CHAPTER VI.

Responsibility of Church-Members as professors of Religion.

"Among whom ye shine as lights in the world." Philippians ii. 15

No man can be regarded as being strictly and truly a professor of religion, so long as he refuses to associate himself with some visible community of christians. It is the association of christians in churches, which, in effect, draws the dividing line between that party on the one hand, who are considered as undertaking and engaging to be the followers of Christ, and that party on the other hand who are considered as undertaking no such thing.

This makes it proper for us, while we are examining the relations and duties of church-members, to give a particular and distinct attention to their peculiar responsibility as professors of religion.

I. Wherein does this responsibility of church members consist?

I answer first, It does not consist in their having any great duties to perform which are not the common duties of all men. It is their duty to love God, and to spend their lives in the service of the Redeemer; and so it is the duty of every other man. It is their duty to pray, to

pray often and fervently; and so it is the duty of every man. It is their duty to walk humbly with God, making his word their guide, and diligently observing all his institutions; and whose duty is it not? It is their duty to be always active and enterprising in efforts to do good, and especially in efforts to save souls; and is there any man who is not bound to do likewise? It is their duty to separate themselves from the wickedness of an ungodly world, and to avoid every appearance of evil; and is this duty peculiar to them? or is it a duty which no man can neglect but at the peril of his soul? It is their duty to commemorate the death of Christ according to his institution; and is not this the duty of every soul for whom Christ died, and to whom his dying love has been declared? It is their duty solemnly to dedicate their children to the Lord, and faithfully to train them in his covenant; and is not this too the duty of every parent, as really as it is theirs? All the details of duty are included in the great commandments, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and soul, and mind, and strength;" and "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself;"-and both these commandments in all the particulars of their application, are as binding on every man, as they are on him who has professed to follow Christ.

In what then does the peculiar responsibility of a professed christian consist? I answer sec

ondly, It consists generally in this fact, that in consequence of his relations to the cause of religion and to his fellow men as a professor of the gospel, his actions have an increased importance. The conduct of a professed christian, right and wrong, is more important than the same conduct could be, if he made no such profession. On this point I offer two illustrations.

1. His conduct is more generally observed, and more carefully scrutinized by those who witness it. Place any man where all his conduct is seen and carefully attended to, and there is of course a greater importance attached to all his actions than could belong to the same actions if he were placed in circumstances of entire obscurity. Every man who makes a profession of religion, places himself in such a situation. On him the eyes of men are fixed, to see how he conducts himself. He has avowed the determination to live soberly, righteously, and godly; and many are watching him to see how that avowed determination is carried into execution. Men of the world are looking at him; his fellow christians are watching over him; all his offenses are marked, all his indiscretions noticed; no act or word of his is sure to pass without some comment silent or expressed. This alone, if there were nothing else to be considered the mere fact that every thing which he does or says is peculiarly liable to no

tice, attaches to all his conduct a special importance, and thus connects with it a special responsibility.

2. The conduct of a professed christian has more influence. Whatever gives influence to a man's example, makes his actions more important and increases his responsibility. The example of a rich man is more thought of, and more likely to be followed, than the example of the same man would be if he were poor; and in this respect he has more to account for. So the example of magistrates and men to whom power is entrusted, and the example of men who are endowed with superior intelligence, is more important because more influential; and the conduct of such men is therefore attended with a greater responsibility. And is there nothing in the relations of a professor of religion which gives his conduct a more serious influence than the same conduct could have if he made no religious profession? By his profession he has become, as it were, a living representative of the gospel of Christ. Most men judge of religion, to a very great extent, by what they see of it in the conduct of its professors. To him therefore, among others, they look to see what religion is; and his habitual conduct, nay all that he does, has an influence on their opinions and their conscience, if not directly on their course of action. If they see him living like a stran

ger and pilgrim in this world; if they see that it is his aim to serve God by promoting the best interests of his fellow men; if they see him walking as Christ walked; there is a voice in every action of his, which reproves them for their unbelief and tells them how pure and blessed and powerful is that gospel which he has embraced and which they are neglecting. But if on the other hand they see him living as they live, bearing no decided practical testimony against their worldliness, their unholy ambition, their love of pleasure, their neglect of God; they lay their consciences asleep; they persuade themselves that there is no great difference between religion and irreligion, and therefore no great need of their attending to the matter at all. In like manner, though not perhaps to the same extent, does his conduct affect his fellow christians. He and they are mutually connected, in an important relation arising from their common profession. When minds are thus connected, there is of necessity a mutual influence, an influence tending to bring all to the same level of feeling and of practice. One warmhearted, consistent, active christian does much to infuse into all his brethren the same spirit by which he is animated. And one cold, worldly, dead professor of religion, may be an affliction and a curse to the whole church with which he is connected, he may grieve and dishearten those