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The Church is a Society, wholly distinct in its principles, laws and end, from any which men have ever inftituted for civil purposes. It confifts of all, in every age and place, who are chofen, effectually called,and united by faith to the Lord Jefus Chrift. The different difpenfations, either before, or fince the coming of the Meffiah, have made no effential change in the benefits of the everlasting Covenant; nor do the various denominations, or difcriptions of particular Churches, under which, from many unavoidable circumftances of language, nation, or other caufes of diftinction, believers are classed, effect any fchifm in the body, or deftroy the communion of faints.

At the reformation it was judged proper by all the Churches to ratify and publifh their respective creeds and the adopted forms of their ecclefiaftical governments. In America, fince the late happy revolution, the Churches of different denominations have found it neceffary to organize themselves, agreeably to the prefent ftate in which the good providence of God hath placed them, and have already publifbed their feveral conftitutions. The

reformed Dutch Church has been prevented by fome particular circumftances from accomplishing this defirable and important object, at an earlier pericd. She has now completed the tranflations which were neceffary, and prefents her conftitution to the public.

To the Conftitution of a Church appertain its DOCTRINES, mode of WORSHIP, and GOVERNMENT. When these are known, its true and diftinguishing characteris fufficiently afcertained.

The DOCTRINES of the reformed Dutch Church are comprifed in the Articles of Faith, the Catechifm and Compendium, and in her Canons.

Her mode of WORSHIP is expressed in the Liturgy, where forms of feveral prayers are given, without any idea, however, of refraining her members to any particular terms or fixed standards for prayer. Firmly believing, that the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the edification of Zion in every age, are promifed and beflowed, the reformed Dutch Church judges it fufficient to fhew in a few Specimens the general tenor and manner in which public worship is performed, and leaves it to the piety and gifts of

ber minifters to conduct the ordinary folemnities of the fanctuary, in a manner they judge most acceptable to God, and most edifying to his people.

Her GOVERNMENT and difcipline are contained in the rules of Church Government, ratified in the last National Synod held at Dordrecht: thefe are illuftrated in the Explanatory Articles, and applied to the circumstances and local fituation of the Church. As many of the articles in the rules are fufficiently plain and applicable without any elucidation, fuch only are mentioned in the Explanatory Articles which were judged most neceffary to give a connected and just view of the government of the Church as now established in America.

An expreffion which occurs in the 18th.. and 36th. Articles of faith, and which mentions the Anabaptifts in harsh terms, will probably with fome, especially fuch as are ignorant of the history of the fixteenth century, appear unfriendly; and if applied to thofe who are fometimes diftinguished at this day. by the fame name, be confidered as an affertion not founded in truth. To cbviate every objection it will fuffice to obferve, that there were perfons at, and fhortly after the reforma

tion who were called by that name, who beld the erroneous and feditious fentiments which in thofe articles are rejected, and who by their fanaticism and extravagance rendered themfelves abhorred by all fober and religious men. In publishing the articles of faith, the Church determined to abide by the words adopted in the Synod of Dordrecht, as most expressive of what he believes to be truth; in confequence of which, the terms alluded to, could not be avoided. But he openly and candidly declares, that she by no means thereby intended to refer to any denomination of Chriftians at prefent known, and would be grieved at giving offence, or unneceffarily burting the feelings of any person.

Whatever relates to the immediate authority and interpofition of the magistrate in the government of the Church, and which is introduced more or lefs, into all the national establishments in Europe, is intirely omitted in the conftitution now published. Whether the Church of Christ will not be more effectually patronized in a civil government where full freedom of confcience and worship is equally protected and injured to all men, and where truth is left to vindicate her own fovereign authority and influence, than

where men in power promote their favorite denominations by temporal emoluments and partial difcriminations, will now, in America, bave a fair trial; and all who know and love the truth will rejoice in the prospect which fuch a happy fituation affords for the triumph of the gospel, and the reign of peace. and love.