every child of God : " Mark them who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them : for they that are such serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly" and corrupt appetites'5.]
2. Of affection —
[Love is the grace which most adorns the true Christian : it is properly his distinctive markf. It is not to be interrupted by party distinctions; which, instead of justifying an alienation from each other, should themselves, as far as possible, be buried in oblivion. In the body, no one member can say to another, " I have no need of you :" the least and lowest has its appropriate office, as well as those whose powers are of a superior order : nor does its difference of form or office cause it to be overlooked, or its welfare to be despised. But herein the Christian world is doubtless very defective. Minor differ- ences and distinctions are magnified among them into occasions of mutual aversion; insomuch, that a circumstantial difference, in relation to the mere externals of religion, often sets persons as far asunder as they are even from professed heathens. But let not Christianity be blamed for this. The evil arises solely from that corruption of the human heart which Christianity is intended to subdue and mortify. And I cannot but regard the change which has taken place in this respect, through the influence of the Bible Society, as a blessing of peculiar mag- nitude to the whole Church of God. The duty of all, to whatever denomination of Christians they may happen to belong, is, to " love as brethren ;" yea, to " be kindly affec- tioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour pre- ferring one to another." The true pattern is that which was
set us on the day of Pentecostg To all, therefore, I
would say, with the Apostle, " If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like- minded; having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind11."]
3. Of conduct —
[As immortal beings, we all have one great pursuit, which we ought to follow with our whole hearts, and in com- parison of which all other things should be as dung and dross. We should all resemble the twelve tribes of Israel, in their journey through the wilderness. All kept their appointed places ; those who led, not despising those who followed ; nor those who moved in the rear envying those who led the van.
e Rom. xvi. 17, 18. f Horn. xii. 10.
s Actsiv. 32. h Phil. ii. 1, 2„