It is a source of great sorrow and discouragement to him, to think that many will scarcely give themselves the trouble to listen to the words spoken, and that so many more hear them with their ears, but understand them not. My brethren, I do not scruple to "magnify mine office"* and to say, that there cannot be a more important employment than that of preaching the word of God; and in proportion to the sense that any one entertains of that importance, will be the distress that he feels at the inattention or unprofitable hearing of those whom he addresses.This must be my apology, if any be needed, for earnestly exhorting you to " give ear unto my words," and for solemnly warning you of the sin and danger of hearing them in vain. For it might seem a piece of unpardonable conceit, and vanity, in any one to assert, that his words were of so much consequence as to demand the serious attention of all, and the height of presumption, and blasphemous arrogance, to charge those with sin, who disregard them. It might appear, as if he were disposed to take to himself the impious praises which were bestowed on Herod, when the multitude profanely shouted, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man." But a minister of the gospel may press his claim to be heard, in the

*Romans xi. 13.

strongest terms, and represent the high importance of what he delivers, and the heavy responsibility of hearing him carelessly, and fruitlessly, without deserving the imputation either of vanity or of presumption. If he were speaking in his own name, this could not be said-but as he does not profess to say any thing on his own authority, as he comes forward only in the character of a minister and messenger of Jesus Christ, the very obligation of the commission, which he has received, requires that he should urge in the most forcible manner that he is able, the momentous nature of the communication, which he has to make from God to man.

It is impossible to believe, but that the words which Christ spoke to his apostles, when he sent them forth to preach the gospel, were addressed through them to all, who should succeed them in the ministry; for the souls of men are as precious now as they were in those days, and the knowledge of the gospel is no less important now than it was then. Christ did not come to save a few souls out of one generation alone, nor that his gracious revelation might be propagated merely so far as his twelve first missionaries should be able to reach. This was the first charge which he gave his apostles immediately before he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven

"Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you-and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." It is plain therefore that He must have addressed them as representing His ministers in all succeeding times; for they could not go and teach all nations, (or, as it is more emphatically in another place, "go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,”) neither could He be with them alway, even unto the end of the world, seeing that they would soon finish their course, and the "ministry which they had received in the Lord." We must consequently understand, that both this charge to preach the gospel, and this promise of His presence, extend to us in the present day, and that we may demand your attention with the same authority, even with which the apostles might have claimed it. For the apostles had only the same duty to discharge that we now have, to preach the word of God; it was no new doctrines of their own invention that they taught; they simply had to deliver that which they had also received. St. Paul utters a severe denunciation against any who should go beyond their commission; "though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto

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you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed"- "I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not of men, I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." And again he says, "we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake." Hear also in what terms he commands the Thessalonians; "for this cause we thank God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it, not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God." To the Corinthians he says, "we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled unto God." In short, that admonition of St. Peter applies to all ministers, in whatever age; and called by whatever title, "if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;" let him adhere strictly to the truths of divine revelation, and as long as we can do this, our preaching is sanctioned by the same authority as that of the very chiefest of the apostles, and the words of Christ apply to our hearers, as much as they did to theirs: "he that heareth you, heareth me; he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me."

Herein I ground my title to be heard, not as delivering any thing in my own name, but solely as declaring unto you, the will of God, revealed in the Holy Scriptures; and I say, my brethren, that if I do faithfully communicate to you what is therein contained, you cannot disregard my words, without incurring the danger of despising Christ, whose message I bring; you are answerable for the due improvement of what you hear; you will not suspect me of wilfully perverting the gospel; what I say to you, I believe to have the authority of the word of God; I demand therefore a reverent attention to that word; and I beseech you, both for my own satisfaction, and your benefit, not to be contented with my assertion that it is God's word, which I declare to you, but to imitate the noble Bereans, whom St. Paul so highly praises; "search the scriptures daily whether those things be so." I would desire no greater success than to set you all upon the work of diligently studying your bibles, and anxiously enquiring after the truth-but I warn you against rejecting my words, which come to you under so solemn a character, and professing so high a recommendation, unless you shall find upon such enquiry, that their pretension to this authority is unfounded; for Christ says, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words,