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SERMON XII.

REVIEW OF MINISTERIAL DUTY.

GENESIS XXi. 38.

This twenty years have I been with thee.

It has been the custom of mankind in all ages, to perpetuate the remembrance of events by periodical observances; and as a year is the largest division by which we are habituated to measure time, these observances have generally been annual, and thence denominated anniversaries.

The ecclesiastical and civil calendar is replete with days set apart by the Christian and the patriot, in commemoration of interesting and remarkable events in church and state. Almost every individual, too, has his days, the annual

return of which refreshes his mind with scenes that are past, either of a pleasant or a painful nature. The anniversary of our birth-of endeared connections in life-and of striking events in our personal history-cannot but be regarded with interest by every reflecting mind. The pious, in all ages, have been accustomed to observe, with meditation and prayer, the return of certain seasons, in which they have signally experienced the interpositions of a kind and gracious Providence. And it must be granted, that these observances, where they are not unreasonably multiplied, are admirably calculated to promote serious reflection, and self-examination. Their return will be interesting, in proportion to the importance of the events they are designed to commemorate, and to the sphere of action to which they relate.

The anniversary of an event, which may be of deep and thrilling interest to an individual or to a family, might be entirely devoid of interest to every one else. The same remark will apply to most of our annual commemorations; to all, indeed, excepting those in which we are interested in common with all the children of men,— such as the commencement of a new year, the birth of a Saviour, and the various eras in scripture

history. Most of our other anniversaries are of a private or local nature, and derive their interest from the importance which we attach to the events they commemorate.

To you and myself, my respected friends of this church and religious society, the return of this day is fraught with no ordinary interest. It is the anniversary of our union, as pastor and people-and is rendered peculiarly noticeable, because it forms an era in our history. This day, twenty years will have expired since I was solemnly ordained to the work of the ministry, and to the pastoral charge of this people. To Το me it is a day of peculiar interest, and I trust it is to many who now hear me, especially to those who were then committed to my pastoral care, and who, with myself have survived the changes that have taken place during that period of time. Much as I feel on this occasion, I would fain have kept the feelings to which it gives rise within my own bosom, were I not constrained by a sense of the duty which I owe to you, to endeavor to make a suitable improvement of the return of an anniversary in which you are equally interested with myself. It is unpleasant to me to be obliged to say so much of myself as I shall be under the necessity of doing, consis

tently with the plan I have intended to pursue, -which is, to take a brief retrospect of my ministry among you for the last twenty years.

It is unnecessary to notice the connection in which the words of the text stand in the chapter from which they are taken. The coincidence between the number of years in which Jacob served Laban and the number of years in which I have endeavored to serve you in the gospel, being my only reason for affixing them to this discourse. My object is to take a brief retrospect of the principles upon which I have acted— the doctrines I have preached-and the events and changes that have taken place during the twenty years that I have been with you.

The subject, I repeat it, is to me one of the deepest interest. It involves a large and most important period of my life. It embraces the strength and vigor of my days.

In looking back those of deep

upon it, my first emotions are humiliation. I sensibly feel that I have been an unprofitable servant, and am astonished at the forbearance and long suffering of my Master, in continuing me in his service. I am also overwhelmed with a sense of obligation to that

gracious Saviour, who has been pleased, in any degree, to own my feeble and humble instrumentality, to deliver me from severe and painful trials, and to continue to me, in the midst of many discouragements, as I trust and have reason to believe, a place in the affections of my people.

First. In reviewing the principles upon which I have acted during the last twenty years of my life, if I deceive not myself, I have the testimony of my conscience that I have ever endeavored to act with a single eye to the glory of God and the good of souls. These principles may be wrong, for I pretend not to infallibility. All I can say is, that I have never yet been convinced of their erroneousness, or I should have renounced them with the same frankness and decision that I have embraced and maintained them. The principles to which I refer, and by which my ministerial conduct for the last twenty years has been governed, are these,-That there are certain doctrines peculiar to the gospel of Jesus Christ; and that among these, conspicuously stand, the supreme divinity and atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ-the reality of experimental religion-and the necessity of a moral renovation by