A

GUIDE TO THE CHURCH;

IN

SEVERAL DISCOURSES.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

TWO POSTSCRIPTS;

THE FIRST,

TO THOSE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH
WHO OCCASIONALLY FREQUENT OTHER

PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP;

"There shall be no Schifm in the Body." 1. Cor. xii. 25.

SECOND EDITION,

PRINTED FOR

F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD, LONDON;

BY R. CRUTTWELL, BATH.

1804.

1

On the Nature, Defign, and Conftitution of the Chriftian

Church, confidered as a visible Society

DISCOURSE III.

Of the Sin of Schifm

DISCOURSE IV.

PAGE.

i

13

41

On the Reafons generally advanced to juftify a Separation from

the Church; and first, on the supposed spiritual Qualification

of the Party undertaking the Office of the Miniftry -

DISCOURSE V.

On the Plea advanced by Separatists from the Church, that the

Gospel is not preached in it

DISCOURSE VI.

On the Sacrament of Baptifm, confidered as furnifving a

Plea for Separation from the Church -

DISCOURSE VII.

On Liberty of Confcience

65

77.

103

123

DISCOURSE VIII.

On Toleration

DISCOURSE IX

135

On the Right of Private Judgment in Religious Matters -

DISCOURSE X.

On the Advantages attendant upou a confcientious Communion

with the Church; together with the Difadvantages confe-

quent upon a wilful Separation from it

CONCLUDING DISCOURSE

POSTSCRIPT to thofe Members of the Church, who occafionally

frequent other Places of Public Worship

POSTSCRIPT to the Clergy

-

145

167

219

261

TO THE READER.

HE following Difcourfes were originally de

THE

figned for private circulation in a particular parish. Being written for that purpose, their accommodation to the existing state of that parish constituted of course the principal object in view. Should therefore fome parts of the subject be more dilated, than may be thought neceffary for general information; or fome circumstances noticed which might have been omitted; the candid reader will, it is hoped, make allowance for what on these accounts may be an unwelcome trespass upon his time. Thus much it may be proper to fay in behalf of the Difcourfes before him.

As an excufe, if excuse be neceffary, for the alteration of my plan in giving them to the public, I have to plead, that upon their revifal for the prefs, they were judged to convey fome information applicable to the general circumftances of Chriftians in this