fingle purpose to which he will wish to apply it, is to ferve God in the gofpel of his Son.

II. Real religion in a minifter will make him happy and chearful, ready and willing to do his duty. There is a great difference between the prompt, and fpeedy obedience of a fervant who loves his mafter and his work, and the reluctant labour of him who only deceives him, that he

may eat of his bread. A truly pious man undertakes the office of the ministry from love to God, with a view to promote his glory, and what he hath counted his intereft in the world, viz. The welfare of the fouls of men. An unholy minister undertakes this employment only as a trade to earn by, and has it at least as his highest aim to promote his own worldly advantage. It is easy to see in what a different manner these different perfons will act, and in whatdifferent light they will view the faered duties of their function. He who truly believes the gofpel and loves its Author, will reckon it his highest honour when he is called to recommend it to the belief of others. He will be apt to teach, and will find a pleasure in carrying his meffage, befides the reward he expects from him who employs him, and will undergo with chearfulness every fatigue he is fubjected to in the execution of his office. On the other hand, he who is actuated by a contrary principle, though he is obliged, that he may raise his wages, in

fome

fome fort to do his duty; yet how heavily must it go on, how tedious and burdensome must it be, both in preparation and performance! He will count his fervice at the altar, and his work among his people, as a toil and drudgery, and reckon all that redeemed time that he can fave for himself, from the duties of his office.

Perhaps it may be thought that there lies a ftrong objection against this obfervation from experience; as it appears that fuch minifters as have leaft of religion, commonly go moft lightly under the charge, and are far from feeling any burden in what is committed to them; whereas the most pious and faithful minifters feem to have a weight upon their spirits, and fuch a concern for the falvation of their people, as cannot but take much from their chearfulness in the work to which they are called. In answer to this, obferve, that an unfaithful minifter is not eafy and chearful becaufe his work is agreeable to him, but becaufe he takes as little of it as may be, and feeks his pleafure more than his duty. Certain it is, that the work of the miniftry muft be irksome and uneafy to him that believes not, except fo far as he makes it fubfervient to ambition, and difplays his own talents when he fhould be feeding his people's fouls. This, I confefs, which the Apostle juftly calls preaching ourfelves, may be abundantly gratifying to the moft corrupt heart. On the other hand, that concern for his people which is upon the heart

of

of every faithful pastor, is far from being inconfiftent with the moft folid peace and defirable pleasure arifing from the discharge of his duty. It is like the exercife of pity and compaffion to the diftreffed, in him, who is acting for their relief, which, though in fome fenfe painful, is yet accompanied with the approbation of God, and confcience, as flowing from a rightly difpofed mind, and therefore to be cherished and cultivated rather than fuppreffed. There is a time for every good man to mourn, and a time to rejoice, and perhaps the one is even more falutary than the other; for we are told, that God will appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for afhes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the fpirit of heaviness.'

III. Real religion in a minifter will make him. faithful, and impartial in the discharge of his truft. The God in whofe prefence we ftand, and in whose name we speak, is no refpecter of perfons, and neither fhould we be, in doing his work. There is commonly a great variety of perfons, of different ftations, and of different characters, committed to the infpection of a minifter; the pleafing or difpleafing of whom, has a confiderable influence on his wordly eafe and intereft. This is a great temptation to be unfaithful, and often leads to fpeak unto them "fmooth things, and prophecy deceit " or at leaft, not to deal with all that freedom and im

par

partiality, that his duty to God requires. In every unregenerate man, worldly intereft in one shape or another, either vanity or gain, is the fupreme motive of action; and therefore, as moft men are impatient of reproof, it cannot be fuppofed, that an unsanctified minister will venture to provoke their difpleasure, or to gall them with unacceptable truths. The favour of the great, or the applause of the multitude, he certainly will feek more than the edification of any. On the other hand, he who truly fears God, and believes what he teaches, will act with faithfulness and boldness. He will remember, that if he feek to please men, he cannot be the fervant of Chrift. He will therefore no farther obtain, and indeed no farther wifh to obtain their favour, than as a diligent discharge of his duty approves him to their confciences in the fight of God, or forces the approbation of the impartial, notwithstanding the refentment of particular offenders. It is only the fear of God can deliver us from the fear of man. I do not pretend that all who fear God are wholly delivered from it; but furely, bad men must be far more under the government of this finful principle. The one may fail occafionally, the other is corrupted wholly. There are two reafons which incline me particulary to infift on that faithfulness, which can only flow from true piety.

1. That preaching, in order to be useful, muft be very particular, and clofe in the application.

General

General truths, and abstract reafoning have little or no influence upon the hearers, as the ignorant cannot, and the wife will not apply them to themselves.

2. The other reason is, that private admonition, and perfonal reproof, are a great part of a minister's duty, and a duty that cannot be performed by any man who hath not a steady regard to the prefence and command of that God, who hath fet him to watch for the fouls of his people, as one that muft give an account.

IV. Real religion in a minifter will make him active and laborious in his work. Diligence is abfolutely neceffary to the right discharge of the paftoral duties, whether public or private. It requires no fmall attention and labour to feek out fit and acceptable words, as the preacher expresses it, to ftir up the attention of the inconfiderate, to awaken fecure, and convince obftinate finners, to unmask the covered hearts of hypocrites, to fet right the erring, and encourage the fearful. An unbelieving minifter muft be carelefs and flothful. As he is unconcerned about the fuccefs of his work, he cannot have any great concern about the manner of performance. But he who believes the unfpeakable importance of what he is employed about, both to himself, and his people, cannot fail to be diligent. He knows, that he himself muft anfwer to God for the care he has taken of the fouls committed to his charge, and that if he does