with him by prayer and an attendance on his or dinances. It is as abfurd to expect growth in knowledge and holinefs, without the means inftituted for the edifying of the body of Chrift, as it would be to expect the growth of a natural body without fupplies of food. While we attend on thefe external means, we muft look to Chrift for the supply of the Spirit; for it is the Spirit that quickeneth. It is his kindly influence, which renders divine ordinances effectual to our nourishment and increase.

As there must be a communion with the head, fo there must be an intercourfe between the feveral parts, in order to the growth of the body. The members of Chrift, who are by faith united to him, muft alfo, by mutual love be united to one another, that fpiritual nourishment may be properly diftributed. The whole body compacted by every joint of fupply, muft experience an effectual working in the measure of every part.

Chriftians are to feek, not merely their own, but the common edification. They are to comfort and encourage, to exhort and affift one another. They are to agree together in prayer and praife, in hear. ing the word, and attending on ordinances. They are, by mutual example and friendly difcourfe, to animate and ftrengthen one another. They fhould have the fame care and attention one for another, as the members of a natural body. If one member fuffer, all fhould feel for it. If one be honored, all fhould rejoice with it. Thus the body will make increase to the edifying of itself in love.

It is remarkable, and it cannot be too often noticed, that whenever the Apostle fpeaks of Chrif tian growth and edification, he points out love, peace, unity, as the main thing in which this edification must appear. "Speaking thetruth in love, grow up into Chrift."-" The body is edified in love."Study the things which make for peace, and the U a

things wherewith ye may edify one another."—"Let the body be joined together and compacted, that it make increafe." Let your love abound more and more."-" Abound in love one toward anoth er, and toward all men."

may

This is the Apostle's favorite theme.

1. We fee then, that there can be no Chriftian growth, where Chriftian love is wanting.

Love is a principal grace-the end of the commandment-the bond of perfectnefs-the diftinguishing mark of Chrift's difciples-and a mean of improvement in all other graces. It is this which unites the feveral parts of the fpiritual body, and maintains the communication between them, so that nourishment is miniftered to them all.

We

2. We are here reminded, that Chriftians are bound to feck the peace, in order to the edification of the particular church, of which they are members. Thefe the Apoftle joins together. The latter cannot take place without the former. muft guard against every thing which tends to fchifm and difunion in the body; and prevent, as far as poffible, thofe evils which would break the cohesion, or weaken the attraction, whereby its parts are held together. "Where envy and ftrife are, there is confufion and every evil work."

3. We learn from our fubject, that no pretences of perfonal edification will justify our withdrawing from the communion of a church, in fuch a manner as would hinder the edification of our brethren. We are to be joined and compacted together, and thus to make increase. We are to look at the things of others, as well as at our own. We are, indeed, to edify ourfelves; but our edification must be in love, as well as in other graces. And this love will excite us to fludy the things which make for the common edification. You think, perhaps, the word is difpenfed more to your edifica tion, or more to your tafle, in fome other place,

than in the church with which you are immediate. ly connected. It may be fo: This is no improbable fuppofition. Preachers have different gifs, and hearers have different humors. One may relish this, and another that manner of preaching, though the fame gospel is difpenfed. Still you are not to withdraw from the affembly of your brethren, if your withdrawment would difturb the peace, and obftruct the edification of the church. You are to feek, not merely your own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be faved. Your fpiritual growth depends on your union with Chrift, the head; and your communion with Chriftians, the members of the great body. Chrift can make his gospel successful, though it be delivered by one, whofe fpeech is called contemptible. You are then most likely to receive a bleffing from your Lord, when you act in that spirit of love and condefcenfion which he requires.

Paul, Apollos and Cephas, all preached the fame gofpel; but each had his own peculiar manner of preaching. Paul was a ftrong reafoner; Apollos was an eloquent orator; Peter was a warm and affectionate speaker. They all had their admirers in Corinth. One faid, I am of Paul; another, I am of Apollos; and another, I am of Peter. Paul reproved this party attachment, as an indication, that they were carnal; that they were, as children, governed more by natural humor, than by fpiritual understanding. "While one faith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal? Who is Paul, or Apollos, but minifters by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? Paul planted, and Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."

As Chriftians have been called of God to the fellowship of his Son, they fhould all fpeak the fame thing; they should be joined together in the

fame mind, and in the fame judgment; and there fhould be no divifions among them.

Since Chrift has appointed the gospel miniftry for the edification of his body, let us meekly, humbly and prayerfully attend upon it, as his inftitution, keeping in view its important end, endeavor. ing to grow thereby, and defiring to come in the unity of faith and knowledge, unto the ftature of perfect men.

Finally, beloved brethren, build yourselves up on your moft holy faith, pray in the Holy Ghoft, keep yourselves in the love of God, and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jefus Chrift, unto eternal life.

This I fay therefore and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, becaufe of the blindness of their heart, who, being paft feeling, have given themselves over to lafcivioufnefs, to work all uncleannefs with greediness.

THESE Ephefians, you will remem

ber, had lately been called out of a ftate of Heathenifm to the knowledge and profeffion of the religion of Jefus. In the verfes immediately preceding the text, the apoftle obferves to them, that God had brought them within his church, and had admitted them to the privilege of the gofpel miniftry, which was given by Jefus Chrift, at the time of his afcenfion, for the edifying of his church, till all fhould come to full maturity in religion, that they might no more be children, toffed about by the artifice of deceivers; but might be men grown up in all things to the refemblance of Chrift; and, being united to him by faith, and joined one to another by love, might derive fpiritual influence from him, and charitable affiflance from their breth