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the busy theatre of action, and driven, one after another, either by disease or accident, into the house appointed for all living! Upon the decease indeed of relatives and friends, they heave a sigh, utter an exclamation, shed a tear, but clothing themselves in the garments of sorrow, the tragedy is quickly over. Reassuming their former views, and laying their minds open afresh to the dominion of their passions, they return with avidity to the occupations and amusements of life. Thus proceeds the tenor of their existence on earth, till they also are swept away into

THE RECEPTACLES OF THE DEAD.

Pilgrims and sojourners on earth, we are hastening to an ETERNAL WORLD, and a few more fleeting years will place even the youngest of us before the tribunal of Heaven. Whether we can abide the awful scrutiny which shall be instituted at the last great day, "for which all other days were made," is a question of infinite importance, and intimately concerns rational and accountable creatures. Amidst the din of controversy, and the jarrings of adverse parties, the opinions of the head are often substituted for the virtues of the heart, and thus is PRACTICAL RELIGION neglected. Fleeing, therefore, those pernicious disputes, which damp our devotion, and contract our benevolence, let us cultivate the means by which our faith may be invigorated, our hope enlivened, our charity confirmed, and our affections elevated to the things which are above, where CHRIST sitteth at the

right hand of God! The veil now thrown over this preliminary state, and concealing from our view celestial objects, shall be removed. Then bidding an adieu to prejudices which darken the understanding, irritate the temper, and deform the spirit, we shall embrace each other with perfect love, and shall be astonished at ourselves for having been on earth so addicted to unprofitable disputations, and so backward to the exercise of BROTHERLY KINDNESS, and of CHRISTIAN CHARITY,

Banish

ALMIGHTY GOD! look down on thine erring creatures. Pity their darkness and imperfection. Direct them into the truth as it is in Jesus. from their hearts the bitterness of censure. Cherish in their minds a spirit of moderation and love towards their fellow Christians. To their zeal add knowledge, and to their knowledge CHARITY. Make them humble under the difficulties which adhere to their faith, and patient under the perplexities which accompany their practice. Guide them by thy counsel, and, through the mediation of thy Son JESUS CHRIST, receive them into thy kingdom and glory! AMEN.

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RECAPITULATORY SCHEDULE.

SHEWING THE ORIGIN OF THE NAMES, BY WHICH THE CHIEF SECTS ARE DISTINGUISHED.

CHRISTIANITY is a Revelation from God by his Son Jesus Christ-consists of Doctrines, Precepts, Positive
Institutions, Rewards, and Punishment-and its Evidences are, Prophecy, Miracles, Internal Character, together with
its rapid Propagation, both among Jews and Gentiles.

Its PROFESSORS hold various opinions, and are thus denominated:

I. According to their opinions respecting the Person of Christ.
TRINITARIANS, from the Latin word Trinitas, which denotes a threefold unity in the Godhead.
SABELLIANS, from Sabellius, who lived in the third century, and held a modal or nominal/Trinity.
ARIANS, from Arius, a popular divine of Alexandria, who flourished about the
year 315.
SOCINIANS, fr
from Faustus Socinus, who died near Cracow, in Poland, about the year 1604.
II. According to their opinions respecting the Means and Measure of God's Favour.
CALVINISTS, from John Calvin, a Reformer, who flourished at Geneva about 1540.
ARMINIANS, from James Arminius, the disciple of Beza, who fourished about 1600.
BAXTERIANS, from Richard Baxter, an eminent Puritan, who died in the year 1691.
ANTINOMIANS, compounded of two Greek terms, avr against, and vous the moral law.

III. According to their opinions respecting Church Government and the Administration of Ceremonies.
PAPISTS, from the Latin word for Pope, Papa signifying a Father, who usually resided at Rome.
GREEK CHURCH, (chiefly Russian) from their native language, which is the Greek tongue.
PROTESTANTS, from their solemnly protesting against a decree of Charles the Fifth, 1529.7
EPISCOPALIANS, from Episcopus, the Latin term for Bishop, Inspector, or Overseer of a Diocese.
DISSENTERS, from the Latin word dissentio, to disagree with, or dissent from any Person or Body.,
PRESBYTERIANS, from the Greek IIpeo Bulepos, a word signifying Elder, Senior, or Presbyter.

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INDEPENDENTS, from the independency of each Church in its discipline or Government.

BAPTISTS, from the Greek verb Banlw, signifying to baptize, dip, or immerse the body in water.
PÆDOBAPTISTS, from the Greek words Пas and Banla, a baptizer of infants, by sprinkling or immersion.
SCOTCH CHURCH, or KIRK more usually called, established in Scotland, by means of John Knox, died 1572.
SECEDERS, Scotch Dissenters from the Lation secedo, signifying to withdraw from any Body.

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QUAKERS, from the agitation or quaking with which their first preachers addressed their auditors.
METHODISTS, from the methodical strictness of their religious conduct, begun at Oxford.
JUMPERS, from the act of jumping used in their religious services, chiefly in the Principality.
MORAVIANS, from Moravia, the country whence they first arose, a part of Germany.
UNIVERSALISTS, from the belief that all men, will in a future state be finally happy.
SANDEMANIANS, from Robert Sandeman, a popular writer among them in Scotland.
SABBATARIANS, from their observance of the Jewish Sabbath, or seventh day, much reduced.
HUTCHINSONIANS, from John Hutchinson, born in Yorkshire, in the year 1674, nearly extinct.
MUGGLETONIANS, from John Muggleton, who lived in the days of Cromwell, almost extinct.
MYSTICS, from puerinos, a Greek word importing a secret mysterious meaning, found in most Sects.
SHAKERS, from the act of Shaking used in their public worship, and are found in North America.
SWEDENBORGIANS, from Emanuel Swedenborg, a foreigner, who lived in London, during the year 1772.
JOHNSONIANS, from the name of the founder, who had many followers at Liverpool.
HALDANITES, from the name of two Brothers now living in Scotland.
FREETHINKING CHRISTIANS, from their free manner of thinking in religion.

MILLENARIANS, from the Latin mille, a thousand, the years of Christ's future reign upon Earth.

A NEW COMMANDMENT GIVE I UNTO YOU THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

JESUS CHRIST.

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BRIEF TABLE

Of the leading Events of ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, from the Birth of CHRIST down to the present Times, the importance of which can only be ascertained by studying the history of the Christian Church.

A. D.

1 JESUS CHRIST born in Judea, now called the Holy Land, the World being four thousand years old.

8 Our Saviour disputes with the Jewish doctors.

26 John the Baptist enters on his ministry.

29 CHRIST is baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan, preparatory to his entering on his ministry. 33 He is crucified under PONTIUS PILATE, rises from the dead on the third day, and six weeks after ascends up into heaven, with the solemn assurance of his ap pearing a second time at the end of the world.

85 The miraculous conversion of the apostle Paul. 39 St. Matthew writes his gospel.

44 St. Mark writes his gospel.

52 Council of the apostles at Jerusalem.

62 St. Paul sent in bonds to Rome.

64 The first persecution against the Christians.
66 The Jewish war begins.

67 St. Peter and St. Paul put to death.
70 Jerusalem utterly destroyed by the Romans.
95 The second persecution against the Christians.
99 St. John dies in the 102d year of his age.

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