practice of the primitive Churches, established amongst us in early times; and thus a field was opened for the exercise of the various gifts by which the Church, the body of Christ, is edified. It is very observable in the history of our Society, that the declension or revival of religious zeal has ever been accompanied by a corresponding relaxation or increase of care in the exercise of the Discipline."

Stephen Crisp thus describes the concern he early felt after his convincement and the state of mind he believed necessary in order to the right discharge of his duty to others :-" The more," says he, "I came to feel and perceive the love of God and his goodness to me, the more was I humbled and bowed in my mind to serve him, and to serve the least of his people among whom I walked; and as the word of wisdom begun to spring in me, and the knowledge of God grew, so I became a counsellor of those that were tempted in like manner as I had been; yet was kept so low that I waited to receive counsel daily from God, and from those that were over me in the Lord, and were in Christ before me, against whom I never rebelled, nor was stubborn; but the more I was kept in subjection myself, the more I was enabled to help the weak and feeble ones.

In our weak and erring condition as men and creatures, "it must needs be that offences will come," and among the ends aimed at in the institution of Disciplinary regulations, are the preservation of the individual members of the Society, and the reformation and restoration of offenders, or where this is imprac

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ticable, a separation of them from the body; that thus the blessed Truth may be preserved from reproach. Our Lord has not left us without directions as to the course to be pursued with such as depart from the right way, and the Discipline of our Society is designed to be, and we believe is, in conformity to these divine instructions. "If," says he, "thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church; but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." And the promise given to the Church in the performance of its duties is calculated to sustain every dependent member. ፡፡ Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in Heaven; for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

In order to experience this divine blessing, it is indispensably necessary that we should be really gathered in the name and power of the Lord Jesus, whether for the purpose of Worship or for the transaction of the affairs of the Church, and the necessity of the immediate direction and presence of the one Great Head is essential to the right performance of