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A^ ro Ni N.E im'kk^J^^^AD > ^-~™ J., , ' fyy^l^ VR'CHARp Draper, yiTHot iAs and jok^FLcyy. ^,-^?^^ / 1 II f m,m ffi > ' 'jf'mn^\^ 'mr*^' BIBLIOTHEQUE DE LA VILLE DE MONTREAL COLLECTION GAGNON \ "«^' ] % I ':- o ac) rorme 1580— l-.'tl I . t ' , JNl / ei , n And a A u n IN t * ■i» * * "M-' 'ifci. duty enco worl .,-s^,e™,;w»*****- ''«.::.Jr,«'.';?^, BT ■' I'- ' ■ ' I . I«P" ,11 II ^^(^^^pp^» •»'■ ■\ — i rt r ^ Call from Macedonia. ^\\\ 4 im ^ 9i3r pr^ent inquiry. The Apoftlcs of Jcfus, immediately cofliraiilioned, ttnd fent by him to teach ^1 nations, crofTed feas and lands, — travelled to didant regions, fpreading, where ever they came, thb favour pf. thPi knowledge of Chrift : — and in their journies from place to place, were under a fpecial directi- on of the Spirit of God. When Vaul had gone through Syria, and Cilicia, his native country, eitabiiihing »the churches there before planted ; Ittwent into feveral -provinces of the ^effer Afia, which had not till then beenirittted \)irithnthe light of th)egofpeI. In his i^rogrefs thrb'-^e region -ti Galatta, where h^ was fo afie^flionately received, as if an Ang«:i irom heaven. Of Jefus 'l!!hrift himfelf, had come among them, he and his alTociates were forbid' den of the Httly Ghofi to preach the luord in ,AsiA ; i. e. Proconlulary5^fl: for the places before mentioned lay in AJia Minor : as did alfo Mujia, the moft we^ern province of it. From whence they were minded to turn northward, and attempted to go into J Bithjnia : btit the Spirit fuffered them not, — by revelation direded them another way: and they camedbwii toTrotfi, bordering on the JEgean fea, near the ruinsr of the celebrated " -' a.aciQ«t fn!t;ie^it| tcrmim to Paul in his nlight t^ereft\ the foi W^ul PI come ovt donia twixt on one tfbipfiJag o< that ilQod b QVCf th< ^bisa it with Mfefvledgc ?s from dircfti- aul had i native » there feveral ch had iight of region mately leaven, among forbid" vordin places or : as evince ded to o into ',--by ' : and 3n the >ratcd ^ciept A Gall from Maudonm* f Anient X'rojfi Wfcifle theyj^^er^here, uijifde* tcrmmed u' hither %o gonepUi avijton apfe^fs to Paul in the night, — whether in a drea»^.Pf in his waking minutes, ( as his own heart izlighc be deviling his w^y ) is ftpt> fud : t^ere ftbod a man ofMncedonia^ an Angel nU^ the fortn of a certain Macedonian, whotn yW perhaps knew, and prayed him, /e^it^g^ come over, into Macedonia and help ns, M^tce* donia was a large country in Europe, be- twixt Epirtfs and J'Rracia ; ilretching jtfelf on one lide of thc.'Egean fea, now callej>/r- ffbipeJago, As a B^ciTenger from the people ol that c;oiantry, the jpian in the viuoa Aqod before Tanl, intrp^ting him to cqtxTi^ Qivcr the f^ to th^m, (landing in great nee4 ^ jhis aHUtance) and in arcadineli to accept it with gratitude and joy ^^ yind after he had feen the vifon, and tqld it us, i. e, Silasp Timotheus, and the recorder of the adls of the Apoftles, who was thcEvangeHflLiyir, fauPs attendants ; immediately we endeavQur" ed to go into Macedonia, affuredly gathering that theLordJe/us himjelj had called uj to preach the gojpel unto them* $ This was an extraordinary call to iaft Apollle of Jefus, to go with his aljTociates to a certain place, and preach the gospel unto a certain people ; yet there is foine* thing in the management o£ it, u hich feem- eth to render it an inftru^ivc example of aa ordinary I ■■■; «* r * ( ^,,,0^^ ■\ . 1 I A Call from Macidoma. drdinary authentic call, to do the like ; and fuificient to ground this Observation from the words, viz. ' : THAT from §fair invitation given him by a ffople, to come and help them, a minifter of Chrift maj ajfuredly infer that the Lord hath called him,, andhe Jhould immediately endeavouf to go and preach the gofpel unto them. 4» In difcuiling this point, I would fayi ^ I. That a minifter of Chrift cometh iinto a people, to helf them. The voice, in*Paur^ viuoH, as ot the people of Mace- donia, faid, come over^ and help us. This is the end of every minifter's miifion, and the errand on which he ii fent, and doth come unto a people, even to help them. We are not told, what order of minifters in the primi- tive chriftian church they were, whom St. !Pa«/calleth helps, when he faith, * '* God hath fet fome in the church, firft, apoftles, fecondarily, prophets, thirdly, teachers, af- ter that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diverfities of tongues." If they were invcfted with an office diftin6t from any other, and peculiar to them, we fhould guefs them to be the Deacons, who were then entrufted with the diftribution of the charities of the church, for the relief of the diftrefted poor : But the diverfities of gifts only • I Cor, xii, .sa&-. '•N 10 A Catl from Macedoiiia, from him, by the miniftry of men of the famtf infirmities with thcmfclvcs, isitimpartedtothem. This is a wife and gracious provifion tff Hclff for them, which the exigence of thvlr cafe re- quires: and hereby our God doth fupply all their need, according to his riches in glory, by Chfift Jcfus. — A minilfcr of his coming to them in the Fulnefsofthc blcdlng of thegofpcl of Chrilb, i. c. 'with a full and abundant blcffing accompanying his labours among them. — 'A minirtct cometh unto a people, to help them in all their wants, and vvcaknelfcs/m all their affliftions,tcroptations, difficulties, didrefTcs. and dangers. And to this, oh ! how much fkill, and care, and labour, and zeal, and condefcenfion, and compafTionatc ten- dcrncfs, arerequifitc ? — He cometh to help them underftand the holy fcriptures, which how caii they, in many parts thereof, except Jhme matt guide them ? — To open to them the glorious fchemc of Redemption by Chrift, — to inftruft them in the whole compafs of their duty, and urge them by the ftrongeft motives to the prac- tice of it. — To fhcw upto them the way of fal- vation, and to direA, and quicken, and facilitate! their walk in it. — To ftrengthcn their fecbld knees, to reclaim their wandering ftcps, and to recover thf m from their falls^— to help thein withlUnd in the evil day of conflift with ftrong and malicious enemies — to refirt the Devil in his afTaults; to overcome the world iri theenfharing influence of its terrors and blandifliments ; to watch the heart, and keep it with all diligence—* to help them in the whole work and warranying Cometh wants, tations, to this, ur, and ite ten- ipthem ow cart me man jlorious inftruft ty, and ic prac- of fal- iciiitattf feebld and to them ftrong 1 in his (haring mts; ta encc— • ^arfarcj which I ji Call from Macedonia, \\ which they, as ChriAians, have to accomplifh.-^ —fie cometh to help them, by prtaching the gofpcl unto them, plainly, fully, uncorruptly ; rightly dividing the word of truth, and giving to every one his proper portion, of in(lru«jrion, of counfel, of reproof, of confolation — to help them with his prayers, in private and publick— by his regular conduct in the houfe of God, ruling well, and faithfully adminiflring the facra** mcnts and ccnfures of the gofpcl ; and by an exemplary vcrtuous behaviour in his life. r Various and very prefllng arc the neceflities of mens fouls, to which the help of a good mini- fter ofJcfusChrift ftiould bclpeedily, wifely and compafilonarely adapted ; and he cometh to them with hearty intention and dcHre to afTprd them the fame, to the utmoO of that ability he is fur* ni(hcd with ; devoting his (kill, his time, his ftrength, his care, and pains, to the fcrvice of their fouls, for which he is glad to fpend and be fpeilt : while he fearcth and trenibleth, icil thfough his with-hoUiing of help, they (hould perifh, and their blood be required of him in the approaching awful day of accounts. Such a minifter's coming to a people, is in- deed to their worldly emolument. It ordina- rily contributes not a little to the advancement of their outward eftaic ; the prefervation of peace and good order in civil fociety, the encourage- ment of indultry, and the change, fometimes, cf a wildernefs into a fruitful land : but the great and moft beneficial defign of it is, to pronioxt? .ibdr fpiritvM ^nd eternal intcre(ls,and helps their 6 fowh / ^■^iMmiiS^-^ r ti A Call from Macedonia. fouls to Heaven.- — —Bkjfedy may they well fay, is he that cometh on this kind errand to them, in the name oj the Lord. How beautiful are the feet of him thut preacheth the gqfpel of peace, and brivgeth glad tidings of good things ! • II. That people fhould invite a minifterof Chrifl: to come, and help them. — A man of Ma* cedonia liood before Paul, and in the name and . behalf of the people prayed him^ faying., come ovet into Macedonia, and help us. '1 his was done in a vifion of the night, and by an extraordinary dire- «,—»§»■» > i*m» ■I 14 A Call from Macedonia, is thought to allude to the (Iretching out, of lifting up of hands in the ele<^ion of officers ; and fo to import the fettling of miniflers in the churches with the fuffragcs of the people. "Whatever extraordinary power the Apoltlcs were endowed with, it is little probable that they would authoritatively fix paftors in the fe^ ycral churches they planted, contrary to the in-f clinations, or even without the explicit C(jnfcnt of the people. The circumftances of things in .their days cfpecially would not allow of their doing it. ' Th e end of a minifter's coming unto a peo- ple fhewcth that it fhould be at their dcfire, or by their confcnt. No man can help them to be good, and get to heaven, againll their wills— ^ Nothing can be done by force tou ards the cure and falvation of their fouls— I'o fave them that hear him, as a minider doth thofe whom he cffeftualy h«lpeth, there muft be, on their part, compliance, and concurrent endeavours ; with- out which almighty grace doth not, I might (ay, cannot help and fave them. In the nature of the thing, help muft be accepted, that it may be fuch indeed. By the law of felf- prefervation, people have a natural right to pror vide for the fafety of their fouls ; and the gofpel .confirms this to them, in the liberty it gives them of choofing, or confenting to, their own paftor, to whom they commit the care of their fouls. To deny them this, is to deprive them of a moft intcrefting branch of religious freedomt and the cxcrcife of a natural care ot their own ', ; (alvatioi^. ■•I' i ^4 a, ig out, Of ' officers ; ers in the : people. Apoltlcs )able that in the fe^ to the in-f :it ctjnfent ' things in r of their nto a pco- • dtfire, or lein to be if wills— r Is the cure them that whom he their part, jrs ; with- I might the nature that it w of felf- ht to pror the gofpel ;y it gives their own re of their ve them of ; frcedotn, their owi> (alvatloa. *i^' A Call from Macedonia, 15 felvation. — A tyranny worfc than that over the bodies and cftates of men. — May wc never fuffef it in this land, to which our fathers made their efcape from it. .^ • ., ' People fhould efteerii \t their great privilege^ as it is their undoubted right, and boundenduty^ ro invite — to eleft and call a minifter of Chrift 10 their conflant afliflance in their fpirituai and eternal concerns ; and do it as one of the moft ferious and important tranfafcions of their lives, A very flupid people muft they be, that are not at all folicitous who, or what, their minifter is. In Jeroboams time they cared not who were theit' priefts, and were content to have them *** of the loiveft of the people :" fit only to be priefts of them that were no Gods, and carry ftraw to the calves at Dan and Bethel ; not to teach Ifrael God's Jiatutes. Some are eafy under the minify try of an unqualified perfon, that fuits their hu-* mours, or favours their party, or becaufe they have him on cheap terms, f Micah (atisfied himfelf in this, that for a fmall matter (ten fhe»» kels of filver, a fuit of clothes, and his visuals) he had gotten a ftragglingLcvite to be his priefl. It is a great judgment to a people, and if it be of their own choice, it is their great fin, to bcf placed under the miniftry of an unfkilful, un- faithful man. They fhould not for any thing in this world call their fouls upon fo dangerous a difaJvantage. ** There is as great difference be-* tween an able, learned, judicious, orthodox^ godly * I Kiogs xii. 31. t Jttdg. jtvil. I \J 5 •-t I Il t6 A Call from Macedonia^ i godly, Jlligenr, lively teacher ; and an ignorant, heretical, ungodly, dull and flothful man, as ia between a fkilful and an ignorant pilot at Tea: or between an able, experienced; faithful phyfi* dan, and an ignorant, rafh and treacherous one, ts to the faving mens lives." And who would take a fot for his pilot; or cmpirLk for his phy- fician ?— As directed by the word of God, peo- ple fhould chufe a true minifter of Chrift to be their's. The people's invitation, or call, is not neceflary to the general office of a gofpel-mini- fter, to preach and baptize; but only to the appropriation or relation of a minifter to thcni- fclves : i.e. to the being of a pallor of a parti- cular church, as fuch, but not of a minifter of Chrift, as fuch. > et a man may at once be or- dained a minifter in general, and the paftor of this or that ciiurch, or chriftian fociety, in par- ticular : And in a chriftian country, wholly in* churched, it may be fitteft he fliould be fo ; left many being ordained fine titulo, idlcnefs, and poverty of fupernumcraries, fhould corrupt and difhonour the miniltry. And people fhould fee that they invite one to be their minifter in par* ticular, whom the Lord calicth to the office in general— *who is allowed of God to be put in truft with the go* pel, which he comcth to preach unto tlum. People fhould commit their ibuls to the paftor al care and charge of fuch men only to be watched over, to whom iimothy was dire(5led to commit the doctrines and facraments of the gofpel, to be difpenfed by them ; % faith* % 2 Tim. ti. 3. 'w:r 1 .■*4fe w J,,,"* j*M*"i»a(. ■ A Call fr^m Macedonia, 17 ignorant, an, as \t t at Tea: ul phyfi* rous one, 10 would his phy* Jod, peo- irift to be ill, is not pel-mini- y to the to thcm- ►f a parti- linifttf of [ce be or- paftor of ^, in par- ' holly in* e fo ; left nefs, and Tupt and hould fee r in par* J office in o be put :omcth to nmit their fuch men lothy was icraments ; Xfciith* ful >~"i' # ful men, 'Ufhojfjall be able to teach others alfo-^ faithful men — men found in the faith, and trup to their trufl: — orthodox and upright mcn,faith*» ful to their own fouls, who arc moft likely to be faithful to the fouls of others. A man de- ftitute of the faith that would fave him, thougl^ he (hould want no qualification abfolutrly nc* cefTary to a gofpel-minifter, yet he docs one thiU is molt excellent and ufeful. Who can be wil* ling to entruft his foul with him, whom he fceth treacherous to his own ? An ungodly man may, indeed, take more care of another's foul, that! he doth of his own ; and labour more for ano* thcr's reformation : becaufe this may confift with, yea, be fubfcrvient to, the enjoyment of his lults. Yet, can his people hope that he will have companion enough for a minifler on their fouls, in danger of perifhing, who is cruel to his own ? If he dare venture himfelf, it is no wonder if he let others go on, in the way to dcftrudion. If it be aflced, how fhall a people know a faithful man, whom they fliould invite to come and help them ? 1 he anfwcr muft be, that they can know him only by his profcflion and praftice. If they make the word of God the rule of their judging of this miniderial qualification, they rnuit judge by the outward apptirancc: And they would be liable to fin againlt the law of Chrift,and of charity, if they (hould judge other- wife : nay, though they (hould Iiappcn not to be miflakcn in their judgment.- And from a man's behaviour as a Chriflian, a probable con- Q jcut people arc liable to miiiake in this point, and no manr can certainly gather barely from a people's call- ing him, that the Lord calleth him to be their minifkr ; unkfs he be confcious tv> liimfelf of fuitablc qualifications therefor. People may. and too often do, invite rhofe to preach unto them, whom the Lord calleth not to preach at all ; and confequcntly not to them, if they aie no^ called of God to the office, they are not fo to the place in which they officiate — arc intruders iato both. Falfe prophets r««, when they are Dot/cni, They come i« thei^ own name, tho^ B^o^einvite and receive them. Impoftors deceive J ■M^ * ."* c; 2. ^^O^IHJ 'ttm-. 16 A Call from Macedon ^'■* ! vi la. people into a liking and admiration of ihcm ; tis not therefore a fair invitation, which is at any time given them ; and nothing can be infcrtd therefrom to juflify their preaching the gofpcl unto people. */ am come in my Fathers name, faith Chrid, and ye receive me not : if another Jhail come \n his own nam^, him uuillje receive, Tif F necejfity of the people who invite a mi- tiifter to come and help them, may render his call from God to go and preach the gofpel unto them deaf. Where there is a famine or great iz2.Xi:\iy o{ hearing the ivorJofthe Lord, and poor fouls are fainting for it ; in compaflion to them nur heavenly Farht r gives the bread of life to the people that «fk it of him. He fends it by the hand of him whom they invite to come, and preach the gofpel unto them, 'l^aul was minded to vifit fcveral- other parts of AJia^ but the Lord called him by a man of Macedonia to hafKn into Europe . TJp rcafon might be bc- caufc the people there ftood in greater immediate need of his help, which they afked, having never as yet had the gofpcl preached, and the kingdom of God bro't nigh unto them : where- as the ^'^fian provinces that were paflcd by, might have the advantage of hearing the report of it from their neighbours, among whom Paul, and his fellow-helpers, had been already preaching it. If this were not a circumflance attending that particular call, making it the clearer to him, it is wertaia he did f ftriye to preach the gofpel, not *iuhprf i i '^^ N^ ti i of them i 1 is at any )c infcrtd rhe gofpcl er's natntf if another le receive, vltc a mi- cr his call ^ipc\ unto e or great .orJ, and paflion to ead of life Ic fends it : to come, T'aul was ^Jia, but :edoma to ',ht he be- immediate \, having I, and the 1 : where- by, might )ort of it Paul, and caching it. ding that him, it is jofpel, not 1^ I 4»' A Call from Macedonia. .^^ tuhcrc Chrijl was n -med^ and a foundation of chrii^ian kno i \^ge and faith was laid, and fo would have been more eafy for him to build upon ; but in places where the Redeemer's name was before quite unheard of, and the people were in more imminent danger of perifliing for want of vifion. Their greater neceflity, doubtiefs, whb lived in uncvangelized places, made him think he had a louder call to go and preach unto them.— Vciy different was he, from many high preten- ders to a divine miilion in his days, and Hnce, even down to our's, who Itrivc to preach ChriO: only, or molHy, where large churches are plant- ed, and the gofpcl is fully preached ; not indeed fo much to build upon, as to dtftroy the foun- dation of othtTS, and to eftablifti their own re- putation and intercft there, by alienating the hearts of people from their own paftors. ' Peo- ple always have been forward enough to invite fuch ; but this will not prove what theyftrongly imagine, and vainly boa(t,that they are moved by the Holy Gholt to come and preach unto them. Th k people's invitation of a minifter of Chrift to come and iielp them, mult be free and hearty, which is an evidence that the Lord hath called them to preach tlie gofpel unto them. It fhould be the refult of their own mature judgment of him, and real unconftrained inclination to him, as a fuitable perfon to help them in their fpiri- tual and eternal concerns. If it appears that they were ovcr-awcd into the choice of him by ■|hc cower of the great, or inveigled and drawn into ^ \ \^ |^j] p^^: -T . ^ g|^ "^^•^ ■■■— ^'^^miL^aft'^. I \ r ■■■ •1 I tt A Call from Macedonia. fekK> U by the flattery of their friends, or tho CUi^nbg craftitiers of defigning men ; or that thicy were fwaycd by their own foolifli lufts.and ^ful padions, and fccular views ; or hurried y^iah blind zeal, or party ftrifc, and fo the invi- Idtion was obtained by any unwarrantable, un-r ^QFtliy,a.n4 b^fcnjcans^ ic canno; be deemed fair. . Very unfair alfo -would it be, for a people Ip^defoe a mioiOerto fpend the labour of his life \f\ the fcrvicc of their fouls, and make no. provi- feoii for hi& booiJy fubfiflence among them. lyUbout this, their formal inviting him to come ^nd help them, is profane mockery. The Lord CaUeth not a minider to preach unto a people, QOntrftrv to what he hath ordained and declared, (hftt tihej Tvho, preach the go/pel Jhould live of tfhc go/pel. — And the hibourer it inorthy of his. kire.-!^. — It is as painful unto me to fpcak, as it can be to any body to hear, any thing from the puJpit, urging the maintenance of minilkrs. And \ thank God, that \ have bad little need in this place, to repeat and prcfs what the (cripture faith 6oniv A Call from Mdcedonk, i| In fowtng fplritual things fpanrtgly unto thcm.*^ I go on to m(*ntion another thing in a people*! invitation, which, to a good minifter of Jtfn^ Chri(t, is a (Irongcr inducement, than a fat be- peficc, or large falary, to come and help them ) and that is, u n a n m i t y. In the vifion which Paul had, to fliew him whither the Lord called him next, the people of Macedotiia did tvith ont voice, — that of the man who ftood before hinij invite him to come over^ and help them^ Whttd people arc united in the choice, and at peaed among thcmfclves, in the fettlcment of a gofpel* miniftcr, that is the place where the Lord calletli him to preach, rather than another where therd is divifion ; as we may eolleft from Mat. x* i^* and Luke x. 6. compared. H the fon of ptaci were in the houfe into which thofc whomChrift fent to preach entered, he counted it worthy of* fuch a blcfTing as the gofpel of peace ; or in a fit difpofition to receive the preachers of it. Other- wife, not ; and they were to depart, i TheiF. ii* 1 8. Wherefore we would have come unto ytyu (even I ''Paul) once and again^ but Satan hin>* dered us. — Moft probably by ftirring up oppo» fition to the ApolHe. The greateft difficuktcis in the way of a minifler's coming to a people^ fo as to help them, arife from contention about him; in kindling and fomenting of which Satati, when permitted, is very aflivc. There is one thing more in a fair and en* couraging invitation, which a people give a mi- nJDer to come and help theiD, viz. Earnest-^ < ' M ■A I 't -Mm^'-miiC 1 '» ^i ''if t4 -^ Call from Macedonia. MESS. In this addrcflTcJ to Paul, the man of Macedonia f^ood intreating him — with great carncftncfs prayed him to comcowr, and help them. If with coldncfs, or indifference ofafcc- tion, a miniftcr's afllft mcc be afkcd by a people, It may be qucftioncd, whether God hath fo in- clined their hearts to him, as to call hint to go, and fettle among them. But the undiircnibled, unabating carncflnefs of their invitation, may be Regarded as the call of duty. The concurrence of thefc particulars in the invitation which a people give a miniAor to come and help them, makes it fo clear, as that he may therefrom affiircdly gather, that the Lord hath called him to preach the gofpel unto them. Ihc juflncfs of this inference is plain, inafmuch as fuch an invitation from the people determine* him to be a fuitable perfon for the cmbafTy to them. Their difpolition towards him, thus ma-' nifcl^cd, prepares them to receive him as the Lord's meffenger to them. By fuch an invita- tion a door is opened, wide and eflfltflual, for his entrance in unto them, and ufefulnrfs among them, in thecharafter of an evangelical (hcpherd, authorized and fcnt by Chrifi, who is the chief, to feed hisfheep and lambs. But he that cieep- cth in, or climbeth up, (ome other way, the fame k a thief and a robber ; and comcth not but to make havock of the flock. I have only tg fay in the laA place, ^ V- IV. That *"^5~*^^;fa4,. 2k!??^^IV' man of th groat nd iulp I fx'opic, h fi) in* n to go, roiiiblcd, nuy be rs in the to come t he may ord hatb :m. Ihe much a( ;t<.Tminc» ibalTy to thus ma-' n as the n invita- I, for his s among hcpherd, he chiefs at cicep- the fame ot but to L' only tQ . That \%, A Call from Macedonia, a 5 IV* That upon the afTurance ^hich a mini(ter of Chriit bath from a fair invitation people give him to come and help thetn, that the Lord hath called him, he fhould immediately endeavour to go, and preach the gofpel unto them. So 9*aul and his al- fociates judged with refpeft t(> themfclves,* and accordingly did. Without any hefita'* tion, excufc, or delay, obeyed the divine call, went dirc^ly on board a veil'el in the port oiTnaSf and let fail for Macedonia, and with a (Ireight courfe arriving there» preached the gofpel unto the people ; as we have an account in the hidory of their travels and labours. So every embaffador * of Chridfhouldgo where he fcndcth him — where the Lord calleth him ; not conful- ting with fiejfj and blood, which mayfadvifc him to the contrary. When he hath the fufBcient aflurance, we have becli fpeaking of, that the call of the people, is the call of > God, — or that by their voice the Lord cal- leth him to preach the gofpel unto thern^ he mud be determined thereby, and noc defer his compliance, out of tegard to any worldly intereit of profit, or honour, or pleafure. By this all his doubts and fcrupfes muft be voided ; all his pleas in excufe of himfelf be over- ruled ; all his ob- je^ions filenced ; all his difcouragements from within and from without be removed; all the difficulties in his way, real or, ima> ginary, be encountered and furmounted. — D The ps- }>( '"•■ISKwr* ./■ ^'. 11 .- r 26 A Call from Macedonia, * The fear of temporal inconvenrences, is fometimes apt to make a good man and minifter too backward to go and preach the gofpel, where the Lord calleth him : and he may not himfelf be prefently aware of it ; but think that it is from a better prin- ciple that he dccUncs the fervice, or defires to be excufed. ' y»» i/-»««r« Wh EN the Lord called Mofes^ the great- eft of the antient Prophets, to go into Egypt, and bring forth the children o( I/rael out of ic ; Mo/es pleaded that he was not eloquent ■ — • was flow oflpcech — of a flow tongue, and that a more proper pcrfon might ea- flly be found : but faid nothing of that caufc of his hefitancy and reludl'ance,which God pointed him to, Ejcod. iV. 19. The I^ordjaid unto him, Go^ Jar all the men are dead that fought thy life* Mofes pleaded not, that he was afraid of them ; but God knew what was the great impediment and let in thccale. .^ ;,^^ ,* _.^ ^_,;> , y i.^. ; .;;.; Wh I l e a minifter of Chrift hath the dcepefl: fenfe of his infirmities, and fo of his unfitnefs to be employed in a very dif- ficult and important embalTy, he fliould take heed left feme lurking fear of temporal inconven'ence, trouble, and danger, beat the bottom of his excufes: and the conflde- ration of the divine cail may overcome and CO ft out that fear, * The « ^^. r-.f-^ t ^ - .itt V i -' - ij j-f . . ; 1 , ^ ■f ■# 'iigg:^~~^i,0tJSii3^im^\ ! A Call from Macedonia, 27 'The God of glory appeared to bur father ABkAHAM in Mefopotamiaf and faid unco him, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred and come into the land which I ihallfhew thee, — and *by ioxth Abraham^ when he was called to go out of his father's and native country, obeyed, and went out not knowing whither he went ; but hum- bly refignirig to divine providence to mark out his way, and place of abode. In the fleps of the faith of our father ^brakm^ fhould a gofpel-miflionary go forth, when called to preach unto a people in a diftant place ; not knowing indeed what (hall be- fall him there ; yet knowing that he who hath called him is faithful, and hath pro- mifed to be with him. These things have I ( in weaknefs) fpoken, to awaken thofe reflexions, which, upon the hearing of them, naturally arife in the minds of us all, both mini- fters and people ; and are proper to engage our foHcitous attention to the duties relpcc- tively incumbent on us in the gofpel-ftate : but more cfpecially to encourage the ymtt^ man, who is now to be entrulled with tiic glorious embafly of the gofpel of pdacc, willingly, in imitation of the faith and zeal of thefc holy men in the text, to go forth and preach Chrift in a diftaiu part of our American world, which, till of late years, D Z hath - * H«b. 3U. 8. » '^-J f* .\ .'I i .^' v ■ t /i $ #: -»: .my*. ■m- r^m •—^fi:)^- -■;: 1 rl- 1 1 ■\ ** 28 ^ Calif rim Macedonia^ hath been wholly aland of heachenifli dark* nefs, and popifh fuperlticion ; and ivhere the iahpurcrs are dill very few* ; V Dear SIR, . ■•( / With refpe^b to an internal call unto the work of the ipinidry, which confifleth in theneceflary furniture for, and a good in^ clinaiion to it, we truft, that you are, up- on the moll ferious felf-cxamination, well fatisfied in your own mind; elfe you would not have ventured, thus far to be feperated thereunto : and then ycu can have no doi^bt of your external call to the place in which you arc defigned to officiate. From the invitation which hath been given youj by the people there, you as afluredly gather- that the Lord Jefus hath called you to preach the gofpel unto them, as if in a vifion ot the night an Angel had l^ood ^n their room intreating you, and faying, we befeech you to come over into Nova-Scathe and help us. The people there know better 4:han thofe of MacedoHia, how great a blef- fmg the preached gofpel is, having for- merly enjoyed it, and llnce they have felt the\yant of it, they feern to have been pour- ing out their fouls in them, when they re- membered the pleafant fabbaths, in which they ufcd with the voice of joy and praifc, to go to the houfe of God, and attend upon -# w I- %^,. i«MUJi£?^>iMi^ (hdark* where into the lech iu ood in^ ire, up- n, well i would :perated odov^bt i which rom the yoM by ather— > preach ifion ot ir room befeech (/j, and I better I a blef. ng for- lave felt jn ppur- they rc- whicU [ praifcj id upon the ACaUfr4m Macedoniu, '29 the niiniftry of his word. From the begins Ifing of thejr fetclemenc, they have mani* felled a great fenfe of their need of fuch help, and have been unweariedly feekiiig itj and when, after many difappointments, they were ready -to defpajr of ever obtain- ing it, divine providence brought them in- to acquaintance ivith yourfetf \ and they hi^ve ipade a free i^nd afiedionate, a gene- rous (confidering their numbers and eftates) ^nd pefe£lly unanimous choice of you to be their paftor, and in the moft prefling manner urge and intreat your prefence^nd help. Juftly do you infer from fuch an in- timation of the divine pleafure, that the Lord Jefus calleth you, and therefore yoa arc endeavouring to go over, and preach the gofpcl unto them. — Be ftrong, my fin, in the grace that is inChriJl 'Jefus » Be of good comfort — He calleth thee. What greater en- couragement can you have to trull in the Lord for protedlion and guidance in your way to that people, tho' it layeth through the paths and perils of th . fea j for kind acceptance by them ; for gracious afliftance, and good fucccfs in your labours among them ; and for an ample reward, in the heavenly world. Great joy (which we at this diflance of time and place, anticipate and feel fomething of, in the Jellowpip of the Spirit) will your arrival at Cmnberland^ occafion there ; — Joy like that which a melTengcr # -• % » i t :W ,.^_ :*„ "^ji^^gf^ ^o A CM from Mactdoma. •', neifenger of good news! bringeth unto people. You carry to them the itioft glad« fome that ever founded ih mortal ears ;{fnd at th'^ publication of which upon earth, hcfli-^ .. ven did break forth into hymns of praifc and congratulation, * • i-J jii. ' They who are waiting for you as for the rain, will meet you coming to them^ not indeed with proilration, zsCornflius did Teter, ( which ^rould be no more pleafing to you than it was to him ) but with that afll^ionate extatic falutation. — f Thou hAst well done that thou art COM E. Thus you will have caufe to hope, that your entrance in unto that people will not be in vain ; but that God helping you, you (hall faithtully, indefatigably, and fuc- cefsfully profecute the great defjgn of your going to them,even to help them. And we, who are this day, and always would be, helping together by prayer, for you and them, hope to receive the like good and comfortable account, which the chrjftiau brethren in Ephejus did of Apollos^ whom they recommended to the difciples in y^chaia^ * that when he was come he helped them much. So that, tho* their beginning in the fettle- nient both of their worldly and relf^ious flate, be fmall j yet by means of your com- ing among them in the fullnefs of the blefllng of the gofpel of Chrilt, their lattei* end may tA(ux. aa* JA^. xv^Ll^ #■ M tlil -•--« . "^MT-i?^-^ h unto rs;i^nd ' praifc ] as for J them, ///// did )learing ith that Thou U ART o hope, pie will ng you, ind fuc- of your ind vvc, luld be, ou and od and hriftian whom ^chaiaf m much. 3 fettle- el: jious ur com- blefling ad may A Call from Mfkctdoriia. 31 be greatly incrtofcd^ § fot ivho hath de/^ifed $he day of/mail things ?. they Jhali rejoice, and Jhall fee the plummet in the hand of Zerubba" t Go thy way then, my dearBrothcr, and ilandhi thy /o/, where, and fo long as the Lord calleth thee. And at the end of the days of this world, thofe happy fouls, of whofe joy thou hafl: been the helper, will be thy joy, and crown of rejoicing in the prefence of our Lord Jefus Chrift at his coming ; when the blcffing of one and ano- ther of them that were ready to perifh fhall come upon you, in fome fuch rapturous addrefs, as that oi David to a mefTenger of peace, f " BlefTed be the Lord God that lent thee to me, and blelTed be thy advice, and blefled be thou. " ni; ■ t". Ma rvellods in our eyes is this doing of the Lord — the fpread of the glorious gol- pel, which our fathers, not yet a century and half ago, brought with them into this land, then all a howling wilderncfsoffava- ges — a wide, extended region of darknefs. Th e prefent times, it muft be confefled, are evil : The days are gloomy. There may be many adverfaries, bearing ill-will to our Ziony malicioufly, craftily, and ea- gerly feeking to fubver: our conditution, .,. \ Zccb. IV. 19. 1 1 Sara. XXV. 32, 53. % ,"* ^i V 1 •.•»f ■•# -«*•«)• v^ i % 32 ^ Call from Matidofiia* and ^prive lis of otu* {M^iteges, ci^il anil ecclcfiadical ; faying, as tfaie Edomius df JerufaUm, iD o W n wi T H IT To THE GROUND. But, tho' the Lord give his people the bread of adverfjty, and the wa- ter of afliidlon, yet their eyes ftill Ceo their tetff^/— teachers of their own chooiing.**^ 2n which liberty may thefe churches always Hand firm and unfliaken ; And it is a token for good, that God is railing up fo many of the hopefulfons of his people for prophets '—of their young men for Nazarites j that there might be a fuccefiion of able miniflers of the new-teftament in places where the gofpel is already preached, and a fupply for thole in which it is not as yet. There is not in this numerous aflembly a well-wilher to the profperity and enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom, but rejoiceth to fee a young fervant of Chrift here prefenting himfcif before the Lord, to receive hiscom-^ minion to go and preach the gofpel In one of the remoteft and mod uncultivated of our colonies. Everyone biddeth him Gci /peed-^vii(heth him good fuccefs. May his example have it's influence upon others* — This Caleb hath been in the land, and bringcth up no fuch report of it, as fhould difiiearten his brethren, the fons of Niw- England, and of Harvard, from endeavour* ing, when they may be called, to go over, and help the people there. May fuch num- bers in Qod's time be raifed up, as fhali be fufficient %~ 4 '^i;^^tiM*im3S^'' A Call from Macedonia, 33 '« vil anii nius df THB ive his le wl- ee their alVtfayft a token b many krophcts ;s J that liniders iQte the pply for [^here is l-wKh^r t of the to fee a efentiilg his com« i in one (rated of him Gtd May his )thers* — md, and IS Ihould of Nttth- deavour* go over, ich num- fhali be fu0icient fuflicicnt, being divinely fpirited, to carry thegofpel into all parts of the vaft continent ; and the word of the Lord run every where in a free and unobdrudled courfe among all the inhabitants — even the nations of the heathen aboriginals, and be greatly glori- fied. " Then the wildcrnefs and folitary place fhall be glad for them, and the defart ihall rejoice, and bloflbm as the roie, it fhall blofTom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and finging. " Th ER F. is fuch a time coming, ( the Lord haftcn it ! ) when the gofpcl fhall be preach- ed to all people on earth ; even the mofl barbarous ; or it would not have been fo of- ten forecold, as if it were already come, and fo univerfal joy on account thereof be called for, as if iea, and land, iilands and conti- nents, cities and villages, rocks and moun- tains (hould join, and every one bear a part in the general chorus, " Sing unto the Lord a new long, and his prailc from the end of the earth : ye that go down to the fea, and all that is therein ; the illes and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wildernefs and the cities thereof lift up their voice ;■ — ■ the villages ihat Ker/ar doth inhabit : let the inhabitants of the rock fing, let them IhouC from the top of the mountains. Let theni give glory unto the Lord. " y^M^N, The v^ *v. --»• ^ .. L. ^.; >'■ BM * C 34 ) The charge given Mr. Gamiet, at his Ordination. By *thc Reverend *^ Mr. William Ran.l, of KtngJlon» AS you, Sir, by the providence of God are called to the work of the gofpci tniniftry, and have declared your readinefs to receive it of the Lord, we therefore in the name of our Lord jefus Chrift, and by virtue of authority derived from hint, do with the ancient rite of laying on the hands of the prcfbytery, conftitute and ordain you a minider of Chrift, commiiting unto you the keys of the king- dom of heaven —The whole adminiftration of the gofpel of Chrift: as it confifts in delivering the doc- trines of Chrift by preaching the everlafting gofpel. The adminiftration of the facraments of the New- Teftament— Baptifm and the Lord's Supper. And difpenfmg the holy difcipline of Chrift's church. In praying with and for your people, and in blefting them in the name of the Lord. And we commit to your paftoral care and charge that fociety of perfons, who have called you to ihc work of the miniftry among them. We therefore char(»e you before the great God, and before Jefus Chrift, the glorious head of the church, and the great fti.'pherd and biftiop of fouls, thit you take heed to the miniftry, which you now receive of the Lord, that you fulfil it. Give Thf Charge. annet, vcrend re called nd ha^c of the rd Jefus om hint, lands of minider he king- n of the the doc- gofpel. ic New- r. Chria's 35 Give yourfelf to reading, to meditation and prayer, See that you deliver all the counfel of God. Preach the gulpel in the purity and fimplicity of it ; and teach not for declines the commandments of men. Let it be your great foiicitude and diligent (ludy to know the mind and will of Jefus Chrilt— to under- ftand the fcriptures of truth. Study the holy fcrip- tures with an honcH and impartial mind, without pre- judice, defiring to know the truth. And let it be your linccre and earned prayer to be led inro the ' knowledge of ihe truth, as it is in Jefus. That you build up the church upon the ibu.idation of the Apoflles and Prophets, Jefus Chrift being the chief corner Hone. Let it be your great concern to pro- mote the iutereft of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the evcrlafling welNire of the fouls of men. Feed Chrifl's Iheep, and feed the lambs of his flock. Preach among your people the unfearchable riches of Chrill. Srudy to (hew yourfelf approved of God, a voikuian that need not be alhamed, rightly di- viding the word of truth. You are to adminifier the ordinance of bapiifra lo vifible believers and their feed. *; n/ I ■*** ~\. and in d charge )u to the ;at God, I of the of fouls, ^ou now Giro And you are to adminifier the facramenr of rhc Lord's-lupptT to all the profcflbrs of chriftwini'y, who are regular in their converf.uion, and arc iDle 10 examine ihcmfclves fo as to ,tri.ilsand temptations, which you may meet with in the conrfe of your miniflry," you muil look forward, to that glorious revvard, wliich Chrid has promifcd to his faithful miniftcrs. The Apoftle Paul mentions a Crown of Righteoufncfs, tvhich the Lord the righteous Judge would give him at the great day. And we read, They that be V)ifeJ!mll fijine as the bright nefs of the Firmament^ and they that turn manytoRightcotifnefs as the Stars for iver and ever. t xx>oc<>c<^•:xx^■;xx:>•;>oo<><>oc0«ooo<>*' .-warfiiS^-.-*^. ^^--W^iiSi'EiilS^I^IweW^^ t«ach and in^ :llasby your of Religioa im the pulpir, [ian Tinues ; \en that they Hi thereby to u an example n, in chanty^ faithful and , you arc en- cfTd promife, id Miniflers. L/. You may Uiencc of the ig to yourfelf. a careful and " your office is hat hear you. 'taiions, which ^our miniftry,* revvard, wliich niftcrs. The iighteoufncfs, ; would give They that be 'irmamerJ, and the Stars for /f oTcr whom the Holy Ghod has made you an Ov^rfeer^ in the gift they herein receive from the alcended enthrotied Saviour, and in the agreeable profpcd which hereby opens to their riew. May the fame pious zeal, decency and order, lore and unanimity, with which they have conduced this important aiTair, attend all their religious concerns for the future ; and may no difappointment interrupt their joy or fruflrate their hope. May a kind Pro* vidence protc^ and profper them in their fecular afl'airs—and under the divine culture, in the miniftra<' tion of the gofpel, may religion in its purity and power flourilh among them ; and rhey be increafcd with all the increafeof God : And finally may mlru' fter and peopU rejoice together in the day of the Lord Jelus. AMEh. t /M^/^to^^to^^,^^.^^^^^,^^,^,^^.^,^ M >*■-