there shall also my servant be: If any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

There is the guide that you are to follow, there is the Master that you are that you are to imitate. and you cannot do amiss. all cases, follow with safety. I could enumerate many excellent ministers, whose praise is in the churches, and who were burning and shining lights in their day. I could mention some venerable persons, who are, at this very time, labouring in word and doctrine, with indefatigable industry and great reputation: but I know not one without imperfections. I would wish you to resemble them in many things, and indeed in most things; but they all were men of like passions with ourselves. They had this treasure in earthen vessels; and there is some defect in all of them, which you must endeavour to avoid. But when I point you to the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, I can advise and exhort you to follow him without any exception. Whatever you have seen in him, do; unless it be when he occasionally soars above humanity, an dfor a moment blazes out upon the world in all the glories of the God head. But I say, in his common conduct and conversation, whatever things you have seen in him, do, and the God of peace shall be with you. I know not, therefore, how I can better improve our time, and answer your intention in putting me on this work, than by mentioning some of the principal traits in Christ's temper and character, in which you should resemble him.

to serve, there is the Pastor Keep Christ in your view, No one else, can you, in

I begin with meekness, because that is the first lesson in Christ's school. "Take my yoke upon you," says he," and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart;" which is as if he should say, "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and be as meek and lowly in heart as I was." This is a most important qualification: it is necessary for all men; but for a minister of the gospel in particular. It may be despised by the fashionable world; the men of honour, as they proudly call themselves. They, perhaps, look upon meekness as a mean and sneaking quality, which only exposes those who affect it, to insults and contempt. But Christ thought differently of it when he said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth;" and he that calls them blessed, can make them so; and will do it assuredly, per fectly, and eternally. There is a meekness towards and you must God, and a meekness towards men; learn both. Attain the former, and you little difficulty in acquiring the latter. foolishly attempt to learn the latter first, you will meet with a thousand mortifications, which will keep your spirits in a ferment, and your heart in perpetual anguish.

will find But if you But if

Meekness towards God, is a grace that keeps down all proud and turbulent passions; and disposes us to obey all his precepts, and submit to all his dispensations. You must, carry it with you, into your closet, and your pulpit; for there is neither studying nor, preaching without it. We are bidden" to receive with meekness the ingrafted word;" and you will as much need it in reading, as your people in hearing it, When you meet with such a text as this, " Except a

man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," Pride laughs at it as nonsense, and says, " How can a man be born when he is old?" Or if Christ says, "I and my Father are one," Pride takes up a stone, to stone him for blasphemy. Indeed, if you meet with any passage in the Bible which you cannot presently reconcile to your notions, you may be tempted to deny the authenticity of it; and to maintain, that the writer was not inspired, when he wrote things so contrary to all sense and reason. O, my dear brother, you know not to what fearful lengths of infidelity this pride of human reason would carry you, if God in judgment should give you up to it. But if you have that meekness of which we are speaking, every thing that comes with divine authority will be readily received. "Does God say so? Then I submit. Great, indeed, is the mystery of godliness; but I am sure that God knows how these are, though I do not; and never would I refuse to bend to the authority of his holy word."

You will also need this meekness in your public ministrations for many things will try your temper, both as to the messages which you deliver, and their success with your people. We have an affecting instance of the want of this grace in the history of Jonah. What a passion did he fly into, and how insolently did he talk to God, only because the Lord would not destroy Nineveh, to gratify the revenge, or save the reputation, of the peevish prophet! You think that you are safe enough from that temptation. You love your people too well, to quarrel with God, for not speedily executing the judgments, which you believe it to be your duty to denounce against such

But suppose

that you

transgressors. have been unusually earnest, for many Sabbaths following, in exhorting sinners, and beseeching them, by the mercies of God, to be reconciled. You find yourself so assisted in your preparations; and so animated in the delivery of these discourses, that you are strongly persuaded of being remarkably successful;, and every time that you let down the net, you seem assured of enclosing a multitude of fishes. Now if, after all, you catch nothing; if you cannot perceive that one. soul has been converted by all your prayers and preaching; and, in short, if, for aught that appears, you have laboured in vain, and spent your strength for naught; do you not think it possible that pride may suggest, "What signifies my toiling, if God give not his blessing? No man could exert himself more but I might as well have sat still, and done nothing. Let God send some other messenger, whose labours he may think fit to bless: I see I am no longer worthy of being employed." No, my dear Sir, this must not be: this is not the proper language from a servant to his master. Christ has taught you better; and you must learn to say after him, "Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength."

There is another trial to which you may be called; for others, who are eminent for gifts and grace, have experienced it; and therefore, on such an occasion, I may venture to mention it. It is this. You have now popular talents; your people are much pleased with the matter of your discourses, and with your manner of delivering them; and it gives you great

advantage among them, with regard to your usefulness. But suppose (and it is no unreasonable supposition) that, in the course of years, the fire and sprightliness of your compositions should abate; or that your people should fancy so; and think that you are not the lively and animated preacher that you formerly were. Suppose, again, that they should, with a grating forwardness, be continually telling you of such a young minister, who has lately appeared, full of life and zeal; and should be saying, how happy they should be to attend upon his ministry. Then, my dear brother, you will have a glorious opportunity of shewing your meekness. Many a faithful, laborious minister has been forced to hear such invidious comparisons. But if you be a proficient in this yielding grace, you will reply, with John the Baptist, when some told him of Christ's preaching, (will my blessed Master forgive the liberty I have taken with his name on this occasion? but it is only for the sake of introducing the meek answer of John,) "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from above. He must increase, but I must decrease."

men.

This leads me to say something of meekness towards men; for this also will be expected from you." Put them in mind to speak evil of no man; to be no brawlers, but gentle; showing all meekness to all ." That is, you must be able to bear real or seeming provocations, without flying into a rage, and giving way to fierce and angry resentments. Some tempers are formed of such combustible materials, that they take fire at the least accidental spark, and burst with an explosion that deafens all around. This is unbecoming in any; but in a servant of the meek