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In laying these remarks before you, I trust that I am not acting an unchristian part towards those, who separate from our communion. To judge of men's motives with asperity, to speak of their errors with intemperance, or to cherish uncharitable sentiments towards them because their opinions or practices differ from our own, were to betray a spirit unworthy of a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus. But I know of no consideration, which should induce us to refrain from enforcing a duty, which we believe to be clearly prescribed in scripture, or from deprecating a sin, which we believe to be as clearly forbidden, out of real or pretended tenderness for those, who violate the duty and commit the sin. To admit such a principle as this, would be to supersede the office of the preacher of the Gospel; inasmuch as it would be establishing the example of others as the rule of human conduct, instead of referring men to the revealed will of God.

According to the revelation of that will in God's holy word, I apprehend religious union among Christians to be commanded,

and divisions among thein to be prohibited, as clearly as on the one hand any acknowledged duty, or on the other any acknowledged sin whatsoever. To impress or to establish the same conviction on your minds, has been the aim of the foregoing discourse. And happy indeed should I esteem myself, in being made the humble instrument of Providence, to confirm those among you who uniformly tread in the right way, and to recal those, (if any such there be,) who occasionally depart from it that so amidst the divisions and confusion of the Christian Church, we might, by the good pleasure of God, exhibit the goodly spectacle of "brethren dwelling together in unity!" that we might be steadfast in "speaking the same thing," in " glorifying God with one mind and with one mouth," in avoiding " those that separate themselves," and in maintaining a conscientious obedience and submission to them that are appointed by God to have the spiritual rule over us! and finally, that "endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," we might continue to be "of one body and of one spi

rit, even as we are all called in one hope of our calling" and as we have all "one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all!”

To Him, in the unity of his Son and Holy Spirit, God blessed for evermore, be all honour and glory!

Eph. iv. 5.

SERMON XXVIII.

SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS NO PRIVILEGE FOR SIN; EXEMPLIFIED IN THE PUNISHMENT OF THE

JEWS IN THE WILDERNESS.

1 COR. X. 11, 12.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.

THE writings of the old Testament demand our very attentive perusal upon various accounts. One, and that not the least important, is, that they supply us with memorable examples of the wrath of God conspicuously manifested in the punishment of sinners; that they give us evidence of his strict impartiality in taking ven

geance for crimes, of whatever description be the criminal; and are thus calculated to convince us of this undoubted truth, that however greatly a man may esteem himself favoured by the Almighty, he has no ground for hoping that he shall enjoy the continuance of God's favour, and avoid the effects of his indignation, if he be disobedient to the divine commandments.

With this intent we hear St. Paul, in the passage preceding the text, directing the attention of his Corinthian converts to certain remarkable events in the Jewish history. He calls to their recollection in the first place the singular marks of favour, with which the people of Israel had been distinguished:-he then reminds them of the ungracious conduct of the Israelites in return, of the consequent displeasure of God, and their destruction in the wilderness:-he thence proceeds to remark in the text, that these things were recorded for the admonition of Christians, who might read in the history of the Jews ensamples or types of their own condition ; of their spiritual privileges in the blessings

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