platforms are what they call their articles, or confession of faith; these differ one from another. The churches do not all have platforms alike; every minister can make a platform to please himself. I do not know of one denomination in this country that is so divided in sentiment, as the Baptists. The reason of it is, because they are nearer to the rule than the other denominations, as to the persons who compose the church, and the manner of baptizing. The denomination will finally come to an end, with all the rest; for there is no such denomination as Baptists mentioned in the Scriptures, any more than there are Congregationalists, or Presbyterians. All the Baptists believe, which is scripture, will stand. It is astonishing to see the contest there has been in the two Baptist churches in Boston within a few months past, on account of their unscriptural platforms. The old platforms which the two churches were built upon lasted above an hundred years, but being made of wood, they grew rotten. These platforms agreed with the platforms of the churches

which composed the Warren Association. One of these churches has made a new platform, very different from the old one, which held particular Election. This new one does not mention the word Election. So that the first Baptist church is liable to be called to an account by the Association for making a new platform, contrary to the one which the Association has received. As near as I can understand, the platform business in the two churches stands here: The platforms do not agree with the sentiments of the ministers; the platforms contradict each other, and the Bible too. Now, if they would but throw away these unscriptural things, and walk according to the divine rule, peace would be unto them. Every denomination who build on platforms have in their turn cried out, You are breaking up our churches. I am sorry the Baptists have learnt this old song, sung to the tune of Jargon, and that they begin to sing this inharmonious sound. If we have the truth on our side, we cannot be broken up; if we have not, we cannot L

hold together. The gates of heaven will certainly prevail against those who build on platforms, instead of the rock Christ. I believe the time is come, when God is shaking the heavens, earth, sea, and dry land; and every thing which is contrary to the Scriptures in the Baptist churches, will be shaken, as well as in other churches.

A SERMON,

ON THE SACRED IMPORT OF THE WORD
CHRISTIAN.

BY SAMUEL DAVIES, sometime President of the College in New-Jersey.*

MERE names are empty sounds, and but of little consequence: and yet it must be owned there are names of honour and significancy; and, when they are attended with the things signified by them, they are of great and sacred importance. Such is the Christian name; a name about seventeen hundred years old. And now, when the name is almost lost in party-distinctions, and the thing is almost lost in ignorance, error, vice, hypocrisy, and formality, it may be worth our while to consider the

This Sermon agrees so much with my belief of the name* Christian, that I cannot express my mind better than Mr. Davies has for me. This sermon will shew, that I am not alone in rejecting all party names, for the name of Christ only. I thought of abridging it; but I cannot find what to leave out, the whole is so good.

original import of that sacred name, as a proper expedient to recover both name and thing.

The name of Christian was not the first by which the followers of Christ were distinguished. Their enemies called them Galileans, Nazarenes, and other names of contempt: and among themselves they were called Saints, from their holiness; Disciples, from their learning their religion from Christ as their teacher; Believers, from their believing in hina as the Messiah; and Brethren, from their mutual love and their relation to God and each other. But after some time they were distinguished by the name of Christians. This they first received in Antioch, an heathen city, a city infamous for all manner of vice and debauchery; a city that had its name from Antiochus Epi phanes, the bitterest enemy the church of the Jews ever had. A city very rich and powerful, from whence the christian name would have an extensive circulation; but it is long since laid in ruin, unprotected by that sacred name: in such a city was Christ pleased to con