out knowledge, are perpetually making the Church the object of their assaults; whilst the violence of avowed hostility is boldly exerted for the overthrow of the citadel, and artifice employs every secret machination in order to undermine it; it then more especially behoves, not the watchman only, but every one interested in her behalf, to "walk about our Sion, and go round about her; to mark well her bulwarks, and tell the towers thereof1."

"Her foundations," we stedfastly believe, "are upon the holy hills 2." But we ask not of you a blind acquiescence in that belief. We exhort you to do as we have done. Search the Scriptures: examine the records of ecclesiastical antiquity: compare with them the principles and the practices of our national Church. If after a dispassionate and patient investigation you conscientiously believe her to be a traitress to Him, whose honour she professes to maintain: if her sacraments be of human institution; if her doctrines have their origin in human conceit; if her ministers be unauthorised intruders into their sacred office; if her liturgy be a remnant of superstition, or an inanimate and unedifying form: come out from the midst of her, and be ye separate; renounce, forsake, abjure her. But if on the other hand you are rationally persuaded, that she is indeed a holy

1 Psalm xlviii. 11, 12.

2 Psalm lxxxvii. 1.

Church, not unworthy of being accounted "the Church of the living God," cherish her as you would the apple of your eye. For her sake, for the sake of her Redeemer, for the sake of your own salvation, cling to her, and desert her not. If her sacraments be Christ's ordinances, receive them as the water of salvation, and the bread of life: if her doctrines be evangelical, continue to hold fast her forms of sound words: if her priesthood be apostolical, persevere in seeking knowledge at their lips: if her liturgy be scriptural, after that way, however misnamed by others, "worship ye the God of your fathers " He who "loved the Church, and gave himself for her 2, and appointed her to be the ark of salvation, will in no wise abandon her "amidst the raging of the sea, and the noise of his waves, and the madness of the people. Therefore will we not fear though the earth be moved, and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea: though the waters thereof rage and swell; and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same. God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed: God shall help her, and that right early".

I conclude with a collect from our admirable liturgy. "O Lord, we beseech thee, let thy con

1 Acts xxiv. 14.

3 Psalm xlvi. 2, 3, 5.

2 Eph. v. 25.

tinual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness, through Jesus Christ our Lord: to whom with Thee, O Father, and Thee, O Holy Ghost, one Lord and God Almighty, be ascribed the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen 1."

1 Collect for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.

DISCOURSE IV.

THE CHURCH DISTINGUISHED FROM MODERN RELI

GIOUS SECTS.

ACTS iv. 32.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.

THE Concord and unity of the future members of the Christian Church were an object of earnest solicitude with its Divine Founder and his inspired messengers. Together with anxious injunctions and intreaties on his disciples to "love one another 1," our blessed Lord combined his almost-dying prayer to his Father, not for his Apostles only, but "for them also which should believe on him through their word, that they all might be one?." Accordingly, "the multitude of them that" at first "believed were of one heart and of one soul" and,

1 John xv. 12.

2 John xvii. 20, 21.

3 Acts iv. 32.

under the primitive government of the Apostles, such as the Lord added to the Church "continued with one accord" in holy unity, and in a communion of belief and religious offices. Solemn exhortations to the early converts to "forbear one another in love, and endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace';" intreaties and adjurations "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that they would all speak the same thing3," "that they would be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment;" prayers to God in their behalf, to "grant them to be like-minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus, that they might with one mind and one mouth glorify God:" formed impressive subjects of apostolical admonition. Whilst, as the borders of the Church were enlarged, mutual salutations and greetings between its distant parts and members were pledges of the general harmony which prevailed throughout the whole.

On the other hand, violations of the unity of the Church were deprecated and condemned by its inspired governours. St. John cautioned his disciples against such as would "seduce them from the truth5" St. Jude warned believers to "beware of those who separate themselves:" St. Paul be