exprefsly forbidden, Lev. xix. 16. "Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people." And 1 Tim. v. 13. Not only idle, but tatlers alfo, and bufy-bodies, fpeaking things which they ought not." that they give them no offence. Rom. xv. 1. "We then that are ftrong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." And ver. 2. "Let every one of us please his neighbour, for his good to edification." IV. Duty. Their fourth duty is to be exceeding tender of the church's unity, both in judgment, love, and practice; avoiding (as much as may be, and as far as the gofpel rule allows) all caufes and occafions of divifion and feparation. Much tion. Rom. xvi. 17. « Mark them which caufe divifions and offences, and avoid them." And Phil. ii. 1, 2. « If there be any confolation in Chrift, &c. be ye like minded.” IV. Sin. The fourth fin is an eafy credulity of private whifpers, and rafh cenfures thereupon. This we ought not to do against the meanest member. 2 Cor. xii. 20. "Left there be debates, envyings, wraths, ftrifes, backbitings, whisperings," &c. Much lefs against church-officers; 1 Tim. v. 19. " Against an elder receive not an accufation, but before two or three witneffes." This ftrikes at the bond of peace. V. Sin. Their fifth fin is in their neglect of God's ordinances upon flight diverfions, when they are neither difabled by works of neceffity, or mercy, contrary tó Heb. x. 25. Not forfaking the affembling of ourselves together, as the manner of fome is." Trivial occafions should divert no Chriftian from attending upon God's ordinances. VI. Sin. The fixth fin is a defect in zeal for God's ordinances, manifested in their dilatory attendance; contrary to Pfal. cxxii. 1. "I was glad when they faid unto me, let us go into the houfe of the Lord." And unfuitable to their first practice, Gal. iv. 5. • Where is then the bleffednefs?' &c. VII. Sin. The feventh fin is irreverence, and want of ferioufnefs under ordinances: contrary to Pfal. lxxxix. 7. God is great V. Duty. Their fifth duty is à refpectful carriage towards the meaneft Chriftian, and to have higher efteem of others than themfelves. External things make no difference with Chrift; Rom. xii. 10. "In honour preferring one another." Gal. iii. 28. " Ye are all one in Chrift Jefus." Yet a decorum is to be kept fuitable to civil differences; Ephef. v. 21.Submitting yourfelves to one anoher in the fear of God." VI. Duty. Their fixth duty is, meekly to receive reproofs from each other for their fins, especially when the matter is juft, and the manner of delivering it regular; Pfal. cxli. 5. "Let the righteous fmite me, it fhall be a a kindness: And let him reprové me, it fhall be an excellent oil," &c. VII. Duty. Their feventh duty is, to communicate their fpiritual flock of gifts, graces, and experiences, not interfering with ! ly to be feared in the affembly of the faints; and to be had in reverence of all that are round a bout him." And this is manifest in vain attires; 1 Cor. xi. 10. "The woman ought to have power on her head, because of the angels." And unfeemly poftures and geftures; Eccl. v. 1. "Keep thy foot when thou goeft to the houfe of God; and be more ready to hear, than to give the facrifice of fools." VIII. Sin. The eighth fin reproveable in them, is, the neglect of giving and taking due reproofs from each other; contrary to Lev. xix. 17. "Thou shalt in any wife rebuke thy neighbour, and not fuffer fin upon him." And Chrift's own rule, Matth. xviii. 15. " Go, and tell him his fault between thee and him alone." And fo for taking reproofs, fee Pfal. cxli. 5. "Let the righteous fmite me," &c. IX. Sin. The ninth fin is, mutual ftrifes and animofities, not feafonably and prudently compofed among themfelves, but fcandaloufly expofed to the view of the world; contrary to the apoftle's rule, 1 Cor. vi. 5, 6. " Is there not a wife man among you, But brother goeth to law, with brother, and that before the unbelievers? Now therefore, there is utterly a fault among you." X. Sin. The tenth fin is, the privateness of their fpirits, centering too much in their own concerns; exprefsly condemned, Phil, public officers, nor by finful partiality including fome, and excluding others (to whom it is as due, and who may have more neel) from the benefit thereof; 1 Pet. iv. 10. As every man hath received the gift, even fo minifter the fame one to another." 1 Tim. v. 21. "Obferve these things, without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality," VIII. Duty. Their eighth duty is, cheerfully to communicate their outward good things for the relief of their brethren; Heb. xiii. 16, "To do good, and to communicate, forget not." And the better to enable them hereunto, to be diligent in their callings; Eph. iv. 28. "Working with his hands, that he may have to give to him that needeth." And effecially to make comfortable provifion for their minifers, not by way of courtefy, but duty; 1 Cor. ix. 14. "Even fo hath God ordained, That they which preach the gofpel, fhould live of the gofpel." IX. Duty. Their ninth duty is, not only to relieve the diftreffed members of Chrift, but to feek out, and vifit them; to know their fpiritual and temporal wants, in order to a full difcharge of that duty; James i. 27. " Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is This, to vifit the fatherlefs and widows in their affliction," &c. X. Duty. Their tenth duty is, to put charitable conftructions upon doubtful words and actions; and if either will admit a double ii. 21. "All feek their own, not the things that are Jefus Chrift's." And contrary to scripture example, 2 Cor. xi. 29. "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not ?" fenfe always to take it in the fair- Six BENEFITS of walking by thefe RULES. I. Benefit. STR TRICT and heedful attendance to thefe rules, will 'put a luftre upon religion before the world, and make it "Adorn glorious in the eyes of fuch as now defpife it. Tit. ii. 10. the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." Which he here speaks, to encourage all to ordinate walking. II. Benefit. This will allure and win the world over to Chrift, and wonderfully profper and further the design of the gospel. Phil. ii. 15, 16. "That ye may be blameless and harmless the fons of God without rebuke, in the midft of a crooked and perverfe nation, &c. That I may rejoice in the day of Chrift, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." III. Benefit. This will effectually flop the mouths of all detracting 1 Pet. ii. 15. For fo is the and blafpheming enemies of religion. will of God, that with well-doing, ye may put to filence the ignorance of foolish men.” IV. Benefit. This will eminently glorify God, which is the ultimate "Let your light fo fhine before end of our beings. Matth. v. 16. men, that they may fee your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." V. Benefit. This will fill the people of God (by way of evidence) "And as many as walk acwith much inward peace. Gal. vi. 16. cording to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy upon the Ifrael of God." VI. Benefit. This will fécure the prefence of God with, and among us; whence refults both the efficacy of ordinances, and the ftability and glory of the churches: For Chrift walks among the golden candlesticks, and threatens the churches, in case of defection from gofpel rules," to remove the candlestick out of his place, except they repent," Rev. ii. 1, 5. FINIS. AN ALPHABETCAL TABLE Of the principal Matters contained in the Whole. VOLUME I. A A BASEMENT of Chrift, feveral inftances of it in his in carnation Vid. Humiliation. Abilities of men to use the means of grace, how to be improv Pag 223 ed 140 Adoption, wherein that which is facred agrees with, and differs from that which is civil Adrian (the emperor,) his lamentable cry when dying What care we should take of being deceived by the workings A believing meditation on Christ's fufferings, is of great force to melt them Agony (of Chrift) in the garden described Ufeful inferences from the confideration of it Amyntas, a remarkable story of his interceding for his brother 401 226' 263 265 277 279 169 50 439 Apology; Final rejecters of gofpel-grace can make none for them Articles of peace with God, what they are, 477. Vid. Peace. plained The remarkable manner of it fhewn in feveral particulars Several ufeful inferences concerning it 503 505 508 509 |