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wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me!"

Painful as it may be to insist on this fact, yet, from a sense of its truth and importance, we have not shunned to urge it home to every bosom, though it be felt there "quick and powerful, and sharper than a two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, of the joints and marrow.” If it requires courage to go and tell a friend, that he is a ruined man, that his affairs are deranged, and he must be bankrupt; or if it requires courage to acquaint him that he is mortally sick, that his disease is incurable, and he must die, we will venture to say it demands no less courage in ministers to be faithful in charging men with their guilt and misery before God. It was for doing this that St. Stephen was murdered by the Jews; for it is said, 7th Acts, that when they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and gnashed on him with their teeth, and stoned him to death. But if we would be faithful to men's souls we must perform the same unwelcome office; we must convince the conscience, and shew that all have sinned, in order that we may preach the Gospel of Repentance to all. I trust, in this also, we have not failed, and

may

may therefore take you to record that in these respects we are pure from the blood of all

men.

And secondly, concerning "faith in our Lord Jesus Christ;" have we not set him forth in all his glory, fulness, and sufficiency? Have we not uniformly insisted that he hath made our peace with God, by the blood of his cross; and that there is salvation in no other name under heaven given among men, but the name of Christ? Have we not directed the eyes of your faith to "the Lamb that was slain and is alive for evermore?"-And to the end that you might rejoice in this sight, and make the right use of it, we have, connected with this doctrine also, preached repentance, well knowing that as the sick only desire the physician, so the convinced sinner only, can value the Saviour. If we wish you to feel your misery, it is that you may seek relief in the Blessed Redeemer. If all men were prepared thankfully to receive, and duly appreciate such glad tidings, we could for ever dwell on the delightful theme, and continually display the Gospel of the Grace of Christ, the riches of his goodness, the plenitude of his forgiveness, the perfection of his righteousness, and the greatness of his glory. Happy they who

know

know how to prize their unsearchable treasures in him, and to exult in the joyful sound of his salvation.

But, my brethren, we have never failed to connect the doctrine of holiness with that of faith; we have ever shewn that repentance and faith must always precede holiness, and are productive of it, and that without this fruit or evidence of his sincerity, "no man shall see the Lord." I trust therefore that. during the seven years of my ministry among you, I have plainly and consistently persevered in preaching to you the Gospel, and that I have not shunned to declare any part of it. On the other hand, it behoves me to say, that I have had deeply attentive and serious hearers, and that the word of God has not been spoken to you in vain.

It is your voluntary support which preserves to the public this house of prayer, conducted as it is according to the established form and doctrines of the Church of England: and let me continue to hope that you will not remit, either in your attendance or contributions, to so good a cause.

I thus have ventured to lay open my heart to you, and to make an appeal in which I am persuaded you will acquiesce; I therefore will

only

only add in the words of our great Apostle ;"And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." Amen..

C c

SERMON V.

Preached the 1st of January 1809, on a stated Minister being first appointed to the Mission Church by the Court of Directors.

Ps. cxxxvi. 23. Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever.

OR several years past, we have been accus

FOR

tomed to assemble in this place on the first day of the year, for the purpose described by the prophet, Isa. lxiii. 7, to "mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them, according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses."

To assist us in the same grateful service on the present occasion, I have selected a portion of the 136th Psalm, which seems to be applicable to the existing state of religion in the world, to the circumstances of this church and congregation in particular, and to individual experience.

The

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