ly by the side of all evangelical workers in the vast enterprise of setting up the Christian republic, it is indeed a fit and weighty inquiry, What arc the great Christian principles committed to us for guardianship, protection, and promulgation ? What is our distinctive work ? Why are we a denomination at all ? Why have we been allowed to become so great a sect—now numbering many millions ? Why have great means been put into our hands ? What right have we to be marshaled separately and peculiarly under the great Captain of salvation ? Can we, to God and to men, justify our singularity ? We think the Baptists have been called to set up, and hold up, and illustrate, and adorn, at least seven great pillars of truth in the Christian republic—pillars first set up by Christ and his apostles, but assailed by the world, and too often overborne by the enemies of the gospel. This discourse,. then, might be styled a Sermon on the Seven Pillars of the Baptists. Perhaps every denomination can count its seven worthy pillars ; certainly we hope so; that is for them to say, however, and to manfully define their principles and their mission. But we have our seven pillars given to us in the great house of truth, and we are not ashamed to hold them up. These we now propose to mention. 1. First Pillar. Observe it. Soul-liberty. No compulsion in religious things. Freedom of conscience in all matters of worship. In spiritual interests, to the Supreme Being alone we bow; from him alone we receive law. “ Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind,” for he must give account of himself unto God. Great, priceless principle ; man dealing directly with Deity, personally and wholly responsible to Him. Not priests, kings, princes, hierarchs, prelates, nor all
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