FRAGMENT.

A Dying Minister's Farewell. WHEN a Christian minister feels the springs of life giving way: his faculties decaying-his voice failing-his spirits sinking-though he may not have it in his power to say, as the apostle did to his friends, I know that ye all, among whom I have preached the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more-yet he should stand ready to part from his flock, and every sermon should be felt by him as if it were his last.

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men: for I have not shunned to declare unto you ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD. And what have I declared that counsel of God to be?-All the curious distinctions of the schools? All the peculiarities insisted on so strongly by different sects? No such thing! I have followed the great apostle in testifying REPENTANCE toward God and FAITH toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

There has been a slander brought against religion-that we are NOT AGREED, as to the truths we should set before men. I say, It is false! We ARE agreed. All, who know any thing of real religion, are agreed, that the SUBSTANCE of the matter is contained in REPENTANCE toward God, and FAITH toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

If a man, like the prodigal, feels that he has left his father's house-turned his back on God-and is become a fool and a madman for so doing—and that there is no hope but in his returning again: if such a change of mind is wrought in him by the Holy Spirit, as he wrought in David, when he cried, Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin: if, like Peter, he goes forth weeping bitterly-feeling that he has acted foolishly and wickedly, and that his only hope is in the mercy

of God through the Savior-then the man enters so far into the spirit of religion-REPENTANCE

TOWARD GOD.

But does he rest in this? Nay, he knows that if he could offer thousands of rams, and ten thousand rivers of oil, he could make no satisfaction for the sin of his soul. He looks to the atonement!-to Him, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood.

Repentance toward God must be accompanied by faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. These men are enabled to say, with St. Pau!, "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. I have no refuge but in him-no other hope-no other plea. All my confidence before God is grounded on this-that He suffered, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God."

If a minister testifies these things-if he speaks plainly and simply these grand essential truths of God's word-though he die before another Sabbath return, HE MAY REST IN PEACE-leaving the issue in God's hand.

The ground of a minister's own solid satisfaction cannot be POPULARITY: for, even to Simon Magus all gave heed, from the least to the greatest,saying, This man is the great power of God!-neither can he ground his satisfaction on the exercise of strong and enlarged TALENTS: for even Balaam was a man of extraordinary endowments-nor can it be on his SUCCESS: for many, saith our Lord, shall come to me, and say, Have we not done many wonderful works in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils? Then will I profess unto them, I never

knew you! As though he had said, "I deny not the works, but ye are evil men!"

But a minister's satisfaction must be grounded on the faithful discharge of his office in THE DELIVERY OF HIS MESSAGE. A Prince sends a special messenger to his rebellious subjects, with offers of pardon: in examining his conduct, he will not inquire whether they received and approved him or not: the question will be-"Did you deliver my message? Did you deliver it as one that believed

yourself? as one IN EARNEST?" If a man should come and tell you, with a cheerful countenance and careless air, that your house was on fire, and that you and your children would be burnt in the flames if you did not make haste to escape, you would not believe him. You would say, "He does not believe it himself, or he would not be so unfeeling as to speak of it in such a manner."

If a minister delivers his message, then no scorn, no reproach that may be cast upon him, can take away his rest-he has done his duty. When the King sent out his servants to invite men to his feast, they excused themselves on various pretences: but the servant might say, "No matter!-I have declared the message-I may rest in having done my part, though no success seems to attend my pressing invitations."

I would lodge, therefore, my appeal in your consciences-I take you to record-I appeal to conscience: for there is a conscience in man; and, in serious moments, it will speak out. It wrung from Joseph's brethren that confession, We are verily guilty concerning our brother! It forced Balaam himself to cry out, Let me die the death of the righteous! and let my last end be like his! It tormented the traitor Judas into that self accusation, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood!

When a young person has been talked to by his parents when they have represented to him the

sery and ruin of a wicked course, and of bad bits-he might affect to brave it out at the time; :he has gone afterward weeping through the eets-because CONSCIENCE WOULD SPEAK!

But when the Spirit of God softens a man's heart when he is made to FEEL what an evil and bitter ng it is to sin against God-then a faithful minis's appeal to that man is like that of St. Paul to Thessalonians: Ye are witnesses, and God also, v holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved selves among you that believe. As you know how exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one you (as a father doth his children) that ye would Ik worthy of God, who hath called you unto his gdom and glory. For this cause also thank we d without ceasing, because, when ye received the rd of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not the word of men, but, (as it is in truth) the word God, which effectually worketh also in you that ieve: 1 Thess. ii. 10-13.

It is most affecting to see to what miserable shifts n will have recourse, in order to evade the truth. It is IRRATIONAL," says one, "to insist so ch on certain peculiarities of doctrine!"-But ose reason shall be the judge?-For the preachof the cross is to them that perish foolishness: It is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the e, and will bring to nothing the understanding the prudent.

'It is UNNECESSARY," says another-But has d commanded-and do we pronounce his comnds unnecessary?

It is DISREPUTABLE"-Did Christ regard reption?-Nay, he made himself of no reputation. It is a NARROW way"-Ah! there, indeed, you nounce truly! The way to heaven is a narrow

But what says the Judge?-Wide is the e, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruc, and many there be which go in thereat; because

strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Oh how distressing is it to observe many, to whom we cannot but fear, the Gospel which they hear preached from Sunday to Sunday, is but the savor of death! If God has made a difference in any of us, let us not forget to whom we are indebted.

Brethren! You are my witnesses. I take you to record, that you have had the whole counsel of God declared unto you that all curious and metaphysical inquiries, all critical and conjectural points, have been carefully avoided for your sake. I have attempted to clear my ministry of all disputable subjects, in order to set before you the plain fact of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and of salvation through him.

But, consider! You also must give an account I must give an account, whether I plainly and simply declared the truth, as one who felt its importance, and was in earnest. You must give an account, whether you have gone away from thi place, as if you had heard nothing to the purpose and immediately dissipated your thoughts with some trifling subject-some mere secular concern -or-whether what you heard brought you to you knees before God, beseeching him to seal an impress his truth upon your hearts.

Oh consider the satisfaction you will find, i really embracing all the counsel of God. Conside how soon the time will come, in which it must your ONLY SATISFACTION, that you have embra ed it! Let it be your prayer, as you go hence "O God give me grace to repent with that repen ance which is unto life! Make me serious! me what I must do to be saved! Help me to belie the record which thou hast given of thy Son. Gi me faith to receive the atonement-to set to seal, that there is none other name under hear

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