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THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
THE SPIRITUAL BISHOP;
SERMON, &c.
PRICE ONE SHILLING.
Ex UB S A ; iOHN gr ' b bel
ST- AUSTELL HALL
THE SPIRITUAL BISHOP;
A
S E R M O N,
PREACHED 3 d FEBRUARY, 179O,
AT
THE ORDINATION
OF THE
Rev. DAVID TODD,
CO-PASTOR WITH THE REV. JOHN PATRICK, IN THE PRESBYTERIAN-
CHURCH, PETER-STREET, SOHO.
By the Rev. JOHN LOVE,
OF THE SCOTS CHURCH, CRISPIN-STREET, SPITAL-FIELDS,
TO WHICH IS ADDED
THE CHARGE,
By the Rev. JAMES STEVEN,
F THE SCOTS CHURCH, CROWN-COURT, RUSSELL-STREET,
COVENT-GARDEN.
Publijhed at the Requeft of the Congregation*
LONDON
Printed for the Authors, No. 14, Queen's-row, Hoxton; and
No. 45, John-ftreet, Tottenham-court Road. Sold by Elliot
and Kay, Strand ; Forbes, Taviftock-row, Covent-Garden ;
Bellamy and Robarts, Strand, Publiihers of the Reverend Mr.
Scott's Family Bible; Murgatroyd, No. 73, Chiftvell-ftreet ;
and by Alex. Hogg, No. 16, Paternofter-row.
/y J <nv^^
5
r-J
TO
The ELDERS, &c.
OP TUB
PRESBYTERIAN MEETING, PETER-STREET, SOHO.
My Dear Brethren y
Your approbation of this Sermon, and your
defire of its being publifhed, give me a hope that you will
practically confider and improve it in your deliberate and
retired feafons. The difcourfe is much in the fame ftate as
when you heard it. The brevity requifite in performances
of this kind obliged me to content myfelf with touching
flightly at the different heads of meditation on this fubjecl,
which I hope your ferious thoughts will dwell upon and
enlarge. My end will be gained if, in this way, your
facred attention is farther engaged to thofe divine ordi-
nances ; which, though defpifed by many, and trifled with
by others, are found, by the wife, ferious, and humble, to
be wells of vital refrefhment, and means of anticipating
the joys of heaven. I wiflied particularly to confirm and
increafe your veneration for that ftated miniftry of the
gofpel wherewith God now favours you ; in which the
ferioufnefs, folidity, and authority of age, and the vigour
and induftry of youth, unite their influence for- your Spi-
ritual advantage.
It
8wD
( iv )
It will be a pleafure to me to hear of your harmony and
progrefs in the ways of the Lord ; and of the increafe of
your numbers, by the awakening and converfion of many,
who hitherto have walked in that broad way which leadeth
to deftrudtion. If the publication of this Sermon fhall
have any influence to promote fo valuable ends, I fhall
have little reafon to regard the fneer of the profane, or
the bite of the fnarling critic.
That you may, through the ordinances and word of the
Son of God, enjoy the felicities of communion with him,
more abundantly than I can afk or think, is the fervent
wimofj
My Chriftian Friends^
Your fincere and humble Servant in the Gofpel,
JOHN LOVE.
Hoxfcon,
February 6th, 1790.
C 5 )
<c
A SERMON, &c.
I Tim. "iii. i.
THIS IS A TRUE SAYING, IF A MAN DESIRE THE
" OFFICE OF A BISHOP* HE DESIRETH A GOOD
" WORK.'*
-I h e peculiarly folemn nature of this day's work,
my Fathers and Brethren, forbids me to dwell long
on any thing in the controverfial line ; otherwife it
might be ufeful to employ fome time in afcertaining
the fcriptural meaning of the term Bifhop. I mail
content myfelf with remarking, that, in the infpired
writings, the appellations Bifhop and Prefbyter are
given without diftinction to the fame perfons. In
the twentieth chapter of the Acts of the Apoftles, the
fame perfons are denominated at the 17th verfe
Prelbyters (Ilpargulepoi), and at the 28th verfe Bifhops
(Ettjo-xotto*). If thefe words do exprefs offices
widely different from each other, I afk, who com-
mitted the miftake in this paffage ? Was it Luke
B the
( 6 )
the hiftorian, or Paul the apoftle ? Other paftages
of fcripture might be produced to eftabliih this fact,
that the divine oracles give no fanction to a diftinc-
tion whereof many Ghriftians have been exceedingly
fond.
If, in fupport of the dignity of modern Bifhops,
an appeal is made to the authority of the firft ages
after the Apoftolic, I recur to the fundamental
maxim of Proteftants, " That the written word of
" God is the fupreme judge of religious controver-
" fies ; at which tribunal fathers, councils, the wif-
u dom of ages, and the fanctity of martyrs, muft
" bow down."
If it is (till infifted on, how could a miftake fo grofs
obtain admiffion into the church in its purefl times,
and be patronized by men fo converfant with the
fcriptures, men fo like the Apoftles themfelvcs in
exalted wifdom and fanclity ? 1 would reply in
fuch terms as the following : The character and
writings of the primitive Bifhops, in fome refpecls,
can hardly bs too much venerated. But their writ-
ings have been adulterated and mifinterpreted.
Conclufions have been drawn from their conduct, in
fome inftanccs, of which they thcmfelves were not
aware. In the belt of thefc ancient writings fome
mixture is to be difcerned of an uncautious imagin-
ation,
( 7 )
ation, and of inaccuracy in handling the holy fcrip-
tures. Without fcripture warrant they did early in-
troduce adiftinction between Bifhop and Prefbyter,
affigning to the one a fuperior dignity over the
other. This, however, feems to have been intended
merely as a compliment to fuperior piety, talents,
or fuflferings in the caufe of Chrift (for in thofe
times chains were often the jewels which adorned
the hands of faithful minifters). Nor can it be fhewn,
with any certainty, that the Bifhop's office, as diftin-
guilhed from that of the Prefbyter, had any thing
more annexed to it, in the pureft ages after the
Apoftles, than would belong to the moderator of a
modern Prefbytery were his office perpetual. Yet,
fmall as this deviation from the infallible rule may
appear, it opened the way for admitting into the
Chriftian church the hideous fabric of the Romifti
hierarchy, with the ftandard of blafphemy difplayed
on its fummit.
But, leaving the thorns of controverfy, let me il-
luftrate the text in a general reference to the mini-
fierial work. My object is to exhibit the excellency,
importance, and glory of that employment which
is by the infpired writer ftamped with peculiar ap-
probation when he ftyles it a good, or, as the original
word fignifies, a glorious, work. The Apoflle had
B 2 undoubtedly
( 8 )
undoubtedly in view, when he emitted the de-
claration contained in this paflage, to animate the
hopes and induftry of fome, and to check the pre-
fumption of others who mould afpire to the facred
character. But the words of the text are to be
regarded by all the members of the church, as
teaching them to approve their obedience to the
Lord Jefus Chrift, by yielding refpect and fub-
million to the office and miniftrations of his true
ambafladors. I (hall particularly attend to this
laft defign, it being my proper work, in this fervice
to imprefs the confciences and hearts of the hearers
of the gofpel fuitably to the prefent occafion of
our meeting.
We are, my brethren, to furvey the excellency
and importance of the minifterial character.
Let us confider the gofpel miniftry as having
been the fubject of God's eternal counfels and
decrees. Such ideas of it are fuggefted by the
following paffages, which, with fome change of
circumflances, may be applied to ordinary paftors.
" Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee ;
i( and before thou camefl forth out of the womb, I
iC fan&ified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet
" unto the nations." " He is a chofen veflel unto
" me,
( 9 )
H me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and
" kings, and the children of Ifrael."
Here the mind muft foar into lofty regions,
where the wing of fancy fails ; where the light is too
fplendid for the eye of carnal reafon, and too
heavenly to be reliihed by the depraved heart.
Whence is it that many hate the very name of the
counfels and decrees of God ? The cabinets of earthly
princes are revered ; the ideas ofvvifdom and majefty
are annexed to ftate deliberations among men : but
the counfels of the Mod High fuffer derifion and
reproach. Will God fubmit to this ? Where doth
this evil originate ? In an enlarged and benevolent
fpirit ? Yes, verily, it originates in fuch liberty of
thought, and irregular attachment to the intereft of
the created fyftem, as are congenial with the rebellion
and blafphemies of the infernal fpirits.
But while men and devils cavil, behold the glorious
intelligences above in full hoft before the throne
adoring with tranfport between a double blaze of
light ; light from the eternal fyftem of divine
purpofes, and light from their begun execution,
haftening forward to a future eternity! " I faw,"
faith the prophet, " the Lord fitting on a throne,
" high and lifted up ; above it flood the feraphims ;
" one cried to another and faid, Holy, holy, holy
5 " is
C io )
" is the Lord of Hods, the whole earth is full of
** his glory. Alfo I heard the voice of Jehovah,
il faying, Whom (hall I fend, and who will go for
* us r
Behold the great mafs of human beings involved
in guilt, and lying undiftinguifhed before the eternal
Lord. His fovereign thoughts and volitions draw
every line of diftinction among the multitude of in-
dividuals. It is the appointed lot of fome to fit on
thrones, of others to groan in dungeons. But there
are other diir.in6r.ions of deeper confequence ; fome
mall be holy, vefiels unto honour ; others fhall be
vefTels of dishonour, fitted, by acquired and obftinate
depravity, for deftru&ion.
Amidft thefe folemn deliberations, I fee fome
confpicuous lines of the counfel, While the bowels
of immenfe companion yearn over vaft numbers of
iinncrs, and the plan of their recovery is formed,
this becomes a part of the plan ; men fhall fave
men, by human voice the vital found of falvation
(hall reach the heart. TJius (hall the excellency
of the power appear to be of God ; thus fhall the
multitude of the faved be cemented together with,
an union more than angelic, and feel endearments
of mutual affection, having in them more than fe-
raphic fweetnefs and flrength. It is done ; a roll
is
( It )
is formed ; the contents of which reach from the
firft to the lateft ages of the world, wherein are
written the names of all thofe who {hall be known
in the church as the inftruments of divine love and
power in diffufing falvation.
My friends, I hope your minds perceive fomething
of that unfpeakable glory which mines forth in thefe
holy counfels of God ; and that you fee a majefty in
the brows of his ambafladors, confidered as thofe
who are fovereignly chofen to this work, and fent
forth to it in confequence of deliberations more an-
cient than the earliefl birth of time.
From the ancient counfels of eternity, let us come
down to the fulnefs of time, when lo, in our world,
and in our own nature, that Wonderful Perfon in
whom God's whole family was chofen.
He came forth from the Father full of the defigns
of falvation. He walked on the earth in the great-
nefs of his ftrength, and in his deep felf-humiliation.
Tokens of kindnefs, emblems beginnings of falva-
tion, he ftrewed around him. But no human or
angelic being comprehended the extent and myfteries
of that which was working within in his heart.
(Thou Lamb of God, permit me by faith to come
near that moil facred fhrine of the Divinity !) There
the fchemes of mercy were depofited : there the
glowing:
C 12 )
glowing flames of unquenchable love were everburn-
ing. The love which redeemed the world frequently
laboured to pour itfelf forth in addreffes to finfui
men. The words of truth and grace proceeded from
his lips in new and inimitable ftrains. O ye fons of
men, why were your hearts fo hard ! " He faid I
" have laboured in vain, I have fpent my ftrength
" for nought, and in vain I" But joy was fet before
him, when the Father fpake to him thus " It is a
M light thing that thou Ihouldeft be my fervant to
se raife up the tribes of Jacob ; I will alfo give thee
" for a light of the Gentiles, that thou mayeft be
* c my falvation to the ends of the earth."
In the garden of Gethfemane and upon the crofs,
the perfons, work, and fuccefs, of true minifters were
heavy upon him. Jefus fuffered divine wrath, and
bowed his head in death, that the profperity of this
work might be fecured, that the Gofpei might be
preached with the Holy Ghoft fent down from
heaven.
The care of this work he carried with him into the
Heaven of heavens. (I fpeak of his human nature,
which alone could, in a Uriel: fenfe, be removed
from world to world ; for if himfelf may be believed,
he had been all along, in refpect of his Godhead, in
heaven, John hi. 13.) There he hath been fit-
ting, full of love, at the right hand of power.
And
( '3 )
And, In confequence hereof, I lee, from age to
age, treading the globe in auguft fuccefiion, a felecl:
race of men of whom the world never was -worthy,
*< When he afcended up on high, he led captivity
*' (taptive, and gave gifts to men he. afcended up
4i far above all heavens, that he might fill all things ;
'* and he gave fome apoftles, and fome prophets*
" and fome evangelills, and fome parlors and
" teachers."
The defigned effects of the gofpel miniftry are
fummed up in thefe words of Jefus Chrift, ' ' To open
" their eyes, and to turn them from darknefs to
<{ light, and from the power of Satan unto God ;
" that they may receive forgivenefs of fins, and in-
*' heritance amongft them which are fan&ified by
" faith that is in me." Woe to them, whofe proud
ideas of human nature transform this and fimilar
paffages of fcripture into an unmeaning pomp of
language, expreflive of nothing more than an exter-
nal reformation from grofs heathenifm or profligacy.
The fcripture teaches me to apprehend a hell of
wickednefs and mifery in each human foul, out of
which the God of falvation, when fo it feemeth
good in his fight, raifeth up a heaven of peculiar
glory. The minifter makes- his firft approaches, tq
the fubjecls of his work as one who is to befiege a
ftrongly fortified city. Every faculty in the iinner's
C foul
( H )
foul is a ftrong hold. Darknefs and enmity, fecretly
lodged in the commanding powers of the, foul,
diffufe a baleful influence throughout the unhappy
man. Even confcience, the vicegerent of God, is
corrupted ; and felf-love, the guardian of human
happinefs, is bribed over to the intereft of fin. See
the finner inebriated by Satan ! He is bold enough
to defy Omnipotent wrath, to infult Infinite Majefly.
How mail he tremble at the face of a mortal
worm ? Yes, he mail tremble ; he fhall die at the
found of words uttered by a human voice. His
deeply-rooted love of fin, and confidence in himfelf,
and in created beings, fhall be (haken to the very
foundation. He mall begin to think hell itfelf al-
moft too good for fuch a wretch. Again the com-
mifiioned trumpet is blown, and the finner, who faw
himfelf in the jaws of deftruction, is furprifed with
the dawning of light and love from on high. His
almoft defpairing eye is lifted up; it catches the life-
infpiring object, the Lamb of God, once flain, now
in the midft of the throne. Now he mourns as for
an only fon. Now he hopes, he trufts, he loves, he
rejoices. Now u the wolf dwells with the lamb, and
" the leopard lies down with the kid." Hence-
forth thy work, O minifter of God, mail in this in-
ftance, be eafy and pleafant. Go on with other con-
quers ; here is one to take part with thee in thy
anxieties
( 5 )
anxieties and joys. But thou mull look after him ;
thou muft nurfe and feed this lamb, till at the river
of death thou delivered him over into the hands of
the great Shepherd.
I have defcribed the converfion of an individual.
But fuch wonders muft be multiplied. Cities and
countries muft be rilled with flocks of fuch new men.
The regions above muft receive a multitude which
no man can number. The voice of divine truth
muft echo through the earth, making the mighty to
tremble on their feats, terrifying the accurfed fpirits
of darknefs, accumulating the condemnation and
flopping the mouths of the incorrigible. Sin, the
world, death, and hell, muft be triumphed over.
Thefe are the defigned ends of the gofpel mi-
niftry.
Suited to thefe ends are the preparations which
the Redeemer makes ? and the qualifications which
he beftows, when " he gives paftors according to
his own heart."
It is one of the deep things of God that fomc
are divinely called to appear in the minifterial cha-
racter, being furnifhed with excellent gifts, who fe-
cretly remain in the gall of bitternefs, and pafs at
length, from the pulpit and the applaufes of men
into the place of fhame and torment. Such a mi-
C 2 niftry
( ** )
niftry may be binding on the confciences of Others,
and may yield fome profit to the fincere people of
God; but it feldom reaches the converfion of -Tin-
ners. A friend of Satan and the world, whatever
may be his gifts, is but poorly qualified for being the
inftniment of converfion. How (hall one, whofe
confeience is deceived and fall: aileep, found an
alarm loud enough to reach other fleeping con-
sciences? I leave this painful fubjedt, having in
view to point out their character, who, by grace as
well a? gift?, are fitted for this high work.
ci I have girded thee/ fard God to Cyrus, the*
ancient hero, s< though thou haft not known me."
A divine bias towards the mirrrfterial work, attended
with early impreffions of grace, is fometimes dif-
cernible amidft the firft openings of reafon. When
the converfion ofaminifter happens in adult years,
either before or after his afTuming the facred func-
tion, it is often attended with ftriking circumftances.
While he is bufied in the acquifition of learning, or
in a carnal difcharge of minifterial duties, he is
either gradually, or all at once, brought into the
depths of conviction of fin. He is held up, even to
the view of the world, perhaps for years together,
as a fpectacle of the power of confeience, of the re-
ality and force of inward diftrefs for fin, and of the
5 truth
( 7 )
truth of that defpifed faying, " Strait is the gate and
tc narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few
" there be that find it."
But, without enlarging on thefe and other prepara- ,
tions, I fhall endeavour to complete the view of the
paftoral work, as being fupereminently " a good
work," by exhibiting the true gofpel minifter in
three different fituations.
I will lead you into his concealed retirements ;
where, as a fpiritual fon of Jacob, he wreftles with
God. In the folemn filence of the night, or at the
voice of the morning bird, I fee the man of God me-
ditating deeply on the things of eternity. The hea-
vens are opened ; the God of angels comes down to
this recefs, and converfes with this man as it were
face to face. His mind is ftrengthened to look into
the unfeen regions. The nations of them that are
faved and the crowds of damned wretches, are
realized to his thoughts. The nature and excel-
lencies of the bleffed God, the myfteriqus plan of
redemption, the blood of the covenant, the opera-
tions of the Spirit, are clearly manifeft before him.
Views of perfonal falvation and remembrance of
Chriftian friends, gladden and enrapture the hour.
JSut foon the iky is overcaft; a horror of folemn dark-
nefs
( -18 )
nefs falls thick around him. The recollection of a
world perifhing in wickednefs fills him with anguifh.
From the general horror his jealous thoughts are
turned to the fociety committed to his truft : here,
befides what may be fufpedted of lurking hypocrify,
he finds fome gay, fecure, and trifling ; others proud,
fullcn, inacceflible ; others felfifh and covetous ;
others fenfual, lewd, and profligate ; others deceit-
ful and difingenuous. Now he begins to be in
agony of fpirit, and to come near the Almighty
Throne, that, if poflible, he may obtain the life of
thefe dead fouls. How fweet is this pain ! how Co-
lemn are thefe approaches to God ! With what vio-
lence, trembling, and delight, doth he take hold
of infinite love, merit, and power, in behalf of in-
finite guilt and depravity !
u Pray to thy Father in fecret, and thy Father,
** who feeth in fecret, fhall reward thee openly,"
Let us now carry our thoughts to the public af-
femblies, where men have been wont to fee the go-
ings of the Moft High. Let us conftder the gofpel
minifter in the pulpit. I am not now to recount that
painful feries of fruitlefs attempts, to arreft the con-
fidence and gain the heart, which fervcs as a refining
furnace to try and improve the minifterial graces.
Such a feries of things has a glory of its own, which
the
. ( .19 )
the world will, in due time, feel to its coft. But I
haften on to brighter feafons, when " he that hath
" gone forth weeping, bearing precious feed, comes
" again with rejoicing, bringing his (heaves with
" him :" or, in the words of the blefTed Saviour,
when " the fields are white to the harveft, and he
'* that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit
* unto life eternal." The day and the hour fixed
in the counfel of God are come. The meflenger of
Chrift, and a number of his loft fheep, are brought
together. They come influenced by various motives
and in different fituations ; but all of them in their
fins, under condemnation, and averfe from the life
of God. Little are they aware what God is about to
do. But, behold ! fomething unufually divine at-
tends the public devotions; fomething which pierces
high into the heavens, and penetrates deep into the
human heart. The minifter's countenance- mines with
an awful fweetnefs, like that of an angel. There is
a general attention, flillnefs, aftonifhment, Now
the arrows of the great King fly forth, and " are
" (harp in the hearts of his enemies, whereby the
" people fall under him." They can think of no-
thing but their undone condition, their ruining fins,
their impending doom. Shall thefe convictions die,
ordeftroy the fubje&spf them? No; thefe wounded
Spirits (hall be cherilhed, directed, and fupported, by
a phy-
C 20 )
a phyfician invifibly prefent, till the pangs of this
fpiritual travail are happily over, till Chrift- is
formed in them, till their bruifes are bound up, till
*' the oil of joy and the garment of praife are given
" them ; that they may be called trees of righteouf-
" nefs, the planting of the Lord, that he may be
glorified."
I will go higher than the pulpit ; I will mew you
the minifter of Chrift in a loftier fituation, and
more glorious form.
But firft, you muft fuppofe that the worlds are af-
fembled, that the dead are raifed, that the heavens
and the earth have fled away at the face of Jcfus
Chrift, that the judgment is fet, and the books are
opened. Who are thefe on the Judges' right hand,
who fland in peculiar brightnefs, around whom,
others are encluftered in lefler circles, or in large
affemblies ? They are the perfons of whom it was
of old written, " How beautiful upon the mountains
*' are the feet of them who bring good tidings !"
With what words and fmiles of love doth he who
died on the crofs now addrefs them ! What is now
their inward heaven ! approved of God, carcffed of
men ! What fhall be their pleafures, their frmirrj
m
( 21 )
iri the long, long flight of eternity ! Thefe things 1
cannot declare; " Grant, thou God of love, that
" every minifter now prefent ; that I } who am leis
" than the leaft of all faints, may at that day drink
^ deep into this unknown and inconceivable joy 1"
My brethren, I have endeavoured to (hew the
excellency of the minifterial work ; fuffer me to
employ a few minutes more in applying the fub-
jecl.
We fee hence the importance of having the
paffages into the holy miniftry well guarded.
It is of more effential importance who are the mi^<
hifters of religion, than who are minifters of ftate, or
generals, or kings. Any mechanic trade is in general
fo defended by good policy and the common fenfe
of mankind, that an impoftor would play off his arts
in vain. Shall the moft facred of all functions lie
open to the abufe of every intruder ?
But what is the defence of the holy miniftry ?
The power and majefty of Jefus Chrift. He ftrikes
the minds of meri with a fecret awe, that they dare
not prefumptuoufly break in upon this office. In
fubordination to this-, the miniftry is defended by that
D order
order of church government which Chrift. hath infli-
tuted ; and by the religious wifdom and holy fear of
Chriftian iocietiei.
What fhall we think of the (late of things when tWiS
guard is withdrawn ? and when, by a concurrence
of evil circumftances, the pulpit becomes, in the eyes
of men, a common profane place ? Once, in a hun-
dred years, a Mr. Bunyan may lift his head, and by
his irregular, but humble and pious effufions, affront
the race of learned hypocrites. But, what muft be
the confequences of making it an ordinary practice
to dignify ignorance, pride, and enthufiafm, with the
honours due to thofe divine endowments which dif-
tinguifh the true fpiritual teacher? However good
the intentions of fome men may be, the defigns of
Satan, in matters of this kind, and the fuccefs of his
defigns, are frequently too manifefl. Is it not a token
of the retiring glory of God, and of the approach of
public defolating calamities, when this " abomina-
" tion of defolation," an illiterate, felf-created, and
felf-conceited miniftry, {lands approved in the holy
place ?
If the minifterial work is of fuch importance and
excellency, what manner of perfons ought they to
be whom the Lord of heaven indeed calls forth to
this
( *3 >
this office ? In them a living likenefs of Chrift him-
felf fliould be vifible to the world : the wifdom, hu-
mility, dignity, purity, love, and fortitude, of Chrift
mould be manifeftly impreffed on their fpirit and
deportment.
But I wifli efpecially to addrefs myfelf to the
hearers of the gofpel who are now prefent.
Confider, my brethren, the wifdom, power, and
love, of the Son of God, in raifing up a fucceflion of
gofpel miniflers. In this vaft city there is a kind of
fatiety of human beings, which, through the cor-
ruption of our nature, is apt to harden inftead of
expanding the human heart. The influence of this
extends to the eflimation of thofe who publifh the
gofpel. A minifter is here fo common an object,
that much real or imagined excellence is hardly
fumcient to prevent his being defpifed. I would
intreat you therefore to give the more earncft
heed that you undervalue not the work of Chrift, in
preparing and bleffing any one of his true miniflers.
Though little of that glare fliould appear about
us which dazzles the childifh eye, you cannot make
light of us, or of our miniftrations, without infulting
the majefty of our Lord and Mafter. And, in that
cafe, though you were kings fitting on thrones, he
P 2 might
( 2 + )
might Toon caufe you to fee! the rod of his anger, in
execution of fuch words as thefe : " Touch not
" mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. 3 '
We, while faithful, are fafe and invulnerable, fhield-
ed by an almighty arm. But we are concerned for
your good ; and therefore intreat you, whether you
are already the fons and daughters of God, or are
yet in your fins, to think ferioufly of the important
fpiritual ends of our miniftry, and to ufe your beft
endeavours for promoting thefe in yourfelves and
others.
I
I cannot conclude without fpeaking a few words
to the people who flatedly meet in this place. I
hope, my brethren, you will regard what I now fay
as fomething more than words of courfe ; and that
you will not fuppofe that I mean to infinuate any
thing unfavourable as to any part of your conduct.
But I become bold when I recollect in whofe name
and prefence I now addrefs you. Let me therefore
befeech you, in the bowels of Jefus Chrift, that
y-ou follow out the bufinefs of the fanctuary in a
fpiritual and earned manner; that you mix nothing
of this world's flefhly wifdom with the matters of
God and of eternity ; and that you fhow yourfelves
to be fomething more than mere hearers or critics of
the word of God. Let your fecret chambers witnefs
7 the
( 2 5 )
the earneftnefs of your defires for the profpenty of
God's work among you : let your domeftic devotions
and conferences, let the habitual courfe of your con-
duct in ordinary life, favour of the fear and the love
of God.
Pvemember that this day Jefus Chrift recommends,
by my mouth, to your continued affectionate regard,
your aged and venerable paftor, that now you fliouid
tenderly cherim him in the bleak feafon of infirmity.
He hath long been among you as a fpiritual father,
difpenfing that bread of life which hath been, I
truft, the medicine and ftrength of your fouls. It
will be your glory, it will be a token for good to
you, that he mould, by the help of your fervent
prayers, retire from the earthly fanctuary in the
fpiritual dignity and fplendor, I will not fay of a
getting fun, but of a fun ready to arife in a more
glorious iky than that which is now vilible to the
eyes of mortals.
Remember alfo, and let it be attefted by the
light of heaven which now mines upon us, and by
thofe glorious angels who are prefent, remember
that, in Chrift's name, I demand, in behalf of our
brother, now to be ordained among you ; I demand,
what ? The embraces of Christian, holy, and du-
rable
( 26 )
rable affections ; the refpect of a people who tremble
at the word of God ; the folicitude of frequenC
wreftlings with God for him : and, while I humbly
make this demand, I bear witnefs that the windows
of heaven are ready to be opened to pour out a
plentiful bleffing on him, and on you, if you and he
fail not in the importunity and perfeverance of be-
lieving prayer. The Lord is ready to come forth
into this corner of his fanftuary, and to make it glo-
lious with his prefence, if there are hearts to invite
film ; if there is faith, though as a grain of muftard
iced, to fuller him to enter.
May this Society be hereafter confpicuons among
the many millions of the redeemed ! and may this
place be the birth-place and the banqueting-houfe of
many who ihall ling eternally in the heights of
ion ! Amen,
THE
CHARGE,
By the Rev. JAMES STEVEN,
IINIJTER OF THE SCOTS CHURCH, IN CROWN-COURT, RUSSELI>
STREET, COVENT-CARDEN.
TO THE READEfc
'The following Charge, being only written on the
two days before it was delivered, nothing could be
more remote from the Author's mind than that it
ihould ever be fubmitted to public infpe&ion. Com-
poied in this hurried manner, it mull certainly be
more deficient, both in fentiment and ftyle, than it
would have been, had the extenfive duties of his
own Congregation permitted him to beftow more
time itnd pains upon it. Confclous of this, aria that
nothing very new or ftriking is contained in it, it is
with a degree of reluctaney he allows it to be pub-
lifhed. Its being ufual however on fuch occafions,
when the Sermon is printed, to have the Ordination
Charge appended to it, and the Congregation of
Teter-Jlreet being warmly felicitous that they fliould
appear both together ; the Author (yielding to their
importunities) fends his Charge to the prefs, wifhing
it may be blefTed to every candid Reader ; but parti-
cularly to the Paftor and People to whom it was firft
delivered.
John-ftreet, Tottenham- Court Road,
6th February, 1790.
( *9 >
THE
H A R G E.
My Dear Brother,
You have now, by prayer and the impofition of
hands, been folemnly fet apart to the facred office
of the Chriftian miniftry, and more immediately
to the pafloral infpcction, care, and fervice, of this
congregation. That you muft be deeply impreffed
with the folemn tranfactions of this day, and with
the importance of the truft you have now undertaken,
I prefume, will be doubted by none here prefent. I
pray God, that the folemn impreffion may long dwell,
with undiminished energy, on your mind, and on
the minds of thofe committed to your care ; that it
may give a happy direction to your future life and la-
bours, and to their increafing, eternal comfort, profit,
and falvation ! Believe me, it is with equal fincerity
and affection that I now congratulate you on coming
to the full exercife of your minifteriai function, and
that in the exercife of it L wilh you joy, happinefs,
E and
( 3 )
and fuccefs. May you long fland high in the favour
of Him whofe devoted fervant you have now declared
yourfelf ! may you enjoy much affiftance and com-
fort both in your public and private labours ! and
may the pleasure of the Lord profper in your
hands !'
That part of this day's fervice which devolves on
me, is peculiarly important, delicate, and difficult ;
and would have been executed with much greater
beauty and effect, had it come from the mouth of
fome aged minifter, rather than from one fo young
in years, in experience, in ability. However, the
appointment of my fuperiors operating upon me
with the force of law, I fhall, with all humility,
addrefs myfelf unto it, by tendering a few friendly
admonitions to you, the minifter now ordained, and
to the Chriftian people committed to your charge.
And, as thefe advices flow warm from the heart, with-
out being the produce of long premeditation, I hope
my audience will hear them with a candid indul-
gence, and the parties concerned with a patient at-
tention. Perhaps the freedom and plainnefs of
thefe admonitions may lead you and others to think
me poiTciTcd of a dictatorial temper; but could you
fee the real motive of my heart in offering them, in-
dead of a d'ifiaior you would account me as your
5 friend,
( 3' )
friend, as one too who feels the warmeft folicitude
for your future reputation, ufefulnefs, and comfort.
IThough it is ufual on fiich occasions to felect fome
particular portion of fcripture as the ground of ex-
hortation, I mail on the prefent difpenfe with this
formality, defigning only to give a few general
cautions and directions, which will be found, I truft,
neither unfuitable nor unfcriptural.
The addrefs to you, my Reverend Bromer, mall
be in reference to thefe following topics to your per-
gonal religion -"to your private ftudies to your pub-
lic miniftrations to your general character an4
deportment in life.
I. Let me fuggeft a few hints to you on the ne-
ceffity and advantage of perfonal religion. I take up
this firft of all, becaufe it flieds aluftre on all that fol-
lows, and may be coniidered as the life and foul,
the beauty and bafis, of the minifterial character.
Destitute of this, of all characters under heaven,
that of a minifter is the mod guilty and defpicable ;
for however much he may be admired and carefled
by others around him, he is an abomination in the
fight of that omnifcient One " who judgeth not ac-
" cording to the outward, appearance, but who
E z iC fearches
C 3* )
" fearches the heart and tries the reins.'* Figuring
away in the pulpit, in loofe declamation on the evil
of fin and on the beauty of holinefs, he may be con-
fidercd by his hearers as a diftinguifhed faint; but
being rotcen at the root, God only accounts him a
diffembling impoftor; becaufe, like one performing a
farce, he perfonifies and recommends what he for
himfelf has never realized. Deplore with me. my
brother! the deep-dyed guilt of fuch a character; and,
deploring, let us fludy that it may not be our own !
On the other hand, poffefTed of piety, how amiable
and attractive will your character appear ! It will tend
to make your perfon venerable, your labours ufeful,
your life fweet, your death happy, your end triumph-
ant ! Having an experimental knowledge of com-
munion with God, and of the truth and power of the
doctrines you deliver; you will find much more
fweetnefs and fuccefs in your work, than he who per-
forms his duty as a drudge, or merely to gratify
the unhallowed principles of his own pride, intereft,
or vanity. When the Redeemer is thus precious to
your own foul, " out of the abundance of your heart
" your mouth will fpeak ;" you will be fired with a
noble and divine ardour, which will difpofe you,
like Paul, if to be inftant in feafon and out of feafon,
t( to be willing to fpend and be fpent for Chrift."
Hence it is that you will generally find, that the
mo ft
( 33 )
moft diligent fludent the mod ferious and powerful
preacher the moft confeientious, laborious, and
ufeful paftor is he who has mod love to his hea-
venly Mafter. <e If ye love me, (faid our Lord to
" Peter, and in him to you) feed my fheep ; feed
" my lambs."
Let love to Jefus, then, my dear Brother, be your
primum mobile, the grand impuliive principle which
pervades your fludies, animates your fermons, and
regulates your conduct. By being a believer your-
felf, you will befl defcribe the nature of faith by
being a true penitent, that of repentance by being
a good foldifr of Jefus Chrifl, you will befl inftruct
your hearers as to the dangers and difficulties, the
enemies and trials, of this warfaring ftate. In a word,
this experimental acquaintance with the truth and
power of religion on your own foul, will be to you
inftead of a thoufand arguments for its divinity: fo
that, feeling its efficacy to your own falvation, you
will neither be aihamed nor afraid to preach it for
the immortal happinefs of others. Nay, befides the
falutary influence of it on your own mind, it will
have a happy effect on the accomplifhmcnt and fuc*
cefs of your labours of love among this people. In
ail your private intercourfe with them as their in-
ftructor, counfellor, comforter, and friend, it will
enable
C 34 )
enable you to teach truth with greater readinefs, and
enforce duty with greater fuccefs.
It were only telling you what you already know,
to obferve, that fecret prayer is the belt mean to
keep alive and cultivate religion in the foul, and to
obtain divine affiflance and fuccefs in your public
labours. See, then, my dear Sir, that you be a man
of prayer ; for this is the better half of a minifter's
duty, and what will render the other more eafy and
agreeable. Your retired, folitary life, gives you a
noble opportunity for this; and your employment
and profpetfs particularly call for it at your hands.
One half hour fpent in the clofet, communing with
your own heart, and in humble invocation of God's
affiftance and bleffing, is worth twice that time fpent
in the ftudy : nay, I am confident that your future
experience will confirm, that thofe difcourfes you
begin, carry on, and flnim with prayer, are gene-
rally thofe which will be moft ufeful to yourfelf, and
to thofe who hear vou.
Having made thefe remarks on the neceffity and
advantage of perfonal religion, I would exhort you,
II.. To fecure and improve time for your private
Jludics. Though you have received a regular, aca-
demical education, and have already fpent feveral
years
( 35 )
years in the acquifition of knowledge, you mull not
on that account weary or give up in this grand pur-
fuit. Whatever progrefs you may have already
made, either in profane or facred literature, there is
ftill a vaft field before you, which it will be your
wifdom to improve and occupy. By a ferious and
judicious minifter, every kind of fcience may be
made ufe of to fome good purpofe the knowledge
of the languages, of poetry, hiftory, philofophy,
and other branches of human learning; all thefe
will tend to exercife and improve your intellectual
faculties, to increafe your acquaintance with men and
things, and of courfe to make you more extenlively
ufeful in the church and in the world. But, fuffer me
to remind you, that the Bible is to be your chief
companion and friend, " the man of your counfel
" and of your right hand;" and that the ftudy of
Theology, as a fcience taught there, is an object to
which your profeflion particularly calls you. When
I fpeak of the Bible as your grand fyftem, I mean
not" thereby to feed the confidence of thofe ignorant,
vifionary, felf-created preachers, w r ho decry human
learning as wholly unnecefiary to minifterial furni-
ture ; I only mean, that all thefe branches of human
fcience Ihould be ufed as helps to Biblical learning,
and in fubferviency to the knowledge of Chrift and
his gofpeh
With
( 36 )
With all your ftudies then, fee, my Brother,
that you ftudy this blefled book of God, and that
you penetrate into its fublime, myfterious contents
more and more. Though you mould live to Me-
thufelah's age, you might be ever learning and inv
proving here, and finding frefh fcope for labour and
inveitigation. You owe it to God, to your own
confcience, and to the fouls of thefe people, that
you fail not to employ every poflible mean of grow-
ing in grace, and in the knowledge of the truth as
it is in jefus. And remember, Sir, that if you live
long in the world, you will find, in the courfe of
your miniftry, ample occafion for all the knowledge
you could pofTibly acquire if you would rightly
keep up the dignity of your character, and fill up
the duty and defign of your office. Unlefs jour
experience widely differs from that of your brethren,
you will doubtlefs meet with many avocations (par-
ticularly after the whole charge devolves upon you) ;
but whatever you do in the cafe of neceflity, let
neither the calls of amufemeni; nor of fociety en-
croach upon your hours devoted to retirement and
to preparation for the important duties of the pulpit.
It is a maxim equally confirmed by reafon and expe-
rience, " That a wife man was never formed in a
" crowd ;" and therefore, if you would grow either
in grace or wifdom. beware of mixing unncceflarily
with
( 37 )
with the world, or of gadding always abroad in
public companies. I fay unnecejfarily, for though a
minifter ought by no means to live like the gloomy
inhabitant of a lonely cloyfler, but may enter into
all the innocent joys of focial intercourfe ; yet in
general it will be found, that the lefs he is in public,
and the more he is at home, he will more effectually
fecure his perfonal reputation, and his official fuccefs.
But time forbidding an enlargement here, I come,
< III. To drop a few hints on the matter and manner
of your public miniftrations, to which the two former
particulars were only fubfervient. As to the matter,
Let Chrift and his crofs be the grand and governing
theme of all your fermons ; for, in one view or
other, every point of revelation has a more remote
or intimate connection with it. The promifes and
prophecies the types and figures the doctrines
and duties the comforts and terrors contained in
fcripture, are all concentered in the perfon, cha-
racter, and work, of Chrift. In ihort, take Jefus
from the Bible, and you annihilate the whole ; you
reduce Chriftianity to the religion of nature; you
{trip it of that which gives it all its fweetnefs and
confiftency, its energy and glory. Senfible of this,
Paul determined for himfelf " to know nothing
" among the Corinthians, but Jefus Chrift and him
F " crucified."
C 38 )
" crucified." Though he was a man of a bright
and diftinguifhed genius was educated in the fa-
mous lchool of Gamaliel and acquainted with all
the philofbphy of Greece and Rome yet, as an
apoftle or minifter, every thing muft give way to the
humbling doctrine of Chrift and his crofs. It might
have been thought, that though he would preach
Chrift in fome rude, illiterate, fecluded village ; yet,
when he came among all the literati of Corinth, he
would difpenfe for once with his favourite theme,
and give fome ftriking difplay of his erudition and
tafte. This, however, he difdained to do, knowing
full well the worth of fouls, the propriety of his
fubject, and the defign of his office, to purfue fuch
bafe, temporizing conduct. Even among thefe fage,
polite, and learned citizens, he is refolutely fet to
know no other fubject but the doctrine of Chrift ;
that part of it, too, which was moil offenfive to their
pride and carnal reafon. A model this, Sir, worthy
of your imitation and mine : and indeed we are no
farther worthy to be called minifters of Chrift, than
we ftudy in our meafure to form upon it. But al-
though Chrift fhould be your capital and command-
ing fubject, the religious truths you muft bring for-
ward into view are numerous and diverfified. You
muft inftruct your people in the knowledge of God
. in his nature, perfections, and works in the
3 knowledge
( 39 )
knowledge of Chrlft, in his perfon, undertaking,*
and offices in the knowledge of the Spirit, in his
operation and influences in the knowledge of the
covenants of works and grace ; the breach of the
one, the tenor and constitution of the other in the
knowledge of divine revelation, the fupporting
grounds of its truth and credibility in the know-
ledge of the laws and ordinances of God his go-
vernment of this, and his righteous retributions in a
future world This, Sir, is but a part of your work ;
and yet it is a part neither of (mall extent, nor of
trivial concern. Preaching (Thrift, however, does
not imply that you are to be always harping on the
doctrines, privileges, and comforts, of the gofpel.
If you would preach Him aright, you muft with
thefe alternately difplay the precepts, threatening*,
and terrors of his word.
Before I take leave of this part of my addrefs, I
would recommend to you, my Brother, a frequent
intermixture of what may be called practical or ex-
perimental preaching. Nor is this an eafy or trivial
matter. Clearly to ftate in your fermons the dif-
ferent views, principles, paflions, prejudices, and
purfuits, by which men are governed, according to
their gracious or unrenewed characters; fo that every
Gne of your hearers may fee his own likenefs held up
F 2 to
( 4o )
to his eye, is a nice and difficult part of your duty
as a preacher. In difcharging it, your own per-
fbnal acquaintance with the life of godlinefs
will be of infinite ufe to you, enabling you to
fpeak with acceptance and profit to the mourner in
Zion, and " to comfort him with thefe confolations
wherewith you yourfelf have been comforted of
" God." If you would profit the fouls of believers
in general, you muft defcribe the nature and excel-
lence, the rife and progrefs, of the divine life ; with
all the variations in their frames, feelings, defires,
and attainments, from the time they firft believe,
" until they arrive at the meafure of the flature of
" full grown men in Chrift Jefus." And, with re-
gard to the various tribes of wicked men, fee that
your fermpns bear home upon their confciences with
point and penetration ; otherwife, they will return
from the houfe of God as carnal, unhumbled, and
unaffected, as they came. Preaching in this clofe,
characteriftical method, your fermons will difcrimi-
nate between the tares and the wheat, between the
precious and the vile ; and fo " will you approve
" yourfelf to God a workman that needeth not to
" be afhamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.'*
Having fpoken of the matter, a hint or two on
the manner of conducting your public miniftrations
(hall
( 41 )
mall conclude this particular. Nor is this a circum-
stance unworthy of being mentioned on this occafion,
though perhaps the prefent fpeaker mould be the
lafl to propofe it. It is beyond a doubt, that a
graceful, engaging manner of conducting the va-
rious duties and devotions of a Chriftian afTembly, is
to be ranked not as the leaft endowment for the mi-
niftry. The infpired writers exhibit an amiable
model, not only in point of fentiment, but of that
ftyle and phrafe which are fuited to the pulpit. The
royal preacher " fought to find out acceptable
i( words" Apollos was commended as " an elo-
" quent man" and Paul, though he difclaimed in
one view " the wifdom of words," yet no man was
more diftinguifhed for fublime thought, correct
ftyle, clofe reafoning, bold, nervous, pathetic dic-
tion. What your own fentiments are on the iubject,
I know not ; but I have ever thought, that plain nefs
and limplicity of language (if it does not fink into
flatnefs and infipidity) is a fpecies of eloquence of
all others the beft adapted to the pulpit. In fhort,
Sir, if you ufe fcriptural language to clothe and
convey fcriptural fentiment, I hope you will be
found (if not an elegant, what is far better) a ferious
and fuccefsful minifter of the gofpel. And, while
others aim at being eminent for oratory, let it be
your
( 4* )
your fludy and mine to aim invariably at that kind of
eminence which has a tendency to ufefulnefs; rather
than at that which, though it may exalt our repu-
tation, will have but very little influence in doing
good. Miftake me not, however, as if my meaning
was, that you or I mould felicitate ourfelves on
having a frigid air, a whining tone, or a flovenly
pronunciation, in our pulpit fervices; for nothing
can either be more aukward in itfelf, or more dif-
gufting to our auditory. To aim at improvement in
thefe refpe&s, is a tribute we owe to our fituation
in London ; as it can be offenfive to none, but mufl
minifter to the delight and profit of all who hear us
I forbear, however, from enlarging here, as the
advice would come with better grace from fome of
my refpected Brethren, who have been longer in
England; and, of courfe, who are better qualified
to recommend the proper pronunciation of its Ian-,
gnage. I proceed to a point of much greater im-
portance, viz.
IV. To drop a word of advice refpecling your
general deportment in life. A variety of namelefs
particulars might be comprifed here; but the length
of the fervice only permits me to give a hint or two.
That it is of vaft importance, both to the dignity
and fuccefs of your office, that you be ftrid ancj
exemplary
( 43 >
exemplary in the whole of your behaviour, is what,
I prefume, you will readily allow. You know, Sir,
it is fornewhat congenial to the human mind, to be
more fufceptible of impreffions from what is feen
than what is heard ; and, as men have eyes as well as
ears, they will believe what they fee with the one
fully as foon as what they hear with the other. Sen-
fible of this, our Divine Matter enjoins on his dif-
ciples, and in them on you, on me, and on every
other minifter, to the end of time, an exemplary
courfe of outward conduct. " Ye are a city fet on
" an hill ; a city fet on an hill cannot be hid : Let your
" lightfofhine before men, &c." (Matth. v. 14.) The
particular graces which mould fhine confpicuous in a
minifter's conduct, are fpecified in the fequel of the
text, which our worthy Brother has juft difcourfed
from. (Vide 1 Tim. iii. 2. &c.) My limits forbid-
ding the full difcuffion of thefe particulars, I mall
only condefcend on the following few.
1 ft. A ferious, fedate deportment fhould be a
prominent feature in the character of every Chriftian
paftor ; by which, Sir, I do not underftand that ful-
len aufterity which flows from a mopilh, melancholy
mind ; but that uniform air of calmnefs and com-
pofure which renders a perfon at once venerable and
agreeable. That this is abfolutely necefTary in the
character
( 44 )
character you now fuftain, appears from I Tim.
iii. 8. where Paul, defcribing the qualifications of the
Spiritual Bishop, fubjoins, " Likevvife alfo
" muft the deacons be grave". The conjunctive
particle (hews, that gravity muft mark the conduct
of the pajiorzs well as of the deacon; for if it be ef-
fential in an inferior, it follows a fortiori, that it mufl
be ftill more fo in a fuperior officer in the Chriftian
church. Indeed, Sir, whether you confider the na-
ture of the truths you are called to ftudy, the ftation
you hold in the church, or the office you have this
day engaged to difcharge, theneceffity of this habitual
ferioufnefs is equally apparent. The truths you are
to ftudy are folemn and important, the ftation you
now hold is in itfelf venerable, and the office you
are ordained to is every way interesting ; and there-
fore, without this gravity, you can neither ftudy the
one with advantage, fill the other with dignity, nor
difcharge the laft with fuccefs. Let this fedatenefs
of difpofition tincture your converfation as well as
your conduct ; fo that, while fome of your own order
aim at low wit and filly buffoonery, your words will
difcover more of a ferious than of a jocular humour.
An infpired writer intcrpofes a very proper caveat
againft this evil, when he fays, " neither filthinefs
" nor foolifh talking, nor jefting, which are not con-
" venient." Inftead of thefc, let your converfation be
diftinguiihed
( 45 ;
diftinguiftied by a habitual gravity ; for thereby you
will command the reverence of your people, procure
a general refpedr. to your character, and give an ad-
ditional weight to all your miniftrations.
2d. Let your moderation and temperance be
known to all men. This point of fobriety the apoftle
warmly recommends, among the other qualifications
of a Bifhop, when he fays " not given to much
*< wine". Are you a man of ftudy, this modera-
tion is abfolutely neceffary to keep your mind clear,
and your body healthful. Are you a man whofe
conduct mould be exemplary, it is equally neceffary
to keep it pure and irreproachable. Intemperance in
.any man is unbecoming, but it is inexprembly
Shocking to fee a minifter, who mould mine in all
the graces of felf-governraent, fluttered (if not filled)
with $rong liquor. Fprbid it decency, duty, con-
fcience, every thing facrecH Think, my Brother,
what a wretched recommendation it is to fay of a mi-
nifter, that he is a hon-viymt, and can take his glafs
freely. The very perfons who pretend to his face to
admire his liberality, muft, on a thinking interval,
4efpife him at heart for his glaring inconfiftency.
3d. Meeknefs of temper, in union with a winning
^ondefcenfion and gentlenefs of behaviour, may be
G mentioned
( 4 )
mentioned as another charactereftic quality of the
Chriftian Paftor. Befide the toils and difficulties
arifing from your ftudies, in your intercourfe with
your own people, and with mankind at large, you
will meet with many things to four your temper, and
thwart your expectations ; in which cafe, gentlenefs
and equanimity will produce the moft falutary influ*
ence on your heart and conduct. Like your hea-
venly Lord, " who was meek and lowly, you mud
fi not drive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach,
" patient, in meeknefs inftructing thofe that oppofe
" themfdves, if fo be, God peradventure may give
" them repentance to the acknowledgement of the
te truth." Nor is this Sir, inconfiftent with that
zeal for religion, which mould warm every minifter's
breaft ; for without it, zeal would run into furious
heats and intemperate fallies, while, under its direc-
tion, it will be mild and moderate. Among other
advantages refulting from it, it will diffufe a perpetual
ferenity over your mind, make your company and
manners agreeable, fortify you againft the little rubs
of life, and enable you to behave in critical con-
junctures with prudence and propriety.
In fine, ftudy, my Brother, to preferve the
ftxictefl uniformity and confiftency of character, both
in public and private life. Is it not the reproach of
fome
( 47 )
fome minifters as well as of private Chriftians, rhat they
are only devout on certain feaforts ; to-day they act
in character, to-morrow quite out of it; in the pulpit
they ad the minifter, out of it the fine gentleman ;
in fome companies they are grave, in others loofe
and corripliant; and will run with them almofttoany
excefs of riot. M But I hope, my friend, better things
" of you, and things that accompany falvation,
" though I thus fpeak." In the words of Paul, I
would exhort you " to be ah example of the be-
lievers in word, in converfation, in charity, in {pint,
in faith, in purity.'* Let " bolinefs to the Lord"
which was inferibed on the mitre of the ancient,
High Prieft, be engraven on your heart, and fliine
in your life, with a vivid luftre. And, O Sir, think
how happy you (hall be, when, at the clofe of your
life and miniftry on earth, you can calmly ftep forth,
and in words like thefe, make a folemn appeal to the
Searcher of hearts, and likewife to the people among
whom you laboured ! " Ye are witnefTes, and God
t alfo, how holily, juftly, and unblameably, I have
" behaved myfelf among you who believe: as you
ft know how I exhorted, and comforted, and
" charged every one of you, as a father doth his
* f children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who
" hath called you to his kingdom and glory."
" Giving no offence neiiher to the Jews nor Gentiles,
nor
( 4* )
" nor to the church of God, even pleafing all men>
" in all things ; not feeking mine own profit, but
" the profit of many, that they may be fayed."
(r-Thef. ii. x. &e.)
Before yeu fit downy permit me, Sir, to requeft of
you a lingle favour , and that is, that you continue
in your kind attentions to our worthy,- aged, and
venerable Father, with whom you have now been
joined in the bonds of co-paftorfhip. To touch upon
his long and juftly refpected character, is not my in-
tention (efpeeially as he is prefent) ; for there is no-
thing more foreign to me, than the language of flat-
tery, or fulfome compliment. Permit me only to ex-
prefs the wiflies of my heart, that you will endeavour,
by every kind office, to bear him up under all the in-
firmities of declining life, and that, like Timotheus
with Paul, " you will ferve with him, as a fon with
" a father, in the gofpel of Chrift." Nor can my
warmeft friendship form a higher wifli in your behalf,
than that you may walk in his fteps, and fupport the
fame dignity of character which he has done, as a
Chriftiananda Minifterin this place, for no lefs a term.
ihzn fifty years. Thus, living together in peace and
friendfhip here on earth, may you both, after a life of.
faithful, ufeful, active fervice in the Redeemer's
caufe, be tranfplanted into happier climes above, to
5 ufte
( 49 )
tafle of " that river of pleafures, which flows from
t underneath the throne of God, and of the Lamb !"
Then mall every foul, ye have been the honoured
means of winning unto God, be a frefh jewel added
to your crown. Then every ufeful inftruction, every
honeft reproof, every feafonable advice, and every
fervent prayer iffued within thefe walls, be poured
richly back into your own bofoms ; or rather col-
jected, and woven into laurels of renown, to encircle
your heads for ever and ever.
Had I not already exhaufted your time and pa-
tience, it would be proper to tender alfo fome ad-
vices to you, the Chrijiian people who ftately aflem-
ble in this place ; but the many judicious hints given
you in the fermon, fupercede the neceffity of any
great enlargement. Suffer me only, my Chriftian
friends, to requeft, in behalf of my young brother
now ordained among you,
i ft. That you give him every proper degree of
honour and ejleem. That he (as well as your aged
Paftor) has a rightful claim to this tribute of re-
fpecl, is evident from i Tim. v. 17. " Let them
" who rule well be counted worthy of double ho-
" nour,
( 5 )
" hour, efpecjally them who labour in word and
*' doctrine ;"' and elfevvhere, " We befeech you,
c brethren, to know them who labour among you,
* c and admonifh you, and efteem them very highly
i in love for their work's fake." Though it ap-
pears from the connection, that the double honour
which Paul mentions, includes, in one view, that
Worldly maintenance to which your minifters are
entitled by a pofkive and religious right; yet at
prefent I fpeak not of that (for I prefume there is
no need to fpeak), but of that tribute of efteem
which is due them for their work and Mafter's fake.
See, then, that you honour and revere your Mini-
fters, and difcover it by a tender and refpe&ful con-
duct ; for this is the belt and moft pleafing fymptom
that you really wifli to profit by them.
2d. Teftify your efteem by a regular attendance on
all their miniftrations. Has God inftituted ordi-
nances in the church, and alfo given you Minifters
to difpenfe them, and will you trifle with, or wan-
tonly defert them ? This is flothfully and (hamefully
the cafe with many ; but I hope it will not be the
cafe with you. " Forfake not the affembling of*
" yourfelves together, as the manner of fome is ;**
but let the character of Zacharias and Elizabeth be
yours, of whom it is faid, " They walked in all
" the
( 5 )
" the ordinances and commandments of the Lord
" Diameters." Nor will you, if you are Chriftians
indeed, fatisfy yourfelves with a mere outward bo-
dily fervice, for "bodily exercife profireth tittle;"
but you will repair to the fanctuary with humble,
dQcile, prepared hearts, " to receive with meekncfs
" the ipgraftep! word, which is able to fave your
** fouls." But further,
3d. Demonftrate your efteem for your Paftors, not
only by waiting pn their miniflry, but by believing
and obeying the truths they deliver, " that your
" ciefire of profiting may appear to all." Though,
Jike Paul's hearers, you would receive your Mi-
nifters as the angejs of God, and pluck, out your
own eyes for them ; if ye pay no practical deference
to the meffages they bring, however much you may
attend their preaching, or applaud their talents, it is
all an empty, ufelefs compliment. Confider, then,
when ye repair unto the houfe of God, it is not to
be amufed, tjut to be profited not to have your
ears tickled, but to have your understandings en-
lightened, your confciences and hearts brought
under the power of the gofpel. Take theic direc-
tions of fcripture as infinitely better than any I can
give you " But be ye doers of the word, and not
*' hearers
( J* )
" hearers only, deceiving your ownfelves." " Obey
<f them that are over you in the Lord, and fubmit
* c yourfelves ; for they watch for your fouls as they
" who muft give an account."
4th. Charitably bear with the weakneffes and im-
perfections of them who are fet over you in word
and doctrine. Certain frailties and failings (to fay
the bed of it) cleave to minifters as well as to others ;
for " they are men of like paflions with yourfelves.'*
Therefore, Jet chariry, like a Chriftian veil, be
thrown over all the little failings of humanity. Be
not difpofed to liften to every defamatory rumour
which may be raifed and circulated among the tribes
of the cenforious, in order to difparage your Mini-
fler's character. Envy or malice, unprovoked, may
foon fix on him their envenomed teeth ; but let
your charity endeavour to blunt their edge. Charge
not rafhly every blemifli to the worft of principles,
but rather coyer, than fpread and aggravate, his in-
voluntary failings. " Charity (you know) fuffereth
tl long, and is kind ; is not eafily provoked ; think-
*' eth no evil ; beareth all things; hopeth all things ;
c: endureth all things," &c. 1 Cor. xiii. Finally,
5th. Brethren, pray for your Minifters, " that the
" word of the Lord may have free courfe, and be
" glorified,
( 53 )
" glorified among you." Prayer is a reciprocal duty ;
for it becomes not only miniflers to pray for their
people, but the people to pray fervently for them.
To engage you to this, my Chriftian friends, need I
inform you, that your own benefit, your Minifters'
comfort and ufefulnefs among you, the intereft and
enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom, are con-
cerned at once in your being a prayerful people.
When you approach the throne of God, then (as I
gladly trufi: you often do) be not unmindful of your
aged Paftor, nor of him you have chofen to aflift and
fucceed him ; for if you bear them on your hearts in
fecret prayer, they may expect the more fenlible
aids of the Divine Spirit, and your/elves all the im-
portant bleflings of his gofpel. Ye therefore who
make mention of the name of the Lord, keep not
filence ; give him no reft, by importunity and prayer,
until he eftablifh, and return, and make your Jeru-
salem a praife in the midft of the earth ! " Now
" unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
" above all that we can aik or think, according to
" the power that worketh in us unto him be glory
" in the church, throughout all ages, world without
<* end." Amen*
THE END.
2930
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