when he commanded it to be used with those who sin and are obstinately disobedient to the church, when he sayeth: But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Matth. 18: 17.

This also was observed and practiced by the apostles, who followed the doctrine of Christ, of which read:-I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolators; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat. 1 Cor. 5: 911.

Here the apostle forbids, not only having conversation with apostates, but also not to eat with them. In which prohibition he will not be understood as meaning the unrighteous of this world, for with them we are at liberty, else must we needs go out of the world, because the world lyeth in wickedness: therefore it must necessarily be understood of our daily conver sation, our eating and habitude.-A man that is a heretick, after the first and second admonition, reject. 2 Tit. 3: 10.-If we deny Him, he also will deny us. Tim. 2: 12.-Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil; the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom

be thou aware also; for he hath greatly withstood our works. 4: 14, 15.—If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed. 2 John v. 10.---And 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. 3: 14.

How believers must not only shun and withdraw from those who have apostatized, but also from all those who walk disorderly, without respect to person, read:-Now 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 which he received of us. 2 Thes. 3: 6.-This, however, must be understood according to the Spirit of the gospel of Christ.

How believers must seek that which is lost, and not count him that is put away from among them as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother, read:-Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2 Thes. 3: 15.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.For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19: 10. And it came to pass, that, when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded

these servants to be called unto him to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. v. 15:

ARTICLE THIRTIETH.

OF THE LAST DAY AND THE COMING AGAIN OF CHRIST FROM HEAVEN.

Or the last day and of the coming of Christ again from heaven, we believe and confess, That the great God of heaven, who in the beginning created the heaven and the earth, with all visible things, hath appointed a day—a day which the angels of heaven do not know, much less mortal man, and which will come unawares to the children of men, and as a snare to all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth; and as a thief upon all them that do not watch. In that day will the great God destroy all the monarchies and visible kingdoms and burn them up with fire, except the men who that did the will of God, these will abide forever.

In which last and great day of the Lord, the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who in the presence of the apostles was taken up into heaven, and a cloud received him out of their sight, will come again from heaven with clouds, but not in such an humble state as he came in his first coming into the earth, at Bethlehem: but in this his second coming, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven, he will come with great power and

glory, as KING of kings, and LORD of lords, with the power and glory of his Almighty Father's, attended with the angels of God; and with a shout, the sound of trumpet and the voice of the archangel (1 Thes. 4: 16.) the heaven and the earth with the mountains and islands will be shaken; the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, the stars shall fall from heaven, and all the kindreds of of the earth shall wail, their hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, when they see the Son of Man coming with great power and glory.

Of this last day of the LORD, read:-And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, his disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Matth. 24: 3. (read this chapter throughout.)

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up. 2. Pet. 3: 10.-Eor behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Mal. 4: 1.-For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord

so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 1 Thes. 5: 2, 3.-Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Matth. 24: 35, 36.-Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Isa. 51: 6.

Of Christ's return or second coming from heaven, read:-Ye men of Gallilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1: 11.-For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 1 Thes. 4: 16.- Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Rev. 1: 7.—And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and

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