light of religion, encourage them. felves in fin, or cenfure profeffors in general as hypocrites or enthufalls.--Such feelings manifeft a heart oppofed to the truths and duties of religion, and unfriendly to the caufe and people of God.-For did we love religion, we certainly again, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven-that if born of God, we shall not commit, or live in fin, and that whofoever committeth or worketh finis of the devil. What ever then may be the conduct of profeffors, it cannot difannul thefe folemn truths which unalterably fix terms of falvation.-Confefhould not be pleafed to find occaquently it cannot render it lefs ne- fion against it, or be difpofed to ceffary and important for us to re revile or neglect it, because fome pent, become holy, and give all who profeffed it acted contrary to diligence to fecure our falvation; what it required; but should take neither can it leffen the danger of pleasure in its duties, let others do neglecting divine things or living in as they would. Neither fhould we fin and impenitence. It is there be difpofed to exaggerate the failfore exceedingly unreafonable and ings of profeffors, or to cenfure dangerous for any to make light them generally as hypocritical.of religion, or to encourage them- On the contrary we fhould be grievfelves in the neglect of it from the ed to fee God dishonored, and his mifconduct or hypocrify of profef. caufe wounded by any of its profors. feffed friends.-If we love our country, we shall not be difpofed to publish and exaggerate the failings of its profeffed friends, or condem them all as traitors, because fome of them may be of this character. But we fhall be grieved to fee it difhonored or injured by the mifconduct of any, who pretend to be its friends. Thefe will allo be our feelings towards the caufe and people of God, if we are friendly. Nothing more clearly manifefts a heart oppofed to God and his caufe, than a difpofition to reproach and neglect religion, and cenfure profeffors in general on açcount of the unchristian conduct of fome. It fhews a desire to find occafion against it. 5th. And is it not equally unreasonable and unjuft to reproach and cenfure profeffors in general, as vile and hypocritical, on account of the imperfections and wickednefs of fome? As already obfer ved, it is evident from fcripture, that although real Chriftians will not live or allow themfelves in finful practices, yet they all have remaining fin and imperfections, and may at times be overcome with temptations and fall into open fin, and that among profeffors there will be fome hypocrites and flory ground hearers. Nothing then can be more unjuft and illiberal than to cenfure profeffors in general as hypocrites on account of the mifconduct of fome individuals.It is as unreasonable, as it would be to condemn all mankind as thieves and murderers, because fome are of this character. Thefe obfervations clearly fhew, how exceedingly irrational and unjuft it is for any, on account of the mifconduct or hypocrify of fome profeffors, to reproach and make Further, it is very finful and dangerous for any thus to revile and make light of religion, or encourage themselves in fin. It is acting directly againft God, by reproaching and opposing his cause, and therefore tends to draw down his difpleasure, and provoke him to give them up to blindness and ftupidity. It has a moft direct ten of religion, and encourage them felves in fin, error, and neglect di divine things from the mifconde of profeffors; it is of the highe importance, that they carefully avoid all occafions of offence, "ab ftain from all appearance of evdl, and adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour" by a holy life and converfation. These things are much infifted on in the word of God. Profeffors are like "a city, fet on a hill, which cannot be hid." Their conduct is critically watch dency to fhield against conviction, harden in fin, and lead perfons fecurely on in the broad road to destruction. For they can never em. brace religion, or flee from the wrath to come, while they indulge fuch a temper. They are therefore not only oppofing God, but destroying their own fouls.-It becomes all fuch feriously to confider what they are doing, and what will be the end of their ways. Can their hearts endare, or their hands be ftrong in the day, when God fhall come out in judgmented by the world, many of whom against them, and render vengeance will be glad to difcover fuch finfel to his enemies? Then ail, who mifconduct in them, as will justify have not obeyed the gospel of the and encourage them in fin, and Lord Jefus, will be punifhed give them occafion to reproach atd with everlasting deftruction from neglect religion. For as finners the prefence of the Lord." diflike the truth and duties of reli gion, fo they wish for occafions to difbelieve, cenfure, and neglect it. How important then, that profes fors be exemplary and circumfpect, fince their mifconduct tends to dif honor God, wound religion, give its enemies occafion to reproach it, harden finners, and lead them down to deftruction? How weighty the motives, which urge them in all things to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour. All real Chriftians will feel these to be most important confiderations-will have a tender concern for the honer of God, intereft of religion, and good of fouls, and will be careful to let their light fo shine before men, that others may be influenced to glorify their heavenly FatherThey will be difpofed in a great measure to give up their private intereft and feelings, rather than wound and dishonor the caufe of Chrift, and will be grieved and humbled, whenever they are fenfible, that they have injured religion by any unchriftian conduct. If thefe are not the feelings of profeffors, it is an evidence, that their Again, fince a number of those, who profefs, and for a time appear, to have religion, prove hypocrites, or ftony and thorny ground hearers, how important is it, that all fhould take heed, and carefully examine themselves, left they build upon a foundation of fand? How neceffary and pertinent then the caution of the apoftle, "Let him that thinketh he ftandeth take heed left he fall." And fince, as our Saviour declares, many, who fhall feek to enter in at the trait gate, or pay fome attention to divine things, will not be able to enter in; it is manifeft, that thofe, who live in finful practices, or are careless and negligent of divine things, will certainly fall fhort of heaven-" For if the righteous fcarcely be faved, where fhall the ungodly and the finner appear?" Thefe confiderations fhew, how neceffary and important it is, that we fhould "give all diligence to make our calling and election fure," if we would ob tain the heavenly inheritance. Finally, fince mankind are fo prone to reproach and make light profeffion is falfe, and that they are yet in the gall of bitterness. "He that hath an ear, let him hear.” HE. Peter's Improvement of his fall. ESUS CHRIST warned his difciples of their approaching trial, when he was about to be betrayed into the hands of his en emies. He declared to them that they all would be offended because of him, and would defert difciple, in particular, "I have thee, that thy faith And while he told Peter of the petition which he had prefented to his Father, in his behalf, he commanded him on his recovery from his lapfe, to ftrengththou art converted ftrengthen thy en his brethren. "And when brethren :" i. e. "When thou haft returned from thy backfliding by repentance, labor to engage all thy brethren in the faith, to adhere him when he should be apprehend-teadily and firmly to my caufe amidst all their temptations and trials." ed. Peter was very confident that Peter denied his Lord and mafter, and added prophanity to his denial. Peter was among the first of Chrift's difciples, and had that knowledge of him which feih and blood cannot reveal. He was, Peter continued a backflider but a fhort time. When Chrift turned and looked upon him after his third denial, confideration returned, his heart was tenderly touched and he went out and wept bitterly. His fubfequent life evidenced, that he remembered the charge which he had received to strength en his brethren. He never afterwards difcovered fuch confidence in himself as he did a little before his mafter was betrayed; he became more humble and watchful, and by his exemplary life promoted the edification and comfort of his brethren. In the hiftory of the Acts of the Apofties, we find Peter very active and zealous in his endeavors to win fouls to Chrift. Though he was very fuccefsful in his preaching on the like all other true believers," kept day of Pentecoft and afterwards, he by the power of God through never appeared to be puffed up with faith unto falvation." He was pride. He was courageous in ennot fecured against a temporary countering difficulties and dangers, lapfe; but his faith did not finally and was patient under fufferings. fail. He was included in the In these ways he confirmed the prayer which Chrift offered faith of his brethren, and animahis whole elect church, recorded ted them in their labors and perils. in 17th of John. Not one included in that prayer will perish. Chrift faid to this warm and rafh Luke xxii. 312 34 up for But I conceive that Peter was inftrumental in "ftrengthening his brethren," more especially by the Epistles which he wrote. The reader will find in them many paf fages, which are highly adapted to encourage and ftrengthen the people of God, in times of temptation and trial. Let him read the Epilles of Peter with a particular view to his improvement of his fall by his ftrengthening his brethren. My limits will permit me to felect only a few paffages. 1 Epiftle Chap. i. 6, 7. "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a feafon (if need be) ye are in heavinefs through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perifheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praife and honor, and glory at the appearing of Jefus Chrift." Chap. i. 11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as ftrangers and pilgrims, abftain from flethly lufts, which war against the foul." Chap. iv. 7. Be ye fober, and watch unto prayer." Read alto from the 12th verfe of the fame Chap-: ter to the end. As this paffage is fo long I fhall not tranfcribe it. Chap. v. 8, 9, 10. "Be fober, be vigilant; because your adverfa. adverfa. ry the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about feeking whom he may devour: whom refift stedfaft in the faith, knowing that the fame afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God ofall grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Chrift Jefus, after that ye have fuffered a while, make you perfect, ftablish, ftrengthen, fettle you." In the first Chapter of the fecond epiftle of Peter, he exhorteth his brethren, with a preffing warmth, to" give diligence to make their calling and election fure." In the beginning of the fecond Chapter he predicts the rife of falfe teachers within the pale of the vifible church," who privily fhall bring in damnable herefics-and that many fhall fol. "The low their pernicious ways." As Peter proceeds to give a lively and awful defcription of the conflagration of the earth, and the fature judgment. To adopt the language of Mr. Brown, in his Dictionary of the Holy Bible, "The conflagration of the earth, and the future judgment, are fo defcribed, that we almoft fee the flames af cending into the midst of heaven, feel the elements melting with fervent heat, and hear the groans of an expiring world, and the cruth and made more holy and watchful in his fubfequent behaviour. Scandalous and abominable as Peter's conduct was in the denial of Christ, he was not given up to ruin. Chrift had prayed for him that his faith might not fail; and by a reproving and kind look, brought him to a renewal of godly forrow; and made him highly inftrumental in confirming the faith of others, and in engaging them to adhere with greater conftancy to the rules of holy living. es of nature tumbling into univerfal.ruin." After defcribing the day of the Lord, in which he will appear as judge, and put an end to this earth and to thefe material heavens, he admonishes," Wherefore, beloved, feeing that ye look for fuch things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without fpot and blameless." He fpeaketh of the fcriptures being wrelted by the unlearned and unftable, to their own deftruction, and clofes his writings with warning and counfel to his brethren, None but the openly wicked, "Ye, therefore, beloved, feeing or hypocritical profeffors, will enye know these things before, be- courage a prefumptuous hope in ware left ye alfo, being led a- themselves from the momentary way with the error of the wicked, lapfe of Peter. The real difciples fall from your own fted faftness of Chrift will confider the cafe of But grow in grace, and in the this Apoftle, as a warning to knowledge of our Lord and Sav. them not to truft in their own iour Jefus Chrift. To him be glo- ftrength. "Let him that thinkry, both now, and forever. Amen." eth he ftandeth take heed left he From the fhort view which has fall." The fubjects of faving grace been taken of Peter's life and e- know that their perfeverance in hopiftles, we may fee that he improv-linefs is fecured only by the promed his fall in the wifeft and beftifes of God. On these they rely, manner. He was brought foon after his lapfe, to remember the command of his Lord to strengthen the brethren. The warnings and counfels which he gave by the immediate direction of the Holy Ghoft, have been highly inftrumental of encouraging and animating the people of God down to this day, especially when they have been exercifed with trials, and harraffed by temptations. and give diligence to make their calling and election fure. They cannot enjoy any affurance, or peace, in a backfliding state. On the renewal of their repentance, they will find encouragement by reflecting on the cafe of Peter, who returned with an aching heart and with flowing tears from his backfliding, and strengthened his brethren by his holy example and his wife counfels. BENEVOLUS. FOR THE CONNECTICUT EVAN- If we love God, we fhall adore the riches of his wisdom and grace, in bringing good out of evil. We fee one who was a real friend of Chrift, and a member of his immediate family while he taberna-On cled in flesh, falling in a shameful manner; and we behold the backflider foon in tears, and lying low before his offended Lord. We fee him humbled by the occafion of his fall, VOL. I. No. 12. -"Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Kkk |