that there be no divisions among them, but that they be "pefectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." We who dwell in this one country are not so now. We can only become so by being united in one church. This depends in part on them that are without. But it also depends in part on us that are within. Let us then make for peace. Let us pray for peace. Let us hold dissension to be sin against God. Let us avoid it, nay abhor it; and also urge our brethren to avoid it with abhorrence; both out of love to them, and out of devout affection for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

O God, who by the mouth of thine apostle hast commanded us to speak the same thing, suppress, we pray Thee, the many scandalous divisions which have hitherto prevailed amongst Christians. Fulfil in thy good time the prayer of thy blessed Son, that we all may be one. Help us to comply with the direction of St. Paul, that we be perfectly joined

together in the same mind, and in the same judgment. Make us sensible of the sinfulness of separation. Make us heartily desirous of reunion. Make us willing to yield on all sides all that is wrong. Make us zealous to hold fast only that which is right. Thus lead us to a sound judgment in all things, and at the same time to a cordial agreement. Thus make us as soon as possible one in faith. make us immediately one in love. bring us, and help us to bring all others by the means of our united influence, into the one fold of thy holy Church, under the one true Shepherd of our souls, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thus
Thus

SERMON XVII.

FOR THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING

CHRISTIAN KNOWledge.

LOVE ABOUNDING IN KNOWLEDGE.

PHIL. 1. 9.

"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge."

THIS was the prayer of St. Paul for the Philippians. This is the prayer and the object of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. This ought to be our fervent prayer, our dearly cherished object, and our earnest endeavour in behalf of our brethren, that their love may abound yet more and more in knowledge.

But let us first well consider what is meant by "knowledge" in the text. Let

us well observe what kind of knowledge that is, which we ought to pray for, and labour for, and communicate as widely as we can. Now it is not every kind of knowledge which is here recommended. It was "the tree of knowledge of good and evil" (Gen. 2. 9.) which tempted Eve and Adam to their fall. There is such a thing as sinful knowledge. There is a restless curiosity, a licentious desire, in the natural mind, which urges us to pry into whatsoever is concealed, and to know what God has purposely hidden from our eyes. Thus it is that we waste our diligence and strength, when we search for that which we ought not to know. Thus it is that we lead ourselves into temptation, when we seek to learn what we ought not to think of. Thus it is that the young, instead of fleeing youthful lusts, kindle in their breasts that fierce fire of passion, which rivers of repentant tears will scarce suffice to quench. Thus it is that the vain and unwary run risk of making shipwreck of their faith, by listening to objections which they know not how to

answer; not considering that they are not therefore unanswerable. Never let us, my brethren, thus add to the many difficulties of our Christian course, by multiplying in our hearts the thoughts of evil. Never let us learn wilfully, either from conversation or from books, any single sentiment of a sinful tendency. Never let us charge our memories with any single image, argument, or word, which may stir up evil propensities, or sap the foundations of our faith.

There is another kind of knowledge, which in its way is excellent, but which is not the knowledge intended in the text; I mean such knowledge of things temporal as is useful and entertaining. The knowledge of those arts and sciences which make the difference between man civilized and savage; the knowledge of all the things that are in the world, what has happened amongst mankind aforetime, what other countries there are besides our own, how large, and whereabouts they lie; what there is in the bowels of the earth, what plants grow on its surface,