well. But is it your intention in doing these things that it should be understood that you are real Christians, under all the bonds of the christian covenant? Such a thought, perhaps, never entered your hearts. The Apostles preached to mixed assemblies, composed of Jews and Heathens. At the present day, the doors of the sanctuary are open for the reception of persons of all characters, whatever motives may bring them together. The ministers of Christ are glad of every opportunity for making known his gospel, and publishing its offers; but when any are persuaded in their hearts to receive and believe it, they are expected to make a public profession of their faith, and to seal this profession by washing with water in baptism, and by commemorating the death of their Saviour at his table. In this way were the primitive converts introduced, and made visible members of Christ's church. Neither he nor his Apostles acknowledged any as members, till they first openly acknowledged their faith in him. When the eunuch asked, "what doth hinder me to be baptized?" the answer was, "thou mayest, if thou believest with all thine heart." On his making this declaration, he was admitted to the ordi nance. All who received baptism in adult age, after the resurrection of Christ, united in the commemoration of his death. We have no example in Scripture of the neglect of this latter ordinance by any who had received the first. In every place, as many as believed, hastened to profess their faith, and to form a church for the due celebration of all the gospel ordinances. The regulations for constituting christian societies, at first established by Christ and his Apostles, may not be set aside or disregarded. While we steadily observe the stated seasons for personal and family devotion and instruction in our own houses, we may not be less exemplary in our attendance upon the order and ordinances of God's house. If this be forsaken, what is called a pillar and ground for the support of the christian system, may be considered as giving way and sinking into ruin. When they who are called Christians, become remiss and negligent in assembling themselves together for christian worship and edification, the face of christianity is evidently fading away. But besides the performance of religious duties, our profession must be supported by a correspondent practice, by a temper and conduct conformed to the example and precepts of Christ. If it be not thus supported, evidenced, and shown to be real and sincere, it may be nothing, and worse than nothing. It is by an holy life, by the steady practice of all the christian virtues, that we are to cause our light to shine before others, bring honour to that holy name by which we are called, and contribute our part to the extending of the influence of his religion. Our example cannot fail of benefiting our immediate connexions, our families, children, relations, neighbours, acquaintance, indeed, all who have the opportunity of witnessing how holily, righteously, and unblamably we pass the time of our sojourning here. Who knows to what an extent, or through what a length of duration, the happy effects of such examples may reach? May divine grace render us all earnest and fervent thus with our lives, as well as with our mouth, to make confession unto the salvation, both of ourselves and others, exhibiting us as leaders in the way to heavenly felicity! SERMON IX.* UNION IN CHRIST. 1 CORINTHIANS, xii. 27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. AMONG the disorders and irregularities in the church at Corinth, which this epistle was designed to correct, were the prevalence of a party-spirit, and the mutual prejudices and animosities which it had produced. Notwithstanding the rich variety of gifts and graces with which this church was distinguished, parties and factions soon sprung up, divisions and contentions soon took place. The ground from which these disquietudes originated, seems to have been the persons, abilities, and gifts of the different teachers and ministers who came among them. These they set up as heads of parties, and indulged *This discourse was delivered at Malden, Nov. 2d, 1794, on a Fast appointed for the purpose of seeking the Divine direction in the choice of a minister. It was afterwards preached in other places, with the omission of that part which immediately related to the abovementioned occasion. all their mutual prejudices, in unreasonably extolling one and depreciating another. With great concern St. Paul heard the tidings of these divisions, and, in the first chapter of this epistle, thus tenderly expostulates with them. "Now, I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you ;-every one of you saith, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ." This use of party names and distinctions, is pronounced a mark of their carnality, and of their being under the influence of strong and sinful prejudices; "ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men ?" that is, as unregenerate men, and not as Christians who have been taught and sanctified by that spirit, whose fruits are directly opposite to those works of the flesh. For while one saith, I am for this teacher, and another, I am for that, "are ye not carnal ?" Aware of their having been betrayed into these divisions by their fondness for the eloquence and philosophy of their schools, and the more shining accomplishments of their different teachers, the Apostle reminds them of the little stress which ought to be laid upon these things, and that God often chooses and succeeds |