"Inafmuch as we cannot know the things of the "Spirit, without a fpiritual difcernment *, prayer "is, in the first place, neceffary to obtain a right "judgment of them. Before, therefore, you de"termine to ftop your ears against your minifter, 66 go and earnestly intreat the Lord, that "the eyes "of your understanding being enlightened, you "may know of the doctrine, whether it be of "Godt." You may put off these things with a ❝laugh and a fneer, and brand them with what ig"nominious name you please. This will be no "argument, I will not fay of religion, but even of good fenfe or good manners. I would warn 66 you also, that you cannot fo put off the awful "concerns of death, judgment, and eternity! "However you may now refufe to liften to your "minister, there is a time coming when God will "be heard, and it becomes you to confider, how you will answer to HIM, for the contempt thus. "put upon his word." In the mean time, I am thankful, that fo many of you have embraced them, and I do not defpair of this being the cafe with many others, even after I fhall have ceased to exift. I " caft my bread on "the waters;" and doubt not, that it will be found "after many days §." Should my life be spared, I fhall hope, by divine grace, to add to these fermons a fecond volume, of fuch as have likewife been preached * 1 Cor. ii. 14. Eph. i. 18. John vii. 17. See A Parochial Minifter's Addrefs to his Pari fhioners," published at Leicester about twenty years ago. Edit: 3d, page 8th and 9th. § Eccl. xi. I God, your preached to you. Weak and imperfect as thefe difcourfes are, it is poffible that, by the bleffing of children's children may be the better for them; and that fome may meet me, in the realms of glory, who may have afcribed their first religious impreffions to the perufal of them. They will probably be read by fome perfons with lefs prejudice than they have been heard; and will, at leaft, be received, as a well-meant endeavour for their real and lasting advantage. God knows that "my heart's defire, and frequent prayer to "HIM for you is, that you may be faved." I can fafely appeal to HIм for the fincerity with which I have laboured after the falvation of your fouls. This has been my only object which I have pursued, and will purfue, through "evil 66 report, and good report t." I have fought "not 66 yours, but you; and have been, and am, willing to fpend and be "fpent for you, although "the more abundantly I love fome of you, the "lefs I be loved §." I have "watched for your "fouls, as one that muft give account." "Know"ing the terror of the Lord, I have perfuaded 66 you to flee from the wrath to come (a)." And, "I take you to record this day," that, as I have been willing to please you all, as far as I could do it "for your good, to edification (b),” so “ I "have not fhunned to declare unto you all the "counfel of God (c)," that if any of you perifh *Rom. x. 1. a 3 in 2 Cor. ii: 14. See 1 Pet. v. 2, &c. John iv. 35, 36. 2 Cor. vi. 8.2 Cor. 12. 151 Heb. xiii. 17. (a) 2 Cor. v. 10, 11. (†) Røm, xv, 2ạ (c) Acts xx, 26, 27. in your fins, I may be able to fay, "Your blood "be upon your own heads: I am clean *' *" I dare not preach or publish any thing, but "the "truth, as it is in Jefus t:" but ftill, I would with ever to "fpeak the truth in love." I dare: not pervert or conceal the gofpel of Chrift." Does not the apoftle fay, Woe is me, if I preach "not the gospel !" Though we, or an angel ❝from heaven, preach any other gofpel unto, 66 you, than that which we have preached unto "you, let him be accurfed. As we said before, "fo fay I now again,. If any man preach any "other gospel unto you, than that ye have receiv "ed, let him be accurfed ||?" Does he not fay, "Let a man fo account of us, as of the minifters "of Chrift; and ftewards of the myfteries of "God: moreover, it is required, in ftewards, that "a man be found faithful (a)?" How then should I dare to be otherwife! How fhould I dare to "keep back any thing that may be profitable for "you! (b)" How fhould I, in that cafe, " deliver "my own foul!" "If I give you not warning," will not your "blood be required at my "hands (c)? Should I not equally degrade my character as a minister of the Church of Chrift, and of the Church of England? Should I not be your very worst enemy?" worst enemy?" Whether you Whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear (d)." I muft do my XX..20.. (c) See + Eph. iv. 21, Gal. i. 8, & 9. duty, + Ver. 15. See. 6, & 7. (b) Acts 1 to 12. Dan. xii. 3. (d) Ezek, ii. 5, & 7. iii, 11. duty, in making known the myftery of the gofpel, for which I am an ambaffador;" and hopet to peak boldly, as I ought to speak *.” Our Bifhop, in his first charge t, reminds his. clergy, that the doctrines which we are bound, "by our duty to God, and to the laws of our "country, and the engagements of our holy pro "feffion, to inculcate and maintain, have been, "of late years, too much neglected." And; in his laft charge, he tells us,." It is incumbent on "us to prefent them frequently to our congrega"tions; to imprefs them on their minds with all "the energy we can derive from language; with "all the affection they are calculated to infpire," &c. And, at our ordination, all the minifters of the Church of England are thus folemnly ex-horted by their diocefan "See that you never "ceafe your labour, your care, and diligence, until you have done all that lieth in you, according. "to your bounden duty, to bring all fuch as are: or shall be committed to your charge, unto that agreement in the faith and knowledge of God, "and to that ripenefs and perfectness of age in 66 Chrift, that there be no place left among you, "either for error in religion, or for viciousness of "life.". And, we are reminded, at the fame time, "If it fhall happen, the fame Church, or any mem-· "ber thereof, do take any hurt or hindrance, by "reafon of our negligence, we know the greatnefs "of the fault, and alfo the horrible punishment' "that will enfue§." * Eph. vi. 19, & 20: + Page 28 Office for the ordering of priests. tion immediately following the gospel. Oh! Page 22, &c. The exhortaSee Jer. chap: xxiii. Oh! my dear friends, I have been with you, "in weakness, and fear, and much trembling. "And my fpeech, and my preaching, have not "been with enticing words of man's wisdom." God grant that they may have been, and may ftill be, "in demonftration of the Spirit, and of power; "that your faith may not ftand in the wifdom of "men, but in the power of God *;" that, when we appear together, on the great day, before our common Judge, none of you may have to accufe me of unfaithfulness, or wilful neglect ! that I may not have to testify against the final impenitency and unbelief of any of you! that fuch of you as have partly embraced the gospel of Chrift, being firmly perfuaded, in your minds, of the truths which you hear delivered, may become obedient to it in all things; and may experience all its divine confolations, and fupport, both in time and eternity while fuch of you as are Chriftians indeed, may 66 grow in grace," until you become fully meet to be partakers of the inheritance of "the faints in lightt!" God grant! that we may all finally enjoy this, "through fanctification of "the Spirit, and belief of the truth," for the fake of Jefus Chrift, his only-begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour! Such is the prayer of Your affectionate, Though unworthy Minifter, N. HOLLINGSWORTH. xxiii. -*. 30, & 31.- -xii. 10, & 10, 14, 15, & 16. & xxxiv. -xiv. Ifa. lvi. 10, 11, 12. Ezek. chapters xiii, 1 Cor. ii. 4. & 5. * + Col. i. 12. a Theff. ii. 13: |