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Alexander Campbell Memoirs of Elder Thomas Campbell (1861) |
PROSPECTUS OF A RELIGIOUS REFORMATION,
THE OBJECT OF WHICH IS
THE RESTORATION OF PRIMITIVE APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANITY IN
LETTER AND SPIRIT, IN PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE.
THE following prospectus of a religious reformation was published many years since. It is as needful to thousands now as it was when first published. Many have been profited by it, and many more may be, by a careful perusal of it.
Christianity is a system of religion and morality instituted by Jesus Christ, primarily taught by his apostles, and recorded in the New Testament. It has for its immediate object the amelioration of the character and condition of man, morally and religiously considered, as far as possible in this life, and ultimately his complete salvation from the guilt, the love, the practice, and punishment of sin. It consists in the knowledge, belief, and obedience of the testimony and law of Jesus Christ, as taught by his apostles, and recorded in the New Testament. It has many professional opposites, many rivals to contend with, all of which, however, may be reduced to three classes, viz.: Infidels, heretics, and schismatics. The first of these reject, the second subvert, and the third corrupt Christianity, and, of course, measurably destroy its benign and blissful effects. [253]
In order to defend the Christian institution against the rival influence of these opponents, we must meet each of them respectively with the proper arguments. The infidels, of every class, having no counter testimony to exhibit against the Divine authority and authenticity of our sacred records, nor anything comparable as a substitute to present to our reception, stand convicted of the most unreasonable obstinacy in rejecting a revelation not only confirmed by every kind of accompanying evidence which the nature of the thing could justly require, but which also goes to confer upon the believing and obedient the greatest possible happiness, intellectual and moral, of which they are capable in existing circumstances, and of which our nature can be made capable in a blissful immortality.
But as it is from the perversions and corruptions of Christianity, and not from professed infidelity, that the proposed reformation is intended, we would most respectfully submit the following queries to the consideration of all concerned, for the purpose of bringing the subject fairly before them.
QUERIES.
1. Is not the Church of Christ upon earth essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one; consisting of all those, in every place, that profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him in all things according to the Scriptures, and that manifest the same by their tempers and conduct, and of none else, as none else can be truly and properly called Christians?
2. Should not all that are enabled, through grace, to make such a profession, and to manifest the reality of it in their tempers and conduct, consider each other as the precious saints of God, love each other as brethren, children of the same family and Father, temples of the same Spirit, members of the same body, subjects of the same grace, objects of the same Divine love, bought with the same price, and joint-heirs [254] of the same inheritance? Whom God hath thus joined together no man should dare to put asunder.
3. Is not division among Christians a pernicious evil?--antichristian, as it destroys the visible unity of the body of Christ, as if he were divided against himself, excluding and excommunicating a part of himself?--antiscriptural, as being strictly prohibited by his sovereign authority, a direct violation of his express command?--antinatural, as it excites Christians to contemn, to hate and oppose one another, who are bound by the highest and most endearing obligations to love each other as brethren, even as Christ has loved them? In a word, is it not productive of confusion, and of every evil work?
4. Is not the Christian community in a sectarian condition, existing in separate communities alienated from each other?
5. Is not such a condition the native and necessary result of corruption; that is, of the introduction of human opinions into the constitution, faith, or worship of Christian societies?
6. Is it not the common duty and interest of all concerned, especially of the teachers, to put an end to this destructive, antiscriptural condition?
7. Can this be accomplished by continuing to proceed as hitherto; that is, by maintaining and defending each his favorite system of opinion and practice?
8. If not, how is it to be attempted and accomplished, but by returning to the original standard and platform of Christianity, expressly exhibited on the sacred page of New Testament Scripture?
9. Would not a strict and faithful adherence to this, by preaching and teaching precisely what the apostles taught and preached for the faith and obedience of the primitive disciples, be absolutely, and to all intents and purposes, sufficient for producing all the benign and blissful intentions of the Christian institution? [255]
10. Do not all these intentions terminate in producing the faith and obedience that justify and sanctify the believing and obedient subject?
11. Is not everything necessary for the justification and sanctification of the believing and obedient, expressly taught and enjoined by the apostles in the execution of their commission for the conversion and salvation of the nations; and fully recorded in the New Testament?
12. If so, what more is necessary, but that we expressly teach, believe, and obey what we find expressly recorded for these purposes? And would not our so doing, happily terminate our unhappy, scandalous, and destructive divisions?
The two following queries are subjoined for the sake of a clear definition of the leading and comprehensive terms, viz.: faith and obedience, which comprehend the whole of the Christian religion.
13. Are not law and obedience, testimony and faith, relative terms, so that neither of the latter can exist without the former? That is, where there is no law, there can be no obedience; where there is no testimony, there can be no faith.
14. Again, is not testimony necessarily confined to facts, and law to authority, so that without the latter, the former can not be? That is, where there are no facts, there can be no testimony; where no authority, no law. Wherefore, in every case, faith must necessarily consist in belief of facts; and obedience in a practical compliance with the expressed will or dictate of authority. By facts is here meant some things said or done.
CONCLUSION.
Upon the whole, these things being so, it necessarily follows, that Christianity, being a Divine institution, there can be nothing human in it; consequently it has nothing to do with the doctrines and commandments of men; but simply [256] and solely with the belief and obedience of the expressly-recorded testimony and will of God, contained in the holy Scriptures, and enjoined by the authority of the Savior and his holy apostles upon the Christian community.
REFLECTIONS.
The affirmative of each of the above propositions being, as we presume, evidently true, they most certainly demand the prompt and immediate attention of all the serious professors of Christianity, of every name. The awful denunciations and Providential indications of the Divine displeasure against the present antichristian state of Christendom loudly call for reformation;--the personal and social happiness of all concerned, and the conversion of the unbelieving part of mankind equally demand it. Nevertheless, we are not authorized to expect that any party, as such, will be induced by the above considerations, or by any other that can possibly be suggested, spontaneously and heartily to engage in the work of self-reformation. The sincere and upright in heart, however, ought not to be discouraged at the inattention and obstinacy of their brethren; for had this been the case in times past, no reformation had ever been effected. It becomes, therefore, the immediate duty and privilege of all that perceive and feel the necessity of the proposed reformation, to exert themselves by every Scriptural means to promote it. Seeing the pernicious nature and antiscriptural effects of the present corruptions of Christianity, both upon professors and non-professors, in producing alienations among the former, in direct opposition to the law of Christ, and in casting almost insuperable obstacles in the way of the conversion of the latter, the serious and upright, of all parties, must feel conscientiously bound to endeavor, to the utmost of their power, to effect a genuine and radical reformation; which, we presume, can only be effected by a sincere conformity to the original exhibition of our holy religion, the [257] divinely authorized rule and standard of faith and practice. To such, therefore, we appeal; and for the consideration of such alone, we have respectfully submitted the above queries.
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."--PAUL, 1 Cor. i: 10.
"Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, I pray for them who shall believe on me through the word of my apostles; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me: that the world may know that thou hast sent me; and hast loved them as thou hast loved me."--JOHN xvii.
"In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."--MATT. xv.
"From the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, saith the Lord of hosts."--MAL. iii: 7.
"Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."--REV. xviii: 4.
"He that testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
Now, for the complete satisfaction of all present, or that may feel disposed to attend, it is further proposed to show, in a series of discourses, that the New Testament does really contain, and actually exhibit, a Divine system of religion and morality so complete, that the person who realizes it "will stand perfect and complete in all the will of God, be made wise to salvation, thoroughly furnished to all good works." And all this, in the express terms of the Divine testimony, without the intervention of one human opinion; [258] only taking for granted that the sacred text means what it says when treated with that candid, evident fairness with which we treat any intelligible, interesting record: otherwise, it can have no certain meaning at all.
Further, for the assistance and satisfaction of our inquiring friends, who wish to avail themselves of the luminous fullness of the holy Scriptures upon the great subject under consideration, we subjoin the following analysis of the sacred oracles, and the great salvation which they exhibit; by the due consideration of which, the Scriptural evidence and certainty of what is intended will, we hope, be apparently obvious.
ANALYSIS OF THE SACRED ORACLES.
The Bible consists of two volumes, the Old Testament and the New. Each of these consists of histories, prophecies, moral dictates, Divine institution, and devotional exercises. The Old Testament contains three distinct dispensations of religion, and predicts a fourth, which is contained in the New, viz.: 1st. The primitive or Edenic, delivered to our first parents immediately after their creation. 2d. The Patriarchal, also delivered to our first parents immediately after their fall. 3d. The Israelitish or Mosaic, delivered to the Israelites by Moses. And the 4th, called the Christian, exclusively contained in the New Testament. Concerning these two volumes we observe: that although the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are inseparably connected, making together but one perfect and entire revelation of the Divine will, for the edification and salvation of the Church, and, therefore, in that respect can not be separated; yet as to what directly and properly belongs to their immediate object, the New Testament is as perfect a constitution for the worship, discipline, and government of the New Testament Church, and as perfect a rule for the particular duties of its members, as the Old Testament was for the worship, discipline, and [259] government of the Old Testament Church, and the particular duties of its members.
Also, that in order to enjoy a clear and comprehensive knowledge of what we read upon every subject in the sacred volume, the following things should be duly considered, viz.: Who speaks; to whom he speaks; what he says; why he says it; when and where he said so.
ANALYSIS OF THE GRAND DOCTRINAL TOPICS CONTAINED IN
THE BIBLE.1. The knowledge of God. 2. Of man. 3. Of sin. 4. Of the Savior. 5. Of his salvation. 6. Of the principle and means of enjoying it. 7. Of its blissful effects and consequences.
These are the grand doctrinal topics which the Scriptures were specially designed to teach, in the knowledge, belief, and practical influence of which consists our present salvation.
ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT SALVATION.
FIRST. Of its concurring Causes.--1. The prime moving or designing cause: The love of God. 2. The procuring cause: The blood of Christ. 3. The efficient cause: The Holy Spirit. 4. The instrumental cause: The Gospel and law of Christ, or, the word of truth.
SECOND. Of the Principle and Means of Enjoyment.--1st. Of the principle: The sole principle of enjoyment is belief or faith. 2d. Of the means: 1. The prime instituted means of enjoyment is baptism. 2. Prayer. 3. Church-fellowship in the social ordinances. 4. The Lord's day. 5. The Lord's Supper. 6. The prayers. 7. The praises. 8. The teaching of the word. 9. The contribution for charitable purposes. 10. Religious conversation. 11. Studious perusal and meditation of the holy Scriptures. 12. All manner of good works: called works of faith and labors of love, etc., all of which [260] are but means of enjoyment, not of procurement. "For eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
THIRD. Of the present and proper Effects of this Salvation.--These are justification, adoption, sanctification, assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, increase of grace, and perseverance in it to the end of our race.
FOURTH. Of its ultimate Effects. These are a glorious resurrection and a blissful immortality.
As a striking instance of the necessity and importance of the proposed reformation, we present the following extract from the Boston Anthology, which, with too many of the same kind that might be adduced, furnishes a mournful comment upon the text--we mean upon the sorrowful subject of our woeful divisions and corruptions:
"The following reply to the Rev. Mr. Cram, missionary from Massachusetts to the Senecas, was made by the principal chiefs and warriors of the Six Nations, in council assembled, at Buffalo creek, State of New York, in the presence of the Agent of the United States for Indian Affairs, in the summer of 1805: "I am come, brethren,' said the missionary, 'to enlighten your minds, and to instruct you how to worship the Great Spirit agreeably to his will, and to preach to you the Gospel of his Son Jesus Christ. There is but one way to serve God, and if you do not embrace the right way, you can not be happy hereafter.' To which they reply, 'Brother, we understand your religion is written in a book. You say that there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there be but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agree, as you can all read the book? Brother, we do not understand these things. We are told your religion was given to your forefathers. We also have a religion which was given to our forefathers. It teaches us to be thankful for all the favors we receive, to [261] love one another, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion. We are told you have been preaching to the white people in this place. Those people are our neighbors; we are acquainted with them. We will wait a little, to see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest, and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will their consider again what you have said.'"
Thus closed the conference. Alas! poor people, how do our divisions and corruptions stand in your way! What a pity that you find us not upon original ground, such as the apostles left the primitive Churches! Had we exhibited to you their unity and charity, their humble, honest, and affectionate deportment toward each other, and toward all men, you would not have had those evil and shameful things to object to our holy religion, and to prejudice your minds against it. But your conversion, it seems, awaits our reformation, awaits our return to primitive unity and love. To this may the God of mercy speedily restore us, both for your sakes and for our own! that his way may be known upon earth, and his saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God! let all the people praise thee! Amen! and amen!
Upon the whole, we appeal to every candid mind that has one serious thought upon the great subject of Christianity: Is not the necessity of a religious reformation among professed Christians most convincingly evident and universally acknowledged by the serious of all denominations? We appeal, then, to all concerned, what should be its character? Should it be Divine or human? Should it be the simple belief and obedience of the word and testimony of God, or of the opinions and dictates of men? You will, no doubt, say, of the former. So say we; and yet, strange to tell, all the sects are offended. And why? We shall leave it to them to say; for they have not yet, no, not one of them, presented any relevant reason why we should desist from urging the [262] indispensable duty, absolute necessity, and vast importance of the reformation for which we plead. They have not presented us with the detection of one single error in our premises.
We shall conclude our humble appeal by respectfully assuring all concerned that if they, or any of them, will convince us of any error, either of faith or practice, we will candidly relinquish it, and thank God and man for the discovery; also, that if they will show us how we may, without giving offense, plead the cause of a reformation, which involves the glory of God and the happiness of mankind, we shall thankfully adopt it. FAREWELL.
A WORD TO OUR FELLOW-LABORERS IN THE GOOD CAUSE.
Does the New Testament exhibit a religion--a complete system of faith and obedience--which goes to perfect the conscience and character of the believing and obedient subject, and to fill him with the blissful assurance of a glorious immortality; and all this in the express words of the Divine testimony, independent of a single adjunct or human dictation? What, then, have we to do with humanisms? or what remains but to evince this perfection of the Divine testimony by a just and luminous exhibition of its provisions, its contents, by means of a correct analysis?
Its all-sufficiency and alone sufficiency being thus demonstrably evinced, and its exclusive obligation divinely established, what have we to do but to insist authoritatively upon its exclusive reception, under pain of rebellion, of high treason against the majesty of Heaven, for wickedly and wantonly corrupting the Divine institution, and keeping up animosities, contentions, and strifes among the subjects of the Divine government, to the manifest destruction of its influence? And are we not sufficiently furnished with Divine documents for the authoritative eviction of all this? What, then, have we to do with sectarian controversies, but only to [263] show their irrelevancy and inutility in relation to the grand object of Christianity, to the attainment of which they can conduce nothing, this being divinely secured to the believing and obedient, in the express terms of the Divine testimony?
Thus, beloved brethren, we have taken the liberty of addressing you upon the important subject in which we are all, we humbly hope, most sincerely and seriously engaged. Our object, you will perceive, is to render our labors as successful as possible, by making a proper use of the due means for obviating ignorant mistakes and pernicious misrepresentations, and for preventing offenses, as far as possible, by treating with all Christian candor and courtesy our fellow-professors of the different parties; thus, "as far as in us lies, giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed; neither to Jew nor Gentile, nor to the Church of God;" being well persuaded that if "speaking the truth in love" does not conquer, nothing will, "and that a perfectly simple exhibition of the truth, if such could be obtained, would be the best corrective of error."
If we intend to make Christians, let us teach Christianity; if we intend to make Arminians, let us teach Arminianism, and put down Calvinism. In a word, if we intend to make self-conceited, self-preferring, censorious controversialists, let us teach controversy. Experience fully justifies the old adage, "Like priest, like people." If common report, both of friends and opposers, may be credited, there have been too much bantering and boasting, too much irony, sarcasm, and satire, too much censure and crimination, in the ranks of the reformation. We hope, however, these offensive evils are on the decrease, and that experience, and the united voice of Scripture and right reason, will speedily deliver us from this reproach. Let us never forget that "the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle, showing all meekness to all men." [264]
[METC 253-264]
PUBLICATION HISTORY AND COLLATION
Thomas Campbell's "Prospectus of a Religious Reformation" was first issued as a pamphlet, probably in Cincinnati, 1829. (See editorial note on the Prospectus concerning the facts of publication.) Its publication in Alexander Campbell's Memoirs of Elder Thomas Campbell (Cincinnati, OH: H. S. Bosworth 1861), pp. 253-264, represents its first appearance as a contribution to a book.
The following apparatus details the variants in the in the text of the Prospectus of a Religious Reformation from its first publication in 1829 as a pamphlet to its appearance as a contribution to a book in Thomas Campbell's Memoirs of Elder Thomas Campbell (Cincinnati, OH: H. S. Bosworth, 1861), pp. 253-264.
METC / PORR Reprinting in METC [ First Edition
---------------------------------------------------------------------
p. 253: / p. 1: RELIGIOUS REFORMATION, [ Religious Reformation;
SPIRIT, [ SPIRIT--
/ p. 3: Christianity [ CHRISTIANITY
by his apostles, [ by his Apostles,
by his apostles, [ by his Apostles,
classes, [ classes;
viz.: [ viz.
corrupt Christianity, [ corrupt christianity
p. 254: / p. 3: Christian institution [ christian institution
The infidels, [ The infidels
Divine authority [ divine authority
nor anything [ nor any thing
rejecting a revelation [ rejecting a revelation,
possible happiness, [ possible happiness
of Christianity, [ of christianity,
infidelity, [ infidelity
Church of Christ [ church of Christ
/ p. 4: to the Scriptures, [ to the scriptures,
called Christians? [ ca led Christians?
family and Father, [ family and father,
same Spirit, [ same spirit,
Divine love, [ divine love,
joint-heirs [ joint heirs
p. 255: / p. 4: among Christians [ among christians
antichristian, [ anti-christian,
antiscriptural [ anti-scriptural,
sovereign authority, [ sovereign authority--
antinatural, [ anti-natural,
excites Christians [ excites christians
Christian community [ christian community
Christian societies? [ christian societies?
antiscriptural condition? [ anti-scriptural condition?
of Christianity, [ of christianity,
Testament Scripture? [ Testament scripture?
the apostles, [ the Apostles,
preached [ preached,
/ p. 5: Christian institution? [ christian institution?
p. 256: / p. 5: and obedience [ and obedience,
Is not everything [ Is not every thing
the apostles [ the Apostles
teach, believe, [ teach, believe
and obey [ and obey,
viz.: [ viz.
obedience, [ obedience--
Christian religion. [ christian religion.
That is, [ that is,
can not be? [ cannot be?
That is, [ that is,
testimony; [ testimony--
authority, [ authority--
that Christianity, [ that christianity,
Divine institution, [ divine institution,
p. 257: / p. 5: expressly-recorded [ expressly recorded
holy Scriptures, [ Holy Scriptures,
Savior [ Saviour
holy apostles [ holy Apostles
Christian community. [ christian community.
/ p. 6: of Christianity, [ of christianity,
Providential [ providential
Divine displeasure [ divine displeasure
antichristian [ anti-christian
Christendom [ christendom,
to expect [ to expect,
It becomes, [ It becomes
therefore, the immediate [ therefore the immediate
Scriptural means [ scriptural means
pernicious nature [ pernicious nature,
antiscriptural [ anti-scriptural
of Christianity, [ of christianity,
upon professors [ upon professors,
among the former, [ amongst the former,
law of Christ, [ law of Christ;--
the latter, [ the latter;--
p. 258: / p. 6 --PAUL, [ Paul,
1 Cor. i: 10. [ 1 Cor. i. 10.
Father, [ Father--
I pray [ I pray--
apostles; [ Apostles;
/ p. 7: --JOHN xvii. [ John, xvii.
worship me, [ worship me
--MATT. xv. [ --Matt. xv.
MAL. iii: 7. [ --Mal. iii. 7.
REV. xviii: 4. [ --Rev. xviii. 4.
Surely I come [ surely I come
quickly: [ quickly;
Even so, [ Even so
Now, [ Now
is further [ is farther
to show, [ to show
contain, [ contain,--
exhibit, [ exhibit,--
Divine system [ divine system
realizes it [ realizes it,
will of God, [ will of God--
salvation, [ salvation--
Divine testimony, [ divine testimony,
p. 259: / p. 7: candid, evident [ candid evident
fairness [ fairness,
Further, [ Farther,
fullness [ fulness
holy Scriptures [ holy scriptures
sacred oracles, [ Sacred Oracles,
and the great [ and, the great
Scriptural evidence [ scriptural evidence
is intended [ is intended,
two volumes, [ two volumes--
histories, [ histories--
prophecies, [ prophecies--
dictates, [ dictates--
Divine [ divine
institutions, [ institutions--
the New, [ the New;
viz.: [ viz.
Edenic, [ Edenic--
first parents [ first Parents
2d. [ 2nd.
/ p. 8: Patriarchal, [ Patriarchal--
first parents [ first Parents
Mosaic, [ Mosaic--
4th, [ 4th.
observe: [ observe;
Scriptures [ scriptures
Divine will, [ divine will,
the Church, [ the church;
can not be [ cannot be
New Testament Church, [ New Testament church,
p. 260: / p. 8: Old Testament Church, [ Old Testament church,
viz.: [ viz.
Who speaks; [ Who speaks--
he speaks; [ he speaks--
he says; [ he says--
says it; [ says it--
when and where [ when--and where
Savior. [ Saviour.
doctrinal topics [ doctrinal topics,
which the Scriptures [ which the scriptures
FIRST. [ First
Of its concurring [ of its concurring causes.
...Causes.--
designing cause: [ designing cause--
The love [ the love
procuring cause: [ procuring cause--
The blood [ the blood
efficient cause: [ efficient cause--
The Holy [ the Holy
instrumental cause: [ instrumental cause--
The Gospel [ the Gospel
law of Christ, [ Law of Christ,
SECOND. [ Second,
[ of the principles and means of enjoyment.
...Of the Principle and Means of Enjoyment.--
1st. Of the [ 1. OF THE PTINCIPLE.
...principle:
2d. Of the means: [ 2. OF THE MEANS.
Church-fellowship [ Church fellowship
/ p. 9. Lord's Supper. [ Lord's supper.
holy Scriptures. [ holy scriptures.
good works: [ good works--
etc., [ &c. &c.
p. 261: / p. 9: enjoyment, [ enjoyment--
THIRD. [ Third,
[ of the present effects of this salvation;
...Of the present Effects of this Salvation.--
These are [ these are
FOURTH. [ Fourth,
Of its ultimate [ of its ultimate effects;
...Effects.--
These are [ these are
resurrection [ resurrection,
proposed reformation, [ proposed reformation
Boston Anthology, [ Boston Anthology,
furnishes [ furnish
corruptions: [ corruptions.
¶ "The following [ The following
council assembled, [ council assembled
Buffalo [ Buffaloe
State of [ state of
the Agent [ the agent
Indian Affairs, [ Indian affairs,
'I am [ "I am
come, [ come
brethren,' [ brethren,"
'to enlighten [ "to enlighten
the Gospel [ the gospel
you can not [ you cannot
hereafter.' [ hereafter."
'Brother, [ "Brother,
receive, [ receive--
p. 262: / p. 9: neighbors; [ neighbors:
/ p. 10: said.'" [ said."
¶ Thus closed [ Thus closed
conference. [ conference!
poor people, [ poor people!
your way! [ your way?
the apostles [ the Apostles
Churches! [ churches!
and charity, [ and charity;
humble, honest, [ humble, honest
toward each [ towards each
toward all [ towards all
our reformation, [ our reformation--
our own! [ our own;
O God! [ O God;
praise thee! [ praise thee.
Amen! [ Amen
and amen! [ and amen.
candid mind [ candid mind,
of Christianity: [ of Christianity;
professed Christians [ professed christians
evident [ evident;--
be Divine [ be divine
relevant reason [ relevant reason,
p. 263: / p. 10: ¶ We shall conclude [ We shall conclude
all concerned [ all concerned,
any of them, [ any of them
the discovery; [ the discovery.
also, [ Also,
offense, [ offence,
/ p. 11: FELLOW-LABORERS [ FELLOW LABORERS
religion-- [ religion,--
obedience-- [ obedience,
immortality; [ immortality;--
Divine testimony, [ divine testimony,
What, then, [ What then
Divine testimony by [ divine testimony, by
provisions, [ provisions--
all-sufficiency [ all sufficiency,
alone sufficiency [ alone sufficiency,
evinced, [ evinced;
established, [ established;
rebellion, [ rebellion--
majesty [ Majesty
of Heaven, [ of heaven,
Divine institution, [ divine institution;
strifes [ strifes,
among the subjects [ amongst the subjects
Divine government, [ divine government,
Divine documents [ divine documents
p. 264: / p. 11: inutility [ inutility,
of Christianity, [ of christianity,
Divine testimony? [ divine testimony?
you [ you,
important subject [ important subject,
you will [ you'll
perceive, [ perceive
as possible, [ as possible
offenses, [ offences,
Christian candor [ christian candor
courtesy [ courtesy,
fellow-professors [ fellow professors
parties; [ parties.
thus, [ Thus,
no offense [ no offence
in anything, [ in any thing,
blamed; [ blamed;--
to Jew [ to Jew,
to the Church [ to the church
of God;" [ of God."
being well [ Being well
nothing will, [ nothing will;--
of error." [ of error.
/ p. 12: make Christians, [ make christian,
Christianity; [ Christianity.
if we intend [ If we intend
self-preferring, [ self preferring,
boasting, [ boasting;--
satire, [ satire;
crimination, [ crimination
decrease, [ decrease;
of Scripture [ of scripture
never forget [ never forget,
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