sufficient grounds; but that is their concern, not ours. I have known cases in which both the minister and his flock have refused even the civilities of ordinary intercourse to those who have left their church to associate with another. This is a most

pitiful and unchristian disposition.

There are duties to be performed by the church in its collective capacity towards other societies of the same denomination.

1. We should own them as churches of Christ, cherish the most friendly and fraternal feelings towards them, and hold Christian communion with them in all the duties of our common faith and practice.

Such appears to have been the feelings of the primary churches. "The churches of Christ salute you." Rom. xvi. 16. "The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you." 1 Pet. v. 13. "Ye are taught of God to love one another, and ye do it towards all the brethren in Macedonia.” 1 Thes. iv. 9, 10.

2. We should receive their members when recommended to us, and freely grant honourable recommendations of our members to them.

"I commend unto you Phebe our sister, a servant of the church at Cenchrea; receive her in the Lord as becometh saints, and assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you." Rom. xvi. 1. "They are the messengers of the churches; shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love." 2 Cor. viii. 23, 24.

3. We should co-operate with neighbouring churches for promoting the spread of the gospel, either by local or general institutions.

Many objects of vast importance to the spread of the gospe in the world can be accomplished by

the union of churches, which cannot be effected without it. Union is power. Places of worship may be opened, the faithful ministry of the word introduced, and churches planted in dark, benighted villages; while all the grand and noble institutions which are organized to save a perishing world, may by this means receive additional support. United fires brighten each other's blaze, and increase each other's intensity; and thus the association of churches enkindles each other's zeal, and provokes one another to love and good works. Nor is zeal the only Christian virtue promoted by such unions; brotherly love is cherished and excited. The presence of messengers from other churches at the annual meetings of our societies, produces a friendly feeling and brotherly interest, not unlike that which a family experiences, when gathered together at their Christmas party. One great end of assembling the males of the Jewish nation three times a year before the ark, was to keep up a brotherly feeling between the different and distant parts of the nation. Nothing is so likely to cherish the fire of love, as the fuel supplied by works of zeal.

4. We should be willing to give and receive adVICE in cases of difficulty and importance.

Of course, the independence of the churches, and the right of private judgment, should be vigilantly watched, and sacredly preserved. We have no dominion over each other's conduct, any more than over each other's faith. The idea of control is as repugnant to revelation as it is to reason. And we are to resist unto blood, striving against the usurpation of foreign compulsory interference. But advice does not imply control. The dread which has been felt of the simple act of one church's asking the advice of a neighbouring minister, or an association

of ministers, in cases of extreme difficulty, discovers a fear of domination, which is perfectly childish. How consonant with all the dictates of reason, and all the proceedings of civil life, is it, for two parties in a state of litigation, to ask the opinion of a third; or for one individual in difficulty, to solicit the advice of another. When a minister and his flock are in some critical situation, let them jointly agree to lay their affairs before some two or three neighbouring ministers and laymen of sound judgment, for counsel and direction; and how often, by this simple, rational, scriptural process, would a society be brought back from the brink of ruin to peace and safety! But what if they should not take the advice thus given? They must then be left to themselves, and would be but where they were before. The disposition which scorns to ask, and refuses to take advice, savours far more of the pride of independence, than the love of peace; and of the temper which courts interminable anarchy rather than be indebted for the restoration of order, to the opinions and persuasions of another. Men which stand out of the mist of passion, can see more than those enveloped in the fog.

5. We should take a deep interest in the welfare of other churches, and in a suitable and proper manner express our sympathy, and afford to them our assistance.

We should at our church meetings remember in prayer, the cases of such as are in circumstances of affliction; and in the event of the death of a pastor, how consoling would it be to a bereaved church, to receive letters of condolence from neighbouring societies! There is one way, in which the most effectual help may be rendered by one church to another: I mean, pecuniary assistance granted from

We are

such as are wealthy to those who are poor. informed, Acts xi. 29, 30, that the disciples at Antioch sent relief, according to their abilities, to the poor saints in Judea. "Concerning the collection for the saints, as I had given orders to the churches at Galatia: Even so do ye." 1 Cor. xvi. 1. I am aware, that this is sometimes done out of a fund, raised by the joint contributions of the churches in a county or district association; but how great would be the effect produced, if a church, in its individual capacity, were from year to year to send a donation to some poor community in its neighbourhood! What a lovely display of Christian feeling would this be! How would it endear the societies to each other! It would assist those to gain an efficient and settled minister, who, probably, but for such help, would only enjoy the precarious labours of occasional and incompetent preachers. The comfort of many faithful and laborious ministers would be thus promoted, and the kingdom of Jesus Christ enlarged.

Ye rich churches in our large cities, and in the country, who, without effort, can raise for your own pastors ample salaries, I appeal to your liberality, on behalf of those many churches scattered up and down the land, which are withering for the want of a little of that wealth, which you could spare, without lessening the comfort, either of your minister, or your families. I would not rob the funds of Missionary, or Bible Societies, to replenish the little store of gospel ministers at home; but I will say, that no foreign objects should be allowed to interfere with the claims of those deserving and holy men, who are labouring for souls amidst all the ills of poverty, and all the cares and woes which such ills must necessarily entail.

Where is the favoured individual, into wnose lap the bounty of Heaven has poured the abundance of riches, and into whose heart divine grace has introduced the mercy that is full of good fruits? here let him find an object worthy of his wealth and of his zeal. Let him become the nursing father of our poor churches. If he spend two thousand a year in this way, he may give forty pounds a year to fifty ministers. What a means of usefulness! How many infant churches would smile upon him from their cradle; and, as they turned upon him their eyes glistening with gratitude, would exclaim, My Father, my father!" In how many church-books would his name be enrolled, amidst the benedictions and prayers of the saints!

CHAPTER VIII.

THE DUTIES OF CHURCH MEMBERS IN THEIR PECULIAR CHARACTER AND STATION.

1. THE pastor's wife.

A station so honourable, so important, so responsible, must necessarily be attended with duties numerous, difficult, and of great consequence. As a wife, she should be a bright pattern of all that ten'der affection, that unsuspicious confidence, that cheerful obedience, that undivided devotedness to her husband's comfort, which such a relationship implies; a lovely, spotless exhibition of connubial vir