_First._ We have long since settled the question about the authority of the Bible. That is no more an open question, unless we please, for the sake of argument, to look at it as an open question. We receive what the Bible says _implicitly_, or because _the Bible says it_. _Second._ Then it is _the rule_, and there is not a reason in this world for not taking it and _going by it_. It is the rule, the final, the absolute authority. It must be received in all things. _Third._ Then the gospel preached by the apostles—precisely, no more, no less, no other—must be preached by us. What they preached then or in their time must be preached now or in our time. _Fourth._ The gospel preached by the apostles was precisely what the people were required to believe, in their time, and what they did believe to the salvation of their souls. This same gospel precisely is what the people in our time are required to believe, and what they must believe to the salvation of their souls, or not be saved at all. _Fifth._ The things commanded to be done in the preaching of the gospel by the apostles were the things which they did that they might be saved. The same things precisely which they were commanded to do, and which they did to be saved, are the things now commanded to be done by those who believe the gospel, that they may be saved. These things must be done now for precisely the same purpose as they were then. _Sixth._ If, with precisely the same faith, the same things are done, for the same purpose, the same result will follow. No man can give a reason against this conclusion. _Seventh._ When persons are turned to the Lord now or have become christians, the same instructions imparted to the first Christians should be imparted to them, to show them how to serve God and be finally saved. If this is not so, then no man can show how we are to be guided to the everlasting city. We give these as a few of the clear principles from which we can not turn away without apostasy and utter ruin. These are vital and fundamental matters, and no man can infringe on them or treat them with indifference without being held in distrust. No man will turn round and repudiate all of them at once, but those who turn away will depart little by little, introducing a little _new_, leaving a little out, and encroaching on these principles, first in this and then in that. Such men will flounder and think themselves abused if we do not think they are perfectly _sound_. But there are some things we _can not think_. We can not think white is black, or that black is white. We can not believe without evidence. If men desire us to think they are sound they must give us the evidence to prove it and we will rejoice to believe it. They can easily do this if they are sound. MY CHURCH.