They watch, waking while others sleep, over the flock of Christ; over the souls that he has bought with a price, that he has purchased with his own Blood. They have them in their hearts both by day and by night; regarding neither sleep nor food in comparison of them. Even while they sleep, their heart is waking, full of concern for their beloved children. They watch with deep earnestness, with uninterrupted seriousness, with unwearied care, patience, and diligence, as they that are about to give an account of every particular soul, to him that standeth at the door, to the Judge of quick and dead.

II. 1. We are, Secondly, to consider, Who those are whom the Apostle directs to obey them that have the rule over them? And in order to determine this, with certainty and clearness, we shall not appeal to human institutions, but simply, (as in answering the preceding question,) appeal to that decision of it, which we find in the Oracles of God. Indeed we have hardly occasion to go one step farther than the text itself. Only it may be proper, first, to remove out of the way some popular opinions, which have been almost every where taken for granted, but can in no-wise be proved.

2. It is usually supposed, first, That the Apostle is here directing Parishioners to obey and submit themselves to the Minister of their Parish. But can any one bring the least shadow of proof for this from the Holy Scripture? Where is it written, that we are bound to obey any Minister, because we live in what is called his Parish? "Yes," you say, "we are bound to obey every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake." True, in all things indifferent; but this is not so it is exceeding far from it. It is far from being a thing indifferent to me, Who is the guide of my soul. I dare not receive one as my guide to heaven, that is himself in the high road to hell. I dare not take a wolf for my shepherd, that has not so much as sheep's clothing; that is a common swearer, an open drunkard, a notorious sabbath-breaker. And such (the more is the shame, and the more the pity) are many Parochial Ministers at this day,

3. "But are you not properly members of that congregation, to which your parents belong?" I do not apprehend that I am I know no scripture that obliges me to this. I owe all deference to the commands of my parents, and willingly obey them in all things lawful. But it is not lawful to call them Rabbi, that is, to believe or obey them implicitly. Every one must give an account of himself to God. Therefore, every man must judge for himself: especially in a point of so deep importance as this is, the choice of a guide for his soul.

4. But we may bring this matter to a short issue, by recurring to the very words of the text. They that have voluntarily connected themselves with such a Pastor, as answers the description given therein: such as do, in fact, "watch over their souls, as they that shall give account:" such as do "nourish them up with the words of eternal life;" such as feed them as with the "pure milk of the word," and constantly apply it to them "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness:" all who have found and chosen Guides of this character, of this spirit and behaviour, are undoubtedly required by the Apostle, to obey and submit themselves to them.

III. 1. But what is the Meaning of this Direction? This remains to be considered. In what sense, and how far does the Apostle direct them, to obey and submit to their spiritual guides ?

If we attend to the proper sense of the two words here used by the Apostle, we may observe that the former of them (Teese, from waw, to persuade) refers to the understanding, the latter, VTEXETE, to the will and outward behaviour. To begin with the former. What influence ought our spiritual guides to have over our understanding? We dare no more call our spiritual fathers Rabbi, than the fathers of our flesh. We dare no more yield implicit faith to the former than to the latter. In this sense one is our Master, (or rather Teacher,) who is in Heaven. But whatever submission, of even our understanding is short of this, we may, nay, we ought to yield to them.

St. James uses a

2. To explain this a little farther. word which is nearly allied to the former of these; "The wisdom which is from above is, EUTTEINS, easy to be convinced, or to be persuaded." Now if we ought to have, and to show this wisdom toward all men, we ought to have it in a more eminent degree, and to show it upon every occasion, toward those that watch over our souls. With regard to these, above all other men, we should be easy to be intreated: easily convinced of any truth, and easily persuaded to any thing that is not sinful.

3. A word of nearly the same import with this, is fre quently used by St. Paul; namely, ens. In our translation, it is more than once rendered gentle. But perhaps it might be more properly rendered (if the word may be allowed) yielding; ready to yield, to give up our own will, in every thing that is not a point of duty. This amiable temper every real Christian enjoys, and shews in his intercourse with all men. But he shews it in a peculiar manner toward those that watch over his soul. He is not only willing to receive any instruction from them, to be convinced of any thing which he did not know before; to lie open to their advice, and glad to receive admonition, or reproof: but is ready to give up his own will, whenever he can do it with a clear conscience. Whatever they desire him to do, he does; if it be not forbidden in the word of God. Whatever they desire him to refrain from, he does so; if it be not enjoined in the Word of God. This is implied in those words of the Apostle, "Submit yourselves to them: yield to them :" give up your own will. This is meet, and right, and your bounden duty, if they do indeed watch over your souls, as they that shall give account. you do thus obey and submit yourselves to them, they will give an account of you with joy, not with groaning, as they must otherwise do: for although they should be clear of your blood, yet that would be unprofitable to you: yea, a prelude to eternal damnation.

If

4. How acceptable to God was an instance of obedience, somewhat similar to this: You have a large and particular

account of it, in the thirty-fifth chapter of Jeremiah. "The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, Go to the house of the Rechabites, and give them wine to drink. Then I took the whole house of the Rechabites," (all the heads of their families,)" and set before them pots full of wine, and said unto them, Drink ye wine: but they said, We will drink no wine; for Jonadab," (a great man in the reign of Jehu,) "the son of Rechab," from whom we are named, being the father of our family, "commanded us, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye nor your sons for ever. And we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab our father, in all that he charged us." We do not know any particular reason why Jonadab gave this charge to his posterity. But as it was not sinful, they gave this strong instance of gratitude to their great benefactor. And how pleasing this was to the Father of their spirits, we learn from the words that follow: "And Jeremiah said unto the Rechabites, Because ye have obeyed the voice of Jonadab, your father, therefore, thus saith the Lord of hosts, Jonadab shall not want a man to stand before my face for ever."

5. Now it is certain, Christians owe full as much gratitude and obedience, to those that watch over their souls, as ever the house of the Rechabites owed to Jonadab the son of Rechab. And we cannot doubt, but he is as well pleased with our obedience to these, as ever he was with their obedience to Jonadab. If he was so well-pleased with the gratitude and obedience of this people to their temporal benefactor, have we not all reason to believe, He is fully as well-pleased with the gratitude and obedience of Christians to those who derive far greater blessings to them, than ever Jonadab conveyed to his posterity?

6. It may be of use yet again to consider, In what instances it is the duty of Christians to obey and submit themselves to those that watch over their souls. Now the things which they enjoin, must be either enjoined of God, or forbidden by him, or indifferent. In things forbidden of God, we dare not obey them; for we are to obey God rather than man. In things enjoined of God, we do not

properly obey them, but our common Father. Therefore, if we are to obey them at all, it must be in things indifferent. The sum is, It is the duty of every private Christian, to obey his spiritual Pastor, by either doing or leaving undone any thing of an indifferent nature; any thing that is in no way determined in the Word of God.

7. But how little is this understood in the Protestant World! At least, in England and Ireland. Who is there, even among those that are supposed to be good Christians, who dreams there is such a duty as this? And yet there is not a more express command, either in the Old or New Testament. No words can be more clear and plain; no command more direct and positive. Therefore, certainly none who receive the Scripture as the Word of God, can live in the habitual breach of this, and plead innocence. Such an instance of wilful, or, at least, careless disobedience, must grieve the Holy Spirit of God. It cannot but hinder the grace of God from having its full effect upon the heart. It is not improbable, that this very disobedience may be one cause of the deadness of many souls: one reason of their not receiving those blessings, which they seek with some degree of sincerity.

8. It remains only to make a short Application of what has now been delivered.

You that read this, do you apply it to yourself? Do you examine yourself thereby? Do not you stop your own growth in grace, if not by wilful disobedience to this command; yet by careless inattention to it, by not considering it as the importance of it deserves? If so, you defraud yourself of many blessings, which you might enjoy. Or, are you of a better mind, of a more excellent spirit? Is it your fixed resolution and your constant endeavour, "to obey them that have the rule over you in the Lord?" To submit yourself as cheerfully to your spiritual, as to your natural parents? Do you ask, "Wherein should I submit to them?" The answer has been given already: not in things enjoined of God: not in things forbidden by him; but in things indifferent: in all that are not determined one