polluted bread to his altar, and faid the table of the Lord was contemptible.

In real filent worship, the foul feeds on that which is divine; but we cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and that table which is prepared by the God of this world. to 11.

If Chrift is our fhepherd and feedeth us, and we are faithful in following him, our lives will have an inviting language, and the table of the Lord will not be polluted.

FE

EELING, at this time, a renewed concern, that the pure principle of light and life, and the righteous fruits thereof, may spread and prevail amongst mankind, there is an engagement on my heart to labour with my brethren in religious profeffion, that none of us may be a stumbling-block in the way of others; but that we may fo walk, that our conduct may reach the pure witnefs in the hearts of fuch as are not in profeffion with us.

And, dear friends, while we publicly own that the Holy Spirit is our leader, the profeffion is in itfelf weighty, and the weightiness thereof increaseth, in proportion as we are noted among the profeffors of truth, and

active in dealing with fuch as walk disorderly.

Many under our profeffion, for want of due attention and a perfect refignation to this divine Teacher, have, in fome things, manifefted a deviation from the purity of our religious principles; and thefe deviations, having crept in amongft us by little and little, and increafing from lefs to greater, have been fo far unnoticed, that fome, living in them, have been active in putting difcipline in practice, with relation to others, whole conduct Katha appeared more difhonourable in the

world.

Now, as my mind hath been exercifed before the Lord, I have feen that the difcipline of the church of Chrift ftandeth in that which is pure; that it is the wifdom from above which gives authority to difcipline and that the weightiness thereof standeth not in any outward circumftances, but in the authority of Chrift, who is the author of it; and where any walk after the flesh, and not according to the purity of truth, and at the to fame time are active in putting difcipline in practice, a veil is gradually drawn over the purity of difcipline, and over that holiness of life, which Chrift leads thofe into, in whom the love of God is verily perfected." 1 John ii. 5.

When we labour in true love with offenders, and they remain obftinate, it sometimes is neceffary to proceed as far as our Lord di

rected:

rected:" Let him be to thee as an heathen man, or a publican." Matt. xviii. 17.

Now, when fuch are difowned, and they who act therein feel Christ made unto them wisdom, and are preferved in his meek reftoring fpirit, there is no just cause of offence ministered to any but, when fuch as are active in dealing with offenders indulge themfelves in things which are contrary to the purity of truth, and yet judge others whofe conduct appears more difhonourable than theirs, here the pure authority of difcipline ceaseth as to fuch offenders, and a tempta tion is laid in their way to wrangle and contend: "Judge not," faid our Lord," that

ye be not judged." Now, this forbidding alludes to man's judgement, and points out the neceffity of our humbly attending to that fanctifying power under which the faithful experience the Lord to be a spirit of judge

ment to them." Isa. xxviii. 6. And, as we feel his Holy Spirit to mortify the deeds of the body in us, and can fay," It is no more no more I that live, but Chrift that liveth in me,

right judgement is known,

here

And, while divine love prevails in our hearts, and felf in us is brought under judgement, a preparation is felt to labour in a right manner with offenders: but, if we abide not in this love, our outward performance in dealing with others degenerates into formality; for "this is the love of God, that we keep his "commandments." John 1. 3.

Flow

How weighty are thofe instructions of our Redeemer, concerning religious duties, when he points out that they, who pray, should be fo obedient to the teachings of the Holy Spirit, that, humbly confiding in his help, they may fay, Thy name, O Father, be hallowed!

thy kingdom come; thy will be done on

earth as it is heaven" In this awful ftate of mind is felt that worship which ftands in doing the will of God, on earth, as it is done in heaven, and keeping the holy name facred. To take a holy profeffion upon us is awful; nor can we keep this holy name facred but by humbly abiding under the trofs of Chrift. The apoftle made a heavy com plaint against fome, who prophaned this holy name by their manner of living Through

you the fays) the name of God is blafphe med amongst the Gentiles." Rom. ii. 24. Some of our ancestors, through many tribulations, were gathered into the state of true worthippers, and had fellowship in that which is pure; and, as one was inwardly moved to kneel down in their affemblies and publicly call on the name of the Lord, those in the harmony of united exercife, then prefent, joined in the prayer; I mention this in order that we, of the prefent age, may look unto the Rock from whence we were hewn; and remember that to unite in worship is a union in prayer, and that prayer, acceptable to the Father, is only in a mind truly fanctified, where the facred name is kept holy, and the heart refigned to do his will on earth as

it