drefs of the injury, muft accom- | done it, either by a grofs mistake, or they have abfented themfelves, through a fpirit, which indeed rendered them unfit to be parta pany our profeffions of repentance. 5. The obfervations which have been made, muft forcibly imprefs the importance of beingexceedingly cautious, that we never give any one a juft occafion of offence; for while this is the cafe, we are difqualified for any public acts of devotion and Chrif tian communion, until we have done every thing in our power to effect a reconciliation, and make more, we cannot be accepted in our clofet devotions, or in any kind of worship, until we truly repent, and are ready and defirous on the firft opportunity in our power, to give full fatisfaction. God will not accept any thing at our hands, while we wilfully live in a trefpafs against our brother. ADELPHOS. TO THE EDITORS OF THE CON- GAZINE. 4. It may not be improper here to notice the mifapplication and perverfion of the words under explanation, which fome have made, to justify themselves in withdraw-fatisfaction to the offended. Yea ing from the facrament of the Lord's fupper, and other acts of worship, under pretence that fome brother has given them occafion to have ought against him. The words are, If thou remembereft that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift, &c. and not, If thou haft ought against thy brother, leave thy gift until he repents. In this cafe, if the directions were, as fome feem to understand them, it would be in the power of an evil minded brother to prevent the whole church from all their public devotions, whenev.. er he pleafed. Satan would have every advantage he could defire to overthrow all public worship. If our brother have offended against us, and we have taken fuch meaf-your next number. ures as Chrift prescribes, and he will not repent, and the matter be fuch that it cannot be proved, and fo it cannot be brought before the church, and the offender be excommunicated, then we have done our duty, and there is no command or reason, why we should be debarred from the worship and ordinances of God, though the offender be prefent. Those who have thus perverted the direction under confideration, mult have GENTLEMEN9 IF you fhould judge the fol lowing letter calculated to enlighten, and confirm wavering minds, you are defired to publish it in Directions to a Friend how to diftinguish betwixt true and falfe doctrines in religion. MY DEAR FRIEND, YOU have repeatedly told me Y in private converfation, that your mind is greatly perplexed and ftumbled, on account of the numerous different fentiments and perfuafions, found amongst the profeffors of Chriftianity. You are very anxious to know, what | to convert finners, and to dispose fyftem of doctrines amongft them them to embrace the offers of fal all is genuine, and if embraced vation, made to them in the gof, will lead to falvation. I feel very pel of Chrift. defirous of giving your mind relief, on this interefting fubject. But in attempting this, I fhall cautiously avoid giving the preference of one denomination of Christians, to another. One leading fentiment of the Bible is, that the way in which God faves finners, tends to exalt the Godhead, as the Alpha and Omega in their falvation, and to humble their pride, to ftrip them of their felf-righteoufnefs-tocure them of their vain boafting-and to drive them from every ftrong hold and refuge of lies, to Chrift, the only ark of safety. The genuine fcripture fentiments tend alfo, to produce a benevolent temper-holiness-love It is undoubtedly true that the children of God, through the great imperfections which attend this prefent ftate, differ in regard to modes and forms of worship, and in things which may be called the non-effentials of religion, while they agree in the weightier mat ters. Nay, we may be affured-godly that all fincere Chriftians do harmonize, in thofe truths which are cffential to falvation. When two perfons or parties differ widely in thefe, one or the other muft be fatally erroneous ! That you may difcern betwixt truth and error, in things which concern your falvation, you muft get fome of the leading fentiments contained in the bible, fixed in your mind, with which to compare, what you hear or read. Afk you what are those leading fentiments? I anfwer fome of them are the fol. lowing, viz. That mankind are by nature, wholly deftitute of any thing morally good-And though they are impotent, yet their impotency being of the moral kind, or confifting chiefly in oppofition of their wills to God, renders them altogether criminal and inexcufable, for continuing in their difobedience to the gospel, That God therefore "commandeth all men every where, to repent and to believe in Chrift." And, as no one will obey this command, while he retains his love of wickedness; it is an act of fovereign grace in God, forrow for fin-faith, humility-a prayerful, humble, circumfpect, felf-denying practice a weanednefs from the vices, vanities, and finful pleasures of this vain world. They lead people to prize Christ and the riches of his grace, as the pearl of great price to lay up a treasure in heaven, and to be willing to part with all their friends and poffeffions, yea and their own lives for his fake. The true gofpel fentiments, when cordially embraced and practifed, reconcile finners to the character of God-to his holy precepts, and to all thofe great myfteries, contained in his word, or in his providential dispensations, They difpofe them to renounce their idols, and to chufe God for the portion and happiness of their fouls, to make Chrift their righteoufnefs and ftrength; and to ap. ply to him for pardon, for fancti fication, and eternal redemption. One leading doctrine of the bible is, that all the true friends and faithful followers of Jefus Chrift, will be admitted to inexpreffible rewards of glory and blessedness, in the coming world; and that fuch as die in their finful, impeni. tent ftate, will be doomed to that mifery which is inconceivably dreadful, and which will be endlefs in duration ! Now, Sir, I request you to fearch the fcriptures attentively, and you will find they contain thofe leading truths, at which, I have only very briefly hinted. And when you read or hear doctrines advanced, which correfpond with these fundamental principles, you may fafely embrace them, as the genuine truths of the bible. But if you hear things advanced, which tend to build up unholy finners upon themfelves, or that hold them up to view, as poffef fing fome virtue or fome qualifications, which may recommend them to God; when you hear them encouraged that their ftate is fafe, fhort of a new heart, or an intereft in Chrift, when you hear fentiments which derogate from the glory of God, or that afcribe a part of the honor of the falvation of finners to themselves; you ought to reject them, as altogether unfcriptural, and extremely dangerous to the fouls of men. ; or THE following sketch of biography, is prefented for your inspection; and if you think proper may be given to the public thro your very useful Magazine. "Thrice welcome death! That after many a painful bleeding ftep, Conducts us to our home, and lands us fafe On the long wifh'd for fhore. -Sure the last end Of the good man is peace. How calmı his exit ! Night-dews fall not more gently to the ground, Nor weary worn-out winds expire fo foft. Behold him in the evening tide of life, like the fan feems larger at his fetting! High in his faith and hopes, look how he reaches After the prize in view! and, like a You are to follow the fame rule, when you hear any doctrine taught, which tends to leffen the obligations of finners to repent and live a holy life, or that implies a connivance at their pride of heart, or floth, or unbelief which reprefents that one foul of the finful race can ever be faved, anlefs he experience the fanctifying grace of God in truth, and yield a cordial compliance with the gofpel of Chrift. You are to reject every fentiment or fyftem, in which the guilt and inconceivable ruin of fuch as die in their fins, are extenuated, or held forth to be more favorable, than they are reprefented in the word of God. And now, my friend, I com- of the late Col. Tracy of Lisbon, bird away. That's hamper'd, struggles hard to get mifs'd! Tis done, and now he's happy!" A BLAIR. FEW particulars in the converfation and conduct in this ftate, as he drew near the works of the Redeemer. Hav clofe of life, may not be unworthy the attention of the public, and probably may gratify the pious and devout. "How ing Doctor Doddridge's expofition of the New-Teftament by her fide, she asked him if fhe fhould read in that He replied, "I had Apprehenfive from the firft of rather hear you read the Bible: his complaint that it would prove I want to hear fomething our Samortal, he often expreffed a wifh viour did while here on earthto get well if it might be confift- Some of his own words." She then ent with the divine will: But as he read the xvii. chap. of St. John's often faid, "I have no wish to al- gofpel, with which his heart was ter the divine decrees. If I know fenfibly touched, and he observed, my own heart, I don't wish to How good is the word of God! live, unless I can live to the glory and efpecially upon reading the of God. I defire to grow in his 20th and 21ft verses he was greatimage. I think I could be ufefully moved and exclaimed, in my family, but God knows what is beft. I long to be entirely prepared for his will. I beg for patience. I defire never to complain." In the fame connection he also obferved, "I think I have taken great pleasure in trying to fupport the cause of religion in fociety, and in my family. If I love any thing, I love religion, and good order. I feel a great deal for the rifing generation. Oh, that God would appear for his own caufe." After his bodily diforders had reduced him fo much that it was thought improper for him to attempt going to meeting, and he was defired to relinquish the proposal, he replied, Oh, I love to go to the house of God as long as I can- -I long to fee the people flocking to Chrift with willing minds"-and added a devout afpiration, "Pity the tions O our God, and conflrain the whole world to come. -I have a most ardent defire for a revival of religion in this place." The comfort which he drew from the fcriptures was very noticeable-they were indeed to him the words of eternal life. On returning from a fhort ride a few days before his decease, he requested his wife to read to him fome of the glorious na extenfive." Referring to Christ's and I defire his will may be done in every refpect. I am entirely at his difpofal." He was afked whether he wifhed to fee his children; to which he confented. But as fome of them lived at a fhort diftance, he wished to fpeak to his apprentices; to whom, when called, he addreffed himself as follows-" There was fomething new, took place laft night in my disorder, that I fuppofe will in a few hours put welfare. To almoft every one he an end to my life here-and I hope the Divine Spirit will accompany my foul into the world of glory! If you have not made your peace with God, do not give fleep to your eyes, nor flumber to your eye-lids, till you have-do not | think by and by, will do as well -You must be engaged to fecure an intereft in Chrift-foon your probation feafon will be over; then all will be fixed forever; there is no poffible alteration after death. I believe religion is of the greatest importance. Do read the Bible; it is given by divine infpiration. You must pray to God. I have had a great defire for the good of your fouls. Do try to make your peace with God-it is worth every thing to have God for our friend. Seek firft an intered in Christ, and then you will be hap-immortal foul, which must be faved py, both in this world, and the world to come." Here he felt fpent, and thought he could fay no more, but afterwards revived, and converfed feparately with each of them. Within a week preceding his death, it was thought he converfed with nearly an hundred perfons who vifited him for this purpose. He wished to fee the fociety's committee for fupplyingly impreffive, and no feeling the pulpit, of which he was one. Being called," he begged they . would pare no pains in refettling a gofpel minifter in the parish as foon as poffible. He longed to have the worship of God maintained conftantly, and his word preached without intermiffion in its ftated feafons. The good of Zion, and the glory of God, filled his heart; nor could he die quietly till he had put forth his laft effort to promote them. In converfing with large numbers who called upon him, he ufed the great eft freedom, and feemed regardless of every thing but their eternal | | or loft-Oh, do not negle&till it is too late-It is out of pure regard that I prefs the matter fo clofeOh, how I long for the falvation of your fouls, that you might know the happinefs of trufting them to God, in a faving manner." The pathetic and folemn manner in which he exhorted many who appeared rather doubtful, was deep mind could remain unaffected.To fome likewife who had famlies, he would fay, "Think of your families--call them together morning and evening, and read the word of God, and pray for yourfelves and them: If youdo this in a fincere manner, God will blefs you. You are accountable for the fouls of your children-do not neglect them.-Oh! I know not how to leave begging you to get the one thing needful." The fame ardent defire for the good of fouls likewife appeared in his exhortations to different characters, and in urging them to their ref |