those affections and difpofitions of mind which SERM. are the immediate principles of conformity I.

to its laws: It is in this fenfe that faith is en joined as a very important and comprehenfive duty; indeed the whole of that duty which is indifpenfably neceffary to our acceptance with God and our falvation; as on the other hand, disobedience to the gospel and unbelief, in the tile of the apoftles, mean the fame thing. It follows according to this fenfe, that edification in faith, is in effect, edification in all the chriftian virtues, and all the fruits of the fpirit; in love to God and men, in meekness, patience, sobriety and righteoufnefs. Thus St. Paul explains edification, * Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies which minifter questions, rather than godly edifying, which is in faith. The character of edifying in faith, is, that it is godly, or the edification of God, as the words are ftrictly translated. God is the object and the end of it; it is the knowledge, love and fear of him, which comprehends all religion. At the fame time we fee what kind of instruction it is which has this tendency, not trifling unneceffary things, remote from the

1 Tim. i. 4.

life

I.

SERM. life of godlinefs, and points of curious fpeculation, which are the occafions and the fubjects of fierce contention, directly contrary to the true defign and genius of christianity; thefe teachers and all chriftians ought to avoid, if they would promote edification, applying themfelves principally to thofe doctrines which have a direct tendency to proinote good affections and a good life.

Thirdly, chriftian edification is in charity, as appears from the fequel of the apostle's words laft cited; for having warn'd Timothy against those curious unprofitable fpeculations which minifter contentious debate, not godly edifying, he immediately fubjoins, verfe 5, as in direct oppofition to them, Now the end of the commandment is charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good confcience, and of faith unfeigned. Plainly intimating, that as charity from these principles is the end of the gofpe!, edification in it, is godly edifying which is in faith; and in Eph. iv. 16, he exprefly fays, that the edifying of the body of Chrift, is in love. You will remember what I obferved before, that to understand this subject right, we ought to confider chriftians either as in their relation to one another and to Chrift their head, as members of the fame

body,

body, or in their private and perfonal capa- SERM. city, in both which refpects they receive edi- I fication. The former has been already explain'd, it being only fingle perfons who are the subject of knowledge, of faith and virtue ; but a general peace, that is, concord and harmony, as the refult of prevailing love, belongs to a fociety as fuch. This the apostle evidently means in feveral paffages of his epiftles on the fubject of edification, as * Edify one another, or edify your felves into one, fo that you may be one body or fociety, beautiful, and ftrong by your union. And in the 14th chapter of this epiftle, and 19th verfe Let us follow after the things that make for peace, and wherewith one may edify another, or wherewith one may be edified to others, more firmly united in the bond of mutual affectipeace.

on and

Such is the intimacy of that relation which fubfifts between chriftians, by virtue of their adherence to Christ, their common head and the center of their unity, that the fafety and profperity of every one is the fafety and profperity of the whole; and the interest of the whole, is the intereft of every part. Like the members of the natural body which have no interests separate from that of the body

1 Theff. v. 11.

SERM. body itself, and of each other; for, whether one 1. fuffers, all fuffer with it; or, if one is honoured,

all rejoice with it *. The head and feet, the hands and eyes, have a mutual fympathy, and under the direction of one principle contribute their good offices on every occafion to the whole; fo is the body of Chrift, and fo ought all the members in particular to be difpofed. As the members of the natural body discharge their several functions by a neceffity of nature, in fuch a manner (purfuant to the wife conftitution of its author) as to preferve the union, and promote the advantage of the whole, fo christians, being by one spirit baptized into one body, ought to be folicitous for the common profperity, and for the good of every one of their fellows in particular as they have opportunity. And the truth is, by doing fo, they serve themselves in the best manner, and most effectually promote their own trueft and highest interest. It is a most undoubted truth, as will appear to every one who thoroughly examines it, that virtue, which confifts in good will to other moral agents, has a neceffary connection with private happiness; which is a most fatisfying argument to induce us to the practice of it, and demonstrates

I.

Cor. xii. 26.

that

that the Author of our beings defigned us for SE RM. it. And christianity, the glory of which is,

that it is an inftitution defign'd to restore the integrity of the human nature, and raise us to the perfection of virtue, has juft taught us the fame thing in the point now before us, namely, that public and private edification are most strictly connected; that we can no way fo effectually fecure and advance our own greatest good as by a hearty benevolence, with the proper fruits of it, to our fellows, and a zealous attachment to the common intereft. Only, let us always endeavour to have just notions of the true public, and of the body of Chrift; that it comprehends all who in every place call on his name, and is not confin'd to the particular parties into which chriftians have fubdivided themselves, to their own unfpeakable disadvantage, and the difhonour of their religion. Let us follow peace with all men, and do good to them as we have opportunity: let us have a fincere regard to all the difciples of the Lord Jefus our Saviour; inftructing the ignorant, warning the unruly, comforting the feeble-minded, bearing with the infirmities of the weak; fo fulfilling the royal law of love. Thus fhall we comfort ourselves, and edify one another. I have now given you what I VOL. II.

C

take