appointed rock, even Jefus Christ? And how fhall the preacher, like a wife masterbuilder, prepare them to be an habitation of God through the Spirit (c); unless, while in every part of his labour of edification he inceffantly refers them to the fundamental doctrines of the Crofs, and to thofe doctrines traces backward every motive, warning, admonition, and encouragement; he affigns feparate and adequate attention to every Chriftian grace, to every form of fin: unless he specifically developes the characteristic marks and cuftomary bearings of cach branch of duty and of tranfgreffion; the occafions on which the virtue is most needed and moft difficult, the fin most frequent and most ensnaring; the delusions by which the range of the virtue will apparently be curtailed, and the pretences by which its obligation will be plaufibly undermined; the difguifes under which the fin will veil itfelf, and the palliations by which it will extenuate the guilt of conceffion.

Farther: The Chriftian Preacher is zealoufly to allot an extraordinary measure of exertion to those branches of religion, whether doctrinal or practical, which he discovers to be grofsly misunderstood, or lightly (c) Eph. ii. 22.

regarded,

regarded, by many of his congregation. To all whom he is appointed to feed he is to give their portion of meat in due feafon (d): and he is to diftribute fpiritual nutriment in a manner fuited to the ability which different individuals poffefs of digesting it, and to the need which they have of it; ftrong meat to the adult, milk to babes (e). Some of the doctrines which he inculcates as of the highest importance, fome of the practical duties which he defcribes as requifite marks of a real Chriftian, will be extremely unpalatable to numbers among those whom he addreffes. At the humbling picture which a faithful minifter cannot but draw of the utter weakness and corruption of human nature; at his delineation of the unwearied vigilance, of the purity of life, which he cannot but pronounce indispenfable; pride, felf-righteoufnefs, worldlymindedness, will affuredly take offence. At one period the Galatians were fo fondly attached to St. Paul, that the Apoftle impreffively represents them as defirous, had it been poffible, to have plucked out their own eyes and given them unto him. Afterwards their fentiments were completely changed. They were alienated from the (d) Luke, xii. 42.

B 4

(e) Hebr. v. 12. 14.

Apostle.

Apoftle. They regarded him as their encmy. Why? St. Paul difclofes the reason. The Galatians regarded him as an enemy because he told them the truth (ƒ). He fpoke to them without difguife. He humoured not their prejudices. He declared that which was right, however unacceptable, however offenfive, he knew that the truth would prove to them. If to his own converts St. Paul himself could not preach the truth without giving offence; let not the faithful minifter of the prefent day hope that his difcourfes fhall offend none. If he perceive that fome are offended, what fhall be his conduct? He fhall pity them. He fhall pray for them. But he cannot change his course. He muft perfevere. He reads in the difcontented eye of his auditor; "I approve not thy doctrine: I relish not

thy ftrictness." He turns his ear to the voice of the Moft High: Son of man! I have made thee a watchman to the house of Ifrael: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me. Speak My words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear (g). Is he to obey man or God? Is he to be a pleaser of men, or of God? He is to approve himself (ƒ) Gal. iv. 15, 16. (g) Ezek, ii. 7. iii. 17.

to

to his own master. He is to perfist in explaining the whole counfel of God, in fetting forth the fincere word of Jefus Chrift, precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little, in meeknefs inftructing thofe that oppose themselves; in humble hope that peradventure an hour may come, when God will give unto them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth (b).

Laftly; the Christian Preacher is to preach not himself, but Chrift Jefus the Lord (i). He ferves the Lord Chrift: for Chrift he is an ambaffador: his mafter's glory, not his own, must he pursue. The pulpit he is to regard not as the throne of his exaltation, but as the place where he is to manifeft himself the fervant of all for the fake of Jefus (k). He is not to affume to himself confequence, as though he were lord over the heritage of God. He is not to feek to have dominion over the faith of his brethren. He is not to convert the house of God into a theatre for the difplay of his erudition, of his imagination, of his eloquence. Devoted to his master's honour, abforbed in folicitude for (b) Isaiah, xxviii. 10. 2 Tim. ii, 25. (i) 2 Cor. iv. 5.

(*) Ibid.

the

the falvation of his flock; how shall he make himself, his own reputation, his own authority, his own fecular advantage, the end and object of his preaching? How shall he thus hypocritically profefs himself a worker together with Chrift? How shall he thus profane the miniftry of the word of life?

II. I proceed to the duties of a Christian Hearer.

By contemplating the devious tracks in which the careless and the obftinate are bewildered, we are taught to difcern and to value the path of fafety. Confider then the unworthy motives and views, with which men too often prefent themselves as hearers of fermons.

Many perfons attend public worship, and preaching as one part of it, from cuftom, or from a regard to character. They fee the neighbourhood flocking to the church: therefore they go thither. They perceive that orderly and refpectable perfons make a point of regular attendance: and they are not unwilling to embrace the fame method of being esteemed orderly and refpectable. A man of this defcription has fatisfied his wishes by fhewing himself in the church.

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