and not know, that the most prominent in every sect have been but too ready to condemn each other, and oftentimes with an acrimony which has shewn clearly enough under whose malignant inlluence they were. A little difference of senti- ment about certain doctrines (though not of primary or funda- mental importance), or about matters of discipline only (which are confessedly less plainly revealed in the Gospel), have been sufficient, and still are, to rend the seamless garment of Christ into ten thousand pieces, and to fdl with mutual enmity whole communities, who profess to have embraced a religion of love. Nor is it in this respect only that the Christian world are ob- noxious to the reproof given in our text. The pride, and conceit, and vanity, of many professors proclaim to the whole world how destitute they are of true humility, and conse- cpaently of true religion. Their envious surmisings too, their uncharitable censures, their vindictive recriminations ; alas ! there are scarcely any persons more guilty of these things than blind bigots and party zealots, and talkative professors. Shall I mention the licence which many give to their tongue, in ungoverned anger, in palpable falsehood, in shameless impu- rity ? Ah ! tell it not in Gath ; publish it not in the streets of Askelon : such are the defects of many who yet stand fair with the Christian world, and would think themselves greatly injured, if their piety were held in doubt. It is plain that such things existed in the Apostle's days ; and we natter our- selves too much, if we think that the Church is a whit purer in the present day. There ever were, and there still are, " tares growing with the wheat ;" and they must be left to God, who alone can make the separation.]
2. What is here asserted —
[The religion of such persons, however eminent they may be in the estimation of themselves or others, is altogether " vain :" for it will neither be accepted of God, nor be of any avail for the salvation of their souls. God cannot accept it, because he looketh at the heart. External forms, or strong professions, cannot deceive him. " He requireth truth in the inward parts:" and forms his estimate of men by the conformity of their hearts to his mind and will. To what purpose will it be that we " cry, Lord, Lord, if we do not the things which he says?" We are told by St. Paid to what a height of religion men may apparently attain, even " exercising a faith that can remove mountains, and speaking as with the tongues of angels, and giving all their goods to feed the poor, yea and their bodies also to be burnt, and yet be no better before God than sound- ing brass or tinkling cymbalse." Let those who have not the
e 1 Cor. xiii. 1 — 3.