Through Christ we have access by one Spirit unto the Father. As man is considered in different lights, he is under different obligations, as an individual, a member of a family, or a subject in a commonwealth: the same is the case with a Christian, whose obligations are indispensible to worship God through Christ in his closet, in his family, and in the sanctuary; or, in secret, in private, and in public. None of these services, on proper occasions, must be omitted. The scripture is frequent, full, and express on the duties and obligations of public worship, on the heads of reading the word, praising, praying, preaching, contributing to the relief of the poor, administering and receiving the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper; duties of very great consequence to us! Christ having graciously promised his effectual blessing on them, every circumstance in this service should be managed with the utmost simplicity, and in nearest conformity to the appointments of heaven; God will bless nothing but his own institutions. The inventions of men, in serving God, are as unprofitable as they are wicked and presumptuous, Deut. xii. 31, 32. "3. The impartial exercise of discipline is a third grand object of church-fellowship. The society labours under an essential defect in its constitution, which makes no effectual provision for the protection and comfort of regular, useful members; and for the suppression and discouragement of these, who, in speculation or practice, weaken the foundations, injure the interests, or oppose the designs, of its erection. Such a social connection, where life and civil property are at stake, would be exceedingly contemptible and absurd, and the consequences most shocking and pernicious, and without an effectual plan of order and discipline duly executed, I cannot imagine how the case could be better in the church, which is a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. That every unworthy sentiment and practice may receive a suitable recompence of reward, so far as is competent to men by divine appointments, church-members joined in holy fellowship must watch over one another, with a passionate ardour of unfeigned care for their mutual welfare and good behaviour, Heb. xii. 15,-must daily exhort, comfort, and animate to duty, Heb. x. 24, 25,-must admonish an offending brother, who has departed from his duty, and restore him in the spirit of meekness, Gal. vi. 1.-must rebuke, exhort, and if these means do not reach the end, must, after all long-suffering, reject the incorrigible and obstinate, 2 Tim. ii. 24, 25, 26. and iv. 2 Tit. iii. 10. The same reasons, which support our plea, for the purity of the church, at her original constitution, infer with equal force and evidence, the necessity of maintaining her order and purity to the last, and by just consequence, the necessity of exercising discipline with impartial zeal: for offences must come, and therefore the old leaven of error, malice, and wickedness must be purged out, that the church may be a new, holy lump, 1 Cor. v. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. N. B. This passage is remarkably to the purpose. Every thing which carries the appearance of partiality in the exercise of discipline, is equally inconsistent with the dictates of reason, and the express letter of revelation, 1 Tim. v. 21. Jam. iii. 17. Our God is no respecter of persons, and his law obliges us to shew no preference on worldly considerations in that society which is chosen out of the world, Jam. ii. 1.— 10. Discipline must therefore be impartial, or else it can never be faithful and useful. "4. I observed, that purity of conversation is a grand scope of all associations and managements in church-communion. All that has been already mentioned on the ends of this spiritual fellowship, is as much subservient to this object, as the use of the lower steps of a ladder for enabling a man to gain the highest. I use the term conversation, in the same large and unconfined sense in which it is to be taken, Phil. i. 27, and 2 Pet. iii. 11. In these passages I conceive it means, the bias, temper, and disposition of the mind, with the whole course of life and behaviour. To preserve and promote the purity of these is a very noble object. This is man's true honour, and deserves to be pursued with the most vigorous resolution. In its highest perfection, which is attained in the heavenly state only, this conversation shines with dazzling brightness, without any eccentric revolutions, or irregular and uneven motions: but something of it in all those, who shall see and enjoy God, must be found, before they go hence, and be no more in this world, Heb. xii. 14. Religious fellowship is an excellent means to restore, stablish, strengthen, and settle this conversation, which glorifies our Father which is in heaven, which adorns the doctrine of God our Saviour, and which convinces gainsayers, and comforts the godly. The amiable and exalted characters of this conversation, are enough to induce a mind moderately curious, to inquire what it is, and how it may be attained. To instance in a few particulars, it is called, an upright conversation, a conversation ordered aright; a good conversation; an holy conversation; a conversation in heaven, &c. These recommendations are sufficiently justified by the excellency of its nature, as described in several passages of holy writ, Micah vi. 8. 2 Cor. vii. 1. Phil. i. 27. Tit. ii. 11-14, and iii. 8. Texts of that clearness, importance, and fulness of meaning, that the bare reading of them may convince us, that the conversation we speak of takes in all duties of piety in reference to God, of righteousness towards our neighbour, and of temperance and moderation, sobriety and conduct, relative to ourselves. 'As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the face of a man his friend. To prove that man is a social being, we need only to appeal to facts which demonstrate self-insufficiency, the felt necessity of a foreign dependence, and the many thousand advantages, which, by cultivating society with our fellow men, crowd in from every quarter to deceive our pains, to alleviate our sorrows, and to heighten our joys. The same arguments acquire a new force and weight, when applied to Christians, who are not of the world, whose strength lies in their union, and who are so particularly described from the agency of their mutual love in the discharge of relative characteristic duties, as is clearly stated in John xiv. xv. and xvii. chapters." REVIEW. www LETTER from a TUTOR to a PUPIL, on his ENTRANCE into the WORLD. WAUGH & INNES, Edinburgh. P. p. 36. 1833. THIS is a short, excellent letter--very suitable as a present to young men. We know not either the tutor or the pupil, but the letter is fitted for general usefulness. How devoutly were it to be desired, that parents felt the importance of selecting such tutors as the author of this letter for their children! That tutors felt their deep accountability for whatever bias they may give the youthful minds committed to their training! And that the young knew the privilege of being placed under the care of pious and prayerful teachers! We indulge the hope, that the circulation of this short letter may be the means of diffusing correct sentiments on all these topics. It has our hearty approval and recommendation. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. PRESBYTERIAN SECESSION SYNOD. -The Annual Meeting of this Synod was held in Coleraine, on Tuesday, the 2d inst., and the following days. An excellent sermon, from Acts xx. 24, was preached on the occasion, by the Rev. Mr. Reid, late Moderator. The Rev. Mr. Lowry, of Lissara, was chosen Moderator for the present year. The Synod's next meeting will be held in Moneymore. REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.-This Synod met at Moneymores on Tuesday, the 9th inst. The Rev. Thomas Houston, of Knockbracken, late Moderator, delivered a discourse from Rev. ii. 10. The Rev. J. Sweeny, of Fauchan, near Derry, was chosen Moderator for the present year. Next annual meeting will be held in Moneymore. CHRISTIAN AND PHILANTHROPIC AGENCY HOUSE.-It will be gratifying to our readers to know that Mr. David Nasmith has opened a place of business for religious and philanthropic individuals and societies, at 14, Buchanan-street, Glasgow. It comprises two offices, three committeerooms, and a reading-room, with other apartments yet unappropriated. At one of these offices, young men, of good character, from the country or other towns, may be directed to suitable lodgings, and introduced to the Glasgow Young Men's Society for moral and intellectual improvement; and such as want situations, may be registered. The committee-rooms are let at 3s. 6d., 2s., and Is., for each meeting, and less when taken by the year. The reading-room is furnished with five American, two English, and three Scottish newspapers, all religious, except two that are local; and about twenty-five reviews, and other periodicals, with a variety of other works-charge, 10s. 6d. per annum. Mr. Nasmith intends making a selection of two or more departments, to which he will more especially direct his personal efforts; and by suitable agency, will, under his own superintendence, provide for the performance of such other business as may be intrusted to him. He has made arrangements for recording the proceedings of meetings, filling up and delivering notices, issuing reports, circulars, and periodicals, collecting subscriptions, receiving contributions for various objects, &c. He proposes, by any means in his power, to forward the views of Christians of evangelical sentiments, who may wish to make themselves useful as city missionaries, tract distributors, Sabbath school teachers, or otherwise, and to introduce young men of good character, to the Young Men's Societies of Glasgow, or other towns of Scotland, Ireland, France, or America, in which he had the satisfaction of seeing such Societies formed. All communications on such subjects to be post-paid. Having travelled somewhat extensively in Europe and America, and been honoured to be long and successfully employed in devising and executing plans of usefulness, he hopes, by steady and persevering application to business, under the divine blessing, to be enabled to give satisfaction to those individuals or societies who may be pleased to employ him as their agent., Obituary. Mr. John Knox, of Tearkelly, for many years ruling elder in the congregation of Ballyroney, in connexion with the Synod of Ulster, died on the 6th of the last month. He possessed a powerful mind, which he had improved by reading and study, and made considerable attainments in various subjects of science. These he studied, in order to discover the displays of the divine glory therein; but the Book of God was his peculiar care. By it he was begotten again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead; and by a firm faith in its promises, he was kept steadfast and immoveable, always abounding in every good word and work. He was as the salt of the earth in his own neighbourhood-a strict observer of the sabbath, a faithful instructor of his family in the things that belong to their eternal peace, regularly maintaining the morning and evening sacrifice of family worship, strict in church discipline, always opposed to the admission of the erroneous, the ignorant, and immoral to sealing ordinances, a steady friend to Bible and Missionary Societies, and the superintendent of a Sabbath school in his own congregation. He was a principal means, under providence, of awakening a revival of religion among many of the young in that congregation. He often expressed delight with the opportunities of doing good which the Sabbath school afforded. He was among the first that joined the Rathfryland Temperance Society, and was most zealously devoted to the cause. He established one in Ballyroney, in which he laboured with unceasing efforts till his death. He ordered that neither spirits nor tobacco should be used at his wake or funeral. Upon the sixth of March he became ill, sent for a friend upon the seventh, wishing him to write his will, as he expected the present illness would be unto death. With astonishing composure, firmness, and wisdom, he finished the will, giving incontestable evidence that the light and immortality brought to light by the Gospel, is best calculated to give ease and peace to the mind in prospect of dissolution. In his last illness, being asked how he was, he answered, "very ill; but this is the way good men have had to go to the land of peace and purity; and the prospect of an unstinged death, a sweetened grave, and a blessed immortality bears me up." At another time he asked a friend to pray with him, saying, "this is the land of faith and prayer, but beyond death is the land of vision and praise; and I trust I shall join the general assembly of the church in heaven, to sing eternally to him that loved me, and washed me from my sins in his own blood." Again he said, "it is a most consoling consideration, that our title to the favour of God and the happiness of heaven does not depend upon our holiness or doings, but wholly upon the righteousness of the Lord Jesus. I rejoice that I have been made to delight in the practice of holiness; but I flee from my duties as well as from my sins, to the finished atonement of Jesus. In him do I desire to be found living and dying, and through eternity." To his family weeping around him he said, "you have no reason to sorrow as those that have no hope: God has said, leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.' If I am taken away, you will have new relations and promises to claim which you never had before. God has promised to be a Husband to the widow and a Father to the fatherless, yea, the widow's Judge and the orphan's Stay. Claim him by faith in the exercise of prayer, and he will be better unto you than father or husband." While he was able to speak, he gave his family suitable instructions, and manifested a strong affection for his friends and visiters. But his com-. plaint was making rapid progress. Upon Wednesday night, the 3d inst., at nine o'clock, his only son died in a decline; and on being informed of the event, he bore it with firmness, but was scarce able to speak. About two hours after, he lost his utterance, and continued so till he departed on Saturday, the 6th inst., at two o'clock, in the 66th year of his age, leaving a name that will long be held in remembrance. LAWFUL OR UNLAWFUL PLEASURE. WHATEVER weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things-in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself. Never rebuke a man without praying for him. The way never to speak of any with contempt, is never to think of any with contempt. A true Christian cannot bear the thought of going to heaven alone. Every temptation is an opportunity of getting nearer to God. The truly humble man is humble in secret; it is pain to him to have his humility seen and observed. CHRISTIAN UNION. THAT flower which follows the sun, doth so even in cloudy days; when it doth not shine forth, yet it follows the hidden course and motion of it. So the soul that moves after God, keeps that course when he hides his face; is content, yea, is glad at his will in all estates, or conditions, or events.-Private Christians have duties to perform. There is a certain company of small stars in the firmament, which though they cannot be severally seen, yet being many, their united light makes a conspicuous brightness in the heavens, called the milky way; so, though the shining of every private Christian is not so much severally remarkable, yet the concourse and meeting of their light will make a bright path of holiness shine in the church. ACTIVE CHRISTIAN BENEVOLENCE. CARLOS WILCOX. Wouldst thou from sorrow find a sweet relief? In many a branching stream, and wider grow; ; Thy hands unsparing and unwearied sow, Shall deck thy grave with amaranthine flowers, And yield thee fruits divine in heaven's immortal bowers. SCOTTISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. SEVERAL congregational and other subscriptions have been received for this Society, which will be particularly acknowledged as soon as the deputation, at present in this country, shall have completed their tour. |