7 ?%#?*?*<.* Jit***** A SERMON, Delivered at ©aleitl, in New-Hampshire^ January 4, 1797, / R D I N A 'ION 44 AT TH8 OF THS Rev. joljn g>mity, a. b: TO THE WORK of the MINISTRY IN THAT PLACB. ^ by Batfjamel Cmmons, a.m: Pastor of the Church in Franklin, Massachusetts. printed by <$ZQV#Z if)0Ug!), at CONCORD. M. DCC. XCVII. A N ORDINATION SERMON, &c. EZEKIEL II. 8. Mt tljott, fan of man, fceat in^at % fai> unto tf)ee : Be not tf;ou rebellious like tfjat re* Ibelltous Ijoufe* JL HE children of Ifrasi were once holi- nefs to the Lord, and the firft fruits of his increafe; They ferved the Lord all the days of Jofhua, and all the days of the Elders that outlived Joihua. But ever after that memorable period, they began to lofe the fpirit of religion, and became more and more corrupt, until they were carried into captiv- ity, as a juft punidiment for their deep declenfion. In this deplorable fituation, they continued to har- den themfelves in fin, and to pine away in their iniquities, until every appearance of fpiritual life was gone. Then God was pleafed to fend Ezekiel to prophefy over the valley of dry bones, in order, to raife them from fpiritual death to fpiritual life. And to prepare him for his arduous tafk, he fore- warned him of his danger, and charged him to guard againft it. " Son of man, I fend thee to the children of Ifrael. Be not afraid of them, though briars % an ^fltnatum SERMON. briars and thorns be with thee, and thou doft dwell among fcorpions ; be not afraid of their words, nor be difmayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious houfe. And thou fhalt fpeak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are mosl rebellious. But thou, fan of man, hear what I fay unto thee : Be not thou, rebellious like that rebellious houfe." This was the fame as to fay, I know the degeneracy of the times. I know the corruption and obstinacy of the people. J know they will slop their ears and harden their hearts againsl divine truth. And I know, that for this purpofe, they will ufe every method, by words and looks, to corrupt your heart, poijon your fentiments, and destroy your influence. But I warn you to beware of men •, and never fuffer yourfelf to be corrupted by thofe, whom you arefent to reprove and reform. This divine caution applies to all who are called to bear the mefiages of God to men *, and naturally leads us, on this occafion, to (hew, I. That Minifters are expofed to be corrupted by the people : And, II. That it is their indifpenfable duty to guard againft it. I. Let us confider, that Minifters are expofed to be corrupted by the people. Though this be a very humiliating truth to Mi- nifters as well as people, yet let us attend to the evidence an ^ttn'nattmt sermon. 5 evidence of it, with ferioufnefs and impartiality. And here I would obferve, 1. That Minifters have hew corrupted by the people. This was the unhappy cafe of Aaron. While Mofes was detained on the Mount, the people were uneafy, and came to Aaron, and de-; fired him to make them an idol. Tho' he knew; that he had no right to comply with this unreason- able requeft, yet he finally yielded to the importu-; nity of the people, and made them a golden god; Accordingly, when Mofes returned and reproved him for his conduct, he made no other excufe than the preffing importunity of the people. " And Mofes faid unto Aaron, What did this people un- to thee, that thou haft brought fo great a fin upon them ?" This very queftion carries an implication, that Aaron was corrupted. " And Aaron faid, Lc: not the anger of my lord wax hot °. thou know- eft the people, that they are fet on mifchief. For they faid unto me, Make us gods which lhall go before us % for as for this Mofes, the man that brought us up out of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him." This was a bafe infinuation to the diihonour of Mofes, and an artful addrefs to the vanity of Aaron, which was exactly fuited to corrupt his heart, and draw him from the path cf duty. The event anfwered the defire and expecta- tion of thofe who were fet on mifchief ; for Aaron was 6 an <&rtrtnatftm sermon: was corrupted, and became " rebellious like that rebellious houfe." The fame thing happened to the tons and fucceffors of Aaron ; for we find that they were always corrupt, when the people were corrupt. There was a great degeneracy in the time of the Judges, when every man did what was right in his own eyes j and that day of declenfion proved a day of temptation to the Priefti, who were carried away by the flream of corruption.—- When Afa came to the throne, we are told, that ** for a long feafon Ifrael had been without the true God, and without a teaching Prieff." A great num- ber of the Priefts were actually put down, in the reign of Jofiah, becaufe they had fallen into the degeneracy of the times, i^nd at the reformation* in Hczekiah's day 9 there was fuch a fcarcity of awcorrupted Prisftj, that the Levites were called in to afilft them in the difcharge of their office.-- Indeed, it was fo common for the Priefts to be in- volved in the corruption! of the peop!e 3 that God generally reproved them both together. By Jere* miah he fays, " A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land : The Prophets prophefy falfely, and the Priefts bear rule by their means § and my people loye to have it fo.*' By the fame Prophet he fays again, that he would remove Je- ruialem from before his face, " Becaufe of all the evil of the children of Ifrael, and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, an $rtrinatton sermons 7 anger, they, their kings, their princes, and their Priefts." By Ezekiel he fays of Judea, " Her Priefts have violated my law, and have profaned my holy things ; they have put no difference be- tween the holy and profane, neither have (hewed difference between the unclean and the clean." By Micah he fays of the houfe of Ifrael, " The heads thereof judge for reward, and the Priefts thereof teach for hire, and the Prophets thereof divine for money.*' By Zepheniah he fays of the opprefllng city, " She obeyed not the voice, flie received not correction : me trufted not in the Lord, fne drew not near her God : her princes within her are roarJ ing lions, her judges are ravening wolves : her Prophets are light and treacherous perfons ; her Priefts have polluted the fancluary s they have dons violence to the law." Now if the Priefts were always corrupt when the people were corrupt, then it is natural to conclude, that they were, in fome meafure at leafl, corrupted by the people. But we are not left to mere con- jecture in this cafej for God himfelf complains of rhe people for being always difpofed to corrupt their teachers. " I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wil- dernefs, to poffefs the land of the Amorite. And I raifed up of your fons for Prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thu?, P ye children of Ifrael ? faith the Lord. But ye gave s an limitation sermon; gave the Nazarites wine to drink, and commanded the Prophets, faying, Prophefy not." They meant to corrupt the friends of virtue, and the Minifters of religion, on purpofe to deftroy the influence of their example, and the force of their inftru&ions and admonitions : And they very rarely failed of accompliftiing their malignant purpofe. The ex- perience of ages, therefore, loudly proclaims, that Minifters are expofed to be drawn from their duty, and involved in moral corruption, by the undue influence of the peop'.e. 2. The bare example of the people, in a day of declcnfion, has a natural tendency to corrupt Minifters. Moral corruption is contagious, and endangers all who are obliged to come within the fphere of its influence. When the people become cold and dull, and averfe from every thing of a religious nature, Minifters are apt to imbibe and manifeft the fame fpirit. When the people become light and vain in their converfation, Minifters are apt to countenance and imitate their levity. W T hen the people grow rich and gay and luxurious, Mi- nifters are apt to fall into the fame loofe and cor- rupt habits. When the people indulge thcmfelvss in idlenefs, difiipation, and vain ajnufements, Mi- nifters are apt to be allured into their company, and become patrons and partakers of their fins. And when the people become loofe in their fenti- ments, and will not endure found do&rine, Minif- ters an #rfctnatt0u sermon. 9 tcrs are apt to conceal or pervert the great troth* of the gofpel, and preach fniooth things, to fecure the applaufe and friendship of the enemies of truth: The day of degeneracy is a day of danger to Mi- nifters. The prevailing fpirit and practice of the times, naturally tend to cool their zeal, weaken their virtue, and injure both the matter and man^ ner of their preaching,— But though they are ex- pofed to be corrupted by the bare example of the people, yer, 3. They are in much greater danger of being corrupted, by the pofitive endeavours and exer- tions of the people to draw them into fin. A cor« rupt people feel themfdves obliged to take this courfe, in order to refill the energy of plain and faithful preaching. They know the power of di- vine truth, the force of pious example, and the in» fluence of godly Minifters : and tbey feel unable to (land before thefe united means of conviction: To prevent, therefore, the pains of a wounded con- fcience, they endeavour, by various methods, to bring Minifters over to their own fide, and form them agreeably to their own tafte. Some treat them with peculiar refpect, and flatrer their Vanity, to make them more yielding and compliant. Some load them with kindnefs, and endeavour to draw them afide, by the powerful cords of intereft. Some invite them to their houses, and into their compa- ny, and urge them to fmaU and feemingly harmlefa 8 compliances, io am ^rfcmatum sermon; compliances, and (o take advantage of their weak- nefs, And fome ufe more harfh and imperious methods, and attempt to frighten them from their virtue and integrity. Such methods as ihefe, we find the children of Ifrael often employed, to corrupt thofe who were Tent to them as meflengers of the Lord of Hofts. Sometime* they attacked their virtue and innocence, " by giving them wine to drink." Sometimes " they faid to the feers,See not; and to the prophets, Prophcfy not unto us right things, fpeak unto us fmooth things, prophcfy deceits : Get out of the way, turn aiide out of the path, caufe the Holy One of Ifrael to ceafe from before us." Sometimes they threatened their Prophets with the terror of their tongues : «* Come, faid they, let us devife devices againft Jeremiah, and let us fmite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words." Sometimes they employed their frowning looks as well as hard words, to deter their teachers from their duty, and make them rebellious like themfelves. And fometimes " they commanded their prophets, faying, Prophefy not." This rough method Amasiali ufed to filence the prophet Amos. " Amaziah faid unco Amos, O thou feer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophefy there: But prophefy not again any more in B?th el : for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court." And the council at Jerufalem ah (^r&tnaiujtt sermon. ii Jerufale m laid the fame imperious prohibition up. on the Apoftles. Afcer mature deliberation,** they called them in, and commanded them not to fpeak at all nor teach in the name of Jefus." Jews and Gentiles are the fame by nature, and therefore our Lord taught his Mi nifteri to exped the fame treat- ment from the Gentiles, which the Prophets had received from the Jews, " BltiTsd are ye, when men (hall revile you and perfecute you, and fay all manner of evil againft you falfely for my fake: for fo perfecuted they the Prophets which were before you." The conduct of both Jews and Gentiles towards the Minifters of religion, is a dsmonftra- tion of the natural difpoBtion of mankind, to ufe every method in their power to corrupt the hearts and deftroy the influence of thofe who are fent to inftruct and reclaim them.— — We are sH by this time convinced, I prefunie, that Minifters are ex- pofsd to be corrupted by the people.— But if they arc expofed to this danger, thzn 9 II. It is their indifpenfable dujy to guard againft* it. Son of man, bear what I fay unto tbes: Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious boufe. It is the dictate of common fenfe, that every man ought to avoid every danger, which he knows, and which he is able to avoid. Miniftcrs know the danger of being corrupted 5 and they are all able to guard againft it. This appears from the con- duel: li an ^ttrinattan sermon. due! of many, who have gone before them, in de- livering the meflagesof God to men. The faith- ful Prophets and Prieftr, as well as pious Apoftles, felt their expofedoefs to the frowns and flatteries of the world ; but they nobly rcfifted every effort to allure or to awe them from their duty. The Pro- phet Samuel, who was early called to deliver the meflfages of God to Ifrael, faithfully difcharged his office, and maintained his innocence and integrity to the laft. Though he lived in a day of declen. fion, and the people were weary of the divine go^ vernment \ yet he would never yield to their cor- rupt inclinations, any further than God allowed him to gratify their wilhes : So that he was able, jud before his death, to make the moft (olemn ap- peal to their confeiences, that he had walked up- rightly before them all the days of his life. Eli- jah fingly and nobly refitted the frowns of the people, the reproach of the Prophets, and the wrath of the king. Jeremiah was furrounded by enemies, who threatened to defame his character, and to deftroy his life, unkfs he would forbear to reprove them for their fins, and admonim them of their danger : Bat he bravely defpifed their threats, and faithfully difcharged his duty. And the pri- mitive Preachers of the gofpel difplayed no lefs magnanimity and firmnefe, in the courfe of their miniilry. When Peter and John were commanded act an ^rtjumtton sermon. ij not to preach in the name of Jefus, by the moft dignified character in the Jewifh nation, they bold- ly replied, " Whether it be right in the fight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God ft judge ye • For we cannot but fpeak the things which we have feen and heard." But Paul met with the mod opposition ; and accordingly mani- fefted the moft chriftian fortitude and fidelity in preaching the gofpel. " Do I," fays he to the Galatians, *' Do I now perfuade men, or God ? Or do I feek to pleafe men ? For if I yet pleated men, I ihould not be the fervant of Chrift." He allures the Thefialonians, that he had made it his maxim as a Minifter, to pleafe God rather than men, " But as we were allowed of God to be put in truft with the gofpel, even fo wc fpeak, not as pleafing men, but God which trieth our hearts. 9 ! The conduct of thefe faithful fervants of God, gives us clear and ftriking evidence, that Minifters are able, and therefore ought, to guard againft all the peculiar dangers of their office. And to im- prefs this plain and practical duty the more deeply on our minds, I would obferve, i. That God has expreftly commanded Mi- nifters, to guard againft the attempts of thofe who would corrupt their hearts, and draw them afide from the path of duty. His command to Ezckiel on this fubjeft, is extremely pointed and folemn : t Son i4 an ^r&mattmt sermon. «• Son of man, I fend thee to the children of Ifrael; Be not afraid of them, though briars and thorns be with thee, and thou doft dwell among fcorpi- ons : be not afraid of their words, nor be difmayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious houfe. And thou (halt fpeak my words unto them, whe- ther they will hear, or whether they wilt forbear j for they are mosJ rebellious. But thou % fon of man, hear what I fay unto thee : Be not thm rebellious like that rebellious houfe. 3 '— Very fimiiar to this^ is the command which Chrift gave to his Apoftles, and to all their fucceffbrs in the miniftry. " Be- hold, I fend you forth as flieep in the midft of wolves ; be ye therefore wife as ferpents, and harm- lefs as doves. Beware of mm"-? Thefe comman ds from God the Father, and the Lord Jefus Chrift, bind all the Minifters of the gofpel to guard againft the peculiar dangers of their facred office, and to repel every temptation to unfaithrulnefs. It is their indifpenfable duty,, therefore, to view mankind ins the light in which the great Searcher of hearts has represented them, and to be as careful to avoid their corrupting inflaence, as they would be to avoid the jaws of a wolf, or the poifan of a/fcor- pion. 2. They will forfeit the divine prefence and protection, if they fofter themfclves to be corrupt- ed 3 and therefore it is their indifpenfable duty to guard an mnixmUtm sermon: is guard againft it. While they continue faithful to God, and plainly deliver his mefiages to men, he has gracioufly promifed to be wirh them, and to preserve them from the power of their enemies.— Upon this condition, he promifed to ftrengthen and fopport his prophet Ezekicl. " Son of man, go, get thee unto the houfe of Ifrael, and fpeak with my words unto them. Behold, I have made thy face ftrong againft their faces, and thy fore- head ftrong againft their foreheads. As an adamant, harder than flinr 3 have I made thy forehead : fear them nor, neither be difmayed at their looks, tho* they be a rebellious houfe."— The fame promife of fopport he gave to Jeremiah, on the fame condi- tion. ct Be not afraid of their faces : for I am with thee, to deliver thee, faith the Lord. Behold, I have made thee this day a defcnced city, and an Iron piiiar, and brazen wails againft the whole land, againft the kings of Judah, againft the princes thereof againft che Priesls thereof, and againft the people of the land. And they mail Sght againft thee j but they Jhall not prevail againft thee: for I am with thee, faith the Lord, to deliver thee." — Chrift aifo gracioufly promifes to be with his Mi- oifters, fo long as they ftri&ly adhere to his precepts and appointments* " Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fa* ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghcft 5 teaching cheerio obferve all things whatfoever I have iS an grUftiatfon SERMON. have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always." Thefe gracious promifes are all con* ditional, and are fo explained by God himfelf. He fays to Jeremiah, " Thou, therefore, gird up thy loins, and arife, and fpeak unto them all that I command thee : be not dilmayed at their faces 5 left I confound thee before them" And this awful threatening, God tells the corrupt Priefts in the days of Malachi, he had actually executed upon them. «' Therefore have I alfo made you con- temptible and bafe before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law." Now, Minifters have great reafon to defire the divine prefence and protection 5 for if God be with them, who can be againft them ? And they have as much reafon to fear his departure and difpleafure ; for if God be againft them, who can btfor them ? This ferious and weighty con- ^deration ought to make them extremely careful, to regard God more than men •, and never incur bis difpleafure, in order to gain the favour, or to avoid the frowns, of their fellow worms. 3. If Minifters fuffer themfelves to be corrupt- ed by the people, it deftroys their ufefuinefs. If they imbibe the fpirit of the people, and feel as they feel ; if they follow the example cf the peo- ple, and conduct as they conduct ; or if they con- descend to preach faiooth things to pleafe the people \ an ^rfcfaatton sermon. 17 people j they will totally deftroy their minifterial ufsfulnefs : For, as foon as the people perceive,' that they regard them more than God t and will proiiitute their confidences to gratify their unrea- sonable defires, they will defpife their perfons, and neglect their preaching. Timeferving Minifter* generally have but few hearers. All men, whether good or bad, inwardly defpife loofe and unprinci- pled Minifies, let their talents be What they may. And the fame degree of criminality, which would be fcarcely obfervable in other men, is fufficicnt to deftroy the character and ufefulnefs of thofe who fuftain the facred office of the Miniftry. No men are (o completely ufelefs and contemptible, as thofe Ministers who have loft all appearance of religion, and become vifibly conformed to the fpi- rit and manners of the world. For, as our Sa- viour fays, ** They are the fait of the earth : buc if the fait have loft his favor, wherewith (hall it be faked ? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be call out, and to be trodden under foot of men." Hence the dignity of their character, and the im- portance of their office, lay Minifters of the gofpel under folemn obligation to keep themfelves un- fpotted from the world, and to preach the preach- ing which God bids them, whether their people will hear, or whether they will forbear. I mufl: obferve once more, C 4- If 18 an $t&matt'0tt SERMON; 4. If Minifters fuffer themfclvei to be carried down the ftream of corruption, they become not only ufelejsy but deffruffive to the people. Corrupt Minifters are always corrupters. The whole tenJ dency of their pra&ice and preaching is, to corrupt and deftroy the fouls of their people. Tho' they have loft the power of doing good, yet they retain the power of doing evil. They can do more than other men, to pull down the kingdom of Chrift, and build up the kingdom of fatan. And as they are more capable, fo they are more difpofed, than other men, to ftifle the fpirit of Religion, oppofe the doctrines of the gofpel, and ftrengthen the hearts and hands of the wicked. This is thechara&er which God gives of the corrupt teachers in Ifrael. He fay?, " Shemaiah taught rebellion againft the Lord." He fays, the prophets of Samaria and Jerufalem *' made Ifrael to err> ftrengthened the hands of evil doers t and caufcd profanenefs to go forth into all the land." When the people have formed their Minifters after their own hearts, and made them rebellious like themfelves, their Minifters will then fit them fall for deftrufrion. So God declares to Ifrael, by his faithful prophet Hofea : " There (hall be like people, like Prieft : and I m\\ puni/h them for their ways." And our Lord fays, " If the blind lead the blind, both fiiall fall into the ditch." Thus Minifters will deftroy both their own an ^ttJt'natton sermon; 19 own fouls and the fouls of their people, if they fcf - fer themfelves to be corrupted by them. And can there be a more folemn and awful confideration than this, to conftrain them to abftain from all appearance of evil * to guard againft all the dan- gers of their office ; and to difcharge all the im- portant duties of it, with fidelity and zeal ! This is our indifpenfable and infinitely important duty, Having illustrated the danger and duty of Minifters, I now proceed to make a few REFLECTIONS, which naturally grow out of the fubjecT:. I. IT is now a very dangerous day to Minis- ters, in this young and flourifhing Republic- The people have fallen into a great and general declenfion. As they have increafed, fo they have finned. They have loft their original piety and virtue, and become extremely loofe both in prac- tice and in principle. Every fpecies of moral cor- ruption has fpread through every part of our na- tion, and feized all ranks andclafiTes of men, Ar« minianifm, univerfalifm, and deifm, have more or lefs infected all our towns and parifhes j and led multitudes to renounce thofe duties and doctrines of religion, in which they were early educated by their pious parents and faithful Minifters. This *lay of dsclenfion among the people, is a day of great 2d am ®r&taium sermon. great danger to the Preachers of the gofpel. White iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxes cold, even the moft faithful Minifters cf the gofpel are in danger of falling into the degeneracy of the times. This is very evident from what has been faid j and (till more evideat from the conduct of thofe who fuftain the iacred character. Many Mi- nifters have already begun to degenerate with a degenerate people. Some have loft that fpirit of devotion, that ftrictnefs of life, and that purity of fentiment, which was once fo confpicuous in the Preachers of the gofpel. And forne have begun to yield to the corrupt humours and unreafonable de« iires of the people, in points of ferious and weighty importance. Some yield to the vicious j and neglect Ito condemn and reprove their fafhionable vices. Some yield to the heterodox % and neglect to con- demn and expofe their corrupt fentiments. Some yield to moral finners % and neglect to preach thofe doctrines of the gofpel, which are fo difagreeable to their carnal hearts. And fome condefcend even to difpenfe with the laws of Chrift, and admit thofe to enjoy the ordinances of the gofpel, who are vi- sibly deftitute of the fcriptural qualifications.—— Thefe are ftriking inftances of Minifters yielding to the corruptions cf the times, contrary to the dictates of thsir minds. And fuch inftances as thefe are very numerous, and to be found ail over the an #r&tnatton sermon; ?f the land. How many Minifters neither preach nor pra&ife according to their owo fentimenti, through fear of offending, and through defire of pleating, the people ? This conduct weakens the hands of faithful Minifters, and ftrengthens the hands of thofe who wifh to corrupt them. The prefent profpeel: is, that thofe who are the light of the world, will lofe their luftre 5 and thofe who are the fait of the earth, will lofe their favor $ and there will be like people, like Priefh— Trying times for Minifters are probably coming. And lee us all, who think we ftand, take heed left we fall, 2. Minifters need, at this day, to be well qualified for their office.— Though religion has decayed, yet knowledge has increafed. There are men of letters, or at leaft men of information, in every religious fociety. The people in general arc much more capable now, than they were formerly; of judging of the talents and qualifications of Mi- nifters. And as they are more critical in difcerning, fo they are more fevere in cenfuring, every minif- terial defied or imperfection. The corruption of the times appears in nothing more vifibly, than in the united opposition of the people to /acred things," and to /acred perfons. They feem determined to bring down Minifters, and make reprisals upon them, for their having fo long pofiefied the public efteem and confidence. Thofe, therefore, who en- ter %i am (^rUtnatton sermon; ter into the Miniftry at fuch a day as this, need tq be well qualified for their great and arduous work* If they affume the facred office, without any con,- ftftent fcheme of religious fentiments, or any con- fiderable ftock of theological knowledge, they will very probably injure the caufe which they ought to defend and promote. For people have loft their former implicit faith in the opinions of Minifters, and pay no refpeft to their bare affertions. They demand evidence for every thing which their teach-, ers call upon them to believe and pra&ife. And this renders it necefiary for Minifters to be mighty in the Scriptures, and expert in reafoning upon di- vine fubjects. They ought to be able to meet de- ifts, univgrfaliltoj and all gainfayers, upon their own ground, and expofe the fallacy and weaknefs of their boafted arguments. There is reafon to believe, that the late rapid increafe of error and infidelity in this land, is partly owing to the igno- rance of Minifters, who have nsver formed any clear and confiftent fcheme of Divinity in their own minds. They have fuffered error and infidel- ity to take root in their own congregations, through a fenfe of their own ini'ufficiency to maintain and defend the truth. And this has led infidels and others, to reprefent the Clergy as a weak, ignorant, foperftitious fct of men. Hence it highly concerns the Minifters of the goipel, at this day, to wipe off fuch afperfions from their order, by poffeffing and an ©ttfaatfon SERMON. ag and difplaying that knowledge, which may put to filence the ignorance of foolifh men; It is pre- fumption for any man, to undertake to preach the gofpel, without being able to prove the infpiration of the Scriptures, and to defend the important doctrines which the Bible contains. This is what people, now juftly expect •, and if they are difap- pointed, it will injure both them and thofc who profefs to be their religious inftructors. But prudence, as well as knowledge, is a necef- ' fary qualification for a Minifter. He needs this, to enable him to exhibit divine truth in the moft profitable manner, and to efcape thofe fnares which the enemies of truth will always endeavour to lay for him. Our Lord was a prudent Preacher. His prudence, however, did not confift in taking the iafeft methods to conceal difagreeable doctrines j but in delivering difagreeable doctrines at a proper time, and in proper expreffions. -How often did his enemies attempt to entangle him in his talk ? And how often did he confound and filence them ? There are many, at this day, who feel the fame oppofition to the Minifters of the gofpel, that the Jews felt towards Chrift; and therefore they need to be wife and prudent, as he was, in order to avoid the fame fnares and dangers, which he, by his prudence, avoided. Accordingly he hai ex- prefsly enjoined it upon them, " to be wife as (er- pents, and harmiels as doves.'' 24 an 0l$matt0tt SERMON. But Minifters of the gofpelj at this day of de- clenfion, need large mrafares of Grace, as well as of knowledge and prudence. They need to be crucified to the world, and the world to them, by the crofs of Chrift. They ought to be willing to take up their crofs daily, and endure the afflictions of the gofpel. They ought to feek the honour which cometh from God, and renounce that which cometh from men. They ought to favor the things which be of God, and not thofe which be of men. They ought to love God, and Chrift, and the fault of men, fo much, as to be willing to be poor, and defpifed, and abufed by men, in the faithful dif* charge of their duty. They ought, in a word, to be fo holy, and harmlefs, and pure, and heavenly minded, as to be proof againft all the frowns and flatteries of thofe who with to weaken their hands, difcourage their hearts, and deftroy their influence. If thofe who enter upon the Miniftry are poffefled of thefe fuperior qualifications, they may hope, through the divine goodnefs, to war a good war- fare, to keep the faith, and endure unto the end, fo as to receive that crown of righteoufnefs which is referved for thofe who are faithful unto death. But if any prefume to run before they are fent, and to preach before they are qualified, they have reafon to expect that they fhall one day fail into the corruption of the times, and become a reproach to the facred order, and a ftumbiing to thofe whom they ought to have reproved and reclaimed. an ©rtrtnattatt sermon. 25 3. It is the duty of all good men, at this day cfpecially, to aid and afiift the Ministers of the gofpel in the difcharge of their office. No men have greater difficulties to encounter, than Minif- ters, and therefore no men Hand in more need of affiftance, than they. They are pleading the caufe of all good men, againft the united oppoficion of all bad men. Good men* therefore, ought to do all in their power to countenance and aflift them. And in companion to Minifters, God has been pleated to lay his fpecial commands upon all good men to help them. The duties which good men owe to Minifters, are plainly pointed out, and ftroogly enjoined, in the word of God. I will read a number of plain pafiages to this purpofe. " The Price's lips fhculd keep knowledge, and they Jhouldfeek the law at his mouth : for he is the mef« fenger of the Lord of Hafts." ** Obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourfelves : for they watch for your fouls, as they that muft give account." " Wc befsech you, brethren, to know them that labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and adrnonilh you j and efieem them very highly in love for their work fake." " Remember them that have the rule over you ; who have fpoken unto you the word of God ; whofe faith fellow, considering the end of their convsrfatioa." " Brethren, pray for us." " Now I befeech you, brethren, for the Lord Jefus Chrift's D fake, 26 an ^rfcutaffon SERMON. fake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye drive together with me in your prayers to God for m*, that I may be delivered from them that believe not." *' Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free courfe, and be glorified ; and that we may be delivered from unrea- finable and wicked men.** — Thefe precepts require good men, in particular, to hear their Minifters? to revere their Minifters, to effeem then Miniiter? , to pray for their Minifters. It is high time, for aii real chriftians, to awake from their ftupor, and by their prayers and exertions, to aid the Minifters of the gofpel in their difficult and important work. If chriftian profeflbrs would unite with chriftian Minifters, in the common caufeof chriftianity, we might reafonably hope that religion would gain ground, and vice and infidelity would every where fall before it. But it is time to conclude the Dlfcourfe, with fuch Addreffes as are ufual on fuch an occafion a» this. And, in the S'rfl: place, I turn to him, who is about to take the Paftoral care of this people. Dsar Sir, YOU are entering upon a work of great diffi- culty and clanger. You will fare better than any who have gone before you in the Miniftry, if you ihouid not meet with any who wifn and endeavour to draw you from the path of duty. The people, to an fprtitnation sermon: i? CO whom you are going to minifter, we prefume are as well difpofed cowards the gofpel, and to- wards the Preachers of it, as religious focieties in general. But the corruptions of the times have reached this as well as other places. You are, therefore, entering upon the work of the Miniftry at a very dangerous period. And though we hope you 3i*e seally friendly to God and to his caufe, yet the feeds of rebellion are not entirely defiroyed our own heart. There is fomething ilill with- - you, which expofes you to be moved from your ftsdfaftnefs. Moral corruption fpreads its pcifoa very infeniibly, and often gains the pofTeffion of the heart before the man is aware. You canncr, therefore, be too watchful againft its pernicious influence. To defeat the defigns of thofe, who may wifli to weaken your hands and heart in the czute of God, you cannot take a more direct and effec- tual method, than to become " an En/ample to ibe flock." h is the proper bufinefs of Minifterg to fet t and not to follow , example. Inftead of fuffering yourfelf to be formed co the fpirit and manners of Others, make it your conftanc aim and endeavour to form others to the fpirit of the golpd and the life of religion. If your people perceive this to be your fteady and governing principle of action, they will have but little bope t and of confequence buc little courage, to make the attempt of corrupting either your heart, your life, or your preaching. If you as an ©rfctnattmi sermon. you appear to regard God more than man, and the good of your people more than their cenfure or anplaufe, they will feel a power in your preaching, znd a force in your example* which they car* neither gaihfay nor reuft $ efpecially if you difcover, atths fame time, a readinefs to pleafe, and even to oblige thrrrij in all things which are confident with the duties of your ciiice. Confcience is always on the fide of the faithful Minifter, and againft every re. bellious child of Adam : And it is this, which gives every Miaflfcer, who fpeaks for God, and with his words, the afcendency over the mod hardened and obftioate finners. Only fear God, and make his word the ftandard of your preaching, and you need not fear to deliver the molt difagreeable truths to your peopSe, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbears for they will feel that there is a man of God among them. A good foldier cfkems it an honour to be call- ed to the pod of danger. And if you are a good foldier cf Jefus Chrift* you will efteem it an ho- nour to plead his caufc in a day of declenfion. It i* a caufe which will certainly prevail fomewharej and if ycu do your duty, you may humbly hope thai it will prevail in this place. But, mould you be fo unhappy as to find religion decaying among your own people, and among thofs ground you ; let it not damp your fpini, but awaken you to be more an ^tfjfaatfon sermon: 29 more fervent in your devotions, more indefatigable in your ftudies, more zealous in your preaching, and more holy and exemplary in your living. The united exertions of the enemies of religion, ought 20 route the united exertions of thole who are fee for the defence of the gofpel, to put a check upon the growing fpirit of error and irreligion : and we hope you will not be wanting, in your defires and endeavours, to awaken flupid tinners to a fenfe of their danger and duty. There can be no neuters in the caufe of Chriftj He that is not for him, mutt be againSt him 5 and he that gathereth not with him, muft fcatter abroad. You muft be conformed either to Chrift or to the world. You muft either preach rebellion againft God, or bear your public teftirrony againft ir, both in preaching and in practice, On this day; of your iolemn confecration to the facred office, you are folemnly called upon to choofe whom you will ferve, whether Chrift or his enemies. Be en-, treated to make a wife choice, and never depart from it, becaufe the confluences will be infinitely important. So our Lord hath taught you, in the moft ftriking language : «* Who then (fays he) is a faithful and wife fervanf, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his houfehold, to give them meat in due feafon ? BlciTed is that fervant whom his LorJ, when hecometh, (hall find fo doing. Veri- ly so an (Bttiimtion sermon: ly I fay unto you, that he (hall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that fervant fhall fay in his hearr, My Lord delaycth his coming ; and fhall begin tofmite his fellow fervant?, and to eat and drink with the drunken ; the Lord of that fervant (hall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of* and fhall cut him afunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites : there fhall be weep- ing and gnafhing of teeth." Son of man, bear what your Lord faith unto you* and be not thou rebellious, like fuch a rebellious fervant : but be thou faithful unto death, and the Lord, the righteous Judge, fhall give you a crown of life, which fhall never fade away. The Church and Congregation in this place, will now indulge me in a free and friendly Addrefa to them, on this foiemn occafion, • Brethren and Friends, BEHOLD the man, whom you have fo unan» imoufly chofen to take the Paitoral care of your fouls. Receive him as a meffcnger of the Lord of Hods, and feek the law at his- mouth. Efteem him highly in love for his work fake. Confider him as a Minifter as well as a man, an'd pay refpect to the M'mifter in the man. Ceafe not to pray for him, and to join with him in building up the Redeem- tt'j an ^rfcutatton SERMON. |{ er*» kingdom. In this, and in this alcne, you may reafonably defire him to be one with you : And in this, and in this alone, will he be willing to join with you, if he is a faithful fervant of God. Never defire him to regard you more than God ; and never become his enemies becaufe he cells you the truth. This will be diftrefling to him, and de- flru&ive to yourfelves. He cannot ferve you any longer than he ferves God. If you fliould be fo unwife as to defire him to conform to your unrea« fonable wifne?, and fo fuccefsful as to bring him to a conformity, you will injure both him and yourfelves. It appears from what has been laid, however, that the people are extremely prone to corrupt their Minifters : And this affords ground to fear, that this people, who have been fo remark- ably unanimous in the choice of him, who is now to be fet over them in the Lord, may neverthelefs become difpofed to weaken his hands and difcou- rage his heart, in the ferviceof their fouls. Should you endeavour to do this, and fucceed in it, how dreadful will be your fituation, when you come to fee, at the !aft day, -that you have grieved the heart and deflroyed the influence of one, who defired, and endeavoured to promote, your eternal good \ —But, on the other hand, what can afford you greater joy, than to be prefcnted before the uni- verfc, as friends to God, and to them who were workers together with him in building up his kingdom ? $i an Mutation SERMON. kingdom ?— You and your Parlor are bath in dari. ger. He is in danger from you, and you are in danger from him. The connexion which may be this day formed between you, will be infinitely in- tending to you all. We bfifeech you, Breduen and Friends, to take heed how you hear your Mi- nuter, how you fed towards him, and how ycu treat him. He can do but very little without you. He needs your love, your prayers, and your afiifl- ance. He is called, like young Samuel, to bear the meffages of God to you, in a day of great de- clenfion. And if it be his heart's defire and prayer to God, that you may be faved ; let it be your heart's defire and prayer to God, that he may be both faithful and fuccefsful. And if you receive a prophet in the name of a prophet, you fhail re- ceive a prophet's reward. amen; ths CHARGE. -^Z. bv the Rev. tf5|)ie«3 jftetTtll, Minister of" PLAST01V and part of HAVERHILL. G, 'IVING the folemn Charge at our Ordina- tions or Minifters, as it is a pra&ice warranted by apoftolic example, fo it well accords with our nau ural lentiments and feelings on fuch an occafion, as it, at once, prefents to the candidate a fumma- ry of the duties he is to perform, and of the reafona inducing to wifdom, zeal and fidelity in the per- formance. This being the part of the public tranfacYtons of this day, affigned me by the ordaining Council^ rtquefttng the filent, candid and lerious attention of the whole, I turn to the perfon here prefenting himfelf before the Lord, and before his pecple a and by the divinely indicated and exprefiive rite of the irrpofuion of hands, we, in the name, and by the authority of JcfusChrift,clo Separate and ordain you, Mr. JOHN SMITH, to the office and work of the Gofpei Miniftry : And as you are called of God, in the courfe of his providence, to the flared exercife of the Miniftry in this place, wetheiffors commie unto you the Paftoral care and overfight of this Church and Congregation, in Salem ; at the E farm: 34- the charge: fame-time declaring you to be invefted with all the powers and privileges of the Evangelical Miniftry, aad under obligation the nioft facred and indifpen- fable, to preach the Word — to adminifter the Or- dinances of the Gofpel — to rule the houfe of God —to pronounce his blefling on his people— and to aflift, on proper occaflons, in ordaining others to the fame important work and office. Take thou, then, upon thee, this Miniftry, and the overfight of this flock, with pure intentions, with a ready mind, and with inflexible purpofes* through grace, of fulfilling the duties of your fta. tion with diligence and Hdelity. In order to this, look well to yourfelf, to you? heart and to your life, to the views of your mind, to the exercifes of your heart, to the general tenor and to the particular fleps cf your walk. The good Minifter implies the good man, and perfonal religion forms a diftinguifhing trait in the charac- ter of a Parlor according to God's own heart. I* is eur prcfu option and our hope, that yotf have received an unction from the Holy One. Bb felicitous, Sir, to drink deep into the fpirit of the gofpei, to feel and exprefs its energy and its graces, to exemplify all the virtues of that religion which you are to recommend to others, and to be youN felf a model of that amiable character and life, to which the CHARGE, 25 which it is the defign of chriftianky to form thofe to whom you minifter: As a dated part of your duty, you are to preach the Word, And we give it you in charge to take heed, both as to the matter and the manner of your preaching. The Bible is to be your rule. The facred Scriptures mull be the ttandard of your faith, of your life, of your preaching, and of all your adminiftrationa ; thefe mult, therefore, be the fubject of your daily, ferious, prayerful and im- partial ftudy. In your examination of the Scrip* tures, you are to compare fpirUual things witbfpi* ritual, and conceive of each part according to the analogy of faith, and the fcope of the whole ; not diftinguifhing things between which there is no dif- ference, nor blending together things which are in themfelves diftinct, The Chriftian fyftem, you will underftand and reprefent as a religion cf divine original, fufHcient- ly authenticated to gain rational belief \ a device cf unfearchable wifdom and benevolence, intended and adapted to instruct the ignorant, to relieve the guilty, to form mankind to knowledge, piety, fo- cial virtue, ufefulnefs and happinefs ; a religion which, in its ftructure, i* raoft admirably fitted to difpiay the riches of free grace, while it eftablilhes the necefiity of godlinefs and found morality. This 3^ the CHARGE, This religion is to be the fubjeSt matter of your preaching j and the doctrines, the precepts, the prohibicions, the initiations, the promifes, the threatnings, and the examples of it, particularly that of Chrift, are to be clearly opened, difcreetly applied, faithfully reprefented, and ftrongly en- forced | that, through the concurring grace of the Spirit of God, of which the Gofpel is a miniftra- tion, they may hopefully operate for the instruc- tion, conviction and conversion of finners, as well as for the edification, comfort and improvement of the fan&ified. You are to avoid curious quef- tions and (hires of words, as tending to fubvert and confound your hearers ; and to preach Chrift Crucified; faith in him, and repentance towards £od ; that love which originates from faith, and which is the fulfilling of the law ; together with that bolinefs without which no man fioall fee the Lord. L Thcfe things teach and exhort. In regard to the manner of your preaching, let it be in a mode correfponding with the nature of your fubjccl ; grave, ferious, plain, folemn and animated, pertinent to the feveral ages, clafies and cafes of thofe whom you addrefs. In this way, feed theflock % the Jhtep and the lambs % endeavouring to approve yourjelf unto Gcd t a workman that needeth not to be ajhamedt rightly dividing the word cf truth, and giving to every one his particular portion of meat in due feafon. But, the CHARGE. 37 But, Sir, you muft know, that the dcfk ii not the only theatre on which you are to tx-rt your minifterial talent* ; nor is preaching there, your only employment. Your whole turn of mind, your temper and fpirir, your general converfation, your occasional vifits and intercourfes with your people, and the habitual courfe of your life and comple- tion of your example, muft be a lively comment on your preachingt and a fpleadid exemplification of chriitian graces and minifterial abihtiti. You are now invefted with authority to admi- nifter the Ordinances of Baptifm and the Lord's Supper : This muft be done with impartiality, to the proper fubjects, at ftated in the gofpel, making a judicious difference between the holy and profane* You are not only to feed, but to rule the fl ck : Let this part of your duty be performed, not as lording it over God's heritage, but in a manner that may combine meeknefs, moderation and faithful- neffi, with dignity, wifdom and impartiality.— Strain not the cords of church-difcipline till they break, nor relax them to countenance icandal and diforder. The gift that is in you, by laying on the handt of the Prtlbytery, is not to benegitded, as it re- fpe&s the ordination of others. You muft aft here with great caution and difcrction. Lay bands fttd- denly 3% the CHARGE. denly on no man, lesJyou be partaker of other men's Jins • hut the things which thou has! received, before many witnejfes, the fame commit thou to faithful men, who Jhall be able alfo to teach others. Tour candle muft not be pat under a bufhel, but in a candleftick, holding forth the word of life s iThere you muft burn and fhine, till you fpend and arefpent. You muft cultivate a fpirit of fortitude, and endure hardinefs as a goodfoldier of Jtfus ChrisJ : Undifmayed with difficulties, unallured by entice- ments, let your patience have its ptrfeU work, and he thou faithful unto death. Although your own Hock claims your more particular and ftated miniftratloni, yet to them they are not to be wholly confined. Let your talents and benevolence be exerted for the general good of the Churches % to eftablifh or reftore truth and loves to heal their diviiions | to ftrengthen the hands, encourage the hearts, and promote the re- putation and ufefulnefs of their Paftors, joining your efforts and prayer* with theirs, thit peace may be within the walls t and projperity within the palaces of our Jerufaleffi, There is one thing more too important to be omitted in an addrefs of this nature— It is this, that all your fufficiency is-ifGod, and that the efficacy of all your mod vigorous adminiftrations depends on his the CHARGE. 39 his blefllng ; be then, O man of God, a man of prayer. To the God of all grace let humble, ar- dent and frequent application be made for wifdom, lighr, ftrength, animation and fortitude, to aid you in your work, and for the energy of his Spirit to give impreffion and efficacy to your adminiftra- cions. Thefe things we give you in charge, before God, Angels, and this whole aflembly. Motives to keep it, unrebukable, are not wanting $ motives both awful and alluring. We affectionately exhort you, by your explicit profeffion of the chriftian re-, ligion which you are to preach ; by the vows im- plied in your Ordination ; by your accountablsnefs to the tribunal of Heaven j by the doom of the flothful fervant ; by the blocd of fouls that will be found in the fkirts, and required at the hands, of the unfaithful ; by the pleafures of a good con- fcience ; by the approbation of God % by the crown of glory that fadeth not away 5 by every thing thai: is interefting and important, in time or eternity, to yourfelf or to your flock — we entreat and adjure you to take heed to your/elf, and to the minifiry you have received in the Lord to fulfil it : And may God Almighty biefs you— render you a rich and lading bleffijig— and grant chat, having turned many to right eoufnefs, you may/bine as the brightnefs of the fir* mament, and as a Bar for ever and ever* AM EM. THE RIGHT HAND of FELLOWSHIP. / «— — — — trw— — « ■! ■!■■ ■ " !■■ ■■■■ £Y the Rev. Mr. Jg>eabOtip, of Atkinson. X HE great ApoiHe of the Gentiles, when taking a comparative view of faith , hope, and cha- rily, evidently gives a preference to the latter. Correfpondent to this idea, is the principal fcope of revelation, by which true chriftianity is clearly difcovered to be a fyftem of genuine benevolence, calculated to promote the greateft harmony in fo- ciety, and the beft intereft of the Redeemer's king- dom among men. This divine love meliorates the heart, rectifies human pafiions, dilates the mind, increafes humili ity, directs the affections to proper objects, and gives the finifhing drakes to a character, amiable in the fight of God and man. By thi9 heavenly affection, cenforious bigotry retires, and true virtue and goodnefs are cheerfully embraced wherever they are difcovered. A trait fo ornamental in the characters of indi- viduals, mines withdiitinguimed luftre, when con- spicuous lafocieties who are connected together for the promotion of mutual happinefs ; and it de- fences an additional encomium, being particularly enforced The Right Hand of jFeltOtDfljtp, %i enforced in thofe facred Oracles which were given by infpiration of God, and are profitable for doclrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruftion in righteoufnefs -, that the man of God may be perfecl, throughly furnifh^ ed unto all good works. Love to the brethren, is the principal criterion* by which we are allured, that we are the true dif- ciples of Chrift. It is effential in an Ambaffadof of the Saviour of men 5 it is effential in lifter Churches, to be exhibited upon all proper ocea- lions, efpecialiy upon our Ordination folemnities. This brotherly affection glowed in the character of the Apoftles of our Lord. Upon their corn- miflioning and fending forth others to be their fel- low labourers, they difccvefed their cordial appro- bation of them, and their refolution in the caufe of the gofpel, by giving them the Right Hand of In imitation of this example, this fignificant rite has been in general ufe among chriftiant, in fucceffive periods, to the day in which we live. The prefent folemn and joyful occafion prefents us with an opportunity to exhibit our affection and efteem in gofpel order, to you, dear Sir, unto whom, by the direction of this venerable Council, I give my right hand, You will receive it as a token of our cordial approbation of you, as a faith- F ful r 4i The Right Hand of JWfotoflrtp. ful fervant of the Great Head of the Church, and one with us in the office of the gofpel miniftry. We welcome you, my brother, into the gofpel vineyard, to take a part with us in fowing, plant- ing, and watering, with an humble reliance upoi . God for an ample increafe. We publicly propofe an interchange of kind offices, that we may be fel- low helpers to each other in the Lord. We wifh you a happy and fuccefsfui miniftry, with a united, liberal, and virtuous people. Rejoicing with you in your prefent profpe&s, we commend you to the care and direction of Him, who holds the ftars in his right hand, walks in the midft of his golden candlefticks, and who has promifed to accompany his faithful miniftering fervants to the end of the eWorld. May you have the exalted happinefs of promote ing union and harmony among this people j of be- ing instrumental in the hand of God, in reclaim- ing the erroneous, awakening the carelefs, and in ferving the belt intereft of this Church and people, that you may " fave yourfelf, and thofe who hear you." May you clofely follow the example of Chrift, in his.imitable perfe&ions 5 ^exhibiting much of his fpirit in your daily walk and conversation, that you may be an example to your fleck. And you will not fail to take God's word for the rule of your feith and practice, to exhibit that difpofition which *bi Right Hand of Mfototytp, 43 which characterizes the true follower of the Lamb of God, of that open, benevolent temper, which has ever appeared confpicuous in your predeceffbr among this people,who is now in the evening of life.' A genuine principle, fpontaneoufly producing the fruits of righteoufnefs, will give you favour in the fight of God and man, and a title, through the Redeemer, to a blefled future inheritance. Go forth then under the cheering Lfluences of the Sun of Righteoufnefs, under the protection of the great Shepherd ; truft in him, and he will be your Ihield, and exceeding great reward. And now, my brethren and friends of this Chrif- tian Church and Society, we fincerely congratulate you upon the prefent joyful and intereftingoccafion ; when God in his providence, by the infirmities of age, has caufed your venerable Paftor to retire from his public labours, cordially to join with you in a re fettlement j that you have been, with fo much unanimity, directed to the choice cf one, in whofe fidelity we have reafon to rely, to take the over- fight cf this flock, and to direct you into thofe paihs of truth and fafety, which lead through life, through the vale of death, and to immortal joys. Receive him, my friends a? a rich prefent from your afcended Lord-, and treat him accordingly. — You are not to expect in him, perfection. You have 44 The Right Hand of MlOM)i^ have this treafure in an earthen veffel j he is fubjed to likepojfions with yourfelves. Treat him, there, fore, with candour, with affeftioa, and in the ex- ercife of chat charity which bopetb all things. And when you approach the throne of grace, let him have a place in your minds, that through your prayers he may receive blcffings from above. As you would hope for the fmi'lei of Heaven, cultivate peace and friendfhip among yourfelves. Confult the general good, and ever be ready, in fmaller matters, to agree to differ. Guard againft incendiaries, efpecially fuch as are veiling themfelves with pretences of their being of forrie particular party in religion. They in ge- neral are the greateft banes in fociety. Study therefore thofe things which make for peace, and the God of peace will be with you. May the bleffings of Heaven dtfcend, and reft upon you, and your Paftor ; animating you to the moft laudable purfuits, that you may rapidly pro- grefs toward perfection here, and be prepared for thofe regions of glory, where there is increafing, ceafelefs light and joy, and where, fhaded by the tree of life, flow rivers of perpetual pleafure. .-•-