ness, however, does not consist of what the world agrees to call rectitude and probity, but of a rectitude and probity intrinsically far more exalted than theirs; it has, moreover, respect to the rights of God, as well as to the rights of man, and to the rights of man as a probationer for eternity, as well as a tenant of this world; while his views of moral obligation extend to the minutest particulars of integrity, as well as to the broader and more prominent outlines. Besides, his motives and principles and rules of action are of an immensely more elevated character than those of the conventional code of morals adopted by the men of the world, (whether these range themselves under the flag of infidelity, or the banner of Christ,) which, indeed, properly speaking, have nothing exalted about them, but when strictly examined, evidently resolve themselves into merely selfish considerations.

VIII. The child of God "loveth his brother." 1 John iii. 10; iv. 7, and v. 1. (page 9.)

This is a very important and determinate characteristic of the children of God. A child of God loves his brother "according to the flesh," his natural brother, with a natural affection; he also has the love of ordinary benevolence, in regard to his fellow-creatures generally. But neither of these affections is what the Apostle means. Neither of these would constitute the test of character which the Apostle has in view.

The love of which he speaks, is the love of the children of God, AS SUCH; because they are the children of God. This clearly appears from another of the above-cited verses, "whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him." In other words, he who loves God, loves the children of God; and the children of God, are those who believe that Jesus Christ is born of God; and the converse is equally true; they who love not the children of God, are not themselves his children. It is hardly necessary to observe, that to believe as a matter of fact, or sacred history, that Jesus Christ is born of God constitutes no man a child of God; for, if that were the case, thousands would be such, in whom not a single mark, or characteristic, of the children of God can be found. This expression, like that of the same Apostle, already considered under No. I. (page 13) comprehends the belief of all that is implied in the name of Christ, or the Messiah; and the cordial reception of him in that character, and in reference to all the holy, sublime and benevolent objects, and results of his mission.

The children of God are all of one family; and have the same moral or spiritual nature. Their principles, sentiments, feelings, dispositions, aud pursuits; their aims, rules of action, objects, and ends, are all substantially and essentially the

same. They are all brethren, and, in the economy of grace, Jesus Christ is their elder brother.* Although they may have been previously strangers, they easily and soon become known to each other, and cleave to each other with an affection which is experienced only by the children of God, and which is quite inconceivable by unregenerate persons. For the mutual love which unites real believers in Christ, is founded on the fact of their having been respectively born again of the Spirit, or spiritually regenerated; on the common character of their new nature and their common relation to the same Heavenly Father and Divine Saviour; and not in the least degree on any external circumstance; such, for instance, as being members of any particular church, in any particular nation, or part of the world, which, as to this point, are matters perfectly indifferent; whereas those things which constitute the characteristics or attributes of a child of God are things of essential and infinite importance. Particular christian communities or churches rise and fall, flourish and decay, but the Church of Christ, which is composed only of his brethren, the spiritual children of his Heavenly Father, and is the family of God, like the truth of his Word, endureth for ever. Thus the elements which constitute the character of a child of God have nothing in them accidental or external, but are essential,

*Heb. ii. 11, 12.

spiritual, and immutable, fixed in the inmost re.. cesses of the soul and partaking ofits immortality.

The members of the family of God are found in every christian community in which the spiritual life of religion prevails, and in which the doctrines of the New Testament, confirmed as they are by the Old, are cordially embraced and obeyed. Such, and no others, are they whom God recognises as his children. As to a church or christian community composed altogether of true disciples of Christ, this recognition is both individual and collective. Whenever there are found in a community so designated, men and women of the world, this recognition is, of course, individual only. The foundation of God standeth sure having this seal: "The Lord knoweth them that are his. And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." "What is the chaff to the wheat, saith the Lord?" "He will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Now it inevitably follows, that those professing Christians, who do not love the members of this universal spiritual family, are not, themselves, the children of God, neither are they members of Christ, nor inheritors (or heirs) of the kingdom of heaven. For thus speaketh the Apostle John, "We know that we have passed from darkness to light, because we love [not the members of any particular communion, assuming to be disciples of Christ, but because we love] the brethren"—the brethren

of Christ, the spiritual children of God, in him. Members of a particular church may have a kind of attachment to other members of it, without christian affection for them; or they may have affection for them because they are members of their own particular church, without love to them as brethren in Christ, in which cases, it is obvious, the regard they profess to cherish may be essentially selfish, involving views and feelings as remote as can be conceived, from that holy, generous, exalted affection, which, while it cleaves to every individual brother and sister in Christ, embraces, in the arms of its expansive and sublime philanthropy, "the whole family in heaven and earth" who are accurately named after Him. Now the awful alternative here is, that whoever has not dwelling in him this love to "the brethren,” whatever his profession or subterfuges may be, "abideth in death."

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IX. The children of God overcome the world.

Whoever," says the Apostle John, "is born of God overcometh the world." 1 John v. 4, (page 9.) They must evidently, then, be men who have that faith which is of the operation of God, for the same Apostle saith plainly, "This is the victory (or instrument of victory, the effect being put figuratively for the cause,) which overcometh the world, even our faith." He also plainly describes what it is in the world which the child of God over"All that is in the world, the lust of the

comes.