Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with Grief. He was merciful; he was a Peace-Maker; he was Pure in Heart. He was kind, gentle, friendly, compaffionate. He was a severe Rebuker of Sin in others; yet upon proper Occafions he was affable, free, cheerful and easy. Whole Days he spent in Fafting; whole Nights in Prayer. To do the Will of God was his Meat and his Drink. Yea, fo zealous was he in preaching, and doing Good, that even his Friends thought him mad and out of his right Mind. Yet, notwithstanding all these amiable, these heavenly Qualities, he was perfecuted, he was reviled. His Character was traduced; his Doctrine perverted, mifreprefented. He was buffited, fcourged, condemned, crucified.

Such is the Doctrine, fuch the Example, and fuch the Treatment of the Saviour of the World!

Now I think you must allow, O Chriftians, that the nearer any Minifter of the Gospel comes to thefe Doctrines, and this Example of Jefus Chrift, the more he ought to be esteemed and regarded, But alas! Experience has in all Ages

Ages fhewed us quite the contrary. The Life and Doctrine of fuch a Man are a continual Reproof to the Sons and Daughters of Mirth, Gaity and Pleasure. The more holy any Man is, the more he is devoted to the Service of GOD, the more will his Conduct and Principles condemn the Cuftoms and Maxims of the World. The more his Conduct and Principles condemn the Cuftoms and Maxims of the World, the more will he be difpifed by the Men of the World. This Truth, this melancholy Truth, has been confirmed to us, not only by the Sufferings of Jefus Chrift; but likewife by thofe of the Prophets, Martyrs, and Apoftles; and by the Hiftory of almost every zealous Christian, who has eminently diftinguished himself by a warm and active Love for the Cause of the Gospel.

Nay, Socrates himself, who was an Heathen Philofopher, teaches us the fame Doctrine. His Words are to this Purpose. "That Man must "undoubtedly be the most virtuous, upon whom "his Virtue, by its Perfection, draws the Envy "of all Men; infomuch that he hath Nothing on

"his Side, but his Confcience; and fees himself exposed to all Manner of Injuries, fo as even "to be nailed to the Cross, without his Virtuê "being able to afford him the poor Assistance of "exempting him from fuch a Punishment". These are strange Words in the Mouth of an Heathen! Would not one think that GOD Al

mighty had put this wonderful Idea of Religion into the Mind of this virtuous Philofopher in order to have it made manifest in the Perfon of his Son? Does not this View of Religion, and the cruel Treatment the best of Men in all, Ages have met with, prove to a Demonftration, that the Righteous have another Glory, another Reft, another Happiness, fuperior, far fuperior, to all the Delights of this vain Scène of Things?

: Marvel not therefore, my Brethren, nor bé difcouraged, if the World hate you: Ye know that it hated Chrift before it hated you. If ye were of the World, and lived according to its Maxims and Customs, the World would love and caress you; but because ye are not of the World, but your Lives, Conduct, and Princi

ples,

ples, are contrary to, and condemn the World, therefore the World hateth you.

The Office and Duty of a Minifter of the Gospel is likewife admirably set forth in the Perfon and Doctrine of the great Apoftle of the Gentiles. His three Epiftles to Timothy and Titus are Directions how they muft preach, and how they must labor, if they would approve themfelves unto the great Shepherd and Bishop of Souls. Let us fee then what Advice he gives them..

To Timothy, who was a young Minister, he writes thus:

"A Bishop, or Overfeer of Souls, must be blameless, vigilent, fober, of good Behavior, given to Hofpitality, apt to teach; not given to Wine, no Striker, not greedy of filthy Lucre, but patient; not a Brawler, not covetous; grave, not double tongued; holding the Myste ry of the Faith in a pure Confcience".

This is what a Clergyman ought to be in the Opinion of St. Paul. And after having informed Timothy what a Minifter of the Gospel ought to be, he exhorts him in the warmest

Terms

Terms to aim at that Character: "Be thou an Example of the Believers in Word, in Conver fation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity. Give Attendance to Reading, to Exhortation, to Doctrine. Meditate upon these Things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy Profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto Thyfelf, and unto thy Doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this, thou shalt both fave thyfelf, and them that hear thee".:

The Apostle goes on still farther in a most fublime and striking Manner:

"They that will be rich fall into Temptation and a Snare, and into many foolish and hurtful Lufts, which drown Men in Deftruction and Perdition. For the Love of Money is the Root of all Evil: Which, while fome coveted after, they have erred from the Faith, and pierced themselves through with many Sorrows. But thou, O Man of God, flee thefe Things; and follow after Righteoufnefs, Godliness, Faith, Love, Patience, Meeknefs. Fight the good Fight of Faith, lay hold on eternal Life. I give thee Charge, O Timothy, in the Sight of GoD,

and