1

relation of the word of God and of all divine ordinances to it is clearly pointed out-and Discipline, both in the wide and in the judicial sense of that term, is appointed of God. For the present enforcement of the truth, that the true and spiritual worship of God is an infallible mark of the true Church; it is not material that the general statement just made of the ordinances and ascension Gifts of Christ, should be exactly true; that it is so, however, will be proved hereafter. Because the adoring recognition-service-worship of God, is already admitted to be an infallible mark of his Church, as soon as we confess that his Church is bound to ascertain from his word, under the guidance of his Spirit-whether these things are so: and thus seeking, is bound not only, but is prompt, to accept with joyful obedience everything which God has ordained, and to reject everything else. And what heart that adores God, can conceive that voluntary ignorance of his will-much less open disregard of it when known -is consistent with the true and spiritual worship of him? But admitting the general statement I have made, concerning the Gifts of God, and his ordinances for the Gospel Church, to be substantially correct; it is not possible to conceive how any organization of that sort could be created at first, or perpetuated afterwards, in the absence of a spirit of believing, trustful, adoring obedience to God; nor to conceive how such an organization when once created, could fail to manifest that spirit, so long and so far as the Saviour of the world was its living head, and the Holy Ghost was the bond of its vital union. But this is the same as to say that the life of the true Church is a life of worship, rendered to God in spirit and in truth.

6. The more we descend to what is special, the more distinct does the idea become, that the worship of God in spirit and in truth, is the habitual manifestation of the life of God in every soul. The wide idea of worship which we cannot separate from that of God, and that of religion-is necessarily determined, as to the nature of the worship, by the nature we attach to the God, and the religion: so that to accept the living God as our God, and his only begotten Son as the Mediator between him and us, determines that we must worship that God, through that divine Redeemer and that we must do this in the way made known to us by them. And then, when these true worshippers of God,

1 Eph., iv. 1-25.

in Christ, become organically united, through the headship of Christ, and their communion with each other; everything that is special in the conception, the nature and end, or the absolute condition of this Body of Christ, shapes and illustrates more and more distinctly, the idea of worship, step by step with the ideas of religion, and of God. And then, when the Gifts which God has bestowed on his Church, under every aspect of it--his Spirit, his Son, and the knowledge of his will; and the more special Gifts which he has bestowed on it through them--his written word, a ministry, sacraments, an outward organization, all divine ordinances; it is manifest that the whole of these Gifts of God are of that kind, that in proportion as they are received in the love and in the power of them, the worship of the visible Church becomes more distinctly the manifestation of her life, while it also becomes more spiritual in its own nature, and rises to higher forms of truth. And then, when all that God has done for his Church, is concentrated in the ordinances of a particular congregation--a special Christian Church, met for stated and habitual worship-and receiving and manifesting grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; the ordinary form of the spiritual life of the Church, exhibited in this primary and most obvious and permanent aspect of the organization of these royal priests of God-is the worship of God in spirit and in truth. And finally, when we consider these followers of Christ, one by one--and reflect on the personal relation of each to these numerous themes-many of which are infinite; when we call to mind the innumerable statements of the word of God, touching the manner in which each one is to work out his own salvation, and make his own calling and election sure; when we look into our own soul, and remember what we once were--how we became what we now are-and by what means we hope to obtain the crown it seems to me we are ready to set our seal to what our brother Paul has said, and proclaim that they are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;' ready to respond to our divine Lord, in his own glorious words, God is a Spiritand they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.2

:

7. To make this explanation complete, let us consider more 2 John, iv. 24.

1 Phil., iii. 3.

carefully the narrowest organic aspect of the subject, in its relation to a particular congregation. It is needless to enquire here, how the worshipping assemblies of God's people may have been constituted and conducted, before the days of Abraham, or even of Moses. This is undeniable, that those Synagogues of the Jews, in which the written word of God was publicly read and expounded, and prayer offered to God, statedly every Sabbathday; were as much a part of the religious life of God's ancient people, as the temple service was-were probably at least as ancient and have survived it nearly eighteen centuries. In them, our divine Lord habitually worshipped and taught ;-and after the model they furnished, in many respects, his inspired Apostles organized our Christian congregations. Each of these Christian congregations is an elemental and organized portion of the Church visible universal of the Lord Christ and every one of them, when complete, has everything which is possessed by that universal Church, in its present state: and it is by means of the union of these, that Church assemblies having rule, and a government, are created. Now divine worship in its widest sense, is the specific object of the existence of these particular Churches; and, in the narrowest sense of worship, it is one of their chief objects—as it is their main employment. Such as gladly receive the word of God, are baptized in them. Such as will be saved, the Lord adds to them.' To believers and to their seed, are the promises of God herein held forth. To them, Pastors, Elders, and Deacons are given, by Christ; and in the bosom of each one, a court of Christ is created. In this Church, it is the will of God, that his people should statedly assemble on the Sabbath-day, and as often besides as his providence permits, for his solemn public worship, as revealed by himself. And, as parts of that worship, it is the ordinance of God, that public prayer should be offered to him: that his praises should be sung, with grace in our hearts to the Lord:" that the word of God should be read, expounded, and preached that the sacraments of the Christian Church should be duly administered: and that the 2 Acts, ii. 39; 1 Cor., vii. 14.

1 Acts, ii. 41, 47.

4

2

3

3 Eph., iv. 11, 12; 1 Tim., v. 17; Acts, vi. passim.

* 1 Tim., v. 17; Rom., xii. 6–8; 1 Cor., xii. 28.

5 Acts, ii. 42; xx. 7; 1 Cor., xvi. 2; Heb., x. 25.

• 1 Tim., ii.

Acts, xiii. 15, 27; Titus, i. 9; 2 Tim., iv. 2; 1 Cor., i. 18.

9 1 Cor.. xi. 23–26; Matt., xxviii. 18, 19.

people should be blessed from God. Moreover, God has ordained that each particular Church-should, by the Court of his Kingdom erected in its bosom, take care that its members lead blameless and holy lives: and that all I have discussed as appertaining to our New Obedience, as rendered unto God, and our Good Works, as performed towards our fellow-creatures-be truly observed, as becometh saints; and as the chief of all, charity-love to God and compassion for our fellow-men. Now, with such a state of case as this disclosed to us by God himself, in connection with the primitive and most elemental part of the organic life of the Church visible, universal; we are left without any possibility of denying that the idea of the worship of God pervades the total life and organism of the Church of God; and that the nature of the worship and the nature of the Church, must necessarily harmonize. If God is a Spirit, and is true-then the worship of him in spirit and in truth, is an infallible mark of his true Church.

8. Religion is exhausted, as a matter of contemplation, when we have considered it under the aspect of Faith, the aspect of Duty, and the aspect of Worship. It is in these three aspects that it necessarily affords us, the three infallible marks of the true Church. So when the word of God has taught us infallibly, what we ought to believe concerning him, and what duty he requires of us, there remains nothing to be taught concerning salvation, except the expression of both, in the form of worship. If, therefore, purity of Faith be one infallible mark of the Church of Christ, as I have proved-and if holiness of life be another, as I will prove-neither of which, I suppose, any Christian will deny; then, it is perfectly unavoidable, that purity of worship, must be the remaining mark. And the very terms of the whole science of Christianity, give us the same result. God-man-and the Mediator between them; this is its mighty elemental formula. But Faith in that Mediator, and worship rendered to that God-and Holiness-nourished by both of them, through the grace of which all three are the products; this is the infallible manifestation that Christianity is realized in us, in a form responsive to its mighty elemental formula.

1 2 Cor., xiii. 14.

2

Heb., xiii. 17; 1 Thess., v. 12, 13.

3 1 Cor., xiii. passim; Matt., v. 43–48; vi. 1–4, 19–23.

CHAPTER XXVI.

HOLY LIVING: THE THIRD INFALLIBLE MARK OF THE TRUE CHURCH.

I. 1. Relation of all Righteousness, in Man, to the Law of God.-2. Gospel Holiness: its Relation to Christ-to Faith in Him-and to the acceptable Worship of God.II. 1. The Reality of Moral Distinctions: the Demonstration they afford that God is the Fountain of all Goodness.-2. Neglect or Perversion of these Moral Distinctions, fatal to all Religions in which either occurs.-3. The indissoluble and eternal Connection of Holiness with Blessedness.-4. The inward Aspect of that Holiness, which infallibly distinguishes the True Church.-5. Unity of that Holiness, as a Mark of the True Church, with each of the preceding Marks.-6. The Unity of the Mystery of Godliness; Goodness the perfection of Knowledge, of Duty, and of Grace.—III. 1. The True Life of the Church, is the Power of the Holy Spirit.— 2. Conclusive Effect of the Supremacy of the Supernatural Element, in the Question of the Church.-3. Majesty and Glory of the True Church.

I.-1. To keep and to do all the statutes and judgments of God, is the highest proof of spiritual wisdom and understanding. It has always been required by God as the sum of the whole duty of man-always been declared to be the way of peace and mercy for his people-always been prescribed as the surest evidence of their true faith in Jesus Christ, and their acceptable worship of the most high God.' The sum of the instruction which the Apostles had in charge to give, in discipling all nations, was that all should observe all things whatsoever Jesus had commanded them.* And the constant doctrine of Jesus was, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.*

3

5

2. Without holiness no man shall see God. This great truth is involved in every just idea we can form of God and of salvation; and so essential is it in all that the Scriptures intend by

1 Deut., iv. 1-6; Eccl., xii. 13; Matt., xv. 9; John, xii. 50; vii. 17

" Matt., xxviii. 19, 20.

* John, x. 27, 28.

3 John, viii. 31, 32.

5 Heb., xii. 14