tent than one congregation; but this was by churches already conftituted; and it is extended to more congregations than one, on the occafion of their contributing to the relief of their brethren at Jerufalem. The churches of Macedonia confifted chiefly, if not wholly, of Gentile believers: At this time they intended a fpecial act of communion with the Jews. How fhall they accomplish it? They dedicate their perfons unto the Lord, prior to the dedication of their fubftance for the relief of his people.

THE manner in which they performed this duty.They gave it a firft place, as a moft proper prelude unto others; as it was a first, or principal duty.——It was unexpected. The Apostle expected, indeed, that they should attend unto the preaching of the gospel, and

fubjection unto the fpiritual authority of rules and rulers appointed by Chrift in that state."" 21. The fame way for the erection of a church ftate, for the participation of the more excellent privileges of the gospel, and performance of the duties of it; for the fubftance of it is ftill continued, (viz. as under the Old Teftament): For the conftitution of fuch a fociety as a church is, entrusted with powers and privileges, by covenant, or mutual confent, with an engagement unto the performance of all the duties belonging to it,-hath its foundation in the light of nature, fo far as it hath any thing in common with other voluntary relations and focieties; was inftituted by God himfelf, as the way and means of erecting the church state of the Old Teftament; and confifteth in the performance of fuch duties as are exprefsly required by all believers."-True Nature of a Gofpel Church, chap. ii.

the

the adminiftration of the facraments of Baptifin and the Lord's Supper; but, as these churches had been lately erected, and, as their members had covenanted at their admiffion unto fpecial privileges, he did not expect a renovation of them at this time.-Nevertheless, it met with divine approbation. It was done ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD. THE WILL OF GOD is the reason of duty,—a valid reafon unto every confcientious perfon: THE WILL OF GOD is the rule and measure of duty, even his revealed will in his word. Little, if any, of the New Teftament had been written when this duty was performed: The canon of it, at least, was by no means fettled. But they had abundant notice of his will, as to this duty, in the Old Teftament: And they never dreamed but gospel churches were built upon the foundation of the PROPHETS, as well as that of the APOSTLES.

2. I HAVE another reafon for concluding that the engagements of Chriftians in the Apoftolic Churches were, on proper occafions, renewed; and that is, The Teftimony of Martyrs. Every martyr is, upon the matter, a covenanter. When perfons were brought to martyrdom, they gave not only an explicit teftimony, for which they fuffered, but their adherence was frequently repeated, and publicly avowed.

DISSER

ON THЕ

FOEDERAL TRANSACTIONS

WHICH OBTAINED IN THE

THREE FIRST CENTURIES

O F THE

CHRISTIAN CHURCH,

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE APOSTOLIC AGE.

IN

N the foregoing Differtations I have been able to authenticate the facts I have narrated by inspired hiftory. In the following, I muft content myself with fuch evidence as can be produced from the monuments of uninfpired antiquity, taken in connection with Scripture prophecy, relating to the times to which thefe memoirs do refer. The period under confideration has fewer monuments of the hiftorical kind than others which might be mentioned, indeed;

Cece

indeed; but thofe which exift are genuine, and lefs enveloped in fable, than thofe of the following centuries, which were forged in the dark reign of monkish fuperftition and falfehoods; having apoftolic men, for fome time, as living members; fo they had a more facred regard for apoftolic inftitutions, and kept nigher the pattern fhewed in the mount. We have not related any of their deeds, as of equal authority with the example of infpired perfons; or as of any authority at all, farther than they exemplify divine inftitutions. But in fo far as they acted up, in any measure, unto the facred standard, their example is worthy of our imitation. It becomes us to tread in the foot

fteps of the flock. The plan we design to purfue is,-I. To furvey the Creeds, Confeffions, and Covenants which took place during the time we have specified.-II. The Circumftances of the Church, which rendered these fit and feafonable.-III. The Natural and Actual tendency of fuch Tranfactions.

FIRST, I must furvey the CREEDS, CONFESSIONS, and COVENANTS which obtained in the three first centuries of the Christian Church, immediately after the apoftolic age. This province has been cultivated by many; but few have attended to it with that diligence and industry which the importance of the subject demands. Their labours, however, have been ferviceable in this inatter. I noticed al

ready

ready, that the paftors of particular churches formed creeds unto fuch as fubmitted unto their ministry: Hence, we need not greatly wonder, if we find fome verbal difference among them, while they were materially and fubftantially the fame. It is our purpofe to infert as literal a tranflation as poffible of fuch creeds as have come to hand, fubjoining the original in the notes; fo that the intelligent reader may judge for himself as to the juftice and propriety of it *.

IRENA US gives us the first compofition, which bears the name of a creed, to the following purpose: "For, although the Church be diffufed over all the world, yet fhe received from the Apostles, and their difciples, the Faith in one God the Father, Almighty, the maker

Prior to Irenæus, we have a fummary of faith which fome style a Creed, others not, given by Ignatius. Tho' it does not bear the form of one, yet I have thought proper here to infert Bishop Wake's tranflation of it; as it is the fame in fubftance with fome others acknowleged to be creeds: "Stop your ears therefore, as often as any one shall speak contrary to Jefus Chrift; who was of the race of David, of the Virgin Mary. Who was truly born, and did eat and drink; was truly perfecuted under Pontius Pilate; was truly crucified and dead; both those in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, being spectators of it: Who was alfo truly raised from the dead by his Father, after the fame manner as he will alfo raife up us who believe in him, by Chrift Jefus ; without whom we have no true life." IGNATIUS's Epiftle to the Trallians, chap. ix. Edit. 4. by Bishop Wake, London, 1737.