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and all the felicity experienced by them, in contemplating the divine perfections, displayed in the works of creation and providence, and still more abundantly in the holy scriptures, in the law and gospel; but above all, in the revelation of the mediatorial system. The contemplation of these divine objects, thus manifested, is an unfailing source of holy enjoyment and Christian consolation, ever satisfying, ever

new.

bundant participation with each other in the Holy Ghost, that unfailing source of all holy affections and enjoyments. The discerning and attentive reader, will expand the thought here suggested, to all Christians, whom he conceives to exist, at present, whether in this world or the world of Spirits, and to all those whom he contemplates as about to exist in future, in the blessed millennium and throughout all duration, together with all holy creatures of the angelic orders; and he will enjoy the

all pass in review, he will partake in the happiness of each individual, and in the reciprocation of that happiness, through all that blessed society of saints and angels..

We proceed to observe, that as all holy affections are connected with the love of our neigh-happifying prospect. As these bor, it hence follows, that Christians are prepared and disposed to rejoice in the good of others. From their own experience of the felicity resulting from the exercise of holy affections, terminating on their proper objects, and from their belief that other Christians possess the same good, they participate in their holy enjoyments, as far as they come into view, even as if they were their own. Hence, the holy enjoyment of each one is much increased by the view and contemplation of the felicity of his fellow Christians, in the enjoyment of the same good within the thought of communion himself.

Let it be further observed, with the deepest reverence, humility and gratitude, that this train of thought presents to our view and explains the great scripture doctrine of the communion of Christians with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, in the Holy Ghost. Such sinners as we are would be inexcuseable in the highest degree,

with God, had we not his own word to assure us that, in the mediatorial plan, even this wonder is effected, so that " God, in very deed will condescend to dwell and commune with men on the earth.”

Again, the truly good man, who enjoys the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, sanctifying his affections, and is also happy in contemplating the felicity of his fellow Christians, in the same enjoyment with himself, feels a Hence, in addition to many distinct satisfaction in contem-scripture passages, of like implating that felicity which he considers them as enjoying in the knowledge of his felicity and of that of each other, resulting from like benevolent perceptions. Thus Christians have a

plication, we have the following
words of the holy apostle :-
"That which we have seen and
heard declare we unto you, that
ye may have fellowship with us,
and truly our fellowship is with

the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."*

will to men in the holy trinity, in the mediatorial system; or it may rather mean the boundless love of the Father, personally viewed, in the gift of his Son for the redemption of sinners.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, in this text, evidently de

In the light of this, and similar divine declarations, we are led to contemplate the unity of the Godhead in the three divine Ones, which scripture representations lead us to call persons. A triune Deity; in whom each divine person is equal-notes his divine, free, and boundly possessed of "the fulness less mercy to sinners, expressed of God." So that the one living in his sufferings and death for and true God, enjoys infinitely their redemption, or displayed perfect and independent com- in his whole mediatorial undermunion, in himself. taking and work. However viewThe Father and Son have ed, the communion of the Holy communion in the Holy Ghost, Ghost, is the result and issue of with each other, and with all ho- the love of God and the grace ly intelligent creatures, in heav- of Christ, and it involves the en and earth. The Holy Ghost whole of that infinite good which is the infinitely perfect and bles- comes to the saved from among sed centre of union and com-men, through the mediatorial munion to the Father and the plan, and shows that, in design Son, with each other, and with and execution, it is the united all saints and angels. work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and that" these three are one," in nature and in all divine attributes, designs and works.

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From the preceding view of this subject, we may infer the following truths, viz.

This leads our thoughts back to the sacred passage with which this dissertation was introduced. It is the apostolic benediction to the Corinthian church, to whom he was writing, in which he commends them to the love of God, the grace of Christ, and 1. Professing Christians have the communion of the Holy sensible or visible communion Ghost. The import of this com- with each other; or those who munion, as to the object of en- profess and appear to be Chrisjoyment, has been already ex- tians have visible fellowship plained. The holy and vener- in Christian society, in prayable name of God may be un-er, and in all the institutions of derstood as standing in this social religion and worship, esplace, for the triune Deity; or pecially in the Lord's supper. it may be used to denote the We speak not of the means by person of the Father, whom we which they are enabled to make find in holy scripture, represent- this favorable judgment of each ed as acting in the character of other. Admitting that they esGod, in the affair of our redemp-teem each other as such, they tion. And accordingly, the love have visible communion in prayof God will mean, either the er, the Lord's supper, and other united counsel of divine good-institutions of social religion.— This constitutes what is called the communion of saints. This

* 1 John i. 3.

communion respects only those Christians who are united in the truth, and so far as they are united; Christians, however, of different and opposite opinions on some of the less important branches of Christianity, may have both real and visible communion together, in those things in which they are agreed.

They ought to hold visible fellowship in the institutions of social religion in general, in prayer, in especial ordinances, and in mutual assistance, in all cases of need when divine providence may give opportunity and call, to the practice.

for the office of the gospel min-
istry, specified in holy scripture,
and are in regular standing as
officers in the Christian church.

The communion of gospel
ministers consists in mutual ad-
vice, encouragement, or warn-
ing, as the case requires; assist-
ance in their official duties, and
joint ministerial labors, for the
order and benefit of the church-

3. Ministerial communion, is, in some respects, different from Thus it appears that as the re- either of these. It, indeed, imal communion of Christians, in plies mutual esteem of each the one Holy Spirit, implies the other, between the ministers of existence of that Spirit and their Christ, as his disciples and folCommunion with the Father and lowers, and that they are in rethe Son in the Holy Ghost, im- gular standing in the Christian plies the existence of the Fa-church; and it furthermore, imther and the Son, or the truth plies that they are viewed as of the great doctrine of the di-possessed of the qualifications vine Trinity in unity; even so the visible communion of Christians with the Father and the Son in the Holy Ghost, implies the joint belief of this divine truth. Hence, visible communion of professing Christians, implies a mutual esteem of each other as sound in the faith, so far as is essential to their Christian character. It also follows, that Christians, disagreeing ines, and the advance of the glory some things, not destroying their of God and the salvation of men, mutual evidence in favor of in the promotion of the Christian each other as Christians, may religion, in connection with the and ought to hold visible com- expressions of fellowship which munion with each other in those are common to the practice of things in which they are agreed. Christians with each other. In It is equally manifest that all all these cases of communion attempts for visible communion between private Christians, churbeyond the bounds of their a- ches and ministers of the word; greement are improper, absurd, it must be carefully rememberand vain. ed that no attempt should be made to extend their visible fellowship beyond the bounds of their agreement in the truth, and their real communion.

2. The communion of churches, consists in their visible and professed agreement in the faith and order of the gospel; consequently it may and ought to be as extensive as that agreement, and the agreeableness of their respective walk to the rules of the gospel.

CONCLUSION.

We close this dissertation with the following observations.

1. All Christians ought to love as brethren, and hold com

munion with each other in all | this spirit of Paul possessed all branches of social religion in the leaders and members of the Christian Church!

which they are agreed. This observation equally applies to private Christians, to churches, and to ministers of the word; and is the manifest result of the preceding discourse.

Let professing Christians learn to "bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.".

Let none suspect, by what is here observed, that there is a Such is the imperfection of design to favor or encourage that the present state of good men fatal indifference in religion, in knowledge and piety, that which teaches that it is no matmore or less error in the less ter what men believe, if their essential branches of Christiani- lives are but good. Far from ty, is to be expected; and as this-there are certain truths of many circumstances concur to the Christian religion in which lead them into different errors all Christians of common capaand mistakes, their conceptions, city and opportunity are, in fact, on these things, will, of course, agreed; and a denial of these, be different and opposite. They in common circumstances, renought, therefore, with great can-ders a person's profession of dor and much humility and bro-Christianity very suspicious, and therly love, to receive each other destroys the visibility of his in the spirit of the gospel.

Christianity. Therefore, in what has been observed, we have no respect to such, but speak of those only, who are agreed in the essentials of Christianity, and exhibit proper evidence of their love of the truth, as it is in Jesus, though differing in less matters.

I add, what is very obvious, that in many cases, though not in all, Christians are divided from each other, not on the essentials of religion, but on mat

In the primitive age of Christianity, the Jewish and Gentile converts had great disputes on many things respecting the ceremonial institutions of the Mo saic ritual; the former believed them to be obligatory on Christians, and the latter not, and the danger of division on this occasion was not small. The apostle therefore addressed them in the following manner: "Him who is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputa-ters of comparatively small motions; for one believeth that he may eat all things, another who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him who eateth, despise him who eateth not, and let not him who eateth not, judge him who eateth, for God hath received him ;"* with much more to the same purpose, inculcating the spirit of peace and mutual condescension. How much for the benefit of Christianity had

*Rom. xiv. 1, 2, 3. VOL. VI. No. 1.

ment, and are really better united in things of importance than they themselves imagine.

These things ought not to be. Let those who are united in the belief and love of the truth, as it is in Jesus, be united in the visible expressions of that union, by the communion of saints, and edify one another, and let not visible communion be extended to those who do not apparently believe and love the truth.These observations apply with D

equal force and propriety to the with each other, with the holy communion of private Christians, angels, and with the ever blessed, of churches, and of ministers of the triune Deity. How widely the word. distinguished from all other re2. The subject cannot be dis-ligions among men, and how amissed without reminding the bundantly evident, that this is reader that it teaches the unri- divine, as it is excellent in itself, valled excellence of the Chris-worthy of God, and adapted to tian religion, generally, but es- the best, the whole interest of pecially in this respect, viz. That men! How precious and gloriît is adapted to form a perfect ous is that divine Saviour who and happy society, on the basis has founded this religion in the of mutual, kind affection. sufferings of the cross! How glorious is that Holy Spirit in whom the redeemed are united! What love of the Father of mercies, which devised and gave this plan of redemption! Let sa ints and angels lie for ever low, in adoring praise to the triune Deity, for the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Holy Ghost.

Let perishing sinners of this mortal race on earth, look from their depths of human guilt and misery, and behold the sceptre

Christianity teaches that true religion consists in the love of God and our neighbor; or, which | is the same, in union of heart to the general good; that by being born and led by the Spirit, or by communion in him, good men are inspired with that noble and disinterested affection; ofcourse, they all desire and possess the same good, and the more this is enjoyed by one, is the happiness of others promoted-for the good of one is the good of all, which good is the glory of God and the perfection of his king-of mercy extended from heaven, dom, as distinguished from eve- that sinners may touch it and ry private good. Hence all the live for ever; and be lost in the members of this holy society are fathomless abyss, the height and united in one, not only with each depth, the length and breadth, other, but with the ever blessed of the love of God, which passGod, agreeably to the prayer of eth knowledge; and the writer our Lord Jesus Christ. "That and the reader join with one accord, in the new song to him who loved them and washed them from their sins in his own blood.

they all may be one, as thou Father art in me and I in thee, that they may be one in us.”* And the perfection and blessedness of the redeemed church consists in the fellowship of all its members in the Holy Ghost, with each other, and with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.†

Such is the peculiar excellence of the Christian religion, it unites in one all the redeemed; they have one common good

* John xvii. 21. † 1 John i. 3.

The Lord's Supper. A plain, practical explanation of an important passage in Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians, chap. xi. 27-32.

"WHEREFORE, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body

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