3.  Christ hath charged and strictly commanded all church members to live in peace:  to be at peace among themselves; to follow peace with all men, and as much as in them lieth to live peaceably with all men.  O how often, and with what vehemency doth the Holy Ghost press and enjoin this duty, especially among church members, in the Holy Scriptures!  See Psal. xxxiv. 14; 1 Pet. iii. 11; Rom xiv. 19; 2 Cor. xiii. 11; 1 Thess. v. 13; Heb. xii. 14; Eph. v. 3.  The apostle Paul earnestly warns church members against all debates, strifes, and contentions one with another, especially in their church meetings, Phil. ii. 3.  David tells us, that it is a most pleasant and lovely thing for brethren to dwell together in unity, Psal. cxxxiii. 1, 2.  Then how much more pleasant and lovely is it for spiritual brethren to love and worship God in this manner together Christ came into the world and lived here a peace-maker, and pronounces them blessed that are so, Matt. v. 9.  He is a lover of peace and concord, especially in his Church; but he is an implacable hater of strife and discord, and will not endure it therein:  much less will he wink at such as are the first sowers of these seeds.  The truth is, strivers and disputers in a church are the devil’s agents, do a great deal of mischief to it, and are real plagues in it.  They greatly hinder edification, and spoil the order, beauty, and harmony there:  they are the proud, self-conceited men, who are vainly puffed up with high thoughts of themselves, and their own abilities, because they have got some speculative knowledge into their heads, with a volubility of speech, while they are destitute of spiritual wisdom and humility in their hearts; and therefore they conceive that they are wiser than the church, and more able to manage and order church affairs than their rulers.  Their pride and self-conceit make them slight and contemn their teachers, and rise up in a rebellious contention with, and opposition unto them; as the prophet complains, Hos. iv. 4, This people are they that strive with the priests.  Take heed then of strife and contention, and follow peace one with another, especially in your assembling together about the work of the church.  Endeavor to get humble hearts, and then you will not be contentious, but quiet and peaceable.

4.  Church members ought to sympathize with, and to help to bear one another’s burdens as need requires, Rom. xii. 15, 16; Gal. vi. 2.  They ought to make their brethren’s crosses, losses, temptations, and afflictions their own.  And, when they need the helping hand of fellow-members to support or lift them up, when fallen, they must give it to them freely, readily, and cheerfully, and not turn a deaf ear to, nor hide their eyes from, them and their cries.  And, if they are cruel to, or careless of, one another in affliction, our Lord Jesus will require it at their hands, and lake it as done to himself.  Therefore, seeing it is the will of God, and our indispensable duty to one another, who are members of the church, let us put on bowels of mercies and kindness, Col. iii. 12, and be tender-hearted, pitiful, and courteous to each other, Eph. iv. 32; 1 Pet. iii. 8.