many errors in conduct? Let it be with sorrow acknowledged; but still permit us to plead, that we bring you that gospel which is calculated to make both ourselves and you wiser and better— that gospel whose native tendency it is to purify, to exalt, to perfect our nature-that gospel which is the endearing bond of union between saints on earth, and the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven." We beseech you therefore, bre"thren, to know them which labour among you, "and are over you in the Lord, and admonish ર you, and to esteem them very highly in love "for their works' sake," and love will cover a multitude of sins, for "charity suffereth long, "and is kind; charity envieth not; charity "vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth "not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her "own; is not easily provoked; thinketh no evil, "rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the "truth; beareth all things; believeth all things; hopeth all things; endureth all things*." 3. The apostle prefers a third request to the church of the Thessalonians, respecting their behaviour one to another, "And be at peace "among yourselves." He had commended them highly on this very account, a little before, * 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5, 6, 7. "But as touching brotherly love, ye need not "that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And in"deed ye do it towards all the brethren, which cc are in all Macedonia.*" But it is a duty which cannot be too often inculcated, a temper which cannot be too warmly recommendedChrist himself gives it as his special commandment, and lays it down as the distinguishing badge of his disciples: "A new commandment "I give unto you, that ye love one another; as "I have loved you, that ye also love one ano"ther. By this shall all men know that ye are "my disciples, if ye have love one to anothert." Paul, therefore, the servant of Christ, earnestly and repeatedly presses it in all his epistles to all the churches. It would lead me far beyond the proper bounds of a discourse, to enter into a minute discussion of this subject. The importance of the apostolic injunction is obvious-it were absurd to go about to prove it. I shall satisfy myself with suggesting a few things which tend to disturb the peace of christian society, that you may be warned to avoid them, and with mentioning a few considerations, attention to which may be the means of preserving and promoting peace among yourselves. * 1 Thess. iv. 9, 10. + St. John xiv. 34, 35. The little jealousies and rivalships of private life, are one great source of discord among christian men and women-the times we live in will not admit of one part of the practice of primitive christians, as it is described, "Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as "were possessors of lands or houses sold them, " and brought the prices of the things that were “sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: " and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need*." The usual distinctions of providence in the distribution of external things must now affect christians in common with other men; christianity now does its work, not by levelling the fortunes, but the tempers of men. When the great and affluent are taught by it to be humble and condescending, and ready to communicate-and the poor to be content, and patient, and acquiescing, the equality of mankind is preserved more effectually, than if the whole goods of the community were thrown into a common stock, and an equal distribution made among the individuals; but the mischief is, the spirit of the gospel in this matter is too little felt and understood by many of its professors; they enter too much into the spirit of the world, and, what is worst of all, introduce it into *Acts iv. 34, 35. the house of God, and mingle it with their very devotion. One may have seen an insignificant article of dress or equipage fill one breast with insolence and pride, and another with jealousy and envy; and, strange to tell, the temple is not seldom chosen as the field for exercising these unworthy, contemptible, antichristian passions. Violent attachments to particular men are another cause of dissension in christian society. This began very early in the church, and gave occasion of severe reproof and useful admonition to the over-zealous partizans, "For ye are yet "carnal; for whereas there is among you envy ing, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, " and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of "Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not "carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apol"los, but ministers by whom ye believed, even "as the Lord gave to every man*?” "For it "hath been declared unto me of you, my bre"thren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, "that there are contentions among you. Now "this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of "Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I "of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul cru"cified for you? or were ye baptized in the 1 Cor. iii. 3, 4, 5. "name of Paul*? It is natural, nay commendable, to be attached to one who has been eminently beneficial to us, but we are not thereby warranted, surely, to erect a standard for him, and to quarrel with every one who refuses to run to it if we value the enjoyment of our liberty, we must leave others also in the full possession of theirs. And if it be duly considered, that the most useful minister is, at best, a mere instrument in the hand of God, to differ with passion on this head will be found not only idle but sinful. A turn for argument and disputation is frequently a great disturber of concord-one man who possesses this unhappy disposition has often been the means of setting a numerous community at variance. And it happens very unfortunately, that this is not seldom the fault of intelligent, useful, respectable men; they are not aware, however, that though this may be perhaps the way of obtaining the fame of knowledge and sagacity, it is very far from being the way to preserve their respectability, or extend their usefulness-for the disputer generally makes as many real enemies, as he irritates or overcomes persons in argument, and if we compare the numbers of |