truft; and all their flattering profpects would meet a fatal disappointment at the crofs and grave of their Prince and Saviour. What would become of them and of their caufe, when he, who was the life and foul of it, fhared the fate of an impoftor? How unequal were they to the ar duous task of reclaiming and reforming the world, without the prefence and concurrence of their divine Prophet and Mafter? Would they be able to fupport or propagate the credit of a religion, whofe founder endured a cruel and ignominious death; and against which the prejudices and powers of the world were united in a formidable confederacy? The view of this event, apparently fo injurious to their honour and influence, would difpirit and confound them; and they would incline to give up all for loft, when they were bereaved of their Lord and Mafter. The last scene of his life would lead them to imagine, that all his promises were delufions, and that the congregation of his apoftles and difciples must be left to fhare the fate of their prince and leader.

In order to fortify them against thefe conclufions, and to infpire them with refolution and courage in the view of his fufferings and death, he affures them, that his church was, founded on a rock, and that the gates of the invifible worldthat death itself fhould not prevail against it. His own death, however threatening and difcou

raging

the grofs corruptions*, that have disguised and enervated it, to its original purity and fimplicity. You have a particular and marked character, which attracts the notice and obfervation of the world. Your Ministers are those of your own election, and to whom you voluntarily pledge your fupport and friendship. They muft appear to you in a truly refpectable light; as men, who, for the fake of truth, free enquiry, and a good confcience, expose themselves to many inconveniencies, and forego the emoluments of an establishment,

Thefe views of your fituation point out the peculiar obligations to harmony, to purity of life, to regularity and fervor of devotion, under which you lie. These circumftances evidently demand peculiar attention, union, and ardor. Follow thecourse that has now been laid down, you will encourage your Minifters, who need all the encouragement and friendship you can afford them: you will make a diffent appear honourable in the eyes of the world and you will greatly contribute to advance practical piety and religious truth, These are things, for which it is worth while to facrifice much, and to exert ourselves vigorously. Permit

*The reader, who would trace out the corruptions of christianity, will do well to read the learned and valuable work of Dr. PRIESTLEY, on this fubject; which will, by its intrinfic merit, rife fuperior to the ungenerous attacks that have been made upon it.

Permit me to hint here, that neither can rational, practical piety be promoted, nor religious truth be advanced, unless you keep your minds open to inftruction and conviction; unless you allow, and even invite your Ministers to lay before you, freely, the refult of their religious ftudies, and ferious, impartial enquiries. From the offence that many take, at the freedom with which their Minifters deliver their fentiments on virtue and truth, one would think, that they defire to be fostered in their prejudices, and fupported in their vices; to be kept in ignorance and error. Such Chriftians think, that they have already attained to the utmost correctness of fentiment, and are already perfect. But this opinion of themselves is not the effect of modefty, nor the dictate of wisdom. To wave, however, this topic, and to bring all that hath been said to one point.

If there be any particular circumftance, or occafion, from which these confiderations' can derive more force than they poffefs in themselves, it is from the fervices of this day. Allow me to appeal to you, my friends, who conftantly affemble here allow me to refer it to your ferious judgment and confcience, whether these services do not convey and inculcate such sentiments. By the transactions of this day taking place at your defire, do you not exprefs your fervent, devout wishes, that henceforth, a peculiar and facred

connexion

connexion may fubfift between you and your Minister? On the fide of your Minifter, the purposes which he avoweth, and the prayers offered up on his behalf, have a reference to his future exertions in the cause of truth and religion. Hath not your concurrence in these services a like reference to your future endeavours in the fame cause? Doth not the ordination of a Minister to any particular body of Chriftians, fhew, that thofe Chriftians are united together in the profecution of fome great defign, in which they wish him to help and prefide? Doth it not show, that this design lieth near to their hearts? Doth it not point out their future duty? Nay; doth it not, in a sense, bind their confciences, to keep united together upon this plan to act with zeal and fervor-to be at peace among themselves-and to favour, affift, and advance the labours of their Minifter amongst them; labours, which are defigned, not only for their own benefit and falvation, but to transmit the knowledge and power of the Gospel to the rifing generation, and to spread the favour of it around them.

Carry not these appeals conviction to your hearts? Is it not the fixed purpose of your minds, to fulfil all thefe duties, which as friends to religion, and as friends to your Minister, you owe to one another; which you owe to the common cause of that divine faith you are mutually bound to support?

But,

But, I ought to check myself, confidering before whom I fpeak; before a congregation, whofe kind, respectful, and generous behaviour to their late worthy Minifter, the excellent Mr. WaTERS*; whofe general character hath given a convincing proof, that the fentiments, now inculcated, are felt by them, and have over them their genuine influence. Let the usefulness of stirring

up

Mr. George Waters, was the fon of the Rev. Mr. Waters, a worthy and learned Diffenting Minifter, fettled fome time at Falmouth, in Cornwall, and then at Ashburton, in Devonshire, where he died. He was the author of a Critique on Phil. iii. 7-21. in the Theological Repofitory, v. 2. p. 83-and of a New Version and Paraphrase of the 139th Pfalm, in the 3d volume of that work, p. 291, &c. His fon received his Academical learning first under Dr. Jennings and Dr. Savage; and on the death of the former, in the year 1762, under the latter gentleman, in conjunction with Dr. Kippis and Dr. Rees. In the year 1766, he left the Academy, and foon after settled at Bridport, where he was ordained 17th Auguft, 1769, with the Rev. Wm. Youatt, fettled at Dulverton, in Somersetshire, fince dead. Mr. Waters was a pattern of fingular industry in his preparations for the pulpit, of great prudence and decorum of character, of dif tinguished modefty, humility, and piety. He died in the fall of 1787. For several years preceding his death, he was feverely afficted with a fcorbutic rheumatifm, which frequently incapacitated him for his public fervices, and wholly for afcending the pulpit; fo that he was obliged to go through all the duties of the Lord's day fitting, and in a pew. This painful difpenfation of Providence gave him an opportunity of difplaying an exemplary fortitude and refignation; and the congregation he ferved, an opportunity of fhewing their kindness and attention.