and love. They are really heretics; and an heretic, the apostle says, is one who knowing himself to be such, is subverted and sinneth, being condemned of himself. God made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions. They have racked their minds to discover a vast many different schemes of religion, which are more agreeable to their selfish hearts than the gospel scheme of salvation. But all their false schemes of religion are repugnant to their reason and conscience; and are so many plain and conclusive arguments to prove the total corruption of their hearts. This, however, they are not willing to allow, or to feel; and therefore they call darkness light, and light darkness. They put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. They call truth heresy, and real heresy truth. All the religious errors and delusions in the world are a foil to display the beauty, the excellence and the importance of the gospel. And the time is fast approaching, when all false schemes of religion shall cease, and the glorious gospel of God shall fill the world with light and love; and wisdom shall be justified of her children.

3. We learn from what has been said, why those who are afraid to avow their religious sentiments and take pains to conceal them, are so ready to unite with one another. Among the various denominations of christians, there are not a few who are afraid to avow their religious sentiments and wish to conceal them; and all these are very much disposed to unite together, though they are ignorant how much they differ from each other in opinion. There has been a great deal said and something done lately, in respect to forming a great and general union among those who are known to entertain different opinions concerning the peculiar doctrines of the gospel. Many are willing to say that this is proper, and would have a happy tendency to promote the great cause of true religion. But are there not other reasons, which imperceptibly warp their judgment? Do they not doubt of the truth of their own religious sentiments? Do they not wish to be countenanced and supported in concealing their doubtful sentiments? Do they not desire to form a strong combination against those who are so presumptuous as to avow and preach the peculiar doctrines of the gospel; by which they implicitly condemn their wavering opinions. But if this union could be formed, would it not be an union in error, in opposition to truth? Would it not tend to strengthen and increase all the religious errors which now exist, and prepare the way for the spread of infidelity and skepticism? Would it not be a violation of all the precepts of the gospel which require christians to be united in truth? The apostle recommends such an union, and no other. "Now, I 40

VOL. I.

beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions. among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." But how can those, who mutually conceal their religious sentiments from each other, be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment? Those and those only can be perfectly united in their religious sentiments, who are not afraid to avow, and wish not to conceal their opinions concerning the peculiar doctrines of the gospel; but they cannot consistently and honestly profess to be united with any others.

4. It appears from what has been said, that it highly concerns ministers, at this day especially, to preach the gospel with confidence, plainness and fidelity. It is almost every where spoken against by false teachers, sectarians, nominal christians and the men of the world. There appears a much greater zeal among all sects and denominations to spread errors and delusions, than to promote truth and vital piety. There never was, in this country, so much party zeal before, as abounds at the present day. No methods are left unemployed to gain proselytes to gross and dangerous errors, and to bear down all who boldly and plainly preach the pure doctrines of the gospel. As ministers are set for the defence of the gospel, it behooves them to preach the truth and the whole truth, without fear or favor; and expose and refute deceivers, seducers and vain talkers, who are attacking every essential doctrine of the gospel. It was by preaching the peculiar doctrines of the gospel, that the apostles exposed, refuted and silenced all gainsayers and opposers among Jews and Gentiles. Hence Paul says, "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." It becomes ministers to set their faces as a flint against all corrupters and opposers of the truth, whether high or low, learned or unlearned, open or concealed. God said to Jeremiah, "Gird up thy loins and arise and speak unto them all that I command thee; be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city and an iron pillar and brazen walls, against the whole land; against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. And they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee." This is a warrant and encouragement to ministers to preach divine truths plainly and oppose fatal errors boldly.

Ministers must be reponsible for all the dangerous errors which spring up among their people, or which are either privately or publicly propagated among them, unless they employ all proper means in their power, to detect, refute and condemn them. The prophet said, he stood in his watchtower in the day time, and sat in his ward whole nights, to espy danger. This is an example which every spiritual watchman ought to imitate. Ministers are undoubtedly responsible for the flood of errors, which threaten to overwhelm the land, by neglecting to discover them seasonably and to oppose them boldly. They have been too much afraid of avowing and preaching the great doctrines of the gospel plainly and fully. "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." But it is now more important, though more difficult, to preach the gospel plainly, and by sound doctrine to refute and silence gainsayers. Hence,

5. Ministers have great need of the prayers of their people, that they may preach the gospel with confidence and plainness. They are in great danger of neglecting this duty, from their brethren who conceal their sentiments, and from individuals, among their churches and congregations, who love error better than truth, and take pains to propagate it by unwarrantable means. It is hard and extremely difficult for ministers to stand alone, without the aid and prayers of those who profess to love and hear the truth. Even the apostles felt their need of the assistance and prayers of their Christian brethren; and affectionately called upon them to pray for them, that they might be enabled to deliver divine truths with freedom and plainness. The apostle Paul desired the christians at Ephesus, that they would pray for him that utterance might be given him, that he might open his mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel. He made a similar request to the Colossians; and to the Thessalonians he says, "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified;-and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith." All ministers now need and all faithful ministers now desire the prayers, assistance and countenance of the people of God, that they may have courage, fortitude and zeal, to preach the gospel plainly and boldly as they ought to preach it, in the face of a frowning world, who unreasonably hate it and oppose it.

This reminds us, my hearers, of the mutual duties which we owe to one another.

It is forty-nine years to day, since I took the pastoral care of the Church and people in this place. When I came here I found a respectable and exemplary Church, and a very regular people. And God has been pleased at different times to appear

and plead his own cause. But on the whole, has not the cause of truth, of piety and of virtue declined? Were there, fortynine years ago, many prayerless families in this place? or many Sabbath breakers? or many profane swearers? or any infidels, or any Unitarians, or any Universalists? Why then are such persons to be found here now? This the preacher ought to ask himself. Has he not stood in his watch-tower? Or has he not descried any danger? or has he feared and neglected to give seasonable warning of the dangers he has descried? Has he appeared to use any means to conceal his sentiments, or to keep back, through fear or favor, any truths, any warnings, or admonitions? Or has he, on the other hand, preached plainly and intelligibly on the great doctrines of the gospel; and fairly met and attempted to refute every gross and fatal error and corrupting practice? If these things be so, why have gross and dangerous errors and corrupt practices existed so much, of late years? There must have been some criminal causes of these deplorable effects. They must be chiefly ascribed to the preacher, or to those who have attended, or neglected to attend, his preaching. It belongs to you to judge of me, and to me to judge of you, with candor and impartiality. To this duty I have called myself, and have called you, once every year. And to this duty I now call you and myself. It is high time for yoù and for me, to look forward to a day which cannot be far from me, and may not be far from some of you; and prepare to meet and give an account, how and what we have spoken, and how and what we have heard.

SERMON XXIII.

GOD REWARDS HIS FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS.

FUNERAL OF REV. ELISHA FISH, A. M., WHO DIED AUGUST 6, 1795, IN THE 76TH YEAR OF HIS AGE, AND 44TH OF HIS MINISTRY.

BECAUSE that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. - JOSHUA, XIV. 14.

THESE words refer to Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who was a principal man in one of the principal tribes of Israel. He came out of Egypt with Moses, and went into Canaan with Joshua. He was now fourscore and five years old, and just ready to pass from his earthly to his heavenly inheritance. But while Joshua was dividing the land, he came and claimed a particular city, which God had promised to give him as a reward of his singular virtue. Accordingly we are told that when he presented his claim, "Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, Hebron for an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day; because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel."

In considering these words, on this occasion, it may be proper to show,

I. What is implied in Caleb's following the Lord wholly. And,

II. To inquire why the Lord rewarded him for it.

I. I am to show what is implied in Caleb's following the Lord wholly.

Though this may imply a great deal, yet it cannot imply absolute perfection. "For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not." None of our fallen race