our sight and consideration during the time that the organ is playing, which surely is most unseemly to employ in idle conversation." What! have ye not "houses to eat and to drink in"-to talk of your politics and your news" that ye thus profane the temple of the living God?" The least share of reflection would be sufficient to remedy this evil, while we desire it to be observed, that indecent and irreverent behaviour in the house of the Lord is always a sign of a deficiency in good sense, good breeding, and religion. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN. I am the Vine, Ye are the branches. Matt. 15.5. WHEN the way of truth is evil spoken of, and man kind follow their own lusts, forsaking both the doctrine and fellowship of the Apostles of Jesus Christ; it must needs be difficult, amidst the variety of opinions and opposite persuasions of men, all of whom are called by the common name of Christians, to distinguish good from evil, and truth from falsehood. The safest course that can be taken, is to trust neither to the word nor to the example of any man living, but to look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who, while men are changing with every blast, is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. The scripture having plainly told us what the Master is, we may thence learn what the disciple ought to be, and collect the qualifications of the true Christian from the character and offices of his Saviour Jesus Christ, 1 Whom as GoD the Christian is to worship and serve. Compare 2 Cor. 5. 19, with Luke A. 8. 2 As He is the true LIGHT, the Christian is to derive all spiritual wisdom and understanding 1 Hereby the Christian is distinguished from the Arian and the Socinian ; from indevout believers; and from idolaters of all denominations. 2 Here the Christian differs from the philosophical tribe of Deists, who discover a pretend from him: to see God and the things of eternity by his light, as the things of this world are seen by the light of the sun, which is an image of him. John 9.5 and 39. Isa. 42. 6, 7 ; and 35.5. Psal. 36. 9. Mal. 4. 2. Rev. 3. 18. 3 As He is a MASTER, the Christian is to sit at his feet, and hear his Word; consulting that word upon all the subjects it has treated of, and abiding peaceably by all its determina tions. Matt. 23. 10. Col. 2. 3. As He is a BUILDER and an HUSBANDMAN, the Chris tian, according to the institu tions of Christ, is to be builded and planted by him into his Church, which is his House and his Vineyard. Heb. 3. 3, &c. 1 Tim. 3. 15. 1 Cor. 3. 9. Psal. 92. 13. Rom. 6. 4, 5. 5 As He is the HIGH PRIEST and BISHOP of Souls, the Christian is to partake of his Sacrifice; to rely on his intercession and atonement; and to obey those who are put in authority under him. Heb. 4. 14. 1 Pet. 2. 25. Eph. 1.7. Heb. 13. 17. 6 As He is a BRIDEGROOM, the Christian is to give him his affections. John 3. 29, and 14. 23. Eph. 6. 24. ed law by the Light of reason, and call it the Religion of Nature, which is the Gospel of the natural Man ; for whose character see 1 Cor. 2. 14. Job 11. 12. Jer. 10. 14. By this he is distinguished from Heretics of all denominations; and his doctrines are distinct from imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and the obedience of Christ. 2 Cor. 10. 5. 4 In this he differs from the Enthusiast and the Schismatic, who are for receiving the divine grace without those means of grace which God hath appointed, who has an undoubted right to save mankind in his own way. 1 Cor. 14. 33, and 35. 5 By this the Christian is distinguished from those who forsake the Holy Communionį from the Socinian, who denies the Christian redemption; and from those who perish in the gainsaying of Korah. Jude 11. 6 This distinguishes him from the carnal believer, who hotdeth the truth in unrighteousness, and giveth his affections to the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, 7 As He is a KING, the Christian must submit to his authority, and acknowledge it in the persons of all earthly kings his representatives. Prov. 8. 15. John 18. 37. Dan. 2. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 17. Col. 2. 10. Rom. 13. 1. Tit. 3. 1. As he is an EXAMPLE OF pattern, the Christian is to follow his steps, by doing good to the souls and bodies of men; maintaining a spirit of Zeal for the House of God, his truth, and his Religion; and patient suffer ing of contempt, reproach, and persecution, for righteousness sake. 1 Pet. 2. 21. John 13. 15. Acts 10. 38. Matt. 21. 19. John 1817. and 7. 7. 1 Pet. 2. 23. Matt. 5. 10, &c. 1 Pet. 2. 18, &c. and chap. 4. 12, &c. which he renounced at his bap tism. Rom. 1. 18. 7 Here the Christian differs from those who hold it lawful to depose kings, by virtue either of the Pope's or the People's power: from those who are traitors, heady and high-minded: who while they plead for rebellion under the name of liberty, are the servants of corruption, and obnoxious to the penalty of damnation. Matt. 26. 52. 2 Pet. 2. 10, &c. to ver. 20. 2 Tim. 3.4. Rom. 13. 2. 8 His practices in these re spects distinguish him from all those who are conformed to this world; from the friends of lukewarmness and latitudinarianism; from the drowsy and the indif. ferent; the covetous, the impatient, the proud, and the unmerciful. John 8. 23. Luke 23. 12. Acts 18. 17. Rev. 3: 16. Gal: 1. 10. James 2.13. Luke 16. 14. 1 Cor. 6. 9, &c. Such was the Christianity of Apostles and Martyrs: and he who hath thus learned Christ, is a CHRISTIAN, not in word only but in deed and in truth. BLESSED is He, FENDED in ME. whosoever shall not be OF Matt. 11. 6. |