Let not pride hinder you, for fear your account should not be equal to that of some other believers. Be humble and upright in your views, and fear not. And do not mistake, or forget the design of such a practice. It is to satisfy the church of your sentiments and character. And not to regard these things, would violate Christ's command, and put an end to all church fellowship. If you regard the character of a servant, before you hire him or her, for fear you should hire one who is slothful, idle, dishonest, or a liar ; surely, the church of God is of more importance than a single family. God's people are called saints, believers, disciples of Christ, followers of Christ, children of light, sheep, new creatures, religious soldiers, fellow-citizens, the family of God. And it must be necessary to examine all who join a Christian society, lest unbelievers be planted in the church. Tares will be sown by the enemy of souls, after all the care a church can take; but that is no reason why they should themselves sow tares among wheat. The church and the world are different societies. The saints must " come out from among them and be separate." "What part hath he that believeth with an infidel!" Therefore," be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers," is the divine command to the church.Now to satisfy the church, about the views and character of any one who wishes to join the society, is the end of hearing what is called their experience. Not the satisfaction of ministers and deacons merely, but all the members have an equal right to know, who is going to be admitted, and an equal right to speak for, or object to the proposed member, on his own knowledge.

But perhaps the fear of a church censure is the reason you refrain from the Lord's supper. What can this fear arise from? I suspect, from an indulgence of some sin. Why afraid of rebuke from the church, if you are not conscious of any thing wilfully wrong in your conduct? You fear restraint perhaps : you think you dare not indulge yourself in many little liberties, which you now enjoy, if you joined a Christian society. But you cannot think, that the Church of Christ can bind you, where the word of Christ does not. The will of Christ should be their rule, and your's too. And I am sure you cannot consistently claim the character of a Christian, if you wish for any liberty to sin. Besides, could you desire to join a company of Christians, who would allow any member to sin openly, without an open rebuke; or privately, without a private rebuke? Impossible; for then a member might injure your character or property, and the church must approve of his conduct, if while knowing it, no censure was passed upon it. If many eyes are upon you, and keep up a watchful spirit, this must be a blessing to you. “Bless that chain, which binds you to God and your duty." The liberty of a Christian is holy liberty, being bounded by the commands of God. "I will walk at liberty; for I seek thy precepts." Doing God's will in faith, is freedom: but every deviation from it, is a degree of slavery.

Perhaps you ease your conscience, in the neglect of this duty, by forming a purpose to attend to it, at some future day. And can you really satisfy yourself in deferring a plain duty? What, be happy in dispensing with a positive command of God? If so, you can lay no claim to a tender conscience, and an upright heart.— You cannot say "your rejoicing is this, the testimony of your conscience, that in all simplicity, and godly sincerity, you have your conversation in the world." No, your conscience cannot bear any such witness, nor afford you any such joy.

Have you fixed the time, when you intend to regard your duty? Perhaps not, for fear it should not prove agreeable to you even then. If you have, and can allow yourself time to flee from your duty, do not wonder if God should allow himself time to punish you for it. Besides, your conduct is highly presumptuous. Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a DAY may bring forth." Before that time arrives, God may throw you upon a bed of languishing, and never allow you the privilege of attending his house again. Make HASTE, and DELAY not to keep his commandments."

No. CLXIX.-GRACE WITHOUT OBEDIENCE.

It is the

THE doctrine of grace, cannot be too freely preached. only source of a sinner's hope, or of glad tidings to lost men; but it may prove the savour of death unto death," to many, through an awful abuse of it. It is one of the sharpest instruments Satan uses, against the souls of men. He succeeds here, the better, because unsuspected. They think, surely, I cannot be wrong, whilst grace, free, rich, sovereign grace, is my theme, my hope and my song!To hear a man declare, that Christ is his only hope as a poor lost sinner; that he has no good works to plead, is very pleasing; but when you observe this person negligent in his duty, carnal in his conversation, or indulgent to some sin; how perilous his condition! He many speculate upon doctrines, with rapture; but his speculations are carnal, and his rapture delusive, whilst allowed guile or deceit is in his spirit. "He hears the word, and anon with joy receives it," but his joy is selfish, sudden, transient, carnal and barren.

The ministry of the spirit, is essentially necessary to the profitable enjoyment of the work of Christ. But this is overlooked by many, whose whole concern terminates in God's ancient purposes, without considering that God "predestinated his people, to be conformed to the IMAGE of his Son.". They so consider what God has done, as to neglect what God is now doing. They talk much of what Christ has suffered, and forget the ends of his sufferings.He gave himself for our sins, that he might redeem us from ALL

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INIQUITY." They glory in the obedience of Christ, and neglect obedience to him themselves. They wish for redemption from misery, not from sin. They aim at happiness, through free, rich, sovereign grace; but neglect holiness as the effect of that grace.— They rejoice in the doctrine of grace, without advancing the doctrine in their temper and conduct. All exhortations to duty, they consider as legal, and assure you, that such exhortations are not necessary. They insist upon it, that if the grace of God is in the heart, that will secure all the rest, without enforcing duty. But are they wiser than the prophets, the apostles, and Christ, who used more exhortations than any thing else, upon those who had the grace of God in their hearts? Are they wiser than God, who inspired them? If God thought them necessary; we ought to think them so; and rather follow the Scriptures, than those, who pay themselves the compliment to suppose they have the grace of God, and that they need no recommendations of duty. But is not this their pride?To think themselves so ready to their duty, as not to need the commands God has given them? Look at the great talkers about the grace of God, and you will find them mere talkers. They are for nothing but comfort in hearing sermons. Every thing which mortifies pride, shakes their false joy, detects their darling sin, points out their neglected duty, they deem legal, because practical; and needless, because troublesome. If they follow the fashions, and imbibe the spirit of the world, still the preacher must say nothing but grace! grace! and they will cry peace! peace! Examine FACTS, stubborn FACTS.

These very persons are covetous, over-reaching in the market and in the shop. Unjust, in the quality, or quantity of what they sell. Their distrust of God and his providence, leads them to form alliances with ungodly men to get money. They can find time to sit with drunkards for hours; are more punctual to meet at the public-house, than at the house of God. They drink to excess, and let their creditors go unpaid. Their visits are carnal ; their friendship selfish, and improved for self-interest, under the mask of being lovers of the doctrines of grace. If you want evidences of their conversion, you must not look at their temper, which is often sour, envious, carping, proud and deceitful-nor to their conduct, which is formal, artful, unholy but to their tongue! They say they make Christ all in all. And if this will not satisfy you, hear their cavils against ministers, fellow Christians, or the world. They can backbite, misrepresent, gossip away time in mere idle chitchat; and after all sing-Grace! Grace! These are they, who receive the grace of God, that is, the doctrine of grace, in VAIN!

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Many Christians object to exhortations, as unnecessary; because the grace of God in the heart, will constrain every one who has it, to obedience. Now if this is true, nine parts out of ten, of the old and new Testament, are useless. But who is willing to expose

themselves to the curse denounced against those who "take from the words of God's Book." Thus they render the word of God **of none effect." What pride! to declare, that though "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable," yet many who are esteemed Christians, declare the commands, exhortations, counsels and cautions contained in the Bible, are unnecessary. And let ministers tremble, lest, through the fear of man, they should "withbold what is profitable" from their hearers. This "fear of man bringeth a SNARE; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be SAFE."

In some, this conduct proceeds from ignorance or inconsideration. They do not discern, or consider the nature of man, the deceitfulness of the heart, nor the nature and tendency of the preceptive parts of Scripture. They suppose them unsuitable to those who have grace in their hearts, because they have grace.— Whereas, this is the very thing which renders the exhortations suitable. If the apostle spoke, or wrote to, or concerning those who had not the grace of God, then he showed the necessity of the condition and disposition being changed; instead of using mere exhortations to the various duties of Christians. He shows the sinfulness of their hearts and lives, and exhorts them to repent. -He proves their guilt, desert, condemnation and misery, and exhorts them to believe in the fulness, freeness, and suitableness of Christ's salvation. He knew that the acts of a new creature, could not proceed from one, not "born of God." Their state must be good, before their actions could be so: and their hearts changed, before they could exercise spiritual dispositions. He knew the tree must be good, or the fruit would be bad. But if he addresses men who "had tasted that the Lord was gracious," he exhorts them, "to lay aside all malice, all guile and hypocrisies, and envies, and evil speakings." "He beseeches them as strangers and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." To them who were the elect unto sanctification of the spirit, unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, who were begotten again to a lively hope, who loved an unseen Saviour; to them, who surely had the grace of God in their hearts, he says "gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end. Be ye holy in all manner of conversation-pass the time of your sojourning here in fear-love one another with a pure heart fervently-have your conversation honest." Believing husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants, kings and subjects, ministers and people, he instructs-reproves-rebukes-corrects and rightly "divides the word of truth." But if those who say practical preaching is unnecessary, when a person has the grace of God in his heart, are right, all the apostles are wrong! all the prophets are wrong! Christ is wrong! God who inspired-all are wrong!-Perhaps such persons would pretend to shudder at such language: but it is their

It is their sentiment properly expressed. And if they do not shudder at themselves, who are guilty of such a conduct, it is because "their hearts are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

I know there are many preachers who hold forth nothing but doctrines. Some, to please their good subscribers, sell the truths of God, and the souls of men for money. And although their preaching is thought evangelical, they do not evangelize men, but carnalize them. They do not "the work of an evangelist-but of a deceiver," preaching for "filthy lucre !" or perhaps they are afraid of the name of Legalist, Arminian, Moralists, or lest some fashionable lady, or cavilling gentleman, should say "I hate so much of-DO, DO.' If a minister is exposed to such persecution of the tongue, he must endure it, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He must take up his cross and follow Christ," through evil and good report." He must not be "ashamed of Christ's WORDS," however unpalatable they may be to lukewarm christians; and whatever hard names of Arminian and Legalist, and such like, the tongues of Antinomians, under the name of Calvinists may use. "Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received of the Lord, and fulfil it," and do not shun to declare all the counsel of God; and be not a man-pleaser, for if you yet seek to please men, you are not "the servants of Christ." "Let not men be your masters, nor custom your rule." "One is your master, even Christ;" beware of breaking one of his least commands and teaching men so; lest thou be found the least in his visible kingdom.

But it is easily observable that some sin loved and adhered to, is the cause of preferring doctrine to precept. How often it happens, that the person who is an enemy to a close, searching ministry, is disposed to follow some forbidden fashion, to comply with some worldling for interest, or for carnal pleasure. And if some favorite lust pleads successfully, it will persecute the minister who opposes it, as Herodias did John the Baptist.

But the minister of God must not be intimidated by their cold looks, obscure hints, or their attempts secretly to hinder the good effects of his ministry. No! if he preaches smooth doctrine instead of faithful rebuke, God will confound him, and require their souls at his hands. Such pretended lovers of the doctrines of grace, are very great enemies to self-righteousness, but not half so zealous against all unrighteousness. And they are more ready to censure a man as self-righteous, who is humble, self-denying, holy, diligent, spiritual and zealous, than to censure the backbiter, the wordlyminded, the proud, the censorious, the vain, the over-reaching and over-bearing -for their unrighteousness. If a man has a tender conscience, is watchful, active and punctual in the means of grace, aims at a growth in knowledge and grace, they call him a good man; but a weak one. He is too scrupulous and legal, in their estimation. They pity him for giving deligence to make his calling and election sure.