dom, and their holy heroism in defending them, depend intimately, under God, the success and the glory of christianity. They are in scripture emphatically represented under the emblem of stars; and if they are obscured, either by ignorance or error, a general darkness must envelope the horizon of the church. Natural talents and human learning are little noticed in the following character of the gospel steward; because however important these qualifications are, they are of inferior importance; they become useful and ornamental, precisely in proportion as they are sanctified by the Spirit of Jesus, and consecrated to the service of his cross. If those who "bear the vessels❞ of the Lord be erroneous, the more successful they are, the more dangerous, by rendering others two fold more the children of darkness than formerly. If they appear indolent and indifferent, their example fosters carelessness in their hearers, and tends to lull them deeper and deeper in the slumbers of perdition. The ordinary pastor, no less than the extraordinary apostle, should be possess "all knowledge and all mysteries," yet without charity, must become "as sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal." Intellectual endowments, unaccompanied by divine grace, like the blazing comet, may dazzle and astonish, while he who "endures all things for the elect's sake," like the sun in the firmament, exhilirates and cherishes as he shines.

If the present discourse is made instrumental in impressing a single ambassador of Jesus with more becoming conceptions of the importance of his office, or of awakening one to greater industry and importunity in discharging the duties of his office, the author will consider himself more than rewarded; and would now and eternally ascribe all to the glory of that sovereignty, which out of "the mouth of babes and sucklings" has perfected strength.

SALEM, DEC. 24, 1802.

SPIRITUAL STEWARD

I COR. IV. 1.

Stewards of the mysteries of God.

THE grace and sovereignty of Jehovah illustriously shine in the redemption of man through the cross of Immanuel. It. is a manifestation of grace the most astonishing and glorious, that any of our family should be restored: that after our wilful apostacy from the government of God, and rebellion against his crown, we should be reinstated in his favor, and dignified with the name, and distinguished with the inheritance of sons. It excites admiration in the highest, that our recovery should be accomplished by a plan so peculiar, a scheme so costly, as the substitution and death of his "only begotten," eternally "beloved Son." "Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Sovereignty also mingles her glories with those of grace, in every part of this wondrous dispensation. While grace displays her exceeding riches in the salvation of any, Sovereignty shines mysterious and awful in determining the objects of this salvation; in choosing some to adoption, and reconciliation, and eternal life, while others of the

same nation, of the same society, of the same family, under the same opportunities of instruction, and the same offers of mercy, are utterly passed by; are delivered up to "blindness of mind," and a rejection of Jesus, the only sacrifice for sin.

The Lord God appears no less an adorable Sovereign, in the very instruments by which this redemption is applied to "the election of grace. Whom does he usually raise up and employ for this important purpose ? Does he fasten upon the unsinning angels, those exalted spirits who bask in the glories of his throne, whose larger capacities qualify them for understanding more fully, and unfolding more perfectly the mysteries of redemption? No; their apostate tribes are not chosen to be the blessed partakers of this salvation, neither are their unsinning tribes honored to be instrumental in applying it. What rank of the human "family" is ordinarily employed for promoting the kingdom of "Jesus," and applying to the souls of others the atonement of his cross? Does the living God raise up some preternatural order, persons superior to their fellow-creatures, naturally distinguished by purer morals, by a more comprehensive understanding or commanding utterance? No; was this the plan pursued, the success of the gospel would probably be ascribed to the excellence of the instruments employed.The vessel naturally most frail, most foul, debased by every species of abomination,