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SERMON XX.

DUTIES OF A PREACHER.

DELIVERED IN CHARLESTOWN, MASS., JULY 11, 1827.

2 TIMOTHY, II. 15.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

IN whatever calling a man may engage, his first and major object should be to obtain the divine approbation. This truth might be illustrated and confirmed by many and various arguments; but its obvious character renders it unnecessary that much labour should be bestowed on the subject. A remark however may be admissible. Without pausing to define the origin of man's consciousnes of moral duty and his accountability to God, this principle is of incalculable advantage, as it is ever active in giving profitable directions, which if followed, lead to the accomplishment of all the duties of our respective callings, whereby satisfaction and profit are yielded to all whom our labours concern, while we gain the richest reward which the severest toils can merit, the approbation of our own hearts and the approval of Heaven.

Though this remark does not apply exclusively to the calling of a christian pastor, yet we may allow that it applies to this subject in a very special manner.

As the weight of moral obligation must be determined, at least in some degree, by the extent of Consequences likely to result from faithfulness or

unfaithfulness, the responsibility of a christian minister will not be found to fall much below that which belongs to any other station in society.

Before a man enters on any professional calling, it is necessary that he should render its duties as familiar to his mind as possible, that he may be able to determine whether the labours it requires are such as will be agreeable to his disposition. He, who has not a natural taste for the study of the science of jurisprudence would not be likely to succeed well in the practice of law; and this rule is applicable to other professions. Nor indeed need we exclude it from the mechanic arts, merchandise or husbandry. The sacred profession which requires the entire devotion of all the abil ities of him who engages in its labours, should not be repugnant to the natural temper and disposi-. tion, which will not fail to exercise an influence over such labours.

He, who engages in the work of the christian ministry, having duly settled all the questions, which are involved in the foregoing remarks, is admonished, by our text, to study to show himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We shall do well to compare the propriety of seeking the divine approbation with that of endeavouring to gain the applause of men.

1st. It is certain that the mind and will of God are perfectly agreeable to the unchangeable standard of right. If we can, therefore, succeed in ap proving ourselves to Him, we are certain that we are what we ought to be; we are right. But our knowledge of man, derived from experience, from observation and from history, assures us that he is not always in the right. Man is liable to err, and to wander very far from the immutable standard of rectitude. To aim, therefore, to please men, is at least hazardous. If we succeed, it may be but a success in that which is wrong.

2dly. God being of one mind and unchangeable,

if we succeed in obtaining his approbation, we have only to persevere in the same way, and we please him for ever. He does not change, and to day disapprobate what yesterday he required. But if we study ever so intensely and labour ever so much to please men, and even succeed to their full satisfaction; though the desired applause and the toil earned smile of approbation be obtained, it may all be of but short duration, it may all vanish like a pleasing fancy, for they may so change as to. be offended to-morrow with what they zealously support to-day.

3dly. The divine unity renders our duty easy and unperplexing, while we are engaged in pleasing God. As He is but one, we have but one to obey. But if we seek to please men, we become immediately perplexed with the contrary but urgent desires of many minds. Many masters are perplexing to servants. One will be of one mind, a second may widely differ from the first, and a third may disagree with both. Whoever, therefore, endeavours to gain the applause of men, although he may exert all his abilities and means to obtain their approbation, and although he may succeed, as to some, he is very sure to share largely in the censure of others.

4thly. As God can search the heart, He knows if we are sincere, and will bestow the reward of honesty, even if we commit mistakes; but as the heart of man is deceitful, as he practises hypocrisy, so he is jealous of his neighbour, even if he be sincere, as, for the lack of discernment, his sincerity is not seen. Therefore, though we should, at the expense of incurring the divine disapprobation, do those things which men require of us, we are not certain that the jealousy of their hearts may not deprive us of all that reward for which we so anxiously sought.

5thly. And as the mind and will of God are always in favour of that which is for the best good of all creatures, we are sure of doing good unto

all by doing that which is well pleasing in his sight.

But if we endeavour to please men we must conform to all the partialities, for which they possess their strong predilections; and while we might vainly fancy that we were pursuing a system of general good, we should be likely to find that our endeavours were directed to that which would oppose our professed object, and tend to the preju dice of society. No doubt it was in view of all these considerations and more than the ever faithful Apostle of the Gentiles said to the Thessalonians; "But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." The word of truth and some of its important divisions will now claim our special attention.

The word of truth, in its general application in scripture, comprehends the promises made to the fathers; what the holy spirit spake by the prophets concerning the Messiah; the testimony borne by Jesus in his public ministry; the miracles, by which the divinity of his mission was confirmed; his death and resurrection, by which life and immortality were brought to light, together with the remission of our sins through the grace manifested in Christ Jesus. St. Peter, in his speech to the Centurion, when divinely instructed for the special purpose of communicating the gospel to that faithful and highly favoured servant of God, gives the following compendium of the word of truth; see Acts 10. "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ; (he is Lord of all ;) that word I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy

Ghost, and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead. To him gave all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." With this very comprehensive statement we will connect that which St. Paul made when at Antioch in Pisidia, as recorded in Acts 13. "Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulcher. But God raised him from the dead; and he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also, written in the second Psalm, "thou art my son ; this day have I begotten thee."

According to these apostolic testimonies the word of truth speaks of facts which were known to them who bore witness, and were of such a nature that

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