law was love: whofe immunities were divine grace and forgiveness of fins; and whofe hope was eternal life. They see Jews, strangers and profelytes, the inhabitants of Judea, and foreigners from remote regions, yielding to the authority of their exalted Lord; and laying afide all diftinctions, attached to one caufe, and united by one Spirit.

These are the triumphs of truth, grace, and love. Here, not bodies are enchained, but fouls are fubdued. Here, these holy men of God perceive themselves employed to bring about a revolution in the religion and morals of the world, which philosophy could never effect; a revolution which was the light and glory of that age, and which would fpread to the ends of the world, and reach down to the end of time. "How glorious an earnest of the future fuccefs of the Gofpel! How great an encouragement to the Apoftles in all the difficulties they were to encounter, obferves an excellent man, and how convincing a proof to all ages of the truth of the faith, which in its first operations was fo powerful."*

If, from this fcene, we turn our eyes to view the prefent state of christian societies, have we not occafion to lament a great declenfion from this

fpirit

* See Dr. DODDRIDGE's Family Expofitor. v. 3. in loc. The Improvement.

spirit of piety, zeal, and love? These early converts, it is allowed, were addreffed by wonderful manifeftations of divine power in the gifts of the Spirit; which addreffed all their fenfes, and arrefted their attention to the word of falvation. They acted under the force of uncommon and lively impreffions. The novelty, as well as importance of the doctrine, tended to occupy their thoughts with delight: the fingularity and difficulties of their profeffion contributed to cement their fouls together.

But is the operation, is the energy of their devotion and benevolence to be refolved wholly into the influence of present wonders, and of recent impreffions? Is nothing, is not much to be afcribed to the nature and truth of the things they had heard? To the divinity and weight of the doctrine they had embraced, as the WORD of GOD, and the word of SALVATION? What can time diminish from the fublimity, truth, and importance of our holy faith? "Jefus," or the Gofpet, "is the fame yesterday, to-day, and for ever." It always fupplieth juft grounds for a devout attachment, for a glowing zeal.

After a due allowance for every difference of circumstances, the conduct of these believers furnishes a model for Chriftian Societies through all ages; a model of the spirit which should actuate their hearts, and of the manners which fhould

adorn

adorn their profeffion. Let me, then, recommend to Chriftian Churches an imitation of these first Christian Societies. It is with this view, that the fubject hath been chofen; to this point, what has been faid particularly and forcibly applies.

Let Chriftian Societies be admonished to perfevere in their attendance upon the inftitutions of the Gospel-To cultivate the fpirit of love-And to aim at a purity of manners, that may command refpect and conciliate favour.

1. Let them perfevere in their attendance upon the Inftitutions of the Gofpel. That the profane and vicious, or fuch as fcarcely carry their views and thoughts beyond this world, fhould neglect the ordinances of religion, is not furprifing: but that believers, that perfons profeffing godlinefs, and the candidates for eternal life, should forfake the affemblies of the Saints, is not to be reconciled to any principles. It is incompatible with the confiftency of their own characters: it is fubverfive of the interefts of christianity; and it is repugnant to the directions of the New Tefta

ment.

Is it not very natural, is it not highly neceffary, that such as have the fame avowed object in view, fhould often meet together to promote it? As Chriftians, the common Salvation is our end and hope. For this you give your names to a Chriftian Society; for this you choose a Minifter to be

the

the helper of your faith and joy; for this an honour hath been fet upon the Lord's day; for this Churches have been erected; for this is the table of the Lord covered with its provifions. But all

these means of advancing this great object are defeated, by our neglect of Chriftian inflitutions and worship.

Was it by remiffnefs, with refpect to focial devotion, that the first converts were built up a fpiritual house, an holy prieft-hood? No. They continued daily with one accord in the temple, and were stedfast in attending upon the inftructions of the Apostles, and in acts of Chriftian communion. The reafon was, that they felt the truth of the religion they had embraced; they derived their nobleft delights from its religious fervices; and they were earnest in their holy profeffion. Shame to the langour of our piety; fhame to the weaknefs of our faith, from whence proceeds our neglect of the day, and of the houfe of the Lord!

Were the Ministers of Religion to desert their pofts on the Lord's day, for the fame reasons, which prevail with others to forfake the affembling of themselves together, their conduct would be justly deemed highly criminal and pernicious: but is not the fame conduct, in a proportional degree, criminal and pernicious in the people as in them? Be it their duty to teach, is it not that of their flocks, to receive the word of exhortation?

Be it their duty to lead Chriftian devotions, is it not that of others to go up to the house of the Lord, to unite in its prayers and praises? Chriftians and Ministers owe this to each other. It is a more weighty confideration, that they owe it to their common Lord and Saviour; to the honour and spread of his caufe. Though by private reading, and by fecret devotion, our perfonal improvement and falvation may be carried on, yet Chriftians fhould confider what they owe to the edification of others, and fhould reflect upon the usefulness of Chriftian ordinances to the prefervation and influence of the Gospel in the world.

Our religion is built upon certain great facts, the life and miniftry, the death and refurrection of Jefus Chrift. There is no way of perpetuating the remembrance of facts, but by written records, or by fenfible memorials and emblems of them. Written records fome cannot read; many will not confult, especially, when having been long in the hands of men, they are fuppofed to offer nothing, but an old story, to invite to a perufal. Senfible memorials come in aid of the defects and inefficacy of books; fpeak, when the latter would not be looked into, arreft attention, and come home to the conceptions and feelings of men. By public worship on one day out of seven, and by the Lord's Supper, men are led to enquire, what mean these things?-And to reflect upon their own

concern