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even Jefus Chrift? And how fhall the preacher, like a wife mafter-builder, prepare them to be an an habitation of God a through the Spirit (c); unlefs, while in every part of his labour of edification fie incer fantly refers them to the fundamental do doctrines of the Crofs, and to thofe traces backward every motive, warning, admonition, and encouragement; he Teparate porate and adequate attention t attention to every Chriftian grace, to every form of fin? unlefs he specifically developes the characteriftic marks and cuftomary bearings of each 30 JA esforbos

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the occafions on which the virtue is mo needed and moft difficult, the fin moft fre

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quent and most enfnaring; the defufions by which the range of the virtue ta goigently

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be curtailed, and the pretences by which its obligation will be plaufibly undermined the difguifes under which the fin will veil itself, and the palliations by which it will esnotlo sast extenuate the guilt of conceffion?

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Farther: The Chriftian Preacher is zealously to allot an extraordinary measure of exertion to thofe branches of religion, whether doctrinal or practical, which he ballcovers to be grofsly misunderstood, or lightly regarded, by many of his congrega

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Send(e) Eph. ii. 22.

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odt lled wod band, aula nove fion. To all whom he is appointed to feed he is to give their portion of meat in due feafon d) and he is to diftribute fpiritual food in a manner fuited to the ability which different individuals poffefs of digefting it, and to the need which they have of it; ftrong 25 meat to the adult, milk to

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(e). Some of the doctrines which he inculcates as of the higheft importance fome of the practical duties which he cribes as requifite marks of a real Chriftian, will be extremely unpalatable to numbers 8x16m ne thofe whom he addreffes. At the humbling picture which a faithful minifter 311 nomi lom bas babss cannot but draw of the utter weaknefs and corruption of human nature; at his delineation of the unwearied vigilance, of the mwas beliefs a purity of life, which he cannot but pronounce indifpenfable; pride, felf-righteoulnefs, worldly-mindednefs, will affuredly take offence. At one period the

were fo fondly attached to St. Paul, that the Apoftle impreffively reprefents them as defirous, had it been poffible, to have plucked 110 290ld stond of non9x9 out their own eyes and given them unto him. Afterwards, their fentiments were 10 boofsban valor e orarevoli completely changed. They were alienated Bustratres af to Carey regarded him. from the Apoftle. They (d) Luke, xii. 42.49 (e) Hebr. v. 12. 14.

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their enemy. Why? St. Paul difclofes the reafon. The Galatians regarded him as an enemy because he told them the truth (f). He spoke to them without dif guife. He humoured not their prejudices, He declared that which was right, however unacceptable, however offenfive, he knew that the truth would prove to them. If to his own converts St. Paul himself could not preach the truth without giving offence, let not the faithful minifter of the present day hope that his difcourfes fhall offend none. If he perceive that fome are offended, what fhall be his conduct? He fhall pity them. He shall pray for them. But he cannot change his courfe. He muft perfevere. He reads in the discontented eye of his auditor, "I

approve not thy doctrine. I relish not "thy frictness." He turns his ear to the voice of the Moft High: 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. Speak My words unto them, whether they will bear, or whether they will forbear (g). Is he to obey Man or God? Is he to be a pleafer of men, or of God? He is to approve himfelf to his own mafter. He is to perfift in ex

(ƒ) Gal. iv. 15, 16.

(g) Ezek. ii. 7. iii. 17.

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plaining the whole counfel of God, in fetting forth the fincere word of Jefus Chrift, precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, bere a little and there a little, in meeknefs inftructing thofe that oppofe themfelves; in humble hope that peradventure an hour may come, when God will give unto them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth (b).

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Laftly; the Chriftian Preacher is to preachs not himfelf, but Chrift Jefus the Lord). He ferves the Lord Chrift; for Chrift he is an ambaffador: his mafter's glory, not his own, muft he purfues The pulpit he is to regard not as the throne of his exaltation, but as the place where he is to manifeft himfelf the fervant of all for the fake of Jefus (). He is not to affume to himself confequence, as though he were lord over the heritage of God. He is not to seek to have dominion over the faith of his brethren. He is not to convert the house of God into a theatre for the difplay of his erudition, of his imagination, of his eloquence. Devoted to his master's honour, abforbed in folicitude for the falvation of his flock; how shall he

(5) Ifaiah, xxviii. 10. 2 Tim. ii. 25. (†) 2 Cor. iv. 5. (4) Ibid.

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make himself, his own reputation, his own authority; his own fecular advantage, the end and object of his preaching? How shall he thus hypocritically e profefs shimself a worker together with Chrift 2 How shall he thus profane the miniftry of the word of life@mmos 976 entgood via tad gaoitoveb ed WeBojdi asumo pasma gaivor asdW andro -fi III proceed to the duties of a Christian hearer. dw Jornet & voor dww bus elon smBy contemplating the devious tracks in whichs the carelesstand the obftinatel are bewildered, we are taught to difcerns and to value the path of fafety. Confider them the mworthy natives and views, with which men too often present themselves as hearers offfermons.ort gaidons og rasaport andro 75gMany perfons vattend public sworthip, and preaching as one part of it, from cufItom, or from a regard to their character. They fee the neighbourhood flocking to the church therefore they go thither. They perceive that orderly and refpectable perfans make a point of regular attendance: and they are not unwilling to embrace the -fame method of being efteemed orderly and -refpectable. A man of this defcription has fatisfied his wifes by Thewing himself in the church. To the obferved as forming

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