Star.
London, England, 1808-08-26 00:00:00

ril

II

7'J 111 E EDITOR OF TILE S?' IR.

ON THE PROPHECIES.

No. XVI.

, TILE THIRD TRUMPET.—PART I.
SS H. Of the public meeting: of .the Piimilive Claris-
:ions. • • A.....
Every congregation, consisting 6f the believers in
, • one place or neighbourhood, met as frequently as con-
velfien, ce and•opPortunity would allow, to e'er, 4 ./s-
-1.1,4 Oinetsr Me :acrince of praise to Gov (Heb. xiii. 15),
and to comfort themselves together and edify one another
, (1 Thess. v. 11), At these meetings, though all the
Elders were present, only one presided, and took the
, lead in the servile. Indeed, in the very nature of a
public meeting, it is necessary that there be a chair-
man, to preserve order and-prevenrconfusien ; and in
point of fact, we know that this was the case with the
primitive churches ; for we have seen that they had a
plurality of Overseers or Elders, and yet we find a
presiding Elder in-the Church of Ephesus, in the
church in Smyrna, &c. called the .41agd* of this or
that particular congregation ( Rev. ii. 1,8, &c.) That
the same elder could not always preside is self-evi-
dent, for indisposition and other causes would some-
times prevent his presence ; nor, so far as I can find
from the Scriptures, was any injunction given that
this duty should fall more particularly on any indivi-
dual. But from the repeated exhortations given to
every member of the church to honour those that were
set over them in Me LORD, and admonished them; to es-
teem them .very highly in love for their work: sake (1 Thess.
1 v. 12) ; and to do nothing through strife, or vainglory,
but each in lowliness of mind to esteem others better than
I himself (Phil. ii. 3)—we maT infer, that so far as
this duty could be considered an extra toil to the in-
dividual, none would thrust it on anotherto save him-
- bell; and on the 'other hand, that, so far as it might
i be considered a more honourable station for the time,
each would be ready to prefer:anothiir. On this point,
:theno the only contest, in those ,days, would be a con-
test of kindness (that is, where the commands of
CHRIST were regarded) ; for any thing like lordship
or authority, in. one over annther;was expressly pro-
libited (Mat. xx. 25. Luke xxii. 25). - But in such a
contest it is easy to see, that if any bishop in particu-
lar was more venerable than anothet,'whether by be-
ing, ,
the first that was called to the office, and, cone-
' qUently, the senior elder, or by. exemplary assiduity
and a happy facility in .perforrning the duties of the
office, such a person would naturally bccalled to the
chief seat, when not inconvenient to himself, and ley
usage would acquire, howttrer unintentionally, a kind
of right by possession.
• .How often the primitive Christian Cougregatiens
' met, for public service, is not mentioned in the Scrip-
tures, but it -is plain, from numerous passages, that
they met frequently, and particularly on the first day
of the.week, to commemorate the death and ruarrection of
-their MASTER (Acts xx. 7). Many of the duties en-
, joined them as disciples of CHRIST could in no other
- manner be pertbrined,, and therefore they were com.i
stranded not to forsake the assembling of themselves loge-1
ther, bat to exhort and provoke ens another to love and to
good woric • (Heb. x. 24.25). In their assemblies, it
Was the duty of the elders to attend to readingf, to
exhortation, and instruction (1 Tim. iv. 13), and to
feed the foci with the wholesome words of our LORD
Jesus CHRIST (vi. 3) ; to rstrove, rebuke, exhort with
all long :tiring and doctrine (2 Tim. iv.. 3), and with
all the authority that belongs to such an important of-
fice (Tit. ii. 15)—but avoiding foolish and unedifying
intettions; which only serve to beget strife, for the servant
of THE LOUD must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all,
ready to teach, instructing opposers with meckned (2 TIM.
ii. 24) : in one word, they were to look to themselves,
and to all the flock (Acts xx. 28), watching for their
souls as those who must give account (Heb. xiii. 17);
exercising the overseershO, not as lords over an inheritance
of their own, but as ensampla to the believers ; not seeking
filthy lucre a: their reward, • but that Cram* of Glory
which tky shall receive when the Chief Shepherd shall ap-
pear (1 Pet. v. 2-4). .
Reading the scriptures, exhorting to the petfor -
-mance of those duties which they enjoin, and teaching 1
[
- itch other the divine truths which they contain, ap- ;
pear plainly, front these passages, to have occupied
much of the attention of the Christian assemblies. To!
1 ..
these duties they added prayers and praises to THE
MOST Illott,t being expressly enjoined to offer the :a-
-.•
' In the Jewish.rnagognes the elder who presided in the ser-
vice was styled she vp.rel of the corgregatien. This term there-
foie—in deed the term elder also, was borrowed host the, syna-
gogue ; nor was there any tecessity to contrive new names to ex-
press
functions for which appropriate terms already existed. Even
. the title elitestos was familiar at Jerusalem, where there were al-
ways a number of Hellenists, for it occurs more than once in the
Septuagint. As to eetlelia,it Is the word comMonly used' by the
LXX throughout the Old Testament for (rip, thecmgrizatita.
f Not that the bishop only was to read—he was to enforce the
performance of this duty. Any person, caned up by him, read in
the hearing of the whole congregation. He who was esteemed
rise best reader would, as a matter of coarse, be desired oftener
AM others,and in time he was considered as an officer, called in
meek i ilsay.sosasn (Justin Martyr Apol. 2), in Latin L:ctor
- (Tertul. de pnescripr. advers. Hnret.) I. e.. a Reader. He read and
the people listened—they did not read alternately; and therefore
when ibis duty was ended kis described only by the Reader, and not
the ongregaipe, ce.niog to read (Justin. Martyr. Apol. 2.)
t The order in which these differeotservices were observed
is no where bid down in the scriptures, only that they were to be
i performed; of course the order would sometimes depend on dr-
, alMstanees, and might vary in different places. J Orr: N MA AT T R
statics, that in his time (Mine 155) frit .f all lA, torifhort of the
Pr these and dip etles were rya (A/44. i) T-Z1 . 'r !MUM,' about

criflce of praise se Got+ continually, that is the fruit of the
lips, giving thank: to his name (Heb. viii. 15) ; and to
e'er up, as an indispensable part of their public and
joint services, supplication:, prayers, intercession:, and
thanksgiving for all men ; for king: and for all that are in
authority ; praying that every Member of the Church
might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
honesty, and that dot, who willdh men of all ranks to be
saved would bring many to the knowledge of the truth
respecting the one Gon, and one MEDIATOR between
Goa and men, the man Cnatsr JEsusii—the man Gon's
faowt who being in Gon-Fonm, thought it no robbery
that he should have things EQUAL [i. e. adequate] to
GOD-HEAD ; and yet made hituseXof no reputation, took on
him the form of aservant, was madein the likeness of men,and
became obedient unto death,V--stilfering the just for the un-
just, that he might bring us to Gond' These being the
services in which they were employed in their public
assemblies, it is necessary that we should enquire who
they were that exhorted and taught, and Acted as the
organ of the congregation in its addresses to the
Throne of Grace.

That the Elders often performed these duties is, I
believe, not contested, and therefore particular pal-
sages, in addition to those already quoted, need not
be adduced as procfs. But it may be necessary to
inquire whether the congregations had a right to
throw upon their Ministers every duty but that of
hearing and receiving instruction ?
We are informed (Acts viii.) that on the perse-
cutiqn which broke out, after the death of STEPHEN,
against the congregation which was at Jerusalem, the
member: were ALL scattered abroad, throughout Judea and
Samaria, and went every where preaching the word.
It was not the Apostles, for we are told expressly
that they still remained at Jerusalem, but those who
were scattered abroad, that performed these duties.—
Hence it appears that, at that time, it was the duty
and practice of all the believers to preach the word.
One of the Members who thus preached, and who
had not been appointed an Elder but a Deacon, is
mentioned by name, viz. Plump, who went down to
the city of Samaria and preached the CHRIST unto them—
this he did, however, not as a Deacon, for his duty as
such was to :erve tables, but as a common duty, which.
every believer was bound to perform according to his
ability. It appears also, fiom Paves first epistle to
the Corinthians [xiv.] to have been the duty and privi-
lege of the Members of that Congregation (and con.
sequently of every other) to ftrojihccy, that is to teach ;
and that, at that time, some confusion was often pro-
duced by the readiness of every one of them to sing or;
speak a psalm, a doctrine, or a revelation, arid some of
them in an uninowa tongue. Is their liberty of speech
reproved by the. Apostle ? No, but their indiscreet
use of of them speaking with tongues when
there was no interpreter present, and when, conse-
quently, the congregation could not be edified by
their discourse ; and others, as it would appear, rising
to speak before the former speaker had ceased, from
an earnestness to state their knowledge on the sub-
ject under discussion. The Apostle informed them
(ver. SI.) that they might ALL prophesy, cne by ate, that
all might learn and all might be comforted. But though
they might all speak, by course," they were not
thence allowed to infer, that every one of them might
use this liberty at one time of assembling ; for at one
meeting it was not proper that more elan 44 two or
three" should address di' believers. And P tuL en-
forces the propriety of his directions by- telling them
,
yoer. SS.) that Con is not the author of eolfaion but of
jteace, at in all •the wagregaticass of the mists. That this
duty and privilege of speaking to alma:jolt:Nl comfort
belongs to all the male members is plain, not only from
the generality of the expression, " remosAct itrolthecy"
but from what he adds respecting the females(ver.S4.)
Let your women Jeep silence in your eusembria ; for IT Is
NOT PERMITTED INTO THEM TO SPEAK." [Plainly im-
plying that it is permitted to the mat] a If they dedre to
have'information on clnyleoint let than ash their husbands
at home ; for IT 13 A SHAME FOR WOMEN TO :WEAR IN
THE CONGREGATION."

This duty of exhorting one another was not only
permitted, but enjoined to be observed, as one of the
means appointed by GOD to enable believers to hold
fast the profession of the faith widows wavering. For this
end the believing Hebrews (a 24, 25) are admonish-
ed, to provoke cne another to love and to good works, not
fortaiing the assembling of themsilver together, tut EXHOR-
TING ONE ANOTHER—viz. in their public assemblies.
The congregation of the Thessalonians are desired
(1 Epistle iv. 18) to exhort one another, with what PAUL
stated to them respecting the second coming of CHRIST;
and the taints and faithful brethren at Colosse are enjoined
(iii. 16) to let the word of Cuetsr dwell in them richly in
all wisdom, " TEACHING and nmornsunce one another in
psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs,"—a passage
which she ws the meaning of one before quoted from ;
the epistle to the Corinthians, all of Whom had a ludo'
or adodrine for the instruction of she congregation.
Without insisting farther on this point, it must fol-,
low, from what has been produced, that the Bishops
were entitled to receive instruction from, as well as bound
to communicate it to, the congregation ; that every is}-
dividual had a right to receive the benefit of that
knowledge ViiliCh GOD had communicated to every
40 or 50 years later, speaking of the public service, states the order
thus: " The scriptures are read, psalms sung, comforting dis
course, are spoken, and prayers presented."—(De Anifta, s. iii.)
Tim. ii. 1-5.
t Zech. xiii. 7.
t Phil. ii. 6-11.
1 Pet. iii. 15.

L
- .

SALES BY AU.CTION.

• PINNER HILL, MIDDLESEX.
ELIGIBLE aid BRAIFf !FILL SPOT for BUILRING,
13 miles from Loudon.
Dy Mr. ROBINS, at Garraway's Coffee-house, 'Change-alley;
Cnrnrslll, on Toesdsy, the 30els instant, at Twelve o'Clock,
itiOne Lot,
AFREEHOLD, ESTATE, situate on tic South-
.
side if PlnneiAtill, oinarblzig, upwards of Forty-four
Acres of Meadow, Pastore, Arab*, and Wood Land,
.on which
are many thousand fine thriving young oaks, and some timber,
forming a most desirable situation for building, commanding rich
and extensive views of the country. Land-tax on part redeemed.
May be viewed by applying m Mr. Kelsey, Harroweald Lodge,
near Pinner, of whom particulars may be had ; White Horse,
Uxbridge; Red Lion, Southall and Hounslow - of Massrs.
Foster, Cooke, and F.-ere, lAncoin's Inn ; at Garway's ; and
of Mr. Robins, Warwick-street, Goideft-square.

WILTS.—FREEHOLD HOUSES, COLLINGBOURNE,
KlNGSTON,betweeu Andover, Hungerford, and Marlborough.
By Mr. ROBINS,
At Garraway's Coffee House, 'Change-alley. Coreddil, London,
on Tuesday, the 20th of August, at 12 o'Clock, in two lots,
Loo 1 .rcH E veryeligibleFßEEH6lLD ESTATES,
-1- land-tax redeemed, comprising the manor or reputed
manor of Collingbourne, Valence, and Bronton House, a desirable
family mansion, seated on a lawn surroundedby thriving planta-
tions, with garden, orchard, yard, barns,stablesiand outbuildings,
and upwards of 151 acres of meadow, pastor., arable, and wood-
land, all lying compact, in a good state of cultivation, and in a
fine healthy part of the country, commanding rich and extensive
views over a rich country, presenting a pleasant residence for a
Gentleman fond of Farming and field sports, situate in the parish, '
and neauthe village of Collingboarne Kingston, and within a
quarter of a mile of the church.
Lot 2. A valuable Freehold Estate adjolniping Lot 1. called
Heath Farm, land-tax redeemed, and Gammon's Corner, situate
in the parishes of Conic:bourne Kingston, and Chute, with a
farm-house, yards, =aides, orchard, bans, stables, and optbuild-
ings, and upwards of 171 acres of meadow, pasture, and wood-
land;`alfin good etiltivation, and lying tannpact. An Act is ob-
tained for inelosing the parish of Chlitin,Vbir.b will add a consi-
derable quantity of land to this lot. • A ,
These Estates are very eligible properti for investing money,
or for occupation, are within two miles of Everley, nine from
Hungerfordi ten from Malberough, twelve front Andover, six-
teen from Salfibury, and seventy from London.
• Marbe Viewed by application on the premises, where parties-
isaY be' had.; it the Star and Garter, Andover ; Swan, Hune
gerfoid; eidleatheMstillimongh. Arms, Marlborough; White.
Hdrt; flabbiest; diltla,ss at Svorietand Amesbury - Pelican,
Mewl :my ;;Aiffsiio44On. Bath; • Seib. Bristol; /Mack 'Bear, De-
vizes ; Wbitegart,Chippenharh ; at Oarraway's ; and of mr:
Robins, WatwlcUiteet, " Gorden-squaw, Where a plan of *e
estates may be seta.

SALtS Bt AUCHON.

NET RENT of £233 per Anntun,unexeeptionably wlsecored,
payable out of an Estate near Loaded: • • •
By Mr. ROBINS,
At Ganaway's Coffee-house, Change-Ailey, Cotnhill, ma Tues-
day the 3oth instant, at Twelve o'clock,

•
A NET ANNUAL PROFIT RENT of TWO
HUNDRED and THIRTY-THREE P9UNDS for
eighteen years, unexceptionably well securel, and pap)* out of
an estate within a few miles of London.
Particulars at Gatrativiii4 -and of Mr. Robins, Warnich.
street, Golden-square. ',.4

GOLDER'S•GAEEN, NAAR-HENDON.—THREE DE-
SIRABLE
VILLAS, AND LAND.
By Mr. ROBINS,
At Garraway's Coffee-douse, Change-Alley, Cornhill, on TUC*.
day, the 30th Instant, at Twelve o'Clock, in three Lots,
AVERY eligible LEASEHOLD ESTATE;
comprising three compact and neatly finisird Yaks, very
desirably situate at Golder's Green, near liendoo, cominodloosly
planned, and hagdsomely. fitted up with folding doors, &c. The
domestic Offices to each are convenient and-appropriate, wit'
Yards, Coach-houses, Stables, „Barn, and otlm; Out-builYings;
Gardens fully stocked and cropped, and planed with wall and
standard Fruit-trees in full bearing, and about sixteen Acres of
Meadow Land (which will lee apportiored to the Lou„ amply
supplied with excellent water. •
Particulars of S. T. Adams, Esq. Russell-street, Bloomsbury;
at the Swan, Golder's Green ; and: 9f Mr. Robini, Waiwiciro
street, c olden-square ; of whom Tickets for viewing•may behad.

FREEHOLD RESIDENCE, FARMS, aad LANDS; -
Within FIFTEEN MILES of LONDON, in the COUNTIES
of SURREY and KENT.
... By Mr. ROBINS,
At Garraway's Coffee-house,* 'Change-alley, Conanll, on Tam.
day, the 90th instant, in six Lot;,
VALUABLE FREEHOLD ESTATE, con-
• sistir.g of an iletark. modern Brick built RESIDENCE.,
planned for the acconuAddation'of a l'anti/g, vilth excillert de-
tached Offices, seated nas elevated lawn, pianfed with tlirivir.f
Shrubs and Forest Trees, commanding distaat prospect* of the
rich and beautiful surrounding Country ; with Chach-lsouse, Sta-
ble, Brew-house, and other useful Cakes, exceiient garden, well
stocked and cropped, pleisintly situatedin a Paddock, surround-
ed by sundry incioaurel of Meadow, Arable, Pasture, and Wood
Land, iontai4ting nearly four hundred acres, with 'a-commodious
and substdhlial Farm House, large .Barns, Granary, Stables; tin
Lodges, Sheds, and warm Farm-yard. . Two Cottages aroplated
at an extremity of the Estate, which is a fine healthy situatim,
about five miles from Croydon, Burnrcy, and Westhant, in the
counties of Surrey and Kent, a desirableand improveableproperty.
To be viewed by. tickets. Particulars on the Fretnires ;at the
Old Ship, Brighton; Star, Lewes; Wbfie• Hart, C.otiitoue ;
King's Arms and Greyhound, Croydon ; White Hart, Guildford
Red Lion, Dorkirg ; King's Head, Epsom ; White Hart, Reigate;
Cock, Sutton ; of Messrs. Loddington and Hall,Temple ; at 4,;ais-
raway's ; and of Mr. Robins, Warwick,,tr.::t, Golden-square,
where tickets may be had, and a plan of the Estate seen.

RUTLAND:MIRE. •
ELIGIBLE FARM and LANDS,Tithe-free, near STAMI-oßgo
and tJP PING HAM, with immediate Posswiess.
By Mr. ROBINS, at Garrassray's Coffee-house, 'Change-alley
Oornhill. on Tuesday, tie. 30th Listant, at Twelve o'Clock,
Two Lot, :
Lot I. A DESIRABLE FREEHOLD ESTATF,,
1- Tithe-free, and Land-tax redeemed ; comprising a
good Farm HOUR', with Earns, Stables, and Outbuildlnes, Yards.
Garden, and upwards of 215 Acres of rich Meadow, Palatal/Si •
Arable Land, lying nearly compact, and lb a good state ot cativa•
Lion, situate at Kenton, in the county of Rutland, Ind a shat &s-
-tance from thesapital market towns of Stamford andUppinflatu,
and about 90 /nibs from London. Possession may be hid at Ks-
ehaelmas next.

1

Lot. 2. A Copybold Estate; comprising an inelossre of lids
Arable Land, called The Holmes, containing riA. 2R:tithosfice,
and Land-tax redecnied.—These Lands form veryeligtble pro.
petty for investing money, or occupation. •
May be viewed by applying to Messrs. Jackson and Judd, Foo
licitors' Stamford; Mr. Allen, at Ketton ; of whom particulais
may be bad ; and at the White Hart, Ketton ; Post Horse, at
Newark ; Rein Deer, Lincoln ; George Stampford, 11.'ansford-
bridge; Mr. Holmes, AlconburyAill ; the Inns at Oakbant. 1.4
pingham, Rutland, Hnntinghon, and Bugden ; Angel. Solon;
Black Bull, Ware; at Girraway's ; and of Mr. Robins, Warwick..
street,' Golden-square, Where a plan of the Estate may be seen.

CAPITAL FREEHOLD 'MANSION-HOUSE, MANORS,
and ESTATES in SOMEREETSHIRE, eight stiles from
Bristol, twelve from Wells, fifteen from Bath, and within a
Quat-tesOf a Mile of the Turnpike Road from Bristol to Exeter.
By Mr. ROBINS,

At Garraway's Coffee-house, Cornhill, London, on Tuen!ay,
the 30th. instant, at one o'clock,
AVALUABLE,' COMPACT, and VERY
DESIRABLE FREEHOLD ESTATE, comprising. the
Manors, or reputed Maskers, of BUTCOMBE and BLJ raThilLE
'IHRUBWELL,. with'. the capital Mansion House of 'BUT-
COMBE COURT, in couplete repair, and fit for thoinsenerdate
reddest* of a large incf geared Finally ; with good and cinve-
nient Osit-lionses, Stables, Coach-houses, extensive etaßed Cen-
dests,.Hlt-bouser, Pleasure-gtound.and Lawn aroiandthe Heave,
cant:4olB4ol estimation seventy WE'S. Together with a very
ioodelnadeowafortable Farm House On the Eitate; to which is at-
tached art eteiellent Farm-yard, with plenty of . Water, and every
convenience and necessary Out-bedding; and upwards of One
Hundred and Fifty-three acres of Meadow, Pasture, and Arable
Land. Together also withthe Advowson and Next Presentation
of the Parish Church of Butcomhe, cOmptisids the Gnu and
small Tithes, free from Modps,„py, Composition, which, with
about 52 acres of Glebe Land; ate of the yearly value 0f.300L ail
upwards. l'he present dineumbentatiut GO years of age.
The Mansion House and other parts esf the Eitate have lately
undergone considerable imiirovement The premises adjoin each
other, are situated in the several Parishes of Butcombe, IlLgdeal„
and Nempnett, and the Laind-Tax is redeemed. The neighbour-
hood is exceedingly good, abounds with Game, and is in a far
Sporting Country. .
Particulars on the premises, on Tuesdays and Fridays, wiles
the House' may be seen ; and conditions of sale at the principal
Inns at Bath, Bristol, Wells, Bridgwatev, Taunton; and Exeter;
of Mr. Fisher, Langford, near Bristol. to whom appSeation for
any further information. May .be made.(free of postage); and of
Mr Robins, Warwick-street, Golden-spare, Lemke.

SHEEN HOUSE, NEAR rt f CHM ON I% SURREY.
CAPITAL MANSION, GARDENS, AND NINETEEN
ACRES OF LAND.
By Mr. ROBINS.
At Garraway's Coffee. house 'Cliartge-aUcy, Coroblil, OD Minh
day, the 15th Septembet% at Tatehre, in One Let, ' •

A DESIRABLE FREZNOLD ESTATE;
1- comprising an elegant spacious Mansion, called SHEllki
HOUSE, situate at Shten, near Richmond, In the County of Sur-
rey, late the residence of Lord Palmerston deceased, preuTtiug
a capital Family Bosse, seated on a Lawn, separated from the
road by a wall and folding-gates ; , contains, on the 17round-floor,
handsome Entrance-hall, Eating-parlour Drawing room, and
Breakfast-room of large dimensions, deg:only furnished, with a
veranda at the back-front, 5s feet long ; a Dressing-roan, Howe-
keeper's and Butler's-rooms. Servants' Hall. Kitchen, Stoller?.
and Cook's room, two Larders, a principal and secondary Stair-
case ; the bedchamber Ind attic starlet contain lt Bedchambers.
3 Dressing-rooms, Library, and Water-el:gat ; in the Warners,
convenient Cellars; s Yard, with detached Kitchell, Wads-
house, Laundry, and. other buildings; s treble Coach-house and
Stable for seven harsh; Gardens, well stocked and cropped, sad
planted with choice fruit-trees; Grapes.? aid Toal-house; Farm-
yard, and various Out-buildings and Laud, lea aL about 19 Acres.
ornamented by a sheet of hoe wafer.
The Premises have been altered and improved at a eendder.
able expellee, and are the molt Complete 'order, planned fat
the accommodation of a Clentlerome• Faislly, forming as algal
and pleasant residence, only elibt:aullai from London.
To be viewed by tickets. the Premises; artist
4satlejß.lelistiond; "it • Gatn,wirriflitar.ol. Mr. Robin., War-
Oolden:atraie.

LONDON : Prbstitd rablished IivI.EVIL /CENT, of C....io-
terbtrty Pita, jat the titWeaOr me, No. 1, Coe?
street Published also at the Sr As-Or rice, trzpie