EPHESIANS ir. 4 & 5. There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling ;-One Lord, one faith, one baptifm. A هيه باد THESE words remind us of the union of the true church of Chrift, Tho there are, and have been some different opinions-imbibed by the profeffed churches of Chrift, and by those whom, in a judg ment of charity, we may view, as belivers in Jefus. But while there may be some dif ferent ideas received by believers in Christ, yet there is an effential union, or in other words, there is an union in the essentials of Chriftianity. And it becometh all professed... Christians, in all ages, to cultivate the knowledge of Chriftianity,, to seek the spirit of Christ, to live in the exercise thereof, and cultivate harmony among themselves. And in this way, they would have far more true enjoyment, and do far more for the glory of God, in cherishing the spirit and interest of true religion, than in a passionate contending with, and reviling of each other, relative to those things which are not effential to Christianity. While men protess to be the followers of the meek and lowly Jefus, if they cherifha an haughty, an imperious spirit, which A2 1 : would lord it over others, it appears there is fomething wanting of great worth. "If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom. 8, 9. Hence we may perceive, that all true faints partake of the spirit of Christ. Therefore it may be faid of them, they partake of one spirit, lec them be of what particular sect or denomination foever. The spirit of Christ is one, he is not divided against himself. And his fpirit in his followers is one spirit. Hence there is an important union of the followers. of Chrift. Yet the remains of sin in them may, at times, occasion variance, in fome respects, which may be followed by many pernicious confequences. There is therefore, need of caution, to guard against such evils. Where there is a pretence of Chriftianity without the reality, no wonder, if the thorns and briars of variance and reviling advance with a rapid growth. But thefe things, being true, do not confound the ideas conveyed by the Apostle in our text. Nay, if the ideas of professed Christians were more different than they now are, yet it would remain true, that there is an important union, or likeness, subsisting in the true people of God in the world. They all partake of the fame fountain of life, the love of God and holinels. dwelleth in their hearts, they believe in Chrift made known to them, they love his name, and trust in his falvation. They exe 1 ercise a spirit of brotherly kindness and charity toward their fellow men; and, in particular, they regard those as brethren in Christ, who appear to be his followers in the essentials of religion, whether they are Jews or Gentiles bond or free. True religion is the fame in all ages. All the true faints who have lived, those who now live, and those who shall live, in ages yet to come, will make one family, one church, and will meet, hereafter, in the general assembly and church of the First born. "As many as are led by the fpirit of God, they are the fons of God." If the followers of Christ, or the fons of God, are led on here by the spirit of God, let them travel on in harmony, as brethren, bound to their Father's house. Let them not labour to build up new walls of feparation, feeing Chrift has broken down the middle wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles, so that all his followers might unite, as in one assembly, in the fervice of their God and Saviour. Can we reafonas bly believe, that the faints in heaven are placed in as many divisions, as there are fects upon earth of those whom, in a judgment of charity, we may view as possessed of the effentials of true religion? For my my own part, I believe that all true faints. will unite in heaven in one assembly.. But while we contemplate that all true faints will be one in Christ, and will re joice, hereafter, before him, in a state of harmony, notwithstanding the partial fep-. erations which take place here, yet we may reflect that, the conduct of the profeffed followers of Christ, and even of those who appear to be men of piety, ferves to show the imperfections of faints in the present life. The Apostle faith, 1 Cor. 13.90 "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;" and in the next verse, he adds, "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." While the Apostle was mindful of the imperfection of faints in the presene state, yet, while he drew to a close of the chapter containing the words just cited, he faid, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." Though the Apostle was aware that faints are in a state of imperfection, in this life, yet he maintained that, they partake of these graces, faith, hopes and charity, that is, in some measure. And he says, "But the greatest of thefe is cha rity." This, we may observe, carries the image of God. True love to God and his creatures, is truly a Christian spirit. It tends to lead men in the paths of righteouf ness, peace, and friendship; while a felfish; proud, and bigoted spirit tends to lead on in darkness, error, contention, and confufion. But let the protessed followers of Chrift astend to the idea, that the Redeemer hath prepared the way that his followers may draw near to God in the same assembly, in. tire same temple. The believing Gentiles are not to be reputed as strangers, or foreigners, but "they are made nigh by the blood of Chrift."-Eph. 2. 13. And in 19th verse, the Apoftle represents the believing Gentiles as fel low citizens with the faints, and of the household of God; and he goes on in the following verses thus. And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Proph-. ets, "Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth into an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together, for an habitation of God through the spirit." The believing Gentiles are built on the fime foundation which the Apostles and Phrophets stood upon; that is Christ, who is the foundation laid in Zion. A building may be composed of many parts, yet when they are compacted together they become one building. Though the human frame hath many members, and those members confift of smaller component parts, yet being combined in their places and order, they compose one body. The Apoftle, speaking of the church of Chrift, might represent it figuratively, as a building, which groweth unto a holy temple in... the Lord; or he might compare it to a |