which you have embraced, and which you intend to preach. On this head, you cannot be too explicit, as there are well-meaning persons, in almost every congregation, who need to be enlightened. While they readily admit, that a minister ought to take the word of God for his guide, their impression is, that he may modify his discourses on doctrinal points, with some regard to the opinions of his hearers. It is not very uncommon for this class of friends, first kindly to advise the newly settled pastor, not to dwell much upon what they call the hard doctrines, and then, if need be, to tell him, that it will not do; for some of his respectable and influential supporters will not hear them.

Now I hope, my son, that in your first sermon, you will make your own duty to "preach the preaching which God hath bidden you," so clear, that no candid person will wish you to temporize in the slightest degree; and that you will announce your determination not to "go beyond the word of the Lord, to say less or more," so distinctly, as to leave no hope of inducing you to swerve from your purpose, by any earthly consideration whatever. To convince all who are willing to be convinced, that to your own Master you stand or fall, will be an easy task. "Is the servant greater than his Lord, or he that is sent greater than he that sent him?" Whose ambassador are you, and to whom must you render an account, to men or to God? What were Paul's sentiments on this subject?"Necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is me, if I preach not the Gospel." "But as we are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel,

even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." "And now, behold I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God; shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." Passages like these must be decisive, with every candid mind; and it being settled once for all, that you cannot "confer with flesh and blood," as to the doctrines which you shall preach, or the code of christian ethics which you are to inculcate, the way will be prepared, in the

Next place, to specify those great and leading doctrines, of the truth and importance of which you have become fully convinced, by a diligent and prayerful study of the Scriptures. Some of your audience may be afraid you are going too far, for the times and place, and others may secretly resolve not to hear you, if they can help it, when you get upon controverted topics; but all will give you credit for honesty and plain dealing. You will not, I suppose, of course, specify when, or how often you intend to take up any disputed point in theology; but I hope you will give your people fully to understand, in your first sermon, that taking the Bible for your guide, you mean with Paul, on fitting occasions, to "declare all the counsel of God, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear.”

You will have a fine opportunity, too, in your first discourses, to make your congregation acquainted with your habits of study, the hours which you wish

to devote, with as little interruption as possible, to your weekly preparations for the pulpit; your views of pastoral duties, such as visiting the sick, the aged, the poor and the afflicted, attending funerals and the religious exercises which such occasions call for; your views of weekly lectures and Bible classes, of visiting from house to house, and, in short, of all the stated and occasional duties which pertain to the "Pastoral Care."

Nor on such an occasion should you omit to touch upon ministerial rights, as well as duties. It will be easy to show, from the New Testament that as God has laid upon those whom he puts into the sacred office a most fearful responsibility, so he has clothed them with certain powers, of which their congregations cannot divest them. They and they only have a right to induct others into the christian ministry, and to administer the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper; and though they may not "lord it over God's heritage," they are in a limited and subordinate sense, made rulers in the household of faith, not for their own elevation, but for the order and peace of the church.

It may, moreover, save you a great deal of trouble, to state in the outset, that according to your view of the ministerial office, if such is your view, every pastor has a right to determine, with whom he will exchange labors; whom he will invite into his pulpit; what topics he will introduce on the sabbath and at other times; what appointments he will make for weekly lectures and prayer meetings; what system of doctrines shall be preached, and what measures

shall be pursued in times of special revival. He will of course, if he is a wise and discreet pastor, consult his session or his deacons and perhaps other intelligent members of his church, on some or all of these points. What I mean to say is, that the right is with him, and that to overrule and coerce him, is subversive of ecclesiastical order ;-is breaking down the safe-guards of the pastoral office. True he may be incompetent and heady, and the cause of religion may suffer exceedingly under his mismanagement. When this is the case, there is undoubtedly a remedy, and it ought to be applied. If he will not, or cannot meet the responsibilities of his sacred charge, let him be induced to withdraw, or be removed in a regular way, and let a better man be put into his place; but while he remains, let him at least enjoy the respect which is due to his office.

Having on your first sabbath marked out the course which with God's help you intend to pursue, and glanced at the duties, rights and trials of the ministry, I hope you will not fail of earnestly and affectionately reminding your people of their duties, which grow out of this new relation, and showing them how they may "strengthen your hands and encourage your heart." They will expect it, and should by no means be disappointed. Throw yourself at once into their arms, and make them feel, that they have got to sustain you by their prayers, by their sympathies and by their influence. Nothing can be easier than to satisfy every reasonable mind, that the duties of a minister and his congregation are reciprocal. You can make it as clear as the

light to those who are just now coming under your pastoral care, that if it is your duty to preach, it is their duty to come and hear; that if you are bound to preach all the doctrines of the gospel, they are equally bound to listen to them; that if it is your duty to bring "beaten oil into the sanctuary," it is their duty to allow you time to prepare it; that if you are required to visit them as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, they are bound to receive you in that capacity; that if it is your duty to appoint and attend religious meetings out of season, it is their duty also to be present; and so of everything else, pertaining to your reciprocal duties and relations. If you do all these things well the first sabbath, there is reason to believe, it will be the most profitable day's work, that you ever performed in your life. That God may endow you with a double portion of his spirit, and eminently bless the union which promises so well in its commencement, is the sincere prayer of

Your affectionate Father.