to be deemed the worst, which has the unhappiest influence on the temper and life. We do not therefore send you to the inextricable mazes of disputation and logomachy, but to the only infallible test which Christ himself has given us. It will not, sure, be imagined, that we mean, like the too narrow-minded disciple, to forbid any man to cast out devils in the name of Christ, because he followeth not with us *. But we mean to warn every man against the influence of that teacher who would cast in devils in the name of Christ, whether he follow with us or not. For we know no worse devils than contention, bitterness, spiritual pride, uncharitable judgments, detraction, malevolence. We mean further, if possible, to abate the rancour of sects towards one another, and to make the interests of charity surmount that worst species of priestly policy which but too much abounds in them all. 4. I remark, fourthly, That some of the strongest objections of infidels do not properly affect the gospel; they affect only the corruptions which have been introduced by men into this divine religion. It may be added, that the same adventitious materials have been the foundation of the greater part of the controversies among Christians themselves. To conclude: Let us my Honoured Fathers and Brethren in the Ministry, think of the particular obligations we are brought under by the trust re * Mark ix. 38.; Luke ix. 49. posed in us, of recommending, both by doctrine and by example, the genuine spirit of the gospel. There is not a community, any more than an individual, that is absolutely perfect; but perfection ought ever to be the aim of both. It is not our having the advantage of a legal establishment that will secure us against the temper of sectaries, though I can say with truth, that in my judgment (I may indeed be partial) there will not easily be found a Christian society that has less of that temper. In a contagion so universal, it is hardly possible to escape entirely being infected. Let this consideration make us the more on our guard, that we may purge out the old leaven, and be a new lump in the Lord. Let us never descend to the unchristian artifice of ingratiating ourselves by traducing others. Still less let us think of the antichristian arrogance of usurping the office of the supreme Judge, and pronouncing the eternal doom of those who differ from us. Nay, where we know we meet with this treatment from others, let us abhor the thought of retaliating; imitating rather the conduct of our Lord, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again. Let our great policy, for influencing those of other communions, be, to show forth in every thing, the meekness, the gentleness, the moderation of Christ. If attracted by that spirit which the Apostle styles, the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind, prevailing in the tempers and lives of our people, as the happy fruits of our teaching, candid and reasonable men shall be induced to give us the prefer ence, the victory will be to our honour; and we are sure that the heart of the proselyte will not be corrupted by the change. We cannot say so much when men are gained to any party, by the too common acts of infusing bigotry and rancour. But still such an external connection is comparatively a small matter. Those who are not gained in this sense, may nevertheless be gained to love and purity, to more enlarged sentiments of the unbounded grace of Jesus, and thus may be improved by our example. Let us therefore invariably follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. |