s of time, through the
instrumentality of men whose _hearts_ rather than whose intellects
were inspired by God, the truth came out distinct and clear, that God
was the Father of the Gentiles as well as of the Jews, "for the same
Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him."

In the progress of the months, my Christian brethren, we have arrived
again at that period of the year in which our Church calls upon us to
commemorate the Epiphany, or manifestation of Jesus Christ to the
Gentiles, and we know not that in the whole range of Scripture we
could find a passage which more distinctly and definitely than this,
brings before us the spirit in which it is incumbent upon us to enter
upon this duty. In considering this passage we shall divide it into
these two branches:--1st, the definition which the Apostle Paul here
gives of the Church of Christ; and, 2ndly, the Name by which this
Church is named.

I. In the first place, let us consider the definition given by the
Apostle Paul of the Christian Church, taken in its entirety. It is
this, "the whole family in heaven and earth." But in order to
understand this fully, it will be necessary for us to break it up into
its different terms.

1. First of all it is taught by this definition that the Church of
Christ is a society founded upon natural affinities--a "family." A
family is built on affinities which are natural, not artificial; it is
not a combination, but a society. In ancient times an association of
interest combined men in one guild or corporation for protecting the
common persons in that corporation from oppression. In modern times
identity of political creed or opinion has bound men together in one
league, in order to establish those political principles which
appeared to them of importance. Similarity of taste has united men
together in what is called an association, or a society, in order by
this means to attain more completely the ends of that science to which
they had devoted themselves. But as these have been raised
artificially, so their end is inevitably, dissolution. Society passes
on, and guilds and corporations die; principles are established, and
leagues become dissolved; tastes change, and then the association or
society breaks up and comes to nothing.

It is upon another principle altogether that that which we call a
family, or true society, is formed. It is not built upon similarity of
taste, nor identity