thefe, how ungrateful, or difpleafing foever, muft not be baulk'd, though perchance we thereby incur the Cenfure, and provoke the Anger of fome. 'Tis true, much Prudence is here to be used: And to that purpose all personal Reflections, and needlefs Provocations carefully avoided. It is the Duty of a Minister of Chrift, by all honeft Means, to preferve a good Opinion amongst the People, to be Courteous, Inoffenfive, Patient, condescending to their Infirmities and Mistakes; because he is thereby enabled to do the more Good; this will procure a greater Refpect to his Perfon, and Authority to his Doctrine. But in truth that Opinion is bought too dear, which is purchafed by betraying a Man's Truft, and violating the Integrity of his Confcience which is procured by a fordid and mercenary Compliance with Men's Vices. Whatever treatment we meet with here for being Faithful to God, and to the Souls of Men, it will not fail of a glorious Reward hereafter. It will be a reviving Confolation to us when we come to leave our Flocks, and to give an Account of our Stewardship, to the great Shepherd and Bishop of Souls: With what Joy and Exultation of Spirit did St. Paul triumph in this Acts 20. Matter? And now behold, I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, fhall fee my Face no more. Wherefore I take you to Record this Day that I am pure from the Blood of all Men, for I have not fhunned to declare unto you all the Council of God. Another Thing required is

25.26.27.

2dly,

2dly, Courage and Conftancy. The Difficulties which attend our Miniftry, are many, and preffing: And the Apprehenfion of them made an inspired Apoftle cry out. Who is fufficient for thefe Things? To condefcend to the Weakneffes of fome, to remove the Prejudices, to correct the Errors, and to compose the Paffions of others, is not only a Trial of a Chriftian's Patience, but requires a good Stock of Resolution and Courage. There is scarce any Age, where there are not fome Sins that are Epidemical, and Popular; and it is a dangerous Thing to encounter any Thing that is popular, that brings a Man under an ill Name, and a general Odium. But what is Cenfure? What is Reproach? What is Perfecution to a refolved Servant of Chrift? He must expect, and from the Example of his Great Mafter, he muft contentedly bear the Indignities of a crooked Generation. When he is reviled, he muft blefs; when he is defamed, he must intreat: When he is injured, he muft forgive; when he is perfecuted, he must fuffer. This (I confefs) is not very pleafing to Flesh and Blood; but no matter for that, this is our Comfort (and it is an abundant one,) the Teftimony of our Confcience, that in. Simplicity, and Godly Sincerity, not with Fleshly Wisdom; but by the Grace of God, we have had our Converfation in the World. I proceed now to the 4th and laft Thing implied in being Faithful, And that is

4th. The Piety and Exemplariness of our Lives. This, though mentioned laft, is by no means the least Inftance of our Duty : Indeed it is that which gives Weight and Force to our Arguments, and carries with it a moré deep and lafting Conviction than any Words can do. Men will never be perfwaded to believe or practice those Truths they hear from our Mouths, when they fee them openly contradicted in our Lives, or could we fuppofe that, how can we expect that the Holy God fhould give a Bleffing to fuch Endeavours, or fuffer any Religious Design to profper in fuch wicked and unhallowed Hands? The wife Common-wealth of Athens, made it a Crime no less than Capital, for any, who was guilty of fcandalous Immoralities, to prefume to make a Speech to the People, though he was the most polite and taking Orator in the City. If this was thought a prudent and neceffary Caution to preferve the Reputation of Morality in a Heathen Common-wealth; fure the Reasons to reftrain and punish fuch, are much more Cogent in a Chriftian Church and Kingdom.

The Truth is, [my Brethren] not only the Obligations we are under, by vertue of our common Christianity; not only that Compaffion we ought to have for the Schifms and Wounds of a bleeding Church; Not only those folemn Vows and Engagements we made to God at our Ordination; I fay not only thefe fhould oblige us to great Care and Strictness of Life: But moreover, the very nature of

Our

our Calling; the course of our Studies; the frequent and unintermitting returns of our Duty, are so many daily Monitors to us; they put us under the most happy Advantages of living well, and of being always in the fear of God.

He must be a very ftrange Man, who hath folemnly put himself into the immediate fervice of God who talks much,and often to the People, of the Neceffity of Faith, Repentance, and a good Life; and yet can trample the Divine Commandments under his Feet; wallow in his Vomit, and lay down in his Senfuality. Who is conftantly employed in the Study and Contemplation of a better Life, and yet feels no warmth in his Soul, no holy Vigours, no Endeavours, carrying him after thofe unfeen Glories; Who by Profeffion is engaged to take care of other Men's Souls, and yet takes no care of his own; Who is fo frequent in his Devotions, both private and publick (as the very Nature of his Work, the Canons and Conftitutions of this Church require him to be) and yet can live a prophane and unfanctify'd Life. Wherefore, my Brethren, let us be faithful to our Truft, by being Examples to the Flock committed to our Charge; and by living as becomes the Stewards of the manifold Grace of God. Let us always bear in Mind that Account we have to give of our Stewardship, and what a dreadful One it will be, if at that Day, not only our own, but the Blood of others be required at our Hands." Oh confider, with what Force and Sting, those

Ar

Arguments whereby we have preffed others to a good Life, will be turned upon our felves! And every Sermon we have preached rise up in Judgment, be an Article of Condemnation against us.

I have now done. And if any thing in this Difcourfe may seem too plain, and free in this very Reverend and Learned Audience, I have only this Apology to make; that it proceeded from a well meant [if it fhould chance to be interpreted an Indifcreet] Zeal: That in much Sincerity, and with an honeft Intention I have delivered my Soul. And with the fame Sincerity I humbly Addrefs to the Throne of God, that be would for ever blefs and protect this Church, by his good Providence Reformed and Eftablifbed among ft us. Cloath her, O Lord, with a frict and exemplary Holiness in ber Priefts and People, preferve her in Truth and Purity, in ber Peace and Unity, in ber Worship, Discipline and Patrimony to the Worlds End. For his Sake, who gave himself for the Church, that be might fanctify and cleanfe it, and prefent it to bimfelf a glorious Church, even Jefus Chrift the Righteous, To whom with Thee O Father! and Thee O Holy Ghoft! Three Perfons, but one Eternal God be afcribed all poffible Praife, Thanksgiving and Adoration, Now and for evermore. Amen.

Laus Deo in aternum.

SER