living principle, have extended, and in their progress have mocked the dead stability of state corporations. It is the vital energy of scriptural churches which mainly diffuses the gospel at home, and sends the gospel abroad; and to the same vital energy, in its more perfect development, are we to look for the moral renovation of our beloved country and the still more extensive diffusion of the light of divine truth in the dark places of the earth. How evident is the fact, and yet how slow are the churches to do homage to the conviction of its truth-that in proportion as a church labours to promote its own individual prosperity and increase, it is augmenting its resources both of principle and means for making known the glad tidings of salvation far hence among the heathen. Should this conviction not increase, and the latent energies of the churches not be summoned forth in obedience to the claims of home, by what instrumentality are the perishing millions of our countrymen to be rescued from impending ruin? On what principle is that sympathy to be commended which sighs over the condition of remote millions who know not God, but can survey with undisturbed composure the still more deplorable condition of the multitudes among whom we live and move, and who, professing to know God, in works deny him? By what means is the swelling tide of corruption to be stemmed, and its polluted waters made to roll back? Unless there be revival and growth at home our churches will cease to be the lights of the world, and must abandon their high and honourable position to

the more energetic churches of other lands, and instead of directing their efforts to extend the gospel in other climes, they shall be compelled to direct their united power against the tide of formality, infidelity, and licentiousness which, by its gathering strength, threatens permanently to resist, if not to overwhelm them. But the promises of God forbid the fear of such results, and the present indications of quickened spiritual energy forbid it. The churches are surveying the environs of their homestead, they are sighing over the moral desolation that surrounds them, and in undissembled earnestness are saying, "Lord, what wouldst thou have us to do?"

CHAPTER III.

THE AGENCY BY WHICH THE GOSPEL IS TO BE DIFFUSED THE RESOURCES, OBLIGATIONS, AND DUTY OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

THE association of believers into churches is not the result of mere sovereign appointment, but is founded on the religious social affections. A scriptural church is a living body, of which, if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; if one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. It is not a statue chiselled by the hand of a human artist, but a sentient active being, growing from infancy to manhood, and exhibiting symptoms of health or disease as it is furnished with wholesome nutriment, and invigorated by exercise. The laws which Christ has instituted for the government of his churches are few and simple, and designed for their security and efficiency. He has cemented the union of his people by the attractive influence of the ruling affection of their new nature, and has, by his ordinances and laws, provided for the most effective display of

his glory through their instrumentality. There is no selfishness in Christianity. It originated in divine benevolence, is expressive of divine love, and its very nature forbids, on the part of its adherents individually or socially, the exclusive appropriation of its blessings. Christians are partakers of the divine nature, and as God delights freely to give, so do they-debtors to divine grace, they delight to manifest to others the heavenly disposition to which they owe their spiritual peace, and joy, and hope.

The most striking feature of the churches of Christ in the present day is an increased degree of spiritual benevolence. Yet the benevolence which now reigns delights chiefly to preside over the distribution of silver and gold, and to accomplish its designs by proxy, The christian zeal and liberality of the many are expended in the shape of pounds, shillings, and pence, for the procuring of the active personal exertions of the few. This is as it ought to be in as far as the use of one talent is concerned, but it will not accomplish the design of Christ by the institution of churches, for it does not come up to the measure of the churches' obligations. "How much owest thou to thy Lord?" is a question which no individual believer, nor association of believers, can answer by a certain amount of worldly substance. The improvement of one talent will not exculpate the neglect of other talents. We must return in kind as well as in measure according as we have received. Every member of a church of Christ has appropriate functions to perform, and upon the due performance of which

the health and usefulness of the body depend. From the nature of these functions the performance of them cannot be imposed upon others, more than the ear can be made to see, or the eye to hear. Every church is designed as a centre of light and of hallowed influence -first, in its immediate locality. It is a fountain of the waters of life, which, flowing from it through varied channels, are to fertilize and beautify the barren wastes around. The spiritual blessings which are communicated to it are designed to increase its activity, and to be communicated by its instrumentality to those who are perishing for want. None are to be at ease in Zion. Individual responsibility must be felt to be in proportion to individual talent and opportunity; and the union of believers must be not more for mutual benefit than for co-operation in the expression of heaven's benevolence to a guilty world. Such is the mind of God as appears from his express injunctions, and from the character of the early saints. Even under the Jewish economy the obligation to extend and perpetuate the knowledge of God did not rest exclusively upon the inspired messengers of heaven, but also according to their measure of ability and opportunity upon all by whom that knowledge was enjoyed. Deut. vi. 6-9; Jer. xxxi. 34. Under the gospel economy this obligation is renewed. The divine injunction is, "Let him that heareth, say, Come." The primitive Christians both in their individual and social capacity obeyed this injunction. We have a pleasing example of individual effort and success in the case of Apollos, and one not less so in