the provoked, with those of the convinced upon such occasions, it will be found that with all his powers of reason and eloquence, the odds are more than ninety-nine out of one hundred against him. I say nothing here of those pests to society, the disputatious fools in every branch of science, with which the world abounds; but I would advise every person I wish well, as he values his ears, his understanding, and his temper, when such an one enters, immediately to take leave of the company.

The considerations which recommend peace are so plain and so striking, that they need but to be mentioned. If likeness be a reason of union, who should be so united as persons, whose features so affectingly resemble each other —what in nature so like as one miserable, mortal, guilty creature to another, one weak, capricious, perverse human being to another? Would to God, we could discover in each other more pleasing lines of resemblance, and were more disposed to look for them-are we not called in

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one hope of our calling? Have we not one

Lord, one faith, one baptism? Is there not "one God and father of all, who is above all, "and through all, and in us all ?”—“ Do we not

together hope to come at length, in the unity " of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son

"of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure "of the stature of the fulness of Christ*?" I cannot conclude this part of my address to the people, without offering the just tribute of praise to you, my friends, of this congregation, for your wise and christian conduct in the observance of this gospel precept-you have kept together in a critical situation, and God has been pleased to reward your harmony with increase-you have united in the choice of a pastor; you have in him another common object of attention and bond of affection; you worship your common Lord in the same place-you are accustomed to see one anothers faces every returning Lord's day-these, it is confessed, are inferior considerations; but they often strike the mind and attract the heart, when those of a higher nature are out of sight." If "it be possible then, as much as lieth in you, "live peaceably with all ment."-" Walk honest

ly to them that are without-and be at peace among yourselves."

II. I now proceed briefly to consider the hints suggested by Paul to Christian Ministers, respecting their station and conduct in the church of Christ; and here, as before, I shall endeavour to follow the order of the text, again imploring

the candour of my fathers and brethren in believing, that mere accident of situation, not arrogance of design, has led me this day, thus publicly, to speak of their and my own duty.-And in the

First place, our office, my brethren, is represented, as a labouring in the church of Christ: "We beseech you to know them who labour

among you." It is one of the many vulgar errors concerning the duty and office of a minister, that it is a very easy and commodious employment. Comparisons are made between its ostensible labours, and those of other liberal and mechanical professions, greatly in our favour, in point of leisure and indulgence. This conclusion is the effect of the grossest ignorance. Ah! little does the world know the thousand heartaches and mortifications, the mental agonies and convulsions, to which a minister's occupation necessarily exposes him-beyond description more intolerable than the acutest pains which the body can suffer. The miseries of the wretched in which he cannot but sympathize-the scorn of the proud, which he cannot escape—the intrusions of the impertinent, whom he must not exclude the caprice of the froward, to which he must submit. "The spurns which patient merit

" of the unworthy takes"-the bitter conflict betwixt a generous mind, and a contracted fortune-the cruel necessity of wearing a smiling face, with an anguished heart. Happy, many a time, to fly to the labours of the seventh day, as a refuge from the woes of the other six-if this be a just representation of the case, and they only can tell who have experienced it, then the labour of a minister, instead of being likened to that of the mechanic at his anvil, or the galley slave at his oar, resembles more nearly the pangs of a woman in travail; with this discouraging difference still against him, that while she is supported with the hope of immediate relief, and an ample recompence, he is racked with suspense, and at last rewarded with disappointment. So various, indeed, and so complicated are a minister's labours, both active and passive, that, but for one consideration, reflection upon them would issue in absolute despair. The work is not our own, but God's-He who hath sent us to teach, and to baptize, hath likewise said, "Lo, I am "with you alway, even to the end of the world;" -therefore" we so run, not as uncertainly, so "fight we, not as one that beateth the air;"and having" finished our course and kept the "faith"-we can with trembling hope look to "a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the

" righteous Judge, shall give unto all them that "love his appearing.”

Thus animated, my brethren and fathers, let us labour more abundantly. Have we to labour among the ignorant? Our Redeemer is " the co❝ venant of the people, to open the eyes of the "blind." Among "the stout-hearted, and such "as are far from righteousness?"-" The word of "the Lord is as a fire, and like a hammer that "breaketh the rock in pieces." Among "the “wandering and such as are out of the way?— « He is faithful who hath promised." "With great ❝ mercies will I gather thee;" "the Lord doth “ build up Jerusalem, he gathereth together the "outcasts of Israel." Among the afflicted?" the

comforter, the Holy Ghost," is now given, for Christ is now glorified. Among the mourners in Zion? the tempted of Satan? the prisoners of fear? Know you not, that " Jesus is anointed to "preach good tidings to the meek, to bind up " the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the ❝ captives, and the opening of the prison to them "that are bound: to proclaim the acceptable

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year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of "our God, to comfort all that mourn; to ap "point unto them that mourn in Zion, to give "unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for