Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-01-10
From the Edinburgh Christians Magazine.
on THE PECULIAR DUTIES OF CHURCH
MEMBERS.

|
MEMBERS.
Many exccllen; sermons have been prca.
ched and published, the sole desi ign Of which
was to explain and enforce the du;'es OF
Christian ministers towards God, and to-
wards the people committed to their care
and doubtless they have been blessed for
! forming pastors according TO Gods heart.
But the writer has seen little or nothing
written on the particular duties of church
members; so far as he knows, it has nearly
been taken for granted, that the part they
had 10 act was so easily understood, that
there was no call to write on such a subject.
Experience, however, proves that church
members have the same need to be instruct
ed in their particular duties, as pastors have
in theirs. Both have the same corrupt ma.
lures Satan, the grand adversary, tempts
both; and the miscarriages of either mar
the success of the Gospel. 1t is the deep
conviction Of these truths on my own mind,
that has induced me to offer, through the
medium Of your valuable Magazine, few
thoughts on the peculiar duties of church.
members.
wish the reader to keep in mind, that |
am not to describe the various duties which
arc incumbent on saints while in this world ;
but | am coufning my observations to what
is required by the Scriptures from those
persons who are of age, and in full CON-
munion with Christian congregation. in
order to keep up consistent character
Now, the first of these is, to pay proper
respect to the glorious Gospel. A church
is a society constituted for the open profess
sion of it; the pastor ought to be one who
breaches this Gospel purely; and it is the
duty Of the church-member to attend on the
ordinances of it, as far as in his power
The apostle says, in Heb. X. 25, "Forsake
not the assembling of yourselves together"
But he is not to be satisfied with a bodily
attendance only. He ought 10 avoid all le-
vty when in the house Of God, and strive
against sleeping when there; "for great
fear is due unto the Lord in the meeting OF
his saints" He is to consider also the
praises that are sung, and the prayers that
are offered up, as part of his own worship,
and is to make conscience Of joining with
his spirit in these. And as the word will
not profit except it be mixed with faith in
the hearing, he is to aim at this faith hab'.
tually, when the word is dispensed, hearing
it with reverence, self.application, and sub.
mission. This faith should be habitual ;
and as it is the gift Of God, it is sill TO be
sought from him in humble and importuna'e
prayer, before we come up to hear. The
Gospel is the power Of God unto salvation,
it reveals the way Of salvation thro' Christ,
/ and the testimony it gives is not only 10 be
listened unto. but Christ himself is to be re-
ccvcd into the heart, and habitually to be
trusted in for the blessings of saliva ion.-
Every churcil-member deceives himself,
who r.sts short of this life of faith on the
/ Son of God, by means of the Gospel; and
as it is the Spirit Of grace who begins and
carries it on, he is daily to apply 10 him for
communicating this blessing.
A second duty of the church.mcmbcr is
kind and respectful carriage towards his
minister. If he preach not sound doctrine
it is his sin to own him in this character
for the apostle John says, elf any come un,
to YOU, and bring not the doctrine Of Christ
bid him no: God-spccd, for he that blddetll
him God-spccl is partaker ofhis evil deeds. .
John iv. 10, IL. And it is equally his
sin to own the minister who is habi:ualIy
careless Of the du:ics of his station, or who
is immoral in private life. Paul directs, in
. Thcss. iii. 6, "That there should be a
withdrawing from every brother that walk
eth dsorderly;" and he commands every
church.mcmbcr to do this in the name OF
! Christ. But a ministers doctrine bepure,
if he is circumspect in his walk, and atlen-
tive 10 the state Of the flock over which he
is oversecr though he has his nfrmltIes,
| he is not TO be despiscd. The faithful mi
Mister in every age will be opposed and ha:
ted, and frequently ridiculed and prosecuted
BY the erroneous and the pro!ane; 1t is
therefore the duty of the church-member to
stand by his minister in every trial. He
ought to afford him all the countenancc, as
sistance, and encouragement in his power,
and carefully to avoid every thing which
! would weaken his hands, and be hindrancc
and discouragemcnt to him in the discharge
of his duty. l Thess. v. II, l3. "And
We beseech you, brethren, to know thcm
ii ,,l