MR. BROWN* S FIRST REPLY.^^ 19 



Stated times of public worship necessary. 



This is clear from the context. The same remark applies to 

 Rom. xiv. 



For, if PauFs language in that chapter be tåken without any 

 limitation, as affirming that every day is to be esteemed alike 

 by enlightened Christians (as "W. B. T. supposes), it goes 

 bey ond the Apostle's aim (which is the removal of Jewish 

 prejudices), and strikes equally against the Christians' " Lord's 

 Day/' as against the Sabbath of the Decalogue. And where, 

 then, let me ask, is there any law, or institution for public 

 worshipj in the New Testament ? According to W. B. T., 

 there is none. The Sabbath is blotted out; the division of time 

 into weeks is abolished ; men may pursue their worldly labors 

 without cessation -, Christian worship may be maintained, inter- 

 rupted, or abandoned at pleasure ; and the religion of Christ, 

 which was above all others intended to unite, fraternize, and 

 spiritualize the human race, leaves them worse than Judaism, 

 or even Paganism, without any law or provision whatever for 

 the accomplishment of its magnificent design. A universal 

 religion like Christianity may and indeed must dispense with 

 one local centre of worship, like Jerusalem (John iv. 21 — 24), 

 but it cannot therefore dispense with stated times, sacred to 

 social repose, instruction* and devotion. 



With the writer's arguments I have now done. I agree 

 with him that every man should have liberty of conscience. 

 Conscience is a very sacred thing. But if it is not true to 

 the Law of God, it is no hetter than a false chronometer. 



J. N. B. 



