day, and be assigned a portion with Judas! A faithful minister neither frowns nor favours, can allure him from the truth, he can trample upon dangers or honours with a careless foot; and whether he is smiled or frowned on by the rich and great, he dares not either alter or keep back the truth of God, but the more faithful he is to the truth, the more and more dangerous enemies he must expect; for both earth and hell will conspire in their opposition to him. But though an host encamp against him he need not fear," victory is sure over all his enemies, for the Lord shall fight for him, his strength is to sit still. A true minister will be crying for more grace, life, power, unction from on high on his ministry, whilst others quietly settle down upon their own lees, without any empty ings whatever; they are contented with their place, station, people, salaries, flatteries, and love, sleep, ease, lying down to slumber; but so do not the servants of God, who have this commission powerfully spoken to them of, Go preach what I bid thee. This go ensures them the smile and approbation of God, whatever frowns they may meet with from men, for he who has a commission from God, will be sure to have more or less of it sooner or later. Neither is all sorrow with them, though they may be called to endure much sorrow. Tribulation was not only promised, but the "Comforter was also, and therefore one against the other, encouragement and opposition, will meet them all the way along. Bunyan represents in his Holy War, the four captains of Shaddai, and the success they met with, as beautifully figurative of those ministers whom God sends forth to attack the strong holds of the town cf Man-soul, and, he says, they lived at the king's cost all the way they went." Isa. lv. 11-13. Riches and poverty is no more in the heart than in the hand: he is rich that hath godliness with content ment; he is poor that wanteth more. He who feeds the ravens and sparrows, hears the lions' cry, clothes the field with its verdure, and the gardens with their beauty, adorning the lily, numbering the hairs of your head, will certainly not overlook your wants. That is a great snare of the adversary of souls, when the servants of God have been so low as to want all the common necessaries of life, to get them to doubt his existance or unmindfulness of them. But faith can tell many tales of God's unknown supplying hand bringing the unlooked for basket and store at the time it has been most wanted. To have your heart filled with the love of God in Christ Jesus, and wanting temporal things, is far better than having your barns filled, and God requiring your soul of you in the midst of them, without any knowledge of him, or interest in him as is the awful case of many popular ministers of Satan in the present day! The sovereign Judge of heaven and earth has divided to every man his portion, and gives as much and in what manner he pleases; and if others have irches instead of you, do not repine, endeavour to wait patiently without murmuring, you will not find fault with your possessions when safely landed at home. If poverty and sickness is best for you, he will give it, to glorify him under all: if outward good, or riches and health is best, those he will give, to glorify him thereby. That God in all things may be glorified, is why he diversifies the lot of his servants, and the state and circumstances of all; and if, like Asaph, we wish to exchange places now for a short season, we shall not then. The blessing of God laid up for his people to enjoy, does not consist of temporal things, or that which is seen; but is altogether of a spiri tual kind, and that is of the everlasting enjoyment of God in Christ. A poor uneducated man is looked on with great suspicion, and is often an eye-sore to the learned rabbis, or as they are now called, men of talent, when he comes with the love of God shed abroad in his heart, the experience of Christ, and the celestial heaven-given power of the Holy Ghost upon his tongue, whose hearts and not their heads are filled with the odour of the gospel, when their lips drop the sweet-smelling myrrh (Song iv. 11) or the words of Christ, through the preaching of him. Such have been the greatest men in all ages of the church; and some of these men, who have been taken from the very lowest classes in society, who can neither read nor write, are called to stand upon the towers of Zion. It is nothing but a large inwrought experience of Christ, a godly life, and a deep acquaintance with the human heart, that constitute the necessary qualifications for preaching the gospel. Such men move on in the fear and strength of the Lord," making mention of his righteoosness only." Learning is good in its place: by it the ignorant are instructed, and to speak against it would be wrong; but seeing it is made such an idol of in the present day, the greatest contempt ought to be put on it, when it is brought forward and substituted in the place of Christ, and that instead of Christ is preached. Christ raising the poor from the dunghill, and sending the rich empty away, shews something of the kind; and "To the poor is the gospel preached;" that is, the plain, pure, simple, unadulterated gospel of Christ. A deep sense of utter unworthiness enters into the very bowels of christian knowledge and life; it does not spring from a high and lofty heart, but from one that is made low from a sense of the greatness of God's mercies to one so undeserving of them. And such a humble soul is desirous that God should be all in all with him; he desires to walk humbly before him, with sweet and grateful recollections of his mercies, so richly, so soverJuly, 1843.] eignly, and graciously bestowed, upon the most unworthy of all his servants. It is Christ's life lived out, which is the peculiar feature of a real minister of Christ, and he who shines in it, has learned it, and reflected it from Christ; he has been with Christ, talks of Christ, loves Christ. It is Christ's yoke that is upon him, whilst in the world, which was meekness and lowliness of heart: this life brings the greatest glory to God, inasmuch that they are not ashamed of being like as Christ was in this world. The humble minister of Christ is not much seen or known, but by the poor, and spiritual of God's flock. This violet flower grows low, and covers itself with its own leaves, and yet of all flowers, it yields the most flagrant smell; so the violet or subject of grace grows low, and is clothed with humility, and sits at the feet of Jesus; but at the same time is a flower that yields the most pleasant smell of the dear Redeemer. A penny given by such an one in secret, meets with greater acceptance before God, than an hundred pounds given to be published abroad. The widow's mite was more acceptable than they who cast of their abundance into the treasury. Probably some of the greatest in the last day, will be found among these large boasters of what they have given to this or that cause. It is in very little things in the sight of men that the christian character most shines; but it is great things in the sight of men, that most men like to be doing. If a sick, and poor believer wants supporting, or poor chapel cases wants a little help, or something of his kind is called to be done, ten to one if the poor applicant does not meet with an haughty Diotrephes, instead of the good Samaritan; but if money is wanted for some great thing no doubt it will be cheerfully given, particularly if is likely to be spread aproad. They are puffed up with self applause, and love the praise of men more than the praise of God. But Y an how can they be of God, who seek honour from men, and not that honour that cometh from God only. The humble soul receives the inpress of the dear Redeemer's features into his soul which shew forth in his life, just in the same way as anything is received into a mould; proud souls are passed by, he beholds them afar off, or more properly speaking, they are not chosen to receive it, and such one who is, "is sealed unto the day of redemption," Eph. iv. 30. The Holy Spirit has stamped, signed and sealed him, and has fastened the likeness of Christ upon him, and humility adorns his whole life, which is the impression of Christ. Gal. xi. 20. God's faithful ministers are counted faithful, and put into the ministry as stewards of the mysteries of the kingdom, raised up by God for a special and particular work, called of God unto it, who gave them their commission, where to go and what to say. They have their eyes opened and their ears unstopped, their hearts stretched out unto God, their feet very beautiful and swift on the mountains of Zion, and their mouths ne. ver shut in telling of the glories of the Redeemer, or speaking aloud the judgments of God against sin, in all its forms, religious or open. These are the watchmen "whom God places upon the walls of Zion, which shall never hold their peace day nor night," Isa. lxii. 6. These are not drones in the things of God, but are alive, like the cherubims, see Ezek. x. These ministers are faithful shepherds, and, like their great Master, whom they imitate, they seek out the sheep were they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. The fleece they despise, and shake their hands from receiving of bribes, and speak against all oppression, and are more seen associating with the poor than the rich, more seen sitting down with a Lazarus, Mary and Martha, than with the Dives' of this world, and are content with such things as they have. Luke x. 1—24. They are willing to endure all things for the elect's sake, and count not their life dear unto them, so that they win Christ and be found in him; declaring all they have done nothing, and relying alone upon his rich, free, and sovereign grace. If enquiry were to be made for such ministers in the present day, where will you go to find them? In what chapels do they preach, or to what congregation? Where are the people that can say, Ours is the pastor whom you des cribe, whose sole delight is in doing good, feeding the poor when hungry, attending to their wants, spiritual and temporal, despising the flatteries and salutations of the rich, regarding more those that sit in a low place in the house of God than the man with a large gold ring on his hand (James ii.) to give himself an air of consequence, attracting the attention of his fellow worms to a little dust and ashes; he visits us night and day, his eyes are upon us for good, and his heart and hand open to supply our wants, like another good Hervey, who allowed himself but sixty pounds a year for preaching, and then gave away, among the poor, all the profits arising from the great sale of his books, which he devoted unto God, thus giving away upwards of seven hundred pounds to different charities, saying, he would be his own executor to his will, for his money expired with his life, for having eighteen shillings left, he ordered it to be given away, that others might be benefitted from it, a day or two before he died. He clothed and fed the poor himself, and used to say, I am God's steward for the poor, and I must husband the little pittance I have, to bestow upon them: thus the blessing of the widow and the fatherless came upon his head. His memory is blessed: and when forgotten here, his name will be found, graven by God on the pillars of eternity. Where is the noble example of an Hervey seen? Can we find such an example among the high doctrinal popular Balaamites of the day? Can they say, in the sight of a holy God, with Ralph Erskine : Down with disdain earth's pomp I thrust, Alas we have proof to the contrary, for some of them who have five or six hundred a year have not the common compassions of human nature, toward the poor of God's flock. God never sent such men into his vineyard to teach and instruct his people; though there are ministers of this discription of character who have a name to live and are dead, God never sent a "dumb dog" yet into his vineyard, that could not bark and give the alarm; nor one that "loved ease, or to have a quiet and easy sort of life, by loving to sleep and "lying down," nor one that would see men living in sin and would wink at it for the sake of gain without telling them of it; nor one that loved to slumber," on the damnation of souls, in being greedy of gain," who could never have enough;" nor a shepherd that cared not for the flock; or one experimentally ignorant of the things of God without spiritual understanding, Isa. lvi, whose soul object was for the fleece and not the flock. Hence they are called watchmen who are blind, they have not the evidence and features of God's sent ambassadors. The appendages to the dress of these men in the pulpit is enough to make a spiritual mind sicken at the sight, first a double gold-chain suspended from the neck in front as a watchguard, a smaller one with a gold eyeglass, and gold spectacles to be held by an hand glittering with gold rings; with this they make a dazling appearbefore their congregations! Surely they cannot say with the apostles "Silver and gold have none." Acts iii. 6. Some of these ance I are high as well as low in doctrine, and are the most iron-hearted and bitter persecutors of the real servants of God in secret to be found in the visible church. A minister of the gospel now no more, who once held a responsible situation in connection with this magazine, who was both a scholar, and a christian. His meekness and humbleness of mind, brotherly kindness and charity towards his poorer brethren can be attested by many. Through his interest and instrumentality, nearly a thousand pounds was collected for a Chapel at C- - for a minister of a very different complexion of character. After some years had elapsed this minister appears to have thought that if he could circulate an evil report against the good man's character, he should draw his people from him, and increase his own salary. As a token of his black ingratitude he did the deadly deed, the bait took, and numbers left the good man's Chapel. The Chapel at C was enlarged, The good man being wounded no doubt wondered where the arrow came from; temporary derangement succeeded, and ultimately grief brought on sudden death! The other is alive now, and rides about in his chaise, and no doubt laughs that his scheme has so well succeeded! But his days his coming, and it will be well for him if God does not laugh at his calamity, and mock when his fear cometh! "For whatsoever measure ye meet to others, it shall be measured to you again, saith the Lord! Matt. vii, 2. Many make a trade of preaching, and knowing the prevailing and fashionable doctrines of the day, they wrap up their consciences in gold and silver, and sell the truth for a mess of pottage. They make every thing subservient to their temporal interest, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage, supposing that gain is godliness; these are covetous, proud, boasters, and yet appear, in their exterior, in the garb of deep humility, and pretended love to the souls of men. They have such an illumination as Balaam or Saul had, which extended no further than to the natural understanding, whereby a literal knowledge of the Scriptures, may be acquired, particular doctrines may be received and acknowledged as true, without experiencing any thing of their power, without knowing any thing of their value, without any heart-felt love and affection towards them, or any of that rich, and sweet, and savoury delight and enjoyment in them, which proves faith to be no fiction, and confirms the reality of things not seen. There is a difference between acknowledging certain doctrinal propositions to be true-understanding them clearly in the judgment-believing them as an article of faithand receiving the truth in the love thereof, from an experience of its divine influence. A man may go so far as to preach the doctrines of grace clearly, from strength of memory, and a good natural understanding, assisted, it may be, with common illuminations, without knowing the grace of God in truth. He may have that knowledge that puffeth up, without that charity that edifieth. Balaam spoke many great truths; he had an open vision, but not the vision of faith, in and by which salvation is brought home and realized, and the earnest is received. He got his knowledge in a dream, falling into a trance, having his eyes open yet he entered into connexion with Balak, and conspired with him how to root out and destroy the Lord's people. Though Balaam preached most glorious truths, yet he never, in his heart, loved the truth, because he never experienced its power; and at last his malice was made manifest against his people, against his grace, and against the power of godliness. It is the same now. To this end, in order to strengthen each other's hands, connexions are formed, confederacies are entered into, upon this principle-You commend me, and I will commend you! Advancement in the world is sought after, emoluments, homage. respect and reverence; or a great name is aimed at, to be called Master alias Reverend. Is there one whose unaccommodating temper, whose rigid inflexibility cannot be moved, who will speak what he feels, regardless of consequences? what must be done with him? There was a device which the priests practised against Jeremiah, to which recourse is had in the present day: Report, say they, and we will report it; any thing, no matter what, if it be but likely to stir up prejudice, peradventure we may prevail against him, and take our revenge of him. God cannot be deceived; he will not be mocked: truly awful must be that character who can play with religion, and make a trade of pretentions to godliness. "Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?" Isa. xxix. 15. Nevertheless the people approve their doings and sayings; the blind lead the blind; they are all in the broad road; they have their good things in this life, their lot is the prosperity of the wicked. While the poor despised minister of Jesus Christ, whom God honours with his blessing; and though a weak instrument, yet the word ministered by him is attended with power, and comes in demonstration of the Spirit: yet he is hated and forsaken: and though the Almighty God pours down a large measure of his grace upon him, he withholds (though not altogether) the blessings of his providence. He is like a reed shaken with the wind, or as the poor beggar at the door of the rich professor; rich in spiritual things, but poor in this world's goods; beloved of God and ordained to eternal |