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Mr. SAMUEL WILTON,

June 18th, 1766, at LOWER-TOOTING, in SURRY, By PHILIP FURNE A U X.

TOGETHER WITH

An INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE
By ANDREW KIPPIS,

Mr. WILTON's Confeffion of Faith,
And ANSWERS to the QUESTIONS propofed to him

BY

FRANCIS SPILSBURY.

AND LIKEWISE

A CHARGE

DELIVERED BY

SAMUEL MORTON SAVAGE, B. D.

LONDON:

Printed for J. BUCKLAND, and J. PAYNE, in Paternofter-Row; E. GARDNER, in Gracechurch-street; and W. DAVENHILL, at the Lamb in Leadenhall-street. MDCC LXVL

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THE

INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE.

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F we reflect with any attention, on the ignorant, degenerate, and miferable state of the world before the appearance of our Saviour, and confider the admirable nature of the bleffings he came to bestow, we cannot but be fenfible that the gofpel is the most excellent gift that ever was communicated to mankind; the most excellent gift that could poffibly be communicated; and that no words can do juftice to its merit. Being therefore, an inftitution of inestimable value, an inftitution which conveys knowledge, pardon, holinefs, comfort, and eternal life; it was of infinite importance that the remotest parts of the earth, and that all fucceeding ages fhould be acquainted with fo great a falvation. This, indeed, was the intention of our heavenly Father, as is manifest from the univerfal genius and design of chriftianity, from the prophecies concerning it, from many declarations of the New Teftament, and efpecially, from the promises of our Lord, that the gates of hell or hades, fhould never prevail against his church, and that he would

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be with his faithful fervants always, even unto the end of the world.

Accordingly, our divine Mafter, after his refurrection, poured out upon his disciples the extraordinary endowments of the Spirit, to enable them to propagate his facred religion; and though thefe extraordinary endowments are now ceafed, he hath provided, in the ordinary courfe of his adminiftration, for raifing up, and continuing, a fet of men to carry on the purpofes of his grace and favour to the children of Adam. As he gave apoftles, prophets, and evangelifts" for the exigencies of their own times, fo he hath appointed fettled" paftors and teachers" for the benefit of all generations;

that the faints may be perfected to the work "of the miniftry; that his body, the church, 66 may be edified; and that hereby we may come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto the perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature "of the fulness of Chrift."

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The business of these paftors and teachers is very important it is no less than the promoting of the grand defigns of the gofpel falvation; the being inftrumental in illuminating, converting, and purifying finful mortals, and in training them up for eternal glory and bleffednefs. It is, therefore, an office that ought to be entered upon with the utmost confideration, feriouf

feriousness, and folemnity; nor fhould any one intrude upon it without poffeffing the suitable qualifications.

If we afk what thefe qualifications are, we fhall find that the first thing neceffary in the perfon who offers himself to the work of the miniftry is, that he be himself a fincere believer in Jefus Chrift, and that he does moft cordially affent to the doctrines of the New Teftament, as the only authentic ftandard of his own faith, in oppofition to all human authority. The next thing requifite is, that he be endued with the principles of genuine and fervent piety and goodnefs; that he fhould ftrongly feel the power of the divine truths, and habitually live under the influence of the precepts, examples, and profpects, he undertakes to recommend. A third thing, of the utmoft moment, is, that he be furnifhed with a competent degree of knowledge; with fuch knowledge, in general, as shall tend to fit him for his facred employment; and efpecially, fuch a knowledge of the Scriptures, and of the whole nature, fcheme, and end of the Gofpel, as fhall render him able to teach others alfo. It will not be fufficient that he is a fincere and faithful man, unless he be capable likewise, of rightly dividing the word of truth, and of giving to every one his portion of meat in due feafon. To thefe feveral qualifications he should join a devout and ferious inclination, and a folemn confecration of himfelf, to the minifterial B 2

work.

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