The members of a church dead. There are many ways in ought to promote their mutual which Christians may quicken edification, by exercising that and animate one another in holy discipline, which Christ has their religious course; and they appointed for that purpose. The ought to take every method in exercise of discipline towards their power to cause one another those who transgress the laws of to flourish in the court-yards of Christ, tends not to the destruc- their God, and to bring forth much tion, but to the edification of the fruit to his glory. Perfection in church. And if the members holiness is the ultimate object, would consult their own edifica- to which every individual in a tion and benefit, they would not church ought to desire to bring be slack in performing this disa- himself, and the whole body to greeable and important duty.- which he belongs. All the reliNo church is weakened, but gious advantages, which God strengthened, by keeping itself has given to his church, are to pure, and casting out those, be improved to this ultimate end. whom the laws of Christ require Hence the apostle says to the to be cast out. There is hardly Corinthians, "Now ye are the any thing, which contributes body of Christ, and members more to the edification of a one of another. And God hath church, than the regular exer- set some in the church, first cise of that discipline over the apostles, secondarily prophets, erroneous and corrupt, which is thirdly teachers, after that miracalculated to lead them to re- cles, then gifts of healings, pentance and reformation. Ac- helps, governments, diversities cordingly the apostles frequently of tongues. Are all apostles? called upon the primitive church- Are all prophets? Are all teaches to purge from among them-ers? Are all workers of miracles? selves such corrupt members, Have all the gifts of healing? lest a little leaven should leaven | Do all speak with tongues? Do the whole lump. The same all interpret? But covet earnestmethod is still to be taken, in ly the best gifts, and yet shew I order to promote the edification unto you a more excellent way.” of a church. It may be added, And this he says, is charity, or that disinterested love, which is the essence and perfection of holiness. And for the promotion of this,every member of a church ought to exert all his power and influence.

The members of a church ought to promote their mutual edification, by promoting their mutual growth in grace. This is distinct from knowledge,union, peace, and external purity. All these things may be in a church, while they are actually declining in vital piety, which is the principal object to be desired and promoted in the church of Christ. None but lively stones are the proper materials of a church, and they ought to be kept lively, and not suffered to grow dull and

It is next proposed to offer some reasons, why the members of a church should be engaged in promoting their mutual edification. And in the first place, they are expressly required in the word of God to do it. The apostles had their hands much engaged to promote the edification

of the churches, which they had, to promote their mutual edificaplanted. They preached and tion because they were formed wrote much to strengthen, and into a church-state for this imadorn the churches of Christ, portant purpose Could Christhat the cause of Christ through tians have edified one another their instrumentality might be as distinct and separate individupromoted. Paul solemnly de- als, as well as by being united, clares, that he had sought the there is no reason to think, Christ edification of the Corinthians. would have commanded them to name his name, and give up themselves to each other as well as to the Lord. He knew that by being united by the bond of a solemn covenant, to assemble together, to pray and praise, to hear the gospel and commemorate his dying love, as well as to observe the discipline of his house they might be greater helpers of each other's joy, zeal, activity and usefulness. And for this reason he instituted a

He says "think ye, that we excuse ourselves unto you? We speak before God in Christ; but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying." Hence the apostle so frequently exhorts and commands Christians to edify one another. In one place he says "Let us follow after the things that make for peace, and the things wherewith one may edify another." Again, he commands the Corinthians in the strongest terms to seek their mu-visible church, which might with tual edification. Seek that ye one hand and one heart, promote may excel to the edifying of the their own mutual benefit, be a church." And again—“ Let all light to the world, and the peculthings be done unto edifying." iar iustrument of awakening and To the Ephesians he says, "Let converting sinners. Hence they no corrupt communication pro- cannot answer the great end of ceed out of your mouth, but that their institution, without seeking which is good to the use of edi- and laboring to promote their fying, that it may minister grace mutual edification. This is a to the hearers. And to the powerful reason for their doing Thessalonians be says "Com- all in their power to build themfort yourselves together, and edi-selves up in their most holy faith. fy one another, even as also ye Besides, if they do not seek to do." These exhortations and promote their mutual edification commands bind present as well they will counteract the great and as primitive Christians, to pro- good design of their church-state, mote their mutual edification. For by being united in such a They are not to forget, nor neg- state, they have an opportunity lect this peculiar and important to do much more to injure and duty. For churches need as destroy one another than they much edification now as ever could as separate and unconnectthey did. And so long as they ed individuals. And there is no exist in this evil world, much other alternative before them, needs to be done to edify and es- but either to edify, or destroy one tablish them upon a firm and un- another for whom Christ died. moveable foundation. Again-But they cannot hesitate, which The members of a church ought of these modes of conduct is

If the members of a churchzine. will do their duty, in promoting their mutual edification, those who are without cannot hurt

them ; but by neglecting, or counteracting their duty they may destroy themselves. It is a great thing to be a member of a church. It is a great privilege

Relying on your goodness to pardon my many imperfections, in my way of writing, and to correct all errors and mistakes; and by thus submitting to your better judgment, hope it will be of service to my improvement in the knowledge of divine things. and thereby conducive to my happiness here, and hereafter, which induceth me to make the attempt, although in a very imperfect manner.

lative to my experience in reli- of religion; producing in them gion, and conversion thereto; an entire resignation to the will being very desirous of advice of God, in the hope of the proand instruction upon this all-im-mises and joys offered them in portant subject, and prompted the gospel, through the merits of by the idea you suggested, that the Redeemer, met triumphant. by thus complying with your re- their last enemy, even death, quest, you would be better able spoken of in scripture, as the to judge, and form an opinion of King of terrors. Methought it what advice, proper to give. very desirable to die such a death, and with Balaam desired to die the death of the rightcous, that my last end might be like his ;" and even wondered bow it was they obtained such clear and lively hopes of pardon and acceptance with God in the enjoyment of endless felicity.But observing the hopes they en tertained were produced by exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, through a belief of the promises of God in him; thinkFrom my earliest age, I en- ing that I believed the scripdeavored to lead a moral life, tures, of course believed in being often taught that God Christ, not iusensible however, would punish sinners, but did of my want of those lively af not think that I should sufferfections of love and joy in God, for the few offences, of which I thought something must be done had been guilty. But, notwith-further, in order to attain to standing, the thoughts of death were very irksome, and frequently troubled and affected me very much; particularly, at one time, several years since, being on a visit at Lebanon; there was at that time some attention to religion in that place-on attend-prayed that God would be mering a religious conference, they appeared very solemn and attentive, which very much affect ed me; but more particularly in reading the accounts of the memoirs, published in the Evan-ishment, and that I had avoided gelical Magazine, consisting of a short sketch of their lives spent in the religious duties and services, together with the happiness they experienced at death. in the comforts and consolations'

such a happy temper of mind : thought of the duty of prayer, which I had never done excepting in using a form as a little child: but, indeed, I knew not how to pray, nor what to pray for as I ought; but, however,

ciful to me a sinner; but fearing that it did not proceed from my heart in sincerity, and thinking that I had not been guilty of any sin worthy of everlasting pun

many sins which I saw in others; consequently, fancied myself a favorite of heaven, of course, nothing to fear. And thus I tinued, for some time, neglecting to pray, for fear that I should

con

But considering, that I had entertained such like pre-conceived ideas long enough, that they had proved very unsatisfactory, therefore felt resolved to persevere this once for all, and give no further heed to them; if possible to obtain that religion whereby I could feel willing and resigned to death; reflecting upon the uncertainty of life, and

not perform it in an acceptable posed. Indeed, I could not manner, and trusting in a mere make much of a reply, exceptspeculative belief of the scrip-ing that I had thought of it, and tures, thinking that such cases considered it necessary, and veas the above recorded in the ry desirable. But it was not Magazine were very rare, and very pleasing to me, being sensiseldom to be found, even a-ble that I was not in the happy mongst the professed Christians: possession of it; but liked to but hoped however, that by hear it conversed upon in genecontinuing in the belief of the ral terms. Having no convicscriptures, and by observing a tion of sin, I could not view mydue respect to all the command-self in a state of condemnation. ments of God, I should at least, feel willing and resigned to death, whenever it should please the disposerof all events to call me to the exchange of worlds. And,likewise, at another time, preceding this, my mind was a good deal affected upon hearing you, Sir, preach one evening, from these words" As the heart panteth after the water-brook, so pauteth my soul after thee, O God!"-the certainty of death, conBut having no steady preaching sequently, the necessity of being here in this place, and there be- immediately prepared, and the ing no special attention here, at happiness resulting from such a least to my knowledge, and not preparation, exemplified in the liking to dwell long on so gloo- characters above mentioned.— my a subject as death, my for- But notwithstanding my res☛ mer impressions were soon ob-lution, I found my heart was no literated, and produced no last-less opposed, nor my aversion to ing effects. Thus, in the man- the work in the least diminishner above stated, I continued ed. Finding the obstacles in the some time, for the most part, way so many and the work so tolerably easy, until this spring great, that I needed the divine and summer, in the year 1808; assistance which led me to imat the time of the awakening up plore the divine interposition in town, my attention was quite ex- these words, "Turn thou me, cited in hearing you converse and I shall be turned ;" and upon the awakenings and reform-likewise, for my encouragement ation there, and in other places; meditated upon these promises in and likewise, by your apparent the sacred scriptures, "draw near happiness in religion; but more to God, and he will draw near particularly, by your questioning to you; seek and ye shall find, ine personally upon the subject, knock and it shall be opened with respect to my own mind; unto you; for he that seeketh which very much embarrassed findeth, and to him that knockme; it being the first time that eth, it shall be opened; for he I ever had such a question pro-hath not said to the seed of Ja