cient evidence that "any that is called a brother" is such a character. Satan is "the accuser of our brethren."-Rev. 12:10. His children follow the same calling. A part, and often a chief part of the persecution to which the children of God are subject, is made up of false accusations. Job suffered in this way; first from Satan himself, and then from his own friends. Our Saviour was called-and that by the professed children of God, "a man gluttonous, and a wine bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners."-Matt. 11:19. The martyrs generally were not put to death for being saints; but for being law-breakers, obstinate and perverse. They were often accused of crimes against humanity. So we must not be too ready to believe all that is said against a brother. If we are candid and kindly-affectioned, free from prejudice and party spirit, we shall, in all matters where it is our duty to decide, have the right to claim the wisdom necessary to come to a right decision. Yet we must acknowledge that church trials are generally unsatisfactory. Often they settle nothing; and as a rule they do more hurt than good. They are frequently the means of doing great injustice. The decisions made are often manifestly wrong. The reason doubtless is, because generally, church trials are unnecessary. The methods which the Bible prescribes to restore the erring have not been honestly tried. Or the action is too hasty. The disciples did not prefer charges against one of their number because the master said “ one of you is a devil." They gave him time, and he hung himself. There were great defections among the primitive Christians. There were notable cases of those who fell into grievous sin in the Patriarchal and the Jewish Church. The Prophets and the Apostles were plain and unsparing in their rebukes; but I do not remember of a single account in the Bible, of what may be properly termed a church trial. I would not have the standard of Christian experience or practice lowered in the least in any church. On the other hand I would do all I can to bring it up to the requirements of the New Testament; but I have never seen the standard of piety elevated in any church or in any community by an ecclesiastical trial. Generally, a spirit of division comes infactions are formed, and it is rendered well-nigh impossible, for years, to have a revival. Such could not be the result if church trials are generally in the order of the Lord, and liable to be conducted in a proper manner. Too often they are instigated by envy, or ill-will, or disappointed ambition. In trying to turn one out, who is supposed to be unruly, a dozen or more may lose Christian love out of their hearts, and become harsh, censorious and backslidden. The same amount of effort put forth in brotherly love for the restoration of the accused, would, in all probability, have resulted in his recovery, and in a general quickening among the brethren. Preachers who have revivals are not very apt to encourage church trials. Those who make an effort to promote a revival, but fail through their own mismanagement, or their lack of a spirit of prayer or faith, or zeal, are tempted to lay the blame on others, and to think that nothing can be done till these are removed, who, as they suppose, are hindrances to the work. But getting them out of the church does not get them out of the way. The feeling that they are treated unjustly is very apt to embitter them and their friends against Christianity. Every effort for his salvation should be exhausted before an attempt is made to get one out of the church. A trial should never be resorted to unless the necessity for it is clear to every candid mind. Too often is it the funeral of a soul; and it should never occur until it is certain that the subject is dead beyond recovery. They have an expressive way of saying things in Kansas. A lay-delegate in representing a preacher said, "He has not much salvation to offer, so he goes it heavy on discipline." Every church should be made up of working, loving, humble, holy members-but it cannot be made such by trials and expulsions. An army frequently in battle is easily kept in |