softly, like the dew on Gideon's fleece; and yet it or no. "Let us take heed we do not sometimes call that zeal for God and his gospel, which is nothing else but our own tempestuous and stormy passion. True zeal is a sweet, heavenly and gentle flame, which maketh us active for God, but always within the sphere of love. It never calls for fire from heaven to consume those that differ a little from us in their apprehensions. It is like that kind of lightning (which the philosophers speak of) that melts the sword within, but singeth not the scabbard it strives to save the soul, but hurteth not the body. True zeal is a loving thing, and makes us always active to edification, and not to destruction. If we keep the fire of zeal within the chimney, in its own proper place, it never doth any hurt; it only warmeth, quickeneth, and enliveneth us: but if once we let it break out, and catch hold of the thatch of our flesh, and kindle our corrupt nature, and set the house of our body on fire, it is no longer zeal, it is no heavenly fire, it is a most destructive and devouring thing. True zeal is an ignis lambens, a soft and gentle flame, that will not scorch one's hand; it is no predatory or voracious thing but carnal and fleshly zeal is like the spir it of gunpowder set on fire, that tears and blows up all that stands before it. True zeal is like the vital heat in us that we live upon, which we never feel to be angry or troublesome; but though it gently feed upon the radical oil, within us, that sweet balsam of our natural moisture, yet it lives lovingly with it, and maintains that by which it is fed: but that other furious and distempered zeal is nothing else but a fever in the soul. To conclude, we may learn what kind of zeal it is, that we should make use of in promoting the gospel, by an emblem of God's own, given us in the Scripture, those fiery tongues, that upon the day of Pentecost, sat upon the Apostles; which sure were harmless flames, for we cannot read that they did any hurt, or that they did so much as singe an hair of their heads."* *Cudworth's sermon before the House of Commons, 1647. C CHAPTER II. ON THE NATURE AND DESIGN OF CHURCH FELLOWSHIP. I. Church fellowship is the exercise of the social principle in matters of religion and in obedience to the authority of Christ. Many persons seem to imagine that the only end and object of church fellowship is the participation of the Lord's supper. Hence they attach no other idea to a church than a company of Christians going together to the sacramental table; who have nothing to do with each other, till they arrive there, and whose reciprocal duties end where they begin. The observance of the Lord's supper it is confessed is one design and exercise of fellowship, but it is not the only one. Man is a social being, by which we mean that he instinctively seeks the company of his fellows; is capable of enjoying their society, and derives from their communion no small portion of his improvement and felicity. The aphorism of Solomon is as just as it is beautiful,-"As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Social bliss was the finish of paradisaical happiness; its influence has survived the shock of our apostacy, and will be felt amidst the felicities of the heavenly state. It is not matter of surprise, therefore, that the Lord Jesus should recognise the social principle in the arrangements of his wise and merciful economy. He might have left his people uncon nected by any visible social bond, or at best with no other guide to each other than the natural workings and affinities of the human bosom. Instead of this, however, he has by explicit authority grafted the duties. of his religion upon the propensities of our social nature. The identifying law of Christ's kingdom is love to one another; and in order that this love may be more perfect in its exercise, we are united in visible communion. When therefore we join a Christian church, we enter a society of believers for the purpose of giving and receiving every suitable expression of mutual love. We then associate ourselves with those towards whom we are to cherish, in consequence of a common relationship, the kindest emotions. We are not only to worship with them in the same place, not only to sit with them at the same sacramental board, but we are to consider ourselves as one of their fellowship, to identify our best feelings with theirs, and in all things to consider ourselves members one of another. Our fellowship is not intended for, nor is it to be expressed by, any one exclusive act; but it is to extend itself to every possible way of having communion with each other. We are to rejoice together in the common salvation; and to bring forth together the fruits of a like precious faith. Dr. Watts has very beautifully expressed the feelings which every church member who understands his relationship constantly recognises. This exercise of the social principle is conducted with direct reference to the authority of Christ. He who is our Lord has commanded it. It is his will that his people should not live solitarily and unconnected, but in visible association. To the question, therefore, Why are you a church member?—the first answer must be, because Jesus Christ has commanded it. Independently of the advantages arising from this practice, the true ground of it is the authority of our divine Lord. It is not only a privilege which he has permitted us to enjoy, but a duty which he has commanded us to perform. If we were unable to perceive its advantages, it would still be our duty to comply with it. fellowship is no less a duty than the observance of the first day Sabbath, as the same reasons may be advanced for one as for the other. Church From not viewing it in this light it is, that so many refuse to join themselves to the church: they consider membership merely in the light of a privilege, which it is at their option to receive or refuse. This is a very great and a very injurious error. If a believer remain without visible connexion with some christian society, he is guilty of direct disobedience against his rightful Lord. II. Fellowship is the instituted way of making a public profession of the faith and hope of the gospel. A man may hold the opinions and approve the practices of some voluntary worldly society; but until he has united himself with it, he is not considered either by its members or the public, as one of their number. His actually joining himself to them according to the established usage, is his profession. Thus a man may |