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Christ, propagates errors among any section of Christ's church. Does
not Paul say, Who is Paul or Apollos, but ministers by whom ye
believe? What, then, is the Church of England, or Scotland, or the
Dissenters, but various ministries, by which we believe? And the same
apostle--the exalter of the Lord of life, and the abaser of every high
thought of man, says, "If I or an angel from heaven preach any other
gospel than that you have received, let him be accursed." Does Paul
set up the principle that men are to be received not according to the
truth or error of their doctrine, but according to the sect to which
they belong, or the mode or circumstance of ordination? Never: but the
very reverse. With the apostle it is always the truth--the truth--the
truth; let those judge who wish to see.
Now, I will just state a strong case, but a fact. I was one day
travelling in the mail, and a certain person in one corner began a
most obscene conversation, with a gentleman who came to see him at the
door of the mail, while it was changing horses. Opposite him, in the
other corner, was his own son. When the mail arrived at the place to
which we were going, on getting out, I asked the people at the coach
office, who that person was. I had previously considered him as an
officer in the army, but, to my amazement, was told he was the
Rev. ----. This individual has since been made a dignitary of
the Church of England, and has had other preferment bestowed upon him;
and this is but part of what might be said. You will say this is an
extreme case. But it is a matter of fact. Am I to remain under the
ministry of such a teacher? It not only shocks the affections of a
child of God, but the very common sense of the world, and, if our eyes
were single, it would, in proportion strike us till we should come
down to the apostle's rule, about receiving teachers--those who preach
the truth, and walk as ye have us for an ensample.
As to example on which so much stress is laid, what example does a man
give to his children or neighbourhood, when he continues to sit under
the ministry of one whom he believes to be not a preacher but a
perverter of the truth? Why, that the Church of England and its forms,
even in the midst of our unfaithful ministry, is dearer to him than
Christ's Church and his truth, under less agreeable external
circumstances. On the other hand, what example does he give if he quit
this, which may be granted on all hands to be an u
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