as a Minister of the church, how many things powerfully constrain him to be dif tinguished by his purity of morals, by his earnest zeal and continual diligence in the work of the LORD: he knows what confistency, and a sense of honour, demand of him: he knows by what means only he can be useful to the state, to the church, to the fouls of men: he knows the account he must give to the LORD at his coming; he knows what fhall be the doom of the unfaithful, what the distinction and reward of the faithful fervant of the LORD.

IF, with all these grounds of hope and confidence in the learning, the purity of doctrine, and eminence of piety, and ministerial duties and labours faithfully and fuccessfully performed; if where there is much and well merited commendation; there are some complaints, and fome complaints not altogether without foundation, it ought to be remembered that, perfection shall be found only in the heavenly Jerufalem, "Where that which is "in part shall be done away." It ought to be remembered, also, that worldly men take pleafure in fpreading and exaggerating, and fome

times in fabricating, accufations against the `ministers of religion. It ought to be remembered that, bigotry and party, like certain flies, neglect the excellences and live upon the scratches and flighter blemishes of the fairest forms. It ought to be remembered that blind zeal, as of old, can make men offenders "for "a word;" and propofe fhibboleths of diftinction and feparation, not found in, nor authorized by, the word of God.

Ir were an unpleasant task to bring forward to obfervation, to contrast and compare the church and the focieties that have feparated from her, and newly erected churches, as they call themselves, in blemishes and imperfections. To do so, mentally at least, is natural indeed not to do fo in particular circumstances, is impoffible. We cannot fhut our eyes. We cannot but hear what fame publishes. Facts are not to be denied. Obtrufive crimination is examined and fcrutinized; and provokes, and sometimes abundantly justifies, recrimination. On this fubject, I only fay that, I am firmly perfuaded that it may be afferted with confidence, that, numbers and all circumstances duly confidered,

the

the proportion of what is lefs defirable or exceptionable, will not be found the greatest in the Ministers of the Church of Scotland.

BUT do we find that gratitude to GOD, and the great head and king of the church, uniformly prevailing, which the ministrations of their pastors justly claim from the members of the church, and the inhabitants of this country? do we obferve the respect due to them, uniformy preserved and manifested? Are the people diftinguished by a steady and refolved attachment to the religion and worship of their forefathers?

MANY I trust feel gratitude to heaven for their fuperior privileges, hold their Ministers. in reputation, and are fteadily attached to the Church of Scotland: yet, alas! the prefent times are unhappily, too much diftinguished by a levity of mind, by indifference towards the church, by a forwardness in crimination, by a facility of leaving her communion; and by an innovating spirit in religion.

ALL this has been obferved and regretted

by

by the friends of order and peace, and of true religion: "much fearching of heart" has been occafioned by this state of the minds of men: Shall we not attempt to check it, and to introduce and promote and cherish a better spirit and character? Shall not we remain, and determine you to remain steadily attached to the church?

BRETHREN, Let me exhort you with all earnestness: beware of this levity of mind, this indifference towards the church, this forwardness of crimination, this facility of leaving her communion, this innovating spirit which distinguishes too many at present.

THE аpoftle was grieved for the difunion and feparations of Chriftians at Corinth and elsewhere he knew their origin, he beheld and deplored their confequences. Much inattention to both, there is good reafon to fufpect, is chargeable on feparatists and innovators, and on their too ready and implicit followers in this country, and in this age, as well as in other regions, and in the first churches of Chriftians. But neither the leaders nor the followers do we address: they

are not present: and though they were prefent, they have perhaps fo made up their minds; (for facility of feparation and innovation, is not inconfiftent with obftinacy in making and remaining profelytes ;) as not to be affected with any thing that could be fuggefted, for perfuading them to abandon their fyftems, and to return to the bofom of the church. The members of the Church of Scotland we address with the apostle's zeal and affection, recommending union, and a perfevering attachment to the church.

THE hiftory of the world, and of the church, alas! affords abundant evidence of the unhallowed fire of pride, vanity, and worfe paffions, mistaken by the world, and very probably, to a confiderable degree, by themfelves, for holy zeal, in feparatifts, fectarians, and reformers. But, without judging any man, and, with the apostle, faying, "to his own master he stands or falls;" allowing, or, if you will, afferting and maintaining, that pure, holy, difinterested zeal, animates the feparatifts and innovators, of former or of later times; have we not much reason to say, in these days, there is danger