can say with truth respecting them, " I live, if ye stand fast in the Lord." Now, amongst the various blessings which he desires them to enjoy, there are two in particular, to which we would call your attention ;
1. An union of heart among themselves —
[This is essentially necessary to the welfare of any Church: if there be dissensions and divisions among them there will soon be confusion and every evil work. And where shall we look for union, if not among the household of God? Have they not all one faith, one hope, one baptism, one God and Father ? Are they not all members of one body, all animated by the same Spirit, all heirs of the same glory? It was from these very considerations that the Apostle urged the Ephesian Church to cultivate an humble, meek, forbearing, and forgiv- ing temper, and to " keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace ;" and, as in the text, made it his one request to them, when he was a prisoner at Romec. Of how much importance he thought this temper to be, we may judge from what he himself says in a few verses after the text : we cannot conceive language more tender, or motives more powerful, or entreaties more urgent, than he there addresses to themd; and the one point that he there presses upon them is, that they would be " like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, and of one mind."
This then we would impress upon your minds as a matter of indispensable necessity. There will of course, amongst a number of persons whose former views, habits, and dispositions have been so different, arise many occasions of difference, per- haps also of dissatisfaction and disgust : but Christians should regard the smallest symptom of disunion, as they would the beginnings of a conflagration in the house wherein they dwelt: every one should have his personal feelings swallowed up in an attention to the common cause. All should have one object, and unite their efforts to accomplish it, and banish in an instant whatever might obstruct their exertions for the general good. That this will sometimes be attended with difficulty, is implied in the very exhortation to " stand fast in one spirit :" but it may be done ; and, if our hearts be right with God, it will be done.]
2. A zealous attachment to the faith of Christ —
[Many things there are which may operate to turn us from the faith of Christ. That which the Apostle more especially
c Eph. iv. 1—6. d Phil. ii. 1, 2.
d2