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their office; it is the soul and essence of the office itself. They who instruct mankind in their duties, and regulate their consciences; who stimulate their energies; who bring their self-love to co-operate with their virtue; and who satisfy them that, according to the law of their Creator, their interest and their duty are only the same thing viewed in different profiles; these men exert an influence upon mankind as much superior in energy and effect to any other, or all other influences; as the power of the sun is superior to the fire on our hearts, or the taper on our tables, or all the lights and heats which puny man is capable of kindling. When I reflect on the agency of gospel ministers in this world, I look down on those insignificant things, who with all their fleets and armies can hardly effect any thing among men, except mischief. And I would smile, did I not feel indignant at those who attempt to advance the influence of gospel ministers, by conferring upon them titles, rank, and riches. When I behold the monk of Wittemberg, shaking the papal authority to its centre, the most formidable system of absolute sovereignity the sun ever saw; when I behold the sage of Geneva, corresponding with monarchs, and directing the progress of reformation over Europe; when I behold Knox new modelling the religious institutions of his country; and when, within our own days, I see Wesley towering over the heads of an archbishop of Canterbury, of York, and of the most dignified religious establishment of any country, I form an opinion of the power of the gospel minister, who without the aid of wealth or civil patronage, operates upon society by means of the gospel alone. I no longer think it a singular or wonderful thing, that our

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Redeemer should send forth his apostles without purse, or equipment. It seems indeed to be the fixed law of nature in this world, that those who are its effective governors should be poor men, who operate upon mind solely by the instrument of mind, and trust God for the result.

To close the whole, I add that no class of men have so much of the pure affection of mankind as the ministers of the gospel. The heart of the christian world is entirely their own. Kings are crowned, soldiers triumph, literary men are praised; but ministers of the gospel are beloved.

Brethren, I have enlarged upon this last topic of my discourse, beyond my original intention, and beyond what the symmetrical arrangement of the parts of my discourse may seem to have required. This is my apology. The gospel must be preached to all nations; and if it be preached to all nations, preachers must be found in great abundance; but preachers can no where be found in sufficient abundance, unless among the sons of reputable christians; and it is to be feared, that these christians will never devote their sons in adequate numbers to the work, and that young men themselves will not be induced to undertake it, unless more correct views of the nature and importance of the ministerial office are entertained, than those which at present generally prevail. I have not used any pious fraud in the representation which I have given of the office. I do believe, that it is the will of God, that ministers should be poor; and the will of man, that they must be persecuted; and their own will, that they shall be self-denied; but notwithstanding all this, I am persuaded, that they find more than a compensation for

these evils, in the dignity of their studies, in the pleasures of their public exhibitions, in the humanity of their labours, in the influence of their stations, and in the love and affections of all good men.

Balance the good against the evil, and I consider the office of the gospel ministry not only an eligible one, but the most desirable of any that are held among men; especially when we take into consideration, that a day is coming, when they who have turned many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars in the heavens for ever and ever.

And now, brethren, to conclude, I will say, that the three grand epochs which I have stated, are assuredly revealed in prophecy, and, therefore, must occur in their proper season. Whether I have rightly conjectured concerning the causes which shall bring about these great revolutions, I do not pretend to be dogmatically certain; yet I think, that there is a sufficient degree of verisimilitude, perhaps as much as the nature of the case admits. But as to the obligation of what I have recommended as ministerial duties, I entertain no doubt or hesitation at all, and I trust you entertain as little; let us, therefore, jointly and earnestly pray, that we may all be enabled to discharge the duties of our station in our own days; that the cause of the Redeemer's glory and man's salvation may suffer no detriment or damage in our hands; but that we may, if possible, contribute some thing in our age towards the advancement of the mediatorial reign of the Son of God.

END.

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