gospel, should live of the gospel."-“ Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course." As ministers are not lords over Christ's heritage, so you are not blindly to follow their opinions, not implicitly to obey their mandates. "Call no man your master, on earth, for one is your master, even Christ.” There is, however, a submission which you owe them. You are to esteem them in their office, and regard them as servants of Christ, and your servants for his sake. You may never hastily receive, nor rashly propagate an accusation against them, which might injure their character, or obstruct their usefulness; but you must support their just reputation both as ministers and as men.

As they are called to labor among you in word and doctrine, you must attend on their ministrations with diligence, and receive the word from them with meekness and be cautious that you impede not its influence on your own hearts by a cavilling humor, and hinder not its effect on others by captious objections.

As they are to warn the unruly, and rebuke open transgressors, so you must apply their admonitions as far as they are pertinent to your own case, and aid the just operations of them on all concerned.

As they are to instruct and convince gainsayers, so,' when you hear from them a doctrine diverse from your former sentiments, you are to examine it without prejudice; and, if the evidence of truth is on their side, submit with joy to the correction of your mistakes. If, on the contrary, you conclude them to be in an error, traduce them not as heretics; talk not against them by the walls and in the doors of your houses; but state to them the grounds of your dissatisfaction, and by friendly conference, labor to rectify their mistake, or to see your own.

As they are ambassadors for Christ, sent to open the terms of peace, submit to these terms, and become reconciled to God.

Pray for them, that utterance may be given them to speak the word boldly, as they ought to speak. Treat them with such kindness, that they may be among you without fear, while they work the work of God. And as they communicate to you spiritual things, impart to them temporal things in such manner, that they may pursue this work without interruption. If religious knowledge is conveyed by the word which they preach; if spiritual strength is increased by the ordinances which they administer; if God has constituted: them as guides to lead you in the way to heaven, as pastors to feed you, as watchmen to warn you, and as stewards to dispense his gifts among you; there is then every reason why you should honor them in their office, submit to them in the execution of it, and pray for them, that the word of God may be glorified.

There ought to be a mutual submission among the members of the church. For there is an authority given to all collectively over each particular member. The church is to inspect, exhort, admonish and censure her members, as their cases may require; and each member is to consider himself as under her discipline both by his own covenant and by Christ's command; and to this discipline he is bound peaceably to submit, as far as it is administered agreeably to the. gospel.

Christians are to consider one another, that they may provoke unto love and good works-to study the things which make for the common edification and comfort, and to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. They should not withdraw themselves from the church for every cause, either for supposed errors in it, for personal dislike to the pastor, or for disgust at a discipline, which affects them or their particular friends; but should rather labor by gospel means to remove the cause of their offence, and to preserve the general peace.

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In order to this mutual submission, there must be a spirit of humility. These St. Peter places in connex"Be ye all subject one to another, and be clothed with humility." This will dispose Christians to think soberly of their own knowledge and goodness, and in honor to prefer one another. An undue opinion of themselves is the cause of all their assuming behavior. It is this, that makes them treat superiors with insolence, equals with rudeness and inferiors with contempt. It is this, that makes them forward to dictate, and backward to be advised; obstinate in their own ways and impatient of control; confident in their own opinions and deaf to the voice of reason. It is this, that makes them create imaginary, and overrate real injuries; resentful of reproof, and scornful of instruction. This is the main source of contentions, and the greatest bar to reconciliation.

A humble view of ourselves will produce quite contrary effects. This will make us swift to hear, slow to speak, open to conviction, ready to retract our errors and confess our faults, free to receive advice, and prompt to acknowledge a kindness. This will lead us to give honor where it is due, to condescend to men of low estate, to bear the infirmities of the weak, and to follow peace with all men.

Religion begins in humbleness of mind-in a conviction of our own guilt and unworthiness. In this conviction we must apply to the mercy of God in the name of Jesus for pardon, grace and glory. In this humble application of the soul to God, through a mediator, consists true and saving faith. Faith is a meek, submissive, peaceable grace. It begins in a sight of ourselves as sinners, and in a view of Christ as a gracious and sufficient Saviour. The life of the Christian is by the faith of the Son of God; and this faith operates to increasing humility, condescension and love. The nearer he keeps to Christ, the more he will learn from him, and the more he will be as

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similated to him who is meek and lowly. stronger is his faith, the deeper will be his humiliation, and the more ardent and diffusive his love. "Let us therefore purify our souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren; and love one another with a pure heart fervently, as becomes those who are born of incorruptible seed, even by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."

Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands as unto the Lord;
for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head
of the church; and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as
the church is subject to Christ, so let their wives be to their own
husbands in every thing.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with
the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to
himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such
thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought
men to love their wives, as their own bodies :-He that loveth his
wife loveth himself ;—for no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but
nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church ; for
we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones.
this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be
joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a
great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Nevertheless, let every one of us in particular so love his wife, even
as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

For

THE Apostle having, in the preceding part of this epistle, stated and inculcated the various duties, which Christians more generally owe to one another, comes now to the consideration of the relative and domestic duties,

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