expose themselves to the displeasure and fury of the adversary. And since they are but mortal men, when the enemy rages, if God did not then have them in his keeping, they must be speedily subdued and destroyed. Under the increase or long continuance of their troubles, if left to themselves, their hearts would faint, and they would utterly fail and sink down discouraged. They might easily be ensnared into the like temptation with the prophet, to quit their post, and resign their labour."Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name." If, under heavy discouragement, such frail men are kept close to their duty, sure it must be, because, though weak and feeble in themselves, they are strong in the Lord-" for," says the apostle, "when I am weak, then am I strong," weak in myself, strong in the Lord. For it is only when the grace of Christ is mighty in them, that they can surmount formidable difficulties, and conquer their own distressing fears.

Ministers have infirmities and defects, such probably as would defeat the design of their ministry, if the Lord did not mercifully interpose to prevent it. They, as well as other men, are involved in the physical and moral calamities of the fall; and they are equally with them exposed to the snares, wiles, and devices of the wicked one, as well as to the allurements and temptations of the world. They have also to attend to their own salvation. Concerning the personal religion of a godly minister,

"His warfare is within; there, unfatigued,
His fervent spirit labours; there he fights,

And there obtains fresh triumphs o'er himself,

And never-withering wreaths; compared with which

The laurels that a Cæsar reaps are weeds."

COWPER.

Ministers have also to cultivate the vineyard of the Lord, watching over the trees of righteousness of his own right hand planting; and in taking the oversight of the church of Christ, they have often to do with unreasonable and wicked men. Considering all these things, can it be matter of surprise'if a keen-eyed enemy sometimes discovers failings in them, which he is disposed to magnify into moral blemishes and crimes? The apostle says, "The law made men priests that had infirmity:" and if, under the gospel dispensation, none were to be ministers but such as were absolutely perfect, none in this world could be found to preach Christianity. Even among the first preachers of the gospel, there were found some personal defects. Paul blamed Peter, on just grounds, for having, through fear, given way to "dissimulation." It seems also, that Barnabas was not to be wholly acquitted, concerning the "sharp contention," which happened at Antioch, between him and Paul. It is true, some, like Judas, who "was numbered with the apostles, and had obtained part of this ministry," have, like him, "by transgression" fallen from it It is owing, therefore, to the care of Christ, who "holds the seven stars in his right hand," and "walks in the midst of his golden candlesticks," that the ministry is not more frequently blamed than it is, even to the defeating the gracious design of the gospel, through the defects and blemishes of its ministers.

Ministers are clothed with mortality, like the rest of mankind. They are liable, as others are, to the decay of nature, to diseases both of body and mind, to painful casualties and occurrences, and to the infirmities of age. But besides these things, they have their peculiar disadvantages, such as closeness of application and intenseness of thought in the study; a frequency, painfulness, and

fervour in preaching; and the want of opportunity for a due measure of bodily exercise. These, as well as other peculiar difficulties in their case, are such as naturally tend to exhaust their spirits, and wear out the strength of their constitution faster than what is usual in the common circumstances of life. And they will shortly be broken, laid aside, and silenced by death. They must needs die, and be as water spilt upon the ground, that cannot be gathered up again. "Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?” But the gospel does not die with them. "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever." This world is not the everlasting residence of ministers and people, where they are always to live together: and, therefore, they that preach, and those that hear, should consider themselves, and each other, as dying, that so “what their hands find to do, they may do it with their might for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither they go." Thus we see the weakness of the persons employed in so great a work as the Christian ministry; as well as the necessity of the constant assistance of the Holy Spirit.

SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE.-When we consider the elevated character of ministers, the relative connection in which they stand to their people, it is evident that their minds should be well furnished with a correct knowledge of the essential doctrines of Christianity; otherwise it is impossible for them rightly to divide the word of truth. If they themselves are not sufficiently instructed in the system of revealed religion, it is impracticable for them to impart correctly divine truth to others. This qualification is not attained in schools of literature and

science; but by making the Holy Scriptures their constant study, endeavouring to know the mind of God as revealed therein: a without acquiring this knowledge, they may pronounce a doctrine to be founded on the sacred word, which is directly contrary to it; and thus lead people out of the way, instead of giving light to their path.

Ministers possessed of the saving grace of God, who wish to be faithful in the discharge of their several important duties, very gladly avail themselves of all the means of divine knowledge afforded them. They are far from depreciating the aid of reason, but they much more highly estimate the light of surpernatural revelation; concluding that the former would be of little avail without the assistance of the latter. From the Scriptures they derive the scheme of Christian doctrine, as well as obtain the model of the Christian life; and these they are thus enabled to exhibit to their hearers, with all the exactness and fidelity of which they are capable. In this volume of divine inspiration, they trace their official duties as ministers of Christ, and learn their responsibility for the souls committed to their care. Studying to show themselves approved, they seriously, with much prayer for the aid of the Holy Spirit, and with assiduous application, consult the sacred page, anxious that their

a Dr. Buchanan says, "It must be evident to every man who is acquainted with the history of Christianity from the first ages, that in the present circumstances of our church, and in the warfare in which she is engaged, it is not eminent advances in science or classics, that are chiefly required, but advances in the knowledge of Christian doctrine, and in the ability of communicating it to the people. It must be equally evident, that whatever plan of duty will bring the Bible most into view, will be the most conducive for this purpose. The state may have the defence of the sword, and the shield of the law. against its assailants; but the church has no defence, in this era of light, but the BIBLE."-Sermons on Interesting Subjects, p. 68, 69.

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minds may be established in right and worthy notions of God, whose approbation they most ardently seek. Having done this, they proceed with more certainty in storing their minds with the knowledge of the several distinct parts of Christian truth, till they happily succeed in comprehending the great outline of the whole system of revealed religion. This knowledge is a source of much personal gratification, as well as directs and assists them in the choice and discussion of proper and interesting subjects, suited to the different states of the people among whom they labour. For want of laying this foundation well, some, who should be instructors of the ignorant, instead of being so, unhappily mislead their people, or confirm them in absurd and dangerous notions, which, in their natural tendency, are subversive of the true doctrines of the Christian faith.

It is expedient that ministers should fix on some general rules, in giving the sense of the Scriptures, from which, in addressing their people, they will never depart. For instance: Example 1. That every doctrine be agreeable to the natural and moral perfections of God, and a Trinity of personal subsistences in the Unity of the Divine Nature; particularly to the great Author of salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, in his personal character, is declared to be the Son of God, "the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person," exalted" above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion," the "Lord of lords, and King of kings," who was in the beginning with God," and "thought it no robbery to be equal with God,”—who, when he made his public appearance in our nature, opened his Father's commission, produced his credentials, testified that God sent him to be the Lord and Saviour of men, and proved his divine mission by numerous and uncon