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THE DUTIES AND TEMPER OF THE

CHRISTIAN SHEPHERD.

A

SERMON

PREACHED AT THE

PARISH CHURCH OF ST. MARY,

ISLINGTON,

On Sunday, July 11, 1824,

ON OCCASION OF

BEING INDUCTED INTO THE VICARAGE OF THAT CHURCH.

PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF

THE CHURCHWARDENS, AND MANY OF THE PRINCIPAL PARISHIONERS.

THIRD EDITION.

TO THE

Churchwardens and Inhabitants

OF

ST. MARY, ISLINGTON.

MY DEAR PARISHIONERS,

The following Sermon is published at your request. It was composed in much languor and weakness; and I was doubtful, almost to the last moment, whether I should have strength to deliver it from the pulpit. It can have no claims on your attention, except as it is a simple exposition of what I conceive to be the scriptural character of a minister of the church of Christ; but I yield with the less reluctance to your wishes for the publication of it, because so many thousands of the inhabitants of this parish, are at present, I am sorry to say, deprived of accommodation for the public worship of God. You seem to have a right,

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therefore, to read from the press those sentiments which, upon the solemn occasion of entering on the cure of souls in this place, I thought it my duty to express, but which you had no opportunity of hearing. If it should please God to restore me to any measure of health, it will be my delight to reside constantly amongst you, and to labour with my whole heart "for your furtherance and joy of faith." In the mean time, I commend to your candid indulgence this plain and familiar Discourse, which appears nearly in the very words in which it was delivered; and I beg the benefit of your prayers, that I may be enabled to discharge with affectionate solicitude, so far as future circumstances may allow, the honourable and arduous office to which I have just been instituted.

I am,

MY DEAR PARISHIONERS,

Your faithful Minister,

DANIEL WILSON.

BARNSBURY PARK, ISLINGTON,

July 20, 1824.

A

SERMON,

&c..

1 PETER, V. 2, 3.

Feed the flock of God which is amongst you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

THE CURE OF SOULS involves important, honourable, and most difficult duties. Those who have maturely weighed what the Scriptures teach on this subject, will best understand what ought to be the feelings and apprehensions of a minister on entering upon the charge of a populous and extensive parish. It is in order to impress my own mind with a just conception of the responsibility of this office, and to lead you to more adequate ideas of the character of a faithful pastor, that I would now invite your attention to the words of

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