would quickly set the world together again. Blessed peace-making grace, they who possess thee are called the children of God!

See, I pray you, if you seek peace; if you follow hard after it; if you do all that lieth in you to live peaceably. In little matters are you easy to bear and forbear; in greater have you learnt to forgive? In religious differences have you learnt to leave men to their own consciences, as you desire they should you? Do you find all angry prejudices wearing out of your hearts, and will you not be guided by them? O cultivate this blessed temper, and seek to be at peace with all those with whom you have reason to hope you may dwell together for ever in heaven.

Or are you indifferent whether you are at peace or not? Is your self-will unbroken? Cannot Cannot you bear contradiction? Must you have your own way? Will you not condescend to sue for peace, nor hardly to accept it? Are you angry, peevish, fretful, censorious? Truly there is nothing like love in you; a spirit of discord and variance hath possessed you. O that you would consider this word, "he that hateth his brother is a murderer, and we know that no murderer hath eternal life." Yet once more,

5. Love delights in the Christian fellowship of those who seek God by Jesus Christ. “I am a companion," saith David, “of all them that love thee and keep thy commandments." He loved to be with them, as at other times, so peculiarly in religious employment and acts of worship. "I was glad," said he, "when they said unto me, we will go into the house of the Lord."

66

Why so," may one say,

"might he not as well serve God elsewhere?" No; "thither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord, to testify to Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord." The apostle's charge is, that we "do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is." This was the primitive custom, when "they continued in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayer." Accordingly, "be filled with the Spirit," saith St. Paul, "speaking to yourselves, (or as it is in another place,) teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts unto the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." But now

what is it that stirs up the soul to the offices of public or private Christian fellowship; fits us for them, and makes us long after them? It is love. This draws out the desires of those that fear the Lord, to speak often one to another. This unites their hearts with their voices, when they pray to and praise God, with and for one another. This made David say, "one day in thy courts is better than a thousand; I have loved the habitation of thine house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth." To assemble without love, is to leave behind the very soul of public worship. It is no assembly of the saints without love, and all the acts of Christian fellowship, love delights in. Then the flame of devotion is communicated from one loving soul unto another; then mutual and united prayers, praises, and thanksgivings, go up to the throne of grace.

This is a joy which strangers do not meddle with ; strangers to Christian love. O how did David cry out in the experience of it, "my soul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord."

Take this along with you, therefore, that if you do not desire Christian fellowship, of whatever kind it be, you are unacquainted with Christian love.

Let this suffice now, for the exercise and influence of Christian love towards those who appear to be the children of God in Jesus Christ. When we meet next, God willing, I shall endeavour to shew you somewhat of its actings with regard to the temporal concerns of others. Meantime I conclude with two short remarks.

The first is for the use of those who have been altogether unable to apply to themselves the description given of brotherly love. I beg you to see that there is a wide difference between not hating and loving. You say you do not live in hatred—you forgive all men-you bear no malice. Hence you sit down easy, and imagine you love and are in charity. I entreat you to see your mistake. You have not been able to apply to your own case one of these branches of Christian love; yet they have been all evidently proved to you from various Scriptures. However unwilling you may be to hear, or I to speak it, it is too plain-alas, you abide in death. I have repeated the same words, "he that loveth not his brother, doth so abide in death," over and over, on purpose that you might take notice of so dreadful a state. If this word should, as I pray God it may, awaken your

fears, and convince you of your dangerous condition, you shall do well to observe,

The second remark I make to those (i. e. to all) who have found their love imperfect. You find the work of the devil not yet utterly dissolved; you are more selfish than you would be; you cannot love as you wish. Remember then what you before heard, that the Son of God was manifested to dissolve the works of the devil. Humble yourselves before him; sue earnestly for a new heart and a new spirit; that he will exert his mighty power in consuming your lusts, and transforming you more abundantly into his divine image, that loving God more entirely, you may love your brother more unfeignedly. Doubt not but he will grant your requests, who both died and liveth for you, even Jesus Christ our Lord!

Oct. 20th, 1754.

SERMON IV.

Above all these things, put on charity: Col. iii, 14.

You have had some account given you of the higher and more noble exercises of a loving heart, and do not you verily wish the grace were yours, however far you may be from it? You can take no offence, I am persuaded, at that temper of soul which is so well disposed towards you; which most kindly interests itself in your great eternal interests; which feels a tender solicitude for you; bears with, forbears towards you, prays, does any thing for you, if you are walking in darkness and sin; which rejoices over you; labours for your spiritual advancement; walks with you in all endeared friendship and godly communion, if you are treading the path of life. Thus Jesus lived; he was all compassion to sinners, he pitied, he died for them; he grieved for his enemies; his carriage to them was lowly; his patience with them never to be tired out; his endeavours, his prayers for them ceaseless, his warnings awful; his solicitations importunate; his reproofs free and weighty. All his joy was in his friends; he bore with them in all their infirmities; he ministered to them whatever might strengthen or comfort thein; he prayed for them, and finally, would have them with him where he is. Thus love carries itself to others with respect to their spiritual interests.