stances in which they stood, there is great danger of employing their words in such a manner as to sanction our own ignorance or presumption. But the text expresses, so exactly, and so feelingly, the sentiments. with which I now address you, that I trust I shall stand excused before God and you for my adoption of them.

The language which the Apostle used implies a distressing sense of inability rightly to discharge the duties of his office, and a painful fear lest he should be found wanting. I shall consider the causes which must produce in every Christian Minister the same apprehension. They may be reduced to three principal consid

erations:

I. The importance of the trust reposed in him.
II. The difficulty of the service itself; and,

III. The aggravation of that difficulty produced by his own infirmity and corruption.

I. The Importance of the trust reposed in every Minister may be inferred both from the good effects produced by a due discharge of his sacred office, and from the evil consequences of a negligent discharge of it. Let us consider these effects, first, in their most extensive operation.

It requires but little attention to perceive that a very close connexion subsists between the character of a Nation and that of the Ministers by whom it is instructed. Are they pure in their doctrines, holy and exemplary in their lives, diligent in the discharge of their duties, and impressed with a deep sense of the weight of spiritual and eternal things? The national character will, under the Divine blessing, be in a measure conformed to theirs, and will take the impress of their virtues. Let them, on the contrary, degenerate, and become earthly-minded, sensual, and corrupt : the fountains being thus polluted, the streams will almost inevitably become impure also. And that which takes place in a nation will be found to hold in a parish. Due allowance being made in this, as in every other instance, for the restraining effect of other causes;

the spirit of a Minister will generally be infused into his Congregation. They will rarely be zealous in religion, while he is lukewarm, or altogether careless in the service of God while he is active in it.

But, to view the subject in a narrower compass, let us observe the effect which the instructions of the Preacher may have on individuals.-The Gospel is the great remedy supplied by God for the disorders introduced into the world by sin; and the dispensing of this remedy is intrusted to his Ministers. They are the stewards of his mysteries, the shepherds of his flock, and labourers together with God. He has chosen to commit the treasure of his Gospel to "earthen vessels." He communicates to men spiritual health by the hand of their fellow sinners, in the same manner as he healed the sick by the hands of his Apostles and Prophets. Wherever, therefore, his Gospel is faithfully delivered, his blessing may be expected to attend it. The sinner will be awakened, grace will be imparted, faith will be strengthened, and hope enlivened. The fruits of love to God, and of cheerful obedience to his law, will be produced; and a spirit of benevolence and charity to man will be diffused. These, even if estimated as referring to this life only, are important benefits; but they become invaluable when referred to eternity. They constitute the purest and most perfect happiness of this world, and are the earnest of glory in the next. But to point out the value of these blessings, is to shew not only the importance of the office of the Minister, by whom they are dispensed, but his responsibility and his danger. Let him ponder upon eternity, let him estimate the value of the soul and the worth of spiritual blessings, and he cannot enter upon his sacred office without fear and trembling.

But, weighty as is this consideration, there is another which appears to me not inferior to it, in estimating the importance of the trust reposed in a Christian Minister: The honour of Christ, and the glory of his Gospel, are entrusted to him.-It has pleased God to

ordain, that the preaching of the Gospel shall be the chief instrument by which the name of Christ shall be made known, and his glory celebrated. Does the Minister of the Gospel duly dwell upon the power and grace of Christ, upon the dignity of his person, and the merit of his death? These glorious subjects will be understood; Christ will be honoured and obeyed; the influence of the Spirit will be sought; God will be worshipped through the Mediator, and will receive the fresh tribute of praise for his mercy in the work of Redemption. It is true, that by the reading of the Bible, as well by preaching, the same knowledge may be attained, and the same effects produced: but whatever influence private reading may have upon some individuals, the great mass of society must necessarily either learn the Gospel of Christ from preaching, or not know it at all.

It is remarkable, that although the word of God was already in the hands of the Ethopian Eunuch, the spirit of God brought an Apostle from a distant part of Judea to communicate, through his means the knowledge of Christa sufficient proof that it is agreeable to the economy of Divine Wisdom to make use of the agency of Ministers for imparting the blessings of the Gospel. But what is man or the best and ablest of men, that he should be thus put in trust, as it were, with the glory of Him who sitteth above all, the Lord of heaven and earth? Well may he, to whom this solemn charge is intrusted, enter upon it in "weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.'

Should any one be inclined to think that I too much magnify my office, let him reflect upon the responsibility annexed to it.-There is little to be envied, when the post of pre-eminence is the post of extreme danger for, if God has intrusted us with a great charge, he will demand of us a solemn account of the manner in which we have executed it. Where" much is given, much will be required." If the Minister, who is sent to be the pattern and guide of the flock, be negligent

or unfaithful, his guilt is great, and his punishment will be severe.

These are the words of the Lord to Ezekiel, and they are applicable to every Minister:-" Son of man! I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand." Again: "When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die : because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand." And is it thus with every watchman of God, that he shall not only answer for his own sins, but for those of the flock committed to his care, if he warn them not, nor lead them in the right way? Alas! who can enter upon such a charge without fear and trembling?

II. If the importance of the work of the Ministry must produce a sense of weakness and fear, these emotions will be exceedingly increased if we add the consideration of its difficulty.

It is a difficult service in its own nature. Were the work of a preacher indeed confined to the delivery of a moral discourse, this would not be an arduous task. But a Minister of the Gospel has much more to do. He will endeavour, under Divine Grace, to bring every individual in his congregation to live no longer to himself, but unto Him who died for us. But here the passions, the prejudices, and perhaps the temporal _interests of men combine to oppose his success. It is not easy to obtain any influence over the mind of another; but to obtain such an influence as to direct it contrary to the natural current of its desires and pas

sions, is a work of the highest difficulty. Yet such is the work of a minister. He has to arrest the sinner in his course of sin; to shake his strong hold of security; to make the stout hearted tremble under the denunciation of God's judgment; to lead him so to. deny himself, as to sacrifice the inclinations most dear to him--to repent, and become a new creature. Neither is the work of the Ministry less arduous in respect to those who are not open and profligate sinners. Selflove, the most powerful passion of the human breast, will render it equally difficult to convince the formalist of the unsoundness of his religion, the pharisee of the pride of his heart, and the mere moralist of his deficiency in the sight of God. In all these cases, we have to convey unpleasant tidings; to persuade to what is disagreeable; to effect not only a reformation in the conduct of men, and a regulation of their passions, but what is of still higher difficulty, a change in their good opinion of themselves. Nay, further, we have not merely to "wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." "Who is sufficient for these things?"

III. When a Minister, deeply impressed with the importance and difficulty of his work, looks into his own heart, to explore the resources with which he is furnished for so difficult a service; there, alas! he meets with little that does not serve to increase his sense of weakness and to confirm his fears. For it must be remembered, that he is a man of like passions with his flock, inheriting a body of corruption; that he is, perhaps, deficient in ability, perhaps unfortunate in the natural constitution of his mind; that, at all events, he has to struggle with infirmities, is exposed to temptations, has more to accomplish than others, as well as greater difficulties to surmount; and that, whilst more will be expected from him, in himself he may have no resources above those of any of his congregation.