Unity, therefore, was defigned to be an effential characteristic of the church of CHRIST; the members of which were to be confidered as conftituting one body, animated by one fpirit, imparted to them by their regular communication with one head, JESUS CHRIST. Agreeably to which idea, the Apostle addreffes himself to his Ephefian converts: "I befeech you (fays he) that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called; with all lowliness and meekness, with long-fuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." As a reason for their fo doing, the Apostle proceeds to remind them, that "there is one body; and one spirit; one hope of their calling; one LORD, one faith, one baptifm, one GOD and FATHER of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all." Ephefians iv. 1, &c.

We have here a picture of the Christian church in its perfect ftate; in which, in conformity to CHRIST's inftitution, it ought at all times to be found: a fociety joined together by the bond of charity, in the profeffion of the fame faith; into. which the members of it are admitted by one and the fame baptifm; in confequence of which they become partakers of that fpirit, which is derived to

them from their union with one head, JESUS CHRIST; and are fupported by the lively hope, that where that Head of the body is, there, in the fulness of time, shall the members of it be also.

If the church, as it is now circumstanced in the world, bear little refemblance to this primitive pattern, it must be in confequence of men either having formed mistaken notions with refpect to the nature of it, or deviated from the plan upon which it was originally established. In either cafe, they are deceiving themselves. For as the church is but one, and the promises of God are maade only to that church; man's covenanted title to those promises must depend upon his being a member of it; upon the fame principle that thofe perfons only who have been admitted members of a fociety, have any claim to the privileges of it.

Hence it becomes a matter of importance with every man, to be fatisfied whether he really is a member of the church of Chrift; for fhould he not be fuch, the fincerity of his profeffion will not fupply the deficiency of those privileges and bleffings, of which in that cafe he may not be in a situation to partake.

F

The Lord, we read, Acts ii. 47. at the first opening of the Apoftolic commiffion," added daily to the church fuch as should be faved." From whence we understand, that admiffion into the church is no indifferent thing, but a privilege of an important kind. Let men reason, therefore, as they please upon this fubject, the counsel of GOD ftill ftandeth fure. "Many," fays SOLOMON," are the devices of a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand." Prov. xix. 21. According to the general tenour of Scripture, from which alone any fafe it appears, conclufion can be drawn in this matter, that the only appointed road to heaven lies through the church of CHRIST upon earth. For the church is the spouse of CHRIST, whose office it is to bring forth children unto God. And it is from the arms of this spiritual mother, that all the legitimate children

of the Father are received. In conformity with which idea was the language of St. AUGUSTINE; where, he fays," He cannot have GOD for his Father, who hath not the Church for his Mother."

Was this well confidered, it might be supposed, that where an event of fuch importance is at stake, no wife man would venture to make experiments.

To enable the reader to form fome correct judg mént upon this matter, it is my defign to lay before him some plain thoughts on the following important heads:-ift, On the nature, defign, and conftitution of the Christian church. 2dly, On the fin of schism, or a wilful feparation from it. 3dly, On the reasons commonly advanced to justify that separation. And 4thly, On the advantages attendant upon a confcientious communion with the church; together with the disadvantages confequent upon a feparation from it. In difcourfing upon these fubjects, the object is, to enter into them, so far only as may be deemed fufficient for the information of the parties to whom they are immediately addrefled.

"The lips of the priest (we are told) should retain knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the meffenger of the LORD of Hofts." -Mal. ii. 7. Every Christian therefore, before he separates from the church, instead of being governed by his own imagination, or that of fome fellowChristian, not better informed perhaps than himself upon the fubject, fhould give himself an opportunity of knowing from the perfon, whofe office it is to inform him, whether the reasons advanced for his quitting the communion of the church are stronger

12

INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE.

than those which are to be produced for his continuing in it. Whoever determines upon a separation from the church, without having made this previous enquiry, cannot be faid to do justice, either to himself or to his minifter, and must be anfwerable for the confequence of his neglect.