they will then know that their present opinion is right, and that their former one was wrong. Paul verily thought that he knew the truth, while he rejected the gospel; but when he really embraced the gospel, he knew that he knew the truth, and that his former opinion was a gross and dangerous error. The question among christians is not, who are probably, but who are certainly right, in their belief of the great and fundamental doctrines of the gospel? There is certainty to be obtained in these points; and all who have obtained it, know that those who differ from them in these points are certainly wrong. is true, indeed, their knowing themselves to be right, is no proof to others that they are so; but it authorizes them to say positively that all who deny the great truths which they believe, are grossly and criminally erroneous.

Accordingly, the inspired writers every where direct those who embrace the truth, and know that they embrace the truth, to avoid, to condemn, and even reject all such as hold and propagate false and dangerous opinions. "Cease, my son," says Solomon, "to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." Paul says to the Romans, "I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." He directs the Galatians to condemn and reject the perverters of the gospel. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel, which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." And before he concludes the epistle, he adds, "I would they were even cut off which trouble you." The beloved and benevolent apostle John, after all his pathetic exhortations to brotherly love, expressly forbids christians to receive, or even countenance the teachers of false doctrine. "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed; for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." In these instances, the apostles appear to follow the example of their divine Master, who solemnly warned his friends to avoid. and reject false doctrines and false teachers. Whilst he was upon earth, he said, " Beware of false prophets." "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." And since his ascension to heaven, he highly censured the churches in Asia for not censuring and rejecting those who had crept in among them, and propagated gross and fatal errors. It is therefore extremely difficult to conceive how it is

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possible for those who are united in the belief of the truth, to obey these divine directions and admonitions, without disapproving and condemning, and in some cases, totally excluding from their communion, such as openly deny the essential doctrines of Christianity.

4. If there be a propriety in God's requiring christians to be united in the belief of the truth, then there appears to be no pro'priety in attempting to unite them in affection, without uniting them in sentiment. Many seem to be much engaged to promote Christian union and harmony in this way. They warmly urge us to overlook the vast variety of religious errors in the Christian world, and to unite in affection, with all who bear the Christian name. They would have us give up the groundless hope of ever becoming united in sentiment; and to use all our efforts to bring about mutual love and peace among all the professors of Christianity. But is this either a proper, or lawful method, to ob'ain the desirable end proposed? It seems the apostle did not deem this a proper method to remove the divisions and disputes in the church of Corinth. Instead of urging them to overlook each other's errors, and agree to differ in sentiments, he exhorted them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, that then they might love as brethren, speak the same thing, and live in perfect peace. And this is the only proper way to promote brotherly love, among any, or all denominations of christians, upon a solid and permanent foundation. For the brotherly love which the gospel requires, is very different from general benevolence. We ought to feel benevolently towards all mankind, and wish well to the bitterest enemies of Christianity. But it is hard to conceive how the true believers of the gospel can exercise brotherly love, to those who appear to disbelieve and despise the precious truths upon which they found their hopes of heaven, and in the contemplation of which they expect the happiness of heaven will chiefly consist. They can no more exercise brotherly love to such as disbelieve and deny the essential doctrines of the gospel, than they can exercise brotherly love to such as deny the gospel itself. Unity of faith is the only proper basis of unity of spirit. Christians may be, and must be united in affection, so far as they are united in sentiment; but so far as they are disunited in sentiment, they are and must be disunited in affection. There is, therefore, no propriety, nor prospect of success in attempting to unite the professed friends of Christ in brotherly love, without first uniting them in the belief of the same essential doctrines of the gospel.

But supposing that the whole Christian world could be brought

to unite in affection, while they retain all their different and inconsistent opinions; it would be utterly wrong to attempt it. For, if christians should form such a coalition, it would be criminal in itself, and highly injurious to the cause of religion. They would disobey the divine injunction, to "be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." They would become an unchristian combination, to countenance and support each other in all their errors and delusions. They would, in practice, justify all the errors and delusions of deists, atheists and skeptics. And they would actually exercise that same kind of catholicism, which heretics and infidels have so long been pleading for; and by which they have done more mischief to Christianity, than by any other weapon which they have ever employed against it. Under the pretext of promoting universal toleration, they have taught multitudes and multitudes, to extend their catholicism to disbelievers, deniers and opposers of the gospel. This unlimited catholicism naturally tends to subvert the gospel, and to involve the whole world in error and infidelity. Let none, therefore, cherish this spirit and strengthen the hearts and hands of the enemies of truth, by attempting to unite christians in affection, without uniting them in the belief of the great and essential doctrines of Christianity.

It now appears from the whole tenor of this discourse, that it seriously concerns all who acknowledge the truth and divinity of the gospel, to use every proper method to become entirely united in sentiment. The apostle enjoins this duty upon the Corinthians, with peculiar solemnity and pathos: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same. mind, and in the same judgment." He addresses the Ephesians on the same subject, with equal ardor and zeal. "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called-endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." The propriety and importance of this, he proceeds to show, by observing "there is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." And he inculcates this sentimental union upon the Philippians, with still warmer and tenderer feelings. "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." If these divine precepts ever bound christians, they bind them still. If christians were

ever able to obey these divine precepts, they are still able to obey them. And if christians were ever under obligation, they are still under obligation, to use every proper method to become united in their religious sentiments.

For this purpose, therefore, let them freely examine the various points in which they mutually differ. This is, undoubtedly, too much neglected on all sides, through indolence or aversion. One side are very apt to imagine that those who differ from them, have no scripture nor reason on their side, but are altogether governed by an improper spirit, in forming their opinions upon religious subjects. But if they would freely examine each other's peculiar sentiments, they would probably find that those who differ from them, have sometimes been as laborious, impartial and judicious, in searching after truth, as they have been; and have approached nearer to it in some points than they have done. There is no ground to suppose that any one denomination of christians, nor any individuals in any one denomination, have engrossed all truth, and renounced all error. If christians in general, therefore, would more freely examine each other's sentiments, they would think much more nearly alike upon disputed subjects.

It would have the same happy tendency, if they would examine the points of difference between them, candidly, as well as freely. Candor would dispose every one to lay aside prejudice and partiality, and make him willing to discover whatever is erroneous in his own sentiments, and whatever is true in the opinions of others. It is much more owing to a deficiency in candor, than to a deficiency in discernment, that so many disputes arise, and remain unsettled among the various denominations of christians. If they would put on candor, it would cure them of bigotry, and open the eyes of their understanding, to discover truth and error wherever they exist. And they must imbibe this amiable and conciliating spirit, before they can have the least ground to expect that they shall approach any nearer to the unity of the faith.

But the most direct and effectual method they can possibly take to become united in sentiment, is practically to acknowledge the word of God to be the only infallible standard of truth and error. It is one thing to acknowledge the infallibility of scripture in theory, and another to acknowledge it in practice. If we practically acknowledge this sacred guide, it will restrain us from paying a blind and partial deference to any human authority in matters of faith. There is no man, perhaps, who is not liable, in some cases, to swerve from the scriptures of truth, through fear of offending, or through desire of pleasing those whom he esteems wiser and better than himself. This

danger our Saviour foresaw, and forewarned his followers to guard against. "Call no man your father upon the earth." They must strictly regard this caution, if they would become united in their religious opinions. And if they do regard it, they will naturally meet upon the same ground, and adopt the same sentiments. The Bible is a magnet, which will necessarily draw all men to the same point, if they will only yield to its attractive influence. Let them only think, and speak, and walk, by the same rule, and they will become perfectly united in sentiment and practice, without the least condescension to each other.

There are various considerations, which urge christians to pursue these plain and easy methods of cultivating such a sentimental union among themselves. It will directly tend to unite them in affection. We find that those who agree in their speculations upon any art, or science, commonly feel a mutual attachment, arising from their concurrence in opinion. And a unity of faith never fails to produce a mutual esteem and affection among christians. Though some profess an unlimited catholicism, yet they, as well as others, appear to be the most intimately and affectionately united with those with whom they are best united in sentiment. Universal observation and experience, in this case, speak louder than words; and compel us to believe that mutual affection will naturally flow from mutual agreement in opinion. Let christians be of one mind, and they will be of one heart. Let them think alike and speak alike, and they will lay aside their prejudice, their discord, their alienation of affection, and become in reality a band of brothers. This is confirmed by the sure word of prophecy, which predicts the future peace and harmony of the church, as resulting from the knowledge of the truth. "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." "The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound." "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth. Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice, with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion."

In the mean time, by uniting in sentiment, christians will not only prepare themselves for the latter day glory of the church, but remove one of the strongest prejudices of unbelievers against the Bible. They make a very ill use of that diversity of opinions which they discover among the professed friends of