Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.2

18 Mutual Edification, the Duty of Chrff ians. SEaM take to be the true fcripture account of edifi- I cation, and I proceed in the wv Second place to confider more particularly the direction in the text. Let every one of us pleafe his neighbour for his good to edification. In order to this, we mull reflet a little on the cafe refer'd to in the preceding chapter, which was fhortly this. The chriftians at Rome were of different opinions, and therefore different pra ±ices about leffer things, as it is always to be expelled chriftians will be, in this imper- feet Rate. Some had Rill fuch a refpe f± for Judaifm in which they had been educated, as to obferve the diftintion of days and meats which was appointed by the law of Mofes, or introduced by the tradition of the elders. Others, with the apoftle, were perfuaded that the diftindion was abrogated, and that there is nothing now unclean of itfelf. But, notwithftanding this difference, union mull be preferved, not upon, the foot of a perfect agreement in all things (an agreement in their opinions is contrary to the fuppofition and the true fad ; and an agreement in outward pro- feffions and practices, againf the real fenti- ments of fome, would on their part be hypo- critical, and fuch as no one can imagine is at all becoming a religious fociety) but their 8 union

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