Star.
London, England, 1808-06-24 00:00:00

&a reader may at first vie* imagine ; firs kingdlar
as it may appear to nuny, the changing the .original
signification of the leord, which, it onr English ver-
sion of the New Testament, is translated " Church,"
was one of the principal means by which the fountains
land rivers were poisoned—or, to drop the figurative
expression, it was this that destroyed the purity of
the primitive Churches in their order, doctrine, and
discipline,and at length absorbed them so completely
in the communities of the Nations, that they became
mit with them, and ceased to be the 'Churches of Js:-
sus CHRIST. ..

It is as common now, as it ever was in any age, to
say : "if we had been in the days of our fathers, we
would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the
prophets," (Mat. xxiii. 30) ; and so of any crime
with which men stand charged in the Scriptures. Does
the poisoning here spoken of still exist? Can any
thing like it be found in even our own country ? A
brief examination of some particulars connected with
this question, appears to me the shortest and simplest
way of making the origin of the evil pointed out by
this trumpet perfectly obvious.
The word izar.r,Tia signifies assembly or congregation,
and for. rendering it church no honest reason can be
assigned. It is alleged indeed that though the word
church is not English, yet having, by long usage, be-
come familiar to our language and its meaning well
known, the translators of our English version acted
very properly in retaining it. But they must have
had other reasons for their conduct; for throughout
' the whole of the Old Testament they have not once
.
employed the word church, though trip which the
LXX renuer ixxxi,Tia, occurs very frequently in the
original. The fact is simply this: among the rules
prescribed by King JAMES to the translators of the
version now in common use, were the following : " 3d.
" The old Ecclesiastical words to be kept, as the word
" church not to be translated congregation. 4th. When
" any word 'bath divers significations, that to be kept
" which bath been most commonly used by the most
" eminent Fathers, being agreeable to the propriety
" of the place and the analogic of Faith 4." Can the
siource and the object of such directions be mistaken ?
It is plain they were perfectly understood by three to
whom they were addressed ; for they followed not
their letter but their spirit, and hence have never hesi-
tated to use the word "congregation " throughout the
whole of the Old Testament : nor is this all; even in the
New they have in one place, most officiously, deviated
from the rule prescribed to them. In the Acts of the
Apostles (ch. xix), where the tumult excited by DE-
METRIUS and his fellow-craftsmen is related, the his-
torian informs us that, when they had dragged Gams
and ARISTARCHUS into the theatre, " some cried one
thing, some another: for the ixxaraia was confused,
and the • greater part knew not wherefore they were
come together ;" that when the town clerk had appeased
the people he said, " If DEMETRIUS and the craftsmen
with him have a complaint against any man the law
is open but if ye enquire concerning other mat-
ters
it shall be determined in a lawful ecclesia ;" and
that " when he had thus spoken he dismissed the
church." Now, why in this passage, have they no
less than three times translated izaar,cia by the word
assembly, while in every other place its which it occurs
in the New Testament they have rendered it church
—ln their translation of this narrative another cir-
cumstance presents itself, which, taken along with
what has just been pointed out, renders their conduct
difficult to be accounted for on any other principle,
than that they were influenced by the same spirit
which actuated the craftsmen to cry up Diana of the
Ephcsians. They make the Town Clerk to say t " Ye
have brought hither these men which are neither rob-
ler: of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your Goddess."
From such a version, one would certainly expect to
find -in the original either iaaxr,c-ia. or some of its de-
rivatives or compounds, but no such word presents
itself. Can we doubt the motive then that induced
them to change tempi'-rabbet into church-
robber ?
It is impossible to find language to express in terms
of sufficient reprobation the detestable nature of the
means that have been employed to involve and retain
the world in darkness. What has just been stated is
only a small sample of the policy by which the ling of
impudent countenance, and versed in dark sayings, has caused
his craft to prosper (Dan. viii. 23, 25); for these men,
were but novices at the trade, compared with the great
shining star that took the lead in this impious traffic, but
we are ever so ready- to shift all reproof from ourselves,
that I thought it‘ might be useful to give here an in-
stance of the degree of proficiency to which: some
among us have attained in extracting the essence of
wormwood; fur in proportion as men are led to see
the artifices that have been employed to deceive them,
will they beanxious to discover the nature and origin of
the means that have been employed to obscure the
truth.

On the first propagation of Christianity in the
world, those who embraced the truth in any place,
were joined together in fellowship to observe the or-1
dinances of Cinusr. The first congregations were
formed by the Apostles themselves in Judea I and
others were soon after established among the heathen
converts. These were not left to frame an order of
government and discipline according to their own
notions : every thing among them, on the contrary,
was established according to the model of the Chris-
tian assemblies which in Judea were in Coma Jesus;
• Fuller's Church. History, IS•04 L p. 46.

an whit& had. received their order from the Atos-
tles the? ?selves. This was the evidence trivets by
them that they had received the word preached by the Apes,
ndtisthe word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word
ties
{1 Them ii. 13, 14)—nor can any other
dente be given by us of the sincerity of our 'profession
of Christianity ; for he that heareth the •Apostleshear eth
Omar ; and hethat despised astir astthorityllespisith 'that
of Cnnur (Luke x. 16), who sent them to disciple all
nation:, teaching them to observe ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER
I HE HAD' OMMANDED (Mat. xxviii. 20.)
The doctrines, order, and discipline tobe maintain-
ed in Christiin assemblies, are detailed in the writings
of the Apostles and Evangelists. The Gospels were
written that men might believe that .Pest's is the llinssiam,
the Son of GOD, and that believing they might have life
through ms name (John xx. 31) : the Acts of the Apos-
tle: to make known to us those infallible proofs by
'which he was shewn alive after his paSsion t the man-
ner of his ascension (ch. i) ; the fulfilment of his pro-
mise in sending the HOLY SpIRIT (ch. ii) ; the way
in which the Gospel was preached, first to 'the Jews
(ch. ii—viii), then to the Samaritans (viii), and lastly
to the Gentiles (viii. and x. xiii, &c.) ; and to inform
us how the first churches were established and orga-
nized by the Apostles: and the Epistle: were written
for the express purpose of cerrecting practices and
doctrines contrary to those enjoined by the Apo.stles,
and to instruct the Christian congregations, and con-
sequently all their members, in every thing that re-
garded their faith and practice, as bodies and as indi-
viduals, that after Me decease of the Apartles they might t
be able to have these thing: always in remembrance {2 Pet.
i. 15.) being thereby perfecfly and thoroughly furnished;
unto every good work (2 Tim. iii. 17.) This care, on
the part of those who first preached the Gospel, was'
necessary ; for they well knew, that FALSE TEACHERS
were to rise up after them, who would bring in damnable
heresies, and convert religion into a trade (2 Peter i;.
; that gri.vosts wolves were to enter among the
bishops who would not spare the flock, but speak
things ;contrary to 'what the Apostles had enjoined,
(Acts xx. 29.) ; and that a time would come when
those professing Christianity would not endure sound,
doctrine; but, after their own desire:, have a crowd of
teachers to tickle their ear:, being turned from the truth :Iwo
fables (2 Tim. iv. 3.)—This corruption, the manner
in which it reached its height, and the consequences I
that followed, are the sub;ects of the Third Trumpet.
To understand it, we must examine a little, what
was the order and discipline established by the foun-
der of our religion, for the government of the assem- '
blies Collected in his name, and for preserving their
purity. For this end it will be necessary that we as-
certain, of whom these assemblies were composed, and
hew the members were admitted into fellowship : what
office-bearers were instituted among them by the
Apostles, and their duties : the manner in which their
public meetings were conducted :- their discipline ;
and the end intended to be gained.—Of these in my
next.

1„4117 IN7:ELLIGENCE:

CIRCUPI' .

13IBLICUSb

Yesterday, previous to the Judges taking their seats
in their respective Courts, they met in the Chamber
of the Loiu CillEF JUSTICE, and chose their Circuits
as follow :
Tan: Home Ctlef Justice Ellenborough, and
Chief Baron Macdonald.
THE Notroi.K.—Sir James Mansfield, and Mr. Justice Heath.
THE NoRTHEEN.—Me. Justice Chamber, and Baron Wood:
Tut: OX /ORD.—Mr. Justice Lawrence, and MrAustice I .e Blanc.
THE Wes-reatc—Baron Graham, and Mr. Justice Bailey.
THE MIDLAND.—Mr. Justice Grose, and Baron Thompson.
The Comtnission day at 1-iertford in the
Circuit, is fixed for Monday, the Ist of Auitistb

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Jour.
Nothing of public interest occurred tills day in Court. The
absence of the AT To a NEY-GEN tut in thu House of Lords, he
being engaged in the Roxburgh cause, and also of Mr. Gwartw,
(in consequence of the extreme indisposition of his wife) threw an
intpediment in the way of the regular business, and made a tem-
porary adjournment of general important causes necessary.—
Amongst others, was the King v. Doherty, Esq. for a libel, which
is postponed till Monday next. The Com t, however, passed
sentence upon two men, EMI and Smith, convicted of a conspi-
racy to procure the lib ration of a perscu named M'Cidloch, w ho
was a prisoner in the King's Bench Prison, for 17001. The may
they did it was, by falsely deposing to a police of bait having been
served upon the plaintiff's Attnrner, and then putting in sham
bail, by which the party was liberated, and has since sailed to
the West Indies. The censequence is, that they deprived the
plaintiff of his security for debt and costs, amounting to WOOL
Mr. Justice CAUSE pronounced the judgment of the Court,
which was, that the defendants should be imprisoned IS months
In Newgate, and s:aud in the pillory in Old Palace-yard, NVeA-
minster.

COURT OF CHANCERY, JUNE 22.
IN THE MATTER HE LUDLAM.

At the sitting of the Court, yesterday morning, Mr. PLoworri
addressed the Chancellor, in the absence-of Mr. Richards, who'
had spoken shortly to his Lordship, on Saturday and on Monday,
upon the same matter. He represented to the Court, that his
duty, as draftsman in this matter, threw upon him the ibuction of
preparing and settling the petition, Which had been reconunent
tied or directed by his Lordship to be presented for tiaversing the
inquisition of lunacy found against this Gentleman, and not only
his duty but his disposition led him to act with the most scrupu.
ions attention td his Lordship's very pointed recommendation to
Mr. Richards and himself, to " ascertain" all the facts necessary
to be brought before the Court. There was a great number of
cane copies of ordt.ts of Court and affidavits, (the procuring of
k- which' cost Mr& Ludlam upwards of 171) which it was under-
i stand wear at Brook-house, Hackney, the Olace of his present cots.
finement, and his Lordship Would be 'doable of the necessity of
seeing these, in order to put the Court in possession of the whole
of hit case ; and without them or fresh copies, the procuring of
which Would be productive of menet and delay, it would he im-
possible for him to perform his duty either to his Lordship or his
client.

The CIIANCILLOIL obselyed, that It was itirossible to be con-
stonily travelling out of the regular course the Court, which
had already been so much
.broken in open.by this matter.
Mr. PLOWDIN observed, that he had very recently come Wed
the cause, and having heard his Lordship Complain so heavily of
former irregularities, he teas the mote anzioas tosivid any future
grounds for the like complaints.
The CNA/MELLOR then asked, if any application bad been
made to she Committee for those papas t Fos his LW**