was important to confine within a moderate compass, obliged the author to adopt this course, instead of undertaking to expatiate at large through the immense field of learning, which has been cultivated-and sometimes unprofitably enough-on the subjects in question. Nor even upon this plan, has he given place to more than a small part of the passages which he had noted for insertion; although, if he is not greatly deceived, there will be found an ample sufficiency of the best authority on every point which called for its support. He commits his humble work to the candid consideration of his readers; and especially to the blessing of Him, who is the Great Head of the Church, and who has promised to be with it,' alway, even to the end of the world.' Burlington, Vermont, May 3d, 1835. CONTENTS. LECTURE I. The command to come to Christ- Obedience rendered to it by uniting with his Apostles—The Church established by them still exists—And the necessity for uni- ting with it is still the same-How is this to be done in our day, when the Church is so much divided—All sects can- not be equally near the Apostolic system-Christians are therefore bound to examine and select that Church which is the most Scriptural and Primitive---We may not con- demn our Christian brethren, since God is the Judge—But it is, nevertheless, absurd to say, that error is equally safe with truth—The society of Friends-The Swedenborgi- s—The Roman Catholics—Our own branch of the uni- versal Church is the nearest to the Apostolic pattern-Rea- LECTURE II. The Protestant Episcopal Church misunder- stood and therefore misrepresented–The particular accu- eration is the act of our adoption to be the children of God – The ordinance appointed to seal the promise of this ad- 13434 LECTURE III. The objection made to sponsors in baptism- Explanation of the sponsor's duty-Analogy from the prin- ciples of human law-Brief sketch of the history of infant dedication—The rite of circumcision-Its true character -Examination of the argument of our Baptist brethren- The circumstances of the Apostles in reference to the Mo- saic system-The analogy of the two dispensations-Au- thority of the New Testament on the nature and privilege of baptism-Sentiments of the primitive fathers—Irenaeus -Tertullian-Cyprian—The same on sprinkling or affu- sion-Sentiments of the Reformers—Luther—Calvin—The Confession of Augsburg—Melancthon-Hooker-Recapit- LECTURE IV. Confirmation-Definition of this ordinance- Antiquity of the laying on of hands, in token of a benedic- - True principle laid down elsewhere by Calvin himself- the Bible and the Apostles for the sake of differing with the 70-103 LECTURE V. The charges brought against the Church on the score of missions--The Bible Society--Prayer meet- -- Mode of exciting the zeal of our people most to be com- Society --The Episcopal Church, as a body, accused of not uniting with it--Reasons assigned at large. 126-152 Our mode the subject of many objections--The use of min- |