liever; and then you will find it the same under every dispensation.. Thus, the same sense of needchoice of good-hope through a Redeemer-and good-will to men, dwelt in the hearts of Abraham and of Bacon. The latter could never more exactly express his feelings than in saying -With the Patriarch's joy Thy call I follow to the land unknown : YOUNG. I remember my friend saying, after church, on hearing a discourse upon Abraham's departure— "In this simplicity of holy aim and of implicit dependance, I think ALL the spiritual children of the father of the faithful are perfectly united." I may add, too, that in this he was not only a sincere, but enlightened example. If, with the patriarch, he forsook a corrupt world to go out he knew not whither; yet he knew, like the patriarch, why and with wнOм he went out. For any one to tell us, by way of objection, of the various inventions that men have mingled with religion, whether false or true, is only telling in how many ways a puppet may be dressed, or a living man disguised. To such an objector I would say, if you stumble at the pitiable notions and practices of the weak and superstitious, and occupy yourself about the wood, hay, and stubble, with which such build upon the foundation; or, if you only listen where bodily disorder, accidentally connected with religious impressions, utters its wild absurdities, verily you have your reward. In the first instance, you have pursued folly, and caught it: in the second, you have watched infirmity, and discovered that it will wander: you have looked for truth where you should not; and found, in its stead, what every considerate man would have expected to find. But, 25* VOL. I. had you looked further, and where only an indisposition to find real religion (which, in reality, lies at the bottom of these objections) refuses to look, you would have found such characters as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Job, Abraham, &c. in the first ages of the world; and, afterwards, those who, actuated by the same principles, have, until this day, trod in their steps: then, indeed, we should have the point in question properly before us-see the religion which is real and true-know how it feels and acts in different places and circumstances-and find that it is essentially the same thing in all. The same may be said of the sophistry which has been employed to blind the eyes of the ignorant, by instances of fraudulence and hypocrisy. In our inquiries upon so important a subject as religion, it is substance, and not shadow, that should be regarded; the rule, and not the exception. It would be well, however, if the sophist could be convinced with what sincerity he acts, in his industry to accumulate and advance such instances. I would assist him in trying it, by proposing this very plain rule. When you receive your gold, and find, as you have probably found before, that a counterfeit or two has slipped in among it, determine immediately to throw away the rest, as of no value--resolve that no true gold is to be found. But you revolt at this: you love your money; and, instantly apprehending the distinction between true and false, you reject the spurious coin, and cautiously treasure up the rest. And why do you not act thus respecting the gold that perisheth not? Alas! the reason is too evident. Light is come into the world, but men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. But while prejudiced minds will be occupied only about accidents and offences in religion; and little minds will magnify the peculiarities of the sect they have joined, as if an essential part of it; and artful men among them, taking advantage of this weakness, will imitate those of old, who cried, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved, Acts xv, 1: the Christian of a more enlarged mind and spiritual character, (an instance of which appears in my late friend,) firmly maintaining his hold of evangelical truth, but looking beyond the impositions and often frivolous distinctions with which it has been incumbered, will resolve, with the Apostle, that NEITHER circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith that worketh by love, Gal. v, 6. To say nothing more of the grosser stumblingblocks which arise, it seems most devoutly to be wished, that, instead of that motley and disfiguring exhibition of Christianity which its professors have presented to mankind, one uniform, orderly, and distinguishing aspect of it should only appear. Much that is now offensive and confounding would, doubtless, thereby be removed. The history, however, of eighteen hundred years shows us how little is to be expected of uniformity, though every Christian seems bound to use his efforts toward maintaining any measure of it. He should also watch over his own heart, lest frivolous scruples or wrong tempers should increase the evil for schism has not only a deforming and deranging effect wherever it springs up, but it has brought several once flourishing churches to ruin. Still, if we cannot have uniformity, let it be remembered that between unity and uniformity there exists a broad line of distinction, which must not be delivered up to the unbeliever. Uniformity in modes may be the most becoming dress of the church; but unity in spirit is the life of it. It is this unity of spirit to the Living Head, and to one another as his living members, which identifies the character of true believers, which constitutes their essential distinction from the rest of mankind, and which abides with them for ever. I will give them, saith God, one HEART and one WAY and he hath fulfilled his promise. The stupid Hindoo-the ferocious American Indian-the degraded African-the cultivated European-the prince with his sceptre, or the commander with his truncheon -the student with his book, or the artist with his chisel, though widely distinguished by habits and circumstances, yet when brought to know the distinguishing truths of the Gospel, and feel its converting power, are found with one common sympathy to unite in spirit with each other; in expressing the same wants, seeking the same relief, and joining in the same song-Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Let then no sincere inquirer after the chief good be the dupe of the imposing sophistry, and much less be abashed at the rude scoffs, of those, who have taken no higher rule of judgment than what they see floating on the surface of a gross and multiform profession of Christianity; but let him read his BIBLE to learn the substance of that grand design. There, after contemplating man's original apostacy, let him mark that one living and consecrated way of redemption instituted at the fall, kept in memory by typical shadows, and finished on Calvary. Let him trace the operation of that Spirit of life, which, giving effect to the design, and to that only, produces in man a new and distinct character: For, as the Apostle expresses it, by one Spirit we are all baptised into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free ; and have been ALL MADE TO DRINK INTO ONE SPIRIT : 1 Cor. xii, 13. A character this, quite distinct from that of the proud, who despise it; the careless, who disregard it; the hypocrite, who apes it; or the fanatic, who exposes it to contempt. Placed in the midst of such various misrepresentations, both from avowed enemies and from pretended friends, we can have no security but as our eye is fixed on the infallible standard of truth put into our hands. And, as from this we learn that but two final states are appointed, and but two general classes of mankind. passing through life toward those states; our result should be, as an excellent writer most truly, though quaintly, expresses it, "Let the whole world be divided into two great sects, viz: Timists and Eternalists.""* I add a remark, which naturally occurs whenever laymen of eminence are seen to come forward as living evidences of the force of truth; namely, that the Almighty seems to adopt a method for vindicating his religion, and showing its identity, by raising up witnesses who cannot be suspected from their professions and circumstances. Such serve to show that vital religion is not only one holy principle common to them all; but also that such a religion is practicable in all circumstances. Avoiding the indelicacy of naming living characters, we may observe, that he will have such instances as ROCHESTER, among the peers-HALE, among the judges-GARDINER, among the colonels-BOYLE, among the philosophers-BOERHAAVE, among the physicians-BACON, among the artists, &c. &c. He will prove, in a word, that it is the heart of the irreligious, and not the lawful profession, attended with its peculiar difficulties, which refuses to bend to his counsel and authority; and that to shine forth as lights in the world from one holy flame enkindled in the heart, is to attain the highest style of man. Which leads me to speak of, II. That SUPERIORITY of SENTIMENT which belongs to true religion; and by which is meant, not only the nobler objects presented by it, but that ele* Adam's Works, Vol. I, p. 185. |