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 " ■'■' «;np«iqHtpw<e««aHiii 
 
 'Mmmmmm. 
 
 :0^\ 
 
lv-1 
 
 I 
 
 t 
 
 CHARGE 
 
 BELIVBRIP TO TH* 
 
 CLERGY of Nova-Scotia, 
 
 AT THB 
 
 
 TRIENNIAL FISITATION 
 
 HOLDEN IN THE ToWlf OF HALIFAX, 
 
 IntheMcMtbofJuneiy^\, 
 
 BY 
 
 The Right Reverend CHARLES, 
 
 BISHOP or NOVA-SCOTIA. 
 
 HALIFAX: 
 
 Printed by ANTHONY HENRY. Printer to the 
 King's Moft Excellent MajeUy. 
 
 »I DCC CXII. 
 
 i 
 
 'm\ 
 
H ^<r I r 
 
 > 
 
 #-^ 
 
 ]! 
 
 MM 
 
 f 
 
 The Read*"" is rcquclled to corrcft, or to bear in minJ as h« 
 proceeds in the pcrufal, the following 
 
 ERRATA: 
 Page II, /ifte x^, for Semenaries, r^«i/ Seminaries. 
 P. 23, /. 4, /or a belie r, r. a vain belief. 
 
 ibid. I. 6, yOr who believes, r. who vainly and with* 
 
 out ground believes. 
 
 i*" 33» ^« I , <»/?rr King, r. (unlefs when fpecial- 
 
 ^J authorifed by the Almighty on (bme extraordinary occafion.) 
 P. 42^ /. 20, for be a peace maker, r. be peacemaltcri. 
 P. 53, A 16, ofthe note,yflr rightly, r. lightly. 
 
 Si is hoped no other errors, that afFeft the fenfe, have cfcapei 
 
 notice. 
 
 **lll|rt 
 
 '•i^"> 
 
 •'iBIflplw'WiPlBi'**^ ■* 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Reverend Clergy of the Qiocefe of Nova-Scotia. 
 
 Mr Reverind Brethr«n« 
 
 T. 
 
 H E following Charge, now publilhed at Your requeft, 
 contains fentiments which I conceived to be well adapted to 
 Your prefentfttuation, and ftate of the times ; and I pray God 
 that they may prove beneficial to us both ; for I really apply 
 them no lefs to myfelf than to You. 
 
 Provid^ncs hath caft our lot in a period which calls for 
 peculiar exertion and vigilance in the Clergy. The epidemic 
 lukewarmnefs in matters of religion, which few, if any, have 
 efcaped — the diflblutenefs of many, and utter neg]c£l of their 
 eternal intercfts— the difregard of principle, the profligacy and 
 intemperance of multitudes, efpecially in the lower clafles — the 
 fpirit of enthufiafm, gone forth among us, that would fubvcrt 
 order, fubftitute error for truth, the reveries of fancy for the 
 *alutary do£\rinc8 of the Gofpel, and by its extravagance, tends 
 to bring difrepute on Divine Revelation and rational Piety ■ 
 allthefe, to fay nothing of other matters, arc fo many incentives 
 to compaflion and diligence on our part. They loudly demand 
 aftivity in difcharging the duties of our funftion j as well at 
 vigilant attention to our conduft, and the movements of our own 
 hearts ; that our lives may be not only unblamcablc, but holy 
 and exemplary in the fight of God, and of our brethren. For 
 
 A 2 we 
 

 I; 
 
 I 
 
 'I 
 
 1 : 
 
 (4) 
 
 we muft endeavoar to work oot our own falvitlon with fear and 
 trembling, whilft we labour to promote that of others j and like 
 the reft of mankind, we are encompafled with iniirmitieij with 
 temptations and triak. 
 
 It (hould be acknowledged indeed with gratitude that, in 
 one refpedl, matters are now in a much better ftate than when I 
 firft met You. The decent edifices for public Wor(hip that 
 have been erc£led in fcveral parts of this Diocefe, and the Semi- 
 naries of learning that have been (ince founded, raife flattering 
 expeflations that Religion and ufeful knowledge will flourifh 
 among us ; which muft give unfeigned pleafure to all who are 
 friends of either, or who wifh well to the community. 
 
 But I muft beg leave to remind You, that the fuccefs of thcfc 
 Inftitutions will much depend on the endeavours that are ufed 
 to nvikethem produce the dcflred effeAs ; and that the world 
 will look to You, in particular, as the chief inftruments of 
 deriving advantage from them. That You will exert Yo«r- 
 fclves in fo good a caufe, I cannot doubt ; and hope, with the 
 blefling of God on thofc exertions, that the light of divine truth, 
 9^'^ ufeful fcience will, in time, t>e widely diftufed. 
 
 The obfervations on Enthufiafm which You will find here, 
 rrcv. not delivered at my Vilitation ; owing te bad health and 
 weikncfs at the time. I had not ftrength to deliver the whole, 
 though written ; but they may be of ufe, and therefore I have 
 now printed them. Thefe, with ihe notes which I have thrown 
 into the margin, have fo much enlarged the printed Charge, 
 that I (hall detain Vcu no longer than to obferve— that befidei 
 the lukewf.rmncfs ?lreidy mcn'iioncd, another ftrong feature of 
 ■fhe prefent timca, is—*; rage for improvement in religion, as ^* 
 
 • 
 
 is 
 
 
 4.. 
 
 
 .^s. 
 
 'mmimiii^ 
 
4 
 
 ( s ) 
 
 ii eilled { wliich would be very wrll ind commendable, were 
 k not that tlvi •hjiSt of impMvemant are ttofortpiuuly mlr- 
 taken. If inftead of tampering with Creeds, and mending ArvN 
 des of Religion, thefe Reformera vrould endeavour to improv<> 
 their own hearts, and thofe of their brethren— if they would 
 ffealoally labomr (a promote benevolenee and peace, and the 
 pra£lice of humility, holin^'fi and other ChrilUan virtues; they 
 might be oflpii^e fervi^e tu manki^cl. |ut their p^fent cftbrti 
 tend rather to increafil the lukeWarflinefs fhat is already too 
 great, and to unfettle the few found principles that are left. The 
 truths of Revealed Religi(fh admit not of improvement, like 
 Arts and Sciences of Mate's invention. They are as «nchange« 
 able as their divine author. The Faith once delivered to the 
 Saints, ever has been, is now, and always will be the fame. We 
 fiiould earnellly contend for it ; and fpym the handof prefump^ 
 tion that would overturn or debafe it* 
 
 I fervendy pray the Almighty to animate and fupport Vpu 
 in the labours of Your miniftry ; and fo to profper and bicfs 
 them, that You may be able at the laft day to give a joyful ac> 
 .(ount of the fouls committed to Tour care, by the great 
 ^^ephei-4» who redoeiped them with his .blood i and am, ' > 
 
 t 
 
 Gbntliiiik, ' '' 
 
 ;1 : 
 
 Your affedUonate Brother, 
 
 ( f 
 
 iP&d humb)e fervant, 
 
 CHARLES NOVA-SCOTXA. 
 
 HAiiFATi Decfmber24« 1791. 
 
 •.^ 
 
(<S) 
 
 t 
 
 'THE 
 
 BISHOP OF NOVA-SCOTI A'f 
 
 CHARGE 
 
 
 TO THE >,.,.,. 
 
 C L E R G r of his DIOCESE. 
 
 My Reverend Brethrsn, 
 
 .: .1. 
 
 "ITT HEN I had the plcafurc of firft meeting 
 ' ^ You, on an occaHon iimilar to the prefcnt, 
 my knowledge of the religious (late of this Oiocefe 
 was very im per fed i being then a ft ranger, and 
 but lately arrived. This obliged me to dwell on 
 general topics, in my Charge, and to lay before 
 You fiich matters only as cpnccrn the condu<5t and 
 duties of Clergymen at large. 
 
 Thk information which I have Hnce acquired 
 by a refidence of three Years, and perfonally vi- 
 fiting moft of the inhabited diftrids in the Pro. 
 vjuce, as well as by Your communications, for 
 which I return You thanks ; will enable me now 
 to fpcak of the prefcnt date of the pi(jccfc, both 
 
 religious 
 
 \ 
 
 " V f.. 
 
 ■^f^ 
 
 f^- 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 tclJgious and literary', and to adapt the advlcr 
 ^hich I mean to offer, to Your particular fituati- 
 bn, and the circumftances of the times. 
 
 Om reviewing the intelligence derived from 
 thefe feveral fources, and adverting to the events 
 which have fince taken place j I find fome things 
 which may afford fatisfa<5lion to all who have the 
 honour of God, and welfare of the community at 
 heart; others, which peculiarly demand our un. 
 feigned gratitude and thankfitlnefs to the Almigh- 
 ty ruler of the univerfe ; and others again, which 
 fervc to humble us, and call for the utmoft vigi- 
 lance and exertion in the line of our profefTion. 
 
 Through the munificence of the Parent State, 
 and laudable endeavours of the Inhabitants, feveral 
 decent Churches have been eretSled in diflrids, 
 which formerly had no places of Public Worfhip •, 
 more Churches are in train, and will be built in 
 iiii iilar diftridts j and fonie that were formerly be- 
 gun, arc now finifhed. -|- 
 
 The 
 
 f New Churches have been built at the following places.— 
 8helburne, Prefton, Aylesford, and Digby ; and they have alf* 
 been Confccrated. A (mall place of Public Worfhip, built lome 
 Years fince in the Upper diflridt of Granville, has been enlarged 
 and finiflied; and the (hell of a Church, formerly eredled, ?t 
 Annapolis, has been finifhed ; and both thefe have been Con- 
 fecrat^d. A new Church at Guyfborough is finiflied, but not 
 yet Confccrated New Churches are in forwardneis, and will 
 probably be finiflied. and ready for Confecration, at Parrfl}0' 
 rough, Wilmot, Middle diftridl of Granville, Lower diftridf of 
 
 Granville 
 
 » *' 
 
 y 
 
il- 
 
 * 
 
 ^1 
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 Tmi zeal and public fplrit, manifeftcd by the 
 Legiflaturc of this Province, to promote Litera- 
 ture, refled^ honour on the Individuals that com- 
 pofe it, and have been attended with much fuccefs. 
 A good Grammar School has been eftabli/hcd in 
 this town. The Seminary, dcfigned for a Col- 
 lege, has anfwered the moft fanguine expe<5tations 
 of its friends. Q^r truly attiiable Sovereign has 
 been gracioufly pl^afed to patronize it. Scnfiblfe 
 of the great benefits accruing to Mankind from 
 Science, and a virtuous Education, He is deHrous 
 that His fubjeds in thefe His reniotc dominions, 
 ihould partake of.thofe benefits. Through hFs 
 lloyal interpofition, a liberal fum has been gran- 
 ted by the Briti{h Parliament towards ereftihg a 
 fuitable edifice, or College; The Intlitutlon will 
 probably be made a Royal Foundation j withfuch 
 privileges and endowments as (hall place it oh a 
 more refped^able foot than any hitherto ereAe'd 
 in North America.— Perhaps it is needlefs to add, 
 as You will naturally ant'Cipatie the obfervation, 
 that this Seminary bids fair to be of fignal advan- 
 tage 
 ■■I i I ' — »—— — -I "' i III 
 
 Granville, and Sifliboo, in the cour'fe of next fummer. The 
 Inhabitants at thofe plices. are moftly Loyal Emigrants, and hseve 
 contributed money, or materials, or labroiir,' is tltey Were able, 
 to fir<ifli their re(pe£live CKurches, Jh addftibn to the fumi al- 
 ' lowed by Government At \\1":afOt^;'ani cfldfctflement, the In- 
 habitants hav6 nobly exerted thienife'veS ; itnd by theii" own 
 contributions, without any other afliftance, have ercfled the (hell 
 of an edifice; which, vvhen finifhed, will be- a Itrge, decent 
 Church Some more Churches will, I hope, be built in placc»» 
 where they arc greatly wanted at prefent. 
 
 
 ■^%: 
 
(9) 
 
 tagc to the country. When Youth, by their edu- 
 cation there, become attached to the Province, to 
 the Conftitution and Parent State, and carry with 
 them into adlive life, the knowledge and virtuous 
 principles thence derived ; it will greatly contri- 
 bute to the refpciflability and profperity of the 
 Colony.* ' 
 
 '■■.■• ' ' 
 
 Among the eventV which demand our fervent 
 
 gratitude to the Almighty, I fhall only mention 
 
 B two. 
 
 * The wifdom and good policy of founding this Seminary 
 tannot be tooi much applauded. Hereby the Youth of thefe 
 Provincea ^ll be prevented from going for their education to 
 the Revolted Colonies, whcre.thcy would probably imbibe prin- 
 ciples unfriendly to the Britifli L'onftitution ; to fay nothing of 
 the hekvy ex^enc^, yvhich Would he I'o much A to us, bdides 
 other inconveniences. The want of fuch a Seminary here, 
 would rtake iis ' in fome degree dependant on the new States, 
 and keepupaiiintercauj-f(i with them very injurious to the Parent 
 State, and its American PoJofties. .,.,., 
 
 King's jC^ollegx (the ijiame given to tlie Seminary by our 
 Legiflature in the A<ft which endows it with the annual fum of 
 iCfOO SiterUng) is. iituated at Windfor, 45 miles frons Halifax. 
 The edifice. wga begun laft fummcr, and the walls were raifcd 
 9 feet, the height of the Cellar Story ; and workmen are enga- 
 ged to proceed with it next fummrr. The building is two hundred 
 and one feet long, by thirty fix feet wide, and is dedgned to be 
 three ftories high, bendes the cellar ; the materials are white Free 
 Stone and Granite laid in lime ; it is placed on a gently rifmg hill, 
 fronts the fouth, and commands an extcnfive view of cultivated 
 •puntry, ;co9fiftrng bf ri<ih meadow and arable Und, interfperfed 
 with Farm Houfes,.and fkirted by diftart hills covered with forpfts. 
 Wo place oil thc"globe is healthier.— This College, and thofc 
 Churches are ftriking inftances of att- ntion to our weifare : they 
 mull increafe our love and attachment to the Sovereign, and the 
 Parent State, who thus anxioufly endeavour to prcmotc our fpi- 
 ritual as well as temporal happinefs. 
 
 ■*'^ 
 
 %**■ 
 

 If 
 
 »> 
 
 { 10 ) • 
 
 two.— One is the reftoration of our beloved Sove- 
 reign from an affli(5ling iilnefs, which fpread um- 
 verfal gloom, and threatened the greateft evils. 
 Indulgent heaven heard and granted the ardent 
 prayers of His fubjeds.; and preferved a life that 
 was infinitely dear and valuable. A greater mer- 
 cy perhaps could not be conferred on the Britifh 
 dominions.— The other event alluded to,, is 
 the happy termination of a hte difpute with a 
 
 foreign Power, * through the bleflihg of God 
 on the wifdom, yigilance_and_firrnnefs of His 
 Majefty's Councils; by which the horrors of 
 war have been averted, an^d the bleffings of peace 
 continued and fee u red. Thefe mercies furely de- 
 mand our devout acknowledgments to the great 
 arbiter of nations, who ruleth in the kingdoms 
 of men. Whilft feveraJ nations are torn with all 
 the rage of civil difcord, and others are a prey 
 to the defolating ravages of war •, we remain quiet 
 and undifturbed under the beft of earthly Sove- 
 reigns, and in the enjoyment of the mod exceU 
 lent of political ConJiitutions. May we have, 
 wifdom to eftimate the value, and grace to make 
 a due improvement, of fuch fignal benefits. 
 
 The meafures now adopted to promote the 
 pra(5tice of rational and found religion, and to 
 diffufe ufeful knowledge, are the moft efFe<5l;ual 
 that can be devifed j and You are too well ac- 
 quainted 
 
 ■^\ 
 
I 
 
 (I. ) 
 
 qwainted with the ftate of the country to require 
 any proof here that they were neceflary. But 
 the good ciFedts reAiiting from them are not to 
 be jmmediatcly cjtpedlcd.— When the Hufband- 
 man cads his feeds into the earth, he cannot look 
 for an inftantaneous return of increafe and pro- 
 fit. He muft patiently wait, and fteadfaftly per- 
 fevere in his affiduity and labour, till thedefcend- 
 ing rains and dews of heaven, and the genial 
 warmth of the Suri, have in due. time cherilhed, 
 matured, and brought to perfedion the expe(5led 
 fruits of the earth, , 
 
 TrtE caie is fimiiar ih the inftances before ui» 
 Decent edifices for the public worfhip of God, 
 and Semenarres of learn^iifg are means of advanc- 
 ing Religion and diffusing fcienc^ •, but it isanly 
 after the lapfc of timcj with the blefling of hea- 
 ven on the afliduous care and attention of the 
 friends > to Religion and S<tien<;ei that the falutary 
 confequehces of thtif^ inftitution^ can be expert- 
 cd. This refledlion may ferve at once to animate 
 our hopes and exertions : — Our hopes, to fee 
 the kingdom of our divine mafter flouri{h"-our 
 exertions, to accomplifti fo defireable an event, 
 and to prevent a failure, which would be difgrace- 
 ful to us, and ruinous to the bed intcrefts of our 
 Brethren. , 
 
 , If with thefe circumftances, we take in a con- 
 fideration of the ftate of things among us in a re- 
 
 B 2 ligious 
 
,5 
 
 &< 
 
 'f: 
 
 -.^(■^ 
 
 ^'1' 
 
 
 I ; 
 
 ( It ) 
 
 ligtous view, it will clearly evince the ntcefllty 
 of earneftnefs and vigilance in difcharging the 
 duties of Your ftation $ and a confideration fa 
 intimately conne<5led with the objtA of Your Mi- 
 niftry, fiiould not here be paflcd over in filcnce. 
 
 Complaints concerning the prevalence of vice, 
 and negleft of religion, have been frequent in 
 every age i and it miift be acknowledged that 
 there has been always too much ground for them. 
 But fome periods have been more, funk in diflbo 
 lutnefs and irreligion than others; and whoever is 
 moderately acquainted with the hiftory of man- 
 kind, well knows that the feme listion^ at differ- 
 ent periods, has differed from itfelf, with refpeft 
 to virtue and vice, as much as the mofl diftant 
 nations could differ from each other.— The feeds 
 of corruption are inherent in our nature •, they 
 will fpring up, and predominate, whenever the- 
 reftraints of religion, inftrudicn, or difcipline are: 
 relaxed-, or when their influence is defeated by 
 any other intervening caufe, n i^" , 
 
 The general charaderiftic of the prefent age,i» 
 - lukewarmnefs—indifference about religion, and 
 negleift of its ordinances. That this is true of us 
 —that we deeply partake of this charadber, is top* 
 evident to require any proof; arid however the 
 multitude of offenders may preclude the itnputa- 
 tation of fingularity in any diflrid, orclafs*of 
 xen,^ or individuals ; yet this does not dimfni/h 
 
 the 
 
 a 
 
ncceflSty 
 |-ging the 
 (ration fa 
 "our Mi- 
 ll J cnce, 
 
 ofviccy 
 uent in 
 ed that 
 'or them. 
 in diflb- 
 loever is 
 of man-^ 
 atdiffer- 
 h refpeft 
 p diftant 
 ^he feeds 
 e J they? 
 ever the- 
 ^linc are. 
 ^ted by ■ 
 
 t age,i» 
 on/and 
 ie of us 
 » IS top* 
 ^er the 
 ^puta- 
 :iafsT)f 
 miniih 
 the 
 
 ■?> 
 
 ( »3 ) 
 
 the general guilt. There was a time when manw 
 kind corrupted their ways before God, and every 
 imagination of their hearts, was only evil conti. 
 nually.-|- The human race were as numerous 
 then as they are now— probably much more fo ;* 
 yet the great number of tranfgreflbrs did not avert 
 the judgments of heaven— the whole guilty race 
 were fwepc off by a deluge, except eight perfons, 
 whp were not defiled by the general corruption, 
 
 -J God is the greateft and beft of Beings, the au- 
 thor of our exiftence and all our blcflings ; and 
 he claims our fupreme love and firft regard. To 
 think of him with indifference, or to treat his 
 laws and inAitutions with ncgledl, is to diftionour 
 him J and muft be attended with a high degree 
 of guilt. Salvation through Jefus Chrifl-, is the 
 moft tranfcendant mercy that Almighty God ever 
 beftowed on. Tien ^ and our ardour to attain it,. 
 fhould bear a proportion to its importance. By 
 lukfiwarmnefs and indifference on this great point,. 
 ',. . ! i : .. • we 
 
 t Gen. VI. 5. 
 
 * See Uttiver/af Hijl. Vol.' I. p. 309, Dublin Edit. 8vy. 
 The tielugc happened in the year of the world 1656, accord-, 
 ing to the Hebrew computation ; and Mr. Whiston, by a 
 calculation which feems to be fair and well founded, ellimates 
 the number of mankind in 1482 years after Adam's creation, 
 to have been 549,755,813,888. Ste hh Tinory 0/ t/je Earth, 
 Book III. Chap. 3. Itis'highly probable that the Antediluvian 
 earth was capable of containing and fupporting many more in- 
 habitants, than the prefent earth. All the Inhabitants in the 
 kaown world are at prefent, computed to be 95^3,000,000. 
 
 % ^ 
 

 'lij. 
 
 ( 14 ) 
 
 we fin againft ourfclves •, we fet at nought the 
 
 mercy of God a mercy, which even Angels, 
 
 who offended, did not experience ; we defpifc 
 the love, and trample on the facrifice of his 
 eternal Son, whofe blood was fhed for our re- 
 demption. 
 
 Reason and confcience will tell us that fuch 
 condu(5t is criminial ; and Revelation confirms 
 their decifion. For the Almighty has declared 
 his difpleafure againfl fuch indifference in a man- 
 ner fo pointed, as fhould roufe the mofl luke- 
 warm from their torpid fta^e, and .inake the 
 carelcfs heart tremble. 
 
 ■ t • u 
 
 \tf. 
 
 
 fl 
 
 ** How long, fays the voice of wifdom, {peak- 
 ing from God — How long, ye fimple ones, will 
 ye love fimpJicity ? And the fcorners delight 
 
 in fcorning ? And fools hate knowledge ? 
 
 Becaufe I have called, and ye refufed •, I have 
 ftretched out my hand, and no man regarded j 
 but Ye have fet at nought all my counfel, and 
 would none of my reproof : I alfo will laugh at 
 Your calamity ; I will mock when your fear 
 Cometh j when your tear cometh as defolation j 
 and your deftrudlion cometh as a whirlwind,"-]- 
 
 The fame language is held out in the New- 
 Teflament. But as offences become aggravated 
 
 in 
 
 •}• Proverbs I. 
 
 f ) 
 
 ^1 
 
 <», # 
 
( I? ) 
 
 in proportion to the light that is rcfiftcd •, and as 
 'the Almighty has been pleafed to fhed the clea 
 reft light, and manifeft the tendereft love in th j 
 Gofpel Jifpenfation •, abufe of that light and love 
 by lukewarmnefs or indifference, muft be attended 
 with more aggravated guilt. Severer indignation 
 is accordingly denounced againft it. Of various 
 inflances and pafTages that might be adduced to 
 thispurpofe, I fhall at prefent refer only to the 
 
 cafe of the Laodiceans a cafe, which 1 would 
 
 to God were ferioufly laid to heart by all who live 
 under the light of the Gofpel. 
 
 In the book of Revelation, Chapter I, our 
 bleffed Saviour is reprefented as walking in the 
 midft of the Golden Candlefticks ; to denote his 
 conftant prefence with his Church here on earth, 
 and the Itriift attention which he pays to the con>- 
 dudt of thofe who profefs his religion. He direds 
 St. John to write an Epiftle to the Angel or 
 Bifhop of each of the fcven Afiatic Churche?, 
 which were the fcene of the firft vifion i and in 
 thefe Epiftles, he Inftrufts or exhorts, he com- 
 mends or reproves, he ufes promifes or threats^, 
 as theftate of thofe Churches feverally required. 
 Laodicea was one of the Churches •, to which 
 the Apoftle is commanded to write the following 
 Epiftle 
 
 C( 
 
 And unto the Angel of the Church of the 
 Laodiceans, write : Thefe things faith the Amen, 
 
 the 
 
 # 
 •" 
 
 \ 
 

 1^ 
 
 ( 16 ) 
 
 the faithful and true witnefs, the beginning, or 
 Prince^ of the creation of God— I know thy works 
 that thou art neither cold nor hot : I would 
 thou wert cold or hot. So then becaufe thou art 
 Jukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I willfpue 
 thee out of my mouth. Becaufe thou fay eft, I 
 am rich, and increafed with goods, and have need 
 of nothing ; and knoweft not that thou art 
 wretched, and miferable, and poor and blind, 
 and naked. I counfel thee to buy of me Gold tried 
 in the £re, that thou mayeft be rich ; and white 
 raiment, that thou mayeft be clothed, and that 
 the fhame of thy nakednefs do not appear *, and 
 anoint thy eyes with eye-falve, that thou mayeft 
 fee. As many as I love, I rebuke and chaften ; 
 
 be zealous therefore and repent. He that h£.th 
 
 an ear, let him hear what the fpirit faith to the 
 Churches. -]-" 
 
 The Laodiceans are here charged with luke- 
 warmnefs ; againft which our Lord expreffes the 
 ftrongeft diflike, being a worfe difpotition than 
 even coldnefs, or the making no profeftlon of 
 religion. The one diflionours Chriftianity more 
 than the other, becaufe, in the (ight of men, it 
 appears chargeable with the evils attending luke- 
 warmnefs j but not with thofe of irreligion : 
 And the perfon is more likely to attain a due 
 
 fenfe 
 
 •[■ Revel. III. i^ 22. 
 
 
( '7 ) . 
 
 •fenfe of religion, who is yet hafh none j thfin'hfc 
 vho makes an infincere profeffion of it, and 
 fatisfles himfelf with its form, without its power. 
 The one, when brought to fee and feel the truth of 
 religion, may hearken to its admonitions, and ad: 
 up to its fpirit -, but the other, although he can> 
 not allow himfelf to caft it entirely away, yet has 
 no concern to be influenced by it himfelf, or that 
 its benefits be extended toothers. * 
 
 *' Besides, Itikewarmnefs brings with it fpiritual 
 pride and fecurity, as in the cafe of the Laodice- 
 ans. They thought themfelvcs rich in wifdom 
 and virtue, and increafed with intellefttial goods, 
 and that they had need of nothing •, their re- 
 ligious ftate being, as they conceived, profperous, 
 happy, and fach as required no alteration or 
 improvement. "Whereas our Lord here tells 
 them, that in the fight of God, and with refpedl 
 to falvktion, they were wretched, and miferable, 
 and pobr, and blind and naked. The obvious 
 meaning of which words, is— that notwithftanding 
 their felf applaufe and fecurity, their cafe was de- 
 plorable and forlorn fuch as fliould excite pity 
 
 in others, and terror in themfclves •, for they ab- 
 ufed the difpcnfation of mercy held out in the 
 Gofpel, were deftitute of thofe things in which 
 they thought they abounded ^ bhnd to their true 
 
 C ftate. 
 
 * SceDAVBvz and Lowman on the Place. 
 
1 ^M 
 
 i 
 
 i^ 
 
 % 
 
 r 
 
 ( ig ) 
 
 ftate, and eternal interefts^ ,and paked Ip Sin be- 
 fore that God, in whofe fight the heavens, arc not 
 clean, and whofe angels he charged with folly. ^ 
 
 A temper fo deftriidive in its confequences, fo 
 oppofite to the vigilance, humility and earned pur- 
 fuit of holinefs and falvation, injoined by the 
 Gofpel, muft be highly ofFenfive to our biefTed 
 Saviour. Accordingly, he ftigmatizes it with the 
 ftrongeft difapprobation. As lukewarm water 
 is naufeous to, and reje(5led by, the ftomach ; fo 
 our Lord threatens to cad off the Laodjceans 
 for their lukewarmnefs, which was fo exceeding- 
 ly hateful to hirn~a threat that^vas moft awfully 
 verified ; for the doom of Laodicea was.peculiar- 
 ly fevere and terrible. It, was one of the mofi: 
 populous and flouri(hing cities of the Leffer Afia, 
 as Strabo informs u?.-|- But now, the placets 
 utterly defolate -, without any human inhabitant, 
 and only a receptacle for ferpents apd beads of 
 prey." At each of the other Churcl^es, fom? in- 
 habitants are found i but at Laodicea, not even 
 a fliepherd is met with i riar is there fQimuch as 
 a Herrpic's Chapel, where the name of God is 
 prAifed and invoked I Such, is the awakening 
 ielTpn held out to mankind, in, this Ch^urch, of 
 
 ; , ...{.-jif.. i. .■„ , . God*s 
 
 t '3eograf.hia, Lib. XII. p. 576, 578. Edit, Caaaub, 
 Faris. 1620. 
 
 
 
 
( '9 ) 
 
 God*8 fierce indignation agamft lukewarmncfs, 
 and abufc of his GDfpel.* 
 
 The evils attending lukewarmnefs, are num- 
 erous. A decay of piety, a neglert of religious 
 duties and ordinances, a difregard of the divine 
 laws, of the grc^t end for which we were fent 
 into the world, will ever be its in^pirable con- 
 comitants ■, and to fill up the mcafure ofitsia- 
 confiftcncy, it is accompanied with pride, fecurity 
 and felf-exaltation i— of all which, a prevalence 
 of vice and immorality will be the fure confe- 
 quence. Hence appears how incumbent it is on 
 the Clei'gy to counteract thefe evils, which are 
 fubverHve of man's hajjpinefs here and hercaft;;r. 
 
 EscTR^MES are apt to produce each other ; and 
 as in other matters, fo alfo wefind it to.be the 
 cafe in, religion. When a general indifference a- 
 bout itiprevails, men of an enthuiiaftic cad are 
 hereby, encouraged to tranfgrefs the rules of 
 Order, and diflcminate their wild notions i to 
 the injury of fociety, and rational piety. Thefe 
 men run when they are not fent ; they cry— thus 
 faith the Lord God, when the Lord haih not 
 ipoken.J And in all this, they think themfelves 
 juftifiable by the lukewarmnefs that furrounds 
 them. C 2 . On 
 
 • See the Commentators on the place ;— and Dr. Thomas 
 Smith's Survey of t hi Seven Clutches of ///ia. 
 X JCRKM. XXIII. 21. EZIK. XXII. 2g. 
 
 
 Jf 
 
II 
 
 (!' 
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 Off the other hand, fuch condu(fl, whilft it 
 mifleads the weak and ignorant, ferves to con- 
 firm the lukewarm ftill more in their fupine neg- 
 JcA, and prcjtidice them againft religion. They 
 think themfelves fafe and right, if they can br.t 
 guard againfl fuch extravagance ; and the farther 
 they recede from it, the better. Even fomc 
 Clergymen, though otherwife refpedlable, yet 
 fearful to incur the imputation of being actuated 
 by Enthufiafm, may be induced to flacken their 
 exertions, and fufFer their ardour to be checked. 
 
 But furely this cannot be right. £xcefs» and 
 difregard of order in fome, will not juftify a 
 negledlof duty in any. As we ihoqld not be 
 laughed out of our principles by the profane j fo 
 neither fhould we be frightened out of them, nor 
 deterred from what is our evident duty, by En- 
 thufiafts. The concerns of falvation are too im- 
 portant to be treated with indifference, hecauft 
 a few men of heated imagination are pufhed on 
 by a zeal that is not according to knowledge ; and 
 fuch men there have been fince the times of th^ 
 Apoftles, and probably will be, in the Chriftian 
 Church, whilft in a militant ftate — If the value 
 of eternal happinefs be duly confidered, it is im- 
 poflible to be too earned in our endeavours to 
 attain it. Provided therefore that men will 
 direfl their zeal to that objed, and take care that 
 
 It 
 
 ?T, 
 
 i 
 
 'A 
 
 -4. 
 
 4 
 
 A 
 
 ¥ 
 
 
( rr y 
 
 it be under the guidance of thofe rules wliich are 
 prefcribed by the Gofpc!, it cannot be too fervent. 
 However glowing their zeal, it will be all neceC- 
 fary, and not mere than fufficient, to carry them- 
 through the (freight and narrow gate which leads 
 to eternal life ; for the Son of God has aflured 
 U8y that many who feek, will not be able, to en- 
 ter that gate.-j- 
 
 This is true of all, without exception t it 19 
 efpecially h of Clergymen, who are not only to 
 work out their own falvation with fear and trem- 
 bling ; but are alio bound to promote the falva- 
 tion oi others. They have, at the peril of their 
 own fouls, folemnly undertaken this weighty 
 charge •, to which their time, their ftudies 
 and moft earned endeavours (hould be devoted. 
 — ^" They are mcflengers, watchmen and ftc- 
 wards of the Lord •, to teach and premonifti ; to 
 feed and provide for the Lord's family ; to feek 
 for Chrift's fhcepthat are difperfed abroad, and 
 for his children that arc in the midft of this 
 naughty world, that they may be faved through 
 
 Chrift for ever. Nor are they to ceafe their 
 
 labour, their care and diligence, until they have 
 done all that lieth in them, according to their 
 bounden duty, to bring all that are committed to 
 
 their 
 
 t Luke XIII. 24. 
 
 • ^> 
 
 
■.!' 
 
 Si 
 
 f 
 
 ^? 
 
 ( 21 ) 
 
 their charge, to a due faith and knowledge of 
 God •, to a ripenefs and perfeflion in Chrift j Co 
 that no place be left among them either for error 
 in religion, or vicioufaefs in Mfe,**:^ • i: • ; ,• . 
 
 These laft words are taken from the admoni- 
 tion You received at Your Ordination. They 
 clearly point out the end of Your miniftry, .the 
 nature of Your duty, and the manner in which 
 it fhould be performed. You are anfwerabje to 
 God for the fouls committed to Your carcj 
 diligence and zeal in Your office are therefore in" 
 difpenfably neccflary } the nature ofYourmin-! 
 iftry calls for them ; the world expedts them* 
 from You •, Your Church injoins, and God r>j- 
 quires them. Inftead of being checked by the 
 reigning lukewarmnefs. Your ardour ihould be 
 manifeftedthe more to remove that evil. , Inftead. 
 of holding b :k when men who are influenced by 
 Enthufiafm labour to pervert Your people •, Your 
 endeavours fhould be the moreearneft and fteady 
 to prevent it, and to refcue Your flocks from 
 delufion. 
 
 To evince this, and fliew that You fhould thus 
 a6l in the various duties of Your ftation, fliall 
 employ the minutes that remain. But as the 
 word enthufiafm has been mentioned, it may not 
 be improper, nor unfuitable to this occaflon, to 
 
 fay 
 
 if Form and manntr of QrdA'.nhg Priefis, 
 
 '■-HI 
 
 ,1 J '•*; 
 
 
 < 
 
 * 
 
 * 
 
 -%; 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 fay fomething on the fubjeft, before I proceed 
 to What I have propofed. 
 
 Enthusiasm, when applied to religion, figniliies 
 a belief in private revelations, calls, or fome 
 commiffion, from the Deity. An Enthufiaft 
 therefore is one who believes that he has fuch 
 revelations, calls or comminion. In general, 
 this proceeds from a heated or difordered ima- 
 gination •, the fuggeflions of which are midaken 
 for luminous communications from God. Now, 
 I am credibly informed that there are feveral 
 perfons in this Diocefe, who, from a perfuafioii 
 that they are favoured with extraordinary reve- 
 lations and commifTions from heaven, undertake 
 to Preach, and adminifter the Chriftian Sacra- 
 ments i regardlefs, not only of all literary quali- 
 fications for the office, but alfo of thofe ftated 
 methods which our Saviour and his Apoftles 
 have appointed to fupply the miniftry of the 
 Church i and are in fome degree obferved by 
 almoft all regular Societies of Chriftians. Nay, 
 I am aflured that fome lay claim to immediate 
 and divine infpiration, equal to that of the 
 
 Apoftles themfelves.j- 
 
 ■■■'.• It 
 
 "f- Hoc genus hominum eb pcriculoHus eft. quod humanis 
 cupiditatibus praetexunt autoritatcmDci ; et fub imagine pietatis 
 invehunt pietatis exlctum; 
 
 SrASMI £eCLESIASTES» 
 
 f^ 
 
 *' 
 
 i 
 
 $ 
 
fcl 
 
 ( 24 ) 
 
 It Is far from my defign or inclination to Tpeak 
 hardily, or even unkindly of thofe people ; how- 
 ever it may be my duty to warn You againft their 
 errors and proceedings. That they arc under a 
 deiufion, will admit of no doubt; but how far 
 that delufion is involuntary, or their ignorance 
 invincible, or othcrwife, is only known to the 
 Searcher of hearts. Charity induces me to 
 fuppofe that they think the mfelves right •, and this 
 iincerityis whatdiftinguifhes an Enthufiail from 
 an Impoftor. To me they appear to be objedls 
 ofcompaflion, rather than of refentment ; and 
 were they convinced of theirdelufion, and brought 
 to fee and know the truth, which can only "be ef- 
 leiHied by gentlenefs and humane treatment, they 
 would probably become regular devout Chrifti- 
 ans. What I mean to offer here concerning them, 
 ihall be delivered in the fpiritof brotherly love i 
 and thrown into the form of a few brief obfer- 
 yations v . i-'- ^^ 
 
 
 I. I would obferve that the Almighty hat al- 
 ways condefcended to treat men as rational be- 
 ings ; thereby making our faith and worfhip a 
 reafonable fervice. Whenever, for wife and 
 great purpofes, he harh given an extraordinary 
 revelation or commiffion to any perfon j he hath, 
 at the fame time, furnifhed that perfon with pro- 
 per credentials to gain the ailcnt of mankind.— 
 
 When 
 
 l-' 
 
 
 ■i! 
 
 !?■ 
 
 : 
 
 a 
 
 
 1"? 
 
 1 i 
 
 ly 
 
 
 ^ 
 
( ^5 ) 
 
 to fpeak 
 : i how- 
 nft their 
 under a 
 how far 
 norance 
 to the 
 me to 
 and this 
 ail from 
 ! objedls 
 It ; and 
 brought 
 f T>e ef- 
 nt, they 
 Chrifti^ 
 g them, 
 y love i 
 F obfer- 
 
 hat al- 
 nal bc- 
 Jrfliip a 
 re and 
 rdinary 
 le hath, 
 th pro- 
 
 nd . 
 
 When 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 :^ 
 
 5< 
 
 When Mofes was commiiTioned to go to Pharaohj 
 he was alfo enabled to work miracles, to convince 
 Pharaoh of his dtvine legation. When our Sa- 
 viour fcnt the Apoftlesto preach the Gofpci to a 
 world funk in the gloom of heathehifm, idolatry, 
 ■vice and error •, he alfo " gave teftimony to the 
 word of his grace, and granted iigns and wonders 
 to be done by their hands. "f 
 
 GoD Is as able to work miracles at this dajr, as 
 he was in the days of Mofes, or of the Apoftles. 
 His hand is not /hortened ; his regard to truth, 
 and to the prcfervation of his rational creatures 
 "from error, is not withdrawn. It is therefore a 
 duty which we ow« to ourfelves, to truth, and 
 to God, to be on our guard againft pretenfions 
 to a divine revelation or commiffion, if not ac- 
 companied with the credentials which the Almigh_ 
 ty hath been pleafed to afford in all fuch extraor- 
 dinary cafes. Hence the Apoftle's admonition— 
 *' Beloved, believe not eery fpirit i but try the 
 i^irits, (both with regard to their dodrine and 
 powers) whether they be of God : Becaufe many 
 falfe Prophets are gone out into the World.'* J 
 And whoever receives any perfon as coming with 
 an extraordinary revelation or commiffion from 
 God, without fuch trial according to the rules of 
 holy Scripture •, cr when not attended with mira- 
 
 D cles, 
 
 + Acts XIV. 3. 
 
 I I. John IV. u 
 
 Wv 
 

 ■ 1.1/1 
 
 I ^ ■ 
 
 ■■I 
 
 i^. 
 
 K^ 
 
 1^ 
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 cl'es, which only can prove the authenticity of 
 
 fuch extraordinary miffions whoever does fo»I 
 
 fay, is liable to deception in things of the greateft 
 moment, and diftionours the Almighty ; for what 
 can be more derogotary to his honour, than to at* 
 tribute the crude effufions of ignorance to hts 
 blefled Spirit ? Our Saviour equally blames the 
 Jews for not recisiving him, who came in his Fa- 
 ther's name, with proper credentials ; and for re- 
 ceiving others who only came in their own name, 
 without credentials. -f There has been no age 
 fince the Gofpel was firft preached, but has pro- 
 duced pretenders to extraordinary revelations, 
 vifions, and particular commidions from heaven -, 
 and thefe not only inconfiftent with, but contra- 
 di(5lory to. Holy Scripture, and each other. 
 Judge then what confufion muft be introduced 
 among mankind, and how fubverfive it would be 
 of the Gofpel, and of all rational religion, were 
 thofc pretenfions to be admitted. * .' , " 
 
 , . . \ ^: ' 2,.. I 
 
 t John V. 43 i * Ecclefiaftical Hiftory records the 
 
 nimcs, principles and pra£lices of thofe Vifionaries who have 
 troubled the Chrillian Church in difFcrcnt periods. They have 
 been very numerous — their names only would fiH feveral page», 
 I (hall nrvention no more tt an two, who, in fomc particulars, 
 
 jcfem bled certain perfons among us. One is Montanus, 
 
 of the I'eeond century, who gave name to a fed that Tubfilled 
 many yeaps. We are t<>ldthat his outward appearance had aii 
 tlie fijrm of godlincfs and ("piritualitv. This, joined to h^s pre- 
 fenfions nut only of being fa\oured with revelations, but that 
 i>p was the szxy Paraclete, or Comforter promifed by cur Sa- 
 viour, . 
 
 I 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 f 
 
 ■^S' 
 
( ^7 ) 
 
 kity of 
 )es foyi 
 grcateft 
 or what 
 ,r« to at* 
 i to his 
 nes the 
 his Fa- 
 . for re- 
 L name, 
 no age 
 as pro- 
 lations, 
 leaven ; 
 contra- 
 other, 
 od'uced 
 >uldbe 
 were 
 
 )rds the 
 ho have 
 icy have 
 page*, 
 ticulars^ 
 
 TA NU6, 
 
 fubfirted 
 had aU 
 h's pre- 
 ut that 
 our S4- 
 viqur. 
 
 .4. I U'puld obferve in the next place, that th< 
 Church of Chrift, which is his fpoufc and body, 
 as nota tumultuous, diforderly, and unorganized 
 multitude, as thefe people feem to fuppofe. It 
 
 D 2 is 
 
 viour, gained him many followers. He had frequent extaci>?3^, 
 and often tell into violent agitations; and whatever he laid at 
 thofe times, was received as if uttered by the Holy Ghuil. 7"hii 
 was alfo the cale of his followers. They had frequent extacie.;, 
 agitations and contoriions of body; which were ail attributed 
 to the operation of the Holy Spirit ; and what they then fpokc, 
 was received as the diftatc of heaven. 
 
 The other Enthufiafts referred to, are the French Pro- 
 PHiTs, who in the beginning of this century made much noifc 
 in London. They came from the Cevennes and other parts of 
 France, and Savoy, where they had been cruelly perfccuted. 
 A perfon who knew them well, and was an cye-witnel's of their 
 proceedings, gives the following account of ihem — " Their 
 •' extacics, preceding, their Infpirations, are various ; butgene- 
 *' ly managed in this manner : They turn round with violence, 
 *' till they are giddy, and then fall upon the floor. When 
 fallen, they roll their eves, look ghaftly, foam at the motth, 
 hcaye their breafts, and fomctimes lie as if i« a trance. Then 
 *' iuddenly ftart up, Ihake their heads, gulp and hiccup ftrange- 
 *' ly, clap their hands, writhe their bodies into contoifions, in 
 *' the nature of convulfions. Then they quake, groan, (gh, 
 " belch, fliriek hideoufly ; and at lall, ftretching out their 
 *• mouths in a yawning, diftorted manner, in a (iolcful tone, 
 ** and as loud as they are able, utter their prophecies." Sec 
 Kingston's Enihu/iajiick Impoftors no diminelj Infpired Pro- 
 phets, p. 2, 3. London. Printed by J. Morphew in 1 707. 
 They publifhed feveral books ; two of which I have fecn — one 
 intituled, Warptngs of the Eternal Spirit ; fpoken by the mouth of 
 his Servant Abraham Withro ; the other — Prophetical 
 Warnings, by John Lacy ; both confuting of abfurd, inco- 
 herent rhapfodies, impioufly attributed to the divine Spi it. 
 Thefe Enthufiafts were luccefsful in making profelytes, till they 
 boldly predifted that they would raife Dr. Emes, after he 
 fhould lie five months in his grave j and on their perfijrniancc 
 
 << 
 
 % v<. 
 
 
'&^ 
 
 li 
 
 ( t8 ) 
 
 is a regular, well-formed Society, to chichi ouf. 
 bleffed Saviour, who i$ its Spiritual head, has* 
 given laws for its government •, Sacraments, and 
 Other Ordinances, as means of grace and edi- 
 fication ; 
 
 % 
 
 I' 
 
 of this mirack, they relied the truth of their miffion. But they 
 fai'ed in this prefumptuous attempt, and thereby their credit 
 was deftroyed — rl well written Hi/lory of f&e Montanijfs by Dr. 
 Lee, an Examination of the Ne^w Pretenders to Prophecy, and 
 their pretences Jhenun to be falfe, by Mr. Spinckis, Dr. 
 HiCKEs's Spirit of Enthujia/m Exorci/ed, are printed and 
 bound up together in one volume S'P— — a ufeful book in thefCr 
 times. 
 
 There is nothing new under the fun. If (bmtf pcrfons in our 
 days, make pretenfions to infpiration and a divine commiflion, 
 and in confequrnce of them, invade the minifterial office — if 
 their fancied infpirations are attended with fereamtng, violent 
 agitacions, and uncoufh gcfticulations — and if fcveral weak, 
 ignorant people are hereby feduced, and brought under delufion : 
 We need not be furprifed ; for this has happened a thoufand 
 times before, befides the inftances now produced. Nor is thii 
 any more an impeachment of true, rational religion, than coun- 
 terfeit coin is of true monfy. Againft this infirmity, or difeafe 
 of cui common nature, which has been manifefted by indivi- 
 duals in eveiy country, and of every religion, we fhould guard" , 
 ourfclves by unprejudiced reafon, and by the inftruftions of 
 Holy Scripture, which was mercifully given for that purpofe, 
 and to make us wife to falvation.— Perhaps there '-^ no denomina- 
 tion of Chriftians among whom this Enthufiaftic fpirithas oftner 
 appeared, or received more public encouragement, than thofe 
 of the Church of Rome. No one can have a reafpnable doubr of 
 this, who has read the Lives of their Saints, Canonize! and o- 
 thers, T ritten by authors of their own communion. Francis 
 #/'.<^^, Dominic, Ignatius Lovola, Ca-tmarine «/* 
 Sienne, & . &c. &c. had their revelations, vifions, extacies, and 
 cqmminions from heaven. See Bilhop Stihingf ect's 
 writings on this fubjed, and thofe of Bifhop Lavi ngton c n- 
 cerning th": Methodifti ; to which I fliall add, becaufe eafily 
 pipcuicd, a fenfible, candid treatife in Latin — De Miracnlis, 
 
 m. 
 
 i I 
 
 Vii # 
 
( i9i ) 
 
 rhichl aur> 
 lead, haSv 
 nts, and 
 and edi- 
 fication ',,. 
 
 But they 
 their credit 
 »//?/ fy Dr. 
 pbecyy and 
 zvi\%. Dr. 
 rir.ted and 
 )ok in thefi 
 
 rfons in our 
 ommiffion, 
 office — if 
 ig, violent 
 eral weak, 
 r delufion : 
 a thoufand 
 *^or is thi« , 
 than Conn- 
 or difcafe 
 by indivi* 
 lould guard' . 
 uftions of, 
 t purpofe, 
 denomiha- 
 L haa oftner . 
 than thofe 
 k doubt of , 
 iel and o- 
 Francis 
 
 rARINE of 
 
 tacies; and 
 
 f.iFECT*$ 
 
 roN c. n- 
 
 iu{e eafilly 
 
 Miracnlis, 
 
 quee 
 
 -4. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 ^cation $ and has alfo appointed minifters to 
 preach his Gofpel, execute his laws, and admini- 
 fter his ordinances. Or to ufc St. Paul's words 
 
 concerning the Chriftian miniftry after our 
 
 Lord afcended, " He gave fome, apoftles ; and 
 fome, Prophets i and fome,Evangeliftsi. and fome, 
 Paftors and Teachers ; , for the perfeding of the 
 faints for the work of the miniftry, for the edify- 
 ing of the body of Chrift : Till we all come in 
 the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of 
 the Son of God, unto a perfedt man, unto the 
 meafure of the ftature of the fuUnefs of Chrift.f 
 AndtheApoftle immediately after afligns the 
 reafon of this gift or appointment— it was to pre- 
 vent confulion, guard againft deceivers, eftablifhv. 
 order and promote edification. " That we hence- 
 forth, fays he, be no more children, to/Ted to and 
 firo, and carried about with every wind of dodrine,;. 
 by the fleight of men,, and cunning craftinefs 
 whereby they lie in> wait to deceive j but fpeak- 
 ing the truth in love, may grow up unto him in. 
 all things, which is the head, even Chrift : Prom, 
 'i,! ,. , k ,.... _. • , whom- 
 
 qu^e Pyth.agor<et AppothnioThyanenJiyFrancifco /^JJiJtOt Dominica, 
 tt Ignatii Lo^ol>e fritunntur, Libdlm. A'u£icre Phile.euiherf 
 Milveti'tf i cv N|i ZiMME-RMAN. Editio Tcrtia. Edinbuigi 
 1762. — Laft furamer, a woman among the fedl of Ne^w Lights 
 in t i« Province, commenced Propheiefs Her name is Sarah 
 Be nc r a ft . She prophepied that on a certain diy, the Dcvili 
 would come, and carry ofF bodily a man, whom fhe named- 
 but the prophecy was not fulfilled. 
 ■\ Ephef. IV. 10, 13.. 
 
 4k 
 
 *f 
 
 It, *' 
 
 •'%• 
 
. r ' I 
 
 11^ 
 
 
 ( 30 ) 
 
 ^hom the whole body fitly joh^ed together, and 
 compared by that which every joint fuppHeth, 
 according to the efFedual working in the meafurc 
 of every part, maketh increafe of the body, unto 
 the edifying itfelf in love.*' * 
 
 A comparifon is here made between the na- 
 tural body and its members, and the fpiritual 
 body or Church ; of which laft, Jefus Chrift is 
 head, and Chriftians are the members. The har- 
 mony of the one is anakgous to that of the o« 
 ther ; and the fubferviency of each member to 
 the benefit of the whole, by the difcharge of its 
 peculiar functions, in the one cafe, is made to 
 illuftrate correfponding qualities, duties and con- 
 fequenccs in the other cafe. But as in the natural 
 body, where each member has its proper place 
 a«d office, if any member were to defert its place, 
 and ufurp the office of another, the CEConomy of 
 the whole would be interrupted, and danger or 
 difTolution enfue : Juft fo in the fpiritual body— 
 a departure from the ordinances eftablilhed by 
 our Lord, and the members of his Church ufurp- 
 iiig each other's fundkions, mud be produclive of 
 the greateft evils— error, delufion^ contention, and 
 the reverfe of every thing that is decentoredifying. 
 ^This pafTage ftrongly reprefents the neceffity of 
 order in the Chriftian Church, and the irregu- 
 larity of thofe felf-appointed Teachers who dif- 
 
 turbed 
 
 Ibid. V, 14 ■>i6. 
 
 m 
 
 r. 
 
pplieth, 
 meafure 
 y, unto 
 
 the na- 
 fpiritual 
 :hrift is 
 fhc har- 
 F the o- 
 mber to 
 : of its 
 nade to 
 ind con- 
 ; natural 
 :r place 
 ;s place, 
 lomy of 
 nger or 
 body— 
 ihed by 
 ufurp- 
 klive of 
 |on, and 
 Ifying. 
 llTity of 
 irregu- 
 
 lO dif- 
 Iturbed 
 
 C 3' ) 
 
 tufbed the Church of Ephefus, when St. FauB 
 wrote this Epiftle. In a word, to fuppofe that 
 any man may uftjrp the minifterlal office, without 
 any other warrant or authority than his own good 
 opinion of his own fufficiency, is an error fraught 
 with confequences deftrudivc to Chriftianity, and 
 fubverfive of its influence ; and implies a difpofi- 
 tion very inconfiftent with the meek and humble 
 fp'-it of the Gofpel, in him who reduces it to 
 pradlice. . 
 
 J, I would obferve, that fuppofing, not gran- 
 ting, there is an extraordinary call or revelation 
 to aperfon; yet even this would not fuperfede, 
 or fet afide the pofitive Inftitutions of Jefus Chrift, 
 The uniform tenor of Scripture clearly decides 
 this point. We are not left to mere conjedlurc 
 upon it. No one who takes the word of God foe 
 his rule, can be at a lofs how to form his judg- 
 ment, 
 t . < .,••' ■. . 
 
 - At the preaching of St. Peter, the Holy Ghofl 
 fell upon Cornelius, and thofe who were with 
 him, fo that they fpake with tongues ; yet this 
 did not fuperfede the neceflity of Baptifm, for 
 they were all baptifed. -f Saul, from a furious 
 perfecutor bf the Church, was called in an ex- 
 traordinary manner to be ah Apoftle of Jefus 
 
 Chrift V. 
 
 f, ^^/ X.,44— ^^ 
 
 H 
 
 # 
 
¥ 
 
 9 
 
 gi t 
 
 'I- 
 
 : ( 
 
 
 ■!| 
 
 ■> ■ ■ 
 
 .".f 
 
 { 3^ ) . 
 
 /Chrift \ yet he was remitted to fome in DAma(^ 
 cus for inftruflion and Baptiftisi. J Whjen the 
 Samaritans were converted and) baptized by Phi- 
 JIp, the tDsacon ^ St. John and St. Peter were fcnt 
 by the other Apoftles to administer Confirmation 
 to them. *— In all thefe extraordinary cafes, al- 
 though revelations and calk, out of the ufual 
 courfe, were given, and the power .» the Holy 
 Ghoft was manifefted in working nuracles.; yet 
 the ftated ordinances of the Gofpel were puncStu- 
 ally obferved ; the adminiftration of them wis 
 ^gned to thofe, to whom it propei-Iy belonged ; 
 nor did any, however endowed with fupernatura'l 
 gifts, prefume, on that account, to go beyond 
 :hie ftated line. -i 
 
 The fame order was ftridfcly preferved under 
 the Jewifti oeconomy, which was preparatory to 
 the Gofpel difpenfation. By the exprefs ap- 
 pointment of God, Aaron and his fons were fet 
 apart for the Pricfthood. How criminal it was to 
 invade that office, we learn from the punishment 
 infiidled on Corah, Dathan and Abir^im, who 
 anade the attempt.4- No meatal ac<:omplifli- 
 ments, no advances in piety, however great^no 
 ftation, however exaJted, could juftify an intrufi- 
 4)n into the Sacerdotal oMce, or art. interference 
 with its peculiar duties. It was no more lawful 
 
 for 
 
 ^/; rx . 6, i8. • Ibid Chap. Vm. 4 Numb. XVI. 
 
 
in D;ima£. 
 
 Whjen the 
 :ed by Phi- 
 cr wercfenC 
 oofirmacion 
 r cafes, al- 
 if the ufual 
 ,* the Holy 
 racles ; yet 
 ere pundii- 
 f them waf 
 ' belonged 4 
 apematura'l 
 go beyond 
 
 -•4-» t 4* 
 
 rved under 
 paratory to 
 exprefs ap- 
 ns were fet 
 lal it was to 
 
 ^unifhment 
 ir^m, who 
 iccomplini* 
 r great— no 
 f an intruii-> 
 
 nterference 
 Hore lawful 
 for 
 
 Numb. XVL 
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 for a prophet, or for the King, to officiate as a 
 prieft than for the meaneft of the people.— 
 "When Saul offered a Burnt-Offering, thereby 
 tranfgreffing the commandment, he was reproved 
 by Samuel, who declared, that for this rcafon, 
 his kingdpm (hould not continue.f When Uz- 
 ziah*s heart was lifted up by a confidence in his 
 ftrength and popularity, he went into the temple 
 to offer incenfe, which was contrary to the Di- 
 vine appointment; and he was ftruck with a 
 leprofy that adhered to him during life, j; 
 
 If it be alleged, that the ftate of the Jews 
 was different from ours—that we are under the 
 Gofpeipifpenfation— .and that (imilar tranfgreffions 
 are not now vifited with punifhment : I grant 
 there is a difference •, but with refpedl to the cafe 
 before us, it does not confift in this, that a lefs 
 degree of guilt is incurred now than formerly by 
 a violation of order, and divine Inftitutions. 
 The real difference lies here—the Jews were un- 
 der a Theocracy ; and therefore immediate pun* 
 iihment was inflifted on tranfgreffors : Whereas, 
 under the Chriflian difpenfation, when the whole 
 will of God, and the plan of redemption, arc 
 explicitly revealed, punifhments are generally re- 
 ferred to a future ftate of retribution. Idolatry 
 and other crimes which, under the Mofaic dif- 
 penfation drew down immediate vengeance from 
 
 E heaven 
 
 ^ I. Sam. XIII. JlTcwlcXVll ' 
 
 
 >e 
 
 4 
 
>;« 
 
 
 
 ( 3+ ) 
 
 heaveii, go unpunifhed now, equally with the 
 moil flagrant invafions of the minifterial office : 
 Docs it therefore follow, that idolatry and thofe 
 other crimes, committed now, will never be pun- 
 i/hed ? God is alike the author of both difpen« 
 fetions i the Priefthood under the Law, was not 
 more his inftitution, than the Miniftry is under 
 the Gofpel •, he is as jealous of his authority, now 
 as formerly— as much difpleafed with any dif. 
 regard or violation of his laws and appointments^ 
 
 We fhould then adopt St. Paul's determinati- 
 on on this point—'* That no man, of right, tak- 
 cth unto himfelf this honor, or office, but he that 
 is called of God,, as was Aaron,** that is, ac-' 
 cording to the ftated appointment of God.-f- Our 
 Saviour has not left his Church without the ne- 
 cefTary means of order and ediHcation* He ha»- 
 inftituted a Miniftry £br his word and Sacraments;: 
 and that Miniftry is as much his tnftitution as- 
 theSacraments themfelves ; nor are men at liberty 
 to make any alteration in the one more than the- 
 other. «' He that entereth r Jt by the doOr in- 
 to the (heepfold, but climbeth up fome other 
 way -,"* goes as contrary to the will of our Lord,, 
 as he that would add to, or diminiih from,, the 
 number of his Sacraments. To aiSl in the King'» 
 name, without his Commiffion, is fubverfive or 
 civil order, and injurious to fociety ; to adlin the 
 
 name 
 
 (2 
 
 t Hd. V. 4, 
 
 John X, It 
 
 ^h 
 
 m 
 
 # 
 
v!th the 
 i office: 
 nd thofe 
 be pun- 
 i difpen- 
 was not 
 is under 
 'ity, now 
 any dif. 
 ntnients» 
 
 srminati- 
 rht, tak- 
 it he that 
 : is, ac-' 
 d.f Our 
 I: the ne^ 
 He ha» 
 ramcnt^ ^ 
 ution as: 
 It liberty 
 than the- 
 dobr in- 
 ne other 
 ur Lord,, 
 jm,. the 
 e King'* 
 erfive or 
 id in the 
 name 
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 «ame of ChrifV, without his commifTion, is ti« 
 Jefs injurious to the order and interefts of thai 
 Spiritual Society of which he is the head ; to fay 
 nothing of its prefumption. Nor will the moft 
 fpecious pretences juftify Tuch a conduft ; for 
 Jefus Chrift, who hath redeemed his Church, 
 and eftabliihcd its order, is the beP: judge how 
 it is to be edified, and how the purpofe of hi« 
 Golpel fhould be acccomplifhed^ 
 
 Finally. It is worthy of obfervation, that 
 moft of the Epiftles in the New Tcftament were 
 written to counteradl the defigns, rectify the errors, 
 and heal the diforders which were occasioned by 
 felf-appointed Teachers in the days of the A- 
 poftles. , t 
 
 They had different doArines, as might natur- 
 ally be fuppofed, were of different judgments, 
 and fierce contentions enfued. One faid he was 
 of Paul, another of Apollos, another of Cephas, 
 and another of Chrift if to gain the more credit to 
 themfelves, and their peculiar notions. Thus 
 we iind that the prefence and authority of the in- 
 fpired Apoftles, who derived their doctrine from 
 the pure fountain of heavenly truth, who were 
 commiffioned by our Lord himfelf to preach his 
 Gofpel, and continue a regular Miniftry in hii 
 Church, did not reftrain the prurient humour for 
 
 E Z teaching, 
 
 f I. Corintk. I. 12. 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 .(t^ 
 
 # 
 
'(t 
 
 ■I 
 
 4 
 
 ( sO 
 
 teaching, when people thought It right and law- 
 ful, as foon as they could perfuade thcmfclves 
 into a good opinion of their own fufficiency to 
 undertake it. This principle was then, and ever 
 muft be, attended with moft malignant cfFcdts on 
 Chrillianity ■, were it reduced to general pradtice, 
 the Church of Chrift would foon be changed into 
 a fink of error, and Babel of confuHon. A fenfe 
 of thofe evils, and a defire to prevent them, 
 were doubtlefs the reafons why Ignatius, at the 
 beginning of the fecond century, inculcates fo 
 ftrongly in his epiftles, (written when going to 
 Martyrdom^ the neceflity of union among Chrif^ 
 tians i and fo carneftly exhorts them to adhere 
 to their regular Paftors, their Biihops, Priefts 
 and Deacons ^ and to turn from fuch as would 
 feduce them into error and fchifm.* 
 
 To fuch an height of irregularity had thoft 
 fclf conftituted Teachers rifen at this early period, 
 that fome preached Chrift even of envy and ftrife ; 
 and with the defign f mortifying the Apoftles, 
 and adding to their afflidions.-f St. Paul, who 
 relates thefe and many other matters of the fame 
 kind, manifefts the utmoft mildnefs, how much 
 foever he difapproved of them. Before his con- 
 verfion, he had been a furious perfecutor 5 but 
 
 <• the 
 
 * Sec his Epijiles to the Ephefians^ Magnejiam, ^ ralliant^ 
 Ro'vanst Philadephiam, and ^my fiaans. See alfoto the fame pur« 
 pofc.the FpiJlU o/Clement, JBilhop ofRomc> to x\izCorinthtflni* 
 
 f Philip. 1, 15, &c. . .1 . ^ 
 
 f 
 
 1^ 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 the example and precepts of his divine Mafter 
 had taught him a better leflbn ^ direding him to 
 put on bowels of mercy, kindnefs, humility, and 
 long fufferiiig. i ;< , -'^ ♦.''■ 
 
 Let us imitate this great and amiable Apoftle 
 in a fimilar cafe •, oppofing gentlenefs to rage, 
 brotherly love to hatred, and a regard for peace 
 and order to ftrife and confufion. Let us pray 
 the father of light that he would guide all to a 
 knowledge and obfervation of the truth. Let us 
 earneftly befeech the Lord of the harveft, that 
 he would fend many faithful and regular labour- 
 ers into his harved, which is fo plenteous : And 
 as we are already called to that harveft, accord- 
 ing to his appointment, let us. by diligence, fide« 
 lity and zealous exertions, endeavour to bring a 
 
 large increafe to thegraciousMafter.we ferve I 
 
 now proceed to fhew that the (late and fpjrit of 
 the times demand this earneflnefs in the dif- 
 charge of Your feveral duties. _ , . ..j. 
 
 '. There is fcarcely any thing pcrhaJ^S more p,fto- 
 
 nifhing, or that more clearly proves the fallen 
 
 ftate of man, and the fafcinating power of fin, 
 
 than the infenfibility which we daily fee to the 
 
 _ mercies of (^od, and the interefts of eternity. 
 
 When we refletfl on the ftupendous love of 
 "'Jefus Chrift-that he came down frim heaven, 
 '^'mflumed our nature, endured the bittereft agonies, 
 
 aj^d 
 
 # 
 
 ir 
 
 ^ 
 
 -f # 
 
 M 
 
 # 
 
ll. 
 
 
 a 
 
 )v 
 
 .V ■' 
 
 V: 
 
 : i 
 
 (38) 
 
 und died upon the crofs.to redeem us from ever- 
 lading mifcry—that he fends his Holy fpirit ta 
 fandify thofc whom he thus redeemed —that their 
 fandlificatton is abfolutely neceffary to their fu- 
 ture happinefs~that with fear and trembling they 
 anuft work out theii* falvation— that the path of 
 lioUnefs is difficult and narrow^ and that nothing 
 but the utipoft vigilance and care, aided by di- 
 ■virie grace, can prefervc us in it, or fecure the 
 jprize of our high calling : . ./.^ . . ,. , r. j .,..-; 
 
 When we refleft on all this, which is ex- 
 plicitly revealed in the book of God, it might 
 naturally be concluded-. that the hearts of man. 
 kind would overflow with the Warmeft gratitude 
 and love to the author of thofe bleflings— that 
 their principal care, and the great objeft of their 
 attention would be, to obey their Saviour, and 
 ftrive to obtain the falvation thus mercifully of- 
 fered. Yet, alasl we find the cafe far otherwife, 
 and that the reverfe of this is what generally pre- 
 vails I We {ee multitudes as infenfible to the 
 love and fuiferings of Jefus Chrift, as if he had 
 done nothing for them— as regardlefs of him, as 
 if they wanted no Saviour ! ; '" ' 
 
 The confequences of this inienfibility and 
 lukewarmnefs are truely deplorable. The ordi- 
 . .nances of religion are wholly ncglcftcd by many- 
 its power and fpirit by ftill more— their duty to 
 
 , ' . God 
 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 ^m 
 
( 39f 
 
 •om cver- 
 fpirit ta 
 .that their 
 ihkk fu- 
 bling they 
 [le path of 
 it nathmg 
 ed by di- 
 fecure the 
 
 -hi.! "yrsi 
 
 ich is cx- 
 , it might 
 ts of man. 
 b gratitade 
 Ungs— that 
 ft of their 
 viour, and 
 cifully of- 
 otherwife, 
 srally prc- 
 ble to the 
 if he had 
 of him, as 
 
 >ility and 
 The ordi- 
 )y many— 
 \t duty to 
 God 
 
 '•I 
 
 , ';•}•■• 
 
 t 
 
 ^1 
 
 God is the lafl: and leaft of their concirn. They 
 are as unmindful of a^ future (late, as if there was 
 no heaven to be fought, no hell to be avoided. 
 Their hearts are captivated by the. perifhing vani- 
 ties of this life. Some trifling amufement, fonie 
 gainful projed, fome paltry purfuit, abforbs 
 their time and thoughts. Inftead of following 
 that holineft and reftitude, or praftiiing that 
 mutual love andpeace, injoined by the Gofpel ; 
 they are buried in fenfuality and vice, inftigated 
 by aiiimofity, and ftudious to overreach and in- 
 jure each other ! 
 
 A confcientious Clergyman, who has the 
 honour of God, and the falvation of his people 
 at heart,, will fincerely lament thefe things. Nor 
 will he content htrnfcFf with in^iolently wifhing 
 that matters were othcrwife ♦, he will not only 
 pity thofe who are perifhing, and have no pity 
 iFor themfelves : But he will anxioufly endeavour 
 to pluck them as brands out of the fire. Like 
 the dreflcr of the barren fig-tree in the parable,. 
 he will intercede for them, that they may be 
 fpared another Year, in order to renew his la- 
 bours and exhortation^ for their amendment and 
 fruitfulnefs. .. - 
 
 oti:^i 
 
 D! 1 
 
 5 ' It is orr occaffibns Kke thele, that a Clergy- 
 man (hould manifeft his zeal— not by warm con- 
 tentions about thing'a of little or no moment— not 
 
 
 if^-. 
 
/Ill 
 
 
 '] 
 
 4 
 
 li 
 
 ( 40 ) 
 
 by gratifying a peevlfh or reftlefs temper— or in- 
 dulging a ccnforious, unguarded tongue : But 
 by an exemplary life, and the diligent difcharge 
 of his various duties, to rekindle the expiring 
 lamp of piety in others, and awake thfcm to a fcnfc 
 of their duty and danger. ^'*' ' 
 
 !t .'JT'y^o'i'i.l > w »»».«, ■ 
 
 ;n: 
 
 I. It is moft evident therefore that i,ti fucH a 
 ftatc of prevailing lukewarmnefs, which i^oiJLpm 
 all the fources of religion, and its baneful cfFefts 
 every where meet You, a life ftriftly regular, an 
 example of meeknefs, charity and warm piety, 
 are indifpenfably neceflary on Your part. 
 
 We fhould ever bear in mind, that we are 
 Miniftersof the holy Jefus, feparated from the 
 world, and fet a part for the performance of 
 divine offices i and it fhould be our endeavou? 
 to excell others in holinefs of life, as much as in 
 holinefs of profeflion j thereby raifing a duefenfe 
 of religion in others, and fhewing the pattern 
 they fhould follow. On this principle, our bleffed 
 Saviour tell his difciples, .and all his minifiers 
 efpecially, in them—." Ye are the Salt of the 
 earth j" who by "Your wifclom and purity (which 
 are metaphorically fignified by fait) fhall preferve 
 others from corruption, and reflore wifdom and 
 purity where they are loft.—" But if the fait have 
 loft his favour," our Lord continues— if it fhould 
 iofe that pungency, that quality by which it vc" 
 
 .1 I'll •'. 
 
 .«i » 
 
 ■•'Sf 
 
—or in- 
 : But 
 fcharge 
 ixpiring 
 jafcnfc 
 
 n fucH a 
 
 poi£pn» 
 il cfFefts 
 rular, an 
 a piety^ 
 
 t we arc 
 from the . 
 lance iof 
 ideavour 
 ;ch as in 
 due fenfe 
 pattern 
 ir blefTed 
 minifters 
 t of the 
 ;y (which 
 I prefervc 
 fdom and 
 I fait have 
 it (hould 
 lich itre- 
 
 ^'H 
 
 \ 41 ) 
 
 JRfts putrera(5Hoii— " wherewith fliall it be falted'> 
 It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cad 
 out, and trodden under foot of men. "-f- 
 
 XViTHOuT an holy, exemplary life, otir pafto. 
 ral labours will afTuredly be unfucoefsful. We 
 cannot expeft the bleiling of God upon them, or 
 that they will be pr-ofitab!eto our brethren. Man- 
 kind arc more infliienced by What they fee, than 
 by the founded: reafoning, or the moft unquerti- 
 onable truths j for all hav« eyes, however defici- 
 ent they tnky be in judgment or candour. AU 
 though a Clergyman ihould 'charm his audience 
 with the moft perfuafive eloquence— although he 
 ihould fpeak with th« tongues of men and angels^ 
 to ufe St. Paui^s «xpt«©ffion^ yet if his convcifa- 
 tion is a contradiction to his dodrine, and he does 
 not (lakw hinxfelf a pattprn of good works, like 
 Titus/. He would only be aS founding brafs, or 
 a tinkling cymbal—he would confirm his audience 
 fo much the more in their lukewarmnefs. 
 
 i 
 
 . n. Anotbea thing which the ftate of the times 
 much requires, and will be of great fervice in 
 Your miniftry, is— Vrfiting Your people frequent- 
 ly and regularly. This is a matter of much more 
 Confequ*nce*thftn, I fear, is generally apprehend- 
 c^i Jtfliould:m>t be confidered as indifFerent, 
 
 t»/m,.f%t\ ' 
 
 ot 
 
 "**« 
 
 t M»f&, V. 1.3. 
 
 t 
 
 4fc 
 

 m. 
 
 
 firjf 
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 dr a thing of mere compliment, or amufement, 
 when it happens to be convenient •, but as a part 
 of Your duty, which will anfwer the moft valua* 
 ble purpoles. 
 
 St. Paul tells the Ephefian Elders, that he 
 not only •' taught them publiekly, but from 
 houfe to houfe."* He had rcfided feveral yean 
 at Ephefus ; and during chat time, he frequently 
 vifited the members of his flock. In his private 
 viHts, he inculcated the fame dodrines that he 
 taught in public ; thereby confirming them in the 
 faith, Simulating their zeal, and watching over 
 their fpiritual welfare, as well as engaging their 
 afFedtions. Nor can it be doubted that this con- 
 tributed much to the fuccefs of his miniftry. 
 
 By thofe vifits. You will gain a more perfedl 
 knowledge of the ftate ofYour people^ which will 
 enable You to adapt Your converfation and pub- 
 lic preaching to their feveral cafes. You can alfo 
 be a peace- maker among them i reconciling thofe 
 who are at variance, foftning their animofities, 
 adjufting their difputes, promoting harmony 
 and good will 5 and by your advice and in- 
 fluence, aflifting them in their various concerns.— 
 When they obferve Your folicitude for their beft 
 interefts, they will noi only repofe more conft. 
 
 dence 
 
 -;vs 
 
 1 
 
 
 • JH. XX. 20. 
 
 <i<«<Trrtiiii > % 
 
 ■y ' mur\ 
 
C 43 ) 
 
 lufement, 
 
 as a part 
 
 of): valua* 
 
 s, that he 
 but £rom 
 :ral years 
 requently 
 is private 
 that he 
 em in the 
 ling over 
 ging their 
 this con- 
 !)iftry.; 
 
 •e perfed 
 ^hich mil 
 and pub- 
 ti can al fo 
 ling thofe 
 imoHties, 
 harmony 
 i and in- 
 ncerns.— 
 their beft 
 3re confi. 
 dence 
 
 t-A 
 
 dcrice in You, and liften to Your inftrudions j 
 but they will pay more attention to their own fpi- 
 ritual ftate_they will be more zealous, and re- 
 pent. No Clergyman therefore who wifties to be 
 really ufeful to his fiock, and has their falvation 
 at heart, can confidently negleft to vifit them. 
 For on the due difcharge of this part of his paft- 
 oral, duty— a part which, among others, was 
 injoined ac Ordination— much of his fuccefs 
 will depend. 
 
 >,", -• 
 
 III. The iimt of preaching, or public inftruc- 
 tion, recurs weekly. Of this opportunity. You 
 fhould gladly avail "Y'ourfelves to guide Your 
 flocks in the way offal vatibn, point out to them 
 its importance, and the.guilt of negleding it. 
 
 For this purpofe, the great truths and peculiar 
 dodlines of the Goipcl ihould be clearly explain- 
 ed and ftrongly urged—Man's loft ftate through 
 fin J the neceffity of a Saviour to deliver him 
 from everlafting death ; the tranfcendant iuve of 
 God in fending his eternal Son for the redemp- 
 tion of mankind i the defign of Chriftianity, of 
 its laws and ordinances, which is to extinguifii 
 fin, purify our nature, and prepare us for hear 
 ven i that this preparation, by the mortification 
 of fin, and implanting holinefs in man, is abfo* 
 lutely necefTary to future happincfs, for without 
 holinefs, no pian ever fhall or can fee the Lord ; 
 
 F 2 oi i .. .. that 
 
 
 
 »■«* 
 
M 
 
 ii-'Ja 
 
 ■m 
 
 
 'ii 
 
 ,* ■' 
 
 ! '■ 
 
 
 ■r 
 
 (44) 
 
 that our bleflTed Saviour afiFords ali neceflary help.i 
 in our Chriftian warfare •, for althoiigli we are en*- 
 compafled with infirmities, agitated by ftrong: 
 paflions, and furroundcd with temptations •, yet 
 his grace is fufficient for us in all thofe ca{es y and 
 that grace will never be denied to any wliq faith- 
 fully and ardently implore it. 
 
 These momentous truths, if earneftly aiid'af- 
 feftionately inculcated, and brought home to the- 
 confcience, will, with the bhfling of God, tend^ 
 to awaken the attention of Your people,., remove 
 their lukewarmnefs, promote tbeir advancement 
 in holinefs, and preferve them from the ,e>^ror^ 
 that border on thofe dodlrmes ; for m oft. errors 
 in religion are perverfions of its truths, and Co, 
 drefTed up a$ to bear fome fpecious femblance of: 
 
 them* ,Sms arf^.T-* -^. .w,. ».?« ^*4^,,„.,^ ,: J., ^(-/f 
 
 St. Paul informs us, thiat the preaching of the 
 Crofs was counted foolifhnefs by them that per- 
 rifti ; hut to thofe that are favcd, it isr the power 
 of God.* The docftrine of the crofs, that is, the 
 do(5lrine of falvation through a crucified- Savibuf, 
 is the means which God, in his wifdo^^' has ap- 
 pointed to reform mankind—to'opeh thrfr'eyes, 
 to turn them from darknefs' to light, and from 
 the power of Satan unto God, that they may rc^ 
 ccive forgivenefs of fins, and inheritance among 
 
 them 
 
 - ' ■■III I ■■ I I I , I mmmmmmmma>mtmmmm»; 
 
 • I Corinth, i, i8. 
 
 r*^ ; 
 
 4 
 
 iMii 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 ^ helpi 
 ire en*- 
 ftrong 
 Si yet 
 i ; and 
 > faith- 
 
 ihd af^ 
 
 to the 
 
 [; tend 
 
 •emove 
 
 c6ment 
 
 'e»^ror$ 
 
 errors 
 
 and fb 
 
 ance of 
 
 bfthe 
 at peri 
 
 power 
 
 is, the 
 avibufi 
 has ap- 
 ireyes, 
 d front 
 rray re^ 
 
 among 
 them 
 
 tfiem that are fan(ftified by %ith.-f* No doftrincs-J 
 or expedients of man's deviilng will he fo effica- 
 cious as thofe which the Almighty hath ap. 
 pointed. Reafon, and philoCophy^ and what is- 
 called natural religion, have tried their powers 
 on mankind through a fucceflion of ages ; but 
 W4th little effeA. It is^ the Gofpel only that 
 brings thof© hekvenly truths, which rightly in- 
 form the underftanding ; which reiftify the will^ 
 and reform the heart. You (hould therefore ad- 
 here* to thofe evangelic dodlrineS) in Your in* 
 ftru^lions from the pulpit, , . * -^, . 
 
 ,.,:, ,,- - :.• . .' . . . . - t .,,.^. .■ . ' . 
 
 . There is the more ne^emty fpr thisj a» it 
 may be juftly apprehended, that many of the 
 evils welanient, and lul&ewarmnefs among others,: 
 arife from mifapprehenfion concerning the nature 
 and deftgt? of the Gpfpel, and the falvation it of- 
 fers. Some'imagihe that if they are honeft, and: 
 abftain fromgroHj'er crimes, the Gofpel requires, 
 no more •, or at leaft, that all beyond this, may. 
 be dlfpenfcd with. Others advance a little farther,, 
 and fuppofe the Gofpel. to be a mere fyftem of 
 fpPQulative tru4:hsfv' and that an aflcnt to them, . 
 \»<ith a.confpwaiity tothefew rites andobfervancet. 
 \^hich it iiijcins,^ conftiitkite the Chriftian charac- 
 ter : , And: that im icohfequence of this aflent and ' 
 external conformity, heaven is as fit and fure a> 
 
 receptacle.- 
 
 '^^diXX.yi.ii^ 
 
 \.<'i\^ ^ '^ 
 
 
 4 
 
 ■•11 
 
f 
 
 ;■' ■ 
 
 
 !"•• f 
 
 H 
 
 I- 
 
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 receptacU for the foul at death, as the^ grave is 
 for thcbodK ^""' „ 
 
 Similar to thdeftrahge notions, though fome- 
 what varied in the form, are two others, which 
 may be ranked aniong the word herefies that have 
 infcfted the Chriftian Church. — ,-One.is that pre- 
 fumptuous doArine which teaches the merit of 
 human works in our juftiiication before God^^ 
 that they arc worthy of the heavenly glory, in 
 ftrid juftice, without any refped to the covenant 
 andpromife of God.f The other notion allud- 
 ed tOf is, that human works are ufelefs in the 
 bufinefs of juftification—that recunibency' ^on 
 Chrift, and a full perfuaHon of our pardon and 
 juftification, will efFedlually fecure our everlafting 
 happinefs. r have grouped thefe errors toge- 
 ther i becaufe, however widely they may feem 
 to differ •, yet they proceed alike from a miftake 
 concerning the defign of the Gofpel, and the 
 falvation it offers. 
 
 Jesus Christ came to feek and to fave thofe 
 that were loft; J to deftroy the works of the 
 devil }* to redeem us from all iniquity, and 
 purify to himfelf a peculiar people, zealous of 
 good work8.4T The Chriftian fcheme is very 
 
 plain. 
 
 f See Bidiop Bull's Englijh Worh^ Vol. I. p. 363. 
 
 X luki %\%. 10, • I 'J9hn III. 8. I lUuill. 14,; 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 m*m 
 
 , / %^ 
 
tl 
 
 '4 
 
 
 (47) 
 
 pltin> and the divine procedure with man from 
 the beginning, perfc(5lly confident, and eafily un- 
 dcrftood;— It may be ftated in few words — - 
 
 Man was originally defigned for happiness in 
 the enjoyment of God. To fit him for that hap- 
 pinefs, to make him capable of that enjoyment, 
 his benevolent Creator formed him in his own 
 image and likenefs ; which ima^e or likencfs con- 
 lifted chiefly in the reftitude che human foul, 
 atid in its conformity to the moral perfedlions of 
 the deity. This was neceflary i for between in- 
 telligent beings diflimilar in their nature, and op- 
 pofite in their qualities, defires, and inclinations, 
 there could be no harmony, no union, or mutual 
 enjoyment. 
 
 But man, by tranfgreflion, fell from this ftate 
 of reAitude, and loft the divine image or like« 
 nefs, which was the foundation of his happinefs. 
 A deliverer was promifed immediately aftct the 
 Fall, who was to retrieve the ruined ftate of 
 man— fefcuc him from condemnation, reftore him 
 to divine favour, and replace him in his forfeited 
 heaven •, and that deliverer, who was our blefled 
 Lord and Saviour, Jefus Chrift, in the fulnefs 
 of time, made hi? appearance^ to fulfill the pro- 
 lAife of God, and < accomplifti the falvation of 
 man. ' ' 
 
 Now, Mour Lord, by his own inftroiflions, 
 
 and 
 
 % 
 
'IL 
 
 ih 
 
 si i.:ifl 
 
 I'm 
 
 ( 4« ) 
 
 ;iiid thdfe of his infpired Apoftles, hath revcded 
 ito us all ncccffary truths ^ and by the faccifice of 
 himfcJf upon the Crofsi hath redeemed us from 
 condemnation, paying downaranfoni forus : So, 
 by the difciplineof his Gofpel, and the aiTiftance 
 of his Holy Spirit, he would extinguiih An, and 
 reftore the divine image to us, which confiUs in 
 righteoufnefs aad tr^qe holinefs. . For that liketief^ 
 righteo^fficfs and;I^olinefs are as jieecijTary- «c^i^p 
 ^tus for happiDf^fs in the ^njpymeat .of^ |Qp4> 
 as they were in. the beginning t -^^ t0/.iwipl^|»t 
 thefe in the human foul, is the :gre^d^Qga,:^im 
 
 and ohj i^ of the GofpeLf ; u ,,,,.,..; j - j ^ - 
 
 '..'■' ■.'. . .To 
 
 
 1 
 
 f In prKtcrLtis temporibus, diccbatur fecundum ' imigiflem 
 Dei fafttfm efle homjnean, non auum oftendabatur (Veri^um, 
 j^iV.) Adhuc'enim itivifible crat Vetbam. ....... Propter hoc 
 
 ftutem et fimiUtudlnem Dei ftdle aiiviiit. ' Quando autenucarb 
 Verbum. D^i faftam cftj utraqud confirmay;t ;,ct imagincm 
 >©flendit veram ..... et fimllitudinem firmans reftituif, con- 
 
 ifimilem faciens hominem patri per. vifible Verbutn. In s n fi: v< 
 jidvir Haris.Lih N .Cops 16 — Upu^ et idem, eft i^oi ab initio 
 j^lafmavit no5, et in 'fine Filium fuunv miuti pratceptum ejus 
 j>erfecit: Dominus, faftus ex muliei^i ^ tt- deftraefM ''adVerfanuiJi 
 nQllrum., etperficiens:hoaiiB,smfecan^f^ in^^giofq^otiiri^Mtudt- 
 jiem Dei. ibid caf. ai, '* We. muft endeavour by thegrjice 
 «f God toi be reftdred to that^ integrity 'in' which' ttiiin <was if 'ffr'ft 
 .^reatidij and 'which yya? ;l<ift at the jfall» ;by iWhibhi/we are^be. 
 Gomeweak, £nfol,crea(ures." , Bilhop Wawoi^'s /^o/.ii,; Vol, 
 II. p i«i. BtrthEdit^4«?; AhdagWih— ■'^'Fe^W'oJirihifejy, 
 we hfiv^ not de&r'0urik^£h^nce^<lll it^ tpb^laA: \.^^^&fik 
 that image of God which we loft in the Fall." p. 389. ^ ^ 
 more on this fubjeft in Bifhop Bv hh*s Difcour/e en tbefteiteof 
 man before >»f ; F«//,; Vol.rl U x)^ hjs.Bngllfh! Wotb. ,;.'S<te -alf* 
 i)r. B A N D I N E L L*s eighth Sermon preached at tbt LtSuri found- 
 gd by Mr. Bamptsn. Oxfojrd 17S0. 
 
 
veded 
 
 ^ 
 
 (ice of 
 
 ■ 
 
 s from. 
 
 m 
 
 s: So, 
 
 1 
 
 [dance 
 
 " » 
 
 in, and 
 
 
 Lfls la 
 
 •■''■? 
 
 k.en.er3. 
 
 1 
 
 «c^>^p 
 
 ■■ .."i 
 
 v.fiM 
 
 
 ^.p^^ 
 
 
 flR^ia 
 
 
 Uj"i' ' 
 
 
 /To 
 
 
 TKgincm 
 
 
 
 fpter hoc 
 
 
 temicacb 
 
 
 naginem 
 
 
 lU, con- 
 
 
 LBNfi:V« 
 
 
 ab imti0 
 
 
 turn ejus 
 
 
 
 i>iHludt- 
 
 
 he gi^cp 
 
 
 liitWa. 
 
 
 i ut<^hom 
 
 
 \'-J9h 
 
 
 mifejy. 
 
 
 ir<ko^^ 
 
 
 9.r.^ 
 
 
 eftatt of 
 
 
 Sde'^ilfo 
 
 
 r//a«W- 
 
 
 C^ ) 
 
 To this purpofjs, St. Paul urges' the Ephefuns, 
 agreca»bly to the inftru(5ljons ofcen delivered be- 
 fore—** To put off, concerning the former con> 
 verfationt the old man, which is corrupt . accord f. 
 Jrjg to the deceitful lufts 5 and be renewed in the 
 fpirit of their m.ind? :. And to put on the new 
 man». >ybich a/fer, Gc(d, i. e. after the image of 
 Gpd, is created in. righ^eo-ufnefs v^^ true h^li* 
 nctfsf."*-, In like manner^ he tells the Coloffians, 
 that according to the fcheme and difcipline of 
 ^hc Gofpek which they believed and fubmitted 
 to^** They hjjd pw-t piF the old nian with his 
 4ecds \ and had put pn, the new man, which, it 
 renewed jii knowlfsidgfc . a tcr the image of him 
 that created him.*!;f It^^ inftrUj^^ thq Ifomans, 
 that it i.s God*8 appointment in the plan ofre- 
 dwinpliioB, that: thofe who, are finany fared, (hall 
 heirf be 'Vcoofpniiod to the linage of his Son." J 
 ^t)4 ,t<>^uiQtrt bo. .fmore tclxts/ conceming a truth 
 .which: c is. IfWtunonAy difplayeid throughout the 
 (kcred !W[riting84..-**St. Peter reminds Chriftians 
 pf the gre^t and precious promifes given to them j 
 th%t by thefe they might be partakers of the 
 divinie nature,** i. e. be partakers of the moral 
 .perfections of God—be holy as he is holy j " hav- 
 ing dcapcd the" corruptidli" that is In the world 
 through Uft."* v;r 
 
 •Cf^ 
 
 " I . 
 
 These 
 
 * Ephtf^ IV. 22-^-^^24. t ^oH^' HI. 9, 10. 
 X Rom. VIII. 29. * IPtttrl. 4. 1 
 
I<" ' 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 
 im 
 
 
 ( 50 > 
 
 Thcse fcriptures are very plain, and their 
 meaning is obvious. They evidently Ihew that 
 the dcfign of the Gofpel is to deftroy the povf er 
 of Satan i to advance the kingdom of God, by 
 implanting real Kolinefs in the heart of man. The 
 Gofpel fervres to humble the very beft of man- 
 kind i fince all muft look for pardon, acceptance, 
 and eternal life through the merits of Jefus 
 Chrift only, who is their deliverer from fin, the 
 rel^orer of their lapfed nature. Our bed works 
 and virtues are imperfed and deficient ; they 
 have fomething in them to he pardoned ; 4- ^nd^ 
 were the Almighty to enter into judgment with 
 us, and mark whatever is.araiC? i no . irtah living 
 would be juftified in his fight.^ ;.* ,^' '. [ !", 
 
 It is no lefs evident, on the other hand, that 
 no form of godlinefs^ without itspower—no pro- 
 fefiion of religion, without inward h^linefs, and 
 a conformity to the moral perfedions of Godr, 
 can avail to falvation. The reafon h plain—the 
 happincfs of heaven cannot be otherwifd attained?, 
 or enjoyed. Heaven fhould be confidered -as a 
 JiatCy as well as a place > and that J^ate muft be. 
 . :.:■ : ■ ■■ ^ ::■.■-.:.<- ':...::; . gift 
 
 frrr 
 
 4 Look down. Great God, with pity's foftcft cjrc. 
 On a poor breathing particle of dull ; 
 ^' Forgive his Crimes — forgive his 'virtues too— 
 Thofe fmaller crimes, half converts to the right. 
 
 YOVNC'S N4CHT THOUGHTt. 
 
 t, P/«/«. CXLUI. J.. ^ .. 
 
 :ii^% 
 
I 1 . ■• 
 
 ( 5' ) 
 
 gin here, infome degree. For according to the 
 a^horifrn in divinity— grace here on earth is the 
 glory of heaven begun i and that glory is grape; 
 per£t£^pd^ Were it pofliblc for an impure foul, 
 av.erfe frorpGod, and under the dominion of Cm, 
 to be ^doiitted into the mandons of the Ble(^, it 
 would c«f;ry its Hell within it j {or then it would 
 meet with nothijOg fuite4 , to jts nature prdt^f*. 
 
 pOlttlOn^* •'jj'^f; •■/•" "'fi'^f'"* '.'^'\'~,'.\\^ "-'^ :".''}':''' D"!i'''/;n 
 
 ■''In Your'puElic ihftruijtiorts, it t^ehoive^ You' 
 to inculeate theiTe truths *, to reftifyany errors 
 •concerning them wHibli ' Your f)c6pte may have 
 adopted ^./and to give' them juH: notion^^^of 
 the iGplpel^, and.^ of, the falvation it ojP^rs. 
 PierKap^ljljipjthing wpuld tend .ii^oire tOr remove 
 lukewarjii^ni^fs^ puint qi^t t^e folily , as w^ll as 
 guilt of hypocrify, . cnthufiafm ai^d bigotry j 
 Of; that wouid more efre(5bually convince people 
 of the Indiipenfable neceflity ; of that holinef», 
 without which no man ihall fee the Lord. And 
 AS that part of the pai^oral oifici? which confiils 
 in Preaching, was dedgned to inf^rudt mankir^d 
 in the feveral duties they owe to God and the 
 King, to theirfcllow creatures, and to themfclves^ 
 4et thefi^ mpmento^: truths be among (I choie 
 .which You explain and ur^e from the pulpit.---^ 
 But to proceed toother matter*, ^^o;^,, , 
 
 IV. In few things are the pcrnicous effe(5ls of 
 
 G 2 Jukewarmnef? 
 
 HT*. 
 
 r,■.*i^Li^. 
 
9 
 
 ' (5*) 
 
 Jiikewarmneft more difcertiable than in wliat rt^ 
 Jates to the holy Sacraments, Baptifm and thfc* 
 Lord's Supper. Baptifm is that ordinfahce ivhifch 
 our'Saviotir has appointed for the admiffion' of • 
 members into his Church ; and bapti^' Jier- 
 fons become federally intitled to its privilegcs-i- 
 they are made members 'of Ghrift» children of 
 God, and heirs of the kingdom of^heaveii. The 
 nature of the ordinance plainly evinces tha'tft is 
 a public tranfadion J. and that peFfons.ihQuld,b6 
 baptized publickly, and in the face of the Churchy 
 of which they are made members, ,r'> ,3n!n5:}no'' 
 
 ' AceoRiHNotV, the'Churfch of tii^lahcJ iwjoins 
 her Clergy ^^'^to ad^mohifli the pcoplfe tliat- Bapl 
 tifm be admimftered on SundWysy iafhd b^tK^Kiiayy, 
 when the moft number of pedj^Te conild tb'gethcfr j 
 as well that the congregation preftrit,hia^teffify 
 the receiving thofe who are nc>lvly Mptifiid Jiitd 
 •the number bfChrift*s 4?ock •, as that e^eif iohfc 
 prefent majr be piit- in remembrance ^fhii^b#n 
 •profcfSoh made Unto God in his Bkptifnh'ff ^(jt'i- 
 %itMai¥dihg '■ tliife ^xc^llorit refill atiiihj itM^ thfe 
 •rcafons therein fpecified, wMtlV^ar^ Of mdWi^i^*, 
 .people are much more inclined 't^S^Hdve^theii^lihil- 
 -dren baptifed^in'^rrvirte ho^6«^ th'Anih thehouife 
 Tjf God : As if they'were cifht^^a(Hfaht<*dkd'Mke 
 a public profcflion of Chri'ftianity ;-orthoftijghtit 
 
 
 too 
 
 *'-^? 
 
 ¥1 
 
 
 •\ Rtflric, 
 
 i.: O 
 
 f-fjvs-' 
 
 *% 
 
 
(53) 
 
 too much trouble to carry their children to the 
 Ghtirch.* 
 
 SiVERAL bad confequences will refu It from this 
 prodiice , if continued:. One is^ that as it pro- 
 ceeds 
 
 • The backwardnefs that appears in fo many to co;i tribute 
 towar^is tficfupport of religion and its' minifters, may be reck- 
 oned aiiioiig the eSe^s of that lukewarmnefs which is To pre* 
 valent- And indeed the effe£t is natural ; for it can hardly be 
 expe^ed that fuch as are regardlefs Qf their own beft interefts, 
 and lof tHeOofpil ofChrift, fhould fay much atftntion to the- 
 i4])>port br comfort of thofe who preach that Gofpel. This back- 
 wardnefsis commonly dilguifed under the name of poverty ; and 
 I witii it were in my power to fay thiit it is confined to perfons 
 wh'ofe circutnftances are indigent, or not trffluent ; land many fuch 
 doubtlefs there are among us, and muft be in all new fettled 
 countries : fiut in truth, it extends to others whofe fituation is 
 different. 
 
 We'ire ^6nunande4 to ** honour the Lord with our fub- 
 ftance ;" and tte has d?clar(:d— •* Them that honour me, I will 
 honour ; and they that defpife me Aiall be rightly regarded " 
 If we deny a portion of tKatfubftante with which God has bleft 
 us, and withold it, when necefTary for his honour or fervice, 
 may we not feipeA in the end that it will be vifited wit^h a blaft ? 
 Natotai eqifity \vl!Hjditi lA^irh revela;!on in telling u"?— " that 
 " the Irfboureriitf worthy of his hire ;" and tb^j reafonablcncfs 
 of what '♦, the JiOrd hath brdained— that they which preach the 
 f*' Gbii^X; 'fhottld %^ of the Gofpel." Nor Ihould this charge 
 qr .burden be fhifted on others, when we are able to bear it c ur- 
 felv':?. But fetting revelation and a future ftate afide ; the be- 
 nefits arifing to "rociety firora a crtf aching Minlftry, the order, 
 virtue and decency that are thereby promoted, intitle Clergy- 
 men, tp a mainten4hce. If not checked by their influence and 
 labours, vice and difoidersof every kind would range with little 
 controul^ to the ruin of Society ; and probably, were the Clergy 
 removed, every iraceof religion would foon vanifli It is evident 
 therefor^ that every motive of piety and good policy, of benefit 
 here and hereafter, unites in binding this obligation on mankind. 
 The. merchant is anxious thaihii commerce, the lawyer that his 
 
 a^ion, 
 
 »/« 
 
 A % 
 
 ^f^iH': 
 
wS, 
 
 ¥ > 
 
 
 (54) 
 
 Aceds from, Co it wUl ferre to tiourlih and in« 
 •creafe, the fpirit of indifference about religion 
 which is fo prevalent. Another is, that Baptifm 
 will degenerate into a mere external ceremony or 
 form, and will be confidered asfucfri tathcgrcat 
 injury of religion, I muft therefore earneftlyrc- 
 queft and Injoirt You to adhere ftricSlIy to the 
 Rubric in this cafe •, and to which You have fo- 
 lemnly engaged to Conform. Subfcriptioas and 
 engagements of this kind are ferious things j they 
 ihould not be trifled with. And how any Cler- 
 gyman can deliberately violate his duty in this 
 matter, thereby encouraging his 'people in theif 
 lukewarm nefs, and injuring religion, is to me in^ 
 <:ompreheniible« 
 
 7' i 
 
 I could fay much upon this point ; but flatter 
 myfelf it is neediefs ; and that this admonition, 
 joined to afenfe of duty, will be fufficient to in- 
 duce You hereafter to adhere ftriftly to the Rub- 
 ric ) never adminiftring Baptifm in private, except 
 in cafes of neceflity, that is, when the Child is 
 fick, or fo weak that there would be danger in 
 
 carrying 
 
 a£lion, the farmer that his crop, the mechanic that his trade, 
 ihould fucceed ; nor will they omit any thing which they think 
 may contribute to that fuccefs : Were thele equally anxious 
 that the Gofpel of Chrift fliould flourifti, and its influence on 
 the mfelvcs and others be promoted, would they be regardlefs of 
 what they know to be neccffary to its fupport and fuccefs ? The 
 anfwar to ihis qucftion I leave tQ every one's confciencc. 
 
 i? 
 
 .^^,- 
 
 n 
 
(■ 55 ) 
 
 carrying It to Church. Even then, no more than 
 the office fox Private Baptifm fhould be ufed -, and 
 the Parents are to be required to bring the Child 
 to Church, if it fhould Jive, that the renriaining 
 part of the office may be ufed, atid the whola 
 performed, as our Church direfts. 
 
 CoypiRMATiON IS another ordinance to whicb 
 You fhould pay due attention, by inftrufting: 
 Your flocks in the nature and benefit of it; and 
 their obligation to take upon them, in that ordi- 
 nance, by their own voluntary aft and public 
 pi'ofcffibn, the vows and promifes that were made 
 in their name at Baptifm. That people in gene- 
 ral fhould not be well acquainted with the defigff 
 of this ordinance, or fenfible of their obligations 
 to partake of it, and of the advantages refulting 
 from it, is not to be wondered at •, fince it could 
 not be admmiftred here till lately. Hence there 
 is the greater neceffity for Your inftruftions on 
 the fubjeift. 
 
 Confirmation is founded on the pratflice 
 and doflrine of the apoflles •, -j- it has been 
 as conflantly. adminiflered in the Chriflian 
 Church fince their time, as either Baptifm or the 
 Lord's Supper *,. nor were any admitted to partake 
 of the latter,, before they were confirmed. For al- 
 though it was not deemed a Sacrament, nor reaU 
 
 ' Jy 
 
 , t Mt Vlll. and XIX. andT/r^r. VI.. 
 
 * # 
 
 #• 
 
tr 
 
 
 ■X 
 
 " n 
 
 ( 55 ) 
 
 ly Is one m the appropriate fenfe of the word, 
 like Baptifrn and the Eucharift j y^t it was cor>- ^ 
 iidered as the confunamation of Baptifn. SliQf. 
 hereby, thofe who were baptized^ took iipoa 
 therrifelves their baptifmal vows, made a public 
 profeflion of the Chriftian Faith •, and through 
 prayer and impofition of the Bifhop's hands, re- 
 ceived that ftrengthning grace that was aeceflTary 
 in their fplritual conflidis and warfare. {^ «> uc .. 
 
 It is much to be feared that many who arrive 
 to adult age, think little of the fojemn ypws an4 
 promifcs that were niade in their nai^e, whfiri ad- 
 mitted to the exalted privileges conferred oa. 
 them by Baptifrn in their infancy. Yet thofe 
 vows and promifes are binding upon them in the 
 fight of God. They cannot break loofe from 
 their obligation ; and on the due performance of 
 their duty, inconfequcnce of them, their inheri- 
 tance in the kingdoms both of grace and gloryi 
 is fufpended. From hence, the benefit and im- 
 portance of Confirmation are evident ; for hereby 
 thofe perfons are not only reminded of their duty, 
 but they folemnly undertake it in their own name; 
 they make a public profeflion of their faith, devote 
 themfelves to God, and apply fo- that ftrength- 
 enitvg grace which will enable th«m to fulfill their 
 
 engagements. 
 
 X See Bifliop Taylor on Confirmation, and Bincham*s 
 Chriftian Jntiquities, Book XII, with the authors referred to by 
 each, 
 
 * " A.« »^U«» « *-#* 
 
 #■ 
 
 % ^ 
 
Ite 
 't 
 
 tfngagemcnts. If this rite was judged to l)e vftty 
 beneficial and neceffary in the early ages of the 
 Church, when multitudes of converts were daily 
 made from Jews and Heathens, and who were 
 confequently baptised in aditlt age : How much 
 more {o muft it be now, when the Church re- 
 ceives little increafe but from thofe who are bap^ 
 tized in infancy, and who are fo apt to grow up 
 in an utter fcrgetfulnefs that they have been in- 
 lifted under the banner of Chrift ? 
 
 All, without exception, (hould partake of 
 this ordinance. No advance in years, no dif>> 
 charge of other Chriftian duties, can fuperfede 
 Confirmation, or exempt any from it ; for all 
 (hould Yoluntarily, perfonally and publickly take 
 upon themfelves their baptifmal engagements, 
 and apply for grace to affift them, in the way 
 which God hath appointed » And if there ever is a 
 revival of true, rational piety and religion among 
 us, I am perfuaded that one principal means of 
 effefting it will be— a proper regard to Confirma- 
 tion, according to the pradtice of the primitive 
 Church, and the order of our own, founded on 
 the former, and on the word of God. Efpecially> 
 if by proper inftrudlion, and ftrid examination in- 
 to the qualifications, both as to knowledge and 
 conduft, of thofe who are to be Confirmed i as well 
 as by the diligent Catechifing of Youth-a duty 
 to which You ftiould be fcrupuloufly attcr^^^ive— if 
 
 H by 
 
 4 
 
( 58 ) 
 
 by thefe means, I fay, due care be previoufly ta- 
 ken that the Ordinance is not fuffered to de- 
 generate into mere external form and ceremony. 
 
 If we turn, in the next place, to the Sacrament 
 of the Lord's Supper, Ave fee the fad efFefts of 
 lukewarmnefs in the neglcd of it by fuch multi- 
 tudes ; and the fnwll number of thofe who par- 
 take of that holy ordinance. The decay of 
 Chriftian piety among moderns is very ftriking„ 
 and muft fliock us, when we compare their prac- 
 tice, in this refpedt, with that of primitive Chrifti- 
 ans. In the early ages of the Church, the Com- 
 munion was adminiftred every Lord's Day •, and 
 if any of the Faithful, or Believers, as Chriftiani 
 were then called, who attended public worfhip, 
 turned their back on the Sacrament, and went 
 away without receiving it, they were fubjefted t<> 
 Pennance, and deprived of Church Privileges, 
 till they amended. -f- But among us, fcarcely 
 more than one out of fix that have arrived to a 
 
 competent 
 
 m 
 
 f Canonts Apojlol. Canom VII, apud Cotblbrii Patris 
 
 /polioL Vol I. p. 438. Edit. Antwerp. 1700 '■^Concilium An- 
 tioch. Canon II, «pud Beveregii Pandeilas Candnu/n, Vol. I.' 
 p. 431. That Chriftians in the fecond ceptury communicated. 
 every Sunday, is affcrted by Juitin Martyr in his, iirft. 
 Ape/ogv I And appears alfo from Pliny's letter to Traj an con- 
 cerning the Chriftians, in the fame Century. Cyprian, who 
 wrote about the middle of the third century, declares, in hit, 
 .fjf/ir/?//'/; of the Lord's Prayer, that Chriftians communicated 
 cyery day. This was doubtlefs the pradticc- at Carthage j anA 
 w*'? probably that of the ApoUolic. Age, every whcic. 
 
 k.'*' 
 
( 5.9 ) 
 
 competent age, partakes of that Sacrament 
 Great numbers go k. from year to year— perhaps 
 their whole lives-~without once approaching 
 the Lord's Tabic ! . 
 
 It is necdlefs to enlarge on the pernicious con- 
 fequences of this negleA j or on Your obligation 
 to endeavour to removrc it, by public exhortlons 
 and private admonitions, as well as by refuting 
 the frivolous excufcs that are commonly made 
 for this grofs violation of our Saviour's exprefir 
 command. The moft ufual plea is -that people 
 are not good enough to come to the Lord's Table : 
 But this is their own fault •, and it is all^^ging one 
 breach of duty to juftify another. Under the 
 Mofaic difpenfation, holinefs and legal cleannefs 
 were required of thofe who celebrated the Pafs- 
 over ; and the want of this preparation was not 
 confidered as a juft apology for negledmg it •, for 
 they that abfented themfelves were cut off from 
 iht, people of God.— .If thofc people, to ufe their 
 own phrafc, are not good enough to come to the 
 Communion, furely they are not good enough to 
 die, or appear at the tribunal of Chrifl *, and no 
 pleas, or excufes will defend them from the arreft 
 of death, or from the fentence of that awful tri- 
 bunal. 
 
 I (hall not ftay to refute this or the other vain 
 excufes that are made in this refpcd, which are 
 
 Ha ali 
 
•If equally groundlefs. But proceed to obftrve— 
 that as in the nature and dcfiign of the Gofpcl, 
 and of the falvation it offers, fo in the nature and 
 dcfign of the Lord Supper, there appears to be a 
 very great mifapprehenfion, which partly occadons 
 
 the neglcdl complained of. Too many confider 
 
 this Sacrament as a mere pofitive, external duty,, 
 in which the receiver, or communicant only has 
 a part ; ind if he can prevail on him(elf to un- 
 dergo a flight preparation of a few hours, and 
 then receive the elements of bread and wine ;. 
 the bufinefs is over, and he looks no farther. 
 When men labour under fuch grofs miftakcs, ex- 
 cluding God, as it were, from any part in this- 
 ordinance, no wonder that it be negledbed. 
 
 The Church of England defines a Sacrament 
 to be ** An outward and vifible fign of an inward, 
 and fpiritual grace gi/en unto us, ordained by 
 Chrift himfelf, as a means whereby we receive 
 the fame, i. c. that fame grace, and a pledge to 
 aflure us thereof.*' The outward vifible fign in 
 the Lord's Supper, is Bread and Wine,.Confecra* 
 tcd'.The inward part, or thing fignifiedjis the body 
 and blood of Chrift, which are verily, though 
 %iritualiy, taken and received by the faithfuU 
 The benefits derived from thence, are the ftreng* 
 thening and refrefhing of our fouls by the body and 
 blood of Chrift ^ as ouf bodies arc by bread and; 
 
 1 * 
 
( «r > 
 
 wine ;. and befidcs the benefits thus-recclved^thr* 
 ordinance ferves farther to keep up a continuai- 
 femembrance of the facri£ce of die death of 
 Chrift. 
 
 The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper then is 
 t federal rite, in which two parties are concern- 
 (sd : God, who condefcends, by viiihle figns, tO' 
 txhibit fpiritual bledings ; and man, who is the 
 recepient of thofe blefTings. The external figns 
 or fymbol^ are of God's appointment v and by 
 them he holds out,, and, in effed, repeats to us 
 his promifes of mercy, pardon, fpiritual afHilance, 
 and eternal life r On our part,, are required faith, 
 repentance, an heart turned to God and his laws,, 
 with firm refolutions of faithfully ferving him. 
 We alfo fet forth the death of his Son, and de- 
 clare our faith and hope in him as our only re- 
 fuge for falvation. And the efFeft of this to every 
 worthy communicant, is, a real participation of 
 the benefits of Chrift crucified.-f 
 
 In 
 
 •f" This poirxt is well ftated by Dr. Hammond " On 
 
 God's part literally, he entertains and feeds us at his Table ;; 
 and on our part literally, we partaicc of that Table, that Chriftian 
 feaft. Then fpiritually, or veiled under this literal, vifible out« 
 fide of a feaft ; God folemnly reaches out to us, as by a deed or 
 ihftrumcnti what was do« to every penitent finncr, every worthy 
 Tcceivcr, the broken body of Chrift, that is, the benefits of his 
 death ; and on our par":, we annunciate that facrifice of Chrift's 
 cleath, which is n' <ff long fince performed on the crofs. . , . ., 
 And thisannuaciaiion, or ihcwing forth, is not only in. refpcftr 
 
 of. 
 
( 67. ) 
 
 Im this fenfe, and on thefe principles, St, Paul 
 tells us~that the Cupof Blefling which we blefs 
 in this Sacrament, and the Bread which we break, 
 are the Communion of the body and blood of 
 of Chrift— that is, an application, on God's part, 
 and a participation on our part, of the benefitsi 
 refiilting from our Saviour*s body broken, and 
 his l;lood (hed upon the crofs.* 
 
 Viewed in this light, You will perceive how 
 much this holy Sacrament is dcbafed by thofe who 
 confider it only as a bare memorial or dead cere- 
 mon'/ i exck ng God from it, and leaving out 
 the inward part, or thing (ignlficd Whereas in 
 truth, the Sacrament is primarily an application 
 from God to men. For by vifible figr he ex- 
 hibits his mercies, confirms and feals his promifef ; 
 and thefe figns are to be received from God, as 
 means and pledges that his promifes will be faith- 
 fully fulfilled. To conceive this more clearly 
 ftilJ, we fliould diftingui/h between the Sacrament 
 itfelf, and the devotions which we bring to it. 
 The Sacrament is the reprefentation of fpiritual 
 blelli.:^* vouchfafed by Gv.d to men, and which 
 
 he 
 
 ofourfelyes, in believing, and towards man, inprofefling out 
 Faith in the crucified Saviour ; but alfo toward Gai, pleading 
 before him the facrificc of his own Son."— — y^«/ie/a/«« o» 
 Matth. XX Vr. 28. 
 
 * l.Corintb. X. 16, See Dr. Wat errand's explanation of 
 this text in his Rtwcw of the DoaHne •/ tbt Eucharijl, Cbap, 
 
 J- 
 
rx'""""'" 
 
 ( Si ) 
 
 he invites them to p!:rtake of j the table • we ap- 
 proach is the Table of the Lord ; and the Symbols 
 on it are of his appointment: Our devotions, 
 with which we come, in obedience to the invita- 
 tion, confift of faith, repentance, gratitude and 
 love. Thefe devotions depend partly on man ; 
 and are therefore different from the Sacrament 
 itfelf, which is the inftitution of God -, and in 
 which, as I faid before, he exhibits his mercies, 
 and aflures the worthy communicant that they 
 will be conferred upon him.* 
 
 With refpedl to this Sacrament our cafe fome- 
 what refembles that of the impotent folk, the 
 blind, the halt and withered, who waited at the 
 pool of Bethefda, ready to ftep in when the water 
 was moved. -f- Our Bethefda is always in motion^ 
 and prepared to receive us. We (hould there- 
 fore conftantly attend ;^ and with all gratitude, 
 humility and love accept the profered mercies of 
 God our Saviour. Inftead of flying from him, 
 we fhould devoutly approach, and fervently be- 
 
 fecch 
 
 * Set KYUi.\i*^i General Repre/entatien of Rei'taled Religion, 
 Part I. Giap.Xl.—'*' Dalies, as fuch, arc conditioni only oa 
 
 our part, applications of men to God But Sacraments 
 
 are applications of God to men ; and are properly his inllru- 
 ments of conveyance,, his appointed means, in and by which hs 
 
 confers his graces This is a diftin£lion which ought 
 
 carefully to he heeded, for the right underftanding the difference- 
 between bacramenti and duties." Watirlanb'i Rivitw »j^ 
 the DcHrine of the Euihariji, p. 290. 
 
(«4) 
 
 fecch him to apply to us the efficacy of hit "bitter 
 death and pafllion ; implanting in us that holi- 
 ncfs, and thofc graces which will prepare us for 
 the pure manfions of glory —the great end and 
 objedt of all religion and all ordinances. And 
 thefe efFe(5ls are produced, not in a phyiical, but 
 moral way, fuitable to the moral nature of man.* 
 
 Were mankind poflefied of thefe principles, 
 and did they adl thus, we fhould not fee that luke- 
 warmnefs, that difregard and negledt of thisSacra- 
 ment, which now fhock us^ norwoulditfailfomuch 
 of its end in thofe who fometimes partake of it.— 
 It is therefore incumbent on You to explain thofe 
 jfnattcrs clearly ^ and faithfully to lay before Your 
 people their duty to partake of the Lord's Sup- 
 per, and their guilt in neglefting it. On a point 
 of fo much confequencc to them, private admo- 
 nitions fhould be joined to public exhortations 
 and inftruAions. Every rational method and ar- 
 gument fhould be ufed to imprefs them with a 
 
 firong 
 
 • For an account of the principles and praftice of the primi- 
 tive Church concerning this Sacrament, fee Bingham's y^n/i'. 
 putties of the Chrtftian Churchy Book XV. Alfo FoRBES InjiruS. 
 Hiflor.'Tbeol. LiD.%1. In Dr. Watirland's /?«<v/M(;, and 
 in the Pre/irvattve againfi Popery, yd. II. Title VII, the fcnti- 
 mentsof many of our Divines, on thii fubjcft, arc coUefted. 
 The pradlical Treatifes on the Lord's Supper among »is are very 
 nu 'crous, and many of them excellent. Bifliop Wilson \-! book, 
 or j/&;r/ and plain InJlru£iionsy fetms to be as well adapted ;is any 
 to general ufe; which I therefore commosl/ recommeud aud dif* 
 tribute. 
 
 ^■■' 
 
 4> 
 
( 6s ) 
 
 ftrong fenfc of their obligation to come to the 
 
 Lord's Table, duly prepared to convince thcnv 
 
 that by withdrawing from that Table,, they tranf. 
 grefs their Saviour's command, rejei^t thp Joveof 
 God,and the bledlngs which he holds out to them ;• 
 that they fo far fhut the door of mercy agalnft 
 themfelryes; and ttopthe'^^uCiOM of divine g*ood. 
 nqrsuu.diecla;ring by their cbtidu^'i in (^th inftaiice' 
 of fiich negleft, that t^ho^^will nd«'h^Vfcthe Son' 
 of God lio reign o^Qr tkttti'\ and are indiflFfei-ent' 
 whether they fKirc iri the bijneifits which his ^ 
 blood has purchafed.'^ • '^■'' ''f ^ --^i <' 
 
 :•:!!' 
 
 ?.lL"/> 
 
 "What - wC^4 ^" !tii<^.,pfi;(OpJ e jCJtpedlj . i» i the . 
 en^, ^^o ^usdeliberateily yiplafe^he^laiSLjf^ailpmn; < 
 c9n)^ap,4i:of t^^iK^,hprdf,;fr^d;^yftf;^ thcflafqiycs i 
 out. of his handi ?. Hov^fljiall they finally cfcape, if 
 tfiey negleft fp gpeat l*al vation.an4 .mercy ? If. they 
 tl>us wJifuUy fi^ af|er|haviiig receiyed.tj^c ^know- 
 ledge of^.thetfU^h,, wY'l^at; ca^ fp^lpvifr. but,a certain ? 
 fearfuj i;6»oki|ig., for of judgmqnt ? - For if Ije that ; 
 defpifed Mofes' Law, died withovit mercy ; of 
 how much forer punifhment Hiall he be thought 
 worthy^ who trcftds 'under foot the Son of God , 
 and dbfiftts thfe'blood of the covenant an unholy ■ 
 thing, tiOt' defcrving' hi^ notic^i' arid thereby' 
 docth d^fpite to the fpiric of grace ?f —May the 
 Lord of his infinitb 'mercy awake them to a fenfc 
 of their "guilr, their danger, and their duty ! 
 
 I Finally. 
 
 i Jf'h. X. ?/r 
 
 ''9 
 
 I ? 
 
 A.. ^. 
 
(.66) 
 
 Finally. Let tht? mind be inYou-which was^ 
 ill Chrift Jefus, who'.* feeing rr^u<;h peoplf,. was 
 moved with compaffidn for ihejr Spiritual fl.tei", 
 for they were as'fiieep Hbt' having a {hepherd^; 
 and t heref^re 'hd began to te4c1i them many 
 
 v:~")ft 'o -rof^' "jH! ''ri) "it ol 
 
 .rif 
 
 . WE.thw9 fee raany! departing from tlic path of' 
 life.; Iftk^w^riPiilnf^nfiblatq their danger, though'" 
 wandering JA the way/w^ieh leads to .dcftrudtion. 
 Let cqmpaffion for theim *nimatj5 Your bofoms. 
 Like faithful Shepherd?* guide them in thc.right 
 way. Teach them the value of their immortal 
 fouls ; and of thofe bleffings and previleges which 
 irtdulgcnt heaven Wo^b'fffe^sl Eatneftly befefech 
 the Almiglity ^b crown Your inf^rufftionn^ and la- ' 
 hours with fuccefs ; for although a Paul may 
 plant, or an Apolios water j yet it is God only, 
 by his grace, that can give :th increafe. Be it at 
 once the obje^V of Your wiflics. Your ambition 
 and endeavours, that thofe who are now commit« 
 tQd to itonr paftoral care, may hereafter be Your 
 crown of rejoicing. -— '- 
 
 i.,>i 
 
 --iUJ.. 
 
 -n 
 
 For this purpofe, unfold to them the plan of 
 redemption by the Son of God, who is the way, 
 and the truth, and the life i and in whofe name 
 only there is falvation.f To prevent iftiftakes, 
 and guard againft errors that might prove fatal, 
 
 inform 
 
 Tl 11 ■■ ■■■■! I ■■ II ■■!■■— ^i—i—i——— III! ■■■ ■ II ^i— — ^ 
 
 • Af#ri. VI. 34. t yotnXlV. 6, JilsW . Xa. 
 
 -I 
 
( 6; ) 
 
 infprm. thetn rightly in what that falvation con- 
 flits'; which is a deliverance from fin, and all their 
 (piritual eriemies. Inform them alfo that thede- 
 flgn of the Gofpel is, by its difcipHne, law$ and 
 Ordinances, to'!m'pIant hplinefs in the heart, and 
 th6reby.to train them up and prepare them for fu- 
 ture happinefs. Nbr fufFer them to be ignorant 
 of this truth, which is very interefting for them 
 to be well convinced of, namely— that although 
 it is the peculiar duty of Clergymen to inftrudt 
 others, and fct them a Chriftian example •, yet 
 the comniandm£tits of God are equally binding 
 on all i and it is as true of the Laity as of the 
 Clergy, that without holinefs no man fhall fee 
 the Lord-i-that a Layman, whatever his rank or 
 ftation m life inay be, if deditute of religion, and 
 under the dominion of fin and vice, will as 
 certainly be excluded from the kingdom of hea- 
 ven, as a Clergyman of the fame defcription, if 
 any fuch may be found •, for both are alike inca- 
 pable of entering thofe manflons where no defile- 
 ment can be admitted -, both are alike unfit to 
 partake of thofe pure joys which are prepared for 
 fuch only as have crucified the flclh, vith the af- 
 fedliohs and lufts •, and who are confo/med to the 
 image of the Son of God.f— Since that ftate of 
 holinefs therefore is equally required and neccfTa- 
 ry in All, we ihould all ftrive to attain it; and 
 
 It frequently 
 
 f Go/. V. »4. Rm,VlU.zg. 
 
C 68 ) 
 
 frequently pray in the words of our Church, that 
 — " Almighty God, who hath given his only 
 begotten Son to take our nature upon him .... 
 would alfo grant that we, being regenerate and 
 made his children by adoption and grace, may 
 daily be renewed by his Holy Spirit j through 
 the fame our Lord Jcfus Chrift."* , 
 
 : r 
 
 ^ CoUtH for Chr'ijlmat Day. 
 
 
 H* 
 
 ERRATA:'' ' 
 
 ^»> V: ^ -' r yy'A ,v^ 
 
 Page II, line i^^ for Scmenaries, rM</ Seminaries. 
 
 P. 23, /, \t for a belief, r. a vain b^clicf. 
 
 ibid. I. 6, y'or who believes, r. who vainly and With* ' 
 out ground believes. • : ijfri. 
 
 P. 33, /. I, after'KAXig, r. (unlefs whcn fpecial-. 
 
 ly authorifed by the Almighty on fome extraordinary occafion.) 
 
 P. 42, /. 20, for be a peace maker, r. be peacemakers. 
 
 P. 53, /. 16, of the note, /or rightly, r, lightly.' K 
 
 It i« hoped no other errors, that affe<El the fenfc, have efcapcd 
 
 , ,, notice. ;., , ..^. . ,. 
 
 'i' 
 
 T- . '■ - \ ■■■' . .''. 
 
 HE Catalogue of Books for a Theolocical Library* ^ 
 annexed to my Charge delivered at Quebec in lySojW^hailily 
 drawn up aijd printed ; which occafioncd fome iiviccuracies. 
 As it is of confcquancc to thofe for whom the' CiUlogue wis ' 
 chiefly defigncd, viz. the younger Clergy, to 4)0 dlrcfted t<S 
 fuch Books as would afford the bell afliftance in their Studies j 
 it was my intention to reprint it, with fevcral alterations, and_ . 
 join it to this Charge ; which however is fo much larger than I 
 cxpedlcd, that I fluU defer both the Catalogue and fomp other 
 things intended for ;m Appendix, till fome future occafion. 
 
f}