gracious rewards are annexed to their fidelity; while they are threatened with most awful punishments, if they prove false to their trust, and negligent of their duty. The matter is represented in a very solemn and striking manner in what God says to the prophet Ezekiel; "So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: Therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say

unto the wicked, O wicked man! thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way; that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it : If he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." Thus solemn is the charge to the ministers of Christ, enforced by a sure prospect of an approaching judgment, when they shall receive most glorious rewards, or fall under most awful punishments, according as they have been faithful, or unfaithful watchmen, respecting the souls committed to their care.

Now it is not enough, that they have a general speculative belief of this; but a lively and realizing sense of it should, as much as possible, be kept present to their minds. This would prove a forcible spring, to move these two powerful principles of action, in the human mind, hope, and fear; and so would have a happy influence upon all branches of their conduct. How would this raise their minds above all low and sordid views! How would it break the force of temptations! How would it banish all undue influence from the fear of man! What fortitude and firmness of mind would it inspire, in the midst of dangers and trials! The glorious hopes and triumphant expectations of the approbation of their Judge, and the rewards of faithful servants, must wonderfully encourage their hearts and strengthen their hands. Labor and pain would hereby become ease and pleasure. They would cheerfully endure hardness, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ." They would "willingly spend and be spent, in his service, and not account even their lives dear to them, if they may finish their course with joy, and the ministry which they have received of the Lord Jesus." While on the other hand; the gloomy and dreadful prospect, of having the blood of souls, which perish through their neglect, required at their hands, will most effectually harden and fortify their minds, against the allurements of flesh and sense, and their solicitations to become inattentive to, and forgetful of, the important trust reposed in them; and forcibly drive away a thousand temptations to sloth and negligence; as a mighty wind drives chaff and dust before it.

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How important is it then, that ministers endeavor to lay their minds open, as much as possible, to the power and influence of

such prospects? that they labor to bring the faith of them near to their hearts, and keep it near? the nearer the better, the greater its practical force will be; as the power of attraction increases in proportion to the nearness of the object. How advantageous might it be for them frequently to make appeals in their own minds, to their judge, respecting their fidelity, in discharging the duties of their office? this they may do, by putting closely to their consciences, such recollecting questions as the following, "Do I now pursue my studies? do I now preach the great truths of the gospel? do I now converse and behave among my people in such a manner, with such diligence, and impartiality; with such concern to do them good; and readiness in embracing every opportunity for it; as I really believe is agreeable to my great Judge, whose observing eye is ever upon me? as I really think I shall be able to reflect on with comfort in the near views of death? and as I can humbly hope, will meet with the approbation of Jesus Christ, in the great day, when I shall stand before his judgment-seat, and give account of myself to him?" This is to watch for souls as they that must give account. The time will not allow me to add any thing farther in explanation of a minister's duty, as contained in my text. I ask your patience and attention, while I endeavor briefly to explain what it suggests of people's duty to their ministers, and the motives to engage them to comply with it.

The duty enjoined on you, you observe, is to obey them, and submit yourselves to them. We are far from supposing an implicit obedience and blind submission to be here required. The obedience and submission of a people must bear proportion, and be a kind of counterpart, to that authority with which Christ has invested the ministerial office: And, as we observed before, that office doth not include a rigorous and arbitrary rule, so now we remark, that the station of a people doth not oblige them to an abject submission, or servile obedience.

People must indeed submit to be instructed by their spiritual guides, and not vainly say, they know more than their teachers, and are too wise or good to learn of them. The instructions which they deliver, agreeable to the oracles of God, should be received with a meek submissive temper of mind, as enforced by divine authority. You should regard them not barely "as the words of men, but as they are indeed and in truth the words of God," and endeavor to bring your hearts and lives under the commanding power and authority of them.

You must also submit to the discipline, which Christ hath ordered should be kept up in his church, in the exercise of which, your ministers, by virtue of their office, must lead, or preside, as Dr. Doddridge renders the word which in our translation is to rule over. You must not set yourselves to oppose your pastors,

in the due administration of government, in God's house, but afford them all proper assistance and encouragement, in maintaining that order which is essential to the good of it.

This obedience and submission are due to the ministers of Christ, when they endeavor faithfully to discharge the various difficult and important duties of their stations: When in the dispensation of the word, "they speak as becometh the oracles of God:" And in the discipline of the church, "rule well." The motives to engage you to your duty are many, and suited forcibly to act on the principles of gratitude, reason and religion. I shall briefly mention, and urge those suggested in the text.

You should consider, in the first place, that your souls are the object of your minister's care and watchfulness. In obedience to their commission, they are obliged to watch for, and lay hold on, all opportunities to do you good, in your spiritual interests; to warn you of your danger, by reason of sin; to show you the paths of peace and safety; to entreat you to turn your feet into them, and to walk in them, that you may be partakers of the great salvation, which the gospel reveals and offers. They receive a solemn charge diligently and faithfully to prosecute this great design. Concern for success herein runs through the whole compass of their duty. This animateth them to painful and diligent study, to earnest and fervent prayer, and to zeal and fidelity in preaching the word. This engageth them, "to be instant in season and out of season, in reproving, rebuking and exhorting, with all long-suffering and doctrine." With this view they endeavor "to feed their people with knowledge and understanding," according to their various capacities, and circumstances, and thus to train them up, in the way of faith and holiness, to everlasting life. Now, will a proper submission to the ministers of Christ, in the faithful discharge of the duties of their ministerial character, be grievous to you? Will it be esteemed a burden; when you daily reflect, that your own good is the great object of their pursuit; the thing which they sincerely desire and endeavor to promote? How can it be supposed!

Especially; when you consider, secondly, what solemn obligations lie upon your spiritual rulers, to diligence and fidelity in their work. If they neglect your souls, they hazard their own: They watch for your souls as they that must give account. They must give account, how they have performed the duty of watchmen; what are become of the souls committed to their care; whether any of them are lost through their neglect. How full of concern and thoughtfulness must those ministers be, who have any proper sense of these things upon their minds! what a variety of labor, must they be hereby engaged in! Will not the common sentiments of humanity, if you are not strangers to them, make you cautious, how you add to their burdens and sorrows, by a refrac

tory and captious temper, under their administrations? Surely this might be expected.

For, you should seriously consider, thirdly, how much their comfort and joy, in their great work, is promoted by your good behavior towards them; and on the contrary, how grievous the want hereof is to them. This consideration is urged in our text, as will appear, by a due attention to the connection of the words. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief: That is; that they may discharge their duty in watching for your souls, with joy and not with grief; and not that they may give up their account with joy and not with grief, as some seem to understand it ;* for, I imagine, it cannot refer to their future account, but to the present discharge of their duty. For it is not possible, the most perverse and unteachable temper of a people, should prevent a faithful minister's giving up his account with joy; or fill his mind with grief, in that happy day, when, his warfare being accomplished, he shall "enter into the joy of his Lord." For although we may justly suppose, that it will be a singular joy and satisfaction, to a faithful minister, in the day of the Lord Jesus, to behold the fruit of his labor, and to meet those at the right hand of God, who have received saving benefit by his ministry; yet we know, God is able to make up the want of this joy to him, by opening a thousand other springs of comfort, from whence the streams of delight shall flow plentifully into his soul. And we may assure ourselves, that he will do it, for those who have been faithful watchmen, over a disobedient and gainsaying people. "Though Israel be not gathered," by their pastoral care and diligence, "yet shall they be glorious in the eyes of the Lord;" nor shall their reward be less bright and illustrious, than that of those of equal fidelity, how small soever their success may have been.

But it is very evident, as well from daily observation, as from the word of God, that the minds of faithful ministers, in this life, are very greatly affected with joy or grief, according to the good or ill temper and behavior of their people; according as they are obedient, or disobedient to the word of Christ, and the rules of his gospel. What comfort and satisfaction does it give them, to find the dear people of their charge, of a teachable disposition; diligent in their attendance on the word preached; receiving the same with meekness, and made to grow thereby? "What greater joy can they have, than to see them walking in the truth?" How will this sweeten all their labors, and lighten all their burdens, in the arduous work! How will this animate them to pursue, with

* See Dr. OWEN and Dr. DODDRIDGE upon the place.

unwearied diligence, the business of instructing, and warning, counselling and comforting the souls committed to their charge! How will they spring forward, from time to time, with fresh vigor and delight, to the most painful services for their good! What will they not be ready to do! What will they not be content to suffer, may they but find the work of the Lord thus prospering in their hands! To their people they will be ready to say, with a kind of elevation and rapture, as the apostle Paul, to his beloved Thessalonians: "What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye," now, as we trust you will be "in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, at his coming?"

But how very differently must a faithful watchman be affected, when he finds a contrary temper and conduct prevailing among his people! How will his mind be filled with grief, when they oppose their perverse humors, to his sincere and hearty endeavors to do them good-When they resist and violate the good rules of order and discipline, which, according to Christ's direction, he desires to maintain in his church-When they refuse to attend his ministrations, or disregard them, when they do attend-When they stop their ears against his most tender and faithful counsels; or "become his enemies, because he tells them the truth"-When "they hate reproof, and despise the voice of their teacher!" What trial can be greater than this! What grief can enter deeper into the secret springs of the soul than this! This will cause him "to weep in secret places ;" and to discharge the fullness of his heart, in unutterable groanings before God. With what mournful accents will he adopt the language of the prophet? "Behold I have labored in vain, and spent my strength for naught! All the day long have I stretched forth my hands, unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."

Hard, methinks, must those hearts be, and stubborn those tempers, which will not be softened and subdued, by a candid consideration of these things; and brought to pay a tender, affectionate, and submissive regard to their pastors, when in the faithful discharge of their duty. Gratitude and ingenuity must constrain them to do it, one would imagine, even if they did not extend their thoughts to the last inducement hereto, suggested in our text, which however is worthy their serious and attentive regard, viz.

The injury they do themselves, by such a temper and conduct, as grieves and disheartens their ministers. That is unprofitable for you. This expression may seem to you not very emphatical; but the sentiment contained in it, is very weighty and important; the soft language, in which it is clothed, should make it, like the oil, in which a razor is set, to cut the deeper. By conducting so as to grieve your faithful pastors, you greatly prejudice yourselves. Their hands being thereby weakened, and their hearts discouraged;