Greatly encouraged by the sanction which your concurrence gave to the plan; and also by that which it received from the approbation of some of the most eminent of the London ministers, of different denominations, to whom I had an opportunity of communicating it on my return home; I proposed it in general to my reverend and worthy brethren in these parts, at a meeting of ministers; which was held here at Northampton, about the middle of August. The proposals were, in the general, very well received; and it was agreed to take them into a more particular consideration in a conference, at our next assembly, to be held at Kettering, on Thursday, the 15th of October.

To that conference, Gentlemen, the sermon with which I now present you, was introductory; and the result of it was, that the heads of the scheme I had concerted with you at Denton, with a few other particulars which had not then occurred to my thoughts, were unanimously approved; and we are taking proper measures for carrying them into execution. And, as this discourse may fall into the hands of some, who may be curious to know what the particulars were; and as I bore them so frequently in my thoughts, through many passages of my sermon, I shall take the freedom here to give an account of them, though, I doubt not, but the most material of them are fresh in your memories.

It seemed most agreeable to the deference due to the reverend assembly, to propose the scheme in the form of queries; on which the following resolutions were formed, nemine contradicente.

I. That it may tend to the advancement of religion, that the ministers of this association, if they have not very lately done it, should agree to preach one Lord's day on family religion, and another on secret prayer; and that the time should be fixed, in humble hope that concurrent labours, connected with concurrent petitions to the throne of grace, might produce some happy effect.

II. That it is proper, that pastoral visiting should be more solemnly attended to; and that greater care should be taken in personal inspection, than has generally been used. And that it may conduce to this good end, that each minister should take an exact survey of his flock, and note down the names of the heads of families, the children, the servants, and other single persons in his auditory, in order to keep proper memorandums concerning each; that he may judge the better of the particulars of his duty with regard to every one, and may observe how his visits, exhortations, and admonitions, correspond to their respective characters and circumstances.

III. That consequent on this survey, it will be proper as soon as possible, and henceforward at least once a year, to visit, if it be practicable, every head of a family under our ministerial care, with a solemn charge to attend to the business of religion, in their hearts, and houses, watching over their domestics in the fear of the Lord, we, at the same time, professing our readiness to give them all proper assistances for this purpose.

IV. That it will be highly expedient, immediately, or as soon as may be, to set up the work of catechising in one form or another, and to keep to it statedly for one half of the year at least: and that it is probable, future counsels may ripen some scheme for carrying on this work, in a manner which may tend greatly to the propagation of real, vital, catholic christianity, in the rising generation.

V. That there is reason to apprehend, there are, in all our congrega tions, some pious and valuable persons, who live in a culpable neglect of the Lord's supper; and that it is our duty, particularly to inform ourselves who

they are, and to endeavour, by our prayers to God, and our serious addresses to them, to introduce them into communion; to which, I question not, we shall all willingly add, cautiously guarding against any thing in the methods of admission, which may justly discourage sincere christians of a tender and timorous temper.

VI. That it is to be feared, there are some, in several of our communions at least, who behave in such a manner as to give just offence; and that we may be in great danger of making ourselves partakers of other men's sins, if we do not animadvert upon them: and that if they will not reform, or if the crime be notorious, we ought, in duty to God, and to them, and to all around us, solemnly to cut them off from our sacramental communion, as a reproach to the church of Christ.

VII. That it inay, on many accounts, be proper to advise our people, to enter into little bands, or societies, for religious discourse and prayer; each consisting of six or eight, to meet for these good purposes once in a week, or a fortnight, as may best suit with their other engagements and affairs.

VIII. That it might be advisable, if it can be done, to select out of each congregation under our care, a small number of persons, remarkable for experienced prudence, seriousness, humility, and zeal, to act as a stated council for promoting religion in the said society: and that it would be proper, they should have some certain times of meeting, with each other, and with the minister, to join their counsels, and their prayers for the public good.

IX. That so far as we can judge, it might, by the divine blessing, conduce to the advancement of these valuable ends, that neighbouring ministers, ! in one part of our land and another, especially in this country, should enter into associations, to strengthen the hands of each other by united consultations and prayer: and that meetings of ministers might, by some obvious regulations, be made more extensively useful than they often are: in which view it was farther proposed, with unanimous approbation, that these meetings should be held at certain periodical times:That each member of the association should endeavour, if possible, to be present, studying to order his affairs so, as to guard against unnecessary hindrances: That public worship should begin and end sooner, than it commonly has done on these occasions: That each pastor preach at these assemblies in his turn:That the minister of the place determine who shall be employed in prayer:That after a moderate repast, to be managed with as little trouble and expence as may be, an hour or two in the afternoon be spent in religious conference and prayer, and in taking into consideration, merely as a friendly council, and without the least pretence to any right of authoritative decision, the concerns of any brother, or any society, which may be brought before us for our advice:And finally, that every member of this association shall consider it as an additional obligation upon him, to endeavour to be, so far as he justly and honourably can, a friend and guardian to the reputation, comfort, and usefulness of all his brethren in the christian ministry, near or remote, of whatever party and denomination.

X. That it may be proper to enter into some farther measures, to reguJate the admission of young persons into the ministry.The particulars here were referred to farther consideration: but, so far as I can judge, the plan proposed will be pretty nearly this :-That if any student, within the compass of this association, desires to be admitted as a preacher, he apply to the ministers at one of their periodical meetings; when, if they be in the gene

himself; of whom every faithful minister is indeed a living image. They will therefore Esteem you very highly in love for your work's sake *. The maintenance they give you, will be cheerfully offered, in proportion to their respective abilities, as the tribute of gratitude, and the pledge of endearment. Your afflictions will be the common grief, and your prosperity their joy; and each of them will look upon himself as obliged in duty to approve himself, the guardian of your character, and of your peace. Their hearts, as well as their houses, will be open to you; their countenances will tell you, better than any words can do it, how welcome you are to them; and every proper token of respect will be cordial, in proportion to the degree in which it is unconstrained. And where this is the case, you will have no cause to envy any dignities or revenues, which mere power may command, but which no superior splendor and abundance can render equally sweet. Above all must it encourage you, to reflect,

4. That you have the promise of your master's presence, and may trust in him for the communication of his Spirit.

He hath told his ministers, He will be with them always, even unto the end of the world +: And you may rest on the veracity of a word, that shall continue, though heaven and earth shall pass away t. Christ will meet you; Christ will strengthen you. He will feed and cheer your soul; that you may be enabled to feed and to cheer those that he has committed to your care. It is not a mere empty sound: Your brethren, and your fathers, among whom you stand this day, can from their own experience attest the truth of the promise. He has softened our fatigues: He has sweetened our afflictions; and carried us with songs in our mouths through scenes, at the very distant prospect of which we should have trembled. Having obtained help from Him, we continue even to this day §, the living, the cheerful witnesses of his power, his goodness, and his faithfulness, Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus . And remember,

5. That in consequence of this, you may expect such considerable improvements in personal religion, as shall be a rich equivalent for all your labours, and for all you can resign for the ministry, or suffer in it.

It must be nourishing to the soul, if it be spiritually alive, to be so continually conversant with spiritual and divine things. Your meditations, your prayers, and your public discourses, your private converses on religious subjects and occasions, toge

* 1 Thess. v. 13. † Mat, xxviii. 20. † Luke xvi. 17. § Acts xxvi. 22. 2 Tim. ii. 1.

ther with the administration of both the sacraments, will all have a great tendency, under a divine blessing, to make good impressions on your own heart, and to advance you in a holy and devout temper. While you are thus daily Watering others, you will be watered yourself *; as I doubt not but you will remember, that while you Teach others, you teach yourself also↑. While the daily cares of others in their secular callings, have an apparent tendency to divert their minds from God, yours will tend directly to him, and give you advantages, beyond what can easily be imagined, for being Continually with him: Such advantages indeed, that, were the nature, and the value of them sufficiently known, men would be ready to contend for the ministry, as for a sacred prize. They would esteem it among the greatest privileges of a plentiful estate, that it might give them opportunities of being educated for it, and of being independent in it; while that independency was considered as some additional security for their fidelity. And the zeal, with which persons of the highest rank among us would then press forward to this work, would bring us into a necessity of directing into some other channel that provision, which the wise charity of some public benefactors, the living and the dead, has made for the support of poor students for the ministry: A charity, which in the low ebb to which religion is fallen amongst us, may almost, under God, be called the hope of our churches, even for the very next generation. Especially would the richest and greatest esteem it their honour and their happiness, did they consider what I am in the last place to mention to you, my dear brother, viz.

6. The glorious expectation and hope, which closes the whole prospect.

What if every other hope, but that of religious improvement, were in a moment to vanish? What if nothing should remain, between this and the grave, but the view of labours, of reproaches, of tribulations, of persecutions? What if you were to conflict, through the whole of your course, with the malice of enemies, the coldness and ingratitude of friends, the incorrigi ble obstinacy of sinners, the perverseness and imperfections of those, whom, if any are such, we must hope to be christians? Here is enough to balance all. Death is approaching: Death, that stripped Aaron of his garments and of his burdens together, and ended all his painful pilgrimage. Be faithful unto death, says our divine Master, and I will give thee a crown of life §.

* Prov. xi. 25.

+ Rom. ii. 21.

Psal. lxxiii. 23. § Rev. ii. 10.

Oh think every day, of the extasy with which you shall receive that crown, and of the high everlasting exultation with which you shall wear it. Think of the joy, with which, after a life of persevering fidelity to him, your separate spirit shall ascend into his presence, e'er yet this body, the instrument of his service, shall be laid in the grave. Think of the congratulations, with which your venerable predecessors, your eminently pious parents, and those of your flock who have fled upwards before you, will then meet you, and hail your arrival. And think, how. Jesus will, by one smile and embrace, overpay all the labours and sufferings of a long protracted life. Think of the complacency and delight, with which you will look down on the field which you have cultivated, and on the growing harvest you have left behind; while perhaps some of the blessed fruits of your labours may be running on from age to age, so as to be the means of propagating christianity to the last rounds of time. And Oh think, above all, of the great day of the Lord, When the chief Shepherd shall appear, that he may confer on you, and on all those who have faithfully discharged their ministry, a crown of glory that fadeth not away *. Then, when every christian of the lowest station and character shall receive his proper share of honour and reward, what may you expect, if you faithfully improve your ten talents; when those of your people whom you have converted or edified, appear with you as your Joy and your crown in the presence of the Lord †, and are honoured with the public applause and remunerations of the eternal and universal Judge in the face of the whole assembled world? All the pageantry of human greatness passes away like a dream; The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood: But human souls are durable and immortal; and they that have turned many of them to righteousness, shall have, in each, an everlasting ornament, and decked with a new lustre from each, Shall shine as the stars for ever and ever§.

May that God whom we serve, through the riches of his grace, give us all a portion in the triumph of that day! And may he add to all the joy, which the most unworthy of his servants is humbly bold to expect in it, that of seeing you, my dear brother, giving up an account of a faithful and happily successful ministry! To encourage and assist you in the discharge of which, may these plain hints conduce, through the blessing of him, who knows how, from the least and most inconsiderable seeds, to call up a rich and plentiful harvest! Amen.

* 1 Pet. v. 4.

+1 Thess. ii. 19.

Acts ii. 20.

§ Dan. xii. 3.