must not be to shew wit and pleasantry; else the preacher will do no more good than the Tatler, 1 and the one may make converts as soon as the other. This fine preaching will never do the work; for hereby the purity and simplicity of divine truth are lost; and consequently the virtue of them. The stile of the pulpit ought to be solid, substantial, savoury; it ought to be plain and familiar, and even homely sometimes. For, if ever there was an age that needed plain dealing, certainly ours does.'

As a branch of this part of our subject, I would mention the following, as a reason of the comparative inefficiency of evangelical preaching in some places. A person of considerable eminence, now living, being asked, What was the first qualification of a preacher?' answered, To speak audibly;' for without that all other qualifications are useless. I am no friend to vociferation; but, if the preacher be able, he ought to make himself distinctly heard: and many complain of preachers, who can make themselves heard in large places, by very great congregations, who yet, coming into smaller churches and chapels, where they think exertion unnecessary, speak too low to be distinctly heard by a considerable part of the congregation; even of such as are not dull of hearing;-and certainly some compassion is due to those who are rather deaf, who commonly form a part of our audience.

6. But, supposing that we do our best, with all simplicity aiming to "commend ourselves to

'A periodical paper much admired at that time.

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every man's conscience in the sight of God:" we explain, illustrate, prove, persuade, as we think, and perhaps justly, in a scriptural manner: are we not in this case prone to confide for success in the clearness of our explanations, the suitableness of our illustrations, the cogency of our arguments, and the eloquence of our persuasions; instead of wholly relying on the omnipotent Spirit of life, to give efficacy to our endeavours? Do we not forget, at least in part, and at the time, "that the excellency of the power must be of God, and not of man?" As we were in duty bound, we bring in the light, and make it shine as clearly as we possibly can: but do we not forget that the persons, before whom we place it, are blind? Do we not sometimes feel as if our light would open their eyes, by its own efficacy? They must see it: they must be convinced: Surely they must be persuaded! We by no means interfere with the work and honour of the divine Spirit, in using all means as well as we possibly can: but we do so if we trust to what we attempt, to produce the desired effect; without expressly depending on his omnipotent agency, and teaching others to do the same. Some of us feel that our comparative want of success is owing perhaps more to this often unobserved dependence on the nature and efficaciousness of the means which we use, instead of wholly depending on the life-giving Spirit of God; than to any other cause; we blow our rams' horns, and surround Jericho; but we foolishly think, that the feeble blast of our trumpet will cast down the walls; instead of using the prescribed means, and trusting in Omnipotence to

produce the effect. I would wish to go into the pulpit, at all times, exactly as Ezekiel did into the valley of dry bones; implicitly observing the directions of my Lord, and entirely expecting my success from that power which suffices to raise the dead.

7. The late venerable John Thornton, Esq. said to the writer of these pages, in the last interview which he had with him; and as he recollects, they were his parting words; Sir, the ministers in London make two grand mistakes: they are more intent on filling their churches and chapels, than on doing good to their respective congregations: and they aim more at the rich than at the poor: whereas their main success will always be among the poor.' From such a man, a man of wealth, and of long experience and observation, and of uncommon depth of piety; these observations, on which I shall make no comment, are worthy of our most serious reflection, while we are inquiring into the reasons of our comparative want of success in our ministry.

8. A sort of affected, or heartless, resignation seems to prevent the usefulness of many. They satisfy themselves, or they attempt to reconcile others, to apparent inefficiency, or little success, by observing, that means are our part, but success is from the Lord; we use the means and ought not to be impatient, if He, who is sovereign, does not see good to gratify our desires of usefulness.' But do we use all the means which we can, and which we ought to use; and with all that earnestness, diligence, and assiduity, which such a cause requires? Is nothing omitted? is nothing defi

eient? is nothing wrong in our spirit and conduct; in our doctrine, in the connexion, and proportions, and application? Can we think of nothing more, either in public, or "from house to house," or in our closet, or in our example, which we ought to do, before we sit down in this heartless resignation? Surely, in such a case, we ought to suspect that all is not right; to examine ourselves; and to pray, "O Lord, do not condemn me; shew me "wherefore thou contendest with me?" In short, it may be apprehended, that the want of the spirit of the apostle in this respect lies at the very root of the evil. 'My little children, of whom I tra"vail in birth again, till Christ be formed in you." A thorough earnestness, and ardent desire to be useful; which nothing else can satisfy. 'No crowded congregations, no acceptance, no popularity; no respect and kindness shewn us; no comfortable state of things in other respects; nothing about emolument, or credit, nothing can satisfy me, but usefulness. I long to win souls; I had rather be poor, despised, reviled, and persecuted, and made very useful; than to have all else to my will, without evident and increasing usefulness. This, this, is what I aim at. "I seek not yours, but you. Such should be our spirit and our language. It is to be feared, that there is comparatively but a small portion of this decided earnestness, in modern days, compared to what there was in more successful and happier times. In this respect, it seems that many satisfy themselves, under the idea that they are useful, though their usefulness Now it may be readily conceived, that most evangelical ministers are useful

does not appear.'

in many instances which never come to their knowledge; or not till long after they have taken place and there are, on the other hand, persons who disappoint their most sanguine hopes. The success, however, of some even in later ages, much more in apostolical times, has been so unequivocal, that it could not be doubted. A minister should not perhaps expect, when first stationed in any place, to see much fruit for some time; but, if after several years, few inquire "What must we "do to be saved?" few come, as new converts, to profess their faith at the Lord's table; few appear "to walk in newness of life;" he ought by no means to satisfy himself, by the hope of an unobserved, and probably, in great measure, unexisting usefulness; but to adopt more vigorous measures, and pour out more fervent prayers. And this he cannot but do, if he have a proper sense of the value of immortal souls, and a longing desire above all things to be the instrument of their salvation. The apostles, though doubtless resigned, at least equally with any of us, to the divine will and sovereignty, as far as their own concerns were at stake, seem to have been all life and earnestness, and sometimes even anxiety and distress, and then joy and praise, according as appearances led them to think that they had been successful, or the contrary.

9. It is to be feared that the ministers of the gospel are not, at present, so evidently and decidedly men of another world, as they have been in former times; not so disinterested; so separated from conformity to the world in all respects; so dead to its pleasures, distinctions, and advan