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men may be pointed out, who have abused the doctrine of divine assistance; but what has not been abused ? We must expect a special blessing to accompany the truth: not to supersede labour, but to rest on and accompany labour.

A Minister is to be in season, and out of season ; and, therefore, every where a Minister. He will not employ himself in writing secular histories : he will not busy himself in prosecuting mathematical inquiries. He will labour directly in his high calling; and indirectly, in a vast variety of ways, as he may be enabled: and God may bless that word in private, which may have been long heard in public in vain.

X Minister should satisfy himself in saying, “ It matters not what men think of my talents. Am I doing what I can ?”' for there is great encouragement in that commendation of our Lord's, She hath done what she could. It would betray a wrong state of mind to say, “ If I had discharged my duty in such and such a way, I should have succeeded." This is a carnal spi

" rit. If God bless the simple manner in which you spoke, that will do good; if not, no manner of speaking could have done it.

There is such a thing in the religious world as a cold, carnal wisdom: every thing must be nicely weighed in the scales : every thing must be exactly measured by the rule. I question if this is not worse, in its consequences, than the enthusiasm which it opposes. Both are evil, and to be shunned. But I scarcely ever knew a preacher or writer of this class who did much good.

We are to go forth, expecting the excellency of God's power to accompany us, since we are but earthen vessels : and if, in the Apostolic days, diligence was necessary, how much more requisite is it now!

But, to the exercise of this diligence, a sufficiency in all things is promised. What does a Minister require? In all these respects the promise is applicable

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to him. He needs, for instance, courage and patience : he may, therefore, expect that the Holy Spirit will enable him for the exercise of these graces.

A minister may expect more superintendence, more elevation, than a hearer. It can scarcely be questioned that he ought to pray for this: if so, he has a ground in Scripture thus to pray.

I have been cured of expecting the Holy Spirit's influence without due preparation on our part, by observing how men preach who take up that error. have heard such men talk nonsense by the hour.

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We must combine Luther with St. Paul-" Benè orasse est benè studuisse" must be united with St. Paul's Meditate upon these things: give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all. One errs who says, "I will preach a reputable sermon:" and another errs who says, "I will leave all to the assistance of the Holy Spirit," while he has neglected a diligent preparation.

ON

PREACHING CHRIST.

"We preach Christ crucified." 1 Cor. i, 23.

CHRIST is God's great ordinance. Nothing ever has been done, nor will be done to purpose, but so far as He is held forth with simplicity. All the lines must centre in Him. I feel this in my own experience, and therefore I govern my Ministry by it: but then this is to be done according to the Analogy of Faith-not ignorantly, absurdly, and falsely. I doubt not, in-., deed, but that excess on this side is less pernicious than excess on the other: because God will bless His. own especial Ordinance, though partially understood and partially exhibited.

THERE are many weighty reasons for rendering Christ prominent in our Ministry :

1. Christ cheers the prospect. Every thing connected with Him has light and gladness thrown round it. I look out of my window: the scene is scowling -dark-frigid-forbidding: I shudder: my heart is chilled. But, let the Sun break forth from the cloud -I can feel-I can act—I can spring.

2. God descending and dwelling with man, is a truth so infinitely grand, that it must absorb all others. "You are his attendants! Well! But the KING! There he is!-the KING!"

3. Out of Christ God is not intelligible, much less amiable. Such men as Clarke and Abernethy talk sub

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lime nonsense. A sick woman said to me--Sir! I have no notion of God. I can form no notion of Him. You talk to me about Him, but I cannot get a single idea that seems to contain

any thing?--But

you

know how to conceive of Jesus Christ as a man! God comes down to you in Him, full of kindness and condescension. * Ah! Sir, that gives me something to lay hold

There I can rest. I understand God in His Son." But if God is not intelligible out of Christ much less is He amiable, though I ought to feel Him so.

He is an object of horror and aversion to me, corrupted as I am! I fear-I tremblem-I resist-I hate-l rebel.

4. A preacher may pursue his Topic, without being ! led by it to Christ. A man who is accustomed to investigate topics is in danger. He takes up his topic, and pursues it. He takes

He takes up another, and pursues it. At length Jesus Christ becomes his topic, and then he pursues that. If he cannot so feel and think as to bend all subjects naturally and gracefully to Christ, he must seek his remedy in selecting such as are more evangelical.

5. God puts peculiar honour on the preaching of Christ crucified. A philosopher may philosophise his bearers, but the preaching of Christ must convert them. John the Baptist will make his hearers tremble ; but, if the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he, let him exhibit that peculiar feature of his superiority-Jesus Christ. Men may preach Christ ignorantly-blunderingly--absurdly : yet God will give it efficacy, because he is determined to magnify his own ordinance.

6. God seems in the doctrine of the Cross, to design the destruction of man's pride. Even the murderer and the adulterer sometimes become subjects of the grace of the Gospel, because the murderer and adulterer are more easily convinced and humbled: but the man of virtue is seldom reached, because the man of virtue disdains to descend. Remember me, saved & VOL. IU,

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dying malefactor!-God, I thank Thee, condemned a proud Pharisee!

Every Minister should therefore inquire, “What is FOR ME THE WISEST WAY OF PREACHING CHRIST TO MEN ?'' Some seem to think that in the choice of a wise way, there lurks always a TRIMMING disposition. There ARE men, doubtless, who will sacrifice to Self, even Christ Jesus the Lord : but they, of all men, are farthest from the thing. There is a secret in doing it, which none but an honest man can discover. The knave is not half wise enough.

We are not to judge one another in these things. Sufficient it is to us, to know what we have to do. There are different ways of doing the same thing, and that with success and acceptance. We see this in the Apostles themselves. They not only preached Christ in different ways; but, what is more, they could not do this like one

another. They declare this fact themselves ; and acknowledge the grace of God in their respective gifts. Our beloved brother Paul, writes, says St. Peter, according to the wisdom given unto him. But there are Peters, in our days, who would say—“Paul is too learned. Away with these things, which are hard to be understood. He should be more simple. I dislike all this reasoning." And there are Pauls, who would say, " Peter is rash and unguarded. He should

“ put a curb on his impetuosity."

And there are Johns, who would say, They should both discharge their office in my soft and Winning manner. No good will come of this fire and noise." Nothing of this sort! Each hath his proper gift of God; one after this manner, and another after thai : and each seems only desirous to occupy faithfully till his Master come, leaving his brethren to stand or fall to their own Master.

Too much dependence is often placed on a system of RATIONAL CONTRIVANCE. An ingenious man thinks