The temptation was very great, and Giles could not restrain his emotion, and Maggie clung closer to him and wet his cheek with tears. She lifted one hand over her husband's eyes, and with the other motioned Lathwell to depart. But still the terrible sphinx asked, ' Will you go?' not ask. He blushed, half in anger and half in shame, and still those reproachful eyes were bent upon him, and for once in his life he too was unmanned and wept. Was it fear, foolishness, or faithlessness? He scarcely knew, and all thinking seemed an impossibility. When would Giles take away his eyes? He was getting dizzy, confused, and trembling. O that Giles would speak, upbraid him, or answer him-I thank you, but I cannot. I such silence was agony. 'Will you go?' at length Lathwell mustered sufficient courage to ask in a very unnatural tone of voice, 'You can go to-day, if you will.' 'Friend,' answered Giles, after a long pause and with a husky voice, am a servant of Jesus Christ, and He bids me stay. He is better to me than my life--He halloweth me in my bonds. But leave me, leave me now,-it cannot, cannot be.' MUTUAL EDIFICATION.* SUCH is the deceitfulness of the We disapprove of his conduct. lain, of Fleet, at the Ninety-third Annual In what does Edification consist? speak in high terms of the faith of the centurion, and of the woman of Canaan ? Did He not express His approbation of whatever was lovely and of good report in the seven churches of Asia? He did; and in this respect as well as in others Paul imitated Him. If in his Epistles he sometimes dealt in reproof, he never failed to applaud what was praiseworthy. 'I'myself,' he wrote to the Romans, am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.' The Philippians he commends for their kindness and liberality; the Colossians for their faith and love; and the Thessalonians for their work of faith, labour of love; patience of hope, and their care to edify one another. Now what Paul did it cannot be wrong for us to do; although it is to be feared there are but few churches to which we could write, saying, Edify one another, as also ye do. The particular thing for which the Thessalonians are here commended is, their diligence to establish each other in the faith of the truths they had been taught. In this respect they are worthy of imitation. We should follow the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Every disciple of Christ is bound not only to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling, but to do all he can to promote the spiritual interests of every other disciple. This we suppose none present will deny. But as what is admitted to be true has not always that influence on men's walk and conversation it ought to have, we have thought it might not be unprofitable to you if on the present occasion we addressed you on the subject of Mutual edification.' The wordrendered edify in the text, means properly to build as a house, to construct, to erect; then to rebuild, to renew, and according to some to adorn, or ornament; but when, as in the text and in other parts of the New Testament it is applied to the church of Christ 293 and its members, it means to build up, to establish, to confirm, or to do anything by teaching, counsel, admonition and reproof, to promote the growth of believers in all the principles, affections, and holy habits of the spiritual life.' The propriety of this application of the term must be apparent to every one who reflects on the comparisons employed by the Apostles when describing the church. Thus for instance they sometimes speak of it under the figure of a building; at others of a house; and often as a temple, and a habitation for God. Of this building Christ is the foundation or the chief corner stone, according to God's promise. Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Hence it is that believers in Him united together in a church capacity are spoken of as lively stones built up a spiritual house, and are said to be built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord. Constituting, therefore, as those who are joined to Christ do, one great temple erected to the glory of God, having no separate interests, but united for one object, or builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, it is obviously their duty to do all they can to improve each other in holiness; and thus not only to render apparent the beauty of that glorious edifice of which they form a part, but to shew forth the praise of the great Master builder, whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end, being rooted and built up in Christ and established in the faith. But in what does edification consist? This question may be considered both in reference to individuals and to a church, or the body of Christ. Considered in reference to the former, edification consists in their establishment in the knowledge and belief of the truth, and their improvement in all holy conversation and godliness. It imports that their love abounds yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; and that they are constantly Abundant provision is made for adding to their faith, knowledge, the edification of the Redeemer's temperance, patience, godliness, people and church. If you will brotherly kindness and charity. It turn to Ephesians iv. you will find implies their advancing from the this subject set forth in the clearest state of babes to that of young light. There the apostle, after men, and from that of young men having exhorted his brethren to to fathers in Christ. They who are unity, specifies the gifts which Christ edified either by the ministry of the the glorified Head of the church, word, or by any other means, grow bestows upon the members of it, in grace and in the knowledge of our and informs them of the gracious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; they end for which those gifts are beincrease in spiritual strength and stowed. When He ascended up on leaving the principles of the doctrine high, He led captivity captive, and gave of Christ, go on to perfection. Who- gifts unto men. And He gave some ever may be carried about with apostles, and some prophets, and some divers and strange doctrines, or are evangelists, aud some pastors and unskilful in the word of righteous- teachers. And for what purpose did ness they are not. Their hearts are He give these? To excite the adestablished with grace, they are miration of men, or to amuse them, able to distinguish things that differ, or to furnish them from time to and are filled with the fruits of time with an intellectual treat? righteousness which are by Jesus Judging from what they say, this Christ to the glory and praise of seems to be the opinion of not a God. They daily increase in like- few; but the apostle declares they ness to the Redeemer, in zeal for were given For the perfecting of His glory, and in meetness for the saints, for the work of the ministry, heaven. Now if this be true with for the edifying of the body of Christ: respect to individuals, it follows Till we all come in the unity of the that the edification of Christ's faith, and of the knowledge of the Son church consists in its increasing of God, unto a perfect man, unto the knowledge, faith, love, unity, zeal, measure of the stature of the fulness and spirituality: and that a church of Christ: That we henceforth be no may be said to be built up when its more children, tossed to and fro, and members are living in obedience to carried about with every wind of the precepts, Walk worthy of the doctrine, by the sleight of man, and vocation wherewith ye are called, cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in with all lowliness and meekness, wait to deceive; But, speaking the with longsuffering, forbearing one truth in love, may grow up into Him another in love, endeavouring to in all things, which is the head, even keep the unity of the spirit in the Christ: From whom the whole body bonds of peace. Be perfect, be of fitly joined together and compacted by good comfort, be of one mind, live that which every joint supplieth, accordin peace. Let your conversation being to the effectual working in the as it becometh the gospel-stand measure of every part, maketh increase fast in one spirit-with one mind of the body, unto the edifying of itself striving together for the faith of in love. These words teach as the gospel.' Obedience to the plainly as words can, that the Lord commands of Christ on the part of Jesus bestows the gift specified in the members of His mystical body, order that his people may be inand the edification of his church structed in divine things, conare inseparably connected. Then at firmed in the faith, and attain to the churches rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy | Ghost, were multiplied. How may Christians Edify one another? the highest elevation in Christian knowledge and piety. This truth is borne in mind by every true minister of the gospel. He aims 'To establish the strong, restore the weak, And arm'd himself in panoply complete Others may seek to secure a reputation and attract attention by scientific discourses or metaphysical disquisitions, but he labours by manifestation of the truth to commend himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God, and to build up the people of his charge in faith, love, and obedience. Hence it is plain that if those to whom he ministers the word of life do not increase in knowledge, become firmly grounded in the doctrines of the gospel, and grow to the stature of a complete man in Christ, the fault rests with themselves. It is either because they neglect to improve the religious privileges with which they are favoured, or to discharge toward each other the duties which devolve on them. It is also the duty of the members of the church of Christ to edify one another. While those who are called to preach the word, are bound to endeavour to confirm the disciples of Jesus in the faith, and to train them for heaven, it is the duty of every member of the body of Christ to strive according to his ability, to promote the spiritual interests of his brethren. Edify, is the command of the apostle. Nor has any one a right to expect to be edified by others unless he yields obedience to it. The great reason why some who have for years professed the Saviour's name cannot be spoken of as spiritual, but as babes in Christ; why others are weak in the faith, and in danger from the slightest temptation; and why many more experience so little enjoyment and are strangers to the 295 as assurance of hope, is because the duty of mutual edification is neglected. Numbers indeed act as if everything required of them members of Christ's church consisted in attending the house of God and contributing a trifle to the support of His cause. Not a few seem to think that it is their province to find fault and censure their brethren, or sit in judgment on those who are placed over them in the Lord; but as to doing anything to improve others, that is a matter about which they give themselves no concern. While this state of things continues the church will never be what her Head intended her to be; nor will her members be found perfect and complete in all the will of God. Ministers may study and preach, but unless the disciples of Christ co-operate with them, by labouring to do each other good, Zion will not appear the perfection of beauty nor will her borders be widely extended. Then seek both to build up yourselves on your most holy faith and to aid your brethren in their course. Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.' Say not you have neither time nor opportunity, nor ability to attend to the duty enjoined; for whenever you meet together if it be for but a few minutes, an opportunity is afforded you of edifying one another, and you have only to let your speech be sound that cannot be condemned, and your conduct accord with your profession to benefit each other. How may Christians edify one another? Various are the ways in which they may confirm one another in the faith, and promote each others' advancement in the divine life. Indeed all their intercourse with each other ought to be conducive to their individual improvement. Christians may edify one another by their conversation. Speech, as one remarks, is an invaluable gift. A blessing of inestimable worth. We may so speak as always to do good to others. We may give them some information which they have not; impart some consolation which they need; elicit some truth by friendly discussion which we did not know before, or recall by friendly admonition those who are in danger of going astray. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good;' and by conversing together on religious subjects Christ's followers may instruct, counsel, comfort and strengthen each other. Thus indeed should they attempt to build each other up whenever they meet together. Instead of spending their time, as is too often the case, in finding fault with this one, or in pointing out the defects of that, or in commenting on the errors of a third, or in foolish talking and jesting, they should endeavour to cheer each others' hearts and to animate each other to press forward with alacrity and zeal to the heavenly kingdom. They should talk together by the way, of the doctrines, precepts, and promises of the gospel; of their individual trials, difficulties, temptations and discouragements; of what God has done for them, and of the prospect before them. Their intercourse then instead of being baneful, would be beneficial, and by as much as it improved themselves it would promote the interests of true piety. Brethren, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good, to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.' It is affirmed of those who feared the Lord in ancient times, that they spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon His name. We are called upon to follow them; and if we really are anxious to be of service to our brethren, we shall not only say to them, Come and hear all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul; but so order our conversation that it will tend to establish their confidence, and encourage them to bear trials with patience, to surmount difficulties, to overcome obstacles, to repel the attacks of their foes, and to give diligence to make their calling and election sure. Christians may also edify one another by their example: by being patterns to each other of faith, love, and joy; of patience under afflictions; of fortitude in enduring trials; of submission to the divine will under losses, disappointments, and bereavements; of zeal for God's glory; of heavenly mindednessyea of every active and passive grace. Paul tells the Corinthians that their zeal had provoked many. What he affirms with respect to their ardour and promptitude in contributing of their substance to relieve the wants of others, ought to be true with respect to our whole conduct as Christians. It is our duty so to live as to excite others to stand fast in the faith, and to constrain them to seek increased conformity to Him who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. By their example, the aged and experienced may promote the edification of the young and inexperienced. By being sober, grave, temperate, sound in the faith, in charity, in patience, the former may encourage the latter to follow on to know the Lord and consequently do them much good. We mention this not because we have any doubts with respect to the elders among us in this matter. We are not of those who would charge them with a neglect of duty. Nor do we think it modest on the part of those who are but just girding on their armour to find fault with the veteran who has never turned his back in the day of battle, but who has for years resisted the enemy and held on his way. Still the aged should seek so to live as to be able always |