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God) and dare not trust it without the interpofition of those perfons; concerning whom they are taught, "Such men may really be confidered in the high* "character of mediators and interceffors between God "and men: They bring down divine bleffings, and "avert divine judgments: They engage the favour "of the Deity, and they affuage his displeasure.” Hence the godly man ceafeth to be looked upon as the one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Chrift Jefus.

This veneration for great names among men, alfo leads to a regard for their authority in matters of religion, both as to faith and practice. So that their opinion or practice will powerfully influence, when the written word has no place-which was prophesied of Haiah xxix. 13. their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men." So the godly man ceaseth to be looked upon as the just one that ruleth in the fear of God. When we fee to what length these things have been carried in the church of Rome, it fhews the fulfilment of 2d of Theffalonians ii. 3, 4-" and that man of fin be revealed, the fon of perdition: Who poseth and exalteth himself above all that is called God; fo that he as God fiteth in the temple of God, fhewing himself that he is God." And when we fee the great fondness for these things among thofe called proteftant reformed churches, it brings to mind Rev. xviii. 3.

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ALL NATIONS have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." What elfe but this intoxication could cause a society to defire the printing of fuch language as has been defcribed? What elfe-excites the fondness in the Clergy of all denominations for that title given to Christ in Pfalm exii. 9? which Pfalm connected with the foregoing, fhews, that after the con

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This doctrine may be seen in a difcourfe occafioned by the death of Mr. Samuel Checkley, "published by the defire of the fociety," called, "the New South Church of Christ in Boston." See page 8, &c. and the title page.

templation of Christ's ascension, and fitting at the Father's right hand, and the glorious fruits thereof, the church breaks forth into Hallelujah, verfe 1. in the contemplation of that honourable and glorious work which fhews his righteousness endureth for ever, verfe 3. and in that memorial he has fixed whereby his marvellous work fhould be made to be remembered, verfe 4. probably alluding to the first day of the week, and the disciples meeting together to break bread thereupon, which they were to do in remembrance of himwhich leads them to fay, "the Lord is gracious and full of compaffion. He hath given meat (or a prey, as in the margin) to them that fear him," verfe 5. namely, the fruit of his conquest and victory, in which they share with him. "He fent redemption unto his people, he hath commanded his covenant for ever : HOLY and REVEREND is HIS NAME," verfe 9.

When we behold this title thus given to Christ in fuch a fhout of praife, what other caufe than the in toxication before mentioned, can be affigned for the fondness of the Clergy of all denominations to compliment one another therewith as may be feen in the enormous bulk of ordination fermons that are extant; fo that you can fcarce caft your eye over any common book-fhelf, but you may find more or lefs of them ; though no fcrip of fuch a fermon is to be found preferved in the New Teftament, at the ordination of the elders of the firft churches, Thefe ordination fermons are full of evidence of the fondness of these men thus to compliment one another.

The tokens of their expecting that refpect, being hung out on the upper border of their garments, to be efpecially obferved, when compared with Matthew xxiii. 5. make them look as like the difciples of the ancient Pharifees, as modern and ancient can be expected to resemble each other. The difference is, that the Pharifees had a precept for wearing their phylacteries in common with the other Jews. Sec.

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Numbers xv. 38 to 41. But our Clergy have none. The former were only reprehended for making them Broad, and enlarging them to ferve the purposes of feeding their pride; which were enjoined on them for this exprefs reafon; that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord to do them. But there can be neither precept nor example, that I know of, found in the New Teftament for the modern practice.

Ifhall particularly remind you of what is annexed to the fermon preached at the last ordination at the Old South Church in Bolton; to wit, a catalogue of the ministers of that church from its beginning. It is introduced with, the holy Thatcher, while the Reverend is prefixed to his own name whoproduced the catalogue:

I have been informed by one of the minifters of that church, that when the general affembly recommended to the churches of New-England, the baptifm of the children of foben, well difpofed people, who were not of the church, upon their owning the covenant, one of the churches in Bolton food against it for several years whereupon numbers being diffatisfied, withdrew, and collected together, and chofe Mr. Thatcher for their minifter, who at first baptifed almoft whole families upon their parents owning the covenant

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But what was this covenant? Any that we have any intimation of in the fcriptures of the New Teftament that was enjoined upon or practifed by the firft difci ples To them CHRIST was given for a covenant of he people, according to the prophecy of Ifaiah xlii Gandavelix 8 12 Son when any were brought to the kijowledge of him, or to believe that Jelus was the Christ, they worshipped him as theirs Lord yield ing anfeigned, unreferred obedience to his de his declared will without hesitation, without which there can be mo evidence of knowing his name, Halah lii, 6. "Therefore my people fhall know my name, therefore they shall know in that day, that I am he that doth Speak,

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behold, it is I." Thus is HE the covenant of the people, the leader and commander to the people. And all other covenants that can confift with ignorance of him, and difobedience to him, look like covenants with death, and agreement with hell, according to Ifaiah xxviii. 15. which fhall be difannulled, and fhall not ftand, when the overflowing fcourge fhall pafs through, they fhall be trodden down by it, verfe 18-Was it for Mr. Thatcher's influence in establishing such a covenant, that he is fo long after called, the HOLY THATCHER-Certainly when fuch covenants prevail, the godly man ceafeth to be known as the coye-, nant of the people..

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All religious covenants devifed by the wifdom of men, feem calculated make a national religion, most like an unwarrantable imitation of the co→ venant that. God made with ancient Ifrael when he took them out of the land of Egypt, Exodus xix. 5, 6. "if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of prielts, and an holy nation." Which covenant they brake, though God made it with them, and was an husband unto them. Much lefs then thall any covenant be kept, or approved of, or be of any advantage, that he maketh not, and is not concerned in. If we confult Jeremiah_xxxi. 32, 33, 34. Hebrews viii. 6. to the end, and chap. *. 12 to the 18th, and Ifaiah lix. 21, and Romans xi. 27.we shall find that the covenant which God would make after thofe days, or the NEW

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my covenant when I thall take away t their fins," was not according to the covenant he made with the Ifraelites when he took them out of the land of

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them notAUSE they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded

faith the Lord." This NEW Covenant then was to be made when hefhould take away their fins-be merciful to their unrighteoufnels, and their fins and iniquities remember no more," which has direct refpecie that one offering of the great High Prieft of the Chriftian profeffion, which profefion wh when he had offered, he for ever fat down on the right hand of God, as hav ing finished his work which perfects for ever them that are fantified. Now where there is full remiffion, and no more offering it is understood how he is yof this perfon and facrifice are for fin where the dignid manifeft; will be their God, and they thall be his people. The manifeftation of this comes by divine teaching; they shall teach no more every man his neigh bour and brother, faying, know the Lord; for all fhall know me, from the leaft sof them unto the greatell of them, Yaith the Lord for I will forgive their imiquity, and I will remember their fin no more Those that knows him, as they are led to find an allfufficiency in his one facrifice to take away fin, and to give Boldness to enter into the holieft by the Blood of Jefus by the Blood fo they know: the dignity of his perfon, and his authority in hiswoldie

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Thus we fee how Pfalm xii. 1. may be understood of Jefus Chrift; and helps to illuftrate the thought, that wherever the godly man, the upright man, &c. in the fingular number, is fpoken of in the Pfalms, Jefus Chrift is intended. And we fee how he may be faid to ceafe in confiftency with Pfalm lxxii. 17. his name fhall endure for ever; his name fhall be as a Son to continue his Father's name for ever. (as the bible margin fhews the Hebrew fignifies.) For when Ezekiel had a vifion of God, he fays, chap. i. verse 26.and upon the likenefs of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. (verfe 28.) This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD."-Agreeable to Colloffians i. 15.-"who is the image of the invifible God. chap. ii. verfe 9. for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the godhead bodily." He is called, James ii. 1. the Lord Jefus, the glory" (as it is faid the words are literally rendered) agreeable to Pfalm xix, i."the heavens declare the glory to be God." Pfalm xxix. 3. "God the glory thundereth,"-even HE

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will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.” So they have no ear to pay to what any one would teach them of laws and covenants that obtain by the precepts or doctrines or traditions of men. Their whole attention is to his will manifested in his word, as thofe that understand Isaiah lix. 21. "As for me, this is my covenant with them, faith the Lord, my fpirit that is upon thee, and my words that I have put in thy mouth, fhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy feed, nor out of the mouth of thy feeds feed, faith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever." And Pfalm cxi. 9. "He fent redemption unta his people, he hath commanded his covenant for ever." Which thews the new covenant to be better than the old was, as being established upon bet ter promifes, Chrift. Jefus being the mediator of it, as alone worthy to be entrusted with it.

I am aware it may be faid, that I have spoken of the law being put into the heart after fpeaking of the knowledge of God, and the forgiving of iniquities, and remembering fins no more, whereas it is fpoken of firt in the texts in Jeremiah and Hebrews. To which I anfwer, that in the texts the latter is brought in as the ground and reafon of the former." I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. FOR they fhall all know me-zor I will forgive their iniquities, &c,-FOR I will be merciful to their unrighteoufnefs, and their fins and iniquities will I remember na

more."

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