man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 2 Thess. 3: 6, 14.-Hence it is evident that the unrighteous and unholy should be excluded from the external communion of the church. For the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood, consists of holy members; as Peter saith, As. he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Because it is

written, Be ye holy; for I am Holy. 1 Pet. 1: 15, 16.---But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 2: 9.

From these, and many other parallel passages of scripture it is, that the opinions of the Mennonites are held, That the kingdom which Christ established upon earth is a visible church, into which the holy and the just are alone to be admitted. That practical piety is the essence of religion, and that the surest and most infallible marks of the true church, is the sanctity of its members.

But alas! how often do hypocritical and unboly professors intrude upon the true members of the church of Christ, by their inconsistent and unholy walk and conversation, to the great detriment of the cause of religion! May the Lord grant, that his church may be more and more replenished with true believers and holy members, such as will be an ornament to the

great cause, by being the light of the world; as Christ saith, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matth. 5: 14, 16.

CONFESSION OF FAITH,

ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD.
IN THIRTY-THREE ARTICLES.

ARTICLE FIRST.

OF THE UNITY OF GOD, AND HIS DIVINE ATTRI BUTES.

Of the unity of the God of heaven and earth, we believe by the grace of God, and according to the holy scripture, That there is One only true, eternal, almighty, and omnipotent God; who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, with all visible and invisible things; so that all things derive their existence, source and fountain, from him, and are upheld and governed by the power of his almighty word. Who is a just, perfect, holy, incomprehensible, inexpressible, spiritual Being. And in his self-existence needeth not the help of any thing; but is himself the life and source of every good thing that exists. From whose overflowing goodness alone, every good and perfect gift springs and is derived. Who liveth for ever and ever, without beginning and without end. A God of hosts. A commanding king, whose kingdom. extends over heaven and earth. A dreadful judge. A consuming fire. The true light; upright, just and holy; full of grace and peace

and a God of love and comfort: long-suffering and abounding in mercy.

And this only good and infinitely wise God, who is all-in-all, dwelleth in the heavens, highly exalted above all powers, and in his glorious essence, has the heavens for his throne, and the earth for his footstool; dwelling in light which no man can approach unto; and in his omnipresence fills the heavens and the earth with his Spirit and power. Before whose allseeing eyes, all things are plain and uncovered, and nothing can be hid or concealed; but in his omniscience he heareth and seeth all the actions, thoughts and intents, of the hearts of the sons of men.

And as he is a God of unbounded knowledge, full of grace, mercy and comfort; with whom alone is the fountain of wisdom, and the spring of every good and perfect gift, and who will not give his glory to another, it is the unbounded duty of all mankind, to bow and submit to him with holy reverence and awe, and with ardent prayer and supplication to seek and implore his grace and favour, the remission of sins and life everlasting.

And this supremely great and glorious God; who is King of kings and Lord of lords; before whose adorable Majesty the angels stand with awe; whose word is truth, and whose command is powerful. To this righteous Judge shall every knee bow, and every tongue shall confess that he is God, and that there is none besides him.

And this One eternal and true God—the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, consists in a true Father, and a true Son, and a true Holy Ghost. And besides this God there is none other, neither ever shall be.

Of this one eternal, living and true God, read Hear, Israel; the LORD our God is one LORD. Deut. 6: 4.-For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. Is there a God besides ine? yea, there is no God; I know not any. I am the first and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.--I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God besides me.-I,even I, am the LORD; and besides me there is no Saviour. Isa. 43: 11.-44: 6, 8.-45: 5.-46: 8.-For there is one God, and there is none other but he. Mark 12: 32.-We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things. 1 Cor. 8: 4, 6.-One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph. 4: 6. And in this only true God, we must necessarily believe, which is the beginning and foundation of our Christian doctrine and faith, to eter nal life and salvation. Of which read: And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Gen. 15: 6.--I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Ps. 27: 13.-So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no