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work, and more especially, that infinitely important one of making their calling and election sure.

And surely it must be in a great measure unnecessary to inform my aged brethren, that I feel for them. For many years we have been fellow travellers. Prolonged has been the period during which we have walked together, in much love and good agreement. But let it not be forgotten by us, that our race is nearly run. More than in a passing world-the nature of things ordains that we must soon pass from it. To the grave must be our speedy remove; and may the merciful Father grant, for Jesus' sake, that while our bodies are thus sleeping in the dust, our souls may be triumphing in glory above. Amen.

The Enfluence of the Christian Ministry.

A

SERMON,

DELIVERED AT THE ORDINATION

OF

REV. BENSON C. BALDWIN,

OVER THE

NORWICH-FALLS CHURCH, (CONN.)

JANUARY 31, 1828.

BY REV. JOHN NELSON,

Of Leicester, Mass.

Boston.

T. R. MARVIN, PRINTER, 32 CONGRESS STREET.

SERMON.

Matthew, v. 13.

YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH.

THERE are few public occasions more interesting to the great mass of the people in New England, than the ordination of a minister. And this circumstance, I cannot but regard as a delightful proof, that the fervent piety, the strong attachment to religious institutions, and the elevated tone of christian feeling which distinguished our venerated ancestors, has not wholly lost its influence amidst the widespread error, and the abounding profligacy of our own times.

The occasion to which I have referred ought, indeed, to be regarded as one deeply interesting to all. It presents to public view the consecration of a man, whom a church of Christ has duly called, to the high and responsible office of a christian pastor; the public ratification of a union, more solemn in its nature, and more momentous in its consequences, than any other which exists among

men and all this, under those religious forms, which we believe to be authorized by the great head of the church.

The present, you are aware, christian friends, is one of the occasions to which I have referred. And I have thought that, perhaps, I could not better sustain the part to the performance of which I stand pledged, than by calling your attention to the memorable declaration of our divine Lord which I have just repeated; "Ye are the salt of the earth." This, I conceive, he meant should be applied to his disciples directly, and really, to the whole succession of faithful christian ministers, (including, perhaps, faithful christian people) in every age of the world. And the import of the declaration as it respects the ministry, I understand to be, that as salt mixed with many natural substances tends to their preservation, so this ministry, when sustained by the spirit of the Gospel, is that powerful agent which overcomes the moral corruption of mankind, and restores them to comparative health and purity. I say, when sustained by the spirit of the Gospel, because as salt, when it has lost its savor, becomes wholly inefficacious, so the ministry, with whatever form and pageantry it may be maintained, becomes useless, or worse than useless, when the vital principle of it— devotion to Christ and to the souls of men, is wanting. "Wherewith shall it be seasoned ?" What learning, what eloquence, what earthly skill can supply the place, or secure the effects of real godliness, in those who minister at the altar?

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