who is the great Proprietor of the fold, and who will " require at my hands the blood of every one amongst you that has perished through my neglect f." Alas ! What account shall I inve to him when he shall summon me to his tribunal, and inquire into my discharge of my pastoral office ? ' Did I not send you to watch over them ? Did I not appoint you a " steward of those great mysteries8" which I had revealed in my word, the mysteries of redeeming love ? Did you not undertake to make known to them all that my dear Son had done and suffered for them ? Did you not engage to declare all that my Holy Spirit was empowered to work within them, by transforming them into my perfect image ? Why then did you accept the office of an ambassador from me, if you did not intend to discharge it with fidelity ? Why did you suffer so much as one single " soul for whom Christ died, to perish" through your neglect11? Was it for this that I intrusted you with so high a commission, and put my interests into your hands, that you should be so remiss in the discharge of the one, and so careless in the advancement of the other?' I may add also, it would be an act of in- justice to myself. I know that " your blood will be required at my hands :" and I engaged at my ordina- tion to " watch over you as one that must give account" to the Judge of quick and dead1. How then shall I appear at the judgment-seat of Christ, if I neglect to " declare unto you the whole counsel of God ?" What shall I say when that question shall be put to me, " Where are those sheep which I committed to thee in the wilderness?" My dear brethren, if I have no concern but about my own soul, I must fulfil the ministry committed to me, and labour, whilst yet any remnant of power is con- tinued to me, to stir up in your minds a love to that Saviour who has died for you, and to bring you to that conformity to his image, which can alone fit you for the enjoyment of his presence and glory.
f Ezek. xxxiii. 7, 8. s 1 Cor. iv. 1.
h 1 Cor. viii. 11. I Ileb. xiii. 17.