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scanty, and precarious, and beyond the limits of reasonable calculation; even if they were, in all other respects, as desirable as this.

We need not look for a supply of gospel ministers from the families of worldly minded men; even christian converts from among them are few; and for obvious reasons, extremely few of these can ever aspire to the pulpit. It would be to forego all the benefit of experience, to look either to what are called the higher or the lower classes of society, among professed christians for much effectual aid. The fascinations of political power, the ambition of social distinction, and a desire to mingle with the profession of religion a considerable indulgence of what are called the innocent amusements of life, will induce the sons of wealthy fathers to engage in other pursuits, more congenial to their feelings than the restraint and labour of minis terial character. From persons in a very low condition little can be expected; both because, that in their eircumstance, time and means are wanting to procure the requisite measure of mental cultivation and learning; and because, that even if the hand of charity were to procure for them the requisite leisure and instruction, it would be impossible, in our state of society, to produce that independence and elevation of spirit, which are as indispensible to the ministerial character, as modesty and humility. Society cannot be managed at present upon the same principles, as in the times when the severity of monastic discipline levelled all distinctions, and produced an entirely new character, the excellence of which was measured by its exact conformity with the rules of the order. Upon no principle can the church of God be supplied with ministers

at present, but those which regulate the choice of profession in other departments of society.

For placing this office in its just light, it must be stripped of many extravagant prejudices concerning its difficulties and miseries; and its real pleasures and enjoyments must be displayed, as attractives to induce pious and ingenious minds, animated with the love of God, and a desire of being useful to mankind, to give this office a preference to others; which although they may flare upon the carnal eye with a more dazzling splendor, are infinitely inferior in real enjoyment. There is no danger of tempting worldly minds into this office, by a display of its real advantages; for these are of a class and character, which such persons will neither comprehend nor relish; whilst the repulsive considerations strike their imagination and senses at once, and are the best preventives against their intrusion. The circumstances in the lot of a clergyman, which are most discouraging to those, who are directing their views towards the sacred office, may, I think, be arranged under the following particulars; the poverty, reproach, and contémpt to which a minister of the gospel is exposed; and the intrinsic difficulty of his work; I shall endeavour to treat these subjects fairly, but briefly; and then display the advantages which this office possesses beyond any other known among men.

1. The ministerial office certainly does require the renunciation of this world; he who chuses it, weds poverty; and must never expect any thing as the native result and reward of his labours, beyond a narrow and scanty competence of the good things of this life. He who is not willing to accept the office on these

terms, ought to let it alone. The commission which our Lord gave his apostles, runs thus, "Go-and as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses: nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.”*

Ministers of the gospel are the servants of the Son of God, and must depend on the providence of their master for their daily bread. And so sure a trust was that providence for the supply of their wants; that on their return, he thus appealed to them; "When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing."+ I strongly suspect, that poverty is a necessary ministerial qualification. When I read, that "We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in time of need." When I thus read, that one of the reasons why God exposed his own Son to all human afflictions, and among the rest to poverty, was, that he might be a sympathising high priest; capable of pleading the cause of the wretched at the throne of grace with kindred feeling; I can scarcely doubt, that the reason why he has condemned his ministers to poverty is, that as they are to preach the gospel to the poor, they may be sympathising pastors, well knowing the heart of a poor man, be+ Lake xxii. 35. Heb. iv. 15, 16.

* Matt. x. 6-10.

cause they are poor themselves. Glorious poverty! For these poor men make many rich. Christian parents should distinctly understand, that if they devote their children to the service of God in the gospel, they must devote them to poverty; otherwise God accepteth not the gift. And young men, who may be thinking of devoting themselves to the altar, should be fully apprised of this circumstance; because if they are looking after wealth and honours, the Lord accepteth them not! He hath no need of them! Is this a discouragement? To a mind well prepared, it is the highest excitement. A spirit touched with the celestial fire, glows at the thought; and exclaims, if to qualify me to advance the glory of my Redeemer, in promoting the salvation of my perishing brethren, it be necessary, that I should drink the bitter cup of poverty Amen! The cup of my earthly sorrows will be the cup of my heavenly joys-Let me have it.

Be it remembered, however, that this is doctrine for ministers, and must never be so far wrested and perverted, as to furnish any apology or excuse for those, who by withholding what they could well spare, break down their ministers' spirits by needless privations, or force them for a living to divert to secular pursuits, talents which God created, and consecrated to the service of his church. Poor rich men, they are the objects of pity not of envy! But ministers of the gospel ought to know, and those who would become ministers should be informed, that this self devotion to poverty, is on their part a duty. They should know, that they must be ready to be conformed to their Lord in the fellowship of his sufferings: if they would participate in the power of his resurrection.

2. The second evil in the ministerial lot, is the reproach to which ministerial character is inevitably exposed. I do not mean reproaches which are justly merited, for if any suffer as an evil doer he hath no reward. I mean reproaches which no innocence can prevent, nor prudence evade, nor dexterity parry; reproaches provoked by his faithfulness, augmented by his zeal, and enbittered by his persevering endeavours to save his persecutors from perdition. In some ages the cup of blood has been put into ministers' hands; but in all ages reproach will try to break their hearts.

This evil however is most severely painful in the outset of a minister's career. When a young man leaves the domestic circle, where he was cherished so delicately; and the society of his fathers in the gospel, were every attention paid him, was received as an honour; and finds himself cheered with public applause to a degree which is seldom merited, and never safe; his feelings are apt to be wound up to an extraordinary pitch of sensibility. And if an aged minister were to suggest to him that this noise of praise will soon die away; and that the hosannahs of to-day, are only the harbingers of the reproaches of to-morrow; he might be tempted to suspect, that his hoary mentor was envious of his popularity. But experience preaches a wisdom which will be listened to from no other lips. When he begins to hear doctrine imputed to him which he never taught, designs attributed to him, which he never entertained; a flash of wit ascribed to an unsanctified heart; an ironical repartee repeated as his fixed principle; an imprudence magnified into a serious crime: when he finds that his person, gait, gesture,

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