hear it." Men do not hear it as the word of God. They see nothing, and hear nothing, but a man like themselves ; and therefore they hear without interest and forget without re- morse. But be it known to all, that their disregard of God's messages, by whomsoever delivered, involves them in the deepest guilth, and will subject them to the heaviest punish- ment1.]
2. How it may be made effectual to the good of our souls —
[Whenever you come up to the house of God, come with prepared hearts, as Israel did to Mount Sinai at the giving of the law. Look through the minister to God himself. Sit at his feet, as Mary at the feet of Jesus. Seek not to be pleased, but edified. Do not indulge a critical and captious spirit; but " receive with meekness the engrafted word ;" and then you shall find it both able and effectual to save your souls k. If it be a precept or an exhortation, a promise or a threaten- ing, receive it as if it were addressed to you by an audible voice from heaven : so shall it descend on your souls as dew or rain, that fail not to accomplish the ends for which they are sent1.]
h 2 Chron. xxvi. 12. 1 Thess. iv. 8.
1 Heb. ii. 1 — 3. and x. 28, 29. k Jam. i. 21.
1 Isai. Iv. 10, 11.
1 Thess. ii. 19, 20. What is our hope, or joy, or crown of re- joicing ? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ? For ye are our glory and joy.
THE relation between a minister and his people is a subject rarely touched upon, except in addresses exclusively intended for those who sustain the pas- toral office. But it is a subject of general import- ance ; and ought to be felt by the people, as well as by the minister ; between whom there should be at all times a feeling of reciprocal affection. A pious pastor does not undertake his office in order to feed himself with the fat, and clothe himself with the wool, of his flock. No ; he has higher objects in view : he seeks their best interests, and makes their