not with, when they go up to the house of the Lord. But if the inftrument, who is the meffenger of God to them for good be removed, and they are deprived of these opportunities, the regard they bore him is manifested, by their forrow for lofing him; which often affects them more fenfibly than all their other griefs. 2. By taking kindly and in good part his most searching discourses in public, or even his reproofs and admonitions in private, if needful. For they know that he watches over their fouls, as one who must give an account *. And because they love him, they do all in their power to make the fervice a pleasure, and not a grief to him, They do not wish him to speak smooth things to them, or to entertain them with the difcuffion of points in which they have little concern, but to hear that which is fuitable to their own cafe and circumftances. if the preacher difcovers to them, that through inadvertence, they have allowed themselves in any wrong practice, or have lived in the omiffion of any duty, instead of *Heb. xiii. 17. And being being offended with his plain dealing, they love him the better for it. 3. By their tenderness and sympathy with him in all his exercises; and by their care, according to their ability, to make his fituation comfortable, and to avoid every thing that might give him juft occafion for complaint or grief. The trials of a faithful minifter, are neither few nor small. His work is great; he is fure to meet with enemies and discouragements. He travels in birth for fouls *; he is pained by the oppofition of the wicked, the inconftancy of the wavering, and the inconfiftency of many who make profeffion of the truth. He feels many anxieties for those who are enquiring the way to the kingdom, left they fhould be turned afide and hindered; and too often the hopes he had indulged, of fome who difcovered a concern for religion, are disappointed. His inward conflicts are many. He often walks in much weaknefs, fear, and trembling t. When he confiders what he is, what he ought to be, and what he has to do, with fnares, his heart wounded with temptations. But his judicious hearers have fome knowledge of what he endures for their fakes, and in their fervice; they love him, pity him, and pray for him, and their kind attention comforts him under all his tribulations. Sometimes their regard is rather improperly expreffed; as when they not only value his miniftry, but hold him fo highly a favourite, that they can hardly hear another. A preference is certainly due to the person who is made efpecially useful, but no faithful preacher should be flighted. Though gifts and abilities are not equal in all, yet, they are all the Lord's meffengers, and entitled to regard. Again, it is an improper regard, if they yield themselves implicitly to him, to be governed by his will. So far as we speak agreeably to the fcripture, which is the rule and standard of faith and practice, both to you and to us, we are authorized to require your ataention and obedience; but you are not bound to receive what we propofe, merely upon our own authority. There are those who account ignorance the mother of devo tion, and expect an implicit compliance with their injunctions, by virtue of their office and perfonal influence. But a true minister, will account it it his honour and pleasure to preach to an enlightened people, who love and study the bible, and, like the Bereans, search the fcripture *, to fee if things are fo as reprefented. We have no dominion over your faith, but wish to be helpers of your joy †. Nor do we pretend to dominion over your purfes, though we are to remind you of the apostle's charge, To do good and to communicate forget not How much are they to be pitied, who account that word of grace a burden, which to those who receive it with thankfulness, proves the balm and cordial of life! Take heed how you hear. If the gofpel is not made to you a favor of life, it will be a favor of death. It will aggravate your guilt and condemnation, and leave you utterly hopeless and inexcusable. If you continue impenitent and obftinate, the hour is coming, when you will wish you had never heard of the name of Jefus. It had been better for you never to have been born, or to have Acte xvii. II. † 2 Cor. i. 24. Heb. xiii. 16. H 4 lived |