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hatred of the world, be always before our eyes when we experience the like treatment! (9)

May his behavior in his ministry, his not striving or crying, (r) his crying on some occasions, (8) his lifting up his eyes to his Father in heaven, (t) his lamblike meekness, (u) his powerful look upon Peter, &c (x) regulate and form our behavior in our ministry! May his tears over Jerusalem, bless our tears in our ministry! (y)

May the grace, peace, and tender compassion, so conspicuous in the performance of his office, be also our grace, peace, and mercy, for our manifestation in the consciences of men! (z)

May his cautious prudence in conducting his ministry, render us also prudent! (a)

May his rejoicing in his ministry, be the pattern and ground of our joy in our ministry! (b)

May his moderation, in the execution of his office, keep us within proper bounds! (c)

May his humility in his ministry, influence our whole walk and conversation! (d)

And

may

his giving an account of his ministry remain unforgotten by us, and induce us to look forward to the solemn account we also must give of our watchfulness over the interests of immortal souls! (e)

(9) Heb, xii. 3. John xv. 18, 20, 25.

v: 41.

xii:44

xxii: 61,

xi: 4.

(r) Isa. xlii; 2. Mat. xii:
(t) John xi: 41. xvii: 1.

(y) Luke xix. 41.
(z) 2 Cor. iv: 2.
(b) Luke x: 21. Neh. viii; 10

14. John viii; 6, 11. Mark ix; 40 12--15. 2 Cor. iv; 5.

Ps.

19.

Ps. Ixix. 4, 7, 9, 20. Acts (s) John vii: 37. ix: 43. (u) Isa. liii; 7. (x) Luke cxxvi: 5, 6

(a) Mark xii:

1 Thes ii; 19, 90.

Lake ix; 55.

Acts xx: 19. 2 Cor.

13

7: Mat. x; 16:

(c) Luke xii;

(d) John xiii;

(e) John xvii; 12. Heb. xiii; 17.

THOUGHTS ON RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES;

In Answer to the Question,

What Benefits may be expected from the Establishment of Religious Societies?

MAN is a being formed for society: his nature, his desires, his wants, his enjoyments, all equally impel him to seek society. Could you communicate to him every blessing in a state of solitude, he would gladly relin quish all for the advantages resulting from society. We see men every where forming themselves into societies for the purposes of trade and commerce, and on many civil occasions, the benefits of such associations are great, and universally acknowledged. What wonderful edifices have been erected, what monuments of gratitude raised, what misery has been relieved, by the union of many in one common cause! And can societies of a religious nature exist, without reciprocal advantages to be derived by all concerned?

All worshipping assemblies come under this desig nation; but the benefits flowing from them we need not enumerate; we trust we have appreciated them. But our present subject refers more immediately to religious societies for prayer, praise, and religious conversation.

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Imagine the condition of a traveller, who is compelled in solitude to walk through an intricate track of country, beset with snares, and infested by robbers; where he is in danger every moment of taking a wrong step; and every wrong step may produce, if not his ruin,

yet a very considerable interruption to his peace, and much retard his progress. What joy must fill his breast at the prospect of being joined by one or two more travelling the same journey! what vast benefits are likely to result from their mutual encouragements, counsels, and cautions! will they not more courageously, more successfully oppose their enemies? and though the road be dangerous, and the snares many, yet the pleasures and benefits flowing from each other's society, will sweeten every bitter, and beguile the otherwise tediousness of their journey.

Here it may be useful to ask, What benefits have been received by other persons in religious societies? These may rationally be expected by us. If we inquire of them, they will, among others, enumerate such as the following:

I. Relief when tempted, afflicted, or fallen; arising, 1. From sympathy; which has a natural tendency to alleviate our trouble, and lighten our burdens. 2. From a consideration that (others being led in the same way with ourselves) we are prone to decide on our experi ence as singular; but by mutual intercourse with the saints, we find others are tried and exercised as we are. 3. This will be confirming to our mind, as it proves the unity of religion; and will furnish us with a suitable reply to the suggestions of Satan, &c.

II. If the presence of Christ be accounted a benefit, this may be expected; because it is promised, "Where two or three are met," &c. this must include, 1. Support. 2. Joy. and, 3. Life. "In the light of this King's countenance is life."

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III. If the increase and establishment of Christ's kingdom be a benefit, this may be expected. 1. From cordial co-operation of the members of such societies; 2. From their united prayers; 3. From the emanation resulting from the good example of others.

IV. This is the way to obtain spiritual blessings: "If any two of you shall agree touching any thing that ye shall ask," &c.

V. Such societies give us some view of the happiness of heaven: there felicity is not insulated nor single, the plural is ever used: "They sung a new song; they cried O Lord, how long," &c.

VI. If circumspection in our walk be a benefit, this may be expected: for although the habits of holiness in a believer, result from a principle within; yet we must have but small acquaintance with the frame of the human mind, not to know that the bonds of such societies have strong effects to excite and cherish watchfulness,

&c.

and in every

VII. Benefits will likewise accrue to the minister who attends such religious associations. How can he speak a word in season to the weary, of whose case he is ignorant! or warn those who are in danger, with whose snares he is unacquainted! &c. And in the growth of the members of such societies in grace, good word and work, he will, with unfeigned pleasure, discover the blessing of God on his labors. In short, the benefits to be expected are numerous, and of the first magnitude. We have the command of God, and the example of the saints, to justify our assembling together; and let us ever remember, "That a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

S

QUERY ON EPHESIANS iii. 18.

Mr. Editor,

I PRESUME it will be admitted that all metaphorical allusions in language has, or had at the origin of the formation of each respective metaphor, a representative object to which those allusive terms refer.

Inquiry has been made, what may be supposed to be the most probable metaphoric representative object or image, which the apostle Paul had in view, and referred to, by those four mathematical terms of extension; viz. breadth, length, depth, and height; taking due consideration of the ineffable glorious subject (the love of God) for which it was employed to illustrate? Ephes. iii. 18. C. S.

may

ILLUSTRATION OF EPHES. iii. 18, 19.

Mr. Editor,

It is likely that some of your learned correspondents favor you with a more satisfactory answer to the query of C. S. than is in my power; but if that should not be the case,have the goodness to submit to the querist and to your readers, a conjecture that the passage is astronomical, and refers to latitude, north and south; to longitude, east and west; to the zenith, or highest point over our heads in the heavens; and to the nadir, or the lowest point opposite to the former, beneath our feet. I have never been satisfied with the usual reference of these four dimensions to bodies in general,

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