The If it was needful, even in the first age of christianity, to "try the spirits, whether they be of God,"—or from the bottomless pit of fanatical delusion or hypocritical imposture, surely our modern prophets have at least equal need to be exposed to the same test.* actions of Christ himself, and the language which was employed by him and his apostles, were in the gospel age imitated by impostors, and usurped without authority by enthusiasts. A superabundance of spiritual pride has in all times prompted indiscreet men to a similar abuse and perversion of the scripture phraseology. Yet as this licentiousness was branded with the strongest marks of disapprobation, in the very days of miracles and real prophetical inspiration, it deserves a much more severe censure in ours; after so * 1 Cor. iv. 19; 1 John iv. 1. † Acts xix. 15. "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?" (Rev. ii. 2.) "Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them LIARS." (2 Cor. xi. 13, and 1 Cor. xii. 29.) "Such are FALSE APOSTLES, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” many instances of the most profligate delu sion of the credulous by unfounded pretences to miraculous gifts. When Jeroboam fell away from the estab lished church of Israel, in order to make his schism as popular as he could, he admitted the people indiscrimately to the public discharge of the sacred functions of his newfangled METHOD of religion, "and took of the very lowest of the people, (from their shopboards and stalls,) and whosoever would, be consecrated him to be a priest of the high places." He wished, from motives of policy, to degrade the regular priesthood, which was by divine appointment, and to corrupt and debase the religious instruction of the people, by giving them contemptible and ignorant teachers.* * None but teachers of this description would have pushed forward into the sacred offices, at the instigation of self conceit af. ter the severe punishment which God had inflicted upon that presumptuous and profane violation of his appointed ordinances, in the person of the schismatic Korah. Jeroboam, it seems, did however so far respect the divine ordinances, as not to admit of TEACHERS without any ordination or consecration at all. (1. Kings xiii. 33.) See Gregory's History of the Church, vol, ji. p. 523, Essays, Hist. and Mor. After this so marked a disapprobation put upon this METHODISM of Jeroboam, under a less complete system of religion and faith, can we approve of the very same methods of degrading divine truth, when that which is perfect is come? Such self-constituted instructors, running up and down to "draw away disciples after them," enlightening and converting the weak and the ignorant, (too frequently as the ancient pharisees did, to a sanctity of profession which is destitute of candour and charity, yet with the highest pretensions to both :) affecting to be sent "to turn the world from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God," as if all christian professors (except these elect only) were absolutely sitting in the grossest darkness of heathenish idolatry! in the nineteenth century! is, in fact, to turn the gospel into burlesque, and make zeal nauseous.— "Qui semel verecundiæ fines transierint, eos oportet gnaviter esse impudentes." CICERO. "When men have once over-stepped the boundary line that modesty and propriety prescribes to every one, let them not stick at any thing in the shape of impudence after that." Enthusiasm is a dangerous guide to follow all lengths, without the co-operation of a little common sense, and a portion of modesty.* Religion which appeals little to the understanding, and much to inward feelings, must necessarily be judged of from signs accompanying it, as in the primitive times, and (like those then exhibited) such as cannot be doubted of, or misunderstood. Phineas by a divine impulse, did an irregular act, and received just commendation and reward; but Jack of Leyden and Knipperdoling, James Naylor, and George Fox, &c. by following the inward light of a spiritual ignis fatuus, or diabolical delusion, have met with a very different acceptation of their respective services to religion, from the impartial judgment of posterity.t *Rom. xii. 3;-1. Cor. viii. 2. + See in Sleidan's History of the reformation, B. x. p. 202. folio, The dreadful effects of the enthusiasm of the Anabaptists at Munster. And the blasphemous fanaticism of these of GREAT LIGHTS, in the time of Oliver Cromwell, the age Sectarian licentiousness and more powerful persecution of the church of England,-Biograph. Dic, In the apostolic age, among other gifts of the Holy Ghost then communicated to the infant church, there was one very needful at that time, "the discerning of spirits. * For by this noble talent the false ones were detected, and the true brethren put upon their guard. But as we are no longer favored with this miraculous gift, the illuminati of the present day, (who thunder forth unmerited and general invectives against the regular clergy, "and are not afraid to speak evil of dignities," and have totally withdrawn themselves from the established church, under pastors and bishops of their own ordination, if they have any at all,) should be obliged to produce some indisputable credentials of their authority in an age like this; when every imaginable species and method of forgery and imposture is boldly attempted, and practised with too much success.- 60 Qui cavet hodie ne decipiatur, vix cavet, cum etiam Cautor captus est." 1. Cor. xii. 10. Jude 8; 2 Peter ii, 10, PLAUTUS. |