(Matth. xxviii. 20) His command is our commission. We must deliver nothing but what we have received. 'I have received of the Lord that, which also I delivered unto you.' (1 Cor. ii. 23) That which I have heard,' saith the prophet, of the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.' (Isa. xxi. 2) Speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord's house, all the words which I command thee to speak unto them, diminish not a word.' (Jer. xxvi. 2) What thing soever I command you, observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.' (Deut. xii. 32) If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.' (1 Pet. iv. 11) The Lord hath committed unto us the word and ministry of reconciliation. What we do in attendance on that ministry, we do in Christ's stead: and therefore ought seriously to consider with ourselves, whether the words which we speak unto the people, be, for the truth, gravity, and sanctity of them, such, as may, without indignity done to Christ, have his name and authority prefixed on them. He will not own the dictates and inventions of men for the oracles of God. Though it belong to the duty, authority, and wisdom of the church to direct mere circumstantials in the service of God, so as may most conduce unto that order and decency which God requireth, so as may best become the seriousness, simplicity, and sanctity of so heavenly and spiritual worship; yet she may not impose as doctrines her commandments. (Matth. xv. 9) She may not add any thing to the all-sufficiency and plenitude of the holy scriptures. (Deut. iv. 2. Prov. xxx. 6) When we speak of the means of salvation, of the rules, principles, and grounds of faith and worship, of the adequate subject of evangelical preaching, we must keep to the law and testimonies; if we speak not according unto them, it is because there is no light in us.' (Isa. viii. xx) No doctrine is necessary or sufficient to carry us unto heaven, but that which first came down from heaven. Thus we preach Christ Jesus the Lord,' as the author both of our mission and of our message.

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II. We preach Christ Jesus the Lord,' as the matter and substance of our preaching. There is not any matter of preaching, which doth not either explicitè or reductive'

comprise Christ in it. We preach Christ crucified.' (1 Cor. i. 23) 'I determine not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.' (1 Cor. ii. 2)

All materials of religion are contained under four heads, 'agenda, credenda, petenda, participanda:' duties to be done, mysteries to be believed, mercies to be implored, seals to be imparted.

1. Of the agenda,' the law is the rule; and this is a schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ. (Gal. iii. 24)

Consider it as a covenant of life, and so it sends us unto Christ, by whose only obedience the righteousness thereof hath been fulfilled for us: "I am not come to destroy the law, but to fulfil it :'-(Matth. v. 17) by whose only sufferings and satisfaction, the curse thereof hath been removed from us. (Gal. iii. 13) Christ is the end of the law.' (Rom. x. 4)

Consider it as a rule of living; and so also it sends us unto Christ. 1. His spiritual doctrine openeth the sense and wideness thereof unto us; for his commandment is exceeding broad. This was one great end of his sermon on the mount, to vindicate the law from the narrow glosses which had been cast upon it. 2. His most holy example leads us in the way of it, that we may walk as he walked. (1 Pet. ii. 21. 1 John ii.6) 3. His holy Spirit and grace, and his love shed abroad in our hearts, enable and constrain us to the obedience of it; 'I am able,' saith the apostle, 'to do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me.' (Phil. iv. 13) We must never preach the law without Christ. As it was delivered, so it must be preached, 'In the hand of a mediator.' (Gal. iii. 19) When we discover the disease, we must show the physician. So God to Adam: first, conviction,- Where art thou?' then consolation,-'The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head.' (Gen. iii. 9, 15) So John Baptist to the multitudes; first, Generation of vipers ;'-then, 'Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.' (Luke iii. 7, 8) So Christ to Laodicea; first,-"Thou art poor, and blind, and naked ;' then, I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried.' (Rev. iii. 17, 18) Thus omnia agenda' lead to Christ..

2. Omnia credenda,' contained in the gospel, are comprised in Christ.

(1) All the doctrines of the gospel, as is evident by every

article of the creed. I believe in the Father, as the Father of Christ; by whom he made the world; (Col. i. 16) and in whom he is our Father. (John xx. 17) I believe in the Holy Ghost, who is the spirit of Christ; (Rom. viii. 9. Gal. iv. 6) Vicarius Christi,' who brings him and his comforts to the soul. I believe the holy Catholic church, the spouse of Christ, the body of Christ, the 'fulness of him that filleth all in all;' (Eph. i. 23) Caput et Corpus unus est Christus.' I believe the communion of saints: and our communion is with the Father, and the Son, as King of saints, (1 John i. 3) and with holy angels and men, as subjects to that King.-The remission of sins; and this is from him; it must be preached in his name. (Luke xxiv. 47) The resurrection of the body; and this also is from him;

The Son quickeneth

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whom he will.' (John v. 21, 25, and xi. 25) The life everlasting; and this from him: Christ in us the hope of glory.' (Col. i. 27)

(2) All the promises of the gospel have their foundation and stability in Christ; they are in him yea, and amen;' (2 Cor. i. 20) he the purchaser of them by his propitiation; he the procurer of them by his impetration; he the fulfiller of them by his princely administration.

(3) All the comminations of the gospel lead us to consider Christ as the sanctuary and refuge, through whom they are by believers to be avoided, as the Prince and Judge, by whom they are upon unbelievers to be inflicted. (Acts x. 42, 43, and xiii. 39)

(4) The whole covenant of grace leads us unto him. For as the covenant of works was made with the first Adam in behalf of his posterity, so the covenant of grace is made with the second Adam in behalf of his posterity. He, being both God and man, is equally concerned in the interests of both and accordingly he preserves God's interest by his satisfaction and righteousness; and man's interest, by his reconciliation and blessedness. He is the surety of the covenant for the satisfaction of God; (Heb. vii. 22) and he is the mediator of the covenant for the reconciliation of man. (Heb. viii. 6) Thus 'omnia credenda' lead unto him.

3. Omnia petenda,' All things to be prayed for do necessarily carry us unto Christ. His Father, the answerer of our prayers: I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord

Jesus Christ.' (Eph. iii. 14) His spirit the author of our prayers: the spirit of the Son in our heart crieth Abba, Father.' (Gal. iv. 6) His name the argument of our prayers: 'Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.' (John xvi. 23, 24) His intercession the efficacy of our prayers; this the incense offered with the prayers of all Saints on the golden altar. (Rev. viii. 3)

4. Omnia participanda' lead unto him. Baptism, ' simulacrum Mortis et Resurrectionis Christi,' the image of the death and resurrection of Christ, wherein we are planted and regenerated to his life and likeness. The Lord's Supper, the memorial of the death of Christ, wherein we feed and feast upon him, as our passover which was sacrificed for us. (1 Cor. v. 7, 8)

In one word, we preach him, 1. In his office, as the Christ anointed of his Father. 2. In the great ends of those offices, which are to be our Jesus to save us, and our Lord to rule us; to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins.' (Acts v. 31)

III. We preach Christ Jesus the Lord as the great end of all our preaching, that thereby we may advance his interest, and promote his designs, that he may see of the travel of his soul, and be satisfied ;'—that his people may be gathered, his body edified, his saints perfected, his enemies subdued, his gospel propagated, his name glorified, and he finally admired in all them that believe. (2 Thess. i. 10) These are in se, finis operis;' (Eph. iv. 12) and they ought to be in finis operantis.'

us,

And having now secured Christ's honour and interest, the apostle returns again to himself, and showeth in what capacity he looketh on himself in the church of Christ, not as a Lord, but as a servant. 'Ourselves your servants; far from the temper of those whom you suffer to bring you into bondage, to smite, to devour you, to exalt themselves. (2 Cor. xi. 20) Whatever titles of honour or dignity, the pastors of the church are adorned withal; (as the apostle assureth us of an honour due unto it, 1 Tim. v. 17, and an authority entrusted with it, 2 Cor. x. 8) yet this very honour consists in a service, which they owe to the church of Christ. Christ only hath domination and pre-eminency; all others, even apostles themselves, nothing but service and ministry-as

the Priests and Levites are commanded by Josiah, 'to serve the Lord, and his people Israel.' (2 Chron. xxxv. 3) The highest offices, and noblest abilities, are all the church's; and for her edification. (1 Cor. iii. 22) The names in scripture given to pastors, as stewards, ministers, watchmen, labourers; all import a service, excluding domination, which our Saviour expressly forbids; (Matth. xx. 25—28) including humility, industry, fidelity, love, helpfulness, all endeavours to attend the service of the church's faith, as the apostle calls it. (Phil. ii. 17)

Yet withal, they are such servants and stewards as are also rulers; so they are called.. (Luke xii. 42. 1 Tim. v. 17) 'Serviunt utilitati, non potestati:' servants they are to the souls of the people, but not to their power; whom the people have no despotical authority over, but are to submit unto, as unto those that watch for their souls. (1 Cor. xvi. 15, 16, Heb. iii. 17)

And therefore the apostle addeth, that they are the people's 'servants for Jesus' sake,' in order to promoting of his honour and interest in the church. The church is his spouse, his flock, his body; is, to him, the purchase of his own blood. We are his officers, and must give an account of you to him. Our love, our loyalty, our fidelity, our fear of him, constrain us to spend and to be spent in the service of your souls. He is our Jesus and your Jesus. As we expect our own salvation from him, or value and desire your's, we must serve your faith, and sohw ourselves his servants by being your's.

I shall conclude all with a word of exhortation to my reverend brethren in this sacred function, and you that are candidates thereof.

a

1. Preach the gospel; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine;' think not much to further the salvation of those by your labours, whom Christ purchased with his blood. Magnify your office, not by pomp and state, by scorn or superciliousness.;-these things debase it ;-but by humble and painful attendance upon the ministry which you have reIceived of the Lord. Esteem not that a needless office,

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a 2 Tim. iv. 2.

b Rom. xi. 13.

c Col. iv. 17.