APPENDIX

As the wish has been expressed by many that this work may contain as much of the writings of Mr. Haynes as practicable, the following selections from his printed sermons are appended, viz:

A FUNERAL SERMON:

ENTITLED,

The important concerns of ministers and the people of their charge at the day of judgment; illustrated in a sermon, delivered at Rutland, Orange Society, at the interment of the Rev. Abraham Carpenter, their worthy pastor.

1 THESS. ii., 19.-"For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?"

The second coming of Christ is a source of peculiar joy and consolation to the people of God; it is a day in which their hopes and expectations will be fully answered. Tribulation attends the good man while in this life; the scenes of divine Providence are mysterious, and many things unaccountable and insignificant without a day of judgment; they will then be explained and adjusted, to the joy and admiration of all who love Christ's appearing. Many of the events that take place in this life stand in a solemn relation to the judgment day, and none more so than the gospel ministry; hence it is that the attention of the true servants of Christ is so much taken up with a future state. St

he wrote.

Paul, being detained from the church of Thessalonica, sends this epistle as a token of his love and respect to them; in which he anticipates that blessed period when he should meet them at the bar of Christ, which would afford such joy and satisfaction as to more than compensate for all their sorrow, more especially for his being prevented a personal interview with those to whom "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" We have two very important ideas suggested in the words. One is, that ministers and their people must meet each other at the day of judgment. The second is, that although ministers are often separated from their hearers in this life, yet the people of God among whom a pious preacher finishes his work will be a cause or crown of peculiar joy and satisfaction at the second coming of Christ.

With respect to the first point, we may observe, to give us a striking contrast between this and the coming world, we are in the present state subject to many vi cissitudes.

What changes are taking place in empires, states, societies, and families! In nothing is this more observable than in matters relating to ministers and the people of their charge. A persecuting spirit, that prevailed in the apostolic age, was often a means of parting friends, and especially of driving preachers from churches. The same cause has had influence in every age of the church; but if religious societies are so happy as to escape such a calamity, yet it pleases the Great Head of the church, in his sovereign wisdom, to separate ministers and their people by death; this gives feeling to a pious preacher, and in some degree has influence in every sermon he delivers. That all mankind will be collected before the bar of Christ, to see the great and intricate affairs of the universe adjusted, is a plain dictate of reason and Scripture; but that many will meet there as having mutual concerns with each other, is evident. More especially ministers and the

people once committed to their charge doubtless will appear in some sense as distinct societies, as having particular and personal matters to attend to. This

supposes that they will have a knowledge of each other; for without this, the purposes of their meeting in such a manner could not be answered. How far this will extend, or by what means it will be conveyed, is too curious to inquire. It seems, unless we are able by some means to distinguish those from others with whom we have been intimate in this life, the designs of a future judgment will in some measure be frustrated. The great end of that day is to illustrate divine truth, or make that appear conspicuous to created intelligence. To effect this, God will make use of mankind as instruments; this is the method he takes in this life, and doubtless it will be most eligible in the world to come. For our acquaintance to be summoned as witnesses for or against us at this court, will perhaps be the best means to administer conviction. In this way the great God can speak in language easy for finite creatures to understand. One design of the world being divided into distinct societies and communities, is doubtless to prepare matters for the day of judgment. The relation between ministers and people is such as renders them capable of saying much about each other; in this way the justice and mercy of God will be illustrated, Divine proceedings vindicated, and every mouth stopped. It is our conduct in this life that will direct Divine proceeding towards us at the final judgment; that the equity of God's administrations may appear, 'tis necessary that our characters be clearly investigated. The salvation and damnation of many souls will be through the instrumentality of faithful and unfaithful watchmen; this is an idea contained in the charge God gave to Ezekiel, 32d chapter. It will be necessary that the motives by which ministers have been influenced in their work be brought out to view; for without sincerity of heart they can never execute their office with any degree of true faithfulness, and are a high affront to God, and a vile imposition on the people.

At the day of judgment the doctrines with which a minister has entertained his hearers must be examined. However doctrinal preaching may be discarded by many, and such words as metaphysical, abstruse, &c., are often made use of to obstruct free and candid inquiry; yet it is evident that one great end of the gospel ministry is to disseminate right sentiments; hence it is that Paul so often exhorts Timothy to take heed to his doctrine. Sound doctrine, as well as good practice, is necessary to constitute the Christian character: "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God."-2 John, 9.

A careful inquiry will be made whether an empty parade of learning, elegance of style, &c., have been the main things with which a people have been entertained, tending only to gratify vain curiosity, and to fix the attention of the hearers on the speaker. This made St. Paul contemn such a mode of preaching, and determine not to know any thing save Jesus Christ, and him crucified, 1 Cor. ii., 2. Whether Whether vague, equivocal expressions have been used to convey, or rather to obscure the truths of the gospel, by which any thing and almost every thing may be understood. This is causing the trumpet to give an uncertain sound, and has no tendency to impress or give feeling to the mind, as is the case with the words of the wise, being as goads and nails, Eccle. xii., 11. Whether to please men has had greater influence in our composing and delivering our sermons than the glory of God and the good of souls. People will be examined at the bar of Christ whether they have not been dealt plainly with; been told their characters and danger; that they are wholly opposed to God, destitute of every thing that is holy or morally good; that they are by nature under the curse of God's law, exposed every moment to endless wo; that they are hopeless and helpless in themselves; the necessity of the renewing influences of the spirit; the nature of their impotence, that it consists in an evil heart; that therefore they are altogether inexcusable,

and are criminal in proportion to the degree of their inability; that nothing short of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the immediate duty of all that hear the gospel.

Ministers and their people must meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, to give an account whether the true character of God has in any good measure been investigated; as a sin-hating and sin-revenging God.

Without this the character of God is kept out of sight, people left in the dark, and are not able to determine whether they love or hate the true God.

It must be known whether people have had the character and work of the Redeemer set before them; the design of his sufferings, the efficacy of his blood, and the necessity of our union to him. The manner in which divine truth has been delivered will be a matter worthy of serious examination at that day; whether with that earnestness and fervour becoming the vast importance and solemnity of gospel truth, tending to affect the mind. The deportment or examples of ministers among their people will be closely attended to; their private visits, exhortations, and reproofs, holy desires and wrestlings for the souls of their hearers, will not escape public notice; the improvement that people have made of such advantages will be brought into public view.

How often people have attended on the ministration of the word, and the manner how, will be matters of serious concern at the judgment day. Those excuses that men make for neglecting public worship will be weighed in a just scale. Whether people have so far contributed to the temporal support of their ministers as to enable them to devote themselves to the service of Christ; or, by too great neglect, have not obstructed the gospel, robbed God, wounded their own souls.

It will be useful that the time of a minister's continuance among a people be known, as it will serve to set he characters of gospel despisers in a true point of light. That ministers and the people of their charge

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