tural wisdom, that makes him fit for government in the Church of Christ: all his endowments must be seasoned with the heavenly salt, and his gifts pass through the fire of God's altar a sacrifice to his praise and honour, that so self being baptized into death, the gifts may be used in the power of the resurrection of the life of Jesus in him.

D 2

GAMING AND DIVERSIONS.

AS our time passeth swiftly away, and our delight ought to be in the law of the Lord, it is advised that a watchful care be exercised over our youth and others in membership, to prevent their going to stage plays, horse races, music, dancing, or any such vain sports and pastimes; and being concerned in lotteries, wagering, or other species of gaming. And as we are not only accountable for our substance, but also for our time, let them be employed in fulfilling our respective religious and social duties, remembering the injunction "Work while

it is called to-day, for the night cometh wherein no man can work."

All parents and heads of families are exhorted to seek to be endued with the clothing of the Holy Spirit, that they may at suitable seasons be enabled to raise in the minds of the youth, and those under their direction, a sense of the inexpressible ⚫ comfort and delight which attends the ex

ercise of true religion and virtue; thus they will see that the sports and diversions which are used to obtain what is falsely called pleasure, are the inventions of degenerate and corrupt minds, who being ignorant of that solid satisfaction of soul which is of an enduring nature, vainly attempt to supply the want of it by those pleasures which end in anxiety and

sorrow.

MARRIAGE.

MARRIAGE being an ordinance of God, he alone can rightly join man and woman therein; neither priest nor magistrate are requisite to its accomplishment; and as we shall not find in all the Scripture that the priest had any part therein further than as a witness among others that were present, we cannot countenance any in the exercise of a function which we believe is designed merely to advance the interest and profits of a certain class of men; and which is no part of the office of a Gospel Minister.

As marriage is an engagement of great importance to our present peace and future well being, it is much desired that it may not be entered upon inconsiderately or on motives evidently inconsistent with that unerring wisdom by which it was primarily ordained: which was, for the mutual assistance and comfort of the parties in spirituals and temporals; and that their offspring may be educated in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and for the discharge of their duty in their various allotments in the world. Marriage implies union as well in spiritual as temporal concerns. Whilst the parties differ in religion they stand disunited in the main point, even that which should increase and confirm their mutual happiness, and render them meet-helps and blessings to each other. Where it is otherwise, the reciprocal obligation in