A Charge And Sermon Together With An Int

C H A R G E AND SERMON TOGETHER WITH AN INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE AND CONFESSION os FAITH DELIVERED AT THE O R D I N AT I O N OF THE Rev. Mr. ABRAHAM BOOTH Feb. 16, 1769, in Goodman's Fields Published at the request of the church. L O N D O N, Printed forG. Keith, Gracecburcb-Strect ; J. Buckland, Pater-mJfer-Row ; W.Harris, St. Paul's Church-Tardy B.Tomkins, Tenchurch-Street ; J. Gvrkey, Hclbsrn. 1769. [Price One Shilling.] /I

[ 3 1 INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE, BY WILLIAM CLARKE. AS we are assembled together, in the presence of God, to ordain" a bilhop or overseer in this christian church, and to be witnesses of that solemnity; methinks there are various reflections which may natu rally occur to our minds npbn so serious and important an occasion. While we are led to acknowledge the sovereign grace of God, manisested in raising to himself a people out of the ruins of the fall ; we have also the highest occasion to adore the wisdom and goodness of the great head of the church, in forming thofe, whom he has thus made the happy subjects of his grace, into -particular socie ties, whereby they become subservient to each others welfare, and are instrumental in promoting the common cause os the dear Redeemer. A a The

t 4: ] ' The church of Christ h sitly represented by the similitude oTjfbody. Asa body is composed of different members, and each member hath not the fame ossice; so the church of Christ consists of a number of persons, who arc designed to answer various purpofes, each of which is corifieAed'whh the good of the* whole. We are laid therefore under additional obligations to acknowledge the wisdom and grace which theblessed Goo has expressed in his conduct towards us,_ in appointing pallors antsteachers, for the* edifying the body of Christ. Very important are the ends of a gofpel ministry. It is the more ordinary means of the conversion of sinners, and of the gathering thofe who are not already ^gather ed ; whereby the interest of Christ is promoted, and christian communities continued in their church state, when those who have served their generation are called home. By the word and ordinances of the gofpel good men are sed with knowledge and understanding, their views of divine things are brightened, their graces are strengthened, and- they sitted for the service of God here, and the enjoyment of him in glory. .. So important are the ends designed to be answered by the pastoral ossice, that, while thofe who sustain it have reason to adopt the language of the apostle, Who is/ufficitni fer ihise things? the church of Christ hath abundant cause to consider itself under special obliga tions to the great shepherd and bistiop of souls, for con tinuing a succession of men, who are in some degree qualisied

( 5 J Qualified and disposed by his grace for the arduous ser vices of that- office. Blessed be God, that in this our. day, there are a number of such- persons—persons who' art possessed of a sincere regard' foi1 the honour of Christ, dtt assictionate concert for the welfare of precious fouls, Æid'arB intrusted' with talents for public usefulness ! Our obligations to the Lord Jesus Christ are also further increased,' for the gracious assurance of his presence with his ministers to the end of time. And as we have thus always reason to acknowledge, with grate ful sentiments, the constant care and kindness which heexercises towards his people ; so more especially, wherr he is pleased to interpofe in the behalf of a community, by providing them a pastor to go in and out before them, and break the bread of lise unto themv With all chearsulness therefore I congratulate you, my brethren and friends, upon the present joyful occanori'. Yon haVe had reason to sing both of mercy and judgment, and'may this day set up your Ebenezer, and fay, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. It is not many years since Providence removed from you a very emi nent servant of Christ ; whose memory is still held in very high esteem. Under that afflictive dispensation your faith and patience were long exercised. At last God appeared, and you were again blessed with a very valuable pastor, whom you justly esteemed, and the Lord greatly owned. In the midst of his usefulness, and when every thing did wear the most promising aspect ; I- . He,

[ 6 ] He, who has a right to dispose ofhis servants as seemeth good in his sight, removed him from you. A gloom covered your faces, and sorrow silled your hearts. In your distress you cried unto the Lord ; he heard your cries—answered your requests—and has directed you to one, whofe settlement among you may be considered as a fulsilment of that gracious promise, I -will give them pastors after mine o-wn heart. In this frelh and gracious appearance of Providence in your favour we heartily re joice with you ; and as we are now, at your request, to separate our dear brother to the ossice to which yon have called him, give me leave to offer a sew things relative to the service of ordination. The inquiries which naturally fall under our consi deration upon this subject, relate to the persons who are to appoint ossicers in the church, and to the manner in which they are to be appointed. If we attend to the scripture-account of the choice and appointment ofproper ossicers to take care of the civil af fairs of the church, we shall sind that the brethren chose the persons, and that the apostles appointed them : IVbcrefor* brethren, fay the apostles, look ye out amongyou seven men ofhonest resort, full of the Holy Ghost and -wisdom, whom wg may appoint over this business*. The prophets and teachers, who were at Antiocb, were directed by the Holy Ghost toseparate Barnabas and Saul for the -wori iuhereunto he lead called them f. And Titus was left in Crete to ordain elders * Acts vi. 3, f Acts tiu. x.

[ 7 3 tlders in every city *. From whence it appears that the persons who appointed or ordained ossicers in the church, whether as deacons, or pastors, and teachers, were the apostles, and more ordinary ministers of the gospel. Th i other inquiry that falls under our notice, re spects the manner in which the ossicers in the church are to be appointed. When the brethren had chofe out of their number proper persons to take care of the civil affairs of the church, they set them before the apostles } nvbo prayed and laid tbeir bands on tbemf. In the ac count which we have of the separation of Barnabas aad Saul for the work to which they were called, we sind that the prophets and teachers fasted, prayed, and laid tbeir bands on them \. The common objection made to the practice of laying on of hands in the service of ordination is, that it was a rite used with a view of conveying extraordinary gifts ; and that as these gists are ceased, the medium that was • appointed for the conveyance of them doth cease like wise. In answer to this I would observe, that it doth hoc appear that the extraordinary gists of the Spirit were al ways bestowed when impofition of hands was used. We are informed that Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders ; but it is not mentioned as the efsect of the laying on of the hands of the apostles; nor if it im- 4 Tit. I. s. t Act* ri. <- t Act» x"'. 3-

[ ;8 ] Improbable bat that be had the power of working- mi racles before he was separated to his ossice by the impo sition of hands ; for it is said of him, that he was. a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost ; a phrase used in the second of Acts, to denote a person possessed of the extraordinary gists of the Spirit,—Nor does it appear that Barnabas and Saul did receive the power of working miracles by the laying on of the hands of the prophets and teachers. They had been already some time ministers of the gofpel, but now being called to more public work, they were solemnly set apart thereto by fasting, prayer, and imposition of hands : which ac count we have without any intimation of extraordinary gifts being received or intended by this method of fe* paration. If it could be proved, which I think I may fay it can not, that in the times of the apostles, the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit did always accompany imposition of hands ; yet even this would not set aside the validity of the practice of laying on of hands, unless it could also be proved, that this was the only design of it. May we not well suppose, that prayer was made for all those supplies of grace and wisdom which the nature of their work did require, and for that success which the im portant ends of their ossice rendered desirable, and that the laying on of hands was a solemn pointing out the person, whom they separated to the work to which they were called, and on whom they implored divine blessings Whether of an ordinary or extraordinary nature f 5 . • For-

[ 9 J Forasmuch therefore as we sind in the sacred writ ings, that the separating thofe who were called by God to ossice in the church devolved upon the ministers, and that it was done by prayer and imposition of hands ; and as it does not appear that the practice of laying on of hands was consined to the conserring the peculiar gifts of the Holy Ghost ; and we have no intimation of its being laid aside ; we are now come, at the desire of this church, to separate Mr. Abraham Booth to the pasto ral ossice in this community, according to the primitive manner, by prayer and imposition of hands. In order to which, give me leave for the satisfaction of this as sembly to make the sew following requests. Since it cannot but be considered as a matter of great importance in the settlement of a pastor, that a conscientious regard be had to the word of God, and the leadings of Providence ; I beg leave to request that one of the members of this church, in the name of the whole, would give an account of the steps which have been taken by this community in order to its obtaining a pastor. Which was accordingly done by a brother of the church. As you, the members of this church, have invited Mr. Abraham Booth to be your pallor, permit me to de sire you, both the brethren and sisters, publicly to recog nize your invitation by listing up your right hand. Which was accordingly dent. B As

[ to ] As this church have invited you, my brother, to take the oversight of them in the Lord, and have now pub licly recognized their invitation ; be pleased to give us an account of the steps which you have taken relative to their call, and also to declare your acceptance of the same. Which -was actordlngly done. And Mr. Booth then prt~ teeded to deliver a confejjlon of hisfaith. A CON

A CONFESSION of FAITH DELIVERED AT HIS ORDINATION b y ABRAHAM BOOTH. B 2

CONFESSION, &>c. AS it has been customary on these solemn occasions, to set forth in order a declaration of those things -which are mojl surely believed airtongfl us ; and, as I ant now called upon, in this public manner, to make a free and open confession of my religious principles ; I would Jook up to the Father of lights, and the Spirit of truth, that I may be enabled to make a goodprofeffion in the pre sence of many witnesses ;—in the presence of God, of aiVr gels, and of men. As the existence of a Supreme Being, and our de-. pendance upon him, is the very basis of all religion, whether natural or revealed ; I therefore do, sirst of all, prosess my sirm belief of that grand fundamental truth. 'That there is a God, all nature proclaims aloud through all her works. The countless tribes ofanimate and ina nimate existences, from the highest to the lowest link in the vast chain of sinite being, pour in their attestations to this most interesting truth. The meanest insect, the smallest

[ H ] smallest spire of grass, the minutest grain of sand ; these, all these bear the signatures of an all-wise Creator. But, though the existence of a Supreme Being may be clearly seen by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; yet the circumstances of mankind have ever been such, as to render it necessary that a more positive and explicit revelation of the persections and purpofes, of the works and ways of the great Cre ator, should be given to them. Insinite wisdom saw it necessary, and divine goodness would not with-hold the benesit. Such a revelation, I believe, God has in fact given. This revelation, I am fully persuaded, is con tained in the writings of the Old and the New Testa ment, which constitute that book, which is, by way of eminence, called the bible; rejecting all thofe writ ings which arc commonly called apocryphal, as making iio part of that revelation which God has given to man kind. Many are the reasons, and various the considerations, which induce me to receive the Bible as a divine reve lation ; amOqgst which the following are none of the least. The sublimity and spirituality of its doctrines— The purity of its precepts—The prophecies contained in it, many of which have been punctually fulsilled; espe cially those relating to the Messiah, the calling of the Gentiles, the destruction of Jerttsukm and the Jewish church-state, and the dispersion of the Jews- The character of its penmen—The persect harmony of design subsisting

subsisting amongst them, and the grandeur of that de sign—Their unreserved freedom in relating matters of fact, even when their own reputation, or the reputation of thofe whom they greatly revered and dearly loved, might seem to be injured by such a procedure—And the long series of uncontrolled miracles which were wrought in proof of its doctrines being divine. When to these things I add the consideration of that amazing success, which attended the preaching of a crucisied Messiah and his resurrection from the dead, by a sew, illiterate, despised sishermen of Galilee; men of little art or address, and possessed of no civil power or authority : And this, notwithstanding both Jews and Gentiles had been long in possession of an established religion, of which they were tenaciously fond; in vindication of which, and in order to crum the Christian cause in its infancy, they both agreed to use all their power and policy, all their art and sophistry, and every oppressive measure, against the preachers and worshippers of the crucisied Jesus— When I reflect upon thofe complicated sufferings and continual hardships which the sirst preachers of the gos pel underwent, and that without the least prospect of any temporal emolument, for all their pains and suffer ings, for all their labours and hardships ; yet doing all, susfering all, with a meekness and patience astonishing to their very enemies When I consider, that all these labours and sufferings were performed and undergone by them, in order to propagate a system of doctrines and practices, directly opposite to all the prejudices of their Own education, to all the fond hopes which they in 2 particular,

[ 16 j particular, and the Jews in general, had conceived concerning their long-expected Messiah, for whom they had been taught to look under the character of a secular prince, one whose kingdom should be of this world When I consider the apollles, who were all Jems, as intirely renouncing all their national prejudices, and act ing under the uniform insluence of such maxims as were diametrically opposite, yet persectly agreeable to what had been repeatedly foretold by the ancient prophets ; I receive additional consirmation.——When I further consider, what stupid ignorance has universally prevail ed, as to the interests of religion and the important concerns of the soul, even in the most poliihed nations in former or latter times, where the Jewish and Christian revelation has not been at all known or regarded When I consider the moral state of mankind in general, and that of my own soul in particular, and compare it with thofe descriptions given of it in that ancient vo lume, together with that provision which I am informed from thence God has graciously made to supply all my spiritual wants Finally, when I consider the holy influence which the sincere belief of its doctrines has upon the moral conduct of all thofe who conscientiously adhere to its sacred dictates, and how its precepts and prohibitions are uniformly adapted to promote the good of civil society and the best interests of mankind 1 fay, when I attentively consider these various particu lars, with others which might be mentioned, 1 cannot hesitate a single moment to pronounce it a divine revelatiox, and every way worthy its insinite Author. The

[ 17 ] The scriptures of the Old and New Testament, con taining a well-attested revelation from God, my Maker and my Sovereign, I therefore look upon and receive as the only rule of my faith and practice. This divine book, this heavenly volume, I accept with humility and gra titude from the hand of my adored Creator, as a gift of inestimable value ; and, considering it as the grand charter of my eternal salvation, I cannot but esteem it as my indispensable duty implicitly to submit to its sa cred dictates, in every affair of religious concernment. And it is because I am fully persuaded that the follow ing doctrines are contained in thofe oracles of eternal truth, that I embrace them—as articles of my faith—as the foundation of my hope—and as the source of all my spiritual joy. I acknowlbdce myself deeply indebted to the in» spired volume for my clearest apprehensions and most satisfactory discoveries of the Divine Being. It is from hence I learn with undoubted certainty, that there is but One God; that he is possessed of absolute and insinite persection ; and that he governs the world, his pro vidence extending to all his creatures and all their actions. From the fame source of heavenly intelligence I am informed, that in the unity of the Divine Essence there are three distinct Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; who are all represented as bearing divine names, possessing divine attributes, persorming C divine

[ i8 I divine works, and receiving divine honours ; conse quently must be one in essence and equal in glory, whatever inseriority there may be in respect to office in the ojconomy of redemption. The reality of these thing* I sirmly believe on the authority of God's own declara tion, though their particular msdus greatly exceeds my feeble comprehension. I believe, wonder and adore! I believe, that in the beginning Gad treated the hea vens and the earth, with all their numerous inhabitants. Last of all, and nobly conspicuous amongst the amazing ly diversisied productions of his almighty power and in finite (kill, being little inferior to the angels in light, he created man, and constituted him lord of this lower world. Male and female created he them, after bis o-vu* image and in his own likeness ; upright, innocent and holy; capable of serving and glorifying their bountiful Creator. On the fame divine warrant I believe, that man did not long continue in these holy and happy circum stances ; but, being left to the freedom of hjs own will, he transgressed the law which his Maker and Sovereign had given him ; in consequence of which he sell into a state of guilt, depravity and ruin. And as he was not only the natural but sederal head and representative of his unborn posterity, he sinning, all his offspring sinned in him and sell with him, the guilt of his sirst sin being imputed, and a corrupt nature derived, to all who de scend from him by natural generation. Hence it is that all

[ 19 J all men are by nature the children of -wrath; averse to all that is spiritually good, and prone to evil ; dead in stn, .under the curse of the righteous law, and obnoxious to .eternal vengeance. From which state of complicated misery there is no deliverance but by Jesus Christ, the second Adam. On the authority of the unerring word I further be lieve, that the eternal Sovereign, before the world be gan, of his own good pleasure, and to manisest the riches of his glorious grace, foreseeing the fall of man, chose a certain number of this apostate race to eternal salvation, whom he predestinated to the adoption of children by Jefns Christ, according to his own sove reign will ; and, in pursuance of this grand and gra cious design, he entered into a covenant of grace and peace with the Son of his love on their behalf, in which a Saviour was appointed, and all spiritual blessings pro vided for them. In order to accomplisti these gracious purpofes of in sinite mercy and eternal love towards apostate miserable Wretches, I believe that the Son of God, being ap pointed from everlasting the Mediator of the covenant, and having engaged as surety on the behalf of his peo ple, who Were become his care and charge, did, in the fulness of time, become incarnate, took upon him the form of a servant, paid the most consummate obedience to the divine law, persectly persormed the wilt of his Father, and, sinally, having all the fins of all his people C 2 ira

[ *0 ] imputed to him and charged upon him, he died the ignominious, the painful, and cursed death of the crofs ; pouring out his blood, yielding up his lise, and osfer ing his very foul a sacrisice, a vicarious atoning facrir sice, for their sins, and to expiate their innumerable and enormous crimes. In these susferings of the Son of God on the crofs I behold, in the clearest light, the infinite evil of sin displayed, and the awful wrath of God revealed against it, the law magnisied, justice satissied, and God himself well-pleased. I believe, that Jesus the crucisied arofe from the dead the third day. By which he gave the highest possible evidence, that the debt he became responsible for was persectly paid—the sins for which he susfered entirely expiated—the divine law and divine justice sully satis sied—the powers of darkness vanquished, and death it self overcome : at the same time declaring, in a way superior to all the power of language, that the sleeping dust of his saints shall be raised to a state of immortal lise and endless glory. I believe that, in order to the persect persormance of the various branches of his grand undertaking, hay ing given undeniable evidence to his selected sew that he was risen indeed, and having imparted to them the neceslary instructions before his sinal departure, he ascended triumphant to the right-hand of the Majesty on high, where he sliines and reigns the incarnate Go p. There he is exalted as Head over all things for the good Pf

[ 21 ] of his church, having the reins of government in both %vorlds put into his hands : so that he is not only to be acknowledged as king of Zion and ruler in his church ; but also, as the God of providence and governor of the world.—There also, as our ascended Redeemer, our ex alted head, having entered thofe blissful abodes as the fore-runner of his people, and taken possession of them as their representative ; he ever lives, to plead all his me rit, to improve all his influence, as a faithful intercessor, as a prevailing advocate, on their behalf. Hence it is, that our faith, in the time of trial, fliall not intirely fail ; that our prayers are heard, and our praises ascend with acceptance, before the eternal throne. According to the same sacred canons of my faith and practice, I believe, that the justisication of sinners jn the sight of God, is purely, solely, entirely, by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them ; without the consideration of any holy qualities wrought in them, or any works of righteousness persormed by them, either with or without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. I believe, the absolute necessity os regeneration in or der to eternal lise ; and am fully persuaded, that with out holiness, that is, a real love of God producing chearful obedience to his commands, no man, whatever his religious pretensions or prosessions may be, shallfee the Lord, I BE-

[ 22 3 I believe, that regeneration, faith, and sanctisiestion, are not the produce of man's free-will and power, but the effects of a divine agency by the word of truth. I believe, the certain, infallible perseverance in grace to glory, of all thofe who are regenerated by the Spirit of Gob, and justisied by the obedience of Christ; they being kept by the pewer of God throughfaith mutof*U -vation. As Jesus Christ, the great head of the church, has instituted various ordinances to be observed by his peo ple till his second coming ; which are designed, under a divine influence, to promote their edisication in all the graces and comforts of the Holy Spirit ; so, I be lieve, he has appointed two pofitive institutions, the ob servation of which he has in a particular manner en joined upon all his followers : that is, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper ; and the former as previously neces sary to the latter. I believe, that baptism is immersion in water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: and is a lively emblem of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, as the representative of his people ; and of their being cleansed from fin in the foun tain of his blood, their dying to it, and rising again to newness of lise.—The requisite qualisications for this ordinance are, I further believe, faith in the Redeemer, I and

E *3 ] and a prosession of it. Nor does it appear from the com mand of Christ, or the practice of his apostles, that we have any authority to administer this ordinance in any other way than immersion, or to any other subject* than such who appear, in a judgment os charity, to b* thus qualisied. The Lord's Supper is an ordinance in which, by re. ceiving the elements of bread and wine, according to the appointment of Christ, we jhew forth his death. And is designed, I am persuaded, to impress our mind* with a lively fense of the evil of sin,—the susferings of Jesus for it,—the benefits derived to us through those susserings,—together with that union and communion which we have with him, and one with another. As it is appointed for man once to die, and as at death the body is resolved into its primitive dust ; so the im mortal spirit returns to God -who gave it. The souls of believers being dislodged from their earthly mansions, and made persect in holiness, do, I believe, immediately enter into glory ; but those of the wicked are imme diately transmitted into the abodes of darkness and de spair ; and are reserved under everlasting chains, with, apostate angels, till thejudgment of the great day. I. believe, that there will he a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust ; and that God has appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ. At which awful and glorious period, all

[ 24 ]i all nations shall be convened before his great tribunal. Then will Jesus the judge, make an everlasting separa tion between the righteous and the wicked ; awarding eternal life and insinite happiness to the righteous ; but everlasting death and never ending torment to the wicked. The equity ofwhich sentence on either part, I am fully per suaded, will be admired and applauded by all holy intelli gences ; and acknowledged even by the damned themselves to their aggravated woe.—The sentence passed, speedy execution shall follow. For at the conclusion of the au gust, the solemn scene, the -wicked Jhall go anvay, ap palled and reluctant, into everlasting burnings; but the righteous, chearsul and exulting, into life eternal. Such are the leading articles of my faith; such the sentiments of my heart. These things, as a Christian, I again declare, I believe ; and trust, that in some de gree I have experienced their powersul, comforting, sanc tifying influence on my own soul. Such also are the doc trines I am determined, by divine assistance, to preach, and tomakethe important subjects of my future ministrations. —Notwithstanding, as I pretend not to infallibility of judgment ; or to know all that is to be known in the present impersect state, concerning God or his will, concerning Christ or his kingdom; I desire ever to have a mind open to conviction, and susceptive of truth, by whatever means it may please God to inform me of it : and when known, to communicate it to others as cases jind circumstances may require. Further

[ *5 J Further; I acknowledge it as my indispensable duty to cultivate a friendly freedom, and brotherly asfection, with all those who low our Lord Jesui Christ in sincerity, and bear his image. Such, of whatever denomination they be, I desire to esteem as my brethren, members of the lame mystical body, and sellow-heirs of the fame eternal inheritance. And now to Him who purchased the church -with hit onvn Hood, who walks in the midst of theseven golden can dlestick], and exercises a tender care over the weakest and meanest of his flock ;—to Him, I fay, and for the edi sication of his people, thofe especially of this congregregation, do I now desire to devote my strength, my lise, my all ; to be employed how, and as long as his unerring wisdom shall direct and appoint. And the Lord grant! that I may obtain mercy to be found faith ful in that ministry I receive from him ; living under the habitual remembrance of that awful account I am to render to him : that so, after I have preached to others, / myself may not become a cast-aiuay ; being fully persuaded, that a damned minister of the gofpel, is the most shocking character in hell : but, taking heed to myself and to my doBrine, may be enabled to give up my accounts with joy, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming. And as it is in Him I desire to be found, at the last, the universal audit ; so it is in his name I humbly go forth, to the important, the arduous, the honourable work. On Him I depend for assistance in it ; to Him I look for success in the persormance of it.-. P « O my

it * 3 " O my God! my adored Redeemer! my insinite, " eternal All ! Let my own soul, and the souls of my *' hearers, be ever precious in thy sight! And grant, that " after the exercise of much fervent, mutual love, and " the enjoyment of many spiritual comforts, in these " thy lower courts ; we may sinally arrive at those bliss- ** ful regions, where love is persect, and joy perpetual; " where hymns of holy wonder, and songs of devoutest «' praise, shall be our uninterrupted and everlasting'em- *' ploy ! Amen and Amen." A CHARGE

CHARGE DELIVERED AT THE ORDINATION OF THE Rev. Mr. ABRAHAM BOOTH Feb. 16, 1769, in Goodman's Fields By BENJAMIN WALLIN. D 2 t

CHARGE MY province, dear Sir, is to address you on this solemn, but joyful occasion. And this I do as your equal : Peter, when writing to those of the disper sion, fays, " The elders which are among you I exhort, " who also am an elder." A superior character is need less, and this freedom, at the united request of the peo ple, and yourself, is not without warrant. I am speak ing to one who is no stranger to the ossice of a pastor ; nevertheless, on the commencement of the near and sa cred relation which now subsiils between you and this respectable community, it 'u decent, and I Uope that, under the insluence of the Spirit, it will be useful to re mind you, and my own soul, of the ministry we have received, that we may rejoice in the end. To this pur pose I have selected the example of that eminent servant of Christ, the apostle of the Qtntiltt, expressed by himself, in ABs xx. 24. But none of these thincs hove me, neither count i my life dear to myself, so that i micht finish my course with joy, and the ministry which i have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gosfel of the grace of God. The

t 30 ] The apostle's eye is on his course, and the ministry he had received. These may be considered as one, or distinct. A man's course, Sir, you know, is his station, or the business of his lise, under the direction of Provi dence. The expression is not consined to persons of a public station ; and accordingly this passage has been used to excite the zeal and perseverance of the faithful of every rank, through the conflicts of a militant state. But it is evident that Paul in the declaration before at chitflj, if not solely, regards the completion of his office; which indeed includes the silling up his private charac ter : it is therefore no less agreeable to the design of the place, and our present occasion, to consider these phrases synononrous '; and then, as a * late celebrated preacher observes, " One design runs throagh the whole, and " the sinishing his course is the fame with fulsilling his " ministry." This persectly suits the idea of the ossice you sustain. A course is a set-round, or limited space, within certain lines, as prescribed to them who engaged in the manly sports, anciently used by the Grrch and Romans, to which there is a frequent allusion in scrip ture. And, is not the Christian ministry a course of duty, the lines of which are drawn in the wbrd, as the spot whereon this or the other servant of the Lor b is to run is circumscribed at his pleasure ? Thus John is said to have fulsilled his course, e. of preaching and bap- tizingin the wilderness, to prepare the way of the Mes siah before him t. Con- • The late Rer. Mr. Thtmuu Rraibury, See hia Sermons, rol. lit. p. a6(|. \ Actixiii. 15.

t II . Concerning this ministry the apostle declares, of -whom be received it,- and wherein it consisted. He received it" of the Lord Jesus." This we- know was the cafe in an extraordinary manner with Paul ; his commission came not by the hands of men, but immediately from Jesus himself*. But every man who is qualisied, and regularly called, and set apart according to the word, may justly and soberly ascribe to the hand of the Lord the gift he hath obtained. It consisted in " testifying " the gofpel of the grace of God." Not that he was to do nothing else in the character of an apostle, or that this branch of his office was a bare report of the truth, as may hereafter be seen : for nothing is more common than to describe a thing by an essential or principal part. This, Sir, is the object which Paul had in view ; the ministry he had received, which as a course he was to run. Now it seems the apostle found, and expected still further to meet with a variety of afflictions in fulsilling this course. What these were the context, and his cur rent history, will shew. It is sussicient to our purpose that many things came to pass in the discharge of his ministry, under which he was tempted to slop or turn aside ; trials, which would have occasioned any man, acting on a different principle from that which animated him, to withdraw from or to sink under the weight of the service. • Gal. i. x. Ykt

[ 32 3 Yet behold! he is sirm and unlhaken.—" But none " of these things move me," q. d. I make no account of these things ; not any one, or all together, in the least shake my resolution; they are truly as nothing. He evidently includes whatever might hereafter befall him, ver. 22. This at sirst view may seem rather pre cipitant. Paul knew the temptations and sorrows he had already undergone, and the asflictions that now pressed him sorely : but how could he answer for himself, if heavier trials came upon him ? Is not this something like Peter, who boasted and sell? No: our apostle had counted the cost; he was prepared for any future exercise in lise, being habitually ready, not only to suffer, but even to die for the gofpel , In what a striking and beautiful manner, my brother, does this our pattern illustrate and prove the sirmness of his heart! " Neither count I my lise dear to myself." Life is precious in itself, and dear to every living creature, who is not without natural affection ; to suppofe which of the apostle would be to divest him of real religion : but he does not absolutely declare that he made no account of his lise, but fays, " neither count I my lise dear to "myself" His argument rises in proportion to the just esteem he had for his natural lise; for where is the selfdenial, or virtue of resigning what he undervalued or despised? The meaning is, that he was so far from being moved by any sufferings he endured, or was liable to, in the course of his ministry, that he had sincerely • Acts xxi. 13. 5 devoted,

£ a* J devoted, and was ready to surrender even lise itself, if required, in the servict of Christ* Time was, when, in the near profpect of a dissolution, he longed to de part and be with his Lord : yet, counting his lise deaf to others, he was willing to abide in the flesh ; a singular instance of disinterested and ardent affection for the church ! But, in respect of any satisfaction, pleasure, or advantage, that might accrue to himself by his continu ance in the body, he freely renounced it; a manisest proof that he was ready for whatever he might meet with in the discharge of his work. But, what was it that animated the apostle to so great self-denial, and inspired him with this noble resolution f Could any thing short of heaven itself compensate the lofs of his lise ? It must be owned that the certain profpect of glory lay nearly connected : but, strictly and properly, the direct motive to this holy courage and mortisication, was no other than a desire and profpect of joy in the clofe of his work. So our divine Master, the Captain of salvation, for the joy of compleating the redempfioa os his chofen, endured the crofs and despised the shame. Thus, Sir, I have briefly drawn up, and set before you, the high attainment and heroic example of this great and good man. His capacity and rank indeed far exceeded thofe we are endowed with : but our ministry is for substance the same ; and he is worthy the imitation of all who would persevere in the work of the Lord. Permit me then to give you the sum in a single propo* E sition,

[ 34 3 fition, which is this——" Nothing will move a faith* " ful servant of Christ from his course in the mini- «* siry he has received, whose earnest expectation and " hope is to sinish with joy." Now this suppofe* a work to be done j that a minister may meet with many things Co discourage and turn him aside; but that there is a joy to be expected On completing his service, in the profpect of which he will stand to his post. I shall therefore, my brother, take leave—to remind you, with friendly advice, concerning your ossice;—to mention - . ^ some things by which persons have been moved, and even tempted to forsake it ;—to state the idea of that sirmness of mind exemplisied in the apostle;—and then to glance on the nature and sources of that joy, which inspired him with courage to endure to the end. First then permit me to lay before you the principal articles contained in the ministry yon have received ; to shew you wherein it consists, and how it should be performed. At sirst the ascended Head of the church gave apostle*, prophets, and evangelists, whose superior abilities and power were manisest. This high order of gospel ministers is ceased, with the occasion of it: but we know that pastors and teachers continue, till the mystical body of Christ is complete. Eph. iv. 13. This ordinary and standing appointment for the work of the ministry, is either ge neral or special. The former consists in a power ofpreach ing the word as opportunity ofsers, the person being regu larly called and sent forth by the church, moved thereunto from a knowledge and trial of his abilities for teaching, with

s 35 ] with the moral character, and other qualities required in the word. But you know, Sir, the office of a pastor, or bishop, ia os a more peculiar nature : it is relative to a particular church, gathered according to divine appoint ment; and results from a solemn contract between a minister and the people of his charge. The like solemn covenant has this day been recognised between you, my brother, and this our dear sister church, with whom yon are to abide in the sacred relation with diligence and fidelity, I think, to the end of your days, no cogent reason under providence obliging you to the contrary. Scarce any thing is more grievous, or hurtful to social religion, and the welfare os churches, than frequent and unnecessary changes in this near and tender relation among the people of God : so that a steady perseverance in your station is of great importance, and what I ear nestly commend. . The branches of this sacred ministry are for substance invariably the same, to be applied according to the different situation and condition of the flock. They are clearly laid out in the New Testament, particularly in the epistles to Timothy and Titus, with which you are not unacquainted : yet give me leave on this occasion to rehearse those which are essential, with some hints, as propofed, by way of advice. And, Sir, need I more than say, that you are to be instant in freading tbt -word*? As on the one hand, • 2 Tim. it, i. £ a the

C 3s6 ] the pastoral function doth not so inclofe the work of opening the scriptures, as to render it unlawful for any who are not of this rank to exercise their abilities in an orderly way ; so on the other hand, far be it that this needful and principal means of seeding the fouls of men should be excluded, in theory or in practice, from the ossice and work of a bishop. Under this character a man dispenses the word of lise, at least in his own church, with a singular authority, by the institution of Christ. The want of duly considering this, fays the great Dr. Owen *, lies at the bottom of all that negligence, sloth and wantonness in hearing, which he laments to have possessed many prosessors in his day. And is there no cause for the like complaint against the present genera tion ? Put this by the way. As to preaching, Sir, let your doctrine be sound and unmixed ; neither legal nor licentious, but the sincere milk of the word, which strikes at the root of all sin, and exalts the riches of free grace. It appears from the instance before us, that it is our business to testify the gofpel of the grace of God. You need not be told that preaching the gofpel is preaching the crofs ; and we are glad to sind that there is so much reason to con clude, that you come hither determined, as the apostle, to know nothing among us save Jesus Christ and hirji crucisied. Nevertheless, allow me with freedom to give you some particular advice on this head. Beware, Sir, ofa.partial and confined ministration of the word. A formal round, • See his Esticcl, edit. 3. p. 5.

C 37 ] ronnd of preaching will render you dry and unprofit able. It is unhappy when ministers dwell in a manner altogether on a sew, though on the more sublime, arti cles of our holy religion. Many are the topics of divine revelation, and a variety of subject is needful to keep up theattention, and persect the knowledgeof your audience. I therefore intreat you, my brother, that in the ministry of the word you have respect to allsorts of persons, and to every kind of truth, as you would compleatly edify the church. Let your preaching also be pertinent ; be guided by your text in the doctrine you teach: the scripture is not to be strained to the prepossessed view of the preacher. Indeed there are instances to be gathered from Christ and his apostles, that shew we may ac commodate the word to a particular subject; yet, on every occasion, what is delivered Ihould flow naturally, and stand supported by the reasoning of the passage chofen for the ground of our discourse: otherwise we disappoint the judicious attentive hearer, and, in my opinion, little Jess than trifle with the oracles of God, yea and destroy the idea of a text ; besides, by this means we deprive ourselves of that divine testimony to the consciences of men, without which we can hope fox no real success. The doctrines of grace are to be clearly stated, and constantly assirmed: but your concern with the church over whom, you are placed, is likewise to instruct them, as avowed disciples of Jesus, gathered in his name, " in

t 3» 1 V in aft things •uohatfotvtr be both commanded *." It be comes you to excite them to every moral act, in civil and natural life, and also to put them in mind of their sacred covenant in the Lord, and their relative obliga tions in hit house. Teach them, Sir, not only to keep at the utmost distance from the pride and pleasure, the riot and luxury, of a vain and sensual world, but even to M abstain, from all appearance of evil +" ; that, being transformed in their minds, they may abound in the. exercise of every spiritual grace and evangelical duty, and, setting their affections on things above, die daily, and live unto Goo. You are further to sliew them, that they must prove the sincerity of their prosession by a mutual fervent affection, being " kind and tender-hearted, ** forgiving <mt another J," yea and their " enemies ||" too, father than indulge to carnal resentment and passion. Thus you are continually to provoke them to love and good works, which, believe me Sir, will not be the least difficult part of your service in a wanton and dissolute age. In a word, let your sermons be judicious, me thodical, scriptural, plain, and experimental. Ajjppt them to the capacities and circumstances of the people : and let them be delivered, not with any subtle affecta tion; but in a serious earnest manner as from the heart, and with a boldness becoming one in commission from the chief and great Bishop of souls. • Mit. xxriii. to. f i Thtft r. tz. t £pb? 3* t M*. 44. 2 The.

[ 39 ] The next leading article incumbent upon you is frayer. It is no lese the province of a gospel minister to lead the congregation in their public and social ad dresses, than to open the scriptures, and exhort them to the obedience of faith ; yea, and likewise to pray with and for them in a separate capacity at home, on special occasion*. And accordingly we are told*, that in die earliest agei of christiaeity, the disciples had a particular regard M an ability for prayer in the choice of a pastor. A rea diness of invention, judgment, and expression, in this holy exercise, being of singular use in the church, it was considered as an essential qualification for the mini stry. May a plentiful measure of the spirit of suppli cation be poured on you, that, being habitually pre pared, you may excel in this service in the assemblies of the faints, and also in their families when required, to the universal satisfaction and joy of your people. Again, dear Sir, it is of importance that you knout the state vf your flock. In order to this, let each have a welcome access to your person, and share in your pastoral visits. Those of common civility and sriendly entertainment may be useful, but you are to take ever/ fit opportunity to enquire into the spiritual frame of in dividuals. And though you are by no means to inter meddle, as a busy-body, with their temporal concerns j yet a good knowledge of their condition in lise is need ful to direct your private advice, but more especially * See Enquiry into the Constitution, *tc. of the Primitive Church, printed 171a. your

C 4* ] your public ministrations. These visits should rather be .frequent than long, and managed with prudence: for which, and for every other duty, may the Lord give you understanding in all things. '.'.>'., . „ -,- . .' .r '. •..HWi'i In the administration of the two great ordinance*, baptism and thesupper, which is another branch of your function, be careful to follow the pattern. Unfold the mystery of these divine institutions, and, upon a wellinformed judgment, earnestly excite the sacred asfections they require : that the worlhippers may know they are not mere ceremonies, or only external tests of obedience, but also wise and gracious appointments for promoting their faith and joy ; in attending on which they may hope, by the Spirit, to have fellowship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ. You are likewise to gathtr the church, with consent of the brethren, as occasion requires. Stated meetings for discipline are essential to the purity and peace of a congregational society ; and most of the disorders and declensions we mourn may be justly imputed to a neg lect of these important assemblies. I theresore beseech you be zealous to maintain them. They are to be fre quent, and as general as possible: you are to preside at them, and to see that all things are conducted without partiality, according to the word, and that every one be haves with decency and reverence, as in the sight of the Lorb. Another

:{ 41 J Another criterion of a good shepherd, which our Saviour himself has given us, is this, namely, " be put- " tctb forth his Jheep and goeth be/on them *." In like manner, having directed your charge in the way of righteousness, take the lead, and gracefully step as an he-goat before them f. However some make light of a becoming temper and conduct in a christian pastor, it is as truly an ordinance of God for the benesit of his peo ple, as his preaching : if his moral and civil behaviour is not agreeable to the gofpel, it cannot be expected that vital religion mould flouristi among them. Permit me then, Sir, to charge you, in the words of the apostle to Timothy : " Let no man despise thee ; but be thou an " example of the believers, in word, in conversation, " in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity Happy the man! who can say, " Be ye followers of me as I am .« of Christ i. ~ . . . . r, , . .' ". . t , . Once more, my dear brother, it is part of your ho liness to seek the increase of theflock : not, by opeiiing the door of the fold beyond the limits prescribed, or to any who are unmeet for the communion of saints; nor, by giving countenance to weak and unstable prosessors, much less by enticing any to leave the churches to which they belong, at their pleasure ; nor, by any other selsish indirect method, which is carnal and low ; but by ad apting your ministrations, with servent prayer, for the awakening and conversion of sinners, and direction of • John x. 4. f Prov. hoc. 31. J 1 Tim. iv. 11. I 1 Gar. Xt. s. F the

[ 4* ] the ignorant who are out of the way. Spare not to shew such the deplorable condition of thofe who are under the law, and the dreadful and everlasting wrath that is coming on the guilty ; urge, frequently urge, the ne cessity ofrepentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and, for the relief of thofe who are under painful con viction, the certain assurance, that whoever believeth on him (hall be saved : for, as already hinted, to testify is not only to report, or to assirm the grace of God, but also to exhort and plead with our hearers, lest they re ceive it in vain. This attempt for increasing the flock is likewise to be made, by taking occasion in private to put even the youngest of the rising generation, who are ca pable of being taught, on prayer, and a concern about their eternal welfare. We can scarce be too early in ac quainting a child that he has an immortal foul to be saved. You are to cherilh the thoughts of religion in whomsoever they appear : and as for thofe of whom you have reason to conclude that they have obtained saving faith, they are to be shewn the importance of a prosessed subjection to the gofpel, and to be exhorted to join themselves to the Lord, without any delay or exception. I now, Sir, proceed to note for your warning, that there are instances of persons, who, after having engaged themselves in a like solemn manner you have this day contracted with the Lord and his people, have declined and forsook this sacred and honourable office. Some have thus acted from the fame motives by which some other* have been induced to seek this ossice, for brtad, or ttm

f 43 ] paral advantage. But as they are both influenced by one principle, so their root is as rottenness, and their blossom stiall go up as the dust. Here and there also one in his ease turns aside, his profperity eats up his zeal, and destroys his resolution to abide in the work of the Lord : but these occasions are comparatively rare ; and it is manisest that the apostle resers to things which are grievous to nature ; and his history shews, that he met with many sore trials in the course of his ministry. I have no inclination to interrupt the joy of this day ; but it is sometimes the pleasure of the Lord to chasten his servant with repeated strokes on his per son and family, by sickness or otherwise, insomuch that he may be reduced very low ; it may be to render him the more capable, with sympathy, to speak a word in sea son unto others in trouble. Thus "our Lord him- " self having suffered being tempted, is able to succour " them that are tempted*." But, alas! when the wave* roll one upon another, and we are tossed to and fro, and in a manner laid waste, nature is prone to rebel ; we soon discover our weakness, and, if grace pre vents not, through carnal reason, the suggestions of Satan, and our own unbelief, we are liable to be moved. You are united with a people, whose compassion and ge nerosity are manisest, to their praise ; yet many are the vicissitudes of providence ; and, in the best situation, we are exposed to straights, under which we may be tempted to reliaquisti our charge. But, dear Sir, if re quired, endure these afflictions, in fulsilling your mini- F 2 slry. * H«b. ii. x8.

£ 44 } stry. Some are called out of the world into this work, in the place of their nativity: these more or less seel the truth of their divine mailer's testimony, " that a prophet hath no " honour in his own country* ;" the flight and scorn of early companions, or natural relations, are seldom want ing, and very disagreeable. But your situation is disfe rent, and I with you prosperity in every view ; yet re member yon are liable to various dispensations for the trial of your faith. Sometimes it is the wisdom of God to hide his face from his ministers for a season ; they walk in darkness, and seem to labour in vain. You may, as the apostles, be grieved by the indecent behaviour of some, and forsaken by others, even by such from whom you had the greatest expectation : thus he complains of being in a manner universally deserted in Asia, and particularly by Phygcllus and Hermogonts %, who, it is pro bable, had made high pretences of attachment and zeal. And that these apostacies are painful is strongly suggested in that pathetic question of our Saviour to his disci ples, when many went back, and walked no more him, «- Will ye also go away $ ?" In a day of lukewarmness and division, the wounds of a man are chiefly in the house of his friends: the treachery, ill-will, and contempt of a brother tend more to discourage than the scandal of the world, and especially when joined with an ungrateful neglect of others, which is sometimes the case. If these, or any other ofsences, overtake you, my brother, " Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of • John ir, 44. f Philip, iii. 18. \ a Tim. i, 15, $ John ri. 67.

[ 45 ] of his might*;" "his grace is sussicients; therefore " endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ J," and let none of these things move you away from his service. , This fortitude or sirmness of mind, exemplisied ia Paul, consists not in being insensible under temptations : unless we seel, and. are grieved, they cease to be trials; and many were the tears of the magnanimous apostle, ver! 19. Nor doth, it imply a freedom from painful wrestlings with flefli and unbelief. Alas ! in this respect the heart may tremble, and as it were move out of its place §. And I must not omit, that merely a minister's removing from one particular charge to another, does not impeach him. I would by no means flatter or countenance the instability frequently seen: he that will shist from place to place, without consent or advice, is far from being; careful lest the ministry be blamed, or to approve himself a patient, disinterested servant of Christ ; nor do I think the common pretences savour of the self-denial and dependance on the Lord for support and success, which become a man devoted to this honourable ser vice. Nevertheless, there may be ajust and cogent reason for a change ; the circumstances of a minister, and like wise thofe of the church, through a variety of events, may speak for his moving : and I believe, Sir, that the becoming measures you have taken, and the reasons as signed on the present occasion, will afford a general sa tisfaction. A man is unmoved, when no asfliction he meets • Epbcs. ri. 10. t * Cor. *H. 9, J 1 Tim. ii. 3. § Job zxxrii. I.

[ 46 ] meets with turns him aside from the hope of the gospel *, or from his resolution to continue in the service of his Lord. It may truly be said, that man is not moved, who, notwithstanding his grief and conflicts, under di vers temptations, adheres to his prosession and character. The sirmness commended implies also a continuance with zeal, for he is in some degree moved who abates of his diligence : but the man who is resolved to abide cannot be remiss, he will persorm the duties of his function with a readiness of mind, yea, and look on his trials as nothing, compared with the accomplishment of his mi nistry with joy; he will, like the apostle, make no account of these things. The joy set before us is not precisely the same with that which, blessed be God ! is often found in the du ties of our ossice ; nor yet the honour and gladness that await the faithful servant of Christ in a future state, or at the coming of the Lord. It lies between both, and is the satisfaction and pleasure he may expect on having sinished his course, when he is called to resign his commission and soul into the hands of the Redeem er. However, in some instances, this joy may be in terrupted by the circumstances which attend his depar ture, he that fulsils the ministry he has received.may, and for the most part doth partake of it ; a prospect of which ismuch tobedesired, foryou see it is ofa quickening nature, and therefore must approve itself to every sen sible. * Colof. !. 23.

[47.] sible mind. And, in a word, it stands in a near and in sallible connexion with the joys of the heavenly world. And, are you thinking, dear Sir, what is required to this delightful fruition in the end of your race ?— give me leave to assist you, and clofe my address. No doubt it is essential, that you have a good hope, through grace, of your own interest in Christ, and of obtaining the salvation you have published to others. This we sind was the case with the apostle, " I know, fays he, " whom I have trusted, and am persuaded that he is " able to keep that which I have committed unto him " against that day *." There can be no rational joy in the heart of a dying sinner, without a prospect of remis sion, and lise everlasting, which are alone to be obtained in the Lord Jesus Christ. What, though a man has been ever so successful in preaching the gofpel, though he may have been an instrument of saving a multitude ; may not the alarming quære of our Lord be ap plied in this cafe? " What ihall it prosit a man, if he " shall gain the whole world, and lofe his own soul f ?" The salvation of others by me, however an occasion of triumph and praise, cannot possess me with joy in the views of eternity, without hope of being saved myself in the day of the Lord. Again, this joy requires that the subject is persuaded, that he has run the course his master prescribed : " no man is crowned except he " strive lawfully t ;" a satisfaction in respect of his call to the ministry, and that he has not intruded, or will ingly • * Tim. i. la. t Mat. xri. »6. J 2 Tim. ii. 5.

[ 48 ] ingly run out of the lines that were set him, is needful; and likewise the testimony of his conscience in regard of sin cerity and diligence in his ossice. Moreover, this joy, which is in some proportion to. visible success, is. fre quently enhanced by a profpect of the work, begun by him, being carried on and sinished after his decease, and his own immediate admission into the presence of Jesus. In hope of this joy, my dear brother, pray without ceasing ; earnestly pray for a spirit of power, love and a sound mind, that you may have courage, zeal and prudence ; for a timorous, narrow and light spirit is in capable of the duties incumbent upon you. Continue to be studious ; read daily your bible ; peruse human au thors with candour and caution ; weigh them impartial ly, and with care, in the balance of truth ; and fail not to bring your own compofitions and conduct to the fame divine standard, that your persormances may appear to be wrought in God *. Remember also, that ministers themselves, however advanced, may prosit by the preach ing of others, and stand in need of hearing the word of the Lord. The known or unexpected calls of your station may prevent your enjoying many seasons, you would otherwise have gladly embraced ; and it is one disadvantage of being employed in a public character, that it very much deprives a minister of that choice and singular means of edisication. It is therefore strange, and a stumbling, when thofe who lie in the way of thofe precious * John iii. at.

[ 49 ] precious opportunities, are rarely seen to attend them. The word is preached, for the compleating the mystical body of Christ • ; and no member of that body, while in a state of impersection, is incapable of receiving ad- Vantage thereby : so that if any man conceits that he is above it, he thinks more highly of himself than be comes him. Be constant in your place ; but, at the fame time, remember that your assistance may be re quired elsewhere : and such is our mutual dependance, that it is no less imprudent than unkind to with-hold it, when needful. Consider, Sir, that special relation in a par ticular church very well consists with a frank and affectio nate communion with neighbouring churches and minis ters : nay without this, in every place, the visible interest of religion will decline, and Satan get an advantage. Therefore cultivate the good disposition, we have with pleasure heard you express, to be friendly with every ser vant of Christ; and, to the utmost os your power, pro mote a generous concern for the welfare of Zion univer sally. To be unsociable is to be void of humanity, and a private spirit is the bane ofbrotherly love : it lays a foun dation for endless jealousy and discord, and is destructive of that cordial union, without which every nominal and formal connexion is vain. These hints, my brother, I presume you will not sind impertinent : and I shall take leave to adJ, that there arefingular reasons for your caution and diligence. It is no reflexion to observe that, ar present, you can be but G " little * Ephef. ir, u.

little acquainted with the snares which surround you in. this opulent, busy, and populous city : there/ore, " watch thou in all things." You. are also received with peculiar testimonials of a commendable assiduity in improving your talent; so that your own character re quires the utmost application, that your prositing, may, appear to all. And I cannot pass by another strong, mo tive, which,is. this ; the advantage of that situation ir$ which you are placed. Allow me to remind you, thai; the flock, now under your care, remarkably flourished in the day of their two former pastors. You are not, called to plant the vine of the gospel in a barren wiK derness, or uncultivated soil; the Lord hath sent jwu into a fruitful vineyard : and may I not adopt his words, and fay? " Other men have laboured, but you have, " entered into their labours*." It is the pleasure of our Sovereign that you should partake of that whereon you have bestowed no labour ; a popular congregation, and a church comparatively large, with many waiting to join her, the seals of his ministry lately taken to glo ry, are peculiar and high obligations upon you. May you long continue in the work of the Lord, with a growing ability and success ! and, when advanced to this honour, be cloathed with humility; for an impe rious self-exalting spirit, on superior attainments, is nnworthy and baleful. However, though I earnestly wish your abundant increase, I have no authority to say, that it shall be equal to that of your immediate predeces sors : but, if the harvest should not be so great, pro vided • John ir, 37, 3!.

t 51 J Tided the labourer approves himself active and faithful, he sliall nevertheless be glorious in the eyes of his master. And now, dear Sir, need I intreat you to copy the exam ple of this excellent ambaflador of Christ ? Let a joyful completion of the ministry you have received be the scope of your lise. In this prospect let no trial move you from continuing, with zeal, in the work of the Lord : as you have this day engaged with a disinterested view to his glory, persevere to the end, agreeable to the charge of the apostle mentioned in the beginning of my ad dress, in whofe words I conclude : " Feed the' flock of " God, as much as in you is, taking the oversight " thereof, not by constraint, but willingly ; not for " silthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being *' Lords over Goo's heritage, but being ensamples to " the flock : and when the chief Shepherd shall appear, " ye lhall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not «i awayV> • 1 ?tttt v, a, j, 4,

SERMON PREACHED AT THE ORDINATION O F T H E Rev. Mr. ABRAHAM BOOTH Feb. 1 6, 1769, in Goodman's Fields. By SAMUEL STENNETT D.D.

S E R M ' O R , , . 'a •,: .- trt: ' •".! TO explain and enforce the duties a people owe to their minister, is the service which you, roy friends of this church, have requested of me. It is, I am sen sible, a service attended with no small dissiculty; as some kind of partiality may- be suppofed to mingle it* self with addresses usual on these occasions. Labouring, however, to divest myself of all undue prejudices in favor of the ossice I sustain, and presuming on your candor and friendship, I shall without any further apo logy proceed. Tbe interest of religion, and of consequence the wel sare not only of individuals but of society in general, is the professed object of the christian ministry. And as it is by this truly noble and important end I would be guided, in profecuting the subject before me; it may not be improper to accommodate the words of the sacred historian to our present purpofe, which are recorded in 2 Cbron.

C 56 ] 2 Chron. xxx. 22. And Hezekiah spake comfort ably UNTO ALL THE LeVITES THAT TAUGHT TRI COOD KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD——. I mean not by this accommodation to enter into a particular comparison of the Jewish with the Christian dispensation; much less to draw any absurd inserence from thence in favor of what has been called, arrogant ly by some and as contemptuously by others, the priest hood. No. What I mean, is to take occasion from the pious zeal which Hezekiah and other good men in thofe days expressed for the interest' of religion, to ani mate you, my friends, to such a chearful and hearty concurrence with your minister in the discharge of his ossice, as may happily tend, with the bleffing of Goo, to the fame important end. The event to which the text resers makes no incon siderable sigure in the history of the kings of Judah. Ahaz, the immediate predecessor of Hezekiah, was a profane and wicked prince. He forsook God, dis graced his worship, established idolatry by law, and introduced among his people the vilest practices of the heathen nations. So that when Hezekiah came to the throne, he found the affairs of his country in miserable disorder, and very justly apprehended the most tremev dous consequences. His heart, however, being right with God, he immediately sets about a reformation. The sirst thing he does, is to open the doors of the house of the Lord, to remove thence the abominations which 2 Ahaz

[ 57 ] Ahaz had brought into it, and to restore the worsliip of God to its original state. This done, he goes up thither with the princes and the rulers of the city, and there osfers solemn sacrisice to make atonement for all Israel; which is followed with a prodigious number of burnt-osferings from the whole congregation. Upon this occasion it is remarked, that the Levites were more forward in the service of God than the priests : so that these not having all sanctisied themselves so early as they should have done, the others were obliged to help their hrethren the priests, till the work was ended. There might, in point of form, be some irregularity in this; but the necessity of the case was a sufsicient excuse. And indeed the zeal which the Levites thus expressed for the true religion, reflected no small honor on their character.—So was this sirst service clofed, and so was the temple, which had been desiled and prostituted to idolatry, again dedicated to the worship of the living God. Nor was the pleasure small which the king and the people selt on this occasion ; for the matter was of God who had prepared their hearts, and it was done suddenly *. ... The next thing good Hezekiah resolves upon, is to celebrate the seast of pasiover. And in order to make it the more general and solemn, ho not only issues a proclamation requiring his own subjects to attend ; but he sends letters to Ephraim and Manafleh, inviting all the people of Israel to come up to Jerusalem on this • 2 Chron. jreix. 36, si occasion. G

[ 58 J occasion. It was a service to which they were all ob liged by the law of Mofes; though alas! it had been neglected for a long time. But, notwithstanding the pious expostulations and earnest intreaties of Hezekiah and his princes, great numbers of the Israelites treated the message with contempt. Some however of the ten: tribes, and all the people of Judah, were obedient to the king's command. And being assembled at Jerusa lem, a very great congregation, they sirst removed the idolatrous altars which had been set up in the city; and then kept the seast with a solemnity that had not been known since the time of Solomon. Now upon this occasion, the text tells us, Hezekiah spake comfortably un to all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the lard. The Levites, strictly speaking, were all thofe who descended from Levi, priests as well as Others. But the character is most commonly applied in scripture to one part of that tribe only, by way of distinction from the priesthood. The priests were of a superior, and the Levites of an inserior order. The business of the for mer was to sacrisice, and to persorm the more solemn and sacred parts of public worship ; and of the latter to assist the priests in their ossice, and to take care of the temple, and of the furniture and treasure that be longed to it. Now the Levites were the persons for whom Hezekiah expressed a special regard on this occa sion ; not out of any indifference to the priesthood, but because these, as we have seen, were more forward to the

[ 59 ] the service of God than the others. He paid a due respect to the ministers of the temple according to the rank they held there, and out of regard to the divine appointment: but his respects were chiefly influenced and guided by the zeal faithfulness and diligence, with which each one discharged the duties of his office. One important branch of their duty is particularly mentioned, as a ground of his esteem and affection for these Levites. They taught the goad knowledge of the Lord—the knowledge of the one living and true God, and of his will as revealed by Moses and the prophetsall the great doctrines and duties of religion, so far as they were discoverable under that dark and impersect dispensation. A knowledge this of all others most ex cellent and useful : adapted to enlighten the eyes, convert the foul, and rejoice the heart * ; to make men wiser better and happier. And a knowledge which they stood in the greater need of being instructed in, as so much ignorance superstition and idolatry had lately prevailed among them. This was the proper business of the priests and Levites. They were qualisied for it, and appointed to it. Mofes had solemnly enjoined this duty upon them, and had mentioned it at his death, among the honors and privileges peculiar to that tribe. They jhall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy lam f. And however they might many of them have neglected their duty in times past, it seems they now very generally • Ps. xix. 7, 3. t Dent. xniii. xc, H 2 betook

find faithfulness. Wherefore Hezekiah, in his great zeal for religion, and his tender concern for the welfare of his people, spake comfortably to the Levites. He esteemed them very highly in love for their work's fake. He did them that honor to which their ossice, and their care to fulsil the duties of it, justly intitled them. Knowing the dissi culties they had to contend with, he pitied com forted and encouraged them. He spake to their heart *—used his utmost endeavours to chear revive quicken and animate them. My son, fays he with the greatest tenderness and familiarity, be not now negligent : for the Lord bath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him f. ** It is your peculiar honor to be the servants " of the living God, and to minister to him in his *- temple. Be not you therefore remiss in your duty, " but be faithful to him who has appointed you, as " also Mofes was faithful in all his house." Nor did he content himself with speaking thus kindly to them, lie gave them all the countenance support and assistance in their work they could reasonably desire. He him self, his princes, and his household, attended their preaching and their other ministrations—attended them with seriousness chearfulness and constancy. He com mended their diligence, and by speaking well of them, of their ossice, and of their labors for the public good, he

[ 61 ] he conciliated the minds of the people in general to the observance of religious worship. Nay what was more than this, and what afforded the greatest comfort and encouragement to the pious Levitcs, was, the honor which his temper and example reflected upon thofe in structions, he from time to time received in common with others in the house of God. To all which I might add, that Hezelciah farther expressed his regard for these ministers of religion, by taking care to secure to them such maintenance and support, as God in his in finite wisdom and goodness had appointed. He com manded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the por tion of the priests and the Leuites, that they might be encouragtd in the law of the Lord *. To which command, we are afterwards told, the people in general rendered a chearsul obedience. Thus have we seen the measures which Hezekiah took for the assistance and encouragement of the Levites in the discharge of their ossice; and what were the truly noble considerations, by which he was influenced in exerting himself on their behalf. He did not act mere ly from a principle of humanity, or even equity, but from a real concern also for the honor of God, and for the welfare of his people. And thus have we seen how readily the people concurred with him in these measures, for the restoration of the true religion to the state it had been in, in former times. • Chap, xxxi, 4, Ann

( 6* ] _ , Av d now from hence I am naturally led to what is the . principal object of this discourse. We indeed are under a very different dispensation of religion from that of the Jews. The pomp and ceremony which attended their worship is entirely laid aside, the end of thofe institu tions having been fully answered ; and God is now to be worshipped after a plain simple and spiritual manner. Yet as religion itself is the fame it was then, we are under the same obligations to regard the external means of it as the Jews were, though these means are of quite another kind. If theresore we are to meet toge ther at stated seasons for prayer and praise, instruction and reproof, and the celebration of baptism and the Lord's supper; if to these purposes we are to chuse persons properly qualisied to teach us the good know ledge of the Lord, and to administer to us holy ordi nances ; and if a company of faithful people thus as sembled, however small their number, is a church of Christ, and established by divine appointment :-rthen it is unquestionably the duty of such a people, after the example of Hezekiah and the pious Jews, to do the utmost that lies in their power to support assilt and encourage their ministers, in the due discharge of their ossice. The duty is as binding in the latter in stance as in the former. The ends are the fame, the honor of Goo and the spread of religion; and the means, though difserent, are instituted by the fame au thority. Wherefore our obligations to shew a proper \ regard to thofe who are to take the lead in the worlhip of God, are the same, precisely the same, as were thths. Bvt

[ 63 ] But detacning myself from this comparative view of the matter, I propofe now to consider more particularly, L The grounds of that regard which is due from a people towards their minister; II. The several ways in which it mould express it* Jfelf ; and UT. Some additional motives, besides those which arise out of the nature of the duty itself, to excite u» to it. - ' I. As to the grounds of the several duties I have to recommend, these are proper to be laid down sirst, as the right understanding them will the better enable me to point out the duties themselves. Now here are to be considered the claims they have upon us—in common with others, as men and Christians—in virtue of their character and ossice, as ministers of Christ and in consequence of the proper and faithful discharge of their duty. i. They have a claim upon us as men -and Chris tians, in common with others. Their public character does by no means vacate or annul their private or civil character. This I mention with a view to guard against two mistakes, which though very absurd are, I am sorry to t : say .

[ 64 ] fcy it, not nncommon. The one is that of refusing; them such a decent regard, as is their due upon consider rations of a natural and civil kind. And the other is that of paying them an extravagant and superstitious fort of respect, as if they were of a rank superior to that of their sellow-creatures and sellow Christians. The former is the mistake of thofe who have but slight, if not contemptuous, notions of religion. And the latter theirs, who though they may have great zeal for reli gion, yet have little or no knowledge or prudence min gled with that zeal. And they are each of them highly unreasonable and injurious. If ministers have the fame fense honesty and piety as others, they may on these considerations justly challenge the fame esteem attention and asfection as others. Nor is there any reason why their personal merit (I speak ia regard of men not of God) should susfer any diminu tion from their public and relative character.—And on the other hand, if they are men subject to the like pas sions weaknesses and insirmities with others, as they most certainly are, this consideration ought to have its due effect, to check and restrain thofe violent and en thusiastic regards, which some weak and foolish person* are apt tQ express towards them. For however their station and usefulness would induce a good man to pat the most charitable construction upon their desects and failings ; yet a total inattention to them, when it pro duces such prejudices in their favor as were just menti oned, is on many accounts very unreasonable and dan gerous..

I 65 ] gerous. Whilst we treat them as if they were more than men, we are in a disposition to place an implicit and so a very hurtful considence in them ; and by seeding their pride and vanity we greatly injure them and obstruct their usefulness. And after a while, when we come to discover their mistakes and impersections, it is much but our over-weening affection for them as hastily sub sides, as it was before suddenly excited and enflamed. - So that the considering ministers as men and Chris tians in common with others, that is, the duly estimat ing their natural and religious qualisications, and their passions weaknesses and prejudices, is a matter of no small importance in order to the regulation of our re gards towards them. There is nowise and faithful mi nister, I am persuaded, but would on the one hand be glad to be thought a sensible, honest and good man ; and would on the other from his heart despise that ig norant kind of respect, which is offered to supposed in fallibility and persection. Even the apostles themselves, though they were willing to suffer reproach and persecu tion for the sake of religion, on every proper occasion, boldly asserted their rights as men and Christians. And on the contrary, though they were inspired of God and endowed with a power of working miracles, they were on no occasion backward to acknowledge, that they were men of like passions wilh others *, and that it was in earthen -vessels God had put the treasure of his gofpel, that the excellency of the power might be of hint and not of ' I them. * Acts xir, 15.

[ 66 ] them ". The next thing to be considered, as a farther ground of the duties which the people owe to them, is, e. Their character and ossice as ministers of Christ. This is a matter of no small consequence to be rightly understood, because of the contempt with which it i* treated by some, and because of the extravagant and su perstitious veneration that is paid to it by others. The office then is not of political invention, no nor an institution merely of wise and good men ; but it is, I will be bold to assirm, of divine appointment. This I think every one who believes his bible must acknow ledge. For the commission our Lord gave to the sirst ministers of the gofpel to go teach all nations, to admi nister the ordinances to them that should believe and be converted, and to instruct them in whatever he had commanded ; this commission was to extend to the most distant ages, as clearly appears from the promise an nexed, that be would be ivith them alway even to the end ef the iuorU\. And the apostle tells us, our Lord has appointed ministers in his church for the edifying of the body of Chris, till it JbouU come to a perfef! man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ \. Such ministers (who are described as evangelists or teachers, and as bilhops or pastors) were sixed in the churches that were sirst raised and establistied : and a succession of them f * Cor. ir. j, f Mat. xxriii. 19, 20, ; t,-h, iv, 11, 12, 13.

[ 67 ] them was to be continued as long as the Christian church ihould exist. The question then is, Who they are that have a claim to the office of a bishop, or overseer, and what are the duties of such ossice f And here we are to be guided by scripture, and by the reason and the nature of the thingi It is not every one who assumes that venerable charactert or who has it given him by others, that is really intitled to it. He must be properly qualisied for it—he must be regularly called to it—and he must be duly invested with it. As to the qualisications of a Christian bishop ; they are not only clearly laid down in scripture, but they are such as approve themselves to every one's under standing and reason. He ought to have a fair character, to be a good man, and a real believer in Christ. He ought to have a competent knowledge in divine things, and an aptness to communicate that knowledge to others. And he ought to be influenced in taking upon him this sacred ossice, not by secular motives, but by a sincere de sire to glorify God, and to do good to the fouls of men. Now all these qualisications are from God. Wherefore he who is of an immoral lise, or is governed by sinister and worldly views, be his pretences what they may, has no right to the character of a minister of Christ, or to be acknowledged as such by others. Nor is there a sober, thoughtful man, who reflects that the gifts of inspiration and of miracles are now ceased, I a but

[ 68 ] but will I think readily admit, that every kind of know ledge which is to be obtained by study, reading, selfacquaintance, and conversation, especially that which qualisies a person to explain the scriptures, to desend its doctrines, to recommend its duties, and to address the hearts and consciences of men, is of great importance to a minister. So that they who hold such advantages as these in contempt, know not what they speak, or whereof they assirm. Again, He is to be regularly called to the ossice. As to the aumiiiion of a person into the ministry, scripture is nor so particular upon that matter as upon others. Yet we are not without a rule—a rule which common sense teaches, and which, though the New Testament may not have expressed in so many words, naturally enough follows from other matters clearly laid down there. Every Christian community has a right to restrain its mem bers from a disorderly behaviour. That of persons tak ing upon them of their own heads to be- teachers of others, is a scandalous and notorious breach of decency and order. Wherefore it properly falls under the cog nizance of the 'particular church to which such personsbelong. And if any dissiculty arises in judging of any one's talents for public usefulness ; as it ought to be the subject of mature consideration, accompanied with prayer, so prudence and a concern for the honor of re ligion will naturally induce a society of serious Chris tians to call in the aid of those, who may be capable of advising in so weighty an affair. And if this method were

t 69 ] were duly attended to, in the sear of God, it would prevent a great deal of that reproach, which the con ceit and ignorance of some forward persons, to fay no worse, has brought upon the interest of Christ.—But as to the ossice of a pastor or bishop of a particular church, it is the clear and indubitable right of the peo ple, upon the soundest principles both of reason and re ligion, to judge and determine for themselves upon that matter. And then as to his investiture with that ossice, or his ordination to it ; the form you have now seen observed, and have heard explained, appears to me to have been the original practice : and there are manisest advantages attending such a solemnity as this, which I forbear to enumerate, as the subject would lead me too far from the main intenl of this discourse. And now the character and ossice of a minister hav ing been thus delineated from the word of God, I have neither time, nor is there necessity for me, particularly to describe the several duties of it. You have already heard them very largely explained, and very affectionately re commended. He is to teach the good knowledge of the Lord, to administer ordinances, to preside in the affairs of the church, and to labour according to his abilities to promote the spiritual and everlasting interests of thole committed to his care. Iv

t 7& J If then this ossice is of divine appointment, if God of his grace qualisies men for it, and calls them to it, and if the duties of it arc truly honourable, arduous and important ; there is certainly some regard due to it—a regard not sounded in whim or imagination, no nor merely in the extravagant claims of men of vain and assuming tempers ; but in reason, in religion, in the plain dictates of God's holy word. I have therefore only to observe (and which will correct what has been said, if I have at all expressed myself too strongly on these matters) 3. That it is a regard due only to such, whofe con cern it is faithfully to discharge the duties of their ossice. It is not an ossice instituted for the support or emolu ment of a particular order of men, or for the gratisica tion of any passion of theirs for honor or applause. The reverse appears upon the very face of it. It is the wife and gracious appointment of heaven for purpofes of the greatest utility and importance ; for the rescuing the im mortal souls of men from the most tremendous miseries both in this lise and that which is to come, and for the training them up for the participation of the noblest and most substantial honors and enjoyments. If therefore he who calls himself a minister of Christ lofes sight of these great objects, neglects the painful labors of study and reading, indulges himself in ease sloth and pride, wastes his rime about secular pursuits and amusements, or

[ 7i J or in idle and fruitless visits ; if he wantonly busies him self in other men's concerns, and if, instead of setting an example of gravity meekness patience temperance and charity, he disgraces his character by mean and base conn pliances, and a vain, carnal, self-interested temper; if he thus puts osf the very appearance of a minister of the meek and lowly Jesus, and assumes that of a man of the world :—it is not to be wondered that he lofes the esteem regard and affection of those around him. But if the contrary is the cafe, he may challenge the love, I will add, the veneration of his people, and of all good men. Or if he does not challenge it, which (indeed he hardly will, it is his due. And so I am led II. To point out the several ways in which the re gard that is owing to the ministers of Christ ought to express itself. The grand thing is, the having a real, cordial, pre vailing affection for them; an affection springing not merely from natural or civil considerations, but from principles of a more noble, resined and exalted na ture, even thofe of religion ; an affection founded in the gospel of Christ, and cherished and improved by the mighty effect of it on our hearts through the grace of God.—The loving them as believing them to be men who truly sear God, to be such whom he has appointed to shew us the way of salvation, and who, amidst all their insirmities, sincerely aim at serving our most essen tial and important interests. If w% thus love them, we c shall

I 7* ] shall scarcely fail to give them such proofs of our leve, as will directly tend to assist and animate them in their work; which ihould ever be the grand end and the principal measure of all the regards we pay them. This kind of asfection I doubt not prevails in your breasts, my friends, towards my brother whom you have this day called to be your minister and elder. Bear with me therefore, while I lay before you thofe natural and scriptural expressions of it, which he may reasonably expect, and which I make no question he will chearfully and gratefully acknowledge. They are such as respect his person —his character—and his ministrations, I. As to his person. In general, let it be your object to make him as happy as you possibly can.—To this end be acquainted with him. Know them, fays the apostle, mibicb labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you *. Neither your nor his concerns will allow you to be con tinually in each others company. Yet a friendly inter course, at proper seasons, should be sought and cultivated : and reserve on your part may occasion shyness on his. —Carry it decently and respectfully towards him. Rudeness and incivility, under the pretence of plain ness and honesty, is very nearly as inexcusable ; as adu lation and flattery, under the maik of good-nature and friendihip. The elder who rules <u>r//, and -who labours in the word and de£irine, Jhould be counted worthy of double • i Thess. v. 11,73. honor;

[ 73 ] honor * ', and such should be held in reputation f. Be therefore courteous and obliging in your carriage to wards him.—Nor let a concern to shew respect preclude freedom and familiarity. The greatest frankness and openness ought to subsist among friends. And surely you should consider your minister as your friend. I mean not that you are to lay open your worldly asfairs to him. The less he knows of them the better. He has other things to mind. In matters of religion how ever he is intitled to a greater freedom of inquiry than Others. Submityourselves to them, for they -watchforyour fouls \. Nor do I even here mean such a base sub mission as is practised in the church of Rome, and which has been fruitful of innumerable mischiefs ; but only a chearsnl readiness on your part to consult him in a friendly manner on your best interests. I speak of particular and extraordinary dissiculties; for his work would be endless, were every individual to expect a so lution of questions in private, which may be satisfacto rily determined by an attendance on the public means of religion. But the familiarity I mean here to recom mend, is such a free and open carriage, as may tend to secure his esteem and considence, and so to promote his comfort and happiness. By your very countenance ges ture and manner express the cordial asfection you feel for him. Speak comfortably to him, as Hezekiah did to the Levites. Bid him welcome to your houses, and think yourselves happy in his company.— Consult his fcmper, and make all proper allowances for his fail- K ings. * a Tim. t, 17, f ph''- *J, \ HeI>- '7,

f 14 J ihgs. Consider the variety and extensivenesiof his work, and construe not every omission of respect or duty into a want of real affection and regard.—When faithfulness dbiiges you to remind him 6f some mistake' or neglect, do it with prudence and gentleness. Avoid every thing, both as individuals and as a church, which may tend tb grieve and distress him, lo perplex his mind or break his spirits. Many occasions of sorrow and trouble in the usual course of things will arise, in which he must necessarily have a principal share: make him not there fore a party in every dispute, nor let him be privy to every private offence or personal altercation.—And now I spCak of affliction, let me intreat you to sympathize with him in his sorrows, be they what they may. He who exhorted the Galatians to tear one anothers burdens *, did not mean to exclude their ministers from the benesit of his tender admonition. No. They perhaps of all others need it most. Is he therefore oppressed with, grief? pity him, visit him, counsel him, comfort him. t)o that kind ossice by him in private, which he is from week to week attempting towards you in public The kindness will be returned, it will be amply rewarded.—■ In a word, as a farther expression of your love, and your concern for his happiness, provide him an honour able maintenance ; such an one as will free him from anxious cares, and not only set him above the frowns of the world, but enable him to gratify the charitable disposition of his heart.—The reasonableness and equity of this, where there is ability, and the express injunc tion* • Gal. ri. a*

[ 75 J tions of scripture • upon the matter, you well underr stand. And indeed such has been your forwardness herein, in times past, that it would seem strange to. roost who hear me, were I any farther to press it upon you.—I go on now to the regard you owe, 2. To his character; by which I mean his reputation for morality, piety, and ministerial abilities. As to his moral character, the maintenance of it it of the last importance to his usefulness. For to what purpose does a man take upon him to instruct others in matters of religion, who is destitute of a principle of honesty, and leads a loose and profligate life? But it it not the thing itself I here mean. That depends on his own care and attention ; and for any failure therein he alone is answerable both to Gon and man. But what I mean is his reputation for virtue and sobriety. That may sutler, notwithstanding the utmost caution and cir cumspection on his part, through the malice of wicked fnen, and the imprudence and folly of his owu friends. It is therefore your indispensable duty to assert maintain and defend his character to the utmost of your power. Zeal in this case is a debt you owe to yourselves, as well as to him. Take heed then how you admit even a suspicion in your breasts os any thing dishonourable to him. And so far from countenancing any insinua tions that have an ill tendency, satissied of their untruth, use your utmost endeavours to vindicate him and fup- K 2 press * i Cor. ix. 4—j^.

[ 7* Y press them. The apostle was so sensible of the import ance of this, that he charges the people not to receive an accusation against an cider, but before two or three wit nesses *. And yet, if ministers do really a£l unworthy of their character ; to desend them is a crime instead of a virtue, an asfront to religion instead of a recommend ation of it. There are duties you owe also to his chararacter for piety, as well as morality! Religion is I know a per sonal thing, a matter which lies between God and a man's own soul. Yet there are certain external expres sions of it which are sit and natural, and which can scarcely escape the observation of those with whom we converse. Wherefore we ought all to watch against the charge of affectation and severity on the one hand, and of lightness and dissipation on the other. But ministers, as they are in public stations and are under special obli gations to exert themselves for the promoting religion ; are more liable to misapprehensions and reflections of this sort, than private christians. Very becoming ex pressions of zeal on their part will sometimes be cen sured as the effect of preciscness and singularity : and then again a commendable chearfulness and affability will by some weak persons be hastily considered as an unhappy sign of a declension in religion. As therefore they ought to be careful that they give no just cause pf offence to their people ; so their people ought to exercise great candor forbearance and tenderness in these matters • i Tim. t, 19.

[ 77 1 matters towards them.—Cherish therefore in your breasts a most cordial and affectionate opinion of your minister as a real christian, and as one who has your everlasting interests much at heart. Do not misinterpret any mea sures he may pursue, with a prosessed view to the pro moting your good, as the effect of ill motives or an un worthy principle. Even though his zeal were to get the better of his judgment, rather than improperly check it, love him the better for it. And though his reproofs should happen in some instances to be rather warm and severe, consider them as the overflowings of an honest concern for your welfare, and not of peevishness or ill-temper.—And on the other hand, let not his laud able endeavors to improve in the knowledge of men and things, let not his proper relaxations from study and labor, no nor let every little circumstance of decent chearfulness and pleasantry, be construed into an in difference to religion or to the duties of his station. Believe him to be a good man, and do him the justice to speak of him, and commend him, and to honour him as such.—And then again, As to his ministerial abilities. You have tried them, you have approved them, and you have chofen him as one happily qualisied to teach you the good knowledge of the Lord. It is of importance that you are con firmed in your opinion of his gifts, nay that you are prejudiced in favor of them. A bigotted and unmean ing attachment to particular ministers, especially when it betrays a people into injurious and disrespectful com parisons,

i 73 ] parisons, is 3 reslection both on such a people's under standing and seriousness. This was what the apostle condemned in the Corinthians. Yet, if either Paul or Apollos or'Ccphas had been their stated minister, it would have been perhaps not only excuseable but com mendable in them to have been for him rather than for ethers, that is, to have given the preference to his gifts above theirs. In this respect therefore think well of him, speak well of him. Be asusting to his improvements jn knowledge. S:;r up the gift that is in him. And, by seasonable commendations of him, contribute what in you lies towards his acceptableness, and of consequence his usefulness.—And thus I am. led to the principal thing, which is, 3. The duty you owe to his ministrations. And here let me observe in general, that that which I make no doubt is his grand object should be yours also, and that you should heartily concur with him in pro moting it : I mean the support desence and spread of the gospel, the conversion and salvation of immortal souls, and the disfusion of light purity and happiness among all around you. Contend earnestly therefore fir the faith itihich was once dclivercd to the saints *, and promoke one another to love and good works \. Do your utmost to maintain truth holiness order and peace among yourselves ; and strive which shall excel the other in meekness humility charity and all the fruits of real piety. • Jude 3, f Heb. x, 14,

[ 79 ] piety. These will be the most substantfitl proofs df* your regard to his ministrations, will afford him the most effectual support and encouragement in the dis charge of his work, and will reflect the greatest honor on yourselves. But to be more particular— He is le teach the good knowledge of the Lord. Be dili gent therefore, faithful and regular In your attendance cm public worship. Let not every little trifling excuse, either of weather or bodily indisposition, keep you from the house of God. Go up thither early, at the hour of prayer. Take your children and your servants with you, and use your best endeavours to persuade others to accompany you. Let your earnest cries to heaven, both for your minister and yourselves, precede and fol low every returning exercise of religion. Join, not in the form only, but in the spirit of public prayer. Listen attentively candidly and affectionately to what is said to you. Receive the truth in the love of it. When i ^ any thing drops from the speaker in a way of reproof, ' which is particularly applicable to your circumstances, don't admit the invidious suspicion that any personal reflection was intended. When you are not so enter- . . tained and prosited as you could wish, hay not all the ' ' blame on the preacher, but in charity to him, take a part of it upon yourselves. Make all proper allowance* \ \ for the different kinds of subjects and occasions of his discourses, and for the different frames and tempers of mind to which he is liable as well as you. Don't hear him as critics but as christians ; not as those who come S" ' to

[ 80 } . lo be amused, but to be saved. Regard not the neat ness or accuracy of his compositions ; but the reasoning spirit and intent of them. Treasure up what you hear In your memories. Compare it with scripture, and give no farther credit to it, than as it is conformable to that grand standard of truth; and if it be agreeable to it, reject it at your peril. Watch against the very per nicious practice of mingling with vain and trifling company after the exercises of public devotion. And allow me to add, that a regular attention to the duties of the family, on the evening of the day devoted to divine service, is a very important means of religion,—a means of religion that is I am afraid in general, on one pre tence or other, very much neglected. Give earnest heed to the things you hear, lest at any time you let them Jlip * ; and be not like thofe who beheld theirfaces in a glass, and go aveay, and instantly forget -what manner of persons they are f. Prayer, servent prayer, I would again most ear nestly press upon you, as a lively and indeed a necessary expression of your improvement in religion. And if that be duly practised, it need not be questioned that the happiest esfects of your attendance on public worship will be seen the whole week afterwards. Be persuaded also to a serious regular and'ehearsul participation of the Lord's supper. Do this in remem brance of me\, says Christ. Reflect on your obliga tions to the insinitely adorable Jesus ; and if you love him, you cannot easily satisfy yourselves in the neglect . of • Heb.jj. I. f Jun. i, 23, 24. % 1 Cor. xi. 244

{ Si ] of this sacred precept. Beware of the too common ex cuse of the want of due preparation. That will be your own fault. See to it therefore that one neglect is not made an excuse for another. And then as to the of* fences of any who may partake with you, do your duty, and remember that you are not chargeable with what is amiss in them. Give me leave also to remind you of the duties in cumbent on you, in regard of the peace order purity and love, which should subsist Among you as a church of Christ. Do your utmost to discountenance all vide and sin under the mask of a christian profession. Take every prudent, and at the same time vigorous, mea sure to come at the truth in matters of public scan dal. Let sirmness be mingled with meekness, and impar tiality with charity. Stand by your minister in the due discharge of his ossice, and concur heartily with him in •very expedient propofed for the honor of religion, and your mutual good as a christian community. Be united among yourselves. Let all your things be done -with ch/irity*. A^ld putting away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and em'd speaking, with all malic*; be yt kind one to another, tender-hearted, fbrgi-ving one an other, even at Godfor Christ's fake hasJoforgivenyou f. .' To all Which I have only to add tfie great importance of social prayer. Exercises mf this sow, property con ducted and tvell attended, will have a happy tendency, .'. - .... . .. >.%it, .it' . . a:., • I Cor. xri. 14. f Efrh. »t, 3'» 3*.

[ ] ■ot only to promote the spirit of religion in general, but to comfort the heart of your minister, and to strengthen his hands in his work. - Having thus with great freedom laid before you, my friends, your duty, give me leave, III. Bv some suitable motives to enforce it. -ni .. .'. \ '- .'. And. here, What one passion is there of the human heart—What one divine principle or affection of the re newed mind—but I might with reason address? The arguments I have to urge are various and numerous. I .{hall, .however, only touch upon them. Let me then persuade you, Sirs, to your duty, i. From considerations of humanity and kindness. i . ; . . . . ; Good-nature , or adesire to make their sellow-creatures .'happy, is what some possess, who yet enter not into the spirit of real religion. How great a reproach then would it be to the Christian name, were those who profess it to :be defective in this amiable temper, wherein tbty of all .others ought to excel ! Goo forbid 1 that such a charge should ever lie against the disciples of the meek, the compassionate, the friendly Jesus. No. The grace of God, wherever it prevails, softens the heart, meliorates the affections, and melt* the soul into tenderness and love. And if it be lo, how can a society compofed of . Christian members be without bowels of kindness to

C 23 } wards their minister ? It cannot. A general idea of the nature and duties of this important office would, methinks, be sussicient to excite the humane and benevo lent seelings of their breasts : what effect then, must a recollection of the numerous difficulties and discouragements which attend it, produce ? Here I might put you in mind—of the many fad conflicts which they, who serve you in the gofpel, endure in common with others as Christians; conflicts with sin, with fatan, and with the world—of the extraordinary anxieties sears and temp* tations, which are peculiar to them as ministers of the painful labors, not only of public preaching, but of continual meditation and study—and of the distress they osten seel, occasioned by the various tempers, pas sions and prejudices of mankind, by the unsuccessfulness of their ministry in some instances, and by the sloth and indifference, not to say the unworthy conduct of many under a prosession of religion. But it were endless to be particular. A considerate person will easily give me credit when I assirm, that the dissiculties attending this sacred office are great—very great. Surely then the sincere and faithful servant of Christ hath, upon the common principles of humanity, no inconsiderable title to your regard.——I speak not this, my friends, from any doubt of your tender and affectionate disposition. No. I am well persuaded you possess this amiable temper. You have given many strong and convincing proofs of it.—From motives of good-nature therefore, which have an easy access to your hearts, I go on,

[ »4 ] l. To theft of justice: Degenerate as mankind are, there is such a thing III honesty in the world. And where may we so reason ably expect to sind it, as among thole who call them* selves christians ? If indeed any such are destitute of it, however splendid their external profession may be, they have no claim to that venerable character. Well! And are not the duties I have been recommending the dictates of truth and equity? If God in his word has autho rised such a relation, as that which subsists between my brother and you* and if you have mutually and volan* tarily entered into it; as he is obliged to the persorm ance of the duties he has undertaken, so are you to yours. The regards therefore which a people sliew to. their minister, are to be considered not as the obliga tions of benevolence only, but of integrity and righte ousness; Is it sit, is it reasonable, is it just, that a man Ihould devote his time, his strength, his spirits, his abilities to the interests of others, and to their most essential interests too ; and receive none of thofe returns that have been mentioned t How can persons answer it to God or their own consciences, to treat those with Whom they stand thus connected, or their ministrations, With indifference and neglect? From this topic the apostle reasons in his epistle to the Corinthians, and elsewhere. But the matter is so clear, I forbear to en large. It speaks for itself.—Let me proceed therefore a step farther, and argue, 3. From

3. F*om motives of self-interest* This, of all other principles, is the most prevalent in the human heart. Convince a man, thoroughly con vince hitn, that his interest is concerned} and the object proposed, be h what it may, will instantly become im portant: h will immediately engage his attention, his passions, and his pursuit. Well ! and wherein does our truest interest consist? The question with a goodman is quickly decided. He is come to a point upon the matter. It consists in the favor of Goo, and a growing conformity to his image. Now the means of religion which Chust has instituted in his church, are clearly adapted to promote our good in each of these respects, that is, to excite in our breasts a lively and chearsul fense of the divine favor and friendlhip, and to con- £rm and strengthen our attachments to truth and holi ness. If therefore the means of religion are to be dili-. gently used, in order to the attaining these important ends ; we are surely consulting our own good, when we are affording all the support assistance and encourage ment that lies in our power, to those whom Goo hac appointed, and we have chofen, to be helpers of our faith and joy. We are consulting, I say, our own in terest, our best, oar noblest, our most essential interest. Every proper token of affection and regard to them will be richly repaid. Our diligent attendance on their mi nistry, our fervent prayers for the success of their la bors, and above all, our exemplary conversation, will nave the happy effect to quicken and enliven them ia ..,:-.' - - ; .»...-.«* their i

[ 86 ] their work. And so shall we contribute to our own honor happiness and usefulness. With what warmth, what spirit, what energy, do the apostles address the Thessalonians upon these matters !—We live, if ye stand fast in the Lord*. " If ye adhere sirmly to Christ, " to his doctrine and institutions, cultivating the chris- " tian temper, and adorning your prosession with the " fruits of righteousness ; iue live—ye make us happy, " sill our hearts with joy, and inspire us with new " vigor and resolution in the discharge of our duty. " And so will ye in return, be farther benesited by our " labors, to which ye have thus afforded so noble ao- " assistance." In like manner we hear them reasoning with the Corinthians ;—Do we begin to commend our selves f or need .we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you ? Te are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men: forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in stejhly tables of the heart f To this motive of selfinterest I will add, ; 4. That of a public spirit. i . - By a public spirit I mean a readinesi to contribute what lies in our power, towards the welfare of our fellow-creatures, both in an individual and social cap facity. A truly noble temper this ! Now religion U the * a ThcsT. iii. I. fa Car. ali. 1, a, 3.

t 87 1 the only effectual means os promoting the real happi ness of mankind, as it holds up to their view the brightest profpects in another world, and as it best en ables them to answer the true ends of their existence in this. Godliness is profitable unto all things, having a promise of the life that noio is, and of that -which is so come Nor is it less adapted to promote the good of society in general, since it strengthens and invigo rates all thofe virtuous and friendly affections which are of the greatest public utility. If therefore the christian ministry, which has the interest of religion for its immediate object, is of divine appointment; it is surely a noble expression of a public spirit, to do our utmost for the support of it. By countenancing assist ing and encouraging the ministers of Jesus in their work, we give the strongest proof of our tender com passion for the ignorant the guilty and the miserable, and of our generous concern to spread the inestimable blessings of knowledge peace and happiness among all around us. Have you then, my friends, been con vinced of the truth of religion upon the most clear and substantial evidence ? Have you been satissied, from your own experience, of its pleasantness importance and utility ? And have you been charmed with the happy fruits of it, which you have observed in the tempers and lives of others?—-Let me appeal to these convictions, to these experiences, to these re flections, accompanied with all the genuine feelings Of • 1 Thn. ir, >.

f V J of humanity, for your obligations to the several duties 1 have been recownending. ;: tA to ,..,t -.. > . c 3. ts Zi i ; t . ",..,» -« in * J . But the consideration which of all others most de mands our. attention is, » v. 5. Ajid lastly, the honor due to the grace of. Goo, so ill,uitripi»sly displayed in o»r redcaiftioH by Christ. so publish to the world this faithful faying, this saying worthy of all acceptation, thai Christ Jefut came into the Wrld '« /eve sinners is the grand object of the christian ministry. Nor is it indeed in the power of men or angels sally to describe the wonders of this astonishing instance of divine mercy and goodness.—r Amazing love !—unparalleled grace ! The Son of God becomes incarnate, bleeds and dies, to redeem us from endless woes, and to exalt us to a persection of felicity and glory. O the height, the depth, the length, the breadth of the love of God in Jesus Christ! It pasl'eth knowledge. At these reflections, Christians, every divine passion in your breasts must surely kindle into a flame. And amidst that warm glow os wonder foye and gratitude yoiu feel, is it no* yourÆrst coiKerB to know how you^nsy jaost erfqct»ally advance his glory in the world to whom you are so .deeply indebted ?-r- Yon cannot be at a lo&, while yo« reflect on the nature of. .that dispensation of religion which Christ has established, and on the duties which of consequence you owe to his ministers and to one another. He that .i.;;.mTt« reetivetk * I Tim. I, 15.

[ 89 ] nctivetb whomsot-ver I find, says the Saviour, receives!/ me j and he that recei-veth mt, receiveth him that sent me * . Be persuaded therefore by the love you bear to Christ, and by your concern for his honor and interest, to ex press an affectionate and becoming regard to my bro ther, whom you are yourselves satissied he has sent, and who has this day devoted himself to your, service in the gofpel. Thus by all the motives of humanity and kindness,, of justice and equity, of self-interest, of a public spirit, and of zeal for the glory of God and the honor of Christ, would I urge the duties that have been laid before you, so far as you shall sind them agreeable to the dictates of truth reason and the word of God: at the same time expressing my full satisfaction of your, chearsul readiness to conform to the divine will. And now to clofe the whole, and yet farther to en force what has been said, if that were necessary, let me carry your views forward to that bright and glorious day, when the ends of all these institutions and duties I have been recommending, shall have been fully ac complished ; and both you, my friends, and your mi nister shall receive your reward at the hands of the blessed Jesus; you of all your tenderness and affection for him, and he of all his chearsul and painful labors for you. O what mutual congratulations ! what pleas ing resactions ! what rapturous joys ! will distinguish M that * John xiii, 20.

t 9» 1 ' that happy period.*-Ih ,the mean while, may tit God »s peace that brought again from, the dead our Lcrd Jejtu Christ, jbat gnat Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the .everlasting covenant, make you perfeil in every good -work to do hit wiU, working in you that which is <wtllphasing in hisfight, through Jesus Christ,..-io vabem be. glaty for tver end ever. Amen *. ." - . . \ I" . . - ..i .:.".> * Heb. xiii. se, 21. . : . a i . . .