ims of human policy, assimilated, as nearly as possible, to the civil state, and incorporated with it, as a corrupt tool, for promoting, more effectually, its sinister designs. The kings of the earth, not satisfied with supreme power in civil things, bave assumed the headship in all matters ecclesiastic, robbed the church of every sacred right, rendered her amenable at their tribunals, and have not left her even the vestige of liberty. They have wrested from her hand the power conferred by her Lord, of convocating and adjourning her judicatories, and of cognoscing and determining her own internal concerns. They have prescribed to her, under imperious restrictions, the subjects of discussion; and, by brandishing the sceptre over her head, have terrified her into such decisions as subserved their political designs. They have determined the articles of her faith; judged of the qualifications of her teachers, and intruded them upon her, though corrupt and immoral, in opposition to the reclaiming voice of her members; prescribed the forms of her worship; determined the grounds, and fixed the seasons of public fasting and thanksgiving; and suspended her officers from their sacred places and functions, &c. &c. Every such attempt is a tyrannical usurpation of the church's rights. Her Lord has no where invested the civil magistrate with any such power over her; he could not as he had no such authority from his Father. There is no vestige in the Scriptures of any power whatever, respecting the internal affairs of the church, conferred on the civil magistrate; she herself is the sole subject of this power. No other proof is necessary but the commission given to the Apostles. All power was lodged with Christ for managing the concerns of his church, in virtue of which, he invested them with power to regulate all her affairs, according

to the laws he enacted. In his address to Peter, though not exclusively meant of him, he said, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Mat. xvi. 19. The same power is affirmed of the church representative in general, chap. xviii. 18. "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven." And to the disciples at large, after his resurrection, John xx. 23. "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. Christians, as members of civil society, owe obedience to the lawful magistrate, in civil things, but they owe him no obedience as church members, because he has no claim to it. Though Christ is the Prince of the kings of the earth, and head over all of them for the good of his church, he has not invested them with any power over her. He has a right to their power and influence to support and defend her, as nursing fathers, and in this way he will have all dominions to serve and obey him. The civil kingdom is not founded in purchase, nor does it hold any spiritual relation to him; its laws are wholly civil, while those of the church are spiritual: being thus so distinct, neither of them has a right, to assume power over the other. When the civil magistrate pla ces himself at the head of the church, he assumes the place of Christ her alone head, an act of the highest arrogance man can attempt; and he commits the most daring robbery in wrenching from her these rights which her Lord has purchased at a valuable price. Is it not the highest presumption in a worm of earth to attempt to reverse the decisions of Zion's king, and cancel his laws? And does not that church, which tame

ly submits to such encroachments, undervalue her privileges and pour the highest contempt upon her Lord, and the rights he has given her?

Bur the church herself is often chargeable with introducing innovations contrary to the laws of her king. He has not vested in her any power to legislate, to innovate, or alter any of her laws, or new model them, at her pleasure. Her doctrines, ordinances, government and discipline are all explicit; and her business is to receive these, to adhere scrupulously to them, and to guard them against all corruption and innovation. Christ's commission to the Apostles bears, that they were to teach the churches to observe all things whatsoever he commanded them. Paul considered himself set for the defence of the gospel, and would not give place, even for an hour, to such as would infringe her liberty. The church deviates from the laws of her Sovereign when she corrupts the doctrines of the gospel, or allows errors to be introduced without checking them; by clothing persons of corrupt principles with authority to teach others; by holding in her connection persons of flagitious lives; by prostituting the seals of God's covenant to the profane; neglecting the faithful application of her censures, or bartering them for money, &c. In such cases, or others similar, the authority of the church's head is rejected, and his statutes altered. She presumes that she knows better than he what will best promote her interest; and even claims a power superior to his.

5. THOUGH the obedience which is due to Zion's king is difficult, his people have the greatest encouragement to engage in it. Worldly potentates demand allegiance from their subjects without affording them any assistance to perform it; they rather depend upon

their subjects, and cannot act but as they are supported by them. Jesus can receive no aid from his subjects; nor does he need it; and when he demands obedience to his laws he offers them every assistance, and every encouragement they need. This belongs to that dignified place which he holds. It was for this purpose he received the Spirit at his ascension to his Father's right hand, that from his fulness his people might receive grace for grace. The charge of all the concerns of his people is committed to him by his Father, and he must both save them from sin, and make them obedient subjects to his laws.

You profess to be the subjects of the church's Lord, and are now employed in his immediate service: let me then remind you, that he sends none a warfare at their own charges. You may find considerable difficulties in your way, in following him, and obeying his laws. The felt prevalence of lust in your hearts, opposing the spiritual motions of the new man, and distracting your thoughts; the recollection of special favours and seasons of grace little valued or improved; an impressive sense of your own vileness and unworthiness, powerfully affect your minds, and produce fears and apprehensions lest you should meet your king in anger rather than in love, and these rather operate to deter you from applying to him. You ought to beware of improper apprehensions of him, and of wrong conclusions about the part you should act, or the issue of your situation. Your condition is such as to furnish considerable work to your king, and he wishes nothing more than employment in doing something for your souls; because in this way the pleasure of his Father prospers in his hand. If you see the necessity of having lust subdued, your souls purified, and your minds composed, in order to serve him Оо

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in a suitable manner, be assured he is waiting till put the work into his hand. If these things are your burden, and if you are anxious to be relieved from

them, none can be more welcome to Jesus than you, "Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Why should your unworthiness be made an obstruction in your way? Is it possible you can be worthy of the favour of your king? Did he ever receive any on that footing? Did he receive you at first on account of your worth? No truly. You were received when most unworthy, dead in sins, enemies to God in your minds, and by wicked works. He made you welcome then, and he does so still. Be assured that your sins, your vileness, and your unworthiness, have nothing to do in regulating the administration of God's covenant; for if they had, that covenant behoved to proceed on some other footing than free grace. Bring your idols, your lusts and your vileness to him, even at his own table, not to retain or indulge them, but to have them destroyed, and none shall be more acceptable to him. He will do the work for you, he will communicate his Spirit, and fit you for intercourse with himself. Though iniquities prevail against you, he will purge them away. Though you are weak and languishing, he will lay hold of you, and cause you to approach unto himself; that you may be satisfied with his goodness. The spouse prayed, "Draw me." The king answered her prayer, and brought her into his chambers; so pray ye, and "He will bring you into the house of wine, where the banner of love is displayed." If you keep back till you have slain your lusts, cast down your idols, and purified your souls, you would rob him of the honour of a very material part of his work; but beware of this lest you rob

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