been, at once the Ornaments and Supports of it, are taken away, and removed by Death, we cannot but be in Pain for the Confequences; left it should fall into Ruins, and left we too fhould perish in those Ruins. There is but too much Room to fear it, without a peculiar Watchfulness in those who furvive, to ftrengthen the Things which remain, but are likewife ready to die. I have introduced this Allufion here, juft to illuftrate the Connexion there is betwixt the Interefts of Religion in general, and the fad Event which has given the immediate Occafion to this Difcourfe. As to the religious Interefts of this Society, in particular, how deeply, and in what a tender Part they are wounded by it, I need not say; how fenfible you are of it, appears, in a good Degree, from the forrowful and refpectful Appearance of your prefent affembling yourfelves together. And I could almost wish, from the Incapacity I feel for any thing more, that I had nothing more to do, than to mingle my Tears with yours, in the paffionate Exclamation of the Prophet Elisha, when his Mafter Elijah was parted from him, on the Plains of Jordan, My Father, my Father; the Chariot of Ifrael, and the Horsemen thereof!" But this would ill agree with the Duties of my prefent Station, or the Duties of thofe Relations, which I have had the Pleasure of ftanding in, for fome Years past, both to this Church, and your late worthy Paftor,

Paftor, now with God! whofe Death, therefore, I must now endeavour to make fome good Ufe of, for yours, and my own, mutual Confolation and Improvement. And I don't know any Subject, in facred Writ, which would have done more Juftice to his Character, than the Words which I have directed your serious Attention to; as will appear, I am perfuaded, when we have well weighed, in the first Place,

I. The Character which is implied in them.
Secondly,

II. The Duties of that Character. And,
Thirdly,

III. The Reward of it.

These are such Particulars as the Text naturally fuggefts to our Confideration, without the leaft Violence or Force. After having gone through them, with all convenient Brevity, I fhall endeavour to make a fuitable Application of them, and of that gloomy Providence which has led me to them.

I. The first Thing to be confidered is, The Character implied in the Paffage prefixed to this Difcourfe.

It is evidently that of a good Soldier of Fefus Chrift. A little Attention to the figurative Stile of the Evangelifts, and Apofties, would eafily lead you into the View of Christianity, as a spiritual Warfare, frequently alluding to

B 2

fuch

[4]

fuch military Customs, amongst the Romans, as were well known to the facred Writers. In this View we have been taught to confider that proverbial Saying of our Saviour's, Matt. xx. 16. "Many are called, but few are chofen." Alluding to the Cuftom of calling together, by publick Summons, all who were capable of bearing Arms; who were thereupon obliged to appear, when Forces were to be raifed: Out of those who were thus called, by publick Proclamation, Officers, appointed for the Purpose, chofe proper Perfons for the Service, and difmiffed the reft. Hither too the fame good Critic (a) refers thofe Words of St. Peter," Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give Diligence to make your Calling and Election fure. See 2 Pet. i. 10. And alio that Paffage in Rev. xvii. 14. "Thefe fhall make War with the Lamb, and the Lamb fhall overcome them: For he is the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings; and they that are with him are called, and chofen, and faithful." Should these Authorities be thought infufficient, there are others which prove the Point before us, beyond all Difpute; as 2 Cor. x. 4. "For the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God, to the pulling down of Strong-holds." 1 Tim. i. 18. "This Charge I commit unto thee, Son Timothy, according to the Prophefies which went before on thee, that thou by them mighteft war a good War

(a) Brekell, in his Chriftian Warfare.

fare."

fare." 1 Tim. vi. 12. " Fight the good Fight of Faith, lay hold on eternal Life, whereunto thou art called, &c." St. Paul, fpeaking of his Fidelity in the Miniftry, particularly his Readinefs, upon all Emergencies, either to repel the Affaults of his fpiritual Enemies, on one hand, or to bear up under any Difficulties and Difcouragements, in the Way of his Duty, on the other, expreffes it by "the Armour of Righteousness on the Right Hand and on the Left." See 2 Cor. vi. 7. But the strongest Allufion to Christianity, as a fpiritual Warfare, is in St. Paul's Epiftle to the Saints at Ephefus, Chap. vi. Ver. 10-17. "Finally, my Brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of his Might. Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil. For we wrestle not against Flesh and Blood, but againft Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World, against fpiritual Wickedness in high Places. Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil Day, and having done all, to ftand. Stand therefore, having your Loins girt about with Truth, and having on the Breaft-plate of Righteousness; and your Feet fhod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace; above all, taking the Shield of Faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery Darts of the Wicked. And take the Helmet of Salvation, and the

Sword.

Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."-Confidering the Christian Life in this View, the Minifters of the Gospel are very pertinently introduced as the Soldiers of Jefus Chrift, whom the Apostle to the Hebrews calls "the Captain of our Salvation," under whofe Banner they have enlifted, as fo many Volunteers, to serve against Sin, Satan, and the World, thofe natural and avowed Enemies of God and Christ, or of Religion and the Souls of Men. Wherefore St. Paul exhorts his Son Timothy, a young Minister of the Gospel, to "endure Hardnefs, as a good Soldier of Jefus Chrift." Adding, "No Man that warreth, entangleth himself with the Affairs of this Life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a Soldier," a Chriftian Warrior, one who should wage perpetual War with Vice, Immorality, and Profanenefs, wherever he meets with it, and in whatever Shape, whether the most formidable, or the moft flattering. From what has now occurred, you will obferve, what the Character is, implied in the Text, and readily admit the Propriety of it. I may therefore proceed, to what it was faid the Text naturally fuggefts to us, in the second Place, viz.

II. The Duties of that Character; or, in other Words, the Qualities requifite in a good Soldier of Jefus Chrift.

J. The