THE CONNEXION OF PRINCIPLE WITH PRACTICE, OR THE DUTY OF MAINTAINING SOUND AND EVANGELIC PRINCIPLES IN THE CHURCH. A SERMON, PREACHED AT THE OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH; IN THE YEAR 1808. A SERMON, PREACHED AT THE OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH; IN THE YEAR 1808. Epistle of Jude, 3d verse,-That you should contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. THE physical order of things is evidently intended by the Creator to be subservient to the benefit of the moral world. And divine wisdom itself, in the arrangements of nature, and the disposition of providence, seems to be employed supremely in promoting the ends of divine goodness. In conformity with this order established in the universal system, God has connected the knowledge of truth, with the prac tice of duty, and the duties with the happiness of human nature. The connexion of truth with practical utility, is acknowledged universally in science. In religion alone it has been doubted, or denied, so far as to become even a fashionable maxim,-that it is of little importance to piety, or virtue, what opinions, upon these subjects, are maintained by mankind, provided their conduct in society be peaceable and honest. There are natural sentiments of right and wrong implanted in the human breast; and, to whatever errors in speculation the weakness of reason, or the prejudices of educa tion, may have given birth, the moral instincts of our nature, it is presumed, in all ordinary cases, will correct their practical evils. Hence has resulted an unhappy indifference to religious truth in those who embrace this maxim; and, with it, an indifference to all the institutions of religion. The apostle Jude, in this epistle, apparently from a deep conviction, that erroneous principles in morals, are ever proportionally connected with a lax virtue, condemns in a fervent and indignant style, the efforts which were made, in that early age, to corrupt the purity and simplicity of the gospel of Christ. In opposition to the insidious arts of these pretended disciples, who studied to turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, he exhorts his christian brethren to contend earnestly for the faith, zealously to maintain the truth as it is in Christ, which alone is able to redeem men from all iniquity, and make them wise to eternal life. This injunction of the sacred writer rests for its foundation on the inseparable union between sound principles in religion and morals, and a pure and virtuous tenor of life. It strongly implies, therefore, that every real christian, and especially that every minister of Christ, is under sacred and indispensable obligations to search for the truth in religion, with faithfulness, to embrace it with sincerity, to maintain it with firmness, and to promote it with zeal. If, indeed, evangelic truth had no peculiar relation to sanctity of life, but any principles were equal to the ends of religion, the knowledge of it would not merit either the labor bestowed on its acquisition, or the praise ascribed to its possession; christianity itself would be deprived of its chief glory; and it would be indifferent to every purpose of piety, or virtue, whether we were christians or pagans, be lievers or infidels. In the following discourse, I purpose, under the divine blessing, I. In the first place, to illustrate the connexion that exists between duty, and evangelic truth; or generally between principles and conduct. II. And in the next place, to urge the exhortation of the apostle, to contend earnestly for the faith, the fountain, and comprehensive sum of all good principles in religion. I. Permit me, then, in the first place, to illustrate the con nexion that exists between duty, and evangelic truth, and in general, between principles and conduct. As the great springs of human action lie in the passions and appetites, the desires and wants of men, so the control and direction of these springs is to be found only in an un |