out a hand to assist them, perceive those whom we love, perishing; especially our brethren in Christ Jesus, over whom we are commanded to be vigilant, for whom we must give a strict account, and whose fall will bring ruin and condemnation on ourselves.

Are we then, sensibly affected when we observe so many, who call themselves Christians, walking in the paths that lead to destruction? Public morals every day become more corrupt, because the zeal of the Lord's Ministers waxeth cold. The generality of sinners live unconcerned in the midst of their vices, because they no longer hear those terrific calls, which are animated by the spirit of God, are alone capable of awakening them from the sleep of sin. We look upon profligacy of manners as an evil without remedy, which had its beginning with the world, and will continue to the end of it: we think that the morals of to-day have been the morals of all ages. The corruption

of Christianity, my Reverend Brethren, arises from the want of zeal, and from the indolence which pervades its teachers. The Church would soon re-assume its original splendour, were we only actuated by the same spirit as the pastors who planted it all would change, were we changed ourselves. This universal profligacy of manners, then, is so far from justifying our insensibility, that it loudly testifies against us, and renders us still more criminal.

But we excuse our indolence, by giving it the specious names of moderation and discretion; under a pretence that our zeal is to be prescribed within proper limits, we extinguish it altogether. Let us not deceive ourselves: the truths of which we are the interpreters, cannot please the world, because they condemn the world. When, indeed, we address the lower classes of men; we reprobate their irregularities; we display before their eyes the terrors of the Lord, with the most unqualified denunciations, and, often, without that mildness which prudence suggests, and charity prescribes. But, with the Great, we, as the Apostle speaks, change our language: hardly dare we shew to them, at a distance, truths which they dis like. Our chief object is, not to correct their vices, but to avoid incurring their displeasure. We persuade ourselves, that we ought not, by an indiscriminate zeal, to deprive the Church of the credit of their attachment, and the advantage of their support; as if men plunged in vice could promote the work of God; as, if, to escape the imputation of indiscretion, we must necessarily "speak smooth things, and prophesy deceit."

The fear of men, then, may suppress in us the love of the truth, and zeal for the salvation of souls. To which may be added another cause, but which, I trust in God, cannot often be attributed to the Clergy,I mean irregularity of conduct.

It cannot excite surprise that a Minister, whose heart is the receptacle of criminal passions, should find himself without power, without inclination, without courage, when it becomes his duty to reprehend and correct the like passions in other men. What impression of zeal, and what sensations of horror, can the commission of those vices, in our fellow creatures, which we love, and in which we indulge ourselves, produce in our hearts? Thus, when our situation requires us to publish the glad tidings of salvation, and to censure, with freedom, notorious offences-what coldness, what constraint, what outward shame, and inward remorse! No, my brethren, our private conduct ought not to blush at our public censures. A Clergyman, who belies by his immoralities, the truths which he preaches, causes more infidels and unbelievers than all the writings which hatred of the Gospel can dictate, and all the arguments that the love of vice can produce. Expressions, then of zeal against profligacy are not becoming, nor serviceable, in the Church, but in the character, and from the mouth, of virtue. " Why," says the Psalmist, "dost thou preach my laws, and take my cove"nant in thy mouth, whereas thou hatest to be re"formed?" Will the holy spirit, do you think, speak by a mouth polluted with indecent and profane conversation? Will he work the work of righteousness and sanctification, by a worker of iniquity and hypocrisy? Will he employ a Minister of abandoned morals, as his instrument in promoting the salvation of his people?

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But the Church is not to be reproached with the irregularities of its Ministers. What the Clergy are to be warned against, is, that state of lukewarmness*, and of negligence, in the discharge of their duty, which destroys the efficacy of it. And, indeed, how can you, my Reverend Brethren, appear among your flocks, animated with the love of God, and actuated by a desire to promote the salvation of men-you, who feel no solicitude, either for your own salvation, or the salvation of those over whom the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers? If you perform your ministry with indifference and reluctance, you will leave the same dispositions in the hearts of those who hear you. A faithful Minister is

* "Clergymen, who are serious in their whole behaviour, and the care of their families also, are often too unactive amongst their people: apt to think that if they perform regularly the ordinary offices of the church, exhort from the pulpit such as will come to hear them, and answer the common occasional calls of parochial duty, they have done as much as they need, er well can, and so turn themselves to other matters: perhaps never visit some of their parishioners; and with the rest enter into the same sort of talk that any one else would do. Now St. Paul saith, he taught the Ephesians both publicly and from house to house, testifying repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ; and ceased not to warn every one day and night. He also commands Timothy to preach the word, and be instant in season and out of season; at stated times and others: not forcing advice upon persons, when it was likelier to do harm than good: but prudently improving less favourable opportunities, if no others offered. Thus, unquestionably should we do. And a chief reason, why we have so little hold upon our people is, that we converse with them so little, as watchmen over their souls.-Abp. SECKER.

uniformly distinguished by his zeal, his application, his patience, his labor to overcome the obstacles, which the world, the devil, the depravity of manners, oppose to the success of his ministry; and, too often, alas! notwithstanding his ardent zeal, and unremitted pains, he has the mortification of having "laboured in vain, and spent his strength for nought." What harvest, then, can a slothful, negligent, labourer expect, from a field to which he hath put only a feeble, and languishing hand, and which seems to have been entrusted to him, rather as a refuge from fatigue, than to be the object of unremitted application? What spectacle so afflicting to the Church, as that of one of its Pastors, bound by the most solemn obligations to prosecute his calling with diligence and fidelity, careless and indolent! He, to whom is entrusted the enlargement of the kingdom of God, the reclaiming of sinners from the evil of their ways-the improve. ment of the wise,-and the edification of the vir tuous !

But there is another cause of the want of zeal, in some of the Ministers of the Gospel, which is, a persuasion, that they are not well calculated to discharge the public offices of Religion.

We every day meet with Pastors, whom a love of retirement, together with extreme diffidence of their talents, renders almost useless to the Church. They prefer the leisure of study, to the active discharge of their duty they think it sufficient that.