^2 Vdtpy's Sermons. 
the time will never come, when the 
|)rinciples of patriotism and loyalty in 
politics, and of the Go§pel in religion, 
will be considered as derogatory to the 
character of a citizen and a Christian. 
When ministers shall cease to be evan¬ 
gelical ministers, when preachers shall 
no longer be Gospel preachers, then 
shall we be arrived at those disastrous 
times, to which our Saviour alludes, in 
these remarkable w'ords: When the Son 
of man cometh, shall he find Faith oii 
the earth? 
By the union of zeal with that know¬ 
ledge by which they are so eminently 
distinguished, the clergy of the Church 
of England may check the increase of 
Dissenters. With the patronage of the 
establishment to stimulate their dili¬ 
gence ; with the testimony of approving 
eonscience, if they make a proper use 
of the talent committed to their care; 
with the hope of drawing the blessings 
of heaven on their endeavors; with the' 
certainty that their labor wull not be vain 
in the Lord : they may be animated in 
the race of exertion to extend the pure 
mid reasonable service of God, and 
adorn the doctrines of the Redeemer. 
So many advantages, exteinal and in¬ 
ternal; so much dignity in her establish¬ 
ment, so much soundness in her tenets, 
characterise the church of England, 
tliat their united power must be almost 
irresistible, if they are urged by her 
ministers with seriousness, fervor, and 
perseverance. But, in the midst of so 
much activity in her opponents, her 
lentinels must not slumber at their post; 
they must, in the words of the prophet, 
stand continually upon the watch-tow'er 
in the day-time, and be set in their 
wards wiiole nights. 
Let a clergyman rieliver the doctrines 
of the Gospel with fidelity and with 
zeal j — let him preach Repentance to¬ 
wards God, and Faith towards our Lord 
Jesus Christ, and inculcate the practice 
of Christian works founded on Christian 
principles;—let his addresses be made 
in a style adapted to the understandings 
and circumstances of his hearers; — let 
iiim not only deliver his exhortations 
from the pulpit, but let hini by ins pri¬ 
vate admonition instruct the ignorant, 
appal the sinner, and reclaim the wan- 
tieperj—let him not only teach, but fa¬ 
miliarly explain, the catechism to chil- 
let him attend to the comfort 
and orderly behaviour of the poor, and 
the judicious application of charities;— 
1st him visit the sick aud afSicted, aud 
t 
pour the balm of religious consoInHos 
into their wounds;—let him reconcile 
divisions ;«-Iet him regulate, and even 
encourage, the occasional innocent re^ 
creations of his people;—-let him banish 
moroseness from the service of reli¬ 
gion ;—let him prove that her ways are 
ways of pleasantness, and all her paths 
peace;—above all, let his life be a 
transcript of his doctrine ; and he will 
not fear the inroad of sectarian prin¬ 
ciples. 
In imitation of our annual visitations, 
the sectarian ministers appoint frequent 
conferences, in which they not only at¬ 
tend to the exterior forms and interests 
of their establishments, hut propose ne\V' 
modes of confirming the stability, and 
extending the number, of their congre¬ 
gations. For the latter object, the 
clergy of England should frequently 
hold social,, c'-nfidential, meetings, in 
order to discuss,—not the patronage of 
the church, — but the means of preser¬ 
ving their flocks, the modes of concili¬ 
ating their parishioners, and of turning 
the disobedient -to the wisdom of ths 
just, the discovery and recommendation 
of useful, and the detection and pro¬ 
scription of dangerous, publications. 
The clergy should assemble with all 
their shades of difference; by this com¬ 
munication of sentiments and collision 
of opinions, the moral preacher would 
adopt a more evangelical manner of 
instruction, and the evangelical preacher 
would lay a greater public stress on 
moral duties. One of the improve¬ 
ments suggested in tliis beneficial inter¬ 
course would be the establishment of 
an evening service. It would be found 
that seme clergymen, on their promo¬ 
tion to extensive parishes in towns, ob¬ 
serving tbe afternoon service of tfie 
cliurch neglected, and the evening con¬ 
venticles crouded, have deferred the ser¬ 
vice till the evening and have been 
gratified by a constant influx of devout 
worshippers. The universal adoption 
of tliis plan in populous places would l.e 
attended uith many salutary effects. It 
would give an opportunity to those, 
whose sedentary or laborious employ¬ 
ments require some occasional relax¬ 
ation, to make an excursion in the coun¬ 
try after the morning service. For it 
should not be forgotten that the Sabbath, 
is not only a day of rest from secular 
business, and a time dedicated to the 
service of religion ; but that a part 
it should be employed in those sober 
and useful exercises,,which^prumote tloa 
purpose# 
