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popularity becaufe, in the fenfe to which common language hath confined that word, it is but one half of the fnare. Befides, in propriety of fpeech, popularity should fignify only being accepted and beloved, which in itself is neither duty nor fin, but a bleffing. Man-pleasing signifies, in Scripture, having this as the end and motive of our actions, rather than being acceptable to God. You ought, indeed, for edification, to avoid difpleafing any without neceffity. But as in this, fo in every other thing, you should have a far higher principle, than merely courting the favour either of great or fmall, good or bad. It is, doubtless, a mean and despicable principle, to act only with a view of gaining the applause of the vulgar and ignorant. But I have often wondered, how some should so boldly and uncharitably lay this to the charge of their brethren, without confidering how eafy it is, with at least equal juftice, to presume that they are under the influ ence, and acting with a view to please the great. I am fure, there is a much stronger temptation to this than to the former. And, if I am not miftaken, fawning and fervility hath been the road, in which ambitious and corrupt churchmen have travelled to preferment in every age. The truth is, they are equally deteftable in the fight of God. But the last is much more destructive to the intereft of religion than the firft. The favour

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of the multitude can scarcely be obtained, without either the truth or the appearance of piety; but the favour of the great is often obtained by filence and fuffering them in their crimes, being affiftant in their pleasures, or fubfervient to their political defigns. To deliver you, Sir, from both, remember the condition on which you hold your office. "Son of man, I have made thee a "watchman to the house of Ifrael: therefore "hear the word at my mouth, and give them "warning from me. When I fay unto the "wicked, Thou shalt furely die; and thou giv"eft him not warning, nor fpeakeft to warn the "wicked from his wicked way to fave his life: "the fame wicked man shall die in his iniquity; "but his blood will I require at thine hand *." Forget then the foolish accufations of popularity or vanity; and confider, that your people are daily carried to their graves, and you must give - an account of every foul that perishes through your neglect.

To conclude, be much in earnest prayer to God, that he would fit you for your work, and crown your labours with fuccefs. Prayer is abfolutely neceffary to the ftedfaftness and growth of every believer, and efpecially to a minifter. If you believe the gofpels you will believe that "every good gift cometh from above;" that #Ezek, iii, 17, 18. .

God

God only can make you an able and useful paftor; and this will make you importunate with him for a plentiful measure of the Holy Spirit to fit you for his fervice. And I defire to join in praying, that God, for Chrift's fake, would make you an an "able minister of the new teftament,' --and help you to preach the gospel, not with "the wisdom of words,"-but with "the Holy "Ghoft fent down from heaven."

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EXHORTATION

TO THE

PEOPLE.

My BRETHREN,

You

YOU have heard the Charge given to your minifter. Are there then, fo many du ties incumbent on him, by his ftanding in the relation of a pastor to you? is not the relation mutual? And are there not feveral correfpondent duties incumbent on you as his people? I beg your patience, while I put you in mind of a few of the most important and necessary.

In the first place, It is evidently your duty diligently to attend upon his ministry. It is plainly impoffible that you can profit by him, if you do not hear him. I am forry that there are many in these days, who pour contempt upon the ordinances of Chrift's inftitution. But in particular, there hath been, of late, a great and remarkable defertion of public worship by those of higher rank. There is a happy opportunity in this cafe to put all fuch among you in mind, that having fubfcribed a call to their minister, they ftand bound by confent to attend upon him. Is it not furprifing to think, that any fhould forget the terms in which that invitation runs. You intreat him "to take the charge of your "fouls, and promife him all due obedience and "fubmiffion in the Lord." Can a man honeftly fubfcribe this, who feldom comes within the walls of any church? One would be counted infamous in the world, who fhould act in the face of a figned obligation, in any other matter, or who even should falfify a folemn promife. And, is it lefs criminal, because it relates to religion and the fervice of God? It is indeed feldom refented or punished by men, because the offence is not immediately against them, but it remains to be punished by that righteous God, "To "whom vengeance belongs,-and who will not "be mocked."

. In the next place, my brethren, let me intreat you to be tender of the character of your minifter, and of minifters in general. As their office makes the guilt of their fins great, and as a ftain on their character is most hurtful to religion, on both accounts, you ought not rashly to receive an accufation against them.

I do not mean to ask indulgence to the unworthy, I give them up freely to that reproach and contempt which they juftly deferve. But let it fall upon the perfon, and not upon the office. Do not transfer the faults of particulars to the whole order. It is eafy to obferve the different reception which the faults or miscarriages of minifters meet with, from perfons differently difpofed. The good are affected with grief and concern for the offence, or filled with zeal and indignation against the finner. But loofe and careless perfons difparage the profeffion, and blefs themselves in their own uniformity and confistency of character. You may fpare your reflections, "That minifters are but men, minifters "are but like other men," and the like, when, I affure you, we deny it not. fame great intereft at stake. the more earnestly to you, left, the gofpel to others, we ourfelves fhould be caftaways; and many times defcribe the workings

We have all the

We often speak

while we preach

of

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