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lieveth all things. Charity teaches us to believe no ill of another without fatisfying evidence, and forbids us to fpread it, although it be true, without apparent neceffity; But will charity either juftify or excufe us, in folemnly affirming a pofitive fact, the existence of which is uncertain in itself, and to us unknown. I do not take upon me to fay, that all are bad men who are guilty, by act or consent, of this practice, because I do not know how far the plea of ignorance or mistake may go; but this may be fafely faid that they do in a public capacity, what, if they were to do in a private capacity between man and man, would render them contemptible, or infamous, or both.

These two particulars have often brought reproach up. on the church of Scotland, to which it is very difficult to make a proper reply. Would to God the occafion given for it were wholly taken away. In the mean time, every one who has a just regard to the glory of God, or the fuccefs of his own work, will endeavor to maintain fuch an uniformity of character, as will bear that examination, to which it ought in juftice, and muft of neceffity be expo,

fed.

In the laft place, I must beg leave to speak a few words to the people in general, on the fubject of this difcourfe. You may learn, my brethren, from the preceding dif course, by what rule you ought to judge, in all religious controverfies, where a determination is neceffary. Try all principles by their effects, and every perfon's pretences by his conduct. Examine, as far as you have proper evidence, who have real and vital religion most at heart, and what means do effectually promote it. Believe not every profeffion, but fee which is moft confiftent in all its parts. Have patience, in difficult cafes, till the tree have time to bring its fruits to maturity. Time will often write a clear and legible character, on what was very dárk and dubious at first.

It is probable fome will be ready to fay, there is no fmall doubtfulness in this rule itself. There may be found good men of many different parties, how then shall we judge between them? I anfwer, wherever there is true

religion, these perfons are to be confidered as the fervants of God, and his grace in them is to be confeffed without reluctance, and adored with thankfulnefs. There will, nevertheless, be still fufficient means to diftinguish between one profeffion and another, which hath the greatest influence in making men truly good. There may be, here and there, a good man under very great disadvantages. This may ferve to keep us from a bigotted narrowness of mind, and uncharitable condemnation of others. But it will never occafion, in any prudent perfon, a departure from these principles, and that difpenfation of ordinances, which he fees to be beft for building him up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto falvation. The truth is, one great defign of this difcourfe was to teach men to dif tinguish between the upright and the worthlefs of all fects, Turn your zeal from parties to perfons. Do not reproach or oppose men merely because they are of this or the other perfuafion. But, wherever there is a wicked or a worldly man in the office of a minifter, avoid the wolf in sheep's cloathing for your own fake, and, if poffible, drag off his difguife, that others may not be his prey. What doth it fignify what party a man is of, if the foundations are deftroyed, and truth and holiness, thefe infeparable companions, are trampled under foot. When fhall the time come, when the fincere lovers of Chrift, of every denomination, shall join together in oppofition to his open enemies and treacherous friends. There is a wonderful, though a natural union, among all worldly men, against the spirit and power of true religion wherever it appears. I am forry to add, that this is one of the inftances in which the children of this world are wifer in their generation than the children of light. Many will not meet together on earth for the worship of God, who fhall have but one temple at last where all from the eaft and from the weft, from the north and from the south, fhall meet, and join in their Creator and Redeemer's praife. The terms of admiflion into, and of exclufion from this happy dwelling, are recorded in the following remarkable terms, with which I fhall conclude this difcourfe, as indeed they are the fum of all that has

been faid in it, "And there fhall in no wife enter into it "any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abo"inination, or maketh a lie, but they which are written "in the Lamb's book of life."*

* Rev. xxi. 27.

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The CHARGE of SEDITION and FACTION against good MEN, especially faithful MINISTERS, confidered and accounted for.

A

SERMON,

Preached in the Abbey Church of Paisley, on Thursday, September 7th, 1758, at the Ordination of Mr. ARCHIBALD DAVIDSON, as one of the Ministers of that Church. To which is subjoined, the charge to the Minister, and the Exhortation to the People. Published at the desire of those who heard it.

ACTS xvii. 6. laft claufe.

These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.

MY BRETHREN,

You

YOU have had, of late, frequent opportunities of hearing difcourfes on the minifterial character and office. Thefe fubjects, indeed, have, on occafions of this and a fimilar nature, been fo often and fo well handled, that it is hard to fay any thing on them, which fhall not be either bare repetition, or an alteration very much for the worse. I have therefore made choice at this time of a fubject somewhat different, but the usefulness of which, both to minifters and people may be easily discerned.

A great part of the facred volume confifts of history. And, as the knowledge of paft events, and the hiftory of mankind in general, is an improving ftudy; fo there is no object of study more pleafant or more profitable, than that extensive view of the great plan of Providence which

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