walls alone is our appointed refuge, and that the avenger of blood is behind us.

It cannot be denied, that in proportion as we are careless or ignorant of the privileges which belong to us as members of Christ's church, we do, in the same proportion, come short of that character, which, as members of Christ's church, we are bound to attain. The enjoyment of the means of salvation is not, of itself, salvation; the offer of eternal life does not, of necessity, involve that he to whom that offer is made shall undoubtedly be partaker of the blessing. Those servants who diligently employed the talents committed to them, found a reward and a blessing in their increase; while the talent that was laid up in a napkin became a source of deeper condemnation, and more terrible shame, to that slothful servant who despised his master's bounty. It matters not then what may be our outward privileges, if we neglect to improve them. It will be to no purpose that we profess the faith of Christ's universal church, that we partake her sacraments, and worship amid her congregation; unless we are united to the same living head, the Lord Jesus Christ, unless we are sanctified and ruled by the same Holy Spirit, and endued with that love to God and to each other, which is the bond and token of our fellowship with Christ.

With these views, I propose to examine that article of our Creed, by which we confess our

belief in the communion of saints; and to endeavour to point out and establish the doctrine which the article contains, and the important practical considerations which are deducible from it.

Having professed our belief in the Holy Catholic Church, we proceed to enumerate the privileges with which it is endowed. We believe that there exists a society of men professing the religion of Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth; agreeing together in the belief of the doctrines which he has revealed. This society is not necessarily united by civil and secular bonds, but extends through all ages and through all nations. It is a spiritual church; holy in its separation from the corrupt principles of the world; holy in its worship of the one true God, and its devotion to his service: and also universal in its extent; embracing all who, under every clime, and in every age, have kept that faith which the apostles preached. It follows, then, from this description of the church of Christ, that none can be truly members of its communion who do not accept that form of doctrine which the apostles delivered, in all the force of its obligations, its duties, its demands. None can be truly members of this church but those who not only believe the doctrines of the Christian religion, but conform their whole lives to its precepts; who not only have a holy faith, but are purified

thereby; and are daily employing their blessed privileges, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Such, in fact, are the saints: such are they who are sanctified by the Holy Spirit; not only partakers of the outward form, but of the inward grace of baptism; not only communicants of the bread and wine of the Lord's table, but of the body and blood of Christ, as the spiritual sustenance of their souls. The word saints implies holy persons; and when these are said to have communion with God, or among themselves, we are to understand that they partake of blessings dependent upon their relation to God and to each other; and that they are bound to perform the duties consequent upon their enjoyment of these blessings. For if, " For if," by Christ, we have access by one Spirit unto the Father," and thus become "no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God" it is, that " being built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, we may grow up together unto a holy temple in the Lord, an habitation of God through the Spirit."

First, then, the true members of the church of Christ, those to whom applies this description of saints, have communion with their God and their Saviour. "There is one body and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one

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God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." "Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” “If we be holy, as he is holy, then have we fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." By the mediation of Christ, the relation of the Christian to his God becomes that of a repentant and pardoned child to a merciful and loving Father. We are made partakers of great and precious promises; we are adopted as the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. God has engaged to acknowledge us as his peculiar people. They shall be to me a people, and I will be to them a God." As Abraham, through faith, was called the friend of God; so also are we partakers of his favour, as the descendants of faithful Abraham. Nay more, the apostle rejoices in the still nearer relation of a son; and contemplating that mighty love which has thus conferred upon us so high a privilege, he anticipates still loftier blessings and more exalted glories. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." When we consider by whose agency our reconciliation to God has been effected, when we contemplate the sacrifice which Christ offered for our redemption, we shall surely acknowledge

that, from him, blessings have flowed down to us in no scanty stream; we shall confess, that to abide in his doctrine is the communication of life

and peace. From him we derive all our support in the Christian life: "The life that we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God." As living branches of the true vine, we derive all our vigour from his fulness. "As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me." He took upon him our nature; he submitted to the conflict with temptation, that he might encourage us to look to him for aid against our enemies, with the confidence that he is able and willing to succour and defend us. He has passed through the valley of the shadow of death, that we might trace his footsteps in the grave, and follow in hope the path in which he trode. He has given to us "the promise of the Father," the Spirit of truth, to write his laws upon our hearts, and to place them in our minds; to sanctify, to guide, to comfort his faithful people. By him we have access to the Father through Christ; by him we are made living temples of God; by him our hearts are consecrated as an altar to Jehovah, on which we must daily offer an offering in righteousness. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of the Lord, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

Thus the Christian has communion with the