culiarly interesting, and is my apology for particularly introducing them. It is a witness to us for God, that he is gracious-that he hears the cry of his children, and will carry on his own work, and that he has the hearts of all in his hands. He has inclined the heart of our young brother, the youth who now presents himself before the Lord, to receive commission to preach the gospel. He has inclined his heart to carry the glad tidings into the wilderness, to the poor and destitute, and cheerfully to submit to the peculiar trials and arduous services of a missionary life. And you are soon to witness the solemn and interesting scene, of setting him apart to the important work. You will, therefore, suffer me to address a few words to him, as propriety dictates, on so interesting an occasion.

DEAR BROTHER,

The situation in which you this day stand is interesting and solcmn. The king of Zion is now present in the instituted authorities of his church; and you have presented yourself before them, to receive commission, according to divine institution, to preach the gospel, and dispense the mysteries of the king. dom of God to perishing sinners. The eye of God is upon you-He discovers all your views and all your motives, in presenting yourself. The solemn scene is also witnessed by men and angels; and your ordination vows, now to be made, will be registered in heaven. May the Lord support you, in the solemn transaction-enable you to be deeply humble, and sincerely, cheerfully, and unreservedly to devote yourself to the important work to which you are

called.

The subject, my brother, which we have been contemplating, must have been interesting to your feelings; and suggested thoughts applicable to the transaction before you. It must have suggested, that the work which you desire is a good and honorР

able work. To be commissioned to carry the light of life to the ignorant and benighted-to preach good tidings to the meek-to bind up the broken hearted -to proclaim liberty to the miserable captives of Satan, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; and in this way be an instrument, in the hand of God, to still the enemy and avenger-how good the work-how honorable the employment! You will, doubtless, be ready to adopt, with humility and thoughtfulness, the words of the apostle, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ." But the work, although good and honorable, is great and arduousYou must expect, in the prosecution of it, to meet with peculiar difficulties, trials, and oppositions-oppositions from without and within-from the remaining corruptions of your own heart-from the passions and prejudices of unreasonable men-from the alluring vanities and distracting cares of the world-from the threatening prevalence of irreligion, profanity, and infidelity, and from the subtile devices and artful inachinations of Satan, the grand enemy and avenger. But, be not discouraged. Go forth in the name and strength of the Lord of hosts. Give no place to the devil-retreat not for a moment. Maintain your ground, as a good soldier in the battle of the Lord. Let none of these things move you-count not your life dear to you, so that you may finish your course with joy, and the ministry which you, this day, receive of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel. At all times realize your dependence and insufficiency, and trust only in him, who is able out of the mouth of babes to ordain strength.

Let me add, that would you hope to be accepted of God, and succeeded in your work, as an instrument to still the enemy and avenger, and to build up the kingdom of God, all the duties incumbent on Chrisinns, which have been suggested by our subject, are

peculiarly incumbent on you. See to it, therefore, that you be much in prayer. You will not have great success in appeasing the enemy, nor be comforting and edifying to God's children, nor will you have comfort under trials, unless you are a man of prayer. Where can you go for counsel and direction, under the trials of the ministry, except to God?Be consistent also in your confession of Christ.Maintain a holy conversation, and bring not a reproach upon the sacred office, by a loose and unholy life. Be faithful, also, in preaching the gospel, wherever you are called. Declare the whole counsel of God, keep back nothing.-While you choose acceptable words, carefully avoid the temporizing spirit, which would conceal the searching and humbling truths of the gospel, under a specious covering. How many, alas, in this way, handle the word of God deceitfully! The words of such still not the enemy, neither do they displease, because they strike not at the foundation of his kingdom. To guard you from unfaithfulness, to which there are so many temptations from the fear of man, and a regard to popular applause, remember, my brother, that you are a dying man, and will preach to dying men. Shortly, you must stand at the bar of God, and give an account of your stewardship-remember, that there may probably, be many unfaithful ministers at the left hand of Christ, at his appearing, whose guilt will be awfully aggravated. But, we hope better things of you; yea, we have great confidence in you. We trust the grace of God is in your heart, and that it is your prayer that you may be faithful. This is the prayer of God's people this day. We commend you to God, and the guidance of his spirit.

May the Lord be with you, wherever, in his providence, you shall be called-give you strength according to your day; and perfect strength out of your mouth, to still the enemy. May the blessing of many ready to perish come upon you; and may

you have many souls, who shall be seals of your ministry, and crowns of your rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Fathers and brethren, and all who hear me this day. This is a solemn occasion, and very interesting to us all. It is calculated to impress the importance of the subject of this discourse. How great is the goodness and condescension of God, in carrying on a treaty of reconciliation with mankind! And how does it call for our adoration and praise, that he has chosen sinful man, to be the medium of displaying his most glorious perfections !

Let us be impressed with a sense of our dependence on God, and the importance of imploring his blessing on all our endeavors. If any thing is ef fected by the means we use, it is through the efficiency of God. He ordains and perfects strength out of the mouth of babes. If we are disposed to engage in God's service-if we are furnished to duty-if we are successful and instrumental of good to our fellow creatures, and of advancing the cause of the Redeemer, it is all of the Lord, who worketh in us, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It ever becomes us to say, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unte us, but to thy name give glory."

Let us all reflect on our situations, characters, and prospects-on what God has done for mankind-the glory which he has revealed, and the aggravated guilt -of those who reject his grace, and devote their lives to the service of the enemy and avenger. God has given his only begotten and dearly beloved son to die for sinners-He has raised him from the dead, and exalted him far above all principality and power. All who believe on him shall, in due time, follow him and sit with him on his throne, and share with him in all his glory. By means of their union and relation to the man Christ Jesus, they will be exalted in glory and

happiness, and afford the brightest exhibition of God's perfections to all intelligences.

What an object is here! what a prospect have we before us! Shall we not have respect to it? Shall we not prefer the afflictions of the people of God to the pleasures of sin? How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Therefore, "Kiss the son lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."

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