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Trata to pelure, n d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 ;; TB V. .»:«, ^T*., -^ \ *«««,, V ■■'^ \ Ml Mi he life bre "E wi( yoi yoi not frii of the the du <■♦•( -YEAE'S <^- F OR THE FRESBTTEBIAN CONGREGATION, CQB&l ^0 a^ BY THEIR AFFECTIONATE PASTOI^'^^*, ^ ^ o JANUARY. 1847. | .^B-OSt^rBS . — -^.^....^^^^^^.^ \,^,\:\h-ir>^p} My Dearly Beloved Brethren, — 'V^O"^^*^ Itis&tated ihat when the remains of Dr. Payson,an eMifient Minister of the Gospel were carried to the Church, where he had so frequently and so faithfully dispensed the word of life, his weeping people saw a paper lying on his motionless breast, placei there at his own request with this inscription, " Remember the words I spake unto you, while I was yet with you." Now although my address on this occasion may come to you in a m mner less fitted to impress your hearts, yet I trust you will receive it as a token of my love for your souls, and not give an unwilling ear to one, who for the last twelve years has laboured among you in the Lord. As it is customary on such occasions as the present for one friend to express towarjs another the mutual demonstration of cordiality ani good will, so I wouU beg you to accept pf my best wishes for your welfare. It is my earnest prayer that this year on which we have justenteicd, may be to you the commencement of mmy happy years to ceme, and that during the remamir^^ ^^^^^^-^ ^fSHP'f ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ exj^^^rience ■L-^aL'ir.::j^a^-*a I the blessed fulfiWent of that j^rofaiifee « THey t^at sfieek the Lord ^all iuk want ^ny good thing. ^' But while desiring yo\jr temporal welfare, I would not be unmindful of your souls. May they " prosper and be in health !" May they b6 washed in the blood of Jesu^. May they be saved iii the day of the Lord, In addressing you oh this occasion, it is niy intention to say a word or two to each of those classes of which every congregation is more or less composed ; for while thore are only two classes strictly speaking — ^the righteous and the wicked — ^believers and unbelievers — children of God and children of the wicked one, these may be divided into other clashes indicative of their progress in the ways of holiness or those of sin. First class, — Tho.^ who have closed with Christ and are liviiig as his true disciples. Your number, My Dear Breth- ren is comparatively small. Ye are indeed " a itie flock'^ But " fear not — ^it is your Father^s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." As Lot was vexed with the filthy conversa- tion of the inhabitants of Sodom, so you cannot but be vexed with the inconsistent character and conduct of many belong- ing to the congregatior, O what need have we " to sigh alid cry for all the'abomipations that are done in the midst of us." I doubt not, Brethren, but you are ready to eomplaiti ^ith Elijah of the few that fear the Lord and keep his cov- fehaht, but as he was surprised when God told him; that thelr^ i)<rere 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal^ ^b there raajr be ^' miany hidden ones^' in this congregation ^horh he is fa-epiririg to take your places when your head^ lij^e laid low iii the dust "The Kingdom of God eoihetli m. ts^iih dttfe^idn?* It ihay be th« in Hhis cotigreg^io% kthe riring your they iithe on to every e are 1 the I and other liiiess rl are keth- fiock^^ e you versa- rexed ilong- fhatid .f us." iplain S COV' thelr?^ Bm\ ^tioiii headj^ )iiveth where as yet so fevr visible mtoifestations 6f the Spfekhav^ been given, God may yetVpour out his Spirit upon us ift such abundance, that it will Appear to us like a resurrection from the dead. And will not that be the case when we m those who are now dead in trespasses and sins revived and quickened-— when we see those who are new indulging in all manner of iniquitv and rushing headlong to destruction, plucked as brands from the burning, and when we behold those who have hitherto served God hypocritically, serving him in spirit and in truth ? Should we not behold this bles- sed sight while we are on earth, of this We sure, that at the day of judgment, we shall see standing on the right of the Judge, individuals, whom circumstances or local situation, or their outward defects and infirmities, or their retiring hur mility and modesty had concealed from our view. What is requited then of you, my Christian Friends, is to pray more earnestly and to labour more zealously in the great cause. Many oift^ie prophecies respecting the outpouring of the Spir- it have yet to be fulfilled; and we have reason to believe that they be will fulfilled in answer to the prayers of God's peo- ple ; letyour prayers and supplications be earnest and frequent for their fulfilment in your day, that you may see " a nation born in a day." " The wilderness and the solitary place made glad and the desert rejoicing and blossoming as the rose.'* To your prayers add your efforts for the conversion of thosiS connected with the congregation, who are out of the way and not for them only, but for all who are yet enemies to God and the gospel. If God in his Providence call you to suflTer for Christ's ^ake^ bear it patiently— yea, rejoice at it, for " yoft must be made perfect through suflfering." " II is through mueh ttibulaltoioh that y4)u must enter the Kingdom." Se^&k to glorify him with your soul^ and bodies which are his. Keep near unto Jesus. He is able and as willing as he is able at all times to help you Let his love ^^constrain you to Kve no longer to yourselves but unto Him that died for you." I'hen may you entertain the hope that "when he who is Jour life shall appear, ye also shall appear with him in glory." f the individual now reading this belong to the class I have been addressing, I beseech of him to read it again and to act in accordance with the suggestions which I have given. Second class.— Those who are not so zealous and hearty in the Christian warjWi'e as they ought to be. — You are in the con- dition of the Cliurch of Laodicea — " Lukewarm, neither coli nor hot." You do not indeed neglect religion altogeth- er, but you are not so zealous in it as you ought to be. You do not take so much delight in its exercises as you ought. Xou acknowledge that "Wisdom's ways are ways of plea- santness, and all her paths, paths of peace." Yet how is it that you are more ready to seek for pleasure in other ways, which the word of God does not warrant? You acknowl- edge that Jesus is not an hard master ; that his yoke is easy and his burden light, yet how is it that when you are re- quested to do any thing for him or his cause, you need so much pressing to engage m it ? Flow difficuhis it for instance to get you out to a meeting for prayer, or reading Missionary intelligence, or something connected with the prosperity of the congregation ! How frequently is your pew empty on a Sabbath evening, and how very reluctant are you to give of your worl ily substance for the spread of the Gospel at home or abroad I The cause of Christ might languish for aught that you do to keep it alive. The heathen might per- isdi for lack of kiuwledge^ The Jews might continue in thfcir unbelief. Your own Brethren in this land might con- tinue to hang their harps on the willows — ^to mourn over their spiritual destitution, and see their children growing up in ignorance and sin. Were all Christians as lukewarm as you in the cause, there would not have been Missionaries in almost every part of the habitable world. There would not have been a Duff in Calcutta, a Wilson in Bombay, or a Mitchell at Puna. There would have been uo societies for the conversion of the Jews ; neither would there have been even in this land a Missionary to proclaim to you the glad tidings of salvation, and break unto you the bread of life. I beseech you, my dear Friend, if you belong to this class, to bestir yourself. Awake from your lethargy. Take a deeper interest in the cause of Missions in general, and those of our own Church in particular. Give every support and encouragement in your power to that institution v/hich has been in operation for nearly three years, at Toronto, and which is now so prosperous, having for its object the train- ing of young men for the Ministry. Attend more frequently those meetings which have for their object the spread of the Gospel at home and abroad. And though last — not least, give more liberally and more cheerfully of your means for the cause of Christ. Let your pew in Church be as seldom empty as possible. Be zealous and repent, " And the Lord shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday." Third class. — Tlwse v:ho are in a hopeful state ^ enquinng the way to Zion. — To you I would speak with all tenderness and affection. Oh that your number were greatly increased. Oh that we saw more concerned about the salvation of their 80uk Oh that we heard many uttering the publican'^ i«; 'V prayer, « God be merciful to me a sinnet" or askm| wi* fee Philippian jailer, " what must I do to be saved 1 A|- though at the outset of your enquiries, you may meet with inan? things which appear dark and doubtful, be noM;ast do#n or discouraged. If God grant you his grace, all these will vanish. You are like travellers m a dark mght, with not even a star in the Heavens to guide them— but soon will the star of Jacob appear— soon will the Sun of Righteous- ness arise, and when he shines into your hearts, the clouds of i<^norance and error will then be dispelled, and you will see things in their true light. Expect not, however, that this will be done all at once. The light of day comes in gradually. The dawn first appears, "then the morning ligh which shineth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day " God often brings the blind by a way which they know not, and in paths which they have not trod." It was thus that Bunvan, who wrote the Pilgrim's Progress, was trough to a knowledge of the truth. Having married an individual who was decidedly pious, from being careless and sintul he became thoughtful and serious. One day while travelling through Bedford, he overheard several females conversing on the things of God. They talked of the influence of the Spirit, and of the nature and necessity of the new birth— he felt deeply affected by what he heard, and was strongly con- vinced that he was as yet ignorant respecting the very rudi- ments of religion. He engaged in conversation with them, and received from them what light on Divine xruth they possessed. ' He speedily became a totally changed man His sentiments-^is disposition— his condition of heart, and his entire outward couauct unuerwcui, a. v,u^jij^»<-;^v ^^. -— „■ "He now rqoiced in Christ Jesus— worshipped God in the t with lot cast 1 these ;, with m will liteous- clouds •u will BT, that mes in ? light, ;t day.'* ow noty us that )rought ividual iful, he ,velling versing e of the :th — ^he rly con- ry rudi- li them, th they id man. art, and d in the I Spint, and bad no confidence in the flesh'[ Through the mercv of God, you may be brought to the same blessed sTate ^ Are you Really an'xious for it ^ Then use the means within your reach. Wait, like the man at the pool of Beth- esda, for the moving of the waters. Come to ordmances. Search the Scriptures. Pray for guidance and direction. Consult experienced Christians. Stifle not those convictions of your sin and misery, already produced within you. Rest not till you get a sight of Christ and him crucified. Lay down the burden of your sins at the foot of t^ie cross. If vou have lived long in the world, and enjoyed the means of irace, without ever being seriously concerned about ypur touls— how much need have you for repentance ? You have not a moment to fose. With you the day is far spent, — the niffht is at hand in which no one can worlc. There is no sight more melancholy than that of an aged man or woman " living without hope, and without God m the world." How awful, if the individual now perusing this address, should be such an one. Is it really so, my dear Friend ? Let me entreat of you to repent without delay Seek mercy of God through the merits of Jesus Christ, and all may yet be well. If you are young, your time is also precious, for if Satan once take complete possession of your heart, it will be next to impossible to drive hira from his strong hold. He is the strong man armed, mentioned in Scripture, and none but Christ is stronger than he If, tliere- fore, you get no assistance from Christ— yea, if Christ him- self do nc. come and drive him out, your heart, instead of being a temple for the Holy Ghost, will remain as a cage qf every unclean and hateful bird." And can you bear the idea of having oatan uweumg Uf yvu, iusk-om-u w* v^i,^, fff^g^ 8 & t I -I I if ' \l I Spirit ? Can you submit to be Satan's slave when you might become the Lord's freeman ? At your time of life you are much exposed to the snares and temptations of the world, the devil, and the flesh. It is, therefore, absolutely necessa- ry for your safety to be very watchful. Resist the first at- tacks of Satan. Let him not get an advantage over you. If any good impressions have been made upon your hearts, seek not only to have them deepened, but also to have them remain with you. Remember the blessed promise, " I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find me." O may you, as an individual, know this by blessed experience. May you be of the number of those " whom God chooses and causes to approach unto him — whose trans- gressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered." To assist you in your search after truth, read such works as these, T/ie PllgrMs Progress, Doddriflge's Rise and Pro- gress of Religion in the Soul, and James'* Anxious Enquirer After Salvation. Study these along with your Bible, and pray for the guidance and direction of God's Spirit, whose province it is, to lead you into all truth, and to take of the things that are Christ's, and show them to your souls. Fourth class. — Those tvho are so engrossed toiih the world as almott if not altogether to neglect the one thing needful. Whatever be the prevailing sin in other Ian Js none can deny that the most prevalent one in this land is worl lliness. It pervades all ranks and degrees of men in it. All are crying " Give, give, what more will you give ?" All are crying "Get, get, what more can we get?" "The world," says Adams, " is in some form or other the great Diana, the grand natural state. They bow down to it— they worship it^ — ^they u might jrou are J world, necessa- I first at- you. If hearts, ve them " I love lall find blessed " whom se trans- * h works md Pro- inquirer Die, and t, whose 5 of the s. fie world needfuL an deny less. It 5 crying crying id," says le grand fr* All* 3.1,1. it^ — ^they 9 soend and are spent for it— they educate their children in its service-their heart^their minds-their memones-^heir imaginations are full of it-their tongues ^P^f.^fj^^^' hands grasp it— their feet pursue it— m a word it is all in all Sem, wSile they give scarcely a word, a ook or a tho"gM to Him who made and preserves them an;J ^^^ is/^^"/, f " n Si " Another writer speaking of worl ly good says "of all that have tried the selfish experiment, let one come forth and say he has succeeded. He that has made gold h.s idol IIL it satisfied him ? He that has toi ed in the fields of ambition-has he been repaid ? . He that has ransacked ejery theatre of sensual enjoyment-is he ^^^^^^^ ^,, ^'^^ ^en swer in the affirmative ? not one." 1 o you then, Brethren, X are immoderately attached to the world I would say- What benefit do you derive from adding house to house and field to field, when you know, or ought to know that vanity and vexation of spirit" is inscribed upon every tmng earthly ? How often do riches take unto themselves wings and flee away? How often is property lost oy reason of having a bad title or going to law? How frequently does the seed which with much care has been put into the «ojl ^^J^ whic^ gave early promise, turn out unproductive ? Why then do Su placeVependeAce upon the v.orld ? Why do you ex- pect happiness from it ? How will you answer to God foi the mi^mprovement of time and talents committed to your care ? How will you account for the trouble which you have shown about many things, while the one thing needful has been seldom the object of your anxious solicitude ? Y ou dare not say that you are happy-even now while I am ad- rfrp«.,in<r vou. Question your own hearts. Are you at peace within 1 ' Do f ou fear nothing 'i Uo you wish tor nouung f ID Does conscience never lift up its still small voice against you ? Would you wish to live and die such as you are? Gould you. meet death without fear and amazement "l. Could you appear before your Creator without terror or shame. Think, O think seriously of these things. Remember the case of the man mentioned in the Gospel wiio said '- Soul take thine ease for thou hast much goods laid up for many years"— but to whom It was said " Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?" " You cannot serve God and mammon." Whosoever is a friend of the world is an enemy of God. You must be for the one or the other. Which of them will be most likely to give you comfort and satisfaction on a death bed ? Sure- ly you can be at no loss to determine. The service of tne worll has uniformly been attended with disappointment, sorrow and vexation during life, and at death has filled the lover of it with dreadful forebodings ; v/lvile the service of God has been attended with happiness and peace during life, and at death has filled the believer with the most blessed consolations. Bt persuaded then to make religion your great, your principal concern. ^' Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things will be added unto you." I'lFTii CLASS. — Those mho are openly wicked and profane*.. This may come into the hands of some one loho is far gone %i% wickedness and sin, who regards neither God nor man, and who is perhaps ready to say '' no man careth for my soul." Whoever thou art, O sinner, let me assure you, that there are some that care for your soul, and wicked as you are, I have a word to vot\ 1 have a messag:e for vou. I cannot you, you. you? 3ould I you hink 5 Lse of thine ,rs"— r soul gs be irer is be for likely Sure- ice of ment, 3d the ice of uring lessed your orn of added one tn. 1, and soul." ire are [have ot say a that vou are either in a safe or happy condition. Youxannot % I yonrsel.3 ^'^, JgruSe^^SfS S runorodly and the sLer appear." Has not the past shall he unoaiy ^nd more than enough to C bl'^devVteT to th?fo^o^^ng out the sinful inclinations of your own wicked hearts? Have you not jet «een the miflt and dan-er of neglectincr the salvation of your never fJnrr soul Have you not felt that sin is ever accompanied dy ng soul . ri y J.J ^Q^ had experience S'itta vei^h^d ma^t^r J that I bondage is worse than ha of EVyp. O sinner, is your conscience completely seared? llL nothing made you repent? Has not Ae Ia .r Pn^ ilone it^ Has not affiiction done it # Have word of God '^f^^l- j:^^^ ^^^ enireaties of friends done not warnings 01 ministers ana mtci it ? Has not the fleeting nature of time done » • f ^ f ^^^ erhan- l^ave been tried upon you, but your heart still re Shanl-ashard as it was kst year-nay harder-youi mdiiia nc^ivi firther from God — lartner state IS much worse. \ ou ar If "ler i o Then " harden not your hearts." " v.u .. ....... ^^^^ the rirliteous but sinners to repentance." Even now lie i. sayincr '' Look to me, believe on me and thou sha be saved " iome to me and I will give you rest." Come then, Osm ner, come without delay. There is not a ^omeiit o osa Pipe for vour life Embrace Jesus this very day, this % cry h ur. He is !iow standing and knocking at the oor of your heart will vou not open and let him come m ? He may nouarrv lon^ If you now delay to open, he may depart from yoVand you m'ay never ha/e such another opportunity 12 while you are on earth. Oh, will you not say " Come, O blessed Jesus, and take possession of my soul. I make you most welcome to come and abide with me for e^er." Sixth class. — Tkoite who ortce frofesned to be disciples of Christy but who have apostatized from that professioa. Your case is even worse than those belonging jto the former class inasmuch as you have enjoyed more opportunities and made a greater profession. No language" says a certain writer " can describe the mischief of backsliding and where wilful and continued, no words can express its enormity. It is to give up God — to give up Christ — to give up hope — to give Up heaven — to make oneself the slave of Satan and prepare oneself for a miserable eternity." The word of God re- presents confirmed backsHders as "turned after Satan" — " as drawing back unto perdition" — " as crucifying to them- selves afresh the Son of God and putting him to an open shame." And are not these denunciations truly awful? Should they not terrify and alarm you ? Shouli they not cause you to seek for mercy while it may be found? Oh, how awful the guilt winch you contracted, in siuing down at a communion table with no love to Christ in your hearts ! Often perhaps has the wine been handed to you by God's ministers, but as often have you counted it an unholy thing. Often have you betrayed him to an ungodly world. O thou bachslider, is this thy return for all his mercy and love? Does not your heart burn within you, when you think of his bloody sweat and his bleeding side — and when you hear him crying out "My soul is exceeding sor- rowful even unto death"— or " My God My God— why hast thou forsaken me." Look back to the time when you first professed vourself his disciple. It was according to our own confession, a solemn day : and it was apparently a happy day too : but where is all your profession now ? Who would have thought that one so well instructed, and so promising, would so soon draw back and return \o the world ? Does not every opportunity afford- ed you of sitting down at the Lord's table, aggravate your ffuih and heighten your condemnation ? And can you thmk of living and dying in this state ? Will you still reject Christ and his offered mercy? Shall your minister have cause to mourn over you here, and to be a swift witness agains: you at the day of Judgment ? God forbid ! A youno- woman, who had made a profession of religion^ but had fallen from it, and led a life of carelessness, was confined to bed by some severe sickness. With a counten- ance full of bitter distress, she said, " I once knew the way of salvation. I once couU look at death with comfort— but now I cannot— I fear there is no mercy for me." Unexpec- tedly her illness took a favourable turn, she then said, 1 have suffered much, but not half so much as I deserve for my base ingratitude." Be assured, O backshder, that the longer you continue in this state, the harder you will become. " Your last state shall be worse than your first." Ponder then the path of your feet. " Turn ye, turn ye for why will ye die ? i-oisake your sins by repentance, and your in- iquities bv calling on God. It may indeed be to you hke the cutting off a right hand, or plucking out a right eye— but it must be done, n you are to le saved. Seek pardon through the blood of Jesus. Pray often, and pray earnestly. Give not sleep to your eyes nor slumber to your eyelids, till your peace be made up with God. Let not Augustine^s prayer before his conversion, be yours, " Lord convert me, O Lord m U convert me— but not to-day, Lord, not to-day." Pray that you may be converted this very dsty — ^this very hour. No# IS the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Life is the seasbh G(xl has given, To fly from Hell and rise to Heaven, : That day of grace fleets fast away, And none its rapid course can stay. ' I leave you in the hands of a merciful God. May he have mercy upon your soul. And may you yet be seen sit-« ting- at his table on earth a true and faithful disciple, and b© thereby prepared for sitting down at that table in Heaven which shall never be drawn. Having thus addressed the several classes of which, as ai congregation you are composed, I would draw to a conclu-* sion. God's goodness has been manifested to you in sparing you to see the beginning of another year. Let your hearts he filled with gratitude, and your tongues with praise. Let holy resolutions of amendment and devotedness to his ser- vice be formed and carried out. Let it be' seen that you are pilgrims and sojourners upon the earth — that your treasure is in Heaven, and that you are looking for those new Hea- vens and that new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. ' Who can tell. Brethren, which of you may be called away by death during the course of this year ? It may be a fath* er-— it may be a mother. It may be a son — it may be a daughter. It may be a true believer — it may be one uncon- verted. Let none " boast of to-morrow, for we know not what a day may bring forth." And now I commend you to Godj and the word of his grace, and beg to subscribe myself. Your Affectionate PASTOR Cobckrgj January^ I8i7 . ui - ay that Now APP ENDIX. Itfafc^i^ld— i I <i.i fcflW a lay he leen sit- and be leaven jh, as a conclu- jparing" hearts 1. Let lis ser- ^ou are 'easuro V Hea- less. 1 away a fath- y be a uncon- >w not you to nyself^ OR TO COMMUNICANTS. t'or the benefit of those of you who design, in the provi- dence of Gtod, to commemorate the death and dymg love ot Jesus, next Lord's day, I beg to annex the followmg hmts . respecting that ordinance :— , v i, . vi I The spiritual exercises of a behever at the Lord s table, I are— L Meditation. 2. Prayer, 3. Se/f dedication.-Seii^^ I dedication is a cheerful, voluntary surrender on the part ot the believing communicant to the service and glory ot God. Isa. 44: 5. Jer. 1 : 5. Rom. 12: 1. 2 Cor. 8: 5. This exercise of the soul is the language of— * ' ■ 1. Conscious Weakness.— Fs. 49 : 1, 2. Isa, 33 : 14 ; 40 : 29. 2. Lively confidence in the Divine Promises.— 2 Cor. 12 : J. Sam. 3:24. Ps. 73 : 24. 3. Felt obligation to redeeming mercy.— \ Cor. 6 : Z\}. i l et, i * 1 7 18 4. Ardent and enlighieved love.— Ps. 73 : 23, 2&; 106: 1- Sol. Song 1:3; 5: 10; 8; 6; 1 Mm 4; 19. THE PROFESSION IMPLIED IN A COMMUNICANT. Whoever approaches the Lord's table in effect professes — 1. That he has spiritual life. John 11 : 25: 14: 6. Ps. 69 : 32. Rom. 8:6; Col. 3 : 4. hungers and thirsts after the nourishment of the spiritual life within. Deut. 8 : 3. John 6 : 35. Matt. 5: 8. Ps. 42: 2. Isa. 44. 3. makes an open confession of sin. 1 Cor. 11: 26. has an apprehension of the person and work of the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor. 11: 24, 29. entirely and exclusively depenis on Christ for par- don, acceptance, and eternal life. 1 Cor. 1 1: 29. . Has a sense of obligation to the Lord Jesus. I Cor. 2. 3. 4. 6. 6. 7. 11: 24. John 14: 13,21. — an honest resolution henceforth to seek the glory of Christ. Gal. 6: 14. 8. a sincere desire to separate from the world. 1 Cor. 10: 21. Eph. 2: 18, 19. 9. — •— a determination to prefer the people of Christ to all other society. Acts 4: 23. Ps. 119: 63. Note. — Let the above be carefully and prayerfully read and meditated upon by each intending communicant. NT. isses — . Ps. of the 6: 35. 26. of the >r par- 11:29. ICor. lory of 1 Cor. ; to all jr read