correspond, in any great degree, to the description now given, that description may, nevertheless, be partially and slightly applicable to many; and all of us, indeed, who are attached by the force of long-continued habit to the practices of Friends, have great need of watchfulness, lest we fall into this snare of our enemy;—lest, while he leaves us in quiet possession of the figure or shell, he rob us of the substance and kernel of our religion. In conclusion, I would remark, that the true preservative from any such dereliction of the virtue, honour, and love, which become our religious profession, as well as from the neglect of those duties, which are, in some degree, confined to ourselves, will ever be found in the fear of God, and in a steady, abiding reliance upon our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If Christ be made unto us, of the Father, "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption," we shall not fail to live as "obedient children." Reconciled unto God through faith in our Redeemer, and subjected to the government of the Holy Spirit, we shall order our steps aright, imitate the goodness of our heavenly Pattern, grow in grace and holiness, and experience a happy deliverance from the power and dominion of the prince of darkness. Let us ever remember that there is no use or security in the superstructure, except it be erected upon a sure foundation: and that, in religious matters, "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus." Solicitous as I am that our peculiar testimonies should be maintained by us with all that faithfulness and vigour which their practical importance demands, I am perfectly aware that they are no sooner separated from vital Christianity than they become vain and unprofitable-deprived at once of all their efficacy and of all their stability. May it, then, be our humble and diligent endeavour to draw nigh unto the Father of mercies, through" the blood of the everlasting covenant," and to live "by faith in the Son of God." Thus, and thus only, shall we be enabled to bear with acceptance the goodly fruits of righteousness, to glorify the name of our God, and to fulfil the particular purposes for which he has seen meet to raise us up from among the children of men, to be, during his own good pleasure, a distinct and separate religious people. ESSAY. THE supremacy of Jesus, over the little band of his followers, was never for a moment disputed. They were not permitted to call any man master, or to exalt each other with the title of Rabbi, Rabbi ;-One was their Master-even Christ. Nor was this view of the subject obscured or weakened, after he had withdrawn his personal presence. Although he had "ascended up on high, far above all heavens," he was still with them, by his Spirit; and they knew that he ruled supreme, not only over the church which he had purchased with his blood, but over the universe itself, for the church's sake. They confessed that he was their High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek-the king of righteousness the king of peace; and they lived in filial reliance upon his love. While they thus looked upon Christ as the Head of his whole church, the believers were soon planted in distinct communities; and in each of these it was 1 Eph. i. 20-23. |