eruel threatenings of Jezebel. (1, Kings 18: 4, 13.) And moreover, the Bride, the Lamb's wife, the Church of Jesus Christ, fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, a thousand two hundred and three score days; there to be nourished and concealed from that cruel beast, the great red dragon, that antichrist who with his tyrannical and bloody sword and brand, opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped. Rev. 12: 1--6.—But afterwards she appeared again, by the grace of God, in her former light, grounded and built on her first foundation which is Christ and the Apostles.

And, in like manner as the temple of Solomon was laid waste, in its first building, but when it was re-built it continued until the coming of Christ, in the flesh; so we hold that the Church of Christ, which is again built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, will continue to stand, in its purity and light, till the second coming of Christ from heaven.

All the faithful believers, who constitute the Church of God, are, as members of one body, united together in the band of love; are like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus. (Rom. 15: 5.) They walk by the same rule of the word of God, they mind the same things; (Phil. 3: 16,) have communion together and as every man hath received the gift, even so they minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold of God. (1 Pet. 4: 10.) Those whom the Lord hath

grace

blessed with Spiritual gifts, will administer the same, charitably, one to another, to the edifying of the soul; and those whom God hath blessed with temporal things, will do good, and adininister of the good things of this life, to the relief of the poor and needy. And by thus communicating both their spiritual and temporal things, they manifest that they are of one mind, having so far all things common, that there may be lack of nothing. And thus they lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come. 1 Tim. 6: 17-19. This Church of God has been upon the earth from the beginning of the world; whether she consisted in a small or a large number of her members; or whether in a state of concealinent, or, in an open and visible state: and so will she continue, as having the promise of Christ's presence to the end of the world. Matth. 28: 20.

Of the Church of Christ, which consists of believing regenerated members, who are united and purified by the renewing of the Holy Spirit, read, For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Deut. 14: 2.-And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be a holy people

unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken. 26: 18, 19. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. I Pet. 2: 9.

How the Church of God, as grounded and built upon Christ, must submit to him as her head, read :---And upon this rock (this foundation, which is Christ,) I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matth. 16: 18.-For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be unto their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wifes, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph. 5: 23--27.--And gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body the fullness of him that filleth all in all. 1: 22, 23.-Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the

sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love. 4: 13--16.That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Tim. 3: 15.

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Of the communion of Saints, read: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1: 7.-And they continued steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2: 42. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 4: 32.--For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. 1 Cor. 12:

12--14.-For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3: 27, 28.--That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. John 17: 21, 22.

ARTICLE NINETEENTH.

OF THE SIGN, CHARACTER AND TOKEN OF THE CHURCH OF GOD, WHEREBY SHE MAY BE KNOWN AND DISTINGUISHED FROM ALL OTHER PEOPLE AND NATIONS.

Of the Church of God, whereby she may be distinguished from all other people and nations of the earth, is, First: by her Saving Faith, which worketh by love; which is wrought in the heart by the preaching and hearing of the word of God. And therefore it is not founded on the ordinances and institutions of men, but alone on the word of God: and worketh so powerfully in the heart of man, as to turn it away from all visible objects and sinful lusts and affections, to the invisible God and to his heavenly inheritance. And

Secondly, All the children of God, as members of his Church are known by their being