scure his light for awhile, and yet serve only, in the event, as a foil to set off the glory of the sun, when he breaks through these clouds, and darts his beams down upon this earth among the children of men. Inf. 5. See from this doctrine, what we are to think of the conduct of the judicatories of the established church at this day, and for many years past, who seem to be upon a conspiracy to put out the gospel-lamp, which God lighted at our reformation from Popery. Perhaps some hearing me may think this charge both heavy and calumnious, and say, Now you are turned very uncharitable. But if it be not so, I would have you to solve these few plain questions. “ What meaneth the bleating of the sheep? What means that swarm of lax, legal, and erroneous ministers that are to be found almost through all the corners of Scotland ? What means that violent way in which men are obtruded upon congregations by presentations or sham calls, without the call, and against the inclinations, of the Christian people? What means the abuse of church discipline, by which the erroneous are screened from censure, truth falls in the streets, and error patronised? What means their suspending, outcasting, and deposing seven men from the holy ministry, for no other cause but their bearing up the gospel-lamp, and witnessing for God's anointed Prophet, Priest, and King, in opposition to the prevailing defections and corruptions of the day? What can we think of these things, especially when they have slain the witnesses and condemned their testimony, but conclude that they have rejected the stone which God has ordained to be the head stone of the corner ? And because they have rejected him (I do not speak of every individual,) therefore God has rejected them, and is saying of the judicatories and ministry of Scotland, “ Because ye have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that ye shall be no priests to me; seeing ye have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children,” Hos. iv. 6. Inf. 6. See what good reason we of the Associate Presbytery have for the work we are about at this day, in licensing and ordaining ministers through several corners of the land, in a way of secession from the present judicatories, however irregular it may appear in the eyes of some men. Why, the gospel-lamp must by no manner of means be lost or extinguished. By the attempts that have been made to put it out, or make it useless, we are driven to preserve it in a way of secession from the judicatories, and we can see no other way of keeping up the gospel-lamp in the land, than by fulfilling that command given by Paul to Timothy: “ The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same com mit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also," 2 Tim. ii. 1. And in regard the lamp-bearer at Kinclaven is thrust out of his station there, through ecclesiastical and civil violence; therefore we are this day to change his station and set him up at Glasgow, upon a call given him by the dissenting congregation in and about this place. (Aster psalms, proceeded to this purpose :-) “ You in this correspondent congregation having a considerable time ago petitioned the Associate Presbytery for the moderation of a call, they accordingly appointed myself. Which appointment I accordingly obeyed. And you may remember, by a great majority of votes, the call came out for the Reverend Mr. James Fisher, minister of the gospel at Kinclaven; and was most harmoniously subscribed for him even by the few who had voted otherwise. “ His call being attested, was presented to the presbytery, and sustained as orderly proceeded in. Together with the call, reasons of transportation were offered by you of the correspondence of Glasgow. The parish of Kinclaven were summoned, compeared, and heard, and the matter fully reasoned on both sides. After some considerable delay, the presbytery, which met at Abbotshall, taking to consideration the whole affair, together with the conduct of holy providence, which plainly cleared their way, they transported him to be minister of this correspondent congregation, and appointed this day for his admission. His edict being served, was returned, and no objection offered against the designed transportation and admission.” And therefore, We now proceed to fix the relation between you and him. (Here Mr. James Fisher was called up, and proceeded:-) “Reverend Sir, although both I, and all the Reverend brethren and members of the Associate Presbytery are fully convinced of your orthodoxy and soundness in the faith, and of your firm attachment to the covenanted reformation of Scotland, both as to doctrine, discipline, worship, and government; yet I suppose it will be expedient and necessary, for the satisfaction of the people here, that you give answer to a few questions, which the Reverend Presbytery appointed me to put to you.” (Here the usual questions were read one by one. After which proceeded thus :-) 66 Now, I suppose you who are the people, are fully satisfied I with the answers given by the Reverend Mr. Fisher to these questions. You have, it is true, already signed and consented, that he should be your minister, by the call which you have given him. However, I suppose it will be encouraging to him, and satisfying to the presbytery, that you discover your adherence to your call, by the zeigotovic, or lifting up of the hand. “ So many of you as can conveniently come near, may come forward, and take him by the hand; others, who cannot, may do it upon the dismissing of the congregation." Now I shall conclude this work by offering a few words of advice to minister and people. First, To the minister. Reverend sir, God in his adorable providence, who “ has the stars in his right hand,” has seen fit to move you from another place, and to fix you here, in order to bear the lamp for his Anointed to this people, upon a very public and conspicuous tower. And, in order to the right management of the gospel-lamp, there are only a few advices that I would offer; and what advice I offer to you, i take to myself, and I make no doubt but my Reverend brethren will also listen to them. 1. Let us study to be well satisfied in our own minds, that we carry the call and commission of God's Anointed, to bear the gospel-lamp before him, so as to be in case to say to our people, as Moses was ordered to say to Israel, “l'am hath sent me unto you,” Exod. iii. 14; or with the apostles, “ We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God,” 2 Cor. v. 20. It inspires a minister's heart with courage, and harnesses his spirit against the slavish fear of man, and all that man can do; it makes him bold as a lion in delivering his commission, when he is confident that he stands in Christ's stead, and speaks in his name. 2. It is necessary, in bearing the gospel-lamp, that we remember we are in the very sight and presence of our great and glorious Master, Jesus Christ, “ the King of kings, and Lord of lords," whose eyes are as a flame of fire, and observes the motives, ends, and principles, by which we were actuated, and will shortly call us to give up an account of our stewardship, &c. 3. It is necessary we remember for what end we carry the lamp of the everlasting gospel to our people, namely, to show to them the way of salvation, by presenting both their lost condition by nature in the first Adam, and how they may be delivered by a second Adam. In order to the salvation of poor souls, both law-light, and gospel-light, is necessary to be scattered among our hearers, &c. 4. In holding up the gospel-lamp, let us be frequently trimming our lamps before God's holy oracle, much in studying the scriptures of truth ; " for these are they that testify of Christ,” God's anointed dear. We need to follow that ad. vice given by the apostle Peter to all in common, ministers and Christians: “We have a more sure word of prophecy; unto which we do well that we take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day,” of grace “ dawn.” in the souls of our hearers, “and the day-star arise in their hearts,” 2 Pet. i. 19. “The word of God is like a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path,” Psal. cxix. 105. 5. In order to the successful management of the gospellamp, we need frequently, by faith and fervent prayer, to fetch new oil for our lamps from God's Anointed, who had the oil of gladness poured upon his head above his fellows. However we may preach, and bring forth to our people, the pure truths of the gospel ; yet unless the oil of the Spirit come along with it, the lamp of the gospel shines dimly, and will not make its entrance into their hearts, &c. 6. In bearing the gospel-lamp, and preaching the everlasting gospel, let us study to have our hearts fired with love to God's Anointed, zeal for his glory, and the good of souls. It is observable, when Christ is re-installing Peter into his ministerial office, John xxi. 15, he says to him three several times, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" And when Peter had appealed to him three several times as the heart searching God, “ Lord, thou that knowest all things, knowest that I love thee,” he just requires this as a proof of his love to him, that he would feed his lambs and sheep. The love of Christ, and the love of souls, is like a cord by which a minister is drawn to be faithful, active, and diligent in his work ; “ for the love of Christ constraineth us,” 2 Cor. v. 14. 7. It is fit that we turn the light of the gospel-lamp in the very face of these errors and corruptions, whether in principle or practice, that begin to broach in the land or place in which we live. Many pestilential and soul-ruining errors have come abroad froñ our seminaries of learning, and particularly that which is next adjacent. Now, I know no better way to prevent their infection, than by bringing them as quickly as possible to the light of the word; for as the birds and beasts of prey creep into their holes when the light of the sun spreads itself along the face of the earth, so all error and corruption, in principle and practice, vanishes before the light of the word. But I come next to speak a word to the people, who are under the inspection of the minister of Christ now planted and settled among them. Time will not allow me to go on in the improvement of the doctrine I was insisting upon; and therefore I shall conclude at present, with two or three advices, how you are to behave with respect to your minister, who bears the lamp of God's Anointed before you. 1. Remember that there is a covenant between you and him. As he is engaged to fulfil all the parts of the ministerial office towards you, so you are engaged, on your part, to fulfil all the duties that the word of God, and laws of the King of Zion, require of you toward him. Not only covenants between God and man; but covenants between man and man are sacred things; and God resents the violation of them, as you see Ezék. xvii. You are not now at liberty to throw up and desert his ministry, or to turn your back upon him, particularly by running back to those of the corrupt body, from whom both you and he have made a secession, &c. 2. In order to your fulfilling your part of this day's trans- · action between you and him, I advise you to attend carefully and diligently upon his ministry, particularly upon the preaching of the gospel in public, the dispensation of the seals of the covenant, diets of catechising, and when he teaches from house to house. When you come to hear the word, rémember that the word you hear will take hold of you, and issue either in the life or death of your immortal souls; and what will all the world profit a man if he lose his soul? O then attend diligently, incline your ears, “ hear, that your -souls may live,” and the covenant may be made and established with you, &c. 3. Mingle faith with your hearing of the word preached by your minister; take his message, and receive his Master, God's Anointed. We are told that the word preached did not profit some, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it,” 'Heb. iv. 2. Let not your minister have occasion to take up that complaint against you, “Who hath believed my report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ?" He comes to offer “a Saviour and a great One,” to deliver you from sin and wrath. Oh beware of rejecting the offered remedy; for in so doing you despise God's herald or messenger, and him that sent him. When Christ is sending his apostles abroad to preach the gospel, he says, " He that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me," &c. 4. I advise you to submit to your minister and elders, in the administration of the key of discipline, they, being a radical court of Christ, constituted in the name of Christ for |