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tions arise which require more judgment to determine, they then appeal to the ministers and elders of other congregations. They have yet a higher appeal than this; and in case of differences and disputes, they call a court or synod of the most able among them, who meet to regulate all affairs, and to adjust every dispute to the satisfaction of inferior congregations.

Their tenets concerning God, the Trinity, the sufferings of Christ, &c. are equally the same as that of the ar icles of the church of England; and they baptize infants by sprinkling, and have sponsors for them as the church has, but refuse the names of godfather and godmother.

Some have, others have not, any regular form of prayer, but worship by extempore prayer, preaching, and singing Psalms; some of them frequently conclude their prayers with the Lord's prayer. These sects are rather Arminians than Calvinists.

INDEPENDENTS.

THE word itself carries its own meaning with it. They are a sect who profess themselves independent of all other churches or persuasions, of all councils, synods, and jurisdictions, and argue that every church or assembly of men have a power lodged in themselves; and therefore deny all superiority and subordination. Their worship is the same as the Presbyterians, and their tenets much the same except it be that they hold a particular redemption, and are in general rather Calvinists than Arminians.

BAPTISTS.

THE Baptists are divided into general who are in sentiments Arminians; and into particular, who are Calvinists. Both however oppose the baptism of infants; say it is unscriptural, and that none are proper objects of this first sacrament but adult persons, and such as are capable of giving account of their faith in Christ Jesus, and believe that it is an ordinance that he enjoined all his disciples to follow. They say further, that sprinkling with water is not baptism, but an innovation, contrary to the rules of Scripture; and that therefore no person is truly baptized, who is not dipped into or buried under water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Their manner of worship is by extempore prayer, praises, preaching, and singing Psalms: and their government or

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discipline is by elders, from their own particular community.

METHODISTS.

THIS term was formerly applied, in France and other countries, to certain polemic doctors, for their peculiar method of defending popery against the Protestants; but what we now understand by it, is the sect founded about the year 1729 by Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, with whom, in 1735, was associated the celebrated Mr. Whitfield. However, in 1741, a separation took place; Mr. Wesley not holding the doctrine of predestination, which Mr. Whitfield and his friends supported. The principles of the Methodists approach nearer to Arminianism than those of any other sect.

QUAKERS..

THEY are so called, because at first, when they spoke or preached, they had violent shakings or agitations. Their first leader was one George Fox, in the year 1650, who taught thatthe light within is more sufficient to guide men to heaven than the holy Scriptures; but they are now much reformed, and pay a great regard to God's word, but still deny the two sacraments, and all manner of ceremonies. They refuse to take an oath before a magistrate, and therefore are indulged to give their affirmation when called upon as witnesses. Their worship is very abrupt, any person rising up to pray or preach according as he is moved. They pray and then preach, or instruct their congregations in all moral duties, and speak continually against the modes, vanities, and vices, of the age. They are very plain and simple in their dress; and for order and discipline in governing their different assemblies and congregations, and for unity, harmony, and brotherly love, they equal any Christian sect of people or church in the universe.

ARIANS.

ARIANS, or the followers of Arius, who in the time of Constantine the Great, A. D. 315, taught that the Son of God is not equal or consubstantial with the Father, but only the first of all created beings. His opinion was condemned as heretical by the council of Nice, in A. D. 325; but notwithstanding this many of the eastern churches adopted his principles; and are very numerous to this day.

ARMINIANS.

ARMINIANS are those who adhere to the doctrine of Arminius, who separated himself from the Calvinists in the sixteenth century, and taught that predestination is grounded on foreseen works of righteousness; that a man has power of himself to embrace or reject the motions of the Holy Spirit; and that he may finally fall from grace after justification.

ANTIMONIANS.

THE Antimonians are a sect who reject, not only the Mosaic law of ceremonies, but assert also that all manner of good works, such as honesty, charity, sobriety, temperance, chastity, &c. are of no signification, because good or evil works neither forward nor hinder a man in his salvation; that our righteousness is already complete in the offering of Christ; and that whoever believes faithfully that the work of redemption is already finished, it is suffi

cient.

SOCINIANS.

SOCINIANS are those who follow the doctrine of one Faustus Socinus, who lived in the sixteenth century, and who taught that Jesus Christ was not only a mere man, but had no existence before the Virgin Mary.

CALVINISTS.

CALVINISTS are the followers of the noted reformer Calvin, who lived in the fifteenth century. He taught that predestination is absolute and unconditional from all eternity, and that God elected certain persons before the foundation of the world to eternal salvation and holiness of life.

OBSERVABLE DAYS OF THE CHURCH OF

ENGLAND.

Advent is a time appointed by the Church as a preparation for the approaching feast of the nativity of our blessed Saviour.

Christmas is a festival celebrated on the 25th of December, in commemoration of the birth of Christ.

The Circumcision of Christ is a feast celebrated on the first of January, in commemoration of Christ's incorporation into the Jewish church, by the bloody rite of circumcision.

Epiphany is a feast celebrated the twelfth day after Christmas, or our Saviour's nativity, wherein he was manifested to the Gentiles, by the appearance of a miraculous blazing star conducting the wise men to the place of his abode.

Septuagesima is the third Sunday before Lent; so called because it was about seventy days before Easter.

Sexagesima is the second Sunday before Lent; so called from its being about the sixtieth day before Easter.

Quinquagesima is the next Sunday before Lent; so called from its being about the fiftieth day before Easter.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent; so called from a custom of the ancient church of fasting in sackcloth, with ashes upon their heads, in token of humiliation.

Lent is a time of fasting and abstinence for forty days before Easter, in memory of our Saviour's miraculous fasting for forty days and forty nights, in the wilderness.

The four Ember Weeks are fasts, like those of the Jews at the four seasons, Zech. viii. 19. These seasons are appointed for the ordination of priests and deacons, Acts xiii. 3. The first begins upon Wednesday next after Ash-Wednesday; the second upon Wednesday next after Whit-Sunday; the third upon Wednesday next after September 14. The last Ember week begins upon Wednesday next after December 13. The days of the week are Wednesday, on which Christ was betrayed by Judas; Friday, on which he was crucified; and Saturday, on which he lay in the grave. Good Friday is the day of our Saviour's suffering on the cross, when he was crucified between two thieves, for us men, and for our salvation.

Easter is a solemn festival appointed in commemoration of Christ's resurrection from the dead, the third day after his crucifixion.

Ascension Day is a festival of the Church in commemoration of the ascension of our Saviour, when he ascended up to heaven in the sight of his apostles, forty days after his resurrection.

Whit-Sunday, is a solemn festival instituted to comme

morate the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles, in the shape of fiery tongues. It was called Whit-Sunday, from the admission of the catechumens, clothed in white robes, to the sacrament of baptism, on the eve of this festival. It answers to the Pentecost of the Jews.

Trinity-Sunday, is the first sabbath after Whit-Sunday, sacred to the ever blessed Trinity-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

PRAYERS.

A PRAYER FOR A FAMILY.

To be used either Morning or Evening, with such variation as may easily be understood by any who are able to read it.

Adoration.] - MOST great, eternal, and ever-blessed GOD! we thine unworthy creatures desire at this time with all humility to bow ourselves down in thine awful and majestic presence, acknowledging thine infinite perfections and glories.-[We adore thee, as the first and the last, the greatest and the best of beings; who art originally and necessarily possessed of knowledge and power, wisdom and righteousness, holiness and truth, mercy and goodness, in decrees which no other being can conceive!]-We pay thee our homage as the author and supporter of universal nature, the Lord and life of the creation. We acknowledge ourselves thy creatures, whose bodies and souls have been formed by thine hand, and continually maintained and defended by thy care and favour.

Confession-Most justly mightest thou therefore, O our heavenly Father, have expected from us the most constant gratitude, duty, and obedience: but we humbly confess before thee (and we desire to do it with the deepest humiliation and shame, remorse and sorrow) that we have been very much wanting in those returus; yea, that we have all most grievously offended thee.-[We confess, O thou Holy, Holy, Holy, LORD GOD, that we are polluted and guilty creatures, and so most unworthy and unfit to appear in thy presence.]-We acknowledge, O LORD, that we are shapen in iniquity, and in sin did our mothers conceive us; and that we have, from our very childhood, been renewing our provocations and transgressions in our thoughts, our words,

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