of the "grievous wolves" who should “ en❝ter in among them, not sparing the flock," and to control the excesses of those men who should arise from among themselves, speaking perverted things, to draw away

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disciples after them," he dwells particularly upon the unity, order, and economy of the Church of Christ, and presses the necessity of settled principles and regulated liberality, to their edification and confirmation in the faith".

I. With the humility of mind which had distinguished his personal ministry among them, and which became his present situation as a "prisoner of the Lord,” he besought them, with the tenderness of a father, to "walk worthy of the vocation" wherewith they had been called, and of which he had been the principal instrument and messenger. Their Christian profession required that they should act "with all lowliness and 66 meekness," and without ambition of personal merit and distinction, "with longsuffering" and patience under evil; "for

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"bearing one another in love," and without resenting the provocations which they might receive, “endeavouring," with all constancy and perseverance, "to keep," to maintain,

and preserve, "the unity of the Spirit in the "bond of peace," and mutual condescension to the infirmities of others. The division, the disorder, and the confusion, which were very consistent with the Pagan worship and belief of many gods and many lords, were utterly irreconcileable with the objects of Christian faith and adoration. To us there is but "one body," one holy, universal Church, resting on a common foundation, and comprehending the whole family of Christ: there is "one Spirit" of holiness and love, directing, regulating, sanctifying all the people of God; there is one common end and "hope of our calling," the "crown of glory which fadeth "not away";"" one Lord," and only "Me"diator between God and man1," by whom,

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e

through the one Spirit, we have access to "the Fathers;" "one faith," delivered at

e 1 Pet. v. 4. f 1 Tim. ii. 5. 8 Ephes. ii. 18.

once and for ever to the saints, for which we should earnestly contend"; one “form "of sound words," which we are bound to hold fast; "one baptism" "in the name " of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;" ""one God and Father of "all, who is above all, and through all, and " in all."

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These therefore are the motives of Christian unity, to acknowledge the one God, to be baptized into the one faith, to be the disciples of the same Lord, illuminated by the same Spirit, and knit together and incorporated into one body. In this common family, however, there is no equality of gifts or offices, but "to every one of us "hath grace been given," according to our station and degree, not arbitrarily nor irrespectively, but "according to the mea"sure of the gift of Christ," and as is necessary to qualify us for the several offices which he hath appointed in his Church. The measure of the gift which he gave to his Church at his ascension was, that some

Jude 3. i 2 Tim. i. 13. * Matth. xxviii. 19.

should be "apostles; and some, prophets; "and some, evangelists; and some, pastors " and teachers." These were the orders ordained by Christ himself; and the appropriate offices of these several orders are "the perfecting," or the knitting together, of the saints, as of disjointed members into one compact and sound body, the subordinate "work of the ministry" or deaconship, and the ordinary edification and instruction of the body of Christ, or the building it together into an universal Church. These offices are not of a personal, local, or temporary nature, but are perpetually to be transmitted from generation to generation, until the Church shall receive its complement; and we all, from every clime, and of every age, "shall come "in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect 66 man, unto the measure of the stature of "the fulness of Christ." It is a bright vision which is thus presented to the eye of the faithful, nor would it be easy to apprehend, without the light of prophecy, which shineth in the darkness of human error and

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confusion, that the Church of Christ shall in the end be one and universal; one in faith and love, universal in its influence and effects.

Worthy of all praise and adoration is the goodness of the providence of God, in this dispensation to mankind, in the provision which he hath made for the prevention of error, and the perpetual preservation of the truth. The design with which he hath constituted the order and maintained the influence of his Church upon earth is, that we "should henceforth be no more chil

dren, "or like mariners upon a tempestuous ocean, "tossed to and fro," without any port in view, or without skill to reach it; and "carried about," at the pleasure of " every wind of doctrine," without power to take advantage of the tide, or to resist the opposing gale; the victims of "the sleight," and imposing sophistry, and

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cunning craftiness of men, who lie in wait "to deceive," and to make spoil of our indiscretion, through which we make shipwreck of our faith, or are driven into the ports of the enemy. These perils of the