experienced believers. The patriarchs had a right to bless their children; and Jacob blessed, not only his sons and grandsons, but also the king of Egypt himself. If the followers of Christ, then, are deprived of this consolatory power, the children of ancient Israel were more highly privileged than the members of the Christian church, who are called, nevertheless, to receive more precious benedictions, and to be, as our Lord expresses it, "the salt of the earth," and "the light of the world." When St. Paul writes to believers, "Desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy: for he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort," (1 Cor. xiv. 1, 3,) he doubtless excites them to ask of God that overflowing charity, and that patriarchal authority, without which it is impossible for them fully to comply with the following apostolic injunction: "Bless, and curse not; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing;" and, without a high degree of which they cannot sincerely obey those distinguished precepts of our blessed Lord: "Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you." Rom. xii. 14; 1 Peter iii. 9; Matt. v. 44.

TRAIT VIII.

THE

EARNESTNESS

WITH WHICH HE BEGAN AND CONTINUED TO FILL UP THE DUTIES OF HIS VOCATION.

THE true penitent, having renounced himself for the honour of following his exalted Lord, stands faithfully in his own vocation, whether it be secular or ecclesiastic. He is prepared, upon all occasions, to perform the will of his gracious Master; and if he is commissioned to act as a minister of Christ, after furnishing himself with "the whole armour of God," he will expose himself, without fear, to the most threatening dangers, that he may compel sinners to come in to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

I rejoice," saith St. Paul, "in my sufferings for the body of Christ, which is the church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages, but which is now made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you," and for all those among whom the word of God is preached; "that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Col. i. 24-29; ii. 1—3.

Such are the great ideas which the apostle Paul entertained of the ministry he had received: and observe the assiduity with which he discharged the duties of so important an office. "Ye know," says he, speaking to the pastors to whom he committed the care of one of his flocks, "from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations; and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves; for I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves," unfaithful pastors, "enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn

every one night and day with tears." Acts xx. 18–31. In every place he discharged the obligations of a minister with the same application and zeal, travelling from city to city, and from church to church, bearing testimony to "the redemption that is in Jesus," and declaring the great truths of the gospel. When the synagogues were shut against him, he preached in the schools of philosophers, upon the sea-shore, on shipboard, and even in prisons; and while he dwelt a prisoner in his own house at Rome, "he received all that came in unto him, to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the Prophets, from morning till evening." Acts xxviii. 23.

Thus the Son of God himself once publicly laboured for the conversion of sinners, sometimes going through "all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel;" (Matt. iv. 23 ;) and at other times instructing the multitudes, who either followed them into the fields, or resorted to the house where he lodged; "for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." Mark vi. 31. And when through the pleasure of bringing the Samaritans acquainted with spiritual truth, he disregarded the necessities of nature, his disciples, requesting him to partake of the food they had prepared, received from him this memorable answer: "I have meat to eat that ye know not of; my meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work," namely, the glorious work of enlightening and saving sinners. John iv. 31-34.

Thus St. Paul was diligently and daily occupied in fulfilling the duties of his apostolic vocation; and thus every minister of the gospel is called to labour in his appointed sphere. It remains to be known, whether all who do not labour according to their ability are not condemned by the following general rule: "If any will not work, neither shall he eat." 2. Thess. iii. 10. For these words signify, applied to the present case, that they who will not labour as pastors, should by no means be permitted to eat the bread of pastors; an evangelical precept this, which

deserves the strictest attention, as the bread of pastors is, in some sort, sacred bread, since it is that which the piety of the public has set apart for the support of those who have abandoned every worldly pursuit, that they might dedicate themselves freely and fully to the service of the church.

TRAIT IX.

THE MANNER IN WHICH HE DIVIDED HIS TIME BETWEEN PRAYER, PREACHING, AND THANKSGIVING.

THE minister of the present age is but seldom engaged in publishing to his people the truths of the gospel; and still more rarely in supplicating for them the possession of those blessings which the gospel proposes. It is chiefly before men that he lifts up his hands, and affects to pour out a prayer from the fulness of his heart: while the true minister divides his time between the two important and refreshing occupations of preaching and prayer; by the former, making a public offer of divine grace to his hearers; and by the latter, soliciting for them in secret the experience of that grace. Such was the manner of the blessed Jesus himself, who, after having reproved his disciples for the low degree of their faith, retired either into gardens, or upon mountains, praying that their “faith might not fail." The good pastor, who constantly imitates the example of his divine master, is prepared to adopt the following language of St. Paul, in addressing the flock upon which he is immediately appointed to attend : "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be filled with all the fulness of God." Eph. iii. 14-19. "And this I pray, that your

love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." Phil. i. 9-11. By prayers like these, the apostle Paul was accustomed to water, without ceasing, the heavenly seed which he had so widely scattered through the vineyard of his Lord, manifesting an increasing attachment to those among whom he had at any time published the tidings of salvation, and breathing out, in all his epistles to distant churches, the most earnest desire that God would "fulfil" in them "all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power; that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ might be glorified in them, and they in him." 2 Thess. i. 11, 12.

Pastors, who pray thus for their flocks, pray not in vain. Their fervent petitions are heard, sinners are converted, the faithful are edified, and thanksgiving is shortly joined to supplication. Thus the same apostle: "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge : so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. i. 4—7. "Having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and your love unto all the saints, I cease not to give thanks for you." Eph. i. 15, 16.

Worldly ministers have no experience of the holy joy that accompanies these secret sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. But this can by no means be considered as matter of astonishment. Is their attachment to Christ as sincere as that of his faithful ministers? Are they as solicitous for the salvation of their hearers? Do they teach and preach with equal zeal? Do they pray with the same ardour and perseverance?