ful impulses, it has of late years started from its course, and with the rapidity of a torrent or the force of an inundation, has swept away the restraint of religious principle, and carried a deluge of dishonesty over the moral world.

It is quite time for Christian tradesmen to return in their mode of conducting business, to the sound principles of Christian morality. Let them beware of excessive speculation; and where the property with which they trade, is scarcely their own, let them err rather on the side of caution than of enterprise. Let them beware of all dishonourable means of proping up a sinking credit. Let them view with abhorrence those practices which are resorted to only by rogues and swindlers. Let them tremble and blush at a single effort to extricate themselves from difficulty, which the world would condemn as unfair or dishonourable. Let their motto be, "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." " Phil. iv. 7.

A Christian should be careful not to conceal, too long, the fact of his being in a state of insolvency. A false pride, or a foolish hope, has led

*See Dr. Chalmer's admirable sermons on the moral principles of trade.

many to the dishonour of their profession, to go on floundering in difficulties, while every struggle has only carried them farther and farther into the current of ruin, till at length their fortune and their character have sunk together, to rise no more. I do not say that a man ought in every case to call his creditors together the moment that he discovers he cannot pay twenty shillings in the pound; but he certainly ought to do it without delay, as soon as he ceases to hope that he shall ultimately do so.*

Every Christian tradesman should be very watchful against those artifices, violations of truth, and unfair advantages, which many resort to in the disposal of their articles. It might indeed have become the general practice; but tricks of trade, if contrary to truth and honesty, are clear and flagrant violations of religious duty. No prevalence of custom can make that right, which in itself is wrong. The standard of a Christian's morality is the Bible; and whatever is opposed to that, he must avoid and abhor.

*I think there should be a standing rule in every church, that any member who becomes insolvent, should be suspended from communion, till opportunity has been afforded, to inquire whether his failure has been attended with circumstances dishonourable to his Christian profession. This may be very soon and very easily ascertained. If three or four of the principal creditors are satisfied that his conduct has not been dishonourable, this might be sufficient to satisfy the church in ordinary cases.

A tradesman who makes a profession of religion, should be most eminent for justice, truth, honour, and generosity, in all his dealings. Ilis religion should be seen in all his conduct. "I know nothing of that man's creed," said a person of a religious tradesman with whom he dealt, "because I never asked him what he believed;

but a more honourable, punctual, generous tradesman, I never met with in my life. I would as soon take his word for a thousand pounds, as I would another man's bond for a shilling. Whatever he promises he performs, and to the time also." This is adorning the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things.

It is very dishonourable, when a Christian tradesman is actuated by a spirit of envy and jealousy towards others, and when he employs ungenerous means to prevent their success. No one has an exclusive monopoly, except in the case of patents. Others have as much right to live where they like, as we have. It is their world, as well as ours; and to employ our wealth in any case to ruin them, by underselling, is a spirit perfectly incompatible with the genius of religion, and the nature of Christian fellowship. Such an envious person deserves excommunication, not only from the church of God, but from the society of rational creatures.

It is perfectly obvious, that the tradesman ought to regulate his expenditure by his income. The man that lives beyond his resources is a

robber and a thief.

His extravagance is sup

ported by the property of others; and as it is taken without their consent, it is a felony, for which he is answerable, if not at the bar of man, yet certainly at the tribunal of God.

CHAPTER IX.

MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.

On the true Nature of Church Power.

In our conversation upon the subject of church government, it is very common to talk of the power or authority of our churches. But in what does this power really consist, and how far does it extend? Every society has certainly an unquestionable right to regulate all its own temporal and spiritual affairs, to the entire exclusion of all human interference and control whatever. But we must be careful, not to carry the idea of independence so far as to trench upon the dominion of Jesus Christ. is simply a right to put upon the laws of Christ, and to obey his laws, in the way which they think will be most agreeable to him. This is neither understood nor remembered with as much distinctness as it should be. Hence it is a very usual thing for churches at their stated, or occasional meetings,

The power of a church their own construction

to consider themselves as met to make laws, and set in order the affairs of the spiritual kingdom; and a great deal is said about "our church," and "the rules that we have established in our church." Our church!! How came it ours? The church is Christ's. The rules we have established!! The sole right of making laws, is with Him to whom the church belongs. The church is a kingdom, of which Christ is sole monarch, the New Testament is his spiritual code, and all the power we have, is to execute the laws which he has already established. In the whole business of church government, we are to acknowledge the authority, and consider ourselves as doing the will of Christ. Nothing is left to our will, to our wisdom, to our caprice; but in all things we are to be guided by the law of Jesus, laid down in his word.

In the choice of officers, in the admission of members, in the exercise of discipline, we are not to act upon views and principles of our own, but are to be guided by those we find in the New Testament. We have no power to legislate, but merely to interpret the law, and obey. When we meet, Christ is in the midst of us, not only by his essential presence, but by his revealed will; and every authoritative voice is hushed, but that which speaks to us from the sacred canon. When a member is proposed, we are not to ask, "Is he such an one as we think will add respectability to our communion; is be of