ration of God upon this subject : " The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none ; and the sins of Ju Jah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserved"
Now consider this: consider an immortal soul laden with iniquities more numerous and weighty than the sands vipon the sea-shore ; and liberated from its burthen through your offices of love ! Methinks, the most distant liope of conferring such a benefit is enough to turn you all into Heralds and Am- bassadors of the IMost High God. Yet let me not be mis- understood. It is not to the office of public instructors that I would call you; — for that should be undertaken by none but those who are called to it by God himself: but to the office o^ private instructors, I would invite you; and would urge you v.-ith all importunity to engage in it: for it is not nf Ministers that the apostle speaks in my text, but of private Chriuians ; every one of whom he encourages to engage in this labour of love, saying, " Let him know, whoever he be that converts a sinner from the error of his ways, LEr him know, that he saves a soul from death, and hides a multitude of sins."]
See then, Beloved,
J . What is the true end of the Ministry — [The whole world is out of course : all are erring from the fold of Christ, and wandering like sheep that know not hovr or whilher to return. That they may not irremediably perish, God has appointed Ministers, to go forth, as Under Shepherds, to search out the wandering sheep, and to bring them back to l)is fold. This is the one object of our hves ; to shew you liow far you " have erred from the truth ;" to convert you from the error of your ways ; and thus eventually to save your souls. In our execution of this office we perhaps appear to some to be uncharitable and harsh. But if we do believe that death, even the death of your immortal souls, will be the end of your wanderings, does it not become us " to lift up our voice like a trumpet, and to shew to the House of Israel their sins" with all fidelity? Suppose a person taking the soundings of a ship in full sail, were to find, on a sudden, that the ship were running upon rocks or shoals, and ■would speed- ily, if the helm were not instantly turned, be irremediably lost; would he not feel it his 'duty to apprise the pilot of his danger? or v/ould the passengers, whose lives were in such imminent peril, be offi'uded with him, if he spake as one who believed what he said, and as one who had the safety of the crew at heart? Methinks, if there were somewhat of vehe- mence in his words and manner, all would readily excuse it; and not excuse it only, but applaud it also, as the proper
efi'ect " Jer. 1, 20.
1153.] BENEFIT OF A sinner's CONVERSION. 91
effect of fidelity and love. Then consider us as placed in that situation by Almighty God. You are all embarked on board the vessel, and we are appointed by God to take the sound- ings : and we do declare unto you, that, unless your course be changed, you must inevitably and eternally perish. If you doubt it, take the line in yovu* own hands, and examine the chart by which you are to steer. We do not wish you to take our word, but to see and judge for yourselves: and, if our testimony be true according to the written word, then be thankful for our labours; and, instead of being offended at our fidelity, adore your God, who has appointed us " to watch for your souls," and has connected our welfare with yours : for it is only by a faithful discharge of our duty to you that "we can save ourselves, or them that hear us^"]