her. Adored be that grace, which preserved her in so high a rank of life, from temptations which could not fail to surround her! that grace, which rendered her an example of wisdom and piety, great and eminent in proportion to her exalted situation!

Nor can we forbear reflecting, how happy, in consequence of this, she herself was, possessed of grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord, in truth and love! What were all the secular honours by which she was distinguished! What the possession of riches, which in their own nature, and unimproved to the pious and charitable purposes to which she improved them, are very empty and unsatisfactory; what are these, when compared with such important blessings! We cannot but rejoice, at this distance of time, and ignorant as we are of the name, situation, and history, of this worthy lady, that her children walked in the truth. It was a singular joy to John, and may be so in a degree to all; and may teach us to lift up our hearts to God in prayer, that all Christian parents, especially pious mothers, and more particular those whose character in life is so eminently distinguished, may enjoy this happiness, and see the seed they are with such commendable industry sowing in the minds of their tender offspring, growing up, and bringing forth much fruit.

We have, in the beloved apostle, an excellent pattern of a becoming care, to make a correspondence with our Christian friends useful; which we shall do, if, like him, we are exhorting them to the cultivation of mutual love, and to a constant uniform care in keeping the commandments of God: if we continue warning them against the prevailing sins and errors of the day, and urging them to a holy solicitude, that they may not lose what they have already attained; but may receive full reward for every work of faith, and labour of love, in consequence of a course of resolute and persevering piety.-Persons of the most distinguished goodness have need to be cautioned against that excess of generosity and hospitality, which might sometimes make them partakers with seducers in their evil deeds, by giving them their audience and wishing them good success, while by their fair speeches they impose upon the simplicity of open and upright hearts, who, because themselves are void of fraud, are often void of suspicion too. But there is a prudent caution to be observed upon this head; and it is the part of faithful friendship to suggest it; for many deceivers are come out into the world. For our security against them, let us be always upon our guard, and take care to continue in the doctrine of Christ; that so we may have the Father, and the Son; and if we are interested in their favour, we shall stand in need of nothing, and shall have nothing of which to be afraid. Amen.

THE THIRD EPISTLE OF JOHN.

The Apostle John, in this short epistle to Gaius, expresses his concern for his prosperity, and his joy in the honourable character he maintained for Christian candour, hospitality and zeal; cautions him against the ambitious and turbulent practices of Diotrephes; and recommends Demetrius to his friendship.

2

HE Elder to the beloved Gaius*, whom I love in the truth.

The Wed, 10 the belt, en very respect, thou mayest prosper

I

3 and be in health, even as thy soul'prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified concerning thy truth, as 4 thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than this, that I 5 may hear my children are walking in the truth. Beloved, thou dost faithfully whatsoever thou performest towards the brethren, 6 and towards strangers: who have testified concerning thy love before the church; whom thou dost well in bringing forward in their 7 journey, in a manner worthy of God. For on his account they went out, that they might spread his gospel, receiving nothing of the 8 Gentiles. We ought therefore to receive such, that we may be9 come fellow-labourers in the truth. I have written to the church; but Diotrephes who affecteth pre-eminence among them, hath not 10 received us. Therefore if I come, I will be mindful of the works he doeth; prating against us with malicious words; and not content with this, he receiveth not the brethren himself, and hindereth 11 those who would; and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doth good is of God: but he that doth evil, hath not seen God. 12 Demetrius hath a good testimony from all men, and from the truth itself; and we also do bear the same testimony; and ye know that 13 this our testimony is true. I have many things to write; but I will 14 not write them to you by ink and pen; but I hope quickly to see thee, to speak face to face. Peace be to thee. The friends here with me salute thee. Salute the friends with you by name.

REFLECTIONS.

How happy was Gaius in the friendship of that apostle whom Jesus had honoured with such a distinguished degree of his friendship. How much happier still was he, in a soul so thriving and prosperous, that even such a friend, who could not but hold flattery in detestation, should be able to make the good state of his soul, a standard by which to adjust his wishes in relation to his temporal affairs. O, what a curse would this be upon many, that they might prosper even as their souls prospered! And yet what is all other prosperity without this, but like that of fools, which destroys them. How agreeable is it to a true Christian, to hear well of the behaviour of those who are dear to him in the

*Probably the person Paul mentioned, Rom. xvi. 23, as having received him hospitably.

bonds of peculiar friendship; to hear of their walking in the truth ; and especially when these are our own children, or those whom God has made us the means of converting, or those whom we have been concerned in training up for him. Ö, that those especially, to whom the education of many has been committed, may have this great happiness. "Visit each of our children, and young friends, O Lord, with thy mercy; animate them to walk in thy truth; and entail thy blessing upon them, when nothing remains, of all the offices of love we have bestowed, but the memory of our exhortations and examples."

May sentiments of true generosity fill and expand our hearts more and more. May we act towards strangers, and especially our brethren, in all the instances in which they need our assistance, in a manner worthy of God, worthy of the relation in which we, and they, have the honour to stand to our heavenly Father: and especially, let our love abound to those who have a desire to spread the gospel. And O, that it were o universal! O, that divine grace would excite more to quit the indulgence of their homes, or their countries, if there be no bond of duty to detain them there, that they may go and preach to the Gentiles! And though there be no prospect of any requital from them, God will open to them the inexhaustible stores of his celestial treasure, and they shall be recompensed in the resurrection of the just. Let them but see it, that their intentions are pure, that they do it for his sake; and their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.-But alas, how much more common even to this day, and that among the ministers of the gospel, is the character of Diotrephes, who loved to have the pre-eminence! How has the spirit of opposition and ambition prevailed in the church, as well as in the world! How does it still prevail! and in this view, how many malicious words have been uttered against those who have with the greatest simplicity desired to follow the apostles! With what contempt have they been cast out of the church! Yea, in a thousand instances, with what savage cruelty hunted out of the world! How long, O Lord, holy and true! Let us not however be impatient, but glorify God, in the most humble or painful station he shall allot, by doing, or suffering all his will: still imitating that which is good, as becomes those who are of God, who hope to see him, and enjoy him for ever.-Let us endeavour, like Demetrius, to secure to ourselves a good report of all men; but especially, let us see to it that we reverence our own consciences, and that we secure their testimony, which will be agreeable to that of the truth itself. So will our honour, and our happiness, be secured; and if any vapour should now rise to obscure it, the day is near, when the Sun of righteousness shall undoubtedly chase it away.

J

THE EPISTLE OF JUDE.

UDE, or Judas, was one of the apostles of our Lord, and the brother of James the less. This epistle is remarkably similar to a part of the second epistle of Peter, and written some time after it, which probably the writer had before him. The design of it is, by describing the character of the false teachers, and the divine judgments which such persons might expect, to caution Christians against listening to their suggestions, and being thereby perverted from the faith and purity of the gospel.

SECTION I.

Jude exhorts Christians to assert the purity of their common faith; reminding them of the awful judgments of God upon sinners, and describes certain deceivers from whom they were in danger. Ver. 1-11.

3

J

UDE a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are sanctified in God the Father, called and preserved in 2 Jesus Christ: May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you. Beloved, giving all diligence to write to you concerning the common salvation, I judged it necessary to write to you, exhorting you to strive earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. 4 For some men have with a serpentine art glided in among us, who were of old registered to this condemnation: impious men, who turn the grace of our God into an occasion of lasciviousness, and 5 deny God the only sovereign, and our Lord Jesus Christ. But I would remind you, as you once knew this, that the Lord having saved the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt, afterwards 6 destroyed those that did not believe. The angels who kept not their first state, but left their proper abode, he hath reserved in perpetual bonds, under darkness, to the judgment of the great day. And the 7 earth has produced awful scenes of the divine vengeance: As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, in like manner with them, committing fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth 8 for an example, suffering the vengeance of an eternal fire*. So these dreamers also [among you] defile the flesh; they make light of 9 dominion, and speak evil of dignities: Whereas Michael the archangel, when contending in dispute with the devil concerning the body of Mosest, did not presume to bring against him a railing 10 accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Bet these blaspheme what indeed they know not: and what they know r naturally, as

*Whose effects will remain while the world continues. M.

†The author understands this of Moses' burial, the angel being ordered to bury him privately, to prevent an idolatrous honour to his remains, which Satan wished to promote by revealing the place of his interment. (See Deut. xxxiv. 6.) But Dr. M. supposes the body of Moses to mean the Jewish Church, as the Christian church is called the body of Christ, and thinks the angel was the same mentioned Zech. iii. 1. See also verse 2.

11 the irrational animals, in these they are corrupted. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of that persecutor Cain; and have run on in the deception of Palaam's reward; and have persisted in the contradiction of Korah, opposing God's messengers and even his own Son.

REFLECTIONS.

How happy are the people of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in him are called, sanctified, and kept by the divine omnipotence, through faith unto salvation! For mercy and peace shall be multiplied upon them, till mercy hath, as it were, finished his commission, and conducted them to eternal peace. We learn from the example of the apostle before us, of how great necessity it is, in some circumstances, if ministers would promote the common salvation of their hearers, to guard them against the prevailing errors of the day, and to excite them earnestly to strive for the faith once delivered to the saints, as for a prize of the highest importance. May we rightly discern its nature, and be very careful, that while we are attempting to exert a Christian zeal, we do not mingle with it our own mistakes, and our own irregular passions, in such a manner as to tear in pieces what we are so eager to preserve. In short, let us learn from scripture, what that faith is, and what the importance of its respective articles are; and let us always be endeavouring to maintain it in the spirit of love.

May all who would disturb the church by pernicious doctrines, or scandalous practices; and especially, they who would ungratefully turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, and thereby deny the only true God, and our Saviour, reflect upon the awful judgment of God on the rebel angels, and on sinful men; not on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah only, but even on his own people, whom he had delivered from Egypt, when they proved obstinate and unbelieving; and as we dread an exclusion from the heavenly Canaan; yea, as we dread the chains of darkness, and the vengeance of eternal fire; let us avoid and abhor the character described in the following verses the dream of lewdness, the brutal indulgence of sensuality, the contradiction of Korah, the covetousness of Balaam, and the malignity of Cain. God has written down their condemnation and destruction in the eternal records of his word; that they might be for a sign, and that others may hear and fear, and take heed that they do not so wickedly.

SECTION II.

The scandalous professors further described. Christians exhorted to secure their own edification in faith and love, and to endeavour the preservation and recovery of others. Ver. 12, &c.

12

HESE wicked seducers are spots in your love-feasts*, who The wicked squee with you, iced themselves without fear : they are clouds without water, borne about by the winds: trees

* In consequence of the disgrace thus brought upon these feasts of charity, they were soon laid aside.