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not right, that a lawyer should spend most of his time in his office, a merchant in his counting-house, a mechanic in his work-shop, a husbandman in his field, and consequently a clergyman in his study? He, who desires to be either eminent or useful, must employ in business the greatest part of the day, and must give even to innocent pleasure, only a few of his hours. The minister, who is constantly running about from house to house, will soon exhaust every pleasant and instructive topic of conversation; and though he may gain the fondness, yet he will lose the respect of his people.

VIII. Finally, another duty, which a people owe to a minister whom they esteem, is the practice of the rules of godliness and righteousness. As they receive instruction from his preaching, they ought to return the obligation, and to improve him by their good example. A pastor, who is happily seated in the midst of a religious flock, is as much indebted to them for his progress in the christian life, as they are to him. The established habits of goodness, which have long existed in a wellordered society, which have not originated from sudden impressions, but which have been formed and strengthened by all the means of a pious and virtuous education and which have been continued from father to son, and from mother to daughter, are in particular highly beneficial to a young minister of the gospel.

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It is here, my brethren, that you can show yourselves the friends of the man, whom you this day ordain over you. Let him learn wisdom and experience from your aged Christians; a knowledge of the human heart from those of you, "who have seen many men and many

cities" and let him be confirmed in tenderness, in sympathy, in resignation to the will of God, by those of you who have been afflicted; let him be improved in delicacy and purity by your women, and in simplicity and innocence by your well-educated children. Hold up to him the image of your departed friends, who were distinguished for their piety and benevolence, and who, whilst they lived, were the supports and ornaments of this church.

You, my brethren, who survive, are a society of friends; you respect each other; and you have chosen for your pastor a man who has every disposition to prolong your tranquillity and increase your felicity. Without saying anything of his talents, which speak for themselves, I will only observe, that he has been blessed with enlightened and virtuous parents; and that having passed his childhood under their discreet and tender guidance, his youth has been favored with the best means of intellectual and moral improvement, which the country affords. With such advantages, you have reason to expect that he will be an affectionate pastor; that he will be, not only your instructer, but your son, your brother, your friend, and your comforter.

My young friends of this society, who, by the ordination of a new pastor, begin a new era of hope, of love, of joy, how happy would you be, if you would determine at the same time to commence your religious course! Precious are the first fruits of life, when they are offered to God; fragrant is the perfume, which ascends to heaven from the flowers of spring; melodious is the song of devotion, when it is chanted by a youthful tongue.

* Horace.

Give yourselves up therefore to your heavenly Father; become in every sense the disciples of your benevolent Redeemer. You are his friends, if you do what he commands you: He commands you to celebrate his dying love. Hesitate not a moment to obey his reasonable, his affectionate call. Join the parents, whom you venerate, and the pastor, whom you esteem, at the table of the Lord; and there may you find increase of strength in every good resolution, and growth in every christian grace, till at length you rise up a holy temple in the Lord, fair without and beautiful within, and in which the spirit of the Almighty will delight forever to dwell.

Morning of Jan 1st, 1809, previous to the ordination of the Rev. Samuel Cary.

CHARGE I.

DELIVERED AT THE ORDINATION OF THE REV. SAMUEL CARY, IN THE EVENING OF JAN. 1ST, 1809.

My dear brother, having declared you to be a pastor of this church, I do now, in behalf of the brethren, and at their particular request, give you the right hand of affection and I do, in their name, promise you their friendship; their joy in your prosperity; their sympathy in your afflictions; their candor and indulgence; and all those offices of zeal and love, which will advance your reputation, and render your talents useful, and your situation happy.

I again offer you my right hand, as a token of my personal regard. I receive you into my bosom as a brother; and I request that you will give me a place in your heart.

We have presented to you the hand of affection: and you will now permit me, my brother, to address you in a word of exhortation; and whilst I claim no superiority over you, to remind you of what you already know, and of duties, which have frequently been the subjects of your meditation.

The solemn charge, which St Paul gives to his sons Timothy and Titus, contains almost all the essential rules, that can be offered to a young minister of the gos

pel. As, however, it has often been repeated on similar occasions, I shall not, though it is more important than anything which I can suggest, go over it again; but I desire you to read it with attention, and to impress its precepts deeply on your heart.

In entering on the duties of the ministry, you have a responsible part to perform: you have to instruct this people by your preaching, and to edify them by your example.

I. Your aim in preaching the gospel should be, to make those, who hear you, wise, happy, and good. Adopt therefore those modes, which will contribute most effectually to these great ends. Nourish the flock with substantial and salutary food. pastures, and beside the still waters; and not to thirsty plains, and the barren wilderness.

Lead them into green

As the foundation of all solid improvement is laid in the understanding, begin with addressing the reason of your hearers. Convince them by clear and weighty arguments, of the truth of the important doctrines which you teach, and of the precepts which you inculcate. When the understanding has received a truth, it will be more easy for you to interest the heart: but the belief or practice which is built on nothing except enthusiasm or prejudice, has no permanent basis: temptation and passion will destroy it; and leave the mind without any principles or fixed rules of conduct.

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I mean not to recommend to you a metaphysical mode of preaching. Metaphysics is not only a sublime, but a useful science :"* and it communicates to us the knowledge of many propositions, which are capable

* Belsham.

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