this, that even in the infancy of the church, God divided them with a sparing hand. Were all even then prophets? Were all workers of miracles? Had all the gifts of healing? Did all speak with tongues? No, in no wise. Perhaps not one in a thousand. Probably none but, the teachers in the church, and only some of them. It was therefore for a more excellent purpose than this, that they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. 4. It was, to give them (what none can deny to be essential to all Christians in all ages) the mind which was in Christ, those holy fruits of the Spirit, which whosoever hath not, is none of his to fill them with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness to endure them with faith (perhaps it might be rendered, fidelity) with meekness and temperance to enable them to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts, its passions and desires; and in consequence of that inward change, to fulfil all outward righteousness, to walk as Christ also walked, in the work of faith, the patience of hope, the labour of love. 5. Without busying ourselves then in curious, needless enquiries, touching those extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, let us take a nearer view of these his ordinary fruits; which we are assured will remain throughout all ages of that great work of God among the children of men, which we are used to express by one word, Christianity: not as it implies a set of opinions, a system of doctrines, but as it refers to men's hearts and lives. And this Christianity it may be useful to consider under three distinct views. I. As beginning to exist in individuals. II. As spreading from one to another. I design to close these considerations with a plain practical application. I. And first, Let us consider Christianity in its rise, as beginning to exist in individuals. Suppose then one of those who heard the apostle Peter preaching repentance and remission of sins, was pricked to the heart, was convinced of sin, repented, and then believed in Jesus. By this faith of the operation of God, which was the very substance or subsistence of things hoped for, the demonstrative evidence of invisible things, he instantly received the Spirit of adoption, whereby he now cried Abba, Father! No. I. F Now Έλεγχος Now first it was that he could call Jesus Lord, by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit itself bearing witness with his spirit that he was a child of God." Now it was that he could truly say, "I live not, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." 2. This then was the very essence of his faith, a divine EXEYXOS of the love of God the Father, through the Son of his love, to him a sinner, now accepted in the Beloved. And being justified by faith, he had peace with God, yea, the peace of God ruling in his heart: a peace, which passing all understanding (maila vev, all barely rational conception) kept his heart and mind from all doubt and fear, through the knowledge of bim in whom he had believed. He could not therefore be afraid of any evil tidings; for his heart stood fast, believing in the Lord. He feared not what man could do unto him, knowing the very hairs of his head were all numbered. He feared not all the powers of darkness, which God was daily bruising under his feet. Least of all was he afraid to die; nay, he desired to depart and be with Christ; who through death hath destroyed him that had the power of death, even the devil; and delivered them who through fear of death, were all their life-time, till then, subject to bondage" 3. "His soul, therefore, magnified the Lord, and his spirit rejoiced in God his Saviour. He rejoiced in him with joy unspeakable, who had reconciled him to God, even the Father: in whom he had redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. He rejoiced in that witness of God's Spirit with his spirit, that he was a child ef God: and more abundantly, in the hope of the glory of God, in hope of the glorious image of God, the full renewal of his soul in righteousness and true holiness; and in hope of that crown of glory, that inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." 4. The love of God was also shed abroad in his heart, by the Holy Ghost which was given unto him. Because he was a son, God had sent forth the Spirit of his Son into his heart, crying, Abba, Father!" And that filial love of God was continually increased by the "witness he had in himself, of God's pardoning love to him, by beholding, * Evidence or conviction. what what manner of love it was, which the father had bestowed upon him, that he should be called a child of God." So that God was the desire of his eyes, and the joy of his heart; his portion in time and in eternity. 5. He that thus loved God, could not but "love his brother also; and not in word only, but in deed and in truth. If God, said, he, so loved us, we ought also to: love one another." Yea, every soul of man, as the mercy of God" is over all his works.", Agreeably hereto, the af fection of this lover of God, embraced all mankind for his. sake; not excepting those whom he had never seen in the flesh, or those of whom he knew nothing more than that they were the off-spring of God; for whose souls his Son had died; not excepting the evil and unthankful, and least of all his enemies, those who hated, or persecuted, or despitefully used him, for his Master's sake. These had a peculiar place both in his heart and his prayers. He loved them even as Christ loved us. 6. And love is not puffed up. It.abases to the dust every soul wherein it dwells. Accordingly, he was lowly of heart, little, mean, and vile in his own eyes. He neither sought nor received the praise of men, but that which cometh of God only. He was meek and long-suffering, gentle to all, and easy to be intreated. Faithfulness and truth never forsook him; they were bound about his neck, and wrote on the table of his heart. By the same Spirit he was enabled to be temperate in all things, refraining his soul even as a weaned child. He was crucified to the world, and the world crucified to him: superior to the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life." By the same almighty love was he saved, both from passion and pride, from lust and vanity, from ambition and covetousness, and from every temper which was not in Christ. ་་ 7. It may be easily believed, he who had this love in his heart, would work no evil to his neighbour. It was impossible for him, knowingly and designedly, to do harm to any man. He was at the greatest distance from cruelty and wrong, from any unjust or unkind action. With the same care did he set a watch before his mouth, and keep the door of his lips; lest he should offend in tongue, either against justice, or against mercy or truth. He put away all lying, falsehood and fraud; neither was guile found in his mouth. He spake coil of no man; nor did an unkind word ever come out of his lips. 8. And as he was deeply sensible of the truth of that word-Without me ye can do nothing, and consequently, of the heed he had to be watered of God every moment; so he continued daily in all the ordinances of God, the stated channels of his grace to man. to man. In the apostle's doctrine or teach ing, receiving that food of the soul with all readiness of heart, in the breaking of bread, which he found to be the communion of the body of Christ, and in the prayers and praises offered up by the great congregation. And thus he daily grew in grace, increasing in strength, in the knowledge and love of God. 9. But it did not satisfy him, barely to abstain from doing evil. His soul was a-thirst to do good. The lan guage of his heart continually was My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. My Lord went about doing good; and shall not I tread in his steps? As he had opportunity, therefore, if he could do no good of a higher kind, he fed the hungry, cloathed the naked, helped the fatherless or stranger, visited and assisted them that were sick or in prison. He gave all his goods to feed the poor. He rejoiced to labour or to suffer for them; and wherein soever he might profit another, there especially to deny himself. He counted nothing too dear to part with for them, as well remembering the word of his Lord, Insomuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 10. Such was Christianity in its rise. Such was a Christian in ancient days. Such was every, one of those, who "when they heard the threatenings of the chief-priests and elders, lift up their voice to God with one accord, and were all filled with the Holy Ghost. The multitude of them that believed, were of one heart and of one soul." (So did the love of him in whom they had believed, constrain them to love one another.) "Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common." So fully were. they crucified to the world, and the world crcuified to them. "And they continued stedfastly with one accord in the apostle's doctrine, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayer. And great grace was upon them all; neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessers of lands or houses sold them, and brought the the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostle's feet; and distribution was made unto every man, according as he had need.". II. 1. Let us take a view, in the second place, of this Christianity, as spreading from one to another, and so gradually making its way into the world. For such was the will of God concerning it, who did not light a candle to put it under a bushel, but that it might give light to all that were in the house. And this our Lord had declared to his first disciples, Ye are the salt of the earth, the light of the world: at the same time that he gave that general command-Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 2. And, indeed, supposing a few of these lovers of mankind, to see the whole world lying in wickedness, can we believe they would be unconcerned at the sight, at the misery of those for whom their Lord died? Would not their bowels yearn over them, and their hearts melt away for very trouble? Could they then stand idle all the day long, even were, there no command from him whom they loved Rather would they not labour, by all possible means, to pluck some of these brands out of the burning? Undoubtedly they would: they would spare no pains to bring back whomsoever they could of those poor sheep that had gone astray, to the great Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. 3. So the Christians of old did. They laboured, having opportunity," to do good unto all men, warning them to flee from the wrath to come, now, now to escape the damnation of hell." They declared, "The times of ignorance God winked at; but now he calleth all men everywhere to repent." They cried aloud, "Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; so iniquity shall not be your ruin." They reasoned with them of temperance and righteousness, or justice, of the virtues opposite to their reigning sins, and of judgment to come, of the wrath of God which would surely be executed on evil-doers in that day when he shall judge the world. 4. They endeavoured herein to speak to every man severally as he had need. To the careless, to those who lay unconcerned in darkness and in the shadow of death, they thundered" Awake, thou that sleepest; arise from the |