dissolution of every community where it enters, has in this instance had no such effect; nay, that it has even produced consequences that were beneficial; not the least considerable of which has been the preservation of the holy Scriptures in their integrity; while the jealousy akt of the different sects, watching over each other, has made any material falsification or interpolation almost impossible. pies of the op have be admire the Still, however greatly we may wisdom and the power of God, which can thus bring good out of evil: however firmly we may be persuaded that the existence of schism, far from operating as an excuse for rejecting the gospel, does in reality furnish the strongest arguments against infidelity, we must not suffer ourselves to be deluded into an idea, that it is a matter indifferent in itself, or not an evil of the greatest magnitude. Still less must we imagine, that it is an act against the commission of which we have no need to be guarded; or which, when committed, requires not to be deplored and repented of. We must regard it as, what in truth it is, what it has always in the church, until very late years, been taken to be, a very grievous sin. It is one, of which every congregation, as well as every individual, looked upon themselves as particularly concerned to stand clear. Whenever, therefore, a separation took place in any church, or community of A Jesen nale is the not 8 also a new SERMON I. set of Religio n Christians, great anxiety was shown by every one of the parties to account for their conduct; w and to shew that the guilt, which was universally allowed to follow the act, did not belong to them and to their friends, but to those of the other side. It was wisely reasoned that, alhem though our Saviour had foretold consequences which would follow from his doctrine, this did in no degree operate as a recommendation or approbation of them; that his having declared, that "he was not come to give peace upon "earth, but rather division," would no way. excuse the individuals, by whose means peace should be driven away, and division brought in. It was remembered, that in the very same breath with which he had at another time declared that, "It must needs be that offences should come," he had added, "Woe to that man by whom the offence cometh." If we required any arguments to shew, what indeed our reason might of itself point out to us, the great utility, as well as loveliness of union, our blessed Lord has not left us to seek. The repeated and forcible exhortations tending to that effect, which he delivered in his several discourses to his disciples; and more especially in those which immediately preceded his crucifixion, speak but too evidently what was the * Matthew xviii. 7. 66 end of his doctrine, and what were the means แ met" It is impossible to consider these, among other passages, without being satisfied that they relate, not merely to the preserva tion of charity in general, but to that particu- John xv. 14. 10. they depart Calvin acknowlione that they and what alone? Thing or ticular anxiety, that so great a stumbling block should not exist? To some of my audience I shall, probably, appear as having spent some time, and a great many words, very unnecessarily, in proving that which is so plain, as not to be open to controversy. To others, however, I may appear to have been faulty for a reason almost directly opposite. I shall be thought to have been laying a great deal of stress upon what is, in fact, of no consequence; upon what they conceive to be not even a fair subject for any question × Many there are who will be surprised, and who will revolt at any argument which tends to shew, that it is not left to the arbitrary will or caprice of any man to worship God after that mode which is most agreeable to his imagination. They will look upon it as a novelty to be told (what yet is the old and true doctrine) that to that sound part of Christ's church, which is established in the country where he was born, or where the providence of God has fixed him, he is bound to adhere; that to all its ordinances in indifferent matters, all those rules, which it has directed to be observed, for the purpose of edification, it is his duty to conform; that he who separates from such a particular church, does it at his peril; that he is committing an act, for which he must be seriously and deeply accountable at the day of judgment; |