h
having attempted to rob the Church of Christ of her privileges, the
latter consummates the impiety of one who sitteth in the temple of God,
showing himself that he is God; and the former, by giving to an earthly
monarch the place over His Church which belongs to Christ alone, being
an accomplice in crime, approves. Against these systems, that the
blinded who are attached to them may be delivered from their bondage,
that the truly pious who are within them may be brought out of them, and
that their invasions of the privileges of those who hold the truth may
be limited, the rights of God's people behove to be held forth by
testimony and maintained. A regard to the claims of the house of God on
each of its members, should lead to the duty; and, in consequence of
engagements by vow and oath, that should be performed. But next--many
civil rulers form another class which exacts upon the privileges of the
Church. Assuming for civil authority a supreme power over all causes,
ecclesiastical and civil, they practically attempt to deny to the Church
of Christ her privileges,--those rights which no mere civil society is
competent to sustain, which the Lord himself purchased for and bestowed
upon her, which she is bound by her allegiance to Him to keep entire and
perpetuate, which she is destined to use for extensive good in the
promotion of true religion, for which she is answerable to Him alone,
which the rulers of this world--which no creature can give or take away,
which her Lord will conserve, even to the overthrow of every
system--whether civil or ecclesiastical, that will persevere to dispute
them or use means to wrest them from her hands; and thus they give
occasion to her members, in virtue of their communion with one another
and common obligations to Christ, to testify by oath and otherwise
against their pretensions as, rebellion against Him, and injustice and
tyranny to the society of which He alone is the Head.

To unite the various Churches of Christ. That these will be incorporated
in millennial times, we have reason to believe. That different Churches
have been brought into one, is matter of history. That the Lord in his
providence has overruled outward circumstances for associating his
people, in order that they might act for Him, is a truth worthy of
careful consideration. On the ground that the illuminating and
sanctifying agency of God's Spirit is altogether independent of the
condition of men, we are forced to