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 <■♦•( 
 
 -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