If you should happen to settle a minister who knows nothing truly of Christ and the way of salvation by him, nothing experimentally of the nature of vital religion; alas, how will you be exposed as sheep without a shepherd! Here is need of one in this place, who shall be eminently fit to stand in the gap and make up the hedge, and who shall be as the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof. You need one that shall stand as a champion in the cause of truth and the power of godliness.
Having briefly mentioned these
important articles of advice, nothing remains but that I now take my leave of
you, and bid you all farewell; wishing and praying for your best prosperity. I
would now commend your immortal souls to him, who formerly committed them to
me, expecting the day, when I must meet you again before him, who is the Judge
of quick and dead. I desire that I may never forget these people, who have been
so long my special charge, and that I may never cease fervently to pray for
your prosperity. May God bless you with a faithful pastor, one that is well
acquainted with his mind and will, thoroughly warning sinners, wisely and
skillfully searching professors, and conducting you in the way to eternal
blessedness. May you have truly a burning and shining light set up in this
candlestick; and may you, not only for a season, but during his whole life, and
that long life, be willing to rejoice in his light.
And let me be remembered in the prayers of all God’s people that are of a calm spirit, and are peaceable and faithful in Israel, of whatever opinion they may be with respect to terms of church communion.
And let us all remember and
never forget our future solemn meeting on that great day of the Lord; the day
of infallible decision and of the everlasting and unalterable sentence. Amen.
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