I.

SERM. functions, concur to the promoting of their own nourishment, and the ftrengthening of the whole, From whom (fefus Chrift) the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint Jupplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh encrease of the body to the edifying itself in love.

Another difference arifing from the diverfity of the fubjects in their nature and condition, is this, that whereas edification, in the literal fenfe, means only the relation of the parts as fuch, or, as they conftitute one whole, o that it cannot be faid, properly, that the ftones and timber are, but the house, which is an aggregate of them, is built; in the spiritual fenfe, it belongs to every particular part, or member. And thus in the Apoftle's use of the word, every fingle perfon receives edification; as well as the whole fociety, as you will foon fee more fully; for,

Upon the grounds already laid down, we may apprehend the point before us after this manner. The foundation being the doctrine of the gofpel, which is a doctrine according to godliness, the fubject being men, intelligent and moral, but imperfect agents;

and

Eph. iv. 16.

and the intention being to reform them, and SERM, at laft bring them to the perfection of righteouf- I. nefs, holiness and charity; their edification muft, confequently, be in knowledge and virtue, and in mutual good-will and peace. Accordingly, these are the very things in which St. Paul himself explains it.

First, edification fignifies an increase of true, ufeful, religious knowledge; fo it is ufed in feveral paffages of the 14th chapter of the ift epistle to the Corinthians, where several diforders in the public miniftrations are corrected, and a decent manner of performing them is recommended, fo that they may be profitable and edifying, that is, inftructive. verfe 3. He that prophefieth, speaketh unto men to edification. In the 4th and 5th verses, he that prophefieth, edifieth the Church ; and, greater is he that prophefieth, than he that Speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the Church may receive edifying. In the 12th, forafmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, feek that ye may excell to the edifying of the church. In the 17th, thou verily giveft thanks well (in an unknown tongue) but the other is not edified. And at the 26th, whereas there was an emulation among them, every one striving for precedency in the exer

cife

SERM. cife of his gifts, which made their affemblies confufed and tumultuous; Every one, fays he, of you, when you come together, hath a pfalm, bath a doctrine, bath a tongue,bath a revelation, hath an interpretation; the apoftle gives them this caution, let all things be done to edifying. In all which places, it is very evident, that edification fignifies inftruction, or improving men in knowledge. And, indeed it is evident in the nature of the thing, that this is the foundation upon which we must grow in every good, moral, or religious quality, which to their very being require understanding, and ftill encrease in proportion to it. Not but that knowledge may be feparated from virtue, in fact it is often fo, and men detain the truth in unrighteoufness, trefpaffing against the light and conviction of their own minds, which makes the worst of characters; particularly, according to the doctrine of the new teftament, knowledge without good dif pofitions and a good practice is unprofitable, and an increase of it far from edification in the chriftian fenfe; for, fays the apoftle, * Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edificth. And, if any man think that he knoweth any thing, be knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know;

1 Cor. viii. 1, 2.

that

that is, if he be conceited of his knowledge SERM. in the chriftian religion, as a reputable ac- I. complishment, confidering it only as a science, or fpeculation, he has not yet attained to any right understanding of it, fo as to answer its true intention. Yet ftill knowledge is neceffary, and without it we can make no progrefs in religion; for as by the vanity of their thoughts darkening their understanding, the Gentiles were alienated from the life of God, fo it is by revealing the father to men, giving them just notions of God and of their duty, that our Saviour reforms them; they are renewed in their minds, after the divine Image, first in knowledge, and thereby in righteoufrefs and true holiness; and it is by the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, that the whole body of his fincere difciples grow up to a perfect man, to the measure of the ftature of the fulness of Chrift.

Secondly, we must be built up, and build up ourselves in our moft holy faith, according to St. Jude's direction, in the 20th verfe of his epiftle; whether that expreffion means the divine fyftem of chriftianity, as the faith fignifies in the 3d verfe of the fame epifile, or the principle of faith in us, it amounts to the fame thing for the doctrine of the gof

pcl

SERM. pel can have no effect on us to form our temI pers and converfation, which is its proper

end, unless it be believed. Taking faith in the first and most obvious fenfe, for an affent of the mind to truth, it can, no more than knowledge, be profitable, without good affections; and therefore St. James, in the 2d chapter of his epiftle, very juftly expofes the folly of those who truft to fuch an infufficient and dead faith, as he calls it; it is no better than the devil's believing, which only produces a confounding dread and horror. Yet ftill even an affent to the truths of the gospel is abfolutely neceffary; and we fhould endeavour to be more firmly rooted and grounded in it, that it may produce good fruits, and we may encrease in every good work. To this end, as all that by the frame of our nature we are capable of, is a diligent impartial examination of the evidence of truth, it is all that God requires; and the more we confider with upright hearts the grounds of the great chriftian verity, and Search the fcriptures, the more we shall be fatisfied concerning it. But faith seems, at leaft very often, in the New Testament, to fignify, not barely an affent, but indeed obedience to the gospel, and to comprehend all

thofe