strikes an occasional blow at them, yet it is with so light a hand as never to burt them It takes no decided stand on this side or that, and thereby obtains admission among all parties. If the friends of Christ meet together, it wishes to meet with them, though it be only to oppose every measure which may bear hard upon its favourite designs, and would take it very unkind to be treated as an intruder. If his enemies be assembled, it will also be there; and if no untrusty brother be in company, will commonly manifest itself to be then most in its element.

Now, let a spirit of this kind make its appearance in any other department than religion, and observe how it will be treated. In the year 1745, for instance, when the great question in the country was, Shall we support the reigning family, and the constitution; or shall we admit the Pretender, with popery and arbitrary power in his train? what would have been thought of a man who should bave pretended to be on neither this side nor that; but, talking against war, and in favour of moderation, liberality, and charity towards the unhappy youth, who by landing on our shores had greatly endangered his life, made use of all his influence to oppose every decided measure tending to drive him from the country? Sir, (they would have said,) you are on the side of the Pretender, and deserve to be taken up as a traitor.' And had he complained of their bigotry, narrow-mindedness, and ill-nature, his remonstrance would have deserved no regard. But is the cause of GOD and TRUTH of less importance than the temporal prosperity of a nation? Surely not!

If, indeed, our differences consist merely in words; or though they should be things, yet if they do not affect the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, considering the imperfections which attach to the best of men, a spirit of moderation or forbearance is here in character. When we have frankly spoken our minds, we may with a good conscience leave it, and join with our brethren, notwithstanding, in the work of the Lord. But in differences which respect the principles abovementioned, compromise would be treason against the Majesty of heaven. There were cases in which an apostle allowed that every one should be fully persuaded in his own mind: but there were cases also in which the doctrine

of Christ was given up; and if any man came as a minister without this, Christians were directed not to receive him into their houses, nor to bid him God speed. Such conduct in the present times would raise a great outcry of bigotry and illiberality: a plain proof this, that what passes among us under the names of moderation and liberality is in a great degree antichristian.

What is moderation? The scriptures recommend a yielding and gentle disposition in things wherein our own name or interest only are concerned.--Such is the moderation enforced by Paul: but when the continuance of the truth of the gospel was at issue, be refused to give place, even for an hour. The scriptures also recommend forbearance in Christians one towards another : but this is far from that spirit of indifference which would confound truth and error, religion and irreligion, the friends of Christ and the men of the world.

What is liberality? The term denotes freedom, or enlargedness of mind. It is applied in the scriptures merely, to that simple, sincere, and bountiful spirit, which communicates freely to the needy, and stands opposed to a sinister, close, contracted, and covetous disposition. The application of it to sentiments may be proper, when used to describe that enlargedness of mind which arises from an intimate acquaintance with the scriptures, and an extensive knowledge of men and things. A rigid attachment to modes and opinions merely of human authority, is often seen in persons who have read but little, and thought less. Had they seen more of the religious world, and heard more of what is to be said against the notions in which they happen to have been educated, their tenacity, we may commonly say, might be abated in other words, they might be more liberally minded, and moderate in their censures against those who differ from them. But to attribute all attachment to principles, and even modes of worship, to illiberality of mind, is itself illiberal. If an attachment, whether it be to one or the other, be the effect of impartial research, and a firm persuasion that they are the mind of God as revealed in his word, it is so far from indicating a bigoted, contracted, or illiberal mind, that it may arise from the contrary. The more we understand of divine truth, the more our minds will be enlarged, and the more

decided will be our opposition to error. To call that liberality which holds all doctrines with a loose hand, and considers it as of no importance to salvation whether we believe this or that, is a gross perversion of language. Such a spirit arises, not from enlargedness of mind, or from having read much, or thought much; but from the vanity of wishing to have it thought that they have. This vanity, when flattered by weak or interested men, induces the most ignorant characters to assume imperious airs, and to exercise a kind of contemptuous pity towards those who cannot treat the gospel with the same indifference as themselves. A minister who has wished for the liberty of playing fast and loose with Christian doctrines, without being disrespected by his congregation, bas been known to compliment them as an enlightened people, and to praise them for thinking for themselves; while in fact they have neither thought, nor read, nor understood, unless it were a few political pamphlets, and the doctrine of getting money.

It seems to be a criterion of this species of liberality that we think well of characters, whatever be their principles, and entertain the most favourable opinion of their final state. The writer was some time since in a company where mention was made of one who believed in the final salvation of all men, and perhaps of all devils likewise. "He is a gentleman (said one) of liberal principles." Such principles may, doubtless, be denominated liberal, that is, free and enlarged, in one sense; they are free from the restraints of scripture, and enlarged as a net which contains a great multitude of fishes, good and bad; but whether this ought to recommend them is another question. What would be thought of one who should visit the felons of Newgate, and persuade them that such was the goodness of the government, that not one of them, even though condemned, would be finally executed? If they could be induced to believe him, they would doubtless think him a very liberal-minded man: but it is likely the government, and every friend to the public good, would think him an enemy to his country, and to the very parties whom by his glozing doctrine he had deceived.

It is usual to call that man liberal who thinks or professes to think for himself, and is willing that every other person should do

the same. This, if applied to civil society, is just. Christianity will persecute no man for his religious principles, but meekly instruct him, in hope that God peradventure may give him repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. But apply the principle to religious society, and it is inadmissible. If one member of a Christian church be not accountable to another for what he believes, an infidel, in demanding the Lord's supper from a Christian minister as a qualification for office, demands no more than the other may conscientiously and scripturally comply with. In refusing to unite with an unbeliever, or a profligate, or one who in my judgment rejects what is essential to the gospel, I do not impose my faith upon him; but merely decline having fellowship with what I consider as a work of darkness.

The writer is acquainted with several dissenting churches at this time, which for some years past have acted upon what they call a liberal ground: that is, they have admitted men of all sorts of principles into their communion; and if some who once professed to be friendly to the doctrines of salvation by grace, the deity and atonement of Christ, acceptance with God through his righteousness, the necessity of the new birth, &c. become their avowed enemies, they take no notice of them; but leave them, as they say, to judge for themselves. The consequence however is, that many of these churches have in a few years become extinct; and those which remain have become mere worldly communities, going into many of the dissipations and follies which are practised by none but people who make no pretence to serious religion. I have generally observed, that those who are thus liberal in regard of principles, are seldom far behind as to their practices. Cards, balls, plays, &c. are with them innocent amusements. Such assuredly was not the liberality of Paul. He was, however, of an enlarged mind, and wished much for Christians to be also enlarged. But how? By opening their doors to worldly men, and holding fellowship with all sorts of characters? Not so; but by the direct contrary. Read 2 Cor. vii. 11. to the end. Oh, ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you; our heart is enlarged.--Ye are not straitened in us, but in your own bowels.—Be ye also enlarged.— Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. From hence VOL. VIII

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it would seem, that true enlargedness of mind is inconsistent with an indiscriminate communion with unbelievers, or worldly characters. And this accords with universal experience. Those Christian societies who are careful to preclude or exclude the enemies of the gospel, are in a good degree of one beart, and will feel themselves at liberty to engage in every good work in their social capacity. But those communities which are open to all, will never be agreed in any thing which requires self-denial, diligence, or devotedness to Christ. One will make this objection to the measure, another that; so that nothing will be effected. This is being yoked together with unbelievers: it is like yoking the sprightly horse with the tardy ass, which instead of helping only hinders him, and may in time so break his spirit as to render him nearly as tardy as the other. In vain do we separate from national establishments of religion to corrupt ourselves. Nonconformity to the ceremonies of the church is of no account, if it be attended with conformity to the world. If the seven Asiatic churches had been originally formed on these liberal principles, how came it to pass that they were censured for having those among them who held doctrines inconsistent with Christianity? On such principles, they might have excused themselves from blame, inasmuch as those individuals were only permitted to think and act for themselves.

SCRIPTURAL TREATMENT OF RICH AND POOR

CHRISTIANS.

It is a glory pertaining to the Christian religion, that it embraces in one community all ranks and degrees of men. It admits of civil