A DISCOURSE.

IN love to God and men, as I trust, I was led to write on the important and interesting subject contained in my text, desiring it may be for the good of mankind in general; hoping from this, they may be led to have right views of the character of God, and their duty to him and to each other, in this world of sorrow, mourning and death; and that we all may be prepared to meet God, and to enjoy him forever.

The text is selected from the Acts of the Apostles, chap. xx. ver. 32: And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

I shall first give some reasons why this text was given by Paul to his brethren.

2. Show how we become brethren, in the sense of the text.

3. The character of God, to which the Apostle commended his brethren.

4. The word of his grace, by the assistance of God, as being sufficient to build them up, and give them an inheritance among the sanctified.

1st. I am to give some reasons why this text was given by Paul to his brethren.

It appears by reading the 20th chapter of Acts, that the Apostle had labored much in Asia, in preaching the gospel, and his labors had been greatly blest, and his mind was filled with great anxiety for the welfare of his brethren, he therefore sends to Ephesus for his brethren to meet him at a certain place, to deliver to them his farewell address, never expecting to see them again.He goes on in the first place to state to them his manner of labor among them, from the first day that he came into Asia; that at all seasons he had served the Lord with all humility of mind, in tears and temptations which befel him by the lying in wait of the Jews; that he kept nothing back that was profitable, and had taught them from house to house, testifying to Jews and Greeks repentance towards God and faith in Christ. He further tells them he should go bound in spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that should befall him there, save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city that bonds and afflictions awaiteth him; but he tells them, none of these things moved him, neither did he count his life dear to himself, that he might finish his course with joy, and the ministry which he had received of Christ. He also declared himself to be pure from the blood of all men, and that he had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God. He then gives the elders charge to take heed to themselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers, to feed the church of God, which he had purchased with his own blood. He tells them, that after his departure from them, grievous wolves would enter in and not spare the flock; also of themselves should men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them, and that they

should watch, and remember that for three years he had not ceased to warn every one night and day with tears.

We now discover by Paul's testimony, that no pains had been neglected for their good, and his love was great towards them, and also his labor and suffering while with them, he wished them to remember, and the doctrine he taught was true, and that they should be faithful to God and to one another. I would now ask in what language the Apostle could have addressed his brethren, which would have been more to their comfort, when he was about to leave them, than in the text before us. The attachment they as brethren had for Paul, must have been very great, as he had been with them for three years, and he had been the instrument of their conversion, and had taught day and night from house to house, by which means he had become their familiar friend, and their hearts were filled with grief, and they sorely wept when they saw his face for the last time.But here is at this trying time blessed consolation to them in these words: Brethren, although I must leave you, yet I commend you to God; he will never leave you, but in all your trials, look to him for his blessing, and the word of his grace will give you consolation, and prepare you for an inheritance among the sanctified.

2dly. I am to show how we or they become brethren in the proper sense of the text. In one sense, the whole human family may be considered as brethren; God being the father of the whole, and we all his offspring. In this sense we are all brethren, but not in the sense of the text. Secondly, we may all be considered brethren in Adam, but not in the sense of the text: and thirdly, mankind may form themselves into societics, either civil

or religious, and yet not be brethren, in the proper sense that Paul called those whom he addressed as brethren. The Jews considered, because they were the children of Abraham, or his descendants, they were of course all the children of God, and heirs according to promise.But all were not considered the Israel of God who were the descendants of Abraham; for when John the Baptist made his appearance in the wilderness of Judea, and preached repentance, and many of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and also those that lived in the region about Jordan, came together and were baptized, these Pharisees or Jews came also to John's baptism. He told them they were a generation of vipers, and they must bring forth fruits meet for repentance, and think not to say because they were Abraham's seed, they were the children of God, for God was able of the stony-hearted Gentiles to raise up children to himself; and St. Paul himself, before his conversion, was a Pharisee of the strictest sect, and had the same envious and viperous spirit those had of whom John spake. We cannot suppose that Paul considered the Christians his brethren at the time when he was persecuting them and dragging them to prison. Neither can we suppose that the Christians considered Paul their Christian brother, when at the same time he was their greatest enemy; for John saith, if any man say he loves God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen? God is love. He that dwells in God, dwells in love, and God dwelleth in him. This union must take place, in order for God to be our father and we to become brethren.