man of my parish, with whom he there contracted an acquaintance. He professed to have had the charge of a large congregation in England-to have been a warm advocate of the American cause-to have suffered much by pleading and writing in its defence to have left his country, flock, family and interest, and to have fled hither, that he might escape the rage of political persecution. He made great pretensions to piety, called himself a disciple of Whitefield, talked much about his conversion, expressed great indifference to the world, an ardent affection to my people, an anxious concern for them in their destitute condition, and an earnest desire to serve the interest of their souls. He brought no credentials from England; but imputed the omission to the precipitancy of his flight in a moment of danger, having by force effected an escape from a king's ship, on board of which he had been impressed by the direction of the officers of government, to prevent his influence in favour of America. (But though his flight was so sudden, I found that he had leisure to collect and bring with him large parcels of manuscripts.) He exhibited some testimonies, that he had sometimes officiated as a chaplain on board the ship, in which he came from France.

The defect of credentials was easily overlooked in a man of so much patriotism, piety and benevolence; especially under the existing circumstances of my people. He was invited into the pulpit to supply for a single Sabbath. Some who heard him, wished to hear him again. He soon was hired, by desire of the

parish, to supply for a number of Sabbaths. His manner of preaching was vehement and vociferous; but his matter generally crude and unconnected. There were some good observations, which seemed to be delivered from his manuscripts; but there was much trash and error, of which the judicious hearers gave him the credit. He appointed frequent lectures and conferences in different parts of the parish, and seemed to prefer evening exercises. He

acted as officially as if he had been the settled minister of the parish; I was seldom consulted, and seldom seen by him, except on the Lord's day. He laboured to disaffect the minds of my people to me, and in some instances he was for a time successful. In those whom he thought friendly to him he endeavored to excite prejudices against such as he judged to be otherwise. In short he acted in the genuine character of an impostor.

After he had preached in the pulpit seven sabbaths, and also a thanksgiving, on which his performance was more intolerable than usual, the dissatisfaction of the people became so apparent, that he abruptly left the pulpit, and set up a private meeting, on which a small number attended for a short time. But he proceeded not far, "for his folly was made manifest to all men ;" and he withdrew, and went where he could find a place.

He, however, left some minds soured with the prejudices, and tinctured with the errors, which he had infused by his preaching, especially by his private lectures and conferences. He had publickly and privately reviled the standing ministry-had taught that every saint has a right to preach, who can find hearers-that saints certainly know each other's hearts, and all whom they cannot fellowship are unregenerate-that the church ought to admit none to communion, but those whom she knows to be regenerate, and none ought to offer themselves to communion, but they who know themselves to be such-that, in scripture, besides the literal, there is a mystical, spiritual sense, which none but saints understand, and which is immediately communicated to them by the spirit of God, &c. &c. And these sentiments some had imbibed.

A few of the members withdrew from the church. A committee was appointed to confer with them. The reasons which they assigned in justification of their conduct were, "that the church was impure, discipline lax, the unregenerate were admitted and retained." In this period I hired supplies for the pulpit, and de

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sisted from preaching, except when supplies failed. But as soon as I had recovered a competency of strength for application to my studies, I endeavored to correct people's sentiments on the beforementioned subjects.

I preached two sermons on the marks of false teachers, or wolves in sheep's clothing, which, about five years after, were published at the desire of a number of my people, and some of my brethren in the ministry, to whom I had communicated them. They have had about ten editions; one in Edinburgh, by the influence of Dr. Erskine, who politely sent me a copy.

About the same time I preached two sermons on the qualifications for church membership, and the nature of christian fellowship. These were, sometime after, published in the American Preacher, and have since passed through two, or three editions.

I also preached a sermon on the presumption and impiety of all pretensions to a certain knowledge of other men's sanctity. This was not published. It has since been inserted in a volume.

I preached a sermon on the perspicuity of the scriptures, and the absurdity of seeking a mystical, in distinction from the plain literal sense. This was published in the American Preacher, and has since been re-printed in one of my volumes.

. These sermons appeared to have a happy effect on the minds of many who heard them.

By reason of my infirmity, the Lord's supper had, for an unusual length of time, been discontinued. But as soon as I thought myself able to administer it, I appointed it, and was so happy as to have the assistance of one of my ministerial brethren, in the solemnity. There was a general and serious attendance upon it, and a blessing seemed to follow it. Animosities and evil speakings subsided, and brotherly affection revived. On this occasion I could not but reflect on the error of some churches, which, when diffi

culties arise, discontinue this festival of love; as if the existence of sickness were a good reason for the disuse of remedies.

Though the church judged the reasons of withdrawment assigned by their dissenting brethren insufficient, yet candidly hoping, that their conduct proceeded from mistake, rather than perverseness, and that time and reflection would correct their error, she resolved not to censure them, but leave the door open for their Most or all of them returned; some very soon, and harmony was restored. I regained my health in a comfortable degree, and my services were as acceptable as in former times. Painful experience seems to have operated to fortify the minds of my people against the influence of intruding and disorganizing teachers.

return.

Before the dissatisfied brethren returned, one of them, a sensible and serious man, made me a friendly visit, and we entered into free conversation. I asked him the reason of his withdrawment. He said, it was the neglect of discipline in the church. I requested him to substantiate his charge by pointing out an instance of gross and criminal neglect. He named a member, who, he said, was habitually and grossly intemperate. I admitted the fact, and asked him, what ought to be done? He said, the brethren ought to deal with him and endeavor to reclaim him. I inquired, “Have you ever dealt with him?" He acknowledged he had not. I demanded, "Do you know that nobody else has ?" "No," said he, "but I never heard that any pains were taken with him." I told him, the church had done all that they could, except actual excommunication, which he was ever ready to prevent by a confession. Individuals had treated with him. A number of members, convened for the purpose, had admonished and reproved him. "Now, brother," said I, "you have imputed to the church a sin, of which you know yourself to be guilty, and know not that any other member is so. Go, deal with that broth

`er, whom you have inexcusably neglected. If you reclaim him, you will do him an eternal kindness, and give joy to the multitude of your brethren."

It was not long before this brother returned to our fellowship. But, alas! the unhappy offender remained unreformed.

An honest man, through error of judgment, may take a wrong step; but when he thinks on his ways, he will, like this man, return to the way of truth. But he who is drawn away by worldly lust, will endeavor to justify himself, and will wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

When church members withdraw from the communion of their brethren, the common excuse is, "Discipline is neglected." This is the stalking horse, on which they ride off.

I rarely have known an instance, where the brother, who assigns this reason, will dare to say, he has ever taken one step, administered one reproof, spoken one word, to reclaim the persons, with whom he pretends to be dissatisfied. The charge, which he throws on the church, recoils on himself. The honest christian, who cannot bear them that are evil, will be ready to assist his brethren in reforming them. He will be watchful and strengthen the things which remain. Many who withdraw from the church under pretensions of pious zeal, manifestly betray their own duplicity and corruption.

The apostle speaks of some, who withdrew from the churches of Christ, as acting under the influence of a charm, or fascination practised upon them by artful deceivers. This is doubtless the case with some in the present day. They are influenced, not by rational conviction, but by urgent feeling.

A very serious woman belonging to this church lived in the neighborhood of a man, who, though he never belonged to any church, nor professed any religion, yet was assiduous in his labours to detach her from her present connection, and induce her to join