ren, be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."

Maintain a deep sense of your dependence on the free and sovereign grace revealed in the gospel. "Count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus your Lord." May he be more and more precious to your souls. Rest not in past attainments; but "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Our holy religion is distinguished from every other, by its pure and sublime doctrines, and its directions for holy living. In particular, it reveals an atonement, which opens a door of hope to guilty men, and it breathes a spirit of disinterested love. You will be unworthy of the name of Christ's disciples, if you turn away from the truth, or listen to those who corrupt the word of God. If you have received Christ Jesus the Lord in his true character, so walk ye in him; rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith." Whosoever transgresseth,

and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed; For he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 10, 11.) Let not a fear of being called rigid, illiberal, or bigots, render you ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It was of old, to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness. It is not in any age, relished in its native simplicity, by men that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight. Daily look to the Father of lights by fervent prayer, and with a meek and a humble spirit faithfully search the scriptures; and you will learn to correct your own errors in faith and in practice, and you will not be fatally deluded by the dreams of enthusiasts, by the flattery of the licentious nor by the insidious arts of infidels. Take to yourselves the whole armour of God, and you will be enabled to withstand the subtility, the malice, and the power of earth and hell.

Cleave to the doctrine which is according

H

to godliness, or you will grieve the Holy Spirit, and provoke him to withhold his influences. You have been watered with showers of divine grace, beyond most churches, in years past. By the great things which the Lord hath done for you, he hath placed you under high and peculiar obligations to maintain evangelical piety. If this should be lost, the glory will depart from you, and your candlestick will be removed out of its place.

When God shall call you to the choice of a pastor, may you, and the congregation, be united in one who is a scribe well instructed unto the kingdom of heaven; and who shall serve you with much greater ability and faithfulness than I have done. In this important choice be not guided by a capricious temper, but by sound judgment. Read attentively the holy scriptures, and particu larly the Epistles of Paul to Timothy and Titus, that you may learn the qualifications of a Bishop, or Presbyter. Be not carried away with showy talents, but have respect rather to soundness in the faith, aptness to teach, prudence and piety, in a public teacher. You are not to expect that any man will equally excel in every ministerial gift,

or will be without sinful infirmities. A minister who has an ardent love to Christ, and to immortal souls, will delight in taking the charge of a people who stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.

Remember, my brethren, that "they who are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts." Jesus did not come to save his people in, but from their sins. Your hope is vain if it does not incline you to purify yourselves, and to renounce" all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." You must pass through many conflicts while you are sojourners. The righteous are scarcely saved. They have to conflict with inward corruptions, with an ensnaring world, and with a subtle and a potent enemy from beneath. Trust not to your own hearts; suffer not the unrighteous mammon, nor wicked men, to lead you astray; and resist the temptations of satan. sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Pet. v. 8.) Let not the name of God and his doctrine be blasphemed by your unholy lives. Give no just occasion to the adversaries of

"Be

the truth to speak evil of you. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Live in the constant practice of all moral and positive duties, and keep yourselves unspotted from the world. "I beseech you, therefore, brethren," saith the apostle, "by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service: And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God." (Rom. xii. 1, 2.)

Let the fear of God be at all times before your eyes, that you sin not against him. What thing soever the Lord hath commanded you, observe to do it; not adding thereto, nor diminishing from it. He looketh with abhorrence upon all will-worship, as partaking of the nature of idolatry. Jehovah is a holy and a jealous God: his glory will he not give to another. "O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him all the earth. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our