Some writers have sought to trace the origin of the Church of God up to Abraham, the father of the faithful. But this is an error. If the Church of God under the New Testament was the same with the Abrahamic or Jewish Church, then Christ would never have said to Peter, "Upon this rock will I build my Church;"* and the Apostle would never have said, "He (Christ) hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in himself of twain (Jews and gentiles) one new man." Now, if this "new man," means the Church of God, and of this there can be no rational doubt, then, without controversy, she originated under the personal ministry of Jesus Christ and his apostles.

b. The name or title, Church of God, is undeniably the true and proper appellation by which the New Testament church ought to be designated. This is her scriptural and appropriate name. This, and no other title, is given her by divine authority. This name or title, therefore, ought to be adopted and worn to the exclusion of all others.

There are those, who have pleaded for the use, and for the exclusive use, of some other appellations: such as the name of Christian; others for that of Disciples; and others, again, for the name Brethren, &c. But it ought to be recollected, that not one of these is a proper noun, or a patronymic, and, therefore, none of them is ever used in Scripture as an appellation for the church. The individual members of the church are, and may be, very properly so called; but not so with regard to the church herself. We nowhere read of the "Christian Church," or of the "Disciples' Church," nor of the "Brethren's Church," &c.

If, then, it is unscriptural to assume and wear any one of these, or any other Bible name, as a church appellation, how much more improper, unscriptural, and God-dishonouring is it, to lay aside all Bible names, even the divinely appointed name, Church of God, and assume a human name: such as Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Presbyterian, German Reformed, Baptist, Methodist, Menonist, Unitarian, Universalist, or something else, equally inappropriate, unscriptural, or even unmeaning?

As a religious community, therefore, we claim to stand identified with, and to be a part of, the true Church of God. As such, we claim

Matt. xvi. 18.

+ Eph. ii. 14, 15.

Is. lxii. 2; Acts xx. 28; Gal. i. 13; 1 Tim. iii. 15 We admit, there are more or less Christians, or converted persons, among the dif ferent sects and denominations; but we regret that the most of them have no preference

brotherhood with all the saints of God, wherever they may be found, and wish to extend the hand of fellowship to all, without exception, "whose fellowship is with the Father and his Son the Lord Jesus Christ."

But as I have been requested to write a brief history of the Church of God, as she exists by that name in the United States, I shall here give a short account of the origin and progress of that religious community, or body of believers, who profess to have come out from all human and unscriptural organizations, and to have fallen back upon original grounds, and who wish, therefore, to be known and called by no other distinctive name, collectively taken, than the CHURCH OF GOD. This name we assume from conscientious motives, because reason and revelation require it; and not because we wish to magnify ourselves against others, as it has been improperly and unkindly intimated by some of our sectarian neighbours.

In the year 1820 the writer of this article settled in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as a minister of the German Reformed Church, and took. charge of four congregations; one in town, and three in the country. Soon after his settlement in this charge, it pleased the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls to commence a work of grace among the people, both in town and in the country. But, as revivals of religion were new and almost unheard-of things in those days, especially among the German people of that region, this work of God failed not to excite great wrath and opposition among hypocrites, false professors, and the wicked generally; just as true revivals of religion, or genuine works of grace, have very generally, if not always done. And as the members of the aforesaid congregations or churches so called, were themselves unconverted, with few exceptions, and ignorant of the right ways of the Lord, the most violent opposition and persecution arose from that quarter, aided by not a few of the ministers of their synod themselves. This state of things lasted for the space of about five years, and then resulted in a separation from the German Reformed Church.

About this time (1825) more extensive and glorious revivals of religion commenced in different towns and neighbourhoods, to wit: Harrisburg, Shiremanstown, Lisborn, Mechanicsburg, Churchtown, New Cumberland, Linglestown, Middletown, Millerstown, Lebanon, Lancaster, Shippensburg, Elizabethtown, Mount Joy, Marietta, and various other places. In these glorious revivals there were hundreds

for Bible names, and the right ways of the Lord; or, if they have, that they lack moral courage to avow it.

and multitudes happily converted to God. The conversion of these scores and multitudes in different places led to the organization of churches. And, as the writer's views had by this time materially changed, as to the true nature of a scriptural organization of churches, he adopted the apostolic plan, as taught in the New Testament, and established spiritual, free, and independent churches, consisting of believers or Christians only, without any human name, or creed, or ordinances, or laws, &c.

From among these young converts, in these newly planted churches, it pleased God to raise up several able men, to take upon them the solemn and responsible office of the gospel ministry. These ministering brethren, with a few other great and good men with similar views and kindred spirits, laboured and co-operated with each other for a few years, promiscuously, as it were, or without any regular system of co-operation; but finally they agreed to hold a meeting for the purpose of adopting a regular system of co-operation.

Accordingly, they met together for this purpose, pursuant to public notice, in the Union Bethel, at Harrisburg, in the month of October, 1830, and organized the meeting by appointing John Winebrenner, of Harrisburg, speaker; and John Elliott, of Lancaster, clerk.

After spending the morning session in solemn prayer and deliberations, the meeting was adjourned till 2 o'clock, P. M., when a sermon was preached before the meeting by the speaker, of which the following is a brief sketch.

Text-" And now, I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." (Acts, v. 38, 39.)

By the "counsel and work" spoken of in this passage is meant the preaching and propagation of Christianity, or, in other words, the conversion of sinners, the formation of churches, and the supply of the destitute with the gospel ministry.

The furtherance of this counsel and work, then, is the great ostensible object contemplated by the present meeting; that is, by adopting such a plan of co-operation as shall most happily subserve the cause of God in promoting

1st. The conversion of sinners;

2dly. The establishment of churches upon the New Testament plan; and,

3dly. The supplying of the destitute with the preaching of the gospel. First. The conversion of sinners is the first great aim, end or object contemplated by the preaching of the gospel.

By sinners, we mean persons in a carnal or natural state, and who have transgressed the law of God.

By the conversion of sinners, we mean such a moral change of the heart and life, as the Scriptures uniformly require and declare indispensably necessary to prepare them for heaven.

This great and benevolent end is usually effected by the preaching of the gospel. Hence Christ has ordained the ministry of the gospel. And those who are entrusted with this sacred office, ought to consider it their first and great duty to labour for the conversion of sinners. This is the first part of the "counsel and work of God." This, therefore, we have in view of it may we never lose sight, and in it may we never tire.

Secondly. To establish and build up churches on the New Testament plan is another primary part of this "counsel and work;" and a further end or object that we have in view.

A church signifies a religious society, or a given number of Christians united together by mutual consent, for the worship of God according to the Scriptures.

Agreeably to the New Testament, churches should be formed,— 1. Of Christians or believers only ;*

2. Without a sectarian or human name;†

3. With no creed and discipline but the Bible;+

4. Subject to no extrinsic or foreign jurisdiction; and,

5. Governed by their own officers, chosen by a majority of the members of each individual church.||

To accomplish all this will require another great reformation. But, under God, it can be achieved.

Thirdly. To supply destitute places with regular preaching, is another great and necessary part of the "counsel and work" of God, and for the accomplishment of which we purpose to unite on the best and most efficient plan of co-operation.

With these, and many other words, the preacher testified, &c.

After sermon, the business meeting was called to order, and after some further consultation, it was agreed, as the unanimous sense of the meeting,

1st. That there is but one true church, namely: the Church of God. 2dly. That it is the bounden duty of all God's people to belong to her,

3dly. That it is "lawful and right" to associate together for the purpose of co-operation in the cause of God.

4thly. That we agree to hold an eldership annually for this purpose, consisting of teaching and ruling elders belonging to the Church of God.

The following teaching elders then subscribed their names, viz: Andrew Miller, John Winebrenner, John Elliott, John Walborn, David Maxwell and James Richards.

Thus originated the Church of God, properly so called, in the United States of America; and thus, also, originated the first eldership.

We shall now proceed to show, as was proposed,

II. THE FORM AND ATTRIBUTES OF THE CHURCH OF GOD.

The Greek word sxxλndia, translated church in the New Testament, in its appropriate application to a religious use, signifies,

1st. A society of Christians, in some given place, who meet together for the worship of God according to the Scriptures. (Acts xiv. 23; Rev. i. 4.)

2dly. The whole body of true believers, collectively, throughout the world. (Matt. xvi. 18; 2 Cor. xii. 28; Gal. i. 13; Eph. v. 27.)

Accordingly, the saints, or body of believers, in any given place, constitute the Church of God in that place; whilst those different, local and individual churches, collectively taken, constitute the one, holy, catholic church of God, spread abroad throughout the world.

This, then, being the primary and appropriate use and meaning of the term xxλŋ, in the New Testament, it will be easy to perceive the true nature and form of the Church of God.

If she is constituted or made up of saints, Christians, or true believers, as the use of the word indicates, then such, and none else, are scripturally entitled to membership. And if she is a society of saints or Christians, then a congenial government is necessarily implied; for no society can well exist without order, and order supposes rule, discipline, and control; and these, a ruling and controlling

power.

Organization, therefore, is fairly predicated of every gospel church. And we believe no church to be scripturally organized, without a competent number of bishops and deacons. These two classes are the only regular, standing church officers which Christ appointed. There were, besides these, several other officers in the primitive