11. The Law and Gospel are so artfully blended together by Anti-Christ, that it is generally impossible to know what the author or speaker means. And in order to defend the appearance of being supported by Scripture, passages which in the scriptures are addressed specifically to believers, even to those born of God, exhorting them to a life and conversation becoming their high vocation, these are constantly applied by the corrupters of the Gospel, to unbelievers, so as to make the salvation or pardon of a sinner appear to hinge upon some act or condition on the part of man.

12. The Law came by Moses; and the Gospel by Jesus Christ. Moses and his disciples offered the blessings of eternal life, on condition of man's perfect obedience. But Jesus Christ proclaimed, (not offered,) that he himself came "to save the lost;" "to give his life a ransom for many," and to do that which man would not do. Matthew, xx. 28. And thus Christ produces in those who believe on him, a repentance which needeth not to be repented of a love to God and man, which the terrors of the law of Moses could not effect. Luke, vii. 42.

13. Although the great object of the Lord Jesus was to proclaim this free pardon, to set the prisoners free, yet

he always took men on their own grounds. Accordingly, whenever any one asked him what he should do to have eternal life, he immediately referred him to the law, and told him to "keep the commandments-to be perfect." In the instance related in Matthew, xix. 16. 21, this reply produced the ever tantalizing inquiry, "what lack I yet?” And this well disposed religious man, ("for he had kept the law from his youth up,") we read, "went away sorrowful." Thus, Christ occasionally preached the law and repentance to bring conviction home, and to take men on their own grounds. Moses preached Christ—and John the Baptist said, "behold the Lamb of God."

14. Although the Law and the Gospel are not one, yet they agree in one object-the glory and justification of the living God.

3,

15. We may now take man on his own grounds, as the Lord Jesus did-Does he want to be saved by doing any thing-then he must do all, "keep the commandments of God, and be perfect; but Christ will have no act or part in this vain and impious attempt. Gal. v. 4. Does he wish to be saved by his repentance-then it must be a repentance that needeth not to be repented of. 2 Cor. vii. 10. And in this work he has no authority to expect any assistance from Christ. I repeat no authority whatever. Why so? Because man, by any such attempt, proves he rejects God's testimony, making HIM a liar, 1 John v. 10, and we know Christ will not assist man in doing this. The same Lord still proclaims in his written word, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every man that believeth;" "this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased;" "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life;" "he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth

on him." John iii. 36. Rom. vi. 23. Happy is he that believeth-flesh and blood hath not revealed it to him.

ROBE. It is written in Matthew, xxvii. 28, “And they stripped him, (Christ) and put on him a scarlet robe." In John, xix. 2. "And they put on him a purple robe❞—And in Mark it is written, " And when they had mocked him they took off the purple from him.” xv. 20. Tolerable evidence this, it must be admitted, that there was no collusion between those writers-no pains taken by them, to avoid apparent contradiction. The original word translated purple, signifies also "splendid," "gallant," &c. And the translators of the Testament have in this, as well as in numerous other instances, proved that they had drunk deep into the same spirit of honesty by which the sacred writers themselves were actuated. The same original word, not being found in Matthew, (though critically signifying the same that those in Mark and John do,) can easily be accounted for, by recollecting that Matthew wrote in Hebrew, while the others wrote in Greek. See Causes.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. So designated because this corruption of Christianity had its ostensible origin in Rome; although in reality, the spirit of it commenced even in the Apostles' days. (2 Thes. ii. 3-7.) There are two reasons why, in a little work like this, any notice should be taken of this corruption of Christianity: the first is, because it is now in our days fulfilling to the letter, prophecies delivered by the servants of God, eighteen hundred years ago; and secondly, because it has become quite fashionable for infidels to assail Christianity, through its corruptions and abuses,

as practised in this, and other churches. Indeed no one can read his Bible, and know any thing of the history, or present practices, worship, or ceremonies, &c., of this establishment, but be forcibly struck with the exact fulfilment of the Sacred predictions. We shall select a few out of many.

1st. As to where she should first prominently commence, and hold her principal seat or dominion, viz: THE CITY OF ROME; which was built upon SEVEN HILLS! (Rev. xvii. 9. 18.) Now the actual city of Rome itself, in which the Church holds her principal seat, and the seven actual hills upon which the city was built, both together, are peculiarly symbolical of the Church, and her seven sacraments (hills) on which she is built!

2dly. Her conduct. She, while professing to be the Church of Christ (whose kingdom is not of this world) formed alliances and unions with the kings of the Earth: hence said to commit adultery and fornication with the kings of the earth: hence called "THE GREAT WHORE -The Mother of Harlots," &c. (Rev. xvii. 2. 5. 15; xviii. 3, 4.)

3dly. The spiritual ordinances of Christ's Church converted by her, into carnal commandments, into actual trade and commerce; even to trade in "the souls of men." (Rev. xviii. 12, 13.)

4thly. Her laying aside the spiritual weapons of Christ, and His Apostles, (2 Cor. x. 4; Ephes. vi. 13. 17,) and using the sword of steel.

5thly. Her damnable heresies, which Peter says they would PRIVILY bring in, teaching that a man may do, not only enough to please God, but do more, and thus have good works for the convenience of others. (Rom. iii. 19.) Rendering to all intents and purposes, the Gospel of Christ of none effect; undervaluing, by the