After all my most impartial inquiries, — after all my seeking counsel from the Lord, — after all my considering, and consulting with men of all persuasions about these matters, — I find myself so far short of sa- tisfaction, that I am plainly put to this choice, to part with my ministry or my conscience. I dare not lie before God and the world ; nor come and tell you, I ap- prove, I allow, I heartily consent, to what 1 neither do nor can ; but must choose ra- ther, that my ministry be scaled up by my sufferings, than lengthened out by a lie, through the grace of Ciod, tliough men do, vet my heart shall not reproach me while I live. " If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our liearts and knoweth all things." But however, though I must now no longer act as a minister, I shall, through the grace of God, endeavour poaceablv, and patiently, to suffer as a Christian. I sh(»uld, to testifv mv obedience to authority, have become all things to all men, to the utter- most that I could, with any clearness of heart : but since matters stand so, I must lose my ]»lace, or my ])eace, I cheerfully suffer myself to be thrust off the stage.
And now welcome the cross of C hrist, — welcome reproach, — welcome poverty, scorn and contempt, or whatever else may bcrall me on this account ! This morning I had a flock, and you had a pastor ; but now, be- hohl a pastor without a flock, — a flock without a shepherd ! This morning I had
judge Blessed be God, whatever be, this an house, but now I have none ! This is not laid to our charge as the reason of j morning I had a living, but now I have our seclusion, either insufficiency or scan- none ! "The Lord hath given, and the dal ! Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name
You are not ignorant what things there of the Lord."
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ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT.
Beloved, 1 am sensible of many weak- nesses and disadvantages I am under, which may render a suffering state the harder to be borne; help me by your prayers, and not me only, but all my brethren also, with whom my lot must fall ; " Pray for us : for we trust that we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly." Pray,
1. That God would make our silence speak, and preach the same holy doctrine that we have preached Avith our lips.
2. That he would give supports answera- ble to our sufferings ; that he who comfort- eth those that are cast down, will also com- fort his servants that are cast out.
3. That, according to our earnest expec- tation, and our hope, as always, so now al-
so, Christ may be magnified in us, whether it be by life or by death.
And thus, brethren, I bid you all fare- well, in the words of the apostle, 2 Cor. xiii. 11., "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be j perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." " And the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the ever- lasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory, for ever and ever. Amen."
THE ART OF DIVLVE CONTENTMENT.
Phil. iv. 11. " I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content,'*
Chap. I. The Introduction to the Text.
X HESE words are brought in by way of prolepsis, to anticipate and prevent an ob- jection. The apostle had, in the former verses, laid down many grave and heaven- ly exhortations ; among the rest, " to be careful for nothing," ver. 6. Not to exclude, 1. A prudential care; for, he that provideth not for his own house, " hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel," 1 Tim. v. 8. Nor, 2. A religious care ; for, we must give all " diligence to make our call- ing and election sure," 2 Pet. i. 10. But, 3. To exclude all anxious care about the issues and events of things ; " take no thought for your life, what you shall eat," Mat. vi. 25. And in this sense it should be a Christian's care not to be careful. The word careful in the Greek comes from a prmitive, that signifies ' to cut the heart in pii>ces,' a soul-dividing care; take heid of this. We are bid to " commit our way un- to the Lord," Ps. xxxvii. 5. The Hebrew word is, ' roll thy way upon the Lord.' It is our work to cast away care, 1 Pet. v. 7. And it is God's work to take care. By our imraoderacy we take his work out of