"doeth such things? As I live, saith the Lord "God, seeing he hath despised the oath, by break"the covenant, he shall not escape. As I live"the Almighty swears by Himself" and God is not 66 a man that he should lie-As I live, saith the Lord "God, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I re compense upon his own head." 26 66 With this impression upon your minds, suffer me to suggest to you all, and to you in particular, to whom this discourse hath been addressed, that the time is approaching "when the Son of Man shall sit "on the throne of His glory," and we all, at that last great assize," shall appear before the Judgment seat of Christ. For the Judgment will be set, the "books opened, and ourselves judged out of the "things that are written in the books according to "our works." The decree of that Court is never to be reversed-from that Tribunal there will be no appeal. Since then we are, beyond expression, interested in the issue of the sentence-let us retain the most powerful, and indeed the only, Advocate, to plead our cause" the testimony of a good con "science." And when the allegations of the "grand accuser of the brethren" are made, when the list of our offences is produced-the excesses of youth, the infirmities of age-the sin, of all others the most heinous, the sin of perjury, may not be found in the catalogue; then, after a trial in which the very secrets of the heart shall have been exploredwe may humbly hope, through the all-sufficient merits, and irresistible intercession, of our Redeemer to hear ourselves, from the mouth of the supreme Judge, acknowleged and accepted, in these transporting words, which, at that most awful solemnity, shall make the important distinction between the righteous and the wicked-" Come, ye blessed of my Father, "inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the "foundation of the world!" SERMON XXXI. ON ENTRANCE ON A LIVING. COLOSSIANS iv. 17. Take heed unto the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. HE work of the Christian ministry is the most THE important which can be committed unto man. The design of it is, to promote subordination in society, uprightness in intercourse, regularity in conduct, comfort in families, peace of mind, and hope of Salvation. Where it is undertaken from principle, and performed with ability, such effects are, in general, progressively, produced. "The word of God shews "itself to be quick and powerful." That the Gospel should be studied with care, delivered with fidelity, and enforced with zeal is, indeed, of high importance to every people to whom it is preached, comprehending both their welfare here, and their happiness hereafter. Since then the obligation imposed upon every man to whom the Salvation of souls is committed, is so Never before printed. Preached at Great Ouseborne, June 11, 1797; and at Christ Church, with alterations, Aug. 29, 1802. sacred; sacred; the necessity of vigilance in our callings, of "giving ourselves, wholly, to the work of the mi"nistry," is clear in its principle, and irresistible in its application. If pleasure seduces, or avocations withdraw us from the faithful, and conscientious discharge of our ministerial calling; the loss sustained by the people to whom we are bound to shew unshaken fidelity, and unremitted zeal, is irreparable. Whilst the minister of the Gospel is lingering in drowsy inactivity whilst he is contenting himself with performing lazily, the duties of his holy function; the enemy of mankind is, on the contrary, most industrious in bis employment, and unceasing in bis exertions; maliciously intent upon choking the good seed, and rendering the ground unfruitful. If the Christian minister cease to watch over his parish; or if he satisfy himself with, merely, delivering stated discourses, which are either above the comprehension, not adapted to the circumstances, or not, sufficiently, interesting to the affections of his hearers," the love of many begins "to wax cold:" he perceives the vital powers of Re ligion to be suspended; and he has very soon occasion to apply to some, whom he might have conceived to " be stedfast in the faith," the words of our Blessed Lord to His disciples-" will also Impressed with a sense of the great work committed to his care, the attention of every faithful minister of the Gospel will be directed to implant, in the hearts of men in general, and of his own parishoners more especially, a fixed and solid principle of the love and fear of God; to inform their understanding with the truth, and to regulate their behavior by the precepts, of the Gospel. Daily will he beseech the Almighty that that the word which he dispenses may be "a savor of "life unto life;" earnestly will he seek, and studiously will he create, opportunities, of knowing how far his labors are instrumental" in bringing forth the fruits " of good living. He will take diligent heed to the "ministry which he has received," by the Grace, and for the Glory, of God, "that he fulfil it." He will not have the effrontery to recommend, to the ob. servance of mankind, virtues, the practice of which he declines, nor to represent vices, as odious in themselves, or hateful to God, in the commission of which he indulges." He will not only know how," but will be careful to behave himself" with peculiar, and uniform, propriety" in the house of God, which "is the Church of the living God, the pillar and "ground of the truth. He will not strive, but be gentle unto all men; he will watch in all things; ❝he will do the work of an Evangelist; he will make 46 full proof of his ministry: he will study to shew "himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth "not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of "truth." Whilst he is living under the conviction that his own example will be most efficacious in producing good morals, he will call to his aid, and enlist in his service, the force of argument, the power of per suasion, the vehemence of exhortation; all which he will diligently combine, and wisely unite, in the discourses he prepares, that he may the more successfully promote "the instruction of his hearers in righteous"ness." He knows that, by adapting his public addresses to the several wants, and conditions, of his flock, he shall, by the blessing of God, be made instrumental in" subduing their unruly wills," and in |