I. SER M. to which, I truft, our Saviour realized his promife, that where two or three were gathered together in his name, he would be in the midst of them*. To fuppofe that my miniftry was unsuccessful, would be to caft a reproach on thofe expreffive teftimonies of friendship which I daily received, and to manifeft ingratitude to that genuine principle of affection by which they were dictated.--Never, O little flock! from which I was torn by the cruel fate of war †,—never fhall I be unmindful of the facred ties that united us, of the uninterrupted harmony which we enjoyed, and of those fruits of the Spirit, goodness, righteousness, and truth‡, which exhibited among you the most convincing proofs of the energy of the gospel ! Never fhall I forget that melancholy day on which I was separated from you, without one public opportunity of commending you to God, and to his grace §,-without one affectionate expreffion,-without one adieu! Pardon, * Matth. xviii. 20. The Author was driven, by the French invasion, from his charge in the English church at Utrecht, and from his professorship in the university of that city. Eph. v. 9. I. Pardon, my dear hearers! this involun- SER M. tary emotion, excited by the most tender recollections. Even in that mournful separation, I experienced fo much of the divine benignity, in the providential deliverance of my family from the dangers that furrounded us; in our fafe arrival on the British shore; in the sympathy, friendship, and fupport, which we have, hitherto, experienced; that I cannot but truft, for strength and ability to discharge my new duties, to that God, who has, thus far, protected me, and denies not his aid to those who implore it with faith and humility, The unanimity and expedition, with which my appointment to the place where I ftand, has been accomplished, are, to me, a further pledge that I have been led hither in the ways of providence. While the circumftances, juft now mentioned, demand my heart-felt acknowledgments to thofe perfons, in whofe favourable difpofitions towards me they have originated, they impofe on me an additional obligation to the conscientious and diligent fulfilment of my peculiar duties towards this congregation. SERM. I. * Behold, then, my brethren, your servant for Jesus' sake. Accept the offer of his earneft and zealous exertions for your comfort. and edification. May the Father of lights enlighten his mind with the truth as in Jesus! May he who teacheth his fervants t what they shall speak, enable him to speak the word of God with all boldness ‡. In fine, may the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, stablish strengthen, settle him ||, to preach, not himself, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and himself, your servant for Jesus' sake, and give you, having tasted that the Lord is gracious, to grow by the sincere milk of the word. * James i. 17. + Eph. iv. 21. + Ads iv. 29. SERMON 23 SERMON II. ON THE LOVE OF GOD. PSALM XXXI. 23. O love the Lord, all ye his saints. II. We live in an age, my brethren, in which S ER M. the love of God is confidered as an affection unworthy of an enlightened understanding and of a liberal heart, and calculated only for enthufiafts, whofe judgments are as weak as their paffions are violent. In former times, to promote the glory of God, far from being claffed, by those who bore the name of Chrift, among the reveries of fanatical frenzy, was accounted a fufficient motive to encounter the greatest difficulties and hardships, and to call into action the strongest energies of the foul.The human character was then marked with more expreffive features; and, uncorrupted by the falfe refinements of luxury, and all SER M. the little and selfish paffions which they be II. bu get and fofter, was capable of habitually directing its views to the great Author of nature, and to the gracious Redeemer of mankind. How this fublime, this extenfive principle of love to God was gradually weakened, it is not my intention or my finefs at present to inquire. Suffice it to obferve, that, as every other virtue has been, it was frequently perverted by hypocrify, bigotry, or enthusiasm. This circumstance contributed, with other causes, to diminish its dignity; and, the abuse being taken for the reality, and men ever prone to run into extremes, it funk, by gradual decline, into difregard, and feems, at laft, extinguished in the hearts of the greater part of Christians themselves. The principle fubftituted in room of the love of God, is the love of mankind, or a defire to promote the good of those with whom we are connected by the ties of a common nature.-Far be it from me to fay any thing derogatory from this generous and benefiçent motive of action, fo ftrongly inculcat ed |