ON PREACHING THE WORD. DISCOURSE, DELIVERED AT THE VISITATION OF THE Right Worshipful ROBERT MARKHAM, M. A, ÄRCHDEACON OF YORK, AT DONCASTER, JUNE 5, 1801. JOHN LOWE, M. A. CURATE OF WENTWORTH, AND DOMESTIC CHAPLAIN TO THE Published at the request of several of THE CLERGY. Pork. Printed by T. WILSON and R. SPENCE, High Ousegate. Sold by J. MAWMAN, Poultry, London; WILSON and SPENCE; 1320 Anno 1801. d. 29 ON PREACHING THE WORD. I CHARGE THEE THEREFORE BEFORE GOD, AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO SHALL JUDGE THE QUICK AND DEAD AT HIS APPEARING,— PREACH THE WORD. 2. Tim. Iv. 1, 2. IT is required of Stewards that they be found faithful; and from him to whom a more important truft is committed, a stricter account will be required. We are called in holy fcriptures, my reverend brethren, Ministers and A Stewards of the Myfteries of God; to us is committed the word of reconciliation, and we are to watch for the fouls of our people, as they that must give an account; to "preach the word, be inftant in feafon, out of feafon; re"prove, rebuke, exhort with all long fuffering "and doctrine; to watch in all things, endure "afflictions, do the work of an evangelift, ful"fil our miniftry, that we may render our ac"count with joy, and not with grief." Our text contains a folemn and awful charge, whereunto we fhall do well to take heed. "I charge thee therefore before God, and the "Lord Jefus Chrift, who fhall judge the quick "and dead at his appearing, preach the word.' Upon this laft clause, "preach the word," I fhall offer fome remarks, which may not be unfuitable to the occafion of our present assembly: and while I befpeak your candour towards the errors into which I may be betrayed, I appeal to your juftice in defence of the franknefs and fincerity, with which I fhall feel it my bounden duty to preach the word, on this, as on every other occafion. I shall take it for granted, as a preliminary qualification for the effectual discharge of the office of a preacher, that we firmly believe the word we are appointed to preach, and are seriously affected with its important contents. I shall assume it also as indifputable, (for the contrary fuppofition is too horrid to be admitted for a moment,) that we receive the doctrines of our church, as contained in her articles, to which we have folemnly fubfcribed; and as breathed in every page of our most excellent liturgy, to which we have publickly pledged ourfelves to conform; that in our prayers and our discourses, we fpeak the fame language, utter the same sentiments, and are actuated by one and the same spirit: In a word, I take it for granted, that we build our labours on the broad and firm basis of faith, and truth, and confiftency. A 2 1 |