PRESERVING all due refpect for the Epifcopal churches, we obferve, That we do not fee from the beginning any diftinction be-. twixt bishops and prefbyters, between Presbyterian and Episcopal powers. We see a greater conformity, in many things, among Epifcopal churches, to that church which we all left at the Reformation, than we think can accord with the fimplicity of the primi-. tive and apoftolical churches. We know. also, that the great objects of edification and holiness, of comfort and joy, in the religious, life, are promoted as completely by the labours of those overfeers of the flock of CHRIST, who are distinguished in our day by the name of presbyters, as by theirs who are fet apart for the work of the ministry by an uninterrupted fucceffion of mitred heads; and on whom, not grace only, but the very existence of the human foul, has been reprefented as depending.

On this fubject, my brethren, I fpeak with a firm tone to adopt the words of our apostle, "we use great plainnefs" or bold-nefs, "of speech: great is our you truly the figns of the T

glorying of minifters of

"" CHRIST

"CHRIST have been wrought among you," by those who have laboured among you, in word and doctrine. There are, I have no manner of doubt, thoufands of thoufands of whom their minifters can say, "Ye are our

epistle ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; "not in tables of ftone, but in fleshly tables "of the heart." Are there not in this place, and in every corner of the land, many to whom the apostle's appeal to the Theffalonians can be made with confidence? "Our "exhortation was not of deceit, nor of un

64

cleanness, nor in guile; but, as we were "allowed of God to be put in trust with the "Gofpel, even fo we fpeak, not as pleasing "men but GoD which trieth our hearts: for "neither at any time ufed we flattering "words, as ye know, nor a cloak of cove"toufnefs: GOD is witnefs: nor of men

fought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of

others, when we might have been burden"fome (or used authority) as the apostles of "CHRIST. But we were gentle among you, " even as a nurse cherifheth her children: "fo, being affectionately defirous of you, we

Ye are

"the Gospel of God only, but also our own fouls, because ye were dear to us. witneffes, and GoD alfo, how holily and justly, and unblameably, we behaved our"felves, among those who believe. As As you "know how we exhorted and comforted, "and charged every one of you, as a father "doth his children, that you would walk

66

worthy of GOD, who hath called you unto "his kingdom and glory." This is their ground of thanksgiving and rejoicing, that the word they preach is received, "not as "the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the "word of GOD."

HAVE not the Ministers of the Church of Scotland inftructed thofe of the rifing generation in the principles of our holy faith, endeavoured to form them betimes to the lote of God and goodness, inftilling worthy fentiments, cherishing good difpofitions, infpiring virtuous purposes: in the ftrong language of the apostle, “labouring as in birth till "CHRIST be formed in them :" with all tenderness, initiating them in the holy service of the communion, and uniting them to the congregation of the faithful?

NEED I to depart from the audience before me, in a successful appeal for the excellence and efficacy of the means of grace, as difpenfed by the Ministers of the Church of Scotland? There are not a few, I trust, who can say, “By their ministrations we were "made ferious, were perfuaded to flee from "the wrath to come, and to lay hold of eter"nal life: the fulness of bleffing of the Gof

pel" was unfolded: We were relieved and encouraged, when darkness and defpondency had almost overwhelmed our fouls: We went to the houfe of GOD: what we heard and were engaged in made us to say, "Yet "GOD is good to Ifrael; GoD is among them "of a truth: it was the house of GOD: it was "the gate of heaven." I trust that Chriftians of all varieties of characters, of states and frames, have been found out, reproved, directed, affisted, trained to piety and univerfal holiness, by the Ministers of the Church of Scotland; and have been thus prepared for the regions of peace and joy, and immortality. Her Ministers have alfo walked before their people in the way of falvation, able to addrefs their flocks, with St. Paul, "Those things which you have both learned

"and

"and received and heard and feen in

us, do : "and the GOD of peace fhall be with you." Of them it may be faid as of Titus and his brethren in the ministry, "They are the meffengers of the churches and the glory "of CHRIST."

ALL this, will it be faid? cannot be affirmed of

every one who has been, or is at present a Minister or a Preacher of the Church of Scotland. Alas! my friends, all this cannot be faid of every one of the apostles of CHRIST, or of every one in the churches of CHRIST, the most refpectable, of any country, period, or denomination; but we ask, and defire it may be duly confidered, what are the foundations for purity, refpectability and usefulness, laid elsewhere, and among feparatists from the church, and innovators as to religious instruction and ministrations, that are not as firmly laid, by the constitution and practice of the church? I refer particularly to the courfe of study that is prescribed, and must be paffed through, the nature and mode of trial, the confeffion. After a probationary period, fometimes of confiderable length, the preacher is ordained: he perceives and feels,

as