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in due time; or perverse passions and unhallowed appetites, the temptations of a sinful world may blast the fair prospect, and cut off every useful production; so that they who seek fruit will find only bitter, unpalatable, and unwholsome leaves. How melancholy the reflexion when this is the case in the vegetable world! How far more so when we observe it in the moral! When we see youth and beauty devoted to a round of sensual pleasures, and sinful gratifications; to vanity and folly, without concern for the momentous interests of eternity; without religion, and sentiments of piety towards God. Such a course, at mature years, can afford nothing but mortification and disappointment, sorrow and regret; without one stable comfort on which to rest the soul. Guard then against the allurements of pleasure, against an inordinate love of worldly good, of ambitious greatness; against the corroding passions of envy and malevolence, which will surely blast all the blossoms of youth, and make them unfruitful. Consider the mildness and serenity of the present season. Drink its spirit into your tempers, and copy it in your actions. Let the profusion of delights, which are poured around you, exalt your hearts in gratitude to the great giver of all good. Let them cherish and invigorate in you sentiments of beneficence and good-will, that holy and heavenly temper of love, which alone can fit you to be finally transplanted into a region where reigns one eternal spring, a cloudless sky, and the countenance of the Lord God for a perpetual light.

FOR THE CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE.

THE CLERGYMAN'S FAREWELL ADDRESS TO HIS PARISHIONERS.

AND now since in some sort, I stand in the same situation with the Apostle when he uttered the emphatic words of the text; since I know that all ye, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more, in that relation which I have held towards you; since I this day take my leave of you, as one appointed to minister to you in holy things, I must be indulged a few minutes, while I endeavour to impress on your minds the infinite importance of those truths, that whole counsel of God which we have received from Jesus Christ and his Apostles. It doth not indeed become me to exclaim with St. Paul, I am free from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God; but thus much I may confidently say, that wherein soever I may have deviated from these great truths, it has been unintentional. If in any thing I have come short, either in my private or public administrations, it hath not been from lack of desire to lead you into all necessary truth; and I pray God to pardon my defects, and prevent their being injurious to the soul of any one, of whose spiritual concerns I have had the oversight and charge.

And that I may not have laboured in vain, in any thing conformable to the mind and will of Christ, lend, I beseech you, a listening ear, and an attentive mind to the following interesting considerations. Is it not the uniform doctrine of the New Testament, is it not every where taught in the Liturgy and Offices of the Church, that we are

fallen, depraved creatures? That we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves? That we cannot think a good thought, nor do a good act? That our hearts and desires are corrupt, and prone to evil? That by nature we are unholy and unclean before God? And let me further ask, are you not sensible, when you look into yourselves, that this is true? Do you not find in your members, a law warring against the law of your minds, and bringing you into captivity to the law of sin and death? Do you not find many unholy desires, many propensities, which you know to be contrary to the will of a holy God? And are you not therefore certainly fallen and depraved? Think it not enough that you in form admit the truth of all this. Be not contented with a cold assent of the mind to truths so impor tant, but let them enter deep into your hearts, and engage your most serious meditation They will make you meek and humble before God. They will dispose you into a frame and temper fit to receive the whole gospel dispensation. They will make you quick-sighted to discern that you cannot recover the lost image of God, nor reinstate yourselves in his favour; that of yourselves you are ruined and lost; that your own arm cannot bring you salvation; and that with. out help you must perish everlastingly.

Being thus humbled in your own view, you will see and feel the absolute need of a Saviour, and fly unto him who is offered, even Jesus Christ the Son of God; mighty to save to the uttermost all who come unto him, in sincerity and truth. You will behold him wounded for your sins, and bruised for your iniquities. You will see that by his stripes alone you may be healed; by his all-atoning blood alone, your transgressions can be washed away. Keep ever in mind his wondrous goodness, and how great things he has done for you; and he will be to you (in the beautiful language of the Prophet) as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. You will be ever crying out, behold, O God, and look upon the face of thine anointed; the shield of our Salvation, and our tower of refuge in the evil day. You will hear him, in heart-cheering language, saying, come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Let this kind invitation sink into your hearts, and warm your sluggish affections, and you will know and feel what is the breadth, and length, and heighth, and depth of the love of God; what it is to find rest unto your souls; what a blessed rest; what a haven of peace is opened for you in the atoning sacrifice of Christ our Lord: Where there is no conscious guilt to molest, no terrors of God to disturb, and no fear to startle; but all is serenity and calmness. This is what the scriptures term the peace of God; what nothing earthly can give, nor take away. Without this humble, yet confident reliance on the great work of atonement, there is no Christianity: Religion has not reached further than the external profession; it has not warmed the heart and affections; and can produce no zeal, no care or concern for the institutions of God, nor any perseverance in the practice of moral duty to one another.

But if you have really renounced dependence on yourselves, and taken refuge in him who is able and willing to afford you aid; if you have laid here the foundation of your religion, knowing that itis God

who worketh in you by his spirit, you will march on firmly in the Christian course; you will labour and strive with the same alacrity and zeal as if the whole success depended on yourselves. Having such a guide as the grace of God, who would not dilligently seek? Having such a helper, who would not labour? who would not put to all his endeavours to run with patience the race set before him? Relying firmly on such a faith, if you fall before the assaults of temptation, you will be able to rise again with renewed vigour; for they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. In the strength of the Lord God, and in the power of his might they shall not fail. In him be ye strong, be zealous. Let your zeal be that which worketh peace, godliness and charity. Let it be that of fervent piety towards God, and good-will to me cannot be too warm; for it is good to be zealously affected in a good thing.

and it

Animated with a zeal of this description, the sacred ordinances of the gospel will become your delight. You will see in them the means of grace; that God's Holy Spirit works in and through them to confirm your faith, to invigourate the divine life of the soul; to renew and beautify the lost divine image, and make you holy in all manner of conversation. Thus will your devotions both public and private be ardent and sincere. The house of God, the place where his honour dwells, will be your pleasure; and you will not forget to come together, and when here your service will not be that of the lips only; but your whole souls will be interested and drawn out to God in prayer and praise. Glowing affection, and ardent longing after righteousness and purity will accompany every petition; and unbounded gratitude will swell your notes of praise to the Father of Spirits and author of all good.

In the exercise of such a faith and such a practice, you will be able to look forward to a future world with complacency and confident hope. That blessed abode which is set open before you in the gospel, will be much in your contemplation. Sweet will be your meditations upon divine things; great your comfort in the promises of God. The crown of rejoicing which he shall give to all that love and fear him, will be kept perpetually in view, arming you with patience, and inspiring you with holy resolution. Trained in such a school, when the hour of your dissolution shall approach, when you come to stand on the verge of eternity, glorious will be your prospects; serene your hopes. The world and all its joys will fade from your closing eyes without regret. Eternity will open on your view, with its seats of infinite bliss. And then you will take your departure to relams, where the weary be at rest, and all the children of God find peace and everlasting joy.

Have I now been speaking of trifles unworthy your notice and concern, or are they things of infinite moment? Are they unworthy of credit, or eternal truths? You profess to believe them true, and that no truths can be more interesting to your temporal and everlasting welfare. Think then I beseech you, my brethren, O think of these things before they be hidden from your eyes! Make them

the subject of your daily meditations. Cherish them in your hearts; live by them. Let them rule and reign over all your actions.→→ Awake thou that sleepest, and Christ shall give thee light. Go on, ye that are already awake. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Reach forth and press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling; then will you secure to yourselves a retreat from the day of evil, and the hour of calamity. Then may you retire to a quiet hiding place, which stupid sinners know not of. Buoyed above the scenes of this changing world, on the wings of faith, you may sit serene with the storm of evils beneath your feet; that storm in which so many heedless sons of men are overwhelmed and lost. Grateful also will your enjoyment of the good things of time. Viewed as coming from that God who is the giver of all good, you will receive them with love, praise, and thanksgiving. Halt not then betwo opinions, whether you shall serve the world or the Lord Jesus Christ. Time is fast flying away, and if you make not your choice soon, it will be too late. Soon shall the hour arrive when both you and I shall be summoned from this mortal scene, to give an account of ourselves: I for the fidelity with which I have discharged my office towards you, and you for the use you have made of my admonitions. Solemn and awful will be the summons ! Dreadful our doom, if we are found wanting! But triumphant, if our Lord shall say to us, well done, good and faithful servant. Let us then make a solemn pause, and look back upon the few short years in which we have walked together to the house of God. Let us beseech Almighty God to pardon us wherein we have done amiss; and mutually forgive each other, if in any thing we have discovered a want of duty. Let us call solemnly on God, in this his house of worship, to witness the sincerity of our hearts, that the connection which has subsisted may be dissolved in mutual harmony and good will.

And what shall I more say? the time is come in which I am to take my leave of you. For all the favours I have received from any of you, I pray God to reward you in the day of account; and give you grace to follow with a glad mind, whatsoever I have taught you agreeable to his will. Shun divisions and animosities; shun the spirit of this world which gendereth strife. Be at amity and peace; be courteous and kind, one towards another; let the peace of God reign in your hearts; Forget not the assembling yourselves together, as the manner of some is. Take the earliest opportunity to place yourselves under the care of some one appointed to minister in holy things; that you may not be scattered abroad as sheep without a shepherd. Be not carried about with every wind of doctrine; but stand fast in the faith ye have professed. Serve God in simplicity and godly sincerity, with one heart and one mouth: pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for they shall prosper that love thee. May peace be within these walls, and prosperity within your dwellings. For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say, peace be within thee. Be ye steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Thus may you be built up an holy temple in the Lord. May you grow and prosper, a blessing to each other, and to society among whom you dwell. May the spirit of God dwell in you richly. May

his grace be in the midst of you, and sanctify you throughout in heart, soul, and body; may he purify you unto himself, a peculiar people, zealous of good works. As a parish, and as individuals, may his holy Providence ever surround you, and protect you from calamities. And may the spirit of his love and holy fear ever remain in your hearts, to comfort you while in this vale of tears, and at length to guide you to the realms of eternal triumph. Farewel! God be with you. And to his holy name let us ascribe all honour and praise, adoration and thanksgiving, both now and ever. Amen, and amen.

EXPOSITION OF THE ARTICLES OF THE CHURCH. ARTICLE II.

of the word, or son of gOD, WHICH WAS MADE VERY MAN.

"THE Son, which is the word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed virgin of her substance; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the godhead and manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God and very man; who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men."

The second person in the holy trinity is distinguished by the name of the Son, that is, "the Son of God." It is sometimes said that the phrase, "Son of God," admits of various significations, and is used metaphorically in scripture; but this observation cannot affect the argument which may be derived from it concerning our Saviour, as it cannot be denied that the Jews, in his time, affixed to this expression a determinate and particular meaning, applicable only to the divine nature, and in this sense we shall find it was claimed by Christ, and understood to be so both by his disciples and by his enemies: Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his (proper) Father, making himself equal with God....John v.18. Upon our Lord's declaring to the Jews, I and my Father are one, they took up stones to stone him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou being a man, makest thyself God; and our Lord's answer proves this to be only an equivalent expression with the assertion that he was the Son of God, Say ye, thou blasphemest; becarise I said, I am the Son of God?....John x. 30, 33, 36. When Pilate would have released Jesus, declaring he found no fault in him, the Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God....John xix. 7. Thus it appears that our Lord suffered death, according to the Jewish law, as a blasphemer, because avowing himself to be the Son of God, he was clearly understood to represent himself as equal with God. This circumstance must, I think, be allowed as alone sufficient to prove that the Jews understood the title of "Son of God," in the sense of absolute divinity, but it does not prove that they expected the Messiah to be the Son of God. And when the Jews asked

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