Speaking of our diforder is no improbable means of promoting a cure. Were fin more frequently the fubject of ferious conversation, there seems reafon to hope, that in many instances, it would not acquire fo much strength; but often times, among religious people, fin is fo little freely fpoken of, that its evil is, comparatively, but little underftood. Perhaps one reafon why errors in temporal affairs, are in general more noticed and attended to, than errors in fpiritual, is because they are more the topics of familiar converse.

Are we in want of a fubject? Our obligations alfo may lead us to many. What is my duty in general? What in peculiar circumftances? What would be my duty was I in any different fituation from that in which I am, fuppofing there is any probability of my being in fuch a situation? By thefe enquiries we might become acquainted with many duties, of which perhaps we are now ignorant, as well as get new views of others; and the real christian need not be told how defirable this is. How preferable would be confulting with our fellow-chriftians, in our focial interviews, about our own duties, to exploring the faults of others!

The works of God, likewife would afford fubjects innumerable, altogether worthy of our attention, and contempla tion. Even a flower, a leaf, or a blade of grafs viewed as the workmanship of him who is perfect in knowledge, may pleafingly and profitably employ our minds. With regard to the fublimer works of nature, (to fpeak according to our common conceptions) those who are beft capacitated to explore them, know that they are fufficient to exhaust all their researches, and to bring them to exclaim, "Who can by fearching find out God? Who can find out the Almighty unto perfection?" We need not be difcouraged from thinking or fpeaking of the works of God, because we cannot think or fpeak as we would; ever so simple a reflection in our own. minds, or a fingle thought advanced to others, may eventu ally answer a great and important end: but let that be as it may, the works of God are well worthy of being fought out by us, and in this respect as well as others, it will hold true that God accepteth according to that which a man hath, and not according to that which he hath not. In one way or other it cannot prove fruitless to be thus engaged. Our complaints then of the want of a subject are unjustly founded; as Christians it can never really be the cafe while we have mercies to notice and be thankful for, fins to confefs and to bewail, duties incumbent on ourselves and others, and the works of God to obferve and to recommend.

TENDERNESS TO FALLEN BRETHREN.

HE neceffity of holiness, or conformity to the Divine

ledged but powerfully experienced by all who are renewed by the Spirit. Sweetly are they impelled to " deny ungodlinefs and worldly luft;"-to "prefent their bodies a living. facrifice." They "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in know. ledge after the image of Him that created him." No one, therefore, who is under the dominion of fin, can bring any fcriptural evidence that he is born of God, or has a faving intereft in the divine Redeemer. Without all queftion, the true difciples of the Lamb are brought to hate and oppofe whatever is contrary to his will, for we are not called to uncleannefs, but unto holiness."

But ftill, we must allow, the prefent is a state of much imperfection." In many things we all offend." Though it is not poffible for any one renewed by divine grace to be the flave of Satan, yet each may be "overtaken in a fault,” may be deluded, and for a time, led captive by fin. Scripture, and the whole hiftory of the Church, demonftrate this has been the unhappy cafe with many who, notwithstanding, were the heirs of a bleffed immortality.-It is proper we fhould be concerned and grieved when inftances like thefe occur within the circle of our obfervation. They open the mouth of the enemy; ftagger weak believers; bring a temporary reproach upon the caufe of Chrift, and the fharpeft diftrefs on the unhappy offender. Yet, furely, it will by no means follow we thould defpife, neglect or even treat coolly those who may be thus overcome by the infulting foe. They have, at such seasons, a peculiar claim upon our pity and compaffion; they need our affectionate advice, and faithful friendfhip. Too frequently, however, the treatment they meet with is quite the reverfe, especially if they are poor in this world; for it would be well, if we could with truth fay, the conduct of profeffors uniformly manifefted, as it ought, that there is in these cafes but one law for the poor and for the rich.

The fallen difciple ufually finds himself forfaken by those with whom he has heretofore taken fweet counfel, and he has caufe to take up for himself that ancient complaint,

"My lovers and my friends ftand aloof from my fore, and my kinfmen ftand afar off."* Many will be ready to profefs a concern indeed, and to declare themselves grieved on his account, while at the fame time they are indulging and diffeminating the most injurious fufpicions against him. His offence will be conftrued into an evidence of an hypocritical profeffion; and too often will he be left to ftruggle, as he can, with the enemies which have befet and entangled his foul. Even thofe who continue to maintain any intercourfe with him, generally manifeft fuch coolness, and affume fuch an air of fuperiority, as, to a generous mind, will be extremely galling; and aggravates inftead of leffening the distress. But does not fuch conduct further the defigns of the malignant adverfary? How baneful, how ruinous is its influence!

The tendency of fin is to harden the heart. A perfon feduced by it may, for a season be infenfible of his guilt and danger. His attention will be turned from himself, and directed towards the failings of others. These are sought out with diligence, and dwelt upon with eagernefs, in order to enjoy the miferable fatisfaction of beholding others as inconfiftent as himself. Therefore, as feverity and neglect are directly oppofite to the spirit of the gospel, they confirm a fuggeftion which Satan rarely fails to prefent on fuch occafions; namely, that religion is no better than an empty name. What faithful fervant of Christ would not be anxious to guard against furnishing the mind of a fallen brother with fo deftructive a fentiment?

But it is not unfrequent for the offender to be convinced as foon as he has committed the crime. His guilt appears in its dreadful enormity; and fevere diftrefs harrows up his foul. The enemy, who before enticed, now adds dreadful terror to the accufations of confcience, and would lead him to form the horrid conclufion he has finned beyond the reach of mercy. He fears he is one that has apostatised from Chrift; the word fpeaks to him nothing but terror? the bleffings of the covenant aggravate his woe, because, he imagines, they are what he has no room to expect. He would pray but guilt ftops his mouth, and drives him from the throne of grace. Then is experienced what the Pfalmift fo feelingly expreffes; "I am afflicted and ready to die, while I fuffer thy terrors I am diftracted." The tender fympathy of chriftian friends would, in fuch a cafe, be precious healing balm; but alas it is withheld. But what can be more cruel that to defert a fellow-foldier in fuch a dread

* Psalm xxxviii. 11.

ful conflict? What more oppofite to the fpirit of the gospel? Where is that charity which the Redeemer fo forcibly enjoins, and which the Divine Spirit breathes into the renewed foul?

It is generally urged in defence of such conduct, that believers ought on all occafions to give a public and marked teftimony that they deteft and abhor fin. This, every lover of Jefus moft cordially allows. However, the interesting question is, What is fin? The infpired penman will anfwer, "It is the tranfgreffion of the law." We afk again, What law? that of the world? No-the law of Christ. Now, one very important part of this is, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf;" and our attention to it is fo effential, that the fame authority declares, "He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." How then can he that neglects or coldly treats a fallen brother, difcover his averfion against fin? He may make it evident he is influenced by the god of this world, but can by no means prove that divine grace has its genuine effect upon his heart.

The apoftle in Gal. vi. 1. furnishes a plain direction, and gives a pofitive command relative to this fubject. He that flights the one, and difobeys the other, may, like one of ancient days, fay, "Come fee my zeal for the Lord," but gives no proof of real concern for the divine honour.

When the divine life flourifhes in a foul, fuch questions as thefe will frequently be propofed: "Who maketh thee to differ? and what haft thou that thou haft not received?” An inattentive obferver of his own heart must he be, who is not convinced he fhould be guilty of any fin, were it not for a continuance of the fame grace which, at the firft, brought him from darknefs to marvellous light; and this muft ever produce compaffion for those who have frayed, as well as earnest endeavours for their being brought back into the right way. Perhaps we, in general, entertain miftaken ideas refpecting thofe of God's children who have fallen into actual fin. The lively oracles will fhew us that fome of these were, notwithstanding, eminent faints.-To pass over others, what are we to think of Noah, David, and Peter? They furely ftand in the firft rank of those who be lieve; and yet, according to the fentiments of too many in our day, they muft have been looked upon as mean, and treated with neglect.

Viewing the prefent life as a ftate of warfare, we muft allow every true Chriftian is a foldier, fixed in his fuitable poft by the Captain of falvation. He does not order his weak ones to meet the fierceft attacks of the enemy, but

thofe whom he has furnished with a greater degree of ftrength and activity. It may be, fome of these are too full of themselves;-not fufficiently watchful ;-He fees that a disgraceful check, or a painful wound inflicted by the foe, is the only method for correcting thefe errors; drawing forth all their powers into his fervice; and bringing them finally to complete victory, and an immortal crown. Now, is it poffible the divine Commander can approve, when he fees one of his own wounded and faint, abandoned by his fellow-foldiers to the cruel infults of the enemy? Certainly he cannot.

It is by divine grace alone we ftand.-Were it not for daily application of the Saviour's merits to the confcience, the moft fanctified believer would be in defpair. How then can he, who lives continually upon free forgiveness, refuse to declare its all-fufficiency to a fellow mortal who is near the gates of death, for the want of justly viewing and firmly believing the glorious truth?

If we maintain as we ought, that, as the ranfomed of the Lord, we are called, by all the means in our power, to promote the Redeemer's honour, we shall be earnest to feek diligently after those who may have wandered, to the end that they may be restored. The reclaiming of backfliders, the raising of them that are fmitten down, and the pouring of balm into the wounded confcience, are the genuine fruits of the Spirit, and real evidences of saving faith.

E.

I

CONVERSION OF TWO PROSTITUTES.

To the Editor.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

HERE fend you the account of two remarkable inftances

of the grace of God, difplayed in the converfion of two poor young prostitutes-it was written to me by one of our friends belonging to Zion Chapel. I read it in the congregation, and I have been perfuaded by many to have it publifhed. I therefore fend it to you that (if you judge it proper) it may be inferted in your very ufeful work, " the Evangelical Magazine :" that Jefus Chrift may make it useful is the earnest defire of

Your very humble servant,

WILLIAM COOPER.