subjected to the watch and care of his own church, that he shall be required to become a member for this very purpose, while it exposes him to the impertinent annoyances of weak, or officious and ill disposed brethren, (to which under any circumstances he is sufficiently exposed perhaps) adds nothing to the safeguards of his character. The church has a much higher guaranty for the rectitude of his conduct in his official character and responsibilities than it can have in its own supervision. A minister, as such, is under far higher obligations to a holy life, and far stronger motives, than he is as a church member; and if those are not sufficient to restrain him from iniquity, what will the weaker restraints of the watch and care of the brotherhood be but the spider's web?

Leave a minister to the watch and discipline of his peers. This is the common privilege of the brotherhood, and ought to be his. His brethren in office will, for various reasons, be far less likely to sustain or countenance him in case he becomes

corrupt than a church would be. Respect for their own character, as well as their public obligations, forbid their doing so.

I hope not to be misunderstood. I claim, in the above remarks, no exemption for the minister from any of the moral duties of Christianity; no right to lord it over God's heritage; and would by no means create an unnatural distance between him and the people of his charge. The relations of pastor and people are of the most intimate and endearing kind, and ought mutually to lead to the most free and affectionate intercourse. I desire only to free the pastoral office from those impositions which tend to embarrass it, and are of human origin.

CHAPTER X.

DEPORTMENT TOWARDS OTHER DENOMINA

TIONS.

THE division of the followers of Christ into sects, as they are at present, is a matter much to be lamented, and one which calls for the serious and prayerful consideration of all christians. The causes, evils, and remedies of these divisions, are quite too large a subject, (if it were a pertinent one,) for these pages; and too large a subject probably, to be soon compassed by human wisdom. The church of Christ was originally one body; and I cannot doubt that it will be again restored to unity,-in effect, if not in form. In what manner it may be difficult to see.

Meantime, as different denominations do, and will exist, it becomes an important question what should be our deportment towards those who differ from us. And,

X 1. We should cheerfully allow them the same liberty of opinion and of conscience, and the same freedom of discussion and dissemination of their sentiments, which we claim for ourselves. Intolerance is no part of christianity.

2. We should be willing to see and appreciate whatever of excellence they do possess; and should own them as fellow disciples, so far as they appear truly to possess and exemplify the christian spirit. We should admit their virtues, though we may not be able to admit their pretensions, and ought not to countenance their errors.

3. We should scrupulously refrain from misrepresenting either their doctrine or their practice. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." And though we may see much in them to disapprove of and regret, yet we should exercise as much of that charity as we can, (consistently with fidelity to Christ and to souls,) 'which envieth not, thinketh no evil, believeth all things, hopeth all things.'

4. We should use no endeavors to prose

lyte away their people,-provided we have reason to believe that they have truth and godliness enough among them to save souls. From any decidedly heretical communion, where souls are certain to be destroyed, I would think it not only lawful, but a duty, to draw away as many as by honest means I could, as brands out of the burning; but I would entice none from any evangelical preacher, church, or family. "Thou shalt not steal." "Thou shalt not covet." Dr. Doddridge acted both upon the divine command, and a common sentiment of honor among men, in the injunction which he habitually gave to his theological pupils, to "avoid every thing which looks like sheep-stealing."

But, on the other hand,

1. We have a right to prefer our own belief and order to those of other communions, provided we have taken suitable pains to inform ourselves, and are intelligent and conscientious in our preference. It is no breach of charity to read and understand the Bible for ourselves.