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congenial nature and intimate alliance to afford mutual assistance and support to each other. The union of church and state was never intended to make the church secular, but the state religious ; and they are so blended and interwoven that they must stand or fall together, and the friends of the temporal and of the eternal interests of their fellow-creatures are equally called upon to stand forward in the maintenance and defence of both :— unchurch the state, and you unchristianize the nation.

XXIV.

OF SPEAKING IN THE CONGREGATION IN SUCH A TONGUE AS THE PEOPLE UNDERSTANDETH.

It is a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God, and the custom of the primitive church, to have public prayer in the church, or to minister the sacraments in a tongue not understanded of the people.

Q. What thing is plainly repugnant to the word of God?

A. To have public prayer in the church, or to minister the sacraments, in an unknown tongue. Q. To what else is it repugnant?

A. To the custom of the primitive church.

Scripture Proofs.

1 Cor. xiv. 26. Let all things be done unto edifying. 1 Cor. xiv. 9, 11, 19. Except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian; and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto In the church I had rather speak five words with my

me.

understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

1 Corinthians xiv. 15. I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also.

In all things, edification should be aimed at ; but how can this be if public service is performed in a language of which the common people understand not a single word. The apostle thanked God that he could speak with more tongues than all the Corinthians put together; yet he said that he had rather utter five words, so that others might be edified by what he said, than ten thousand words in a language which could be of no use to them. Is it possible, I would ask, in this way to worship God in spirit and in truth? Is it not substituting the form of godliness for the power for it?

XXV.

OF THE SACRAMENTS.

Sacraments ordained of Christ, be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession; but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him.

There are two sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the gospel; that is to say, baptism, and the supper of the Lord.

Those five commonly called sacraments; that is to say, confirmation, penance, orders, matrimony, and extreme unction, are not to be counted for sacraments of the gospel; being such as have grown, partly of the corrupt following of the apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the scriptures; but yet have not like nature of sacraments with baptism and the Lord's supper, for that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God.

The sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about: but that we should duly use them. And in such only as wor

thily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or operation: but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation, as St. Paul saith.

Q. What are sacraments ordained of Christ?

A. They be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us.

Q. How doth he work in us by them?

A. Invisibly, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen, and confirm our faith in him.

Q. How many sacraments are there ordained of Christ our Lord, in the gospel?

A. There are two, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.

Q. What do you say of those five commonly called sacraments, (by the Roman Catholics,) that is to say, confirmation, penance, orders, matrimony, and extreme unction ?

A. They are not to be counted for sacraments of the gospel, being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures, but yet have not like nature of sacraments with Baptism, and the Lord's Supper.

Q. Why?

A. For that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God.

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