grees of grace here, and glory hereafter; to illuluftrate the promifes and words of grace, by which they may perfect holiness in the fear of God; to direct them in ftraits; encourage them under trials; and, by every mean competent for them, to bring them forward in the way to heaven.

4. It is the bufinefs of gospel minifters to fuperintend the building; or, in the exercise of church difcipline and government, to guard against every thing which may mar it's progrefs, or fully it's beauty;more especially, against every thing which may tend to pull down what is already built, and, thereby, to render the hopes of faithful builders, or true church members abortive.

5. It is the bufinefs of gospel minifters, not only to aim at the things which have been mentioned, but, in the exercife of their miniftry, to obferve the order in which these things fhould proceed,left, by inverting the order, they fubvert the great end in view.

If, for example, minifters of the gospel fhould begin their dealings with unconverted fouls, by the excrcife of difcipline; or, even by reprefenting the duties of holy obedience, without recommending Chrifl as the foundation, and directing them to the improvement of him; they would do no better, than a builder who fhould raise a fuperftructure before he laid the foundation.

Whereas, by beginning with endeavours to point out the perfonal excellence, and mediatorial glory of Chrift, and to bring finners to believe in him, for pardon and acceptance ;-the ends of heart holinefs and external obedience are fcripturally-abfolutely fecured.

All the application I fhall make of these hints, to my dear fellow labourers here prefent, is, in the words of our Lord, "If ye know these things,

"happy

* happy are ye, if ye do them," John xiii. 17and in the words of Paul, "I fpeak as to wife men; **judge ye what I fay," 1 Cor. x. 15.

THE

CHARGE.

Reverend, dear Brother,

With whatever pleasure and advantage I have, oftner than once, learned at your feet,it is not without fome degree of concern, that any exhortation I am capable of, fhould be immediately addrefled to you.

Obedience, however, to my fuperiors in the Lord, and regard to the truft I have received from our common Mafter, animate my refolution in the discharge even of this difficult duty.

Were you, dear fir, in my place, and I in your's, I can easily imagine, with what warmth of heart you would defcant on the importance of a paftoral truft, -as committed to me, by the chief Shepherd;

as connected with the falvation of precious fouls: and a truft, for the difcharge whereof, I behoved to account, at the end of the days.

I can imagine, alfo, with what propriety you would illuftrate the advantage of a continued and growing concern about my own foul-hat. [might, thereby, learn how to deal with others :and that, after preaching the gospel to my fellowfinners, I myself might not be a cast-away.

I can imagine, from your known attachment to the interefts of holiness, with what zeal you would recommend the tenderness and circumfpection of life upon me, which would be neceffary to vouch the truth of my own character, as a Christian,-to enforce the doctrines I fhould teach,-and to engage my hearers in the love and practice of their duty.

I can, likewise, imagine, that, in the fuppofed change of place, you would defcribe, with that accuracy and precifion which are familiar to you, the variety, as to matter and manner both, in the exercife of my miniftry,-which the state, the temper, the station, the abilities, the age, and other circumftances, common or peculiar, of my flock, might require.

Would you not, my dear brother, endeavour to inspire me with a fuperior love of the truth ;with a concern to understand it,—to diftinguish it from error,-to preach it in feafon and out of feafon, to contend earnestly for it,-and to fix my attention, more efpecially, to fuch truths as might be overlooked or exploded by others!

Would you not endeavour to rouse up the use of any influence, and employment of any talents I was poffeft of, in the exercife of my judicative-capacity,

toward the fuppreffion of vice and herefy, toward the tranfmiffion of a found and faithful miniftry ;and toward the prefervation or recovery of all the prerogatives of Zion's King, and all the rights and . privileges of Zion's children?

Yes. know that my reverend friend would do fo and do it, without allowed digreffion into their fteps, who bound heavy burdens, and grievous to be born. upon others, while they touched them not with one of their fingers. Luke xi. 46.

And, now, as the conclufion of the whole matter,-know, reverend and dear brother, that, in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, who hath now given paftors and teachers, as he formerly gave prophets and apostles to his body the church; and by appointment of the presbytery of Paifley, my immediate conftituents, I hereby devolve the paftoral

paftoral charge of this parish of Renfrew upon you; calling, befeeching and requiring you, in the fpirited language of fcripture, "To take heed

unto yourself, and to all this flock, over which "the holy Ghoft hath made you an overfeer, to "feed the church of God, which he hath purchased "with his own blood," Acts xx. 28.-To "takė "the over fight thereof, not by constraint, but "willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready "mind; neither as being a lord over God's heritage, "but being an enfample to the flock," 1 Pet. v. 2, 3-To "take heed to the miniftry, which thou "haft received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it,” Col. iv. 7.-To "take heed unto thyfelf and to "thy doctrine; and to continue in them,” 1 Tim. iv. 16.

I

Finally, "I charge thee," dear brother, "before "God, and the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the elect "angels, that thou obferve these things, without 66 preferring one before another, doing nothing by "partiality," Tim. v. 21. Again, " I give thee "charge, in the fight of God, who quickeneth all "things; and Jefus Chrift, who, before Pontius "Pilate, witneffed a good confeffion before many "witnesses, that thou keep this commandment, "without fpot, unrebukable, until the appearing "of our Lord Jefus Chrift." And again, "O fir, "keep that which is committed to thy truft. -"Grace be with thee. Amen," 1 Tim. vi. 13, 14, 20, 21.

The addrefs I fhould, laft of all, make to the conftituent members of this congregation, fhall be confined likewife to a few fcripture exhortations, that I be not farther tedious to my audience.--"Receive him, therefore, in the Lord, with all "gladness; and hold fuch in reputation," Phil. ii.

20.-"We befeech you, brethren, to know him which laboureth among you, and is over you'in the Lord, and admonisheth you; and to esteem him very highly in love, for his work's fake," 1 Theff. v. 12, 13-"Remember him which hath "the rule over, you, who speaketh unto you the "word of God: whofe faith follow, confidering "the end of his converfation."-- And, in one word, Obey him that hath the rule over you, and submit "yourtelves; for he watcheth for your fouls, as "one that must give account: that he may dɔ it with joy, and not with grief," Heb. xiii. 7, 17.

THE EN D.