remembered in his holiest moments before God. Nor can any of these individuals say to which they are most indebted, to his labours in the pulpit, or to his supplications in the closet; for if "the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much,” we certainly may believe that the entreaty of the righteous minister is not less availing.

IV. The watchfulness, sympathy and prayers of the church, are no inconsiderable privilege of mem-bership.

In what way these duties should be performed, will be matter of consideration hereafter; and therefore we shall not enter minutely into the subject now, any farther than to show how great a mercy it is to enjoy an interest in the affection and the intercession of a Christian society. We are commanded to exhort one another daily; and amidst such temptations, such weakness, such corruptions as ours, is it not an unspeakable mercy to be surrounded by those who will watch over and assist us? With every help, how hard a thing is it to be a consistent Christian! how difficult to maintain the purity and vigour of true godliness! how often do our steps slip, and our exertions relax! and sometimes, through the deceitfulness of the human heart, others may perceive our danger before we ourselves are aware of its existence. It may often be said of us, as it was of Israel of old, "Strangers have devoured his strength, yet he knoweth it not; grey hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth it not." In such cases, none can estimate the value of those Christian friends, who with faithful love will remind us of our danger, and affectionately admonish us. How inestimable the privilege of having those who will tenderly reprove us, and draw us back with the cords of a man and the bands

of love. In the case of our soul's salvation, more than worlds are at stake; and he who will give himself the trouble to admonish us and exhort us to diligence, performs a service of infinite value, for which, if we improve by it, we shall offer him our gratitude in eternity.

And then think of the value of Christian sympathy. How consolatory it is in our troubles to recollect, that there are those who are thinking of our situation and pitying our distress! Even when they visit us not, they are probably talking to each other about us. We have their affectionate remembrance, their tenderest interest.

Nor are their prayers withheld when they meet in the temple, or when they retire to the closet. When they join with one accord in supplication, and when they pray to their Father in secret, they mention their suffering brother or sister, to Him who loveth the church. Ah! how often has the troubled believer felt it lighten his load, and irradiate his gloom, as he groaned away the hour when the church was assembled, to believe that they were thinking of him, and blessing him with their prayers! It has been as if an angel were despatched to inform him that supplication was being made for him, and that therefore he ought to dry up his tears. Yes, and the sweet remembrance has in some cases made the tears forget to fall, and the half uttered groan to die away with silent submis. sion. He has laid down upon his restless couch again, and it seemed as if it had been smoothed afresh for him by some viewless agent; and so it has, for God has heard the prayers of the church on his behalf, and has made "all his bed in his sickness."*

* It has been said that the last two particulars are not the privileges of members exclusively, nor of them as members of a

THE GENERAL

CHAPTER IV.

DUTIES OF CHURCH MEMBERS IN

THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY.

I. THEY should seek to acquire clear and enlarged views of divine truth.

It is a fact which cannot be questioned, that a very large proportion of those whom we believe to be real Christians are mere babes in knowledge. They have just enough instruction to know that they are sinners, and that salvation is all of grace through Christ Jesus. But ask them to state, prove,

particular church, but as Christians in general. It is unquestionable, however, that church members have a prior and a stronger claim upon their pastors and each other, for these expressions of sympathy, than any others have; and it has been admitted, even by those who object to the author's statement, "that churches were originally formed only to secure and promote the social objects of their union-i. e. to bring Christians, as Christians, more closely together, to make them known to each other in that character, and to bind them by positive engagements to neighbourly offices and brotherly kindness;" if this be correct, as it unquestionably is, then certainly church members, as such, have peculiar claims upon their pastors and each other for neighbourly offices and brotherly kindness; and who will doubt if this be a privilege? One great end of membership, is to found a peculiar claim for these manifestations not merely of Christian, but of brotherly love. If there be no peculiarity of claim above what we have upon each other as Christians, why are we formed into separate churches?

It appears to me, then, that in addition to the obligation which rests upon me to pray for and watch over my members as Christians, I am bound to take a special interest in their spiritual affairs as members of the church under my care. They stand in a relation totally different from that of persons not in communion, and are entitled far beyond the latter to my sympathy, prayer, and vigilance.

and defend, in a scriptural manner, any one of the leading doctrines of the gospel, and you would immediately discover, how contracted is their view, and how feeble is their perception of divine truth. Instead of walking amidst the splendid light and varied scenery of revelation, with the confidence and joy of men whose vision is clear and strong, they are groping along with the fear and hesitation of those who are partially blind. This, in most cases, is their fault, and not their misfortune merely. We are commanded to grow in knowledge; and the apostle in the following very severe language, reproved the believing Hebrews for their ignorance. "When for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God." After this he exhorts them to leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and go on to perfection. How earnestly, in other parts of his writings, did he supplicate for the churches, an increase of their religious knowledge! Eph. i. 17, 18. Colos. i. 9. It is very common for ministers to complain that they are almost afraid to ascend to the loftier parts of revealed truth, lest a great portion of their hearers, instead of eagerly following them, should reproach them with ascending to barren and almost inaccessible summits.

The causes of this deficiency of religious knowledge in our members, are numerous and various. In many cases, the want of a religious education contributes to it. Not a few of them are brought in from the world, when they are far advanced in life. There is, with many, a more culpable cause; I mean a systematic neglect of the subject. "What," they exclaim, "will head knowledge do for us? we are for experience; experience is every thing in

religion." What kind of experience that is, which is not founded on knowledge, I am at a loss to conceive. With such people, ignorance appears to be the mother of devotion. It should be recollected that it is in the spiritual world, as it is in the natural; the seed of the kingdom is sown in the light, and light is essential to every stage of its growth. If that be not right knowledge, which does not produce feeling, certainly that is not right feeling which is not produced by knowledge. They who have only head knowledge, dwell in the frigid zone of Christianity; and they who have only feeling, occupy the torrid zone. The former are frozen amidst mere cold and heartless speculation; the latter are scorched amidst wild fanaticism.

How much more real enjoyment of the truth is possessed by him who clearly and comprehensively understands it! and how much more useful is he likely to be in communicating instruction, than the individual who barely understands first principles ! Every professing Christian, at least all those who have leisure for reading, should endeavour to unite the knowledge of a good theologian with the experience of a real believer.

In order to this, let Christians set apart time not only for reading, but studying the scriptures; let them read theological books which explain and prove the doctrines of the gospel; let them commit to memory the admirable definitions of these doctrines contained in the Assembly's Shorter Catechism; let them attend upon the preaching of the word with a view not only to be comforted, but to be instructed. The exclusive object for which some persons hear sermons, is to obtain a little comfort. They sit waiting and watching for some sweet and savoury assurance, some well known hackneyed consolatory