proceeds in the three laft to lay down fome SER M. practical Rules for the conduct of their XVI. lives. To which purpose, he begins with exhorting them to chriftian charity and concord. A very proper inference, from the juft fenfe and opinion they had of that liberty wherewith Chrift had made them free. I therefore, the prifoner of the Lord, fays he, befeech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowlinefs and meekness, with long-fuffering, forbearing one another in love. And what are the proper Expreffions of that love he goes on to teach in the text; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Which words I defign to speak to in the following method. I. I will explain the nature of the duty II. I will fpeak of those motives and I. FIRST then I would explain the nature of the duty here recommended; namely, that of keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; which may be understood to imply in it these three things, viz. 1. Ortho Bba SERM. 1. Orthodoxy of belief, or unanimity in XVI. point of Doctrine. 2. Decency of worship, or uniformity in point of discipline. 3. Mutual charity, or a peaceable union and concord of affections. 1. First then, the first thing contained in this duty, is orthodoxy of belief, or unanimity in point of doctrine. By which it is abfurd and unreasonable to suppose there fhould be meant fuch a perfect harmony and agreement in our notions of things, as admits of no variety or difference of opinion. Christianity, however it may fubdue our brutish appetites, ftill leaves us men. And as long as we are fubject to various prejudices and infirmities, which darken our reafon and perplex our judgment, there must be such a thing as error in the world; and there will be fome Perfons mistaken, as well as others in the right. The unanimity then which is required of us, confifts not in a mutual confent and harmony in every matter of speculation, but in the firm belief of the feveral Articles or branches of the chriftian faith. This is that vocation wherewith we are called, of which St. Paul advised his Ephefians to walk worthy. In order to this, as the mind of man naturally clofes in with the conviction of truth, it is our firft bufinefs to inform ourfelves of the great certainty of Religion, and and what grounds we have to build ourSER M. faith upon. To this purpose, no human XVI. schemes of faith or religion are fufficient. For, all men being fallible and subject to mistake, especially in matters of this tranfcendent nature; their authority, though it may influence, is too weak to over-rule our judgment, or command the fubmiffion of our understanding to their own. So that it is neceffary, fome certain and unerring rule fhould be laid down for our direction; which can be done by none but God, whofe infinite Perfections place him beyond all poffibility of error himself, as well as all purpose of deceiving us. All then that Reason has to do in this cafe, is duly to confider and obferve that Rule, and to fatisfy itself it was God who gave it. When this is done, our Reafon must rea-> dily concur, and acquiefce and humbly fubmit to the infallibility of God, making no farther doubt but this divine rule is a fufficient direction of our faith. I make no queftion you are before-hand with me in applying this to fcripture. But then it ought to be remembered, that we are not to look upon every thing contained there as an effential branch of Chriftian unity. For, though all parts of scripture are equally true, yet they are not all equally neceffary. And therefore, although when once a man is convinced Bb 3 that SERM. that fuch or fuch a thing is certainly conXVI. tained in fcripture, he may no longer doubt the truth of it, because this would be to question the truth and authority of God; yet there are many things contained in fcripture, which a man not knowing, or believing them to be fo, may fecurely doubt of, or deny. Even Daniel himself understood not fome part of that prophecy which he has committed to writing, but was difmiffed with a go thy way, Daniel, for the words are clofed up and fealed till the time of the end *. And then fure it could be no fault in him, not to believe or expect those events which he could not understand to be foretold. There are again many things related only occafionally, and upon the account of fomething else, which being no matters of faith, are not neceffary themselves to be exactly known, and therefore are not fo clearly laid down in all their circumftances as to be beyond difpute; or, if they fhould be fo clear as to render all difputes needlefs, yet are they not of fuch importance as to make them criminal. It is for instance, hardly to be doubted, but that the several Paffovers occurring in the time of our Saviour's ministry, i. e. from his Baptifm to his Crucifixion, are pointed out in fcripture. And yet what was their exact * Dan. xii. 8, 9. number, number, whether there were five of them, SERM. or only four, has been warmly difputed XVI. among learned men, and may continue to be fo without breach of faith. For, though this be indeed a matter of criticism, and may have its use in chronology, yet furely it is no neceffary point of Religion; it does not immediately touch any Article of Faith, or any Duty of Morality. And therefore though they cannot all be right, yet they may all be innocent, and firmly retain that orthodoxy of belief, that unanimity in point of Doctrine, which is required of a chriftian. For, all points neceffary to be believed, are fo clearly laid down in fcripture, or by fuch neceffary and apparent confequences deducible from thence, that it seems hardly poffible, any one who seriously and impartially fearches after Truth, fhould not perceive them. And for the greater benefit of vulgar capacities, it has been usual in the church, to collect them into short stated Creeds and Confeffions of Faith. These things we are bound at our peril to believe. Hence we are exhorted to hold fast the form of found words which we have heard *, and to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints . And hence again, we find our Apostle delivering over unto Satan them that |