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contradiction of legislation, in order to exchange an old fetter for a new. Why should any man think himself obliged to go and petition a law from an ecclesiastical court to permit him to do, what the Bible commands as a duty, or why should he be deterred from performing any duty, by an opposing regulation of his church? A sanctity and an importance have been eonceded to human regulations in the church of God, to which they are not entitled. Let us cease from doing too much. The sage of the last generation, who, when he ascended, carried his mantle along with him, has left us among other maxims of immortal wisdom, the following: "The only safe reformation, perhaps indeed the only reformation, consists in ceasing to do evil.”

Among the consequences which flow from our unhappy schisms, and want of co-operation; there is one of such magnitude and of such oppressive influence, that it is seen, felt, and acknowledged by all parties. If the American churches, were all one in matters of form; I would even then question the necessity, doubt the utility, and dread the conseque.ices, of subjecting the whole to the supremacy of a single council. But what must we think, when we see several distinct sects extending their dominion over this immense country, and organizing so many ecclesiastical sovereignities, each co-extensive with the United States. Each of these organizations, is maintained at an expense, which ought nearly to suffice for the whole. All complain that their ministers are exhausted by endless journies; that the public resources are incapable of meeting public expenses; that congregations must be robbed of the public ordinances for a great part of the year, or the ecclesiastical courts of discipline be insuffi

ciently attended; and yet each sect perseveres in the dream of universal monarchy. It may be questioned whether any efficient or truly valuable ecclesiastical organization, can be formed on a basis much larger than that of a single state. Man is too local and limited a creature, to attempt ubiquitarian enterprise.

But I merely propose this subject to your consideration: it does not seem that God has yet given to any one wisdom sufficient for its decision. An immense political body under a single head; which watches over, regulates, and harmonizes the whole, is an object which has in all ages enchanted the human imagination. It is the same vision, whether it be dreamed in the church or in the state. It was first displayed in all its glory at Babel; and God in his wisdom thought proper to defeat its operation at that time. The Nimrods, the Nebuchadnezzars, the Cyruses, the Alexanders, the Cesars, the Charlemagnes, and Napoleons, of their respective ages, have all laboured to realise the same enchantment. The church too has been building her Babels. The patriarch of Constantinople attempted the object in the east; and the patriarch of Rome carried it to a prodigious heighth in the west of Europe. But God in his mercy, confounded all their designs. The idea of a church commensurate with the territorial extent of the United States, is the same dream, only not so well dreamed, as it had often been dreamed before. Happily for mankind, it can never be realised. How could a few ecclesiastical officers collected from all quarters, regulate the concerns of one of these vast ecclesiastical republics, during a session of a few weeks, held once a year, or once in two or three years? What could such a council know of the con

dition of their community? What could they do to provide for the common good of the whole? The natural growth of society, must soon put it out of the power of any such court, to do more than assemble, inquire into the general progress of religion, and mingle their prayers at the throne of grace, for the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom. All attempts at efficient regulation, must in all such bodies be shortly given up as fruitless and impossible. Men must localise their exertions, and expend their strength where it can produce effect. But on this subject, enough has been said, perhaps too much.

5. The fifth duty which I conceive to be incumbent on ministers of the gospel at present, is earnestly to press upon their congregations, the obligation under which they lie, to provide without delay, from among their sons, a plentiful supply of preachers of the gospel. This is rather a new subject, and rarely touched in the pulpit. The people in general do not seem to know, that they are under any obligation, to provide ministers to conduct their sons and daughters to everlasting glory; and hence it is that they enjoy tolerable contentment, at least, they seem to be free from any suspicion of guiltiness, while they must be certain, that the increase of gospel ministers does not bear a due proportion to the natural increase of society. That this is the case, I have never heard disputed; and can it be, that a christianized land is doing her duty, when she is condemning a large portion of her sons and daughters to inevitable heathenism? There must be some infatuation on this subject, or perhaps, a host of infatuations; I shall mention what I suspect to be some

of them.

It is no doubt a very common delusion, that as a call to the gospel ministry, in order to be legitimate, must come from God, human means to multiply the number of ministers are unnecessary or improper. This, however, is an extremely erroneous view of divine agency; as it would set aside human means entirely.. The conversion of a sinner, is a sovereign act of divine grace; but who would from thence conclude, that the preaching of the gospel is unnecessary. Sinners must not be let alone, till it shall please God to call them by his grace; the gospel must be preached to them, they must be called, urged, commanded to repent and turn unto God. Will any one allege, that as many sinners would be converted without the use of the means, as in their use?

Christian societies, who are enjoying the blessed consolations of the gospel ministry, ought distinctly to know, that they are under imperative obligations to repay to God the gift which he has bestowed upon them. They must not be tolerated in the notion, that merely to support the gospel among themselves, will acquit their obligations. There is something awful in the prognostics of churches which have enjoyed ministers and produced none; they are in debt both to God and to man; and should be afraid least he quench these lights, which never have lighted up a fresh lamp for those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Will any one say, what can we do? We cannot incline the hearts of our children to become minis. ters of the gospel, and it would be improper to constrain their inclinations, and to force them into an office in which the want of a willing mind would render them worse than useless. This is all true. But have you

forgotten the efficacy of prayer? Have you forgotten the blessing of God upon means faithfully employed to promote his glory? Do you not know the influence he has allowed you at his throne of grace in behalf of your children? He has allowed you to pray your children into his covenant, into his favour, into the heavenly inheritance; and how do you know, but he will also indulge you in praying some of them into the service of his Son in the gospel ministry. Remember Abraham, who, when the promise of Isaac was renewed to him, long after the birth of Ishmael, not willing that the son whom he had, should be without a blessing; exclaimed, “O that Ishmael might live before thee." God repeats his promise, and adds; "And as for Ishmael I have heard thee: behold I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly: twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation." Remember Hannah, who asked a son of the Lord, and when she had obtained him, devoted him to the service of the Lord, charging herself with the expense of his clothing; and the Lord accepted the gift, and made him the prophet and judge of Israel. If inquiry be made, it will be found how large a number of ministers have been prayed into pulpits by pious parents. Ministers of the gospel are generally the sons of ministers, or of elders, or of other respectable christians; who thought it a high honour to furnish the Lord with a servant in the gospel of his son; and who, in many instances, have borne hard upon the family resources, to qualify the instrument for his station. This source of supply always has been the grand dependance of the church, in regard to the Other sources are permanency of her ministry.

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