times: "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably, we behaved ourselves among you that believe."

The person of an ambassador is to be respected. An insult or abuse offered to him in his official capacity is an insult upon the sovereign who employs him. The same is true of the ambassador of Christ. He is to be esteemed very highly in love for his work's sake. The office is to be respected and reverenced, though the incumbent be unworthy. They who despise it, despise not man, but God. The language of Christ to his ministering servants is, "He that receiveth you, receiveth me ; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me." All contempt thrown upon faithful ministers is considered by their master as thrown upon himself, and will be treated accordingly.

This

The efficacy of what is done by an ambassador depends wholly upon the authority of the Sovereign. The ambassador of Christ does not act in his own name; he comes as a servant, but shows his commission, produces his warrant, Thus saith the Lord, for every proposal which he makes to those, to whom he is sent. renders it authoritative, and they reject it at their peril. An ambassador, when he has fulfilled his commission, returns to his sovereign to give in his account, and receive his reward. If he has been faithful to his trust, has maintained the honor of his sovereign, though unsuccessful in the object of his embassy, he will be received with approbation, and, perhaps, promoted to be minister of state. So the minister of Christ, having performed his errand, will be remanded by his Master to render up his account and receive his reward. His reward will not depend upon the number won over to the

interests of his Lord; but wholly upon the zeal, fidelity and perseverance, with which he shall have prosecuted the object of his mission. If he shall have proposed the conditions of reconciliation with plainness, and urged compliance with feeling and frequency; have simply and solely sought his Master's glory, asserted his honor and maintained his prerogatives; his crown of glory is secure, though a soul be not reclaimed by his efforts. The promise of Christ is pledged, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Under all the discouragements, that arise from his having to treat with a disobedient and gainsaying people, he may, for his consolation, appropriate the language, "Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord.” But the servant of Jesus is not selfish. To him it is distressing beyond description that his labors should be unprofitable to his people. O, my brethren, should God give your pastor grace to be faithful, and admit him to his kingdom at last, still he would not go alone. Inexpressibly painful to him is the thought, that ye should reject the counsel of God against yourselves. The thought of a final separation is too much to be endured. If there is a sincere wish, if there is one supreme desire in his heart, we believe it to be, that you, who are now his hope, may hereafter be his joy, and everlasting crown of rejoicing. AMEN.

NOTE.-Page 24, near the middle, for promises, read premises.

CHARGE.

BY REV. NATHAN CHURCH, OF BRIDGETON.

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GOD in his holy and wise providence, has called you to the import

ant work of the ministry. By prayer and laying on the hands of the Presbytery, you are consecrated to the sacred office of an overseer over the flock of God in this place. The office, into which you have been inducted, is highly responsible; its duties arduous, and its effects, lasting as eternity.

We therefore proceed, agreeably to the custom of these churches, and conformably to the divine pattern, to charge you before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, to be faithful in the important work devolving upon you.

Take heed to yourself, and to the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you an overseer. Do the work of a pastor, and make full proof of thy ministry. Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season, teach, exhort, rebuke with all long-suffering and doctrine. Exhibit in your preaching, the being of the one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; the purity, extent, and perfection of the divine law, and the sinless obedience which man owes to it. Lay open the glory and perfection of the atonement of Christ, and the free offer of pardon and salvation to all gospel subjects-to all, who will receive it by faithNeglect not to point out the depravity of man, that they may feel the necessity of pardon, of the new birth, and lie at the foot of mercy for its accomplishment. Urge much the necessity of a holy life, a close and constant attendance on all the duties of the first and second table ; those duties which respect God, and those which respect man; making Christ and his Apostles, your great pattern of preaching.

Administer the special ordinances of the gospel, Baptism and the Lord's Supper to proper subjects, refusing the loose and profane, and cordially receiving those, who are weak in the faith, Be frequently

at the throne of grace, with, and for your people. Bless the flock in the name of the Lord our God, who is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; putting his name upon them, that he may bless them.

When called to separate others to the work of the ministry of the gospel of Christ, lay hands suddenly on no man; but have satisfactory evidence, that those, whom you shall ordain elders in the churches, are friends to the Lord Jesus, and experimentally acquainted with the great truths of divine revelation; and are sober, just, temperate, sound in the faith, and able to teach others; that you may not, by introducing the ignorant, the erroneous, and the vicious, into the ministry, be a partaker of other men's sins, and dishonor the cause of religion.

Be careful to maintain a holy discipline in the church, doing nothing by partiality. Strive to understand the state of your flock, and watch over them with tenderness and affection. Feed Christ's sheep, and feed his lambs. Ever be ready to advise, counsel and pray with the sick. Give yourself to reading, meditation, and prayer. Be indeed an example to the flock, having, in all your conduct, a tender regard to the souls of men.

Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience. Faint not in a day of trial, but view yourself as a soldier of Christ. Take the whole armour of God, and fight the good fight of faith, looking unto the Captain of our salvation, who asserts, my grace is sufficient for thee. Remember, the vows of God are upon you. Cleave unto, and live near to him, that he may succeed and prosper your labors, to your consolation and satisfaction in this life, and to your crown of rejoicing in the life to come; in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at his appearing. AMEN.

RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP.

DEAR BROTHER,

TH

HE day, to which you have looked forward with such anxious and varied emotions, has at length arrived. Most of its solemn transactions are already passed; the recording angel has registered them, together with the motives whence they originated, and the feelings they have inspired, and is about to seal them up till the great day of account. You have been solemnly consecrated to the pastoral office by the imposition of hands by the presbytery. You have received it in solemn charge to take heed to your ministry, that you fulfil it. The oversight of this flock of God, and the care of immortal souls, is consigned to you. By this time you feel yourself borne down with an overpowering sense of the responsibleness of the trust, which has been committed to you

But be not disheartened, my brother. Adapted, as have been the transactions of this day, to overawe the soul, by impressing on your mind what the Lord Jesus requires of his ministers; yet let me encourage you by the reflection, that the glorious King of Zion, who, you trust, has commissioned you to preach the unsearchable riches of his grace, does not always appear clothed in terrors; but while he threatens the most appalling judgments, as the certain consequence of doing the work of the Lord deceitfully, he has not left the humble, sincere, and perseveringly faithful ambassador without strong consolations, powerful encouragements, and animating hopes.

Acting, as we trust, under his authority, and in obedience to his will, we have assumed, with respect to you, the province of superiors, catechists, judges; and having found you, in our judgment, fit for the ministerial office, have laid upon you our hands, and, in the name of Christ, charged on you the strict and conscientious performance of its various momentous duties. You have, in a sense, felt yourself in our power.

But be assured, my brother, the exercise of this day, which is the most grateful to our feelings, if not the most indispensable, is that which