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together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." He was to be cast out of the church, as a heathen man and a publican: and in this particular instance, to be given up like Job to the malice of Satan, if peradventure the "day of adversity" should lead him to "consider," and repent, and "return unto the Lord."

In this way the early Christian congregations were able to preserve a society far more pure and unmixed than has ever been since maintained. This has been alleged as one great cause of their increase. So it must have been. The sight of a considerable number of persons all actuated by the motives which Christians profess, and not materially deviating from the regulations of the gospel, living not for this world, but above it,-must have produced a strong effect upon the minds of those who witnessed them. Whereas among nominal Christians now, there is such a variety of conduct, such infinite degrees of obedience and disobedience, that the power of example is in a great degree lost upon the world.

We see, however, that the spirit of the precept here given will justify the withdrawing from "any brother that walketh disorderly:" and also the having recourse to law in cases which require it, as with one who has no claim as a Christian brother on our forbearance.

18. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

The solemn sanction here pronounced to ratify the judgment of the apostles, was suited to the same state of the church, which allowed of what St. Paul directs in the case of the Corinthian offender; it was suited to that particular inspiration which enabled Peter to see into the heart of Ananias, that particular guid ance which was a security against human frailty and As the inspiration ceased which belonged to the apostles, and as the gift of miraculous power was gradually withdrawn, so would also be withdrawn the promise here closely connected with it: If two of you shall agree touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

error.

Still there remain great truths, which will never be set aside. The ministers of Christ do not now bind or loose the souls of their people; they do not absolve or condemn on their individual authority. God forbid they should hazard the assumption of such a responsibility! But they still are, and will remain, the guardians of those doctrines on which eternal life and death depend. So likewise "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man," much more of an assembly of righteous men, "availeth much :" and so, likewise, Christ will still by his Spirit be present with those who are gathered together in his name, whether in the sanctuary, for the purpose of prayer and praise, or animated by a

desire to promote his glory, by extending his kingdom more widely in the world. There may his mysterious presence be expected, to answer the prayer of earnest faith, and to favour the designs which are undertaken in dependence upon his will. He knows them that are his; and as they "hear his voice, and follow him," so does he hear their voice, and bless them.

LECTURE XLVI.

FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES ENJOINED, BY THE PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.

MATT. Xviii. 21-35.

21. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, until seventy times seven.

Our Lord had been recommending great for bearance towards an offending brother. This was "a new commandment" to those who had received as a current maxim, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy." And its novelty leads Peter to ask how far this forbearance and forgiveness is to extend? How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?

This opens the way to a precept, which must be written on every Christian's heart. I say not unto thee, Until seven times, but, until seventy times seven. If he trespass against thee seven times a day, and seven times a day turn again to thee saying, "I repent-thou shalt forgive him." He must be sooner wearied with offending than you with pardoning. But as this commandment was new to the Jews, and will always be new to the natural heart, its reasonableness is further exhibited by a parable.

23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand talents.

25. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee

all.

27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

This example represents the case of all men, when their accounts with God come to be examined. Think of their youth, which is spent, too often, in disobedience to parents, and disobedience to superiors; in perverseness and selfishness; in contempt of God's holy name; in vanity and falsehood. Think of their manhood, which instead of being devoted to the service, and employed in the glory of God, is too commonly given up to pleasure, or directed by ambition or selfish gratification. Or, even supposing that through divine

grace, neither youth nor manhood have been wasted in forgetting God, or disobeying him: still, who can bear the exact scrutiny which his omniscient eye has been carrying on throughout all their lives? "There is not a word in my tongue," nor a thought in my heart, "but thou, O God, knowest it altogether." Can any one reflect on this, and not feel the burthen of his debt? He may indeed refuse to look into it, he may close his eyes against it but this does not diminish the weight of what he owes, any more than it diminishes the debt of an inconsiderate spendthrift, that he refuses to examine the accounts of his creditor against him. There must be a day of settlement, if no means are! used to cancel what is due; there will be a time when the king will come to take account of his ser vants: and when he begins to reckon, those will be found who owe unto him ten thousand talents.

And as all are alike in this, that they cannot say they have no sin; so all are alike in this also, that they have nothing at all to pay. For what can they do? Repent of having sinned? That they may well do: but will this make void what is past? It does not discharge a debt, to lament that we have incurred it. Or shall they sin no more? That too must be their endeavour: but suppose they could accomplish it, does it discharge a debt now existing, that you do not make that debt larger? Will not the debt still remain that was originally contracted? So that, do all we can, we are like the servant in the parable, and have nothing at all to pay.

What then have we to allege in our own behalf

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