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ties at each other's houses on the sabbath day. Like the followers of Novatius, they disapprove of a second marriage, which renders them ineligible to fill the offices in the church.

They adhere to the letter of scripture, abstaining from all things strangled, in which is the blood, and, in token of humility, they wash each other's feet. They define faith to be, an acknowledgment of the truths delivered by Christ, such as, that he came to redeem man, and was raised again for our justification. "That this kind of faith carries in itself sufficient ground of hope to every one who believes it, without any thing wrought in us, or done by us, to give it a particular direction to ourselves," by way of merit: and that this belief, if genuine, will be manifested in a life of obedience to the commands of God. They also teach, "that there is acceptance with God, through Christ, for sinners, while they are acting in opposition to the divine command, or before any act, or desire, manifests a determination to forsake the error of their ways." Sandeman says, "that it is by this passive belief of the truth, that man is justi fied, and that boasting is excluded,"

DUNKERS.

The Dunkers appeared in North America, about the year 1724. They assembled in a town, in or near Pennsylvania, called Ephrata, and formed themselves into a society. They appear to have adopted some of the customs of the Baptists and the Quakers, for like the first they baptise by immersion, and like the second, they do not go to law for the recovery of debts. They,

like some of the ancient Christians, have love-feasts, at which they eat meat, but at other times they live mostly on vegetables. They observe some of the customs which are mentioned as having been observed by the apostles, and before they receive the sacrament, they wash each other's feet.

THE KIRK OF SCOTLAND.

The established form of church government in Scot land is the Presbyterian. When Calvin separated from the church of Rome, and a great part of Germany received his doctrines, John Knox, a disciple of that celebrated reformer, began to preach in Scotland, in the year 1561. Calvin having rejected the Episcopal form of government, for that of the Presbyterian in Germany, the reformers in Scotland followed their example, both as to doctrine and church government. The character given of Knox, is, "that he possessed ardent piety, indefatigable activity, an integrity which was superior to corruption, and a courage which could not be shaken by dangers or death." Predestination, or Calvinism, is the prevailing doctrine of the kirk of Scotland.

The kirk of Scotland is governed by the general assembly, which consists of a number of delegates sent from the different presbyteries, royal burghs, and universities, many of whom are laymen called ruling elders. This is the supreme ecclesiastical authority.

The next in authority are the provincial synods; these are composed of a number of presbyteries, in the same province or county.

Next to the synods, are presbyteries: each presbytery consists of a number of parishes, which are in the neighbourhood of each other. These are more or less numerous in their assembly, according as the parishes are more or less populous.

A kirk session has no authority beyond its own parish; it is therefore, the lowest ecclesiastical judicatory in Scotland. It is composed of the ministers, elders and deacons of the whole parish, sent from each respective congregation.

From these lower courts, all appeals are made to the general assembly; and from its decision in religious concerns, no appeal can be made.

DISSENTERS FROM THE KIRK OF SCOTLAND.

There are seven sorts of dissenters from the kirk of Scotland. First, the old dissenters are those who were the most active at the revolution, in 1688, in opposing the acts of the representatives in church and state. These, as a distinct body, are the old Presbyterians, who first separated from the established church.

Second, the Glassites, who afterwards took the name of Sandemanians, from Sandeman, a very popular man among them.

Third, Seceders, who separated from the established kirk in 1733.

Fourth, The Relief Kirk. They separated from the established kirk, and maintain, that they have a right to choose their own ministers.

Fifth, Scottish Baptists. They are much the same as Baptists in general.

Sixth, The Bereans, who have taken that name from the ancient Bereans, as, like them, they say they search the scriptures for themselves.

Seventh, New Independents.

The leading doctrine of all these sects is Calvinism, in which they agree with the established kirk.

SHAKERS.

These enthusiasts of the day, called Shakers, are to be found in America; they resemble in some manner the Jumpers in Wales. I have been informed by Dr. Samuel Peters, a gentleman of respectability in the church of England, and the elect bishop of Canada, who, in his travels through America, has visited them, that in their worship they will frequently rise, dance, jump about, and turn with incredible swiftness on the tip-toe of one foot, for the space of fifteen minutes, when being exhausted, they fall down, and pretend to see visions.

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They believe, that the first resurrection has taken place, and that now it is the time when they are to judge themselves that this is a new dispensation, in which they reject all the advice given in the written word. They believe, that they have power to work miracles, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, and to cast out devils, and that this is done by the preaching of the word when it is attended with power, that is, by the operation of the Spirit, which enlightens the mind, convinces of sin. and inspires the soul with holiness of life.

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That they have intercourse with angels and departed spirits, agreeably to what is said, 1 Cor. xii. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; to some is given the word of wisdom, to some the discerning of spirits;' that they may arrive to such perfection in the divine life as to speak with divers tongues that it is lawful to practise vocal music, dancing, and other manifestations of great joy, if it be done with a single eye to the glory of an uniGod. In one part of their worship, they have " form dance, while the elders sing a solemn hymn, to which they move in a regular figure." See New-York Theol. Mag. for November and December, 1795. That the highest perfection of the Christian life is neither to marry, nor to give others in marriage: because by this, they get rid of their sensual relation to Adam, and thus are fit subjects to receive heavenly visions: that those who attain to this state are of the number of the hundred and forty-four thousand, that were not defiled with women : that eternal punishment does not apply to any others but those, who fall away from their persuasion.

JUMPERS.

The Jumpers, in Wales, are of a similar description to the Shakers of America, in their forms, when attending what they call divine worship; at a certain period, they begin to move their bodies, and increase this motion by rising and jumping about, until they are exhausted, and frequently fall down.

The only discipline wherein they differ from the Shakers, is, that they do not twirl upon the tip-toe. These are the renewals of an ancient heresy in the third

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