tent respect, and a sincere deference to all, and such was David's confession.

The commandments of Christ are like so many links in a chain: if we break any one of them wilfully, we break them all; and therefore he that has not respect to all God's commandments, has (it is more than probable) respect unto none of them.

Philemon. Surely it argues a legal spirit thus to bind the commandments of God on the conscience. Having began in the Spirit, are we made perfect in the flesh? If life comes by believing, can it be maintained by doing?

Epaphras.-I clearly perceive, my friend, your present situation. Time is a great discoverer, and experience a great teacher, and both seem needful to produce conviction.

Meanwhile, allow me to suggest a few thoughts in parting; which, if I mistake not, you will find great realities, and you will do well to remember them.

The path of duty is the alone path of safety; if you sit loose to the performance of any known duty, be that duty what it may, rest assured that, ere long, you will sit loose to every one of these privileges you now so much appear to value, viz. the pardon of sin, the covenant of mercy, the peace of your conscience, and the comfort of your soul.

If ever you become indifferent to the means of grace, or to the duty of private prayer-if you neglect watchfulness, and reading the sacred Scriptures, if you are only strong in doctrines, and lukewarm and indifferent in practice, rest

row.

per

assured you are sowing the seeds of future sorGod will not be trifled with on the subject of religion; either we must acknowledge him in precept, and serve him in our living, or our religion is hypocrisy, and our profession worth nothing at all. Coldness or indifference in the formance of our duty to God, is a very great sin; it injures the souls of others and wounds our own; it forfeits God's favour and procures his wrath. Whom did the gospel pronounce accursed? not the man that believed, but them who did the work of the Lord negligently. (Luke xii. 47.) Whom did he threaten to spue out of his mouth, but those possessed of a Laodicean spirit? (Rev. iii. 14.) Better, therefore, never to have known true religion, than know it theoretically and acknowledge it sentimentally-without profit, without a conscience, without love, and without filial obedience.

Suffer, I pray you, this word of exhortation: it is the bounden duty of a true friend to deal thus plainly with you; for, though there is hardly a more important christian duty, or one that is more difficult and disagreeable in itself;-though there be no Christians without their faults, yet few can bear to be told of them; yet, to warn and reprove in meekness of spirit is incumbent on all, and especially on the pastors and teachers of God's word; and therefore, whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear, I warn you, in affection and love, "be not high-minded, but fear." "Blessed is the man that feareth always." (Prov. xxviii. 14.)

SECTION XXIV.

BACKSLIDING.

TIMOTHEUS.

EPAPHRODITUS-A faithful messenger. Phil. ii. 25.

EPAPHRAS.

Epaphroditus.-We can understand nothing more and we can go no further in spiritual things, than we are spiritually and practically taught of God.

Timotheus. True, we may admonish and warn as much as we please, but it is not any degree of consideration paid to mere human advice, that will enable a man to make head against the strong tide of his waywardness, and beat down his corruptions or divert the strong currents of them into another channel; it is the grace of God alone that can do this, and it is self-knowledge, which, for the most part, is gotten by painful experience, that can teach to any good purpose, this humiliating truth.

Epaphras.-No doubt your remark is generally true; but pray what is the special bearing of it? Epaphroditus.-I am not insensible to the intense anxiety you feel, and the deep interest you take in Philemon, once so promising,—nor am I ignorant of the many cautions and salutary admonitions which from time to time you have given him.

Epaphras. He has strong claims of friendship

K

upon me, and it is the property of a true friend to deal faithfully with a brother: we must admonish and reprove, comfort and exhort, without flattery and without partiality: for there is no one, however great his knowledge may be, however extensive his attainments, however multiplied his gifts and graces, however much he may have profited in the school of Christ, but sometimes has need of all the faithful offices of a Pastor, of a sincere friend and brother in the way of caution, admonition, and warning.

Epaphroditus.-I fear Philemon is going back. Epaphras.-But tell me in what respects you discover declining piety in our absent friend.

Epaphroditus.-In the first place, I have dis covered in him a growing fondness for mixed society, even for that very sort of society he at one time so much dreaded and professed to have abandoned; sometimes he is to be found in close intercourse with Evangelicals as they are called sometimes with Papists: sometimes with mere formalists he has even been known to go latterly, where there have been scoffers, practical atheists, and those who for the sake of a better name, and because they join themselves to no sect or party, we may call "neuters."

Now I would ask you, dear Sir, can any professing Christian, who aims at the least consistency, act so inconsistent? can he keep company with Christ and his followers, and with his enemies? can he hear God dishonoured, and his name blasphemed? can he listen tamely and sit quietly when his disciples are scandalized, and his servants reviled and evil spoken of? can he tolerate

that our holy religion should be turned into a ridicule and a by-word? into a taunt and proverb? and still be present and listen as a mere idle spectator!

In the next place, I have it on the best authority that he is no longer the timid, teachable, and retiring disciple he once was:-forwardness, a dogmatical spirit, and great officiousness, now characterize his temper, general conversation, as well as outward demeanour. A scene of this kind, I am creditably told, took place at a common friend's house, where there were older men, of much greater weight and standing in the Church yet his dogmatism was much remarked upon : would believe it? he even dared to censure Artemas for his low views of doctrine, Barnabas for his low standard of piety, and Clement for his legal spirit.

you

Speaking to Fortunatus, who is a truly pious man, he said, with an air of confidence, can the truth of God have done much for you, and you do so little for the sake of the truth, as it is in Jesus? how can the word have free course and be glorified, while the liberty and light, and the saving doctrines thereof, are so suppressed or shut out from your pulpit ministrations? who can be loosened from their chains, when the gospel is thus bound?

And when Gaius expressed his opinion that we require discriminating preaching in the present day, because there is more of head-knowledge than heart-grace; and because there is a flood of light which is correspondingly shallow; and that, therefore, men should be particular in their re