not lightly part with those privileges which the good providence of God has placed within their reach. In offering these pages to their serious consideration, I trust I am actuated by a higher motive than that of merely wishing them to remain in outward fellowship with myself, an earnest desire for their own spiritual welfare, and for their usefulness in the church of Christ. First Month, 1837. CONTENTS. NATURE AND END OF TRUE RELIGION-LAW OF MOSES -GOSPEL OF CHRIST-GREAT APOSTACY-REFOR- MATION-GEORGE FOX AND HIS FELLOW-LABOURERS PAGE GENERAL VIEW OF THE DOCTRINES AND PRACTICE OF THE FIRST FRIENDS-OBJECTIONS URGED AGAINST SOME OF THEIR DOCTRINAL EXPRESSIONS CONSID- THE CHRISTIAN PROFESSION OF The Society of Friends. NATURE AND END OF TRUE RELIGION-LAW OF MOSESGOSPEL OF CHRIST-GREAT APOSTACY-REFORMATIONGEORGE FOX AND HIS FELLOW-LABOURERS-STATE OF RELIGION IN THIS COUNTRY AT THAT PERIOD. THE all-important subject which religion embraces, is the relation in which man, considered as an accountable and immortal being, stands to his Almighty Creator. It is therefore, in its nature, essentially a spiritual thing. And as its nature is spiritual, so is the end to which it is directed. By reason of the fall of our first parents, man is in heart alienated from the love of God, and in conduct opposed to his will; and the end of all true religion is to effect such a change in him, as that he may be recovered from B this state of alienation and rebellion, be restored to the favour of the Almighty, and be prepared to dwell with him in eternal blessedness. To this great end, the communications of God to man, the revelations of his mind and will, and the several dispensations which he has from time to time appointed, have been constantly directed; and they have therefore had respect to the means by which that end was to be accomplished, the coming and propitiatory sacrifice of the Son of God. It was he who was the great subject and theme of prophecy in every age; who was typified in the patriarchal sacrifices, and in the significant ritual of the Mosaic law. As, however, in the eternal wisdom and counsels of God, the manifestation and offering of Christ were reserved for the latter times, when the way should be prepared for his coming; so, in like manner, the full and perfect exhibition of the spiritual nature and end of religion was reserved for that period; a system of ceremonial rites and carnal ordinances being meanwhile provided, adapted to the then condition of men, and "imposed on them until the time of reformation." |