2. ANOTHER Effect of thefe Tranfactions was Courage and Conftancy in Death. Mr Adam, in his controverfy with Glas, gives us the following anecdote: "When he (Irenæus) was bishop of Lyons, in France, he brought his congregation under a folemn bond to adhere unto Chriftianity, not only in oppo fition to Heathenifm; but likeways to the many Sects and Herefies which then prevailed; and wrote unto the neighbouring bishops to do the fame Of which engagements he minds fome of his friends, when they were going to-gether to martyrdom *." For which he quotes Eccl. Epit. p. 58. by I. S. Upon which Mr Adam makes this reflection, " So that this Fa

ther looks as like an old Scotch Covenanter

as any thing I can imagine."

See Adam's Review of Letters, p. 50.

DISSER

ON THE

FOEDERAL TRANSACTIONS

WHICH OBTAINED IN THE

REFORMED CHURCHES ABROAD.

DU

URING the reign of Antichrift, the Witneffes of Jefus prophefied in fackcloth, and were driven into corners; neverthelefs he ftill referved unto himfelf a feed to do him fervice in the world. It were a tafk fufficiently worth while, to attend unto their Testimony, on the one hand; and unto the image of divine ordinances, which the Man of Sin fubftituted in the place of Chrift's institutions, on the other hand: As alfo to trace this corruption unto its genuine fource; but these things require more room than can be fpared in this treatife.-I. I fhall furvey the Teftimony of the Waldenfes and Bohemian brethren, who were a noble prelude of the Reformation.-II. I fhall specify fome of the moft remarkable Foederal Tranfactions which obtained in the Reformed Churches themselves.

FIRST, I fhall furvey the TESTIMONY OF the Waldenfes and Bohemian brethren. The origin of the former has been involved in much obfcurity among ecclefiaftic hiftorians: And a variety of circumstances have precluded me from investigating it with that care which the fubject demands. I fhall follow the narrative of Archbishop USHER, who understood the fubject as well as any man in his own, or our age; along with the account of F. Spanheim, F. F. and fuch authors as the reader fhall find referred to in the notes. The most certain monuments respecting them, find them, in the twelfth century, affociated under PETER WALDO, a wealthy merchant of Lyons, who gave up his fecular employment and commenced Divine, who tranflated, or caused to be translated, the holy Scriptures into the vulgar language; that is, both the Old and New Teftament. This is a fufficient refutation of the Popish calumny, by which they are accused of the errors of the Manichees, in reprobating the Old Teftament: Yea, a certain inquifitor acknowlegeth, that "the vulgar among them had the greater part of the Old and New Teftaments by heart *.” I find two fummaries of their faith preserved by USHER: One of them directed against the Church of Rome, and the other against the abominations of the Manichces, as in favour of the whole Chriftian fyftem. According to

REINERUS De Herefi Waldenfium, cap. iii.

the

the hiftory of Eneas Sylvius, in USHER *, the doctrines of this church are,

"THE Pope of Rome is on a level with every other bithop.

THERE is no difference among Priests; and Prefbyters are not of different degrees, on account of dignity in office; but only of usefulnefs and purity of life.

WHEN fouls depart out of their bodies, they go immediately, either into eternal punishment or eternal joy.

THERE is no fuch thing as the fire of Purgatory.

PRAYER for the dead is vanity; and the mere invention of facerdotal avarice.

IMAGES of God and Saints are to be demolifhed.

THE benedictions of Water and Palm-trees are mere folly.

THE Devils invented the Religion of the Mendicants.

PRIESTS fhould not be rich; but content with the contributions of the people.

EVERY perfon fhould have accefs to the free preaching of the Gospel.

No Sin ought to be tolerated, though for avoiding greater evil.

HE who is guilty of any capital offence

ENEAS SYLVIUS, De Rebus Bohem. cap. xxxv.

ought

ought to enjoy neither Secular nor Ecclefiaftic Dignity, neither ought he to be obeyed. POPISH Confirmation, Chrifm, Extreme Unction, are by no means facranients.

AURICULAR CONFESSION is mere trifling: It is enough for perfons to confefs their fins to God, in their closets.

BAPTISM to be received by water, without the mixture of oil.

CONSECRATED Burial-places are vain; being invented merely for the fake of gain: And it is of no importance what kind of duft cover the human body after it is dead.

THE, Temple of the Omniprefent God is the whole world; and they limit his Majefty, who confine his prefence to confecrated. churches, monafteries, and oratories, which they build unto him; as if the divine goodness may be found more propitious in them than any where else.

SACERDOTAL Veftments and Veffels are of

no use.

A PRIEST may confecrate the facrament of Chrift's Body at any time, and in any place; and it is fufficient to fay the words of inftitu

tion.

THE Prayers of such Saints as are reigning with Chrift in heaven are fought in vain; nei ther can they help, in any cafe.

IT is mere fpending of time to chant Prayers in certain canonical hours, and at other times to neglect that duty.

THERE