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Minister. The Lord grant that you may! "But however earnest in the pursuit of it, let me remind you of one thing, namely, not to be impatient in the expectation. The gracious God that laid in Zion this tried stone for a foundation, declared that he that believeth in him shall not make haste, Isa. xxviii. 16. It is not for us to know the times, or the seasons, which the Lord hath appointed. When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son. And when the fulness of time is come to the happy experience of every believer, God will send forth the Spirit of his Son into your heart, whereby you will be enabled to cry Abba Father. Many a gracious soul may walk without assurance through life, and the dying hour will be the sealing hour. And should this be your case, be not discouraged. There is a blessed promise for you to live on in one prophet, and an assurance equally gratifying in another. Who is among you (says Isaiah) that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light: let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. And Zechariah saith, the gospel day of grace, though it be a day in which the light shall not be clear nor dark, that is, the evidences of assurance not so clear as the soul wishes, nor so doubtful as to preclude all hope, yet at evening time, if only in the hour of death, it shall be light, Zech. xiv. 6, 7. And now I have in as brief a manner as the narrow limits I proposed of myself would admit, answered the questions you proposed, and have shewn you under three particulars the great and leading points of the Gospel. I have only to add an earnest prayer, that the Lord may sanctify what hath been said: and may the God of all grace,

who hath called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered awhile make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you! To whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen, 1 Pet. v. 10, 11.

R. HAWKER.

ANSWER TO AN IMPORTANT QUESTION,

What are the best methods by which a minister may magnify his office, and guard against the temptations to which he may be exposed?

In attending to this very interesting inquiry, I would notice, 1. The high dignity of the office of a minister of righteousness. It arises out of the immense love of God to sinners; partakes of the sanction of every Divine perfection in Jehovah, the institute of the just and gracious Savior, whose representatives ministers are, to declare his will, and act under his immediate seal. How inferior are the most useful men in every other sphere, compared with the ministers of truth! Sir I. Newton, in his grasp of unnumbered worlds, settling and explaining the laws of gravitation and repulsion, Buonaparte in all his successive conquests, Priestley in all his philosophical discoveries, the benevolent and sympathetic Howard, the philanthropic Wilberforce; how far short do they fall of you, O ye true ministers of the altar! These only work and act for time; you for eternity. 2. Your office is intended to promote not only civilization, morality, and justice, but to make men meet and fit for heaven. It highly behoves the ministers of Jesus to guard against every thing that would

degrade their character, and prevent the happy effects of their ministration. By instability, levity, want of delicacy, and purity towards the female character, many of the great are fallen, and have left an ill savor on their memory. David ever after felt the sword of his reflections piercing his soul. Many have fallen by intemperance; the sons of Aaron drank too much wine; and on their sin it was forbidden. Pride and self-importance, idleness and self-indulgence,self-complacency in preaching, his great transgression; thus, when self is the prominent object, the Savior is thrown into the back ground. Happy is that minister who dismisses his people, admiring the Master instead of the servant; such an one will have his fulness of reward in the hon. or given to Christ. 3. In order to this, cultivate personal religion. That which is only theoretical, professional, or official, cannot secure our safety, or prevent our disgrace, should Satan, the world, or sin put us to close trial. The root of the matter within us, and the arm of the Lord without us, are our only preservation. From this vital principle arise gracious exercises, called forth by various incidents; the workings of inbred corruptions, the temptations of Satan, the dispensations of Providence, insults of persons around, trials insepar ably connected with our relative situation. The acts, habits, and exertions of this new principle must be brought forward: 'Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.' It is not the most shining abilities, the clearest evidences, the greatest success, and for a time, the most exemplary conduct, that secures us on any future temptation; these have all failed, to the disgrace of of character, and the injury of the cause of religion, the

deeply wounding of many, who once appeared in the hemisphere of the gospel-dispensation as stars of the first magnitude. A retrospection of thirty or forty years, gives much evidence of degraded ministers of all denominations; and to attempt to draw a veil over them would have the appearance of giving them countenance; yet we should not tell it in 'Gath, nor publish it in the streets of Askelon.'

The conversation of ministers is of much importance; it should be worthy of their character; 'The priest's lips should keep knowledge:' they should be 'wise for themselves,' and for others. 'Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you?'* &c. 'A word spoken in season, how good is it!' a word on the wheels stops not till it reaches either the judgment or the heart to which it is directed. Grace poured into our lips will give an excellence to our conversation, and prove a blessing. Know when to speak, and speak in the language of inspiration; better you cannot find, else 'what will your arguing reprove?'

In your social visits use edifying conversation, the Bible, prayer, and praise; this will be a blessing to the younger branches of a family in various ways, and prove a comfort to those who are in advanced life. Thus we should prove the salt of the earth, in prevention and preservation: as lights in the world we should benefit others, and the glory would be seen on our countenances. Our voice should be that of the turtle; in our mouth the olive branch of peace, of Divine Christian reconciliation as the ministers of peace. All eyes are * James iii 13.

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upon you; many watch for your halting, especially false hearted, low minded, unsanctified, shrewd professors; yea, and even some of your fawning friends.

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The value, importance, and redemption of time, should be of high consideration with ministers. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. This they teach, the influence of this truth they should feel. Of what importance is a pulpit hour to a minister himself, to the hundreds or thousands he may address? Before the returning season, his tongue may be sealed in the silence of death; and many may never hear again. Ought he not, at the close of every sermon, to stand clear of the blood of all men? Be plain, pointed, and faithful. Keep up family religion: with some there is little or no religion at home, while there is much abroad. person who governs not his own family in the fear of God, will do but little good in the church of Christ. I would particularly recommend mutual secret prayer. A word to professors: Not to solicit the company of ministers to the neglect of wife, children, and servants at home: a coach, a splendid table, a select company, are strong inducements, while domestic duties are perhaps wholly laid aside: the mother, is with Mr. or Mrs. subscribers; who must be regarded, and their golden god worshipped. Ah! how many have been slain by these! 'yea, many strong men have fallen.'

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husband, father, or liberal friends, great

Sit loose to party-distinction; let love be diffusive; have no firebrands to send abroad, lest the same crafty race may return on you when you least expect it. Be tender of getting on the ground of other ministers. Guard against speculative, airy notions: we may so feed

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