ftudying the works and the word of God, and for the exercises of devout retirement. We should therefore every day trace and observe the conftant energy and boundless perfections of the great Creator and Preferver, in his works of Nature, and of Providence. We should attentively read the further difcoveries which he hath made of himself in his word, and in daily retirement impress our hearts with thefe; adoring his perfections, gratefully recollecting his benefits, earnestly imploring his bleffing on our endeavours to promote religion and virtue; and then with pleasure leaving ourfelves in his hands. The Minifter who thus daily expreffes and animates the devotion of his heart, will by his love to God, and hope of his approbation, and by fecret influences from above, be inspirited to the practice of every virtue, and to a zealous improvement of his abilities and opportunities for doing good. His private devotions will also enliven his publick, and qualify him to pray in the church with freedom and fpirit, as one uttering the ruling fentiments of his heart, and will thus raife like pious fentiments in his hearers. Whereas the Minifter who is a ftranger to his closet, and indifpofed for the exercises of a devout mind, will of course be negligent in the practice of every virtue, and in his care for his people's falvation; the great incitements to thefe being derived from a strong sense of the prefence of God, a warmth of grateful love, love, and a vigorous hope of his approbation and unbounded rewards. You will expect me to add, that as chri fians, acquainted with the authority, and with the love of Chrift, and as peculiarly his Minifters, his inftructions and example, his love in dying for our falvation, and his glorious refurrection fhould be frequent fubjects of our meditation. His inftructions for regulating our conduct, his example for ingaging our imitation, his generous love for conftraining us to live unto him, his death for mortifying us to a world in which we alfo are ftrangers, and his refurrection with the full affurance which it gives his fervants of a refurrection, and an immortality of bleffednefs, for animating our endeavours to be found his faithful fervants. * Remember, fays our Apostle, that Jefus Christ was raised from the dead. And it is a faithful faying, if we be dead with him, we fhall alfo live with him. The Minister who firmly believes, and habitually confiders the refurrection and glory of his divine Master, will fee that nothing is important to him in life like this, by a refemblance of his piety and virtues to fecure this bleffednefs; and will endure all things for the elect fake, that they also may obtain the falvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Let us therefore, my Bretheren, by daily reading, meditation, and prayer, cherifh the proper affections to God and to Chrift. This will give fuch ftrength to the divine principle within, that eminence in the various 2 Tim. ii. 8, 11. various graces of the chriftian temper will become easy to us. Sobriety, for inftance, in its whole extent, or the feveral virtues included under felf-government; thefe St. Paul often exhorts Timothy to cultivate, charging him to flee youthful lufts, to be fober, temperate, and an example to the believers in purity. He directs alfo that the perfons, whom Timothy ordained, should be men not given to wine, nor greedy of filthy lucre. It is a fmall praife to a Minifter, that he keeps clear of grofs inftances of impurity, fenfuality, and intemperance. We ought to have fo high a relish for the nobler pleafures of the mind, the pleasures of knowledge, goodness, and devotion, as would render us greatly indifferent to the groffer pleasures of the fenfes, and determine us not to feek our happinefs in them, but to tafte them with prudence and moderation. How unbecoming will exceffive indulgences of appetite and inclination appear in one, whofe profeffed bufinefs it is to call men off from thefe, to the pursuit of a rational and divine felicity. But how lovely, especially in youth, is moderation with regard to these, and how beneficial; mightily promoting the vigour of the mind, and confirming a difpofition for its proper pleafures. Refiftlefs is the charm of a modeft and humble behaviour, arifing out of a just sense of our own defects, and an inclination to do full juftice to the good qualities of others. * B 1 Tim. iii. 2. iv. 12, The The lefs we appear to value ourselves, the more good judges will efteem us; and the lefs refpect we demand, the more others will give. The greatest merit being to chufe and purfue what is right and good for its own fake, without regarding the applaufe of men; the lefs we are obferved to regard this, the stronger will the judicious conclude our love of goodnefs. What a noble pattern of humility have we in the life of Chrift, and with what reafon does he command our imitation! And, happy fhall we be, if ftanding approved to our own minds, and humbly hoping that we are approved by him, we can be fatisfied, and live greatly independent on the opinions of a rash and ill-judging world. A fteddy government of the angry paffions, will be found comparatively eafy by the humble, pride being often the fource of violent anger. *A Bishop must be no ftriker, nor a brawler, but patient; in meekness inftructing thofe who oppose themfelves. With what juftice is meekness expected in a difciple of Jefus, who, being reviled, reviled not again, being perfecuted, threatened not, and when dying, prayed for his murderers? And how truly great and venerable the man, who like his divine Mafter preferves a calmness and fweetnefs of temper, amidst follies, injuries, and ingratitude, and who inftead of being overcome by evil, overcomes evil with good. He will foon convert enemies into friends; or should any continue his enemies, he will revenge venge himself in the best manner, by forcing them to esteem him, and condemn themfelves. But the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. If If anger be mingled with private admonitions, inftead of reclaiming, they will probably harden the faulty, and make them our enemies. And if it be allowed to mingle with our publick miniftrations, it will make the offence and our shame publick. Never therefore may our Prayers or Sermons be dictated by private refentments. A perfon feldom fpeaks in private when angry, but he hath reafon to repent some part or other of what he hath faid; and much more will this be the cafe in publick, if he endeavours to put off the unhallowed fire of rage for religious zeal. Let us therefore in meeknefs inftruct and reprove, if we would bring men to acknowledge and obey the truth. Again; it is required of a christian Bishop, that he be not greedy of filthy lucre, but given to hofpitality, an example of charity and of good works. Far then be it from us to do an unfair, a hard, or a mean thing for the love of money; or to refufe a kind and generous action which is in our power. From us, whofe Maiter eftablished it for a maxim, that it is better to give, than to receive; and charged us by acts of charity to lay up treafures in heaven †. And who, while we do good, and communicate according to ability, *B 2 |