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546 THE MUTUAL CARE OF BELIEVERS OVER ONE ANOTHER.
is, then, the church watch ? It is the work of every member, ac cording to its measure, to the increase of grace in itself and others, ac cording to the principle of love. This we all know ; but we are slow in the improvement of it. This is the work of every member, ac cording to the measure of the grace of Christ received, to the in crease of grace in ourselves and others, through a principle of love. Every one is not required to be a preacher, but every one hath a measure ; and where there is any measure, there is some work. If this be not found in us, our church-order, as the apostle calls it, will not avail us. And, truly, methinks churches in these days do not abide this test. They are not "fitly joined together by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part," which should grow and increase in love. That is lost. I desire to know of all the brethren and sisters what they have done to answer this rule and duty, — what they have done to increase the body in every part. Some I can tell what they have done to destroy and pull down, contrary to this principle of watch. None of us but have our measure. Wherever there are gifts and graces, they will work.
To come nearer, I will show you where the rule of this church watch is. It is the mutual work and care of all the members of the church for the temporal, and spiritual, and eternal good of the whole and every member, proceeding from union and love. — the mutual operative care of all the members of the church. This is that watch I would speak unto.
It proceeds originally from union ; they are united in love. Of this the apostle discourses at large, 1 Cor. xii., by comparing the members of the church with the members of a man, whose mutual care and assistance are for the unity of the same body. There is none of us but knows the concern of all the members in every member, and the care of every member of all the members of the body. You be lieve yourselves to be the church of God ? Yes. Then, saith the Scripture, we are members, and are to have the same spiritual care of every other member as the members of the natural body have. But is it so ? How unacquainted is one hand with another, one member with another ! I lay this principle, that ye are all mem bers one of another throughout the congregation. None so great or so wise but is a member; none so poor and abject but is a member. And if we have not care of the whole body, according as we have opportunity and seasons, we are wonderfully to seek. Indeed, there is no watch without love. The apostle tells us that it is " the bond of perfection," Col. iii. 14. This is perfect church-order. Take a company of sticks, some long and some short, some great and some little, some straight and some crooked. As long as there is a good
THE MUTUAL CAKE OF BELIEVERS OVER ONE ANOTHER. 547
firm band about them, you may carry them where you please, and dispose of them as you will; break this band, and every thing will appear crooked that is so. If this band, — that is, our perfection, — be loosed, every one's crookedness will appear, one to be too long, one to be too short; one too big, one too little; one crooked, and one straight ; there is no keeping them together. All the order in the world will never keep a church together if the band of love be loosed.
There be two things I shall speak unto, — what I have found in my ministry by experience. I have found when church-order was the greatest ease, the greatest relief, that a man could certainly de sire or attain. I have known it. And I have lived to see church- order burdensome, that many have complained of it as the most in supportable burden. Nothing else is the reason but the decay of love. So that any person that will discharge his duty hath an in supportable burden on him. I tell you freely, my fears are, that if we were to gather churches again, as we did thirty years ago, we should have but a small harvest. That which should bring us to gether and keep us up in love is all lost. Bead 1 Cor. xiii. I beg of you believe that scripture to be the word of God. We can love them who, as far as we know, are lovely; but that love that " beareth all things and believeth all things," I am afraid not six of us believe that it is a duty. If we hear any thing of a brother or a sister, it is forty to one but we aggravate it unto the next body we meet. Is this love ?
This watch, what is it for? It is for the temporal, and spiritual, and eternal good of all believers.
Their temporal good is first to advise about the poor; which I think is well attended to, being put into the way of God.