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duce a conviction, that a reform- will be more Christian affection

ation is greatly needed. Church difcipline, as pointed out and commanded by Chrift and his apoftles, appears to be an important mean for correcting fuch diforders; and it is among the fruits that are meet for the repentance neceffary to prevent the threatened calamity.

One defeription of the church, in its most perfect state on earth, is that he looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the fun, and terrible as an army with banners. A well difciplined army, every man in his place and rank, with his warlike habiliments in fhining order, every one having his eyes and ears open to the motion and command of his general, with banners held up in their places, looks terrible, and does more to dishearten an encounter ing enemy, than the irregular movements of a mob of tenfold, the number. That regular and ftrict difcipline which the laws of Chrift's kingdom require, would be equally impreffive upon the enemies of the church in the fpiritual warfare under the command of Chrift, the great Captain of our falvation; and would do more to damp and dishearten infidels and oppofers, than any thing else that belongs to the Chriftian warfare. It is matter of great rejoicing, at the prefent day, that there is fuch an effufion of the Holy Spirit, whereby many are awakened and brought home to Chrift, and the churches replenifhed with new members. But is not this bright profpect darkened by a deficiency in difcipline and Chriftian watchfulness? It is faid, when the fet time to favor Zion is come, her fervants will take pleafure in her stones and favor the duft thereof; that is, there

and kind offices towards the meaneft members of the Church than ever before. No doubt church difcipline duly administered exhibits Christian affection in a strong light; for, says one who had experience of it, "let the righteous fmite me, it shall be an excellent oil that shall not break my head."

True Chriftian affections are distinguished by a beautiful fymmetry and proportion, regarding all the commands of Christ, according to their weight and im portance; hereby all men may know we are his difciples. It is often mentioned in Chriftian converfation, that the afpect of things is gloomy and threatening, on account of the increase of impiety, infidelity and contempt of authority. May it not be inquired whether this is not in a great measure owing to lax difcipline in the churches? For the churches. of Afia were faulty in this refpect; they were warned of their danger and threatened with diffolution, unless they repented. They did not obey the divine admonition, therefore the threatened evil has long fince been executed upon them. We have no evidence that their fins, at the time of the warning, were greater than ours are. Have we not then the greateft reafon to fear, from neglecting this important duty, that we shall feel the fame unhappy confequen ces? Surely we have.

Let us attend to a few of the laws of Chrift's kingdom, and alfo to the flate of the churches, anu fee how far they are practifed, and it muft appear there is need of a more careful and ftrict difcipline than now exifts. James iv. Speak not evil one of another, brethren; he that fpeaketh

II.

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evil of his brother, and judgeth | privilege to be under the watchful his brother, fpeaketh evil of the care of the church, and objects law, and judgeth the law." Eph. of the brotherly affection of eveiv. 14. "That we henceforth be ry individual member, according no more children, toffed to and to covenant engagements at the fro, and carried about with every time of admiffion; but where lies wind of doctrine, by the fleight the privilege if nothing be done, of men, and cunning craftinefs, by either, excepting only in cafes whereby they lie in wait to de- of the groffeft and moft heinous ceive." 31ft verfe. "Let all offences, while all other faults are bitterness, and wrath, and clamor, overlooked, or nothing done, and evil speaking, be put away agreeably to Christ's rules to refrom you, with all malice." Chap. form them? v. verfe 3. "But fornication and all uncleannefs, or covetoufnefs, let it not once be named amongst you, as becometh faints." Peter, ii. 13. "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's fake; whether it be to the king as fupreme, or unto governors as unto them, that are fent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praife of them that do well. For fo is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to filence the ignorance of foolish men." Thefe are a few of the many precepts given in the word of God, for the regulation of the subjects of his kingdom. And are they all carried into effect, fo that there is no ground for a reprehenfion on ac-ings. count of neglect? This cannot be plead.

But are not thefe duties indifpenfible? Can men be loyal fubjects to Chrift, who live in the daily breach of them? Can that be a true church of Chrift, that fuffers them with impunity; and do not exert themselves according to the rules given by Chrift, and his apoftles, to reclaim them? Chriftians are commanded to exhort one another daily, left any be hardened through the deceitfulness of fin. Can it be faid that they are clear from blame in this matter? It is confidered a great

It is worthy of serious confideration, whether the threatening afpect of things, arifing from the encroachments of the enemy of our peace, will be changed for the better, until our ears are more opened to hear, what the fpirit faith to the churches, refpecting things that are amifs, and which must be repented of or we feel the bitter confequences. To be hoping, and wifhing, and earneftly defiring better things, and better times, without proper exertions made, according to directions given in the law of God, will never deliver us from our troubles, nor fet our feet in a large place, or put a fong of praise into our mouth, nor establish our go

To imprefs the thought a little, it may be well to take a view of a cafe of diftrefs that happened, to the Ifraelitifh church, under the care of Joshua, at the time they were commencing the conqueft and poffeffion of Canaan. The anger of the Lord was fhewn against them, in a defeat of their army, against Ai, and a flaughter of a number of their brethren, at which the hearts of the people melted like water; the cry no doubt was, as at this day, what is to be done for our relief? Jofhua, with the Elders, fell proftrate in the duft before the ark of

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TO THE EDITORS OF THE CON-
NECTICUT EVANGELICAL MA-

GAZINE.*

GENTLEMEN,

THE fubitance of the fol lowing was addressed to a confiderable clafs of young perfons, at the time of their admiffion as members of the vifible church. If in your judgment, it will not fuperfede the publication of fomething more generally useful, you are at liberty to infert it in the Maga

TROPHIMUS.

Beloved in the Lord,

HE friends of the Redeem

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er and his kingdom, who witnefs the prefent tranfaction, have great joy at feeing you join

God, and made their complaint new name. He that hath an ear and interceffion, until even tide. let him hear what the fpirit faith But the Lord roufed them from to the churches." their fupplicating pofture, and let them know the cause of their calamity, and their remedy. “Ifrael," faith he, "have finned, and tranfgreffed my covenant, which I commanded them. Get thee up, wherefore lieft thou thus on thy face? Up, fanctify the people, and fay fanctify your felves; there is an accurfed thing in the midst of thee, O Ifrael, thou canft not ftand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accurfed thing from among you." Here it may be remarked, that the charge was againft Ifrael; the whole congregation were treat-zine. ed as guilty. But it was Achan, the fon of Carmi only, that had done the fact; the people were chargeable with the crime until they should look out, and punifh' the offender, and carry into ef fect the law in such case providing yourselves unto the Lord, in ed; and until that was done, all other things would be unavailing; they could not make the leaft advance, against the enemy, nor make any progrefs towards inheriting the land which God had fworn he would give them, until this was done. Now, faith the apoftle, "all these things happened unto them for enfamples; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. "Behold," faith Chrift Jefus, "I come quickly hold that faft which thou haft, that no man take thy Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he fhall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, which is new Jerufalem, which cometh drawn out of heaven from God: and I will write upon him my

crown.

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folemn covenant with him and his people. While the ways of Zion mourned, they have been praying for her profperity, in the falvation of your fouls. They now find, by happy experience, that" He who goeth forth weeping and bearing precious feed, fhall return again with joy, bringing his fheaves with him."

The propriety of your prefent proceeding, and of your being hence denominated difciples of Je fus, depends on your vital union to him, and your resemblance of him in fpirit and conduct. The evidence of an holy life is fairly expected of you, for fupporting the good confeffion which you have now made before many witneffes. How important, that you henceforth fhine as lights in the world! Remember that the eyes of JEHOVAH are upon you ; that

he pondereth all your goings, and will bring all your works into judgment. It will be of no avail, as it refpects either the honor of God and the Redeemer, the advancement of his kingdom, or the falvation of your own fouls, to have called Chrift Lord, Lord, or even to have eaten and drunken in his prefence, unlefs you are devoted in heart and life, to his fervice and glory. Even the angels, whom you have called to witness your vows, and who rejoice when one finner repenteth, feel a lively intereft in the part which fhall be acted by you, under the profeffion you have now made. Yea, could pain find entrance into the abodes of light, their hearts must be pained on feeing even one of you departing from the pure fimplicity of the faith, and thence bringing fhame and reproach on the holy name, by which you are called. Like them, the friends of Chrift around you are greatly concerned that you fhould adorn your holy profeffion. They will watch over you with pious folicitude, and with fervent prayer to God that you may bring forth fruit, an hundred fold.

You now declare, before God, angels, and men, that you have entered upon the Chriftian race. May you run manfully, and obtain the prize. If fincere, as is hoped, I give you joy; yea, I bid you God fpeed! Remember, that a life of religion is a life of holy diligence and activity, in the fervice of God. It is a warfare which is never accomplished till death. It is a race, in which, forgetting the things which are behind, you must prefs forward, till it shall terminate in the glories of immortality. I cherish the pleafing hope, that you have counted the coft, and will never VOL. III. No. 12.

be weary in well doing. But let him who thinketh he ftandeth, take heed, left he fall. The inexperience and natural instability of youth, together with the vigor of youthful paffions, will render you a more eafy prey to tempta tion than those of riper years. There are three potent enemies leagued in a confpiracy againft your peace and falvation. These are the world, the flesh and the devil. The fubtle adversary of fouls will ufe all his art and influence to beguile you from the way of the truth; to entangle you in temptation and plunge you in ruin. The world, intending fuch of mankind as are unfriendly to Jefus and his religion, will not be found the leaft dangerous; especially thofe of the young who are yet in love with the pleasures of fin Thefe will naturally be tempted to spread fnares for your feet, if by any means they may lead you back to your former wanderings with them, in the way to ruin. Hence, the grand deceiver, and a finful world, in alliance with the remains of an evil heart, will maintain an hoft of enemies, against which you will need to employ the whole armor of God.

Nothing, in which you are called to be active, can exceed the importance of running, with pa tience, the race fet before you. Would you render glory to God and the Redeemer, this is the way. Would you recommend the relig ion of Jefus to the consciences of all, as worthy of acceptation, and efpecially to the young of your acquaintance, this is the way. Would you enjoy the fublime pleafures of religion in life, and in death, and at laft obtain the glory and immortality of the kingdom of God, the way is before you ; fo run that you may obtain. To

this purpose fhun the very appear- fuch evidence of the pure and aance of evil; that if any feek oc- miable fimplicity of the gospel cafion for evil speaking, they may religion, as nothing can refift or be afhamed when they behold gainfay. The teftimony of your your chafte conversation in Chrift. lives, if holy and without blame, Remember the vows you have may be rendered effectual for cap now made, and from which you tivating others unto the obedience cannot go back. Take faft hold of Chrift; but if unholy, you of inftruction; let her not go; will probably be the fad occafion keep her, for fhe is your life. of their ftumbling, and finally Pure and undefiled religion is this, plunging in remediless destruction. to keep unfpotted from the world. As therefore it refpects, in a spe Enter not into the path of the cial manner, the multitudes of the wicked; for the friendship of the rifing and juft rifen generation aworld is enmity with God. There- round you, the influence of your fore, if finners entice you, in no example is immenfely important. wife confent. Should any at- Hence, be fteadfast and immovetempt to beguile you from the able, always abounding in the way of holiness, fay to them, work of the Lord, forafmuch as Whether it be right, in the fight of ye know that your labor is not in God, to hearken to you more than vain, in the Lord. Go to no to God, judge ye. Have no fel- place, and frequent no fociety, in lowship with the unfruitful works which you cannot pray for the of darkness, but rather reprove prefence of God, and that his all them. While you bear a proper feeing eye may infpect your conteftimony against the vices and duct. Do nothing in public, or impenitency of the irreligious, let alone, on which you cannot honyour treatment of their perfons be eftly implore the divine bleffing. expreffive of the meek, the benevo- Search the fcriptures daily, for lent and pacific temper of the gof- they teftify of Jefus and are the pel. Let your lives be replete words of eternal life. Be puncwith evidence, that wifdom excel-tual and fervent in your attendleth folly as far as light excelleth darknefs. Never give occafion for its being faid, ye did run well; who did hinder you, that ye fhould not obey the truth? Give no occafion of offence and grief to the friends of religion, nor of ftum. bling and unbelief to others.

It is doubtlefs expected by fome, to whom it would be matter of rejoicing, that your goodnefs will be like the morning cloud and the early dew, which goeth away. They even hope to find, in your apoftacy, a cloak for their own fins; and fhould one in ten of you fall from your fteadfastnefs, they will be comforted and emboldened in the way to ruin. Let Your example, therefore, exhibit

ance on all the inftitutions and duties of religion. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. Pray much for the profperity of Zion. In a special manner, be punctual, perfevering and fervent in the devotions of the clofet. Thefe fhould be regarded as the daily nourishment of an holy life. If these are neglected, or attended in a cold and formal manner, inftead of being like a tree planted by the water courfes, you will be like an heath in the defert. When tempted to loiter in your race, look unto Jefus. Think of him who endured the cross and defpised the shame; and let the ardor of his love to the divine glory enkindle in your bofoms

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