your children, not only during this pilgrimage of your probation, but in the future world of eternal recompense.

And in order to this, let me exhort you in the words of the Apostle-Brethren, pray for us-pray for your Pastor; let your devotions encourage him; and by your zealous and hearty co-operation, may you cause that the word of the Lord have free course and be glorified, around you, beyond you, and throughout the world, even as it is amongst you.

CHARGE.

You, my dear Sir, now fill the ministerial office; and to you the oversight of this Church and society is given. The Ecclesiastical Council, here convened, have constituted me their organ, solemnly to enjoin on you fidelity. This charge we enforce, not by our own authority, but by the authority of our common Lord and Master. Hear it from the mouth of his inspired Apostle, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received of the Lord, that you fulfil it."

You have studied the duties of your profession, and we trust you need not be reminded of their importance. Referring you to the instructions of the Gospel for the motives, under the influence of which, these duties should be performed, and to its examples for their illustrations permit me to exhort you to vigilant endeavours to imbue your own mind with the spirit of the Divine Author of our religion, to implant Christian principles in your heart, and to form a sacred resolution honourably to support your professional character, and faithfully, and as far as in your power, acceptably to execute the labours of a minister.-This is essential to the salvation of your own soul, and is necessary to the success of your ministry.

Your situation as a clergyman is favourable for Chris

tian improvement. You labour exclusively in the moral kingdom of God. In other professions and pursuits, bodily wants and worldly interests are principally concerned, but mind is the exclusive object of the minister of the Gospel. Other men labour for the conveniences and comforts of a momentary existence; you labour to excite in your fellow men the love of truth, and the pursuit of virtue, and to confirm in them the hope of life eternal. Your stated business directly tends to the cultivation of your intellectual powers, and the improvement of your moral affections. In other professions, a man may become eminent without the peculiar attainments of the disciple of Jesus; but the better the minister is informed, the more enlightened is the Christian; the more faithful the minister, the more perfect the man. All men are under obligation to walk worthily of their Christian vocation, but the minister is set apart to be an example to believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

While a leader then in public offices of devotion, shall your own heart be undevout? While inculcating precepts of charity and beneficence, shall not the kindly affections be cherished in your own breast? While you daily exhort your fellow men to prepare for death, judgment, and eternity, will you not for yourself estimate the worth of endless happiness, and with all your powers aspire after the employments and joys of Heaven? Take care that the moral tendency of your profession be not counteracted by unhallowed passions, or worldly interests. Take care that the reiteration of religious services do not degenerate into a mere form, blunt your moral sensibility, and harden your mind to impressions of piety. Take heed, lest by any means, when you have preached to others, you yourself should be a castaway.

The ecclesiastical state of our country powerfully enforces the obligation of a minister to fill up the measure of pastoral duty. In a past century the order of the priesthood was holden in high veneration, and the authority and influences of the clergy were controlling; even where the clerical character was not deemed indelible, nor the profession a panoply for gross immorality, the cloth did cover a multitude of weaknesses. Through New England, at least, Protestant Dissenters were with few exceptions of one denomination, and withdrawing from the predominant sect was considered as a fall but little less heinous than apostacy from Christianity. Under these circumstances, the ministry was supported by public sentiment, the ministerial career was comparatively easy, and ordinary prudence supported the pastoral relation.

Times are changed; and the situation of ministers is changed with them. Though the order is still acknowledged to be important to the best interests of society, yet respect is now paid to the man, instead of the minister, in a much higher degree than formerly. The clerical profession with us is no cover for weakness, levity, or imprudence. Religious freedom is enjoyed in our land, and all denominations of Christians are placed in a state of perfect equality. The age is inquisitive, the spirit of inquiry is carried into subjects of religion, and no system of doctrine can stand merely on the basis of human authority. Every opinion will be brought to the test of reason and scripture.

The peculiar circumstances attending the present state of the Christian ministry need not be regretted, but should furnish motives for strenuous effort; and the purpose of the above remarks, my brother, is the more deeply to impress on your mind the importance of honourably supporting the appropriate character of a