powerful a Master they serve, instead of being alarmed at the sight of those labours and dangers which await them in the exercise of their ministry, they would stand prepared to run all hazards in his service; as courageous soldiers, who fight under the eye of a generous prince, are ready to expose their lives for the augmentation of his glory. Can it become good pastors to manifest less concern for the salvation of their brethren, than mercenary warriors for the destruction of their prince's foes? And if the Romans generously exposed themselves to death, in preserving the life of a fellow-citizen, for the trifling reward of a civic wreath, how much greater magnanimity should a Christian pastor discover in rescuing the souls of his brethren from a state of perdition, for the glorious reward of a never-fading crown?

TRAIT XXXII.

THE GRAND SUBJECT OF HIS GLORYING, AND THE EVAN

GELICAL MANNER IN WHICH HE

SUPERIORITY OVER FALSE APOSTLES.

MAINTAINED HIS

THE disposition of a faithful pastor is, in every respect, diametrically opposite to that of a worldly minister. If you observe the conversation of an ecclesiastic who is influenced by the spirit of the world, you will hear him intimating either that he has, or that he would not be sorry to have, the precedency among his brethren, to live in a state of affluence and splendour, and to secure to himself such distinguished appointments as would increase both his dignity and his income, without making any extraordinary addition to his pastoral labours; you will find him anxious to be admitted into the best companies, and occasionally forming parties for the chase or some other vain amusement: while the true pastor cries out in the self-renouncing language of the great apostle, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord

Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Gal. vi. 14.

If the minister who is really formed to preside in the church was singled out from among his brethren, and placed in an apostolic chair, he would become the more humble for his exaltation: if such a one was slighted and vilified by false apostles, he would not appeal, for the honour of his character, to the superiority of his talents, his rank, or his mission; but rather to the superiority of his labours, his dangers, and his sufferings. Thus, at least, St. Paul defended the dignity of his character against the unjust insinuations of his adversaries in the ministry: "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more." But in what manner did he attempt to prove this? Was it by saying, "I have a richer benefice than the generality of ministers; I am a doctor, a professor of divinity; I bear the mitre, and dwell in an episcopal palace?" No: instead of this, he used the following apostolic language:-"In labours I am more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft; in journeyings often, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils by the heathen, in perils among false brethren ; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things which are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory in the things which concern mine infirmities." 2 Cor. xi. 23-30. "From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Gal. vi. 17. Such are the appeals of holy prelates. But for a man to glory in having obtained a deanery, a professor's chair, or a bishopric, is in reality to boast of his unfaithfulness to his vocation, and to prove himself unworthy of the rank to which he has been injudiciously raised.

Ye who preside over the household of God, learn of the apostle Paul to manifest your real superiority. Surpass your inferiors in humility, in charity, in zeal, in your

painful labours for the salvation of sinners, in your invincible courage to encounter those dangers which threaten your brethren, and by your unwearied patience in bearing those persecutions which the faithful disciples of Christ are perpetually called to endure from a corrupt world. Thus shall you honourably replace the first Christian prelates, and happily restore the church to its primitive dignity.

TRAIT XXXIII.

HIS PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE UNDER THE SEVEREST TRIALS.

"CHARITY is not easily provoked;" but, on the contrary, "thinketh no evil." Full of patience and meekness, Christ distinguished himself by his abundant love to those from whom he received the most cruel treatment. Thus also the ministers of Christ are distinguished, who, as they are more or less courageous and indefatigable in the work of the ministry, are enabled to adopt the following declaration of St. Paul with more or less propriety :-"Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat; we are made as the filth of the world, and are as the off-scouring of all things unto this day." 1 Cor. iv. 12, 13. “Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed; but in all things approving ourselves, as the ministers of God in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left," which enables us to attack error and vice, while it shields us from their assaults; "by honour and dishonour; by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and,

behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” 2 Cor. vi. 3-10.

Far from being discouraged by the trials which befal him, the true minister is disposed, in such circumstances, to pray with the greater fervency; and according to the ardour and constancy of his prayer, such are the degrees of fortitude and patience to which he attains. "We have not received," saith St. Paul, "the spirit of bondage again to fear; but we have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself," amid all our distresses, "beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Rom. viii. 15, 16, 26. "I besought the Lord thrice that" this trial "might depart from me. And be said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Cor. xii. 8-10. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. iv. 13.

66

66

What an advantage, what an honour, is it to labour in the service of so gracious and powerful a Master! By the power with which he controls the world he overrules all things for good to them that love" him. Their most pungent sorrows are succeeded by peculiar consolations; the reproach of the cross prepares them for the honours of a crown; and the flames in which they are sometimes seen to blaze become like that chariot of fire which conveyed Elijah triumphantly away from the fury of Jezebel.

TRAIT XXXIV.

HIS MODEST FIRMNESS BEFORE MAGISTRATES.

SUPPORTED by a strong persuasion that God and truth are on his side, the faithful minister is carried above all those disheartening fears which agitate the hearts of worldly pastors. Depending upon the truth of that solemn prediction, "They will deliver you up to the council, and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the gentiles," he expects, in times of persecution, to appear before magistrates, and possibly before kings, for the cause of Christ and his gospel. Nor is he afflicted at such a prospect. Relying on the promise of that compassionate Redeemer who once appeared for him before Annas and Caiaphas, Herod and Pontius Pilate, without anxiously premeditating what he shall answer, and resting assured that wisdom shall be given him in every time of need, he cries out, with the holy determination of the Psalmist, “I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed." Psalm cxix. 46.

When he is brought as a malefactor before the judge, while his accusers, actuated by malicious zeal, agree to say, "We have found this man a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition among the people," and one of the ringleaders of a new and dangerous sect, he justifies himself by answering, "The witnesses who appear against me this day, neither found me trampling under foot the authority of my superiors, nor sowing the seeds of sedition among the people; neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets and have hope toward God, which they themselves allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.'" And supposing his accusers are not only deists, but professors of the Christian faith, he will add, "This also I confess, that in conformity to those

: