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sectarianism. and zeal without knowledge, ay, and love too, we commenced the building of a church, about 5 miles, N. E. from this place, in a flourish.ng little village, called Mountjoy. This was an extreme part of the Maytown congregation; but as those members lived remote from this place, could not well attend service here; hence we determined to build a house for worship. It was commenced last summer and finished this spring. The house is built of brick, one story of 18 feet, and its dimensions 40 by 46. The inside is handsomely furnished, with convenient pews and a pulpit of modern form. The congregation consists of about 90 or 100 members, of whom about 60 are regular communicants. There is a visible change for the better in our church here-a goodly number are anxiously seeking the pearl of great price and a good many are truly devoted to the Saviour of sinners, whom they have found to be precious to their souls. These are also very desirous of seeing Jerusalem made a praise in the Earth and souls brought under the saving influence of the blessed Spirit. We have our hindrances too; for our spiritual children are sought after, by the various sectaries, who would persuade them that "ichabod," has been inscribed upon the walls of our Temple. But the God of our forefathers, I hope will never suffer the hands of those new sects, to desolate, what has thus far engaged his fostering care. It is true, dear brother in the patience of Christ, we have cause to weep over the slain daughters of our people-over the desolation of sin in our church, over the listless indifference of many who bear the name of the great Saxon Reformer; and though we are reproached with the fact, that many among us have only the form, but lack the power of godliness, yet those are not Lutherans-they are spurious ones, they scandalize by their walk, the worthy name they bear. Still the Lord has his people amongst us, though they have no religion to boast of or talk about, yet are they renewed in the spirit of their minds and evince it in a more substantial way than boastful profession, viz. by fruits, worthy of repentance, and faith which worketh by love. But I am digressing; to return, the church, at Mountjoy was dedicated to the service of the God of salvation, on the 16th of May last, and was called "Trinity Church." On that occasion, my Father and Brother B- assisted me in the service of dedication. There was present an immense concourse of people. The attention that was given to the discourses, proved that they were highly spiritual and edifying to the people.

Here I would merely add, that since the dedication, our new church has been well visited when open for service, and though there have frequently been meetings held quite near to us by various sects at the same hour, yet we always have a large number of hearers. I hope to see our church increasing in this place more and more.

Prince LEOPOLD has concluded, very wisely, we thirk, not to accept the Throne of Greece. May Providence yet cause Greece to establish and maintain a Rrepresentative Government!

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT GETTYSBURG.

Our brethren of the Lutheran church, and the pious of all Protestant denominations, will rejoice to learn, that this institution continues to receive evidences of God's favor and blessing. The number of students increases rapidly, and there is every prospect, that the Directors will soon obtain the sum requisite for a permanent fund, from which the second Professor is to be supported.

The Rev. Dr. Schmucker, well known as one of the most ardent friends of the Seminary being Agent of the Directors, obtained considerable subscriptions in Baltimore and Washington county Md. He spent a few days lately in Frederick, and among a few of the members of the Lutheran church, obtained a handsome subscription, something more than One Thousand Dollars. At the next meeting of the Directors, which will take place on the last Wednesday of this month, (September) the second Professor Rev. Dr. Hazelius will be installed. The Rev. Dr. F. D. Schaeffer of Philadelphia, Senior Rev. Minis. has been appointed, to perform the solemn exercises of installation. We have not yet understood, whether he can accept of the appointment, but the Directors do anticipate, much pleasure, in seeing and hearing this venerable Father in Christ, upon the occasion.-Editor.

CHURCH-DISCIPLINE.

No. 1.

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 peace and happiness of a family; or, as the administration of wise and salútary laws is important to the continuance and prosperity of a state; so, the faithful execution of church-laws in relation to offending members, is indispensable to the maintainance of purity and the promotion of piety in a congregation. 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 frequently find upon record instances of Kirchenbusze and, Vorstellungen 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 churchcouncil or 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 may fear. The beneficial effects resulting 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.

Anxious to bring this interesting subject fully and fairly before our readers, with a view to attract their attention to it, and prepare the way to a more rigid observance of it in our church, we propose in this article to show

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.

1st. The importance of congregational discipline.

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

The importance of this duty may be argued;

a From the distinctness and frequency with which it is inculcated in the sacred writings.

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 at once concede that the conscientious administration of discipline in a congregation is of high moment. Whether we refer to the Gospels or to the Epistles, we find the duty under consideration, insisted upon with a plainness and frequency that cannot fail to strike the attentive reader. It would be tedious to refer to all the various portions of Holy Writ in which we are commanded to admonish and endeavor to reclaim those whose walk is disorderly, and ultimately, if the employment of proper means for their recovery proves unsuccessful, to exclude them from our communion. Let a few therefore 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 to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he shall neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican." Matthew xvii, 15, 17.

Again Now I beseech you, brethren (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 of the Apostle's language in this passage) "now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw yourselves 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 Corinthians v, 1, 13.-Galatians v, 12.-Titus iii, 1.-Galatians vi, 1.— 2 Corinthians ii, 7.

These passages are so clear and unequivocal, so pointed and positive, that we deem comment unnecessary; the man, who after a serious and impartial perusal of them, can recognise in them no obligation on the part of the church to call offending members to an account, and, if they will not be saved from the error of their ways, to cut them off from the privileges of church-union, must be wilfully blind and designedly prejudiced.

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.

b. From the advantages arising from it.

ous.

The beneficial effects consequent upon the mild and decided execution of scriptural church-regulations, are numerous and obviIt would carry us far beyond the limits we have prescribed to ourselves, to exhibit them singly and in all their 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.

We say then, that the faithful discharge of this duty will reclaim backsliders. Many, who after attaching themselves to the church of God, go astray, forgetting their vows 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 insinuate themselves into church-communion, in despite of the vigilance of the church-officers, is a fact too well known to require proof. But it is difficult to sustain an assummed character and act a double part without detection, a watchful discipline will soon unmask those wolves in sheeps clothing, and driving them back to

their proper place, the church will be delivered from their pernicious example and deleterious influence. It will circulate a secret and salutary awe through the church. Disorderly and refractory members will no longer find fault, condemn, and fret and rave at every new occurrence in the congregation, that meets with their disapprobation; and then meanly threaten the faithful and suffering minister with a withdrawal from the congregation, and a stopping of the pitiful pittance he so richly earns by his laborious services. No, that recklessness of church membership, that over bearing defiance so often hurled into the face of the Council, that hightoned rebellion of ungodly members will disappear; and the secret apprehension that they may become subjects of discipline, be cut off from the most valuable privileges, and the mark of excision, the well merited stigma of excommunication, be stamped upon them, will check their clamorous and disgraceful operations, and reduce them to something like forbearance and submission. It will supply an additional incentive to watchfulness 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 ?-none at 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 yield and make way for watchfulness and prayer. It will break the slumbers of many a sleeping member. Ask the unregenerate Lutheran: "Is it thy hope to be saved ?”— and his unhesitating reply is: "Yes, it is my hope,"-continue the examination and inquire: "What are the constituents of a wellfounded hope ?" and here the language of Canaan will terminate, and instead of the reply: "True repentance and faith," ten to one if he do not say: "I am a Lutheran; I was baptized and confirm ed-I belong to Mr. -'s church and give my support to him. 'Thus the sheet anchor of all his eternal prospects is his being "a Lutheran," and if this delusive prop is not struck away, by some powerful blow, he will continue to lean upon it, until at last in the hour of death it breaks from under him and lets him drop into the grave-no into hell! Go ye ministers of God and officers of the church and tell him he is no Lutheran-burst the spell that holds him bound-tear away the film that blinds his vision-let him know that his being "a Lutheran," in the vague sense in which he uses that term, will only aggravate his guilt; if he will not believe you, record it in flaming letters 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 others like him, are not brought to reflection by such a process, why then, you have done your duty-but be assured, such a course

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