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with God in it: it is then occasionally neglected: henee public ordinances cease to afford their wonted pleasure; Christian society is dropped; the world takes up your attention, and you have little or no time to spare for religion: some carnal acquaintance, perceiving you to be coming, draws you on; recommends you to read some one of the liberal productions of the times, by which you are to learn that there is no need to be so rigid in religion, and no harm in frequenting the theatre, or in devoting a part at least of the Lord's day to visiting or amusement. These are a few of the seeds of death, from whence have sprung many a bitter har

vest.

"Beware of sin, then, crush it at the door;
"If once 'tis in, it may go out no more!"

BUNYAN.

Thirdly, If thou hast in any degree been drawn aside, give no rest to thy soul till thy sin is crucified, and thy conscience reconciled by the blood of the cross. It is too common for sin to be worn away from the memory by time and new occurrences, instead of being washed away at the gospel fountain; but where this is the case, the stain is not removed, and its effects will sooner or later appear, perhaps in a form that may cause the ear of every one that heareth it to tingle. He that honoreth me, saith the Lord, will I honor; and he that despiseth me, shall be lightly esteemed. If we care so little for the honor of God's name, as to be unconcerned for secret faults, we may expect he will care as little for the honor of ours, and will give us up to some open vice, that shall cover us with infamy.

Fourthly, If some extraordinary temptation, or easybesetting sin perplex thee, bend not thy attention so much to the subduing of that particular evil, as to the mortification of sin in general; and this not so much by directly opposing it, as by cherishing opposite principles. We may heal an eruption in a particular part of the body, and yet the root of the disease may remain, and even be gathering strength. We may also be employed in thinking of our sins without gaining any ascendency over them: on the contrary, they may, by those very means, obtain an ascendency over us. If we go about to quench a fire by directly contending with it, we shall presently be consumed by its flames; but by applying the opposite element, it is subdued before us. It is thus that the Scriptures direct us. Walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. heart cannot be reduced to a vacuum: if spiritual things do not occupy it, carnal things will. It is by walking with God, and conversing with the doctrine of the Cross that we shall become dead to other things; and this will go to the root of the evil, while other remedies only lop off the branches. GAIUS.

The

QUERY.

Is any serious person (a minister in particular) justifiable in associating with those whose conduct he knows is, on many accounts, extremely reprehensible?

THE above query is of great importance, as it respects not only the conduct of ministers and hearers, but also the discipline of the church of Christ.

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As worldly-minded men prefer associating with those whose dispositions are most congenial with their own, so do heavenly-minded men prefer the company of those whose lives and conversation evince their love to God and man. Hence it may be inferred, that as the tree is known by its fruit, so may a disciple of Christ be generally known by his companions.

*

It may not however, be improper to remark, that there is a striking difference between voluntary familiarity, and a necessary and prudent civility; and that it is not possible for a man in business (were he ever so serious) altogether to avoid intercourse with men of the world, so long as he has a business to attend: and, further, That there is also a great difference between premeditated and accidental transgressions, especially in professors. The late pious commentator, Mr. Henry, says, “It is one thing to overtake a fault by contrivance, deliberation, and full resolution in sin; and another thing to be overtaken in a fault by the surprize of temptation." In which latter case, the Apostle Paul, in the same chapter, commands those who are spiritual, to restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; but in the former case, he recommends excommunication, as the most probable mean of reclaiming such deliberate and resolute sinners. Having thus premised, I shall now briefly detail such particulars respecting ministers, hearers, and the church as will, I trust, be agreeable to all who can say with the Psalmist, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

"The office of a minister is so dignified, and of such moment, that he should in all things be a pattern of good

* Gal. vi.

works; in doctrine showing incorruptness, gravity, and sincerity: and when he speaks, he should speak agreeably to the oracles of God,* and not seek to please men; nor should he be deceived with vain words,†t lest offence should be given, and the ministry thereby blamed.‡

"Hearers and ministers are alike exhorted to put on the whole armour of God, that they may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; to have no fellowship with the unfruitful workers of darkness, but rather reprove them; not to be entirely indifferent whether men think well or ill of them; but to take care not to set too high a value on the opinions of men,** lest they should be deceived with a lying tongue, and a flattering mouth, which worketh ruin.tt

“The church is a religious assembly, selected and called out of the world by the doctrine of the Gospel, to worship the true God in Christ, according to his word;‡‡ and the respective members of the church, are called brothers or brethren. If any man called a brother, professing Christianity, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one, the brethren are commanded not to keep company, nor to eat; but to put him away from them.§§ Again: "As members of the church, bound by the laws and rules of Christianity, they who are of the above description, are not only liable to the judgment of God, but also to the censures of their fellow-members; and every Christian is bound to judge them unfit for communion and familiar converse: that they are to be

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punished by having this mark of disgrace put upon them, that they may be ashamed, and, if possible thereby reclaimed: and the more because the sins of such much more dishonor God, than the sins of the openly wicked and profane. Hence the church is obliged to clear herself from all confederacy with them, or connivance at them; and to bear testimony against their wicked practices, by casting them out of their fellowship, and avoiding their conversation." HENRY.

To conclude, If any member of the church of Christ, whether minister or hearer, have been familiar with deceivers, railers, extortioners, &c. after reading this plain and scriptural reply, continue to associate, as usual, with such characters (how great soever their profession) it will not be uncharitable to infer, that he either considers the Word of God of no importance, or that he is inconsistent in his profession; consequently unworthy the company of any professor, whose conduct bears testimony of a becoming and religious life.

QUERY.

Suppose a minister to have been in a backsliding state, and by sovereign grace having been recovered, and, given evident proofs of his repentance and conversion, ought this to prevent the future exercise of his ministerial functions? And are persons who witnessed his backslidings, justifiable in endeavoring to blast his present respectability, and consequently destroy his future usefulness?

ANSWER.

This Query is expressed in rather ambiguous terms; for in the first place, the word backsliding is of very

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