"  Now,  see  how  considerate  and  kind  the  Lord
is  I  Besides  the  Holy  Bible,  we  have  holy  mes-
sengers sent  to  us  from  God,  and  speaking  in  the
name  of  Christ.  When  such  an  one  took  you  in
baptism,  and  blessed  you,  it  was  through  Jesus
Christ's  commission.  When  such  an  one  in  the
Church  stands  up,  and  declares  and  pronounces
pardon  to  all  who  truly  repent,  it  is  by  the  au-
thority of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  that  the  absolu-
tion is  pronounced.  Our  Saviour  came  to  ee^k
as  well  as  to  save ;  and  you  must  be  thankful  to
Him  not  only  for  making  your  peace  with  God,

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ZHXTTEINE   OF   AP06TOLI0   SUCCESSION.
mt  for  seeking  you  by  His  minister,  and  adopt-
ing yoa  into  His  family."

Say,  would  not  such  a  lesson  sink  deep  into  a

I     child's    heait,    and    enlarge    his    views   of    the

^Ssvionr's  boundless  and  considerate  mercy  ?

H     And  when  to  all  this  is  added  some  account  of

P  the  wonderful  providences  by  which  the  Church

has  been  snstainetl,  and  its  orders  pei-petuated,

in  spite  of  heresies  and  persecntions,  reverence

and  gratitude  are  more  enhanced.     Pleasant  is  it

to  read  the  record  of  sweet  woi-da  that  were

Bpoken  in  olden  times  to  men  of  a  generation

post  and  gone;  bat,  oh,  how  pleasant  to  hear

them  addressed  to  me  myself,  by  one  who  speaks

for  Christ !

Compare,  again,  the  opposing  doctrines  on  this
Bubject.
We  all  agree  that  Christ  himself  launched  the
ship  upon  the  waters,  appointed  its  officers,  and
laid  down  the  course  to  be  pursued.  But  pres-
ently we  begiu  to  differ.
