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spent in our beloved Seminary- the day of your induction into the holy ministry the truths inculcated and the prayers offered up on that solemn occasion. In the clear light of this day of glory, you look back upon your ministry. Say now, did you feel too seriously the magnitude of the sacred office? Did you devote yourself too exclusively to the great end of your ministry? Did you love the children of God with too much tenderness; or labor, with excessive solicitude, for the salvation of sinners? Did the cause of Christ lie too near your heart? Or did you keep your eye upon it too steadily? Did you preach too affectionately, or too faithfully? Did you pray with too much fervor? Did you make it a subject of too deep concern, how you should live, and how you should die? Did you think too much of this day of account? Has it not arrived as soon, and is not its importance as great, as you expected? And did you ever set too high a price upon the approbation of your Saviour and Judge, or upon this redeemed, spotless church, now presented before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy?

BRETHREN AND FRIENDS OF THIS SOCIETY,

You too are going to judgment.

as near to you, as to your minister.

The time is as important, and And it is as important both to him and to you, as though it were now present. When you witness its transactions, and bear a part in them, eternal happiness will be as dear to you, and endless misery as dreadful, as they would be, if you were now listening to the last sentence of your Judge. Regard then, the day of God, so long desired by the saints and so dreadful to sinners, as a present reality - as actually come; and looking back from this scene of ineffable solemnity, say did your ministers ever paint in too strong colors the evil of sin, the vanity of the world, or the dreadfulness of endless punishment? Did they ever urge you too earnestly to repent, and prepare to meet your God? Did you offer up too many prayers for your minister, or for the church? Did you strive too earnestly to enter in at the strait gate? Do you regret it now, that you forsook all for Christ, or did so much for his cause?

Where now, Oh ye children of God, where now are those worldly attachments and cares which hindered your growth in grace, and kept you poor, when all the riches of Christ were before you? Where, now, Oh sinners, are those days of mercy you once enjoyed? And where are those shadows of time, for which you turned away from the Saviour, and despised the joys of his kingdom?

A SERMON

DELIVERED IN THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH IN BOSTON, OCT. 28, 1821, AT THE ORDINATION OF REV. ALVA WOODS, D. D.

1 COR., PARTS OF CHAP. XII.- -Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God who worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one man is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom;— to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy. But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?— And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

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WHEREVER the author of this Epistle went, he found nothing so active in withstanding the influence of the Christian religion, or in marring its divine form, as the selfishness of the heart. Even those who professed to love God supremely, and their neighbors as themselves, showed frequently, that they were still chargeable with the spirit of pride and emulation, and needed the purifying

influence of divine truth. This was particularly the case with the church in Corinth. Those very endowments, which Christ had imparted to the Corinthian believers for the confirmation of his gospel, were made an occasion of strife. In the text, the Apostle labored to remove the evils which existed among them, and to inculcate the virtues and duties which they were prone to neglect. He informed them that the diversified endowments of Christians, particularly of the ministers of religion, were all distributed by the Spirit of God, and were intended, not for the gratification of self-love, but for the welfare of the church. This he illustrated by the similitude of the human body, all the parts of which stand in an intimate relation to one another, and are necessary to the beauty, strength, and the perfection of the whole body. He showed that no Christian, especially that no public teacher should glory in his own qualifications or endowments, but should use them for the perfecting of the saints, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Applying this interesting portion of Scripture to our own case, let us, brethren, distinctly consider the errors against which we are here guarded, and the duties here inculcated.

First. We are here guarded against supposing that no differ ence exists and that no distinction is to be made among the members of Christ's church. There are some who think that all Christians are on the same level; that all have the same right to preach the gospel, to be guides and teachers in the church, and to administer Christian ordinances. Now from whatever source this opinion is derived, or whatever may be the form it assumes, it is entirely contrary to the word of God. Both the Old Testament and the New make a distinction among men in regard to office, and describe the different places to be occupied, and the different duties to be discharged, by the members of God's spiritual kingdom. The text in particular guards us against every approach to the error above mentioned, by referring us to the human body, the members of which occupy different places and perform different functions, some higher and some lower, though all are essential to the perfection of the body.

The opinion that all Christians ought to hold the same rank, is contrary to the plan of God's works. In what part of the world can you find anything favorable to such an opinion? There is no nation or society, in which all are or could be upon a level, either as to office or influence. Where in the whole creation can you discover anything like a system of perfect equality? Even those who fill the office of the ministry, are not in all respects upon a level. I reject the idea of distinct orders among the ministers of Christ. Still we cannot but perceive that, within the compass of that one office, there are different, stations to be held, and different duties to be performed, and that the variety of qualifications which ministers possess, exactly fit them for those different stations and duties. The Apostle, with his eye directly upon the public teachers of religion, repeatedly asserts that there are different qualifications and duties, and labors to show in what light those differences are to be regarded. "God hath set some in the church, first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that, miracles," etc.-" dividing to every man severally as he will." And it is a fact, that whatever men's speculative opinions may be on this subject, they act agreeably to the views of the Apostle. His views are perfectly consonant to the circumstances of human beings, and to the whole scheme of God's works. In the concerns of religion, as well as in the concerns of civil society, there are places of extraordinary importance to be occupied; works of uncommon magnitude and difficulty to be accomplished. Who shall be designated for those places? Who shall be called to accomplish those works? Are all qualified alike? No. We always inquire, who possess the talents and traits of character, best suited to the particular offices to be filled. When we find this suitableness, we are satisfied, and act accordingly. A man who should act on any other principle, would be essentially wanting in Christian prudence, and would show that, however honest his heart may be, he is not fit to be trusted with the interests of religion.

Secondly. We are here guarded against the error of supposing, that God furnishes us with any talents, whether ordinary

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