* ? !...¦¦ *Jir v Relative Responsibility. SERMON, DELIVERED AT THE REV. J. LEIFCHILD'S CHAPEL, KENSINGTON, SEPTEMBER 7, 1815, AT A Monthly Association qf Ministers and Churches, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OLD COLLEGE, HOMERTON. ¦wu i i iiiiwiniiininte-te^^^' BY JOHN INNES. PRINTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE MINISTERS AND CONGREGATION. HonBon : PUBLISHED BY WILLIAMS AND SON, ii), STATIONERS' COURT; AND SOLD BY J. CONDEK, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD. [Price One Shilling and Sixpence.] TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF ROXBURGHE, AS A TOKEN OF HIGH ESTEEM, AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MANY PERSONAL OBLIGATIONS, AND A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS PRESIDENT OFTHE CAMBERWELL AND PECKHAM Buxtliavg 3$ftU god etg, IN WHICH THE TALENTS OF ALL CLASSES OF THE COMMUNITY, AND ALL DENOMINATIONS IN RELIGION, ARE, IRRESPECTIVE OF PARTY ATTACHMENTS, EMPLOYED FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE MOST NOBLE OBJECTS, THIS SERMON IS DEDICATED, BY HIS GRACE'S MOST OBLIGED SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. S E ft M -0 Ns Sec fyct The subject to which I am directed, by my Reverend Fathers and Brethren, this day to call your attention, is Relative Responsibility. I have chosen, as an appropriate motto, Phil. ii. 4. Look not every man on his own things ; but every man also on the things of. others. The term responsibility includes, in its mean ing, much which is personal. It implies per sonal obligation, and leads us to anticipate per sonal account. The term relative restricts our meditations to the subject of this account ; — not improvement of advantages which had re ference to our own salvation 5 but application of talents, which had reference to the benefit and salvation of others. But primary attention to ourselves is im plied. jOn eyery enlightened principle, every B 6 principle of reason, every principle of revela tion, that which is to be a man's ftast, concern, is his own interest for Time and Eternity,-. The apostle, in the first part of the text, uses an expression which is strong, yet is far from for bidding personal attention : he, therefore adds, " Every man also on the ^things of others." — Deeply impressed with the importance of per sonal religion, he commands the Galatians, " Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not another." He, who was himself " an example to the flock, said, " I therefore, so run not as uncertainly ; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air; but I keep under my body, and bring it unto subjection, lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away." This attention to our own state is commanded on, the highest authority, is enforced by the most powerful considerations, is recommended by the noblest examples, and is the necessary effect of his influences^ who, when he " works in us to will and to, do of his good pleasure," induces us to " work out our own salvation with fear and trembling." ' But to ourselves ^e are not to confine our at tention. " Look not every man (exclusively) on his own things; but every man also on the things of others." We are appointed by the % arrangements of Providence, and by the dis pensation of grace, the guardians of others. We are called to a life of holy activity and dis-: interested zeal. Such is the plan of God ! Nor is the fulfillment of this design* optional with us : it is imperative upon us. We cannot neglect it and be guiltless. This is the import ant subject, of which T shall aim at First, Giving a scriptural statement, and shewing in what sense we are responsible. for the State of others. Secondly, Adducing the proof, and demon strating that this responsibility is actually at tached to our character. First, In what sense are we responsible for the state of others ? We are not responsible for the result of our exertions'. ^Numerous are the cases in which the result0 of human exertion, will not be the accomplishment of the proposed -object ; but the aggravated ruin of the individuals, whom We had desired to benefit. There is only one Being in the universe whose councils ensure effect, whose operations secure success : — that Being is God. It is his prerogative, and his alone, to say, " I will work, and who shall let it?" As for us, he is often pleased to accept b 2 8 bur motives,, and disappoint our expectations; •The preacher, even an apostle, instead of pro moting the salvation, of all has hearers, has often proved" a savdurof death unto death," The elevation ofthe illiterate, into the state of the educated, giving them an ability to read, and a Bible to peruse, may* wily place them on an eminence, from which, for their abuse of such an advantage, Justice will hurl them into more aggravated perdition. The pastor, the parent, the philanthropist, may be forced to say, " I have laboured in vain, and spent nay strength for nought." But in these distressing cases " thou hast delivered thy soul." God has made the duty ours, and reserved the blessing to himself. Nay, he often enforces tbe discharge of the duty and withholds the blessing. He does it to prove, " It is not by might, nor by power ; but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." He does it ¦"¦ to hide pride from man," — He does it to convince of his sovereignty,--- He does it tp call obedience, faith, patience, and persever? ance into exercise ; and then says to us, "It was well that it was in thine heart." !« ¦ ; The day of Judgment will exhibit many such instances. Jeremiah, who prophesied to his aban doned countrymen, and prophesied in vain, who saw them gointb captivity, their guilt aggravated by slighted earnings j shall bereg^ded as favour^ atbly by ''the Judge of all,"as Haggal or Zecha* rlab, who successfully encouraged the return-* iwg captives to build the seconsd temple. Noahy who preached to the antedeluvian world, and preached in Vain, who witnessed the long threatened destruction, and, with his family, was the only remnant who escaped the tfniVersafc wreck, shall be pronounced " a good and faiths ful Servant;" and the gracious terms be applied to him with as strong an emphasis as to the apostle Of the Gentiles, tvbd not only exerted himself so laboriously; but laboured so suc cessfully. But though we are not responsible lor the result of our exertions, there are two respects itf which we are responsible. We are Responsible, 1. For the use of our talents. We are entrusted with them; and it is ttofc Optional Whether We will use them or hide them. Our Lord is gone "into a far country:'' ne has " Called his servants, and delivered unto* them M» goods." His parting charge Was " Oo- i-ttpf till I come," Ere long the Lord of th«S# servants will come, and " reckon with theni." , Permit me, As briefly as possible,- to etttfroer- ate the talents tvhich site of relative import- #ac*e. J. Some have Wealth. This, though in itself yal«e ; though applied, as it usually is, 10 to personal decoration and display, — to " wear ing of gold and putting on of apparel,"— to costly fare, — to splendid equipage and numer ous attendants'; though thus applied, the most useless, and often injurious, yet considered in its original design and relative importance, is one of the most valuable talents which God commits to any individual. How much posi tive evil may it be the mean of preventing or removing! HoW much positive good may it be the instrument of promoting or confirming! How many deserts cah it make to "blossom as the rose !" How many habitations of distress can it transform into the abodes of peace, of joy, of praise! How many dying pillows can it smooth ! How many " widow's hearts" can it "cause to sing for joy!" To how many! vil lages can it send " the glorious gospel!" To how many parts of our earth, now in "the region and shadow of death," can it be the occasion of say ing, "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee!" It can be the gale of Heaven wafting Missionaries to distant coasts, — the tongue of the learned addressing all nations in their own language, and declaring " the wonderful works of God,"— the instrument of accelerating the triumphs of Emanuel upon earth, and facilitating his seeing " the travail of his soul until he is satisfied," 11 Thus applied, Scripture exhortations axe obey ed : — " Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in un certain riches; but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy, that they do good ; that they be rich in.good works, ready to distribute, willing to eoinmunicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." — Scripture predictions are fulfilled: — "And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, even the rich among the people shall entreat- thy favour;" " And he shall live, and to him shall be .given of the gold of Sheba" — a transfer is made of treasure from earth to heaven, from bags which wax old, to bags which never decay ; and the divine . promise is eminently accom plished. " I will bless thee, and make thee a blessing." Who can fully estimate the import ance oi their talent, and consequently the re sponsibility pf their character, to whom pod has given Wealth?— and jt is frequently con nected with, T 2. Influence.-rrThe rich, in many cases, give the law to publip opinion, and regulate custom. Wealth gives great influence in society. What a blessing does a man frequently prove in. a. village, in a small town, in a neighbourhood \i Where most of the poor are his tenants or de* pendants, or in whose employment are a con siderable part of the labouring classes of the community! What importance is connected with his example! for he will be imitated I; — with his advice, for he must be regarded* The (reformation of such a place is often to be attri buted to his influence; and its ruin to his ne glect or abuse of so important a talent. But, though influence is often connected with wealth, to the rich it is not always coi> fined. It is sometimes the effect of mental superiority, ox of a peculiar constitution qf mind. There are some men formed for giving law to the society with which they mix. Their opinions command respect; they have an influence on the sentiments of others, while their example produces a happy or injurious «ffeot, as extensively as they are known. In proportion as any man is concerned in the for mation of sentiment or character, exactly in that proportion is he responsible for the correctness cf the one, and the excellence ofthe other. If the talent to which I have referred, be possessed by a Christian, it will be used for the noblest of purposes. Such a man will often have^an opportunity of usefulness, where scarcely any one else could make the attempt. His society wiH, perhaps, be sought by those to whom "the preaching of the cross is foolishness.'' Woe to him, if influenced by "any unworthy considera tions, he enter into a compromise with the ene mies' of holiness and truth. Wherever he is, his mighty talents should be an engine, di rected against the strong-holds ©f error and of vice. Some have great influence arising out of im portant official station. It belongs to those in vested with civil office. The history of all nations, and the arrangements of Providence, point to some individuals, and often to one individual, on whom, in a considerable de gree, the happiness, the morality, the peace, and the prosperity of millions is made to depend; who may be the means of distri buting among a people, the most invaluable blessings, or inflicting upon them greater plagues than the hardness of Pharoah's heart brought upon his unhappy subjects. The kings of Israel and Judah, were, in a high degree, re sponsible for that idolatry and vice, which end ed in the dispersion of the one, and the cap tivity of the other; and Prophecy assures us, that when the Church eminently prospers, it shall own kings as its " nursing fathers," and *' their queens" as its " nursing mothers." Nor is this official influence confined to those who occupy the highest stations : subordinate, c If as well as superior magistrates!, are appointed '« ministers of God for good." When he shall universally make '( officers peace, and exactoRS righteousness," "then violence shall no more be heard in thy land, — wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Praise, and thy gates Salvation." If there be responsibility connected with civil, how much more with ecclesiastical office J That sustained by the minister of the sand- tuary, is the most solemn and responsible whieh a man can bear. There is scarcely a station of trust w*hich is not used as a representa tion of his accoUUtablenesSi Does the safety of the city instrumen tally depend on the watch man?' " Son of man," says God, " I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, therefore, hear the word at my mouth, and give them Warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning; nor speakest to warn ?the wicked from his wicked way, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood?will I require at thine hand. Yet, if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast • delivered thy soul.'' Does the security of the flock depend on the shepherd? He has given " pastors and teach- 15 ers for the perfecting the saints." If they" feed the ifloek of God which is among" them, i" when he chief Shepherd shall ; appeal'! they -". shaU receive a crown of life;" but if negligent, a. starvr ing and a scattered flock shall witness against an idle shepherd, "the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his rightyeye ; his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall; be, ut terly, darkened." Does the success of an' em bassy, in part, depend on the wisdom and, ad dress of the ambassador ? " Now then we are •ambassadors for. Christi, as though God did be seech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." On the. purity ,pf their doctrine, on the holiness of their, lives, on the faithfulness of their addresses, depend the prosperity of the church over which they are called to preside, and the salvation of indivi dual soulsi "They watch, for your souls, as they that must give account." >s ,.r>j. ¦?- But we must not confine our ideas of eccles iastical responsibility to the pulpit. The pro sperity of a religious society depends, in a cp»r siderable measure, on its energy and peace; and that energy and peace very frequently on those who are called to take 4he lead in tempo ral concerns. In witnessing the enlargement of some congregations^ and the declension of others, we 'have often found, that much more c2 16 has depended on the piety of the people, than on the talent of the preacher. How many 85 divided and scattered church will, al the bar of Christ, charge the man of influence among them with having abused his talent, or buried it in a napkin ! — with having slumbered when he ought to ha\e been awake! or idle, when he should have employed all his energy to heal the breach !. j Indeed, all who have connected them selves wilh the church oj God are, in some de* gree, responsible for the prosperity ef the cause; The .members of , Christian Societies are to be guardians of each other. They are to " mark them which make divisions, and avoid them :'' they are to *' look diligently, lest any man fail ofthe grace of God, — lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble them, and thereby many be defiled." "If a man be overtaken with a fault, ye, whirh are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thy self, .lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one ' another's burden, and so- fulfil the law of Christ." What mischief have they' done, and what an account have they to give, who act in defiance of these maxims! How many a tongue, " set. on fire of Hell," must one day an swer for its infuriated speeches ! How many aman, who. has cherished prejudices against the truth, will charge some prominent profes- 17 sor of religion with inconsistencies, which con firmed him in his mischievous errors, and plunged him into perdition ! Ah ! " these are spots in your, feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear; clouds, they are without water, carried about of winds; trees, whose fruit withereth, without fruit j twice dead, plucked up by the roots ; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame ; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." On the contrary, there are others who, thinking on " whatsoever things are lovely," and practising whatsoever things are useful, are the ornaments of our temples, the reward of our labours, the solace of our cares, who adorn the gospel we preach, "who also help together in prayer for us, that; for the gift bestowed upon us, by the means of many persons, thanks may be gi\ en by many on our behalf." There are other names in the book of Life than that of Clement, *' true yoke -fellows," "fellow-helpers" with apostles and preachers; and those names in clude many "women which laboured With us in the gospel." Influence over othersis sometimes the effect of /kindred and! residence.. This is very often pro± spective. If the nearest connection in domestic life be formed in direct opposition to the precept, " Be ye' not unequally yoked With unbelievers," the individual so transgressing is' responsible for the consequences. It is a case in which God often visits " the iniquity ofthe fathers upoti the children." But there are instances in which G6d takes " one of a family" to bring him to Zibri:" The individual so taken has much responsibi lity for the rest. Have wives husbands " Who obey not the word?' They may, H without the word, be won by the conversation bf ' their wives." Paul enquires, " For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thoU shalt save thy hus band? or how knowest thou, O man) whether thou shalt save thy wife ?" The heads of fami lies are responsible for the health and prospe rity of their children',— of both they are the con stituted guardians ; for their knowledge; they are to be the instruments of imparting it ; for their salvation, they must endeavour to pro mote it. Fact teaches us that you are in a high degree responsible for what your children will be ; and confirms Solomon's exhortation' and assertion :'" Train Up a child in the Way he should go, and 'when he is old he will not de part from it." God has prescribed the way in which, and in which alone,' you have any right to expect a blessing ; — " And these words, Which I command this day shall be in thine heart, a*nd thott shalt teach them diligently to thy 19 children, and talk of them, when thou sittest ift thine house, and when, thou walkest by the Way, when thou liest dpwn, and when thou risestup." If, th^sp precepts, an,dmauy more which might be added, be punctually obeyed, we shall, generally find, while, " the curse ofthe Lord is in the house pf the wicked, he bless.- eth the habitation of the just!" _,., Sometimes, in the course of Providence, the, duties pf parents devolve upon those who dp not naturally stand tp the party in that relation;, and if the, duties of the parent devolve upon the guardian, the responsibility of tlie parent is connected with them. , Next tp, the parents and guardians, perhaps few have greater in fluence than the instructors qf youth. Few }iave an opportunity, by wisdpin, and piety,, of doing so much good, , as,, or negligence, oc casioning so much evil. Under their roof, the deepest impressions, will be received, and the napst permanent habits will be formed. Their. houses may, by a divine blessing, become nurser ries for>the Church, and they may be the spiritual parents pf those who are committed to their care. . Nor, will you think me descending too low, if I turn, from those w-ho have the care of youth, ¦^rhen their faculties are more expanded, to those >yho ihave the, superintendence of them... when, their minds, are just opening. ..jln the nursery, 20 the seeds of happiness or misery, piety or vice* are often sown; and those there employed, may prove blessings or curses, both to parents and children. If such are present this morning, let me advise and intreat them to substitute the histories contained in 4he Scripture, for those detestable fictions which injure the nerves* viti ate the feelings, and deprave the character. Might not the history of Joseph, of Moses, of Daniel, of the three Hebrew youths, of Samuel, of Paul, of the Infant in the manger, of the Sufferer on the cross, be stated with effect, to the little listening group? And thus, through your instrumentality, from children they might "know the Scriptures, which are able to make them wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Indeed, servants in any capacity, have an opportunity of doing much good. It will be their wisdom and duty to seek situations where God is feared ; but if Pro vidence has otherwise disposed Pf them, they have an important duty to perform. Perhaps few have done greater injury than servants pro fessing religion, and few have an opportunity of doing greater good,— good to their fellow-ser vants, and good to their employers. By humility, by consistency, by adorning "the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things," they may bring the families whom they serve under an obligst- 21 tioh for eternity. Nor can they bring a re. proach upon the gospel, and be pure fro>ttt the blood of those to whom they have given " great Occasion to blaspheme.'' = ,bs<*- In the life of some. persons, opportunities of useful ness occur, by a i kind of daifluence pos sessed by but few> individuals. They have in tercourse ivith those, of elevated rank and? sta tion ; and by a prudent use of such anadvan- tage,, may ;become very. useful in promoting the interest ef the church, r. Whfl; could so effec tually assist the. Jews,, amidst the difficulties: with which, in rearing the second: temple, they had. to contend, as Nehemiah, the; king's cup<- bea,rer? - The concern of . his heart was disco vered by, the sadness of his countenance?; and a. successful request .< was presented : — " If it please the; lting, and if thy servant have.found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldst sendi me unto Judah, unto the city of, my father's sepulchres** to. build; it." For the express pur pose of. paving tthe people of God frpta threat ened ..destruction,, was Esther elevated, to -a station, which) but for this design, she ,.; ,had> probably never, occupied. ''Think, not ^fith thyself," said, Mordecai," that thpu shalt escape- in the: king's hpuser more than all the Jews., Fqr if thpu altogether holdest thy peace at this. time, tlipn shall thprp pnlargementj and deJtivey-;, ance arise to the Jews from another place; bttf thou and thy father's house shall be- destroyed: and xiho-khoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time, as this ?" But if much public benefit do not result, this intercourse presents an opportunity pf becoming an " epistle of Christ," where it is of so much . importance that such an epistle should be seen, and of fairly exhibiting what religionis, not only in theory, but actual life. •The occurrences were apparently fortuitous, which introduced the patriarch Jacob into the court of Pharoah ; but he seized the occasion of speaking and acting like a man of God. With what propriety and wisdom does he hint at the brevity and misery of human lifel How pertinently, and happily does he illustrate its real nature — a pilgrimage! What a noble su periority does. he manifest to all the grandeur wkh which Pharoah could invest him. With what noble boldness and strong faith does, he, in the presence of the kingr confess that he is- what each of his believing progenitors was,rr~ "A stranger, and a pilgrim on the earth !'r Insensible, indeed, must have been the heart of that monarch, if he did not feel that he was conversing with a man surrounded . by a kind of celestial atmosphere, when*' Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before 23 Pharoah ; and Pharoah said unto Joseph, How old art thou? And Jacob said unto Pharoah, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years, few and evil have the .days of the years, of my life, been; and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers, in the days "Qi their pil grimage; and Jacob blessed Pharoah, and went out from before Pharoah." - There are various circumstances, the whole of whicfy cannot now be enumerated, -which give one man an influence over another. It fre quently arises out pf the ordinary intercourse of eivillife. A journey, a brief interview, ^passing event, or a striking providence, has 'sometimes given occasion to illustrate Solomon's remark: "A word spoken in due season, how good it is!" It has abashed the prophane*— it has. Silenced the impure, — it has comforted the mbu-rner, — t it has arrested the attention of the thoughtless^ — it has saved " a soul from death." Thereture some persons who have a very happy talent for improving such occasions. Prudence and zeal combined, will enable them to do much goed. Nor during a life so short, ought we to suffer any opportunity of usefulness to passiunimi- proved. Those who travel, and those who .are at rest, h&ve temptations atfd duties peculiar P 2 24 to their "circumstances', and should be able to adopt the language uttered by "Our Lord, when he Was but twelve years old : " Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" 1 cannot quit the subject of influence with out remarking, that it'is a talent possessed in a very eminent degree by females. The first crime man ever committed, was occasioned by the abuse of female influence. Our father Was not ruined till he could say, " The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave unto me, and I did eat." His was a crime awful in its results; and his daughters have an opportunity of doing much towards repairing, pr confirming the mischief. The laws of civilized society give them vast influence; the constitution of their own minds secures it to them. This is a talent with which the Wise will not trifle, which the pious Will shudder to abuse, and of which God will require an account. Though I have already, in this statement, oc cupied much of your time," yet I will mention one talent more. It is, ' ' 3. Leisure. — This is sofrfetimes combined with affluence and influence;, and sometimes exists independently of theni. It is possessed in very unequal degrees. There are few » who have not a portion of it.! You cannpt deVote twelve hours to purpdSes of benevolence ; 'but 25 cannot you command one hour? It must how ever be conceded* that there are some whose public stations, whose numerous avocations, whose commercial engagements, or whose sub ordination in civil life, prevent from that per sonal religious activity which true piety leads them to desire. But this being freely acknow ledged, it is still to be feared, that there are many professors of religion awfully neglectful of this important talent. There are some who have not a numerous family to present extensive claims. A knowledge of the gospel has produced mo deration in their desires. They have acquired a competency; and in the prime, at least before •the decline, of life, have retired from publicity; .— "-and, oh! you who were once " cumbered and careful about many things," let me ask, Is there not now "owe thing]' to demand attention ? ^Providence has blessed you; do you never ask, " What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits?" There are some, who set out in the career of business with you, who are now in the valley of poverty, or they have died, and left their wives widows, and their children fatherless. Have they no claims upon your benevolent attention? Surrounded 'by the poor and needy, where so many perish, whose wants are unexplored, or, if explored, not relieved; while so many iu your own vicinity are " de- 26 -Strpyed for lack of knowledge," can you endure to dwell slothful in your neat habitation? Can you dare to look society in the face, and say, you have nothing to do? Can you " stand all the day idle?" Is it thus you "requite, the Lord, oh, foolish people and unwise ?" What an opportunity have, you of inspecting ; local wants, — of seeking out cases of individual dis tress, — of "lifting up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees," — -.of relieving your pastor from, at least, a part of those burdens which press upon his spirits, — or performing some of those avocations which limit his hours for .retirement and meditation,— -of aiding him in his schemes of usefulness, and greatly facilitat ing, his. ministerial success! An opportunity, did I say? You. cannot. neglect these duties, and be guiltless. " The voice of your brother's blood crieth against you from the ground," and (£od, will require it at your hands. _ , This important talent is possessed by many •wjho are just beginning life; by the young, especially young females. Your wants, my young friends, are well, supplied ;-r-you are free from many of those cares which press upon the minds of your parents;— you seem peculiarly designed by Providence for doing . good, and the design is marked, by your qualifications. If .renewed by divine grace, you happily com- 27 bine sensibility with energy. Fity that you should be ignorant of that distress which you Ure qualified to relieve; of those wounds into which you are eminently calculated to pour the balm ! You can be the almoners of the rich, the benefactors of the poor, the instructors of babes, the co-adjutors of ministers, and " work ers together with God!" These are our talents of relative importance. We are responsible for the use of them. But we are further responsible, ¦¦- 2. For the application right of them. There is scarcely a talent I have mentioned, which has notfeeen, and is not daily, misapplied. How many a rich man has misapplied his wealth t He has " lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton!" He has "nouriished his heart as in a day of slaughter !"' We are all ready to condemn the miser, but he is not the only matt whose riches will prove his ruin. r He will be condemned for hoarding, and others for squan dering what- was given for relative good. In deed, "covetousness, which is idolatry," includes the appropriation of wealth exclusively to our selves. That rich man, whose guilt and misery our Lord declared, Was covetous, and yet was" perhaps a spendthrift. He "was clothed in pur ple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day." But what was there in his history caU 28 eulated to alarm, the covetous Pharisees* who. derided, the Saviour? . Lazarus lay unpitied at.his gate, "desiring .to be fed with the crumbs which fell, from the rich man's table," and the covetous wretch was transferred by justice from his, suniptuous table to his place of torment. . By how many a man has influence been aw fully misapplied! How basely has that in fluence been prostituted, which arises from wealth,!, and what a curse has mental superiority sometimes made a man to the circle in which he. has moved, or the world in which he has lived! The ", poison of asps" has been " under hig.lips." Infidelity and .vice have been dif fused , by his expressions and his example. How. many publications have been produced - fit only for the flames! — and had their state of mind been meliorated by whom they were written, — " Burn, burn, they'd cry, with sacred jrage, " Hell's the desert of every page." Nor do mistakes destroy accountableness. We are responsible for the mistakes which we circulate ; and circulate to the ruin of others. If a man, who loving "not the truth," but" having pleasure in unrighteousness," has in judgment been visited by " strong delusions that he 29 might believe a lie," his condemnation will be aggravated by propagating that lie. " For the leaders of this people, ""says Isaiah, "cause them to err, and they that are led of them are de stroyed. Therefore the Lord shall ha^e no joy in their yOungmen, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows, for every one is an hypocrite, and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly !" What mischief has been donte, by the abuse of influence arising from civil office. Hence, in many cases, war connected with pestilence and famine, — hence persecuting edicts,— hence martyrs have been doomed to dungeons, crosses, racks, and stakes; and many souls have been sent under the altar, to imprecate vengeance on the guilty men, who have prostituted one of the most important of all talents, tP one of the basest of all purposes! Inferior, as well as supreme magistrates, have misapplied their in fluence,— have reversed the original design of their office, — have endeavoured to be a praise to them that did evil, and a terror to them who dicKwell ! ' ' These, however, we rejoice to say (thanks to the spirit of our laws, and the il lumination of bur times!) were chiefly the scenes of past ages. There does, indeed, exist a ban ditti, as small in number as they are base in character, who would set at defiance all laWs, E 30 human and divine; and prevent the free exer cise of divine worship : and there have been magistrates more ready to praise than to punish.. But they are only specimens of what combined ignorance and bjgptry once did, and what the ignorant and base in vain attempt to renew. Influence in tbe church, — in the family, — the influence of masters, servants, instructors, has often been misapplied. Leisure has been abused, and some of the most active have been the most injurious. But referring all these to your observation, this part of our sub ject may easily be stated. What is the condi tion of man? What is the design pf Gpd ? and for what does he use the instrumentality of his church? Man is a fallen being. When sin en tered, a long train of miseries followed, the body became liable to diseases, accidents, and death : some feel these evils in a greater degree than it is the lot pf ethers to experience. He designs, by human instrumentality, tp meliorate these circumstances; and he has appointed that, " when the eye sees you, it should bless you, and when the ear hears you, it should bear witness to ypu, because you delivered the poor when he cried, the needy also, and him who had none to help him." But in the minor we must not lose the greater evil ; nor in the animal over look the immortal. " God so loved the 31 world, that he gave his only-begotten Son* that whosoever believeth in him, might not perish, but might have everlasting life /" It is our duty to bring others acquainted with this fact, and urge upon their conscience the importance of personal interest in a Redeemer's merits* that we " might by all means save some !" Our family — neighbourhood — world, is to be regard" ed With this eonvictionr— " If a man do err from the truth, and one convert him, he that convert- eth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multi tude of sins!" But in order fully to discharge our responsi bility, our talents should be directed to those objects habitually. There are some men who act, but it is only occasionally, and then if is the effect, not of principle, but of impulse. They are persons on whom we cannot place the slightest dependance. The success of an ap plication will depend on the peculiar temper in which we find them. Hence they are seldom useful. . Their occasional sallies of zeal are ir- regular. They are usually foolish men, Who often "begin to build," and are never " able to finish!-' Our zeal should not only be habitual, but liberal. Our exertions should not be those of a zealot for a party, but of the servant of God, E 2 32 and the friend of man. We are called to " do good unto all men, especially to those who are ofthe household of faith!" The church to which we belong, and the denomination of which we form a part, have some peculiar claims upon us; but, while their claims are peculiar, they are by no means exclusive. There are some, we blush to make the acknow ledgment, who are totally indisposed for any exertion, beyond the sphere of their own de nomination. Instead of aiming at an object the most noble which could exalt the mind of an angel, they propose one the most mean and contemptible which could debase the mind of a reptile, did a reptile possess intelligence. In stead of seeking the glory of God, and the good of immortal souls, they know no motive beyond the enlargement of a sect, which they have de graded by enrolling their names among its mem bers. Terms, in their natural import the most grand, proceeding from their lips, are the most mean. You need a dictionary of their own to understand their language, when they talk of the church , of Christ, — the prosperity of religion, — conversion, — or the glory of God! You must perpetually advert to the place of worship which they attend, or the denomination whose peculiarities they have espoused. They , 33 do not rejoice that Christ is successfully preached, unless he gratifies their vanity and en courages their ambition. Human misery does not affect them, unless the sufferer be one of their corps ; or if they relieve, they will be un derstood as advancing a sort of earnest-money to enlist him into the ranks. This is conduct which cannot, on any principle, be justified. Surely, we cannot pretend that it can be vin dicated by the smallness of our denomination ; and will its largeness furnish with a reason more satisfactory ? Have we a plausible pretext in secular disadvantages ? or can you find one in superior secular privileges ? Can any man dis charge the duty he owes to the poor and ignor ant, if he refuse to instruct the children of those whose consciences forbid their observing his forms ? And is it not more like the spiritual empyric than the spiritual Physician, to use the healing waters of life chiefly as a vehicle for his infallible preparations, — to deny their utility, except in this connection, and assert, that in stead of efficacious they will prove injurious -? This is a species of tyranny inconsistent, totally inconsistent, with our responsibility ;— our duty is prescribed, and the discharge of it js enforced. It remains that of this I, Secondly, Adduce the proof, and demon- 34 strate that this responsibility is actually at tached to our character. It appears, 1. From the arrangements of Providence. At first view, what a mystery does Providence present! Wherefore those inequalities among mankind ? Why is one possessed of thousands of gold and silver ? Why has he more than heart could wish, while another has children begging bread, and there is none to give them ? Why yonder head and sole support of his nu merous family, confined to a bed of disease, perhaps' of deaths while the merchant, who has already amassed a princely fortune, has health, opportunity, and inclination to add to his store ? Why does the gospel, with all its heavenly light, visit some lands, while others remain " in the region and shadow ' of death ?'' Why this sacred volume, universally needed, and calcu lated universally to bless, confined to a few na tions of the earth ? My brethren, these are questions which we cannot satisfactorily an swer : they contain difficulties which we can not fully remove. The subject displays divine sovereignty. It is part of a scheme imperfectly comprehended, the design pf which is but par tially revealed. When the mystery of God shall be finished, — when the angel shall have sworn that"there shall be time no longer ;" then much which now puzzles and confounds us, shall 35 loudly call for our admiration and praise ; — then those events which induce the Infidel to cherish a hope, that " God doth not see, neither doth the God of Jacob regard it," shall most fully demonstrate, not only that divine atten tion was given to human affairs, but that God acted on principles of infinite justice, infinite wisdom, and infinite love ; but there is one rea son for these inequalities, with which we are acquainted, — it is contained in our subject. The present state is designed for the develope- ment of character ; it is intended to call graces into exercise ; and different circumstances are necessary to elicit and exhibit them. Your ad vantages have reference, not merely to your selves, but to others. You were blessed, that you might be made a blessing : You have wealth to distribute, bibles to circulate, truth to disseminate. If this design be not fulfilled, the mystery of Providence appears not in the inequality ofthe distribution ; but that the ad vantage should be in your favour. We are sur prized, not that there should be a variety of cir cumstances, but that a wise Providence should have given any thing more than merely l>read to eat and raiment to put on, to beings too un grateful to appreciate his favours, too stupid and insensible to understand their design, too 36 selfish and depraVed to appropriate them fo the legitimate purpose. If we look into Nature, God has taught us his intention by his arrangements. He seems to have formed nothing, merely for its own sake ; and the most glorious are generally the most useful productions of his hand. The sun has glo rious beams, but not to expend upon himself; the moon has paler light, that light is borrowed; and borrowed to be lent. Every being, animate and inanimate, has its use ; nor has he brought an insect into existence without assigning its place and its employ, and connecting with its birth and life some, though in many Cases to us unknown, utility. The whole is a system of order, dependence, and relative advantage. Sin indeed has deranged the world in which we live; but originally the whole, composed of va rious parts " fitly framed together," was one perfect production, beautiful for its harmony, and glorious for its utility. We may pass from inferior up to superior creation. We know but little of the world of spirits,— the world of an gels ; but that little leads to the certain conclu^ sion, that they are not formed in vain. They are all useful, useful to each other, useful to the universe, especially useful to the church. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to mi- 37 nister for them who shall be heirs of salva tion." And, what! is a church,!' redeemed with the precious blood of Christ," to form an ex ception ? Is a Christian to be the only use less being in the whole creation? Is he divine ly enlightened? Is he powerfully' convert ed by the immediate agency of God himself, without any reference to utility? When Pro vidence, so attentive to his concerns, fixed the bounds of his habitation, was it only that there he might eat, and drink, and fold his hands, and sleep? Oh, no! Those who are to God the most valuable portion of earth's inhabitants, are designed to be the blessings of the place, — are appointed to be extensively useful, and their peculiar privileges deeply stamp upon their character and condition, in letters legible to all, and never to be erased — relative responsibility. . Observe, 2. The Constitution of Human Nature. — Re lative responsibility is taught by every just feel ing of the human breast. The feelings of the mother suggest the design of her relation, and teach the duties which she owes her babe. " Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?" Surround a father by his family. What excite the most pleasing emotions of his bosom ? Their health, — their peace, — their 3$ prosperity. What fill him with anguish, or call most loudly for submission? Their sick ness, — their ar •idents, — or their death; Is there a parent who forms an exception ? .He <' is not a. own* Christian: for, " If any provide not for his and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an InfideW" He is not a man: for " no man, ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth, and cherisbeth it!" He is not a brute: for the beasts regard their species, and "the hen galherethher chickens under her wings." -= He is a monst &* ',- - he is an anomaly in nature. He. is a frightful, hideous demon, raised! up foe the very bmites to sbnni. Nor are our feelings cpnj&ned to our nearest connections. Shew a Hfcatjjen princess, a, Hebrew babe, exposed on the river's brink, and. when the babe weeps; she will have compassion on it! Shew a Samaritan a Jew, \yhp has fallen among thieves, is left naked, wounded, and half dead, and, if he be not more insensible than the ground on, which he walks, he will feel himself compelled tai bind up his wounds, " ppuriig: in oil and! wine."' But, alas ! alas! Sin, which, has introduced our misery, has spoiled our nature toe! Ithasi frozen the bosom to ice, and petrified! the heart tp sfpne! What multitudes can hear the tale 39 of Wee, and shed no tear! "The miserable groan around them, and do not awaken *hem from their slumbers, or disturb them in their mirth. But let grace interpose, and it will work a mighty change; — the frozen bosom will be melted, and the petrified heart will be tiirned into flesh! [t will restore sensibility, and sensi bility will produce holy energy. Human misery will prompt to acts of benevolence, and human depravity impel to labours of zeal. The sub ject Pf this grace will " rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that Weep." Now, with David, he will behpld "the transgres sors," and be "grieved ;" and like him be able te say, " Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law I" Now, altars erected to the unknown God, and a world al most " wholly given to idolatry," Will " stir his spirit within him." Now will he feel an irre sistible impulse from the misery of man, and derive an argument of overwhelming force froth the love of Christ. His conduct may, by the cold hearted and insensible, be censured as en thusiasm and madness; but he feels his re-. sponsibility, the existence of which he is taught by holy benevolence, and thus judges " that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that he died for ail, thatthfcy which live should not henceforth Ihe unto themselves, but unto him f 2 40 which died for them, and rose again!" Hence 1 appeal, 3. To Divine Revelation. — That we are re sponsible for Others, is so evidently the doctrine of Scripture, that even were not your time so far elapsed, I should esteem it almost unneces sary, formally to adduce the proof of what none can deny, though some may neglect. In deed, the statement which I have imperfectly given, hasinvolved scriptural proof; but it would be very easy further to shew you, that the first principles of revealed religion, imply relative responsibility. Its precepts regard duties which we owe to others as, well as ourselves. Its promises are annexed to a discharge of them. The pleasures which it countenances, arise out of the success of them. Its best patterns were eminent for the fulfilment of them ; and its predictions relate to an awful and strict in vestigation respecting them. To each of these we will devote a few moments. 1. What are the first principles of revealed religion? Indeed, I might descend lower, and ask, What are the first principles of natural re ligion? Relative responsibility arises out of the divine existence and creature dependance. If there be an indisputable truth taught by na ture and reason, it is this :- — We have nothing which we can call our own. To call health, 41 prosperity, influence, time our own,, is an abuse of language, for which conscience, reason, fact, and feeling, condemn us. We feel that we are pensioners, that we have " freely received," and we should " freely give." But, on Christian principles, our obligations and responsibility are more apparent. Even providential favours were not only at first freely given ; but have been forfeited by sin. They can be restored only by an act of astonishing grace. The plan through which every good thing is restored to us, teaches the design of the gift, and attaches responsi bility to the possessor. " We have received out of" the fulness of a Mediator, " and grace for grace;" — and does not this most, loudly and impressively say, " Thou shouldst have com passion on others, as I have compassion on thee!" I have compassion on thy nakedness, and clothe thee ; on thy wants, and feed thee; on thy ignorance, and instruct thee; on thy guilt, and forgive. thee; and thus I teach thee to have compassion on the naked, — the hungry, —the ignorant, — the guilty. " Take my money and put it to the exchangers, then at my com ing, I shall receive mine own with usury." 2. What, therefore, are the express precepts of Seripture?; They relate to the duties we owe tp others, as well as ourselves. I need not specify, but I confidently appeal, are there 42 not in the Scripture an abundance of precepts which relate to relative duties? The duties of kings,— 'pf subjects, — of ministers,— of people, -r-of husband s, — of wj ves,— of parents, — of chil dren, — of masters, — of servants? The duties of the rich to the poor, and the poor to the rich ;— ¦ of Christians, to the whole church, and the church to the whole world ? And what are these precepts, but a minute specification of the requirements included in that comprehensive law, Love! "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another, for he that loveth another, hath fulfilled the law." And is not this the law of Christ? Can you neglect it, and retain allegi ance to him who is King of Zion, and Head of the Church? No! the omission of relative duties, and the forgetfulness of relative respon sibility, is rebellion against his government! Nor are his precepts krbitary. He has given his reason for the duties he has required, and taught us why he continues his people in the world. They are " the salt of the earth." They must preserve and purify it. They are the " lights of the world," They must illuminate and guide it. They are like " cities set on a hill,"to be seen from afar. They are like candles in a house, that none where they reside may walk in darkness. They are like beacons set on a rock, 43 ©r near a dangerous shoal, to guard the mariner from shipwreck, and save him from a watery grave. Such was the allusion ofPaulihthis chap ter: "Do "all things without murnaUrings and disputings, that ye may be blameless and harm less, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in tbe world, holding forth the word of life." But suppose a mariner, to extinguish the lamps, or, while he slumbered, suffer them to expire, would he not be respon sible for the wreck? May we never, my hear ers, witness the analogy by any, whom we ought to have warned, making " shipwreck of faith* and of a good conscience." While Sarats are continued on earth, they are designed, not only to be useful to the world, but to each other. They are* therefore, teLUght to consider the whole church as a femily, and each member as a brother or sister. If a saint be naked or hungry, it is a brother or sister in that condition. Can these near con nections be unpitied and unaided, and we be clear? Can we mock them by saying, " Be ye warmed, and be ye clothed," and give them not the things which, are needfel, and pretend to be consistent members " ofthe household of faith?" To teach more fully the intimacy of our connec- 44 tion, and the claims of the church upon its mem bers, they are compared, not only to a family but a bqdy,: in which " whether one member suffer, ^11 the, members, suffer with it, or one member be hpnpured, all the members rejoice with.it." The precepts are in perfect harmony with, ,.Y ,, .3. The, promises pf Scripture. — They are made to individuals of a certain character, and that character includes usefulness. Who shall obtain mercy ? — the merciful. Who. be. strength ened upon the bed pf languishing ?— " the man who considers the poor." Who shall "receive a cypy^a.^oi life?" — the faithful. These Characters, a.ll^nj.e^ted in-the, rightepusness ofthe Saviour, have borne ; ,th,eir minds have been, formed for hply E^nd, useful engagements ; and, , , 4. The pleasures which Scripture counten ances, arise out pf the, success i of them. Do not talk, of re^li^ousj, enjoyments, — experiences,— raptures,— jf yqu are merely gratifying " itching ears" and a roving fancy. If you are travelling from pne end of the inetropolis to the other, to hear and see something new; then returning to neglect the duties of, the family, to slight the claims pf the neighbourhood, to avert your eye from the sight of wretchedness, lest the eye should, affect the heart, and the, heart for once should open the purse! — If* the word you 45 have been hearing has not given you "bowels of mercies." It has been " a savour of death unto death!" If you have no desire to Com municate to Others the gospel yen profess so highly to prize, yc-ii have never truly felt its value, nor imbibfedits spirit ;~-your knowledge is the orthodoxy of a devil !— ybur hope is the hope of a hypocrite, and your supposed pleasures are delusion! You have " no part nor lotin this matter!" If real Christians, your pleasures would arise from self-consecration, from doing good, and communicating; from. Witnessing the good of Jerusalem ; from receiv ing an, "answer to this prayer,. " Let thy Work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their childrenl And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish thou the Work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou it." Thence haVe arisen the pleasures of all saints, and We assert, 4. The best patterns exhibited for our imita tion, were eminent for the discharge of relative duties. Here is Abraham commanding his family, to fear God. Joshua resolving with his house to serve him. David determining that, both as a magistrate and a master, he will use all his influence for the good of others; nor did, he fall asleep till he had " served his generation G 46 according to the will ef Gods" The prophetaf* the apostles were all looking* "npt every man pu his own things, but every man also on the things of others." This was the glory pf the men who .¦" loved not their lives unto the death." The ap<- pointment of the Saviour is, " If any man will come after me, and ifeate npt father and mother, yea, and his own We too, he cannot be my dis ciple;" ; but the reason of this is to be found it* pur relative responsibility* The- martyrs felt that they were entrusted with a cause, — they must preserve it,-r-must transmit it to future -generations* or future generations would have reason to curse them. By, these considerations, the Reformers from Popery were actuated. — Why publish their opinions ? Why not believe in secret, and thus escape, the danger with which they were menaced?.. Because theyfelt that they were responsible for the ignorance which they did not attempt to remove; for the Superstitions which they did not endeavour to destroy. Had they been silent, the mother of harlots had revel led in her vice,, and wallowed in her filth; and they had been responsible, for the consequence. Yes, and we would have risen up in judgment to condemn them. But we pass from the ser^ vants to the Lord. We hear him say, " Of all. whom thou hast given me, Ihave lost none." 47 " Look hot then every man on his own things, but <*very man also on the things of others."-^-