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it a sure guide to all godliness,-a safe-guard from all evil. If our minds be dark, or doubtful, it directs us to a faithful oracle, ready to communicate all necessary information. If our passions be unruly, our appetites outrageous;—if temptations be violent and threaten to bear us down, we may have recourse to the armory of heaven, and put on the whole armour of God to withstand and subdue them. If our condition appear disconsolate, or desperate, it sends us to the cross of Christ, where we shall not fail to find refreshment and relief; where we find a full atonement made for our sins, if by faith we embrace it. To them who sincerely ask it, God has promised in his Gospel to grant his Holy Spirit,—to guide them in all their ways,-to remind them of their duty,-to strengthen them in obedience,—to guard them from surprises, to support and cheer them in all their afflictions. Here is the transcendant and peculiar privilege and advantage of our holy religion. It enables a creature so ignorant, so weak, so inconstant as man, so easily deluded by false appearances,-a reed, so easily shaken by the summer breeze, not only to perceive what is right, but to pursue his steady course through the most intricate and dangerous paths of this world. Without this friendly, vigilant, and powerful guide and guardian, the frequent experience of our weakness would utterly dishearten and cast us into despair, either of holding fast our integrity, or recovering from our disorders. It is the comfortable consideration, that religion is the power of God unto salvation, which alone can nourish our hopes, can excite our courage, can quicken and support our religious exertions, by assuring us, that although we feel ourselves "able to do nothing of ourselves," yet" we can do all things by Christ that strength. ens us."*

* Phil. iv. 13.

These few considerations, I trust, are sufficient, my brethren, to vindicate the everlasting Gospel from the aspersions of the inconsiderate and the profane; to confirm your esteem and love for it; and to stimulate you to imbibe its spirit and obey its injunctions. And now "the grace of God who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, make you perfect; stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever."* Amen.

* 1 Pet. iv. 10.

SERMON IX.

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.

LET A MAN SO account of us, AS OF THE MINISTERS OF CHRIST, AND STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD. MOREOVER, IT IS REQUIRED IN STEWARDS, THAT A MAN BE FOUND FAITHFUL.-1 Cor. iv. 1.

THE reciprocal duties which belong to the clergy, as "ministers of Christ," and stewards of the mysteries of God," and to the congregations, whom divine Providence has committed to their charge, are of such primary importance to the well-being of every religious society, and to the general promotion of Christian holiness among men, that occasions, like the present, are embraced with great propriety, for recommending them to the serious consideration of all our hearers. And although the subject has been so frequently and so ably discussed, that it can offer few or no charms of novelty, yet the want of these, perhaps, will be usefully supplied, by calling up such sentiments as are naturally connected with the service of the day. Besides this solemn ordination of ministers in the Church being of divine appointment, and therefore an essential point of ancient discipline, seems on this account also, to claim our attention to those spiritual relations between the clergy and laity, which arise from this, and which are contained very explicitly in the words of the text "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards,

[* The ordination of a presbyter.]

*

that a man be found faithful." That is, in other words, let all Christians esteem and treat us, not merely as their ministers, or servants, but as the ministers of Christ, and as such, let us be found faithful.

The Apostle says, "let a man so account of us; not only of me, Paul, but of all the ministers of Christ," to whom he has promised his Spirit to the end of the world; for we are "stewards of the mysteries of God," and in this supposition, we know what our Lord himself declares, “He that despises you, despises me, and God that sent me." But on the other hand, also, he clearly informs us, that the honourable character of ministers of Christ, and stewards of God, is by no means exempt from many restrictions and pressing obligations; for, says he, "it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful." Faithful to his calling,-faithful to the solemn engagements into which he enters at his or dination, faithful to the mysteries which, in some degree, are committed to his keeping,-faithful to the Lord, whose servant he is, and faithful to the flock, over whom he is appointed. Thus, in these few words, of being found faithful, the Apostle comprehends the whole body of duty incumbent upon the clergy; and on this their fidelity in the several branches of their high calling, he grounds the obligations of esteeming and loving them for their work's sake.

To take a general view of the relations subsisting between the ministers of the Gospel and their congregations, is all that can be done in a short discourse. It would be, more

over, presumptuous in me, and, perhaps, irksome to you, were 1 to enter into those details of duty, which he whom I am principally addressing, has made the study of his life, and the subject of his devotions. It shall, therefore, be my endeavour at present, merely to sketch the outline of our sacred profession, leaving it to my reverend friend, and others of my clerical brethren, to fill up the picture with such lovely and interesting features as may conciliate the esteem and affections of all, with whom divine Provi

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