fion for the humbler, though equally important ftations of the Church, cannot but be lamented, on the most serious and interefting principles; in reflecting on the degraded confequence, the curtailed power, and not seldom the scanty and embarrassed subsistence of the diligent and distinguished pastors of the Church. Confiderable are the difficulties which obftruct the remedy; confiderable, but not, we trust, infuperable. While thus they operate, the merit, which is inadequately recompenfed, must recollect, that no fyftem could distribute its equal rewards to all; that none could annihilate the influence of partial friendship or erroneous preference. It will recollect, that an establishment, of which the greatest defect is that it cannot remunerate the fervices of all its members, but exhibits the character of all human difpenfations. Weighing its own deferts, not by the fallacious estimate of felflove, but with the humility that induceth content, and ftimulateth to difinterested fervice, it will look to that recompence which no partial sentence will decree-no unequal allotment disturb. SERMON SERMON IV. JOHN XX. 21, 22, 23. Then faid Jefus to them again, Peace be unto you. As my Father bath fent me, even fo fend I you. And when he had faid this, he breathed on them, and faith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghoft. Whofe-foever fins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whofe-foever fins ye retain, they are retained. TH HIS folemn delegation of the highest authority was imparted by Chrift to his Apostles, after his refurrection from the grave, when he bestowed, in final benediction, the perfect charter and ratification of a Divine commiffion, and transferred to them the earthly government of his kingdom; in words which seem to import the deputation of the fame power which he had received from K from the Father, when he "made himself "of no reputation, and took upon him the "form of a fervant *;" being invested with an office, to be fulfilled in the fubferviency and obedience of the human nature. The communication was accompanied with the gift of the Holy Ghost, whofe guidance was essentially and indifpenfably neceffary to direct the employment of fuch important authority as appears to have been entrusted to the Apostles, when affured that "whofe-foever fins they re"mitted fhould be remitted," and "whofe-fo"ever fins they retained fhould be retained :' fince the words lead us to understand no lefs than the conveyance of a judicial right to decide on the remiffion or retainment of fins, as to their final confequences and reward. For the illuftration of the full extent of the commiffion thus configned to the Apostles, it may be expedient to confider what powers were exercifed by Chrift in the ordinary difcharge of that ministry, which " being found "in fashion, as a man he humbled himself" to accept ; fince as the Father had fent him, fo fent he the Apostles; with fimilar appointment to preach the Gofpel, and with equal * Philip, ch. ii. ver. 7, 8. affurance, affurance, in his name, to apply the promises of admiffion to, and continuance in, its privileges. In dependency on this enquiry, and with reference to our general theme, it is defigned to inveftigate the permanent rights which may be understood to be derived to the fucceffors of the Apostles, with respect to this great power, the fanction of the spiritual authority; as vindicated with the rejection of unfounded pretenfions, and the establishment of juft claims at the Reformation. The abfolute and uncontrollable power of erecting the standard of good and evil, and of marking out the limits of obfervance and tranfgreffion, is the effential and eminent prerogative of God; of him who “ maketh peace "and createth evil," who implanted the moral fenfe, and revealed the unerring rule, -his exclufive right it must be to enforce or to relax the sternnefs of his requifitions upon principles of unfearchable wifdom †; to iffue out inexorable decrees, or to intimate conditional threats and promifes; to impute iniquity, or to vindicate fufpected righteousness ; to distribute wrath in the present life, or to * Ifaiah, ch. xlv. ver. 7. + Exod. ch. xxxiv. ver. 7. αφιέναι αμαρτηματα γαρ μονω τω Ew Sprator. Chryfoftom. in Cor, ch. xv. K 2 withhold |