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    point two members to propose him , and form their determination by their own communications with him , and the opinions of his named proposers . It has already been observed , that neither power , nor rank , nor wealth , nor learning , is of any consideration in the choice of an elder : nor are

    they in that of a member . Power , wealth , rank , learning , lay down their pretensions at the threshold of a Christian Church , in which a complete equality reigns in all its members , and

    no pre-eminence is allowed but to services . A king may be a member of a church ; but he would hardly , from his station , choose to be an elder , nor would the church think it expedient to elect Mum into such an office , or

    that of deacon ; and the same might be said of any other person who is raised by civil considerations very high above his brethren . But a Christian Church will very rarely find solicitations from these quarters . Our Saviour did not say in vain , that it was hard for a rich man to enter into the

    kingdom of heaven ; and the same may be said of the present as of former times ; "Ye see your calling , brethren . Not many mighty * not many rich , not many learned /' The funds requisite for the support of a church are small . As none of the

    officers , namely , bishop or overseer , elder or presbyter , minister or deacon , angel , messenger or deputy , deaconess , —are to be paid any thing for their services $ except the travelling expenses

    of the deputy , when it may be expedient to attend a meeting of deputies of other churches ; its expenses are confined to the room in which it meets , for fire and candle and rent , and the

    menial service required to keep it in order . As to rent , in most cases it would be trifling ; as in most districts some one member would have sufficiently large rooms for the purposes . The building of places appropriated

    to the sole purpose of religious service , has been attended with very bad jconsequences , and should be avoided . But if the expenses of religious service are very small , the contributions of the members ( always voluntary ) may be considerable . For from them

    is to be given relief to the poor , the widow and the orphan ; to the necessities of other churches - , and to whatever CJorbtiaa cause the church may

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    think right to adopt . The expenditure of these funds will be regulated by the committee ^ who * on peculiar occasions , may make a call on the benevolence of the Church . The deacons or ministers will at stated meetings hold the boxes at the door of the church , to

    receive these voluntary donations ; but no one shouUL be . permitted to subscribe his name in a book for any sum . His benevolence should be known to the contributor alone ; an <| the observation of our Saviour should be always held in view : the mite of the

    widowis as acceptable as the greatest contributions of the rich , , ¦ It is to be hoped , that persons join ing a church , in which no encourage ment is given to worldly ends , would

    in general conduct themselves b y those principles which alone can give admission to it . But from the infirmity of human nature cases may occur in which a church might suffer greatly from the bad conduct of a member .

    In this case it would be the duty of a member or elder to admonish the offender with Christian kindness ; and , if he persists in his evil course , he should be recommended to withdraw quietly from the society , which in the last resource only will cut him off , and even then be ready to receive him again

    with open arms , if his conduct is changed . In this it exercises only the right which necessarily belongs to all communities : the only difference between a church and a worldly community is , that in the former every thing is done without asperity , and with a true Christian regard to the eternal interest of its members .

    On the times of meeting for religious service the church will determine : the first day of the week , as it is now generally adopted for tjris purpose , will naturally be set apart as the Sabbath-day , or day of rest and day of devotion . Of course it is to be hoped ,

    that on the meetings of this day the grand object should be always kept in view ; uor should it be permitted to lead the mind away froni sacred truths , by the disputes too prevalent on religious subjects among the men of this

    world . The Scriptures afford every thing necessary for spiritual edification : and if questions of controversy should occur , they should be reserved for meetings on other days of the week . The day of rest should not be

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    On the Constitution of a Christian Church . 399

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1821, page 399, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2502/page/19/