decline, just in proportion as the charity of her several members towards each other aboundeth or decays.

Here therefore, as in the former cases, the most important question is, how may this spirit be best promoted and preserved? And here too the answer is much the same the foundation must be laid in the fear of the Lord; and the superstructure must be raised by prayer and mutual intercession, and by the exercise of mutual forbearance.

Let this which has been already intimated, always be borne in mind, that in order to the maintenance of that unity among brethren, which is a Christian duty, it is by no means necessary that these brethren should all be brought to unity of opinions. There might be a thousand different ways of thinking, upon a thousand different subjects, without any breach of charity at all. And he is a very weak man indeed who is angry because his neighbours do not see with his eyes; and religion particularly is no excepted case. Is not a man to be allowed to be a Christian till his views of Christianity are right, from first to last? Is not a man to be allowed to be a good man, till in all his modes of doing good he exercises a sound discretion? Then where is the Christian or the good man in all the world? Truth indeed is one, and the rule of right is one; but in the interpretation of the rule, nobody is right in every thing, and "in many things we offend all." The most eminent Christians do not all speak the same thing, or see the same things, or judge in the same way, or conduct themselves in the same way throughout. Yet there may be enough to demonstrate that all belong to the same Christ notwithstanding; and if so, there should be enough to hold all together. They are animated by the same spirit, and appeal to the same standard; therefore there is much agreement. Blindness, however, hath happened in part to every one of them, and some are prejudiced, and mistake in one way, others in another way-therefore there is some disagreement. Let them however consider, that the points on which they differ, are usually the least material; the points in which they are agreed, the most material. Let every one be assured for himself, that he also is wrong in something; and that his neighbour has just the same reason, if he is what he seems, for desiring to be right which he himself hath; inasmuch as his soul also is at stake, and he knows and owns it. Let every man take heed of interfering with his brother's usefulness; and let him rejoice if his brother appears to desire to do good, whether he falls in with his own schemes or not, or takes up other modes or plans. Why are we to forbid those who follow not with us, or to despise gifts or qualifications differing from our own, when it is one and the self-same spirit who divideth unto every man severally as he will? Let us all read our bibles more than we do, and pray over them more than we do: let us all busy ourselves in fighting against our sins, rather than in caring to be held in honour even by good people: let us acknowledge our transgression to God daily, and study to have our sin ever before us:-the particulars of it, as much as may be-the guilt, the defilement, and the baseness of it. If unity is the best ornament of Christian society, humility is the best and only guardian of unity. There will be no peace, except in proportion as pride, in all its evil varieties, is conquered.

409

SERMON XX.

PRAYER.

1 THESS. V. 17.

" Pray without ceasing."

In several former discourses it has been my endeavour, first to explain to you some of the great things which God has done for sinners through Jesus Christ, and then to " beseech you by the mercies of God" that ye would present yourselves, your souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice to him. But it has, I hope, at the same time, been sufficiently kept in view, that it is only from Almighty God himself that "all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed;" that "without him we are not able to please him;" and that he must prevent us, in all our doings, with his most gracious favour, and further us with his continual help," if we are

66

to walk in the way of his commandments, and to be kept through faith unto salvation.

It is time now to consider in what manner God must be approached; for he says, " For all this I will be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them."* God hath promised his Holy Spirit, but it is only to those who have learned to call upon him by diligent supplication.

Most important, therefore, is the short precept of the text-" Pray without ceasing." Here, on man's part, religion is to begin. This is the act by which the prodigal is to set out upon his return to his Father's house: and by this also he must go on unto the end.

I shall endeavour, therefore, with all plainness of speech,

I. First, to instruct you in the nature of the duty prescribed.

II. And then to show the benefits of a due discharge of it.

III. After which I will subjoin a few short admonitions for the different sorts or classes of God's professed worshippers.

I. And first, as to the nature of the duty prescribed. It may seem to some, that instruction is here unnecessary. Holy Scripture