Protestant community; and a new spirit of life and liberty and strength would pervade the ancient shrines,—might I not rather say?—the mouldering mausoleums of the once glorious but now dead and decaying Reformation. I submit this work to the candor and kindness of my brethren in the ministry, and in the churches, praying them to remember the end for which New England was settled. It was the testimony of one of the fathers to his fellow exiles,* You have solemnly professed before God, angels and men, that the cause of your leaving your country, kindred and fathers' houses, and transporting yourselves with your wives, little ones, and substance over the vast ocean into this waste and howling wilderness, was your liberty to walk in the faith of the gospel, with all good conscience according to the order of the gospel, and your enjoyment of the pure worship of God according to his institution." This, he told them, was "New England's errand into the wilderness." May the children of New England never forget it. * Danforth's Election Sermon, 1670. CONTENTS. CHAP. II. The officers of a Church,.... CHAP. III. Ordinances and Ceremonies, • • CHAP. IV. Duties of Church-Members,.... MANUAL FOR YOUNG CHURCH-MEMBERS. CHAPTER I. Constitution and rights of the Apostolic Churches. Confirming the churches." Acts xv. 41. You have become a member of a church. You have a part to act as one of its brotherhood. You owe many duties to those with whom you are associated in this sacred relation. According to the constitution and usages of our churches, you are to deliberate and to vote in the admission of new members, in the election of all church officers, and in the entire administration of the order and discipline of Christ's house. It is important to your personal improvement, and to your usefulness, that you know what are your duties in this relation, and what your privileges; and you cannot fully know your duties or your privileges, certainly you can neither intelligently |