A 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 DELIVERED BEFORE THE 
 
 CONVENTION 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 CLERGY 
 
 OF 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS, 
 
 IN BOSTON, MAY 26, 1796. 
 
 BY JEREMY BELKNAP, 
 
 MINISTER OF THE CHURCH IN FEDERAL-STREET, BOSTON. 
 
 Laudatur ab his, culpatur ab illis. 
 
 Hie murus aheneus eflo, 
 
 Nil confcire fibi, nulla pallefcere culpa. 
 
 HORACE. 
 
 Printed by SAMUEL HALL, No. 53, Cornhill, BOSTON* 
 1796. 
 
2 TIMOTHY, I. 8. 
 
 -BE THOU PARTAKER OF THE AFFLICTIONS OF 
 THE GOSPEL, ACCORDING TO THE POWER 
 OF GOD. 
 
 w- 
 
 HEN tlie great Apoftle of the Gentiles 
 was firft called to be an ambaffador of Jefus Chrift, 
 the Lord was pleafed to mew him how great things 
 he mufl fuffer for his name's fake ; and during the 
 whole courfe of his miniftry, the Holy Ghoft witnefled 
 that in every city, bonds and afflictions awaited him. 
 But fuch was his invincible refolution in the /ervice 
 of his divine Mafter, that none of thefe things moved 
 him, nor did he count his life dear to himfelf, fo that 
 he might finim his courfe with joy, and the miniftry 
 which he had received of the Lord. 
 
 HAVING patted through a courfe of laborious and 
 faithful fervice ; having endured every affliction, and 
 furmounted every diiliculty which lay in his way, 
 and having arrived fo near the end of life as to be 
 able to fay, " I am now ready to be offered,, and the 
 time of my departure is at hand ;" he does, in this 
 epiftle, (on,e of the laft which he wrote) encourage 
 
 his 
 
kis fon Timothy to imitate his example, and not tt> 
 be afliamed of the teilimony of the Lord, nor of him 
 who was then a prifoner for his fake ; but to be a 
 partaker with him of the afflictions of the gofpel. 
 
 HAD Paul himfelf been afliamed of the caufe he 
 had undertaken to fupport, or had he been confcious 
 of an error therein, natural affection would have 
 prompted him (as is common with dying malefactors) 
 to warn his beloved friend, of the danger of following 
 his example, and to exhort him to a different courlb 
 of life : but knowing in whom he had believed ; 
 knowing the dignity and importance of the work to 
 which Timothy had been ordained, and the certain 
 reward which awaited the faithful minifter ; knowing 
 that the fpirit by which they both were animated 
 was not the fpirit of fear, but of power and love and 
 of a found mind, his tendernefs toward him operated 
 in a different way, and prompted him rather to defire 
 that Timothy mould continue ftedfaft in his Matter's 
 work, and patiently endure the afflictions of the gof- 
 pel. 
 
 SUCH a pathetic exhortation, enforced by fo ftrik- 
 ing an example, could not but have great force on 
 the mind of this young evangelift ; and, as it was 
 written not for his fake alone, but for a ftanding di- 
 rection to gofpel minifters, we have reafon to believe 
 that it has had a very extenfive influence in the paft 
 ages of Chriftianity. It ftill continues on record for 
 our admonition and encouragement. 
 
 IT was more efpecially neceffary that the primitive 
 minifters fhould have fuch an exhortation addreffed to 
 them, becaufe of the peculiar and extraordinary trials 
 which many o'f them had to undergo. The genius 
 of Chriftianity was fo oppofite to all the prevailing 
 religious opinions and eftabliihments in the heathen 
 world, and made fuch a furprizing progrefs in turning 
 
 men from darknefs to lisrht, and from ferving dumb 
 
 i i 
 idols 
 
idols to worshipping the living God, that the ruling; 
 powers became jealous of its growth, and laboured,, 
 by the moft fanguinary terrors, to fupprefs or eradi- 
 cate it. The public minifters of Chriftianity being 
 always diftinguifhed by their office, were often diftin- 
 guifhed by their fufFerings j and in this refpect, as 
 well as others, they were called to be examples to the 
 flock ; examples of patience and fortitude in their 
 adherence to Chrift and his caufe, amidft the moll 
 terrible oppofition of their enemies ; whom neither 
 reafon could perfuade, nor experience convince, of the 
 folly of their attempt. The profeffion of Chriftianity, 
 and efpecially the public character which the minifters 
 of the gofpel fuftained, was then attended with the 
 greateft hazard ; and therefore they needed fome 
 fpecial fupport and encouragement. But though the 
 minifters and difciples of Jems Chrift are not now 
 cxpofed to the peril of their lives for the fake of Chrift 
 and his religion ; yet the exhortation in the text has 
 a very important ufe ; and the Holy Ghoft, who 
 indited it, knew that there would always be fufficient 
 need of it. The world has not loft that fpirit of op- 
 pofition to the truth, which it had in the primitive 
 times ; the mode of its operation is changed ; but 
 the inveteracy of it remains ; it is often brought into 
 view, and produces difagreeable effects. There are 
 ftill many afflictions to which the minifters of the gof- 
 pel are expofed, and which they may certainly expect 
 to meet with, if they continue fteadily and earneftly 
 engaged in their duty, and are determined to keep a 
 confcience void of offence towards God and man. 
 
 IN common with other men, we are fubjett to all 
 thofe providential afflictions which God fends as fath- 
 erly chaftifements to correct his people for their errors, 
 to try their virtues, and make them partakers of his 
 holinefs. But befide thefe, WE are fubject to afflictions 
 of a peculiar kind, which may, with itrict propriety, 
 be called " the afflictions of the gofpel," becaufe they 
 
 befa! 
 
 
[ s 3 
 
 befal us on account of our peculiar character as the 
 minifters of Jefus Chrift. Thefe afflictions arife from 
 thofe corrupt lufts and paffions which are always 
 working in oppofition to divine truth, under the in- 
 fluence of the prince of darknefs. 
 
 HAPPY would it be for us, if we did not experience 
 much affliction ariiing from our own unmortified lufts 
 and paffions. We are, like other men, compounded of 
 flefh and fpirit ; and we often find, to our forrow, 
 that the fleih lufteth againft the fpirit, fo that we can- 
 not do the things which we would ; and when we 
 would do good, evil is prefent with us. But if, 
 through grace, we do obtain, in fome degree, the 
 maftery over our own corruptions ; yet we fhall not 
 find it fo practicable to keep the lufts and paffions of 
 other men, of thofe with whom we have a neceffary 
 connection, yea of our dear eft friends, in the fame 
 degree of fubjection. We fhall find very {harp and 
 fevere afflictions ariiing from this fource ; of thefe we 
 are exhorted to be partakers ; and we fhall find fuf- 
 ficient comfort and fupport in the divine word to 
 enable us to bear them with patience. 
 
 IT may be proper to enumerate fome of thofe pe- 
 culiar trials which may be juftly called the ajftiflions 
 of the gofpel ; and then fliow why, and in what fenfe, 
 the power of God is given as a reafon of the exhorta* 
 tion to be partakers of thefe afflictions. 
 
 i. ONE of thefe afflictions, of which we are called 
 to partake, is the unfuccefsfulnefs of our labours. Who 
 hath believed our report ? is an old complaint among 
 the minifters of God. The world, and the things of 
 the world, have taken fuch firm hold of men's hearts 
 as to engrofs the principal part of their attention, and 
 leave little room for things of a fpiritual nature. 
 Prefent things afford fome profpect of prefent good ; 
 whilft things unfeen and eternal are imagined to be 
 at a great diftance, and not to require our prefent at- 
 tention. 
 
C 9 3 
 
 tention. This is the general temper of the worldj 
 and this is what ihuts the gofpel out of men's hearts, 
 Cuilom, and a fenfe of decency, will induce fome of 
 them to an outward obfervance of religious duties, 
 and attendance on divine inilitutions, and even to 
 treat us with a degree of refpect, becaufe of our fa- 
 cred character ; but their hearts will not be touched 
 with a ferious fenfe of divine things, nor will their 
 lives and behaviour be regulated by the gofpel. Such 
 were the people to whom the Prophet Ezekiel minif- 
 tered : " They come to thee as the people cometh, 
 and they fit before thee as my people, and they hear 
 thy words, but they will not do them ; for with their 
 mouth they ihew much love, but their heart goeth 
 after their covetoufnefs. And lo, thou art to them 
 as a very lovely fong of one that hath a pleafant voice, 
 and can play well on an inftrument, for they hear thy 
 words, but they do them not." Such a kind of be- 
 haviour in people may fuit one who is feeking his 
 own eafe and comfort and popularity ; but the true 
 minifter of Jefus Chrift, though he cannot but be 
 pleafed with outward tokens of refpeft, becaufe they 
 are in a degree fubfervient to his ufefulnefs ; yet is 
 not fatisiied with them,, as anfwering the end of his 
 mimicry. He knows the value of fouls, and of that 
 precious blood which was fhed to redeem them. He 
 knows the great importance of the work w r hich he 
 has undertaken, and the folemn account which he muft 
 render of his ftewardfhip ; and therefore his heart's 
 deiire and prayer to God is, that they may be laved. 
 He longs to fee the truth take hold of their hearts, and 
 {hew its happy fruit in their holy and exemplary lives. 
 But as a courfe of difappointment in any of our dar- 
 ling expectations is a grief and burden to the mind, 
 fo it may be concluded, that the faithful minifter fnfters 
 great affliction from a view of the unfuccefsfuJneis of 
 his labours. When, after all his intenfe iluclicj, his 
 watchings and felf-denial, he finds that his hearers are 
 ftill hardened through the deoeitfulneis of fin, deaf to 
 B the 
 
the calls and invitations of the gofpel, and blind to 
 their true intereft ; when he reflects that his earneft- 
 nefs in feeking their good may prove an aggravation 
 of their guilt"; when he fees them dropping r one after 
 another, into the grave, and has reafon to fear that 
 many of them will perifh through their own negli- 
 gence and folly ; thefe things muil afFe^cl him with 
 the moil fenfible grief, whilft he filently adores that 
 tremendous jullice which fuffers fo many unhappy 
 fouls to plunge themfelves into the mifery of tlie fu- 
 ture world. 
 
 2. THE levity and inconftancy^ which appear in men's 
 religious conduct, prove another fource of affliction to 
 the miniflers of the gofpel. Where people have been 
 ufed to a variety of preaching, they are very apt to 
 grow nice and tally, to difcover a fondnefs for novelty, 
 and to be pleafed or difpleafed with fome external 
 circumilances attending the preacher, as his looks, his 
 voice, his geilure, his ilyle and manner, without any 
 regard to the truth preached, or the confequence of 
 receiving or rejecting it. If it comes attended with 
 fome particular circumilances, then it is pleaiing, not 
 for the fake of its own intrinfic worth and excellency, 
 but on account of thofe external circumilances ; 
 whereas if the truth be ever fo plainly and faithfully 
 delivered, yet if it be deilitute of thofe ornaments 
 which attract the fancy and pleafe the taile, it is defpif- 
 ed and rejected. Men's perfons are had in admiration 
 becaufe of fome external advantages, and they are not 
 eileemed highly in love for their work's fake. How 
 pairiful muft it be to a true gofpel rniniiler, who has 
 been ailiduouily labouring to come to his people, and 
 bring them the iincere milk of the word, that they 
 may grow thereby, to find his labours flighted becaufe 
 of a deficiency in thofe external accomplifhments, 
 which are no eflential part of the furniture of a gofpel 
 preacher. The Apoftle Paul experienced much of this 
 affliction. He came not with excellency of fpeech, nor 
 
 in 
 
C ] 
 
 in the words of man's wifdom ; his bodily pretence 
 was weak, and his fpeech contemptible ; and when 
 he preached the gofpel in the learned and inquifitive 
 city of Athens, the compliment paid him by that polite 
 aflembly was, " What will this babbler fay ?" But 
 the fervant muft not expect to be greater than his 
 Lord. Jefus himfelf, the beft friend of mankind, was 
 received by his audience with fuch contemptuous 
 language as " Can any good thing come out of Naza- 
 " reth ? This man is a wine-bibber and a drunkard, a 
 " friend of publicans and finners." Was it not an 
 occaiion of grief to his holy foul, and to his faithful 
 Apoftles, to find themfelves fo difrefpe&fully and ig- 
 nominiouily treated ? and can it be otherwife to every 
 lincere minifter of Jefus Chrift, to find himfelf defpif- 
 ed, and his teftimony rejected, by fuch idle and fuper- 
 ficial hearers ? Or if he has not fo large a mare of it 
 himfelf, yet does it not grieve him, to fee and hear 
 any of his brethren, with whom he is jointly labouring 
 in the Lord's vineyard, and for whom he entertains 
 a cordial and fympathetic affection, thus bafely treat- 
 ed ; whilft, on the other hand, he fees multitudes of 
 people carried away by an empty noife, and dazzled 
 by a falfe glare of impudent attractions, when there is 
 no folid food for their fouls ; leaving the fubftantial 
 entertainment, prepared for them by the ftricteft care, 
 and running after the frothy trafh which is prefented 
 to them in a manner flattering to their imagination, 
 and gratifying to their paffions. Let fuch trials lead 
 us to reflect, how vain a thing is mere popularity ! 
 how low in the efteem of him who was defpifed and 
 rejected of men ! and how earneftly ihould we feek 
 the more valuable accomplifliment of being able, by 
 manifeftation of the truth, to commend ourfelves to 
 every man's confcience in the fight of God. 
 
 3. ANOTHER of the afflictions of the golpel is the 
 oppcfttion which we fometimes meet in the way of our 
 duty. We are commanded not only tp preach the 
 
 word, 
 
E '2 ] 
 
 word, but to reprove and rebuke offenders, either 
 privately, in clofe converfation, or publicly, in the 
 way of church difcipline. This is a very neceffary, 
 but difficult and unpleafing part of minifterial duty, 
 and we go to it as foldiers go on a forlorn hope : for 
 as it is a direct attack on the lufts and paflions of man- 
 kind, fo it is natural to expect a repulfe. Though 
 armed with refolution, and conducted by wifdom 
 and judgment, yet we often find the voice of reafon 
 too weak to be heard, where luft and pailion have 
 ufurped the government of the mind. There are 
 fome tempers which will hearken to nothing which 
 prefumes to contradict the reigning defire, or bring 
 the lawfulnefs of it into queftion. Men will readily 
 condemn what they obferve amifs in others, as David 
 did when he heard Nathan relate the ftory of the rich 
 man who took away the poor man's lamb ; but when 
 it comes clofe to the confcience, as did the application 
 of that parable, " Thou art the man," it requires a 
 great degree of patience, humility and tendernefs of 
 mind, to receive the mock in the fame manner that 
 David did ; and as thefe qualities are not to be found 
 in every man, fo wherever they are wanting, we may 
 expect oppofition and ill fuccefs. Jnftead of having 
 our reproof received with meeknefs, we fliall hear the 
 voice of recrimination ; and the proverb, " Phyfician, 
 heal thyfelf," will be retorted. Or we {hall be 
 thought hard and cruel, or charged with falihood, or 
 want of charity, or taking up an ill report. Or they 
 will endeavour to revenge themfclves, by inventing 
 lies againft us, where there is no real ground of accu- 
 fation. The prophet complains of thofe to whom he 
 w r as obliged to adminifter reproofs in the name of the 
 Lord, that they conipired againft him, faying, " Come, 
 let us devife devices againft Jeremiah, let us fmite him 
 with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his 
 words." And the Apoftle Paul was, by fome of his 
 brethren, counted an enemy becaufe he told them the 
 truth* 
 
 THE 
 
C 13 ] 
 
 THE principal difficulties of this kind arife from the 
 hypocrify which too often reigns among profeflbrs of 
 religion. As a hollow tree makes a much greater 
 noiie, when flruck, than one which is found ; fo the 
 hypocrite, when his faults are reproved with chriftian 
 fidelity, will make a loud noife, either in vindicating 
 his own character*, or finding fault with his reprover ; 
 whereas a true chriflian receives a rebuke with meek- 
 nefs and patience. Let the righteous finite me, faid 
 David, and it mall be a kindnefs, and their reproof 
 mail be an excellent oil, which mall not break my 
 head. A reproof, fays Solomon, enters deeper into 
 a wife man than a hundred flripes into the back of a 
 fool. The wounds of God's true children will bear 
 to be fearched, and are foon healed ; but the wounds 
 of the hypocrite are full of proud flem, which keeps 
 them always fore. 
 
 BESIDES the oppoiition which we meet in the way 
 of reproof and discipline, there is much difficulty arif- 
 jng from the ignorance, the weaknefs, the prejudices, 
 and the narrow views of fome of our brethren, whom 
 we charitably hope to be ftncere. Thefe caufes will 
 fometimes produce a degree of obftinacy, and even 
 violence, which may be miftaken for religious zeal, 
 and operate to the difturbance of order and peace in 
 chriftian focieties. Such things are a great affliction 
 to the minifters of Jefus Chriit. It grieves them t^ 
 fee that their moft laborious, and, as they hope, pru- 
 dent and faithful endeavours to remove fcandals, to 
 convince gainfayers, to eradicate errors, to awaken 
 men from a delufive, dangerous, hypocritical fleep, 
 to pluck them out of the fire, and to preferve or 
 reflore the purity of churches and divine ordin- 
 ances, meet with fo much oppofition from the 
 pride, the perverfenels, and the prejudices of man- 
 kind, though they are afTured, and their Lord hath 
 forewarned them, it is impoffible but that offences 
 will come. 
 
 4. ANOTHER 
 
c 14 : 
 
 4. ANOTHER affliction to which we are fubjected 
 is the contempt and reproach of the profane. The world 
 has always been an enemy to the truth. Satan loves 
 to keep his ftrong hold in peace ; but when this 
 guilty peace is in danger of being difturbed by the 
 plain and faithful preaching of the gofpel, or the ex- 
 emplary conduct of its minifters, his endeavour is to 
 render their work unfuccefsful by exciting his inftru- 
 ments to reproach, to ridicule, and defpile them. If 
 any, who bear the character of gofpel minifters, are fo 
 unhappy as to fall into open fins, reproach is liberally 
 caft on the whole order, and we are faid to be all 
 alike, though our faults are not made fo public. 
 How many bafc reflections, fneering jokes* and con- 
 temptuous farcafms are caft on us, as if we preach 
 only for hire ; how little allowance is made for our 
 unavoidable infirmities, interruptions and tempta- 
 tions ; and how much more is expected of us than is 
 reafonable. If we fail in any part of our duty, how 
 much greater {hare of reproach do we fuffer than oth- 
 er men in the fame circumftances, How often is the 
 tongue of flander let loofe upon us ; our moft inno- 
 cent actions are looked upon with an eye of fufpicion, 
 and our private conduct pried into with a bufy and 
 impertinent curiofity ! If we preach againft any par- 
 ticular fins, or defcribe any particular fort of bad 
 character, fome perfon or other will think he is point- 
 ed at, will be offended, and {hew his refentment. On 
 the other hand, if we fpeak only in general terms, to 
 avoid giving offence, then we are cenfured as general 
 preachers, who do not fpeak clofe to the confciences 
 of our hearers. Both our public performances and 
 our private converfation are expofed to the attacks of 
 malicious, cavilling and prejudiced tempers ; and he 
 muft be more than human, who can behave fo up- 
 rightly and circumfpectly as in all cafes to avoid giv- 
 ing offence ; efpecially when we confider that we can 
 recommend no duty but what fome perfon neglects, 
 and condemn no fin but what fome perfon commits. 
 
 IT 
 
C '5 ] 
 
 IT is inconfiftent with the character of a gofpel min- 
 ifter to be a man-pleafer. " If I yet pleafed men," 
 fays the Apoftle Paul, " I fhould not be the fervant of 
 Chrift." Indeed we ought to be condefcending to 
 men's capacities and peculiarities in things of indiffer- 
 ence ; for the fame Apoftle fays, that he became all 
 things to all men, and that he pleafed men for their 
 good to edification. But beyond this, chriftian fidel- 
 ity will not warrant us to go ; and yet if we find our- 
 felves obliged to fpeak or act in a manner contrary to 
 men's old eftablilhed opinions and inveterate preju- 
 dices ; yea, if we do not actually fall in with, and hu- 
 mour them, we mall incur their refentment and for- 
 feit their favour. We often find, by our own expe- 
 rience, that the tempers of mankind are fuch as our 
 Lord defcribed the Jews to be. " Whereto fhall I 
 liken this generation ? It is like children fitting in the 
 market, and calling to their fellows, faying, We 
 have piped to you, and ye have not danced ; we have 
 mourned to you, and ye have not lamented. For 
 John came neither eating nor drinking, and ye fay 
 he hath a devil. The fon of man is come eating 
 and drinking, and ye fay, Behold a man gluttonous, 
 a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and finners. But 
 wifdom is juftified of her children." 
 
 5. ANOTHER of the afflictions to which we are ex- 
 pofed, is the refentment of pretended patriots, when 
 we oppofe their views in endeavouring to ferve our 
 country. There is a monopolizing fpirit in fome 
 politicians, which would exclude clergymen from all 
 attention to matters of ftate and government ; which 
 would prohibit us from bringing political fubjects into 
 the pulpit, and even threaten us with the lofs of our 
 livings if we move at all in the political fphere.* But, 
 my brethren, I confider politics as intimately con- 
 nected 
 
 * HAD this difcourfe been delivered twenty or twenty-five years ago, 
 it might have been conjectured that the politicians here meant were 
 tories, and under Britifh influence ! The fame language is now held by 
 fome who think themfelves the beft friends of America ! 
 
c 16 : 
 
 nected with morality, and both with religion. If thef 
 political character of a people is bad, their morals arc 
 equally bad, and their religion is good for nothing. 
 The fame man who appears in the character of a poli- 
 tician, is alfo a fubject of moral government, and a 
 candidate for immortality. Therefore if he act right 
 or wrong as a politician, he acts equally right or wrong 
 as a fubjecl of God's moral government ; his cha- 
 racter as a politician will be brought into the grand 
 review at the lait day, and his future It ate will be 
 determined accordingly. This doctrine, I am feniible, 
 is not agreeable to the practice of fome men, who act 
 with a tolerable regard to the principles of morality 
 in their common buiinefs ; but when they get into 
 a political body, relax their ideas of morality, and en- 
 deavour to carry a point by any means whatever. 
 Againft fuch an idea of politics, I think it my duty to 
 proteft ; for I believe that honefty is the beft policy, 
 both in private and public life. 
 
 Now if it be the duty of gofpel minifters to preach 
 morality, it is their duty to preach it to public as well 
 as private men. Did not the ancient prophets warn 
 the princes of Ifrael and Judah of their duty, and re- 
 prove them for their mifconduct in their political 
 characters ? Did not our Lord Jefus Chftft recom- 
 mend to the jews to render to Caefar the things which 
 were Caefar 's, in direct and decided contradiction to 
 the principles of the dlforganlzing Pharifees ? t)id not 
 the Apoftle Paul, in his epiftle to the Romans, defcribe 
 the character of good and bad rulers, and teach the 
 Chriltians how to diftinguifli one from the other ? 
 Did not the Apoftle Peter pointedly denounce the 
 judgment of God againit thofe who defpife govern- 
 ment, and fpeak evil of dignities, ftigmatizing them 
 with the epithets of prefumptuous and felf-willed ; 
 characterizing them as political hypocrites, who, whilft 
 they promife liberty, are themfelves fervants of cor- 
 ruption j comparing them to Balaam, who loved the 
 
 wages 
 
C '7 ] 
 
 wages of unrighteoufnefs ; and applying to them that 
 true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit, 
 and the fow that was waflied to her wallowing in the 
 mire ? * This, in the apoftolic age, was plain, honeft, 
 gofpel preaching ; and if there appear any fuch cha- 
 racters among us, why ihould not the minifters of the 
 gofpel, in the fame manner, expofe them to the public 
 odium ? It is true, that the Apoflles did not call fuch 
 men by their proper names, but only drew their cha- 
 racter, and left it to be applied where it belonged. The 
 like prudence mould we ufe; but if men willcondefcend 
 to wear fuch a character, they muft blame themfelves 
 for the reproach which is neceflarily attached to it. 
 
 THE Roman government, under which the Apoflles 
 lived,- was a mixture of the old republican forms with 
 military defpotifm : That government was eftablifh- 
 ed ; but the Jews, though protected and indulged in 
 the free exercife of their religion, were continually 
 uneafy, and frequently exciting infurrection and re- 
 volt, not only in the province of Judea, but in theif 
 various difperfions through the empire. To this dif* 
 organizing faffion, the apoftolic reproofs were addreffed ; 
 for as the Chriftian Religion was not defigned to over- 
 throw any of the kingdoms of this world,fo it inculcat- 
 ed a fpirit of peace and loyalty on all who profeiTed it. 
 
 HAD the Apoftles lived in thefe days, and among us, 
 who have the privilege of choofmg our own rulers, I 
 have no doubt that they would have exhorted us to 
 exercife our privileges by none but honeft and lawful 
 means. They would have advifed the people to carry 
 the principles of Chriftian morality to a town-meeting 
 as well as to the exchange. They would have advifed 
 legiflators to carry the fame principles to the fenate 
 and houfe of aflembly ; they would have advifed 
 executive and judicial officers to carry the fame prin- 
 ciples to the bar, to the bench, to the council-board 5 
 and to the Governor's chair. They would have ad- 
 vifed us to be confiftent and uniform in our regards 
 
 G * See 2 Peter, chap. ii. ver. 10, i;, 19, aa. t7 
 
to God and man, in every fituation, private or public , 
 and this is the duty of gofpel minifters. 
 
 IT is very ftrange that we may not preach on the 
 fame fubjects which are recommended to us as fubjeds 
 of prayer. In the annual proclamations for fails and 
 thanksgivings we are exhorted to pray and give thanks 
 on a great variety of political fubjects, foreign and 
 domefuc. And what good reafon can be given why 
 thefe fame fubjefts mould not bedifcourfedon,aswell 
 as prayed over ? It is expected, that we bring them 
 into the pulpit in our prayers, and it is by fome people 
 highly refented if we do not. When we have them 
 in our mind as proper filbjefts for devotion, why 
 fhould we not fpeak and difcourfe on them for the 
 inilruction of our hearers ? Muft we make an addrefs 
 to God on political fubjecl:s, and may we not make an 
 addrefs to our brethren on the fame fubjects ? I would 
 not be guilty of fo firange an inconiiftency. 
 
 IT mould be confidered that we are men of like 
 paflions. with others. We feel ourfelves interefted 
 equally with our brethren in the fame religious, moral, 
 and political matters ; and where there is freedom of 
 fpeech, as I truft there always will be in this happy 
 country, we ought not to be blamed if we ufe the 
 liberty of Americans to fpeak our minds at proper 
 times, and in a decent manner, on political as well as 
 on moral and religious topics. 
 
 BUT " there is a generation that are pure in their 
 own eyes, though their teeth are as fwords !" And 
 how liberal are fome tongues, fome pens, and fome 
 preffes, with their abufe, when we appear warm and 
 zealous in the caufe of our country ! When we fpeak 
 or write in fupport of its liberties, its conftitution, its 
 peace and its honor, we are ftigmat ized as bufy-bodies, 
 as tools of a party, as meddling with what does not 
 belong to us, and ufurping authority over our 
 brethren. 
 
 WHATEVER 
 
C <9 ] 
 
 WHATEVER may be the views of thofe who are of 
 a different opinion from me, refpecting this matter, 
 yet I confider their principle, that the clergy have no 
 right to meddle with politics, and their endeavour to 
 flop our mouths, as " pregnant with mifchief," tend- 
 ing to keep the people in ignorance, and expoling 
 them to be milled by thofe who would always pretend 
 that the people ihall govern, provided that they mall 
 govern the people. 
 
 THE time has been, when fome of thefe fame per- 
 fons were very fond of engaging the clergy in politics, 
 encouraging them to write and preach, or, to ufe a 
 phrafe of their own, " blow the trumpet," in defence 
 of the liberties of their country. But, alas, how 
 changed, how fallen ! From fuch politicians, and fuch 
 patriots, the good Lord deliver us ! 
 
 6. THERE is another affliction of the gofpel, which 
 I would gladly omit, if the omiffion might not be 
 deemed improper, and that is the difficulty which we 
 fometimes experience for want of a competent temporal 
 fupport. Though the Apoflles in the infancy of the 
 church, laboured with their hands that they might 
 not be chargeable to the new converts, yet they 
 challenged it as a right, not only for themfelves, 
 but for all fucceeding minifters, that thofe who preach 
 the gofpel fhould live of the gofpel. This is a dic- 
 tate of reafon and juftice, an injunction of the law 
 of God, and of the government under which we live. 
 But in many inftances it happens, that through cov- 
 etoufnefs, or careleffnefs, or prejudice, or a fpirit of 
 evaiion and procraftination, the fupport we receive is 
 either infufficient in itfelf, or is fo long in coming, 
 that we are reduced to ftraits and fufferings for want 
 of it. In thefe cafes, we have but a choice of difficult- 
 ies. If we complain, we are cenfured as impatient 
 and querulous. If we lie ftill, and do nothing to 
 help ourfelves, we are faid to be carelefs and improv- 
 ident. If we folicit benefactions, we are ftigruatized 
 
 as 
 
20 
 
 as beggars. If we work with our hands, or engage 
 in any literary labours, we are called worldly mind- 
 ed, and negligent of our proper bufinefs. If we ap- 
 peal to the laws of our country, and compel our peo- 
 ple to do us juftice, it is a wonder if there be not fuch 
 a fpirit of refentment raifed againft us, as will either 
 make a continual uneafinefs, or elfe terminate in a 
 feparation. 
 
 ENOUGH has now been faid, to convince all who 
 could entertain any doubt, that the profeflion of the 
 gofpel miniftry is neceffarily attended with difficulties, 
 and fubjects us to peculiar afflictions and trials. If I 
 fliould fay that moft of thefe ideas are the refult of 
 my own experience, I am fure that many of my fath- 
 ers and brethren, who hear me, can from their expe- 
 rience teftify to the truth of them. Others might be 
 mentioned with as much propriety as any of thefe ; 
 but it muft be fufficiently apparent that the exhorta- 
 tion in the text is of very important ufe, Be tbou 
 partaker of the afflictions of the go/pel. Two ideas feem 
 to be implied in this exhortation ; one is, that we do 
 not fuffer alone, but are partakers with each other in 
 thefe afflictions ; the other is, that we mould have our 
 minds prepared for them, fo as not to be difappointed 
 or difcouraged. If we fuffer in company with our fath- 
 ers and brethren, we have the benefit of their exam- 
 ple and of their advice ; and it is a confolation to us 
 to reflect that we are partakers with the beft of men 
 in thefe trials and difficulties. This conlideration will 
 help to prepare our minds to receive them, and keep 
 us from finking under them. But there is another 
 motive fuggefted by the Apoflle, which merits our 
 particular attention. Be thou partaker of the afflic- 
 tions of the gofpel, according to the power of God. 
 
 LET us then inquire,why,and in what fenfe,the/<5w<?r 
 of God is given as a reafon of the exhortation in the text. 
 
 IN the preceding verfes the Apoftle had reprefented 
 the divine power as part of the gift which Timothy 
 
 had 
 
C 21 ] 
 
 had received ; " Stir up the gift that is in thee, by the 
 putting on of my hands, for God hath not given us 
 the fpirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a found 
 mind." By which we learn, that a fpirit of power is 
 reckoned among the minifterial gifts, and neceflary 
 to the difcharge of the minifterial office. The mean- 
 ing of this, as far as it refpecls the ordinary miniilers 
 of the church, I take to be, that the Holy Spirit is al- 
 ways ready, with his powerful influence, to fupport 
 and comfort the minifters of the word ; to communi- 
 cate to them all the energy, boldnefs and patience which 
 they need, to enable them to bear the trials, and go 
 through the duties of their important ftation ; and 
 the recollection of the gift received in their ordina- 
 tion or appointment to this office, the gift of a fpirit 
 of power , will fo put them and continue them in the 
 way of their duty, as that they may confidently rely 
 on the aid of the divine fpirit, for their fupport. 
 Chrift has promifed to be with his minifters to the 
 end of the world ; and when they are engaged with 
 refolution and fidelity in his fervice, he who has a 
 feeling of their infirmities, and is ever attentive to 
 their wants and requefts, will enable them, by his 
 power, to perfevere in the way of their duty, and fo 
 far to overcome all the oppofition which may be 
 made againft them, as that the caufe of truth mail, 
 on the whole, profper in their hands, and be promot- 
 ed by their miniftry. 
 
 IN humble reliance, therefore, on this divine power, 
 we mould fet ourfelves refolutely and earneftly about 
 our Mafter's work, and not be moved from our fted- 
 faftnefs by any of the afflictions of the gofpel. For if 
 we have a proper faith in this power ; and a proper 
 knowledge of the manner in which it is conveyed, 
 and has been exercifed, we {hall be fatisfied that it 
 is fufficient for the purpofe for which it is given. 
 
 AND here, we may, with propriety, look back to 
 the primitive times of Chxiftianity, and fee how this 
 
 divine 
 
C ] 
 
 divine power was manifefted in fupporting the firft 
 preachers of the gofpel, in times of far greater diffi- 
 culty than the prefent. They had to encounter the 
 molt fierce and formidable oppofition from inveterate 
 prejudices, from malicious paffions, from over-heated 
 zeal, and from a combination of powerful interefts. 
 They had to travel among all forts of people, civilized 
 and iavage, learned and unlearned, by fea and by land, 
 without any certain temporal revenues or means of 
 fupport. They had to preach a new doctrine, and 
 introduce a rational and iimple form of wormip, in 
 defiance of ancient fuperftition, the craft of priefts, the 
 eloquence of orators, the authority of magiftrates, and 
 the policy of princes. The perfons employed in this 
 iervice were in general illiterate, void of art, actuated 
 by an honeft regard to their duty. They were fully 
 convinced themfelves of the truth of what they re- 
 ported, but were deftitute of thofe natural and exter- 
 nal advantages, which human wifdom would deem 
 neceffary to introduce a new religion, and recommend 
 it to the notice and efteem of the world. Yet they 
 went out on their arduous and benevolent work with- 
 out fear ; they perfevered in it with wifdom and bold- 
 nefs, and they were greatly fuccefsful in their en- 
 deavours to promote the caufe of their Matter, and 
 fubdue the hearts of men to the obedience of the 
 truth. And to what means can this remarkable fuc- 
 cefs be afcribed, but to a divine power , upholding and 
 fupporting them, and co-operating with their exertions 
 to produce this mighty effect. To this caufe, the 
 Apoftles themfelves afcribe it. " Our gofpel came to 
 you not in word only, but in power ^ and in the Holy 
 Ghoft, and in much affurance." " My preaching was 
 not with enticing words of man's wifdom, but in 
 demonftration of the fpirit, and of power" 
 
 SOME may think, that in the idea of this power, 
 might have been comprehended the gift of miracles, 
 by which they were enabled to make a direct appeal 
 
 to 
 
C *3 D 
 
 to the fenfes of mankind, and prove that they had an 
 extraordinary commiilion from God. But this was 
 a temporary thing. There is a power accompanying 
 gofpel preaching, diftincl: from the gift of miracles ; 
 a power, by which they were fupported in the exer- 
 cife of their office, and by which their preaching was 
 rendered effectual to the end for which it was appoint- 
 ed. This was a divine energy, communicated to 
 them, by w r hich they were ftrengthened and animated 
 to go on boldly and courageoufly with their Mailer's 
 work, in defiance of all the oppolition which the world 
 could throw in their way. It is not eafy to defcribe 
 this energy but by its effect ; and of this we have a 
 remarkable inflance, in the different conduct of Peter, 
 before and after he was endowed with the fpirit of 
 power. Before our Lord's death, we find this for- 
 ward, fanguine difciple, failing of his duty in a moft 
 fhameful manner. One hour profefling, " Though 
 all men mould forfake thee, yet will I never forfake 
 thee ;" " Though I mould die with thee, yet I will 
 not deny thee ;" and the next, denying that he knew 
 his Mafter ; and when clofely preffed on the fubject, 
 adding oaths and curfes to confirm the denial. We 
 find him afraid not only of the high-prieft and rulers, 
 but even of their fervants ; and though he feemed to 
 recover from this fall, and med tears of remorfe for 
 his folly, yet, when his Lord was actually led to ex- 
 ecution, he was one of thofe who forfook him, and 
 fled. This was an affecting inftance of inconftancy 
 and timidity, which would feem to have difqualifiec! 
 Peter from being an Apoftle of Chrift, and a preacher 
 of his gofpel. But, mark the difference in his conduct, 
 after the defcent of the Holy Ghoft upon him. Then 
 he could declare to the Jewilh multitude, " This Jems, 
 whom ye have taken, and with wicked hands have 
 crucified and flain, God hath raifed up, of which all 
 we are witnefles. God hath made the fame Jems 
 both Lord and Chrift." Then he could tell the Jew- 
 ifh rulers, when afiembled in council, " The God of 
 
 our 
 
t 2 4 i 
 
 dur fathers hath raifed up Jefus, whom ye flew, and 
 hanged on a tree." And when he and his brother 
 John were forbidden, by the Jewifh council, to preach 
 in the name of Jefus, he could boldly anfwer, " We 
 ought to obey God rstther than Men." Here we have 
 a complete fpecimen of the effect of that fpirit of 
 power, with which the primitive minifters were en- 
 dowed ; which enabled them to perfevere with a holy 
 fortitude in confefling Chriil before men, who were 
 enraged againft them, and tliirfted for their blood. 
 We fee that this power can make the feeble ftrong, 
 and transform the coward into a hero. 
 
 WITH this fpirit of power, all the true minifters of 
 Chrift are endowed. It was not like the gift of mir- 
 acles, confined to the primitive age ; but it is diffufed 
 univerfally. Every minifter of Jems Chrift has, or 
 may have> a fhare of it ; and, were it not for this, it 
 would be impoflible for us to fupport our character, 
 or endure the trials and afflictions to which we are 
 fubjecl, and which will befal us in the courfe of our 
 miniftry. Were it not for this, we mould firik under 
 the burden of our labours and fufferings ; or elfe 5 
 forfake the fervice of Chrift, and, like Demas, feek 
 our portion and enjoyment in the things of this vain 
 world. The Apoftle, therefore, wifely refers to this 
 divine energy, as the proper ground of encourage- 
 ment to Timothy, in partaking of the afflictions of 
 the gofpel. He knew that there was a fpirit of power 
 in him, and communicated to him by his divine Maf- 
 ter, which would uphold and fupport him in affliction 
 and tribulation ; which would enable him to endure 
 hardnefs as a good foldier of Jefus Chrift, and carry him 
 fafely and honourably through his chriftian warfare. 
 The fame ground of comfort there is to every faithful 
 fervant of Jefus Chrift. We are exhorted, therefore, 
 to be partakers of the afflictions of the gofpel, accord- 
 ing to the power of God. Thefe afflictions are permit- 
 ted to befal us by our wife and gracious Lord, who 
 
 knows 
 
C *5 3 
 
 knows how to proportion our trials to our ftrength ; 
 who, having given us a fpirit of power, gives us alfo 
 opportunity to exercife it ; that in much tribulation 
 we may approve ourfelves faithful to his caufe, and 
 diligent in his fervice. 
 
 FROM what has now been obferved, agreeable to 
 the text, we may infer, the miftake of thofe per- 
 fons who affect to think the work of the gofpel 
 miniftry an eafy thing. It has been often faid, by fu- 
 perficial obfervers^ that minifters lead an eafy life.* 
 becaufe they do not work for their living, but are 
 maintained by their people* Granting the premifes 
 to be true, yet the conclufion will not follow. If our 
 Lord has excufed us from manual labour, and if our 
 people comply ever fo well with his directions in fup- 
 porting us, yet he muft be a great ftranger to the du- 
 ties of the miniftry, who thinks our work eafy, and 
 that we have not bufmels enough to give us full em- 
 ployment. 
 
 IT is a fact, confirmed by long and repeated expe- 
 rience, that the work which we are obliged to do, 
 and the trials which we are called to endure, are 
 more wafting to the health and fpirits than any kind 
 of bodily labour which men ufually perform. Ex- 
 ercife of body tends to confirm and eftablifli the 
 health ; but the exercife of the mind, which falls to 
 our lot, often proves ruinous to the health, and wears 
 away the conftitution in a moft unaccountable man- 
 ner; The thoughtfulnefs, the watchfulnefs, the felf- 
 denial, the anxiety, the clofe application, and intenfe 
 ftretch of the mental powers in deep ftudy and con- 
 templation, which form an eiTential part of our \vork 5 
 are exercifes unknown to the bulk of mankind. If 5 
 on any particular occafion, they are called to fuch 
 kind of labour, how painful and tedious is it to them, 
 and how eagerly do they embrace the firil opportu- 
 nity to get rid of it ! But it is our conftant employ- 
 ment. The inward labour of our mind, our conflicts 
 D with 
 
L *6 ] 
 
 with our owii corruptions, and our application to 
 facred ftudies, are objects which the world does not 
 fee, and therefore can form no idea of them. Our 
 public difcourfes are the refult of deep thought and 
 ftricl inquiry ; and yet how often does it happen that 
 thofe diicourfes are leaft regarded ; whilft the tinfel 
 trumpery of him "that beateth the air" is admired 
 as the perfection of wifdom and rhetoric ! the beaten 
 oil of the fancluary is quickly confumed, and its light 
 appears to have been fpent in vain ! whilft the twink- 
 ling of an ignis fatitus mall draw after it crouds of 
 admirers ! If our brethren did but know the labour, 
 the patience, the felf application, the trials and dif- 
 eouragements, which fall to our lot, they would pity 
 us, and pray for us, rather than think our work light 
 and eafy. 
 
 BUT notwithstanding all thefe trials and difcourage- 
 ments, yet we are not without our mare of comfort ; 
 there are confolations, as well as afflictions, of the gof- 
 pel ; and he who hath appointed us to the one, knows 
 how to impart to us the other. His grace is fufficient 
 for us, and his flrength is made perfect in our weak- 
 nefs. % The Apoftle Paul could fay, " BleiTed be God, 
 even the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrifl, the Father 
 of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comfort- 
 eth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to 
 comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort 
 with which we ourfelves are comforted of God ; for 
 as the fufferings of Chrift abound in us, fo our con- 
 folation alfo aboundeth by Chrifl." And I doubt 
 not, my fathers and brethren, that as ye have been par- 
 takers of the afflictions, fo ye have alfo been partakers 
 of the confolations of the gofpel. If fome perfons 
 have been inftructed, converted, and edified by our 
 miniftry, the knowledge which we have of thefe good 
 effects, wrought in the minds of our hearers, affords 
 us proportionable fatisfaction, that we have not 
 wholly laboured in vain* God often gives us to fee 
 
 feme 
 
C 7 3 
 
 fome good fruit produced by our miniftry ; and 
 though we fee not fo much as we could wifh, yet we 
 may have been inftrumental of doing more good than 
 ever has, or ever will, actually come to our knowl- 
 edge in this world. The hufbandman, in the para- 
 ble, is reprefented as fowing his feed, and fleeping and 
 riling night and day, while the feed fprings and grows 
 up he knoweth not how ; fo it is our duty to keep our- 
 felves employed in our minifterial labours, leaving the 
 fuccefs of them to the fecret, imperceptible influence 
 of divine truth, which operates not by external might 
 or power, but by the fpirit of him who has free and 
 perfect accefs to the human heart at all times. We 
 fee a fountain pouring out conftant ftreams of water 
 for ages, and yet now and then only fome thirfty 
 perfon comes to drink. From the analogy between 
 natural and fpiritual objects we may learn that God's 
 word will not return to him void, but (hall accom- 
 plifli the purpofe for which it is fent ; and though 
 only now and then fome thirfty finner comes to drink, 
 yet we fhould rejoice that the water of life has not 
 been flowing in vain. 
 
 IF we are faithful in our Matter's fervice, though 
 we may be defpifed by the thoughtlefs and profane, 
 yet we fhall be refpected by the wife and good ; we 
 lhall have fuch a mare of influence over mankind as 
 we may ufe to their advantage, both in a moral and 
 political view ; and we ihall receive fuch outward 
 tokens of friendihip as will help to fupport us, and 
 keep our courage from failing even in the moft diffi- 
 cult trials. Though we fow in tears, we fhall reap ia 
 joy ; and at the great harveft-day, and not before, we 
 fhall fee the whole fruit of our labour, to our abundant 
 fatisfaction. 
 
 MY brethren, of this whole congregation, you have 
 heard v fome enumeration of the afflictions of the gof- 
 pel ; and among them, the want of a competent tern,- 
 poral fupport, which often falls to the lot of its min- 
 
 iiters 
 
C ** 3 
 
 ifters and their families. It has been the laudable 
 pra&ice of this convention, for many years, and it 
 may be juftly reckoned the beft part of our bufinels at 
 thefe annual meetings, to contribute to the relief of 
 the widows and orphans of our deceafed brethren 5 
 who are fometimes left in deftitute circumftances. 
 This is a fpecies of confolation which it is in every 
 one's power to adminifter in fome degree ; and if it 
 be ever fo fmall, it will be accepted by him who hath 
 faid, " He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a 
 prophet mall receive a prophet's reward ; and he that 
 receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous 
 man {hall receive a righteous man's reward ; and 
 whofoever mail give to one of thefe little ones that 
 believe in me, a cup of cold water only, in the name 
 of a difciple, verily I fay to you, he lhall in no wife 
 lofe his reward." 
 
 IF the time would allow, I might urge your atten- 
 tion to this part of duty by a variety of conflderations ^ 
 but there is one, which I cannot omit, becaufe I think 
 it is founded in fac"fc, and yet has not, perhaps, been 
 fo much attended to as it defer ves. It is well known, 
 that many of our order have but a fmall income ; it 
 is alfo well known, that many of our families make a 
 decent appearance, both at home and abroad. To 
 what caufe can this be owing, but to a principle of 
 (Economy, which is, I believe, generally, a chara&eriftic 
 of our families ? I do not mean to fpeak without ex- 
 ception, becaufe it would not be confiflent with truth. 
 This principle, being once formed into habit, is not 
 cafily loft ; but when the wife becomes a widow, and 
 the children orphans, it is of unfpeakable advantage, 
 to them. 
 
 IT is alfb well known, that our brethren are gener- 
 ally difpofed to give their children a good education. 
 Having no profpect of leaving them an inheritance, 
 and being feniible of the great advantage of education, 
 and the great difadvantage of a ftate of dependence, 
 
 they 
 
C *9 ] 
 
 they are earneft to put their children into a way of 
 being able to get their own living independently, and, 
 at the fame time, of being ufeful to the community. 
 The good effect of thefe caufes is vifible in every part 
 of the country, and this town contains fome valuable 
 examples of it. Take a general view of our citizens, 
 and you will find, or by inquiry you may foon be in- 
 formed of the fons of clergymen, who make a capital 
 figure in all the departments of bufinefs. You will fee 
 them among our moft active and enterprifing mer- 
 chants, and our moil induftrious and reputable tradef- 
 men. You will fee them mine, at the bar, on the 
 bench, in the medical faculty, in the pulpit, in our 
 legiflative affemblies ; and even the chief feat of our 
 government was lately filled with a gentleman of this 
 defcription. Look into the female line, and you will 
 find among the daughters of clergymen fome of the 
 brighter! ornaments of the fex. 
 
 WHEN thefe things are confidered, you will permit 
 me to fay, that in foliating charity for the widows 
 and orphans of my brethren, I am pleading the caufe, 
 not of thofe who are too proud or too lazy to work, 
 but of thofe who, with a little afliftance, in their pref- 
 ent circumflances, may, in time, become ornaments of 
 their country, and pillars of church and ftate. 
 
 To conclude. Let us never be weary in well-doing. 
 We ferve a good Matter, and we cannot ferve him too 
 much ; he is a vigilant obferver of our conduct, and 
 he views not only the outward appearance, but the 
 heart. Let fincerity and uprightnefs, then, govern 
 our whole deportment. Let us be ready to every 
 good work ; and we fhall find, by our own experi- 
 ence, that in ferving God, we are ferving ourfelves ; 
 and that in furFering according to his will, we are 
 promoting our own true happinefs, both here and 
 hereafter. 
 
 END.