It is very true there are individual and common short comings, but to have God's end before us is most needful from first to last. It is last in execution, but that is always the thing first in intention. Moreover, it guides all intermediate steps and means, which, if not convergent to the end, are either wrong, or, if right and appointed, have been deprived of their use, and turned to man's self-exaltation: witness all ecclesiastical things, sacraments, (so called,) &c.; and anything that does not minister Christ, and to Christ, in us, the hope of glory, is aside God's purpose. The rule of a family, the needful works of life, child-bearing, all are places and circumstances of exercise of the grace of eternal life. Confession of the kingdom, as well as the rejoicing in the grace, is needful; and I am sure those who fail in these will suffer loss in that day. The use of the assembly is not answered, if this end is not understood. Worship is, on its own ground, as heavenly, but the assembly for these things is on the earth, and its obligations one to another are on this ground, with confession and prayer. "To what were ye baptized?" is a proper question to ask on this behalf.