Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

Zion? Thou art no way serviceable to the body. How can Chriftians content thmefelves with the privileges of GOD'S House, and neglect the mutual duties that are incumbent on them. The Apoftle tells us, that "the meanest members in the Church are neceffary." But alas! how many are there, who immure themselves within their own walls; who are fo involved in worldly business, and have fo little care and zeal for the house of GOD, that they no way profit, no way edify their brethren? How can you overlook thefe plain fcriptures? "Let us there. fore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Wherefore comfort for exhort) yourselves together, and edify one another. From whom, (i. e. Chrift) the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint fupplieth, according to the effectual working in the meafure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good, to the use of edifying, that it may minifter grace unto the hearers. Let every one of us please his neighbour, for his good to edification. Exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day, left any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of fin. And let us confider one another, to provoke unto love, and unto good works: Not forfaking the affembling of ourfelves together, as the manner of fome is, but exhorting one another; and fo much the more, as ye fee the day approaching. Look not every man on his own things, but every man alfo on the things of others." None are excluded: It is every man's work." Look diligently, left any man fail of the grace of God, left any root of bitterness fpringing up, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." If they do not overlook, how dare they contemn all thefe commandments of our Lord Jefus Chrift? How can they look upon themfelves as no way concerned in these duties? It is a lamentation, that fo many members of fociety, through spiritual floth, through a lothnefs to difplease, through want of pity to the fouls of their brethren, fuffer them to perith in carelellness, fenfuality, formality; rather than they will labour to quicken, reitore, and fave them. An engroffer is hateful to men: But of "how much forer punishment shall ye be thought worthy," who engrofs your graces, your gifts, your experiences, wherewith the church of Chrift might be edified? Every man is a fteward; but you are flewards in an especial manner: You are stewards of the gifts of the Spirit, which are "given to profit withall. How dare ye "hide your talents in a napkin ?" You have a greater truft committed to you, than others have: You have fouls committed to your care; for the members of society are to care even naturally one for another. What are you afraid you fhall have the lefs light, the lefs grace, the lefs comfort from Chrift, becaufe others fhare with you? Know the more ufeful you are, the more you yourselves will be enriched and supplied; and

while you are dividing your loaves, GoD will multiply the bread. You fhall receive, while you are difburfing: Your light and heat will increase by your diftributing it.

2. How is fpiritual Converfation neglected even among the Members of Society? What are you afhamed of your GOD? Is the fpeaking of grace and glory fome kind of difparagement to your tongues? When you come together, precious time is devoured in back-biting, in cenfuring of abfent perfons, who are not capable of making their defence; or elfe in impertinent difcourfes of worldly matters. Few, like the difciples in their journeyto Emmaus, difcourfe of fuch matters, as to engage Chrift himself to join with them, and cause their hearts to burn: When do you warm one another's hearts, and fit each other to enter into communion with GOD in fecret? How do many complain of you, that their hearts are estranged from GOD by converfe and intimacies with you, and that they lofe their Affections by keeping up correfpondence with you; and therefore count it their wifdom to retire into their clofets, rather than mifpend precious Hours in unprofitable communication? How many weak Chriftians are there, who are not acquainted with the wiles of Satan, and they fit down penfive and dejected, thinking no condition like theirs, and conclude hereupon that they are none of GOD's children, whom (if you were fpiritual, pitiful, active, and free to acquaint them with your own experience,) you might fuccour under their temptations, and comfort them with the comforts wherewith you have been comforted, and ease them by hearkening to their doubts and complaints, and fhewing them a way how their fouls may be delivered? Were you of a Chrift-like fpirit, you would not break thefe bruifed reeds; but labour to fcatter thofe mifts, which over-cloud their fouls: You fhould be eyes to the blind; but you are not: You fhould be of a merciful fpirit to all fouls; more efpecially to the fouls of all good men; moft efpecially to the fouls of thofe to whom you are peculiarly united, but you are not. In the old law GOD took care of Affes; if they lay under a burden, Ifrael was to help them. Doth GOD take care for beafts; and will not ye for men, for the redeemed of the LORD? GOD requires of you, that you comfort the feeble-minded. The manifeftation of the fpirit is given to every man to profit withall. Chrift expects his own with increase. They that feared the LORD fpake often one to another;" (to comfort one another with the promises of GOD, made to his people, against the flourishing of the wicked, and overflowing of ungodlinefs)" and the LORD hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him." LORD booked that good fervice, He put it upon record: But though the LORD hearkeneth and heareth, yet He feldom finds us fo employed: Our neglects are fealed up in his bag. I pray GOD we may lay it to heart, repent, and reform. Bernard's VOL. XIX. October, 1796. complaint

The

[ocr errors]

complaint may justly be revived: "Not a word of the feriptures; nothing of the falvation of the foul; but trifles and toys, laugh"ter, and words as light as the wind, eat up the time." Let us not neglect to build up ourfelves in our most holy faith. Mutual duties fhould be exercifed between chriflian and chriftian: The Apoftle is exprefs for it in the places already quoted: I shall add one more, "Let the word of Chrift dwell in you richly, in all wifdom, teaching and admonishing one another." O that GoD could prevail with you, to go and vifit one another, and ftir up one another, that "knowing the terrors of the LORD, you may perfuade men!" O! bewail thy unferviceablenefs, thy want of love and bowels of compaffion to others. Surely, there is no time wherein christian Fellowship is more called for, and wherein it may be more profitable, than at this time; But alas! how few are there like Jonathan and David? How few enter into a brotherly promise to exhort one another, to call one another to atcount, to tell one another their fears, to know of one another their growth in religion.

Extract of the MINUTES of the CONFERENCE, held in LONDON, July 25th, &c. 1796: Between the PREACHERS late in Connection with the REV. Mr. WESLEY.

THE

HE following Preachers were admitted into full connection, namely, Richard Gower, Jofeph Bowes, Jofeph Robins, John Stephens, Robert Smith, John Ward, Richard Hardacre, James Bridgnell, William Fenwick, Ifaac Muff, John Brice, George Morley, George Smith, Thomas Fearnley, Henry Anderfon, Matthew Tobias, James Stuart, Robert Banks, James Jordan, James Smith, John Mc Archer.

Preachers who have died fince the laft Conference.

1. JOHN MILLER, a German. He was a travelling Preacher for fixteen years; and though the difadvantages of his pronounciation were always objections to him on his firft vifit to the Circuit, yet he foon gained the affections and efteem of the people, Love and zeal were the two diftinguifhing traits in his character. After a very useful life, he died happy, rejoicing in Chrift Jefus.

66

2. JOHN BRETTELL. He was brought to the knowledge of GOD, when he was very young: and laboured in the LORD's vineyard more than three and twenty years, with a steady, upright character. In his laft illnefs he was remarkably happy. One of his dying teftimonies was, "I bless GOD, I was never more re"figned to the Divine Will: I have no pain, nor have had any doubt of my acceptance with GOD, fince my affliction begun." 3. WILLIAM DENTON: A truly ferious, watchful and exemplary Chriftian; of great humility, meeknefs, and patience; and an acceptable and edifying Preacher. After having travelled

four

four years on trial, and being much approved of in the Circuit, in which he laboured, he was admitted into full connection at the laft Conference, but was immediately obliged to defift from travelling, through a painful and diftreffing diforder, which arofe from a hurt received in the work. This affliction, which continued and increafed upon him for many months, he fupported with great refignation to the Divine Will; and although frequently exercifed with fore temptations and much heavinefs, yet he went off the ftage of Life in great peace and triumph.

1 London,

2 Rye,

The Stations of the Preachers for this Year.

[blocks in formation]

John Pawfon, Francis Wrigley, William
Weft, Adam Clarke, Richard Reece,
George Marfden, Peard Dickinson,
James Creighton, George Story, Editor,
&c. George Whitfield, Book-Steward.
Thomas Tattershall, Robert, Swan, Joseph
Kyte, Martin Vaughan.

John Woodrow, Peter Haflam.

George Deveral, William Howarth, James
Townley.

John Reynolds, John Stephens.
John Hickling, John Cricket.
Charles Kyte, Duncan Kay.

James Anderfon, Richard Hardacre, John
Leppington.

William Collins, Thomas Rogerfon.
Thomas Broadbent, Francis Weft.

Benjamin Leggatt, Edmund Shaw.
John Saunderfon, Jofiah Hill.
James Watfon, John Furnace.
Thomas Gill, Edward Towler.

Edward Gibbon, Stephen Wilfon, James
Scholfield, John Wittam.,

Jonathan Couffins, Charles Tunnicliff.
Jofeph Harper, Cuthbert Whitefides.
William Shelmerdine, John Dean, John
Murlin, Supernumerary.

William Holmes, Thomas Dunn.
William Jenkins, Jofeph Burgefs, Samuel
Harris.

Walter Griffith, Jonathan Crowther, James
Bridgnell..

John Mackerfy, Robert Smith, Jun.
Theophilus Leffey, Thomas Stanton, John
Jones, Ifaac Lilly.

Jofeph Alger, Thomas Rough, Jonathan
Brockhouse, Charles Greenly.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Thomas Simeonite, William Dieuade,Hen-
ry Maby.

William Palmer, Francis Balliau.
John De Quctville.

Samuel Bradburn, Richard Gower.
James Rogers, William Moulton.
Jofeph Bradford, John Pritchard, Charles
Atmore, Thomas Roberts, Owen Davis,
Andrew Mayor.

William Athman, Thomas Kelk.

James Byron, James Jay, Jofeph Rob
bins, Humphry Parfons.

Mark Daniel, James Lawton.
William Horner, William Aver.

John Smith, Thomas Yates, James Evans.
John Boyle, Edward Milward, Robert
Green, Thomas Stanley,

Francis Trufcott, John Clarke, Richard
Trefry, Thomas Trethewy.

Lawrence Kane, Jofeph Cooke, John San
doe, John Grant, Jofeph Bowes.
Clealand Kirkpatrick, William Pearfon,
James Gill,

Samuel Taylor, Hans Shrowder,
Caleb Simmonds, John Hughes.

James Buckley, John Wood, John Jen.
nings.
William Thompson, Richard Elliott, John
Pipe, Jonathan Barker.

Jofeph Taylor, John Simpfon, William
Hicks.

George Baldwin, Thomas Blanchard.
John Mafon, Richard Rodda, Thomas
Hutton.

William Simpson, James Ridal,

George Snowden, Miles Martindale, Tho-
mas Greaves,

Jeremiah Brettell, James Mc. Donald.
Alexander Mather, Thomas Rutherford.
Thomas Taylor, Jofeph Collier.
John Gualtier, Robert Miller.

Benjamin Rhodes, David Barrowclough,
Thomas Wood, George Sykes.

John Goodwin, Robert Crowther, Richard
Emmet.

Henry Moore, John Allen, George Morley,
John Booth, Thomas Fearnly.

Timothy Crowther, John Denton.

59 Coine,

« ForrigeFortsæt »