The doctrines of the Syrian Christians are few in number, but pure, and agree in essential points with those of the Church of England: so that, although the body of Formulary. By them, the experiment of a pure church devoid of form, was made under the most favourable circumstances; and the issue has been much the same, as in former ages. The Puritan Church in England commenced under the fairest auspices. I know not what was wanting of human and local circumstance, to give peculiar doctrines perpetuity. But yet, with the first generation of men, (a case of frequent example) the spiritual fervor seemed to pass away. Instead of increasing, it decreased and declined in most places, till little more than the name was left. For when the spirit is gone, (in a church having no form) nothing is left. In the mean time, primitive Christianity revived in England (not amongst them, but in the midst of rational forms and evangelical articles: " for so it seemed good unto God ;" and from that source is derived the greater part of pure religion now professed in this land, under whatever form it may exist. These observations are not made in a spirit of disrespect for any mode of Christian worship: every form we know, is human and, therefore, imperfect: nor is perfection required; that form being best for the time, which is best administered. Christ left no form: because Churches in different climates, must have different forms. They may even vary in the same climate. There are differences of "adminis"trations, saith the Apostle, but the same Lord." 1 Cor. i. 12. "One man esteemeth one day above another. He that "regardeth the day, (as Easter and Pentecost) regardeth it "unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord "he doth not regard it." Rom. xiv. 6. We are not to despise "a weak brother, for whom Christ died," (1 Cor. viii. 11.). though he be destitute of learning, and think he possesses all the Church appears to be ignorant, and formal, and dead, there are individuals who are alive to righteousness, who are distinguished from the rest by their purity of life, and are sometimes censured for too rigid a piety. "The following are the chief doctrines of this ancient Church: 1. They hold the doctrine of a vicarious ATONEMENT for the sins of men, by the blood and merits of Christ, and of the justification of the soul before God, " by faith alone," in that atonement. 2. They maintain the REGENERATION, or new birth of the Soul to righteousness, by the influence of the Spirit of God, which change is called in their books, from the Greek, the META-NOIA, or Change of Mind. 3. In regard to the TRINITY the creed of the Syrian Christians accords with that of St. Athanasius, but without the damnatory clauses. In a written and official communication to the English Resident of Travancore, the Metropolitan states it to be as follows: "We believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, "three persons in one God, neither confounding the per❝sons nor dividing the substance, one in three, and three that is necessary for regulating a Church, when he has got the leaves of the New Testament; when the truth is, that a knowledge of cotemporary history and languages is as necessary to understand the facts of the New Testament, as the fact of any other book. But the above remarks have been made with this view, to qualify the contempt, which ignorant persons in small sects frequently express for the established worship of a CHRISTIAN EMpike. "in one. The Father generator, the Son generated, and "the Holy Ghost proceeding. None is before or after the "other; in majesty, honour, might, and power co-equal; "Unity in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity." He then proceeds to disclaim the different errors of Arius, Sabellius, Macedonius, Manes, Marcianus, Julianus, Nestorius, and the Chalcedonians; and concludes, "That in the "appointed time, through the disposition of the Father "and the Holy Ghost, the Son appeared on earth for the "salvation of mankind; that he was born of the Virgin "Mary, through the means of the Holy Ghost, and was "incarnate God and man." In every Church, and in many of the private houses, here are manuscripts in the Syriac Language: and I have been successful in procuring some old and valuable copies of the Scriptures and other books, written in dif ferent ages and in different characters.' Cande-nad, a Church of the Syrian Christians, < This is the residence of Mar Dionysius, the Metropolitan of the Syrian Church. A great number of the Priests from the other Churches had assembled by desire of the Bishop, before my arrival. The Bishop resides in a building attached to the Church. I was much struck with his first appearance. He was dressed in a vestment of dark red silk; a large golden cross hung from his neck, and his venerable beard reached below his girdle. Such, thought I, was the appearance of Chrysostom in the fourth century. On public occasions, he wears the Episcopal mitre, and a muslin robe is thrown over his under garment; and in his hand he bears the crosier, or pastoral staff.---He is a man of highly respectable character in his Church, eminent for his piety, and for the attention he devotes to his sacred functions. I found him to be far superior in general learning to any of his clergy whom I had yet seen. He told me that all my conversations with his Priests since my arrival in the country had been communicated to him. You have come,' said he, to visit a declining Church, and I am now an old man: but the hopes of its seeing better days cheer my old age, though I may not live to see them.’--I submitted to the Bishop my wishes in regard to the translation and printing of the Holy Scriptures. I have already fully considered the subject,' said he, and have determined to superintend the work myself, the most learned of my clergy to my aid. which will illuminate these dark regions, and God will give it his blessing.' I was much pleased when I heard this pious resolution of the venerable man; for I had now ascertained that there are upwards of 200,000 Christians in the South of India, besides the Syrians, who speak the Malabar Language.---The next subject of importance in my mind, was the collection of useful ma→ nuscripts in the Chaldaic and Syriac Languages; and the Bishop was pleased to say that he would assist my inquiries and add to my collection.---He descanted with great satisfaction on the hope of seeing printed Syriac Bibles from England; and said they would be a trea sure to his Church.' and to call It is a work * Cande-nad, 24th November, 1806. 'Since my coming amongst this people, I had cherished the hope that they might be one day united with the Church of England. When I reflected on the immense power of the Romish Church in India, and on our inability to withstand its influence, alone, it appeared to be an object of great consequence to secure the aid and co-operation of the Syrian Church, and the sanction of its antiquity in the East. I thought it might be serviceable, at least, to lay such a foundation by the discussion of the subject, as our Church might act upon hereafter, if he should think it expedient. I was afraid to mention the subject to the Bishop at our first interview; but he himself intimated that he would be glad I would communicate freely upon it with two of his clergy.--- I had hitherto observed somewhat of a reserve in those with whom I had conversed on this matter: and now the cause was explained. The Bishop's chaplains confessed to me that they had doubts as to the purity of English Ordination. The English,' said they, may be a warlike and great people; but their Church, by your own account, is but of recent origin. Whence do you derive your Ordination?" From Rome.' 'You derive it from a Church which is our ancient enemy, and with which we would never unite.'---They acknowledged that there might be salvation in every Church where the name of Christ was named;' but in the question of an UNION, it |