pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." As every faithful ambassador means to obey the will of his prince, and attain the object of his appointment, so every faithful minister means to obey the command of Christ, and seek the salvation of his hearers.

Secondly: The end which faithful ministers propose to themselves, in entering into the ministry, is, to promote the salvation of souls. They undertake to preach the gospel, not of constraint, but willingly; not to gain wealth, or applause, but to gain the souls of men. They have seen their own hearts, and their perishing state by nature. They have felt their own need of a Saviour, and found the hope and relief which the gospel affords to believing, penitent, broken hearted sinners. They know, by their own experience, the perishing state of sinners, and the infinite importance of the gospel. They feel a tenderness and compassion for their fellow men. They wish to be instrumental in turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. And it is this sincere love to souls, which induces them to undertake the great and difficult work of preaching the gospel.

Now, the end which any one proposes in any employment, he naturally desires to accomplish. The faithful attorney, who undertakes his calling to maintain justice between man and man, always pursues this object, in all his pleas and exertions. And the faithful physician, who practices the healing art, to cure the disorders and preserve the lives of his fellow men, always seeks the life and health of his patients. So a faithful minister, who enters upon his work from the pure motives of benevolence and compassion, will always aim, in all his preaching, to save the souls of his hearers. As soon as Paul was converted he wished to convert others. And, therefore, as soon as he was called to preach, he instantly obeyed the call. "But when it pleased God," says he, "who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me, by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood." It was love to souls which induced Paul to preach, and this love constrained him to seek the salvation of his hearers. And all, who enter into the ministry from the same motive, uniformly pursue the same end. They carry about with them, and especially into the pulpit, a sincere and ardent desire to save the souls of men. Like Paul, they travail in birth for souls; and, like him, their heart's desire and prayer to God is, that sinners, through their preaching, may be saved.

Thirdly Faithful ministers desire to fulfil the weighty obligations which are laid upon them, when the souls of men are

committed to their care and instruction. Then they are charged to take heed unto themselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made them overseers, to "feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Yea, they are charged before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and kingdom, to preach the word; to be instant in season and out of season; to reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine. Under the impression of these obligations, they maintain an habitual sense that they watch for souls as those who must give account. And this creates in them an ardent desire to fulfil the ministry which they have received of the Lord Jesus, and to promote the salvation of those whom he hath committed to their trust, and for whom he hath suffered and died.

Fourthly: Faithful ministers place their own happiness in the salvation of their people. They often look forward, and anticipate the joy of meeting those whom they may be instrumental of saving, at the right hand of Christ. And they can hardly form an idea of a greater satisfaction than this. Paul frequently mentions the pleasure which he anticipated in seeing the fruit of his labors in the salvation of souls. He says to the Corinthians, "As ye also have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus." Again, he exhorts the Philippians to live a holy and exemplary life, giving this as the reason, "that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain." In another place he calls them his "joy and crown." And "what," says he, to the Thessalonians, "is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" Thus Paul placed his own happiness in the salvation of his hearers; which enabled him to say with sincerity to the Jew, that he desired to gain the Jew; to the Gentile, that he desired to gain the Gentile; to the weak, that he desired to gain the weak; and to the Corinthians, that he sought not theirs, but them. He considered every person whom he was instrumental of converting, as a part of his future and eternal reward, and therefore most sincerely desired, in his preaching, to save the souls of men. As God had expressly given him those who once sailed with him, so he expected that he would give him all whom he should ever be instrumental of turning from darkness to light. And all faithful ministers have the same glorious recompense of reward set before them, to stimulate their desires and endeavors to promote the salvation of their hearers. The more they turn to righteousness, the brighter will they shine,

and the more completely happy they will be, in the kingdom of glory. Their happiness will be eternally augmented, by the salvation of their people. This powerful motive is peculiar to faithful ministers, and inspires them with peculiar zeal to win souls. I may add,

Fifthly: Faithful ministers desire to convert and save sinners, for the honor of Christ. They consider themselves as his servants, whose business it is to promote his glory, in the salvation of souls. So Paul represents himself and his brethren in the ministry: "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." There is no other way in which ministers can serve and glorify Christ so much, as by promoting the salvation of sinners, and increasing the number of his cordial subjects. Every convert is translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Christ. Believers are called the glory of Christ; and in seeing them, he is said to see the travail of his soul, and be satisfied. They were the joy set before him, in the view of which he despised the shame, and endured the pains of the cross. Believers, who have been redeemed by his blood, and converted by his gospel, shall be presented before him, in all the beauties of holiness, "when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." When all the vessels of mercy shall be collected, and seated at the right hand of Christ, they will reflect peculiar honor and glory upon him; and shine to the praise of the glory of his grace, in the eyes of all the intelligent creation. This faithful ministers desire to see and enjoy; and therefore when they preach, they desire to win souls to Christ, that he may receive the reward of his sufferings, and enjoy the travail of his soul, in the holiness, happiness and praises of those who were given unto him before the foundation of the world. These are some of the plain and solid reasons, why faithful ministers desire to promote the salvation of their hearers. It now remains only to improve and apply the subject, agreeably to the present serious and important occa

sion.

1. If faithful ministers have a desire to promote the salvation of souls, then this desire must have great influence upon all parts of their ministerial conduct. To desire the salvation of souls is to desire their future and eternal good. This great and extensive desire, therefore, must naturally lead the minds of ministers to view their people in the light of eternity. And this view of their people must necessarily raise them all to a level. I do not say sink them to a level, but raise them to a level; because it always raises men, even the smallest and lowest men, to view them in relation to eternity. In this view, all

souls are equal. The soul of the child is equal to the soul of the parent; the soul of the subject is equal to the soul of the ruler; the soul of the servant is equal to the soul of the master; and the soul of the poor is equal to the soul of the rich. Eternity levels all distinctions, and raises all immortal souls into infinite importance. One soul, in the view of eternity, appears of more worth than the whole world. "For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” While a minister has such a view of the equal worth of every soul, he will neither aim to flatter the rich, nor please the learned; but endeavor to preach with that plainness and impartiality which is directly calculated to promote the salvation of every one of his hearers.

Again: This desire to save souls will excite a minister to great diligence and activity in his sacred office. When any one object absorbs the attention and affections of the mind, it always makes a man zealous. So when the salvation of his hearers absorbs the affections and attention of a minister, it never fails to fire him with zeal in their service, and constrains him to sacrifice his own ease, reputation and interest, for their eternal good. He feels that there is nothing of his too great to be given up, for the salvation of his people. Paul's desire to save souls inspired him with astonishing zeal and self denial. To attain this desirable and invaluable object, he spared no pains, he feared no reproaches, and he shunned no dangers, nor persecutions. He was always ready to spend and be spent in preaching the gospel, and promoting the salvation of sinners. "Yea," says he to the Philippians, "if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all." And every minister who feels this benevolent and compassionate desire for the salvation of souls, will cheerfully employ his time, exhaust his strength, and wear out his life, in the service of his people.

Besides: This desire will constrain him to preach in the most profitable manner. It will make him speak like a dying and accountable creature, to dying and accountable creatures. Knowing the terrors of the Lord, and realizing the scenes of eternity, he will deliver his discourses with such a tenderness and solemnity, as can scarcely fail of persuading his hearers to secure their eternal interest. It will direct him to use a plain and familiar style, and to construct his discourses so as to enlighten and convince, rather than so as to soothe and please his people. He will speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth his heart. He will preach such doctrines, and only such, as he verily believes will appear to be true at the last day. And these

he will preach without the least ambiguity or disguise. He will mean to preach the whole counsel of God, and to keep back nothing which he conceives would be profitable to his people. And he will plainly and faithfully warn his hearers against every thing which he apprehends will appear to be an error, a delusion, or a moral evil, at the day of judgment. In a word, a desire to save souls, will make him constantly solicitous to live and preach in such a manner as to become a sweet savor to God, in them that are saved and in them that perish.

2. If faithful ministers desire the salvation of souls, then their work is extremely great and arduous. It is a work which creates constant care and concern, and fills their minds with great anxiety and distress. They carry all their people upon their hearts, and feel interested in every thing which affects their temporal and eternal interest. Their cares are as numerous and as weighty as the souls committed to their trust. If any of their people are careless and secure; if any neglect public worship or family prayer; if any run into dangerous errors and delusions; if any fall into animosities and contentions; or if any practice infamous and destructive vices; it wounds and grieves their hearts. For all such things among their people threaten to destroy their souls, which they most earnestly desire to prevent. Paul often tells his hearers how much he carried them upon his heart. To the Philippians he says, " God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." He tells the Thessalonians, "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail." How tender is his appeal to the Corinthians! "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?" And to the same persons he expresses his paternal care and concern. "Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you; for I seek not yours but you; for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." This was a truly paternal affection. Parents never lose their love nor care for their children, though ever so ungrateful and disobedient. So faithful ministers never cease to care for their people, but feel their anxiety and concern increase, as any of thern appear to wax worse and worse. Like their blessed Master, they are grieved for the hardness of men's hearts; and like his faithful apostle, they warn every one night and day with tears. Cares are the