A Sermon,

Delivered before a late Convention of the Church in Vermont, by the Rev. ABRAHAM BRUNSON, of Manchester.

[Concluded from page 30.]

LET these ideas then be applied, as our Lord applies them to his church. He has, in virtue and essence, but one church in the world. That he established and organized while he was upon earth. Of that church he is the head and chief ruler, and has subordinate officers under him. Whoever would be his true servant must hold to the head, from which all the body, by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. The spirit is from the head to all the members; so that if any member is separated from the body, it must lose the life of the body. This body, I say, is regularly organized: Christ appointed officers in subordination to himself; commissioned them to act in his name, and gave them directions in what manner they should discharge their commission. He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things who is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body, fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. In this body the apostle teaches us, there should be no schism; but the members should have the same care one for another; and if one member suffer, all the members should suffer with it; and if one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. The apostle then proceeds to apply his reasoning. Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular; and God hath set some in the church, first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers.

Scarce any thing can set forth the propriety of christian unity more forcibly than these various expressions of our Lord and his apostles. They do not indeed say positively, that schismatics shall not be saved: but they give no assurance of salvation to any but those who belong to the original primitive church. Those who have separated from that, have broken christian unity; have severed themselves from the true vine; and will probably decay and die, unless they return, and are again grafted in, that they may partake of the animating influences which spring from the root. While they are in a state of separation, they cannot bring forth every christian fruit; for the fruit of the spirit, St. Paul says, is love, joy, peace, &c. that is, love, joy and peace towards all men; but especially towards the church of Christ and its members. Those who are not in union with his church, are not outwardly in union with him; because they are not in the bonds of charity and unity with his members. It is

then a matter of serious importance to all christian professors to en quire diligently and carefully where the true christian church of Christ really is. Christ is not divided; and it must be agreeable to his will, that there should be no divisions among those who call upon his name; but that they should be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. They should examine the grounds and foundation of every church by all the means in their power; should search into antiquity, and see which is built upon the primitive standard; should enquire into the practice of the apostles, and those who immediately succeeded them, and find how and where the true church was at that time, and thence trace it down from age to age, in order to discover where it is now, and under what form it appears. If people would make these researches seriously and candidly, and view the subject as it justly is, of real importance, I am firmly persuaded there would be more amity among christians; they would be more likely to flock to some common standard as the true sign of Christ's kingdom; there would be more peace among them, more love, more charity, more gentlenes, meekness, patience and brotherly kindness, and both the outward profession and the true spirit of the gospel would be more likely to spread and extend itself among the rest of mankind. Christ prays thus for his disciples: As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The world will be slow to believe, as long as the professors of the gospel are separated into various sects and divisions. Men ause this as a plea for infidelity; and perhaps there is none which answers them a better purpose. They ought, however, to know that this is not the fault of the system; it is only the fault of those who profess it. The system itself is good, though it has been much abused; and as long as such abuses continue, carnal minded men will make use of them as arguments against the truth of religion.If then we have any regard for the credit of our religion; if we have any regard for christian peace and harmony; if we have any wish to be lively branches of the true vine, in order to bring forth the fruits of true piety, charity and brotherly love; we shall use our diligent endeavors to search out and conform to the original primitive church, and shall there abide, as worthy and fruitful members of it, till we are translated into the glorious state of the church triumphant above.

2. And as it is a matter of such material consequence, that men should belong to the christian church, or be grafted upon the vine as a means of salvation, we see the great importance of christian baptism, where it may be had. Without this ordinance no one is a member of the christian covenant. None but those who are baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, and are heirs according to the promise....Gal. iii. 27, 29. Salvation, through the uncovenanted mercy of God, may perhaps be extended to many who have had no op portunity of being baptized; but none have a covenant title to it, but those who are members of the covenant; those who are grafted upon that true vine, which is called the body of Christ. They must be born of water, as well as of the spirit, in order to become true mem

bers of Christ's kingdom. As he tells his disciples when he commissions them to preach in his name; those who have the gospel must not only believe, but must be baptized, in order that they may be saved....Mark xvi. 16. As St. Peter teaches, they must not only repent, but must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, that they may receive remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost....Acts ii. 38. Besides believing and repenting, they must, as Ananias says to St. Paul, they must be baptized to wash away their sins....Acts xxii. 16. There being but one body and one spirit, according to the apostle, they must all be baptized into this one body, in order that they may be made to drink into this one spirit. The mystical body of Christ is but one, and that is pervaded by one animating principle of life and holiness. The spiritual vine is but one; and is nourished by the sap from only one root. Mankind must therefore be engrafted into this vine; must be received into this body; must, as St. Paul repeatedly expresses it, be baptized into Christ, that they may partake of that precious nourishment, and be animated by that actual principle, which proceeds solely from the great author of salvation and head of the christian church. Those who have not received this ordinance, are not members of the kingdom of Christ; they are not within the fold of his sheep; they are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise; and though they may be born of christian parents, and instructed in christian principles, yet like the uncircumcised children among the Jews, while they continue in this state they are cut off from among their people. As the ark of Noah saved none but those who entered into it; so the ark of Christ's church can be of no special service to any who do not belong to it. The city of Zoar was a means of -preservation only to those who fled to it. The Red Sea saved none from Egyptian bondage but those who passed through it; nor did the house of Rahab serve as a security to any of the people of Jericho, except those who entered into it when the city was destroyed. We are not authorised to entertain any uncharitable opinion of the fate of those who have it not in their power to become members of Christ's visible kingdom; but those who have it in their power, and still neglect, will have no excuse to offer.

3. But again, it is observable, that those who have been engrafted into Christ, must abide in him, if they would bring forth the true christian fruits of piety towards God, and charity towards all the members of his church. They must, like those who were converted and baptized by St. Peter, they must continue in that doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers. Christian communion among them is an obvious duty. If they consider themselves as baptized into Christ, and received into fellowship with the saints; if they resolutely intend to ratify their baptism, and perform the conditions of the covenant then entered into, they should not separate themselves from the communion of the faithful, but should join in the same worship and ordinances with them. The members of Christ's family, unless excluded for some worthy cause, have a right to all the privileges of his house and table, all the privileges provided for his children. The branches of the vine partake

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of the sap and nourishment which come from the root, though per haps, even then they are not all fruitful, but may some of them be broken off for their negligence. Those admitted into the flock of Christ, should abide in his fold, should look to his hand for suste nance, and receive with gratitude and thankfulness, such food as he prepares for his sheep. And in fine, every soldier, who is enlisted under the banner of the cross, so long as he vigorously prosecutes the christian warfare, should feed on the provisions administered by his master, lest he faint in the hour of trial. If any one can live a spiritual life without spiritual food, or can bring forth christian fruit without support from Christ, let him despise and neglect the ordinances of the gospel. But if the spiritual sustenance is necessary, the outward elements should likewise be made use of, because these are channels, through which the inward graces are to be expected. "A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace." And if this outward sign is neglected, we have no assurance that the inward work shall be performed. Unless the branch outwardly adheres to the vine, it cannot expect any inward enlivening influences. Indeed if any man, who has at any time been grafted into the church, does afterwards keep back from its ordinances, either through unbelief, impenitence, or careless indifference, he must be considered as having broken himself off from christianity, renounced all title to its privileges, and become a stranger from the covenant of promise, as much as those who have never been re- ̈ ceived into it. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered.

4. Still, however, my hearers, such an open profession of Christ will be of no avail, without sincere faith and true piety. Many will say to Christ at the great day, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. And he will answer, I know you not whence ye are. Outward fellowship, without inward communion, is of no value. The branch can derive no benefit from the vine, unless by a lively intercourse and hearty union with it. There must not only be an outward adherence, but it must be internal, substantial and deep, even to the inmost recesses of the heart. There must be a vital as well as visible union, or the branch will wither and die, and thus become a useless and hurtful incumbrance, fit only to be cut off, cast out and destroyed. In like manner the professing christian, without true faith, and an inward union with Christ, his spiritual head, can derive no advantage from his outward profession. Though he may have a fair external appearance, yet if his heart is estranged from God, and averse to the ways of holiness, his visible communion with the church will do him no good. If he has no sense of his own personal inability, independent of Christ; if he has no sense of the efficacy and necessity of the Savior's mediation, and his entire dependence upon him for every spiritual power and spir itual favor, his heart is not right with God. Faith in Christ, taken in its largest sense, implies not only a simple belief in his divine mission, but likewise a trust and dependence upon his divine merits. It implies such a firm reliance upon him, as should be felt by those who know, that without him they can do nothing. If christians are

lifeless without Christ, like the branch without the vine, they oughtto be made sensible of their situation. They ought to know where' to look for assistance, and where to place their dependence. But, my friends, it appears to me one of the most difficult parts of the gospel ministry, to make men see and feel the necessity of this dependence upon Christ. And this opinion, I presume, will accord with that of my clerical brethren. It is so natural for mankind to arrogate praise to themselves for what they have done; it is so natural for them to be proud of what they consider their good deeds, that it is extremely difficult to induce them to lay aside self-dependence, and put their whole trust and confidence in him, to whom alone they must look for every spiritual favor. Our exertions then should be increa sed in proportion to the difficulty of the task. We should lift up our voice like a trumpet; show them their sins; endeavor to convince them of their lost condition, and that there is no way to escape, but by flying to the arms of the Savior for mercy, and obtaining an interest in his precious merits. Those who neglect such exhortations as these, do not realize the happiness of their state without a Savior; they do not realize the necessity of the gospel, and the importance of belonging to Christ: Of course they take no pains to be united to him, to be outwardly adopted into his family, and to have inward communion with him by faith, and by his spirit operating in the heart. But lastly, our Lord says in the context, Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Every branch in me, that beareth not fruit, he taketh away. However regularly men may have been admitted into the church of Christ, and however stedfastly they may abide in it, by joining in all its exercises and ordinances, yet still, if they are not fruitful in the true christian virtues, those exalted privileges will do them no good. Indeed, though they may have a firm speculative belief in the divine mission of Christ, a speculative knowledge of the doctrines of the gospel, and a real attachment to its outward institutions; yet if their disposition and conduct are not answerable to these sentiments, they will derive no benefit from their profession and belief. If ye keep my commandments, says Christ soon after the text, ye shall abide in my love. It is by this test that we must all be finally tried. After being grafted upon the body of Christ, and continuing the union by an attendance upon his ordinances, we must bring forth fruit, if we would preserve our relation to him. The apostle teaches those who have been thus grafted in, that God will show goodness to them if they will continue and persevere in his goodness; otherwise they shall be cut off. We are likewise taught in the gospel, that there was a fig-tree planted in a vineyard, supported by the strength of the soil, enlivened by the dews of heaven, and cultivated by the dresser of the vineyard. But notwithstanding these precious privileges, year after year it remained unfruitful, and was finally to be cut down and cast out for its barrenness. This is the situation of mankind under the gospel, as our Lord himself most plainly declares. By baptism we are planted in God's spiritual vineyard, the church; by adhering to his other institutions, we "continue that holy fellowship;" by the cultivation of Christ's ministers, and by his word and spirit, we are