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Persons governed by such a spirit cannot view with complacency the separate divisions of the universal church, though there is nothing in their constitution that necessarily militates against the unity of the spirit, and the bond of peace. This unlovely bigotry narrows the range of the intellect perverts and contracts the best affections-and, under its influence, even good men forget the charities of their renewed nature, and sometimes prostitute their talents to bear false witness against each other.'

To this bigotry, that religion, whose very essence is love, is directly opposed. Christians who imbibe the spirit of the New Testament, and who suffer that holy book to operate with full force upon their minds, are distinguished by a noble freedom from sectarian antipathies. They can say from the heart, Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. With out verging to the extreme of latitudinarian indifference, they can rejoice in the success of parties different from their own; and they do not complain because devils are cast out by those who follow not with them. Every man is a friend and a brother who consecrates his being to the glory of the Saviour, and every society a church in whose temple Jesus evidently records his name.'

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Mr. Ingleby. "There is a grandeur of sentiment, and a magic charm of feeling associated with the pure and heavenly spirit of the Gospel, which as far surpasses the highest attainments of sectarian bigotry, as the wisdom which the Supreme Being has displayed in the constitution and arrangements of nature, exceeds human skill. When animated by this spirit, the soul of the Christian expands its sympathies over the whole valley of misery and woe-includes, within the range of his active benevolence, men of every colour and every clime-identifies himself with the great philanthropists of the age, who live for no other purpose than to exterminate evil, and lessen the ills of suffering humanity by deeds of mercy, and by the dissemination of truth; while he feels an extacy of delight, when listening to the good news of civil and moral amelioration, whether it comes from a distant country, or a neighbouring hamlet, to which no mortal lips can give utterance."

Mr. Roscoe. "Yes, Sir; I am conscious that a religi

ous man, who possesses the pure spirit of his religion, is at once the most useful, and the most happy man.- -As his felicity rises from sources more refined than those to which the men of the world have access; his usefulness is of a more important, and more durable nature. I remember an observation which was once made on a mutual friend of our own, when she left a select society, to whom she had been communicating some benevolent scheme, When she visits us, she always leaves something behind that is worth thinking of, and worth talking about."

Mr. Ingleby. "Yes, Sir, as the pure spirit of the gospel is a liberal, so it is an active spirit. It does not wish to monopolize the felicities of religion, but to diffuse them; and such is the intensity and ardour of its benevolence, that the meanest—the most abject child of sorrow-the poor outcast from the common sympathies of humanity-the forlorn object of woe, whom few men would pity, when no man could save, are the partakers of its bounties. The thoughtless and the gay-the sons of literature and of wealth—the votaries of fashion, and of dissipation, who pass away the tedious hours of their time, in partaking of enjoyments, which from some fatal cause, never yield substantial satisfaction, often look down on the disciples of Christ with contempt, censuring their want of taste, and wondering how it is, that they can derive any pleasure from the objects of their pursuit. Yes, they may wonder; but we know that benevolence, especially the benevolence of Christianity, is a source of exquisite and permanent felicity."

Mr. Roscoe." As the general well being of society is essentially benefitted by the active benevolence of Christianity, may we not, Sir, indulge a hope, that the prosperity of vital religion in our different communions would be promoted by the cultivation of that reciprocal affection, which is at once our duty and our honour?"

Mr. Ingleby. "There may be, I grant, external prosperity in our churches, even while the vital spirit of religion is languishing in the hearts of the people; as the vine may send forth its luxuriant branches, and its thick and beautiful foliage, even when it yields no fruit. And perhaps the vital spirit of religion is exposed to more danger in the season of external prosperity, than in the season of external adversity. When the congregation is

large, and the spirit of unanimity and liberality is generally displayed when the most cordial attachment subsists between the pastors and their flocks; and the lookers on are heard to exclaim, they are of one heart and of one soul, the people may be tempted to forget from whom these invaluable blessings proceed. But I never knew vital religion flourish amongst any people who were not united. The Spirit of the Holy One never comes to breathe on the dry bones of the slain, when the valley echoes with the neighing of the horses, and the rattling of the chariots of war. Oh no! Wars must be made to cease, the bow must be broken, and the spear cut in sunder; the chariots must be burnt in the fire; and the tranquillity of unruffled peace must reign over the whole scene, ere he descends to unite the disjointed parts, and animate the compacted body, with the incorruptible principle of spiritual life.

It is to His influence over the human mind, that we are to ascribe that portion of vital religion, which we possess; and though we have a sufficient force of evidence to convince us, that he still dwells amongst us, yet not in the plenitude of his power. Occasionally he descends in the ministry of reconciliation, and excites a commotion; and effects a moral transformation on the character of a large proportion of the people, as in the Islands of the Pacific Ocean; but in general he restricts the exercise of his power to a small number of our congregations, who are at distinct and distant intervals made alive from the dead. But as this is emphatically termed the dispensation of the Spirit; and as the high honour of glorifying Christ, in giving efficacy to the truth which he hath revealed and attested, is reserved for him; to what secondary cause shall we attribute his very partial communications, except to the offence which our discords, and alienation of attachment have given him? If he require peace and affection, in an individual society; as the precursors of his gracious visitations; does he not require the same amongst the separate divisions of his universal church."

Mr. Llewellin. "Most unquestionably, Sir, though the fact has not produced that deep impression on the public mind, which its importance demands. But, Sir, the day of universal peace now begins to dawn upon us; and

our union is receiving a fresh augmentation of strength, as time moves on in its course. The voice of prayer is more frequently, and more generally heard, for the outpouring of his influence on the external means of grace, and already we see here and there, some verdant spots of spiritual beauty, and of life, amidst the surrounding desolations of evil, and of death; which attest the fact of his presence, and exhibit to us, as in miniature, the future state of the whole moral world; when judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And when the work of righteouness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever. Isa. xxxii. 16, 17."

Mr. Roscoe. "The miraculous gifts, with which the Apostles were endowed, while they had to contend against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in the high places, of pagan idolatry, have long since ceased, with the exigency which called them forth ; but as a favourite writer says, the renewing and sanctifying agency of the Spirit remains, and will continue to the end of time; the express declaration of our Saviour, not admitting of a doubt of its perpetuity. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, John xiv. 16. And if, as we have reason to believe, his extraordinary out-pouring on our churches, will not take place till we are united in the bonds of peace; it behoves each individual Christian to cultivate the spirit of concord, with the utmost degree of vigilance and caution. To our prayers for His concurring testimony with the word of life, we must add a watchfulness over our own tempers, lest we should be involved in the singular charge of preventing the bestowment of the blessing which we solicit, by grieving the agent on whose will it depends." Mr. Ingleby. Your remarks, Sir, are just, and I. wish they were deeply engraven on the heart of every Christian, by the Spirit of the living God; and then the ministration of righteousness, which is entrusted to us, would display a moral glory, which would surpass the brightest emanation of the Divine presence, which the annals of the church record. Then, Sir, we should see the prejudices of the people, which now obstruct the

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progress of pure evangelical religion, giving way; and it would resemble in its spirit, and in its effects, the angel of Bethesda, whose descent was not the signal of contention and strife, but the cause of that noiseless commotion, which led to the healing of the maimed and the diseased."

Mr. Llewellin. "May we not suppose, Sir, that the general impression which is produced amongst the pious, of all denominations, of the absolute necessity of the out-pouring of the Spirit on the labours of Ministers at home, and of Missionaries in foreign parts, viewed in connection with the growing liberality and affection, which we cherish towards each other, is one of those spiritual signs, which indicate the bestowment of the blessing we so earnestly implore."

Mr. Ingleby. "I think we may. It is as the first droppings of that more copious effusion, which is to descend. The beginning of that most stupendous work. which he will perform, when the fulness of the time comes; which will astonish no less by its extent, than by its purity; and being of a moral and spiritual nature, will remain, after the subordinate agents of its production have entered into rest; and the theatre of its exhi bition has perished in the general conflagration. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Pet. iii. 13.

Mr. Llewellin. "And as this union and affection will form one most powerful evidence of the truth of our Lord's mission; and will at the same time, be a practical refutation of some of the charges, which have been brought against Christianity, as though it had an antisocial and disjointing tendency; so it will exhibit the finest emblematical representation of the internal economy of the heavenly world, which can be given. There is diversity of rank, but unity of esteem; and though the various orders of beings, may occupy superior or subordinate stations under the government of the King Eternal; yet no one is envious of another's elevation, or jealous of another's rivalry."

Mr. Ingleby. "There is one circumstance connected with our entrance into the heavenly world, which I think ought not to be overlooked. It is this. When we enter,

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