God hath distributed variety of gifts and graces, in different de- grees amongst his people; the improvement of these gifts and graces to the glory of God and our mutual edification, is the very scope and end of particular church-fellowship and communion : Every man hath his proper gift of God, and (as a late * worthy notes) the gifts and graces of all are this way made useful and bene- ficial. Job was exemplary for plainness and patience ; Moses for faithfulness and meekness ; Josiah for tenderness and a melting spi- rit ; Athanasius was prudent and active; Basil heavenly, and of a sweet spirit; Chrysostom laborious and without affectation; Am- brose resolved and gi'ave : One hath quickness of parts, but not so solid a judgment; another is solid, but not ready and presential ; one hath a good wit, another a better memory, a third excels them both in utterance ; one is zealous, but ungrounded ; another well principled, but timorous ; one is war}^ and prudent, another open and plain-hearted ; one is trembling and melting, another cheerful and full of comfort. Now the end and use of church-fellowship is to make a rich improvement unto all by a regular use and exercise of the gifts and graces found in every one. One must impart his light, and another his warmth ; the eye, (viz. the knowing man) cannot say to the hand (viz. the active man) I have no need of thee: Unspeakable are the benefits resulting from spiritual and orderly communion; but whatever the benefits be, they are all cut off by schisms and dissensions; for as faith is the grace by which we receive all from God, so love is the grace by which we share ^.nd divide the comfort of all among ourselves. The excel- lent things of the Spirit are lodged in earthen vessels, which death will shortly break, and then we can have no more benefit by them ; but these jars and divisions render saints as it were dead one to another whilst they are alive. Ah, how lovely, how sweet, and
♦ 7'orsheirs Help to Christian Fellowsbip, p. 6, 7.
desirable it is, to live in the commuriion of sucli saints as are des- cribed, Mai. iii. 16. to hear them frcelv, and liumbly to open their hearts and experiences to one another ! After this manner some say the art of medicine was found ; as any one met with an herb, and discovered the virtue of it by an accident, he was to post it up, and so the physician's skill was perfected, by a collection of those posted experiments. But woe to us ! wc are ready to post up each other's failings and infirmities, to the shame and reproach of religion, and to furnish our common enemies with matter of contempt and scorn against us all.
Motive 6. In a word, These schisms and dissensions, in the churches of Christ, are ominous presages, and foreboding signs of some sweeping judgment, and common calamity near approaching us. It is a common observation with shepherds, that when the slieep push one another, a storm speedily ensues. I am sure it is so liere ; if God turn not our hearts one towards another, he will come and smite the earth with a curse, Mai. iv. 6. I believe it, sirs, you will have other work to do shortly ; there be those coming (if God prevent not) that will part the fray. '
Use secmid,Jbr direction.
Use 2. In the last place, therefore, give me leave to lav before you some necessary and proper directions and counsels, lor the prevention and healing of schisms and divisions amongst the churches of Christ ; For it is not complaints and lamentations, but proper counsels and directions, and those not only prescribed, but obeyed that must do the work. When Joshua lay up(m his face before the Lord, Josh. vii. 8, 9, 10. bewailing the sins and miseries of Israel ; Up (saith God) sanctify the people : zvhere/bre Jicst thou upon thy face? As if he should say, thy moans and lamentations are good and necessary in their place ; but speedy action, and vigorous endeavours, must be also used, or Israel will perish. So say I, Up, up, fall speedily to your duties, as men in earnest ; and for your guidance in the paths of duty, I will lay before you the following plain and necessary directions.
Diixction 1. The orderly gathering, and fillinnr particular churches, is of great influence to the peace and tranquillity of those churches ; and therefore it greatly concerns all that are interested therein, especially such as are vested with office-power, to bew^are whom they receive into their communion.
The scriptures do plainly discover to us, that church-members ought to be visible saints, 1 Cor. i. 2. 2 Cor. i. 1, 2. Acts ii. 41. to the end ; Eph. ii. 7. 1 Thess. i. 2, 3. Rom. i. 7. Col. i. 2. Hence particular churches are called the churches of the saints, 1 Cor. xiv. 33. If admis^jions be lax, and negligent, so much heterogeneous
604< A SF.UMON OX GOSPEL-TJXITY.