their model, they like Tyre and Sidon, would "have repented in sackcloth and ashes."

Prodigious, then, is the evil, when the Pastor doth not edify his flock, by his example, as he, thereby, destroys the efficacy of his ministerial office, prodigious is the evil, when, combating, by his morals, the truths which he preaches, he thereby weakens the force, and prevents the application, of them, to the circumstances of his hearers; since the preaching of the Gospel, the principal means appointed by God, for the salvation of the righteous, and the conversion of the wicked, is, in his mouth, inefficacious to those to whom it is delivered.

But this is only the beginning of evil; as the example of such a Pastor, becomes, in the language of the prophet, "a snare of a fowler, in all his

ways, and hatred in the house of his God." Not only is he an unprofitable labourer in the Lord's vineyard, but he destroys, he lays it waste, he makes it an habitation of devils. What impression must the life of an unholy Pastor, which they have continually before their eyes, be expected to make on an illiterate and simple people? Can you suppose, that a parish, composed of such a description of men, can be actuated by a vital principle of Religion; when the very man, to whose protection are committed the interests of virtue, and the support of piety, becomes, by his example, an instrument of seduction, and a pattern of vice? Ignorance and corruption, even

under circumstances the most favourable to Religion and morality, extenuate, in their minds, their disorderly life; and a faithful Pastor every day sees his solicitude, his instructions, his example, all insufficient to remove the veil from such unhappy prejudices; what, then, can be the remedy, when a worthless Minister confirms them, by his conduct. Men expect from him, temperance, charity, and piety: they consider him, from his office, incapable of beholding the vices opposed to these virtues: what an agreeable surprize, then, to see him, not only quietly observe, but publicly approve, by the sanction of his morals, those irregularities! what vestiges of Religion and piety, can there remain, among the souls entrusted to his care! They are all persuaded that they may, without danger, follow a guide, who knows so much more than themselves, and who is so much better instructed in what Religion allows, and what it forbids; all remorse of conscience subsides, and yields to this delusion. This profligate Pastor becomes a living, and constant, apology, for vice; and if the corruption of nature is such, that a faithful and good Minister, combating it perpetually, in the midst of his people, is not able to arrest its course, what an inundation of depravity will not be let loose, throughout a parish, by the example of one, neither restrained by moral principle, nor professional decorum ?

If our parishoners often misinterpret our most innocent actions; if, as the Apostle directs, we

often see it expedient, that we may not give of fence, to abstain from things the most indifferent in their nature, and forbidden by no law, divine or human; how will they be astonished, with what indignation will they not be moved, by the drunkenness and intemperance, by the sordid avarice, or notorious profligacy, of a Minister of the gospel ? If ignorant misrepresentation, if unfounded suspicions, defeat the efficacy of our public instructions, what good can be produced by the holy word, in the mouth of a profligate teacher? It appears contemptible; it loses, not only its power, but its truth is called in question: Religion, in all its parts, is considered only of human invention, instituted as a source of profit, and a fountain of honor, for those, who are no further observant of its precepts, than it is congenial to their inclination, and conducive to their interest.

These blasphemies fill you with horror; but we are they who occasion them, when the purity of our morals does not correspond to that of our character. Through us it is, that "the name of God is blas"phemed." The most hardened sinners pretend to no other safety, in that deplorable state, and offer no other apology for their vices, than the example of a worthless Minister. Many, perhaps, of the unhappy souls who have gone before us, and who, in their place of torment, are separated from God, to all eternity, owe their misery to the pernicious examples of the clergy, among whom they have lived: some, perhaps, I speak it weeping, may go

into that region of horror, misled by our licentious principles, and corrupted by our scandalous immoralities.

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So peculiar is the situation of a Minister of the gospel, that if his character doth not promote the interests of religion, it is injurious to them; if he does not recommend piety, by his whole deportment, he introduces, he authorises, he encourages, vice. The ministry, notwithstanding, which commits to us the care of souls, seems, not to be generally considered as an awful and solemn engagement; men wish for it, they solicit it, they are happy when they have obtained it, and they have, sometimes, recourse to means, in order to obtain it, which priety cannot countenance, and religion must condemn. "He that is not called, and that entereth "not by the door, into the sheep-fold, but climbeth "up some other way, the same is a thief and a rob"ber." Now one certain sign of our being called to the ministry, is an holy dread of sinking under the weight which it imposes. Alas! we consider it merely as abounding with temporal advantages, and we are eager in our pursuit of them, not that we may possess the opportunity of being the instrument of salvation to men, but that we may obtain riches, and enjoy ease: we do not trouble ourselves with the eagagements we enter into, and the obligations we contract, towards the souls the Church hath committed to our care; whereas, if only one perish, he who redeemed them, will require of us a severe account, and it will be incumbent on us to shew, that the unhappy wretch was neither influenced by our so

licitude, nor instructions, neither by our example, nor our prayers, or that he otherwise would not have perished: we hold the place of Jesus Christ, in the midst of this flock: and can we say to him, as he said to his Father-" of all those committed "to my care I have not lost one."

Suffer me, in conclusion, to address to you the words of the Apostle-Seeing, my Reverend Brethren, things are so, and seeing that your examples are to be one great criterion whereby to judge, not only of the state of your own souls, but also of the salvation of the souls committed to your charge, be steadfast and immoveable; you, especially, who discharge, with credit to yourselves, and edification to your respective flocks, the several duties of your ministry;-let not the examples of negligence, and of conduct, little correspondent to the sacred profession, of some of your brethren, occasion in you the smallest abatement of zeal, in the faithful and diligent performance of those engagements, which may promote the salvation, or involve the ruin, of the redeemed of the Lord: let not the abuses, authorized by too many, ever prevail over you, in opposition to the precepts which condemn them: let not the indolence, the inattention, the attachment, to the perishable things of this life, which seem to pervade not a small part of the ministry, cause you to forget the holiness of your calling, but rather fix, immoveable, your minds, upon it. Far from looking around you, where you sometimes see, in your brethren, sub.

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