doctrines, is an object of Chris- | shut his eyes against the light,

and thus sin' against the dictates of his own conscience.

It has been asked by persons who disapprove of all church proceedings on account of dif ference in religious principles, Who is to judge what is heresy ? We answer, Those who are to judge what is immorality in deal

tian discipline.-"I would they were even cut off that trouble you-I have a few things against thee, because thou hast them that hold the doctrine of Balaam ---so hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.-A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition reject, know-ing with loose characters. To ing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." Gal. v. 12. Rev. ii. 14, 15. Tit. iii. 10.

suppose it impossible to judge what heresy is, or to deny that the power of so deciding rests in a Christian church, is to charge the apostolic precept with impertinence. It is true, the judgment of a church may be erroneous, as well as that of an individual; and it becomes them in their decisions to consider that they will all be revised at the great day: but the same may be said of all human judgment, civil or judicial, to which no one is so void of reason as on this account to object.

It is worthy of notice, that the only passage in the New Testament wherein heresy is introduced as an object of discipline, makes no mention of any thing as composing it but what relates to the principles of the party. It may be supposed, that those who were accounted heretics by the apostles were as impure in their lives as they were antichristian in their doctrine, and that they were commonly It has been farther objected, disturbers of the peace and that censuring a person on acunity of the churches: but how-count of his religious sentiments ever this might be, neither of these evils are alleged as the reason for which the heretic was to be rejected. All that is mentioned is this: "He is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."

invades the right of private judgment, is inconsistent with the liberty of the gospel, and contrary to the leading principles on which Protestants have separated from the church of Rome, and Protestant Dissenters from the church He is subverted; that is, his of England. The right of priprofessed faith in the gospel is in vate judgment, while we claim effect overturned, or rendered no connection with others, is an void; consequently he requires undoubted right. We may be to be treated as an unbeliever. christians, infidels, or atheists, He is condemned of himself;' and none but God has any conthat is, the gospel being a con- troul over us: but if we desire sistent whole, he who rejects the friendship and esteem of some of its leading principles, good men notwithstanding, or While he professes to retain others, claim admission to a Christian is certain to fall into self-contra-church; or should we be in it diction; which if clearly pointed already, and claim out in a first and second admonition,' and he still persist, he will be compelled obstinately to

continue our situation, surely they would not be obliged to comply. If so, our right of pri

that in the primitive churches immediate exclusion was the consequence. In the case of the incestuous Corinthian, there are no directions given for his being admonished, and excluded only in case of his being incorrigibly. impenitent. The apostle determined what should be done-,

vate judgment must interfere with that of others, whose judgment tells them that there can be no fellowship between light and darkness, or communion between him that believeth and an infidel. If the liberty of the gospel consists in a right of fellowship with Christian churches, whatever be our principles, it will follow not" In the name of the Lord Jesus only that unbelievers may claim when ye are gathered together to visible communion with believ- deliver such a one unto Satan." ers; but that no exclusions for We cannot but consider it as an immorality can be justified, pro- error in the discipline of some vided the party insists that his churches, where persons have sentiments are in harmony with been detected of gross and aggrahis practice. There is a great vated wickedness, that their exvariety of opinion as to what is clusion has been suspended, and morality, as well as to what is in many cases omitted, on the truth. One loose character be- ground of their professed repentlieves in polygamy, another in ance. While the evil was a seconcubinage, and a third can see cret, it was persisted in; but no harm in fornication, nor even when exposed by a public detecin adultery, provided it be un- tion, then repentance is brought discovered.* forward, as it were in arrest of judgment. But can that repentance be genuine which is pleaded for the purpose of warding off the censures of a Christian church? We are persuaded it cannot. The eye of a true penitent will be fixed on the greatness of his sin, and he will be the last to discern, or talk of his repentance for it. So far from pleading it in order to evade censure, he will censure himself, and desire nothing more than that testimony may be borne against his conduct for the honour of Christ.

If the churches of Rome and England had done nothing more than exclude from their society those characters whom they considered as deviating from the first principles of the gospel, without subjecting them to civil penalties or disabilities, however we might have disputed the truth of their doctrine, we could not justly have objected to their discipline. We should suppose, that the separation of Protestants from the one, and of Protestant dissenters from the other, was for the sake of enjoying a purer church state, wherein they might act up to the laws of Zion's King; and not that they might live as though there were no king in Israel, which is the case where every man does that which is right in his own eyes,

In cases of notorious and complicated wickedness it appears,

Such was the morality taught by

Mr. Hume.

example of forbearance has he left us! One character reclaimed is of greater account and more to the honour of a Christian church, than many discarded.

We

religion, and even the salvation of men, may be affected by the purity and harmony of Christian churches, we should tremble at the idea of their being interruptFinally, A watchful eye upon ed by us. The planting of a the state of the church, and of church in a neighbourhood particular members, with a sea- where the gospel is preached, sonable interposition, may do and the ordinances of Christ admore towards the preservation of ministered in their purity, is a good order than all other things great blessing. It is a temple put together. Discourage whis- reared for God, in which he perings, back bitings, and jealou- deigns to record his name, to sies. Frown on tale bearers, and meet with his humble worshipgive no ear to their tales. Nippers, and to bless them. contentions in the bud. Adjust have seen churches of this dedifferences in civil matters among scription, in the midst of a career yourselves. Bring together at of spiritual prosperity, edifying at an early period those in whom one another in love, and gathermisconception and distrust have ing souls to the Redeemer's stanbegun to operate, ere ill opinion dard, all, in a little time, blasted ripen into settled dislike. By a and ruined by some unhappy frank and timely explanation in event that has thrown them into the presence of a common friend, disorder. One of the members, that may he healed in an hour, it may be, has acted unworthily which if permitted to proceed, a-he is reproved-his relations series of years cannot eradicate. or particular acquaintances take Be affectionately free with one on his side-discipline is interanother. Give tender and faith-rupted--the church is divided ful hints where it appears to you into parties-hard things are said that one of your brethren is in on both sides-the bond of love danger of being drawn aside from is broken-tender minds the principles or spirit of the grieved, and retire-worship is gospel. Let all be given, from but thinly attended, and the entheir first entering into connec-joyment of it is vanished-God's tion with you, to expect them. friends mourn in secret, and his If any one take offence at such enemies triumph, saying Aha! treatment, give him to under- so would we have it! Truly it is stand that he who cannot endure a serious thing to occasion the a caution or a reproof, is unfit ruin of a church of Christ! for Christian society; and is in any man defile the temple of the utmost danger of falling into God, him shall God destroy!" mischief.

SALVATION

BY CHRIST ALONE.

The free circulation of the blood, and the proper discharge of all the animal functions, are not more necessary to the health of the body, than good discipline what, but a sordid bargain for the skies? is to the prosperity of a community.

If it were duly considered how much the general interests of

VOL. X.

are

"If

What is all righteousness that men devise?
And Christ as soon will abdicate his own,
As stoop from heaven to sell the proud a throne.
COWPER.

A FRIEND who is much concerned for the spiritual good of

ន

his fellow-creatures, lately mentioned the name of a poor woman who was much afflicted, and wished me to call on her. I embraced the earliest opportunity of attending to his request, and found her very unwell, apparently in a consumption. After learning, with much pleasure, that though she was poor, she did not really want for any thing that was suitable to her circumstances, I made it my principal object to ascertain the state of her soul. I asked her, whether she supposed that she should recover from her affliction? She told me, that she often feared she should not. I then said, "As you apprehend that you are shortly to enter eternity, and to appear before God, are you ready for so great a change, for so important a summons? Have you a good hope, that you shall meet the coming Judge with joy ?"

pect by lifting up your hand, to reach and grasp the stars of heaven, as to enjoy the mansions of glory by your own exertions. If ever you are saved, it must be most entirely by the rich grace of God in Christ Jesus. There is no other name given under heaven whereby a sinner can be saved. Nor is it in any way possible for you to escape utter ruin if you neglect this great salvation."

I endeavoured to show her in the plainest and most familiar manner, the only way in which a sinner could be just with God; intreated her carefully to peruse the Holy Scriptures; and I especially besought her to lift up her heart without delay to a throne of grace. I assured her, that there was a certainty that God heard and answered prayer, presented through our divine Redeemer, and in reliance on his merits; and that he could effectually enlighten, pardon, justify, and save even "the chief of sinners."

How awful is the consideration, how should it awaken our pity and our zeal, that there are multitudes in our Protestant country where the light of divine truth shines in all its native glory, who are relying for eternal felicity on a foundation, which, in innumer able instances, has been found insufficient to support the hunian mind; and which in the last sad moment of extremity has often left its possessor

She replied, "Though I have certainly been a sinner, yet I have not been so bad as others, and I have been constantly endeavouring to make my peace with God." "Alas!" said I, "if your peace be not already made by him who died for poor sinners, it can never be made. Though you may not have gone so far in sin as some of your neighbours, yet, as a single dose of poison will effectually kill the body, so one unpardoned sin will as certainly and completely ruin the soul. The wages of one sin is death, and if you receive them you are ruined, you perish. There never was, or can be, more than one available sacrifice for sin, and that was long since offered on Or spark of glimm'ring day; Mount Calvary. If you have no interest in the atonement of the Son so that, like the foolish builder of God, you must be lost eternal- mentioned by our Lord in the ly. Sin is so horrible, and of so Gospel, he has found himself, deep a stain, that it can never be when there was no remedy, comremoved but by the blood of Je-pletely and everlastingly undone. sus. You may as reasonably ex"Other foundations can no man

Without one cheerful beam of hope,