suppose that it would either have recommended these sermons to such, as it was probable, would peruse them, or have given the truths contained in them a greater influence on their minds. But I have endeavoured to write, exactly as I always wish to preach, in a plain, clear, and intelligible manner; and with such a proper arrangement of the matter, and such a connexion of the parts of each discourse, as seemed best calculated to assist the conceptions and memories of my readers. I have studied also to write with some degree of force and energy, especially in the applicatory part of each sermon. How far I have succeeded, must be left to the public to judge. I am, however, not without hope, that as I am conscious I have written, as I trust I generally speak, from the heart, so that some part at least of these plain and unadorned discourses will reach the hearts of those readers, that receive the truth as it is in Jesus, with attentive and unprejudiced minds, and in a spirit of prayer.

This last observation is of vast importance. For if, as St. Paul declares, "The natural man discerneth not the things of God, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned ;"—if, "The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God," it is not to be supposed that these truths of spiritual and experimental religion, which are here declared, will be either discerned or relished, by those who do not sincerely and fervently pray for "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation," any more than by those who do not endeavour to devest their minds of prejudice, and to consider seriously what was advanced. This therefore, I cannot but most

earnestly recommend to all my readers.

I must also advise them rather to read these discourses in the order in which they are here placed, than in any other. For although they were neither written, nor first published in this order, yet I believe they will be read with most advantage according to it; as each preceding sermon will thus, in general, prepare the mind to understand and relish the following, and each following sermon will illustrate and confirm the preceding.

Christ's Commission to his Ministers:

A SERMON,

PREACHED BEFORE THE CONFERENCE HELD IN

LEEDS, JULY, 1793.

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every crea ture. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned. Mark xvi. 15, 16.

1. IN reading the sacred narrative of the evangelists, concerning the life and doctrine of the LORD JESUS, and in comparing their sundry accounts together, it is diligently to be observed, that, in . writing their histories, they regarded not the amusement, but only the instruction and edification of their readers. They paid no respect to the gratification of the curiosity of mankind, by a relation of uninteresting and trivial circumstances, but consulted merely the illumination and renovation of their minds, by laying before them important truths. Hence, without detaining us to hear on what occasion, at what time, or in what place, our Lord performed his miracles or delivered his discourses, they frequently carry us forward to observe rather, what is of infinitely greater importance to us, the fact done, or the doctrine taught.

The consequence, however, of this is, that, if we do not make this proper allowance for their passing over unimportant matters, and reflect that some of them omitted what others of them rel te, we shall be led into the erroneous idea of their designedly connecting events, which, in reality, were not immediately connected,

A

and even of their contradicting one another, which would impeach their credit as historians, and shake the very foundation of our faith.

*

2. I am led to make this remark, by considering the passage before us in connexion with the context. These words of Christ, as they stand here, seemingly connected with the preceding verses, may appear at first sight to have been spoken to his disciples ou the day on which he rose from the dead. Whereas, upon comparing the contents of this chapter, with the accounts which the other evangelists have given, of the events which took place between the resurrection of Christ and his ascension, it seems evident that they were uttered on the day of his ascension, and probably at the very time, when he was lifting up his hands and blessing them, and was just about to be parted from them and carried up into heaven. At that solemn and ever-memorable moment, it seems, among other instructions and advices, recorded by St. Luke, in the above-mentioned chapter, and Acts i. Jesus gave them this most important, most benevolent, and yet most awful charge, and said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature: He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." For, as we are assured, verse 19, " after the Lord had spoken unto them," viz. the preceding words, a part of which is my text, "he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."

In discoursing from these words, containing, as we see, the last, solemn charge of the Son of God to his disciples, I propose to consider,

I. What is implied in preaching the gospel?

II. To whom the office of preaching it belongs? In other words, To whom this charge is given?

III. Where they are to preach it, and to whom? And,

IV. Lastly. What is required of those who hear it, with the consequences of their complying, or not complying, with the condition required of them.

I. And first, I am to inquire, What is implied in preaching the gospel? Under this head it will be necessary to consider, first, what the gospel is, that we may understand, secondly, what it is to preach it.

* Luke xxiv. 50.

1. Now with regard to the nature of the gospel, I may observe, first, in general, that the very word, used here and in other places by the evangelists and apostles, in the original, and translated gospel, gives us some information concerning it. It means, as is well known, not God's-spel, or God's-tidings, which is all that is signified by the Saxon term gospel, but good-news, or glad-tidings. Such the gospel of Christ is in the very essence of it. It is good news, or glad tidings to the fallen race of Adam, to the sinful, guilty, weak, and wretched children of men, even tidings of a Saviour, and salvation through him. Therefore, when the angel announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds, he expressed himself thus, "Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy," ευαγγελιζομαι υμιν χαραν μεγάλην, literally, I evangelise unto you great joy, or, I preach the gospel, containing matter of great joy; "for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is CHRIST the LORD.' So that tidings of a Saviour, at least of such a SAVIOUR as Christ the Lord, are good tidings, and the very essence of the gospel. Hence it is, that when the evangelical prophet, Isaiah, was foretelling gospel days, and describing the message which the ministers of the gospel would, in those days, deliver to mankind, he expressed himself in the following words: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" This, therefore, is the true nature of the gospel. It is good tidings, or good tidings of good: and a message of peace and salvation. And accordingly, as we learn from the sacred writers, they that preached the gospel, "preached peace by Jesus Christ," and bore witness, that it is “ a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that he came into the world to save sinners."‡

2. To be a little more particular. The gospel may be defined thus: "It is that revelation which God hath made of himself, and of his mind and will to mankind respecting their salvation.” This was made first, obscurely, and in part, to the ancient patriarchs, and by them to the early ages of the world, before and after the flood. As to Adam, when God said, "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head;" and to Abraham, when 1 Tim, i. 15.

* Luke ii. 10, 11. + Acts xiii. 26.

he promised him, that "in bis seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed :" and lastly to Jacob, when he assured him, that "Shiloh should come, and that unto him should the gathering of the people be." But when the law was given to the posterity of Jacob, from mount Sinai, an institution took place, the design of which was to exhibit to mankind, in a variety of typical persons, and actions, and emblematical representations, the whole gospel, with its author, origin, and end, its precepts and promises, its privileges and blessings, its grace and glory, as it was in due time to be unfolded more fully and clearly by the eternal word of Jehovah, made flesh, and the Spirit of truth and holiness poured out, in all his plenitude of gifts and graces, upon the first disciples and ministers of the divine Immanuel. When this "fulness of time was come," and that same GoD, "who at sundry times, and in divers manners," had formerly spoken to his ancient people by the prophets, had in these last days sent forth his Son, the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, with credentials and powers, such as no other divine messenger ever was, or will be invested with, then the gospel, which in former ages had been exhibited in types and shadows, rather shaded than revealed, was manifested in all its glory, and appeared

"Full orb'd in its whole round of rays complete."

It arose upon the world with healing in its wings, and shone forth in all its beauty, splendour, and importance. "The day-spring from on high visited us, to give light to them that sat in darkness, and in the region of the shadow of death. and to guide their feet into the way of peace.' It is this last, clearest, and fullest revelation of the divine will, respecting our salvation, that is most properly and emphatically termed the gospel, and that is here chiefly meant; as also, in divers other passages of the New Testament, which you may examine at your leisure.

3. The gospel, considered in this view, has respect to all the offices sustained by its glorious Author. In reference to his prophetic office, it is a revelation of truths, including doctrines precepts, promises, and threatenings, more clear and full than any preceding discovery. These truths, as they are of a spiritual and divine nature, and concern chiefly, if not wholly, spiritual and di