and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to my Father." All these extraordinary powers have now ceased. The pastors of the Christian church, in these later ages, are neither possessed of the immediate inspiration, nor of the power of working miracles, enjoyed by the Apostles. They are now men in all respects like yourselves, to whom God hath conveyed, by the hands of other men, authority to preach the word, to dispense the sacraments, and to preside over the congregations in which his providence may place them. Here then is a very manifest difference, and an evident inferiority on our side. Still, however, the original proposition stands true, that the office is in all essential points the same, as exercised both by them and us. For it is easy to conceive, that the superior prerogatives which have been mentioned, vary some circumstances in the ministry only, but do not in any degree alter its nature. The essence of this sacred office, the foundations of the pastoral authority, remain unimpaired. The mission is one and the same by Jesus Christ, to all his faithful servants in this employment. His promise is, unalterable, "Behold I am with you always, even to the end of the world." From his holy hill, where he sits as King of Zion, he provides for the perpetuity of his church, "giving some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

This then is the origin of that sacred office, which is still exercised among you. This is the source from which the authority is derived that is necessary for sustaining the character. It is this which constitutes our mission the same with that of the Apostles, and confers on the truths which we deliver the authority of the word of God. So that if the doctrines which we set forth are agreeable to the Scriptures, if the morality which we enforce is a conversation becoming the gospel, we are in all

respects to be accounted of as " ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.”

But these titles, so ennobling to him who supports them, are not without very solemn considerations to correct the levity of confidence and self-applause." It is required in stewards," saith the Apostle, " that a man be found faithful." What a variety of important duties are included in this requisition? When we speak of a faithful minister, we speak of the rare and happy union of ability and attention, of zeal and knowledge, of meekness and firmness, in the same character; for all these are necessary to sustain the office with propriety. And are these qualities to be attained with a slight degree of application? Is it a small demand on the conscience of a man, to give its testimony to his faithfulness, in such arduous and important respects? These considerations may well give rise to that emphatical question, "Who is sufficient for these things?" especially when to all this, we take likewise into view, the awful threatenings denounced against the unfaithful discharge of this office. "Son of man," saith the Almighty to each of us, as he said to his prophets of old, "I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand. Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves; should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Thus saith the Lord God, Behold I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more."

Thus have I endeavoured to set before you the nature of our office, as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. No man can boast of a more honour

able employment. At the same time, none can aspire to one that requires higher attention, involves more difficulty, or subjects to a more awful account.

But you are not to imagine, my brethren, that while such high obligations are laid on the ministers of the gospel, no duties are, on the other hand, required of you towards those who hold that station. "Let a man," saith the Apostle," so account of us as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." The plain meaning of which exhortation is, that Christians are required to entertain sentiments corresponding to that relation in which they stand to those who labour among them in word and doctrine.

I. The same authority which lays such arduous obligations on your pastors, requires of you to entertain a spirit of equity and candour towards them. It is certainly but fair to judge of every person according to the character he assumes, and the pretensions with which he sets out. What these are on our part, you have already heard. I have shewn those circumstances in which we acknowledge our inferiority to the first teachers of the gospel. I have pointed out those also, in which we maintain our commission to be equal to theirs. The sum is this, that, on the one hand, we profess ourselves to be no more than ordinary, uninspired, fallible men, like yourselves; but at the same time contend, on the other hand, that we possess ⚫ the same authority to preach the doctrines of revelation,

and to dispense the ordinances of religion, which the most distinguished Apostle ever enjoyed. What we expect then of your equity and candour, is, that you would judge of us on these grounds, and expect nothing from us but what is consistent with them. You may perhaps ask, In what respects there is any danger of your transgressing this rule? To which I answer, 1st, That this rule is transgressed, when you confine the respect to which the office itself is entitled, entirely to the personal qualities and accomplishments of mind bestowed on those who are

invested with it. When I speak of personal qualities, I do not mean that you should understand me as referring to sanctity of conduct. You cannot make any demand on us on this head, beyond what is just and incumbent. God forbid that any of us should incur the application of our Lord's saying, as to the Scribes and Pharisees: "The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do: but do not ye after their works, for they say and do not.” We acknowledge that we ought to be ensamples to believers, not only in word, but in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. In this respect, therefore, your severest demands do us no injustice. But is there not a want of equity in withholding your respect from those who do not embellish this office with shining and superior endowments of mind? Is not this the very thing against which you are warned, when you are told that you have the treasure of the "gospel in earthen vessels, that the power and excellency may appear to be of God?" Why should it be expected then, that ministers should understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, even as the superior intelligences of heaven, who stand before the throne of God? Why should you be dissatisfied, except we can employ all the most exquisite arts of oratory to soothe your ears, and amuse your imaginations? Where are you taught to expect this from us? These are not our pretensions; this is not the character we assume. let not any man account of us as orators or declaimers, plausible and artificial discoursers, who have nothing in view beyond their own credit, and are eloquent and ingenious by profession. We profess a character more humble indeed, as to any personal importance we can assume from it; but, at the same time, infinitely more serious and weighty, even that of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. But,

For

2dly, This rule of equity and candour is transgressed in a still higher degree, when you expect of us to

preach doctrines accommodated to your passions, or to refrain from delivering those truths which are unacceptable or alarming. You complain, perhaps, that we disturb your repose, and interrupt your pleasing dreams of happiness; but this complaint is both unjust to us, and injurious to yourselves; and though at first sight it may seem levelled at us, is in truth levelled against God himself. For whose words, I beseech you, are these: "He that believeth not, shall be damned."" If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die."-" Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord." These, indeed, are alarming sentences; but you will keep it in mind, that they were not devised by us. They are among those mysteries of God, which are entrusted to us as stewards, and surely no less can be expected, than that we should dispense them faithfully. God hath assured us, that if we do not speak to warn the wicked from the evil of his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood he will require at our hands." Would you then in good earnest desire that we should forfeit our own souls, and incur the wrath of almighty God, from a false tenderness to your delusive peace. No, my brethren, this cannot be done; or if it be done, eternal woe will be our portion, eternal reproaches will pass hetween us. I had rather hear from one in the spirit of Ahab, "Feed him with the bread and water of affliction;" or from one in the spirit of Amaziah, "Forbear, why shouldst thou be smitten," than to hear from my own conscience, Thou hast betrayed souls to damnation; than to hear from an incensed God, "Their blood will I require at thine hands;" than to hear from the chief Shepherd, when he shall appear, "Cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.” Let a man, therefore, so account of us in the spirit of candour and equity," as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God."