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against his fellow Christians, is an insult upon that Spirit which dwells in them; for they are the temple of God, and if any man profane this temple, him will God destroy. Christians are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit; all divisions and separations among the members of the church of God are inconsistent with their enjoying the Spirit. He dwells with those who are meek and humble, and tremble at the word; not with the proud, self-confident and vain.

They who cause divisions in churches in order to form new sects, usually make high pretensions to the influence of the Spirit. But whatever they may pretend, their conduct demonstrates, that they have not the Spirit of God; for he is not a Spirit of contention, but of peace; and his work is not division and separation among Christians, but unity and love. See then that you walk worthy of your vocation, in all humility, meekness, forbearance and love, keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of

peace; for there is one body, one

Spirit, one hope, one

Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, through all, and in us all.

SERMON XXIII.

EPHESIANS IV. 8-13.-Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

THE Apostle, having mentioned, in the 7th verse, the grace bestowed on believers "according to the measure of the gift of Christ," immediately proceeds, in the words now read, to explain what the gifts are which Christ has bestowed; and to show, that they were dispensed at his ascension, according to the divine purpose, for the general edification of the church.

To prove that the ascension of Christ was to be followed with the bestowment of spiritual gifts, he quotes a passage from the 68th Psalm, "Thou hast ascended on high; thou hast led captivity captive; thou hast received gifts for men." That this was spoken not of the divine nature, but of Christ, as God manifest in the flesh, he concludes from the expression, "Thou hast ascended on

high." For his ascension presupposes a descent into the lower parts of the earth. And he who thus descended is the same that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. These terms cannot properly be applied to God, who is a universal Spirit; nor yet can they in their full sense, belong to David, or any mere man; and therefore must be understood of Jesus Christ.

Our Lord's "descent into the lower parts of the earth," may signify his incarnation; according to these words of David, "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth." Or it may refer to his death and burial, in which sense the phrase is also used, "They that seek to destroy me, shall go down into the lower parts of the earth;" or into

the grave.

Christ's exaltation is expressed by his "ascending up far above all heavens," above these visible starry heavens, into the glorious presence of God, who has set his glory above the heavens.

Elsewhere he is said to be "made higher than the heavens;" and to be "raised to heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion."

Christ has thus ascended, "that he might fill all things;" i. e. might, according to his promise, fill his apostles and other disciples with heavenly gifts and graces, and thus furnish them to every work to which they should be called.

"He led captivity captive." This phrase is used, in the Old Testament, to signify a complete conquest over enemies, especially over such as had formerly been victorious. This is the meaning of it in the song of Deborah. In our text it refers to Christ's triumph over Satan and death. "He, by his death, delivered those, who through fear of death, were subject to bondage."

"He spoiled principalities and powers, triumphing over them on the cross." But he triumphed more gloriously, when, after his ascension, he poured down his Holy Spirit on his apostles and disciples, and thus enabled them to cast out devils, and to turn sinners from the power of Satan unto God. He also triumphed over death in a most conspicuous manner, when, rising from the grave, ascending into heaven, and shedding forth miraculous gifts, he demonstrated his power to quicken whom he would, to call forth the dead from their graves, and to exalt believers to an eternal state of glory with himself.

"He gave gifts to men." The expression in the 68th Psalm is, "He received gifts for men." He received gifts from the Father to bestow them on men. It hath pleased the Father, that in him all fulness should dwell; and that of his fulness we all should receive grace for grace. All power, in heaven and earth, is committed to him. Hence, when he commanded his apostles to go forth and preach the gospel, he promised to endue them with power from on high, by which they should cast out devils, speak with new tongues, recover the sick and defeat all the power of the enemy, and thus demonstrate their divine commission. Besides these extraordinary gifts vouchsafed for the confirmation of the gospel, he promised and bestowed such an internal influence of the Spirit, to accompany the preaching of the gospel, as should open men's hearts to attend to it and believe it. Accordingly, wherever the apostles went preaching the word, multitudes were turned from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, and from the works of the flesh to works meet for repent

ance.

The extraordinary gifts continued only for a season, until the gospel was established. The ordinary influence of the Spirit is alike necessary in all ages, and will, in a

greater or less degree, attend the gospel to the end of the world.

Among the gifts bestowed on the church, St. Paul par ticularly mentions the officers appointed for its edification. "Christ gave some apostles; some prophets; some evangelists; some pastors and teachers."

By apostles, prophets and evangelists are intended those extraordinary ministers, who were employed to propagate the gospel in the world, and who, for that purpose, were endowed with miraculous powers. By pastors and teachers are generally understood those ordinary ministers, who had the care of particular churches, and who were to be continued in succession to the end of the world. A similar distinction is made in the 12th chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. "God hath set some in the church; first apostles; secondarily prophets; thirdly teachers; after that miracles, &c."

The name of apostles is especially applied to those, who were immediately commissioned by Jesus Christ, to be witnesses of his doctrines and works, his death and resurrection, and to go forth and publish his gospel among the nations of the earth. To these, as occasion required the Spirit revealed the mysteries of the divine will, that they might communicate them to the world.

Prophets were men endowed with supernatural knowledge in divine things; the knowledge of the ancient scriptures, of the doctrines and mysteries of the gospel, and, in some cases, of future events. These were chiefly employed in opening and explaining to believers the great truths of religion.

Evangelists are generally supposed to have been men employed in propagating the gospel among the Heathens, in founding churches where Christ had not been named, and in confirming the churches which were already founded.

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