cretly crept in among christians, says, 'These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the spirit.' Verse 19. No words can be more plain and descriptive, than those of St. Paul. Mark them who cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have received, and avoid them. For they that are such serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and with good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.' Rom. xvi. 17, 18. They deceive by fair speeches. They profess uncommon sanctity, high assurance, extraordinary zeal, and immediate communication from the Spirit. As the apostle says, they commend and exalt themselves, and measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves among themselves, as if they were perfect and infallible standards.-They justify their separations by pretensions, that others are not spiritual enough for their communion--they would form a pure church.' The language of their conduct is, 'Stand by yourselves, come not near, for we are holier than you.' But what says the

God of peace and purity? These are a smoke in my nose; a fire that burneth all the day.' Isaiah lxv. 5.

The promoters of divisions, the better to accomplish their wicked purposes, are watchful to take advantage of any unhappy circumstance in a church; such as an accidental contention, the discipline of an offending member, the sickness or removal, the death or the temporary absense of the stated pastor: As the wolf leaps into the fold, when the shepherd is withdrawn, or a gap is opened. Paul, who knew their craft better than he wished, says to the elders at Ephesus, I know that after my departure, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.' Acts xx. 29, 30. They are industrious to make disciples: But to whom?-To Christ? No, but to themselves. It is with this view that they ramble from fold to fold, and enter into other men's flocks. So Christ says to the scribes, Ye compass. sea and land to

make one proselyte;' leaving no art untried for that end. But what is their intention? Is it that their proselyte may be more devoted to God? No: It is that he may be attached to them, and so add to their importance. • When he is made,' says Christ, 'ye make him more the child of hell than yourselves. Your corrupt flatteries only harden him in his wickedness.' Matth. xxiii. 15. So Jude says of them, 'They have men's persons in admiration because of advantage;' esteeming and applauding this and that man, not on account of his real virtue and worth, but only on account of his readiness to serve their designs. No, no,' they will tell you, 'we have no such unworthy aims: But the churches are fallen from the gospel purity. And we are pressed in spirit to testify against them; we would by all means save some.' Is this their intention? Why then climb they over the walls, instead of entering by the door! Why creep they in unawares, instead of walking upright? Why apply they not to the pastors of churches, to convince them of, and reclaim them from the

supposed errours and corruptions? Would not this be the surest and directest way to reform corrupt and erroneous churches? This is the way that Christ has pointed out. When John was sent to the degenerate churches of Asia, did he neglect the stated pastor, and address the people without his knowledge? Did he attempt to disaffect them to, and detatch them from his ministry? Did he cause divisions and separations in order to make one pure church out of seven corrupt ones? No: John's letters are directed immediately to the angel, or pastor of each church, to be by him communicated to the people. Thus the spirit spake to the churches. John acted by command of Christ.

To the angel of the church write' These things saith the Son of God' He that hath an ear let him hear, what the spirit saith to the churches.' The churches were to hear what was spoken in this way: But they were not to hear every man who came in the garb of a teacher, and who, by his high pretensions to inspiration, subverted the order which Christ had settled. There were

enough such among them. Therefore one' church is reproved, because she suffered them to teach, who falsely called themselves prophets And another is commended, because she could not bear them that were evil; and tried them, who said they were apostles, and were not; and found them li

ars.

It is a certain mark of a false teacher, if under pretence of reforming churches, he causes and encourages divisions in them. There were corruptions in most of the Asiatic churches: In some of them there were but few members, who had not defiled their garments. And what were these few to do? Withdraw, lest they should be infected with the filthy garments of their brethren ?-No: But to watch and keep their own garments, to save others with fear, and encourage the purity which remained. Rev. ii. and iii. chapters.

VIII. False teachers usually attend more to the form, than to the power of godliness. The preaching of the apostles was rational, solid and convincing. It tended to make