Though he professed to enjoy a heavenly intercourse, and to receive divine responses, yet, in this case, he never asked counsel of God or man. The call was clear-there was no room to deliberate-a richer living presented itself, and his former contract was at end!

Micah must, by this time be ashamed of his rash confidence in a stranger.

Leaving him now to his own reflections, we will animadvert, a moment, on these Danites.

Being about to form a new settlement, they determined to have some kind of religious worship among them. Whether it was rational, or idolatrous -instituted by God, or invented by man, they were not solicitous; but some form or other they would have.

They seem to have been but an ignorant collection. They probably had neglected the stated worship of God in Shiloh, and hence were more easily seduced to idolatry. None are so liable to error and delusion, as they who despise the orders of God's house. Among these you will always see impostors the most busy and the most successful. They seldom practise their arts on those, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. That christians may hold fast their profession without wavering, the Apostle advises, that they forsake not the assembling of themselves together.

These Danites, in their zeal for religion, robbed Micah's chapel, and seduced his chaplain; and, when he complained of the wrong, they threatened his life. Did they think, that God was pleased only with external forms-that he had no regard to justice, truth and mercy?-We condemn their conduct. But is there nothing like it to be seen among christians?-If we tear in pieces one church

in order to build up another-if we cause divisions and separations in one religious society in order to collect out of it another of our own complexion and denomination, when, at the same time, we profess substantially to agree in doctrine and practice with the society, which we thus disturb; we act precisely in the spirit of these Danites, who robbed Micah's chapel, that they might furnish their own; stole his image, that they might worship it themselves, and enticed away his priest, that they might enjoy his ministrations.

Religion is a matter of most serious importance, and we are to act in it with engagedness and zeal. But it is a reasonable, selfconsistent service, and our zeal must be honest and peaceable. We may no more lie to make God's truth and glory abound, than to make our own wealth and honour abound. He hates robbery, as much for an offering on his altar, as for an offering at the shrine of ambition and avarice. If fraud and artifice, duplicity and injustice are criminal in their nature, we cannot change their nature by applying them to a godly design.

The substance of religion consists in righteousness, mercy, truth and the love of God. To promote these, is the proper use of all instituted forms of worship. If we maintain our favorite forms at the expense of real virtues, we invert the order of things; our devotion becomes superstition, and our religious worship resembles the idolatry of the Danites.

We see, in the case before us, the importance of a strict adherence to the order of God's house. When once we depart from this, we know not how far we shall run, nor how many we shall draw along with us.

Let us only consider, how idolatry began and spread in the land of Israel. It was first suggested

by a woman to her son. He set it up in his own house, and withdrew from the tabernacle of God. After a while he called in a straggling Levite and consecrated him for a priest. By the influence of this unprincipled Levite the families in the vicinity were corrupted. By and by the man carried his idols and superstition into the tribe of Dan. There they continued for a number of years, even all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh. After idolatry scemed to be suppressed, there was still in this tribe, an inclination to favour it. When Jeroboam set up his golden calves, he placed one in Dan, as the tribe which would most readily receive it. Dan, in allusion to the old serpent, who brought sin into the world, is called "a serpent in the way, and an adder in the path, which biteth the horse's heels, so that his rider falleth backward." This revolt proved the ruin of the nation. No warnings of the prophets, or judgments of heaven would reclaim them, until they were given up to a captivity of seventy years.

As the tribe of Dan had the principal influence in the introduction and support of idolatry in the carthly Canaan, so when the hundred and forty and four thousand were sealed out of the tribes of Israel, as heirs of the heavenly Canaan, this tribe was utterly excluded.

Who would have expected such lasting and extensive mischief from an error, which began in a private family, and was suggested by an obscure woman?

Important is the Apostle's caution to the Hebrews "Look diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled."

Never let us venture to violate the plain institutions of God, nor to substitute in their place the inventions of men. We are only then to hope for his blessing, when we seek it in the way of his ap.

pointment. If we attempt innovations in the order of his house, the guilt begins with us, but the mischief may spread wide, and last long. It is dangerous to make new experiments in religion.

We find ourselves, perhaps, agreeably entertain. ed, and think we are greatly edified, by attending on some new and transient preacher, who assumes a new name, exhibits some new forms, and appears chiefly on days which God has not sequestered for his worship. But let us not mistake the mere emotions of passion for godly edification. The nov. elty of the scene may move us for a time, but when the scene is familiarized, the emotion will subside. We are never to look for spiritual advantage in a departure from God's appointments.

When our hearts are formed to the love of holiness, and our lives are filled with good works, then may we conclude, that we are really edified: And this edification comes by attendance on God's institutions. Christ has given pastors and teachers for the perfecting of his saints, and the edifying of his church. And it is by attending on their ministry, that we make increase to the edifying of ourselves in love. If we disturb the peace, and break the unity of his church, in order to our personal edification, we mistake the means, and shall miss of the end. Christians are a mutual comfort, when they are fellow workers to the kingdom of God; therefore study the things which make for peace, and the things wherewith you may edify one an

other.

-Judge nothing before the time, till the Lord come.

FROM the connexion in which these

words stand, it is evident, that the Apostle has reference to our judging other men's spiritual condition.

He wishes, that he may stand well in the charity of the Corinthians, as a faithful steward of the mys teries of God; but he desires them not to judge peremptorily in his case, or in any case of the like nature. For a man's sincerity is a matter of such secrecy and importance, that he should be cautions and diffident in judging even himself. But Christ will come to judgment; and then shall every man, who has been faithful, have praise of him. Therefore, says he, "judge nothing before the time, till the Lord come."

The Apostle here teaches us, that all pretensions to a certain knowledge of other men's sincerity in religion, are rash and unwarrantable.