happiness centred. From them he sought, and from them he obtained, his principal joys below. Never were children more beloved by a father; never was a father more beloved by his offspring. He was of a remarkably hale constitution of body, experiencing but little of infirmity or disease through the whole of his life. His last illness was but of a few days. His remains are deposited in the burial ground of Mr. Wesley's Chapel, City-Road; and the following ode, furnished by the kindness of a friend, was repeated at his funeral. Not to the grave, not to the grave, my soul, And we have often said, how sweet it Descend to contemplate The form that once was dear; That kindled that dead eye, It is but lifeless perishable flesh, That moulders in the grave: Earth, air, and water's mingling particles, Resolved, their uses done. Not to the grave, not to the grave, my soul, Often together have we talk'd of death: All doubtful things made clear: To view the depths of heaven, And think that thou art there, thee. were, With unseen ministry of angel power, Sure, I have felt thy presence! thou hast A birth to holy thoughts! Hast kept me from the world, unstained and pure, **** We did not err! Our best affections, here, They are not like the toys of infancy; We do not cast them off: O! if it could be so, It were a dreadful thing indeed to die! Not to the grave, not to the grave, my Follow thy friend beloved; Think that he 'companies thy solitude; And if remembrance wake a tear DIVINITY. The Spiritual Employment of Christain Ministers, briefly stated, and affectionately recommended, in a Sermon on 2 Cor. iv. 5. By JAMES SPINK. "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." 2 Cor. iv. 5. In the writings of St. Paul, we beheld a good man bringing out of the good treasure of his heart good things, with a kind of magnificent negligence, seldom to be found in any other writer. "His works are like a wilderness of beautiful and fragrant plants, springing up promiscuously out of a happy soil; and, amidst all their seeming confusion, producing to a natural taste, a finer effect than if they were drawn out with a solicitous care, set in the most regular figures, and cut into a thousand artificial forms." Apparently inattentive to the admired style, and methodical order, recommended by the strict rules of polite writing, he adorns his epistles with a great many lively and interesting digressions, which have a peculiar reference to our salvation by the cross of Christ, and to the things which belong to our peace; while he illustrates and enforces those grand and leading doctrines of the gospel which claim the most serious and attentive regard both of Ministers and private Christians; one of the most important of which is offered to our consideration in the words of my text. He seems, indeed, here, and in some other passages, to pass a great encomium on himself, when speaking in his own vindication, and in defence of the gospel which he preached; but the obligation under which he was laid, the important work in which he was engaged, the authority with which he was invested, the zeal and affection which he felt for the credit of the Redeemer's cause, and the salvation of a lost world, with the Christian modesty and humility which governed his spirit, and dictated his expressions, enabled him to do it without the least appearance of pride or vain glory. Indeed he speaks in the name of all the faithful brethren in the ministry, as well as his own. And what can preserve wisdom from degenerating into craft, eloquence from sliding into flattery, learning from claiming undue honours, and superior credit from projecting schemes of interest or power? What will prevent us from being negligent, curious, trifling; or what will be, under God, one mean of retrieving the honour and power of religion, and rendering the office of the ministry a public blessing, but the reviving of that public and evangelical spirit which is represented in the Apostle's assertion? Surely nothing can be more obvious, than that God desireth not the death of a sinner; that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to him and live. And, accordingly, in his great love to precious souls, he has provided an all-sufficient salvation. He has given his only begotten Son to be their Saviour. He reveals these glad tidings in his written word, which he has stored with the most precious promises, and most gracious encouragements. But, notwithstanding all this, men are prone to neglect their souls, and to forget the one thing needful; and, therefore, to all his other gifts, God has added that of a Christian ministry. He raises up a number of men to attend peculiarly to the spiritual concerns of their fellow creatures and upon these he bestows a clear conviction of their duty, competent qualifications for the discharge of it, and a proper sanction to their exertions. And their language is that of St. Paul, "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." Let us, in order to the elucidation of this subject, consider, first, the important office of Christian Ministers; secondly, the principal theme of their discourses; and, thirdly, the motives by which they are influenced. Begin we then, with considering the important office of Christian Ministers. This office is two-fold; it is their business both to preach and act as your servants. But the most important part of their office is that of preaching. We place an emphasis here, with a view to give ourselves an opportunity of noticing the import of the phrase, the ability it pre-supposes, and the exertions it requires. (1.) There are two methods which are very commonly used by Christian Ministers in the promulgation of the gospel. One is the dead formality of reading written sermons; the other, the mere pulpit vassalage of repeating written sermons verbatim from memory; but it requires a degree of courtesy to call either of these preaching. The best method (of preaching, as one well observes,) seems to be that which the most popular and pious preachers use; they study till they thoroughly understand their subject; they habitually feel its truth; and they retire some time before preaching; and, in fervent prayer to God, possess their souls with a full idea of the importance of the matter of which they are going to treat." Now, whether the Apostles used this method, or spake without premeditation, is of very little consequence; the fact is, according to the literal meaning of our text, their business was, not to read or repeat sermons after the manner of some, but to preach, to preach to the reason and consciences of their hearers, and so to preach as to inform their judgment, influence their dispositions, and improve their lives. This is the special appointment of every Christian minister. "For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe." And, "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (2.) This appointment evidently pre-supposes ministerial ability. It would be unreasonable to expect that all Christian ministers should be equal as to ability; the nature and fitness of things require it to be otherwise. But whilst some may be capable of the profound reasoning of St. Paul, or the engaging eloquence of Apollos, or the pious simplicity of St. John, it is expedient that all of them should have a competent knowledge of the great truths they teach; a capacity to explain those truths to others; an inclination to exercise that capacity; a consciousness of the approbation and assistance of God; and a remembrance that Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but that God must give the increase. (3.) The exertions required are considerable. And in compliance with the Divine requisition, they preach with evangelical propriety. They do not speak as the Scribes of old, to instruct men in Jewish traditions, or legal rites and ceremonies. Nor do they speak as ancient or modern philosophers and moralists, to teach the people merely what the light of reason might discover. But they speak as teachers in the school of Christ; as preachers of the New Covenant; and the important truths of genuine Christianity run through and spread their glories over all their discourses. They "preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." They preach with zeal and activity; whilst they carefully guard against that kind of zeal which is bitter and intolerant, or ignorant, blind, and. misplaced, they uniformly encourage and cultivate that which is scriptural and salutary. They imitate Phineas, who obtained "the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God." They imitate all the prophets, who were "very zealous for the Lord of Hosts;" they imitate John the Baptist, who was a burning and a shining light." But, above all, they imitate our Lord and his apostles, who were clad with zeal as with a garment; no intenseness or contrivance of suffering could lessen its ardour; every thing served as fuel to the fire, to make their zeal burn with an increasing brightness.-They preach with perseverance and fidelity. Having renounced the hidden things of dishonesty," they do not "walk in craftiness," to beguile ignorant and unstable souls, nor "handle the word of God deceitfully," by corrupting the pure truth by any base alloy of their own; but, by manifestation of the truth, they commend themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." They deem it indispensably necessary to distinguish between Scripture truth and human refinements-between doctrines of greater or less importance. Their sermons are replete with the most mortifying truths, and the most awful warnings against those things which are pleasing to corrupt nature. They are careful to inculcate those truths which are essential to the edification, comfort, holiness, and salvation of their hearers. And being supported under all their infirmities, they "faint not" amidst their greatest trials, but cheerfully persevere unwearied in their glorious course. Their motto is, "Let glory consummate what grace began."-They preach with practical and exemplary piety. They are aware, that if they could speak with the tongues of angels as well as of men, in commendation of true religion; and if they warned men against impiety and vice, both day and 66 night, with tears, yet if their own conduct were stained by any of the works of the flesh, it would be vain to expect any happy effect to be produced by their labours. And, on the other hand, they perceive that when the goodness, which shines in the instructions of ministers, reigns in their own lives, its influence is most powerful, and their instructions have all the weight they possibly can derive from the proofs they give of their own sincerity and genuine piety. Hence their instructions are not merely theoretic; they are such as recommend and enforce the formation and improvement of holy and virtuous habits, and the regular performance of civil, moral, and religious duties; and they are examples to the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." But there is another part of the ministerial office which deserves our attention. 66 They acknowledge themselves the servants of those to whom they minister the word of life, and act accordingly. Yea, though they are chosen from among the people to be ambassadors for Christ, and ministers of the everlasting gospel, yet they are your servants," and even the servants of your servants; lower than this they cannot stoop. But permit me to explain myself, 66 1. They are your servants as shepherds are the servants of their flocks. They consider you as the sheep of Christ's flock, and under the direction of their blessed Master, the Chief Shepherd, they lead you into the fat and fertile pastures of truth and righteousness, and guide you to the waters of consolation. They strengthen the diseased, heal that which is sick, bind up that which was broken, seek that which was lost, and are tender of that which is young, Ezek. chap. 34. 2. They are your servants as watchmen are the servants of a city or town. They protect you from your enemies, warn you of approaching dangers, lift up the voice, and feel a lively inte rest in your welfare. 3. They are your servants as physicians are the servants of the public. They are ever at your call, and ready to visit the sick in body, and the weak and erring in mind. They recommend moderation in all things, and prescribe whatever they think will be beneficial to your souls. 4. They are your servants as ambassadors are the servants of the state. They expostulate with you concerning your hostility to your Creator, Preserver, Redeemer, and Saviour. They propose terms of peace, and affectionately use every reasonable mean to remove the natural rebellion of your hearts. Hence the apostle, who was one of the best patterns and representatives of Christian Ministers, says, "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be |