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Tribute of respect to departed worth.

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All the means

Yes, blessed spirit, thy life, thy ||sage to the tomb. death, thy trust in God, thy faith that medical skill could devise, were and confidence in thy Saviour; all faithfully applied. Fervent suppliwas well. Thy immortal spirit as-cations from many hearts, ascended cended amid the prayers of thy in her behalf to the throne of mercy. friends, and on the wings of angels to thy heavenly home, where thou art free from all the trials and afflictions of this mortal life!

The songs of Zion were sung by her pious friends, in her presence, and by her request, to cheer her passage through the valley of the Shadow of To behold a fellow creature, to Death-and often did she express to whom we are bound by the ties of surrounding friends, the comfort and friendship, languishing upon a bed satisfaction which she derived from of death, causes many melancholy their kind attention. And when life reflections. But the painful emo- was extinct, every mark of public tions with which we witness the de- and private respect was paid to her parture of our friends, were greatly memory. The tear of affection flowrelieved by the happy death of oured from the cheeks of a numerous departed sister. Though she was and deeply afflicted congregation.— surrounded by a number of endear-The solemn notes of the death bell ed relatives and friends, who were weeping around her bed, yet she uttered no groan, nor even shed a tear, but calmly resigned her soul into the hands of her Maker. The writer of this notice saw her expire. Solemn, indeed, was the scene of separation between husband and wife-mother and children-soul and body: but it was a glorious scene. Like the rays

of the sun, which appear luminous and bright after setting beneath a cloudless sky, so after life had departed, a calm and sweet serenity beamed from her countenance-a triumphant glow shed a lustre on her brow-the graces of that spirit which had winged its flight to a more congenial abode, still seemed to linger around her mortal remains.

During her sickness, every thing was done that could be done, to raise and restore her to her family and the society of her friends-and when all was unavailing, the same kind offices were performed to smooth her pas

sounded through the vale-lingered among the mountains, and died away in the distant horizon, announcing her departure to the eternal world. Her pew was hung in mourning, as a token of regard to her memory. On the day of her funeral, an immense concourse of people assembled, to follow her remains to the sepulchre, The discourses, delivered on the day of her funeral, and on the succeeding Lord's day, in the different churches in the neighborhood, in reference to her death, produced deep and lasting impressions on the hearts of many hearers. She has departed from among us, but will not be soon forgotten. The recollection of her many virtues, will be cherished in the hearts of her friends, long after her body shall have mingled with its native dust. She lived much beloved; and died universally lamented. A large community have mingled their sorrows and their tears with her deeply afflicted and bereav

ed family. She hath died the death||may fear. The beneficial effects re

of the righteous, and her memory is NOEL.

blessed.'

Selected.

From the Evangelical Luth. Intelligencer.

CHURCH DISCIPLINE.-No. I.

sulting from this species of their ministerial fidelity were prominently visible in the success of their labors and the prosperity of their churches.

But of late years many of our clergy and church officers have in a great measure, neglected this important part of their official duty, and the consequences are such, that, we have abundant cause to mourn over

the inefficiency of our well-intended exertions, and to weep on account of the numerous evils that are desolating our Zion.

1st. The importance of congregational discipline.

2d. What offences require its exercise.

3d. Who the persons are by whom it should be administered.

4th. In what manner it should be carried into effect.

The judicious exercise of scriptural discipline in a christian congregation, is of the utmost moment.As the observance of prudent and wholesome domestic regulations, is necessary to the and happiness peace of a family; or as the administration of wise and salutary laws is im- Anxious to bring this interesting portant to the continuance and pros-subject fully and fairly before our perity of a state; so the faithful ex-readers, with a view to attract their ecution of church laws in relation to attention to it, and prepare the way offending members, is indispensable to a more rigid observance of it in to the maintainance of purity and our church, we propose in this artithe promotion of piety in a congre-cle to show, gation. It appears to us to be absolutely impossible for a religious association to flourish any length of time, in an eminent degree, without the enforcement of a discipline, at once mild and decisive, and based upon the principles and precepts of the gospel. Our forefathers in the Lutheran ministry, seem to have been deeply impressed with the truth of this remark, and hence, upon their arrival in this country, they invariably introduced into their churches, what, in their own nervous language was termed, eine Kirchenzucht, and if we will give ourselves the trouble of resorting to the ecclesiastical archives of those days, we shall fre- a From the distinctness and frequenquently find upon record instances|cy with which it is inculcated in the saof Kirchenbusze, and Vorstellungen cred writings. fehlender Glieder vor der ganzen Gemeine: by which is implied, "Confession and repentance of guilt and restoration to church-communion," and "a public admonition of a brother who had erred, in the presence of the officers of the church council or the members of the congregation," agreeably to the direction of Paul to Timothy, 1 Tim. v. 20, Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also

1st. The importance of congregational discipline.

Congregational discipline consists in the right execution of church laws, and the infliction of the penalties enjoined; or, it means the proper treatment of offending members.

The importance of this duty may be argued:

If the opinion advanced by some writers be correct, that the degree of importance that should be attached to any christian obligation may be determined by the comparative clearness and repetition with which that obligation is laid down in God's word, then we must concede that the conscientious administration of discipline in a congregation is of high moment. Whether we refer

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If we turn our attention to the course of procedure observed by the Apostles toward unruly and unworthy members, we shall discover that they themselves practised the above rules. Witness the cases of Hymeneus, Alexander, Philetus, Simon Magus, and others.

The importance of discipline is yet farther manifest.

it.

b From the advantages arising from

to the gospels or to the epistles, we||the man who, after a serious and imfind the duty under consideration, in- partial perusal of them, can recogsisted upon with a plainness and fre- nize in them no obligations on the quency that cannot fail to strike the part of the church to call offending attentive reader. It would be te- members to an account, and, if they dious to refer to all the various por-will not be saved from the error of tions of Holy Writ in which we are their ways, to cut them off from the commanded to admonish & endeavor privileges of church union, must be to reclaim those whose walk is disor-wilfully blind and designedly prejuderly, & ultimately if the employment diced. of proper means for their recovery proves unsuccessful, to exclude them from our communion. Let a few, suffice: Moreover, (says our Lord,) if thy brother shall tresspass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect The beneficial effects consequent to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he shall neglect to hear the upon the mild and decided execution of scriptural church regulachurch, let him be unto thee as a tions, are numerous and obvious. It heathen man and a publican." Matwould carry us far beyond the limits thew xvii, 15, 17. we have prescribed to ourselves, to Again "Now I beseech you, bre-exhibit them singly and in all their thren, (says St. Paul,) mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them.". Rom. xvi, 17. Once more- "Now we command you," (mark the force We say then, that the faithful disof the Apostle's language in this charge of this duty, will reclaim passage,) now we command you, backsliders. Many, who after atbrethren, in the name of our Lord taching themselves to the church of Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw your-God, go astray, forgetting their vows, selves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed." 2 Thessalonians iii, 6 and 14-vide yet farther, 1 Corin

bearings. We can do little more than glance at them, and shall leave our readers to carry them out into detail, by their own future reflections.

and returning to the love of the world and its beggarly elements, will be arrested in their relapsed career, be brought to a sense of their guilt and danger, and led back to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. It will detect hypocrites. That persons of this character do frequently thians v. 1, 13-Galatians v, 12-insinuate themselves into churchTitus iii, 1-Galatians vi, 1-2 Cor-communion, in despite of the vigiinthians ii, 7.

These passages are so clear and unequivocal, so pointed and positive, that we deem comment unnecessary;

lance of the church officers, is a fact too well known to require proof.-— But is difficult to sustain an assumed character, and act a double part with

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out detection; a watchful discipline||yield and make way for watchfulness will soon unmask those wolves in and prayer. It will break the slumsheep's clothing, and driving them bers of many a sleeping member. Ask back to their proper place, the church the unregenerate Lutheran, "Is it will be delivered from their perni- thy hope to be saved?" and his uncious example and deleterious influ- hesitating reply is, "Yes, it is my ence. It will circulate a secret and hope." Continue the examination, salutary awe through the church. Dis- and inquire, "What are the constit orderly and refractory members will uents of a well-founded hope ?” and no longer find fault, condemn, and here the language of Canaan will fret and rave at every new occurrence terminate, and instead of the reply, in the congregation, that meets with "True repentance and faith," ten to their disapprobation; and then mean- one if he do not say, "I am a Luly threaten the faithful and suffering theran-I was baptized and confirmminister with a withdrawel from the ed-I belong to Mr. →'s church, congregation, and a stopping of the and give my support to him." pitiful pittance he so richly earns by the sheet anchor of all his eternal his laborious services. No, that reck-prospects is his being "a Lutheran," lessness of church-membership, that and if this delusive prop is not struck over-bearing defiance so often hurled away, by some powerful blow, he into the face of the Council, that high- will continue to lean upon it, until toned rebellion of ungodly members at last in the hour of death it breaks will disappear; and the secret ap- from under him and lets him drop prehension that they may become into the grave-no into hell! Go ye subjects of discipline, be cut off from ministers of God and officers of the the most valuable privileges, and the church,and tell him he is no Lutheran; mark of excision, the well-merited burst the spell that holds him bound stigma of excommunication, be stamp--tear away the film that blinds his ed upon them, will check their clam- vision-let him know that his being orous and disgraceful operations, and "a Lutheran," in the vague sense reduce them to something like for- in which he uses that term, will only bearance and submission. It will sup- aggravate his guilt;-if he will not ply an additional incentive to watch-||believe you, record it in flaming letfulness and prayer. That professors of religion generally watch and pray too little, need not be insisted on. But what motive does a congregation at large, that neglects discipline, hold out to correct this remissness?-noneers like him, are not brought to reat all. Professors indeed behold proofs enough of human frailty, and the most affecting evidences of a want of watchfulness and prayer, in their backsliding fellow members, but they witness no painful consequences resulting from an exposure of the same on the part of the church. Let the proper persons, in a spirit of love, rebuke an erring brother, whenever there is occasion for it, and if he will not "mend his ways," proceed to further measures, and depend upon it, thoughtlessness and security will

ters in the "Church-Book ;" read it from the pulpit, and declare in the sight of God and the Church, that he is "no Lutheran,”—and if he is not alarmed and awakened, and oth

flection by such a process, why then you have done your duty-but be as-sured, such a course of proceedure will break the deep slumbers of many a sleeping sinner! Thus we might proceed to show, how the exercise of discipline will preserve the purity of the church-be a public testimony, borne by it, against all unrighteousness, &c. &c. &c. But the advantages already adverted to, are abundantly sufficient for our purpose. Once, more, the importance of discipline is evident.

lect.

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c From the evils attending its neg-did not issue from it so great a multitude of evils and distempers to afNext to an ungodly minister, we flict the human race, as are let loose regard a lax discipline or the entire upon a congregation, when scriptural absence of all discipline, as the most discipline ceases to be exercised.-awful curse that can be inflicted on It was this sin, (says a modern wria christian congregation. It has been ter,) which the apostle describes in well said by a distinguished living those awful words, "If any man deauthor: The church that neglects file the temple of God, him shall God this duty, resembles a state in which destroy." 1 Cor. iii, 17. The church the administration of justice is omit- is that temple, and to defile it, is to ted, and crime is permitted to be per- introduce improper members to its petrated with impunity." That part communion, or to tolerate them in of the design of church union, which the practice of sin. A single unconsists in mutual watchfulness, is punished transgressor troubled the lost. Members may go astray, add- whole camp of Israel, and brought ing offence to offence, and heaping calamity upon a nation, nor could the vice upon vice, and there is none, in favor of God rest on the people, till a christian and fraternal tone to lift Achan was discovered and destroyup the voice of warning. Young ed; vide Josh. vii, 11, 12. Nothchristians just introduced into com- ing can be conceived of, more likely munion by confirmation, may grow to grieve the holy spirit, or to induce languid and careless, and instead of him to withdraw his gracious influreceiving timely admonition, and be- ence from a church, than a neglect ing tenderly led back to the people of scriptural discipline. And here of God, the unpardonable derilection we would pause, and beg our beloof duty on the part of the Church, ved brethren in Christ, to inquire encourages them in their treachery whether our remissness in attending and hastens their ultimate and ag- to this duty, is not our principal gravated ruin. Hypocrites are coun- cause of the various evils peculiar to tenanced in their self-delusion, and our Lutheran Zion. That there are supported in the imposition they prac- such evils, may be gathered from the tise upon community. Heretics and remarks already made, and indeed is schismatics are patronized--profli- too palpable to be disputed. There gates are urged onward-gainsayers manifestly is a want of attachment to and opponents to the truth and God's the church and her ministers, among ministers, become more overbearing us-a disregard of church privileges, and despotic, the word preached is an unwillingness to engage in and thrown away upon captious and re-promote benevolent societies and rebellious hearers-scoffers and infi-ligious institutions; a neglect of pubdels are encouraged, the weak stag-lic worship and the holy sacraments; gered in their faith-religion com- a miserly withholding from the church promised the church corrupted- and her laborers, that small stipend the ruin of immortal souls abetted-- to which they are so justly entitled; sinners of all descriptions hardened a proneness to take offence at and -ministers distressed, slandered and traduce the minister, and indeed in persecuted till their hearts are ready some instances, our members rule to rend with anguish, and the church and lord it over us with a more desbecomes more like a collection of potic spirit than ever characterized transgressors, than an association of the most arbitrary acts of Napoleon. pious followers of Jesus Christ.-These and numerous other disorders We may well say, that when Epi- are more frequently the bane of metheus opened Pandora's box, there our congregations than of some other

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