II. To societies—
[Scarcely is there any society of men on earth, where feuds and animosities do not awfully prevail. Nor is this true with respect to the unregenerate only; even in the Church of God itself disputes and divisions are too often found f. But, O ! how lamentable is it when the seamless coat of Christ is rent asunder: and the subjects of the Prince of Peace are engaged in mutual hostilities! Surely the most desirable of all blessings to any society whatever, and above all to the Church of Christ, is peace.
But here again recurs the question, Who shall so govern the sinful passions of men as to bring them into habitual sub- jection ? Who shall impose such restraints on all, as to make them " prefer, not every man his own, but every man another's goodg?" No human wisdom or power can accomplish so great a work. He alone who has united Jews and Gentiles in one body, and slain their enmity, can enable us to " preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace h." He engaged to make the wolf and the lamb to dwell together in love and amity1; and, when he shall see fit to exert his power, he will realize again what he once accomplished in Noah's ark, and will unite the most contrary dispositions in the bonds of social affection k.
Happy are the societies, the families, the Churches, that are governed by such a spirit. Happy indeed if they could "always" enjoy uninterrupted harmony! It is the interest of all the members of a body to forget, as it were, their own individual concerns, and to conspire together for the general good ; all using for that end whatever means appear most suitable to the attainment of it. Is forbearance requisite ? or friendly rebuke ? or even the amputation of an offending member ? Every one should be ready to do his part, what- ever it may be, and, by his individual exertion, to promote to the utmost the peace and welfare of the whole body. As no means would be left untried for the extinction of flames that threatened the destruction of a city ; so should none be omitted, that may secure from injury the union and happiness of man- kind1.
Let all of us then look to " the Lord of peace himself," that by the influence of his grace these holy dispositions may be wrought within us ; and that through the mighty working of
f 1 Cor. i. 10, 11. and iii. 3. ' e Phil. ii. 4. 1 Cor. x. 24.
*> Eph. ii. 14—17. and iv. 3. s Isai. xi. 6—9.
k The oil poured upon the head of our great High-priest, shall de- scend to the skirts of his clothing, Ps. cxxxiii. 1, 2.
1 By mutual forbearance, Col. iii. 12 — 15 ; by fervent interces- sion, Ps. cxxii. 6 — 8.