Under a proper view of the work, you will at once, see yourself wholly insufficient without Divine strength. The most studied, pathetic address will be of but little effect, without the power of God. After all your study, you have need to be a man of prayer. Commend your sermons to God, and daily bear the case of your hearers before the throne of grace. You will be under temptations to keep back the truths of the gospel. A smooth address will best suit many, even of the most distinguished, and influential characters.— This is the way to gain what may be thought the most honorable notice and worldly affluence. But remember the consequence. Such honors and riches are too dearly bought. See to it then, that you preach the plain, simple truths of the gospel. See that you do it in a manner best adapted to awaken the consciences of your hearers. It is important that you speak feelingly, and that you let your life constantly enforce neligion on your hear ers. It is a great thing to be an ambassador of Christ, to be an instrument in promoting his kingdom, and at last to be crowned with glory. Let these considerations urge you to fidelity: Let the salvation of the souls of your hearers, and the honor of the head of the church be your great object through life, and you shall, at last receive the ap probation of the Mighty Judge, before the assembled universe.

I shall conclude with addressing a few words to the church and congregation in this place. I con.. gratulate you, my friends, on the pleasing prospect. presented to you this day; a day, in which God seems to be returning to you in mercy. You have for a long time, been destitute of the stated admin-," istration of the word and ordinances; but God. seems to be presenting you one, of the ascention. gifts of the Redeemer. If rightly improved, it

will be to you a great blessing: If, on the other hand, it be misimproved, the greatness of the blessing will only aggravate your condemnation. Take heed, therefore, how you hear, and how you improve the blessing presented to you. The person who is now to be ordained over you, is entitled to your fervent, daily prayers. If God enriches him with peculiar grace and gifts, it will be for your good. The business of a minister is a great and laborious work, attended often with peculiar trials and discouragements. You are under obligation to encourage and support him. If he should be discouraged, or indeed, diverted from the work, for want of your kind support and encouragement the evil will fall with double weight on you. May the God of all grace dispose you to be faithful, that you may inherit the blessings of his grace.

DISCOURSE XXVI.

PSALM XFII. 1.

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? Forever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

IT is an unquestionable truth, that the children of God are often called to walk through great darkness and hidings.. This they find to be a state of great distress. Therefore it is, that we find many things in the Bible, adapted to such a state.This was evidently the state of David when he

penned this psalm. He felt his soul shut off from God: He felt as though he was cut off, and God had forgotten him. Indeed, there are a number of his psalms, adapted to such a state. “How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?" It seems that the source of his distress was, that he was deprived of the smiles of God's face and the light of. his countenance.

The doctrine which I draw from the text, is, that God sometimes withdraws his wonted smiles, and hides his face from his people, to their great distress.

I. I would explain the doctrine.

II. Consider when, and how God may be said to withdraw his wonted smiles, and hide his face from his people..

III. For what reasons, or on what account, Cod often does it.

IV. How the people of God ought to conduct. under such a situation.

V. Show that this is a heavy scourge, and deeply affecting to the people of God.

I. I would explain the doctrine.

1. By God's withdrawing his wonted smiles, I do not mean the spirit in its sanctifying operations. It is true that God often withdraws the influence of the spirit in its sanctifying operations, or men's hearts may be drawn away from God, and he withdraw the grace of faith, repentance, love, &c. But this is not what I mean, nor what I conceive David meant. There is a wide difference between sanctifying and comforting influenThe first leads us to comply with duty; the last denotes the enjoyment, which the souf has in God. The fruit in the one case, is duty; in the other, happiness. God, it is true, often leaves to great stupidity and deadness, and in this sense, withdraws: But what I mean is, that God

ces.

withholds communion and the light of his counte nance. Darkness in this case, is not our sin, though we may provoke God to withhold by sin:: But in the other case, darkness is our sin..

2. Though God may withdraw sensible manifestations for a time; yet he never takes away his Loving kindness wholly. When the soul has these. manifestations made, this is what the scripture calls the earnest of the spirit. God withholds: manifestations only as a frown, or chastisement:. But though God for a time, afford no sensible manifestation, yet it is not a final withdrawment, in regard to any..

3. God may withhold his smiles in very dif ferent degrees. Some may be destitute of any sensible manifestations, so that the soul is overwhelmed. This was the case with David, when he says, "will the Lord cast off forever?"" Others have not those affecting views: As they do. not enjoy those sensible manifestations, neither do they experience that dreadful degree of darknes.

4. This darkness and these hidings may exist, when faith and love are in lively exercise, evento that degree that the soul knows that it longs after God. David expresses assurance of his love to God, and yet complains of darkness.. "Will the Lord cast off?"?

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5. The children of God may not only experi ence the hidings of his face in this way; but may be the subjects of his frown, in his not affording his blessing to attend ordinances and religious op portunities, in leaving them to be beset with enemies, and his church involved in evils. Thus Gideon says, "if the Lord be with us, why is all this befallen us ???

II. I shall attempt to show when it may be said, that the Lord withdraws his wonted smiles. 1. We have already seen in some measure,,

when this may be said to be the case; when God withholds communion manifestations of his favor. In the enjoyment of these, the soul had a peace and serenity beyond the power of language to describe; but when deprived of them, is under the horror of great darkness.

2. God may be said to withdraw from his people and church, when he does not appear for their help in times of great trial. Gideon reasoned

justly in regard to the Jews, if God had not forsaken them, why should all that they met with, come upon them? Why should they be left to so great oppressions by the Midianites?-Often God withdraws, in leaving persons to great sufferings and temptations, and brings them very low.

3. God may be considered as withdrawing his wonted smiles, when the symbols of his presence are about to be removed. There were various symbols among the Jews before Christ; such as the cloudy pillar, the urim and thummim and answers, special interpositions &c. Our Saviour in allusion to this, says, "behold your house is left unto you desolate." So it is when God is removing faithful, close, and soul-searching teachers, and sends those that daub with untempered mortar; or threatens the removal of stated ordinances and worship.

4.. When, though God may contiune stated ordinances and administrations, the Divine blessing. does not accompany them, nor that power and quickening which has been wont to attend them, when the church is rent with schisms, and has few additions made to it.

5. When Christians are beset with untoward calamities, drought, blasts &c.-and do not seem to find relief.