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A society which he has called by his word and Spirit to his kingdom and glory. 4thly, A society in the midst of which he dwells, by an inhabitation far more excellent, far more lasting, than that by which he dwelt of old in the temple of Jerusalem. "An habitation of God through "the Spirit." "Ye are the temple of the living God, "as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in "them."h 5thly, A society which he crowns with every blessing, and endows with the richest gifts of his Spirit." I will abundantly bless her provision; I "will satisfy her poor with bread; I will also clothe "her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout "aloud for joy.” i "Therefore they shall come and

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sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to "the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, "and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the "herd; and their soul shall be as a watered garden, &c."i "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the "mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills "shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall "flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of "the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of "Shittim." 6thly, A society for which he bears so affectionate and tender a regard, that he prescribes no bounds or measures to himself in proclaiming her praises: "Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; "thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, "with one chain of thy neck.

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How fair is thy love, And why do I select a

part of this divine song, when the whole is to the same

f 1 Thes. ii. 12.

h

* Ephes. ii. 22.

2 Cor. vi. 16. See John xiv. 23. Rev. iii. 20.

i Ps. cxxxii. 15, 16.

* Joel iii. 18.

j Jer. xxxi. 12-14.

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Song iv. 9, 10.

effect? 7thly, A society which he protects with so solicitous a care, that she is secure against the assaults of earth and hell, and amidst all adversities is more than a conqueror.m 8thly, A society which he will at last deliver from the tyranny of Antichrist, enlarge by the accession of the Jews and multitudes of the Gentiles, and render glorious by signal improvements in wisdom, holiness, consolation, and spiritual excellence of every kind. This is often promised in the prophecies of Scripture, and very expressly and copiously in the sixtieth Chapter of Isaiah, which relates entirely to the glorious state of the Church after the restoration of Israel to it, of which he had spoken in the Chapter immediately preceding." 9thly, A society, in fine, which, after having discharged from all her contests on the earth, and rescued from the jaws of the grave, in which the bodies of the greater part had been detained, he will bless with everlasting felicity in heaven. "Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in ❝ his own order, Christ the first-fruits; afterwards, they that are Christ's, at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom "to God, even the Father, &c."o

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"In

XXXVII. Whilst all these privileges pertain to the whole body of the Church, every member of the mystical body individually, is blessed with a share of them, according to his own proportion. And since all believers are very intimately connected together by the bond of mutual love, each will regard what is given to the whole society, as conferred upon himself. Who that considers these things would not exclaim; "Bless

m Rom. viii. 35—39. Is. lx. 18.
n Is. lix. 20. Comp. Rom. xi. 26.
• 1 Cor. xv. 22-24.

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"ed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to "approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts; "we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, "even of thy holy temple. By terrible things in righteousness, wilt thou answer us, O God of our sal"vation, who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea."P XXXVIII. But further, that faith which respects the Holy Church of Christ, requires and infers the offices of Charity towards her. How can we, without crime, be void of love to a society of men, who are the care of Angels, and the delight of Heaven? 1st, Let us beware, therefore, lest in any instance we ever injure the Church; all the injuries done to which, the Lord will avenge as done to himself; Acts ix. 4, 5. Who that ever engaged in any enterprize against her, has not had the worst possible success?" And in that day will "I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; "all that burden themselves with it, shall be cut in

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pieces, though all the people of the earth be gather"ed together against it." On this subject instruction may be received from the ignominious and dreadful exits of Pharaoh, Sennacherib, Haman, Herod, and others without number, both in ancient and modern times. 2dly, Let us diligently inquire into the fortunes of the Church as detailed in the prophecies of Scripture, that, by a kind of holy ingenuity of faith, we may gather from the contests with which she has been already exercised, what she has further to fear or to hope for :-adoring on every occasion, the admirable ways of the Lord. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy."

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3dly,

P Ps. lxv. 5, 6.

9 Zech. xii. 3.

'I Rev. i. 3.

Let us tenderly sympathize with the Church in her adversities. 4thly, Let us rejoice in her prosperity, congratulating her in affectionate terms; "The Lord "bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of "holiness."—" That I may see the good of thy chosen, "that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that "I may glory with thine inheritance."" 5thly, Let us promote the edification of the Church by all the means in our power, by discourses, by labours, by "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, prayers. "and for Jerusalem's sake will I not rest, until the "righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the "salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth."v

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"For

'my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee; because of the house of the "Lord our God, I will seek thy good."w

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XXXIX. This is a duty which all of every rank and condition are bound to perform. Let the princes of this world devote entirely to the enlargement of Christ's kingdom, that sceptre, and that dignity, which they have received from Christ. Kings shall be thy nursing-fathers, and their queens thy nursing-mo"thers." Let rulers of Churches esteem it the sole business committed to them, to exert their abilities with unwearied diligence in promoting the interests of the Church. "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, "O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day

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nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep

not silence." Let believers of the common people remember, that it is incumbent on them also, by holy

Nehem. i. 3, 4. Ps. cii. 14. Amos vi. 6.

t Jer. xxxi. 23.

▾ Is. lxii. 1.

* Is. xlix. 23.

u Ps. cvi. 5.

w Ps. cxxii. 8, 9.

y Is. lxii. 6.

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conferences on religion, and by the example of an irreproachable life, to allure to the fellowship of the Church, and to confirm in her communion, first of all, their domestics; then their neighbours; and in fine, all of every description with whom they have intercourse. Wherefore, comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do," &c. And here I include even our wives, and our daughters, whom it no less becomes to lend their assistance in building the walls of the spiritual Jerusalem, than it became the daughters of Shallum of old to repair the walls of the earthly Jerusalem. And who is there, in short, that is not under indispensable obligations to offer up daily prayers on behalf of the Church? Thy kingdom come." "Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build "thou the walls of Jerusalem." "Oh! that the sal"vation of Israel were come out of Zion! When the "Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Ja"cob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad."d

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XL. The article in the Creed immediately following, namely, that of THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS, is so closely connected with the one relating to the Holy Catholic Church, that it appears to be nearly the same. For what is the Church but a Society? What is a Society, but the union of persons possessing some privilege in common? Who are they, besides, that compose the Church, excepting the Saints? What is the Catholic Church, in fine, but the association of Gentiles with Jews in the paths of holiness? Hence also this additional article of the Communion of Saints, is not found in many of the ancient copies of the Creed.

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