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righteousness in proportion to the ascendency they gain, and the bitterness with which they are main ́tained. And I mean not to give offence, but warning, when I add, that the very existence of these conflicting, and almost numberless divisions, is a demonstration of the low state of religion, and that much remaining darkness still hangs over the various departments of the visible church. For what is light? It is to love and follow Christ; and to love the brethren because they bear his image. All such are in the light. But "he that saith he ́is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now."*

It is true that the Lord works by whom he will, and grants his blessing with individual efforts to propagate his truth; and that good is produced by various denominations of Christians acting in separate bodies, and more particularly when they are so situated as not to interfere with each other. Yet it is evident, that their efforts are cramped, and the good effected small compared with what might be done, if they could forget their partydistinctions, and act in concert; or if "the multitude of believers were of one heart, and of one soul," and moved together as one against the kingdom of darkness. This may be corroborated by a reference to the constitution and progress of the various missionary societies, and to the constitution and progress of the British and Foreign Bible Society; and, if I am not mistaken, will after a time be more evident. If professing Christians will not agree to sink their non-essential differences, and unchristian rules of separation, nor understand their obligations to "follow the Lamb, whi

1 John ii. 9. ' + Acts iv. 32.

thersocver He goeth," they may be taught their duty by discipline of a painful, and terrible nature. No man indeed can tell what the Lord will be pleased to do. Perhaps (for that is all we should dare to say) the Jews may be ordained to bring the Christian world to a sense of their duty to Christ, by the wonderfully glorious event, of a nation born at once, and following, in one body, the standard of Immanuel. The subject however demands the serious consideration of all who engage in attempts to bring pagans and mahometans to the knowledge of the gospel. O tell it not among the heathen, that though you send so far to persuade them to receive your sacred books, and to convert them to your religion, you are nevertheless at home a house divided against itself, involved in endless disputes as to the meaning of those books, and as to what you are required to believe! For they will have their answer forth-coming; And it will be neither for your encouragement, nor for your honour. And as to infidels at home, it is well known that the contentions of various parties for their contradictory tenets are the great stumbling block between them and the gospel, the main strength of a desperate cause, and which furnish them with their most plausible arguments against Christianity. For they know that truth, whatever it may be, cannot be contrary to itself. Ungodly men will ask, and with apparent reason, why should we labour to ascertain what the true ‘religion is, when they who have the best qualifica'tions and opportunities, and devote their whole 'lives to these studies, cannot come to an agree 'ment respecting it? There is scarcely any descrip

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* Rev. xiv. 4. Isa. lxvi. 8.

tion of persons, who escape uninjured by the prevalence of party-spirit. It is a snare to numbers, who adhere to those places of worship, where they have attended from their childhood, for that reason only, without any farther concern, whether the truth be preached, or not; and who sleep, it may be, through their lives, in those stations where their fathers used to watch and pray. It provides a bait greedily caught by others, who join particular denominations with a view to temporal advantages, because they observe in them a disposition to deal with, and employ members of their own party to the exclusion of others. Real Christians also suffer loss, and are much hindered in their comfort and usefulness by their ungracious divisions. But what is most deplorable is, that the true church, compared to "a city set on a hill, which cannot be hid,"* is hereby so obscured, that numbers cannot tell where to find it; and because the characteristic mark by which Christ has told us it shall be known, seems to be removed. Let us hear his own words; and may they sink deeply into every heart!" By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."+

But what is the most effectual remedy for these evils? And how is the real Christian, in present circumstances, to walk, that he may please God, maintain the communion of saints, and give no needless offence to his brethren of other denominations? The questions are important, and lead us into a wide field: but I must only glance at some parts of it. Happily for us the text, in this case also, will conduct us by a short and satisfactory course.

* Mat. v. 14. + John, xiii. 35.

I commend you to God. He only can unite our hearts to himself, and to each other. This likewise is a new covenant blessing, secured by promise. "I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, &c.' * The glorious plan of our redemption is directly suited, and was designed to produce this unity. Thus Christ, on the eve of his sufferings, gave his disciples a new commandment, that they should love one another, as he had loved them. And when the Apostle Paul heard that the Corinthians were breaking into parties, and calling themselves by the names of their teachers, he asked them, as filled with astonishment, whether Christ were divided? and besought them by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they would all speak the same thing, and have no divisions among them. And, as their divisions arose chiefly from an undue regard to human learning, he reminded them, that God had, in the gospel, made foolish the wisdom of this world; and that all, who thought much of that sort of wisdom, must become fools in order to be wise. He knew that philosophy and polite literature were in high repute at Corinth; but he "determined" (probably with particular reference to that fact) "not to know any thing among them, save Jesus Christ and him crucified." This knowledge is abundantly sufficient for all the gracious purposes of God in calling sinners by the gospel. Look then to the Son of God as loving, and dying for his enemies, and for yourself in particular, when in that awful condition. At the foot of the cross you are at the fountain head of love, peace, unity, and of all spiritual wisdom, health,

* Jer. xxxii. 39. ↑ John, xiii. 34. 1 Cor. i. ii. iii. chap.

and goodness. Here you will find a sovereign and immediate remedy for a selfish, narrow, and party-spirit. Here the Apostles drank deeply into that divine knowledge, which enlarged their hearts, and caused them to abound in labours of love, and gave such peculiar force and efficacy to their exhortations. The following are a few instances out of many "The love of Christ constraineth us. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and given himself for us, &c. Let nothing be done through strife, or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, &c. Let brotherly love continue."*

I shall just observe, that love, peace, gentleness, &c. are fruits of the Spirit; and that hatred, variance, emulations, strife, envyings, &c. are works of the flesh; and that we are commanded to walk in the Spirit, that we may not fulfil the latter. Yield up yourselves therefore to his holy guidance continually. Live upon Christ, that you may be led by the Spirit. And remember that, "they who are Christ's, have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."+

I commend you also to the word of his grace. It is the instrument of his power by which he controls and reconciles the unruly and contentious dispositions of men, and brings them into a state of concord and good will, so that, in the figurative

* 2 Cor. v. 14. 1 John, iv. 11. Eph. v. 1. Phil. ii. 3. Heb. xiii, 1.

+ Read Gal. v.
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