more than ordinary degree of personal piety is required for the successful discharge of its duties. Holiness inspires the noblest courage, and creates the most powerful eloquence. To be "burning and shining lights," we must be “full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," having our souls filled and fired with the importance and grandeur of our theme. We must have a holy passion for the salvation of souls. A Chinese convert is reported to have said, "We want men with hot hearts to tell us about Christ." The power of the pulpit depends very much on the experience of the preacher. Ministers need to live in close and constant fellowship with God: in being "filled with the Spirit" will be found the grand secret of ministerial excellency, power, and success. The love of Christ should be the ruling passion in a minister's soul, and to make it known should be the one great object of his life. The indwelling of the life of God, in its full power and influence, is necessary as an abiding principle of action, and as a check to earthly-mindedness, self-complacency, and the desire of the applause of men. Intimate and frequent communion with God, deep searching of heart, a constant reference to eternity, and thorough devotedness to the work, are essential to an efficient ministry. “We must study as hard how to live well, as how to preach well." We are solemnly bound to make a diligent and constant use of our time, talents, and influence for the glory of Him who employs us, and for the salvation of those over whom He places us; to feel the truths we preach, and feed upon the bread we break for the benefit of others; to be men of prayer; to cultivate the spirit and the habit of devotion: these things indeed are essential to the welfare of our own souls, the suitable preparation of our sermons, and the faithful discharge of our official duties. The apostles "gave themselves to prayer:" this was a primary element of their spiritual life, the means by which they took hold of the omnipotence of God.

Fidelity, as stewards, requires the full declaration of our Master's will, the clear proclamation of the whole counsel of God. The doctrines of the Gospel require no concealment, apology, or compromise; and in order to "feed the Church of God," giving to the various members of the household of faith their "portion of meat in due season," there must be the full employment of our mental powers. Rightly to divide the Word of Truth, the mind must be diligently employed in gathering suitable stores of knowledge, and in preparing materials for our great work; and through the whole period of ministerial service, higher intellectual culture, and fuller qualifica tion for our office, must be daily and studiously sought. Temptations to live upon the preparation of past years must be resolutely resisted, or the intellect will become enfeebled by inactivity, and the power of the pulpit will be lost. We have to deal with increasing numbers of earnest, intelligent, inquiring minds; and our earnestness in the

acquisition of useful knowledge must be perseveringly maintained, or our instructions will possess neither originality nor force.

In our preaching we must fully declare the whole truth, though to some it may be unwelcome. We must rise above the fear of man, or the love of applause. Practical Antinomianism in all its forms and degrees needs to be boldly exposed and denounced; the precepts of the Gospel must be explained and enforced; the law must be set forth in its righteous claims and unalterable obligations; worldliness and mammon-worship must be faithfully resisted. There is conscience to be resolutely grappled with, and the innate and total depravity of man to be declared. The nature of repentance has to be explained, and its necessity pointed out. The actual trust of a penitent soul on the Atonement must be shown to be requisite to salvation, and the renewing and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit represented as the privilege of believers. A consistent godly life is to be insisted upon, as essential to acceptance with God, and meetness for heaven. Men are not at liberty to break Christ's sceptre, while accepting His cross. Only when the Gospel is preached with earnestness and simplicity will hearers be convinced that we are anxious about the salvation of their souls. The mere statement of truth, a setting of it forth which excites no emotion, and troubles no conscience, is not of much value. In the teaching of our Lord, dignity, earnestness, and simplicity were beautifully blended. Talent, however exalted, preparation, however careful and elaborate, will have but little effect without the fire of holy love. Our work is connected with the scenes of Calvary, the solemnities of judgment, and the eternal destiny of souls. Preaching to men standing on the confines of an unseen world, many of whom are hasting to everlasting perdition, we ought to beseech them, with fervent words and earnest entreaties, to flee from the wrath to come; and to be more anxious to excite men's groans and tears on account of their sins, than to gain their admiration.

Scripture truth, moreover, should be presented in suitable lauguage. Pompous words, excessive ornament—a tawdry elocution—are quite out of place in the pulpit. The majestic form of Christianity ought never to be clothed in second-hand finery, nor showy tinsel substituted for, or mixed with, the pure gold of the sanctuary. On this subject Baxter and Doddridge have spoken very plainly. The former remarks, "I have heard some men preach, and all the rhetorical, jingling writers they could meet with were pressed to serve them for the adorning of their style, and gawds were oft their chiefest ornaments." "You cannot break men's hearts by jesting with them, or telling them a smooth tale, or patching up a gaudy oration." The latter says, "A great deal of studious time is lost in an over artful composition of sermons, and in giving them such polish and

VOL. XIV.-FIFTH SERIES.

2 Y

ornament as does not conduce to their usefulness. If we do not diligently watch over our hearts this will be an incense offered to our own vanity, which will render our offering less acceptable to God, however we and our hearers may be delighted with the perfume." Vulgarity in the pulpit is still more offensive than finery, and ought to be carefully avoided.

We must not allow the spirit of the age to tempt us from the plain path trodden by our fathers in this ministry, but rather let us seek to elevate, mould, and regulate it. Apostolic preaching was in direct opposition to the "spirit of the age.'

As faithful stewards we must firmly maintain scriptural discipline. This is of the highest importance, and there are many temptations to its neglect. It is difficult to avoid partiality or prejudice in the discharge of this part of ministerial duty. Our itinerancy greatly increases the difficulty, on the one hand, while, on the other, it is helpful to fidelity. However rich or influential violaters of the law of Christ may be, if, after faithful warning, they continue impenitent, they must be put out from the fellowship of God's people, whatever inconveniences may follow. "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." (2 Thess. iii. 6.) "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat." (1 Cor. v. 11.) This moral discipline belongs to the Church alone, and its faithful administration should ever be accompanied by tender compassion.

The conscientious discharge of our varied duties will require all our time and strength. To make diligent preparation for the pulpit, to visit the sick and the careless, and comfort the distressed, will be sufficient to tax our energies to their full extent. The worth of souls, the love of Christ, the nearness of eternity, kept before our minds will lead to prayerful and constant diligence. Brainerd said, "I care not what hardships I go through so that I may but gain souls to Christ. While I sleep I dream of these things, when I awake they are the first in my thoughts." Matthew Henry writes, "I would think it a greater happiness to gain one soul to Christ, than to gain mountains of gold and silver to myself." William Bramwell spent whole nights in prayer for souls, and preached and laboured as if he never could do enough to promote their salvation.

III. Ministers are to be esteemed "very highly in love for their work's sake." Faithful pastors are entitled to, and much dependent on, the affectionate confidence and respect of their people. They have not only daily difficulties and responsibilities, but many seasons

of peculiar sorrow and discouragement, and often need sympathy and tender consideration. Professors of religion ought to be jealous guardians of the reputation of their ministers. It has always been Satan's policy to prevent the spread and success of the Gospel by creating prejudice against those who preach it. St. Paul had to defend himself and his brethren against the injurious insinuations and statements both of professed friends and avowed enemies. It is an irreparable injury inflicted on preachers of the Word, when every mistake is aggravated, and every imperfection heightened, through misrepresentation, or a love of finding fault. Great caution is necessary in speaking before children and servants on subjects affecting the character and usefulness of ministers. An ill-natured or unguarded remark may destroy the influence of the teacher, and very seriously injure the taught. To be continually cavilling at every slight imperfection of manner or phraseology, and exposing every weakness, is to create prejudice which may prove ruinous to those who listen to such observations.

Sincere respect for ministers will lead to fervent and persevering prayer on their behalf. St. Paul repeatedly and earnestly besought the people of God to pray for himself and his brethren. (See Eph. vi. 18-20; Colos. iv. 2, 3; 2 Thess. iii. 1, 2.) All success in the work of the ministry depends on the influence and blessing of the Holy Spirit: whatever may be the talent, zeal, or devotedness of the preacher, the "increase" can only come from God. The Spirit must be honoured, or failure will follow. Believing prayer is necessary to the bestowment of the full and gracious manifestation of Divine influence in our assemblies.

This will be accompanied by kind and active co-operation in the various departments of the work of the Lord. Mutual relations involve mutual responsibilities and duties. The work to be done is all-important, and admits of no delay. No individual, no effort of the Church, can be spared. Youth with its energy, age with its experience, wealth with its influence, and poverty with the zeal and earnestness which often ennoble it, are all urgently needed, and must be actively employed. It is the duty and privilege of each member of the Church of Christ to promote, by all means in his power, the interests of the common cause. There are vast multitudes of perishing souls around us who ought to be cared for. The early Methodists were said to have been "all at work, and always at work." They were diligent in the use of extraordinary means for the purpose of attracting sinners to Christ; and such individual exertion is as much needed now as ever.

When ministers live in the affections of the people, their wants will be cheerfully and adequately supplied. Methodist preachers expect no more, and ought never to have less, than a competent support. Whoever

devotes his time and talents wholly to the work of the ministry, and thus gives up the prospect of worldly gain, is fairly entitled to such things as are necessary to the comfort of himself and his family. This is no matter of charity or benevolence, but of right and equity. The just support of ministers by the voluntary contributions of an affec tionate and willing people, is honourable to all parties. It creates no cringing dependence, on the one hand; it induces no attempt unduly to control the flock, on the other. Our blessed Lord lived on the voluntary support of those who loved Him, and directed His disciples to do the same. He called men from their secular employments to be His messengers, and " ordained" that those who "preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel." St. Paul, for especial and temporary reasons, wrought for the supply of his wants, but at the same time he asserted boldly His right to claim support from those to whom he ministered. (See 1 Cor. ix. 3-14.) Ministers are fairly entitled to such a maintenance as is sufficient to prevent their minds being harassed by constant anxieties as to the things of this life. Difficulties of a secular kind ought not to be added to the burdens and sorrows of the pastoral office. No branch of the Church, probably, is more liberal than our own: many of our people give to the utmost of their power, and even beyond what could, in not a few cases, be expected. There are, however, some who "give grudgingly," and who seem to think ministers ought to be kept in a state of humiliating dependence. Such persons are anxious that preachers should not be "injured," or their "usefulness endangered,” by comfortable homes and respectable maintenance! Is it because their own experience has proved increase of wealth to be a snare? If so, greater liberality would decrease the danger, and, at the same time, benefit ministers, who are more frequently exposed to the risk of being depressed by poverty than lifted up by worldly good.

Let all, ministers and people, be on their guard against worldliness and formalism. While steadfastly resisting intolerance, and the stealthy encroachments of superstition and other forms of error, let us still prove ourselves to be "the friends" of all Christians, "the enemies of none. Be ours the work of "spreading scriptural holiness" throughout the world: and in order to this, let us individually seek conformity to the image and example of Christ, and give ourselves heartily to His service.

THE LEPROSY OF SCRIPTURE.

THE disease of leprosy must always be a subject of great interest to the Biblical student, occupying, as it does, so prominent a place in the enactments of the Mosaic law, in the history of the Jewish nation, and in the wonderful works mercifully wrought by our Lord, and