sible of it for if you reprove him for what he is not guilty of, or what he is not sensible there is any harm in, he will probably retort upon you the charge of censoriousness. If there be guilt and indiscretion in his conduct, and he not sensible of it, your business then is to convince him of it; and how much injury he may do his character by inadvertently allowing those things as fit and innocent, which are not so in him. Let your arguments in proof of the guilt be taken from the circumstances of the fact; the character and relation he bears in life; the opinion of wise and judicious men; the nature of things; and the testimony of scripture. And then (3.) See that your reproofs be not too severe. I do not mean more severe than the offender would chuse, .but more severe than the nature and circumstances of the case require; or more severe than is necessary for the justification of your fidelity, and the reformation of the sinner.

Too great severity towards tender minds does more harm than good. See Gal. vi. 1. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted *." (4.) Take

* Ou yapatλws, &c. You must not only proportion your reproofs to the nature of the offence, but to the disposition

of

(4.) Take care lest, through a fear of offending your brother, you do not offend God by a want of faithfulness. Prov. xxvii. 6. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." It is the greatest piece of friendship you can do him, and if he is wise he will think it so, and more highly esteem you for it. Psal. cxli. 5. "Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness." (5.) Let your reproof appear to flow from your love to him, and be administered with the utmost tenderness and wisdom.*. (Lastly.) Leave not your offending brother without proper directions for a better conduct.

of the offender; lest while you mean to heal the breach, you make the rent worse; and in rectifying one fault, occasion a greater. Chrysostom de Sacerdotio, 1. 2. p. 150.

* There may be ways fallen upon of reproving the worst men in so soft a manner, that if they are not reclaimed, they shall not be irritated or made worse by it; which is but too often the effect of an indiscreet reproof. By this a minister may save the sinner's soul; he is at least sure to save his own, by having discharged his duty towards his people. Burnet's Pastoral Care, p. 194.

It must be observed also that personal admonition should be given secretly, and with expressions of tenderness and respect."Common discretion further dictates, that intercourse of this nature should never be divulged, or insinuated in the most distant manner. Primary Charge, p. 34, 35. T.

CHAP.

CHAP. IX *.

CONCERNING THE DIFFICULTIES A MINISTER MUST EXPECT TO MEET WITH IN THE EXECUTION OF HIS OFFICE; AND HIS PROPER SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT UNDER THEM.

SOME of these may arise,

(1.) From your own natural temper, which may render you indisposed or unapt to some particular parts of the ministerial office. But the most difficult duties by becoming a habit, become

easy.

(2.) No

* Among the difficulties, on which a minister, particularly a protestant dissenting minister, should count, is a scanty and precarious income, dependent on the voluntary contributions of the people, and sometimes dispensed with a reluctant mind and a niggardly hand. A straitness of circumstances is itself a trial to a generous mind; and, sometimes, exposes even merit to neglect, if not contempt.

It

(2.) No small difficulty may arise from the resolution and labour requisite to put some of the fore-mentioned rules into execution, but this difficulty will in like manner diminish as this course becomes habitual. "In all other professions, those

It more sensibly affects the spirits, when it is contrasted with the wealth and splendour, which offer in other walks of life. Good sense will however reflect, and experience will confirm the observation, that such is the lot of mankind, no advantages can be secured, without some correspondent evil; and no benefit also can be given up, but the want of it is counterbalanced by some good. The minister foregoes the lucrative prospects and emoluments of this world: but he is not without his peculiar satisfactions and rewards. The ministry will not enrich him: but it offers the pleasure and reputation of science and literature: it is accompanied with peculiar advantages for mental culture: it leads into a large acquaintance with divine truth: it, particularly assists the improvement and perfection of the moral character and the pursuit of immortality. If worldly emolument and riches be not secured by it, it is to be considered, that these are not the objects that he who assumes the character of the christian minister proposes to himself. In doing this he virtually relinquishes the gay and splendid distinctions of this world, and shall he be dispirited and complain because he does not secure what has not, and ought not to be his aim! He supplies the want of worldly encouragement by the aids of devotion and the supports of faith. He seeks his reward in the "crown of glory," which he hopes to receive from the hands and munificence of "the , great Shepherd and Bishop of souls." T.

who

who follow them, labour in them all the year long; and are hard at their business every day of the week and shall ours only, that is the noblest of all others, make the labouring in our business an objection against any part of our duty *?” In proportion as our heart is engaged in the work, the difficulty of it will grow less, and our delight in it greater.

(3.) Another discouragement may arise from the seeming singularity of this character; and the general neglect which ministers of all denominations discover of the duties belonging to the sacred function: what you do out of conscience they may impute to affectation, which instead of procuring their esteem, may create their envy. But" It is a small matter to be condemned in the day that man judgeth you," since you will be acquitted another day, when he that "judgeth you will be the Lord;" which is the proper import of that passage, 1 Cor. iv. 3, 4. Or,

(4.) From the little success you meet with, notwithstanding all your most earnest endeavours to promote the spiritual interest, and eternal happiness of mankind t. But your future acceptance and reward

* Burnet's Pastoral Care, p. 207.

+ A minister often forms too partial, as well as too discouraging an estimate of his usefulness and success. His

labours