But

out of our power to be at peace with them, enjoins us, "if it be possible," and "as much as lieth in us to live peaceably with all men.' even if we cannot, consistently with duty, honour, and conscience, preserve the bond of peace, the gospel allows not of our joining with our resistance, hatred and anger, clamour and bitterness, against the persons of our adversaries, and still less the returning of evil for evil, injury for injury. So generally amiable indeed is the peaceable and peace-making temper, and so generally odious the opposite character, that we are most of us ready to profess a regard for peace, and to charge all the odium of its violation upon the rancour and irreconcilableness of our adversary; but will conscience bear us witness that we did not give the first provocation, that we did every thing in our power to prevent the rupture, and have made or met advances to a reconciliation ? If we are conscious in any degree that the sin of violated charity lies at our door, before we seek communion with the God of love, let love reign in our hearts; let us first be reconciled to our brother, and then come and offer our gifts at the altar of our Lord; so may we promise ourselves a gracious welcome, and carry away the blessing on our heads, and the peace of God in our hearts.

But as we are not sufficient of ourselves to reform ourselves, let us implore the Author of peace and Lover of concord, who rules our hearts, and by his spirit regenerates and purifies them from all their pollutions, to assist our frail, imperfect endeavours after the charitable and peaceful temper, and to bestow upon us in such plenteous emanations that most excellent gift of charity, that "all bitterness and wrath, and anger and clamour, may be put away from us, with all malice, and that we may be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us." Should the prayer be heard and answered, the consequence will be the benediction pronounced by the apostle in the close of the text: "The God of love and peace shall be with you." God is the God of love. As he is the great exemplar and prototype of love, his boundless love and goodness provided for the salvation of the lost children of men, raised them up a Redeemer mighty to save, designed them for, and by various methods of his grace assists them to arrive at the happiness of heaven. He is also the God of love and peace, as he enjoined them both to his creatures, and can alone bestow upon them both outward and inward peace. This God being with

E e

you, imports his visiting you with his blessings, his abiding with you by his spirit to strengthen you against every temptation, and the power of your corrupt affections, in the pursuit of christian perfection; to uphold you in every trial and distress, to dispose you to christian peace and concord, to watch over you by his especial providence, and where he sees proper, to make even your enemies to be at peace with you.

I do not know a text in the bible, my brethren, which I would more willingly leave and fix upon your remembrance than that which I have been discussing, as most expressive at once of my parting wishes for you, and of that vital and practical christianity which it has been my principal and constant endeavour to inculcate from this place; with what success is known to Him alone from whom no secrets are hid. I feel indeed a humiliating consciousness in how imperfect a manner I have performed my duty, and what need I have to implore the divine pardon for the failings and defects of my ministry. May God graciously

forgive the defects both

of the preacher and

hearers, before whom we must both appear to answer for them, and may we find

may we find mercy from

him in that day. I take comfort however in the

reflection that I have not "shunned to declare

unto you the whole counsel of God;" I have not concealed from you any truth necessary to salvation, through regard to the persons or opinions of men, or any worldly consideration. The prevalence of deism and infidelity has occasionally obliged me earnestly to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints, that faith which I steadfastly believe to be the faith of the church of England, into which we were all baptized, and from the communion of which I trust that we none of us shall ever be tempted to depart, but "hold the beginning of our confidence in its pure and apostolical worship, steadfast unto the end of our lives." God is my witness, and so are you, my brethren, that I have always avoided controversial preaching as far as was consistent with ministerial faithfulness; that I never mingled with my religious instructions political speculations, or sought to warp your minds to party notions or purposes, to move you with vehement addresses, or please you with the enticing words of man's wisdom. My earnest desire it has always been to affect your hearts, by impressing upon them in simplicity and godly sincerity those great gospel truths with which I have endeavoured to get my own affected. For the amendment of the heart I have always considered to be

the peculiar province of the preacher. The heart of man being by nature the corrupt fountain from which springs sin of every kind; so is the heart, renewed by grace, the source from which all holy desires, all holy practice, proceed and flow.

Finally, farewell, my brethren and friends. Great is my concern at leaving you: but I trust in God our parting is not like that of the apostle from his Ephesian flock, to see each other no more, For though my connexion with you as your minister is now at an end, I shall still be connected with you in the bonds of friendship and affection, and the pleasures of social intercourse; I shall still consider myself as belonging to you in some degree, and be a ready instrument to promote, as far as I am capable, your present and future welfare. The grateful sense I cherish of my signal obligations to you, for all that kindness and respect which you have uniformly and generally shown me; and the valuable demonstrations I have received of your regard and attachment, are deeply impressed upon my heart, and will only be extinguished with my life.

And now, my brethren, "I commend you unto God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified." I shall always