AN

ADDRESS TO BELIEVERS

OF

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,

ON THAT

CONVERSATION WHICH BECOMETH IT:

WITH

AN APPENDIX,

Containing an Account of the late Change in the Author's Sentiments, concerning the Lawfulness of his former Connection with the Religious Establishment of this Country;

AND

HIS LETTER TO THE PROVOST,

WHICH OCCASIONED

HIS EXPULSION FROM THE COLLEGE OF DUBLIN.

TO WHICH IS NOW ADDED,

A BRIEF APPLICATION

OF THE PRINCIPLES ASSERTED IN THIS ADDRESS, &c.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.- Phil. iii. 15.

Set thee up way-marks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.-Jer. xxxi. 21.

[First Published Nov. 1804.]

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE importance of the subject discussed in the following pages is a sufficient apology for the publication of them. The late change also in my circumstances and conduct seems to require some explanation of the grounds of it; and the more so, because I would be sorry they should be confounded with the grounds, on which Dissenters ordinarily stand.

My reason for accompanying that explanation with the Address on Phil. i. 27. is this, that I am certain none can truly enter into the grounds of my conduct, but those who enter into the subject of that Address. It contains the substance of a Sermon, which I preached last Summer in different places; and which, in some, gave considerable offence.

Let me add, that I would be understood as having altogether

renounced the clerical character; and having therefore no longer any pretensions to the usual appellation of Reverend: while I have no scruple about giving it to others, as I consider it only synonymous with that of Parson. The character of scriptural ELDERS, or OVERSEERS, of a Christian Church, is very different indeed from that of Clergymen. But neither do I hold such an office in that Church of Christ, with which I am connected; nor, from particular circumstances, am I ever likely to hold it.

If any ask, in what character I continue to preach, and to write on religious subjects; my answer is ready—in the character of a disciple and servant of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Paradise Row,

Nov. 14, 1804.

AN ADDRESS, &c.

Let your conversation be, as it becometh the Gospel of Christ.-Phil. i. 27.

THE Apostolic exhortation upon which I would offer some remarks, for the purpose of explaining and enforcing it, was addressed to all the saints in Christ Jesus which were at Philippi, with the overseers and servants of that Christian Church. v. 1. It was addressed-as indeed the very terms of the exhortation imply-to persons who believed the GOSPEL of CHRIST, that Gospel which the Apostle had preached in their city; (see Acts xvi.) and who by this circumstance were distinguished from all the rest of its inhabitants. It was addressed to persons for whose fellowship in the Gospel he rejoiced; and concerning whom he avows his confidence that He who had begun a good work in them would perform (or finish) it until the day of Jesus Christ. v. 5, 6. The good work begun in them, upon which he grounds this confidence, was "the work of FAITH." Where this was not wrought, he acknowledged no good work even begun. This the Apostle knew to be the "work of GOD;" and he was too well instructed in the things of the kingdom of God, to admit the idea that it might be left unfinished; that any in whom it was begun would fail of "receiving the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls."

But while he views them as made partakers of "like precious faith" with himself, while he sees the high character and state to which they were thus called, even that of saints in Christ Jesus-or persons holy to the LORD" and separated from the world, of a people belonging to the living God as his; while he traces this their character and state to its proper origin, the distinguishing mercy and effectual power of God, and therefore gives to HIM the thanks which were his due (v. 3.); while he confidently looks forward to the completion of the divine purposes of grace towards them, and joyfully anticipates their admission into eternal glory; his heart was at the same time big with solicitude that, during their pilgrimage on earth, they might increasingly glorify Him who had called them into his kingdom, and might be "filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. v. 11.” He beholds them "trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD" (Is. lxi. 3.); and he prays that they may abound more and more in the corresponding fruits of righteousness, which none but such can bear. Upon them he therefore presses the exhortation with affectionate earnestness-LET YOUR CONVERSATION BE, AS IT BECOMETH THE GOSPEL or CHRIST.

To such persons was it directed of old by the Apostle; and to such, and such alone, is it addressed in the word to this day. The name of Christian is now commonly adopted by men, who do not even profess to believe that Gospel which Paul preached, and which these Philippians had received; by men who do not even profess to be saints in Christ Jesus; by men who are willingly ignorant" that this was of old the common character of all Christians, and that the Christian character can no more change with the lapse of ages, than the word of our GoD can fail to stand for ever. (Is. xl. 8. 1 Pet. i. 25.) Such persons may take the name of Christians, if they will; and may be unwilling from various causes to give it up: but they have not the thing, and do not even profess to have it. To such persons the Apostolic exhortation cannot consistently be addressed. To them the language of Scripture is-" repent ye and believe the Gospel;" for "except ye repent, ye shall perish." While they disbelieve the Gospel of Christ, vain are all their attempts to imitate that conversation which becometh it. They may, and sometimes do, produce an imitation that deceives the human eye: but 'tis at most the lifeless image, borrowing the outward resemblance of an animated form, while it is not what it seems. If any such, however, should read these pages, let me entreat their attention while I briefly declare the Gospel of CHRIST; "if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." (2 Tim. ii. 25.) To ascertain what the Scriptures intend by this is altogether necessary, in order to ascertain what the conversation is that becometh the Gospel.

The GOSPEL of CHRIST, then, is the testimony which GOD has borne to JESUS of Nazareth as the appointed Saviour of sinners. The expression-GOSPEL-marks the joyful import of the testimony; and the words of CHRIST-mark the one subject of it, and that in which all its joyfulness consists. It is "glad tidings" sent into a sinful world by Him, who alone can speak with authority "good words and comfortable" to creatures so circumstanced as men; even by that God, against whom all men have sinned. It announces to all that which alone can be matter of substantial joy to such creatures: it "publishes salvation"-salvation from sin, and from all the consequences of sin; a salvation suited to the wants and condition of a sinner, even of the chief. And this it does, in testifying of CHRIST the great Deliverer, divinely called to the office and anointed for it; (Is. lxi. 1. and Luke iv. 16-21.) in testifying of his person and of his work. It testifies that He who, as "the Son of man," was crucified between two malefactors, is indeed what he avowed himself to be before he suffered on the cross-THE SON OF GOD; and has been declared to be so by his resurrection from the dead: that He is "the only begotten of the Father,"-ONE with the Father-by whom all things were created that are in heaven and that are in earth :" that He is "the brightness of the glory and the express image of the person" of God, in whom alone the character of the only true God is fully manifested. It testifies that He came into the world, leaving "the glory which he had with the Father before the world was," (John xvii. 5.) assuming our fleshly nature, and

taking upon him the form of a servant-the servant of JEHOVAH; (IS. xlii. 1. and Matth. xii. 17.) and this, in order that He might do the gracious will of the Father who sent him, and finish the work to which he was called. (Heb. x. 4-9.) It testifies that He, in the days of his flesh upon earth, did-by his "obedience unto death, even the death of the cross"-perform and endure all that the unchangeable and perfect law of God required to be performed and endured, for the justification, pardon, and acceptance even of the chief of sinners. It testifies that He is "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world;" his RIGHTEOUS SERVANT, (Is. liii. 11.) who has "magnified the law and made it honourable;" the BELOVED SON, in whom the Father is well pleased—“ well pleased for his righteousness' sake:" (Is. xlii. 21. and Matt. xvii. 5.) in so much that God can justify the ungodly, in perfect consistency with his essential righteousness and truth; (Rom. iii. 26. and iv. 5.) and is now made known in that character which distinguishes JEHOVAH from every idol-as a JUST GOD and a SAVIOUR." (Is. xlv. 21-25.) In fine, the Gospel of Christ brings nigh his righteousness and salvation to every man that hears the joyful sound; in testifying that allwithout any difference or exception-who believe in Him (or believe the record concerning him) are accepted in Him the beloved, are justified from all things in Him who is "the Lord their righteousness;" (Rom. x. 4-13.) that they receive the character and privileges of the sons of God, in Him who is "the first-born among many brethren;" (John i. 12, 13. and 1 John v. 1.) and that they shall be saved unto the uttermost by Him who is "the Captain of their salvation," bringing many sons unto glory, and highly exalted as "head over all things to his Church." (Heb. ii. 5-11. John iii. 35, 36. and v. 23, 24. and x. 27-30.)

This is THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, or-as it is elsewhere calledthe glad tidings of the glory of Christ: (see 2 Cor. iv. 4. in the original) that Gospel, which whosoever believeth shall be saved, and whoso believeth not shall be condemned," because he believeth not the record which God hath given of his Son. (Mark xvi. 16. and 1 John v. 10.) The avowed Deist does not more effectually reject this record, than the nominal Christian who believes something else than this under the name of a Gospel, and trusts in some other than this Christ under the name of a Saviour. (Gal. i. 6-9.) Whosoever are offended or "stumble at the word" which testifies of Christ, whether they manifest this offence by an open denial of the Scriptures, or by a perversion of them from their true meaning, stumble at Him who is the only foundation laid in Zion; (1 Pet. ii. 6—8.) and betray in this the hostility of their carnal minds against the true God. (John xv. 23, 24. and Rom. viii. 7.) Such indeed is the character of our common nature, which reigns in all but those who are begotten again by the word of truth, through the enlightening and convincing power of the Spirit of truth giving that word entrance into their hearts. (1 Pet. i. 3, 23. 2 Thes. ii. 13, 14.) And He is "the faithful and true witness" who has said-" Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

And