self-conceit, has, in the space of four-score years, be come luxuriant and spreading. How many separate branches it may have put forth, before the present day, it would be tedious to enquire. But some of them exhibit a total alienation from the parent church; and there are those amongst its cultivators who avow the design of overshadowing its growth and supplanting it altogether.

Against those who proceed thus far in the road to heresy, and cause actual separation from the mystical body, the same apostle warns the elders of the church: -Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers-hath visibly invested you with the sacred charge-to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know that, after my departing, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, OF YOURSELVES SHALL MEN ARISE, speaking perverse things, TO DRAW AWAY DISCIPLES AFTER THEM. (Acts xx. 30.)

And, as the disciples of these perverse teachers are drawn away after them, and therefore separated from the unity of the church; so, on the other hand, the discipline of the church would not admit of fellowship with them. For it is an apostolical injunction-Mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have received, and avoid them. (Rom. xvi. 17.)

And to the church of the Thessalonians this charge is given :-We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not

after the tradition that ye received of us; for yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: And again: -If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. (2 Thes. iii. 6, 7—14.)

From these last words it appears, that in the days of the apostle insubordination had not proceeded to that height of effrontery as to exult in the number of its votaries. A removal from the fellowship of the church was matter of shame, even to the disorderly and contumacious.

In the apostolical writings, no subject occurs more frequently than the reproof of those self-constituted teachers, who introduce schism and disorder into the flock of Christ. Thus, as the term apostle implies one who is duly authorised to carry the mandates and execute the commission of his superior, so St. Paul characterises those irregular teachers who, without such authority, intruded into the ministry by the name of false apostles, or men falsely pretending to a divine commission. Some of these had sought occasion to blame the regular ministers of Christ, alledging particularly against them, that they taught the Gospel for gain, and urging, as a specious contrast, the disinterestedness of their own labours. Now, though it was a Christian maxim, that those who preach the Gospel should live by the Gospel; yet, from receiving that support to which the ministry had a lawful title St. Paul resolutely abstains, declaring-What I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion, that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are FALSE

APOSTLES, DECEITFUL WORKERS, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ-taking upon themselves the office of self-constituted teachers.-And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing, if HIS MINISTERS also be transformed, as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds. (2 Cor. xi. 12-15.)

Here it is to be observed, that these false teachers and importers of schism appear externally as real ministers of the Gospel, only they want an authentic appointment; and, instead of being lawfully invested with their office, they only transform themselves into the apostles of Christ; and, however their voice may sound like preachers of righteousness, whilst they come with this spurious commission, St. Paul' hesitates not in styling them ministers of Satan. Abating their presumption and self-sufficiency, these men may have had upright intentions; but they introduced such disorder and division, as must eventually promote the cause of the great adversary.

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Nor were such characters to be confined to the times in which the Gospel was first propagated. For the same apostle, speaking of the latter days of Christianity, prophetically declares--The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts-or vain conceits-shall they HEAP to themselves teachers, having itching ears: and they shall turn away their cars from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Tim. iv.) Can a question remain in our days, whether this was a true prediction or not; whether it has been fulfilled;

or where such teachers and their disciples are to be found amongst the nominal professors of religion?

In the same manner the other apostles speak of those who should depart from the purity of the faith, and the unity of the church of Christ.

Thus St. Peter:-But there were false prophets among the people-of Israel-even as there shall be FALSE TEACHERS AMONG YOU, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them. (2 Pet. ii. 1.)

Amongst professors of Christianity this must surely be deemed a most extraordinary heresy! But it was requisite that the apostolical prediction should be fulfilled: and St. Peter is found to have been a true prophet. Our own times furnish examples of men who name themselves after the name of Christ; yet disallow the Gospel account of our Lord's person and character, and deny the atone ment which he made for the sins of mankind.

St. John'says of the antichristian teachers, who were to characterise the last time-They went out from us they separated themselves from the apostolical church-but they were not of us-previous to their going out, they were not real and true, but only nominal members of the church for if they had been of us, they would, no doubt, have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (1 John ii. 19.)

And, again, he forbids the church to countenance any teachers who should corrupt the doctrines of the Gospel:-If there come any unto you, and

bring not THIS DOCTRINE, receive him not into your houses, neither bid him, " God speed." (2 John 10.)

Of those murmurers and complainers, who should introduce schism and disorder in the latter ages of Christianity, St, Jude thus reminds the members of the church-But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.-These be they who separate themselves; sensual, not having the spirit. Jude, 17-19.

Of the teachers of these disorderly separatists, the apostle says:-Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain-they haye, first of all, envied, and then devised evil against their brethrenand ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward-multiplied their unhallowed altars, and wandered from place to place, to hear what the Lord will say to them there, whilst they watch an opportunity to overthrow his church—and have perished in the gainsaying of Corè. (V. 11.)

But how can the example of Corè apply, as the apostle expressly does apply it, to those professed teachers of the Gospel who separate themselves from the apostolical church?

In order to answer this question, let us consider the crime of this man, and its punishment. Corè and his company murmured against that ministry which God had authorised by a visible and special appointment; they accused this ministry of priestcraft and corruption, and thus excited a schism