dency to fhield against conviction, of religion, and encourage them Harden in fin, and lead perfons fefelves in fin, error, and neglect of divine things from the misconduct of profeffors; it is of the highest importance, that they, carefully avoid all occafions of offence, "abftain from all appearance of evil, and adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour" by a holy life and converfation. These things are much infifted on in the word of God. Profeffors are like "a city, fet on a hill, which cannot be hid.” Their conduct is critically watch curely on in the broad road to deftruction. For they can never em. brace religion, or flee from the wrath to come, while they indulge fuch a temper. They are therefore not only oppofing God, but deftroying their own fouls.-It be Comes all fuch seriously to confider what they are doing, and what will be the end of their ways Can their hearts endure, or their hands be strong in the day, when God fhall come out in judgmented by the world, many of whom against them, and render vengeance to his enemies? Then all, who have not obeyed the gospel of the Lord Jefus, will be punished with everlasting destruction from the prefence of the Lord." will be glad to discover such finful misconduct in them, as will juftify and encourage them fin, and give them occafion to reproach and neglect religion. For as finners dislike the truth and duties of religion, so they wish for occafions to difbelieve, cenfure, and neglect it. How important then, that profef fors be exemplary and circumspect, fince their misconduct tends to dif honor God, wound religion, give its enemies occafion to reproach it, harden finners, and lead them down to deftruction? How weighty the motives, which urge them in all things to adorn the doctrine of Ged their Saviour. All real Chriftians will feel these to be most important confiderations; will have a tender concern for the honor of God, intereft of religion, and good of fouls. and will be careful to let their light fo shine before men that others may be influenced to glorify their heavenly Father They will be difpofed in a great measure to give up their private intereft and feelings, rather than Again, fince a number of thofe, who profefs, and for a time appear, to have religion, prove hypocrites, or ftony and thorny ground hearers, how important is it, that all fhould take heed, and carefully examine themselves, left they build upon a foundation of fand? How neceffary and pertinent then the caution of the apoftle," Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed left he fall" And fince, as our Saviour declares, many, who fhall feek to enter in at the ftrait gate, or pay fome attention to divine things, will not be able to enter in; it is manifeft, that thofe who live in finful practices, or are careless and negligent of divine things will certainly fall fhort of heaven" For if the righteous fcarcely be faved, where fhall the ungodly and the finger appear?" Thefe confiderations fhew, how neceffary and im-wound and difhonor the cause of portant it is, that we fhould "give Chrift, and will be grieved and all diligence to make our calling humbled, whenever they are fenand election fure," if we would ob- fible, that they have injured relitain the heavenly inheritance. gion by any unchriftian conduct. if thefe are not the feelings of profeffors, it is an evidence, that their Finally, fince mankind are fo prone to reproach and make light»' * profeffion is falfe, and that they are yet in the gall of bitterness "He that hath an hear, let him hear." HE. J' Peter's improvement of his fall. ESUS CHRIST warned his difciples of their approaching trial, when he was about to be betrayed into the hands of his en- | emies. He declared to them that they all would be offended becaufe of him, and would defert him when he fhould be apprehended. Peter was very confident that he fhould not forfake Chrift, tho' all others might; and affirmed, with great warmth, that he was ready to go with his Lord and mafter into prifon, and to death. The Lord faid, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath defired to have you, that he may fift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren Chrift exprefsly told Peter that he would deny him thrice, before the common time of cockcrowing which was next to come. The melancholy event verified the prediction. Peter denied his Lord and master, and added phanity to his denial. pro Peter was among the firft of Christ's difciples, and had that knowledge of him which flesh and blood cannot reveal. He was, like all other true believers, "kept by the power of God through faith unto falvation" He was not fecured againft a temporary lapfe; but his faith did not finally fail. He was included in the prayer which Chrift offered up for his whole elect church, recorded in 17th of John. Not one included in that prayer will perifh. Chrift faid to this warm and rafh * Luke xxii. 31, 32, I have difciple, in particular, Peter continued a backflider but á fhort time. When Chrift turned and looked upon him after his third denial, confideration returned, his heart was tenderly touched and he went out and wept bitterly. His fubfequent life evidenced, that he remembered the charge which he had received to strengthen his brethren. He never afterwards difcovered fuch confidence in himself as he did a little before his master was betrayed; he became more humble and watchful,* and by his exemplary life promoted the edification and comfort of his brethren. In the hiftory of the Acts of the Apostles, we find Peter very active and zealous in his endeavors to win fouls to Chrift. Tho' he was very fuccefsful in his preaching on the day of Pentecoft and afterwards, be never appeared to be puffed up with pride. He was courageous in en countering difficulties and dangers, and was patient under fufferings. In thefe ways he confirmed the faith of his brethren, and anima ted them in their labors and perils. But I conceive that Peter was inftrumental in "ftrengthening his brethren," more especially by the Epiftles which he wrote. The reader will find in them many pa fages, which are highly adapted to encourage and ftrengthen the people of God, in times of tempt ation and trial. Let him read the Epiftles of Peter with a particular view to his improvement of his fall by his ftrengthening his brethren. My limits will permit me to felect only a few paffages. 1 Epiftle Chap. i. 6, 7. "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a feafon (if need be) ye are in heavinefs through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perifheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praife and honor, and glory at the appearing of Jefus Chrift." Chap. ii. 11. Dearly beloved, I befeech you, as ftrangers and pilgrims, abftain from fleshly lufts, which war against the foul." Chap. iv. 7. Be ye fober, and watch unto prayer.' Read alfo from the 12th verfe of the fame chap. ter to the end. As this paffage is fo long I fhall not tranferibe it. Chap. v. 8, 9, IC. "Be fober, be vigilant; becaufe your adverfary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about feeking whom he may devour: whom refitt stedfaft in the faith, knowing that the fame afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Chrift Jefus, after that ye have fuffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, trengthen, fettle you "In the firft Chapter of the fecond epiftle of Peter, he exhorteth his brethren, with a preffing warmth, to give diligence to make their calling and clection fure." In the beginning of the fecond Chapter he predicts the rife of falfe teachers within the pale of the vifible church, "who privily fhall bring in damnable her clies-and that many fhall fol. 66 low their pernicious ways." As an incitement to watch and pray against the foares laid by Apof tates, he faith in ver. 9th, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to referve the unjuft unto the day of judgment to be punished. " He begins the third and laft Chapter of his fecond Epiftle with the following words, "This fecond Epiftle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I ftir up your pure minds by way of remembrance." The word both, in this verfe, is added by the tranflators, and it appears to be added with propriety; because the Greek relative rendered which, is in the plural number, and muft therefore refer to both of the Epiftles which Peter wrote. He goes on to tell for what purpose he defired to ftir up the pure minds of his brethren by way of remembrance, verfes 2, 3, 4. "That ye may be mindful of the words which were fpoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apoftles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there fhall come in the last days fcoffers, walking after their own lufts, and faying, Where is the promife of his coming? for fince the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Peter proceeds to give a lively and awful defcription of the conflagration of the earth, and the future judgment. To adopt the language of Mr. Brown, in his Dictionary of the Holy Bible, " The conflagration of the earth, and the future judgment, are fo described, that we almoft fee the flames afcending into the midst of heaven, feel the elements melting with fervent heat, and hear the groans of an expiring world, and the crash Scan None but the openly wicked, or hypocritical profeffors, will ens courage a prefumptuous hope in themfelves from the momentary lapfe of Peter. The real difciples of Chrift will confider the cafe of this Apostle, as a warning to them not to trust in their own ftrength. "Let him that thinketh he ftandeth take heed left he fall." The fubjects of faving grace know that their prefeverance in ho es of nature tumbling into uni- and made more holy and watchful verfal ruin." After defcribing the in his fubfequent behavior. day of the Lord, in which he will dalous and abominable as Peter's appear as judge, and put an end conduct was in the denial of Chrift, to this earth and to these material he was not given up to ruin. Chrift heavens, he admonishes, "Where- had prayed for him that his faith fore, beloved, seeing that ye look might not fail; and by a reproving for fuch things, be diligent that ye and kind look, brought him to a may be found of him in peace, renewal of godly forrow; and without fpot and blameless," He made him highly inftrumental in fpeaketh of the fcriptures being confirming the faith of others, wrefted by the unlearned and un- and in engaging them to adhere ftable, to their own deftruction, with greater conftancy to the rules and closes his writings with warn- of holy living. ing and counsel to his brethren, "Ye, therefore, beloved, feeing ye know thefe things before, beware left ye alfo, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own ftedfaftnefs: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. To him be glory, both now, and forever. Amen." From the short view which has been taken of Peter's life and epiftles, we may fee that he improv-linefs is fecured only by the promed his fall in the wifeft and beft manner. He was brought foon after his lapfe, to remember the command of his Lord to ftrengthen the brethren. The warnings and counfels which he gave by the im-the renewal of their repentance, mediate direction of the Holy they will find encouragement by Ghoft, have been highly inftru- reflecting on the cafe of Peter, mental of encouraging and anima- who returned with an aching heart ting the people of God down to and with flowing tears from his this day, especially when they have backfliding, and ftrengthened his been exercifed with trials, and brethren by his holy example and harraffed by temptations. his wife counfels. ifes of God. On these they rely, and give diligence to make their calling and election fure. They cannot enjoy any affurance, or peace, in a backfliding state. If we love God, we fhall adore the riches of his wifdom and grace, in bringing good out of evil. We fee one who was a real friend of Christ, and a member of his immediate family while he taberna-On cled in flesh, falling in a shameful manner; and we behold the back flider foon in tears, and lying low be fore his offended Lord. Wefee him humbled by the occafion of his fall, Voy. I. No. 12. BENEVOLUS. Оп FOR THE CONNECTICUT EYAN- and men loved darkness rather than Kkk B Chrift, therefore with respect to doctrinal knowledge, is called the light of the world, the expreffion is evidently figurative. The mean Y light, as the term is here ufed, we are to understand the light of divine truth-the fpiritual, holy and heavenly doctrines of the fcriptures-efpecially of the gofing is that he is the medium of pel, or New-Teftament Revela tion. There has ever been light in the world. God has revealed himself in his word, and has not left himfelf without a witnefs in his works. His true character was taught, and the gofpel preached from the beginning. But when Chrift, to whom all the fhadows and types under the former difpenfation pointed, became incarnate-when the fun of righteousnefs arofe upon the world-then the light was more emphatically come. Hence Chrift is called "the light of the world." He is fo in feveral refpects; but principally in this, that he is the only medium of communication between God and man. It is by, and thro him alone that the light of divine truth is given to the world. For no one hath feen God at any time, or known any thing of him, except by fome medium of revelation. But the only begotten fon, who is in the bofom of the Father, he hatha declared him. He hath declared, or revealed him, in the works of creation and providence; for it is he who hath made and governs all things. He hath revealed him alfo, in the fcriptures; for they are his word, infpired and given by him. Whatever the Prophets of old taught, was by the infpiration of his Spirit. When he himself came into the world, he made ftill further difcoveries of diving truth, in his own perfonal miniftry, and continued his communications by his fpirit, in the Apoftles whom he fent forth in his name, until the canon of fcripture was completed. When light; or, that he communicates it. Strictly speaking, the light is the truth which he teaches. And this, as obferved, is the fenfe in which we are to understand the word light, as used in the text. It is the light of diving truth-e. ven all the doctrines which Christ has taught, either perfonally, or by his fpirit, in the fcriptures. That it is to be fo understood, is evident from the following verse, which reprefents the light refpected, as a rule, to which the hearts and lives of men are to be compared, and by which their characters and profpects are to be decided. "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, left his deeds should be reproved." The doctrines of the gospel therefore, afford a light which manifefts the character of Godexhibits the evil nature and awful confequences of fin, and reproves the confciences of finners, fetting before them their guilt and danger. This, however, is the cafe with no other schenie of doctrines but the true one. When divine truths are difguifed, or mutilated, or some effential ones difcarded, the effect produced is not light but darkness-The character of God, and the ftate and profpects of impenitent finners, are not clearly feen, and men are led into error and fatal fecurity. As the light refpected in the text, is the light of divine truth, or the true fystem of gospel doctrines; fo the darknefs which nat ural men choofs in preference to the light, is the darkness of infi |