out some other situation in which his labours may be attended with greater profit.

TRAIT XXXVII.

HIS READINESS TO SEAL WITH HIS BLOOD THE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL.

He who is not yet prepared to die for his Lord hath not yet received that "perfect love" which "casteth out fear;" and it is a matter of doubt whether any preacher is worthy to appear in a pulpit, whose confidence in the truths of the gospel is not strong enough to dispose him, in certain situations, to seal those truths with his blood. If he really shrinks from the idea of dying in the cause of Christianity, is it for him to publish a Saviour who is "the resurrection and the life?" And may he not be said to play with his conscience, his auditors, and his God, if, while he is the slave of sin and fear, he presents himself as a witness of the salvation of that omnipotent Redeemer who, "through death, has destroyed him that had the power of death;" and who, by his resurrection, has "delivered them who, through fear of death, were all their life-time subject to bondage?" Heb. ii. 14, 15. "Love," in the language of Solomon, "is strong as death;" but the true minister glows with that fervent love to Christ and his brethren, which is abundantly stronger than those fears of death which would prevent him, in times of persecution, from the faithful discharge of his ministerial functions. Such was the love of St. Paul, when he cried out to those who would have dissuaded him from the

dangerous path of duty: "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts xxi. 13. "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions

abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus." Acts xx. 22-24. "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation, that Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. And if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all." Phil. i. 19-21; ii. 17.

Thus "the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep: but he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep." John x. 11, 12. Happy is that church whose pastor is prepared to tread in the steps of "the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls!" St. Paul would not have been ashamed to acknowledge such a one as his companion and fellowlabourer in the work of the Lord.

TRAIT XXXVIII.

THE SWEET SUSPENSE OF HIS CHOICE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

WHATEVER desire the faithful pastor may have to be with Christ, and to rest from his labours, yet he endures with joy his separation from the person of his Saviour, through the sacred pleasure he experiences in the service of his members. The sweet equilibrium, in which his desire was suspended between life and death, is thus expressed by the apostle Paul: "We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are

absent from the Lord." 2 Cor. v. 1, 2, 6. "Yet what I shall choose, I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith." Phil. i. 22-25.

It is chiefly when believers have the unconquerable love of St. Paul, "that all things work together for their good." Whether they live, or whether they die, every occurrence turns out a matter of favour. If they live, it is, that they may support their companions in tribulation, and insure to themselves a greater reward, by maintaining, for a longer season, the victorious fight of faith. If they die, it is, that they may rest from their labours, and come to a more perfect enjoyment of their Master's presence. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." Rev. xiv. 13. And in the mean time, blessed are the living who live in the Lord; for they are honourably engaged in those important conflicts which will daily add to their spiritual strength, and augment the brilliancy of their final triumph.

TRAIT XXXIX.

THE CONSTANCY OF HIS ZEAL AND DILIGENCE TO THE END OF HIS COURSE.

LIVING or dying, the faithful servant of Christ never acts unworthy of his character. "Blameless and harmless in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, a child of God, without rebuke, he shines," to the end of his course, as a light in the world." Philip. ii. 15. He beholds death, whether it be natural or violent, always without fear, and generally with pleasure; regarding it as a messenger appointed for his safe conduct into that glorious state where they rejoice together who have continued faithful to the

end. He is anxious only, that his Lord may find him occupied in the grand business he was commissioned to perform; and the nearer his hour approaches, the more earnest he is, that he may finish his ministry with joy. If he is no longer able to exhort the brethren in person, he writes to them in the manner of St. Peter: "I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things," the doctrines, precepts, threatenings, and promises of the gospel," though ye know them, and be established. in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me." 2 Pet. i. 12-14. He desires at such a season, to address the faithful, and especially young ministers, as St. Paul addressed the Corinthians and Timothy :-" My beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. xv. 58. "Thou," Timothy, "hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry; for I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.” 2 Tim. iii. 10—12; iv. 5,

6.

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Thus triumphantly St. Paul advanced toward the end of his course. And thus the faithful minister, pouring fresh oil into his lamp as the night advances, goes forth to meet his approaching God, whom his faith already considers as a merciful Judge, and his hope as a munificent Rewarder.

TRAIT XL.

HIS TRIUMPH OVER THE EVILS OF LIFE AND THE TERRORS OF DEATH.

THE living faith that sustains a good pastor, or a believer in Christ, amid all the difficulties and afflictions of life, causes him more especially to triumph at the approach of death even in all its most terrific appearances. Ever filled with an humble confidence in Him who is the resurrection and the life, he frequently expresses the assurance of his victorious faith, at this solemn season, in the manner of St. Paul: "Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ." 2 Cor. ii. 14. Knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you :" therefore " we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2 Cor. iv. 14-17. Thus, holding up the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, and to receive the piercing arrows of the angel of death, he expects his last hour without fear or impatience, cheerfully leaving the time, the place, the manner, and the circumstances of this concluding trial to the disposal of that God whose wisdom, goodness, and power are all combined to insure him the victory. Whether he is called by the providence of God in a chamber, or upon a scaffold, to taste the bitter cup of which his Master drank so deeply, he prepares himself to accompany a suffering Saviour, encouraged with the hope, that he shall not be tempted above his strength, and that, if he suffers and dies with the King of glory, he shall also rise and reign together with him.

At length the fatal shaft is thrown,-whether by accident, by disease, or by the hand of an executioner, is of little consequence: the true Christian, prepared for all events, sees and submits to the order of providence. He receives the mortal blow, either with humble resignation,