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THE MARROW OF THE CHURcii.

THE

DOCTRINES

OF

CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPUTED,

AND

REGENERATION,

FAIRLY STATED AND CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED

FROM

THE HOMILIES, ARTICLES AND LITURGIES,

OF

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

CONFIRMED BY

APPOSITE TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE, With proper Reflections, Inferences, and Instructions annexed to each Head.

BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF SEVERAL DISCOURSES DELIVERED AT CAMBRIDGE, BRISTOL, &c.

BY WILLIAM HAMMOND, A. B.
LATE OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, IN CAMBRIDGE.

Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine, Tit. ii 1.

LONDON-PRINTED:

NEW-YORK, REPRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY

ISAAC RILEY.

1816.

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RECOMMENDATORY

PREFACE.

THE doctrines of the Church are her ornament and glory, as well as the life, spirit, and joy of all her true members; because they testify of, lead to, and center in the beloved Saviour, who is the head of the Church; therefore, will ever be held dear and sacred by them. For, they are not imposed on us, as some assert, by human power, but by the divine, uncontrolable authority of God in his holy scriptures. Hence, we cordially receive, heartily embrace, and comfortably live under the experience and influence of them by humble faith. And it is a pleasing reflection to the faithful in Christ, that ever since the articles of our Church were composed, by our godly, venerable, and Protestant Reformers, and established by the authority of the land, that all real christians, all sound protestants, (however differing in smaller matters,) have readily subscribed those doctrinal Articles, ex animo. But, it is no part of the glory of the present day, that factious, licentious spirits abound among us; and that men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth, have assembled in troops to oppose, and have shot out their arrows, even bitter words, against these scripture bulwarks of our Zion;

and by every means in their power, have strove to strip our Church of her richest ornament, and greatest glory, THE TRUTH. Nor is it any marvel, that those who dare to attack Christ, the head of the church, so as to call in question, yea, deny his proper, and essential Deity-his vicarious sacrifice—his imputed righteousness-the agency and influence of his Holy Spirit-and totally reject the doctrine of the holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity-should, through their pride, unbelief, and self-righteousness, malign and traduce the Church for maintaining these sacred, scripture truths?

However, the Articles of our Church answer one grand end for which they were established, namely, as a test, or touchstone to try the spirits, that they who are approved, might be made manifest, that they are of the truth, know, love, and abide in the truth; and are not ashamed openly to avow and declare their belief of the truth. And that the open and avowed enemies to our most holy faith, such as Deists, Arians, Socinians, &c. should also be made known unto all men, what manner of spirit they are of. This has been sufficiently manifest. For, never since the Articles were established, have they met with such open, daring, strong opposition as in our day. A full proof of this-of what? Truly, that we live in a more enlightened, refined age, the opposers affect to tell us! But, we rather believe the true reason is, what the voice of inspiration proclaims, that we live in "the last days, in which scoffers at the divine truths, and scripture mysteries of our most holy religion, are come, walking after their own lustsProfessing themselves to be wise, they become fools."

Seeing this is the case, this new edition, of the following excellent work, comes forth at a most seasonable period. Herein, the great and fundamental doctrines of our Church, Original Sin, Justification by Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Agency of the Holy Spirit, &c. are fairly stated, clearly demonstrated, and fully confirmed, both by the voice of inspiration, and the test of christian experience. There is a sacred unction of divine truth runs through this whole work, and enlivens every part of it. While the Author aims, rationally and scripturally, to convince the understanding, and establish the judgment, he pursues the happy art of enlivening the passions, engaging the affections, and comforting the heart, with divine grace, and heavenly truth. And, all this, to these blessed ends, that Christ the Saviour may be exalted-the holy Trinity known, loved, adored, glorified and rejoiced in, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. So that living by holy faith, walking in heavenly love, enjoying sweet peace, and abounding in comfortable hope, christians may be devoted in heart and life, in all cheerful obedience to the commands of their heavenly Father.

Having tasted the sweetness, and felt the comfort of those precious truths herein treated of, I could not deny the request of recommending this excellent, because scriptural treatise, to my fellow christians, wishing them every blessing from the God of all grace, in the perusal of it.

May 16, 1779.

W. MASON.

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