And

is conversant among his people, will find particular persons. he may be peculiarly serviceable to them, by accommodating himself to them accordingly. Hereby he will be enabled to fulfil that commission, which all gospel-ministers receive in a sense, though in the most exalted meaning, it is applicable only to the Teacher who came from God, "to preach glad tidings unto the meek; to bind up the broken-hearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives; and the opening the prison to them that are bound; and to comfort all that mourn."-" And when we view our people," says one, "in the near relation in which we stand to them; and consider them as in a great measure depending on us for instruction, when ignorant; for help when distressed, and for comfort when afflicted; we must be very insensible, if we do not feel a new flow of good-will towards them; and a strong inclination to enter into their concerns; to take their pains and feelings upon us; and to watch every opportunity of doing them good. What though kind offices of this sort, should take up much time, require much pains, and rob us of many agreeable amusements? sense of duty, love to our people, and the pleasure of doing good, will reconcile us to all these hardships."

Such a conduct, moreover, will be of special advantage, as it will greatly direct a minister in the choice of proper subjects for public discourse, as well as assist him to treat on them, in a way most likely to benefit his hearers. This leads me to observe again,

That this watching for souls, will lead a faithful minister of Christ, to compose his sermons in such a manner, as to method, style and sentiments, as he judges best suited to instruct and profit his people.

There is no doubt great advantage, in forming a regular plan and division of a discourse, in which its connection with, and dependence on the text, as well as the connection of one part with another, may appear. When an obvious and professed division is wholly avoided, the transitions from one part to another are obscure, and not easy to be observed. And when divisions and subdivisions are greatly multiplied, the mind of the hearer is led into confusion, and not able to keep that arrangement and distinction of ideas, which are necessary in order to instruction. When a just medium between these two extremes is observed; the invention of the writer, and the memory of the hearer, are both greatly assisted.

The faithful and judicious preacher will not affect any great pomp and parade of language; sensible that these serve rather to amuse the mind, and please the fancy, than to convey the weighty truths of the gospel, with life and energy to the heart. As these increase and enlarge, sincere and fervent piety often lessens and

decays: As the sun has least heat and influence, near its setting when it appears the largest. The apostle's resolution and practice among the Corinthians, is very worthy to be imitated." And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech, declaring unto you the testimony of God.-My preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." A plain, easy and familiar style; free from a vain flourish of words, on the one hand; and a slovenly incorrectness, on the other, seems most agreeable to the nature of the gospel, and most conformable to the example of inspired

writers.

"He that would attain to true eloquence," says Dr. Leachman, "must cherish an inward sense of the importance and excellency of sacred truths, and cultivate a strong feeling of all the virtues : For the inward feelings of a good heart, have a natural eloquence accompanying them, which can never be equalled by labored and studied ornament. The heart really and justly moved, never fails to dictate a language plain and easy; full of natural and continued vigor, which has nothing in it soft, nothing languishing; all is nervous and strong, and does not so much please the ear, as fill and ravish the soul."

The faithful instructor will endeavor to introduce, in turn, all the articles of truth and duty into his discourses. He will not dwell always upon a particular point or doctrine, either because he finds his own thoughts run more easily and freely upon it, than upon others; or his people's fancy peculiarly pleased with it. He, in conformity to the apostle's example, "will not shun to declare unto them all the counsel of God, or keep back any thing that is profitable for them." His discourses, however, will most frequently turn upon those doctrines and duties of Christianity, which are of greatest importance; most necessary to be believed and practised in order to salvation. Such are those that relate to man's ruin by sin, and point out the way of his recovery, by the obedience and sufferings of Jesus Christ. "I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified," was the resolution of the great apostle Paul, even when visiting the rich and fashionable city of Corinth, and conversing among the polite literati of it. This teaches us that Jesus Christ and him crucified, should be a very frequent subject of our discourses; and that all those doctrines and duties, which stand in connection with this grand event, or important article of Christianity, must be often insisted on, and explained by the ministers of Christ; and that, whether it be agreeable to the taste of their people, or not.The best method, no doubt, to determine what subjects deserve to be most frequently and largely treated on, is seriously to examine the writings and discourses of our Saviour and his

apostles, to see what were their general themes. Their example in this thing is worthy our imitation.

It is not the business of the public teacher to seek to discover any new truths, or doctrines, but to collect, adjust and range, in an instructive order, those which lie scattered with a noble profusion, in the sacred Scriptures: just as the skilful gardener is not expected to form any new plant or flower, but to place in a beautiful order and symmetry, those which are sown, in a beautiful disorder, by the God of nature. Nor should a minister value some religious truths, for the same reason that some men do several kinds of food; because they are rare and uncommon, not because they are pleasant, nourishing and wholesome. His sermons should not resemble those cabinets, which are stored with useless rarities, and curious amusements, instead of those serious and weighty instructions, suited to enlighten the mind, warm the heart, and amend the life.

A considerable variety of subjects for public discourse, is indeed both agreeable and advantageous; especially when they are so ranged, as to discover to the attentive hearer, their connection and mutual dependence one upon another: For there is between the doctrines and duties of Christianity, as well as between the liberal arts and sciences, a certain kindred, and chain of connection. By this variety of subjects, a minister may please his people "for their good to edification." And it may help him to avoid a practice, which some persons, of fruitful imaginations, and extensive knowledge, have been in danger of falling into; namely, that of crowding too great a variety of sentiments into a particular discourse. This will often prevent any of them from appearing in that full and clear light, which is desirable, and indeed very necessary, for the instruction of those, whose advantages for improvement have been few; and their apprehensions not quick enough to take in truth, by a kind of side glance. Discourses thus crowded with a very great variety of sentiments, how just and valuable each may be in itself, are often like trees overladen with fruit, which seldom bring any of it to perfection.

The preacher who is duly concerned to profit his auditory, will also remember that it consists of persons of different tempers and dispositions, capacities and circumstances, the avenues to whose minds are therefore various. Some will be impressed and affected in one way, and some in another. Soft and delicate addresses will fix the attention of some, and reach their hearts, when rough and severe language make no valuable impressions at all: just as subtile and thin matter finds admittance, and fills up vacancies, where bodies of a grosser contexture cannot enter. But the ears of others will be open to no addresses, but those that are severe, terrible and alarming: so deaf persons will sometimes hear the

hoarse rumbling thunder, which violently agitates the air, though they hear little or nothing else.

It is therefore incumbent on the teacher to change his voice, and vary his manner of address, as well as the subject of his discourse, which ought to be accommodated to one another. He must be, at different times, a son of thunder, and a son of consolation : Now displaying the terrors of God's wrath against obstinate sinners; and now the riches of his mercy towards those that repent and turn to him, through Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and sinful men. Sometimes speaking as from Mount Sinai, and sometimes from Mount Zion. This is agreeable to apostolical direction. "Of some have compassion, making a difference, and others save through fear, pulling them out of the fire."

The different ages and capacities of his hearers, will also be attended to, by a faithful pastor, when providing spiritual food for them. He must consider that there are babes to be fed with milk, as well as those of riper age, to whom strong meat is suitable.— The direction which Christ gave to Peter, when about to send bim forth to preach the gospel, is obligatory upon all, who are called to labor in word and doctrine. "Feed my sheep-feed my lambs."-What a beauty and even dignity is there in the behavior of that minister, who like his divine Master condescends to those of the lowest degree; accommodating himself to the feeblest capacities, and with gentleness instructing the little ones of the flock in the first lessons of Christianity, as their tender minds are able to bear them? thus, as it were, "gathering the lambs in his arms, carrying them in his bosom, and gently leading them."

Finally. The duty of watching for souls, includes a minister's care to guard his people as much as possible, from the bad influence of errors, and seducers. He is far from acting out of character, when he endeavors to fortify their minds against the admission of pernicious errors and heresies. He should look upon himself as set for the defence of the gospel, and all the important doctrines of it. He must not therefore sacrifice any of them to the lusts and humors of men. "He must contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints:" But he must be sure to contend lawfully, lest he do the gospel a greater injury by the temper with which he seeks to defend it; than those who openly oppose it.

Yet do not those ministers misjudge, who imagine they do well to spend the main strength and vigor of their minds, as well as the principal part of their time, in religious controversy ? and on account hereof, think themselves excusable from the more common and practical duties of their stations: As those who serve the king in the wars, are exempted from taxes.

It is no doubt incumbent on the ministers of the gospel, who are frequently represented as shepherds, to watch over their flocks, and prevent, as much as in them lies, their being imposed upon, and deluded, by seducers and false teachers, with whom the church hath been infested, more or less, in all ages of it. "These are wolves in sheep's clothing;" who, instead of feeding and defending, do indeed scatter and devour the flock. Any man that hath confidence enough, and conscience little enough, may boldly pretend to a call from God to preach the gospel; and so with a great deal of ignorance, the mother of his forced and furious devotion, obtrude himself into the sacred employment, and deceive weak and unstable minds. Others under the pretence of extraordinary compassion to the souls of men, and a desire to preach the gospel to every creature, stretch themselves beyond their own line, and boast in that of another man; undervaluing the labors of many of Christ's faithful ministers, they conduct as if "on THEM came the care of all the churches."* Happy they who are not "led away by the error of the wicked so as to fall from their own steadfastness!" The several duties mentioned are incumbent on the ministers of Christ, and must be performed by those who faithfully watch for the souls committed to their charge.

We are led, in the third place, to consider something more of the faithful manner in which these duties must be performed; and the solemn obligations lying upon Christ's ministers hereto, by the next words of our text: They watch for your souls, as they that must give account. These words intimate, that the ministers of Christ must give account how they have discharged their duty to the people of their charge-and that they should daily maintain a lively and practical belief of this thing, to excite them to such fidelity and diligence, as will meet with the approbation of their judge.

That they are accountable for their conduct in their ministerial character, is as evident as any article of revelation: To labor the proof of it would therefore be needless and impertinent. They are ambassadors sent forth by Christ to entreat sinners to be reconciled to God: They must return to him that sent them, and give account how they have discharged their embassy. They are stewards, who are betrusted with certain talents to be faithfully improved, according to the directions of their Lord, during such a term; of their improvement of these, they must give account to him who has committed them into their hands: "It is required of stewards that they be found faithful." They are watchmen, who receive a solemn charge to be faithful and vigilant: Most

The author understood that some persons in the eastern parts of this province, not very distant from the place where this sermon was preached, had conducted too much in the manner here represented.