comment and debate upon that truth, and to shape outdoctrines and opinions for themselves, each after the dictates of his own judgment, or the conceptions of his own fancy; all which they might have done with, out the dread of civil restriction for at that time the uniformity of Christian faith and worship was not enforced by penal laws. But such an extent of liberty was not warranted by the Gospel; and had these men enforced the claim as it is urged in our days, they would not have been acknowledged as true converts. The apostles admitted of no such latitude. On the contrary, we hear St. Paul, the prisoner of the Lord, beseeching the Ephesians, that they walk worthy of their vocation, wherewith they are called, with all lowliness and meekness, and long suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit, in the bond of peace.For as the apostle proceeds, there is one body-one visible church

A

and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord, ONE FAITH, one baptism. (Eph. iv. 14-5.) JA

Wherefore, as it follows Christ gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,

evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers, For what purpose were they given? was it for the founding of various sects and deno minations? No! They were given for the perfecting of the saints; for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till ye all come, IN THE UNITY!!ÓF THE! FAITH,✨and of the knowledge of the Son of God, UNTO A Perfect MA'N unto one undivided church-unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Was the church, after this, to separate into different parties and denominations? Bynd means.The divine purpose, in giving this organised ministry, is expressly stated to be That we, henceforth, be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, where by they lie in wait to deceive. This latter clause has a reference to certain teachers, who are not acknowledged as apostolicals whose great principle is not unity, but separation who, instead of holding fast the one faith, teach a variety of doctrines, shifting about as the inconstant winds, and, instead of edifying the saints in simplicity and god

ly sincerity, with

wait to deceive.

cunning craftiness, lie in The words are St. Paul's.

They are descriptive, but I need not apply them.men Mala so u jilgiva

This whole passage sets before us, in the apostolical church, a due order, and just grau dation of the ministry: some of them, indeed! extraordinary, and only stationed for a time, till a certain end should have been obtain ed, such as apostles, prophets, and evangelists; and others, permanent, and conti-. nual, such as pastors and teachers, but all of them given by Christ, or invested with their several offices according to his declared and express appointinent; and all directing their labours to the attainment of one great end the edifying of the church, into one perfect and undivided body, united in the acknowledgement of one immutable Faith and all appointed, likewise, for the express purpose of guarding this church, against those various winds of doctrine those seeds of error and division, which con ceited and unauthorised teachers were already furnished with, and waiting an oppor tunity to scatter amongst the brethren.

And the frustration of these deceivers was

a charge of no trifling moment: for the unity and purity of the faiththe groundwork of all true Christianity are matters of such weight, that their absolute necessity is inculcated throughout the apostolical writings. Thus St. Paul charges the Philippians, that they stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel. (Phil. i. 27.)

And St. Jude declares-It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the faith once, delivered to the saints. v. S. ONCE DE LIVERED! for the faith is one, and it is deli vered from heaven. It is no human speculation, to be remodelled by the private judgment of individuals, and accommodated to the progress of science, the state of society, or disposition of the times.

And, that there might be no room for doubt or hesitation as to the nature of that faith, which was uniformly and indispensably required in the members of Christ's church,,, our Lord himself declares its great and leading articles, when, just before his ascension, he commands his apostles to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing

them in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. The faith, therefore, in which all these disciples werk to be baptized, included a belief in the three persons of the ever-blessed Trinity! And the profession of this faith was required, pres vious to baptism, of every adult convertǝtą the apostolical church, whether from Judaism or Heathenism. And when!' during the period of infancy; the children of Christ tians were received by baptism into the con gregation, the profession of the same faith was demanded, in their name, of those who made themselves responsible for their religi ous education.

Our Lord also taught his apostles, that himself and the Father are one, insomuch that all men should honour the Son, even AS they honour the Father. (John, v. 28.) We learn, moreover, that the Holy Ghost is the spirit of the Father, and the spirit of Christ ; and, therefore, that the three persons of the Godhead are essentially one till

This is the faith which was received in the one body of the apostolical church; and the church maintained it, because it was revealed in the word of God, and because

K