what may be called "stronger meat," Heb. 5: 12, because of the lamentable necessity of the unconverted. Who can talk of controversies, or nice unnecessary points, or even truths of a lower degree of necessity, however excellent, to gratify certain hearers of higher fancies, (who look for rarities, and expect to have their ears pleased,) while he sees a number of ignorant, carnal, miserable sinners before him, who must be changed or damned? Methinks I even see them entering upon their final woe! Methinks I hear them crying out for the speediest help! If they have not hearts to seek or ask for help themselves, their misery speaks the louder. As Paul's " spirit was stirred within him," when he saw the Athenians so addicted to idolatry, Acts 17: 16, methinks it should cast us into one of his paroxysms, to see such numbers of men in the greatest danger of being everlastingly undone. If by faith we did indeed look upon them as within a step of hell, it would more effectually untie our tongues, than Croesus's danger did his son's. He that will let a sinner go down to hell for want of speaking to him, has infinitely less esteem for souls than the Redeemer of them had; and less for his neighbor, than rational charity will allow him to have for his greatest enemy. Oh! therefore brethren, whomsoever you neglect, neglect not the most miserable. Whatever you pass over, forget not poor souls, who are under the condemnation and curse of the law, and who may every hour expect the infernal execution, if a speedy change do not prevent it. Oh! call after the impenitent with the greatest importunity, and diligently pursue this great work of converting souls, whatever else you leave undone!

II. The next part of our ministerial work, is for the building up those who are already converted.

And here our work is various, according to the various conditions of such.

1. Many of our flock are young and weak; though of long standing, yet of small proficiency or strength.

Indeed this is the most common condition of the godly. Most of them stop at very low degrees of grace, and it is no easy thing to get them higher. To bring them to higher and stricter opinions, is easy enough; but to increase their knowledge and gifts, is not easy, and to increase their graces is the hardest of all.

A state of weakness in grace is of very bad consequence. It abates consolation and delight in God, and makes persons

They dishonor the gospel ;

less serviceable to God and man. they do but little good to any about them, or themselves. And as they live to but little profit, they are unwilling, and too unfit to die. How diligent then should ministers be, to cherish and increase the graces of God's people! The strength of Christians is the honor of the church. When men are inflamed with the love of God, live by a lively, operative faith, set light by the profits and honors of the world, "love one another with a pure heart fervently," can bear and heartily forgive a wrong," suffer joyfully" for the cause of Christ, walk inoffensively in the world, study to do good, willing "to be the servants of all for their good, becoming all things to all men that they may win them," yet" abstaining from the appearance of evil," and seasoning all their actions with a sweet mixture of prudence, humility, zeal and heavenly spirituality; O what an honor are they to their profession! what ornaments to the church! how excellently serviceable to God and man! The world would sooner believe that the gospel is indeed a work of truth and power, if they could see more of these effects of it upon the hearts and lives of men. They are better able to read the nature of a man's religion in his life than in the bible. Those that obey not the word may be won by the conversation,' 1 Pet. 3: 1, of such as these. It it therefore a necessary part of our work, to labor after the polishing and "perfecting of the saints," that they may 'be strong in the Lord, and fitted for their Master's use.'

2. Another sort of converts, who need our assistance, are such as labor under some particular distemper, or such as are often overcome by some particular lusts, which keeps their graces under, and makes them temptations or troubles to others, and burdens to themselves.

Alas! there are too many such persons as these. Some are especially addicted to pride, some to worldliness, some to this or that sensual desire, and many to sudden anger or violent passions. Now it is our duty to give our assistance to all these. We should labor, by dissuasions and clear discoveries of the odiousnesss of their sin, and by suitable directions about the way of remedy, to help them to a fuller conquest of their corruptions. We are the leaders of Christ's army against the “ powers of darkness," and we must resist all the works of darkness," wherever we find them, though it be in "the children of light." We must be no more ten

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der of the sins of the godly than of the ungodly, nor ought we any more to befriend or favor them. In proportion as we love their persons above others, should we express it by opposing their sins. We must expect to meet with some tender persons among them, (especially when iniquity has got to any head, and many have indulged it,) who will be as pettish, and as impatient of reproof, as some worse men; nay, they will interest piety itself with their faults, and say that a minister that preaches against them, preaches against the godly. But the servants of Christ must do their duty, notwithstanding men's peevishness, and must not so far "hate their brother," Lev. 19: 17, as to forbear the plain rebuking of him, and "suffer sin to lie upon his soul."

3. Another sort of persons who require our regard, are declining Christians, who are either fallen into some scandalous sin, or who have abated their zeal and diligence, and discover that they have "lost their former love."

As the case of backsliders is very sad, our diligence must be great for their recovery It is sad to themselves, to have lost so much of their life and peace and usefulness, and to have become so serviceable to Satan and his cause. It it sad to us, to see that all our labor is come to this; that when we have taken so much pains with men, and have entertained such hopes concerning them, all should be so far frustrated. It is saddest of all, to think that God should be so abused by those whom he hath so loved, and for whom he has done so much; that the enemy should have obtained such an advantage over their graces, and that Christ should be so "wounded in the house of his friends;" that the name of God should be evil spoken of through them, and that those who fear him should be reproached for their sakes. Besides, the condition of such persons is deplorable, as a partial backsliding has a tendency towards a total apostacy, and would end in it, if special grace were not to prevent it. The worse the condition of such Christians is, the more lies upon us for their effectual recovery. We should "restore those that are overtaken with a fault, in the spirit of meekness," Gal. 6: 1, and yet see to it, that the sore be thoroughly searched and healed, what pain soever it cost. We should especially look to the honor of the gospel, and see that such persons rise by such free and full confessions, and by such expressions of true repentance, that some reparation may be made to the church and their holy profession, for the wound of dishonor

they have given both, by their sin. Much skill is required to the restoring of such souls.

4. Much of our assistance is necessary for such of our people as have fallen under some great temptation.

Every minister, therefore, should have much insight into "Satan's wiles." We, of all persons, should "not be ignorant of his devices." We should be acquainted with the great variety of them, with the cunning craft of his instruments, "who lie in wait to deceive," and with all the methods used by the grand deceiver. Some of our people lie under temptations to error; especially the young, the unsettled, the self-conceited, and such as are most conversant with seducers. Young, raw, ungrounded Christians, are commonly of their mind who have most interest in their esteem, and most opportunity of familiar conversation to draw them into their way. And as they are tinder, erroneous persons want not the sparks of zeal to set them on fire. A zeal for error and

opinions of our own is natural; it is easily kindled and kept alive; though it is far otherwise with a spiritual zeal for God. How much prudence and industry then is necessary for a pastor, to preserve the flock from being corrupted with noxious conceits; and especially such as lie under peculiar temptations to it! Others are under temptations to worldlymindedness, others to intemperance, others to lust; some to one sin, and some to another. A faithful pastor, therefore, should have his eye upon all his flock, should labor to be acquainted with their natural dispositions, with their business in the world, with the company they live in, or are most conversant with; that so he may know where their temptations lie, and endeavor speedily, prudently and diligently to help them, both by his public preaching and private discourse.

5. Another branch of our ministerial work, is to comfort the disconsolate, and to settle the peace of our people's souls on sure and lasting grounds.

To which end, the quality of their complaints, and the course of their lives had need to be known; for all persons must not have the same consolations, who have the same complaints.1

The author tells us, that the reason of his brevity on this head, was, that he had particularly treated of it in some of his other works, and that this subject has been considered at large by several other authors, particularly by Mr. Bolton, in his "Instructions for right comforting."

6. Another part of our work with regard to real Christians, respects those who are strong and lively.

They have need of our assistance, partly to prevent their temptations and declensions, or to preserve the grace they have, partly to help them to a further progress and increase, and partly to direct them in the improvement of their graces for the service of Christ and the assistance of their brethren; as also to encourage them (especially the aged, the tempted and the afflicted) to persevere, that they "may receive their

III. Those whose characters are doubtful, are also to be regarded both in our public and private discourses.

There are some of our flock, who by a professed willingness to learn and obey, make it probable that they may have true repentance and faith, who yet, by their ignorance or lukewarmness or by some uneven walking, will occasion us fears as great as, or greater than our hopes with regard to their present safety. We may see occasion to doubt the worst, though we have not ground to charge them with being unconverted and impenitent persons. I think half that come

to me are of this sort, among whom I almost dare pronounce ten to one to be unregenerate.

Now it may put some younger ministers to a difficulty to know what they should do with this sort of people, where they have no sufficient ground to pronounce them godly or ungodly, whatever their fears or hopes may be. I would advise you to be very cautious how you pass too hasty or absolute censures on any that you have to do with; because it is not an easy matter to discern that a man is certainly graceless, who professes to be a Christian. Besides, we may discharge our duty with regard to such persons, without an absolute conclusion concerning their real characters. With regard to such, let the following hints suffice.

Keep them close to the use of public and private means. Be often with the lukewarm and careless, to admonish and awaken them; for this purpose take the opportunities of sickness, which will bow their hearts and open their ears. See that they spend the Lord's day, and order their families, aright. Draw them off from the temptations to, and occasions of sin. Charge them to come to you for help when their minds are distressed, to open to you their temptations and dangers, before they are swallowed up by them. In your preaching, and your discourse with them, strike at the