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protestants and all other sects that differ from them, CENTURY by fire and sword. This appears evident from a variety of circumstances, and more especially from the book which Stephen Javorski has composed against heretics of all denominations.

The Greek christians are said to be treated at present by their haughty masters with more clemency and indulgence than in former times. The nestorians and monophysites in Asia and Africa persevere in their refusal to enter into the communion of the Romish church, notwithstanding the earnest entreaties and alluring offers that have been made from time to time by the pope's legates, to conquer their inflexible constancy. The Roman pontiffs have frequently attempted to renew, by another sacred expedition, their former connections with the kingdom of Abyssinia; but they have not yet been able to find out a method of escaping the vigilance of that court, which still persists in its abhorrence of popery. Nor is it at all probable that the embassy, which is now preparing at Rome for the Abyssinian emperor, will be attended with success. The monophysites propagate their doctrine in Asia with zeal and assiduity, and have not long ago gained over to their communion a part of the nestorians who inhabit the maritime coasts of India.

state of the lu

xiv. The lutheran church, which dates its foun- The external dation from the year 1517, and the confession of theran church. Augsburg from the year 1530, celebrated in peace and prosperity the secular return of these memorable periods in the years 1717 and 1730. It received, some years ago, a considerable accession to the number of its members, by the emigration of that multitude of protestants which abandoned the territory of Saltzburg and the town of Berchtolsgaden, in order to breathe a free air, and to enjoy unmolested the exercise of their religion. One part of these emigrants settled in Prussia, another in Holland, and many of them transplanted themselves

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CENTURY and their families to America, and other distant regions. This circumstance contributed greatly to propagate the doctrine, and extend the reputation, of the lutheran church, which thus not only obtained a footing in Asia and America, but also formed several congregations of no small note in these remote parts of the world. The state of lutheranism at home has not been so prosperous, since we learn, both from public transactions, and also from the complaints of its professors and patrons, that, in several parts of Germany, the lutheran church has been injuriously oppressed, and unjustly deprived of several of its privileges and advantages, by the votaries of Rome.

Its internal sjate

xv. It has been scarcely possible to introduce any change into the system of doctrine and discipline that is received in that church, because the ancient confessions and rules that were drawn up to point out the tenets that were to be believed, and the rites and ceremonies that were to be performed, still remain in their full authority, and are considered as the sacred guardians of the lutheran faith and worship. The method however of illustrating, enforcing, and defending the doctrines of Christianity, has undergone several changes in the lutheran church. Toward the commencement of this century, an artless simplicity was generally observed by the ministers of that communion, and all philosophical terms and abstract reasonings were entirely laid aside, as more adapted to obscure than to illustrate the truths of the gospel. But in process of time a very different way of thinking began to take place; and several learned men entertained a notion, that the doctrines of Christianity could not maintain their ground, if they were not supported by the aids of philosophy, and exhibited and proved in a geometrical order.

The adepts in jurisprudence, who undertook, in the last century, the revision and correction of the body of ecclesiastical law that is in force among the

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lutherans, carried on their undertaking with great CENTURY assiduity and spirit; and our church government would at this day bear another aspect, if the ruling powers had judged it expedient to listen to their counsels and representations. We see indeed in several places, evident proofs that the directions of these great men, relating to the external form of ecclesiastical government, discipline, and worship, are highly respected; and that their ideas, even of the doctrinal part of religion, have been more or less adopted by many. Hence it is not at all surprising, that warm disputes have arisen between them and the rulers of the church concerning several points. The lutheran doctors are apprehensive that, if the sentiments of certain of these reformers took place, religion would become entirely subservient to the purposes of civil policy, and be at length converted into a mere state machine; and this apprehension is not peculiar to the clergy alone, but is also entertained by some persons of piety and candour, even among the civilians.

mies.

XVI. The liberty of thinking, speaking, and writ- Intestine ene ing, concerning religious matters, which began to prevail in the last century, was, in this, still further confirmed and augmented; and it extended so far as to encourage both infidels and fanatics to pour forth among the multitude, without restraint, all the effusions of their enthusiasm and extravagance. Accordingly we have seen, and still see, numbers of fanatics and innovators start up from time to time, and, under the influence of enthusiasm, or of a disordered brain, divulge their crude fancies and dreams among the people, by which they either delude many from the communion of the established church, or at least occasion contests and divisions of the most disagreeable kind. We mentioned formerly several of these disturbers of the tranquillity of the church, to whom we may add here the notorious names of Tennhart, Gichtelius, Uberfeld, Rosen

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CENTURY bach, Bredel, Seizius, Roemeling, and many oth ers, who either imagined that they were divinely inspired, or, from a persuasion of their superior capacity and knowledge, set up for reformers of the doctrine and discipline of the church. Many writ ers drew their pens against this presumptuous and fanatical tribe; though the greatest part of those who composed it were really below the notice of men of character, and were rather worthy of contempt than of opposition. And indeed it was not so much the force of reason and argument, as the experience of their bad success, that convinced these fanatics of their folly, and made them desist from their chimerical projects. Their attempts could not stand the trial of time and common sense; and therefore, after having made a transitory noise, they fell into oblivion. Such is the common and deserved fate of almost all the fanatical ringleaders of the deluded populace; they start up all of a sudden, and make a figure for a while; but, generally speaking, they ruin their own cause by their imprudence or obstinacy, by their austerity or perverseness, by their licentious conduct or their intestine divisions.

Herrenhut.

ters.

XVII, Many place in this fanatical class the brethren of Herrenhut, who were first formed into a religious community, in the village so named, in Lusatia, by the famous count Zinzendorff; and afterward grew so numerous, that their emigrants were spread abroad in all the countries of Europe, reached even as far as the Indies, and formed settlements in the remotest quarters of the globe. The Herrenhutters call themselves the descendants of the Bohemian and Moravian brethren, who, in the fifteenth century, threw off the despotic yoke of Rome, animated by the zealous exhortations and heroic example of John Huss. They may however be said, with more propriety, to imitate the example of that famous community, than to descend from those who composed it; for it is well known, that

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there are very few Bohemians and Moravians in CENTURY the fraternity of the Herrenhutters; and it is extremely doubtful, whether even this small number are to be considered as the posterity of the ancient Bohemian brethren, that distinguished themselves so early by their zeal for the reformation.

If we are to give credit to the declarations of the Herrenhutters, they agree with the lutherans in their doctrine and opinions, and only differ from them in their ecclesiastical discipline, and in those religious institutions and rules of life which form the resemblance between the Bohemian brethren and the disciples of Zinzendorff. There are indeed many who doubt much of the truth of this declaration, and suspect that the society now under consideration, and more especially their rulers and ringleaders, speak the language of lutheranism when they are among the lutherans, in order to obtain their favour and indulgence; and those who have examined this matter with the most attention, represent this fraternity as composed of persons of different religions, as well as of various ranks and orders. Be that as it may, it is at least very difficult to guess the reason that induces them to live in such an entire state of separation from the lutheran communion, and to be so ambitiously zealous in augmenting their sect, if the only difference between them and the lutherans lies in the nature of their discipline, and in certain rites and institutions that do not belong to the essence of religion. For the true and genuine followers of Jesus Christ are but little concerned about the outward forms of ecclesiastical government and discipline, knowing that real religion consists in faith and charity, and not in external rites and institutions.1

It is somewhat surprising to hear Dr. Mosheim speak in such vague and general terms of this sect, without taking the least notice of their pernicious doctrines and their flagitious practices, that do not only disfigure the sacred truths of the gospel, but also sap all the foundations