But it will not avail us barely to esteem or admire this temper: it is neceffary, my brethren, that we ourselves be poffeffed of it. I fhall therefore proceed, as I propofed, in the Second place, To illuftrate the importance of this excellent temper ;-the peculiar importance of it to the minifters of Christ. And, ft, It is of importance to guard us against that felf-deceit to which, of all men in the world, we are most expofed. The office we hold removes us at a greater distance than other men from any of those temptations to grofs and fcandalous fins, which wound the confcience, and divulge the fecret corruptions of the heart: fo that mere decency of conduct may pass with us for real fanctity; and what is purely the effect of restraint from without, may be mistaken by us for the product of a new nature within. Befides, the stated duties that belong to our office frequently contribute to cherish this prefumption. God may enable us to deliver his meffage with becoming becoming warmth and propriety, for the fake of thofe committed to our care; and his word, though uttered by unhallowed lips, may enter with power and efficacy into the hearts of our hearers. It is an awful truth, that if we measure ourselves either by our manner of performing, or even by the effects that follow, our public ministrations, we fhall often be liable to err very fatally. Paul thought it poffible that one might preach to the faving of others, and after all be a caft-away; and I can eafily conceive, that the preaching to others may, through want of attention on our part, be in fome measure the caufe of it. The affiftance afforded us in our Mafter's work, may lead us to form a better opinion of our fpiritual condition than is either reasonable or fafe; and therefore we have greater need to look frequently and narrowly into our own hearts, left the gifts we receive for the ufe of the church, fhould pafs with us for thofe peculiar graces of the Spirit which prove our adoption into the family of God, and manifest our title to the heavenly inheritance. But But did our fouls burn with that fervent zeal for the glory of God, and that vehement thirst for the falvation of men, which fired the generous breast of this Apoftle, we fhould be in no danger of judging too favourably of ourselves. Such high aims would cause our most vigorous efforts to appear fo little in our own eyes, that, inftead of yielding fuel to our pride, they would rather afford us matter of felf-abafement, as bearing no proportion either to the duty we owe, or the exalted felicity to which we afpire.-Confcious of our weaknefs, how earnestly fhould we then addrefs God for the influences of his Spirit, to aid us in our work, and to impart virtue and efficacy to the means we employ ! —And, at the fame time, with what holy feverity fhould we examine the most fecret receffes of our hearts, left any root of bitterness fhould find indulgence there, that might either unfit us for fervice, or marr our ufefulness, by provoking God to with-hold which both our ability and that grace upon fuccefs depend! 2dly, The importance of this temper will further further appear from the influence it would have upon our public miniftrations.It would make us better preachers, as well as better men. We should never be at a lofs for proper fubjects of discourse. This, you must be fenfible, is not always the cafe: most of us, I fuppofe, will have the candour to acknowledge, that we have frequently spent more time in feeking a text, than might reafonably have fufficed to compose a fermon: and we shall probably find, upon a fair recollection, that this waste of time has happened most commonly when we fet out in preparing for our public work, with no other view than to make a fermon. Fancy is a roving capricious guide; but when neceffity prefcribes, it always fpeaks with precifion. We may know with certainty what our people need, when we can only imperfectly guefs at what will please them: fo that, did the neceffities of our hearers get the difpofal of our ftudies, we should feldom hesitate long in the choice of our fubjects; and give me leave to add, we should more frequently preach the fame ne neceffary truths, and prefs them from time to time with redoubled earneftness, till they appeared to have obtained their full effect upon the hearts of thofe committed to our care. Nor is this all:-The temper I am recommending would affift us in forming and pronouncing our fermons, no lefs than in choofing the most profitable subjects.—As it would reject all useless unedifying speculations, fo it would effectually banish those gaudy ornaments which too often put the preacher in the place of his text; or, as one hath well expreffed it, ferve only to evaporate weighty truths, and to make them appear as light as the ftyle. Had we no other aim than to guide our hearers in the way to heaven, perfpicuity and perfuafion would then become the fole objects of our attention; and thefe, I apprehend, are more within every man's reach than is commonly imagined. I never knew any perfon much at a lofs, feelingly and intelligibly to impart to others what he greatly feared, or loved, or hated. Rules of art have their ufe: but though art hath collected rules, it was |