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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I S] i.NC A^ o '? I' IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. I VALEDICTORY SERMON, DELIVERED IN €bt protectant (Jf^fjffopat C5utf]b» AX SHERBROOKE, IN THE DISTRICT OF ST. FRANCIS. EASTERN TOWNSHIPS OF LOWER CANADA, ON OCCASION OF HIS RESIGNATION OF THE PASTORAL CHARGE IN THAT PLACE. BY THE REV. EDWARD PARKIN, LATE IKcctor of S)t)Ctbroofec & EcnnoxbtUci i.ND ONE OF THE MISSIONARIES OF THE VENERABLE SOCIETY FOR THE FROPAGATION or THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN FARTS. \ WITH AN APPENDIX, COMTAININQ AK ADDRESS FROM THE PARISHIONERS OF SHERBROOKE TO THE AUTHOR. MONTREAL : PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY THOMAS A. STARKE. 1832. F"*^"^6>3 k . » . . . '(>« I I '1 TO THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CONGREGATION OF SHERBROOKE, LOWER CANADA, THE FOLLOWING SERMON, liKLIVERID ON OCCASION OF HIS RESIGNATION OF THE PASTORAL CHARGI AMONGST THEM, HASTILY FREFARED, BUT PUBLISHED AT THEIR REQUEST, 3E^ affection atelfi InjStnfietf, BY TUEIR SiaCERE FRIEHD AND LATE PASTOR, EDWARD PARKIN. i '(>* I T SERMON. 2 Corinthians ii. 15, 16. « For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christy in them that are saved, aniJn them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death, and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?* I ADDRESS you, my Brethren, for the last time, as the authorized Pastor of this congregation ; and I do so with mingled sensations of pleasure and of pain, of satisfaction and of regret. The ministry of the word of life is at once the most honorable, the most arduous, and the most responsible office which can possibly fall to the lot of man. The assumption, therefore, or the resignation of its duties amongst a people must neces^ sarily be attended with feelings of no ordinary interest in a mind duly alive to its importance. To such, ia^ deed, as select it as a profession (as it is to be feared too many do) with no higher views than those with which others make choice of the practice of the law, or of physic, of the army or navy, as a respectable source ot livelihood, neither the one nor the other may excite any strong emotions. But whoever is seriously im- pressed with the all-important consequences of the acceptance or rejection of the Gospel Message, of the k I I improvement or neglect of the means of grace and salvation developed in, what the Apostle calls, "the glorious Gospel of the hlessed God," — viz. the eternal happiness or the everlasting misery of those to whom it is sent, cannot contemplate the future or look back upon the past without feelings of indescribable soli- citude. In the latter case, that of resignation of the pastoral charge, — the difficulties which have beset his path, the infirmities with which he has been encom- passed, and the want of success which has attende ' his ministry, will all furnish matter for tearful regret while, on the other hand, any encouragements he ma have met with, and such instances of the beneficij.. results of his labours as may appear, together with th consciousness that his sincere and well-meant endee vours, as far as he has laboured faithfully in his calling whether successful or otherwise, will meet the apprc bation of the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, — wl all minister subjects for gratitude and for rejoicing. Such are the views which the Apostle, in the tex and in the preceding verse, appears to have enter tained of the Christian ministry. "Now thanks b unto God," says he, "which always causeth us t triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savou of his knowledge by us in every place. For we ar unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that ar saved, and in them that perish : To the one we ar the savour of death unto death, and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?" The particular bearing of some of the Apostle's ex- pressions in the text may not perhaps at first appear I i H* Lce and 5, "the eternal ) whom ok back >Ie soli- i of the cset hia eneom- ttende ' regret he ma jneficho vith th , endeE calling ) appro Is, — wi! icing, the tex e enter anks b ;h us t J savou ' we ap that art 3 we art ther the for these itle's ex- ; appear i to some of my audience. To the Corinthians, how- ever, to whom the Apostle writes, tho allusions in the text were familiar, as they will also be to such of my hearers as are at all conversant with classical literature. The apostle evidently has in view one of those pageants which were of frequent occurrence in the Grecian and Roman States, called a " Triumph," which is thus described by a learned commentator upon this pas- sage :— " A triumph among the Romans, to which the Apostle here alludes, was a public and solemn honour conferred by them on a victorious general, by allowing him a magnificent procession through the city. This was not granted by the senate, unless the general had gained a very signal and decisive victory, conquered a province, 8cc. On such occaf^'on- the general was usually clad in a rich purple r<^ rwoven with figures of gold, setting forth the '>" his achievements : his buskins were beset Is, and he wore a crown, which at fii-st was oi ... , but was afterwards of pure ffolcl. In one hand he had a branch of hurel, the emblem o^ victory, and in the other his truncheon. He was carried in a magnificent chariot, adorned with ivory and plates of gold, and usually drawn by two white horses. Other animals were also used. When Pompey triumphed over Africa his chariot was drawn by elephants / that of Mark Antony by lions ; that of Heliogabalus by tigers; and that of Aurelius by deer. His children either sat at nis feet in the chariot, or rode on the chariot horses. To keep him humble amidst these great honours, a slave stood at his back, casting out incessant railings and reproaches, and carefully enumerating all his vices, &c. Musicians ^ H ' Hi led up the procession, and played triumphal pieces in praise of the general ; and these were followed hy young men, who led the victims which were to be sacrificed or the occasion, with their horns gilded, and their heads and necks adornod with ribbands and gar- lands. Next followed carts laden with the spoils taken from the enemy, with their horses, chariots, &c. These were follower by the hings^ princes, or generals, take i in the war, loaded with chains. Immediately after these came the triumphal chariot, before which, as it passed, the people strewed flowers, and shouted, lo, triumphe ! The triumphal chariot was lollowed by tLa senate, and the procession was closed by the priests and their attendants with the different sacrificial uten- sils, and a white ox, which was to be the chief victim. They then passed through the triumphal arch, along the via sacra to the Capitol, where the victims wore slain. During this time, all the temples were opened, and every altar smoked with offerings and incense. The people ot Corinth were sufficiently acquainted with the nature of a triumph. About ninety years before this, Lucius Mummius, the Roman Consul, had conquered all Achaia, destroyed Corinth, Thebes, and Chalcis ; and by order of the Senate, had a grand triumph, and was surnamed Achaicus.'* In reference to these triumphs it is further to be observecJ, that on their conclusion, the conqueror spared such of tbe captives who had been led in c\m\v.6 to grace the tri- umph as he thought proper, while be ordered the others, sucli as had often rebelled and broken leagues and covenants, to be put to death. Thus the smoke of the victims, and the incense offered on such an IH Bces m ^'ed by I to be id, and fid gar- 3 taken These , takea ly after [i, as it ed, lOf [ by tL3 priests »1 iiten- ' victim, , along IS were )pened, ticense. uaiiited y years ml, bad es, and I grand fere nee that on of the the tri- red the leagues G smoke uch an occasion, together with the odour of the flmvers pro- fusely scattered throughout the city, would fill it with their perfume, and prove to such of the captives as were spared " the savour of life unto lite," issuing in their liberation from bonds and deliverence from death, while to the others the same odours would prove " the savour of death unto death," being followed by their speedy execution. Alluding to this, the Apostle, in the text, says, "We (i.e. the Apostles of Chridt, the ministers of the Gospel) are uv -i. God a sweet lavour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them hat perish." We have fulfilled his will in faithfully ,)roclaiming the Gospel, and thus diffusing the odour )f the name and doUrine of Christ ; and as he hac letermined that those who believe shall be saved, and liose who believe not shall perish, we are as equally atif^eptable to him, though we unsuccessfully preach :he Gospel to some who obstinately reject it, and so ■ierish, as we are in preaching to others who believe ind are saved. " To the one," says the Apostle, " we u-e the savour of death unto death, and to the other rhe savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for hese things?" The doctrines then, my brethren, to be gathered lence are — I. That the faithful discharge of the dutic of ihe jospel Ministry, whatever be its result in our hearers, will meet the approbation of God. II. That if the Gospel do not prove to us " the power of God unto salvation," it will inevitably prove the means of our destruction, according to our Savi- our's declaration, — '* This is the condemn'^tion, that t light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." And, III. That without Divine assistance, the Ministers of Christ are insufficient for the discharge of the duties of their office, and that our sufficiency for it is of God only. " Who is sufficient for these things ?" Upon each of these points we shall offer a few remarks, in illustration of the text. I. We gather from the text, that the faithful dis- charge of the duties of the Gospel Ministry, whatever be its result in our hearers, will meet the approbation of God. The ministerial office is one of the highest dignity. " Now, then," says the Apostle, " we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you hi/ usy we pray you in Chrisi*s stead, be ye reconciled to God." To be so intimately connected with the Almighty, as to become as it were h'i confidential agents, is an undertaking in the highest degree honorable. The redemption of mankind is the most illustrious of all the Divine operations, and that by which the greatest glory will redound to God. In no other manifesta- tion of himself is the Deity so fully, so visibly, and so gloriously exhibited. To be employed then to cany on a work of this nature, — a work which displays in so extraordinary a manner the glory of the Divine perfections, must be an honor far greater than words can express. But, differrnt from all other honors in its magnitude, it is different also in its effects on those who rightly receive it. Widely opposed to the haughti- ness, pomp, and selfishness which too often accompany worldly honors, and sometimes invade'also those secu- lar dignities which have been attached to ecclesiastical office, It is a dignity with which all kinds of self-conse- quence are incompatible j a dignity which imperatively demands in all who aspire to it the deepest humility, and an unfeigned condescension to men of low estate, accompanied with a sincere desire to please all men for their good to edification. But not only is the Gospel Ministry an office of lignity, and an undertaking highly honorable j there is dso something peculiarly awful in it. Those engaged n it are brought, as it were, into close connexion with Grod. He makes them partners with himself in a ivork which, in its consequences to mankind, is most nomentous. They are " ministers of Christ, and . stewards of the mysteries of God." " Moreover," says the Apostle, " it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful." Ministers cannot indeed think too nuch of the sacred character of the office which they lave undertaken, and the near alliance into which it ntroduces them with God. Their vocation possesses I solemnity peculiarly its own, and demands infinitely nore seriousness, faithfuhiess, and attention, than are required in the performance of the duties of any other station whatever. While, therefore, the minister of Christ is ever studious of the welfare of the household 5ommitted to his care as a faithful and wise steward, attending upon every duty connected v/ith his office in its season, he is more imperatively called upon to feed the flock of God, over which he is made overseer, with wholesome food, nourishing them with sound doctrine, and feeding them with the sincere milk of 1 I* £ 10 Ml the word, that they may grow thereby. He is not to be "as many which corrupt the word of God j" neither is he to " shun to declare unto them the whole counsel of God," — not those parts only which may seem to favour their preconceived opinions and prejudices, and to tally with their favourite systems. His commission is—** Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature,"— the Gospel, the whole Gospel, and not a mutilated one, to accommodate the errors and the infirmities of his hearers, from a fear of giving offence, knowing that «* the fear of man bringeth a snare." This is his part : the consequences are to be left with God, and He has declared, " He that believ- eth and is baptized, shall be saved ; but he that believ- eth not shall be damned." " Thou sluilt speak my words unto them," is the Almighty's command to Ezekiel, " whether they will hear or whether they will forbear." And again, « Son of man, I have made thee a watchman u^ito the house of Israel, therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked. Thou shalt surely die ; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his way, to save his life, tiie same wicked man shall die in liis iniquity ; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn tiie wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, he shall die in his iniquity ; but thou hast dehvered thy soul." In strict accordance with this declaration, the Apos- tle asserts in the text, that God's ministers, under the New Testament dispensation, in "making ^nanifest the savour of his knowledge," by preaching "Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling-block and to tho. ^ 3 not to neither counsel ieem to les, and mission Gospel jrospel, errors giving geth a e to be believ- believ- sak my md to ey will le thee iar the m me. Y (lie ; ) warn same blood •n the ) shall soul." Aj)os- L»r the riifest IJhrist o tho. 11 Greeks foolishness ; but unto them that are saved* Christ the wisdom of God, and Christ the power of God,"-«" are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish. Christ's name, that name which is as oint aent poured forth, on their lips, and his grace in their hearts render his ministers pleasing to God, "in them that are saved,''-who yield to be saved by grace, and in whom God's rich mercy is magnified, being called by him to the faith and privileges of the Gospel, and accepting that call to the glory of God j and also " m them that perish,"-in whom his justice is displayed in punishing their obstinate infidelity, and, though they are not gathered, yet are his faithful ministers alike glorious in the eyes of the Lord, who regards not their success so much as their fidelity. While, therefore, we have too frequently to exclaim with grief of heart, « Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?" and to say with the Prophet, " I have laboured in vain. I have spent my strength for nought and in vain j" we have also the consolation of adding, " Yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.'* . u 4 f The next doctrine which arises from the words ot the text, as before stated, is — XL— That if the Gospel do not prove to those who hear it, " the power of God unto salvation," it will inevitably prove the means of their destruction, in accordance with our Saviour's declaration : " This is the condemnation, that light is come uito the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because e *i lit their deeds were evil." "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savour of death unto death, and to the otlicr the savour of life unto life." " There are several sayings," says the learned Com- mentator hefore quoted, « among the ancient Jewish writers similar to this. In Debarim Rabba it is said, •As the bee brings home honey to its owner, but stings others, so is it with the words of the law; they are a savour of lives to the Israelites; and a savour of death to the people of this world.' The Apostle's meaning is plain; those who believe and receive the Gospel are saved ; those who reject it, perish. The meaning of the Rabbins is not less plain ; the Israelites received the law and the propliets as from God ; and thus possessed the means of salvation. The Gentiles ridiculed and despised them, and thus continued in the path of death. The same happens to the present day, to those who receive, and to those who reject the Gospel: it is the means of salvation to the former it is the means of destruction to the latter : for they Lre not only yiot saved, because they do not believe the Gospel ; but they are condemned because they reject it. For how can they escape who neglect so great salvation ? The sun, which nourishes the tree that is planted in a good soil, decomposes and destroys it, if plucked up and laid on the surface." The Gospel Message, the glad tidijgs of salvation through a crucified Saviour, is no human invention which we are at liberty to receive or not with im! punity ; no daily or common-place communication, 13 which may be attended to or not, without danger or inconvenience. No; it is "the testimony of God." It is a message from the Sovereign and only Potentate to a rebellious world; and on the mode of its recep- tion depend all our hopes and fears for eternity. We are "saved with an everlasting salvation," if we re- ceive it; if we reject it, we are for ever lost. We find in the text the two descriptions of persons distinctly recognized, which are every where promi- nent in the Scriptures under the designations of the righteous and the wicked, the just and the unjust, the sheep and the goats ; and we find also their portion in the eternal world clearly enunciated — " to the one we are the savour of life unto life, and to the other the savour of death unto death." To whatever sub- terfuges men may resort to rid themselves of the dread of futurity ; however they may argue from the Scrip- ture declaration that " God is not willing that any should perish," and from the Apostle's assertion that the Great High Priest of our profession " is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him," that none will be lost; here are the plain state- ments of Scripture, affirming that some do perish, that some are lost. " We are a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish;" and again, in the 1st chap. 1st Epistle to Corinthians, «« For the preaching of the cross is to them ih^i perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God:" and, further, in the 4th chap, of this Epistle, " If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are losV" Jesus Christ has, indeed, given himself " a ransom for all to be testified in due season," and has M I u declared. "I am come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly;"-" and this rJ.i!r c '" *'^'"* '""* ■"«' t**^* "^e'-y "ne that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have ever- lastmg hfe;" but, in another place, he complains. Ve will not come to me," i. e. believe on me. " that ye m.ght have life;" and John the Baptist, his fore- runner, expressly says, " He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life ; but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on mm. If language has any meaning, future punish- ment IS as clearly revealed in the Scriptures as the 6>un m the firmament of heaven; if not, man is no longer man, light is darkness, and bitter is sweet. Do we then take delight in denouncing upon our tellow men the vengeance of Heaven ? God forbid ' But, with the Apostle, "knowing the terrors of the 1-ord. we persuade men." We rather beseech you by the mercies of God, and entreat you to flee from the wrath to come. Deceive not yourselves with a taJse presumption that no account will be demanded ot you, that all will be well at last, however you may live here! Amongst the numerous captives who graced the Roman triumphs, and inhaled the sweet fragrance of the flowers and the incense, many doubt- less, like Agag, congratulating themselves that " the bitterness of death was past," soon realized the delu- siveness of their hopes, by being consigned to the hands of the executioner, as Agag was hewed in pieces by the sword of Samuel. So many, perhaps, specu- lating upon the univei-sal efficacy of the Saviour's tonement, that sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour 15 unto God, without any appropnaiing act of faith in him producing love and obedience, may be deceiving themselves with the vain hope of impunity for their sins, and after all perish in them. No longer, my brethren, cherish this fatal delusion. Be assured that God's word will not return unto him void, but will accomplish that for which it was sent. Where it is not "a savour of life unto life;" it will inevitably prove " the savour of death unto death." Are these things, indeed, so ? Then well may the Apostle ask, "Who is sufficient for these things?" This will lead me to the last point of doctrine : viz. III. Thac without Divine assistance, the Ministers of Christ are insufficient for the discharge of the duties of their office, and that our sufficiency is of God only. <«Who is sufficient for these things ?" Who can recount the immberless difficulties of the pastoral charge ? The Apostle seems to answer his own ques- tion in the fifth verse of the following chapter. « Not," he says, " that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing, as of ourselves ; but our sufficiency is of God." This is the language of one who felt the awful responsibility of his office •, who dreaded a mistake which might be fatal to his own soul or the souls of his people ; in a word, the language of one who trem- bled to think that ** after having preached to others, he himself might be a cast-away." But for the assu- rance, "Lo, 1 am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," and the encouraging idea that we are "labourers together with God," we must utterly des- pair of success. For what are ministers, and what can they do ? They are flesh and blood, like other B men. They are. indeed, stewards of tl,e manifold they 'Irnve th,s treasure in earthen vessels." So far are they from being able by their own power to en' hghten the m.nds or change the hearts, of other men. or to strengthen them against their spiritual enemies Sai iZr 1 """' *"■ *"'*' *'"»S^ «»• themselves Had they the nchest and most varied store of learning of others, all would be in vain, if unaccompanied by the mfluences of God's Holy Spirit To c^m&e mankind is a work of great labour, and butr: "■>"' r? p"'"^^ «»"''^' '» -compi b"t to hght, and from the power of Satan unto God is wha u,.ass,sted human exertion, however wisely or assiduously e.nployed. cannot possibly effect at any J«on, under any circumstances, or within any period iieart of man that no human efforts can remove it • o unpregnable are the strong holds of Satan tha^ they can never be effectually assailed by an a™ of flesh, however powerful. The spiritually dead can stone be taken away by human skill. No force of sXrlr PT-^f «'°a-nce. no excelt ; of speech no appeals either to our hopes or our fears • hell "c "7 T '"^'r '" '' '"'^^-' - t"e terrlrof hell, can ot themselves convert the soul, or bring a inner to true repentance and faith. Had the gTsLi heen committed solely to the care of man it^uld havecon.p,etelyfailed of itsgreat purposes, ^ohlan 17 being would have been savingly benefited by it ; for, though a blessing infinitely valuable in itself, it would never have been sought after or possessed by any of the human race. If a delegate fronn an earthly prince would feel no inconsiderable anxiety upon a subject of difficulty, which involved the temporal welfare of his country, what must that man feel who is " an ambassador for God," and whose celestial message is either " a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death," to every in- dividual to whom it is delivered ? Had the message of the Christian minister been something familiar, something within the ordinary range of human dis- covery, he might have hoped to be able to deliver it in a manner becoming its nature; but v/hat must he feel when he considers that he has to teach men upon subjects infinitely surpassing all human conception? If, again, his doctrines had been smooth and pleasing to the natural mind, he might have felt less difficulty: but what must he experience when he knows that his message is utterly opposed to every feeling of the un- renewed soul J that it is " foolishness" to the natural man, and cannot be discerned but by the illumination of God's Holy Spirit ? He is authorized to proclaim death and judgment, heaven and hell. He comes to the man of the world, to announce that " whoso loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him." He comes to the thoughtless and dissipated to say, " He that liveth in pleasure, is dead while he liveth." He comes to the ambitious, the aspirant after temporal honour and exalted worldly connexions, to say, *• The friendship of the woiid is eiuiiity with God." He I ii 16 <3oine8 to the lover of wealth to say, « The love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows." He comes to the decent ostentatious formalist to say, "Except your righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom If men were ready to embrace the Gospel as soon as It IS proposed to them, and to live according to its precepts and spirit, no small part of the burthen would be removed. But when every thing seems to oppose it; when there is worldliness, and indifference, and pride, and vanity, and evil passion to contend with ; when one man hates religion, and another despises it, and another openly opposes it, the difficulty must be greatly enhanced. There are, besides, often special difficulties of a local nature: a factious spirit excited; "grievous wolves have entered in, devouring the flock;" here- sies may abound; apostacy from the truth may have deluged the fold. To these may be added a minister's consciousness of his own personal defects, of which if he be at all spiritually minded, none will be more sensible than himself. There needs but a transient glance at the insufficiency, the weakness, the incon- sistencies which mark the conduct of the best of men to furnish sufficient evidence of the anxiety which a faithful minister m'lst inevitably experience when he duly considers the defects of his own character, and their possible operation upon the eternal welfare uf '*'"-' V rr n xiV/V^iV. ' '>rethren. envy us a little longer id aT ^"^ "P"" ^"'"" ?*««"«« place a. »^ t W I^ "^^ "'^''- ^<1^''««« yo" in this constantly in vieTthT'^M ""'-i"^ '"■'""•*"' "^"^P .ervice i^ IS te en« T"^"' ^ --' eten^al advantage o/eteTnaTLT otCnr earnest^should we be in our exhortations aSp: I to the.r conaceuces, how careful to dispense theCd "•"•'WWWWWBBW 21 r rf „ri<,ht. how cautious of hindering the good 11£ oT'ot'I^Mry by our own conduct and con- -S!!TothePeopipWe.tj^e — ^^^^^^^^ hearers deeply tapre^Bed w.rt. J -fj^^^,,^, % SS;;S:^Cl^£:-theyestee. -?a:ur^HrshSrt??co^^Lofouro.n •nSv lead both ministers and people to seek help .. righteousness and ^^^^fof attaining the end of our .hall we have WJP^f^;^^^^^^^^^ the ministry Sl^G^^S^rrl-^e savour of life '"If "now. my brethren, under peculiar circum- And. "°^' ™y J. ^^led upon, on the present stances. I ^^^ !^[^^^^^ Z^, course of making "'Ta; tip—n t as possible in my ninistra, mi/sel/ as little pi omi r j t^nces of a tions, by bringmg f^^^^y^/^d connected with \ m f i 4 m induced by a severe attack of disease of many months continuance, and attended by an almost total prostra- tion of mental energy, to execute the arduous duties of the ministerial office amongst you, at a season of emergency, and under circumstances of peculiar diffi- culty well known to you, I have failed, it would ap- pear, in effecting the objects for which I was delegated, and am now, equally against my will, dismissed from iny charge, and recalled from my official engagements as a Missionary under the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. This announcement some of you will doubtless hear with surprise, having understood, and that not without reason, (a satisfactory explanation of which shall be given you on a more fitting occasion, and in a more suitable place) that I had voluntarily resigned my charge. I have not done so; but I lately received a communication from the VcneraWe the Arch-Deacon of Quebec in the following words ;— «*I have received a letter from the Bishop's Chaplain, who is with his Lo'-dship at York, conveying to me the information that the Board of the Society P. G. F. have, in consequence of the state of health in which you have been for some time past, and the difficulties which have occurred in your Ministry, passed an order for your recall, at the same time assigning to you a pension of £80. per annum, after your return home, to continue till you are pronounced capable of ex- ercising the duties of your profession ; and a grant of £100. in order to enable you to leave the country." Of my capacity or incapacity to discharge the duties I I »> of my profession, you, my brethren, who have attended rey ministry more or less regularly for nearly three years, are the best judges, and to you, however con- scious of ray own deficiencies, I fearlessly appeal, with this addition to your means of judguig,— that all that vou have yet iieard and are now hearing, has been com- posed and written since about eight o'clock yesterday morning, it being, while I now write, nearly m.d.nght. What the difficulties are which have occurred m my ministry I am left to conjecture, no complaint havmg, to my knowledge, been either preferred or proved against me, and no opportunity of defence having been afforded me. I apprehend, however, that the difficul- ties alluded to, had their origin long before I came hither in the conflicting claims of the two Churches comprised within this Mission, and that they are by no means likely to come to a speedy termination. 1 o this may also, perhaps, be added, a disappointment on the part of those who sent me hither, in my not hav- ing succeeded, to the extent of their expectations or of my own wishes, in attaching to orthodoxy and to the Church many of those who. with my predecessor m office have embraced what tve consider erroneous doctrines. Perhaps I have not displayed sufficient energy in combating their system. This 1 am willing to admit. I dislike controversy. I do not possess controversial talents; and I .vn-tainly have .felt no disposition to imitate the example of one who o.ica- sionally occupied this place, in fulminating anathemas and dealing out damnation to all who, however.con- scientously, differ from us in sentiment. At the same '.,;' 24 time I am satisfied that no one will charge me with having shunned to declare the whole counsel of God, or having smoothed down ohnoxious doctrines m order to render them more palatable to dissentient members of the comniunity. What I sincerely believe to be the truth, I have honestly and fearlessly, and, 1 hope, charitably, however feebly, maintained -, nor will any one, I think, accuse me of having this day softened the denunciations of Divine wrath, to conciliate those who differ from me, however it might seem to be my interest to do so, at a time when I have a maintenance to seek amongst you. That I can accept the annuity proposed, under the conditions annexed to it, when 1 am as capable of duty as most Clergymen in the Pro- vince, is out of the question. My views are at present directed to the education of youth, or employment ui official duties in the neighbouring States, where the Primitive, Apostolical, Episcopal Church at present exists and flourishes in a state o^ purity almost unknown elsewhere, and where the Liturgy has been curtaded of several redundancies, and otherwise prudently ad- apted to more modern times and circumsiances. There, unconnected with tiie State, and divested of the ab'ises which have grown out of the system of patronage in England, in the evils of pluralities, non- residence, sales of advowsons and presentations, &c. the Church prospers, her congregations are numerous and devout, her edifices commodious and elegant, her Clergy pious, diligent, and exemplary,— the choice of the people, by whom they are respected and comfort- ably maintained. 25 with God, )rder ibers B the lope, any leiied those e my lance nuity hen I Pro- -esent ent in -e the resent mown [•tailed tly ad- ances. sted of Lem of s, non- is, &c. nerous tit, her loice of omfort- And now, Brethren, I take my leave of you, as the occupant of this pulpit, beseeching you to make all due allowance for the difficulties I have had to contend with, for my misfortunes and infirmities, — for my errors and failings. As far as I have been enabled to teach you " the good and the right way," may you, by Divine grace, be disposed and enabled to walk therein unto all well-pleasing ; and may my humble labours, with all their defects, of which I am not unconscious, prove to you all " the savour of life unto life," and to none of you the awful alternative of " death unto death." " Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace j and the God of love and peace shall be with you." Nmv to God the Father, ^c. f( a V APPENDIX. TO THE REVEREND EDWARD PARKIN, IN THE INFEKIOR DISTRICT OF ST. FRANCIS, L. C. Dear and Rev. Sib, We, the undersigned, being the Parishioners forming the congregation of the Episcopal Church, and others, having heard with great regret that you have been dismissed from your charge as our Pastor, by reason, as it is alleged, of your incapabdity of performing your official duties as such, feel it out duty to come forward, and. in the most unequivocal manner, to state our real sentiments thereon. That you have, during the three years you have been with us, conducted your official duties as om- Minister to the credit of our pulpit, where we have at all times heard you with unspeakable pleasure and delight : that your discourses have been most editymg to us all, both from the strong orthodox tenets which vou have ever maintained, and the unceasmg pains you have ever used to inculcate the same into the .^yr '4 28 minds of your hearers ; and that your attention at all times to the sick and dying has been kind and unre- mitted— are [facts which no unprejudiced mind can gainsay. No, Sir, we have had both ocular and auricular demonstration of your unwearied discharge of your„ duties, and of your abilities as a Clergyman of the Church of England, and can only add Jiat you have ever had [our entire satisfaction and approbation as such. God knows that the malicious reports which must have given rise to your unwarrantable dismissal from this parish, must he such, and are not founded in truth, as we one and all can and do hereby declare ; and that so far from your being ever incapable of per- forming your clerical duties, or official functions, on the contrary, we have ever considered you, as a Gentleman and Clergyman possessing the most brilliant talents, as your Sermons will clearly evince to every unpre- judiced mind ; and we are certain that they cannot be excelled in their composition, nor have they, nor can they be, in theological oratory; and in that capa- city do say, with the immortal bard, (without any disparagement to any of your brethren) that " take you for all in all, we ne'er shall see your like,'* in our pulpit " again." That you are about to leave us, we do most sm- cerely deplore ; but. Dear Sir, you carry with you the most heartfelt gratitude and unfeigned good wishes of us all ; and, in whatever part of the globe it may be your destiny to be cast, we hope He who sees and knows all hearts will protect and bless you, and your amiable lady and family, with health and prosperity. vo t 1 1 ( 4 1 I "■^-— %* I 29 Wishing you a speedy and prosperous voyage to yoritive'land, we bid you "Farewell," and hope you and yours may ever fare well. Sincerely, Dear and Rev. Sir, Your most obedient Servants, &c. &c. &c. Sherbrooke, St. Francis, October ^^th, 1832. N Ti The above (in substance, some expi^ssions too flStJ^ng 1 complimentary for the pubhc eye, too tlatteimg dim t ^ , seventy-four which I am unmeritedly placed.