wards of three hundred bishops, many of whom had been tortured and maimed in the heathen persecutions, assembled together at the city of Nice, in Bithynia, A. D. 325; and one Arius, a principal promoter of this wickedness, was summoned to appear before them : his doctrine and writings were condemned: the faith which these holy men had brought with them to the Council was declared, and is now preserved, in the Nicene Creed: which form we make use of in the Church, because it comprehends the sense of our faith in a few words. But we do not (thereby) rest our belief upon the authority of any human form, because the doctrine therein expressed is secured by the unquestionable authority of the Old and New Testaments." And which, by GOD's blessing, I will plainly show forth and I have been the more moved to undertake this "labor amoris" (which I find the explication of the Nicene Creed to be), because I am satisfied that but too many of my fellow-protestants, also members of Our Church Communion, entertain very vague, if not heterodox, opinions of the attributes of the GODHEAD-

the divinity of our blessed Saviour, Christ * Jesus-verging somewhat towards that infidel and most damnable heresy of Unitarianism, so called, and which, as you have already heard, this creed was expressly compiled to rebut, and is therefore strong on this head, concerning the office of the Holy Ghost, and the glory due to him-of the Catholic Church-of which the strong proof is our yielding to a communion of idolaters, that very name for which WE OUGHT TO CONTEND WITH OUR LIFE'S BLOOD-of baptism and its virtues-of our own resurrection-and of Christ's everlasting kingdom.

The proofs of these vital points of Christianity will be confined simply to texts of Scripture applicable thereto, and elucidatory thereof, except on two points, on which a few additional observations will be offered. Those texts which bear the strongest against the Unitarian heresy, will be marked thus, and which has been deemed proper, in order the

* The translation of the word "Christ" is Anointed, and of the word "Jesus" is the Saviour; therefore "Christ Jesus" is the Anointed Saviour.

b

more forcibly to impress on all the fundamental principle of salvation, viz. the Godhead of Christ Jesus.

In the twelve latter articles of this creed, which contain, to speak correctly, the Romish doctrines, it will be seen that they are totally unamalgamable with the former twelve. On this account, therefore, it would have been much more consistent and honest had they left out the Nicene creed altogether, for they virtually reject it in each and all of its provi

sions.

This may sound a very harsh and illiberal judgment; but, my friends, you are requested to reserve yours of me, till you have gone through the creed; and recollect that, as an Englishman, I claim that right of justice that is the birthright of us all, that you have a right to believe that I tell the truth until you detect me in a falsehood.

But there is one point which I must premise, reader, before I can enter upon this matter with you.

Do you believe, UNLIMITEDLY, GOD's holy word, as conveyed in the sacred volume?

Because, if you do not, I hold no converse with you-no argument here with you-not, believe me, that I should fear to meet you in a preliminary argument on the authenticity and inspiration of God's holy word, but because, as all my proofs are drawn from that volume, you are prepared to cavil away each proof because you don't choose to admit that as the test. Should this book fall into the hands of any such, I can only pray that the almighty and merciful Father of all will pity and forgive them; that He, who alone openeth men's hearts and understandings, may illuminate your dark hearts; and that, by your contrition and penitence, through faith in Him, He "make your body" a fit receptacle for his Holy Spirit, yea even "the temple of the living God." 1 Cor. iii. 17:

may

The Romish errors, as contained in this creed, will be made apparent by Scripture proofs; but in their refutation it has been deemed necessary to show, of some the palpa ble absurdity of others the evident inutility of more the gross idolatry-and of the whole, separately and collectively, the astounding

and impious blasphemy! Showing it altogether to be such a mass of heterodoxy, as to make it strongly evident that they who believe in such things are suffering under the curse. spoken of by St. Paul (2 Thess. ii. 12), “being possessed with a strong delusion," (which makes, them) "that they should believe a lie !"

And let not these harsh terms, my liberal friends, excite your bile and indignation against me. Truly I heed it not. I thank my GoD I stand not accountable to you, not in your presence, but in that of my Maker, and your Maker, of my GoD--oh! that He were your GOD! From His book I learn, that the truth is to be told at all times-that lying is an abomination unto him; therefore are my expressions couched in such terms as can neither be misunderstood nor explained away. On which account idolatry is not called a superstitious error, but a sin crying aloud for the "besom of destruction;" and for which is waiting, with open arms, its affianced spouse, "Perdition!" And it is conceived, also, from the perusal of His Holy Word, that true charity, Christian charity, consisteth not in