one who knows how to appreciate the benefits it imparts. "A house divided against itself "cannot stand;" nor is God "the author of 66 confusion, but of peace"." The peace, indeed, of the whole community, of those who separate from the Church as well as of those who adhere to it, mainly depends upon that singleness of heart, that honest simplicity of character and conduct, which never can be otherwise than respected, whatever may be the shades of difference which separate parties from each other. It is not the mere semblance of unity, the attempt at a spurious coalition of sects or individuals, that can reasonably be expected to produce this effect. It is the honest and undisguised maintenance, on each side, of what each holds to be the truth, with Christian lenity and forbearance towards what each deems to be error in the other party, which must lay the foundation of peace and good-will. The same feelings in this respect should influence our daily conduct towards each other which, it is to be presumed, occupy our thoughts and affections when we present ourselves before the Holy Altar, to partake of those sacred mysteries which our Lord himself ordained" as pledges of His love, and for x Mark iii. 25. y 1 Cor. xiv. 33. 66 66 66 66 "a continual remembrance of His death, to our great and endless comfort." There we address our heavenly Father, as "members incorporate in the mystical body of his "Son;" and, as such, virtually declare our adherence to that body, framed and constituted as it is by Him its author and founder. The sincerity of this our professed attachment to His faith and worship is one requisite to a worthy performance of that solemn rite. It is another requisite, that we "be in charity with all men." And surely these are not incompatible services, not incongruous feelings. If "the unity of the Spirit" is to be kept in the bond of peace,” then is charity its proper fruit, which is "the very bond "of peace and of all virtues," and "without "which all our doings are nothing worth." This charity, moreover, we are to have for all men; for those who are within the Church, and those who are without its pale; nay, for those who never heard of the Gospel, and even those who have rejected it. No degree of error, no degree of perverseness or hardness of heart, exempts men from this claim on our prayers and our endeavours to do them good. As our merciful Redeemer "would "have all men to be saved "," as our heavenly 66 z 1 Tim. ii. 4. Father is "not willing that any should perish, "but that all should come to repentance"," so are we to cooperate in that gracious purpose, by endeavouring to "bring all men to "the knowledge of the truth," and, if they have gone astray, to recall them to "the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls". 66 This is the highest exercise of Christian charity, the surest means of promoting "Glory "to God, peace on earth, and good-will to"wards men "." The glory of God is promoted, when He is "worshipped in spirit "and in truth "."-Peace on earth is diffused, when unanimity prevails in Christian faith and Christian practice, when the same principle of conduct actuates the whole body, and men live in unity and concord here, by keeping steadfastly in view those hopes and promises, those duties and obligations, which lay the foundation of their meeting together hereafter, where everlasting peace and harmony shall be found among "the spirits of just 66 66 men made perfect,” and “every plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted shall "be rooted out."-Good-will towards men, individually as well as collectively, cannot also but be increased, when every one is thus a 2 Peter iii. 9. d John iv. 24. b 1 Peter ii. 25. c Luke ii. 14. f Matt. xv. 13. intent upon working out his own salvation in the way which God hath appointed, and is zealous in persuading and encouraging others to do the same.--That such may be the blessed result of all our labours for the glory of God and the good of mankind, let our fervent prayers be offered up to the Author and Giver of all good things, that "His will may "be done in earth as it is in heaven;" that "His continual pity may cleanse and defend "his Church;" and that "because it cannot "continue in safety without His succour, it 66 may be preserved evermore by His help and "goodness, through Jesus Christ our Lord." |