168 THEOLOGY AND ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS. 
reader the following’ quotation from it, 
as a proper specimen of his manner. 
«© So slender is the thread by which the 
principle of life is sustained, that it is often 
cut by the most trifling accident Tow 
many, blessed with the most robtst consti- 
tutions, catch disorders, which, though 
imperceptible in their origin, and disregarded 
in their progress, are fatal in their termina- 
‘tion? How many come into the world with 
the seeds of disease implanted in the habit, 
which wither and consume the body that 
contains them? How many fall a sacrifice 
to their own rashness, to the obstinacy, nay 
sometimes to the indiscretion and levity of 
others? How many, employed in business, 
or amused with innocence, from which, as 
danger is not perceived, so it is not appre- 
hended, are cut off by the visitation of God? 
In a word, the food we eat, the air we 
breathe, the raiment we wear, the ground 
we tread upon, all are instruments in the 
hands of Providence to execute his will, and 
hasten our dissolution. 
«« Now, if we are always ‘ encompassed 
with so many and great dangers ;’ if we are, 
every moment, liable to such inevitable and 
fatal attacks, will not prudence dictate, and 
wisdom recommend the method vig es by 
« the meekest of the sons of men,’ to beseech 
him ‘ in whose hand are the issues of life and 
death, so to teach us to number our days,’ 
that whether we are arrested by ‘ the pesti- 
lence that walketh in darkness,’ or wounded 
by « the arrow that flieth in the noon day,’ 
we may fall like men not jenorant of the dan- 
ger, and not unprepared for the event?” 
Of the preacher’s seriousness and deep 
concern for the good of those who are 
entrusted to his care, the first discourse, 
On the respective Duties of Minister and 
People, furnishes ample testimony: the 
following passage is not the least im- 
pressive. 
«« Besides preaching the word of God 
faithfully, every minister of a parish is to 
visit his congregation, and administer con- 
‘solation to those oppressed with sickness, or 
bowed down with infirmity. Agreeable to 
the seventy-sixth canon—‘ When any per- 
son is dangerously sick in any parish, the 
aninister or curate, having knowlege thereof, 
shall resort unto him, or her, to instract 
and comfort them in their distress.” Believe 
me, christians, to visit the sick is the 
most affecting, the most awful part ofa 
clergzyman’s duty. Can you conceive the 
agony of our minds, when we visit any 
of our flock struck with sickness, and dis- 
cover them totally ignorant of religion, 
and uncertain ot their salvation ? The 
first thought which occurs to us Is, can 
the ignorance of this poor wretch be attri- 
bated to his want of religions instruetion? Is 
it owing to my neglect, that he knows so 
little the state of his soul? And should his 
sickness end in death, when the bell, by its 
solemn toll, acquaints us, that his race is 
run, can we hear it, do you imagine, with 
unconcern? When we are assembled to per- 
form the last sad office, and to deposit his 
ashes in the silent grave, we cannot help 
putting this awfal question to ourselves: 
when [ megt the soul which lately inhabited 
that breathless body, at the tribunal of God, 
shall I meet it with confidence, or dismay ? 
If it be received to happiness, am I the 
blessed instrument of its happiness? If it be 
doomed to misery, can its misery, either 
through neglect or inattention, be laid to my 
charge? For this soul | know [am to answer; 
can I appeal to God that, if it has perished, 
it has perished through its own fault?” 
In proof of his liberality, we shall 
give the following short extract from the 
same discourse. 
«© Some are of opinion, that the gospel is 
seldom delivered in its genuine purity in the 
church, and therefore, instead of attending 
its worship and service, go to other commu- 
nions, where they receive, or fancy they re- 
ceive, more edification. If by deserting the 
church they are made better men than b 
attending it; if they are better husbands, bet- 
ter fathers, better neighbours, better chris- 
tians, for to become such I suppose to be 
their motive—‘ go, and the Lord be with 
you.’ But give me leave to add, if the 
teachers you follow should be mistaken: if 
they should ¢ deliver for doctrines the tradi- 
tions of men ;’ if they should teach you to 
trust on a broken reed; if they should mis- 
lead you in so important a pointas salvation; 
how will you blame your obstinacy, your 
folly, your infatuation, for believing their 
doctrines, without having strictly examined. 
their truth, and fairly weighed their ten- 
dency? ‘ Believe not every spirit, but try 
the spirits,’ with impartiality, ‘ whether they 
be of God.” 
Concerning the speculative system 
which the preacher has adopted, and 
here supports, it comes not within our 
province to deliver freely our opinion. 
The worthy author shall speak for him- 
self, 
*« So irretrievably were we lost by the 
transgression of our first parents, that there 
appeared to the eye of Omniscience no other 
way of restoring us to a state of. favor and 
happiness, than by his uniting in the person 
of Jesus Christ, our human to his divine 
nature. T’o save man, God himself becomes 
man. Hence we see of what value we are’ 
in his estimation : though but * sinful dust 
and ashes,’ we are thought worthy of re- 
cemption by him who * breathed into us 
the breath of life.” 
SS Se ee 
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ss 
