must always perplex persons, and may often deliver them over a prey to infidels, you may occasionally remove one and another; meddling with none, but such as you can overcome: and from your success in these you may observe to your auditors the probability, that others are capable of solutions also. Perhaps they will forget your solution: but they will remember that they heard one, and may have it repeated to them, if they please. By these means you will teach your people, what is grievously wanting in the present age, to value their Bibles more, and understand them better: and to read them both with pleasure and profit, drawing from them useful inferences and observations, as they have heard you do. Formerly courses of lectures on whole books of Scripture were customary in churches; and they were doubtless extremely beneficial. It would not be easy, if possible, to revive these now: but the practice, which I have been proposing to you, is some approach towards them. I would also advise you to instruct your parishioners, amongst other things, from some proper text or texts, in the daily and occasional services of the church: not with a view to extol either immoderately, much less to provoke wrath against those who dissent from us: but mildly to answer unjust imputations upon our liturgy, and chiefly to shew the meaning, the reasons, the uses of each part; that your congregations may, as the Apostle expresses it, pray with the understanding*. In all compositions, there will be some things, which to some persons want explaining: and, were the whole ever so clear, men are strangely apt both to hear and to speak words, that are become familiar to them, 1 Cor. xiv. 15. with scarce any attention to their sense. And so by degrees a bodily attendance and worship becomes all that they pay; and they return home almost as little edified, as they would by devotions in a tongue unknown. Convincing them of this fault, and assisting them to amend it, must greatly contribute to the promotion of true piety amongst them. Nor will it be a small benefit, if, in the course of your liturgical instructions, you can persuade the bulk of your congregations to join in the decent use of psalmody, as their forefathers did; instead of the present shameful neglect of it, by almost all, and the conceited abuse of it by a few. But a fervent desire of being useful will teach you more than any particular directions can, upon every head. Without this desire, you will either be negligent; or if you would seem zealous, you will be detected for want of uniformity and perseverance. The ore make sure first that all be right within, and out of the good treasure of the heart you will bring forth good things*, naturally and prudently, and, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, effectually. It is not easy indeed even to instruct the willing: much less to convince the unwilling, and reform the wicked. But still these are the purposes, for which we are God's ambassadors and we must try with indefatigable perseverance every way to execute our commission. We must study human nature in our own breasts, and those of others: we must acquaint ourselves, by all innocent means, with the opinions and practices of the world, especially of our hearers, that we may lay their hearts and lives open to their view, and make them feel what we say. We must consider all the while we compose, and reconsider as we preach, and afterwards: Matt. xii. 35. "Is this adapted sufficiently to the capacities, the "state of mind, the circumstances of the poor people "who are to hear it? will this part be clear, that home enough, a third well guarded against mis"takes? will they go back as much better disposed "than they came, as it is in our power to make "them?" Perhaps one or more ways of representing a necessary doctrine or duty have failed. We must think, whether a more likely may not be found, or a less likely in appearance prove more successful. If you have preached a considerable time in a place, and done little or no good: there must in all probability, be some fault, not only in your hearers, but in you or your sermons. For the word of God, when duly dispensed, is to this day, as it was originally, powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword". Inquire then, where the fault may be. Never despair, nor be immoderately grieved, if your suces be small but be not indifferent about it: do not c.cent yourselves with the ignorant plea, that you have done your duty, and are not answerable for the event. You may have done it as far as the law requires: yet by no means have discharged your consciences. You may have done it conscientiously, yet not with the diligence or the address that you ought. And as we are seldom easy in other cases, when we fail of our end; if we are so in this, it doth not look well. At least consult your hearts upon the point. And if you have been deficient, beg of God pardon, grace and direction; endeavour to do more for your people; consult your brethren about the means. Conversation of this nature will much better become clergymen when they meet, than any which is not relative to Heb. iv. 12. their profession, or only relative to the profits of it. But especially ask the advice of the most able and serious. I am very sensible, that in all the particulars before-mentioned I have been far from observing sufficiently myself the rules which I have now recommended to you: but hope I shall make some amends, though late, to the church of Christ, by exhorting and directing others. It was my purpose, after speaking of stated instructions, to have proceeded to occasional ones: a very important and sadly neglected part of the pastoral care. But my strength will not suffice: and I have detained you already too long. If God spare me to another like occasion, that shall be my subject. If not, as is most probable, I shall endeavour to leave behind me some admonitions to you concerning it *. At present, I can only intreat you to consider very seriously, what numbers there are in most parishes, and therefore perhaps in yours, whom you cannot think to be in a state of salvation; and how greatly it imports you to use with them, as you solemnly promised at your ordination, not only public but private monitions, as need shall require, and occasion shall be given. The eternal welfare of many poor creatures may depend on this; and your own is deeply concerned in it, as God himself hath declared: who will certainly expect that what he requires you to do, be done to the very utmost of your ability. Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. If thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, he shall die in his * Nothing of this kind has been found among his Grace's papers. |