SERMON XXII.

On the DUTIES of the PREACHER and the HEARER.

2 CORINTHIANS, ii. 16. -And who is fufficient for these things?

THOUGH the Chriftian world is de

plorably divided on the articles of the creed, yet it unites in fome particulars of more importance than any contested opinions on topics merely doctrinal and fpeculative. All fects and all perfuafions feem to allow the utility of periodical exhortations from the pulpit, to piety and to virtue. The voice of experience has long decided on the benefits derived to fociety, from this mode of religious inftruction. Great good has certainly been produced by it, and much evil prevented: thousands, and tens of thousands, reclaimed from fin and mifery: charities, for

the relief of every evil which human endeavours can alleviate, inftituted, fupported, extended: religion cherished and diffused through all ranks; as it is a means of instruction open to all, without price, without folicitation, fhining like the fun upon the poor and the abject, with no less warmth and light than on the great and powerful.

The establishment of a standing ministry, and of weekly inftruction in certain districts throughout the kingdom, is a fine opportunity afforded by Providence for the improvement of civil fociety, and the instruction of human nature. Where the magiftrate cannot reach, the preacher can penetrate, even to the receffes of the heart. Great is the undertaking, and great has been the fuccefs of it in all ages of Christianity. The foldiers of Chrift have fought a good fight; the olive branch their banner, the fouls of their fellow-creatures their trophies, and heaven, we humbly hope, the reward of their victory.

But useful as is the inftitution, and honourable the office of the Chriftian preacher, it is alfo in a high degree difficult; and every one of us, however able and improved, may exclaim with the Apoftle, Who is fufficient for these things?

Give me leave to enumerate, in a curfory manner, some of the requifites in a Christian preacher, not with an intention to arrogate too much to our office, but that, confidering the difficulty of the work, you may learn to make due allowances for flight defects and involuntary failure. Let it be remembered, that we preach not ourselves, but Chrift Jefus the Lord, and ourselves your fervants, for Fefus Christ's fake.

THEOLOGY has been termed by an old writer*, "the art of arts, the science of fciences; the 66 queen of all other attainments, to which they "do but adminifter, in a fubordinate capacity."

But, if the blind lead the blind, both sball fall into the ditch, faith our Saviour. He therefore who completely fupports the character of a parish prieft and a Christian orator, must unite in himself, natural abilities of the first rate, and acquirements of the highest value. He muft poffefs inborn endowments, the gifts of God, improved by a moft comprehenfive education. To these he must add the study of the languages and fciences, great reading, mature reflection in filence and folitude, accurate obfervation of men and manners in active life, a knowledge of the heart

and the effects of the paffions: a perfpicuous, if not a graceful ftyle; a command of language, powers of oratory, both bodily and mental, a love of his profeffion; above all, a warm and lively sense of devotion, of piety to God, and charity to man.

But, if all these accomplishments are neceffary, what mortal but must shrink from the arduous employment, and exclaim with the Apoftle, Who is fufficient for these things?

Human nature, in the general idea of it, we are all ready to acknowledge, is weak. Paftors of the church cannot be fuppofed by any reasonable man, exempt from the common infirmity. The powers of the understanding are bestowed in various degrees, limited in all, liable to decay, to lapfes, to errors, where they are bestowed by nature in the greatest vigour, and confirmed by every attainable auxiliary of art. The will is depraved in the best of men. Strong paffions ufually accompany ftrong powers. The love of pleasure operates most intensely on the warmeft imagination; and a great degree of irritability always attends that fine organization of the nerves, which accompanies great genius, and too often renders this noble diftinction a real misfortune. Ill health, indifpofition of mind, feasons of

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unaccountable languor and inactivity, often deaden the energies of the understanding, cloud the fplendour of genius, and render learning an unwieldy mass of useless and indigefted materials.

When we thus contemplate the greatness of the work, and the imbecility of the workman, we cannot but feel a deep sense of humiliation. We might, indeed, fink into despair, if we did not discover fountains of hope iffuing from two different fources; from the GRACE of heaven, and the favourable propenfities of a pious and benevolent audience. Perfuafion, indeed, depends no lefs on the difpofition of the hearer, than the skill of the preacher; and the art of hearing with improvement, requires to be ftudied no lefs affiduously than the art of speaking with power and authority. "You think, very juftly," fays a great prelate," that a great deal is incumbent upon us; "but do you confider with equal attention, "what is incumbent on yourselves?"

It is the duty of the hearers to enter the church with minds open to conviction, divested of pride, felf-conceit, and all personal prejudices against the instructor. It is their duty to approach the altar, not as critics affembled in the schools to judge the literary merit of a compofition,

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