having selected that particular community with which he is associated, as his religious home, he is under a solemn obligation to promote by every proper effort its real interest. He is to be indifferent to nothing which at any time affects its prosperity. Some members from the moment they have joined a Christian church, take no concern in any of its affairs. They scarcely ever attend a church meeting; they know neither who are excluded, nor who are received. If members are added, they express no delight; if none are admitted, they feel no grief. They fill up their places at the table, and in the house of God, and beyond this, seem to have nothing else to do with the church. This is a most criminal apathy: a Christian ought to be as tremblingly alive to the welfare of the religious society to which he is united, as he is to the success of his worldly affairs.

2. They are bound to attend all the meetings of the church, at least so far as their circumstances will allow. They had better be absent from sermons and prayer-meetings than from these. How can they know the state of the society, if they are not present when its affairs are exhibited and arranged? or how can they exercise that proper confidence in the piety of the brethren, which is essential to fellowship, if they are absent at the time of their admission?

3. They should most conscientiously devote their gifts, graces, and abilities to the service of the church, in an orderly and modest way; neither obtruding their assistance when it is not required, nor withholding it when it is solicited. Those who have gifts of prayer

should not be backward to exercise them for the edification of their brethren. Those who have penetration and sound judgment, should render their counsel and advice upon every occasion. Persons of large and respectable worldly connexions, may often use their influence with great benefit to the temporal affairs of the society.

And there is one line of charitable exertion, which would be peculiarly beneficial, and which has been too much neglected in all our societies; I mean the practice of respectable members reading the Scriptures, religious tracts, and sermons, in the habitations of the poor. I am aware that this is an age when many run to and fro, and when lay preaching is carried to a very improper and mischievous extent. Some who have no other qualification for preaching than boldness and ignorance, are every Sabbath employed, of whom it might be said, that it is a pity they have not the gift of silence. Unfortunately, those who are most qualified, are frequently least disposed; while the least qualified, are the most zealous. But how many wise, judicious, holy men, are there in our churches, who would be most honourably and most usefully employed, in reading the words of life, and short evangelical sermons, in the cottages of the poor. Let a convenient house be selected, and the neighbours invited to attend; and who can tell what vast benefit would accrue from such a scheme? By the blessing of God upon these efforts, reformation would be wrought in the lower classes; religion would gain an entrance where it could be introduced by no other means;

and our churches be replenished with holy, consistent members. Persons of respectable circumstances in life, especially, should thus employ themselves, as their situation gives them greater influence. Females may be thus engaged, without transgressing either against the injunction of the apostle, or the modesty which is so becoming their sex. I am astonished that means of usefulness so simple, so easy, and so efficient, are not more generally employed.

4. It is due to the authority of the church, that every member should cordially submit to its discipline. Without this, order would be destroyed, and the reign of anarchy introduced. This, indeed, as we have already considered, is essentially implied in the very act of joining the church; and no one ought to think of such an act of union, who is not determined to submit to its rules and its decisions.

I 2

CHAPTER VII.

THE DUTIES OF CHURCH MEMBERS TO THE MEMBERS OF OTHER CHRISTIAN SOCIETIES.

FIRST. In those cases where the churches are of a different denomination.

1. We should not deride their religious opinions and practices.

They act conscientiously; and whatever is done at the dictate of conscience, is too sacred to be made the matter of ridicule. The way to bring the scorn of ungodly men upon all religion, is for religious people, differing upon minor points, to jest with each other's practices.

2. Let us avoid religious bigotry and prejudice.

By bigotry, 1 mean such an overweening attachment to our opinions and denomination, as alienates our af fections from Christians of other name, and leads us to conclude there is little excellence or piety, except in our own communion. Some Christians are so shortsighted by prejudice, that they cannot discern the most splendid exhibitions of moral excellence, if they

are at the least removed from their own denomination. The consideration, that a man is not of their party, is sufficient in their evil eye, to dim the lustre of an example which angels admire, and to eclipse that living luminary, which, to the eye of Heaven, shines with most radiant glory. Their moral vision has so long and so intently pored over the minute distinctions of party, as to have acquired a contraction of power, which prevents them from comprehending and admiring as they would otherwise do, the grander features of religion in general.

I know not a proof of true piety more decisive, and more pleasing, than that quick perception, and fervent admiration of the beauties of holiness, which lead a man to recognise and love them, wherever they are seen, whether in his own denomination or in others. "The evil to be deplored in the present state of the church, is the unnatural distance at which Christians stand from each other, the spirit of sects, the disposition to found their union on the wood, hay, and stubble of human inventions or disputable tenets, instead of the eternal rock, the faith once delivered to the saints. Surely, surely, we shall find a sufficient bond of union, a sufficient scope for all our sympathies in the doctrine of the cross.'

SECONDLY. I shall now speak of the conduct of Christians to the members of other churches of their own denomination.

It does not unfrequently happen, that where two or more churches of the same denomination exist in a

* Robert Hall.