the assembling of ourselves together, except in unavoidable cases, from a conviction that the comfort and prosperity of a religious Society are promoted, and the hands of the Minister strengthened by the punctual attendance of every Member; whereas, on the contrary, so far as any Member neglects this his obvious duty, The injures himself and the Church to which he belongs.

5th. To endeavour to promote the comfort of the Pastor by all practicable means, esteeming him very highly in love for his work's sake. 1 Thessalonians v. 13.

6th. To watch over each other in love, warning them that are unruly, comforting the feeble minded, supporting, the weak, being patient towards all men, suffering nothing to be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind, esteeming each other better than himself, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians iv. 32.

7th. To be as willing to receive as to give admonition; from a consciousness, that no one is exempt from a liability to err, owing to the depravity of our nature; and knowing it to be a mark of a proud and impenitent mind to despise reproof. Proverbs v. 13.

8th. In cases of particular and painful discipline, to follow still the unerring guide; if thy brother's offence be personal, and he shall tres

pass against thee, go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone, and if he will hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother; but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established, and if he shall neglect to hear thee, tell it to the Church; but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be to thee as an heathen man or a publican. Matthew xviii. 17.

.. N. B. This divine rule is very little attended to, it is to be feared: petty personal aversions often extend to the subversion of all scriptural order, and involve Ministers and people in inextricable difficulties; hurried by the inward corruption of the heart, and forgetting the Bible; the strongest party usurps Popish authority, denouncing anathemas and exclusions upon the most trivial occasions; unhappily evincing thereby a degree of splenetic rancour, rarely witnessed in societies of worldlings: on the contrary, were this divine maxim resorted to, what evils might be prevented-paper wars, detraction, prayerless meetings, leanness of soul, degrading quarrels, and divisions; the enemies of Zion. would not have to say, ah! so would we have it, nor the susceptible mourn in secret. "Oh! that I had wings like a dove, then would I flee away and be at rest."-Is a shade of difference in sentiment, a partiality to another Minister, un avoidable absence or a desire to withdraw to another part of God's vineyard, viewed in the Sacred Volume as a cause for exclusion or censure, whilst the moral deportment cannot be impeached?-It will be difficult to establish any

nsider

such hypothesis without perverting the truth by
the introduction of human laws;-such conduct
then is the offspring of carnal motives and
worldly policy, and can have nothing to do
with that charity, without which (profess what
we may) we are but as sounding brass or a
tinkling cymbal, 1 Cor. xiii. 1; Romans xiv.
But if the offence be public and scandalous,
such as drunkenness, adultery, dishonesty, apos
tacy from the truth, and such like, to "deliver
such an one to the world," mark the motive,
not revenge
"for the destruction of the flesh,
that the spirit may be saved in the day of the
Lord Jesus," 1 Cor. v. 5.

This appears to be the only scriptural ground of exclusion, the case alluded to in Matthew xviii. appears to be a personal animosity; wherein the offending person evades reconciliation and consequently excludes himself.*

9th. To consierd and observe with Christian philanthrophy, Galatians vi. 1. "If any man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Whence it appears, that a neglect of this hea venly precept attaches suspicion to the parties concerned, or it must be painfully admitted that good men can, to gratify angry feelings, deny themselves altogether; an idea that ought to be deprecated, as subversive of the mild and amiable genius of genuine Christianity: but alas! it is too true, that the spirit of revenge is in.

* None excluded from a Church State but such as are grossly ignorant, persecutors, idolaters, and men scandalous in their lives, Dr. Owen in loc.

many instances, carried to such excess as to amount to an absolute refusal of adjustment, even vice versa, upon the application of the supposed offenders: thus violating every divine injunction of a pacific nature; but by which the parties offended, Ananias like, Acts xxiii. 2,. become wilful and deliberate aggressors. Peter! hadst thou been dealt with thus, thy pungent sorrow would have terminated in hopeless despair! How couldst thou have strengthened thy brethren, and fire future generations with thy ccstacy? Peter i. 3. Happy thought, whilst the potsherd of the earth would crush his fellow," God is love," he never yet said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain, Isaiah xlv. 19.

Lastly, as we shall obtain help from God, Strive together, as the heart of one man for the faith of the Gospel, avoiding legality on the one hand and antinomianism on the other, trusting in, and looking to, the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus for wisdom and spiritual aid: continue steadfast in the Apostle's doctrine and fellowship in breaking of bread and prayers, that when it shall please our Heavenly Father to call any of us from this militant state, we may, through sovereign unmerited grace, be received into the Church triumphant above, to join the happy choir in ascribing glory, honor, power, and dominion, to Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever. Amen.

THE END.

J.G. Rusher, Letter-press & Copper-plate Printers Banbury.