352 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/P^ 



American bishops was here the case, through the blended hnes 

 of Scotland and England. 



Dr. Smith was invited to preach the consecration sermon, a high 

 compliment to him, indeed — with the presence of Seabury and 

 White, and Provoost and Madison, all of them of a higher grade 

 of orders — to ask oi Jdui to deliver the solemn charge needed by 

 the occasion. 



His text was those verses from St. Paul's Second Epistle to 

 Timothy, chapter iv., verses i, 5, so often preached from upon 

 like occasions, but still ever fording a theme for new interest 

 when handled by a man of the abilities of Dr. Smith. 



I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the Quick and 

 the Dead, at his Appearing, and his Kingdom — Preach the Word: Be instant in 

 Season, out of Season; Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort with all Long-Suffering and 

 Doctrine. 



For the Time will come, when they will not endure sound Doctrine ; but, after their 

 own Lusts, shall they Heap to themselves Teachers having Itching Ears. And they 

 shall turn away their Ears from the Truth, and shall be turned unto Fables. 



But Watch thou hi all things ; Endure A_fflictions ; Do the work of ait Evangelist ; 

 Make full Proof of thy Ministry. 



He thus becfins: 



fc>' 



Right Reverend Fathers, Reverend Brethren, and Respected 



Fellow-Citizens, here assembled : 



While, in one point of view, I consider the Nature of the Holy 

 Solemnity and Work, upon which we are abaut to enter, and feel, as I 

 do, the Weight of the Part assigned to Me en the occasion ; I might 

 well be deterred in looking forward to my task ! But, in another point 

 of glorious view, I am encouraged to proceed, when I consider that I 

 have an Apostle, even St. Paul, the Prince of Apostles, as my leader and 

 guide. For his second Epistle to Timothy, from which my text is 

 taken, is nothing else but a Solemn Charge, and one of the first recorded 

 in the Annals of Christianity — applying, at all times, and under all cir- 

 cumstances, to every Preacher of the Gospel, of every rank and denomi- 

 nation — Ministers, Pastors, Elders, Bishops — by whatsoever name they 

 may wish to be called ! 



Thus guided and supported, I rise Avith some degree of Confidence; 

 animated, rather than deterred, by the Venerable, but Indulgent, Pres- 

 ence of my clerical Brethren and Fathers; likewise by the joyful at- 

 tendance, the exulting expectations, of the Lay Members of our own 

 Church, on an occasion so long desired, so devoutly prayed for by 

 them, as the present; together with the appearance of such a crowded 

 Audience, of various other denominations of professing Christians; 



