ted,

acquainted with it, is not only bound to explain
it to others, but to endeavour to preserve it
unsullied, in its native purity:---and it may be
inferred also from the doctrine of the author of
it
upon this
point, which is clothed in the beau-
t:ful oriental dress of parables, that those, who
will not follow his directious, when they know
them, are justly excluded from the blessings and
advantages his faithful servants enjoy.-The
virgins who took no oil with them to dress their
lamps, and were, therefore, unprepared to meet
the Bridegroom on his arrival, were not admit-
"after the door was shut."-The Bride.
groom himself returned this answer to their
application, when they knocked at his gate, “I
'know you not."-These foolish virgins thought
themselves quite as well qualified for the mar-
riage feast, as those who had abundance of oil
in their lamps, and were ready to receive the
Bridegroom. The man who hid his talent in
the earth, was excluded from his Lord's pre-
sence, with this terrible remark, "cast ye the
"unprofitable servant into outer darkness."-
The lessons of instruction and wisdom, conveyed
by these parables, are of universal application
as regards men, to the end of the world.-If.
unworthy citizens, were not excluded from the
councils of those, who are zealously endeavour-
ing to establish the kingdom of Christ on earth,
that great object would never be accomplished;
and, if apostates from his doctrine, and those
who are guilty of false worship were allowed to

',

dwell in it, it would no more be a kingdom of righteousness on earth, than the kingdom of God in heaven, would be a kingdom of purity and happiness, if "thieves and murderers, idol"aters and liars," were allowed to enter and dwell therein. With regard to apostates in religion, this is the opinion of Christ;-" no

man having put his hand to the plough, and "looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God:" and are not the professors of his religion to adopt his opinions, and act upon the same principles and policy that he did?-or, are they, in opposition to his maxims of prudential care and watchfulness, unnecessarily to exposc his church to danger, and themselves to the loss of every thing that is dear and valuable to them? Is a liberality, unknown to Moses, Elijah, and Christ, to induce us to pay a greater regard to the fancied interest of individuals, buried in ignorance and error, than to the real interest of true religion, and the express command of God?-When did any of these illustrious men, advocate the cause of idolatry, or of those who espoused religious doctrines, not of God, but of men? And yet, what real virtue were they deficient in?-Can we suppose, that they possessed not amongst their other virtues, as much true liberality, as any statesman of the present day, let him be ever so much celebrated for wisdom, humanity, and charity?—If Moses, Elijah, and Christ, were right in condemning religious errors, and the persons who held them,

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modern christians must be wrong, in alvocating the cause of people, who still hold the same kind of false doctrine, and refuse to give it up. We have also the highest authority for asserting, that empire or kingdom, can be considered safe and durable, that is not founded upon the solid basis of righteousness-A king may "build himself a wide honse and large chambers, and may ceil it with cedar, and paint it with vermilion ;"--but the prophet immediately asks, shall "he reign because he "clothes himself in cedar?"-Without "judge. ment and justice," his palace would "be full "of unrighteousness, and his end would be like "that of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Ju. "dah.”—National prosperity, with liberty and happiness, depend entirely upon conduct agreeable to God. The pride of a powerful nation may induce it to exclaim "who shall bring me "down?"-To which, the Almighty replies;though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, "thence will I bring thee down."-Suppose the constitution of a state, to be formed upon the required basis of judgement and justice; and suppose the church of Christ to be established in it, under the protection of the government of that kingdom, to which the people go with joy and gladness, a certain number only excepted, whose consciences, they argue, will not allow them to enter into it, and worship there;-is there any precept, or is any thing said in the

bible, that shews, that such dissentients are entitled to all the rights and privileges of that state, whose interest and welfare, depend upon its preserving the religion of Christ, pure and unsullied, and which cannot be so preserved, unless its governors are upright, zcalous meinbers of it?-When the Queen of Ahab, pat men into the highest posts of trust and honor it her husband's civil government, who performed their religious services in the house of Baal, instead of the temple of God, into what kind of a state did Israel quickly tall?-Scriptural precedents are against the adinission of the false worshipper where he can do no good, but where he may do much mischief;-and the whole tenour of the bible, is directly against the idolater, having any power in the affairs of the church of God.-Indeed it may be truly said to teach us, that the remark, with which a grave Roman senator, is reported to have finished some of his speeches in the senate house, respecting a city, which he looked upon as standing in the way of the rising grandeur and prosperity of his country, ought to be used by every British senator, and re-echoed by every member of the church of Christ :-the idolatry and false worship of the Roman Catholic religion must be destroyed." Every plant, said the son of "God, which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up.”—Noxious plants and weeds do not injure the growth of choice and valuable flowers, and spoil the appearance

of a beautiful garden, more than the unscriptural doctrine of Rome, and its tyrannizing power, prevent the diffusion of the principles of pure religion-the peace and happiness of man-and the accomplishment of one of Christ's great prophecies;-"If I be lifted 66 up from the earth, I will draw all men unto "me"-Fire and sword are not necessary for the destruction of religious errors:-the plain truth as it fell from the lips of Christ, often repeated by christians, will prove an irresistible weapon:-the repeated publication of it, may give offence, and excite indignation in some breasts; but that is not to be considered: we are perfectly safe when we imitate the example, and follow the directions of him, who said, "what I tell you in darkness, that speak

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ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, "that preach ye upon the house-tops."-On a particular occasion, when the hypocritical conduct of the Scribes and Pharisees had created a warmth of expression in him, which shewed his earnest zeal in the cause he had undertaken, his disciples seem to have been alarmed for his safety, and came to him saying, "knowest thou "that the Pharisees were offended at what you "said?" He replied, "let them alone-they "are blind leaders of the blind; and if the "blind lead the blind, both shall fall into a "ditch."-He had previously called them hypocrites, and applied the prophecy of Isaiah to them-This people draweth nigh unto me