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INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE.

1 Cor. ix. 16.

Though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for neceffity is laid upon me; yea, wo is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel.

OUR bleffed Saviour emphatically described the purpose of his miniftry, when, applying to himself a remarkable prophecy of Isaiah, he declared; "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, "because he hath anointed me to preach the

Gospel to the poor." And he employed the fame appropriate expreffion, when, having delegated to the Apoftles the commiffion, which he had received from his Father, and having conferred upon them the gift of the Holy Ghoft, he bade them, "Go into all the world, "and preach the Gospel to every creature"."

Agreeable to the example and commandment of the Mafter was the conduct of the Apoftles: both of thofe, who received their

. Luke iv. 18.

Mark xvi. 15.

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commiffion at his hands, before he afcended; and of him, to whom a fimilar difpenfation was miraculously committed, after the afcenfion of Chrift. To the Jew firft, and afterwards to the Gentile, they were indefatigable in preaching the Gofpel in the execution of this office, they confidered and represented themselves to be acting, as they really were, in obedience to the exprefs commands of God: they executed it, therefore, as a matter, not of choice, but of neceffity: not as a voluntary exercife, of the performance of which they might boaft; but as a folemn task, by the omiffion or neglect of which they would be difgraced; not as a gratuitous undertaking, for which they might claim a recompenfe; but as a bounden duty, which it were crimi nal to relinquish. Though I preach the Gofpel," fays St. Paul, in the energetic lan"I have nothing to glory "of: for neceffity is laid upon me; yea, wo "is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel."

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Nor did they efteem themfelves more bound to preach the Gofpel in general, than to preach it in its purity; uncorrupt, and unperverted. If difgrace and wo were to be their lot, thould they neglect to preach it; an equal punifhment appears to have been apprehended by them, if they departed from its fimplicity, and blended falfe hood, or error, with the truth.

of Chrift. Such is the purport of the authoritative fentence of the fame animated Apofile. "Though we," he pronounces to his Galatian converts, 66 Though we or an angel "from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto 66 you than that which we have preached "unto you, let him be accurfed." And, as if he were fearful that the fentiment would not be fufficiently impreffed upon his difciples, he deliberately repeats it in the following fentence with equal clearnefs and precifon: "As we faid before, fo fay I now again, "If any man preach any other Gofpel unto you than that which ye have received, let "him be accurfed."

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Diftinguished from the firft preachers of Christianity, inasmuch as they neither derive their commiffion immediately from Chrift, nor are empowered to confirm the word "by figns "and wonders, and mighty deeds," the fucceeding minifters of the Gospel are yet on the fame footing with the Apoftles in a very important respect. To them, in common with the Apostles, "a difpenfation of the Gofpel is committed" Neither felected from their brethren by the perfonal interpofition of Chrift on earth, nor called to be his minifters by the fpecial appointment of a voice from heaven,

• Gal. i. 8, 9.

1 Cor. ix. 17.

they have not their office impofed upon them by that neceffity, which affigned to the Apoftles their more distinguished stations. To undertake the miniftry of the Gospel is volunBut tary on the part of its preachers now. when they have been once legitimately called and ordained to that ministry, and have willingly taken upon themselves the duties which are annexed to it, it is then no longer matter of choice, whether or not they will be preachers of the Gofpel. As opportunities present themselves of publishing the good tidings of falvation through Chrift, and of leading men to the knowledge of the truth in him, it is the duty of us, who are engaged in the ministry, to be found active at our pofts. "Our hand "is to the plough," and it is not permitted us to "look back. The fword of the Spirit is intrusted to us; and it is our bufinefs to wield it. Thus inlifted under the banner of Chrift, "though we preach the Gofpel, we have nothing to glory of: for neceffity is laid upon us; yea, wo is unto us, if we preach not "the Gospel."

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Like its first preachers alfo, we are bound to preach it in the fame purity, wherewith it hath been delivered to us fron. the fountain of light and truth. The will of God, which was

Luke ix. 62.

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