"Gospel: We hold forth the word of life :' faithful Ministers are "the messengers of "the churches, and the glory of CHRIST." It is natural for us when we think of our high office, to exclaim, "What manner of perfons

ought we to be in all holy converfation "and godliness!" Permit me to turn the words of St. Peter into an earnest and affectionate exhortation: Let us, the Minifters of CHRIST, be distinguished "in all holy con"versation and godlinefs:" let us aspire to the character of Titus, and of "the meffen66 gers of the churches," to be "the glory of "CHRIST." The very flightest fufpicion against a Minister, is much to be regretted : even when its foundation is in malice, the effects are lamentable. "Woe to the man

by whom offences fhall come." Let us take heed to ourselves and to our doctrine, giving none offence." Alas! offence has been given, wounds have been inflicted, religion has fuffered, not by avowed enemies only. From the horrible guilt and pernicious effects of an untender, not to fay an immoral conduct, in the Ministers of purity and righteoufnefs, I turn, and exchange my indignation for the moft worthlefs, useless and contemptible

contemptible of all men, for the pleafing ideas that are excited and cherished by contemplating the purity, the zeal, the success, of the faithful fervants of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Let us preferve, and maintain, and manifeft, the purity and diligence of the faithful: let us exhibit the word of life in all our miniftrations, and in the excellence of our character and deportment. Let us ever remember the views our LORD himself gives of his followers, and the exhortation he founds on them, with which I conclude. "Ye are the falt of the earth: but if the falt "have loft his favour, wherewith fhall it be "falted? it is thenceforth good for nothing "but to be caft out, and to be trodden un"der foot of men. Ye are the light of the "world. A city that is fet on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a can"dle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all "that are in the house. Let your light fo "shine before men, that they may see your

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good works, and glorify your Father which "is in heaven."

SER

SERMON IV.

ATTACHMENT TO THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

[Preached 7th April 1799.]

I CORINTHIANS, i. 10.

Now, I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye all speak the fame thing, and that there be no divifions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the fame mind, and in the fame judgement.

THE contentions, fchifms or divifions that prevailed among the Chriftians at Corinth, of which the Apostle had received information, are the chief occafion and fubject of this affectionate epiftle. Union among Christians was exceedingly dear to the apoftle. Contentions and divifions were the grief of his heart. "I fear," fays he, in his fecond epiftle, "left when I come, I should not find

you fuch as I would; and that I fhall be "found unto you, fuch as you would not: "left there be debates, envyings, wraths, ftrifes, backbitings, whisperings, fwellings, "tumults."

S

"tumults." His happiness in the harmony of Chriftians in fentiment and affection; and his zeal to promote them, are strongly expreffed in this addrefs to the Philippians, "If there be any confolation in CHRIST, if 42 any comfort of love, if any fellowship of "the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies; "fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, "having the fame love, being of one accord, "of one mind: let nothing be done through "ftrife or vain-glory." Nor is less earnestnefs manifefted in our text: "I beseech you "brethren, by the name of our LORD JESUS "CHRIST, that ye all speak the fame thing, " and that there be no divifions among you, "but that ye be perfectly joined together, in "the fame mind, and in the fame judgement."

We do not affirm that unity and harmony in church order, in the manner of providing for teaching the Gospel and celebrating the ordinances of religion, were exclufively, or even principally intended or referred to in thefe paffages; but affuredly union in them is not excluded. Harmonious church order is repeatedly brought in view in this epistle,

and

and very warmly recommended. Tumult, diforder, feparation among Chriftians are deprecated and deplored. "GOD is not the "author of confufion but of peace, as in all "the churches of the faints. Let all things (in the churches) be done decently and in "order."

A Prefbyterian Minifter, addreffing his parishioners, his countrymen, and his Presbyterian brethren, in the words of the apoftle, is, no doubt, understood to exhort his hearers, and all he can influence, to be on their guard against fchifms, divifions and feparations, from the Church of Scotland. This is the object of the present difcourfe.

BUT it may not be improper to observe that, the zeal for preserving attachment to our church, which we avow and recommend, is neither felt nor profeffed to be, by any means, equal to what is, and unquestionably ought to be, experienced for the interefts of the Chriftian religion itself, and of the kingdom of CHRIST at large. We ought affuredly to be more firmly united against infidelity and irreligion, than against any mode or form