fouls (e), be fober, grave, temperate, and fhew themselves in all things parTM terns of good works (f). If the people fee, or but imagine, their minif ter unwilling to take more pains about them, or preferve more guard upon himself than for fhame he must, no wonder if it alienates them powerfully both from him and his doctrine: whereas when they perceive him careful to instruct them, and go before them, in whatever is their duty to do, they will hearken to him with great regard, when he cautions them against overdoing; and be unlikely to feek for imaginary improvements abroad from irregularities and extravagances, whilst they experience themselves really improved at home in an orderly established method. But then, to improve them effectually to their future happiness, as well as to filence falfe accufers, you must be affiduous in teaching the principles, not only of virtue and natural religion, but of the Gospel: and of the Gofpel, not as almost explained away by modern refiners, but as the truth is in Jefus (g); as it is taught by the church, of which you are members; as you have engaged, by your fubfcriptions and declarations, that you will teach it yourselves. You must preach to them faith in the ever-bleffed Trinity: and vindicate, when it is requifite, thofe parts of our Creeds and offices which relate to that article, from the very unjuft imputations of abfurdity and uncharitableness which have been caft upon them. You muft fet forth the original corruption of our nature; our redemption, according to God's eternal purpofe in Chrift (b), by the facrifice of the cross; our fanctification by the influences of the Divine Spirit; the infufficiency of our own good works, and the efficacy of faith to falvation: yet handling these points in a doctrinal, not controversial manner, unless particularly called to it; and even then treating adversaries with mildness and pity, not with bitterness or immoderate vehemence. The truth, I fear, is, that many, if not most of us, have dwelt too little on these doctrines in our fermons: and by no means, in general, from difbelieving or flighting them; but partly from knowing, that formerly they had been inculcated beyond their proportion, and even to the difparagement of Chriftian obedience; partly from fancying them fo generally received and remembered, that little needs to be faid, but on focial obligations; partly again from not having ftudied theology deeply enough, to treat of them ably and beneficially: God grant it may never have been for want of inwardly experiencing their importance. But whatever be the cause, the effect hath been lamentable. Our people have grown lefs and lefs mindful, first of the distinguishing articles of their Creed, then, as will always be the cafe, of that one, which they hold in common with the Heathens; have forgot in effect their Creator, as well as their Redeemer and Sanctifier; feldom or never seriously worfhipping him, or thinking of the ftate of their fouls in relation to him; but flattering themselves, that what they are pleased to call a moral and harmless life, though far from being either, is the one thing needful. Reflections have been made upon us, of different natures, and with different views, on account of these things, by Deifts, by Papifts, by Brethren of our own, which it is easy to fhew have been much too fevere. (e) Heb. xiii. 17. Eph. iv. 21. (f) Tit. ii. 2. 7. But But the only complete vindication of ourselves will be to preach fully and frequently the doctrines, which we are unjustly accused of cafting off or undervaluing: yet fo, as to reserve always a due share of our difcourses, which it is generally reported fome of our cenfurers do not, for the common duties of common life, as did our Saviour and his Apostles. But then we must enforce them chiefly by motives peculiarly Chriftian: I will not fay, only by fuch; for the Scripture adds others. And while we urge on our hearers the neceffity of univerfal holiness, we must urge equally that of their being found in Chrift; not having their own righteouf nefs, which is of the law, but the righteoufnefs, which is of God by Faith (i). Copious and interesting as the subject is, I must now conclude. And I beseech you, Brethren, fuffer the word of exhortation (k): for I have fpoken to you from the fimplicity of a plain heart, and the fincerity of a deep concern for the interefts of the church of Christ, and the everlasting welfare of every one of you; not as condemning, not as difesteeming you, very far from it, but as being jealous over you with godly jealoufy, and deeply affected with the prefent state of religion amongst us. Wickednefs, profaneness, avowed infidelity, have made a dreadful progrefs in this nation. The civil power, in moft cafes, doth little to check that progrefs: and it is an unhappiness in our moft happy constitution, that it cannot eafily, if at all, do what one might wish. Ecclefiaftical authority is not only too much limited, but too much despised, as matters now ftand amongst us, to do almoft any thing to purpose. In the fmall degree, that it can be exerted usefully, I hope it will, and promise my utmost endeavours, in all cases notified to me, that it fhall. But the main fupport of piety and morals confifts in the parochial labours of the Clergy. If our country is to be preferved from utter profligateness and ruin, it must be by our means: and, take notice, we cannot lose our influence, but in a great measure by our own fault. If we look on what we are apt to call our livings only as our livelihoods, and think of little more than living on the income of them according to our own inclinations: if for want of a good confcience, or faith unfeigned (1), we forfeit the protection of God; and by worldliness, or indolence, or levity in behavi our, talk or appearance, (for grofs vices I put out of the question) lofe, as we affuredly fhall, the reverence of mankind: there will be no foundation left for us to ftand upon. Our legal establishment will shake and fink under us, if once it can be faid we do the public little fervice, and much sooner if we are fufpected of difquieting it. Wicked people will attack us without referve: the good will be forced to condemn and give us up: and well would it be for us, if this were the worst. It is a small thing to be judged of man's judgment: He, that julgeth us, is the Lord (m). But while we teach the genuine truths of the Gofpel, and evidently feel the truths we teach; and are more anxious about the fouls of men, than our own profit, or pleasure, or power; while we fubmit ourselves dutifully and affectionately, (as we never had greater caufe) to the King and thofe who are put in authority under him: lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and bonefty (n); and join with our piety and loyalty and virtue, but (i) Phil. iii. 9. (k) Heb. xiii. 22. but a common fhare of prudence: we fhall, in fpite of enemies, through his mercy, who hath promised to be with us alway (0), not fail of being upheld. The religious will efteem us very highly in love for our work's fake (p): the wife in their generation (q), though not religious, will perceive our importance: the vicious and deftitute of principle will be awed by us: and the feed of the word, however trampled under foot by fome, will spring up and bear fruit in the hearts of many. Let us think then feriously, what depends on us, what it requires of us, and give ourfelves wholly to it (r). God hath placed us in a station of difficulty and labour, at prefent alfo of reproach and contempt from great numbers of men. But ftill, if we only learn to value our function justly, and love it fincerely, we shall be unspeakably happier in discharging the duties of it, than we poffibly can be in any thing elfe. The things, in which the world places happiness, are very trifles. We may plainly fee them to be fuch now, if we will: and we fhall fee in a little time, whether we will or not, that the only real point of moment is, to have approved ourselves good and faithful fervants (s) to our great Master. Let us all therefore bear in mind continually, how matters will appear to us then: and heartily pray and earnestly endeavour, fo to pass through things temporal, that we finally lofe not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jefus Chrift's fake, our Lord (t). The ARCHBISHOP being hindered by Illness from vifiting them in Perfon. Reverend Brethren, T having pleafed God that I fhould live to come amongst you a exhortations, which I gave you at first. For though many fubjects of inftruction might be proper, there is a peculiar propriety in thofe, which relate more immediately to your conduct: and though I might very juftly give you, in general, praise instead of advice, yet they who deferve the most of the former, will be moft defirous of the latter, knowing how much need of it the best of us have. And I hope the freedoms which I fhall take with you in this refpect, will the rather be pardoned, as I both permit and intreat you to use the fame with me, when VOL. VI. F occafion occafion requires it; being fincerely difpofed, if I know myself, to fet you an example of docility. I began with your obligation to refidence; and the appointment of curates, either to supply your abfence when you could not refide, or to affift when the work was too heavy for you. you And then I entered a little into the common duties of incumbents and curates, in which I fhall now make fome further progrefs: more folicitous about the importance of directions, than the accuracy of method; and ufing no other apology, if I fhould happen to repeat what I have given you in charge already, than that of the Apoftle: To fay the fame things, to me is not grievous, and for you it is fafe (a). The fame Apostle's admonition to Timothy is, Take heed unto thyself, and to thy doctrine (b). The main point is what he begins with, the care of our temper and behaviour. For without that, our preaching will feldom be fuch as it ought, and scarce ever bring forth its proper fruits. Now a Christian temper confifts of various parts: but the firft impreffion, which a genuine faith in the Gofpel makes on the foul, and the ruling principle, which it fixes there is a deep fenfe of love to God and our fellow-creatures, producing an earnest defire, that we and they may be for ever happy in his prefence. Whoever therefore is deftitute of this feeling, ought not, though free from grofs vices, to become a Clergyman: and without obtaining it from the Giver of all good things by fervent prayer, no man is qualified to fill the place of one. For notwithstanding that he may preferve fome form of godliness, without which he would be mischievous and fhocking in the highest degree: yet not having the reality and power thereof (c), he muft profefs, and feemingly attempt, to make others what he is far from being himself. Confequently his endeavours out of the pulpit will be infrequent, reluctant, faint: and in it they will at beft be unnatural and ungraceful, whatever pains he may take in his compofitions, or whatever vehemence he may affect in his delivery. Hence he will be diffatisfied within, detected and disesteemed by the judicious part of his hearers, and of little ufe to the reft, if he is not even hurtful by misleading them. Or whatever his cafe may be amongst men, his inward want of the piety, which he outwardly pretends to, muft render him uncommonly guilty in the fight of God. Heaven forbid, that I should have need to enlarge on fuch a character in this audience. But have we not most of us cause to apprehend, that our religious principles, though fincere, are not fufficiently exerted; and therefore produce not the fruit, which they might? Do we not rather take it for granted, that we approve ourselves to be duly in earneft, than find on impartial examination, that we do? No man fhould rafhly fay or furmife this of another: but every one should search home into it for himfelf. And we should attentively read the Scriptures, and the treatifes written by wife and good men concerning the duties of God's minifters: to fee if we are fuch as they defcribe, and ftir up ourselves to become fuch as we ought. Good inclinations, thus excited, will not fail, through the affiftance of (4) Phil. iii. 1. (b) 1 Tim. iv. 16. (c) 2 Tim. iii. 5. |