in their preaching, may, indeed, have a charm for one of an hundred, who have a taste for the beauties of fine reasoning, and be of use to them, while the bulk of an auditory is asleep. Alas! with what heart can we go on, entertaining two or three, whilst starving most of the souls in an auditory. May we not also observe a happier effect of a strain prudently evangelical on christians themselves; that they who sit under it are more lively, zealous, ready to every good work, and heavenly-minded, than those christians who have heard less of the gospel. $ 19. 3. It is a direct imitation of the apostles of Christ. Christ himself, whilst upon earth, preached the gospel in parables, in a concealed manner, distantly; and with reserve. He could not so fully take the advantage of his resurrection, satisfaction, ascension, and the like, not yet done, made or proved. He had many things to say, which his disciples could not then bear, but he declares them afterward by his Spirit in his apostles. They therefore are the true pattern of our preaching now, after the mystery of redemption is brought to light, and hath its full evidence. How then did the apostles preach Christ? It is endless to attempt a full detail of particulars; any part of the apostolical writings is authority sufficient to our purpose; and therefore I have been sparing in quotations all along, as needless to those who will look into these writings with this view. And here we do not desire to insist upon any passages in their writings, which may be supposed to be written for reasons peculiar to that age and country in which the apostles wrote, and in which perhaps we are not so much obliged to imitate them in our preaching; for what will remain, after all these are put out of the account, will, I am satisfied, be as full to our purpose, as those that are struck off. § 20. I shall then, by way of specimen, select some of the apostles' discourses on duties most moral only, where we are most apt to forget Christ, or a due respect to him; that it may at once appear that the apostles neither shunned the pressing of such duties, nor disregarded Christ in treating of them. Honesty is pressed by these motives;-" The unrighteous, thieves and extortioners, shall not inherit the kingdom of God," (which, in the style of the New Testament, is Christ's Kingdom of grace and glory.)That christians are "converted by the Spirit of Christ, and justified by his righteousness."*-Chastity is enjoined, as "our bodies are members of Christ, as we are one spirit with him, temples of the Holy Ghost, and bought with a price."-Alms-giving is recommended, as it brings a large tribute of" praise to God for our subjection to the gospel of Christ-and Christ became poor for our sakes."-Evil-speaking is forbidden, because "we were foolish and wicked; but the grace of God has made the difference; not for our righteousness, but of his free mercy he has regenerated us, and given us his Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ, by whom we are justified, and heirs of glory."**-Subjects are commanded to obey magistrates, because "the gospel is come, and we should put on Christ Fesus."-Husbands are charged "to love their wives, as Christ loved the church."‡‡—The obedience of wives. is urged, because "the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church."-Servants are. exhorted to their duty, as they would " adorn the doctrine of Christ,-because grace so teacheth, and that we look for Christ's appearance, who gave himself for us that we might be holy."-Now what is there in these motives peculiar to one age or nation? Are not all these as good now as formerly? And are men so ready in their duty, that we have no need of them? § 21. Nay, it is worthy of observation, that the apostles do not confine themselves to motives pec uliarly adapted to the duty they are pressing, and which serve to enforce one duty rather than another; bu t, as * 1 Cor. vi. 8. 1 Cor. viii. & ix, tt Rom. xiii. † 1 Cor. vi. 15. ¶ Tit. ii. 9. you may see, when such proper motives are not at hand, they take, without any scruple, common or general ones, which will equally enforce any duty whatsoever. And why should not we introduce the peculiarities of the gospel on all occasions, as frequently as the apostles did? If our schemes of theology will not allow us, we have reason to suspect we are in a different scheme from the apostles. Are we afraid that men will make perverse use of such doctrines as the apostles used for motives? The apostles chose to venture it, and why should not we? If we will not dare to preach such a gospel as may be perverted by men of corrupt minds to their own injury, we must not expect to be instruments of any good. If we are a savour of life" to some, we must expect to be the "savour of death" to others, or not preach at all. 22. I confess even the Remonstrant scheme (which, I think, considerably sinks the doctrines of grace) does allow room to regard Christ abundantly more than most preachers of that denomination do. I would meet them on their own principles; what hinders their frequently inculcating the merits of Christ, the depravity of our nature, the necessity of regeneration, the aids of grace, union and communion with Christ? These topics, it were to be hoped, might have their effect: but alas! how few of the Remonstrants improve, to advantage, so much of the gospel as they hold and receive. And it makes me less inclined to this scheme, that it so generally draws those that embrace it into a strain of preaching, even on practical subjects, so different from that of the apostles; and inclines them, I know not how, to suppress those glorious motives (which yet their own principles might allow) by which the apostles enforced gospel duties.* § 23. 4. So only shall we deserve the name of Christian preachers. Only did I say, I am afraid this may sound too harsh.-Come, let us put the matter as soft and candid as common sense will allow us. So shall * What our author considers as what might be done on the Remonstrant scheme, is actually done by the Arminian Methodists. we most evidently or best deserve this honourable title. Whilst a preacher keeps off from the peculiarities of the gospel, and says nothing but what the light of nature would also suggest and authorize, give me leave to say, a stranger might possibly doubt whether he is a deist or a christian; the question is like an imperfect mathematical problem, which equally admits of different solutions. Suppose the ghosts of PAUL and SENECA to come, mere strangers, into an assembly, where one is harranguing the people in this abstracted manner; I am apt to think SENECA would claim him as a philosopher of his own sect and religion. Now if PAUL should also make his claim to him as a minister of Christ, how could the question be decided, without allowing SENECA to be a preacher of Christ also? 24. On the other hand, if a preacher insists upon even the peculiar and glorious truths of christianity, but so unhappily manages them, as not to lead people to holiness, and the imitation of Christ thereby; what is this to the grand and full purpose of preaching; or, to the ultimate design of the gospel? Such preachers are quite off that divine system which is calculated to destroy the works of the Devil, and to teach men sobriety, righteousness, and godliness. It is not only Christ without us we are to preach, but also Christ in us, and our putting on Christ Jesus, by a holy heart and life. If the apostle JAMES should come again, and make a visitation to our churches, and hear such a preacher, he would imagine himself among such people as he writes against in his epistle; he would be apt, when the minister had done, in his zeal for Christ, to take the text in hand again, and supply what the preacher had omitted, viz. the application: and to say to the auditors, "Know ye not that faith without works is dead?" If the preacher should here interrupt him saying, 'Hold, spare your pains, the Spirit of God will make the application, and teach men holiness;'-would not JAMES reply, I and the rest of the apostles were taught to preach otherwise, and to give particular exhortations to duty; we judged we might as well leave it to the Spirit, without our pains, to reveal the doctrine, as to instruct men in the practice of the gospel.' § 25. Upon the whole, brethren, let it be our resolution to study and preach Christ Jesus. On this subject, there is room for the strictest reasoning, and most sublime philosophy; it deserves, invites, and inspires the strongest fire of the orator; in extolling Christ, we cannot shock the most delicate taste by over-strained hyperboles; here the climax may rise till it is out of sight; our imagery cannot be too strong and rich. Should our Lord himself appear, and give you a charge at your entrance on the ministry, would he not say (what indeed he has said already) "As the Father hath sent me, so send I you to preach the kingdom of God; that every knee may bow to me, and every tongue confess me. Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and tell them, that without me they can do nothing; that when they have done all, they are unprofitable servants, and must be found in my righteousness. Become all things to all men; seek words which the Holy Ghost teacheth; that you may gain souls, and bring in my sheep, for whom I have laid down my life. If ye love me, feed my sheep. I have called you friends; do all in my name, and to my honour: so I will be with you always; and if you thus watch for souls, you shall give up your account with joy, at my appearing.This is the preaching which, though it seem foolish to many, shall prove the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Cast forth the net on this side, and so may you expect to catch many souls. Be ye followers of my apostles, as they are of me, and in my name shall ye do wonders; if you preach me, I and mine shall therein rejoice; be not ashamed of my gospel, and I will not be ashamed of you." 26. But to arrive at any tolerable perfection in preaching Christ, is a work of time, the result of a careful perusal of the scriptures, and studying the hearts of men. It requires the mortifying of the pride of carnal reason, a great concern for souls, and a hum |