A little pamphlet called "Forgotten Truths" by Mr. C. H. Bright, was sent us lately, from which we quote the following:

"The assembly has to decide if one is to be received, or if an evildoer is to be expelled. The assembly has its elders to direct it, but the decision rests with them. The divinely given rule for receiving is, 'Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God' (Rom. 15:7). And for expelling the rule is equally simple:' Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person ' (i Cor. 5:13). It should be noticed that it does not say, 'that naughty Christian,' but, ' that wicked person.' he is no longer recognized as a christian. Whether he may be, after all, no brother presumes to judge; that is for god to say, but the assembly cannot recognize him as a Christian. Just as Paul will not suppose that one really a brother can be guilty of heinous sins, and simply says, 'if any man who is called a brother be' so and so (i Cor. 5:ii). The normal idea of an assembly of God is this-a place where all true Christians are joined in fellowship and none else. No assembly really of God puts out (except by mistake) any person who has scriptural claim to be recognized as a believer in the Lord Jesus."

Is this teaching true? Is the getting rid of unsaved persons the only discipline God enjoins upon His Church? To prove this assertion reference is made to the case of discipline in i Cor. 5:It is asserted that because the offender is called "that wicked person " he was therefore no longer recognized as a Christian at all.

Let. the sober Christian but read carefully i Cor. v 3-5 and see if he can come to such a mind. He will there find conclusive proof that "that wicked person" had no more ceased to be a Christian in the mind of Paul and of the Corinthian assembly than Peter in the mind of Christ on the night of his awful denial.

Further proof of this will be found in 2 Cor. 2:6-8, where the true character and object of discipline are plainly seen:"Sufficient to such a man is this punishment" . . . "Forgive him, comfort him." He had been restored through the discipline.

In the same article we read such expressions as, "We are glad to be able to say that our Father never punishes His children." What then means i Cor. 11:30-32 ?

We all know well that there is chastening from our Father which is not punishment for evil committed but for prevention; all for our profit of course:but in the scripture just referred to prevention is not the case, but commission.

There was a time when one never heard of the true grace of God; when scriptures which apply to the government of God among His people were set before us as the way of salvation. It was the enemy depriving us of the bread of life and thus keeping our souls in starvation and our lives from fruition. But now it is grace abused, the holy government of God in His house annulled, and the sanctification of His people hindered. It is another means, but the same enemy.