communion here contended for, was never maintained but by chriftians of real fimplicity and genuine experience; I would wish to remove the idea of novelty from the reader, by adducing fome fpecimens of its hiftory, and to conciliate his affections by the fanction of ages.

With regard to the inftituting and promoting of mutual communion, it is with the utmost fatisfaction, we review the affiduity of the original founders of Chriftianity. They were not contented with inftructing the multitude in public; but made the most affectionate enquiries concerning the faith and piety of their more immediate followers. The penitent Jews, who were admitted to the baptifm of John, confeffed their fins, and each received advice as his cafe required. To fome, who applied to the Lord Jefus for corporeal relief, it was faid; "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" To another, "Doft thou believe on the Son of man ?” and to the apoftles, "Whom fay ye that I am ?" The cafe of Peter is peculiarly to our purpose: three times he had denied his Mafter, and three times it was repeated, "Simon fon of Jonas, loveft thou me?

The apoftles, in acquiring a thorough knowledge of the fpiritual ftate of all their difciples, imitated the benevolent example of their Lord, and followed the directions of the Holy Spirit. Philip faid to the noble Eunuch, "Underftandeft thou what thou readeft ?" And, when the difcourfe had fo far convinced his judgment, that he propofed himself as a candidate for baptism; Philip faid again, "If thou believeft with all thy heart, thou mayeft?" So, likewife, to the twelve whom Paul found at Ephesus, who had received the baptifm of John, it was his firft enquiry," Have "Have ye received the Holy Ghoft fince ye believed ? " In this city he bestowed a larger proportion of his labours than in any other; one while teaching in public, and another, from house to house. And, as our bleffed Lord had many things to disclose to his difciples in private, which neither the understanding nor the heart of the multitudes were prepared to receive, fo the apoftle had families to inftruct in private; he had the tempted and dif treffed to fupport and comfort; he had the offenders to admonifh; and he had to learn the fpiritual ftate of all the church, by converfing with them in convenient parties. Thefe happy toils and focial delights, were fo endearing to him, that they feem to have been the principal enjoyment he promised himfelf, from his intended vifit to the faints at Rome, whofe faith and piety were celebrated throughout the world. "I long to fee you, says he, that I may impart unto you fome fpiritual gift, to the end you may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me."

As the apoftle was active to establish mutual communion in all the churches while prefent; fo he was importunate in his letters, that they should preferve it in his abfence. He impreffes it on the Hebrews as the fafeft way to avoid the evils of fin, and the

terrors

terrors of punishment, "Take heed, brethren, left there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; left any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of fin.Let us confider one another, to provoke unto love, and to do good-works; not forfaking the affembling of ourselves together, as the manner of fome is; but exhorting one another: and fo much the more, as ye fee the day approaching." It is as a prefervative against the fame evils, that mutual communion is recommended to the Theffalonians. "Wherefore comfort yourfelves together, and edify one another, even as alfo ye do." The most effectual method of doing it, is more particularly expreffed in the epiftle to the Coloffians, "Let the word of Chrift dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual fongs, finging with grace in your hearts to the Lord." So alfo in St. Jude: "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghoft: keep yourfelves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jefus Christ unto eternal life."

Since the apoftolic age, whenever there has been a revival of pure religion, there has also been a revival of mutual communion; and wherever there has been a declenfion of religion, mutual communion has declined in proportion. But being a private exercife of devotion, which the faithful cultivated among themselves, less has been faid of it in writings intended for the public eye.

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From the numerous inftances of mutual communion, promoted by our English parochial clergy, before the act of uniformity, a fpecimen is felected from the Media of Mr. Ifaac Ambrofe, fometime minister of Prefton in Lancashire. Chriftians," fays this judicious divine, muft drive an open and a free trade; they muft teach one another the mysteries of godlinefs. Tell your experience; and tell your conflicts; and tell your comforts. As iron sharpeneth iron, as rubbing of the hands maketh both warm, and as live coals make the reft to burn; fo let the fruit of fociety be mutually sharpening, warming, and influencing. Chriftians fhould alfo bewail their failings, infirmities, deadnefs, coldness, narrowness, and unprofitableness, one to another; to fee whether others have been in the fame cafe; what course they took; and what remedy they procured. Many fouls may perifh through too much modefty and referve. In the prophets' time, when proud fcorners talked vainly, and did what they lift, then they that feared the Lord fpake often one to another. No doubt, they spake of God, of his counfels, and of his works and ways; of his providence and goodness, and of the bafenefs of atheistical thoughts. Would chriftians thus meet and exchange words and notions, they might build up one another; they might heat and inflame one another; and they might ftrengthen and encourage one another as the brethren did St. Paul. And have we not an expreis

"Thus fhall ye

exprefs command for this duty of conference? fay every one to his neighbour, What hath the Lord answered: And, What hath he fpoken," Jer. xxiii. 35.

About the year 1677, the awakening fermons of Dr. Horneck, and Dr. Woodward, together with the morning lectures of Mr. Smithies at Cornhill, were eminently owned in the converfion of many young men. * "Thefe," fays Dr. Woodward, "foon found the benefit of their conferences one with another, by which (as fome of them told me with joy) they better discovered their own corruptions, the devil's temptations, and how to countermine his fubtle devices, as to which each perfon communicated his experiences to the reft."

It is worthy of remark, that in most revivals of religion, there has feldom been much perfecution, till the wicked recovered from their amazement, and faw their neighbours reproving them by inftruction and example. So it happened to thefe Societies. Early in the reign of James the II. when the court was crowded with papifts; through the mifreprefentations of fome fufpicious perfons, or falfe brethren; they fo far were expofed to its jealoufy as to be obliged to fubftitute the name of club for that of society; and to remove from their beloved retirement to a room in a Coffee-house. Thus, while they employed the wisdom of the ferpent, they retained the innocence of the dove. A fecond form alfo fell upon them from the bishop of London; but when his Jordfhip became better informed, he fpake of them in very favourable terms: fo alfo did the archbishop Tillotfon.

Inftead of scattering them, thefe perfecutions ferved only to invigorate their faith, to unite their hearts, and to purify them from the lukewarm and lefs affected members. They furvived every affault, till the death of their worthy paftors: But when the fhepherds were removed, their fheep were fcattered.

The fecond of these Societies was formed by the late venerable Mr. Wefley. In 1738, he returned from Georgia, and preached in most of the churches of London, what were then called new doctrines: viz. the forgiveness of fins, and juftification by faith. Many were awakened, and claffes were formed almoft in a fimilar manner to Dr. Horneck's. None of thefe worthy men had any previous defign of doing this; but were led ftep by step, according to the providence of God. The latter, was intending to return to his fellowship at Oxford; but while he was detained to preach in town, feveral perfons who had been awakened by his fermons, came to him for advice and comfort. At length, he judged it moft convenient for himself, and profitable for them, to defire them to call together on Thurfday evening. The first night he was met by twelve perfons; and after finging and prayer, he enquired into the ftate of their minds, and gave them advice one by one. This is the fimple form of a methodi ft clafs, which has continued invariably the fame to the present day. After this

*Account of the Religious Societies in London, ch. ïï.

was

was known, Mr. Wefley faw himself surrounded by three hundred perfons, who earneftly requested him to take the charge of their fouls. It was then, that his eyes were opened to discover his duty, from which he never departed for more than half a century, till he had finished his course with joy.

That God, whofe wifdom, power, and goodnefs, are fo confpicuous in all his works, has amply provided for the inftruction of man, by divine revelation, and for his direction and comfort, by the grace of his Holy Spirit. It is through thefe facred mediums, that we discover the greatnefs of his love in the gift of his Son Jefus Chrift; the doctrines of atonement and reconciliation; the neceffity of regeneration and holiness; and the delightful prospect of a life to come. It is here we difcover, that the eternal Jeho vah, is our proper happiness and enjoyment for ever.

Now it will readily be granted by every intelligent chriftian, that, as man has need to be taught the doctrines of truth by revelation; fo he has need to be directed in practice, by the experience of others. We have much reafon to blefs God, who condefcended to our weakness and caufed the holy Scriptures to be written in a perfpicuity and fimplicity exceeding all other writings; they are not, however, clearly understood by a mind just rifing above the corruptions of fin, and the blindnefs of nature. Nothing has ever affected me more, than to hear the experience of fome who were converted to God, before they had any other affiftance, befides the facred volume; efpecially when I have confidered, how much they fuffered from little things, which an experienced perfon could have removed by a fing'e word. Men of the strongest understanding and fineft imagination, are not lefs exempt than thofe who are more ignorant and dull. Whatever be their natural, or acquired abilities, they have every thing to learn concerning their chriftian warfare, and the operations of the Holy Spirit. And though the fermons they hear be practical, and happily fuited to the congregation at large: yet may the circumftances which moft diftrefs them be overlooked, or being but little acquainted with fpiritual things, they may not diftin&tly apprehend the doctrines intended for their inftruction and comfort. All that enter on a religious course, are exposed to a world of temptations and fears, which greatly retard their progrefs, and not unfrequently turn them out of their way. Sometimes it is reprefented to them, as very hard, that they fhould be deprived of all the pleasures and enjoyments of life, and expofed to the frequent ridicule and contempt of their colleagues; that the goodness and mercy of God are fuch as to render it perfectly fafe to defer their repentance till a later period of life, or till they be more difengaged from company and bufinefs. and business. Finding, at other times, great terror of confcience, and a sense of God's displeasure, they ima gine that their day of grace is past, that their fins are irremiffible, because they have violated all their vows and pious refolutions or, that having finned wilfully after receiving the knowledge of VOL. XIX. March, 1796. S

the

the truth, there remaineth no more facrifice for fin. So they fall from prefumption to defpair. And their cafe is the more deplorable, as none that could afford them genuine affiftance, are ac quainted with their fecret diftreffes. Frequently, indeed, they have formed the laudable refolution to afk advice of fome wife and experienced perfon, and they have been as frequently deterred by fear and fhame, or by the confideration of their paft inconftancy.

There are few men under the economy of the gospel, who have not felt repeated convictions for fin, and ftrong defires to repent and turn to God: but, as the tender bloffoms difplay their beauty at noon, and are nipt at night by the chilling froft; fo are thefe pious refolutions extinguished by the fnares of company, or by a relapse into fome pleafing and befetting fin. And it is generally acknowledged, by thofe who have overcome at last, that had their good impreffions been feconded by the company and counsel of wife and fpiritual chriftians, their converfion would have taken place at a much earlier period than it did. Mr. Baxter, after long experience and the matureft reflection, was fo perfuaded of the neceffity of fuch affiftance, as to recommend it to all penitents, in the most preffing terms. Never, fays he, expect that all thy books or fermons, thy prayers or meditations fhould ferve thy turn, without the advice and counsel of thy paftor; for that were devifing to prove God's officers needlefs to his church. If thou be an ignorant or an unconverted finner, go to thy minifter, and enquire what thou must do to be faved: and if thou live where there are none who are thus able and willing to direct thee, remove if thou can, to them that are."* An expreffion of the celebrated Oftervald, is fomewhat ftronger: "It is certain," fays. he, "that multitudes perifh for want of laying themselves open "to their fpiritual physician."+

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As for those who have already experienced a work of regeneration, who have often tafted the delights of religious converfation, and can reflect upon them, as on the moft pleafing interviews they have had with mortals; few arguments, I fhould think, would be wanted to invite them to the weekly clafs-meeting, or to induce them (fuppofing they belong to other communities) to inflitute these focial means among one another. It must be apparent to every candid mind, that if a communication of experience was neceffary to affift and direct us when we first came to God, it is ftill neceffary to confirm us in him, to quicken our devotion and to invigorate all our graces. Admonition is, there fore, more requifite than conviction. And, as we all feel a ftrong propenfity to hear the experience of others; as we wish to be informed how their fcruples were removed, their difficulties furmounted, and their paffions fubdued; as we wish to partake of their joy, to share in their woe, and to know whether our own flate be confonant to the ftate of others, or wholly peculiar to ourfelves:

* Direct. part iii. p. 44. Cont. l' impurite Sect. v.