The word fellowship, in Scripture, is used to signify joint-interest, partnership, and familiar intercourse; hence the saints are said to "have fellowship with God, and with his Son Jesus Christ;" and ministers and people are united in the fellowship of the gospel. The Lord's Supper is the communion or fellowship of the body and blood of Christ; and we are commanded to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." We shall illustrate this exhortation by saying, Do not associate with those who commit them; do not occasion them by your evil example; do not defend them by aiming to extenuate them; do not partake with them, by not praying against them. And we will try to enforce these things by suitable motives.

"Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness;" then, that is,

1. Do not encourage them, by associating with those who commit them.

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The saints are described in Scripture, as being "" men much to be wondered at :" as a peculiar people, a holy nation," and so on. God blesses them with peculiar nearness to himself, and loves them with a peculiar love. They are strangers and sojourners here; this is not their rest, it is polluted; it is only a wilderness through which they must pass, a place that lies in their road; an inn, at which they must lodge: they are the friends of one another, and the heirs of glory; as such, therefore, it behoves them to conduct themselves wisely, discreetly, towards those who are without, who do not belong to their fraternity, and are not travelling their road. You cannot understand us as saying, that you are to have no concern with the world; that you are to neglect your business,

and turn monks; or that you must not speak or deal with those who make no profession of religion neither would we intimate, that you are supposed to have that faculty by which you can know who are real Christians, and who are not; or that, in every case, you can tell whether you are to be familiar with this or that man.

But there is great propriety in an expression which you have, no doubt, frequently heard, and which cannot be too often repeated: "Be in the world, but not of the world.” Let it appear by your actions, that the sons of Belial are not your favorites, nor the votaries of pleasure your intimate friends. Seek to be delivered from the evil that is in the world. Let the language of David be uttered from the bottom of your heart, "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of those that keep thy precepts."

For why should you associate with the persons from whom you will be eternally separated? And why should you not delight in the company of those who, like yourselves, are travelling to that place,

"Where our best friends and kindred dwell,
Where God our Saviour reigns?"

I think that one reason why every good man dreads hell so much is, because of the vile company it contains; and really, if you would have no fellowship with the works of darkness, you must not associate with the transgressors, and those who keep not the Divine law. But again, if you wish and long to obey the command in the text, respecting the unfruitful works of darkness,

2. Do not occasion them by your evil example.. The saints " are called to holiness;" "they are

said to be the true circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and have no confidence in the flesh;" and God says to them, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity." "Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us, and purify us unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." "Let your light so shine before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father which is in heaven." The end of Christians in their walk and conversation should be to recommend religion; so that, by their attachment to one another, by the good fruit they produce and the virtues they exhibit, men may be constrained to admire the blessed effects of the gospel of Jesus.

But is this the case? Alas, alas! if it be, it is but in a very small degree; as professors of religion, shame and confusion of face belongeth unto us, because so few of us "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things;" and so many cause the name of professors of religion to be hated by the men of the world. Oh, this is a serious charge; if our conduct is unholy and unclean, we are actually forwarding the devil's work, and encouraging men to continue to practise the works of darkness. Oh, for more of the influences of the Divine Spirit! Oh, for more application of the blood of Jesus! Oh, for more enjoyment of the light of the Divine countenance ! These things would, undoubtedly, tend to the transforming our bodies and spirits into the likeness of Him, whose we are and whom we serve. But how often do we grieve the Spirit, think little of the blood of Jesus, pray but formally for the light of God's countenance! and then we need not in the least

be astonished, that it should please the Lord our God to permit us to fall into sin. Oh, then, by all means avoid the works of darkness; and,

3. Do not defend the works of darkness by aiming to extenuate them.

The saints should exercise continued acts of repentance, should pray to see sin in its worst colors, in its blackest features, and in its exceeding sinfulness; that so they may be confirmed, in their hatred to it, and their desire to be delivered from it. But very often it happens, that after a child of God has fallen into the snare of the enemy, he wishes to make his sin appear as little as possible, and tries to extenuate it; which shows that he still feels a desire after it, that it is yet hid in his heart, nay, it shows us that he has fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Never, Christian, never contrive sin, assist in it, rejoice in it, share the profits or pleasures of it; never provoke men to it, never forbear to do all in your power to hinder men from committing it, never command it, nor commend it; never neglect to reprove it, and then you will not have occasion to endeavor to extenuate it.

Oh, how much, of the spirit of the world do we, who call ourselves Christians, daily exhibit! When we come to look into our own hearts, and examine ourselves upon these points, does not conscience tell us that we have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; nay, that we are partakers of other men's crimes?

It would be an excellent thing for us, if we looked into the law of God more frequently; then should we, in discerning the spirituality of the law and the broadness of the commandment, see our own sinfulness and vileness. Then we should be

obliged to confess our little conformity to the Divine commands, and to acknowledge our little likeness to God and Christ.

Again," Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness," that is,

4. Do not partake with them, by not praying against them.

The saints are to be men of prayer, and, on every occasion, are to lift up holy hands to God, praying always with all kinds of prayer and supplications. The necessity of prayer arises from numerous and interesting sources which we cannot now examine. Prayer and intercession are to be made for all men, and certainly the ungodly part of mankind demand a share in our prayers as well as the righteous. Notwithstanding the assertions of men, respecting the propriety of limiting our petitions, and not extending them to the whole world, we do assert, that the man who does not pray for the pardon of the sins of men, has fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Oh, be not partakers with other men's sins by this. Believer, do Satan, sin, and the world, tempt thee by various allurements, to various crimes? the remedy is still before thee, -pray. The Divine Being takes pleasure in seeing you striving against sin, against spiritual wickedness in high places; and so shall you best show your aversion to sin, either in yourselves or others, even by praying repeatedly and earnestly against it; and here is a promise for your encouragement, "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." And again he has said, "Sin shall not have dominion over you." But never forget that your great Master requires this of you, that you have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.