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aggregate, a command of Providence to leave the
Dutch Church, he viewed as laying him under an
obligation, in some measure, to remain in it; or so
far from having a discouraging effect, they had, on
the contrary, a powerful influence in producing the
resolution which he finally adopted. This fact
ought to be known in the Church. — In the manuscript, from which extracts have already been
made to some extent, he thus relates the reasons
of this preference.
"When the main question respecting my engagement in the ministry was decided, another
of no small magnitude arose, upon which it was
necessary, with caution and good conscience, to
determine. This was, to what denomination of
Christians duty prompted an attachment, or in
which Church I ought to minister. The Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Dutch, were the only
three among which a selection was to be made.
In regard to the Episcopalians. I considered them as
very respectable, and supposed their doctrines, as
expressed in their articles of faith and liturgy, to be
sound and excellent; but I was under the impression that those doctrines were not cordially
maintained, certainly not generally preached by the
ministers of that Church, and that I could not, therefore, hold a cheerful communion with them.
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Besides, their ceremonies, repetitions, and what I
thought to be an unmeaning and improper parade
in worship, lessened my admiration for them:
while their popish bigotry in favour of a monarchical government of their Church, with their
frivolous affectation of superiority above other denominations, to whom, in many respects, they were
vastly inferior, exceedingly disgusted me. To their
own master I left them, but I did not wish to join
them."
"In the Presbyterian Church, I had been often instructed and edified. Their doctrines were pure,
and their preaching was evangelical and practical.
Their mode of worship appeared to be consistent
with the spirituality, simplicity, and dignity of the
New Testament Dispensation: and their form of
government was founded upon that principle of
equality which the Lord Jesus estabhshed among
the ministers of his Church. I could have joined
the Presbyterian Church with great freedom, and
would have done so, had not motives occurred
which induced me to prefer the Dutch Church.
My parents were members, in full communion, of
the Reformed Dutch Church; I was baptized in
that Church, and thus a member of it, although
not yet in full communion; and, in my estimation,
the doctrines, worship, and government of the
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