The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1825-07-21

Al the close OF every session OF the Conven'
ton, it has been our custom, ny beloved
brethren, TO hover around the aliar Ut the loI
Jesus snd while thus sIOnding nesr the ibI one
Of our Almighty Parent, TO take our leave oI
each olher and 10 suppiicste Got for . con.
tInusncs Of his blessing upon us; end upon
the Church committed 10 our care. Eos this
practice We have pIeceden, in The conduct oi
81. Psul, SnJ, pfioi 20 hts departure from l.
phesus called the Elders OF Tho Church TO
gether, and impaired 10 ihem his pastoral ad
monition.
lie ArsisnjuineG the m 20 lake hce d 10 them
selves. As stewards OF tho mysteries Of
Chfist, eDtfuSed with the dispensatIoD OF the
Gospel, he ep,resied them to take heed %
mselves--so AXE care Of their own vins.
ystd--lo cultivate iheu own minds sbd 20
walch over ,h,lr own conduct.--This advice
ihe Apostle kew TO be Necessary. as IL would
have been unreasonable 10 suppose, that they
would be weictkpi over Others whose zeal did
not !, nusnce them 10 take a p udcnI care OF
themselves.
Alter having thus csuiionsd Them sgains,
tbe Degiect oi taeh own hea'i, he told thom TO
take need 20 alltbe flock over which the Ho
~ Ghost had nude them ovefsceis A. shep.
herds watch oyef iben sheep, no, only TO pre-.
veni hem from usying awey, but $50 10 lead
them INTO good pastures; 50 the ministers oi
Ephesus were charged with The supe perintcn.
dance OF the people. Take a constant care,
exercise an unesssiog vigilance over The sp,r.
nosl concerns oi he cong egotion committed
pyour charge, lest beasts Of p' ~ dsvour them
lest Satan and hesr own cor up,ious should
devour ,hem-i1t Satan and their own Co,
rupions should ahsnsle their sfTec ions from
the Almighty. snd sink hem IN e'e'nai 'un.
Ws'eh ye IN all tn'ngs, endue ffl,c,ioos,
do Ibs work Of Eyange!ists, mako iuii proof
Of YOU ministry"
ths concern with which you are entrusted,
remembef bfe,bien, Is the church Of the iiv'
ing God, church purchased with the blood
oi Chil'J apurehaso, which exhausted the
Uessu,y OF flesren, q purchase which cos the
son o. ts.',aI us =. Csivsy with blood, purchase
which angeH Witnessed, with dropping wings
and throbbiUg hearts:
Tho neglect oi your duty would involve in 1t
the gteater guii,. Youf nc giec, would amount
TO a coD,e mpt Of that blood, with which the
pu,chas oil our salvation was made and would
stamp our Characters with present disgrace
and consign you TO eternal 'u,n
We arc most Assu,sdiy 10 give on account
OF our sesa'd.hip. How dreadful will be
tho s.s,s OF that clergyman who aftet having
undeusken tho supe' attendance Of eoog'e.
ga,ion, wihhoids nis pastoral attention; and
permits ,he people en"usied 10 ms eare' no
only 10 wander from tho pa.h of duty, but 10
plunge into de,i uc,ion.
Wha, will be his situation at that moment
in which the angel sbali sweat, hat time shall
be NJ Uote--a, that moment when tho esf'h
end sea shall give up their desd--at that mo
ment, when every mortal from Adam 10 his
last born son shall otsnd naked end defence
les. before God. What, ask you, will be
,he condition Of a sloIhful wicked clergyman
at ,ha, tremendous hour
See advancing before the tribunal OF Heav
en- some unhappy sinner, who when The zen
| fence Of Condemnation shall be pronounced
| will charge the ruin oi his soul 10 The man, u
! whose pss;orsi care he had been eonfdec
| Blessed Jesus may tho condemned sinne
| soy, I sckn ,wledge tha, ] have uansgres'e'
! Thy ,igh eou. laws; bu, oh, Mete'iu' Sou
my esuhiy pastof led me ssusy. A'she Tim
in which violated my p scepls, he proclaim
| ed peace IN my ca 5, and believed MS fepo'
L
| pisciices; and TO him, IN The i'ce Of en- o.
sembled universe, l charge the destruction
my precious soul. II mise y will DO the po
non Of every oHe oder, my brethfsn--how si
grsvsied viii he The misery Of wicked Gle
gymao! When sinners Of common deseU
,ion vii. cell 10 ,he locks to tall on them,
wicked clergyman will ciy out IN agony mou
,sins cover me from the presence oi God.
On The other hand, how transporting "
be ,he situs,ion Of e ws,ckiul shepherd
fai,hful minis,et Of 'elislon. A, 'hsI hou'
which the heavens will be rolled up IKE
,ctoli, and the elements melt with isfve
beat, a pious clergyman viii shse from
tomb 10 peace snd uenquislny. The hsr
spirit Of some lmmou,' Beng vii ~" i.
lin in the Couns Of Heaven, ns " an '
d been faithful in tho dihebsrge o. his d,
f. I'm, blessed Jesus, l sssnowJ edge thy
! 1lsIn. zee with divine things. He ,os,,,
I'd me 10 my du,y--he isogb me how 10
| III. ho,s life and cor n,