The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

40 SERMO>iS.prove the mliiJ, enlarge the underflanding, and increafethe virtue and the faith of one another, theyare mutually comforted, and will hardly be fenfible ofthe ills they fufFer j as an illuflrious band of kinfmenor brothers, they are knit together in love, and bearone another's burdens- And what will alleviate diftrefs,if it is not the fympathy, the counfel, and theaffiftance of wife and tender hearted friends, mutuallygiven and received ?Coniidering themfelves as ftrangers,—asexiles in a foreign land,—as the citizens ofanother country, they jointly travel homewards to thecity they belong to, they intereft themfelves in the affairsof one another, and like pilgrims croffing animpetuous river, they pafs through life braced, as itwere, in the arms of one another. Mutually ftrengthened,and comforted, and miited unto Jefus, theyknow they fhall never perifh j they ftand unbendedunder the prefTures of life, waiting, and encouragingcne another to v/ait for the " end of their faith, thefalvaticn of their fouls."^I might alfo have added, That there are fubjec^sv/hich are proper to be difcuffed only in private circles.Religious knowledge hath been dillinguiihcdinto thofe points which may at all times, and beforeall men, be fully and clearly explained j and thofe,which are to be very warily touched upon. The plainduties and faith of the gofpel are the firft ; knottypoints and controveriies, which take up fo much roomin moll theological fyftems, are the laft r And whattitle hath a«common audience to hear difcourfes oncontroverted points? What purpofe can this ferve?"Why are fuch things offered in public ? Is it that2x0 part of the counfel of God may he fupprelfed, northe people defrauded ? But you impart to them noreal knowledge, you only amufc them with hardwords, for they cannot judge' of controverfy -, manyof them haveno opinion about thofe points concerningwhich they raife the grestefl clamour jthey take