in a fchifmatical and innovating spirit? What we have heard and feen; and has been and is exquifitely felt, by thousands, fhews the danger and terrible confequences of innovation, begun under the moft fpecious profeffions of virtue, patriotism, emancipation, and philanthropy. There is no queftion that multitudes have been deceived, perverted and ruined, who were perfectly fincere in aiming at reformation; by incendiaries and revolutionists, who availed themselves of their credulity, promising them and the world liberty, wealth, fecurity, enjoyment.

THE present period awfully proves that, from apparent good and feemingly innocent affociations, much evil has proceeded. “The

letting out of waters," which ignorance and weakness can effect, fpreads defolation and ruin. The weak and ignorant and well intentioned, may erect a machine and fet it in motion, which they cannot put a stop to: as it rolls along, they often regard it with aftonishment as well as others, nor do they always escape the mifery and destruction it produces and multiplies, in its irregular and impetuous career. But, not to dwell on proU 2 bability

bability and theory, fuffer me, my friends, for forwarding our object, to turn your attention, to real evils, ferioufly regretted and lamented, by all true Chriftians; and to beg of you to confider how much you ought to guard against, and to oppose whatever has a direct tendency of producing, increasing and perpetuating them in the church, and in the world.

1. THIS is a ferious evil, The weakening of the hands, the diminishing of the influ ence, the grieving of the hearts, of the faithful Minifters of the church.

You know it were an eafy matter to bring many feparate texts, and long paffages of Scripture, to fhew how much it is the will of GOD, the command of CHRIST, the earnest defire and charge of his apoftles, that the faithful Minifters of CHRIST be held in efteem. They are entitled to the affection and gratitude, and fubmiffion, of those among whom they labour. Whatever tends to render them useless, reproached, ridiculed, deferted, is to be abominated: how much more

whatever

whatever reprefents them as mere cyphers, intruders and hirelings?

2. THE neceffary confequence of this evil is, obliterating the obligation of parishioners to attend to, and perform, the duties of parishioners to their pastors.

WE defire to remember that the duties of Ministers to their people are frequently and fully pointed out, and earnestly and affectionately recommended in the holy Scriptures: Our LORD's penetrating and diffolving addrefs to St. Peter, and St. Paul's advices and entreaties to Timothy, cannot fail to impress and affect the hearts of Minifters, and are naturally recollected when this subject is mentioned. But our hearers know also, and ought seriously to remember, that with equal frequency, earneftness and affection, thefe Scriptures, especially the Gospels, recording the exhortations of the LORD, and St. Paul's exhortations to the churches defcribe, recommend and enforce, the duties of the people towards their Minifters,-to the perufal and recollection of fuch paffages, I refer you.Alas! my friends, on confidering them, as compared

compared with what too many manifest towards their Minifters, are we not forced to fay, How infrequently do we find fuch a fense of duty, as these passages reprefent, and as the mutual relation fuppofes and requires? There is alfo a loose way of thinking and talking refpecting the attending on the miniftrations of their stated pastors, by whomfoever used, that ferves very much to deaden this fenfe, or to extinguifh it altogether.

Ir is fometimes faid, with confidence, and as if no answer could be given to this self-evident truth, for fo it is proposed, "It will not

be asked of you, in the day of judgment, 26 to what denomination of Chriftians you belong" (provided, no doubt, you are truly "converted to GOD,) and go wherever the แ Gospel is preached."

THEY who talk in this manner, I fear, are not aware of the tendency, operation and effects, of fuch remarks and opinions; as they are fometimes propofed, and inculcated, They are very bad indeed, if they render men careless about all church order, if they occafion and countenance difunion and fepa

rations :

rations: if they quiet the minds of the people respecting the neglect of the duty they owe to "those who labour among them, in word "and doctrine, and watch for their fouls as "those who must give an account." While we repeat and urge "one thing is needful," and that the great question here and hereafter is, Are you Chriftans? let us confider what this question involves in it: here and hereafter, this queftion fupposes there must be "a confcience void of offence towards "GOD and towards men:" another question included in it you ought to put to yourselves now, for it will be affuredly put, in the day of the LORD, Have we performed and do we perform, the duty to which our Ministers are entitled, and which we gave them reafon to expect from us, by attending and submitting to, their ministrations?" In as much as ye "did it unto them, ye did it unto me: he "that refufes you refuses me:" are the fayings of the master and the judge. The interefts of humanity are dear to him: fo are the interests of his Gofpel, the ministrations, the fuccefs and comfort of his faithful fervants, in the work of the LORD. Ask yourselves now, for it will be asked of you by the LORD,

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