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"the quick and the dead at his appearing, "and his kingdom;" never facrifice utility or truth to fhew or popularity. Let no defire of applaufe tempt you to fpoil your dif courses with affected rhetoric or vain philofophy, on the one hand, or to difgrace them with vulgarity and cant, on the other. Let no dread of bigots, however violent or numerous, deter you from holding up to the people a high standard of Christian morals. Let no respect for libertines, of what rank or parts foever, turn you afide from the fimplicity of "the truth, as it is in Jefus." A virtuous Christianity, that is, genuine Christianity, is the cause of Heaven. It will always bear you out. If you have felt its facred operation, are taken with its beauty, and awed by that majesty which it hath derived from its author; bleffed Saviour! what fortitude and fervour in preaching it, will thefe infpire !

If indeed you have undergone the difcipline of repentance; if you have paffed the strait gate, and entered the narrow way that leads to life eternal; if the profpects which faith unfolds have opened on your illuminated eye, and that celeftial Spirit who proceeds from Jefus, has defcended into your bofoms; what force of feeling, what depth of difcernment in the beft things, what unction of fentiment and language, what unftudied allurement and dignity of manner, will ordinarily accompany your performances! How clearly will you trace, and how fenfibly defcribe, from the

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fund of your own experience, the movements of the foul, the measures of confcience, the falutary pains of converfion, the secret struggles of virtue, the afpirations of an advancing piety, in fhort, the whole rise and progress of the divine life!

Let me particularly remind you, that nothing will more affift or animate you in the exercises of the pulpit, than the devotions of the clofet; provided thefe are humble and liberal, fimple and exalted, serious and fervent. In that cafe, they will be what will they be? -a rich, perennial fpring of infpiration. They will diffuse through your public addresfes, both to God and to man, a certain æthereal influence, that will be univerfally seen and felt. Oh, how different from the conftraint, the formality, the frigidity, the deadness, you have fometimes witneffed !

After all, let it be remembered, that the benediction of God alone can give proper power to all your miniftrations. I hope you daily afk it. But remember likewise, you can only expect it in the road of righteousness. And therefore, to all your improvements, and all your exertions, fail not, (I will take the liberty to fay it to the whole order prefent), fail not to join purity of heart and fanctity of manners. Practife as much as poflible the breeding of gentlemen; but never drop the character of clergymen. Between these, when truly understood, there is, I am perfuaded, no incompatibility. But if there

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were, it is eafy to fee which of the two, in point of propriety and uniformity, ought to give place in your deportment. An engaging demeanour, it is certain, can never be inconfiftent with clerical decorum. But where-ever the fashion of the times, or the folly of men, would attempt to build either pleasure or refinement on the ruins of virtue, may we have the firmness in our behaviour, to fink the man of the world in the man of God. "Finally, brethren, farewell: Be perfect, be "of good comfort, be of one mind, live in 66 peace, and the God of love and peace fhall "be with you." Amen.

The End of the FIRST VOLUME.

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