Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

CAPT. CHRSTOPHER ORMSBEE, who departed this life April 17, 1803, spake to a friend, who stood by him, a few days before his death, saying, "Religion is good on a death-bed, if at no other time."

The PHILADELPHIAN CHURCH, in London.

THIS Christian Society is instituted to edify

and establish the Members thereof in the Doctrines and Precepts of the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make them wise unto Salvation :" To promote their "Growth in Grace, and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" To "shew forth the Lord's Death, till he come" And to commemorate and promulgate his Love, in "giving himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time :" and in "Having made Peace by the blood of his Cross, to reconcile all things to himself; whether things in Earth, or things in Heaven-fully and completely to be accomplished by the Restitution of all Things, which GOD has spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets, since the world began."

With a view to these ends, the Church receives into its fellowship, all persons who believe in Jesus Christ, and seek the salvation of their souls :-Leaving the different modes of

Τ

participating of the ordinances of the gospel, to every one's conscience; and likewise giving each the free liberty of communicating with any other christian community.

It therefore invites into its communion all Christians who are not attached to party, or denomination, and who are desirous of promoting the Universal Interest of our glorious Redeem

er.

And it is also ready to lend assistance to those whom distance of situation may prevent uniting with it; and who may be disposed to form, societies on the same principles, and for the same ends.

The Young PREACHER'S MONITOR.

BY MR. LELAND, OF VIRGINIA.

IF thou art engaged in the work of the Lord, thou needest all the instruction thou canst get; and therefore I recommend the following rules.

1. A renunciation of all sin, a rejection of self-righteousness, and a sole dependence on the sufficiency of Christ, are all essential to Religion, which thou must ever have in view.

acters.

2. A Christian and a Preacher, are two charA man may be a good christian and a bad preacher; but a man cannot be a good

preacher and a wicked christain: It is therefore necessary that a preacher should take heed to himself and to his doctrine.

3. A constant communion with God, is as much the life of preaching, as money is the

nerves of war.

4. It is vain for a preacher to expect religion abroad, without he lives a holy life at home; or to expect the presence of God in preaching in public, without he seeks it earnestly in pri

vate.

5. Reading, hearing, meditating, watching and praying, are the means of living in the light, life, and love of God; and to expect that enjoyment without that care, is as vain as to expect a crop without labor.

6. Never affect the gestures, accent, or manners of any man, (any farther than they tend to virtue) for the wise God has made men to act themselves in his work, without mimicking each other. He that strives to preach, pray,and behave like another, is like the men who attempted to cast out devils in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preached.

7. Never be too much elated when you have had great liberty in preaching, or been much owned of God in winning souls to the truth, lest you grow proud and unwatchful; nor be too much dejected when these blessings are with-held, lest you grow discouraged in the work of the Lord.

8. He that cannot bear praise, without growing proud of it; cannot bear reproach, without

being angry but the way is, to steer along straight through evil report and good report.

9. Never be proud when great numbers attend your ministry, nor discouraged when there are but few; for it was your Master's alternate lot.

10. Never affect a regular method of preach, ing, without the Spirit leads you so; nor reject it, when you are so influenced; and always be a fool for Christ.

11. Private admonition, and family exhortation, are sometimes more blessed than the most elaborate preaching.

12. A love of popularity is often very hurtful to piety, and a life of hermitage is not to be sought for Jesus prayed his Father "Not to take his disciples out of the world, but to keep them from the evil of the world."

13. Never suppose your calling so exalted, that you are never to concern yourself with the affairs of human life. When David was dismissed from the court of Saul, he went to keeping his father's sheep; and when Paul had leisure he made tents.

14. Never be absolute in your assertions, nor dogmatical in your arguments, without you can confirm them by miracles.

15. Be always willing to leave an error (you may have before imbibed) to embrace the truth. 16. The best way to be a good preacher; poet, or disputer, is to be well taught in the Scrip

tures.

17. The whole Bible in general; and the two epistles of Paul to Timothy, one to Titus,

and the commission given by our Lord to his disciples in several places, in particular; are: the best guide you can have.

18 Never descend to the local prejudices of neighborhoods, states or kingdoms, but form your proceedings from the noble idea of allGod's works.

19. Never intermeddle with the disputes of families or cities; but always bear the olive branch of peace to all.

20. As the work of the ministry calls for the exercise of the mind; so it calls for industry, and often painful labor of the body.

21. The spirit of the subject, always makes the oration the most lively. A proper modulation of voice, graceful cadence, and a comely gesture, are ornamental; but he is the best divine orator, who has most divine fire.

22. Strive to fall upon a subject suitable to the people's circumstances, and to the times, as far as possible; but in this, our judgments are so weak, that the preacher's eye should always. be on God for matter and manner.

23. Never be so positively fixed on your subject, but that you may fall upon another, either at discretion, or by impression.

24. When you are in company that will not hear experimental Religion spoken of, it is bet.. ter to entertain them civilly with history, principals of policy, or even novelty, than for them to entertain the company, and you among the rest, with confuson and debauchery.

Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

« PoprzedniaDalej »