and lift up their voice as a trumpet," if by any means they may awaken the drowsy consciences of those to whom they speak. Viewing themselves as ambassadors from God, they must speak with all authority, fearing the face of none ; but declaring the truth, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear : and they must shew, by the very manner in which they deliver their divine message, that it is a matter of life and death ; and that the word they utter is "not the word of man, but indeed and in truth the word of God."]
2. With fidelity—
[They must " not spare," even though the offender be ever so great and powerful, or ever so dear and tenderly re- garded. As John the Baptist reproved Herod, in whose hands his life was, so must they approve themselves faithful even to the mightiest upon earth. They must shew no respect of persons, nor conceal any thing which they are authorized to declare ; but must be impartial in their reproofs, and make known " the whole counsel of God." " Having received God's word, they must speak it faithfully." They must be faithful for God's sake, whose ambassadors they are; and for the people's sake, whose eternal welfare is at stake ; and for their own sake, seeing that " if any perish through their want of faithfulness, the blood of all such persons will be required at their hands."]
Permit me now, Brethren, to discharge my office with respect to you —
1. To those who are altogether careless and indif- ferent—
[You may imagine that God takes no notice of your sins: but indeed they are all viewed by him with abhorrence, and recorded by him in the book of his remembrance, in order that they may be brought forth against you at the future judgment. True it is, that if you repent of them, they shall all be " blotted out, as a morning cloud :" but if you remain impe- nitent, they will all be visited upon you, and sink you into everlasting perdition. I have no wish to alarm you needlessly ; but I must, at the peril of my own soul, declare the truth; and must say, that except ye repent, ye shall all perish. But " if ye repent, and turn from all your transgressions," I am authorized to declare, that " your iniquities shall not be your ruin. J
2. To those who account themselves the people of God —
[I ask not now, whether ye be self-righteous formalists, or hypocritical professors: but, of whichever class ye bv, 1