of God, so that whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; for it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. Matt. 5: 3,4, 20. 2 Pet. 1: 11,4. Col. 3: 10. Matt. 5:13, 14. John 16: 8. Matt. 18: 8 and 10, 20. And now, ye christians, who have found this pearl of great price and obtained these holy things, take heed that you use them in a proper manner, according to the counsel of Christ, and not give them to the dogs, or cast them before swine; that is, such men as, having once ejected their sins, like the dog, swallow them again, or like the sow, having been washed, return again to their wallowing in the mire of their sins, (2 Pet. 2: 22,) lest they trample them under foot and turn again and rend you. Matt. 7:.6.

As Paul says to Timothy, Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings; for they will increase unto more ungodliness, and their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred, saying, That the resurrection is passed already, and overthrow the faith of many. 2. Tim. 2.

In this we observe how these backsliding members, who are compared to dogs and

swine, have turned again; how their words have rent and contaminated some, overthrowing their faith. Therefore Christ warns us not to give our holy things unto such, nor to have any fellowship with them; as Paul says, A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject, knowing that he that is such, is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. Tit. 3: 10, 11.

From this we learn that it is incumbent upon us not to engage in much disputation with those who were called brethren in Christ, and concerning the truth do err and turn to evil, but to admonish them a first and second time in sincerity to reform, and if they will not then hear us, to avoid them, lest they corrupt us. 2 Tim. 4: 14, 15. For a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 1 Cor. 5: 6. Gal. 5: 9.:

From this we learn in addition, that we should not give the holy things and the precious pearls of the gospel to impenitent and unconverted sinners, who yet in their old beastly practices wallow in sins like swine, in order to console and speak peace to them, nor should we administer them the communion, as though they were brethren in Christ; for such are ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude, verse 4); if not by their mouth, they do it in their works, (Tit. 1: 16,) and in such

manner they trample upon holy things. Therefore we should much more rebuke, reprove, and preach up strict righteousness, that thereby, terror seizing upon them, they may reform and become heirs of eternal salvation.

1. O Jesus, Shepherd of our race!

Grant us thy goodness and thy grace,
Within us by thy Spirit cause,
What self in thee, O Jesus, was.

2. That we may always go through thee
Unto the Father, always see

The dangers that o'er us impend,
Unless thou, Jesus, art our friend.
3. Teach us, thy word and spirit by,
What's false to know, all things to try,
That we may judge them by thy word,
As thou hast taught us, gracious Lord.
4. Thy word is a criterion clear,

Which thou hast given us mortals here.
Whereby to form a judgment true,
Since we are judged in what we do.
5. Who diff'rent judge, damnation find,
Their judgment not being pure divine,
And hence with thee it may not stand,
Since 'twas not done by thy command.
6. We must the beam take from our eye,
Before thou wilt that we should try
The mote from others' eyes to clear;
Therefore, O man, be careful here,

7. Lest when thou judgest other men,
Thou dost thyself by this condemn;
For if thyself art yet impure,

Thou dost God's judgment strong endure.

8. Therefore, O man, thy heart review;
It is no jest, 'tis solemn true;
Thou must beforehand hallowed be,
And in pure peace with God agree.

9. Then God himself will judgment take
Through Jesus Christ: for Jesus' sake
All that against thee now remain,
They cast into eternal pain.

10. If thou hast this rich treasure drawn,
O hold it as thy dearest pawn,

And cast it not to dogs to eat,
Lest they may tread it under feet.

11. O Jesus, Shepherd of our race,
Grant us thy goodness and thy grace,
By Spirit blest in us provide,

What by the law was ne'er supplied.

So grant us, Lord Jesus, thy Holy Spirit, who may lead us into all thy truth, and teach us the mysteries of thy kingdom, by which we shall be enabled to distinguish true from false, pure from impure, internal, as regards thee, from what is external, that we may not live out of thee, but in thee, and thou alone mayest work all things in us and by us, according to thy word and will; for thy word is perfect truth, thy commandment is everlasting life, and this thy word will judge all men at the last day. Therefore, O Jesus, thou who art worthy of all worship, bring forth thy judgment in us unto victory, that we may pass from death unto life, and not come into judgment. Make all thy enemies in us thy footstool, that we may live in thee, O Jesus, and thou in us, as thou abidest in the Father and the Father in thee, to the honor and praise of thy glorious majesty, now and for evermore. Amen..

CHAPTER EIGHTH.

Embraces a portion from the 7th to the 15th verse. 1. It is shown how necessary the knowledge of ourselves is, if we would come to Christ: 2. That prayer is the means by which hungry souls draw nigh to Christ. 3. After the mystic death a man springs to life and becomes a new creature. 4. The life and increase of the new man consists in the spirit and gospel of Jesus Christ. 5. The reason why few are saved is, that the gate is strait and the way narrow. 6. A. representation of the great dangers a man is exposed to of being misled in regard to the reality of his conversion.

I.

Benign reader, if having read this dis course thus far, thou hast not yet experienced the power of God which lies concealed in the gospel, thou wilt perhaps exclaim with the disciples, Who can be saved? Or who can live in the strictness required by the scriptures? These, perhaps, and other sim ilar ideas, will suggest themselves. remember,

If so,

1. That the scripture cannot be broken, as Christ teaches us. John 10:: 35. .

2. That strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matt. 7: 14:

3. That not every one that satih, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matt. 7: 21.