are epistles of Christ, known and read of all men ; and their whole spirit and conduct is a sermon to all around them. St. Peter tells us, that many unbelieving people, who utterly despise the word of God, are " won by the good conversation" and conduct of their pious friends. On the other hand, we know that divisions or scandals in the Church are the means of casting before many a stumbling-block, over which they fall, to their eternal ruin. What can more strongly manifest the importance of union in the Church, than such considera- tions as these? Surely, if the welfare of the world so much depends upon it, we cannot wonder that our Lord offered such repeated supplications for it in our behalf; nor should there be any intermission to our exertions for the advancement of it in the Church of God.]
From this subject we may see,
1. The duty of the world to unite themselves to the Church —
[The Church is represented as " one fold under one Shepherd." To that fold we must be gathered : nor must we decline that open profession that shall distinguish us for his sheep. If we are ashamed of Christ and his people, Christ will be ashamed of us. We must not only " believe with our hearts unto righteousness, but make confession with our mouths unto salvation." As Judah and Israel are to become one at the latter day, like the two sticks in the prophet's hands, so are Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, to be all one in Christ Jesus*. I call on all therefore " to give themselves unto us," as St. Paul expresses it, but first to " give up their whole selves to the Lord"."]
2. The duty of the Church to be united among themselves —
[Who that hears our blessed Lord pleading so earnestly for this object, can doubt what his duty is in relation to it? If a doubt remain, let the Apostle Paul determine it: so desirable was this object in his eyes, that he seemed as if he could never be sufficiently urgent with his converts to cultivate it with all their hearts x. Let us then beg of God to " give us one heart and one way:" thus shall the sweetest fellowship be produced, not only with each other, but with the Father and with Christ; and " the blood of Jesus Christ his Son shall cleanse us from all siny."]
s Ezek. xxxvii. 16—22. ' Gal. iii. 28. » 2 Cor. viii. 5.
x 1 Cor. i. 10. Phil. ii. 1 — 1. >' 1 John i. 3, 7.