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fore beseech you, by the tender mercies of God, and by the life of your precious souls; by the meltings of friendship, and by the hope of heaven, let me beseech you to know him whom God hath now sent to labour among you, as the messenger of peace and salvation, as come to you on a business of more than life and death-a business of eternal moment-to call you out of the vanity of time, to the contemplation, the pursuit, the possession of "an inheritance incorruptible, "undefiled, and that fadeth not away." Were this place less public, and this assembly less mixed, I would give farther vent to the overflowings of my heart; but I must restrain myself; I must cease from a subject which overpowers me; I must fly from the thought that persons amiable and excellent in so many important respects, will continue deliberately destitute of the chief excellency, the most attractive loveliness, of their nature; that those who mind all things else so well, will neglect only," the one thing needful." The apostle's

Second request to christian churches, respecting their conduct to their ministers, is "to "esteem them very highly in love for their "works' sake." Be not alarmed, my friends, at this forcible and expressive language of the apo

stle, as if he meant to make an idol of the christian priesthood; as if he wanted you to yield it

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an implicit esteem and love; as if he would have you to hold men's persons in admiration : their work and usefulness must be the rule and measure of your affection to them. There is, perhaps, little occasion to throw in this caution: these are not the times, nor is this the land, of deifying priests, and of erecting altars to Paul's, and Apollos's, and Cephas's; it is well with modern apostles if they can obtain ordinary attention and respect. There is one thing, however, which I cannot but observe here, the difference of Paul's spirit and temper froin those which goyern many who are engaged in the same work with him. Nothing can be a greater contrast than the largeness, the liberality of his mind, and the selfish narrowness of theirs. This is not the only place in his writings, where we find him expressing perfect satisfaction in that share of fame, of approbation, of esteem, which his fellow labourers obtained. Abhorred be the thought of confining the gospel of Christ, or any of its ef fects or emoluments, to any sect, party, or name, to the muddy walls of any house, consecrated or unconsecrated. God knows, there is work enough for us all, and encouragement enough for us all,

how many soever we be. Let us only be found doing our duty, and there is no fear that we miss our reward.

But to return to the apostle's exhortation: "Esteem them very highly in love for their works' "sake." This plainly supposes acquaintance with them, and regular attendance upon their ministrations. Love in this, as well as in other instances, is often conceived at first sight; may be the effect of a single glance; it exists, but it is impossible to tell whence it came, or whither it goes; but esteem is the fruit of intimacy and attention; it is cool and dispassionate; it flies not hastily to the embraces of a stranger, but it cannot be torn from the bosom of a friend; but still it is an affection too cold and inanimated to form of itself the perfection of this pleasing union. The approbation of the understanding, be it ever so clear and full, will never satisfy, if the more tender emotions of the heart be restrained; the apostle therefore urges his suit farther than esteem, farther than even the highest degree of it; he solicits in behalf of his brethren in the ministry, that esteem of them be crowned with love. He knew that if this affection, thus founded, could once be engaged in their favour, their mu

tual happiness would be complete; that an union of interests, of views, of pursuits, of attainments, would constitute a fulness of joy. Let Paul still plead for his fellow-labourers-they have need of all his intercession-you have an undoubted right to examine the claim that is laid to your esteem and love, nay, it becomes you to be nicely scrupulous in your inquiries. If a person pretend a regard for us, and proffer a particular service to us, we are disposed, nay, in a manner, constrained to think well of him in the first instance, for we can hardly think ill of another, merely for thinking well of us; but before we give credit to his professions, or accept his services, it is natural, and it is fit to inquire into the motives by which he may be actuated, and the ends he may probably have in view-if these apparently issue from, and end in self, we are fully warranted to hesitate, to suspect, to reject-if they have a more benevolent and disinterested aspect, though we may see proper to reject, we frankly bestow our approbation, and acknowledgments; but if such a person advance a formal claim to our affections and good offices, we are then called upon to ask in plain terms: "On what pretence dost thou thus?" To apply to the instance before us-the ministers of the gospel, in

as far as they resemble Paul, do not pretend to your favour, on the presumption of an inherent dignity in their order, "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake"-nor yet on personal accomplishments, whether natural or acquired: What things were gain" to Paul, in this respect, those he counted loss for Christnor as having dominion over you, for we would not be "lords over God's heritage, but rather

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ensamples to the flock." Our simple plea is, we love you, we wish you well, we wish well to your dearest, best interests-we wish to "im"part unto you spiritual gifts, to the end you may be established,"-If you find it otherwise, if you find the fleece, not the flock, to be our object, that we seek not you, but yours, despise, reject us, as a woman of sensibility and spirit would a sordid suitor, whom she discovered to be attached to her fortune, not her person, or to the latter chiefly for the sake of the former. By this test we are contented to stand or fall.--If it be asked, Are not the ministers of the gospel liable to many imperfections in common with other men? it is readily admitted, they are "men of like passions with yourselves."--Are they not justly chargeable with many faults in temper,

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