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^OVA SCOT/4

PROVINCE HOUSE

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ST. PA

ST.

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ESPKCIAL

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ON DISSENT.

SERMON,

IMPEACHED L\

ST. PALL'S CHURCH, ST. MARGARET'S BAY,

ON SUNDAYj MARCH 24tH J

AND IX

ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, CHESTER,

ON SUNDAY, JUNE 24tH,

1S38.

?K.i.-.,M. EDITION, CORRECTED, WITlt A DDITIO.V.M, Vmvk>

BF THE

K K V D. JO II N S T A xN N A (; V. ,

.'HUSSION A RV.

ESPKUIALLY INTENDED FOR PLAIN TEOI'LE, MKMEEiJ- OK
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

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JVot/j I beseech you, Brethren, mark them which cause
divisions, and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have
learned, and avoid them. For they that are such serve not
our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly ; and by good
words and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple.''-—
Kom. XVI. 17. -^ r

vVt

jGMK of you, my Brethren, may think me
hhcah and severe in selecting this text for my present
rubjec. ; but I must be^ you to consider that these are
(he ^vords of a- Acostle, of an inspired writer, and
that ^i; fureiy cannot I?e wrong to place before you
what comes immediately from the Holy Ghost. We
are not to consult the caprice or will of any man in
the discharge of our duty. We are not to enquire
whether such and such a text will give offence to those
whom it best ouits, or not ; but our duty, and the good
of the Church, require us to give all the information
possible upon every point of the Christian doctrine ;
and to form our sermons according to the peculiar
wants and circumstances of our flocks.

The Apostles had received power and command
to preach the Gospel throughout the world ; and their
Divine Master had given them all the necessary in-
structions concerning the establishment of his Church.
No doubt, all the particular counsels and injunctions

:!■■

"l.ich I,e gave tl.em, before leaving .Ws world, are not

mentioned Ml tie C;o<innk l.„, ,i "iiitnoi

u Ml uie (..osjicli, bill tlieie was one siibiect

of too great importanee to be oiimied, and that was :-
the unilyof all ikose tluU would believe on him. The
Saviour knew ,00 well tbe corruption of the liutnai.

^:; ""' n ?""°" "'^"' ^S"'"^' 'hs temptations
"Inch wore hkely to arise on, of small differences of

iec.ionate terms to -Jove one another," reminding
l-n .hat they would be known as his disciples and
"enck by their being a« one, even as he was one
_^; "I- -e Father. " Holy father," says he, "keep
'.trough thine own name .hose whom thon has, givt'i
me. Ilia, they may he one, a, uc are. That tliey may
be one as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee. tha^.
■ey also may be one in us, ,liat the world may believe
tiat tliou has sent ine." Here i, is very clear and
plam that the Lord did not wish his disciis to be di-
aled into parties and sects, but rather that tliey should
be all one-ih,t all those who should believe on him
"^ere to be united together " into one body," which is
the Church, having Christ for its head.*
__Now^n wejxamine^he writings of the firs,

ear'h'inl" ^ a IZ ZTTZ^'^X'^'''''". '''"'''' "<""•
Hint any church ever IZl^Jh:' "°"'""'' """^ '" Scrip.are

chriMian,. JeU, Chrithi r„ If ™,<^<","P'"'=<' ""ir«l.v of ' ir.o
openly declared ,h?.-,irare:""S ''"'"''''"" "" ^^'"'^•
"heaf; ,i,a,..,hef oiishvirl :- „r"' „Te\' T "'"■ " '^

wop '•' ftrn T» • ' yo'"" '"l- 10 06 JOUncl (111100? " thp

w rl'. e^de^; 'n;L"?tLv ^1 T'"^ ''"'' ^'^^«"^^- have leen a
hanpi V soTr ilFth ^.^^ to organize a pure church, bui un-

and Apo«ioll ChTrch ni i ,h n^^^'"'^ l^'^^'u '" '^"^ '=•"« ^^'^"^'^'^
p lyiic t-nurcn, rather ihan separate without sufficient reasons.

<< /n

hRS

d, are not
le subject
It was : —
m. The
le human
mptations
rences of"

the most
em in (ling
iples and

was one
, " keep
asl given
they may
hee, that
y believe
;lear and
to be di-
2y should

on liim
wiiich is

the first

urch upon
I Scriptare
Iv of troe
i Church,
'ith " the
ong " the
vfi been at
h, bui on-
lus should
Catholic
It reasons.

founders of the Christian Church, we find them con-
stantly employed in establishing Churches wherever the
Gospel was received. But what kind of Churchcb ?
Were they all called by different names, like the nu-
merous sects of the present day ? Did they establish,
or organize, five or six different kind of Churches in
the same city, or in the same place ; each having a
different creed, and a different way of thinking and
of acting ? ! let us not, for one moment, suppose
such a thing. There was indeed more than one con-
gregation in some cities or countries, but they were all
under one head, or bishop ; — they all had the same
creed ; — they were all governed by the same laws ; —
and they all worshipped God in the same manner, and
with the same words. The Apostles took good care
to keep " the multitude of them that believed" " ivith
one accord'' — ^'' icith one mind.'' Their instructions
to them were : — " let there be no divisions among you'''
— ^^ speak ye all the same language'^ — '^ obey them
that have the rule over you^ and submit yourselves^'' —
" mark them which cause divisions, and avoid them.'"
But it might be asked, — were there not then
some divisions and sects among the very first Chris-
tians ? To this v/e would answer, that although there
were some in one sense, yet there were none permit-
ted or sanctioned by the Apostles. It is true, theit
were some persons, even in those blessed days, who
would not always submit themselves — who took more
liberty than the Gospel allowed them, and who thought
that there was no harm in dividing and separating them-
selves from the main body of Christians, by adopting

pccliar vie,vs on some particular poin.s ; ar,<! oti.ers
we.e d,v,cled .n tl,eir attachment to diffc-e, t Minis
caljng .i,on,selv.s, son,e tUe follovers of Pr.td, sol of
•polios, some of Cephas, and others, of Chris,. Bu
"here and when were all these praised by the Apostle
Tor thetr conduct .^ >Vhere do' we find that thevr
cet.ed the least countenance frotn the inspired wri^e s
Rather, does not St. Paul say i„ our te.t, "m'rk

|i=em winch cause divisions and avoid thetn.'" D
ho not call the. carnal who „,erely followed one tnin^
ter n preference to another, instead of puttins all
sTon 7",^ -"Jffections on Christ, as'the dn^
bishop 01 so,.ls f We need only read the Scriptures to
.ee how the holy Apostles hated and reprovedTkTnds
-even the appearance of divisions. In the 20th ch
o .he Acts, we find the sante Apostle delivering le
ollowtng charge or commands, to the cler.y of Eph^
us ,n whtch he appears particularly to cfead the ef-
fect of dtssent atnong them. " Take heed therefore
nto yourselves," says he, "and to all the flock ovr
l.e winch the Holy Ghost hath made yot- ovet'eers
ee the Church of God which He'has p^ ^d'
""■' ^^ °«" ^^"°^- For I know this, iha after mv
departtng shall grievous wolves enter i^ at^o g 'T
not spanng the flock. Also of your ownselves fhal

.3, men calhng thentselves Ministers of Chris, v thou
be",g truly ordained by the Apostles or Bis ps who
alone had power to ordain them ; who would alfo pe k

KBBP

f/ .

nnd otliers
Ministers,
h some of
rist. Eut
e Apostle
; they re-

' writers.
J " mark
" Does
one min-
utting all
tbe chief
ptures to
all kinds
20th ch.
3r'ng the
f Ephe-
rl the ef-
iierefore
)ck over
'erseers,
irchased
ifter my
ig you,
es shall
'my dis-
ion, he
' : that
rt'ithout
s, who
3 speak

or teach such things as the true Church had never
tauglit or behoved ; and this in such a manner as to
make peo[)le believe that tliey were veiy holy and re-
ligious ; and thus, " by good words and Jair speeches,
deceiving the hearts o*' tiie simple," or the unguarded,
for the mere purpose of '' draiving away disciples after
them,''

But some might say : — there can be no harm in
having a different form of worship, and a different so-
ciety, while we agree in the main doctrines of the Bi-
ble ? Let us see, then, what warrant the iVord of
God rives us for so doins.

It does not appear that th. ; who were causing
divisions among the first Christians, always entertained
errors of a very material natur , Some are censured
for mere difference of opinion concerning their lawful
ministers, and for nourishing a greater respect for one
than for another. This, indeed, might have appeared
unto them very natural. They, no doubt, thought
that there was no harm in each of them following those
ministers who had been most useful to their souls ;
but for this very thing the Apostle tells them that they
were "yet carnal and walking as men." And ia ano-
ther place it was predicted, that some would come in
among them, anu tliat even out of themselves some
would arise speaking perverse things, that is : — find-
ing fault with certain things in the Church, and having
a stubborn and unruly spir!*, or wishing to have all
things their own way, — " to draw away disciples after
them" — to form a party of their ow^n ; and thus to
" cause offences contrary to the doctrine/' or in other

I W ii ama

^.^^ ^^^ ^^ ■lL_____^i

»» i

words contrary to the ins.ructiocs which 'he general
Church had learned of .heir regularly appointedlinis'

Z; » 'P'''""S °^ '"'='' •''^^ "'«y "-ere told

•hat gnevous wolves would creep in among them "

luL I Tf "•'"'" =P"^" -'"- harsh T d
bmer Lut ^vhat better expression could be used >

The character of the persons described, and the actual

eff ct of the.r conduct, were to dinJe the flock, and

.0 tear ,t to p.eces ; and is not this the character of

h.mself, ' wh.cl, con,e to you in shnp's clothing, but

forget that ft Ise prophets, and false Apostles, and ftlse

te chars, wdl generally be " in sheep's dothi g "

-11 appear very good and very holy-will use many

good words and ftir speeches," in order better to

decetve the hearts of the simple. It is i„ no other

war 'hat we can account for the many well-meanin.

of dissent. And, indeed, Jesus Christ says that hey
would try to " deceive the very elect, if possible. ' '
But, to shew you still better that we are not allow-
ed to disturb the peace of the Church, for every triflin.
or doubtful objection which may arise in our mi f

ces, I would beg of you to consider attentively all
those passages in which the people of God, or the
d-sc,ples of Ci..ist, are represented as formin but o e
body, so closely bound together that it can never ba
put asunder.

The Sacraments were looked upon by the primi-

■m

iMitillriiMilHiil

he general
ted minis-
' were told
ng them."
tiarsh and
36 used ?
the actual
!ock, and
iracter of
the Lord
^ng, but
jid never
and false
othing,"
ise many
better to
lo other
meaning
ifluence
lat they
lie."
t allovv-

trifling

minds
fdinan-
ely all
or the
ut one
vev bs

primi-

live Church as the mark,'' or badge of union, among
believers ; and in the 10th ch. of the first Epistle to
the Cor. the followins: words are to be found : " For
we, being many, are one hread^ and one body ;" — not
two tables — not two different bodies — not two differ-
ent communions, but " one breads and one body /"
And in the fourth of the Epistle to the Ephesians, we
find that God had appointed divers orders of Ministers
in his Church " for the perfecting of the saints, for tiie
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ. Till we all come in the Unitv of the fiiith, and
of the knowledge cf the Son of God, untotheperfectman,
unto the measureof the stature of the fulness of Christ.
That we, henceforth, be no more children tossed to
and fro, and carried al)out by every wind of doctrine,
by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby
they lie in weight to deceive ; biit speaking the truth
in love, may giow up unto him in all things, which is
the head, even Christ ; from whom the whole body,
fitly J Aned togellier^ and compacted by that which every
joint svpplielh^ according to the efiectual working in
the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love." Now, Brethren,
is there, can there be, stronger language descriptive of
the Unity of Christians ? Does this portion of Scrip-
ture allow us to be brothers only in spirit, or to be uni-
ted only in half? If all those who eat of the " one
bread,''- are '^ one body,"*' though they be many mem-
bers ; and if " the whole body is to grow up unto

* The Sacraments, no doubt, aie the keys of the kingdom of
Heaven, which were given to the Apostles and their successors.

i<se]fi„ love •' w" .w^ ' ""'° "''' ^d-fying of

about t ever; Id of di- °"r'r '° ''^ ^^^'ed
"nd by '.he cuLI" eraf.t "u ^'''^ ^'^'s'" »''"-.
to deceive ?'■ ^ '"''' "''^'^''y '^'Y be in wait

England / mIIZ^Z IT "'"" ^''"-"of
same word= which The A ^'"^'"^^ '" >-°"' "=« '^e
Have >ve no Teen u:''"'!'"'''''^^'' ''" ^" '«=" •'
'y 'he Hoi/g,:,-- TnTr^' overseers over you.

po- to «Ld and ;;:• d :: r ""' ^'r '^^^'-d

upon earth ' Ai-p vn ' °'^ ""d ""loose,"

S0"'s ."■ And in ,Z ^ ' ^ ''''° '"'"<^'' '■o'' your
^.•°"s,a„dtiLt^---P-f>>whenJivi-

envyings, and strifes have In . «">"lat,ons, and

■bat the true Church i's no ir'" '° ""'' => ''^Sr-
distinguished among th " a^ ' '"^ *=? '''"''■y ^^
-bich exist, what JZe'7 TT' >^'''' ""^
Sbali we not also warn ; int've >"siHr""" '
caufon you against " the cunn^n/ r • '"" "«

good words and fair speeCr " voresTho "" ""
yo" m sheep's clothing?" And if w T""""

d«ty absolutely requires us to do so ^ 7 T Z
preserving you, amid the confusion' 1 f' °'^

now prevails in the religious wor^- ■! ' ""''"PP"^
of a pure faith and truefllHon / , '^' r^"^'"""'

present and eternal 7e t^Z'Z ""/"'"^ °'' y""'

'^i'dre,— and m order, so far as

iMMIHiNM

■m

mm-

pacted by
diTying of
ork to be
e carried
t of men,
e in wait

on think
'burcb of
use the
Jr text ?
er you,
eceived
loose,"
■y them
r your
1 divi-
is, and
degree
diy be
3 ones
hren ?
e not
d the
me to
u our
^e of

PP'ly

ment
your
ar as

it will be in our power, to stop the progress of that
anti-christian spir't of dissent which threatens to reduce
tlie great body of behevers into numberless sects and
parties, and if possible, to exclude Christianity from
the earth ;* — if we, on all these accounts, I say, feel
obliged to exhort you to *' mark them which cause di-
visions, and to avoid them," will you not receive our
warning, as coming from God, in meekness and humi-
lity ? Will you suspect us of possessing any other
motive but pure and sincere wishes for the prosperity
and eternal welfare of the Church of God ? We hope
not. We hope that you will see, yourselves, the ne-
cessity of our being a little more active and watciiful for
the future than we have been in time past ; and that we
are bound by the most solemn and sacred ties, to do
all in our power to keep our people " in the unity of
the Spirit, and in the bond of peace ;" and to instruct
them in such a manner, as will be necessary for them
to repel the attacks, or the temptations, which they
are likely to meet with under existing circumstances.

It might be supposed by some, that we speak in
this way to you from no other motive but that of jea-
lousy, and the desire of reigning aJone over the Church.

* Dissent appears to me to be intended by the devil as the most
powerful means he can use to undermine true relia;ion among men.
This evil is the more dangerous, because it often proceeds from
well-meaning, though mislalven persons, and is always covered with
the cloak of religion.

•* Separation is the ready way to bring in Popery." — Baxter,
The author would earnestly recotnniend every Churchman to
furnish himself with the following cheap volumes, as excellent pre-
servatives against the torrent of error and confusion which is abroad :
•' Potter on Church Gove»-nment ;" " Baylie's Institutions of the
Church ;" and " Diflicullies of Dissent," by Rev'd R. Hobart.

Wtmmi

""P

Indeed, I l.ave oAcn heard it said .1,,, •, •
allow ai, ,i.e power ,o one Soc e J d Z T' "
son ,vl,y we are anxious to snelL "''"

fear of losing any of ou g old T]' "'n' I' '"'
such persons to con.iH-. i ,' ' "■°"''' "^^S of

have spoken To th A ' T "'^ "''^''' j'"^' '^ »-"
You might ius?a venT ? \" "" =""<= "'^"'--
■'poke si J2 a ; st ; ' "'■'" ^'- J'^"'' "'-

dissent. He 1.^ 1° ''t '■'^^'■"^' -^l' •^''"''^ of

"-ore than one C „ 'oh w' "'"?""'"«' °'g--ed
of drawing all toWn Mr r",! "''"' '^'"^ "■« '-^'v
'.is own ha^nds 2 l'"?^" f '"^ P°-^ "■

-■I'Pointed by God, anlh: 1 ' ^S ailTh'" "^ ""
r.y instructions conPP.n- .k ^^ceived all the necessa-

-h-beeau:eirrtorr.trHo,rT'r'

'i«'e thonlbt a rl ' ""' ^'""'''' ' ^'" ^'^^^

be brlir;isr:;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ -■'-!. could

asked-" how willvn„;''°"'- '' '"''s'n be
isabrancho h^;:7j'":^r'^'>"-'-fi^nsland
would answer uiih n .^r 1 y^^^ci] . Xo this f

bestvoll 1; ,t' "'■Sy "7 '^'^ ---dered as the
•0 this tl,e powel', , r''"'"' ''°'^=- ^"'' 'f "•« "Jd

Great Britain by St P . " ""'' '''■^' l''^"'«' '"
by St. Paul, or some of his immediate

Mil

■Mm

■.m^

5 wrong to
t the rea-
cts, is for
uld beg of
St as welJ
! manner.
*aui, who
kinds of
organized
the \iew
power in
e he was
necessa-
as it not,
•ii-it, tliat
>ne bap-
5ut very
subject,

'i could
light be
!^ngland
o this f
learned
^e often
the Bi-
as the
ve ndd
on and
ited in
ediate

followers, and that our clergy have been ordained In a
direct line of succession from the very first preachers
of the Gospel, what more can we wish ? It is an er-
ror of no small magnitude, but very common, to sup-
pose that the Church f Rome was the first in England.
A person must know very little of history not to know
that there was a British Church in ou" Mother Coun-
try, long b'efore the Pope had any power there.*
This, I should think; ought to be sufficient to shew the
superiority of our communion over all those of a later
date, or of a more unsound faith.

Again, it maybe enquired — '-If there be any thing
in the Church which our consciences do not exactly
approve, have we not, then, a right to leave it ? Or,
if we find more comfovt,f or more pleasure, in another
Society, is it not our duty to go to that communion

* At the Reformation, our Church did not separate from that of
Home, but merely relbrmed herself by rejecting the errors of Popery,
and returned to her former and primitive state ; therefore tha Ro-
mans in England, and in this country, are dissenters in reality.

The Catholic and Apostolic Church, sstablished in England, never
was a part of the Roman Church, any more than she was a part of
the other early heresies which sprang up in her bosom, such as
* Nestorianism,' ' Pelagianism,' &c. Romanism crept into tho
Church with her defiling and bloody crarments, and for a while shed
abroad the cheerless gloom of her distorted and haggard aspect ; but
like the afoiesaid heresies, she was triumphantly cast out, and the
purity of the Church maintained ! Romanism was driven out from
us, but she was never of us, unless indeed the " tables of the mo-
ney changers, and the seats of them that sold doves," were consi-
dered as parts of the Temple.

t •* The plea of better edification is insufficient, for if we look
beyond our single selves, and concider our connection with tha
Church of Christ, we should seek to build up tho whole Church. —
(F.ph. 11, 21, 1 Cor. VIII. 1.) Aoi is this the way to succeed —
to divide it ? ♦ The spirit of truth is a spiril of unity.' '*— (Jude 19.)
-^Difficultiet of Distent.

where we shall find it best for our souls ?'— This is just
the way, Brethren, in which the hearts of the simple
are deceived. But let us see what we could say to a
man asking these questions.

The word of God tells us, that they who cause
divisions, or, in other words, who separate themselves
without sufficient reasons, serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, and are carnal, and their sin is so great before
<-od, that St. Paul advises the Romans to ^' avoid
them." We should not, therefore, adopt a step of
this kind hastily. No doubt they who left the Church,
or who were so inclined, in the Apostle's time, also
thought that they had good reasons for so doing. In
all tinies, and in every place, there have been people
ot a discontented spirit, who easily found fault with the
estabhshed order of things, and thought that they could
devise some better way of governing, &c. &c. But
we cannot be too guarded against the deceitfulness of
our hearts m these matters, as well as in those of a
different nature. ^' Thero '-s a way which seemeth
right unto a man, but the en^i thereof are the ways of
death." If we were willing to find fault we mieht
invent a thousand different things, and reject the very
best ordinances of religion, merely to please ourselves.*
I would therefore ask a man about to leave the Church
m order to join a sect, what will you gain by the
chan ge ? Are you aware that you must by so doing,

leav^aThurh''." vi^^ 'f''V" ^hichV. is lawful aid necessary to

rMMti';

•m

UftKK^LM

-w^'

•

*>,

1 1

{

A..

. . L

■

rhis is just

the simple
Id say to a

who cause
hemselves
3rd Jesus
eat before
) "avoid

a step of
e Church,
ime, also
iing. In
n people
t with the
ley could
ic. But
ulness of
lose of a

seemeth

ways of
^e might
the very
selves.*

Church

by the
) doing,

lessary to
e plainly
rim. 11,
am, or of
'acts as.

commit a most heinous sin — an offence contrary to the
Apostle's doctrine .^ You may say, '' ! but I can-
not'' jemain in the Church with a pure conscience,"
but can you then commit a sin with a pure con-
science ?* Can vou cause a division without offending
God ? Are the things of which you complain, of such
importance as to atone for, or take away the guilt of
separation ? Remember that nothing is taught by the
Church of England as ahsolntely necessary to salvation,
bat what may be proved by Scripture, and therelore,

* Defiling as was the Rotnish heresy in Enn;land, before the Re-
formation, it i* questionable vvliether the introducing of schism, to
do auay '.vith heresy, would have been any advantage ; our excel-
lent Reformers theinselvt!S seenj to have entertained the same doubts,
since they never left the church, while they so strenuously exposed
the errors Popery had introduced, and even fought unto death
against them. They lived and died in communion with the Catholic
Church of England, while they suHered in the flames to prove their
abhorrence of the abominations which had crept into her I And if
such was, in the opinion of the Reformers, the hideousness of
schism in their case, what would they think of dissenters of the
present day, who create not only one schism, but schisms without
number, on account of such unimportant ditferences as exist between
them and the Established Church ? The events of every day are
more and moh; convincing, that the slightest deviation from the
communion of the visible Church of Christ, may be the means of
causing as much (if not more) mischief, bad feeling, and heresies,
as the hateful corruptions with which Antichrist has so long darken-
ed and nisled tlie Jiations of I^urope.

The nature of schism is sometimes discussed as uncertain, and I
have even been surprised to hear sensible men actually saying that
it could not be rscertained. Tlie divisions of the Corinthian Church
are also mentioned as the only case in Scripture where the word
schism is applicable ; and it is said that the same term cannot be
used as regards the more open and separated bodies of professing
chriilians ; but I would ask : if the schismatic Corinthians were
such only from some internal discord, and without actually break-
ing oil' from each other's communion, how much more criminal,
how much more schismatical, if not heretical, must be the conduct
of these who form sects apart, and altogether refuse to commuQicats
with other christians in the same place and neighbourhood ?

t. 1 1 Ihl III y j

Wmm

1 (

shall it be for f-. sake of a trifle-shall it be for the
sake of a private oninion-shall it be for the sake of
pleasing your own fancy, thai yon will dishononr the
t-ospel by breaking the unity of the body of Christ
(-od gave power to His Church to ordain any rule
or ceremony, not repugnant to Scripture ; and «o
IS there not much more religion and christian spirit to
subm,, .0 ,ho order of God, to live in love and charity
wuh all ".he household of faith," « obcvi„= ,|,em
that have the rule over us, and who watch Ibr our
souls, and doing all in our power, within the limits of
our particular sphere, for .he good of our ucighbom;.
nnd the g ory of God, tl.an ,o try to lead tl^m in.o
sects and parties, and " ,vi,h good words and fair
speeches deceive the hearts of ihe simple ?- Be
sure, Brethren ! „ue religion is not advanced bv all
hese d.vs.ons. The only effeee ,!,ey have upon i'.s is
to make us buier against each other, while we ouHu
Jove one another like Brethren.* ^

Often quoted in supporter disPnT''/h/'?S;r""i'i^''^'^'^ '''^

iwrn ; nnd 'Mesus sauJ, forb d , h nm Vm- Ip,- '• '^''^ ""'' ^'""^"

Ml do a anmcle in m^- na.ne . An M 1 k « ", "" -/"^^ '"'"'
■5" tU'^ V, /. -^ """"^> '"ill- < (in ii"lit V sneak fivi nt •«.» "

put the^est of s^n^/^ : ^^ IJ::;;; :;^,:^--^' f- ^^ -ouid

aider it attentively, we find t h 1 H.Vm " ' ''''"" "'^ ^^"-

ceived a direct co^n'.mi s on t n he "oid ^;r^^^'«".'"'-V'^^'° '•''■
miracles. [li, power of vvnr in. 1 "''"" '" ^"^'•'" ^'' ^^'

to receive them. Cut besides it i! tn-^l T "" ^"''"'^

he for the

lie sake of

lonour the

)f Christ.

any rule,

; and so,

1 spirit to

id charity

ing- them

1 for our

3 limits o(

'ighbours,

them into

and fiiir

?" Be

:od bv all

pon us is

ive oui;;ht

stood, and
1 v'irses of
ing seen a
nut follow
man tiiat
il of me."
n it would
n we con-
•t liave rfj-
■d(!r to do
It proof oi
'ifg in our
ha bound
lli-'it Jesus
believe in
mniunion.
md there--

I would, therefore, conclude by exhorting all the
members of the Church to have no haired or bitter-
ness towards those who differ from us ; while al the
same time St. Paul tells us to avoid them that cause
divisions ; iliat is, to avoid their errors, antl to walk
in "the good old paths," traced for us by the very
first Cliurcli of Christ. Lotus, then, take good care
to cuilivalo lovo for all men. It is not rij^ht for
Christians, especially iiiilerale persons, to strive with
eacli other on religion •. subjects, but love, and charity,
and peace, are llic borrds of perfection. Tf, therefore,
ctliers will live -n division and scliism, let us pray 'or
thorn, and let not their separation make us think K..:
of the value of their immortal sotds. Think not,
Brethren, ihut because soiiie will not walk accordinc;
to tlio Apostle's nde, nml inir.ain in iheir " fellovv'ship"
as well as in tlioir '• doctrines," \xq should iLate them,
or despise their })crsons. No, Brethren ! It is their
sin which wc must hate and avoid.* But allow me to
tell von, dIso, thai unless we hate sin in ourselves, -we j
cannot hate it in others, in a proper nianner. What-

Tore there c.nn\i\ be no danger of this man's forming a di.s^:enting
sect. The Saviour himself, paid all respect to tlse then appointed
ministers of reliiiion, and required his friend-, to do tlic same, not-
withslcuidip.or the well known cnrrvpt'v'U ofHieir church.

* '• When w^:! s.'e how '.he progress of tiie Go-spel is impeded by
division, — wiien ^\ e l<now tiiat no ar«i;ument: vveigiis so much with
Jews, Turks, and Infideis — that th.ere i* none wliirdi is so often ad-
duced to quash the conviction (d" the npi'iiing mitxis of our Roman
Catholic; eounliN nicn as liie (pu'slion, which re igion will you be-
come — which 1 ftiie many sects mto whicli Protestantism in divided?
how can tlie (iiss.'ntcr accjuit liis cnrisi-ietK-.e of guilt in impeding the
advanceinenl et" (Muist's kingdom, and wiih the si'lfishness that is
characteristic ol' tli(> age, rpsl sati-lied w'wh this— I liear the Gospel
preached, and U.ai is enough." — DifjhuHles of Dissent,

11 ! !l

I'M

ever is ofiensive to God in o.ir own lieaits, or in the
members of our own Ch.rch, or in others, we are
I'ound to abhor and to shun. »t ill becomes' Church-
men to nnd fault with Dissenters for leaving the
Church, wlnle they themselves are living in direct
oppos,.,on to the rules and counsels of the same
Church. Wlnle we do not love the Lord Jesus
Chnst ;-while we are far from God and his ways •-
wlnle our sms, our carelessness, our coldness ofheart,
onr md.ffercnce to spiritual religion ; while all these
keep us m an unrenewed state, we are as bad as if we
"■ere to eave the Church of God. If we leave Christ
ho IS the Head, we must of course have no part with
the body. And, alas ! there are but too many who
hmk themselves very good Churchmen, while they
We no hfe ,n their souls, while they arc like .he dead
boughs trees, which receive no sap from the trunk,
and winch must one day be cut down and cast into the

of that Spn-it, winch the Great Head of the Church
has promised to give to his true members. Seek it
now w,th all diligence and care. Pray for the Spirit
S,rrh "f °"' J'^'^h you can never be members
of the Church m Heaven, though you may have been
nommal members of the Church upon Earth. Amen •