SERMON XIV.

UNITY.

PSALM CXXxiii. 1.

'Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."

Few of you, probably, need to be informed, that the Psalms, as well as most of the other books of the Old Testament, were originally written in Hebrew, the language of the Jews. From this language they were translated into English, about the time of the Reformation of the people of this land from Popery. The translation, however, which was first received into general use, being thought to be in some instances less perfect than it ought to be, a

new translation was made about two hundred and twenty years ago, by some of the most pious and learned men that this nation has ever produced. This is the translation which we now have. The old translation, however, being in common use, when our Prayer Book was compiled, the Psalms in the Prayer Book are from that translation. There is little difference between the two; certainly, no difference of material importance. When taking a text or quotation from the Psalms in my sermons, I have generally given such quotation in the words of the translation in the Prayer Book, as being that with which you are best acquainted, and to which you can most readily refer. On the present occasion, however, I have been induced to have recourse to the Bible translation, as giving the sense and meaning of the passage more fully.

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Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

It has been well observed, that many things are good, which are not pleasant; and many pleasant, which are not good.

"The dwelling together of brethren in "unity," the living together in peace, goodwill, and harmony, is both pleasant and good. It is pleasant; productive of pleasure, of the purest happiness and enjoyment, both to those who do thus dwell together, and to those who witness it; and it is good; good in itself, good and well-pleasing in the sight of God.

The Psalmist, in order to express in the more lively manner his sense of the delightfulness of unity and good-will, compares it to two things which, in the country of the Jews, were most pleasant and refreshing. He compares it, first, to the delicious and spicy fragrance of the holy anointing oil, with which the thirtieth chapter of Exodus directs the Jewish priests to be anointed, and with which all their clothing was perfumed; and then, to the refreshing mountain dews, which, in that hot and otherwise parched up country, often descended to moisten and to fertilize the earth.

The word brethren is applied in various

ways. In its most confined and most usual signification, it means those who are the children of the same common parents. In a more extended sense, however, it is applied to all who are united together by any common bond; by the bond of neighbourhood, for instance; by being of one common religion; of one common country; and, indeed, of one common nature. As, when a pebble is thrown into the water, it forms a wavy circle round the place where it fell, and then another and another, still at a greater distance; so, the feeling of good will, implanted in the heart by the grace of God's spirit, which at first, perhaps, comprehends but one family, should go on taking a wider and a wider range, till it embraces within its circle the whole race of mankind. Still, as the circle in the water nearest where the stone fell is the strongest and most marked, so, those who are the most nearly connected with us have the strongest claim to our affection and love.

I will make a few remarks upon the unity which should prevail among brethren

under several significations of the word, and upon the good and pleasantness which such unity may be expected to produce.

And first; unity is most desirable and lovely, and the want of it a grievous evil among brethren, in the narrowest sense of the word, among the brothers and sisters of the same parents, the same family. The tie which unites brothers and sisters together is so near, and so tender, that great care should be taken that nothing may injure or weaken it. Both parents and children can hardly guard too watchfully against allowing any little quarrels, and oppositions, and jealousies to arise, and interrupt that harmony which ought invariably to subsist. Let children be early used to the habit of gladly giving up to each other, of giving up cheerfully and readily their own wills, their own humours, their own pleasures, their own interests. The spirit of the Christian precept, "Let no "man seek his own, but every one ano"ther's wealth;" and, "let each esteem "other better than himself," if brought into