they are, and to endeavour, by our prayers to God, and our serious addresses to them, to introduce them into communion; to which, I question not, we shall all willingly add, cautiously guarding against any thing in the methods of admission, which may justly discourage sincere christians of a tender and timorous temper.

VI. That it is to be feared, there are some, in several of our communions at least, who behave in such a manner as to give just offence; and that we may be in great danger of making ourselves partakers of other men's sins, if we do not animadvert upon them: and that if they will not reform, or if the crime be notorious, we ought, in duty to God, and to them, and to all around us, solemnly to cut them off from our sacramental communion, as a reproach to the church of Christ.

VII. That it may, on many accounts, be proper to advise our people, to enter into little bands, or societies, for religious discourse and prayer; each consisting of six or eight, to meet for these good purposes once in a week, or a fortnight, as may best suit with their other engagements and affairs.

VIII. That it might be advisable, if it can be done, to select out of each congregation under our care, a small number of persons, remarkable for experienced prudence, seriousness, humility, and zeal, to act as a stated council for promoting religion in the said society: and that it would be proper, they should have some certain times of meeting, with each other, and with the minister, to join their counsels, and their prayers for the public good.

IX. That so far as we can judge, it might, by the divine blessing, conduce to the advancement of these valuable ends, that neighbouring ministers, in one part of our land and another, especially in this country, should enter into associations, to strengthen the hands of each other by united consultations and prayer: and that meetings of ministers might, by some obvious regulations, be made more extensively useful than they often are: in which view it was farther proposed, with unanimous approbation, that these meetings should be held at certain periodical times:―That each member of the association should endeavour, if possible, to be present, studying to order his affairs so, as to guard against unnecessary hindrances:-That public worship should begin and end sooner, than it commonly has done on these occasions: That each pastor preach at these assemblies in his turn:—That the minister of the place determine who shall be employed in prayer:— That after a moderate repast, to be managed with as little trouble and expence as may be, an hour or two in the afternoon be spent in religious conference and prayer, and in taking into consideration, merely as a friendly council, and without the least pretence to any right of authoritative decision, the concerns of any brother, or any society, which may be brought before us for our advice:And finally, that every member of this association shall consider it as an additional obligation upon him, to endeavour to be, so far as he justly and honourably can, a friend and guardian to the reputation, comfort, and usefulness of all his brethren in the christian ministry, near or remote, of whatever party and denomination.

X. That it may be proper to enter into some farther measures, to reguJate the admission of young persons into the ministry.— -The particulars here were referred to farther consideration: but, so far as I can judge, the plan proposed will be pretty nearly this :-That if any student, within the compass of this association, desires to be admitted as a preacher, he apply to the ministers at one of their periodical meetings; when, if they be in the gene

Greatly encouraged by the sanction which your concurrence gave to the plan; and also by that which it received from the approbation of some of the most eminent of the London ministers, of different denominations, to whom I had an opportunity of communicating it on my return home; I proposed it in general to my reverend and worthy brethren in these parts, at a meeting of ministers; which was held here at Northampton, about the middle of August. The proposals were, in the general, very well received; and it was agreed to take them into a more particular consideration in a conference, at our next assembly, to be held at Kettering, on Thursday, the 15th of October.

To that conference, Gentlemen, the sermon with which I now present you, was introductory; and the result of it was, that the heads of the scheme I had concerted with you at Denton, with a few other particulars which had not then occurred to my thoughts, were unanimously approved; and we are taking proper measures for carrying them into execution. And, as this discourse may fall into the hands of some, who may be curious to know what the particulars were; and as I bore them so frequently in my thoughts, through many passages of my sermon, I shall take the freedom here to give an account of them, though, I doubt not, but the most material of them are fresh in your memories.

It seemed most agreeable to the deference due to the reverend assembly, to propose the scheme in the form of queries; on which the following resolutions were formed, nemine contradicente.

I. That it may tend to the advancement of religion, that the ministers of this association, if they have not very lately done it, should agree to preach one Lord's day on family religion, and another on secret prayer; and that the time should be fixed, in humble hope that concurrent labours, connected with concurrent petitions to the throne of grace, might produce some happy effect.

II. That it is proper, that pastoral visiting should be more solemnly attended to; and that greater care should be taken in personal inspection, than has generally been used. And that it may conduce to this good end, that each minister should take an exact survey of his flock, and note down the names of the heads of families, the children, the servants, and other single persons in his auditory, in order to keep proper memorandums concerning each; that he may judge the better of the particulars of his duty with regard to every one, and may observe how his visits, exhortations, and admonitions, correspond to their respective characters and circumstances.

III. That consequent on this survey, it will be proper as soon as possible, and henceforward at least once a year, to visit, if it be practicable, every head of a family under our ministerial care, with a solemn charge to attend to the business of religion, in their hearts, and houses, watching over their domestics in the fear of the Lord, we, at the same time, professing our readiness to give them all proper assistances for this purpose.

IV. That it will be highly expedient, immediately, or as soon as may be, to set up the work of catechising in one form or another, and to keep to it statedly for one half of the year at least: and that it is probable, future counsels may ripen some scheme for carrying on this work, in a manner which may tend greatly to the propagation of real, vital, catholic christianity, in the rising generation.

V. That there is reason to apprehend, there are, in all our congrega tions, some pious and valuable persons, who live in a culpable neglect of the Lord's supper; and that it is our duty, particularly to inform ourselves who

they are, and to endeavour, by our prayers to God, and our serious addresses to them, to introduce them into communion; to which, I question not, we shall all willingly add, cautiously guarding against any thing in the methods. of admission, which may justly discourage sincere christians of a tender and timorous temper.

VI. That it is to be feared, there are some, in several of our communions at least, who behave in such a manner as to give just offence; and that we may be in great danger of making ourselves partakers of other men's sins, if we do not animadvert upon them: and that if they will not reform, or if the crime be notorious, we ought, in duty to God, and to them, and to all around us, solemnly to cut them off from our sacramental communion, as a reproach to the church of Christ.

VII. That it may, on many accounts, be proper to advise our people, to enter into little bands, or societies, for religious discourse and prayer; each consisting of six or eight, to meet for these good purposes once in a week, or a fortnight, as may best suit with their other engagements and affairs.

VIII. That it might be advisable, if it can be done, to select out of each congregation under our care, a small number of persons, remarkable for experienced prudence, seriousness, humility, and zeal, to act as a stated council for promoting religion in the said society: and that it would be proper, they should have some certain times of meeting, with each other, and with the minister, to join their counsels, and their prayers for the public good.

IX. That so far as we can judge, it might, by the divine blessing, conduce to the advancement of these valuable ends, that neighbouring ministers, in one part of our land and another, especially in this country, should enter into associations, to strengthen the hands of each other by united consultations and prayer: and that meetings of ministers might, by some obvious regulations, be made more extensively useful than they often are: in which view it was farther proposed, with unanimous approbation, that these meetings should be held at certain periodical times:-That each member of the association should endeavour, if possible, to be present, studying to order his affairs so, as to guard against unnecessary hindrances:-That public worship should begin and end sooner, than it commonly has done on these occasions: That each pastor preach at these assemblies in his turn:-That the minister of the place determine who shall be employed in prayer:That after a moderate repast, to be managed with as little trouble and expence as may be, an hour or two in the afternoon be spent in religious conference and prayer, and in taking into consideration, merely as a friendly council, and without the least pretence to any right of authoritative decision, the concerns of any brother, or any society, which may be brought before us for our advice:And finally, that every member of this association shall consider it as an additional obligation upon him, to endeavour to be, so far as he justly and honourably can, a friend and guardian to the reputation, comfort, and usefulness of all his brethren in the christian ministry, near or remote, of whatever party and denomination.

X. That it may be proper to enter into some farther measures, to reguJate the admission of young persons into the ministry.The particulars here were referred to farther consideration: but, so far as I can judge, the plan proposed will be pretty nearly this :That if any student, within the compass of this association, desires to be admitted as a preacher, he apply to the ministers at one of their periodical meetings; when, if they be in the gene

Greatly encouraged by the sanction which your concurrence gave to the plan; and also by that which it received from the approbation of some of the most eminent of the London ministers, of different denominations, to whom I had an opportunity of communicating it on my return home; I proposed it in general to my reverend and worthy brethren in these parts, at a meeting of ministers; which was held here at Northampton, about the middle of August. The proposals were, in the general, very well received; and it was agreed to take them into a more particular consideration in a conference, at our next assembly, to be held at Kettering, on Thursday, the 15th of October.

To that conference, Gentlemen, the sermon with which I now present you, was introductory; and the result of it was, that the heads of the scheme I had concerted with you at Denton, with a few other particulars which had not then occurred to my thoughts, were unanimously approved; and we are taking proper measures for carrying them into execution. And, as this discourse may fall into the hands of some, who may be curious to know what the particulars were; and as I bore them so frequently in my thoughts, through many passages of my sermon, I shall take the freedom here to give an account of them, though, I doubt not, but the most material of them are fresh in your memories.

It seemed most agreeable to the deference due to the reverend assembly, to propose the scheme in the form of queries; on which the following resolutions were formed, nemine contradicente.

I. That it may tend to the advancement of religion, that the ministers of this association, if they have not very lately done it, should agree to preach one Lord's day on family religion, and another on secret prayer; and that the time should be fixed, in humble hope that concurrent labours, connected with concurrent petitions to the throne of grace, might produce some happy effect.

II. That it is proper, that pastoral visiting should be more solemnly attended to; and that greater care should be taken in personal inspection, than has generally been used. And that it may conduce to this good end, that each minister should take an exact survey of his flock, and note down the names of the heads of families, the children, the servants, and other single persons in his auditory, in order to keep proper memorandums concerning each; that he may judge the better of the particulars of his duty with regard to every one, and may observe how his visits, exhortations, and admonitions, correspond to their respective characters and circumstances.

III. That consequent on this survey, it will be proper as soon as possible, and henceforward at least once a year, to visit, if it be practicable, every head of a family under our ministerial care, with a solemn charge to attend to the business of religion, in their hearts, and houses, watching over their domestics in the fear of the Lord, we, at the same time, professing our readiness to give them all proper assistances for this purpose.

IV. That it will be highly expedient, immediately, or as soon as may be, to set up the work of catechising in one form or another, and to keep to it statedly for one half of the year at least: and that it is probable, future counsels may ripen some scheme for carrying on this work, in a manner which may tend greatly to the propagation of real, vital, catholic christianity, in the rising generation.

V. That there is reason to apprehend, there are, in all our congrega tions, some pious and valuable persons, who live in a culpable neglect of the Lord's supper; and that it is our duty, particularly to inform ourselves who

they are, and to endeavour, by our prayers to God, and our serious addresses to them, to introduce them into communion; to which, I question not, we shall all willingly add, cautiously guarding against any thing in the methods of admission, which may justly discourage sincere christians of a tender and timorous temper.

VI. That it is to be feared, there are some, in several of our communions at least, who behave in such a manner as to give just offence; and that we may be in great danger of making ourselves partakers of other men's sins, if we do not animadvert upon them: and that if they will not reform, or if the crime be notorious, we ought, in duty to God, and to them, and to all around us, solemnly to cut them off from our sacramental communion, as a reproach to the church of Christ.

VII. That it may, on many accounts, be proper to advise our people, to enter into little bands, or societies, for religious discourse and prayer; each consisting of six or eight, to meet for these good purposes once in a week, or a fortnight, as may best suit with their other engagements and affairs.

VIII. That it might be advisable, if it can be done, to select out of each congregation under our care, a small number of persons, remarkable for experienced prudence, seriousness, humility, and zeal, to act as a stated council for promoting religion in the said society: and that it would be proper, they should have some certain times of meeting, with each other, and with the minister, to join their counsels, and their prayers for the public good.

IX. That so far as we can judge, it might, by the divine blessing, conduce to the advancement of these valuable ends, that neighbouring ministers, ! in one part of our land and another, especially in this country, should enter into associations, to strengthen the hands of each other by united consultations and prayer: and that meetings of ministers might, by some obvious regulations, be made more extensively useful than they often are: in which view it was farther proposed, with unanimous approbation, that these meetings should be held at certain periodical times:―That each member of the association should endeavour, if possible, to be present, studying to order his affairs so, as to guard against unnecessary hindrances:-That public worship should begin and end sooner, than it commonly has done on these occasions: That each pastor preach at these assemblies in his turn:―That the minister of the place determine who shall be employed in prayer:That after a moderate repast, to be managed with as little trouble and expence as may be, an hour or two in the afternoon be spent in religious conference and prayer, and in taking into consideration, merely as a friendly council, and without the least pretence to any right of authoritative decision, the concerns of any brother, or any society, which may be brought before us for our advice:And finally, that every member of this association shall consider it as an additional obligation upon him, to endeavour to be, so far as he justly and honourably can, a friend and guardian to the reputation, comfort, and usefulness of all his brethren in the christian ministry, near or remote, of whatever party and denomination.

X. That it may be proper to enter into some farther measures, to reguJate the admission of young persons into the ministry.The particulars here were referred to farther consideration: but, so far as I can judge, the plan proposed will be pretty nearly this :-That if any student, within the compass of this association, desires to be admitted as a preacher, he apply to the ministers at one of their periodical meetings; when, if they be in the gene