Page:A semi-centenary discourse.djvu/48

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man, "Love God, and your neighbor as yourself." This universal law he carried out in his life and practice; this he handed down to posterity, and this law is to this day observed by his church, and though for the maintenance of it the church be censured and proscribed by those who would have them violate that universal law of the Most High, yet are they content to follow in the footsteps of their leader in the maintenance of it, until they shall see some good reason why they should, by any act of theirs, set up a separate and distinct organization, bounded by a distinction not at all warranted in God's Word, nor yet even in a sound morality. Acknowledged now, as in the days of Mr. Gloucester, as one of the family of Presbyterians, this old church is content to abide by the landmarks laid down by the Apostles, and which we know is the only true principle taught by the Saviour, the opinions of other persons to the contrary notwithstanding.




THIS RISE OF THE CHURCH, AND THE INSTRUMENTALITY
BY WHICH IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

I am under obligation to Mr. "William Nassau, one of the few surviving Christian men now alive of that constellation of godly men who devoted their time and energies in rearing the Church, for much of the information herein recorded. Mr. Nassau was an elder of the church of which Dr. Alexander was pastor, at the time the effort was made to establish the church. Also, to Mr. James Prosser, the first elder elected under Mr. Gloucester, and the only one living at present among the colored elders that were engaged in the enterprise; and to Mr. Samuel