"Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first
works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of
his place, except thou repent."-" He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches."" To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in
my throne, even as I also overcame, and am sit down with my father in his throne."

-Rev.

NEW-YORK:

PUBLISHED BY WILLIAMS & WHITING,

AT THEIR THEOLOGICAL AND CLASSICAL BOOK-STORE,
No. 118, Pearl-street.

J. SEYMOUR, PRINTER.

1809.

M4

PREFACE.

THE writer of the following pages has, for a considerable time, doubted the propriety of some of the common practices of Christians. To satisfy himself he has, (if he is not deceived,) candidly and diligently examined the Scriptures, with a view to ascertain and practice the truth. After considerable inquiry, his doubts increased. He then applied to some highly respectable and pious friends, who frankly acknowledged that they had never fully examined the subject; as they had never had any doubt concerning it. They judged the matter weighty, and advised him to arrange his thoughts, This he has endeaand commit them to paper. voured to do, as well as a very infirm state of body, and a press of commercial business, would admit. After submitting what he had written to some of his friends, they unanimously advised him to lay it before the public; hoping that it might have a tendency to call the subject into notice, and lead to a