unto yourselves, but unto the Lord, let all the praise and glory be given for his mercy and his truth's sake," For it was He who put it into your hearts to undertake what you have thus done for the honor of his name, the advancement of his cause, and the promotion of your own best and everlasting interests. It is He, who has supported you under all the discouraging circumstances and appearances which you had to encounter, who has furnished you with much unexpected assistance in the good work in which you engaged, and has answered your prayers and succeeded your efforts, probably beyond the utmost extent of your first hopes.

Thus highly favoured with those stated gospel ministrations and ordinances which you so long wanted, and so much desired, let your gratitude, to the gracious Author of them, be now manifested in your care to improve them with fidelity, and in your prayers that they may be divinely and abundantly blessed to you!

As your pastor is under he most solemn and sacred engagements to devote his time and his talents to the service of your souls; so we are persuaded, from the liberal things which you have already devised and done, that you will remember and feel the obligations which the gospel lays upon you, to make such provision, according to the means in your power, for his temporal wants and comfort, as will give him the command of his time, and leave him at liberty for "serving the Lord without distraction," in his studies and his labours, to promote your everlasting salvation.

Is it his indispensable duty" to take heed to the ministry which he has received in the Lord, that he may fulfil it?" Surely then you are no less bound to attend his ministrations with as much regularity and con

stancy as may be within your power, and to concur with and aid him in all proper measures for maintaining that church order which constitutes an eminent part of the strength, the beauty and the honor of every christian society. While he is allowed the satisfaction of witnessing such a worthy and honorable conduct in you ; how greatly will his heart be encouraged, and his hands strengthened in every part of this arduous work! Whether indeed you will attentively hear the word of God at his mouth or not, whether you will reverence or disregard the institutions of the gospel; he must endeavour to deliver his own soul, in the faithful discharge of the duties of "a watchman to you, in teaching, exhorting, warning, reproving, and rebuking with all authority” and impartiality, as well as with all gentleness and long suffering; so that if the wicked and disobedient will not be admonished, and engaged to turn from their wickedness and wicked ways, and seek and secure the life and salvation of their souls, but persist in their iniquities, "and die in their sins, their blood may not be required at his hands, but remain upon their own heads." But with what grief and heaviness of heart must your pastor think of his Lord and Master being thus despised, through such a neglect of his word and ordinances ! And how greatly will the burden of his labours be augmented by the prospect of their proving thus fruitless to such of you as he shall not be instrumental in saving by them, and serving only on the other hand to aggravate your guilt, and to increase the terrors of your final condemnation, and the anguish of your everlasting misery! Would you not be chargeable with a conduct so unkind, so criminal, and so ruinous; would you wish to afford your pastor, the greatest comfort which he can

find in you; and would you manifest that you really love your own souls? Be admonished and entreated then, to hear the gospel which he is appointed to preach to you, and "to obey him, and to submit yourselves," in respect to the ministerial authority with which he is invested to rule over you in spiritual things; "remembering that he watches for your souls as one that must give an account, that he may do it with joy and not with grief; for that would be unprofitable for you."

Is he concerned "to take heed to himself as well as to his doctrine," that he may approve himself a worthy example to the flock, of the faith, piety, and virtue which he preaches? And does it not equally become you to endeavour "to be followers of him, so far as he shall be a follower of Christ ?" But you are also to remember, that the most upright and faithful ministers of Christ," are men of like passions with other men," and subject to infirmities similar to those with which the other followers of Christ, even the worthiest and the best, are encompassed; while they are exposed to some temptations and trials, peculiar to the office which they bear, and the work in which they are employed. Hence they are taught humility and watchfulness, their equal dependence with the weakest members of the household of faith, on the blood and righteousness and grace of the Redeemer, for the pardon of their daily failings and offences, their acceptance in every duty, and their sufficiency for all their work and warfare; and hence they learn to cherish a tender sympathy with their christian brethren, and acquire, with a more ready disposition, the wisdom and experience which are requisite, for strengthening and comforting them in all their

conflicts and temptations, and various discouragements and sorrows. Do not then look for perfection in the character of your spiritual teacher and guide; and when you may perceive in him the common frailties of human nature, which in the best on earth is only renewed and sanctified in part, suffer them not to alienate your affections from him, or to operate to the prejudice of his usefulness among you. Over such imperfections as you will have reason to believe are disallowed and lamented by himself, more than by any one else who may observe them, kindly spread the mantle of charity; and at the same time, study to "do those things which you may learn and receive, and hear and see in him agreeably to the mind and gospel of Christ," who is the great and only perfect pattern of all that is wise and holy, good and lovely," and who has left us his unerring example, that we should follow his steps."

Is it also an eminent part of your ministers duty, to pray for you? And shall you not feel yourselves equally bound to pray for him? The Apostles themselves, with all the eminent gifts and graces by which they were distinguished, felt their need, and often solicited the assistance of the prayers of the churches; that they might find grace to be faithful and successful, in their arduous work, and to be constant and victorious, in all their peculiar trials and temptations. "Brethren pray for us," is a request frequently repeated by the Apostle Paul, in the name of himself and of his fellowlabourers in the gospel ministry: And long observation and experience, have originated and sanctioned the maxim, that "a praying people make a preaching minister." The prayers of their people accordingly, all faithful ministers highly value and earnestly desire;

Thus to pray for

persuaded that in answer to these, the Lord delights to direct and assist, to own and to bless their labours, the success of which lies near their hearts, and forms an eminent part of their happiness. your minister then, is a debt of love which you owe to him, who has engaged himself in the various arduous labours of his office, to seek and promote your everlasting interests: And in thus praying for him, you will best shew your love to your own souls; as by your prayers for him, you improve the mean particularly enjoined and recommended in the word of God, and honored by his blessing, for obtaining that co-operation of the Spirit of grace, to attend the ministrations of the gospel, without which "Paul would plant, and Apollos. water" in vain; but with which the gospel, by whatever instrumentality it is dispensed, may be expected to yield its proper increase, and to bring forth in those to whom it is preached, the desirable fruits of faith and repentance, conversion and salvation. Wherefore pray continually and fervently for your minister; remembering that in so doing, you most effectually help him in his work, and secure that divine blessing upon his ministry, which will make the gospel preached by him," the power of God to your salvation," and instrumental in building you up in the christian life, and promoting your preparation for the inheritance of the saints in light. It becomes you indeed "to pray always, with all prayer and supplication of the Spirit, for all men, and more especially for all saints; and above all for the ministers of the word of God, that they may open their mouths boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, that they may speak wisely and faithfully as they ought to speak; and that the word of the