was important to confine within a moderate compass, obliged the author to adopt this course, instead of undertaking to expatiate at large through the immense field of learning, which has been cultivated—and sometimes unprofitably enough-on the subjects in question. Nor even upon this plan, has he given place to more than a small part of the passages which he had noted for insertion; although, if he is not greatly deceived, there will be found an ample sufficiency of the best authority on every point which called for its support.

He commits his humble work to the candid consideration of his readers; and especially to the blessing of Him, who is the Great Head of the Church, and who has promised to be with it, ' alway, even to the end of the world.' Burlington, Vermont, I

May 3d, 1835.

CONTENTS.

LECTURE I. The command to come to Christ-Obedience

rendered to it by uniting with his Apostles—The Church
established by them still exists—And the necessity for uni-
ting with it is still the same-How is this to be done in our
day, when the Church is so much divided-All sects can-
not be equally near the Apostolic system-Christians are
therefore bound to examine and select that Church which
is the most Scriptural and Primitive---We may not con-
demn our Christian brethren, since God is the Judge-But it
is, nevertheless, absurd to say, that error is equally safe
with truth—The society of Friends—The Swedenborgi-
ans-The Roman Catholics—Our own branch of the uni-
versal Church is the nearest to the Apostolic pattern-Rea-

sons for the present undertaking. . . . 1-12
LECTURE II. The Protestant Episcopal Church misunder-

stood and therefore misrepresented—The particular accu-
sations popularly brought against it—First, that Episcopali-
ans do not believe in any spiritual change of heart—an
inference drawn from our baptismal office-Quotations from
the Liturgy-The Catechism—The twenty seventh article,

-Regeneration in baptism—What is this regeneration-
What is a change of heart-It is synonymous with the re-
pentance and faith required of those who receive adult bap-
tism-Modern theologians have confounded regeneration
with this change, whereas they are distinct things—Regen-

eration is the act of our adoption to be the children of God

– The ordinance appointed to seal the promise of this ad-
option is baptism-In the case of adults to be baptised, the
change of heart must precede baptism-In the case of in-
fants this change must follow—Analogy drawn from the
ancient laws regarding the adoption of the children of oth-
ers—What benefit do infants derive from baptism—What is
the quality of the divine blessing granted to them in bap-
tism—The Church contemplates and requires that children

should receive a religious education. . . 13–34
LECTURE III. The objection made to sponsors in baptism-

Explanation of the sponsor's duty-Analogy from the prin-
ciples of human law—Brief sketch of the history of infant
dedication—The rite of circumcision-Its true character
-Examination of the argument of our Baptist brethren-
The circumstances of the Apostles in reference to the Mo-
saic system—The analogy of the two dispensations-Au-
thority of the New Testament on the nature and privilege
of baptism-Sentiments of the primitive fathers—Irenaeus

-Tertullian—Cyprian—The same on sprinkling or affu-
sion-Sentiments of the Reformers-Luther—Calvin-The
Confession of Augsburg—Melancthon-Hooker-Recapit-

ulation—Conclusion. . . . . . 35—69
LECTURE IV. Confirmation-Definition of this ordinance-

Antiquity of the laying on of hands, in token of a benedic-
tion-Apostles laid their hands on all who were baptised-
Calvin's objection examined—Its absurdity demonstrated

–True principle laid down elsewhere by Calvin himself-
The primitive Church on Confirmation—Tertullian—Cyp-
rian-Urban- The Council of Arles—The Reformers on
Confirmation-Luther retained it in his system- Calvin
praised its primitive use and wished it restored—He
denied that it was of Apostolic origin in his first work, but
admitted it in his last—Objection that it is a Popish prac-
tice, considered and answered— The folly of quarrelling with

the Bible and the Apostles for the sake of differing with the
Church of Rome-Distinction between the doctrine of
that Church and ours upon the subject of confirmation-
Qualifications for confirmation are repentance and faith, or
a change of heart--Proved from the Liturgy and Catechism
-Objections to certain expressions in the Liturgy answer-
ed—Other objections answered—Review-Conclusion.

70-103
LECTURE V. The charges brought against the Church on

the score of missions--The Bible Society--Prayer meet-
ings--Revivals--Dangers of the modern revival system--
The good effected by it can be done as well and more safe-
ly in the old way--The defect of the ministry lies in the
private rather than in the public walk of their official duty
- Mode of exciting the zeal of our people most to be com-
mended— The defect and the proper remedy. 104--125
LECTURE VI. The progress of the age—The Temperance

Society-The Episcopal Church, as a body, accused of not

uniting with it--Reasons assigned at large. 126–152
LECTURE VII. The privilege of worshipping the Almighty--

Our mode the subject of many objections--The use of min-
isterial garments justified by Scripture and the primi-
tive Church--The surplice--Biblical proof--Primitive
practice--Spiritual associations-Objection that it is a rem-
nant of Popery, and derived from the priests of Isis, an-
swered --Forms of prayer--The Old Testament--Our
Lord's example--The Lord's prayer-Practice of the Jew-
ish synagogue--Buxtorf's testimony--Cyprian on the Lord's
prayer--Chrysostom on the Lord's prayer--The primitive
liturgies—Impossibility of liturgies being universally adop-
ted if the Apostolic Church had been accustomed to ex-
temporaneous worship-Principle on which the English re-
formers proceeded—The proper mode of conducting the
service-Preparatory prayer--Postures--Responses--Mu-