all diligence to keep and observe the doctrine and discipline, and the sacraments of Christ, as the Lord hath commanded, and as this Church and realm hath received the same according to the commandments of God." This obligation calls from us, as occasions serve, expositions of the nature, the constitution, and the privileges of the Church, of her belief, her ministers' qualifications, and her sacred rites; and the fulfilment of it is intended to generate in you "a reasonable service," founded on a deliberate and conscientious attachment to the Church, and accomplished in a steadfast communion with her in all holy things.

With respect to those persons, who decline the Church's communion, and who seek salvation by other methods than hers, whatever be their defects, or whatever be their superfluities, either in doctrine or in practice, and however these deviations of theirs may affect their prospects of salvation, I forbear all reflection. But for my own part, that I may adopt the forcible language of the author of an Essay on the Church, the late Reverend William Jones, of Nayland, "I would not for the whole world, unworthy as I am; I say I would not for the whole world, and all the kingdoms of it, be in doubt, whether I was translated or not into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. I would not be in doubt whether I have the sacraments, or whether I have them not." What is the con

dition of those, who hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering” in such a Church as ours, my brethren, always understanding a correspondence between their profession and their practice, there is no rational doubt.

And, therefore, inviting you to join me in the thanksgiving and in the prayer, expressed in the simple words of our Church Catechism, "I heartily thank our heavenly Father, that he hath called me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. And I pray unto God to give me his grace, that I may continue in the same unto my life's end."

Lord, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen1.

1 Collect for the Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity.

DISCOURSE III.

THE NATIONAL CHURCH CONFORMABLE IN PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES WITH THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH.

ACTS ii. 41, 42.

Then they that gladly received the word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles' doctrine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

THE Acts of the Apostles contain, as the most authentick, so also the most valuable and important, records of the infant Church of Christ. Although the book is by no means to be regarded as a complete history, it nevertheless presents us with some very interesting details, and especially brings us acquainted with several essential principles, which served for the foundation, the composition, and the regulation of the new society. Amongst passages of this description, there is no one perhaps

which in so small compass comprises an ampler series of instructive particulars, or suggests more useful reflections to the reader, than the text which has been just recited to you. We are there informed, both of the manner in which converts were admitted into the Christian Church; and likewise of the method, according to which they were required to conduct themselves after their admission. "Then they that gladly received his word," namely, the word of Peter preaching repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, "were baptized;" and so "were added by the Lord to the Church" by means of that sacrament which He had Himself instituted for the purpose; and were thereby enrolled in the number of "the saved," that is, of those, who, being blessed by God's grace with the means of salvation here, are consequently put into a capacity of attaining everlasting salvation hereafter. The special method for the attainment of that salvation is stated in the subsequent narrative of their conduct after their admission into the Church: "They continued stedfastly in the Apostles' doctrine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers:" in other words, they constantly professed to believe the doctrine, delivered by the Apostles; they held constant communion or fellowship with them, as became members of that society, of which the Apostles

were deputed governors by Christ himself; and they constantly communicated in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and in the publick devotions of the congregation. Thus did they continually maintain their connexion with the Church, to which they had been added, and tread in the path of that salvation, to which they had been admitted, by the Lord.

The text then, as it has been just now briefly explained, appears to contain several particulars, which characterised the primitive Christian Church. These characteristicks may be assumed with propriety as criteria, whereby we may judge of the condition of any branch of the Church in subsequent periods of its history. Because, as the Christian community was at that time under the guidance and government of men divinely inspired, and as we are expressly told that they who were admitted into that community were thus admitted into a state of salvation, we may be well assured, that with respect to all essential particulars the practice of the first Christians was such as may be followed with security, and cannot be deserted without hazard. Accordingly an exposition of the conformity which subsists between the primitive Church of Christ, and that pure and apostolical branch of it established in these dominions, with respect to the particulars specified in the text; accompanied with such remarks as may appear