the ministers of this town will rival the solidity of the English, and the elegance of the French, divines.

Whilst you run with them a generous career, remember that your country and posterity, as well as this religious society, have demands on your talents. Whatever time therefore you can spare from the duties of your office, devote to those literary pursuits, to which your taste inclines you, and in which you can render yourself the most useful. As the country is still too young, to give much encouragement to men of letters, the public must be indebted to the spontaneous and unrewarded exertions of the learned professions for improvements in the arts and sciences. You will not be a worse preacher, because you understand something beside divinity; for "there is a connexion between all the branches of human knowledge ;" and he, who is skilled in many, will most perfectly comprehend the art, to which he is in particular devoted.

Not only endeavor to acquire a respectable literary character, but be mindful also, that you are the citizen of an extensive republic; and that next to the interests of religion, the interests of your country ought to be dear to your heart. I here claim for you a right, which you possess in common with others, the right of giving your vote at elections, and your opinion on public measures. Under such a government as ours, the judgment of the wise is always of use; and an enlightened clergyman, if he is moderate and candid, will possess his proper share of influence. With patriotic boldness, therefore, employ your tongue, and, if needed, your pen, in favor of good men and honest measures; but never

* Cicero.

so far forget the sanctity of your vocation, as to make the pulpit the scene of party politics.

In prescribing to you so many duties and exertions I leave you no leisure for sloth, dissipation, and luxury; no leisure for unprofitable visits, for ungodly mirth and foolish jesting. No, my brother, every moment of your time must be filled up with some useful pursuit. Whilst you breathe, you must think, and speak, and work; for "life is short, and there will be rest enough in the grave.” *

You are still young; but death will soon overtake you. This solemn truth furnishes you with a strong motive to diligence. The world abounds with comforts, and even pleasures: it is a world, every part of which displays the goodness of God: but the present scene is not permanent: all its joys are passing rapidly away; and you look for something more substantial. A recent affliction has convinced you of the vanity of the world. The loss of an amiable parent has inflicted a wound, which still bleeds. In concluding my address to you, what can I do better, than to exhort you to imitate bis devout and holy life? Let the image of his fidelity, his sincerity, his candor, his ardent love of truth, his kindness, his disinterestedness, his piety, and the many other virtues, which adorned his character as a man, and as a minister of the gospel, be ever present in your mind; and continue through life to be a son, who shall do honor to the memory of so excellent a father.

My beloved brethren of the church, I congratulate you on the auspicious transactions of this day. Of the

minister, whom you have now introduced into office, you know my opinion; you know how highly I approve his settlement among you: this is not the time, nor the place, to praise him. The duty, which you owe him, I pointed out in the morning; and if I had not, you perfectly understand it. The kindness and generosity, with which you have always treated me, are sure pledges to him of your attention and friendship. During the period of twenty years, no cause of disquiet has arisen; no circumstance has taken place, to interrupt the harmony, which was so happily begun. With such an affectionate people, my brother has reason to hope that his life will be happy and you, my friends, on your part, have cause for pleasing expectations. The youth and health

of

your new pastor promise you many years of usefulness and love; and long after I am laid in the grave, the light of his instructions will shed a kindly influence on your children. Receive him therefore with respect and affection: and let the spirit of mutual condescension still continue to adorn your society. Endeavor to serve and please each other; live in peace; and may the God of love and peace be with you.

34

CHARGE II.

DELIVERED FEB. 16TH, 1815, AT THE ORDINATION OF REV. ISAAC BLISS PEIRCE, MINISTER OF A CHURCH IN TRENTON, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

My dear brother, as you have now been ordained and publicly declared a minister of the gospel, it is proper that you should in the same public manner be exhorted to perform with fidelity the duties of the important station in which you are placed. The address, which I am to deliver on this occasion, necessarily assumes an imperative form, but it is no further entitled to your attention, than as it is founded on truth and the divine word.

You are a minister of Jesus Christ; and your busi ness is to preach the religion, which was communicated by him, or his harbingers, the Prophets, and his successors, the Apostles. This religion is contained in the Bible: I do therefore solemnly charge you, in the presence of God, and of the disciples of our common Master who are here assembled, to study the Bible, and to teach nothing which, after a diligent and impartial examination, you do not believe consistent with that sacred book. Read the Scriptures with your understanding; and make use of all the aids, which are afforded by sound reason, a knowledge of ancient customs and ancient learning, and the just rules of biblical criticism.

you

Let not the truths which you discover, or which think you discover in the Bible, be concealed in your bosom; but declare them openly to the world. Integrity is one of the first duties of a preacher of the gospel; and it will save you much trouble, if you begin your ministerial life with the practice of this virtue: for though it may expose you for a while to the reproach of some worthy Christians, who apprehend that any sentiments which differ from their own tend to impiety and licentiousness, and whose favorable judgment you wish to secure, because they are as upright as yourself; yet in the end you will find it, not only a straight, but a safe, path. You will never be betrayed by the shortness of your memory into contradictions, a fate which often attends men, who are guilty of equivocations: beside which your opponents will see the worst of you; and as, from the openness of your character, they will have no cause to suspect that there are any secret heresies in your breast, many of them will at last treat you as an honest, though mistaking, Christian.

I mean not to recommend to you to disclose every opinion, which enters your thoughts. There are many floating in the mind, of which it is not easy to say, whether they are true or false; and it is frequently imprudent, and sometimes pernicious, to expose them to the world: but in all the peculiar doctrines, which distinguish the different sects of Christians, exhibit yourself without disguise. Be not afraid, nor ashamed, to own the religious party, to which you belong; that is, to speak plainly, let not only your friends, but the world know, whether you are a Calvinist or an Arminian, a Trinitarian or a Unitarian.

In declaring your sentiments, adopt the most intelli