IV. THE DISCIPLINE TO BE EXERCISED BY THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

1. Its vigour and efficiency mainly depend upon this. By its discipline, we intend those means which are requisite to sustain its efficiency and purity. As to the first we remark, that the offerings of the church are to be purely voluntary. The end of the church's existence cannot be realised without support obtained from its members. The expenditure necessarily contracted, in various ways, must be met. The support of the ministry-the erection or possession in some way of places of worship the decency and order requisite for divine service-the claims and necessities of the poor members, upon which the Scriptures give us positive and clear injunctions, must be provided for; and the obligation rests with the church to do all these things. But all this is voluntary; it is free. It must be given from love to Christ, or it is not accepted by him. The Scriptures, in these matters, know nothing of force or compulsion. It will receive from all, but it compels none. It is the cheerful, not the constrained, giver which God approves; and upon this principle all the efforts of the church must be based, and all its contributions should be raised. The opposite principle has been productive of measureless distress, both to individuals and to the interests of truth. When the support of religion has been forced with the bayonet, or has exposed the individual to imprisonment and death, religion bas wept over such scenes, whilst in the strongest terms she has repudiated and denounced them. Infidels and sceptics have laid hold of this compulsory method of supporting religion to condemn Christianity. They have made it the occasion of proclaiming that Christianity is only tyranny and priestcraft; but, in doing this, they have only betrayed their ignorance and folly. It is not the church of Christ that does this. It is not the religion of the Bible that does this. No! but something else which has usurped her place and claimed her name! No truth is more clear than this, that the Apostles and first ministers of the Gospel depended upon the voluntary support of their converts, and left it as the will of their Lord, that every thing which was contributed either for the poor or for the ministry should be voluntary and free.

2. The discipline of the church not only relates to its efficient support, but also to its purity. The New Testament lays down this principle as to its members-that they should continue to obey the Gospel. We cannot read the heart, and therefore some who are admitted into the church may prove to be deceivers or apostates, and thus show that either they never repented of their sins and believed in Christ, or have become degenerated from the faith and hope of the Gospel. Now, how does the New Testament direct us to deal with such persons. Does it recommend the inquisition or spiritual courts, imprisonment, torture or death. No! does it tell us to burn them as heretics, or even to deprive them of temporal or political rights! It tells us of no such things. The true church appeals to no such terrors; these things may make men hypocrites, but they can never make men Christians. The New Testament tells us to bear with them for a season. If they offend or sin to reprove them, and if they repent to forgive them. It says, "If thy brother sin against thee, first,

speak to thy brother alone, if he refuse to hear thee, then take with thee one or two more-if he shall neglect to hear them, then tell it to the church, and if he refuse to hear the church (that is, the congregation of the faithful) then let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican." Matt. xviii. 15-17. But the offence may be more grievous. The sin may be public, aggravated, and scandalous. What is the discipline recommended in this case? Why, simply and solemnly, to separate such an individual from communion with the saints, as a man who is not a Christian, and to declare publicly, that, in the opinion of the church, such an individual is not a disciple; that he has no claim to the name, and promise, and hope of a Christian. The Scripture enjoins no more, and the church is not warranted to adopt any other discipline. What a contrast does this present to the punishment which Anti-christian churches have inflicted upon millions. How beautiful, how simple, are the laws of Christ's house! It would bless all, whilst it would inflict injury upon none. Christ came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. We proceed in the last place to notice

V. THE DESIGN OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

1. It is established to display the perfection and glory of God. The Psalmist distinctly avows this, "When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory." Psalm cii. 16. And the Apostle Paul still more fully and clearly adverts to the same thing, "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which, from the beginning of the world, hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. To the intent, that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God." Ephes. iii. 9, 10. It is in the church that God unfolds his richest glory, his infinite grace, and the unutterable compassion which he has felt for a sinful and dying world. Nothing is comparable to this! Creation is only a shadow; its brightest glories and its richest combinations of wisdom and power are only faint and feeble, when compared with that which the redemption of his people from misery and hell will eternally display.

2. Another design of the church of Christ is, that it should be the medium through which God's grace shall be bestowed upon a guilty world. The members of the church are said to be, the lights of the world, and the salt of the earth. To them God has entrusted the depository of his truth, and knowledge of the heavenly treasure. Upon them he has bestowed the exalted blessedness and the unspeakable honour of being his agents for the world's restoration to purity, happiness, and God. If the darkness in which mankind dwell is to be chased away, if the superstitions which oppress and degrade the human family are to be broken; if holiness and truth are to triumph over impurity and error; if the knowledge of the Lord is to cover the earth as the waters cover the channels of the great deep-it will be by the agency of the church of Christ alone. This is her high and hallowed mission. To her the command is given, "Preach the Gospel to every creature," "that God's way may be known upon earth, and his saving health among all nations."

3. The church of Christ upon earth is designed to fit its members for the church of the redeemed in heaven.

It was established for this purpose. It is perpetuated chiefly for this end. The design is, that, by proper discipline, the exhibition of sound doctrine, and the continuance of religious ordinances, the people of God may be preserved in their distinctive character, sustained in their Christian course, and incited to holier and more ardent aspirations after the mind and image of God. The church is a social compact, having an identity of nature and interests. It is a mutual association, formed for mutual sympathy, mutual instruction, and mutual prayer, that, by religious intercourse, its members may be blended into one spirit of meekness, gentleness, humility, holiness, faith, and love. Who, we ask, are fitted for the exalted society of "the just made perfect in heaven," but those who have been assimilated into the same spirit, and are animated with the same feelings, hopes, and desires!

How enviable is the situation of that man who has a name and a place amongst the people of God, and who sustains a relationship to the holiest and best Being in the universe! We have no notion of persons going to heaven in solitude, abstracted, or detached from the church of the living God; unknown in the sphere of their operations; unmindful both of the church and of the world; and exhibiting a spirit of listlessness, as to whether our holy religion prosper and triumph, or whether it languish and decay. Away with such pretensions! they are in opposition to the Word of God; they are in opposition to the usage of the church in all ages; and they are totally at variance with the genius and spirit of our common Christianity. Church fellowship must be sought after and enjoyed. We have a positive command upon this subject, from which there is no appeal, "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhort one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." Heb. x. 25. The church has her adversaries, but she shall eventually triumph over them all. The tabernacle of God shall be set up in the world, and angels and men shall join in one universal chorus, loud as the sound of many waters," Hallelujah! hallelujah! the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord, and his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever."

M. BESWICK.

REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH OF MOSES.

As

AMONG the various persons whose histories have been sketched by the pen of inspiration, Moses, is certainly one of the most remarkable. we trace the various movements of his eventful life, we see him sustaining a character, enjoying privileges, and performing acts which fully justify the eulogium pronounced upon him after his decease" And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharoah, and to all his servants,

and to all his land, and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel." (Deut. xxxiv. 10, 11, 12). Selected by GoD to lead the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, out of the house of bondage, in which they had so long been afflicted, that they might go to the land of Canaan, which had been promised to their fathers, he, after some of the most terrible manifestations of the Divine power and vengeance against Pharaoh and his people, brought them out; and, having conducted them through a variety of wonderful scenes and circumstances, at length saw them to the borders of the promised land.

Now, it appears, that, after leaving Egypt, Moses was anxiously desirous, not only to lead the Israelites to Canaan, but to see them actually in possession of it. He had heard so much of its beauty and fertility, that he prayed earnestly that he might "go over Jordan, and see this goodly mountain, and Lebanon." Owing, however, to circumstances which transpired at the waters of Meribah, (Numb. xx.) this was not permitted; on the contrary, he and Aaron his brother, having there grieved GOD by their unbelief, were informed by him that they should not "bring the congregation to the land which he had given them." Soon after, Aaron died on Mount Hor; subsequently to that event, the subject of the dissolution of Moses was several times referred to, in those seasons of gracious intercourse with which Moses was so signally honoured by GoD.

Soon after Moses had been employed in offering up a song of praise to the Giver of all Good, and in giving the people, whom he was about to leave, a word of exhortation, the Lord said unto him, "Get thee up into this mount Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession; and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people; because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel." (Deut. xxxii. 49-52.) Here we behold the goodness and severity of God: his severity in not permitting Moses to enter that Canaan which had so long been the object of his desire; and his goodness in promising him, notwithstanding, an extensive prospect of it, and in giving such specific directions as to the spot from which this was to be obtained. The movements of Moses through life had all been ordered by God, and now the same watchful Providence directs and arranges the circumstances of his death. Truly, "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." As he passes the years of his pilgrimage on earth, the eye of God is upon him, directing him in his wanderings: and when at length he comes to the closing scene, the hand of his heavenly Father prepares his dying bed. This may be either on the mountain-top, or in the depths of the valley; in his own house, surrounded by anxious and weeping friends, or at the bottom of the mighty deep, far from home and all its tender sympathies; but it matters not, it is the place selected by Infinite Wisdom and Benevo

lence, and becomes, to the departing saint, of God and the gate of heaven."

66 none other than the house

The manner in which Moses received the Divine communication, was worthy of the character which he had previously sustained as the meekest of men. Had he been a man of a different spirit, or one not blessed with assurance of the Divine favour, he would have listened to it in a very different way. Discontent at the apparent severity of the Almighty, disappointment at not being permitted to enter Canaan, and fear as to his future destiny, would probably have been the prevailing feelings of his mind. But it was not so with him; for, possessing a meek and quiet spirit, combined with a firm reliance in the justice, wisdom, and mercy of God, he saw the equity of the Divine procedure, acquiesced in the Divine arrangement, and, confident that all things would work together for his good, committed the keeping of his soul to God, " as unto a faithful Creator." No sinful murmurings escaped his lips; no unbelieving fears disturbed the peacefulness of his soul; but with the most perfect resignation and composure, he prepared for his approaching death. Instead of cursing the people, who, by their rebellious conduct, had led him to grieve God,-in consequence of which he was to have a premature grave, he opened his mouth and blessed them; and, concluding with a glorious description of their coming greatness and felicity, he hastened to the spot appointed for the termination of his honourable and useful life. How full of instruction is the example which Moses thus exhibited ! Sooner or later we shall all receive" the sentence of death in ourselves." Unless we are removed suddenly, the symptoms of mortality in "the earthly house of this our tabernacle" will multiply and manifest themselves in such a way as to convince us, that soon "God will bring us to death and to the house appointed for all living." We may thus be doomed to see some of our fondest hopes blasted, and schemes which we had formed for our future career rendered abortive; the ties binding us to earth may be many and endearing, and the prospect of their severance may make us exceeding sorrowful; however, we must not repine, but rather bow with entire resignation, assured that "He doeth all things well.”

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In Deut. xxxiv. 1-6, we have an account of the death and burial of Moses, full of interest and instruction. "And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho." This was the place which had been marked out by God, and thither, in obedience to his command, Moses went. Though he was a hundred and twenty years old, his “natural force" was not abated; with all the activity of a youth and the cheerfulness of a saint, he ascended the mount, and, having arrived on its summit, prepared to die. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead unto Dan, and all Naphtali; and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, and the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm-trees, unto Zoar." Though Moses probably went up to Pisgah by himself, he soon found glorious company there. Like the " Great Prophet" whose advent he had foretold, he was not alone, for the Father was with him. The God whom he had served so faithfully in life, did not forsake him in the hour of death, but became then the strength of his heart. So it is with the dying Christian.