of heart for the sins committed; 2. That he, from his heart, acknowledge his sins before God and man; and 3. That he abstain from sinning, and with all his power and strength to make amendments for the evil deeds which he has done, by good deeds and works of righteousness, and thus open again the entrance into the kingdom of God, which was locked up to him by reason of his sins: and thus the church of God, in the separation and reception of her members, follows that decision which has before been ratified by God in heaven, according to his word; and which the church by her transaction has only announced and shown to the word.

And as God is no respector of persons, the church must use the keys of the kingdom of heaven-the word of God, impartially and in a proper manner; and in her corrections to spare no one; neither minister or brother, man or wife; but by the same rule and line to judge the small and the great, agreeably to the truth, and according to the word of God. And as the church consents with sorrow of heart, to announce to impenitent sinners the renunciation of brotherhood, and directing them to repentance and amendment of life; so shall, also, with the consent of the church, all penitent sinners be received into it again. And as there is joy in finding the lost son, sheep and piece of silver: (Luke 15.) also shall all the true believers rejoice, with the angels of God, at the repentance and return of their lost brother or

sister.

How sins, committed by infirmity, or unwittingly, in small matters were, in manifold offering by the priest, atoned for, read :-And if any one of the common people sin through igno rance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD, concerning things which ought not to be done, and beguilty; Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering......and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him. Lev. 4: 27, 28-35.-And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses,... Then it shall be, if aught be committed by ignorance, without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer....And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them. Num. 15: 22-24, 25.

But the open and bold transgressors of the law were, by the mouth of two or three witnesses, put to death without mercy, read:But the soul that doeth aught presumptuously, (whether he be born in the land or a stranger,) the same reproacheth the LoRD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment: that soul

shall utterly be cut off: his iniquity shall be upon him. Num. 15: 30, 31.--And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him....And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death. Lev. 24: 13, 14--16.-And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. Deut. 17: 12.-One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. 19: 15.-He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Heb. 10:28.

Farthermore read the admonition of Eli the high priest, to his sons: - If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him; but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? 1 Sam. 2: 25.

How Christ commanded the smaller crimes and sins between brother and brother to be corrected, read:-If thy brother shall trespass

against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matth. 18:15--18.-Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Luke 17: 3, 4.-Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burden, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal. 6: 1, 2. - Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. James 5: 19, 20.

If any man see his brother sin a sin, which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteous is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. 1 John 5: 16, 17.

But openly presumptuous, offensive and scandalous members, hath Christ commanded to be cut off and cast away without previous admonition or intercession; or forgiveness of their notoriously flagitious crimes, read: -Wherefore, if thy hand or thy foot offend thee,* cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands, or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Matth. 18: 8, 9. - Mark 9:42--48.

Accordingly did the apostles follow the doctrine of Christ, renouncing to all eternal life who manifestly lived after the works of the