In looking over some papers of Mr. ARMSTRONG, presented to me by his widow, I happened on this address; some extracts 'rom it were inserted in an obituary published soon after his death. If all, or any of it, should be thought worthy of a place in the Monitor, you are welcome to the use of it.

A CHARGE

X

Addressed to the Rev. WM. HUME, December 2, 1801, on occasion of his admission to the pastoral inspection of the Associate Congregation in Nashville. By the Rev. ROBERT ARMSTRONG, late of Massies Creek, Ohio.

Rev'd. and very dear Brother:

You are now set apart to the pastoral charge of this congregation: Permit me, on this occasion, to say a few things to which I would request your attention. My short experience in the work of the ministry, as well as other circumstances, render me but little qualified to direct or exhort any of my brethren: From them I would rather wish to learn. Yet as the providence of God has called me to stand in this situation at present, I beseech you to hear me patiently, while I say to you, what I would desire to apply to myself, and what I would hear without offence from another on a similar occasion.

See that you endeavour to make your calling and election sure. You have, I trust, been earnestly seeking after this attainment; nevertheless continue, or rather increase, your diligence for the acquisition of such a precious blessing: According to the Apostle's exhortation, "give all diligence to make your calling and elec

tion sure." This is necessary for every Christian; but more especially for a minister of the gospel. How can he be a fit instrument to persuade men to flee away from the wrath to come by an acceptance of the gift of God, who himself knows not the terrors of the Lord, and who never entertained a just apprehension of his own, danger as a sinner under the curse of the law? How can he direct sinners to the water of life, who himself has never drank at this fountain? How shall he recommend the blessings of salvation to others, who himself has no interest in them, and has never perceived their value? That preacher cannot, with propriety, administer comfort to others, who is himself a stranger to the consolations of the gospel.

An experimental knowledge of any thing about which men are employed, is usually attended with facility and skill in the performance of their work, and affords a much better prospect of success than where this knowledge is not acquired. An experimental knowledge of the things of God in a minister of the gospel, while it contributes greatly to fit him for the proper discharge of his trust, inspires him with zeal, excites him to diligence, and gives an energy to his labours not otherwise to be expected. When his own experience discovers to him the worth of a soul, he will account no possible labour too great, and withhold no sacrifices necessary, that sinners may be plucked as brands out of the fire.— When a sense of the love of Christ possesses his mind, he will feel this love constraining him to the diligent use of all the means of divine appointment for winning souls to the Redeemer. When his heart is kindled with the flame of divine love, it will burn with an holy zeal for the diffusion of the same happy influence over the minds of others. It is an important advantage for ministers of the gospel in preaching the word, when they can say with truth to their hearers, "That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

Be a man of prayer. Our Master has set us a precious example in regard to this as well as other things. He was often em-. ployed in this exercise, and retired apart for this end: Yea, we find him spending whole nights in prayer to God. Prayer has a happy effect in raising the mind of a minister above the things of this world: It is well calculated to bring his heart into a frame proper for spiritual meditation, and for all the other duties in which the messenger of Christ may be engaged: It is a means of God's appointment through which a minister may look for the divine blessing to attend his labours. These labours, Sir, will be whol

ly fruitless without the exertion of divine power by the Holy Spirit: This blessing, therefore, you must often, and earnestly seek. Ask the direction of Heaven with regard to the subjects of your public discourses. Supplicate the same direction for the preparation of your message. Go from your knees to the pulpit, and from the pulpit to your knees. Bear this people on your heart before the LORD, especially when you are employed in secret prayer.When a professed messenger ef Jesus restrains prayer before God, he can have little ground to hope that his administrations will be greatly honoured as instrumental in bringing sinners to Christ, or in promoting the edification of the church.

To whom can the preacher of the gospel more properly bewail his comparatively fruitless labours than to God, who alone is able to crown them with success? To whom should he ascribe the praise of the reception of his message, but to God who alone can subdue sinners to himself? All these things, as well as the concerns of his own soul, will carry the faithful messenger of Christ often to the throne of grace. The disposition and conduct of the Apostle Paul, with respect to this exercise, as represented to the Ephesians, are descriptive of the disposition and practice of every godly minister, especially in regard to his own particular charge: "I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers."

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exkort with all long suffering, and doctrine.

This, Sir, is an important, a very important part of your ministerial work. It is not for me to pretend to direct you with confidence ralstive to so great a matter. What I have to say to you

on this head, is furnished from a view of the difficulties with which I have myself had to encounter, and of the defects I have observed in my own performances; rather than occasioned by any deficiencies remarked in yours.

Preach the gospel with a due regard to order and connection.A desultory harangue, wholly devoid of unity, and which presents no distinct or specific object to the view of the intelligent mind, may attract the notice and procure the admiration of the ignorant and heedless; yet this method of discoursing, though applauded or practised by the stupid enthusiast, is not adapted to illustrate the gospel of Christ; to inform the understanding; to affect the conscience; or to make a lasting impression upon the heart.While the understanding is not informed by any particular mode

of preaching the gospel, the imagination indeed may be affected; but any apparent impressions which may be made upon the conscience or the heart, as they have not a solid foundation, so they pass away, and "leave no trace behind them."

On the other hand, a scrupulous regard to those modes of arrangement and discussion which are generally to be found in theological systems, in the preaching of the gospel, wears so much the appearance of mere speculation; and has a dry, uninteresting, and forbidding aspect: It tends to excite or cherish the influence of self-conceit among the hearers; rather than to awaken the consciences of sinners, to revive and cherish the languishing graces of the people of God, or to administer consolation to them that mourn Unity of discourse, without an excessive regard to systematic accuracy; a judicious arrangement, plainly marked: order, stripped of all unnecessary metaphysical forms; and a vein of true and solid sentiment presented to the hearer as if it came from the heart; contribute much to render a minister's public discourses respectable, intelligible, useful, and edifying. But all this will require application and study on your part. While the servant of Christ should place his whole dependence upon the light of the Spirit for the performance of his duty, and upon divine power for success in his work; he is not warranted to do so without the use of all those means which God gives him an opportunity to employ. When called to preach the gospel in cir cumstances which do not admit of preparation by study, you must not, on this account, decline the service; but go forth in a believing dependence upon your Master's aid: Then, indeed your periods may not be so well turned as at other times, your language may be less harmonious; and your discourse less elaborate: but when spoken from a heart under the influence of faith and of compassion for the souls of men, it may not be less useful than your most studied compositions. Yet such a well-grounded expectation of the divine direction, and the experience of such assistance in this case, will afford no proper reason for negligence on other occasions: for he who spends his time in idleness, in trifling or worldly pursuits, has little reason to hope for the presence of Christ to direct and assist him when he goes to the pulpit.

Extraordinary inspiration has long ceased in the church: and the minister of Christ must diligently prepare himself by meditation and study for the services of the sanctuary in preaching the gospel: This is a part of the fidelity which he owes to God, and to the souls of those who hear him. Some, who do not, or cannot plead the want of time as an apology for the omission, tell their

audiences that they intend to address them without study; although the sermon, which follows this vainglorious intimation, be such that intelligent hearers can make the discovery without any information on the part of the preacher. When others, having time and opportunity for study, appear to greater advantage than the former without preparation, and say that it has been neglected; they praise their gifts at the expense of their hearts: for a faithful minister will not, through negligence, suffer himself to serve God with that which cost him nothing.

Preach the gospel with perspicuity and plainness. A ludicrous or a low vulgarity of manner and expression, is equally unsuitable to the solemn gravity which becomes the ambassador of Christ, and to the dignity of the gospel. The language of the pulpit should be the language of the heart: It may possess a simple elegance; and, where the talents of the speaker and the complexion of the audience readily admit, it may rise to the sublime by the occasional introduction of such bold and striking figures as are to be found in the sacred oracles: but in all beyond, the minister of the gospel will preach himself rather than Christ Jesus the Lord.

Unnecessary criticisms, refined metaphysical distinctions, philosophical speculations, curious or learned disquisitions, may afford an affected display of the speaker's talents or learning; they may engage the attention of merely speculative professors, and obtain the applause of the simple and foolish : Such things, however, will not answer the proper ends of preaching the gospel; and, therefore, they ought to be excluded from the public services of the gospel-minister. Your preaching the gospel with a plainness becoming its simplicity, and answerable to the condition of your hearers, may cause you to be despised by the wise or learned of this world, to whom the cross of Christ is foolishness: yet be content to be accounted a fool for Christ's sake, as knowing that if you "pleased men, you would not be the servant of Christ."

Preach the gospel in earnest, as one who feels the importance of those things which you declare to others.

When the preacher of the gospel is duly affected with the danger of them that are ready to perish; when he knows, in any suitable manner, the worth of souls; when his heart is constrained by the love of Christ; when he considers himself as the messenger of Heaven; and reflects that death or life may hang upon his lips: he must and will speak in earnest. This is necessary to produce a proper effect upon the minds of others. For the Poet's expression is founded in truth