lofty titles devised, liberal provifion made for its minifters; and what was the confequence? Real religion almost unknown, and a wretched fyftem of fuperftition in its ftead; and all this because men had forfaken the word of the Lord, whothus fhewed that their wisdom was foolishness. It may be faid, that during the first ages the churches poffeffed miraculous gifts, and that the fuccefs of the gospel was the effect of them, together with the remarkable out-pouring of the Spirit. How long miraculous gifts continued we cannot tell, but these did not neceffarily insure the fuccefs of the gospel. With refpect to the gracious influence of the Spirit, we have no expectation of the spread of the gospel, or of the profperity of the churches, independent of this. But why is the Spirit withheld? Muft we not suppose that he is grieved by his ordinances being flighted, and the wisdom of man depended on in preference to the power of God. When his people will not hearken to his voice, he gives them up to their own folly, and teaches them by painful experience that it is an evil and a bitter thing to depart from God. Battering-rams would have appeared much more proper for beating down the walls of Jericho than ram's-horns, but Ifrael would never thus have got poffeffion of the city. In fhort, whether we confider the importance of impreffing upon believers and upon the world proper views of the nature of Christ's kingdom, from disturbing the governments under which they are placed; whether we take into view the excellence of uniting Christians in the closest bands of love-of feparating the precious from the vile-of promoting dependence upon Christ, and leading men to abound in prayer ; whether we think of the duty of ufing fit means to confirm the Christian character, and to check our natural pride so as to strike the minds of the world, and lead men to glorify God in the day of visitation; whether we estimate properly the importance of dealing in the most tender and affectionate manner with offenders, of preventing the accumulation of error, and of promoting growth in knowledge, and of spreading the gospel in the world-we fhall find it of the utmost moment minutely to attend to the regulations of Christ concerning focial religion. Were all the Christians upon earth thus united as one body under their great Captain, were they ufing their united influ ence to spread the gospel at home and abroad, what glorious things might we not expect to see ? These days are approaching. The increafing regard paid to the word of God is their aufpicious harbinger, and shortly, we hope, the song shall be raised, "Sing O heavens, and be joyful O earth, and break forth into finging O mountains; for the Lord has comforted his people, and will have mercy on his afflicted !" CHAPTER XIV. HINTS CONCERNING THE EVILS ARISING FROM WORLD, ENJOINED BY JESUS CHRIST IN SOCIAL CHRIST gave himself for his own, that he might redeem them from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. To effect this redemption, the gofpel is preached to every creature. To fome it is the favour of life, to others the favour of death. Some are thereby begotten again to a lively hope of eternal life, the whole tenor of their conduct is changed, Chrift becomes precious to their fouls, and their great aim is to live to his glory; others receive the meffage with indifference or contempt. Blinded by their lufts, the preaching of the crofs is foolishness to them, and they hate thofe whofe exemplary lives condemn their wickedness. The Lord, who well knew the effects which the preaching of the gospel would occafion, through the depravity of man, affured his disciples that he did not come to fend peace on earth, but a fword; that his religion would fet a man at variance with his nearest relations. Hence him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me ;" and the apostle exhorts us to go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach. Inftead of counteracting this tendency in the gospel to separate his people from the world which lieth in wickedness, all the ordinances of Christ for his people are intended to promote it. “Come out from among them," faith the Lord, and be ye separate, and I will receive you." " Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers." 66 What part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" Sanctification primarily fignifies feparation. We fee from the word of God how much this must have tended to fecure Chriftians from temptation, and to call the attention of unbelievers to the truths of God. When Christianity was fubftituted for heathenifm as the religion of the empire, separation was, in a great measure, counteracted. All who conformed to the established religion were confidered to be Christians, and if they died in communion with the church, they were fuppofed to go to heaven *. This system has continued to this day in every country of Europe. Thus all the advantages of Christian fellowship were at once given up. The union in select fo * So every one who dies in the communion of the church of England is committed to the grave as a dear brother, of whofe happy resurrection certain hope is expreffed. Although this is not the form in Scotland, yet the spirit of the constitution is the fame. All are Christians, and consequently all go to heaven. CHAPTER XIV. HINTS CONCERNING THE EVILS ARISING FROM WORLD, ENJOINED BY JESUS CHRIST IN SOCIAL CHRIST gave himself for his own, that he might redeem them from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. To effect this redemption, the gofpel is preached to every creature. To fome it is the favour of life, to others the favour of death. Some are thereby begotten again to a lively hope of eternal life, the whole tenor of their condu&t is changed, Chrift becomes precious to their fouls, and their great aim is to live to his glory; others receive the meffage with indifference or contempt. Blinded by their lufts, the preaching of the crofs is foolishness to them, and they hate those whofe exemplary lives condemn their wickednefs. The Lord, who well knew the effects which the preaching of the gofpel would occafion, through the depravity of man, affured his difciples that he did not come to fend peace on earth, but a sword; that his religion would set a man at variance with his nearest relations. Hence |