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THE

PANOPLIST,

AND

MISSIONARY MAGAZINE.

No. 7. OCTOBER, (PART II.) 1813.

VOL. IX.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

ADVICE AND EXHORTATION AD- vulgarity, (which he ought to do

DRESSED TO THE PEOPLE OF
THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN
CONGREGATION IN PHILADEL-
PHIA, ON RESIGNING THE PAS-
TORAL CHARGE OF THAT CON-
GREGATION. Br ASHBEL
GREEN, D. D.

(Continued from p. 299. ) In order to your improvement under the ministrations of your pastor, I recommend a careful attention to the following things.

1. Expect and desire him to declare to you "all the counsel of God." Do not indulge in a wish that he should keep back, conceal or disguise, any part of the revealed system. Be willing that he should bring it all forward, and in all its strength -provided that he does it with suitable explanations and in just proportion, dwelling most on those topics which are most important and most practical, Never quarrel with your minister for dealing plainly with you from the pulpit, and endeavoring to come as closely as he can to your consciences and hearts. Remember that he is bound to do this, both that he may deliver his own soul and be instrumental to your salvation. If he shall avoid coarseness and VOL. IX.

as a matter of duty as well as taste,) he cannot be too plain, practical and pungent, in his addresses. Let it be deeply imprinted on your minds, that it is not to be amused or entertained, It is not merely to be instructed, that you hear the Gospel-it is that your souls may be saved. Alas! what would it avail you, though your pastor were as wise and as eloquent as Paul, if he were not honored to win your souls to Christ. Oh that my successor may be far happier in this respect than I have ever been! Oh that he may see many seals of his ministry, beyond what I have witnessed! And that this may be realized, be not wanting to yourselves; honestly, heartily and wholly, seek to be made wiser and better, whenev er you hear him preach.

2.

Do not treat both your pastor and yourselves so unjustly, as not to attend constantly and regularly on his preaching. It is not in human nature to speak with earnestness to deserted seats. You therefore, not only sustain a loss yourselves, but you sink the heart of your minister, and disserve those who are present, when you are unnecessarily absent from

43

church. Against that most unchristian custom, which has begun to shew itself among you, of neglecting public worship in the afternoon of the Lord's day, I desire here to enter my pointed testimony. It has its foundation unquestionably in the love of sensual indulgence and conform ity to the world; and so long as any individual allows himself in it, I seriously affirm that I have very little expectation, that he will profit by the morning service, on which he attends.-A conscientious, careful, prayerful, and constant attendance on public worship, I do most earnestly recommend to you all, as you val ue your eternal well-being. And though I must not dwell upon it, yet I cannot be content without urging, in a word, upon those who have not yet approached to the table of the Lord, not to withdraw from the church during the administration of the holy sacrament of the supper, but to remain till the conclusion of the solemnity; and reverently to meditate on what they witness: Thousands have dated their first deep and effectual impressions of religion, from what they saw and heard at the Lord's table, before they had ever been admitted to it as communicants.

3. Receive the private admonitions, and even rebukes of your pastor, suitably administered in the discharge of his official duty, with temper, candor, submission and thankfulness: To admonish, reprove and rebuke individuals, is an undertaking to which a Gospel minister is commonly disposed to be sufficiently reluctant, without any special discouragement. Yet it is one which he is not permit

ted wholly to refuse; and when seasonably, discreetly, tenderly and faithfully performed, it may be of the greatest use. It may, under the divine blessing, save a soul which might otherwise be lost. View it, therefore, not as an insult, but as it is in reality, an instance and proof of the truest and highest friendship; and be persuaded that you will act, not meanly and pusillanimously, but nobly and wisely, as well as dutifully, in meekly receiving and profiting by "the wounds of a friend." "Open rebuke is better than secret love."*

4. Fail not to send your children statedly to receive the catechetical instructions of your pastor. Prepare them for these instructions at home, by carefully governing, teaching and pray. ing with them, according to your solemn baptismal vows; and as recollecting what I have often inculcated, that family government, family instruction, and family religion, are the only sure and solid foundations of all that is excellent either in church or state. With much regret I have observed that there has been, for a year or two past, a lamentable and increasing remissness in the duty of sending your children to be taught their catechism, and those little forms of devotion which have been prepared for their use. The cause of this, as I am satisfied that I do not mistake it, I must not forbear to expose-It is the criminal neglect of parents to teach their children in their own families. Giving them little instruction there, they are at first ashamed to expose their own unfaith

*Pro v. xxvii, 5.

fulness and their children's ignorance, by sending them into public; and afterwards they lose, by degrees, all sense of obligation and regard to the duty, till at last they omit it wholly, with but compunction or concern. Believe me, the guilt and the danger of this is truly alarming, with respect both to yourselves and your offspring. Perform to them, therefore, your own personal duty, and you will be wil ling and desirous to give your pastor the opportunity of performing his. Send to him, carefully and punctually, these lambs of the flock, that he may add his endeavors to your own, in striving to direct and guide them to the fold of eternal safety and

rest.

5. Remember your pastor in all your prayers. How often does the great apostle of the gentiles repeat the injunction "Brethren pray for us." He felt constantly the necessity of being aided by the devout supplications of all the faithful: And if such was the fact in regard to him, with all his extraordinary furniture and endowments, what must be the feelings of every inferior and ordinary minister of the Gospel, who has any right views of his work and his necessities? He will as suredly most earnestly desire, as he will most urgently need, your unceasing prayers; and you will incur the guilt of no common neglect, if you do not prefer your petitions to God constantly and ardently in his behalf. Neglect in this particular, may, also be most injurious to yourselves; for your pastor's labors, however faithful and abundant, will do you no good, unless God con

fer his blessing on them; and it is only in answer to prayer that you have a right to expect the blessing. Therefore, pray for your pastor and for the success of his ministrations-I had almost said whenever you pray for yourselves.

And here you will permit me to put in a request, that I may still be specially remembered in your addresses to God, though my pastoral relation to you be dissolved. Give me this proof of your attachment and affection, and I will esteem it as the most precious which I could receive. Pray that I may be directed, assisted and blessed, in the arduous trust which I am about to assume, and for the right execu tion of which I feel that I need both wisdom and strength which can come from God alone.Pray that I may be made the humble instrument of promoting our Redeemer's cause to the end of my days; and that then, through his infinite merits and prevalent intercession, I may be permitted to enter on "the rest which remaineth for the people of God."

IV. It only remains that ĺ make a few remarks on the relation which we have sustained to each other; offer some special exhortations; and commit you and myself to the great "Shepherd and Bishop of souls."

In the review of my ministerial life, I see innumerable shortcomings, deficiencies and imperfections, which I sincerely lament, and for which I earnest ly implore, through Jesus Christ, the divine forgiveness. Yet my conscience does not accuse me of the want of general fidelity. I believe that my labors, on the

whole, have been equal to my strength; and that "I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." My first sermon after ordination was grounded on 1 Cor. ii, 2.-"For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." The apostle's resolution, as expressed in the text, I then proposed to adopt as my own; and I now "take you to record" that in my humble and imperfect measure, the fulfilment of this resolution has been exemplified in my preaching, and in my other la bors among you-I trust "I am pure from the blood of all men." On your part, I certainly have not only no complaint to make against you as a congregation, but abundant cause to be satisfied and thankful, for the manner in which you have received my ministrations, and for the affection, respect, confidence and kindness, which you have manifested towards me. Often have I borne testimony in your favor in these respects, and even "boasted of you to others."-I have indeed loved you much, and I have every evidence that you have loved me in return. To many individuals I owe obligations of which I cannot think without emotion, which I can never expect to return, and in view of which I can only pray that God may be the rewarder of those who conferred them. But let all be assured that while I live, though my pastoral relation to you will have ceased in form, on my part it is likely, in a measure, to remain in fact. I must still have pastoral feelings towards you; and every service which I may be able to per

form, either for the congregation at large, or for any individual of it, you may at all times command, with the certainty that it will be rendered by me with unfeigned pleasure.

It is our duty to make use of providential occurrences to promote our own improvement and that of others; and the separation of a pastor from his charge is surely an event in providence, which calls on both parties concerned in it, to turn to some good account. It was this consideration which determined me to make this address; and if the situation in which we stand at this mutually interesting period, may serve to give more impression than usual to what I may say, I would fain not lose the opportunity of doing any good, which is thus offered to me: Allow me, then, in addition to what I have already addressed to the congregation at large, to direct a few words in particular to three descriptions of persons among you.

1. To the professors of religion. Your situation, my dear brethren, in this populous and dissipated city is, at once, trying and important, in no ordinary degree. It is trying, because you are exposed to snares and temptations to a tide of fashionable vice and folly--not known and felt, in an equal degree, in most other places. At the same time, these very circumstances render your situation the more interesting and important.-If found faithful, you will insure to yourselves a brighter crown of eternal glory; you may be instrumental not only in preserving your children from ruin, but in forming them for distinguished

ness. But hold fast the truth as it is in Jesus, in opposition to prevailing heresies and errors. Avow your faith unequivocally and distinctly, and never be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Labor to show an example of true evangelical piety, in all its purity and in all its loveliness.

usefulness in this world, and in you can religious controversies preparing them for endless hap--they often destroy vital godlipines in the world to come; you may promote, more extensively than others, the general interests of Christianity; and you may set an example, the influence of which may be widely felt. Wherefore gird up the loins of your minds, put on the whole armor of God, watch unto prayer, be sober and hope to the end. Be not conformed to the world which lieth in wickedness yourselves, and use your best endeavors to save your offspring from it. Be willing to exercise self-denial, and to bear the cross, in the cause and for the sake of your precious Savior. Give no unnecessary offence-be meek and humble, and kind, and courteous, and affable, and hospitable, and charitable, and liberal. Whatsoever things are truly lovely and of good report, think on these things. As far as in you lies, live peaceably with all men, and let not your good be evil spoken of; but set your faces as flints against every vicious, every questionable practice. Be very guarded in your indulgence in fashionable amusements; they insensibly steal upon the heart -and often seduce it from God, from love to his service, obedience to his laws, and affection to his people. Renounce, as utterly inconsistent with your Christian profession and integrity, all theatrical entertainments, and carefully guard your children against them. Strive to excel in practical piety, in genuine holiness of life and conversation. Love and associate with each other. Encourage Christian conferences and associations for prayer. Avoid as much as

Consider that the eyes of the congregation are turned on you, and that your conduct is often considered as a warrant for any doubtful practice. Be watchful, therefore, lest you become stumbling blocks to othershow intolerable the thought that you should be instrumental in precipitating an immortal being toward destruction! In the observance of all the laws of Christ endeavor to be unblamable: In all social and relative duties show a pattern which others may safely imitate: In the discharge of all moral obligations be scrupulously exact: in all congregational concerns let your temper and your actions teach others to be conciliatory, and to consult the general good more than private gratification. Encourage charitable designs, and all suitable measures for propagation of the Gospeltake the lead in these, and en deavor to draw the congrega tion after you. Prosperity, even in this world, is likely to attend the community, as well as the individuals, who are ready to serve God with their substance. "These things, I give you in charge, that ye may be blameless. Finally, brethren, fare

* 2 Cor. xiii, 11.

the

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