city between man and man, would render them tontemptible, or infamous, or both.

Thefe two particulars have often brought reproach upon the church of Scotland, to which it is very difficult to make a proper reply. Would to God the occafion given for it were wholly taken away. In the mean time, every one who has a juft regard to the glory of God, or the fuccefs of his own work, will endeavour to maintain fuch an uniformity of character, as will bear that examination, to which it ought in justice, and muft of neceffity be expofed.

In the last place, I must beg leave to speak a few words to the people in general, on the fubject of this difcourfe. You may learn, my brethren, from the preceding difcourfe, by what rule you ought to judge, in all religious controverfies, where a determination is neceffary. Try all principles by their effects, and every perfon's pretences by his conduct. Examine, as far as you have proper evidence, who have real and vital religion moft at heart, and what means do effectually promote it. Believe not every profeffion, but fee which is moft confiftent in all its parts. Have patience, in difficult cafes, till the tree have time to bring its fruits to maturity. Time will often write a clear and legible character, on what was very dark and dubious at

firft.

It is probable fome will be ready to say, there is no fmall doubtfulness in this rule itfelf. There may be found good men of many different parties, how then fhall we judge between them? I answer, wherever there is true religion, these perfons are to be confidered as the fervants of God, and his grace in them is to be confeffed without reluctance, and adored with thankfulnefs. There will, nevertheless, be ftill fufficient means to distinguish between one profeffion and another, which hath the greatest influence in making men truly good. There may be, here and there, a good man under very great difadvantages. This may ferve to keep us from a bigotted narrownefs of mind, and uncharitable condemnation of others. But it will never occafion, in any prudent person, a departure from thefe principles, and that dispensation of ordinances, which he fees to be beft for building him up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto falvation. The truth is, one great defign of this difcourfe was to teach men to diftinguish between the upright and the worthless of all fects. Turn your zeal from parties to perfons. Do not reproach or oppofe men merely because they are of this or the other perfuafion. But, wherever there is a wicked or a worldly man in the office of a minifter, avoid the wolf in fheep's cloathing for your own fake, and, if poffible, drag off his dif

What

guife, that others may not be his prey. doth it fignify what party a man is of, if the foundations are destroyed, and truth and holiness, thefe infeparable companions, are trampled under foot. When fhall the time come, when the fincere lovers of Chrift of every denomination, fhall join together in oppofition to his open enemies and treacherous friends. There is a wonderful, though a natural union, among all worldly men, against the fpirit and power of true religion wherever it appears. I am forry to add, that this is one of the inftances in which the children of this world are wifer in their generation than the children of light. Many will not meet together on earth for the worship of God, who fhall have but one temple at last, where all from the east and from the weft, from the north and from the fouth, fhall meet, and join in their Creator and Redeemer's praife. The terms of admiffion into, and of exclufion from this happy dwelling, are recorded in the following remarkable terms, with which I fhall conclude this discourse, as indeed they are the fum of all that has been faid in it," And there fhall in no wife enter "into it, any thing that defileth, neither what"foever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's "book of life *."

* Rev. xxi. 27.

I 5

The

The CHARGE of SEDITION and FACTION against good MEN, efpecially faithful MrNISTERS, confidered and accounted for.

At the Ordination of Mr. ARCHIBALD DAVIDSON, as one of the Minifters of that Church.

To which is fubjoined,

The CHARGE to the MINISTER, and the EXHORTATION to the PEOPLE,

Published at the Defire of thofe who heard it.