clear his call. It is a great evidence that God defigns good to a people when they call a minifter upon fuch defigns; and it cannot but go a great length towards his fatisfaction as to God's calling him to work among them, in order to the compaffing the great designs of his miniftry. When

Peter got the account before spoken of from Cornelius, he is further confirmed as to the hand of God in his coming to him, in compliance with his 'defire.

3. If upon enquiry they be found to be fuch as we have mentioned, it will be a great comfort to him, in grappling with the difficulties he may meet with in the difcharge of his duty. It will give a great deal of fatisfaction to him to know that thefe, for whofe fakes he runs thofe hazards, and grapples with thefe difficulties, have the fame aims, and are joining in the fame design with him. In fine, the right management of his whole work depends very much upon this knowlege of his people's intentions; and therefore, it is no wonder he be inquifitive into them, fince by his acquaintance with these he may be capacitate to further both his own and their falvations.

We might for improvement of this point, difcourfe to you at length of the neceffity of a gospel minifter's enquiring into his own defigns, in undertaking the charge of a people. The arguments made ufe of to discover the reasonableness of enquiring after the people's defign, conclude no lefs ftrongly with refpect to the minifter's. We might likewife difcourfe to you of the way how he is to manifeft the integrity and fincerity of his aims; but time will not allow us to enter upon thefe things, and you heard the minifter's duty fo fully and largely difcourfed of within thefe few days, viz. at the

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ordination, that we judge it needlefs to enter upon that fubject, and therefore, all the improvement we defign of what has been faid fhall be difpatched in a fhort addrefs to you of this congregation.

You have called me to labour among you in the work of the gospel; upon your call I have come; I ask therefore, to what intent fent you for me? What did ye defign in this matter? was it to hear what God has to fay to you, that God's worship may be ordered according to his own appointment, that you may be brought to acquaintance with Chrift, or that you be eftablished in his ways. Were thefe and the like, the defigns you had in view? Were thefe the motives influenced you? If you narrowly look into your own hearts, and make an impartial enquiry, you may readily come to understand what your aims have been; and for your help I would only in God's name pofe your confciences with a question or two that may be of ufe. 1. Dare you without heart-condeaning, as in the fight of God, fay, that in calling a minifter, you had refpect to the command of God? Was it duty that moved you, or did cuftom and your own eafe influence you? 2. Dare you hold up your faces and fay, that it was a tafte of God's goodness in ordinances, that made you defire them, that you might grow thereby? 3. Did this defire lead you much to the throne of grace to pray for a minifter, that God might fend you one according to his own heart, that might feed you with knowlege and underflanding? 4. When you faw any profpect of the return of your prayers, as to a gofpel miniftry, were you careful to plead that the bleffing might come along. What fay you to thefe things? Give God, give

confcience juftice; let confcience speak freely, and tell whether things be fo or not. They must either own that there was not a regard to the command, that there was not a defire after the fincere milk of the word, occafioned by a taste of the Lord's goodness, that there was not that serious application to God by prayer, either for a minifter, or for the bleffing of the ordinance; or that there was; and this will ĉaft you all into two claffes. 1. These who have not been fo employed in this matter, and confequently have not been acting for right ends. And 2dly. Thefe who have been bufied in duty, in the way just now mentioned. To each of these a word. And,

Firft, As for you who have not had a regard to your duty in this matter, who have not been wrestling with God in prayer, that God might fend you a minifter, with the fulness of the bleffing of the gospel. To you we fay,

1. Your defigns are not fuch as God will ap prove of. Had they been fuch as we mentioned in the former part of this difcourfe, then furely they would have led you to earnest wrestling with God, for his direction, who only can point to one that is meet to answer thefe bleffed ends.

2. You are guilty of horrible wickedness. You have committed a great provocation, in calling a minifter upon any other defign. God defigned them for the ends formerly mentioned, and no other; and your calling them upon other aims, is an endeavour to counteract God, prostitute his ordinance, and ferve your lufts of that which God defigned for his own glory.

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3. Whatever good others may get by the fpel, you have no reason to look for any. God may answer you according to the idols of your

own

own hearts; and when he fatisfies the foul of the hungry with good things, he may fend leannefs to you. When he gives a commiffion to the word to enlighten, convert, confirm and ftrengthen others, you have reafon, to fear it may have a commiffion, to make you blind, deaf, and dead.

4. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps, the thoughts of your heart may be forgiven you; ly in the duft before God, endeavour to get your hearts affected with your guilt, that ye, may be deeply humbled and abafed before him whom you have provoked to anger.

5. Bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Let us know by your carriage that you are really penitent, and that now you have got the right defigns in view; and this you may do by a close attendance upon all the ordinances, by hearing and doing whatever is enjoined you of God,, and by all the other ways mentioned in the doctrinal part of this difcourfe.

6. And lastly. Whether you hear or forbear, yet we tell you, the kingdom of God is come near unto you; whatever you defign, the Lord has given you a gofpel-day; and if our gospel be hid from you, it is because you are loft, the God of this world having blinded, your eyes, that you fhould not difcern the light of the glorious gospel of Jefus Chrift, who is the image of God.

As to the fecond fort of perfons, these who have been importunate with God, and have had an eye. to his command in this work. To you we fay,

1. This your conduct, paft all peradventure, is, no mean evidence of the fincerity of your good intentions and this is certainly matter of thank fulness, and is moreover a ground to hope,

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that the Lord may not altogether fruftrate your defires.

2. Do not think your work is over. Wrestle, plead ftrongly with God for the bleffing of gofpelordinances: whoever plants or waters, it is only God that gives the increafe; and therefore, if you mean to grow under the means, be inftant in prayer for the bleffing of them; plead that God may not fend leannefs to your fouls, while he provides plenty of fpiritual provifion for you.

3. Beware of fitting down upon gofpel-privifeges. You may, if you do fo, lofe what you have wrought, and juftly bring the fincerity of your aims in queftion. There is nothing more ordinary, than upfitting of this fort. Perfons, who it may be would fay, O had they a gofpel-difpenfation! how glad would they be, how carefully would they improve it; and yet when they get what they feek, their improvement is in no measure anfwerable to their refolutions; take heed of, and guard against this.

4. Let there be a fuitable care to evidence your fincerity in this matter, by the whole of your de portment. If you turn carelefs in attending ordinances, if you hear, but do not, if you neglect your own work, and be wanting to yourfelves in this matter; then who will believe your fincerity? Who can believe it? your own confciences will accufe you; and If your hearts condemn you, God is greater than your hearts, and knows all things. 1 John iii. 20.

5. If you find that the Lord has made endeavours fuccefsful, take care that you facrifice not to your own net, and burn incenfe to your drag. God is a holy and jealous God, and will not be mocked; and if you begin to rob him of his glo

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