SERMON XII.

Of SCHISM.

I COR. xii. 25.

That there should be no Schifm in the body, but that the members Should have the fame care one for

another.

H

XII.

AVING, in my laft difcourfe, SERM. confidered and explained the nature of herefy, I intend, in this, to treat of fchifm, its almost infeparable companion. It must indeed feem very ftrange to every one, who is acquainted with the mild and amiable spirit of Christianity, that the

pro

SERM. profeffors of a religion, which so strictly
XII. enjoins gentleness, moderation, and uni-

verfal charity, fhould be fo forward to
divide and crumble into parties, and op-
pofe one another with so much rage and
violence: This is quite unnatural as we
are men, united by the bond of one com-
mon nature, one common intereft; but
much more out of character as we are
Chriftians, whofe peculiar distinction from
profeffors of all other religions, if we a&
upon the principles that true Christianity
inspires, will be mutual forbearance, har-
mony and
peace. But yet the matter of
fact is unconteftable, and won't admit of
any evasion. Selfishness, pride, the defire
of dominion, a tyrannical impofing spirit,
and fometimes perhaps (for I fear that
has been but feldom the cafe) mere pre-
judice void of any direct ill defign, have
occafioned as great and dangerous factions
in the church, as were ever fomented, by
the fame bad causes, against the security
and peace of civil government.
Christian society has been split into infinite
divifions and fubdivifions, of feparate and
inconfiftent interefts, excommunicating,
reviling, and almoft always, when they

The

had

had it in their power, perfecuting each SERM. other; by which the common caufe has XII. been expofed and weakned; and Christianity itself, which is most admirably adapted to civilize mankind, to calm and foften boisterous and rugged tempers, and promote univerfal order and happiness, has been the means of irritating and inflaming their paffions, and by a most ftrange and melancholy perverfion of it, the fource of difcord, confufion, and mifery.

And what is it that has been the main fubject of the most bitter, uncharitable, and outrageous contentions? That has rais'd fo many factions under the name of Christian societies? And not only destroy'd the peace and communion of the church, but in many cases, broke through all the ties of friendship, natural affection, and common humanity?-Have thefe evils fprung from a zeal for the eternal and unchangeable obligations of morality? From a concern for justice, truth, and mercy, or an emulation to excel in fubftantial and useful virtue? Quite the contrary. Almost all the schisms and disturbances that have happen'd in

SERM. the Chriftian world (and church history XII. furnishes us with a pretty large cata'logue) have been about mere trifles, things of very little confequence to true Chriftianity, and often-times repugnant and dishonourable to it; fuch as, fubmiffion to ecclefiaftical authority, the belief of myfteries of which we have no ideas, and conformity to rites and ceremonies of human inftitution, which serve but to encumber and debafe the rational worship of the Deity, and render it weak and fuperftitious. Thus we find, that very foon after the Apostolic age, a little infignificant and fenfeless controverfy, about the day of keeping Eafter, occafioned a terrible confufion and fchifm in the Christian church; the western churches feparating, and renouncing communion with the eastern, for several years together. And have not some of the hotteft difputes fince been about the secret decrees of God, and metaphyfical fubtilties relating to his ef fence, and manner of fubfifting, about the validity or nullity of minifterial ordinations, praying with, or without a form, bowings, crofings, garments, and other outward modifications of piety, which are

but the circumftantials, and very incon-SERM. fiderable ones, at beft, of religion; and XII. can't, in my judgment, be reckon'd essential, or even important branches of any religion that is fit for mankind to observe, or their Maker to require, without entertaining very low thoughts of the wifdom of God, and a moft contemptible opinion of human nature. And fince thefe divisions among Chriftians are fuch a reproach to their character, and have been urg'd as objections against the excellent doctrine they profess, which is the most benevolent and peaceable that ever appear'd in the world; fince they have produc'd, and will always neceffarily produce the most mischievous and fatal effects, injurious to true piety and virtue, and to the intereft of civil fociety; and finally, fince, in almost every controverfy, we find both the contending parties forward to charge the fchifm on each other, as indeed it is too natural, when the paffions are strongly engag'd, for both to run unwarrantable lengths in the heat of their animofity and oppofition; upon thefe accounts, I fay, it must be of equal advantage to us to form right notions of fchifm,

VOL. I.

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