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THE DUTY OF A MINISTER OF JESUS 
 CHRIST ILLUSTRAftD. 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED AT THE 
 
 INSTALLATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Reverend John H. Stephen Sj 
 
 TO THE MINISTERIAL OFFICE, 
 
 In the Church in Stoneham, 
 
 September ii, 1795. 
 
 By Ebenezer Bradford, A, M. 
 
 \ Pajlor ofthejirjl Church of Chrijl in Rowley. 
 
 NEWBURYPORT: 
 
 PRiNTfiD BY 22miiami3arrett; Market/qmrf^ 
 J 79 5- 
 
'^nnoh 
 
 A N 
 
 INSTALLATION SERMON, 
 
 1 CORINTHIANS ix. 22. 
 
 I AM MADE ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN, THAT I 
 MIGHT BY ALL MEANS SAVE SOME, 
 
 JH<f7z, Brethren and Fathers, 
 
 X HE example of the great Apoflle to the Gentiles, 
 mull be admitted by all as worthy of imitation. If fo, 
 what fubjed can be more fuited to the prefent, folemiii 
 and joyful occafion, than that which is contained in 
 our text. — I am made all things to all men, that I might 
 by all means favejome. The holy Apoftle, in the con- 
 text, faid, For though I he free from all men — that is, in 
 bondage to none — yet have I made myfelf fervant unto 
 all-, that I might gain the more. How condefcendingr 
 and benevolent is this ! He farther faid, And unto the 
 Jevjs, I became as a Je-w — that is to fay, in circumftan- 
 tial matters — that I might gain the Jews. To them thap 
 are under the law: as under the law, that I might gain them 
 that are under the law. To them that are without law — 
 that is To fay, the Gentiles, as without law — (being not 
 xvithout law to God, but under the law of Chrifl) that I 
 might gain them that are without law. To the weak be- 
 came I as weak^ th^t I might gain the weak : And then 
 
 introduces 
 
[ 4 ] 
 
 introduces the words of our text — / am made all things 
 to allmeny that I might hy^ll means fa-vefome. 
 
 The DoQrine naturally arifing from tbefe words, 
 is — That a good minifter of Jefus Chrift will, fo far as 
 it is lawful, cheerfully become all things to all men, 
 that he may by all means faye fome. 
 
 In illuftrating this doflrine, we will in the 
 First place, fhew what is implied in a Minifter of 
 Jefus Chrift's becoming all things to all men. 
 
 II. Take notice of fome of the motives which in- 
 duce the faithful Minifters of the gofpel to adopt this 
 line of condu8:, 
 
 III. Close the fubjeft with feveral inferences, 
 and fuch addrefles as are ufual on occafions like the 
 prefent. 
 
 My dear Brethren-— That 1 might, before your eyes^ 
 exemplify the chara6ler which I have now undertaken 
 to illuftrate, permit me to afk you to bear your friend 
 and brother upon your hearts before the throne of 
 ^race ; and plead him who heareth prayer, that he may 
 difcern the things which differ, and upon this occafiori 
 fpeak as a workman that needeth not to be afhamed. 
 
 According to the method propdTed, we are in the 
 jirji place, to fhew what is implied in a Minifter of 
 Jefus Chrift's becoming all things to all men. 
 
 In illuftrating this idea, we would obferve, > 
 
 I. That it is implied in a Minifter of Jefus Chrift 
 becoming all things to all men, that he accommodates 
 himfelf to the various capacities of all men. He will 
 not treat children as men, and men as children — the 
 
 ignorapt 
 
[ 5 ] 
 
 ignorant as wife, and the wife as ignorant. He will 
 not treat thofe of weak and feeble powers as thofe of 
 4he moft vigorous and Ihining abilities — but accom- 
 modate himfelf to the different capacities of thofe tp 
 whom he has the honour to bear the all-important mef- 
 fages of wifdom and grace. In all things taking great 
 care to make himfelf clearly underftood. He is by no 
 means, like one of thofe foppifh mortals, whofc highefl; 
 ambition is, by high founding words, and well turned 
 periods, deftitute of ideas, to make his audience flare. 
 On the one hand, he is careful not to fhoot over the 
 heads of the young and the weak; but entertain them 
 with the firft and the plaineft principles of the gofpel ; 
 for he finds, as the great Apoftle did, thu he mufl 
 fpeak unto them as babes, and not men. On the oth- 
 er hand, he feels himfelf bound to accommodate hini- 
 felf to thofe of larger and more improved capacities ; 
 and confequently leaving the firft principles of the 
 doftrine of Chrift — fuch as laying again the founda- 
 tion of repentance from dead works, and of faith to- 
 wards God ; fuch as the doftrine of baptifms, aBd lay- 
 ing on of hands ; and of the refurre6lidn from the dead, 
 ?md of eternal judgment. He goes on unto, perfec- 
 tion ; that is to fay, he launches out into the bro?id 
 ocean of divinity, and entertains his i[nore improved 
 hearers, with things which are to them new and fu- 
 blime. In his conduQ; to the weak, he imitates his 
 divine Lord and Mafter, who faid unto his difcipies, 
 ^* I have many thing* to f2\y unio you, but ye are not 
 
 jet 
 
[ 6 ] 
 
 yet able to bear them. He imitates the great Apoftlp 
 to the Gentiles, who fed babes with milk, and men 
 with meat. 
 
 In this connexion permit us to obferve, that al- 
 though we are no enemies to metaphyfical difquifitions 
 on proper occafions, yet we muft bear our teftimony 
 againft compofing lermons for common audiences in 
 a refined and metaphrfical way and manner. Our 
 reafons for this are, becaufe common audiences do not 
 , underftand the terms made ufe of by fuch fermonizers; 
 and of courfe fuch fermons are to them in an unknown 
 tongue. Let us hear what the Apollle fays upon this 
 fubjeft — " I thank God, I fpeak with tongues more 
 than you all ; yet in the church I had rather fpeak 
 five words with my underftanding (that by my voice I 
 might teach others alfo) than ten thoufand words in 
 an unknown tongue." 
 
 2. In a Minifter of Jefus Chrift's becoming all 
 things to all men, it is implied, that he adapts himfelf 
 to the moral charaQer of all men. That there is 
 among men a diverfity of moral charafter, is exceed- 
 ingly evident both from fcripture and obfervation. 
 
 They who attend to thefe mediums of information, 
 will foondifcover,thatamongtheirfellowcreatures there 
 arethofe who are penitent, and thofe who are impenitent; 
 thofe who are believers, and thofe who are unbelievers; 
 thofe who are righteous, and thofe who are unrighteous. 
 They will be fully convinced that among men, there 
 are fuch perfons as in fcripture language are ftiled 
 
 faints 
 
[ 7 ] 
 
 faints, and Rich as are ftiled finners — fuch as the clean;} 
 and fuch as the unclean — fuch as ferve God, and fuch 
 as ferve him not. They will difcern a difference in 
 the charafters of the wicked, and in the charafters of 
 the good. Some of the wicked are more ftupid and 
 heaven daring than others ; fome of the good are more 
 devout and unfliaken in their faith than others. Some 
 iinners are convinced of their iniquities, and of courfe 
 are in great diftrefs for their fouls — others are in a 
 ftate of ignorance and fecurity. Some faints have 
 obtained a full alfurance of hope, and go on their way 
 rejoicing—others are exercifed with fears and doubts, 
 and go on their way tremblings 
 
 Now, for a Minifter of Jefus Chrift to become all 
 things to all men, it is implied, that he accommodates 
 himfelf to the various moral characters of all men. I» 
 doing this, he will righdy divide the word, and give a 
 portion unto every man, according to his moral cha- 
 ra£ier, in due feafon. To the unawakened, he will ad- 
 minifter all fuitable means of convitlion ; he will lay 
 hold on his reafon and confcience, and paint his abom- 
 inable chara6ter in fuch language, that it will be almoft 
 impoflible for him not to fee himfelf a finner— -he will 
 arrange in his view all the artillery of heaven, and point 
 out the effefts of its being difcharged againft his naked, 
 his guilty fool. To the convinced, he will hold up 
 the gofpel of Jefus Chrift, in all its divine pomp and 
 unfuUied glory, and urge home upon his confcience, 
 the duties of immediate repentance towards God, and 
 faith in the Lord Jefus Chrift j in the ears of fuch an 
 
 one^ 
 
[ 8 ] 
 
 bne,he will found the melting invitations of the Fatherj 
 the Son and Holy Ghoft, to lay hold on eternal life. 
 To thofe who are defpairing of falvation, on the ac- 
 count of the greatnefs of their fii^s — -he will fay, re- 
 member the riches of divine grace to Mary Magde- 
 lene, out of whom God call feven devils — and recol- 
 left the goodnefs and mercy of God to a perfecuting 
 Sauls who had breathed out the language-of havoc and 
 deftruflion againft the church, and blafphemy againft 
 the dear Redeemer. — He will call up their attention 
 to the rich and fovereign difplays of mercy, made to a 
 Manaflehj who had filled Jerufalem with innocent 
 blood — and to forae of thofe who had embrued their 
 hands in the blood of an incarnate God. — He will talk 
 to them of the infinite merit of the blood of Chrift to 
 cleanfe the vileft of the vile, from all unrighteoufnefs, 
 and fo fave them from finking m defpair, under a fight 
 of the greatnefs of their fins.— He twill lead them to 
 bow down upon the bended knees of their fouls, in the 
 deepeft humiliation, before the Majefty of all worlds^ 
 and fay, pardon mine iniquity, O God, for it is great. 
 To the ftrong, he will fay, let him that thinketh that 
 he ftandeth, take heed, left he fall. To the weak in 
 faith, he will fay, look unto Chrift, for by his ftrength- 
 ening you, you will be enabled to do all things. To 
 the difobedient, fuch a minifter of Chrift will not fail 
 of denouncing all the curfes of the law — :all the terrors 
 of Mount Sinai. Hell itfelf will be laid open — will be 
 prefcnted without a covering, before their eyes ; for 
 knowing the terrors of the Lord, be will endeavour to 
 
 perfuade 
 
[ 9 ] 
 
 perfuade men thereby to attend to the truth. To the 
 obedient, he will pronounce all the bleflings of the 
 new covenant ; and, as far as in him lies, will unfold 
 the world of glory, with all its aftonifliing excellencies 
 to their anxious and waiting fouls. 
 
 In one word — in a Minifter's being made all things 
 to all men, he will be made a fon of thunder unto the 
 finner of every denomination, and a fon of confolation 
 to the faint of every denomination. Thus do the faith- 
 ful Minifters of Jefus Chrifl become all things to all 
 men, by accommodating thcmfelves to the moral cha~ 
 rafters of all men, and rightly dividing unto them, fev- 
 erally, the word of God in due feafon. 
 
 3. It is implied, in a Minifter of Jefus Chrift's 
 becoming all things to all men, that he accommodates 
 himfelf to the various natural, moral and political fit- 
 uations of all men. 
 
 Among our fellow-creatures, we find fome in a ftate 
 of affluence, and others in a ftate of poverty and wretch- 
 ednefs ; fome in a ftate of health, and others in a ftate 
 of difeafe, languor and almoft death ; fome we find 
 are triumphing in all ihe joys of a rational liberty ; 
 others linking under the galling chains of the moft ab- 
 je£l and deplorable flavery ; fome are attacked with 
 the fiery darts of the great adverfary of fouls, and fink- 
 ing in defpair — v;hile others are enjoying the triumph 
 of faith, and fwimming down the tide of time v;ith 
 tranquil and placid fpirits, as it were uninterrupted by 
 the great adverfary of fouls. Some are laborious and 
 B diligent. 
 
r 10 ] 
 
 di^gent, forgetting tlie things which are behind, and 
 reaching forward to the things which are before^ and 
 preffing to the mark of the prize of their high calling, 
 which "is in Chrift Jefus their Lord — while others are 
 backfliding, flothful and inattentive to the great things 
 which concern their peace. Some are rioting in the 
 worldly glory of riches, fplendor and ^ower ; while 
 others, deftitute of both money and power, (land at a 
 diftance and figh for thefe earthly toys. Some are 
 heartily engaged in the caiife of God— others are a* 
 heartily engaged in the caiife of the Devil. Some arc 
 doing all ia their pcCver to fupport the truth of chrifti- 
 anity, and propagate real religion among their fellow- 
 creatures — others are as earneftly engaged to overturn 
 the fcriptures as the word of the Irving God ; and pro- 
 pagate thofe things which are error and delufion. Some 
 are in the ftrait and narrow way that leadeth to life 
 eternal — others are in the broad road that leadeth to 
 everlafting deftruflion. Qf men in all offices— fome 
 inherit the fpirit of their ftations,' and are faithfiil,-and 
 others v»'ear the contrary charafters. Now it is ex- 
 ceedingly evident, that if a minifter of Jefus Chrift 
 would be made all things to all men, he muft accom- 
 tnodate himfelf to the various fituations of all men, 
 with whom he has any thing to do; or he never can 
 become all things to all men. 
 
 4. It is implied in a minifter of Jefus Chrift's be- 
 coming all things to all men— that, fo far as it is law- 
 fal, he complies with the various fafhions of this world, 
 
 and 
 
[ » ] 
 
 and the various ceremonies of the different fefts and 
 denomination of chriftians. Among men there are 
 many fafhions, which in ihemfelves are quite harmlefs. 
 And among religious communities, there are feveral 
 ceremonies which are purely circumftantial. The 
 man, therefore, who is made all things to all men, will 
 readily comply with the common and innocent fafhions 
 of the day in which he lives — His drefs and manner of 
 living will be fuch as is common for miniilers where 
 he dwells — He will be far from any peculiar fondnefs 
 for any particular cut for his coat, or form for his hat — 
 which may argue fingularity of fentiment and bigot- 
 try of mind — but generoufly comply with the moft. 
 decent and common modes of drefs and manner of 
 living among the people where God has cad his lot in 
 life. 
 
 With refpefl: to the diverfity of circumftantial ce- 
 remonies, among chriftians, he will adopt the fame 
 line of conduct, and make it no term of communion 
 at times to pray by forrj) pr extempore— to partake of 
 the Lord's Supper kneeling or fitting — to preach by 
 notes or without them — to fmg new tunes or old 
 ones — to fmg in conjunftion with inftrumental mufic 
 or without it — and ten thoufand other cireumftances 
 of as little importance. He will feel in fome meafure 
 as Paul did. when he faid, If meat make my brother to 
 cffend'i i "^i^^ ^^^ no Jlejh while the world Jlandeth. 
 
 I AM not infenfible, my brethren, that I fliall be 
 told, that the Apoflle fays, to the church at Rome, be ye 
 not conformed io this world : but be ye transformed by the 
 
 ren^wi??^ 
 
renezuing of your inind^ that ye might prove what is thatgood 
 andacceptable^andperfeclxvillo/God. Howisthisconfiftent 
 with what you have faid, concerning what you call the 
 innocent compliance with the faihions of the world, 
 and, what you call circuniftantial ceremonies, pra£lifed 
 by the various fefts and denominations of chriftians ? 
 We anfwer, hy conformity to this world-, which the Apof- 
 tle forbids, we are to underftand, a conformity in heart 
 and not in drefs, and ceremony purely circumftantial ; 
 as is evident, by his exhorting to them to be trans- 
 formed by the renewing of their minds. We con- 
 clude therefore, both from the example and precept 
 of the great Apoftle to the Gentiles, that a faithful 
 Minifter of Jelus, will become all things to all men, by 
 complying with the innocent modes of drefs, and cir- 
 cumftantial ceremonies in religion, pra6iifed among 
 the chriftians, where God has caft his lot. 
 
 5. It is implied in a Minifter's being made all 
 things to all men, that he fupports the charafter of a 
 teacher, a counfellor, paftor and pattern, to the people 
 where God fends him. 
 
 As a teacher, his work will be exceedingly labori- 
 ous ; for he muft not fhun to declare the whole coun- 
 fel of God to his hearers ; if he does, he will not be 
 clear from the blood of all men. It cannot be reaf- 
 OTiably expefted, that we fliould on this occafion en- 
 ter into a particular enumeration of all thofe great: 
 and fublime doftrines. Such a Minifter will, as far as 
 he has opportunity, unfold to the minds of his dear 
 •people. We fhall therefore, content ourfelves, with 
 
 mentioning 
 
• [ '3 ] 
 
 mentioning the outlines of that fyftem of theology con- 
 tained in the fcriptures of divine truth. 
 
 The firft and moft evident fentiment contained in 
 the fcriptures is, that in faft there is one God, exift- 
 ing in three perfons. the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
 Ghoft. — The evidences of this fa6t, and the character 
 of this glorious being, will be fubjefts, on which the 
 faithful preacher will" dwell with great delight. 
 
 2. He will fpare no pains to lay before the minds 
 of his hearers, both their charaQers and fituations, as 
 they are by nature ; in doing which, he will wifely 
 fhun the too common language of flattery, and mode 
 of daubing with untempered m.ortar. He will feel 
 himfelf impelled by the command of God — " Son of 
 man caufe Jerufalem to know her abominations" — not 
 to deal deceitfully with his hearers, on a fubjeft of 
 fuch vaft importance to their precious fouls. With all 
 his might, he will labour to point out to them, the na- 
 ture of their fin and guilt, as well as the danger of 
 their fituation, while out of Chrift. 
 
 3. As a teacher, fuch a Minifter will unfold to the 
 minds of his hearers, the gofpel plan of falvation, 
 which is in very deed, the wifdom of God, and the 
 power of God to all them that believe. 
 
 Here permit me to obferve. he will be very partic- 
 ular in his defcripiions of the being, the chara6ler, of- 
 fices and work of the Mediator — of the gofpel invita- 
 tions, commands, promifes and threatnings — of the 
 feveral operations of the fpirit of God — of the various 
 
 views 
 
[ H ] 
 
 views of the mind, and exercifes of the heart, which 
 conftitute the new creature — of the good words and 
 works, in which all the followers of Chrift chearfully 
 and perpetually abound. He will lay before his hear- 
 ers, the great do6lrines of the refurreclion from the 
 dead — and the general judgment;-r-He will fhew, that 
 the finally impenitent, muft fuffer the vengeance of 
 eternal fire, in that world of" horror and defpair, pre- 
 pared for the ungodly of all defcriptions. — He will un- 
 fold to the view of believers, the glory of the world 
 of God, as their proper inheritance, and prefent them 
 with palms of honour and crowns of life, which fade 
 not away. — As a counfellor, he will always be ready 
 to advife the unawakened and fecure finner, to attend 
 to his guilt, his danger, and his duty. — He will ad- 
 vife the convinced finner, immediately to exercife re- 
 pentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jefus 
 Chrift. — He will chearfully attend to every cafe of 
 confcience, and adminifter good and wholefome doc- 
 trines upon each. — The converted he will counfel to 
 enter into covenant with God and his people, and 
 walk in all his commandments and ordinances, blame- 
 lefs. — He will enter into the knowledge of the partic- 
 ular obligations of men, to God and man, and advife 
 all to comply with them. — He will in a fpecial man- 
 ner, ftudy church difcipline, and be ready to adminif- 
 ter to the churches of his dear Lord and maftcr, fuita- 
 ble advice, in all cafes of difficulty. — As a paftor, he 
 will be ready to adminifter the feals of the covenant to 
 all properly qualified perfons, and maintain the eftab- 
 
 liflied 
 
[ »5 J 
 
 lifhed difcipline of the houfe of God. — As a pattern, 
 be will be careful to believe, and praftife, nothing in 
 religion, but what is founded on the fcriptures of di- 
 vine truth. — He will feel and obey that facred com- 
 mand — ^« Be thou an example of the believers, in 
 word, in converfation, in charity, in fpirit, in faith, in 
 purity. The great duties, which in his difcourfes, he 
 urges upon others, he will in his life exemplify before 
 all men ; he will not only preach, but praQife, every 
 branch of the chri{lian religion. 
 
 Permit me to clofe this defcription, in the poetic 
 language of the ingenious Mr. Cowper, in which he 
 draws the contrail between a true and falfe Minifter,— 
 
 ** I VENERATE the man whofe heart is warm, 
 Whofe hands are pure, whofe doftrine and wliofe life. 
 Coincident, exhibit lucid proof, 
 That he is honeft in the facred caufe. 
 To fuch I render more than mere refpeft, 
 Whofe aflions fay, that they refpecft ihemfelves. 
 But, loofe in morals, and in manners vain. 
 From fuch ApoMch, ye fniired head/ ! 
 Preferve the church, and lay not careleft hands 
 On fculls, that cannot teach and will not learn. 
 Would I defcribe a pr'cacher, fuch as Paul, 
 
 Were he on earth, would hear, approve and own, 
 
 Paul fliould himfelf direifl me.— I would trace 
 
 His mafter ftrokes, and draw from his defign : 
 
 I would exprcfs him fimple, grave, fincere ; 
 
 In dodrine uncorrupt, In language plain ; 
 
 And plain in manner. Decent, folemn, chafle, 
 
 And natural in geftures. Much imprefs'd 
 
 Himfelf, and confciousof his awful charge, 
 
 Aaa 
 
[ «« ] 
 
 And anxious, mainly, that the flock he feeds 
 May feel it too. AfFefllonate in look, 
 And tender in addrefsas well becomes 
 A meflenger of grace to guilty men. 
 Behold the pidlure ! Is it likfe — Like whom? 
 The things that mount the roftrum with a (kip, 
 And then Ikip down again." Alas ! AUs I 
 
 Tni. Jccond general Heai of this difcourfe was td 
 take notice of feme of thofe motives, which induce th6 
 faithful Minifters of the gofpel io become all things to all 
 men, that they might by all means favefome. 
 
 The firfl motive to induce a faithful Minifter of the 
 gofpel to adopt this laborious and felf-denied line of 
 condu6l is, the glory of God. The Apoftle fays, thi^ 
 I do for the gofpel's fake, that is to fay, for the glory 
 of Godo 
 
 2. Another motive inducing the Minifters of the 
 gofpel, to that courfe of condu61: we have defcriBed, is 
 the good of mankind. " I am made all things to all 
 men, that by all means I might fave fome," faid the A- 
 poftle. The falvation of fome of the children of men, 
 was an obje£l of fo great importance, in the Apoftle's 
 view, that he would willingly be " Made all things to all 
 men, that he might by all means fave fome." 
 
 3. Such a Minifter's own falvation induces him to 
 adopt this mode of proceeding. " This I do," faid 
 the Apoftle, '■ for the gofpel's fake, that I might be 
 partaker thereof with you." 
 
 Thus the glory of God, which is promoted by the 
 honour of the gofpel— the falvauon of fome of the hu- 
 man 
 
t <7 j 
 inari race, together with the falvation of fuch a Min- 
 ifter's own foul— all powerfully operate to induce him 
 to become all things to all men, that by all means he 
 might fave fome. 
 
 From the fubjed thus illuftrated, we will now draw 
 a few inferences by way of 
 
 IMPROVEMENT, 
 i. From what hath been faid, upon this fubje6lj we 
 may learn the great importance of a Minifter of Jefus 
 Chrift's underftanding human nature. Unlefs this 
 fliould be his cafe, it will be impofTible for him to he- 
 come all things to all Tiien^ that he might by all means fave 
 fome. 
 
 2. It is exceedingly evident from the fpirit of this 
 fubjed, that a Minifter of Jefus Chrift ought to have art 
 extenfive and accurate acquaintance with the Chriftian 
 religion, with true divinity. 
 
 3. From this fubjeft we m'ay fee the importance of 
 a Minifter of Jefus Chrift's being a good man. With- 
 out goodnefs of heart, no man could ever become all 
 things to all men, for this purpofe, that he might by all 
 means gain fome over to true religion and unfeigned 
 piety. 
 
 4. We may learn, that a Minifter of Jefus Chrift 
 ought to be a man poffeffed not only with good natu- 
 ral powers atid faculties, but improved by much ftudy. 
 Weak minds and unimproved faculties will always fall 
 exceeding fhort of the mark of a faithful Minifter of 
 Chrift, • Xl 5. Wf. 
 
[ 18 ] 
 
 5- We may learn that a Minifter of Chrift ought to 
 be a man of great felf-denial, as well as refolution and 
 perfeverance, or he will never become all things to all 
 men, that he might by all means fave fome. 
 
 6* From what hath been faid, we may learn, that a 
 people ought to eileem, admire and attend to a Min^ 
 ifter of Chrift, who evidently condefcends to become 
 all things to all men, that he might by all means fave 
 fome of their precious immortal fouls. 
 
 \Ve fhall now clofe the fubjeft with fuch addrcffes 
 as are ufual on accafions like the prefent. And, 
 
 ift. Permit me to addrefs a few words to my 
 l^everend Fathers and Brethren in the Miniftry. 
 
 Reverend, holy and beloved^ Permit your unworthy 
 friend and brother, to call upon you and himfelf, on 
 this occafion, folemnly to examine whether you have 
 lecome all things to all men, fince you have engaged in 
 the work of the miniftry, lor the exprefs purpofe of 
 faving fome of the poor ruined fouls, over which the 
 Holy Ghoft hath made you overfecrs ? 
 
 Have you carefully adapted yourfelves to the v«t- 
 rious" capacities, moral charafters and fituations of 
 your hearers ? Have you complied with the innocent 
 circumftaiitial fafliions and religious ceremonies of the 
 people where God has caft your lot? Have you adcd 
 well your pans as teachers, as counfellors, as paftors, 
 and as patterns to the people of your various charges ? 
 Hav^e you in very deed become all things to all men, 
 that bv all means vou might fave fome. If you have 
 
 done 
 
[ >9 ] 
 done thefe things, my fathers and brethren, you have 
 undoubtedly imitated the great Apoftle to the Gentiles ; 
 yea, you have imitated your divine Lord and Mafter ; 
 and are, through grace, worthy of that divine elogium, 
 which by and by will be pronounced on each of you, 
 Well done, good and faithful fervant, thoiihafl heen faith- 
 ful over a few things — / will make thee ruler over many 
 things — enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. But if, on 
 the contrary, you have been of a proud, haughty and 
 bigotted fpirit ; if you have refufed to accommodate 
 yourfelves to the different capacities of your hearers. 
 Jf you have mixed and confounded moral charafters, 
 with each other, making little or no difference in your 
 difcourfesbetweentheclean&tbe unclean; betweenhim 
 thatfervethGod & him that ferveth him not. If you have 
 yefufed tofludy,and fo far as is innocent and conveni- 
 ent, to comply with circumflantial ma,tters5 which have a 
 tendency to' ingratiate you into the favour of your peo- 
 ple. If you have fhunned to declare the whole coun- 
 fel of God ; if you have refufed to adminifter the or- 
 dinances of God's houfe, and aft well your parts 
 as paftors'of your feveral flocks ; if you have been 
 flothful in counfelling, and backward in fitting good 
 examples before your dear hearers. In one word, if 
 you have negle£led to become all things to all men, 
 you have never felt the importance of promoting God's 
 glory, the welfare of perifhing fmners, yea, the worth 
 of your own fouls. Let us look into our own con- 
 dud, my fathers and brethren^ and wherein we have 
 
 been 
 
[ «o J 
 
 been deficient in our duty," in becoming all things to all 
 men, let us con^efs it before God, and plead his for- 
 givenefs. May God grant the richeft efFufions of his 
 grace and love to you all. Ameiu 
 
 Our next addrefs is due to the Pallor ele6l. 
 \ Reverend and dear Brother^ You are about to be fct 
 over this dear church and people, with a particular 
 and folemn charge to become all things to them all, 
 that by all means you might fave fome of their preci- 
 ous fouls. You have heard what is implied in this 
 great duty. Are you now ready, in the moft fincere 
 and folemn manner, to dedicate yourfelf afrefli unto 
 the Lord, and unio the great work where unto you 
 liave been called ? Providence has caft your lot a- 
 mong a people who evidently need fuch a Minifter. 
 We devoutly blefs the God of all grace, that he has 
 led this church and people, to make choice of you for 
 their Minifter ; and that he has alfo led you to com- 
 ply with their invitation. 
 
 We would now earneflly call upon you, by thq 
 grace of God, firmly to refolve, that you will, agree- 
 able to the true intent and meaning of our text, become 
 all ihings to this people, that you might by all means 
 fave fome of their perifhing fouls. O Brother! ftudy 
 their various capacities, chara6lers and fituations, and 
 adapt yourfelf to the fame ; that you might glorify God, 
 fave yourfelf, and them that hear you. Be faithful a§ 
 a teacher, counfellor, paflor, friend and pattern to this 
 
 people. 
 
[ " ] 
 
 people. Be careful, that you clear your garments of 
 the blood of all men : For this purpofe, may your 
 mind be full of light, your heart full of love, and your 
 life full of a6ls of righteoufnefs' — of good works. 
 
 Dear Brother^ We bid you God's fpeed. Go and 
 play the man— for your God, your people, and your 
 pwn foul. 
 
 We would now addrefs the church and people of 
 God in this place. 
 
 Men and brethren^ It is unexpeftedly, and we afl'ure 
 you, with no fmall pleafure, that we find you, who fo 
 lately were in a ftate of divifion and animofity, are 
 now ill fuch a (late of peace and unanimity, as harmo- 
 nioufly to give this, our dear brother, a call to fettle 
 among you, in the work of the gofpel miniftry. You 
 have this day heard his duty delineated; and if it be a 
 faft, that it is his duty, to become all things to you ; 
 it muft be alfo true, .that it is your duty, to become all 
 things to him. For the want of this chriftian conde- 
 fcenfion and love, many a church and people have 
 been deprived of a preached gofpel. The great God 
 has looked down upon your former conduft towards 
 your Miniflers, and judged between you and them ; 
 what this judgment is, we pretend not to fay ; it will be 
 unfolded, when the fecrets of all men fhall be laid be- 
 fore the univerfe,. His eye is now upon you, and he 
 knows what your conduft will be toward him, whom 
 you have this day called to be your Minifter. I be- 
 
 lifve 
 
[ «a ] 
 
 lieve it is the earnell and fincere prayer of this vener- 
 able council, as well as the prayer of the people of 
 God in general, that the fpirit of the gofpel may be 
 diffufed throughout this town — that you and your Min- 
 ifter may have the fpirit and temper of the followers of 
 the Lamb of God. 
 
 Brethren, we moft cordially bid you God's fpeed. 
 
 One word to this large audience and we have done. 
 
 If it be the duty of the Minifters of Chrift, to be^ 
 come all things to all men, that they might by all 
 means fave fome, it muft be your duty, with patienccj 
 humility and repentance, to hear and obey their mef- 
 fages from the God of love. 
 
 A M 
 
2.C> 
 
 The charge, 
 
 GIVEN BY 
 
 Tke Reverend Mr. P R E N T I S S, of Reading. 
 
 T^THATEVER office any man fuftains, whether in 
 ^ ^ church or ftate, it is of high importance that 
 he be faithful therein. It is efpecially important, that 
 chriftian Minifters be faithful in the difcharge of the 
 duties of their holy funftion, becaufe the glory of God, 
 the intereft of Chrift's kingdom., the temporal welfare 
 of the people among whom they labour, and the eter- 
 nal happinefs of their own louls and of the fouls o 
 their flock, are all intimately concerned herein. St. 
 Paul earneftly exhorted, and folemnly charged Tim- 
 othy and Titus, young Minifters of Chrift, to be faith- 
 ful. 
 
 As you, Mr. John Hathway Stevens, have 
 been invited, by the Church and People of this town, 
 to the Paftoral office among them, and have accepted 
 their invitation ; we, the Elders, called to affift, on this 
 occafion, being iuvefted with gofpel authority herefor, 
 do now, in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, intro- 
 duce you to the Paftoral office in this place, and com- 
 mit to your minifterial charge, this flock and people 
 
 of 
 
f «4 } 
 
 bf God. And we folemnly charge you, before GoH 
 and this afiembly, to be faithful, in this office, faithful 
 to God, to Jefus Chrift, to your own fouls and to the 
 fouls of this people, fo that you may not be a cajia-way 
 yourfelf, and that thz blood of their fouls may not be re- 
 quired at your hands. 
 
 Apply yourfelf, therefore, diligently to reading, 
 meditation and prayer. Study the lioJy fcriptures^ that 
 you may be able rightly to divide the word of truths and 
 to preach it confidently. Preach the word, the pure 
 word of God, unadulterated by the glofles of fallible 
 tnen. Renounce the hidden_ things of difJionefy, and do 
 not walk in craftinefs, or handle the word of God deceit-^ 
 fully, buz, by manifeflation of the truth, commend yourfelf 
 to every man's confcience, in the fg fit of God, Teach not, 
 for doctrines of God-, the fentiments or commandments of 
 men. Call no man on earth, Mafler : One, in Heaven, 
 is your Mafler, even Chrifl. Let the bible, prayerfully 
 lludicd, be your guide. Preach not yourfelf , hut Chrifl 
 Jefiis the Lord' Preach his dotlrines, precepts and ex- 
 ample. Thus, you will deliver found doUrine, which can- 
 hot be 'condemned. 
 
 Exhort, admoni/h, and reprove^ with all patience and 
 tongfuffering. Strive to enlighten, convince and per- 
 fuade your hearers. Let not your difcourfes be loofe, 
 incoherent, empty harrangues, but laboured, fentimen- 
 tal and confnlent, calculated to profit, to inflruft the 
 mind, and to m.end the he^rt* 
 
 We 
 
[ 25 ] 
 
 We exhort you to take heed toyourfelf, as well as to 
 your doftrine, to your own heart and life, that your 
 people may have no evil thing to fay of you. Let your 
 pratiife correfpond with your preaching. Walk be- 
 fore them in the way of holinefs. Be an example to the 
 Jlockiin converfatioUi ihfpirit^ in piety^ faith^ purity and 
 charity. Be a man of prayer. Pray to your Lord, 
 to guide and aflift you, and to make you fuccefsful. 
 Pray with and for your people. Bear them upon your 
 heart, in all your private addreffes to the throne of 
 grace. If you love them, you will pray for them : if 
 you pray for them, you will love them. Adminifter 
 the holy ordinances to proper liibjefts, making a dif- 
 ference between the holy and unclean. Rule well in 
 the houfe of God, doing nothing hy partiality. Do not 
 lord it over God's heritage. You have no dominion over 
 the faith of others^ but are to be a helper of their joy. 
 
 Zeal, in fo good a caufe, is becoming. But let 
 your zeal be always direfted by wifdom, and temper- 
 ed by prudence. Let it be the flame of love, but hot 
 aconfuming fire. Avoid an uncharitable, cenforious 
 conduft, which is not the fpirit of Chrift or confonant 
 with the gofpel. This has injured the chara8:ers and 
 prevented the ufefulnefs of many Minifters. The gof- 
 pel breathes love; and its Minifters, above all others, 
 ihould be charitable and candid. 
 
 Remember, Sir, you are fet as a watchman in this 
 place, and that you watch for their fouls, as one that 
 mull give an account to your Lord. Be thou a faith- 
 E ful 
 
[ 26 j 
 
 ftil watchman. Warn the wicked, thai he turn from his 
 wickednefs, and live. Warn the righteous^ that he turn 
 not from his righteoufaefs, and die. Warn eveyy many 
 and teach every man, in all wifdomy that y on may prefent 
 every manperfcB in Chrifi J'fas. Finally, we charge 
 you, to feed this flock of God, uith knowUdge and under- 
 flanding. Feed Chrifi' s flitep and lambs. Be thou a 
 prudent fhepherd, a diligent labourer, a faithful am- 
 bafrador, an upright lie ward, a good miniller, and a 
 bright ftar, to direft fouls to Chrift. 
 
 Although your work is great and arduous, yet it 
 is honourable. It is the fervice of God; and the Son 
 of God hath put honour upon it, for he hath wrought 
 in it. He came, not to be minifered unto, but to minifler. 
 And he hath faid, Lo, I am -with you always. My grace 
 is fuJUcient for you. Although the minifterial office is 
 attended with peculiar pains and trials, yet it has its 
 comforts and advantages. You, Sir, have a fair op« 
 portunity, like your benevolent Lord, to do good, to 
 fave fouls from death. And what can be more joy- 
 ous to the heart of a good man, than to be a fpiritual 
 father to a numerous offspring of immortal children, 
 to fee them walking in the truth, to enjoy their affec- 
 tion, and to be bleff<:d with the hope, that they will be 
 his crown of rejoicing, in the day of the Lord ? You 
 ferve a good mailer ; and if you keep this charge, and 
 are faithful, you will not lofe your reward ; you will re- 
 ceive a crown of life. Be of good courage, and the 
 Lord be with thee. Brethren 
 
[ *7 ] 
 
 Brethren of this Church dnd Congregation, You have 
 chofen this man to be your Mmifter. At your re- 
 queft he is, this day, regularly induced to the paftoral 
 office among you. You have heard the folemn charge 
 w ich he has received. We now exhort and charge 
 you, in the name of the Lord, to treat him with all 
 the kindnefs and refpeft which are due to the fervant 
 of the Lord, fo long as he Ihall a6l agreeable to this 
 facred chara6ler. Pray for him. Attend upon his 
 miniftry. Regard the word of the Lord from his 
 mouth. Unite your exertions with his labours, to pro- 
 mote religion, and build up the Redeemer's kingdom 
 in this place. Cultivate peace and love, harmony and 
 good order, among yourfelves, that the God of love 
 ^nd peace may dwell with you and blefs you. Should 
 you, hereafter, fuppofe (which God forbid) that your 
 paftor, by any mal- conduct, fhall have forfeited his 
 minifterial charaQer, ftill treat him with juftice and 
 candor, and let his condud be fairly examined and im- 
 partially tried before he is condemned. If you fliould 
 unjuftly abufe and injure him, Chrift will confider it 
 as an injury offered to himfelf. We hope better things. 
 We wifh and pray, that you may long rejoice in his 
 light, and that he may rejoice in your efteem and af- 
 feftion ; that you may be mutually happy together in 
 this world, and finally meet and rejoice together in the 
 Jiingdom of Heaven. Amen. 
 
[ ^8 ] 
 
 THE 
 
 RIGHT HAND of FELLOWSHIP, 
 
 B Y 
 
 The Reverend AARON GREEN, o/"Malden. 
 
 THE diiTerent religions which have obtained in the 
 world, have ufually been diftinguifhed by fome 
 peculiar mark, name or charafter. 
 
 Our bleffed Lord and Mafter would have his dif- 
 ciples known by their mutual love, charity and endear- 
 ed friendfhip. A new commandment, fays he, I give 
 unto you, thai ye love one another. By this,JhaU all men 
 know that ye are my difciples, if ye love one another. Hap- 
 py would it have been for the chriftian world, had his 
 followers never have deviated from this excellent rule. 
 But, alas ! how often have they degenerated from that 
 temper, which the gofpel of Chrift ever recommends, 
 and of which he fat fo amiable an example, into quite 
 the oppofite difpoliiion. 
 
 Our illuftrious fathers feverely felt the rage of a 
 bitter and intolerant fpirit. Perfecuted at home, they 
 fought an afylum abroad. And the fame prote6ting 
 Prpvidence, which lead the children of Ifrael through 
 the tracklefs defert, conduced them to this, which, 
 though now a pleafant land, was then an inhofpitable 
 
 fhore, 
 
[ ?9 3 
 
 Chore, a howling wildernefs. Such was their zeal in 
 the caufe of religion, that they no fooner found a fe- 
 cure retreat, than they took care to plant gofpel 
 churches. Here therefore they planted churches, not 
 on the unfocial principles of ecclefiaftical feparated in- 
 dependency, but on the more fcriptural and benevo- 
 lent principles of united love and fellowftiip. To ex- 
 prefs this truly benevolent idea, our venerable ancef- 
 tors, following apoftolic example, eftablifhed this fig- 
 nificant rite, which has uniformly prevailed on all fuch 
 occafions as the prefent, of expreffing the fellowfliip 
 of the churches, by giving the right hand. 
 
 Im conformity, therefore, to the invariable praQife 
 of thefe congregational churches, and by the appoint- 
 ment of the council here convened, as well as in the 
 name and behalf of the churches, who^e meflengerswe 
 are, I do, Reverend and dear Si?', give you the Right 
 Hand of Fellowfhip. By this, we publicly recognize 
 you as a Minifter of Jcfus Chrift. We declare our 
 willingnefs to help, fupport, and encourage you in the 
 important work, in which you are engaged. We thus 
 receive you as a brother, and fellow labourer, in the 
 kingdom and patience of our Lord and Saviour Jefus 
 Chrift. We truft your feet are fhod with the prepa- 
 ration of the gofpel of peace. We truft you are ready 
 and willing chearfully to encounter all the difBcukies 
 of the minifterial office; that you have a zeal for God, 
 otherwife, that you would not, a fecond time, have ac- 
 cepted the important charge. Therefore, welcome, 
 
 my 
 
. [ so ] 
 
 my brother, into the Lord's vineyard. You knpw the 
 important office, which you now again fuftain, and 
 wc truft it will be your conftant endeavour to magnify 
 it. Therefore, while this, the people of your charge, 
 reft upon your heart, you will let holinefs to the Lord 
 be infcribed on all your deportment among them. 
 
 As your brethren, we fliall always be ready to af- 
 ford you all the affiftance and fupport, which you may 
 need, and we confiftently be able to impait; and in 
 return, you will permit us to expe6l the reciprocation 
 of the fame from you. 
 
 While your aim is to win fouls, your hands will 
 be filled with work, and your heart warmed with love 
 to the Lord Jefus. May he own you and blefs yoU; as 
 an able, a faithful and a fuocefsful Minifter in his be- 
 nevolent caufe. I add no more, but my moft fervent 
 prayers to Almighty God, that by night and by day, 
 when alone and in company, in profperity and in ad- 
 verfity, you may ftill be with God ; may the Almighty 
 be your conftant refuge ; the moft High your habita- 
 tion, and underneath and around you, the everlafting 
 arms. 
 
 We congratulate you, our brethren of this church 
 and congregation, on the joyous folemnities, which 
 this day h|^s afforded. We have heretofore trembled 
 for you, left divifion and confufion rearing their fright- 
 ful heads among you, fhould deftroy your peace and 
 happinefs. But fuch is your attachment to order, and 
 fuch your love for the truth, that you have not only 
 
 baniftted 
 
[ 3» J 
 
 banifhed confufiorij with her evil work, but invited 
 the pleafing found of the gofpel to entertain and in- 
 ftru8; you. You have furmounted difficulties, which, 
 with trembling hearts, we contemplated as ferious and 
 alarming; and we rejoice with you on the profpeft^ 
 which this day prefents. 
 
 According to yourrequeft, we have granted our 
 affiftance in introducing this our brother into the im- 
 portant work of the miniftry among you. Behold the 
 man. Receive him as a gift of our afcended Lord 
 and Saviour. Indulge him with your conftant atten- 
 tion, your fympathy, your affiftance and fupport. And 
 may he prove a rich and a lafting bleffing to you and 
 to your children after you. 
 
 Finally, brethren, farexveU he pcrJeB, he of good, chear^ 
 he of one mind-, live in peace ; and the God of love and 
 peace fhall be with you. 
 
 AMEN, 
 
,"1