that whether your enterprise receive his blessing of prosperity or not, he may certainly say of each of you, with commendation, "You have done what you could."

The advice which I am now about to offer, to forward the formation and maturity of a Christian Church, contemplates, as the ultimate object of those endeavours, the agreeable reality of witnessing a large and prosperous Church of the Redeemer evidencing a gracious vitality, and walking in all Christ's ordinances blamelessly a light in the world, and a blessing far and near. And that such shall transmit to their posterity successively their uncontaminated privileges, as a people to hold forth the truth. Now such a cause and interest cannot be raised without the following four great departments of social economy having their just play and development :

I. In the living materials of which it is composed. II. In the circumstances of locality where they assemble.

III. In the pecuniary means.

IV. In the prevalent aim of such a combination of individual effort.

It is now my intention to lay before you an epitome or brief description of the objects contemplated by each of these departments of economy, and then to point out the progressive steps by which the full maturity of each may be attained. By knowing the lowest state of existence in which each of these objects may exist, you may come to know the reality of their existence, and their lowest germinating point; and by

keeping in mind the separate stages of advance, you may be prevented from stopping short of full realization, and know, during the term of advancement, how to command with effect your own instrumentality. One grand obstacle which many impose upon themselves to the defeat of the purport of all their endeavours, is the permitting themselves to enjoy the contemplation of some desired object, without enlightening themselves as to their real position in the way of instrumentality, and inseparable concomitants of such realization. Thus, many dream of competence all their days, but never realize it; because they never took the initiating steps to obtain it, consequently are never in a position to find it; and others allow themselves unthinkingly to shut every avenue by the means of which it might be theirs. Knowledge is strength when that is the knowledge of wisdom, which has a hand to work with as well as a head to direct; for by it the weakest as to means are taught what they really want to make their weakness grow into strength, and how to nurture up the germs of vitality to full maturity.

In the first place, consider what the living materials are of which a Church must be composed. These are true Christians who intentionally assemble themselves together for the purpose of walking in Church order, according to Christ's word, and who are individually willing to promote the edification of the whole by every means in their power. The last few words may at first sight seem too grasping; but it should be observed that they are limited by

two qualifications, both of which are in the individual's own power: that of his being willing, and that such means must be for the edification of the whole. It would be an unhappy circumstance to obtain even a goodly number of real Christians to meet and unite together for the purpose of forming a Church, who possessed so little intelligence as not to perceive that they could in any way advance the prosperity of the whole, or who were so half-hearted, so lukewarm, or so selfish, as not to be willing to do what they could, and what they thought proper, for the purpose. At all events, if such were to be among you at your first formation, it is to be hoped that the better materials would preponderate, both in numbers and influence, otherwise it would be a most forbidding commencement. I would never advise you to reject any whom you could not but believe to be saints. No congregation can expect to be without those who are ever identified with sundry disagreeable circumstances; and, consequently, it is not by exclusion that you can ever obtain a company of fellow-members, upon none of whom you can ever look but with unalloyed satisfaction. No: other means must be adopted; never forget you are in a warfare; you have corruptions within, ever striving to overcome better sentiments. Only learn how to keep complete command over yourselves, and you will find that your self-possession will afford you ample means to meet the most disagreeable without disgust, and without fear that any consequences, injurious to your community, will result from the connection. Every man

who has the full command of himself, is sure to make way, though under adverse circumstances. The mode

may vary; but the issue is certain. Let all unite, therefore, determined-but without any dereliction of principle-both by precept and example, by information, and by exertions, to promote the edification. of the whole; and you will soon find that that which is disagreeable will make way for everything that is otherwise.

Now, if you keep in view the definition of the materials composing a Church of Christ, and add these other circumstances: That such have united themselves together, are organized with all the officers appointed by the Redeemer, do keep up in active operation every institution or means for the edification of the whole, and are considerable in numbers, and extensive in the influences of their graces and their efforts-you have, then, those material requisites which compose an exemplary Church of Christ. And such should you covet to be. But this can never be attained at once. A Church is a living body, capable of degrees of maturity, the most elevated of which is to be obtained by successive advances of growth. You must first be humble enough to be the infant, or else you never can acquire the higher and more advanced state. I refer to Churches in their collective character and attainments. I wish you to take particular notice of this remark respecting the infancy of a cause. The not seeing the propriety of this, is the reason why so many refuse to co-operate to regenerate a cause. And the dislike of growing circumstances

leads very many to rest satisfied when they have attained, by artificial means, a degree of growth-the unhealthy life of a sickly infant-and never get better than to possess a kind of lingering existence. And how many Churches are in this state at the present day? Be sure you keep yourselves in the employment of none but legitimate means of edification; and you will certainly find the development of the full proportion of gifts which the Lord may have been pleased to bestow upon your community.

Now, we will suppose you are able to compose a little assembly, in numbers sufficient to make a meeting upon every ordinary occasion. You will, therefore, assemble together without officers, and without any further organization than the sincere intent and the simple act of communing in the Lord's Supper; and by reading and speaking to each other of those things which concern your everlasting welfare, exercise such means as you do possess to edify each other. There are so many circumstances in which an infant cause may be placed, as to render an attempt to lay down specific rules in these cases of edification almost impossible; for the whole range of the ways and means to draw forth and to mature the knowledge and the gifts of individuals must be included, as well as the ordinary and stated means. And, therefore, all I can say here must be, not to despise the day of small things, nor despair of seeing the gifts of one and another opening and enlarging. Gifts improve by exercise. Having continued in this state until it is manifest that among yourselves some exhibit cer