LECTURE III.

DEDUCTIONS FROM THE FOREGOING LECTURES.

JEREMIAH, vi. 16.

Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

In the two preceding Lectures, I endeavored, first, to present an outline of the constitution and order of the primitive churches; and secondly, to trace the origin, principles, and influence of the Congregational churches of New England. Without attempting a review of the train of thought pursued in those Lectures, my present object is, to call your attention to several reflections, which naturally arise from the preceding discussion.

1. In the first place, then, there is a striking resemblance between the Congregational churches of New England, and the churches which existed in the primitive ages of Christianity. This fact you must all have noticed, as we passed in review the constitution and polity of these respective churches. It is, no doubt, true, as Dr. Campbell* remarks, "that there is not a church now in the world, which is on the model of that formed by the Apostles. The circumstances of men and things are perpetually varying, in respect of laws, civil

* Lect. on Eccl. Hist. p. 129.

polity, customs, and manners; 'these, in every society give rise to new regulations, arrangements and ceremonies; these again insensibly introduce changes in the relations of different ranks and classes of men to one another; exalting some and depressing others."

The church of God has in every age, felt the influence of these changes in society; and in its external form and modes of worship, has been modified in accommodation to the varying circumstances and habits of men. But though there are no churches in modern times exactly on the model of the primitive churches, still some churches bear a nearer resemblance to them than others; and this distinction, I am persuaded, can be claimed by the churches of no other denomination, more justly, than those planted by the fathers of New England. Their great object in coming to this land was to form churches, and establish a mode of worship and discipline after the manner, which appeared to them most nearly conformed to the example of the New Testament. Says Governor Winslow, The primitive churches in the Apostolic age, are the only pattern which the churches of Christ in New England have in their eye-not following Luther, Calvin, Knox, Ainsworth, Robinson, Ames, or any other, further than they followed Christ and his Apostles." Similar language is to be found in the writings of all the New England fathers; and how nearly, in establishing their churches, they were enabled to conform to the divine pattern proposed for their imitation, must be obvious to all who will candidly make the comparison.

The primitive churches, as we have seen, were voluntary associations of pious persons, accustomed to meet together in the same place, for the purpose of social worship, and a mutual participation in the ordinances and privileges of the gospel. They were distinct, inde

pendent communities, joined together by no other ties than those of a common faith and a common interest; acknowledging no head but Jesus Christ; each having in itself a perfect right, in obedience to his word, to choose its own officers, to enact its own laws, to exercise discipline over its members, and to adopt whatever regulations seemed best calculated to promote personal holiness and the advancement of Christ's cause on earth. The organization and mode of worship adopted in these christian societies were extremely simple. They had only two classes of permanent officers, elders, and deacons. Both were chosen by the free suffrages of the brotherhood, and were set apart to their office by the simplest rites-by prayer and the imposition of hands by the presbytery, or council of neighboring elders. Among the elders or bishops, thus chosen and ordained, there was no assumption of power or pre-eminence, one above another. They were all of the same order, invested with the same authority, and appointed to the same duties; and surrounded as they were by a body of affectionate, confiding disciples, who looked up to them for instruction and guidance, they lived and taught and prayed among them, not as lords over God's heritage, but as helpers of their faith and joy.

The rites practised in the primitive churches, were few and simple; administered in the plainest manner, and with no appearance whatever of show and parade. Baptism was regarded, simply, as the instituted rite of initiation into the Christian church; and the Lord's Supper, as the appointed memorial of the death of Christ. No mysterious efficacy, no pretended charm, no incomprehensible power to regenerate and save men, was ascribed to these ordinances, as administered by a particular class of men. All was plain and intelligible, appealing directly to the understanding and the heart. The same simplicity characterized the whole worship of

the primitive churches. In their places of meeting, which were an upper room,' a private house, a cave, or a wilderness, there were no paintings, no images, no burning of incense, or sprinkling of holy water; no priests with their mitres, and robes, and other ‘paraphernalia of pontifical dignity.'. When the christians belonging to a particular church met for worship, they began by an invocation of the divine blessing; then a portion of scripture was read; then the assembly united in a song of praise; then the elder or presiding officer, or some other person at his request, rose and addressed them, usually from the portion of scripture read, and closed with offering a prayer, not from a book or form, but from the feelings of a warm and full heart; the people standing the while, and joining in the prayer, not by responses, but in the silent assent and pious aspirations of their own minds.

In all these particulars, how striking is the resemblance between the churches, planted by the Apostles, and those established in this land by our venerated fathers? Well may we believe them, when they say, that the primitive, Apostolic churches, were the only pattern they had in their eye, in organizing the churches of New England. They certainly well understood their pattern, and were singularly happy in imitating it. And though we may not infer, from the resemblance of our churches to those of primitive times, that our's are the only true churches, yet may we justly regard that resemblance as a high recommendation of them, and as furnishing substantial ground for the preference we feel for the order and worship of our own denomination. Especially, have we just cause for preferring that simplicity which characterizes the worship in our churches. Simplicity was the grand distinguishing feature in the worship of the primitive churches. It was introduced into them by Christ and his Apostles, as best adapted to the great

ends of religious worship-purity of heart and holiness of life; and the more strictly we adhere to primitive simplicity in the duties and offices of religion, the greater will be its power in the work of sanctification, and the more abundant the fruits of holy living.

2. The principles and polity of the Congregational churches, are happily adapted to all the various circumstances of men, and to the most advanced state of society and the church; such, as we have reason to hope, will exist during the millennium. That this character belonged to the primitive churches, will readily be admitted. Simple in their organization and modes of worship, entirely removed from all connexion with civil government, and aiming only to persuade men to lead quiet and holy lives, they were fitted to exist in any state of society, and under any form of government; and were equally well adapted to the circumstances of the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, the high and the low.

In point of fact, they did exist and flourish in extremely different states of society, and under very different forms of government. They gathered into their communion, men of every grade of intellect, and of the most opposite characters; from the stupid idolater, to the Jewish priest; from the ignorant peasant, to the sage philosopher; from the beggar in the street, to the prince on the throne. Many of all these various classes were brought into the fold of Christ, under the ministry of the Apostles and their immediate successors; and by the simple forms of instruction and worship, which then prevailed in the church, were nourished up unto eternal life. And had those simple forms been retained in the church, they would have been perfectly adapted to all the exigencies of society, and the varying circumstances of men from that time to the present. The primitive