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I he Duty of Minifters to be nurfing Fathers to the Church i and the Duty of Churches to regard Minifters as the Gift of Chrift ' K/ . A CHARGE, ' ' {Dp-lf'lVERED BY The Rev. John Ryland, D. D. of Briftol AND A SERMON, / DELIVERED BY The Rev. S. Pearce, M. A. of Birmingham > IN THE DISSENTERS MEETING-HOUSE, ANGEL-STREET, WORCESTER; at the O RD I N AT I O N of the The Rev. W. Belsher, To the Paftorate of the Baptift Churchy MEETING IN SILVER-STREET, IN THE SAME CITY: Together with An Introdu&ory Addrefs, By the Rev. G. Osborn, AND ALSO Mr. Belfloer's Declaration of religious Sentiments, Sold by Button, London; Baskerfield, Worcefler; Belghf.r, Birmingham ; and James, Briftol. PRICE ONE SHILLING,
AD FERT1SEMENT. THE Meeting-Houfe of the Baptift Society, in Silver-ftreet, Worcefter, being now rebuilding, they have for the prefent agreed to affemble for public Worfhip, with their Friends and Brethren in Angel-ftreet ; where the following very pleating and inftrucrive Services were attended on the 7th of December, 1796: — ahd the common Friends of chriftian Love and Order have requefled this Publication, as exhibiting an amiable inftance of both. May it prove a mean of mutual Comfort to the Churches, and of Edification to the Public ! Worcefter> December 30, 1796,
The Order of the Service. Mr. T. Edmonds read a portion of Scripture, and prayed j Mr. Osborn delivered the introductory Difcourfe; Mr. L. Butterworth aflced the ufual Queftions refpe&ing the Church's free Choice of Mr. Be ls her to the pafloral Office, and his willingnefs to accept the fame; which being recognized, Mr. Belsher read the Declaration of his religious Sentiments Mr. L. Butterworth committed him and the Church to the Divine Bleffing, by prayer j Dr. Ryland delivered the Charge Mr. Pearce addrefled the Church, and concluded the Service with prayer. J
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. T T 7HAT a pleafmg fight is this day prefented to you% my brethren and friends, in this place ! Children of one family, acknowledging one Father, and uniting our chriftian affe&ions and efforts, for the (lability, order, an4 ufefulnefs of the church of jefus, and its minifters! By particular defire I am called upon, juft briefly to introduce this folemn fervice, and to affign our reafons, as Proteftant Diffenters, for fuch an obfervance. It is needlefs, perhaps, to inform this auditory, that we do not find in the word of God, any pofitive command for us formally to ordain: —that we do not pretend to any fuperiox or fpiritual authority over each other, as minifters of the fame gofpel : and that we openly profefs we can neither communicate, nor receive from man, any extraordinary gifts. We believe (with good Mr. Henry, on x Tim. i. 12) "that " putting men into the miniftry, is the work of Jesus " Christ :" —that he is the fupreme and only lawgiver in the church ; —that fcripture alone is our rule; —and that private judgment is facred in religion. While, therefore, as to civil government, and the lawful authorities of our country, we are frank to declare our fincere allegiance, and not only in words^ but in affection and conduSi^ " to render " unto Csefar the things which are Caefar's :" —we are bound in confeience, as to the things of God, to " call no man mafter upon earth." Yet, though we are obliged to difallow and reject the impofing dominion of any Lordbifhop, or of any Lord-brother, in the prefcription of our faith or worfhip ; yet we allow, and wifh to obferve, the propriety of religious fervice?, in religious concerns: And therefore,
[ 6 ] sherefore, according to fcriptural example, and apofrolic practice, we are met together this day, to help each other by our mutual prayers and advice, to recognize the folemn designation of our brother to the work of the ministry, and the interesting relation now avowed, between him and his friends in this city. Were I to chufe a text to Sanction our practice, I fhould fix your attention on the apoftle's account of a primitive ordination, conformable to divine appointment, as you have it recorded, Ac~h xiii. 3, WHEN THEY HAD FASTED AND PRAYED, THEY LAID THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND SENT THEM AWAY. In this bufinefs there was no myftery, no fuperftitious right, no ceremonious pomp, no ufurpation of prelatieal authority : but there evidently appears great Simplicity; pure devotion; love of order; fubmiffion to divine teaching; and true benevolence to men. I. Confider here who were the ordained, or what is the efTential character, and necefiary qualification, of chriftian ministers ? Plainly there were no prerequisites of human greatnefs; no heights of Scientific attainments; no attachments of wealth or intereSt: : but there were previously beftowed, and perSonally enjoyed, I. Moral goodnefs \ —that is to fay, the men fet apart for this evangelic work, were well acquainted with the things of religion. They knew and felt the evidences and truths of the, gofpel. Their hearts were renewed by divine grace; and their lives correfponded with their profeffion and hopes. They were men of faith, of purity, of devotion, and of love unfeigned, both towards God, and the world : and fuch excellence of moral character, we deem efTential to the being, and the acknowledgment of ^very minister, and paftor in the church of Chrift. So Paul
[ 7 ] Paul dirca?, I Tim. Hi- 1, &c. " A bifhop (or as rendered Acts xx. 28, overfeer) muft be blamelefs ; the hufband of one wife; vigilant, fober, of good behaviour, given to hofpitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no ftriker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient; not a brawler (or fighter) not covetous." 2. Spiritual gifts, though not miraculous, nor equal in all, yet are moft important qualifications for every. chriftian rrijmfrer. As he cannot be a chriftian without moral goodnefs, fo he cannot be a minifter, a teacher, or paftor, without fuitable endowments. Here we think it indifpenfible that there fhould be a found underftanding an acquaintance with natural and revealed religion in its doctrines arid requirements ; an ability to lead the devotions of the people ; a capacity for learning ; and an aptitude and power to inftruct, perfuade, and comfort. 3. Difinterejied zeal for the glory of God, for the edification of the church, and for the good of all mankind j this alfo is a moft capital requifite in the minifterial character. This zeal is equally remote from felfiihnefs, the love of eafe, worldly ambition, and overbearing officioufnefs. Where thofe qualities are found and cultivated, we fuppofe there is every thing eflential, efpecially when combined with human prudence, for the difcharge of the miniftry. II. Obferve, in the next place, who were the ordahers, and how did they ordain, or feparate for the work of the gofpel ? It is faid " There were in the church (i. e. the fociety of believers) " at Antioch, certain " prophets and teachers ; and as they miniftered to " the Lord and failed, the Holy Ghoft faid, Separate " me now Barnabas and Saul, for the work where- " unto
[ 8 ] " unto I have called them : and when they had " fafted and prayed, they laid their hands on them, " and fent them away : (o they being fent forth by , "the Holy Ghoft, departed." Hence we learn, that divine influence was the prime mover, the call, and the commiffion of thefe perforft. We learn that they were exprefsly fet apart by their brethren, and fellow members of the church : and that this was attended (imply by failing, prayer, and laying on of hands : i. e. not the hand of one man, as having any peculiar jurifdidrion or gift, but the hands of fcveral good men, who united their hearts and actions, as the fervants of God, and the organ of the fociety's good will. In like manner we would infer, and obierve the will of God, calling our brethren to the miniftry, and us to fet them apart. I. From the direction and leading of Providence. It is God who raifes up and qualifies his fervants : he fixes their habitation ; he inclines their hearts to engage in his work he direas the attention of his people; and while he calls them to his fervice, promifes and affords all needful fupplies of wifdom, ftrength, and encouragement. See Jerem. i. 4—8. 2 Cor. ii. 14 j6. 2. By the free choice of the people themfelves, we look upon mimfters as called, and paftors as virtually ordained For we mutt bear in mind, that fuch a fervice as this gives no frefh ability to our brother: Barnabas and Saul were eminent mimfters of the gofpel, before this feparation : and all intended by us, who unite in the work of this day, is, folemnly to recognize the calling of our brother, as the objea of his friends election and confidence. 3- By folemn acls of devotion, therefore, we conceive that we equally comply with the example of fcripturc— the
f 9 ] declared will of God—and the wifties and feelings of his people in this matter. As to fading and prayer, perhaps their union on this, as well as on other occafions, would .be found peculiarly fuitable and ufeful : certainly there is the greateft fitnefs and beauty in commending the minifter of Chrift to his fpecial influence and bleffing. And as to laying on of hands, it feems to me both highly proper, as the mark of concurring in this defignat'um ; as well as the original mode of intreating the divine benediction, upon particular perfons. Vide Gen. xlviii. 14. Such, brethren, are our views of evangelical ox&imX\ox\« We only defire to follow fcripture direction and examples. We venerate the rights of confeience, and of Chrift. At the fame time we cordially wifh well to all that love the gofpel, however they may differ from us : and I fincerely fay may peace and holinefs be promoted by us all. —=8«»«®®®^@@®-«:^^»-@3®$®§lSft»*»a MR. BELSHER'S DECLARATION OF HIS RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS. XxFTER a ferious and repeated perufal of the holy fcriptures, earned: prayer for divine direction, and mature deliberation, 1 feel myfelf at liberty, with inward fatisfa&ion, to ftate, without referve, my views of religious truth, and I now declare my faith. I. In the being of a God. In every direction 1 meet with evidence of his exiftence and perfections. The magnitude, variety, and harmony of creation —the prefervation of the world-—the pleafing vicifTitude of the feafons—the B wifdorrt
[ w ] wifdom and defign that appear in the difpenfations of providence—the excellent ftructure of the human frame —the amazing powers of the immortal foul —with the pleafures of holinefs, and the miferies that attend on moral evil — all thefe loudly proclaim his power and godhead, II. Though the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament fheweth forth his praife, yet he has magnified his word above all his name. In creation, we perceive the operation of almighty power and infinite wifdom: In Providence, unfpeakable condefcenfion and unremitting care : But in revelation we learn his moral character : In the law appear unfpotted holinefs, and inflexible juftice ; In the gofpel, fovereign goodnefs, and unbounded love ! The doctrine of the crofs is reprefented as a mirror, in which the perfections of God are to be feen to the greateft poflible advantage ; there, " as in a glafs, we behold the " gl° rv °f tne Lord ;" for Chrift is " the image of the " invifible God." Nature's difplay of God is partial- Revelation exhibits him " in all his round of rays compleat." Through the facred humanity of our Lord, the divine perfections are foftened down in a manner fuited to our feeble capacity; and inflead of exciting terror, encourage hope. Here the finner may be taught what he can learn no where elfe, a juft God and a Savior ; the inflexible judge, and companionate father ; the doctrine of remiflion, acceptance with God, the fure and certain hope of a glorious refurrection and blifsful immortality. From the fublimity and excellency of the doctrines ; the grace and glory of the promifes j the freenefs of the invitations ; the purity of the precepts contained in the writings of the Old and New Teftament ; connected with the holinefs and agreement of the infpired writers ; the accomplishment of prophecy ; the difperfion and prefervation of the Jews; the evidence of miracles, and the aftonifhing influence of fcripture doctrines
[ M ] trines (through divine agency) upon the minds of men, I believe the Bible to be the word of God. The facred pages, whofe divine authority is fupported by this body of evidence, I confider as entitled to our deepeft reverence and moft cordial affection ; and receive this divine directory as an infallible guide of faith and practice ; " to which " we do well to take heed, as to a light to that fhineth in a " dark place." III. I believe God to be a focial being, " the Father, " the Son, and the Holy Ghoft ; the three who bear re- ?* cord in heaven." The fame in efTence, equal in majefty and glory. My inability to comprehend this doctrine, is no more an objection to its truth, than my not being able to comprehend my own being, is an objection to the reality of my exiftence. If I cannot comprehend my own exiftence, how, by fearching, (hall I find out God ! IV. I believe, in oppofition to the doctrine of chance, that the events which take place in the natural and moral world, are objects of the divine purpofe or decrees. " He " worketh all things according to the counfel of his own c< will." Thepurpofes of God I conceive to be fovereign, though not arbitrary ; that is, without reafon : They are infinitely wife and good ; for if God purpofe or decree, he muft decree and act like himfelf—an infinitely wife and gracious Being. From the word of God I learn that believers are the objects of Jehovah's eternal choice. " God " hath from the beginning, chofen you to falvation through " fanctification of the fpirit, and belief of the truth." Faith and obedience, I confider, as the effects, and not the caufe of our election. " As many as were ordained to " eternal life, believed." " According as he hath chofen " us in him before the foundation of the world." B 2 V.
[ 12 ] V. I believe that God created the firft man Adam fuperior to all other creatures on earth ; being endowed with a rational and immortal fpirit; for " the Lord God u r breathed into his noftrils the breath of life, and man be- " came a living foul" —The underftanding was as clear as the light —the will pure and holy—the affections kept- in due fubordination—the memory, retentive—theconfeience, peaceful and ferene : This is to be made in the image of God, and after his likenefs in the higheft and moft proper fenfe. In this ftate of rectitude, man had the law of God written in his heart; in addition to whieh he received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil : and upon his attention to, or violation of this injunction, depended his enjoyment of God, or lofs of happinefs. VI. As Adam was the firft man, fo I believe him to be the covenant head, and reprefentative of all mankinds and that the confequences of his obedience or difobedience, did not merely extend to himfelf as an individual, but to all his pofterity ; wherefore, by his apoftacy, he not only brought himfelf under the awful penalty of Jehovah's law? and loft the image and favor of God ; but tranfmitted tp all his defcendants univerfal corruption and depravity, with the profpecT: of everlafting woe. " By one man's difobe- * c dience many were made Tinners." VII. Man having deftroyed himfelf, I believe God was pleafed to reveal his purpofe of grace and mercy, made with Chrift the. covenant head of his people, before the commencement of time; which " covenant is ordered in " all things and fure;" and fecures free pardon, full falvation, perfect righteoufnefs, the promife of the fpirit, and final glory to every believer. To realize this merciful defign, in the fulnefs of time the Son of God became incarnate, siTuming human nature, with all its finlefs infirmities, as necefTary
[ >J ] ficcefiary to conftitute him an able and fuitable Savioi. This interefting truth is declared to be without controverfy the " great myftcry of godlinefs ; God was manifeft in $ the flefli." Our Lord was not only made under the law, but by his holy life and vicarious death, he magnified and made it honorable : he has fatisfied the demands of juftice ; glorified the divine character to the greateft poffible degree; made an end of fin ; and brought in an everlafting righteoufnefs. On the crofs he fpoiled the powers of darknefs, and ruined the empire of Satan. He was buried, and on the third day he rofe fuperior to death and the grave : he afcended into heaven, to receive the honors due to his victories; to pofTefs the reins of univerfal government ; and to prepare manfions of blifs for all his followers, VIII. I believe that all who are interefted in the undertaking and work of the Redeemer, are, by the powerful influence of the Divine Spirit, called from darknefs to light ; from fin to holinefs ; from Satan to God. Their underffandings are illuminated ; their wills renewed; their affections fanctified ; and in all their powers devoted to the Lord ; being w created in Chriff Jefus unto good works, " which God hath before ordained that we fhould walk " in them." Faith and repentance are blefiings of the new covenant, and are implanted in us by the power of the Divine Spirit—By faith we embrace the Savior, and build our hopes upon him for forgivenefs, acceptance, and eternal life —Repentance is that grace by which we are difpofed to abhor ourfelves, and determine no longer to live in the indulgence of fin—It teaches to deny ungodlinefs, and perfect: holinefs in the fear of the Lord —Faith and repentance
[ '4 ] pentance never fail to produce good works; natural!) " having their fruit unto holinefs." EfTe&ual calling and j unification, I believe are infeparably connedled u Whom he called, them he alfo juf- *' tified." Juftification I confider as a complete acquittal from imputed and contracted guilt : a deliverance from the deftruclive and condemning power of fin : —but outworks or obedience have no meritorious influence on our acceptance with God, either in whole or in part ; fince we are juftified alone by trie righteoufnefs of Chrift imputed and received by faith. All who are juftified, are taken into the family of heaven ; enjoy the bleflings of grace ; are the objects of divine love, and unremitting attention—they are the care of Providence, and the charge of angels. By virtue of adoption, they have a right to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away—they are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Cbrift-r-Jehovah himfelf is their portion and reward. Thofe who have received grace, will be crowned with eternal glory — the love, promife, wifdom, honor, and power of Chrift, induce me to believe this comfortable truth, <c He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Chrift." IX. Chriftians, uniting and agreeing to walk together in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord to ftrengthen each others hands ; to bear each others burdens; and promote each others beftintereft ; doconftitutea gofpel-church, of which Chrift is the only head and Lord fo that whofoever exalts himfelf, and prefumes to take part In the dominion with him, is no other than Antichrift, invading
[ «s ] yading the Redeemer's prerogative, and lording it over God's heritage—" One is your mafter, even Chrift, and " ye are all brethren." X.' Baptifm, and the Lord's-fupper, are pofitive inftitutions of the gofpel difpenfation. The fcriptural mode of adminiftering the former, I apprehend, to be by imrnerfion. The latter, I conceive, is defigned to preferve alive an affectionate remembrance of the love, fufferings, and death of our Lord. XI. At death our bodies will return to the earth, and our fouls afcend to God, to receive an immediate and unalterable fentence to eternal life or death —to be admitted into heaven, or fent down to hell. I believe that God has appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world in righteoufnefs by Jefus Chrift ; when the awful trumpet fhall be blown, and its alarm difturb the {lumbers of the dead. Thofe who have done evil fhall come forth to the refurreftion of damnation ; thofe who have done good to the refurrection of life everlafting. u Depart ye curfed," will fill the finners heart with terror and defpair ; while thofe who have believed in the Savior, fhall be cloathed with the garments of falvation, and admitted into the paradife of God —" Come ye bleffed of my c< Father, enjoy the kingdom prepared for you from before " the foundation of the world." A CHARGE,
[ i6 '] A CHARGE My dear Brother, J\ S I am called, by your own requeft, to addrefs you, on the prefent folemn, but pleafing occafion, permit me to turn your attention to a pafTage, which appears to me well adapted to imprefs our minds, with fome affe&ing and interefting ideas, juftly applicable to the work of a Gofpel Minifter, and a Chriftian Paftor. The expreffion to which I allude is contained in NUMB. xi. 12. —THAT THOU SHOUD'ST SAY UNTO ME, CARRY THEM IN THY BOSOM, AS A NURSING FATHER BEARETH THE SUCKING CHILD, UNTO THE LAND WHICH THOU SWAREST UNTO THEIR FATHERS. THESE words are included in a complaining addrefs, which was made to the Lord by Mofes, in an hour of fingular trial ; when he was ready to conclude, that a tafk had been afllgned him, too difficult for him to execute; fo that he almoft prefumed to remonftrate with Jehovah concerning it ': yet they contain a charge, which he acknowledged had been virtually, if not verbally, given him by the God of Ifrael; and which is couched in language beautifully defcriptive of the nature and importance of his commiflion, and efpecially expreffive of the greateft tendernefs for Ifrael, This
[ '7 ] This charge, my brother, appears to me as juftly applicable to our employment, as to that of Mofes ; though our fphere of* action is le'fs eXterifive, and our bufinefs more entirely fpiritual. God is now no lefs careful of the fouls of his people, than he was then, of the concerns of Ifrael ^fcer the flefh : and it furely requires as much attention, fidelity, and tendernefs, to conduct chriftian pilgrims through a wildernefs world, to a heavenly Canaan; as to guide the defcendunts of Abraham, to the earthly inheritance, promifed by oath to their fathers. He who, in the days of old, conducted Mofes and his people, and put his Holy Spirit within him, that he might a£t as the fhepherd of his Mock, has given as ftricl an injunction, and as gracious encouragements, to thofe whom he has made overfeers of the church, which God our Savior has purchafed, with his own blood. Seafons of trial may occur, in which we may be tempted to complain, that our work is too heavy for us, and that we cannot bear the weight of the people alone ; but then, to reflect on the far heavier trials endured by this man of God, who had the care of a whole nation, for forty years together, may tend to check our readinefs to repine. — With what ingratitude did he meet, from thofe whom he brought forth out of the houfe of bondage ? How deeply were they infected with the idolatrous cuftoms of the Egyptians ? How often did they murmur againit Mofes, and againft God ? How did they flight the manna which came down from heaven, and was daily fpread round their tents ; while they lufted for the fifh, the cucumbers, and the melons, the onions, the leeks, and the garlic of Egypt: and for the fake of fuch fenfual gratifications, were ready to return to the land of oppreflion, and deliver themfelves again into the hands of their cruel tafk-mafters ? We cannot juflify the impatience of Mofes, but we may well C acknowledge
[ i8 ] acknowledge that far lefs trials would tempt us, to adopt the word part of his language, and that we fhould be ready to afk God to kill us out of hand, that we might not fee our wretchednefs. But under the wor ft of our diftreiles, the divine injunction he quotes in our text, may prove fome antidote againft the dejection he exprefies in the context and a recollection of the Lord's indulgence and compaffion, manifefted on this occafion, may operate as a farther means of counterbalancing our burdens. Mofes himfelf, when his mind was freed from extraordinary perturbation, could not but acknowledge the loving kindnefs and companion of the Lord, both to himfelf, and to Ifrael ; the commiflion here given him was highly honorable to himfelf, as well as expreflive of Jehovah's pity for his people : and though the execution of it was arduous, fuch afliftance was afforded him, both mediately by the afliftance of the feventy elders (verfe 16, 17, 24J and immediately by the fupply of the divine fpirit, that Mofes was enabled to difcharge his oflke with comfort and credit j and having brought the chofen tribes to the borders of their promifed inheritance, and enjoyed the fight of the good land from the top of mount Pifgah, he entered into eternal joy. The fame joy, my beloved brother, is fet before us ; the fame grace is fufficient for us ; let not the greatnefs of our work difcourage us, nor the profpedt of difficulties, fimilar to his, difmay us ; but let us regard the language of the text as the commiflion given us by the divine Redeemer (who bought us, and our dear people, with a price angels cannot compute) faying Carry this people in thy bofom, as a nurjing father bear•eth the fucking child, unto the lend} which is fecured to them by the oath of God. As
[ '9 ] As your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom, and patience of Jefus Chrift, I invite you to join me in ferious meditation, on this memorable day, wherein you have taken the over-fight of a church of Chrift. Firjl. Upon the nature of our charge, as reprefented by this defcriptive language. Our charge is real and divine. We were neither of us conftrained by human authority, nor engaged by human perfuafion, to enter on the work of the gofpel miniftry : we entered upon it voluntarily. And the particular poft you now occupy, was not allotted you, by any earthly fuperior, by any patron, prefbytery, or prelate, but you willingly acceded to the free invitation of the Baptift Church in this city. We have both profefTed that it was in obedience to a divine call, we undertook to preach the gofpel ; having been inwardly moved by the Holy Spirit, who excited us, from love to Chrift, and from companion to perifhing fouls, to defire this good work. In this way, a neceflity has been laid upon us, and Woe unto us, if we preach not the gofpel. We know that the manifestation of the fpirit is given to every man to profit withal ; and having received gifts, of whatever degree, from the head of the church, woe unto us if we hide our Lord's talent as in a napkin, and do not occupy till he Jhall come. To him mult we give an account of our ftewardfhip, who hath entrusted us with the myfteries of God ; knowing that as every man hath received this gift, fo muft he minifter the fame unto others, as a good fteward of the manifold grace of God. And as the fame God, who called us to this work in general, hath, by the guidance of his Providence, allotted to us our particular Stations, we cannot interpret the combined language of his word and providence, refpe&ing the c 2 people
[ 20 ] people of our charge, as amounting to lefs than this. Cany them in thy bofom (as a nurfing father beareth bisfucking child) unto the promifed land. ' Our commifllon, my brother, is extenjive and particular. Not like that of Mofes indeed, comprehending the concerns of a nation, nor connected with any right to intermeddle with the fecular affairs of our people : It is confined merely to their fpiritual interefts. But in that refpect it extends not merely to the communicants, belonging to our refpective churches, that have elected us to the paftoral office; but to all who are connected with them, or to whom we can have accefs by their means ; to their children, their fervants, their acquaintance whom they may invite to hear their minifters : yea, to all around us whom we can engage to attend to our miniftrations. O may you imitate him, who acknowledged himfelf a debtor, both to the Gxeeks, and to the Barbarians, both to the wife, and the unwife ; laboring to approve yourfelf unto God, as a workman who needeth not to be afhamed ; or like a good houfholder, bringing out of your treafury, things newznH old* Let the inhabitants of Worcefter, and of the adjacent villages, find that God has fet you here as a watchman, tp watch for fouls. Let them who have long known the Lord, be convinced that you are diligently ftudying his word, to bring forth new ftores of profitable truth j and let the old fundamental and interefting doctrines, in which thefe are well eftablifhed, be faithfully reprefented to thofe who have not yet received them. The great effentials of religion, the doctrine of falvation by the blood of the Lamb, and by the renewing of the Holy Spirit, are like daily bread, which muft. never be forgotten ; but the whole fyftem of faith and duty muft be brought more and more to light, if we would edify the fouls
L *« ] fouls of men. 1 perfuade myfelf, brother, that you will neither affect unfcriptural novelties, nor yet confine your whole miniftry to four or five favorite points, to the neglect of all the truths in the Bible befides. But all you fay, will, I truft, have an ultimate reference to our glorious Redeemer j to fhew the need, the fuitablenefs, the glory, the tendency of his great falvation. Him you muft preach, as dwelling in his people's hearts, and being the hope of glory : like Paul, warning every man, and teaching every man, in all wifdom ; that you may prefent every one of your hearers perfect in Chrift Jefus. To this end you muft labor, as long as you can find an unbelieving finner, or an irnperfe& faint, jlriving, according to his working, who worketh in you rnightily. Every one of your auditors pofleffes a foul of ineftimable worth, which nothing but the blood of Jefus could have ranfomed from eternal burnings. Every one of them demands your pity, your prayer, and your earneft endeavors to fubferve his falvation. The rich, who cannot enter into the kingdom of God, but with extreme difficulty ; the poor, who muft be fo wretched in both worlds, if not made heirs of the kingdom ; the aged,, who ftand on the brink of hell, and muft fall in, if not very foon converted j th.e young, who may be fo very ufeful, if called by times, and who are the chief objects of our hope for the continuance of the church, after we are filent in the duft : All the claffes into which we can divide our congregations, demand our exertions ; and how fhould it roufe us to think, every time we preach, that fome of our hearers are, probably, hearing the lajl meflage we can deliver to them from God. O how interejling and important is this charge ! The charge of fouls already expofed to eternal mifery ! All the evils which accurfed war has inflicted, on them that have fallen in the bloody field, or whofe mangled carcafles have sorged
[ ^ ] gorged the monflers of the deep ; on thofe who have languifhed in hofpitals, or have been fcorched to death in their burning dwellings, within thefe fev/ years pafr ; all the temporal miferies or" all the inhabitants of Poland, France, or Germany, &c. have en&ured, cannot equal the eternal mifery of a fingle foul. Yet this mifery inevitably threatens all who die in their fins. Into this gulph of woe our hearers muft fink, if they are not foon brought to repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrifr, Yet you have room to hope that, through your inftrumentality, many may not only be faved from fo great a death, but be, through the righteoufnefs of God our Savior, made heirs of eternal life. Thus fhall you be accefiary to their enjoyment of bleffings doubly infinite ; even deliverance from eternal woe, and the enjoyment of an eternity of unfpeakable blifs. O what an honor has our Divine Mafter conferred on every faithful minifter. Of what importance is the office of a fpiritual guide, to reclaim unto God thofe who had wandered far out of the way, and guide them into the path of righteoufnefs and peace ! Of how much confequence is it that we guide them on, in that truly narrow way which God has marked out for them in his word, and guard them againft all bye-paths, whether they turn to the right hand, or to the left ! What innumerable dangers furround them, and of how much depravity are they flill the fubjecls ! How then do they need our conftant attention ! If we, in any refpecT, miflead them, it will be awful, both for them, and for us : but if they arrive fafely at the heavenly Jerufalem, with what tranfport fhall we meet each other, before the throne Our charge muft be conjiant and abiding. It is here beautifully compared to that of a nurfing father ; a character which would be well underftood among the Ifraelites, in the time of their travels through the wildernefs. Their lono-
[ "-3 ] long fatiguing marches, muft render it peculiarly needful) that the tenderer female fhould, in many inftances at leaft, he eafed of the burden of her fucking infant, and that the ftronger parent fhould carry it in his bofom ; nor would this tafk be needful merely for a few months, bu; for a very confiderable period, till the child had acquired a degree of ftrength proportioned to the toils of the difficult journey. Mofes, however, was called to a longer exercife of anxious care refpe&ing the collective body of Ifrael, than the moft weakly fuckling could require, from the moft robuft, and affectionate father. And herein our duty refembles his. It will need to be continued, not merely for a few months, or years, but as long as our lives, and theirs who hear us, are protracted. We mufl not leave the work of God, in which we are engaged, while we are able to profecute it ; nor muft we lightly abandon the particular fkuations, allotted us by Divine Providence. We hope for a fucceflion of new converts : but fuch will need the fincere milk of the word, for their growth in grace ; and their inexperience and weaknefs will render peculiar attention neceflary. Nor muft we leave off admonifliing an individual, who ftill remains obftinate in his rebellion, as long as he will pay the fmalleft attention to our remonftrances: while the beft faint, with whom we are connected, as long as he is on this fide Jordan, will fometimes need our affiftance; for he is ftill in an enemies land, and may fuffer the fevereft'lofs, in fome of his lateft conflicts. Yea, if both we, and our people, are not always on the watch, fome of them, in whom the change appeared moft confpicuous, when they were firft brought home to God, may, through that very circumftance, be the more in danger of temptations to carnal fecurity. But the longeft experience, and the livelieft exercife of grace in times paft, will not warrant us, nor the chriftian himfelf, to relax our folicitude,
[ 24 ] iblicitude, that he may be kept from difgracing his pfofei-' hon, even toward the clofe of his pilgrimage. I fcarcely need to add, that the charge given us, will be found difficult and laborious in its execution. To deliver and guide Ifrael was an arduous undertaking, which Mofes could never have accomplifhed, had he not been commiffioned, and affifted, from on high. But he feared not the wrath of the King; nor fainted under the toils of the wildernefs; for he endured, as feeing him who is invifible. And we need as great refolution as Mofes: for though we are not, at this period, called to ftand againft oppofition from the Kings of this world, we have to contend with the god of it, who is very unwilling to part with his flaves. And we need daily affiftance to enable us to imitate the diligence, the faithfulnefs, the patience, and the meeknefs of Mofes, in our intercourfe with our very friends. How elfe fhall we keep them from being ddfcouraged becaufe of the way ; from being drawn afide after idols ; or even from turning back, as it were, unto Egypt ? How fhall we direct them to the antitype of the brazen ferpent ? How fhall we affift them to fight againft that Amalek, with whom the Lord hath fworn that he will have war for ever, till he be utterly deftroyed ? How, in a word, fhall we conduct them fafely to the heavenly Canaan ? You fully conceive, brother, the import of thefe figurative expreffions ; and are ready to fay, Who is [ujficient for thefe things ? You know that God alone can accomplifh them ; but as he condefcends to employ his minifters, in executing his gracious* defigns, and has given us the charge of his people, as he gave unto Mofes the care of conducting ancient Ifrael, let us proceed to fome further reflections, Secondly. On the principal requiftes to a due difcharge of our important trufr. Certainly,
t n ] Certainly, to guide fouls to heaven muft require knowledge and judgment . It muft require an acquaintance with the true character of the God of Ifrael, and a cordial fenfe of his glory ; with the knowledge of his holy law, its wide extent, fpirituality, equity and excellence. Thereby it is, that we muft acquire that knowledge of fin, which is ne- .cefiary to prove the neceffity of falvation, by a great and gracious Redeemer. And we muft be able to inftruct ilnners in the way of peace, whereby they may approach to a holy God, and live; in which he can be juft, and yet be gracious to whom he pleafes, forgiving iniquity, tranfgreffion and fin, without clearing the guilty ; and, without injury to his righteoufnefs, rrianifefting his pardoning mercy, to all thofe who have entered into covenant with him, by pleading that propitiatory facrifice, which he himfelf provided, to take away fin. We muft cultivate an extenfivc acquaintance with the whole revelation God has made of his will ; and be able to direct the redeemed of the Lord, in all the ways of holinefs and righteoufnefs, in which they fhould walk before him, till they entered his promifed reft. All thefe fubj eels fhould be underftood in their harmonious connection : that the law may be ufed in fubferviency to the gofpel ; and the gofpel employed for practical purpofes. But for this end, we need to pray, that the fpirit of judgment may reft upon us, to make us of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord, that we may teach our dear people the good knowledge of the Lord ; that their love may abound yet more and more, in knowledge and all judgment ; that they may prove the things that differ, and approve the things which are excellent. Wifdom and prudence are highly neceflary for us, as well as knowledge and judgment; both to affift us in our addrefles to our hearers, and to regulate our own example. It is of great importance that aminifter fhould know the D due
[ * ] due limits of his province, that he may avoid intermeddling with that which does not appertain to his office ; and mav difcharge his duty, refpe&ing all that truly belongs to ir, m the manner which is the mod likely to be fuccefsful. It' is, for inftance, our bounden duty to bear teftimony againft all fin, and this muft not be omitted, on account of our knowing that fome of our friends are guilty ; but if we would be truly ufeful, we muft forbear thofe perfo- ©alities which would point out an individual to great part of the aflembly, and even in our private admonitions, we muft be careful to make it appear that they are not angry reproaches, but reproofs dictated by love ; and then, if men will hold us as enemies for fpeaking the truth, in real good-will to their fouls, we may leave it with our mafter, to fupport us under their refentments; we muft offend any body rather than him. But while we oppofe fin in others, may we efpecially mortify it in ourfelves ; and be more ftricl: at home than any where : Abftaining from the appearance of evil; concerned to order all our affairs with difcretion, and to cut off occafion from thofe who feek an occafion againft us. ** As there are many who are ready <l to make a minifter an offender for a word, or the leaft " inadvertent action, he needs prudence every where, and ct in every thing. Imprudence is one of the greateft ene- <c mies to the paftoral office : and, excepting a gracious " heart, no qualification is more neceffary, for a minifter3 " than prudence *." Jfliduity and diligence are very needful for the difcharge of the minifterial calling. Not only fhould we be ready to preach the word, in feafon, and out of feafon ; but we muft apply clofely to ftudy, and unite with it fervent prayer. * Spring's Sermon, at the ordination of Thurston, in Sbmmerfworth, 1792. Under-
[ 27 ] iJiKicrflanding is a well-fpring of life to him that hath it; but this well is deep, and it is laborious work to draw up thefe living waters. Clearly to exhibit to our people the great truths of religion, and to point out their falutary tendency, to pacify the confeience, and purify the heart keeping back nothing that is profitable ; but defending the doctrines of the gofpel againft all oppofers, and abufers of them, and guarding our hearers againft error on either hand, is no trivial bufinefs, which may be performed without exertion or toil. Not only to produce in the pulpit things new and old, but continually to watch over them who are committed to our care, endeavoring, in truly pafloral vifits, to water privately, what we had fown in public, requires our utmoft diligence. And when the name of Chrift is openly dishonored by his profefTed followers, his tninifters rauft not decline the painful taflc of keeping up difcipline in his church, admonifhing offenders, and, if they cannot be reclaimed, impartially excluding fuch wicked perfons from chriftian communion. Fidelity and a fenfe of refponftbility to our Lord, are indifpenfible qualifications of a minifter of Jefus, and will carry him through unnumbered difficulties. Mofes had. this teftimony, from God himlelf, that he was faithful, as a fervant, in all his houfe ; though the Son of God himfelf, who once appeared in a fervile character, and as the apoftle and high-prieft of our profeflion, became obedient unto death, hath in all things the pre-eminence, and is juftly accounted worthy of fuperior glory, in refpec~t. of his perfect fidelity, as he is infinitely fuperior to all the houfehold of God in native dignity. His work was unfpeakably more arduous than that of Mofes, and executed with fublimer zeal, though with greater abafement and difficulty. But Mofes, who was employed in fettling that oeconomy which was introductory to a better difpenfation, was careful to do d 2 nothing
* [ 28 ] nothing as of his own will, but in every punctilio to a£t agreeable to the orders he received from Jehovah. Even in the framing of the tabernacle, he was admonifhed of God : See, faid he, that thou make all things according to the pattern Jhewed thee in the mount. And thus muft we, my brother} be in all things faithful to him who has appointed us. As fervants of the wifeft, greateft, and beft of mafters, we muft implicitly obey his will : or, as foldiers, who are accuftomed to the ftricteft fubordination, we muft regard every command of the Captain of our Salvation ; willing endure hardfhips, for his fake, and be fo intent upon our holy warfare, as not to entangle ourfelves with extraneous concerns ; but muft make it the whole bufinefs of our lives topleafe him, who hath chofen us to ferve under his banner. God has placed us, as watchmen on the walls cf Zion, and enjoined that we (hould watch for fouls, as thofe who muft give an account how we perform that duty. I know that youconfiderthe xxxiiid of Ezekiel as of divine authority, and are well aware, that the decrees of God would no more excufe our neglect of the Spiritual interefts of our people, than they would excufe the negligence of one, who was appointed to keep watch in a city, by night; or, who was placed as centinel to alarm an army, in cafe of the enemies approach : but our crime would be as much more heinous, as our charge is of greater importance. O may we both, on our dying beds, be found pure from the Hood of fouls ; and be able to atteft, that having renounced the hidden things of dijhonejly, not handling the word of God deceitfully, but as of fincerity, but as of God, in the fight of God, fo [peak we in Chrijl ; by the manifejlation of the truth, commending ourfelves to every man's conjeience. With thefe qualifications we muft connect tendernefs and affeclion. This idea, efpecially, is beautifully exhibited jn the text. Carry them, in thy bofom, as a nurfing father beareth
[ »9 ] }>eareth the fucking child, Sec. Let us endeavor to give it$ full force to this pathetic allufion. Picture to yourfelf a cafe, which muft have repeatedly occured, in the courfe of the forty years Mofes fpent with his people in the wildernefs. An Ifraelite, we will fuppofe, foon after he firft became a father, is bereaved of the delight of his eyes, while an only pledge of conjugal affection remains, alternately to increafe and affuage his grief. How weighty, but how interefting would he feel that charge, which yet he would not for all the world decline or transfer ! A neighbor's wife might he hire to fuckle it j but he himfelf would alfo feed it, with the frefheft manna, and, as much as poffible, take the care of it himfelf. However long and tedious his march by day, parental affection would make the burden of a motherlefs babe, not only light, but pleafant : and, at night, he would lay it to reft in his own bofom. When God vjfited the fins of Ifrael with fiery ferpents, which bit them, fo that much of the people died ; how would this nurfing father feel his anxiety increafed ! His only fon would fcarce ever be off his knee, in the tent ; never out of his bofom on their journeys: and if, in fpite of all his precautions, a ferpent had bitten his darling child, its deadly poifon was fpreading rapidly through his veins, he began to be convulled, and nothing but the remedy prefcribed by the merciful Jehovah, could fave him from the agonies of death j how would the father run, and hold him up in his arms, gently forcing open his clofing eyes, to view the brazen ferpent ? With what gratitude would his bofom glow, when he perceived his infant inftantly revive ? How would he, after this recovery, purfue his courfe with renewed vigor ; and though he knew himfelf doomed to fall in the wildernefs, he would fondly anticipate his offspring's ruture poffeifion of the promifed land j and that hope would counterbalance all his prefent affliction and toil. O my brother, this is the pattern we are taught, by the text,
[ 3° ] text, to place before us. With luch feelings as thefe; may we direct the eyes of our dear people to a crucified Savior : with fuch feelings as thefe may we bear them in our bofoms, to the confines of glory ! We find Paul, in the New Teftament, applying like fimilitudes, to reprefent the affection, which he, and his brethren, felt for their converts. He tells the Theflalonians, We were gentle among you.) even as a nurse cherifietb her children: Jo being affetlionately deftrous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the go/pel of God only, but alfo our own foul*, becaufe ye were dear unto us. Ye know, how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father bis children, that ye Jhould walk worthy of God, who hath called us to his kingdom and glory. Surely minifters have fpecial reafon to take to themfelves the charge given to the churches. Let all your things be done in love. Genuine benevolence mould evidently diffufe itfelf, through all our fermons, our prayers, our warnings, our reproofs, our whole conversation and conduit. It was a lovely character, which, I was long ago informed, was given by a deiftical phyfician, of the late Dr. Gillies, of Glafgow: he faid, " He believed that John Gillies would be glad to a carry all mankind, in his bofom, to the kingdom of hea- M ven." May the enemies of the gofpel never find any thing worfe to fay of you, my brother i Patience and meeknefs will naturally flow from this fincere affection : and the patience and meeknefs of chriftian minifters will be often tried. Mofes, the meekeft of all men, had enough to do, to bear with the frowardnefs of Ifrael. We have feen an end of all human perfection, and this context fhews us his patience nearly worn out : I fear, brother, ours would be found far more defective, in much fmaller trials. But what parent would abandon his peevifh child in a wafte howling wildernefs ? What minister
[ Si ] ter of Jefus fhall dare to give up his office, becaufe he meets with ingratitude, and unmerited reproach ; after all his anxieties and labors for his peoples welfare? Let us count the coft, brother, and go no further on, in our work, if our matter's fmiles will not make us amends for our people's frowns. They who are employed under the phyfician of fouls, muft expect delirious patients to give many provocations to their tendered friends. We muft, there- Fore, not be eafily moved to refentment, by unkindnefs and injuries; but inftead of being overcome of evil, muft labor to overcome evil with good. Let us remember our Lord's loving kindnefs to us ; what patience and long-fuffering he has difplayed, ever fince we entered his fervice and, if he hath kept us in his family, and now called us to bear an honorable office in his church, verily, we muft acknowledge, it is his gentlenefs hath made us great. Self-denial and refolutiott are graces we fhall be daily called to exercife ; and without them, it will be impofiible to continue fteadfaft in the work of the Lord. In the ftrength of grace, we muft be determined not to forfake the flocks, of which the Holy Spirit has made us overfeers, in the time of danger : that is the time when the hireling fleeth, but it is our beft opportunity to fhew our love to the Lord, and to his people. Then it is, that like David, we muft venture our lives for the fheep ; or rather, muft fliew that we have the very mind of his Son and Lord, who bought both us, and them, with his precious blood. If we are duly impreffed with the glory of his difinterefted love, who laid doivn his life for us, it will not appear an extravagant inference, of the beloved John, that ive ought to be ready to lay down our lives for the brethren. Whether providence fhall literally call us to this duty, or not, may we fhew that we have the temper from which it would afiuredly fpring: habitually feeling the force of that obfervntion,
[ r- ] obfervation, For even Chrift pleafed not him[elf. He listened not to the temptation of fhunning the crofs, even though it came from an apoftle ; but replied, Get thee he bind me, Satan ; for thou favoreft not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men : And immediately he began to inculcate the abfolute neceffity of felf-denial, and bearing the crofs, upon all his difciples. Let us look, therefore, to him who endured the contradiction of finners againft himfelf, fuftaining the crofs, and defpifing the fhame^ for the fake of our falvation ; and may his love co'nftrain us to fpend, and be fpent, if we may but fubferve the intereft of immortal fouls, and bear them, as in our bofoms, to the paradife of God. Laftly, Faith and confidence in God will be found needful for us, throughout the whole of our pilgrimage; that we may hold on our way, and flnifh our own courfe with joy; and alfo fulfil our duty, as fpiritual guides, and nurfmg fathers, to others. Often has the Lord tried his minifters with outward ftraights, but never has he deferted them. Many are their inward conflicts, but grace fhall make them more than conquerors. Both their external trials, and their fpiritual exercifes, are commonly means of their acquiring the tongue of the learned, that they may know how to fpeak a word in feafon to him that i3 weary, and comfort thofe who are caft down, with the confolations wherewith they themfelves are comforted by God. Thus are they enabled to atteft, from experience, that he can furnifh a table in the wildernefs, and open dreams in the defart. They can fet their feals to the truth of his promifes, and encourage others to caft their care upon him, who careth fo affectionately for them. And as to all the dangers and difficulties of their minifterial work, the Lord, by the fupply of his fpirit, communicates wifdom and grace ; that they may make a fuccefsful {land againft the enemies of his truth ;
t 33 1 truth ; and feed and guide his people. We cannot enfurc the fruit of our labors, but he can do it infallibly ; and he Will accept, and reward, thole whom he makes faithful, whether their fuccefs equal their expectations, or not. Let us, finally reflect, Thirdly. On the Motives and encouragements* which fhould induce us to perfevere in our work, notwithftanding the difficulties which may attend it. Confider, my dear brother, whofe people they aret that are committed to your affe&ionate regard : They are a people peculiarly the Lord's. Mofes, when his patience was nearly exhaufted, faid, Have I conceived all this people ? Have I begotten them that thou fhould'ft fay unto me, Carry them in thy bofom ? &c. But Mofes a£ted more in character, as a man of God, at a former period, when their being God's people was a weightier confideration with him, than if he himfelf had been their immediate father. Exod. xxxii. 7 — 14. Scarcely ever did mere man fhew fuch difinterefted benevolence, as he then exemplified. O that we may thus care for our dear people, as being God's people, whom he hath formed, and is ftill forming, for him/elf that they may Jloew forth his prai/e while we hope that he who gathereth the outcafrs of lfrael, will gather others to himfelf, befides thofe whom he hath already gathered ; and that, by oUr inftrumentality, he will enlarge the frontiers of his vifible kingdom, and go on to accomplifh the number of his chofen. The confideration, whence God had brought this people, had great weight with Mofes, at the time to which I have juft referred : and fo it mould with us. He has brought out his fpiritual lfrael, from worfe bondage than lfrael after the flefh had felt in Egypt j and has herein given a fupe- E riof
t 34 ] rior difplay of his great goodnefs, and the efficacy of h'j mighty arm. And, I truff, you will foon find fome among your own congregation, of whom it may be truly faid, that you were the honored inftrument of their happy deliverance from the yoke of their tyrannic lord. This furely will enfiance your earneft folicitude, that they may be fafely condueled to the Canaan above. Reflect, that God's peculiar people, were not only redeemed by power from the yoke of Satan, as Ifrael was redeemed from Pharoah's cruel dominion ; but have been alio redeemed, from deferved deftruction by an invaluable price. God had done great things for thofe whom he entrufled to Mofes, but now, God incarnate has fuffertd greater things, for thofe whom he has committed to you. He who has given you charge concerning them, bought both them, and you, with his own blood. Were either of us, brother, to neglect the church of God, how muft it awaken the difpleafure of our blefTed Lord ! Might he not afk us, *' Did I die for thefe precious fouls, and will you refufe to labor for them ? Did I fuffer fo much for them, and are you unwilling to fuffer a little for their fakes ? Did I bear the curfe, in their ffead ; and will not you endure a light crofsj for their benefit ?" Remember, brother, that your interefi is connected with theirs. The more they thrive in vital godlinefs, the more they will pray for you, fympathize with you, and help you. Thofe fubjefls, which would be mod edifying, and that manner of treating them, which would be moft intereftin'g to them, will tend moft to your perfonal edification. If they are fed with chaff, leannefs awaits your own foul but if you enter truly into the fpirit of the gofpel, you are moft likely to do them eflential fervice. Then you, and they, fhall at once experience divine light, irradiating your minds
[ 35 3 iiiinds; the peace of God, which panes underflanding, pacifying your confeiences, and his love fwcctly condraining you to new obedience. Let us confider ferioufly, that ;/ our hearts are not couitantly fet upon our people's welfare, our work is likely to become a jnare to ourfeives. Being officially converfant with the things of God, from day to day, they will either make a deeper impreffion on us, than on others, or they will affect us fo much the /e/s ; and we fhall become the more indifferent towards them, through their being fo habitually taken into our lips : for to us, as well as to our hearers, the word will be either a favor of life, or of death. Befides, as our refearches lead us, more than private chriftians, to attend to theological controverfies, and to notice the objections that are urged againft the truth; if we arcnot continually making ufe of the truth, we fhall be mo/e likely than mod others, to be turned afule from it. Alfo, if we are not profitable to our hearers, we fhall moft probably prove prejudical to them : It is next to impoflible that a minifter fhould do, neither good, nor harm. But how awful would it be for us, to miflead the fouls of men, and inftead of alluring them to Chrift, to draw them off from his genuine gofpel, or prejudice them againft it ! Befides, if we look not well to our own heart?, and are not truly concerned for our people's edification, they will, in various refpects, do us harm ; and it may go ill with us, for their fakes, if we aim not heartily at making them more fpiritually minded, they will make us more earthly minded. If we pluck them not out of the net, they will draw us into a fnare. It was fad for Mofes, through his impatience, in the day of provocation, to be himfelf excluded from the earthly Canaan, after he had led a whole nation to its borders : but how much more awful would it be, to be excluded the heavenly Canaan, after being cm- E 2 ployed
[ 3« ] ployed to {hew others the way to it ? While I rejoice in the fulleft perfuafion of your fincerity, I need make no excufe for introducing this thought, fince we both recollect, that an apoftle counted it expedient, to cultivate a godly jealoufy, left after preaching unto others, he himfelf mould be acaft-away. Let the dangers of the wildernefs, to which we, and our people are ftill expofed, awaken our folicitude for their fafety. Here a roaring lion prowleth about, feeking whom he may devour ; may we refift him fledfaft in the faith, and encourage our people fo to do. This is a land of darknefs, like the fhadow of death ; let us urge them clofely to follow the pillar of fire, that goeth before them, to give them light in their pilgrimage. It is a land of drought, and of barrennefs ; but God, by his miniflers, furnifhes his people with heavenly manna, and with water from Chrift the true rock. They are travelling through a land infefted with fiery ferpents; we need to direct them to look, again and again, to him who was typified by that ferpent of brafs, which Mofes lifted up in the wildernefs. Enemies will harrafs them all the way, often making open oppohtion, and at other times more dangeroufly vexing them by their wiles; we muft lift up our hands for them to God, as Mofes did during the battle with Amalek, and encourage them to truft in the Captain of the Lord's hoffo, and to take to them the whole armor of God. Surely they need a faithful, fkilful, companionate guide, who (hall carry them in his bofom, as a nurfing father beareth the fucking child, till they enjoy the inheritance given them, by the promife, and oath of Jehovah. Sink not under difcouragement, nor fay, as Mofes once did, O my Lord, fend, by the hand of him by whom thou wilt fend. For you have been called to an office the nobleji, the "moft important, the moil benevolent, that can be entrufted to
[ o7 3 jo man. God has commiffioned you, not to execute ius wrath, but to fubferve the glorious purpofes of his grace. Indeed he feldom employs thofe whom he means to fave, in inflicting vengeance on others. Once he conmifiioned Jolhua indeed, to expel the idolatrous, and barbarous nations of Canaan, whofe iniquity was fully ripe. But he, generally employs thofe as inftruments of vengeance to deftroy mens bodies, whom he means alfo to deftroy ; and though they have fubferved his righteous purpofes, yet as they aimed at a very different end from his, they have afterwards been punifhed for their conduct (Ifa. x. 5 —15, Hof. i. 4) : but on the other hand, he commonly employs thofe as inftruments of mercy, to fave mens fouls, whom he intends to be tnemfelves partakers of his great falvation. You, my brother, are not called to kill mens bodies, but to fave their fouls j not to burn down their dwelling?, but to prevent their dwelling with everlafting burnings. The work of a gofpel minifter is the neareft akin to the work of Jefus Chrift of any work in the world. He has fet us an example the moft perfect, to direct us in the discharge of it ; though it was wifely ordered that he had no great fuccefs in his miniflry, to teach us that he had a frill higher end in coming into the world. He preached the gofpel to teach us how to preach it j but he died to purge away our fins, which was work none could do but himfelf. We, indeed, feparate from him, can do nothing ; but he has faid, My grace is fufficient for thee. Paul himfelf had no more fufficiency of his own, than you, or I. And it was for the fake of ordinary minifters, as much as of the apoftles, that Jefus Chrift declared, Lo, 1 am with you always to the end of the tvorld. You haveapofiolic authority to apply to yourfelf, and to every true believer, the promife once made to Jolhua, / will never leave nor forfake thee, Therefore, my beloved brother, Be Jlrong in the gra.ee that is in Chri/l Jejus : and when you have the deeped conviction
[ # i conviction of your own insufficiency, remember that ha ftrength is difplayed, to the molt perfect advantage in our weaknefs. To encourage your expectations, let me remind you, that the power of Jehovah, inftead of bein^- exhaujledy in the days of old, was far from being all exerted \ he has taught us, upon whom the ends of the world are come, to hope for more glorious difplays of alUconquerin°grace, than ever the jewifh, or even the primitive chriftian world beheld. Let then the watchmen of Zion, who make mention of the name of Jehovah, not keep filence j nor let him reft in filence, till he ejlablijh Jerufalem, and make her a prai/e in the earth. The hujband and redeemer of the church, mall foon be called the God of the whole earth. Ihe glory of the Lord /bail be revealed, and all flefly flail fee it together, for the month of the Lord hath fpoken it. To conclude : I would remind you that you /hall flare the heavenly inheritance, with thofe whofe guide and conductor you are now appointed. The great and precious promifes of the gofpel, which are the refult of the divine counfel, and are confirmed by the oath of God, enfure an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, to all true believers. The land of Canaan, flowing with milk: and honey, the glory of all lands, while the bleifing of the Lord was upon it, was only a fhadow of that perfect felicity that awaits all the redeemed. And, unlike the children of Ifrael, your toils (hall end as foon as you enter the promifed land ; Death is the laft enemy, and death itfelf is conquered, and mail be fwallowed up in victory. In that day, when the greater part of the mighty potentates of the earth, (hall tremble at the recollection of all their boafted victories, and of the myriads they had facrificed to Abaddon ; when they fhall cry to the mountains and rocks to fall on them, and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb, in the day that he maketh inquifition for blood J then you, my brother, I trufh like the other faithful
[ 39 ] faithful ambafTadors of the Prince of Peace, fhall head a goodly company, whom you had directed to the fountain opened for fin and uncleannefs : and you fhall fay, with humble grateful tranfport, " Behold, Lord, here am I, and here are the children thou haft given me, whom I bore in my bofoiw, as a nurfing father his fucking child, in the wildernefs; through thy grace, are we now arrived at the inheritance thou haft promifed and prepared." With them, you fhall enter into the joy of the Lord, and furely the eternal happinefs of every individual, to whofe conveVfion and falvation your miniftry was rendered fubfervient, will make a fenfible and everlafting addition to your own. May ail thefe motives, and many more which the word of God exhibits to our view, be deeply impreffed on your heart, and mine ! And may the peculiar happinefs yon enjoy, in the cordial friendfhip, and chriftian harmony, which fubfifts between you, and our honored brother, the paftor of the church which aflembles ftatedly within thefe walls, and between his people, and thofe that are committed to your care, never fuffer the leaft interruption; but may it prove an additional excitement, to be always abounding in the work of the Lord. This union, fo natural an. effect cf divine grace, though feldom feen> through the influence of deplorable infirmity, affords peculiar pleaiure to all the friends of religion, who are here from a diftance; and excites to unite in prayer, that the minifters and people of both congregations, continuing to purfue the nobleft of all defigns, the glory of God, and the falvation of the fouls of men, a large harveft of converts may be gathered in unto God from this neighborhood, and though, at times, you may fow in tears, may you both at laft reap with joy unfpeakable. Amen. A SERMON,
I 40 ] A SERMOR eft eph. lv. ir. HE GAVE SOME—PASTORS AND TEACHERS. My Christian Brethren, XTlLTHOUGH I partake of your pleafure iri this public recognition of the interefting relation which you have formed with our dear brother ; yet, I could have wiflied that the duties which now devolve on you, were to be ftated and enforced by fome more experienced minifter, whofe better knowledge would have furnifhed you with more fuitable inftruction, and whofe fuperior years would have attached a greater weight to his advice; but fince you have requeited me to undertake this part of the folemn fervice of the day, 1 will endeavor, with affectionate fidelity, to difcharge it ; hoping, that the Head of the Church may put fome treafure into the earthen vefTel, and enrich and comfort us all with his prefence. The words of my text, with the preceding verfes, are defigned to illujhate^ to connett^ and to confirm fome predictions in the Old Teftament. In the fixty-eighth pfalm, the prophet having in view fome illuftrious conqueror, thus celebrates his triumphs : v. 1 8, " Thou haft afcended on high, thou haft led cap- " tivity captive, thou haft received gifts for men." This prophefy
[ 41 ] jjfOphefy the apoftle illuftrates, by teaching, that the triumphant language of the pfalmift defignates the a/cenfion of Jefus Chriji, when " having fpoiled principalities and pow- " crs, he made a (hew of them openly, triumphing over " them by his crofs, and took his feat at the right hand " of God." In the third chapter of Jeremiah's prophefy, the Lord comforted his people, by promifing to " give them paftors ic according to his heart, who mould feed them with know- " ledge and undemanding :" Now Paul connecls prophefy, by declaring, that the gifts which the Pfalmift fays the Meffiah received for men, were the fame as the paftors and teachers, which, by Jeremiah, were promifed to the church and he confirms the joint prediction, by appealing to manifeft and multiplied proofs of its accomplifhment, in the perfons of « apoftles, prophets, evangelifts, paftors and " teachers/' which, at that very time, were employed for the edification of the difciples of Chrift. Although apoftles and prophets, in the ftri& fenfe of the terms, are no longer upon earth, becaufe the peculiar and miraculous powers with which they Were inverted are no longer necefTary in thechurcH; yet, fuch gifts as are adapted to its circumftances are not withheld ; and you, rriy brethren, are put in pofTe/fion of one to-day—a paftor, to feed you with knowledge and underftanding. You have requefted me to introduce, as it were, your minifter among you : how can I better fulfil your defire, than by prefenting him to you as the gift of Chrift, and earneftly recommending you, as fuch, to receive him now; and, as fuch,1 invariably to confider him in future. Minifters of Chrift, my brethren, like moft other bleffings, are over-valued byfbme,and held in too little efteem by others : happy will it be, if you are enabled to find our* F and
[ 4* 1 and prcfcrve, the medium between thole extremes ; ;uui, happy (hall I account myfelf, if I am enabled to aflift you, in regulating your regards for the fervant of God, whom you have freely chofen for your pallor. The pafTagc I have felected, places your minifter exadtly in that point of view, in which you cannot behold him without refpetSr, at the fame time that it fecures you from efteeming the fervant above his Lord : it teaches you to regard him as a gift, but, at the fame time, a gift not to be defpifed ; for, he is the gift of Christ. " Unto every c one of us," faith the apoltle, in the preceding verfes, 11 is given grace, according to the meafure of the gilt of " Chrift be gave gifts unto men ;" and among other of his gracious beftowments, " he gave fome—paftors and " teachers." From various remarks, which are fuggefted by the confideration of minifters being the gifts of Chrift, let us felecl a few that may be fui table to the prefent occafion. Firft. It fuggefts the care which the blessed REDEEMER EXERCISES OVER HIS CHURCH UPON EARTH. When our Lord gave his laft inftructions to his apoftles, he encouraged them and their fucceflbrs to obedience, by promifing to be with them alway, even to the end of time. He Coon began to fulfil this promife, when on the day of Pentecoft he fo remarkably " endued them with ct power from on high," and attended their miniftry with fuch wonderful efficacy, that the very perfons who were hardened under the groans of the Mafter, now melt under the words of his fervants, and joyfully become the difciplcs of him whom they had crucified. Powerful
[ 43 ] Powerful oppofition from the world, followed the early profperity of the church : " The kings of the earth and il the rulers took counfel together againft the Lord, and " againft his anointed ; but, he that fitteth in the heavens u iau'hcd them to fcorn ; the Lord had them in derifion u He fpokc to them in his wrath, in his fore difpleafure " he vexed them ;" and triumphing over their fubtilty and power, he faith, u Ytt have I fet my king upon my holy " hill of Zion." Perfecuted and defpifed as it was, yet u the truth ran and was glorified" —Neither the influence of princes, the terror of armies, the pride of learning, the ignorance of the barbarian, the prejudices of the Jew, nor the threatning nor the torment of fcourges, racks, or fires, could prevent its prevalence ; and, though the inftruments employed in its propagation were, for the moft part, deftitute of the ornaments of fciencc, or the fupport of civil power j yet, " mightily grew the word of the H Lord, and prevailed." Many indeed of the faithful minifters of Jefus fuffered in his fervice, and fealed the truth they had propagated with their blood : The church was bereaved of thofe precious gifts of Chrift, whilft fome of its members were martyred, with their paftors, and others lived to bewail their lofs ; but, whilft the enemy was thus impoverifhing the city of God, Jesus was " leading captivity captive;" and, with the fpoils he took from the foe, he ftill enriched and adorned Jerufalem. Thofe who erewhile where " breathing out threatning and Slaughter" againft the men who called on the Savior's name, were fubducd by the power of his grace, and became " preachers of the faith " they had once deftroyed." If the Jewsftone Stephen, the deacon^ the church (hall have Paul, the apojile^ in his room—if the hearers of the gofpel be driven F 2 from
[ 44 ] from Jerufalem, they (hall " preach it at Phenice, and Cyt ^ prusj and Antioch." The more persecution prevailed, the more did it calj ,forth the powers and the graces of the faithful : the weak became ftrong—the timid, bold —the indolent, active—zeal warmed the heart and infpired the tongue—frefh payors and teachers were ftill raifed up, and their labors were attended with great fuccefs ; for, " the Lord added daily u unto the church fuch as fhould be faved." The fame procefs has more or lefs been carrying on ever fince ; and, whether the paftors of Chrift's flock have been removed by means of violence, or by a natural death, their places have again been occupied j and, in many in-r ftances, by thofe who have excelled their predeceflbrs in piety, wifdom, and fuccefs. When the Hebrew chriftians mourned over their deceafed teachers, how did the apoftle comfort their hearts, but by reminding them, that " Jefus Chriji is the fame '* ye/ierday^ to-day., andfor ever/" and thehiftory of nearly eighteen centuries, gives liability to this ground of confolation. Behold a new evidence of it to-day ! Behold another proof that our Lord remembers his church, " now " he is in his kingdom !" and may the recollection of this day enliven your hope, my brethren, and eftablifh your confidence, fhould you live to attend your prefent paftor to the tomb ! Though Chrift has prefented you with a valuable gift, you mud not forget that it is a mortal one a veffel, which, though it contain a heavenly treafure, is eompofed of earthly materials, and may foon be broken. We fhould never form an earthly connexion without reflecting on the certainty of its diflblution—The hufband and
[ 4S 3 •Mid the wife, the parent and the child, dear and foft as thole relations are, muft think of parting ; and youy my brethren, mull part with your minifter. Should fuch an event be occafioned by any improper behavior on your part, the Lord may correct you for your fin, by withholding a bleffing you abufe ; but mould your paftor be taken away by the hand of God, comfort yourfelves with the thought, that mini/iers are the gifts of Christ—that he can eafily replace your lofs —and that his continued care over his church, lays a ground of expectation that it will be fo. Secondly. The confideration fhat minifters are the gifts of Chrift, fuggefts the obligations under WHICH A PEOPLE WHO ARE INDULGED WITH A FAITH- FUL PASTOR ARE LAID TO PECULIAR GRATITUDE. Every good thing we enjoy cometh from above, and therefore demands our thankfulnefs ; but Angular bleffings demand finguhr acknowledgments ; and, to thofe who know how to value it aright, there are few gifts to be more highly prized than a worthy minifter. The difficulty which you, my brethren, have found in replacing your iate paftor, muft have convinced you that a fuitable fucceftbr is no common favor. A man of piety, prudence, zeal, and other minifterial gifts, is a fcarce commodity, which no human labor can produce, nor wealth procure and which, if obtained, can be only enjoyed as the gift of Chrifl. Above five years you have been feeking, and, I prefume, praying for a fpiritual guide ; your prayers are now anfwered ; many churches in the fame fituation have been waiting and praying for a fimilar blefling; our brother might have been given to them inftead of you ; confider yourfelves as peculiarly favored, and be peculiarly grateful. Thirdly.
[ 40 ] Thirdly. If ministers are the gifts Ce Christ, they ought to be highly esteemed For Christ's sake. True friendfhip prizes a gift more for the giver's falce, Shan for its intrinfic value; and, though I would not fugged: that Minifters have a lefs claim on the affe£tions and refpecl: of a people than other good men ; yet, it is as the gifts of Cbrift, that they demand peculiar regard. As long as they conduct themfelves in a manner worthy the exalted office they fuftain, fo long their Mafter faith unto them, " He that receiveth you, receiveth me :" and the becoming or unbecoming conduct: of their people to them, Chrift confiders as to himfelf, and will fay refpedting both the one and the other, at laft, " Inafmuch as ye did it " unto one of the leaft of thefe my brethren, ye did it <c unto me," Poffeft with this idea of your minifter, you will be always difpofed to view his perfon and his miniftry in the moft favorable light ; and fhould you perceive an imperfection in your paftor (for to abfolute perfection what modern paftor can pretend, when an apoftle difclaimed it ? ) you will either bury it in his virtues, or cover it with the mantle of your own affections. As the gift of Chrift to you, your minifter ftands in a relation interefting and intimate—he is become as it were your property ; but this, fo far from allowing you to treat him with feverity or neglecl, is defigned to endear him to you the more ; for no man is fuppofed to " hate his own tc flefh, but on the contrary to nourilh and cherifh it, even " as the Lord the church." Indeed, when a man devotes his time, with his bodily and mental powers for a peoples good, equity to him, requires the return of affe&ion and refpeft
t 47 ] relpecl ; but how much more compulfory is the demand, when his perfon, his graces, and his minifterial endowments, are confidered as the gift of Christ ! fourthly. If ministers are the gifts of Christ. IT IS OF IMPORTANCE THAT THEY SHOULD BE IM- PROVED TO THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THEY WERE bestowed. This is the laft obfervation 1 fhall make on the fentiment of the text, and to this I wtfh more amply to engage your attention. None of God's gifts are beftowed without defign—the falling fhower, and the clear fhining of the fun after rain, the wintry frofts and the fummer heats, have their refpective ufesj nor can you fuppofe that the great Head of the Church hath called our brother by his grace, put him into the miniftry, and given him to you as a paftor, without having in view fome important end. It will now be your wifdom, as it is your duty, to confider ferioufly what that end is, and to be practically concerned to have it anfwered. Plainly is this defign unfolded in the words following the text, " for the perfecting of the faints, for the work *' of the miniftry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift :" that is, not for your increafe in numbers only, but alfo for your improvement in wifdom and goodnefs. Now your duties, my brethren, are confequent on your paftors : if he be a teacher, you muft be learners; if he have a building to ere&, you muft be fellow laborers ; and, unlefs you be wanting in the duties of your ftations, you may be aflured that the divine blefling will not be withheld : and, i. If you would have the defign of the paftoral relation anfwered, you muft be much in prayer for your minifter : His work is great, and the necefTary qualifications for
[ 48 ] far the difcharge of it, are neither unimportant nor fcw< It requires much wifdom to underftand the fcriptures much fortitude to oppofe the errors, the indifference, and the impurities of the times—-much zeal to labor extensively and habitually for Chrift and fouls— much prudence to advife and a£t in difficult cafes, and much perfonal religion to impart a favor of Chrift to all his converfation, his difcourfes, and his prayers. Here then is fcope for<your petitions; the furniture of a chriftian minifter muft come from above, and from thence it muft be fought. " Brethren, pray for us," faid the apoftle of the Gentiles—Brethren, pray for us, we alfo fay: Men of like paffions with yourfelves —expofed to temptation frorn numerous quarters—as prone naturally to depart from God as you —liable to ftjupidity, carnality, and vanity—O, if you have any defire to fee us holy, fpiritual, a£Kve, honorable pray for us. You arc not unacquainted, brethren, With the difficulties which lie in the way of our fuccefs. The labor of the Carthagenian general is not to be compared with ours ! What are the'ftony iVlps to a Jlony heart ! or what the Roman legions to the powers of darknefs—" to fpiritual " wickednefs in high places !" Not merely to inform the judgments—to excite the paflions—to conquer the prejudices of education, and to reform the manners of men, are before us —a more arduous tafk prefents itfelf. My brethren, our point is not gained without a change of heart . a renovation of the whole foul ! a converfion from the power of Satan unto God ! But who is fufficient for thefe things ? Can human energy effect, them ? Nay, my brethren, v/c are compelled to own that " we are not fufficient of w cwfclves to do any thing as of ourfelves —all our fuffi- <c ciency is of God." Were all the moral virtues, and fupernatual endowments, which have ever adorned the faint,
[ 49 ] faint, or diftinguifhed the apoftle, concentrated in one chriflian paftor, neither will believers be improved, nor Tinners converted, without the prefence, the power, and the grace of Chrift ! In vain we enter the pulpit—in vain we perfuade—we exhort—we befeech —we reprove—we warn —or we invite ; —the word will never come with a faving power, unlefs it u come in the Holy Ghoft." A faithful addrefs to a guilty confcience may make a Roman governor tremble ; and, " the manifestation of the truth," may " almoft perfuade a jewifh monarch to become a tc chriftian;" but to bring a finner from " darknefs to light " —to tranflate him from the kingdom of Satan, into the " kingdom of God's dear Son" —to conftitute thofe who were " aliens from lfrael, without hope and without God " in the world, fellow citizens with the faints and of the " houfhold of God," is a work, which it would be preemption for an archangel to undertake ; and can only be accompliflied by him with whom " nothing is impoflible." Our only encouragement to labor, and our only hope of fuccefs, arife from the promife of God, and as a mean of enjoying it, the prayers of our people. —My dear brethren, you had better difpofe of your paftor to fome other church, unlefs you have a heart to pray for him. 2. If you would anfwer the end of fucH a gift, make your minijler's work as eafy to him as you can. I do not mean by abridging the duties of his office, but by rendering him as eafy, both in preparing for them, and engaging in them, as you are able. In proportion as his heart is in the work of God, fo may that work be expected to profper in his hand : it muft be your care to prevent or remove, as much as poflible, whatever might divert his mind from the immediate concerns of that relation in which he now ftands to you ; that, as the apoftle advifes Timothy, he may " give himfelf wholly to them," or liter- G ally
[ 50 ] ally be in them: For this purpofe, two things efpechl'y demand your concern. (r.) That/tich provifion be made for his fupport as may free his mind from all anxieties refpe&ing his domestic affairs. For a minifter to owe a bill which he cannot difcharge, or to want a meal which he cannot obtain, is enough to turn his dwelling into a prifon, and will fooner or later enervate his mind too much for ftudious application at home, or vigorous efforts abroad. The duty. of rhinifterial fupport, is enforced in the fcriptures with energetic plainnefs. " Do ye not know," faith the apoftle, i Cor. ix. 13, 14, « that they which m* " nifter about holy things, live of the things of the temple ? " And they who wait at the altar are partakers of the "altar? Even fo hath the Lord ordained, that " they who preach the go/pel^ fhould live of the go/pel;" and verfe n, « If we have fown unto you fpiritual things, " is it a great thing if we fhall reap your carnal things ?" Such language as this, convinces Our judgments, whilft it binds our confcience : —it is the language, not merely of authority, but of juftice ; and, whilft it forbids our difobedience, it compels us to acknowledge, that to obey, is our reafonahle fervice j efpecially when we confider, that had the man, who confecrates himfelf to the good of this or that people, employed only the fame powers in a mechanical or, commercial line, he might have been as much their fuperior in opulence, as he is now in theology. It ill becomes a member of a chriftian fociety, to uro-e, as an apology for the fcanty pittance of a paftor, that he confented to receive fuch a ftipend, when firft he fettled with his people : — Perhaps he did, and it might be enough
[ J< ] enough for his comfortable fupport then, though it may be that both bis family and the expence of living, have been doubled fince. — Where fuch men rule the affairs of a church, it is a comfort to reflect, that ct God takes u care for oxen." You, my brethren, know what is neceflary to a minifter's comfortable and refpe&able fupport, in this city; and will take care to keep your minifter free from any pecuniary embarraflments. (2.) You fhould be careful not only to allow your minifter an adequate fupport, but muft alfo, as far as poffible, withhold yourfelves from any intrufions on his time. Nothing, next to the honor of Chrift, and the intereft of fouls, is fo dear to a ftudious paftor, as time ; and a minifter who thinks lightly of its value, betrays an ignorance and indolence, which, if indulged, will eventually debafe both his character and labors. A ftudious habit, as you have heard to-day, is eflential to a ftated minifter. A lively imagination may ferve an itinerant ; but when a man becomes ftationary, and preaches three or four times a week to the fame people, unlefs he be induftrious in furnifhing his mind, his fervices will foon become infipid, void of folidity, fraught with tautology, and unfit for edification. And what is the refult ? Why, the thoughtful hearers muft either abide with diflatisfaclion, or in grief retire ; whilft the ignorant are kept in their ignorance, and remain babes, when, under a judicious miniftry, they might have become " fathers in « Chrift." Am I not now fpeaking to your paftor ? No, my brethren, he has had better advice than I can give him, I fpeak to
[ 5* ] to you. I want to convince you that, for your own Jaks^ you fhould promote a ftudious habit in your minifter allow him every inch of time he wants : neither call upon him, nor expect him to call upon you for no better purpofe than togoffip ; efpecially let his mornings and his Saturdays be facred —it is little Ihort of cruelty to interrupt him then. As you love him, fo, no doubt, you will feel a pleafure in his company ; but let him choofe his own times for feeing you j and do not accufe him of criminal negligence, if his vifits are lefs frequent than you expect : Perhaps at the very moment of your difappointment, he was ftudying fomething againft the Lord's-day for your cafe— perhaps at the moment that you are cenfuring him for his neglect, he is wreftling with God for you in his clofet If a paftor devote thofe hours to the theatre, the cardtable, or the race-ground, which ought to be given to his people, God forbid I fhould become his apologift ; but to apologize for a ftudious minifter, is always juft, and often neceiTary j fuch an one, and fuch only, will anfwer to the character of the predi&ed paftor, who fhould " feed his " flock with knowledge and under ftanding"—the paftor " after God's own heart." (3.) If you would improve the gift of a paftor, you mujl duly attend upon the facred ordinances that he adminijlers. Without this, your profiting will be hardly polfible. Irregular attendance will not only prevent your own improvement ; but prove a pernicious example to others, and greatly difcourage your minifter. Painful indeed ! when a man has been laboring a week to get food for the fouls of his people, to fee them turn their backs upon it when it is fet before them ; and, in effe&, pronounce it unworthy their acceptance. Nor fhould you only avoid irregular, but /^attendance alfo—a practice as difgraceful to thofe who are found in it,
[ S3 ] £3 it is difturbing to the congregation on which they fa unfeafonably intrude themfelves ; and infulting to their Maker, on whofe worfhip they fet fo little value, and whofe authority they treat with fo little reverence. The devotees of the world might, if thefe dilatory attendants on facred ordinances were not loft to fhame, put them to the blufh. Look into places of amufernent, my brethren, and long before the bagatelles of the evening begin to be exhibited, you will fee the feats occupied, and the fpeaators waiting O my God ! how few, do the minifters of the fanduary find thus waiting for thee ! Say, my brethren, is it feemly that the God of this world fhould glory over the God of heaven ; and fay, c my worfhippers, are more faithful than thine !' and will you affift his triumphs? With a few, a very few exceptions, I will venture to fay, that no jufi apology can be made for this indecent practice. Have you families that require your attendance ? Rife but a quarter of an hour fooner, and you will no longer find an inconvenience there. The excufes that arc derived from food or drefs, are fo inconfiftent with fmcere religion^ that to fuppofe them in a chriftian fociety would be abfurd : the man who can neglect the honor of his God, and theinterefts of his foul, to gratify, either the interior or the exterior of his body, wants fomething more than argument to " turn him from idolatry, to ferve the ' living and true God." Farther, public ordinances will be followed with little profit, unlefs you ferioujly attend to minifterial injlrucliw, and devoutly engage in divine worfiip. How unfeemly, during the feafons of prayer or praile, k> behold people flaring about them with vacant countenances, which betray the indevotion of their hearts Brethren,
[ 54 ] Brethren, 1 intreat that this may not be the cafe with you 5 nor fhould you merely attend to the devotional parts of public fervice, but unite in them. This is not the time for the exercife of a critical tafte ; nor is the intercourfe of a rebel with his God, to be judged by the rules of ancient or modern oratory. Forget not, my brethren, that fuch only worfliip God acceptably, who « worfhip him in fpirit and il in truth." And, how unfeemly for people to be gazing upon the congregation, whifpering, fmiling, or fleeping, when the meflages of falvation are delivered ! Is it thus that criminals receive the news of pardon ? Is it thus that fubjefts receive the mandates of their prince ? Is it thus that chriftians hear the gofpel of the Savior ? Never, I fincerely truft, will your paftor witnefs fuch indecencies in you. 4. You cannot improve the gift of a paftor, unlefs you cordially embrace the truth he delivers, and yield to the jufl reproofs he may adminifter^ and the fcriptural precepts he may enforce. Satisfied, as you have this day publicly profefled to be with his miniftry, it is a warrantable preemption that you confider what he delivers as evangelic truth : but minifterial wifdom and fidelity, require much variety in the mode of reprefenting and enforcing it. In a congregation of any fize, the circumftances of the hearers will greatly vary. One may be living in habits of iniquity, whilft he is carelefsly haftening to everlafting burnings —another may be diftreffed under recent awakenings—a third may want induction about coming to Chrift —a fourth may be ftruggling with temptation—a fifth, burdened with heavy affliction—a fixth may be rejoicing in the God of his falvation—a feventh may have defiled his garments, and by fome awfu!
[ 55 ] awful crime, have brought a reproach on the religion he profeffed. Now, amidft this variety, is it poflible for a minifter, who is u to give to every man his portion of meat " in due feafon," to be always infilling upon one topic, or aiming at one character only ? And would it not be highly unreafonable for an individual to complain, and fay, * My 1 minifter has neglected me to-day !' Give your minifter credit for this* that, as he has had the moft experience, fo he muft be the bed judge of what is feafonable ; and rather water his miniftry with your prayers, than blacken it by «;our complaints. Should you, my brethren, when your minifter is differing the human character, difcover fome darling fin in your bofom, hitherto concealed from your notice, be not offended at the preacher—he did not put it there. Of yourfelves be afnamed —with yourfelves be offended —of your own heart fay, " It is defperately wicked ;" but thank the honeft man who difcovered to you the viper, before it gave the mortal bite. Strange it is that fuch advice fhould be neceffary ; but inftances have occurred, and not a few^ of perfons who have turned mod bitter adverfaries to their minifter—for what? only " for telling them the truth !" The love of delufion is an ancient feature in the human character. " Prophefy fmooth things," faid the people, " who would " not hear the law of the Lord ; prophefy deceits : the falfe prophets obeyed, and " the blind led the blind, until 1C both fell into the ditch." There is one reflexion, bleffed be God ! that affords us habitual fatisfa£f.ion. When we difcharge our office with fidelity, we " manifeft ourfelves to the confcienca of * c men," although it frequently occafion the lofs of their affeflions
t 56 ] affeftions : But be aflured, my brethren, that whether minifterial fidelity be pleafant or not, it will always be found profitable. Give me the preacher who opens the folds of my heart who accufes me, convicts me, and condemns me before God ; who loves my foul too well to fuffer me to go on in fin, unreproved, through fear of giving me offence ; who draws the line with accuracy, between the delufions of fancy, and the impreffions cf grace ; who purfues me from one hiding place to another, until I am driven from every refuge of lies; Who gives me no reft until he fees me, with unfeigned penitence, trembling at the feet of Jefus ; and then, and not till then, fooths my anguifh, wipes away my tears, and comforts me with the cordials of grace. Give me the preacher tc who constantly affirms that w they who have believed, be careful to maintain good " works ;" who infifis, that a life of peace and communion with God, is utterly abhorrent to the practice of iniquity J and faithfully reminds me, that " if I fin, that grace may " abound, my damnation is juft." Give me the preacher who pants not for my fafety only, but alfo for my increafe in grace ; who cautions me, " reproves me, rebukes me, exhorts me with all long-fuf- <c fering and doctrine;" who charges me u to give all diw ligence to add to my faith, virtue ; and to virtue, K knowlege; ( and to knowlege, temperance; and to tem- <{ perance, patience ; and to patience, godlinefs ; and to " godlinefs, brotherly kindnefs ; and to brotherly kindnefs, " charity." Brethren, if Ohrift have given you fuch a man as this, receive him as an angel from heaven ; and prize fuch a paftor as one of the moft valuable gifts that can be imparted to the church. What
t 57 ] What are we better than meteors, my brethren, if we only catch the eye of tranfient admiration ? May you find in your paftor a more permanent and influential luminary ! As the rays of the fun penetrate the frozen earth, locfen the clods, and call forth the verdure, the beauty, and the fruitfulnefs of the plant —fo, beneath the divine blefftngi may the faithful difcourfes of our brother fink into your hearts, detach them from the embraces of the world, and caufe you to be fruitful in every good and work. He who fends his hearer away with mere admiration of the fpeaker, doth nothing ; he that fends him away with admiration of himfelf, doth worfe than nothing j but he that fends him away penetrated with conviction, felfaccufed, felf-abhorred, crying for mercy to pardon his guilt, and grace to fan&ify his polluted heart; —that preacher, or rather God by him, hath done much—" he hath turned a '* finner from the error of his way"—he " fhall be had iri <c everlafting remembrance," To what end do I make thefe remarks ? For this end, my brethren, that the more faithful your paftor is, the more you may honor him as a man of principle, and prize him, as one of all men the moft likely to do you good. You will find it neceffary, not only to guard your/elves againft entertaining any unbecoming fentiments of your minifter ; but alfo to difcountenance every appearance of it in others : for one complaining, difTatisfied member in a religious fociety; if encouraged by the reft, will be like the poifon iri the blood, or the leaven in the meal, which fecretly but effectually infinuates itfelf, until the whole mafs be contaminated. " Mark them," fays the apoftle, " who u caufc divifions among you, and avoid them ; for they H " gratify
[ J8 ] a gratify their own paffions, but fervc not our Lord jel'u;, " Chrift." Such perfons will afTume the fpirit of zeai, and pretend a concern for truth, but " by their fruits ye " fhall know them ;" and when they are discovered, unlefs they give the fincereft proofs of penitence, let them be put from the church, as the leper from the camp, left they defile all who come near them. ReflecT:, my brethren, of how much importance it h for each one of you to " ftudy the things that make for " peace* and things whereby ye may edify one another.'' What is an unworthy member of a chriftian focicty r What, but a blotch upon the face of beauty—a bramble in a garden of lilies ! O that each of you may be preferved from disfiguring or difgracing the church of God ! You muft not only be concerned to avoid difhonoring the church, but to be growingly ornamental to it. Moll juftly doth the apoftle reprefent one end of minifterial inftruc*tion, by the effe&s of the continual nourifhmenr, and the foftering care of a tender nurfe upon the body of a healthy child. Chrift, faith he, " hath given paftors and st teachers, that ye may grow up unto a perfect man —to if the meafure of the ftature of the fulnefs of Chrift." You fee, brethren, Chr'iji is the ftandard of chriftian maturity. Before we are " born from above," we are all in the likenefs of the firft, the fallen Adam : In regeneration we are formed anew, but we are brought forth babes, and our character h imperfedt: Every gradation from a refemblance of the firft Adam, to the likenefs of the fecond, is adding another cubit to our fpiritual ftature j but we fhall never be perfeft men, until we attain to " the fulnefs of " Chrift," and for that we muft wait till « we fee him as « he is." In this world there is always room to adyance let
[ 59 ] let us then be going on to perfe&ion, and fo receive ft the " fincere milk of the word, as to grow thereby." O what a heaven on earth would that church be, all whofe members were thus " growing up unto the head, even Chrift;" or to follow the apoftle in a figure of greater boldnefs, and not lefe expreflion, " forgetting the things that are behind, H and reaching forth to thofe which are before, were " preffing towards the mark for the prize of their high M calling of God, in Chrift Jefus !" Let Greece pour forth from all her cities, to gaze on the Olympian contefts —with fuperior fatisfacYion would I fix my eyes on fuch a fcene as this ; and, pointing to the holy company, addrefs each heedlefs paflenger and fay, " Behold I fo run they not as uncertainly—fo contend they tC not as thofe who beat the air —they ftrive not for a cor- " ruptible crown, but an incorruptible, a crown of righte- " oufnefs, which the Lord, the righteous judge, fhall give 4i them in that day." O, my brethren, Jirive to be the moft zealous, the moft affectionate, the moft holy people in all the world, ',' Let your profiting appear unto all M men ;" then alfo fhall your teacher, with pious tranfport exclaim, " I have not run in vain, nor labored in vain." 5. The laft thing I would recommend to you in order to improve the gift of Chrift, is to render him as extenfive a blejjing as you can. He is given by Chrift " to " edify," that is, to build the church of God, to put more ftones into the facred edifice, that the fuperftru&ure may rife until it become a compleat temple for the Lord. The enlargement of the church univerfal, is the wifh of every chriftian, and the increafe of a particular chriftian fociety, ought to be purfued by each member of it But feck not, my brethren, to augment your congregation h 2 at
[ 6o ] at the cxpence of others. Few that are feduced to a new communion, prove for any length of time a comfort or an honor to it. " Covet not," therefore, in this fenfe, " any tC thing that is your neighbors;" and do nothing in relation to another evangelic congregation,, which you would not approve in the conduct of that congregation to you. There are, indeed, fome cafes where the admiffion of members from other communions is juft; but would it not be proper, in fuch cafes, to take no fteps whatever until the perfons who make the application, be referred to their former minifter, that he may have an opportunity of ferious converfation with them upon the fubject, before they defert him ? Such an open, generous conduct, would, I fhould hope, prevent thofe party feuds and jealoufies, which have too often been the difgrace and the torment of chriftian focieties, whofe great aim mould have been to " walk in love," and to " ftrive together for the faith of the gofpel." If we may judge of future affedtion among the churches of Chrifl in this city, by the fingular circumftances of the prefent day, we may warmly congratulate you on the opening profpec-L It is not a common cafe for a minifter to be ordained over one congregation, in the houfe belonging to another in the fame town. In fome inftances, indeed, it has not been neceffary ; but in others, too often the one have been too haughty to afk, or the other too unkind to grant. With joy I contemplate ail you, my brethren, as rifing above the government of thefe unlovely tempers ; and moft fincerely do I pray, that you may ever confider yourfelves as members but of one family, though you find it convenient to occupy different apartments. Whence then fhall you feek for additions ? From whence your Lord directs you—from the highways and hedges—from the unawakened, the carelefs, the prophane By
t b * ] By the awakening, the enlightening, the renewing of fuch as thefe, feek to build up that part of the church to which you particularly belong. Look into your families ; are there none of this defcription there ? Reflect on the character of your neighbors—are there none among them? Thefe are the perfons, whom, by every affectionate perfuafion, you muff « compel to come in, that the Lord's " houfe may be filled." " Invite the ftrangers all around f* Your pious march to join, " And fpread the fentiments you feel " Of faith and love divine." Encourage your minifter in going among the neighboring villages ; get houfcs opened and regiftered for him to preach in ; ufe your influence in bringing perfons to hear ; countenance him by your attendance, when he makes thefe evangelical excurfions ; and when, either at home or abroad, you perceive perfons affected under the word, fpeak to them, introduce them to the minifter, encourage their attendance, comfort them under the perfecutions to which they may be expofed for the fake of religion; and finally, fhould they decidedly appear renewed perfons, and be defirous of partaking with you of the privileges of church-fellowfhip, let no unneceflary, no unfcriptural delay, prevent their admiffion to the table of the Lord. Thus will you hold up the hands of your paftor, become bleflings both to the church and to the world, and prove that you have not received the gift of Chrift in vain. Finally, « If there be any confolation in Chrift ; if any " fellowfhip of the fpirit ; if any comfort of love ; if any <c bowels and mercies, fulfil ye your paftor's joy :" that beholding your rapid improvement in every amiable temper, and
[ 61 ] and chriflian grace j feeing your " love and your zeal u abounding yet more and more, in knowlege and in all " judgment," and yourfelves "filled with the fruits of " righteoufnefs, which are by Jefus Chrift unto the glory " and praife of God/' he may have increafing reafon to join the happy and affectionate apoftle in faying, " What w is my hope ? What is my joy ? What is my crown of " rejoicing? Are not even ye in the prefence of the Lord V Jefus Chrift at his coming ?" Note
t 63 3 Note to p. 61. 1 T is matter of juft lamentation, that fo many preferring chriftians feem to think, that contribution towards the fupport of a mini iter, exempts them from all obligation to perioral activity in pro* motinc- the interefts of religion in the world. To the fcrious confideration of fuch profeflbrs, the following expoftulation of the pious Mr. R. Baxter, is affectionately iubmitted. " O, if you have the hearts of chriftians or of men in you, let them yearn towards your poor, ignorant, ungodly neighbors. Alas ! there is but a ftep betwixt them and death and hell ; and if they die unregenerate, they are loft for ever. Have you hearts of. rock, that cannot pity men in fuch a cafe as this ? If you believe not the word of God, and the danger of finners, why are you chriftians yourfelves ? If you do believe it, why do you not beftir you to the helping of others ? Do you not care who is damned, fo you be faved ? If fo, you have as much caufe to pity yourfelves } for it is a frame of fpirit utterly inconiiftent with grace. But hath God had much mercy on you, and will you have no mercy on your poor neighbors ? You need not go far to find objects for your pity 1 Look but into your ftreets, or into the next houfe to you, and you will probably find fome. Have you never an ignorant, an unregenerate neighbor, that ftts his heart below, and neglecteth eternity? O what bleifed place do you live in where there is none fuch ! If there be not fome of them in thine own family, it is well } and yet art thou filent ? Deft thou live clofe by them, or labor with them, or travel with them, or fit ftill and talk with them, and fay nothing to them of their fouls, or the life to come ? If their houfes were on fire, thou wouldeft run and help them, and wilt thou not help them when their fouls are almoft at the fire of hell ? If thou kneweft but a remedy for their bodily difeafes thou would'ft tell it them, or elfe thou would'ft judge thyfelf guilty of their death ; —what mall we fay then of them who know of the remedy for curing fouls, and do not reveal it, and perfuade men to make ufe of it ! Is it not hypocrify to pray daily for their converfion and falvation, and never once endeavor to procure it? Alas ! that your prayers and your practice fliould fo much difagree ! How forward are hypocrites in their facrifice, and how backward to fliew mercy ! how forward to cenfure mjnifters for neglecting their duties ; yea, to expect more from one mirifter
[ H 1 minifter than ten can perform, and yet they make no confcience o! negletting their own j as if other men were to work, and they only to fit by and judge ! , Look chriftians, with an eye of companion, on the ignorant, ungodly finners about you : Be not like the prieft and levite, that faw the man wounded, and paffed by. God did not fo pafs by you when it was your own cafe. Are not the fouls of your neighbors fallen into the hands of Satan ? Doth not their mifery cry out to you Help ? Help '. As you have any companion towards men in the greatelt mifery, Help ! As you have the hearts of men, and not of tigers in you, Help!" Saint's Rest, Part III. Chap. xiv. § i ERRATA. P. a i, line 24, for by times, read betimes. P. 29, line 3, for occured, read occurreiX, In p. 52 dele the () from part 3. FINIS.