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 Rochmtor, Nm .York 14809 USA 
 (716) 482-0W)-Phon•• 
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'':/^\ 
 
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 Ur4ITE0 CHURCH 
 ARCHIVES 
 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. ^"^ 
 
 "ilx?-. 
 
 A SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED BEFORE THE MINISTERS 
 
 .'-•■•■■■ ■ '• ■ w . 
 
 C9MPOSIMG THE 
 
 BAY OF QUINTll ANNUAL CONPEfiENCE 
 
 .'-■..■ . V , . ■ . ■■■■.. 
 
 ./ ./ ;..;OF THE '.' 
 
 METEOBiST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 
 ;--.■■.■ . IN.CANADA, ■; . ; '_ ;*^'- ■ 
 
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 "i -..•'■"-. ■ ' ■■."'- 
 
 : AT NORTH-PORT, 
 
 ON SABBATH MORNING, AUGUST llTH, 1850, 
 
 BV.THE ■ 
 
 REV. J. H. JOHNSON. 
 
 PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OP SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE 
 / CONFERENCE, AND OTHERS. « 
 
 *■ '■■■.■ ^ ■ ■ . ' 
 
 BrotkpUle: 
 
 '■(■■ " ' ■ . - ■ • ; ■■'■■' 
 
 i). WYLIE, PRINTER, RECORDER OFFICE, 
 
 .1850. ^ 
 
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,•'♦• 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ««. j^... 1. *. — ■ 
 
 **-■•.<■ 
 
 This Sermon was not origiBally prepared for the press. 
 It was the result of deep reflection on the responsibilities 
 whicli thd Author feels he has assumed in devoting him- 
 self to th^ work of a Christian Minister. These reflec- ; 
 tions were thrown together, and presented in the form of 
 a Discourse at North-Port, durine the sitting of the last 
 Annual Cbiiference of the Methodist Episcopal Church^ 
 in Canada, in that place. With no intention to dictate^ 
 the Author ventured to stir up the minds of his brethren. 
 He shortly afterwards received requests for a copy of tho 
 Discourse. Some also solicited its publication. In com- 
 pliance with their suggestions, it is now given to tho pub- 
 lic. For its defects the Author alone is rgl^nsible. 
 
 Entire originality of thought is not pra^sed.^ Every 
 public speaker knows how difficult it is to be original at 
 tho present day. But Originality in the arrangement and 
 in the mode of illustration, will probably be found. <■ 
 
 Tho Author offers this Discourse, with^the prayer that 
 it may tend to impress, particularly young ministers^'mikx 
 the importajlce of their calling.^,** He that winneth souls 
 is wise." 
 
 Brockmlley September^ 1850. 
 
• «••■ . 
 
 '^^'" 
 
 • 
 
 A 
 
 ^/ 
 
 . I 
 
^fij-f^-y ■ ~^," 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. 
 
 . I 
 
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 " Not Uwl w« are •uAcicnt of oumlvct to think may Ihinff u of ounclvM ; but our 
 ■uAciency ia of God, who aIm halh hmmW us ablo MIbuIms of tb« Now Tntuovnt." 
 — 2 CorinthiuM iii. 5,6. 
 
 the Religion of tho Lord Jctus Christ, my Brethren, concerns 
 every man. Other systems have been adapted, by their iieculiari- 
 tios, to particular countries, and to particular jwrtions of tho human 
 family ; but this alone meets the wanU of mankind at large. It 
 defines tho relations between man and man, as well as between 
 man and his Maker,— it prescribes the limits to our indulgences, 
 und shows us what wc must do to inherit eternal life ; in a word, it 
 is calculated to bring us back to our allegiance, and restore us to 
 tho favour of (5od. The great truths which it unfolds are recorded 
 in the Book of inspiration whioh cannot lie. This is the authority 
 to which we must appeal in the decision of all controversies and tho 
 solution of all mysteries. It is the chart to steer us over the ocean 
 of life, and the compass by which our course should be directed. 
 
 Hero wc have tho^»|^ry of our race. We scO how God has 
 borne with tho sinfifPp, and forgiven the trans^essions of his 
 creatures. But in pi-efvidonce, as in creation, he has invariably 
 wrought by means. In the beginning his comiiiunications with 
 man appear to have been more direct, the earlier members of the 
 human family held intercourse with Him by an audible voice.— 
 Afterwards angels in human form were entrusted with messages 
 from above. To these succeeded 7>»*opAc<*, who were accustomed 
 to ** make knoAvn the will of the Lord": these continued through a 
 long succession of years, embracing some of the holiest and most 
 talented men. But "God who at sundry times and in divers 
 manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath 
 in these last days spdten unto us by his Son" ; since the ascension 
 of liis Son, by the apostles ; since their death byhi8«»iii«*er*, their 
 successors, whom he has called and put into the work. This last 
 agency is under the constant direction of the Hdly Spirit. 
 
 In several respects it has decided advantages oveiT the dispensa- 
 tion of angels. Ministers are but men, and therefore are not raised 
 above thttse to whom they minister. They can sympathize with the 
 sufferings, and enter into the experience of their brethren. In 
 short, they arc on a" level with them, while thoaid of the Holy- 
 Spirit is more than sufficient to counterbalance the disadvantngos 
 arising from the frailties of flesh riud blood. 
 
6 
 
 With thin awiwnsatitm my fcxt iitomU connected. It >f /['« 
 laninmKO of one whom the »Kst of men in modern times wouUl bo 
 «ttfo to imitate, followinR his example in all i\um% j.ructieable.— 
 The Apostle siHittks of the Christian Minister's lal)oun and dutioi 
 in chapter 2n(i, and inquires, vs. i6th, " who is Huftioiet.t for thcw 
 thinirs r Ho proceeds in the first part ol this, the Atd chapter, to 
 show that those who are convertojl through the instrumentality of 
 Christian Ministers, furnish sufficient evidence of the call of th<«o 
 ministers to preach the gospel— the most satisfiiytory proof, I may 
 add, which can l)o adduced. Not that it establishes our sunonority, 
 or our ability to work a chongo upon the human mind },but it 
 proves that Gotl, who nqver sets his seal to a ho, has mado us the 
 tkcient, though the unworthy instruments in IIis hands of saving 
 precious. Wood-bought souls. " Not that wo are sufficient of our- 
 selves to think anything us of ourselves; but our sufljciency is ol 
 God, who also hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament. 
 In this sense we are " sufficient for these things" ;- but m« no other 
 aonsc whatever couW wo be « sufficient" for them. The original 
 word, AiVt/mo*, hero translated « able", is the Mime which, in the 
 16th verse of the foregoing chapter, is rendered " sufficient " ; and 
 this clause in the text may U read thiu», " who also hath made us 
 tufficitnt {01 competent) Ministers of the New Testajncnt. 
 
 I design this morning, my Brethren, in using U\is text as my 
 foundation, to call your attention to the Qualijicationa and puttee 
 of Ministers under the New Testament dispensation oi; Divine 
 
 Grace. . 
 
 ■ —f ■ ■■ ■ . . ; 
 
 The term « minister" signifies properly a cAie/ «ert>an« ; hence 
 an o^en< employed to transact or manage business under the 
 authority of another— a delegate^ an ambassador, the representaitve 
 of a sovereign, at a foreign court. Though sometimes iwcd in the 
 Scriptures with a different meaning and with various shades of 
 meaning, it has generally this signification, and I shall so inter- 
 pret it in the text. Two- parties, God and man, have been at 
 variance. God sends his ministers or ambassadors with instruc- 
 tions to make overtures, and persuade the guilty party to come to 
 an understanding tod be reconciled. You perceive tliat the office 
 of minister is at once an office of great resi^nsibility and of great 
 honour. Qualifications of an extraordinary character are required, 
 , Nor are men generally ignorant of this fact. They have a very 
 high standard to which they mean that all ministers shall come up. 
 The evil is they expect too much from them : they expect theni ,to 
 be immaculate. Their conduct is closely watched. "In public 
 and in private, at home and abroad,\in the pulpit and m the parlour, 
 and in the street, all eyes are upon th6m, if not awake to admire their 
 consistency, most anxious to watch for their failings. It is expected 
 of them to ^e paragons of humility, of heaverily-raind«ness, and 
 
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of miritv J to be .ilNvay. Uko a fUmo o( Are .n the wrvico of Chmtj \ 
 
 noTSJo thh loMt indication of tho ti^Mh. Well 5 if thoy fulW 
 a^JJcr ovrry mo of tlio^cM'articulani. thoy barely pMS uninjuiod. 
 nTlot thorn foil in a tingle point, and an ,,xc.tomont .a nnmodi- 
 ate y creator Tho mo.t wiokrd,H.r.ou, i-'^*- -'"'"^'^^yiS":^^; 
 
 ,Hr.l tU«msolvi'« as tho coniititntcd guardians of raii iitorial 
 regard thom«olY^« us i ^ ^^ ^j^^^^^^„ ^,^^^^ ^,^^y j, 
 
 holJ^^TJgos^l m^^^^^ even slightly depart irom tho path of 
 
 '° Mv heirors, there i« mltch involved in being truly hoh. Jkij a 
 .nnoLtrvotv groat thing to maintain a character in w uch '^.t a 
 S noraLk, nor an action, nor the general air and bearing of 
 t^n man norTho very gait, shall betray a feeling other th.i.i nugh 
 bolXdfor inaSitnt of'tho noblest attainment« an expccUnt 
 LmX an embryo angel." Such a character men demand that a 
 cSSian CXshmild sustain. No marvel, then, if many are 
 S-Cfmld to bo d^npointcd. Fools they tiw, not to consider that if 
 Sersaro iSo^^^ tbe/who pronounce judg.mmt 
 
 ^nrlli^m If the accused are fallible, so I's tho tribunal be (ore 
 XilL'th?; are a «tigned. Still, thefP are oualificatioiis which it 
 may b^ pr^ft^^^^ These I shall cfctingu.sl. as of a two- 
 
 fwld description— na<MraZ and acquired, , 
 
 Bvnatiral abiUHea I intend those faculties of the «>«J Jith 
 wWch every man is endowed as ho proceeds from the lyinds of his 
 Maker It is^S," essential to my purpose, whether they depend on 
 tl^coiitruction of tha.skuU, as phrenologists inf.>rm us, influenced 
 iJ^the proC^onato d^^volo^^^^^ 
 
 -inherfted IVom our ancestor^ ; or whether the crtliro mental system 
 sSepeninHn the arbW will of the Almighty Creato,; I re- 
 fer only to the m«n«atconrf»7io/i of those whom God calls. nto His 
 work No sovereign wo^d appoint a ninny or a maniac ta the 
 r^^tant pT^of f<^ign ministVr, or ambassador to a foreign court. 
 sTheGre^ gbvereign of the universe, it is quito certain, won W 
 hever call a f«)l or a madman into his service. Too many mo- 
 mentous duties are attached to the station-^duties which require^ 
 Se SciS of a sqimd understanding. Look at tho Bctvan^ of 
 GSlinevery age. They have been, dften indeed ^^^ °f;"diKUi' 
 temporal circu^tance», but men of gaorf natural P.'^rts.Snph 
 ^?Sr Moses, J^hua, Samuel, Eliiah, Jeremiah, i^^^\^^^^ 
 Daniel, and Nehemiah. And surefy PauZ had ^w superiors nthi. 
 respect. Even the fishermen of Galilee, though of an humble 
 SK w6re men of natuml ability. True, " God^hath chosen the 
 JStMngs ofthe worldtoconfound the wise'. ; butwhdehehaB 
 passed by worldly wUdom,he has eschewed »n<e«ec/«a/ W'^r^^^jV' 
 ^or dies thelact of a "diversity of gifts" "^'^J^ «^?^\°t„^y 
 argument. God has work for all, however varied their talents , 
 but he never employs those who can be.of no use in any place.- 
 
 
V :v: ■-;/:.,•;■■ -^^^ ■,:■.:: 8 //:■--;:.;••■;::•;.:■•; 
 
 tt is importdnt lluit this jiuiut be undenitooil al the aiitsot. Let us 
 ' beware of placing the sacred office too lovir. I^ct us claim for it all 
 that nature can confer. — And it is proper that we should. The* 
 Disponents of the truth have often been men of great intellectual 
 
 fDwers (somewhat disorganized, I admit), and it is in the order of 
 rovidence that they should be excelled on their own ffround. 
 
 But this qualification alone* is insufiicient. After al? that naturt 
 cap do, there is yet a lack. Nature, rightly so called, is imperfect, not , 
 to say corrupt. Hence something must be ac^uirte/. The most 
 talented man that ever lived is unfit for the office of ambassador, with- 
 out a sound knowledge of political science.- iNow, lamfar from 
 contenc^g that reli^on or the grace of God may be acquired, os 
 mathematics or language ; yet it must be acquired. It is not born 
 with us. It does not come as a matter of course. It is got by ap- 
 plication. Every Christian thus obtains it. Every Christian 
 heeds it. How much more the Christian minister ! 
 
 I observe, then, that the gospel minister should himself be 
 taught of God. This should form the basis. It is only God 
 that can make him an " able minister of the New Testament." 
 His heart must be fiUeid with love divine. He must himself 
 . have been brought into the favour of God; then will "the 
 love of Christ constrain him,'* and pity to his fellow men move 
 nim, to publish the proclamation'of mercy, and as an " ambassador 
 for Christ," make it the business of his life to " beseech men to be 
 leconciled to God." This love to Christ, firmly rooted and grounded 
 in the heart, inciting to obedience to the divine commands, and 
 influencing every action of tlfe life, is the noblest qualification of a 
 Christian minister. "ViTien our blessed Lord vras about to leave the 
 world and return to his Father, with a view to impress this great 
 truth upon the minds of his disciples, and receive their pledge that 
 they would be faithful to the sacred trust, he piit to Peter that 
 heart-moviqg interrogatory, " Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou 
 me 1" He requires him to repeat the assurance gf his affection, ex- 
 torting from him a second and a third solemn dechimtion of his 
 attachment to his master. Then, after having taken a triple pledge 
 of the apostle's love to himself, (to use the words ofa modem 
 divine,) « he gave over into his huids his blood-bought treasure.— 
 Here are the sheep for whom J laid down my life ; dear are they to 
 me as the .apple of mine eye ; to none but safe hands would I 
 commit then} ; take them, feed them ; guide them ; rule them 
 with love; protect them ; and filially present them all safe to me 
 in heaven. Without the deepest love to Christ, no man is suf- 
 ficient for these things. iFor this love no splendour of talents, no 
 a(M;[tiiied learning, no eloquence can compensate. A minister, to 
 become <apt to teach', musthimself first be taught from above the 
 great doctrine of* Chr^t crucified' ; and then, under the po-^^erful 
 constraint of pious duty to God, and of glowingcharity to man, ' 
 pteach to others what he has himself learned under the tirition of 
 
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 .... 9 ., 
 
 ihe Holy Ghosl.^ Yes, my Brethren, he must feel something of 
 that unyielding necessity which impelled Peter to say to the 
 Jewish rulers, in the face of their ^emn prohibition, ** We can- 
 not but speak the things which we have seen and heard"; or 
 which drew from Paul the emphatic declamtion,^* Necessity ia 
 laid u{K>n mo, yea, wo is to me if t preach not the gospePV; and 
 which induced the apostle while at Ephesus to « cease not by the 
 apace of three years to warn every one, night and day, with tears.*^ 
 Were the man of Grod, after seeing what he has seen, after learn- 
 ing what he has learned, and after feeling what he haa felt, to hold 
 hispeace, " the very stones would cry out against him." , 
 , llie natitre and demandt qf the ministerial office, aa weahall aec 
 hereafter, rcqnirx; fervent ^^ty. These demajicU cannot be met 
 .without it. Fearful indeetPra the responsibility whieh he incurs 
 who, d^cient in this particular, obtrudes himself into the work of 
 the ministry. Rememlier the^istory of Nadab and Abihu, who 
 *^ '^ offered strange fire before the Lord**, and the breach upon 
 
 ■\^ Uis^ah, who " meddled, uncalled, with the ark of God.'* Let the 
 
 W unconverted, then, relinquish the thought of this SEtcred office for 
 
 ■■ .«ver,v- . ■ ■ ■ ■ . ■ 
 
 But if personal piety be thus essential to the minister of Christ, 
 then the more lively its e^^ercise in our heitrts, the more fully shidl wfe 
 be fitted for our work. Many eonsideratioos press upon ua to. be 
 active. Sinners are hurrying on every hand to the gates of dea^i. 
 Souls are every where perishing through lack of bread. ^Tftie 
 dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of crueUy .**-«. 
 Our o\«m career, however influential upon the world, must: neces- 
 sarily be short. We are morfa/x, but mortals raised to a dignity 
 and trust such as no angel of heaven ever bore. Our work is to be 
 / either " a savor of death, unto death, or of life unto life**, to all 
 with whom we have intercourse. Our business is to ** entreat men 
 for Christ's sake" ; and the result will be the salvation or con- 
 demnation of all thus entreated. We must rid onrselves of the 
 " blood of oil men." O, my Brethren, what calls for exertion !— 
 A Can We be idle in these emergencies 1 If no other motive can in- 
 fluence us, let that of jiertono/ t»f<r««f induce us to progress in 
 piety until the end of our course. Then shall we hear the 
 fAg welcome plaudit, " Servant of God, well done!" The Christuui 
 
 minister may heartily singy 
 
 • " Thi9 btefted word ti« mint, 
 
 Just as the port is gam'd ; 
 V . Kept by the power of ^ce divine, 
 I have the i'aith maintain'd.'* 
 
 But on the other hand, how fearful will be his condition, if he " ron 
 well only for a season." How alarming to think that "after lutv- 
 ing preached to others, he himself should become a cast-a-way .''*'- 
 Whatif he shall behold in the kingdom those who had been 6on- 
 
 - — - ■ ^ - ■— '. B ^ . ■- ^ '■ '■ - 
 
 ^'-m^ 
 
V 1^ -'.^ ■■:■':'.:[ 
 
 verted through his instnimentality, and he himseli* be ' " coitrinto 
 outer darkness." Yet there is an awful possibility that some may 
 be so situated. Rebels saved — the lunbassador rejected ! 
 
 Again; the great end of the Christian ministry is the conversion 
 of the world. It was instituted for this express purpose. The 
 minister, " speaking after the manner of ra6n,'* must represent his 
 prince. He should be inihienced by similar motives and desires.— 
 He shouldbe a man eirjoying the most unbounded confidence of 
 his employer, labouring to comi^ete the work given him to do.— 
 " The ambassador (says one) is to be such as tlie princre himself 
 would be, if he were to officiate in the specific circumstances in 
 peraon; as if one' spirit actuated>them, and one mind dwelt iii 
 them, and one soul were shared by them both." It follows, there- 
 fore, my Brethren, that the minister of Christ cannot be too 
 Ckrist-jike. The more like C hrist he is, the more perfectly does 
 he realize the idqal pf an ambassador, and the more apfnroprkitely 
 will he. fulfil the errand on which he is sent. He i» a perfect 
 Mt'nif^er jiist 90 fkr as he is a peiiect jotnf. . 
 
 But that there mav Jbe nothing lacking, an ambassador is 
 fbrnished with wrfJff«/ltnff/ruc£ton«, embracing every variety of 
 information upon the'^matters at issue between the parties, the de- 
 mands of the one, and the a^ssumptions of the other. He requires 
 to know the history of the whole controversy from the commence- 
 ment to his own time; and the intentions of his sovereign towards 
 the nation to whidh he is sent. Such knowledge is necessary to 
 qualify him to treat with the foreign court. And to prevent mis- 
 understandings, misconceptions, undue assumptiom of power, and 
 mistakes, these instmctions are carefully written down, and bear 
 the signature of thesupreme power,or the head of the department 
 > of foreign affairs. 
 > The CArtff tan minister is never sent, minus his instructions. — 
 That blessed book which we call « the Bible", or the book, to dis- 
 tingiiish it ftom all other books, contains not only general, but 
 specific, directions— provisions to meet every individual case 
 which can occur during the period of our ministry. It furnishes us 
 with all we need to know concerning the matter which we have 
 taken in hand, or in other words, the int and the outs of the entire 
 dispute, and lays down the conditions on which we are to offer 
 pardon to the offenders. Ou^it we riot to study this valuable 
 Book? What should we think of an ambassador who would neg- 
 lect to peruse his instructions ? What if we should see him lay 
 asidehis written authority and directions, and proceed to act upon, 
 his own responsibility, or upon the unaiithorized'opinions of his 
 fellowmen? Should we not denominate him untoorthy of his 
 post \ No less so is the Christian minister who allows any other 
 study to supersede with him the study of God's Holy Word. This 
 is his Book of Instructions. Although I am free to admit that the 
 man of God ought to study science— for reasons which I shall 
 
. ' 
 
 * 
 
 ■■ .■ f ... . ■ . . . . * ■. ^ " ■ t ■ • ■ 
 
 :■• , ■ ■ ■ ■ n 
 
 Rtlduce in their prosier [))ace— yet this must never interfere with 
 the claims of the Inspired Vohime. To every man >vho em here 
 I would say pointedly, "This ought ye to have done, and not to 
 have left the other undone." .Paul congratulated Timothy, that 
 ** from a child he Kad known the holy scriptures*' ; and it was one 
 of, certainly not the least, important advantages, that he would 
 thereby be kept ** from fables and eudless genealogi^.*'— The 
 Bible should be the minister's constant companion. 
 
 Sometimes, huwever, an ambassador iinds his instruptiony insuf- 
 ficient or. inexplicit, or he may not fully compreiiehd their meaning, 
 or a cose /may arise which they do nut seem to fully cover. He 
 has then to a;}/)/y to hU sovereign for </tVe<:((to»; and, my 
 Brethren, instructions are very soon forwafded to him, so as to re- 
 lieve him from his perplexity, and enable him to continue his 
 negotiations. So a throne of grace is ev^r accessiblCxto the faith- 
 ful minister; and it is his frequent resqirt. Here the figure fallis 
 „)[arshbrt of the reality. What pci4itical ambassador ever enjoyed 
 "the privilege of his master's cona^an/ presence, that he might con- 
 sult him without delay 1 What minister residingata foreign court 
 ever received nn immediate answer from his maMer? But the 
 minister of the New Testament is thus favoured. His Sovereign 
 is :known to possess uhiquity. Nor have any of his servants 
 applied to him in vain. Prayer is the life of the Christian, How 
 indispensable to the ministe* I He should breathe an 
 atmosphei^ of prayer. His sermons should bp composed^ and 
 delivered, and followed, with the spirit of prayer,. Of hiih it should 
 ever be said, ** Behold he prayeth !" With him prayer seems not 
 so ranchaisfu^y as a privilege. In this view, it is empjjiaticully 
 such. Without it, no man can become an " able minister.'' 
 
 An ambassador must also be acquainted toith the language of the 
 parties. It often occurs that the na.tion to which he is sent is of 
 quite a difiereiit language from his vernacular; and it is necessary 
 that lie should become perfectly familiar with the foreign language. 
 This exigency is sometimes provided for by selecting a con- 
 fidential person of another nation who possesses this qualification. 
 But he may be one who Jiad first to learn the language of his em- 
 ployer. This must be thoroughly learned. A deficiency in either 
 case would render his work not only uncertain, but extremely 
 difficult. Recourse must !)e had to signs, or to an interpreter. When 
 the objects of his mission would be embarrassed,ii' not defeated. 
 
 There isalanguage which is iieculiar to the people of God. Itis 
 one which appears to the wordly-minded as ." foolish", as an 
 "ainintelligible jargoii", but it is a pure language— n living 
 language. It is the, !<ame kind that is spoken on the other side of 
 Jordan^ in the New Jerusalem. The patriarchs and prophets were 
 pretty well acquj^-inted with it ; they used to converse in it ; and 
 some bf them wrote it with tolerable corrcctnctJS. Saul of Og rsus. 
 while on his whv lo Pamastus with authority from the chief 
 
priestB to persecute the church of God, learned the mditnentH of it, 
 And afterwards made the most astonishing proficiency in it ; though 
 John of Fatmos is supposed by many to have excelled him in the 
 purity of his diction and in an acquaintance with the peculiar 
 idioms of the language* And I am told that *' the just niudc per- 
 fect'Vof whom Paul wrote, know moreubout it than any pilgrim 
 in this vale of tears. Christ has no minister in his employment 
 who is ignorant of this elegant language. It is the medium 
 through which he holds communication with his people. Every 
 minister of the New Testament must be conversant with it. Nor 
 is it difficult to learn. To obtain a knowledge of its alphabet, it is 
 true, often requires considerable mental efibrt; loit this once ac- 
 complished, all obstacles are surmounted. It has but one nmpU 
 Sonnd,and few ccm&tnaifton«. And whether accompanied by all 
 the ** thunders of Sinai'*, or heard in the ** still small voice of 
 Hozeb", the purport of its communication is nothing more nor less 
 thanH-Zovc/ My Brethren, the gospel cannot be successfully 
 preached through any other medium. Justice must not be over- 
 looked ; but mercy alone can meet the sinner's cose. 
 
 It is likewise Considered a matter of no small consequence, that 
 ft public minister tAoii/ J not be at variance with the party to which 
 h* it eent. It is not absolutely essential that he should be on 
 terms of intimacy beforehand— for he may at first be an entire 
 stranger to them-^but there ought to be no antagonism existing 
 between'him and those amoiigst whom his labours are to be ex- 
 pended. Great care must be taken in 'this particular in the selec- 
 tion of on ambassador, or no access will be gained to the offending 
 party. Many have been rejected on no other ground than thatioC 
 being personally obnoxious to the court. The enemy refused 
 wholly to treat upon any ' terms, or to entertain the question of a 
 settlement, through the medium of a hated party. Nor have these 
 objections always existed prior to the minister's being sent out.~ 
 They have frequently arisen from his arbitrary assumptions and his 
 overbearing manner after entering upon his duties. 
 
 It is viry deeply fo be regretted that many Christian minislcrs 
 have, through similar misconduct, completely defeated the piirjiosrs 
 of their calling; The modes in which this may be done arc too 
 liumerous to mention. Yet I caunot forbearlo adduce a few of 
 them. It not unfrequ^tly happens that a pastor dainages his in- 
 fluence with his flock by unnecessarily combating their prejudices), 
 by taking a side in neighbourhood contentions, or by identity inp: 
 himself with particular sections of thie community to which other 
 sections are known to be hostile. He may injure himself inaterially 
 by injudicioiis public reproof; and especially in dealing with the 
 sl|;)ner, he may drive hini for ever froni the house of God. But 
 worse than all, by engaging in Warm political contests, has ihe 
 messen ge r of C hrist d egrade d his holy office, nnd lo st th e co n- 
 fidence^of at least a portion — often the greater portion— oi those 
 
 \ 
 
 i 
 
 r 
 
I 
 
 7 
 
 to whom he has ministered/ Where a miiu becoiites a {Kihtical 
 tool, it matters little i;i whose hands, or on which side, lor hin 
 usefulness is doomed. Could I gain access to such a minister, I 
 would whisper in his ear, "Let the dead bury trfeir dead-r-but go 
 thou and preach the kingdom of God." " Let the iwtsherd strive 
 with the potshertht of the earth" ; the Christian minister will find 
 that with all the advantages ho may (Kiesests, the work is suffi-' 
 ciently difficult to " persuade men to be reconciled to God." While 
 he has the ''wiusdom of the «er/)enf'^, he needs combined with 
 it, as a corrective quality, all the ** harmlessness of the cfooe." 
 
 Intiniately connected with this is atiother requisite in an 
 ambassador— that he ahould devote kimeelf w hotly to the work, mud' 
 take a lively intereet in it. No man is ^likely to succeed in any 
 undertaldng Without this qualification. 'It is well known that & 
 mere sense of duty never influences men so powerfully, as a ccm- 
 dideration of advantage. But where duty and advantage, or 
 interest, are combined, we may safely calculate ujpon success. Yet 
 it is fearful that 'many have been influenced by mferior consider- 
 ations.— Such are ill qualified for their work. Suppose, for illus- 
 tration, that the British minister ut China should abandon his 
 negotiations between the two Governments, and devote his time to 
 the cultivation and shipment of tea ,• or the minister tit Washington, 
 when m^suj^'of vast im{)ortunce arc entrusted to liitn, should bo 
 found engageS^ehiefly in mercantile sjfeculations, seeking his own 
 pecuniary advantage^ the prejudice of his country's interests. 
 
 Yet no less inconsistent and reprehensible is the conduct of the 
 minister of Christ who en^rs upon secular pm-suits when he ought 
 to "be about his master's biisincss." llow will such a man stand 
 when the day of reckoning comes ? Will it avail him to say, "O, 
 I had my own personal concerns to look after ! I could not have 
 been exjieeled to spend a// my time in one employ n^^nt"! / think 
 not. An " inquisition will be made for blood", when it is to be 
 feared that the blood of aouls will be found in his skirts. O how I 
 have lamented over the conduct of sonwj ministers! To see men of 
 talent, men of evident piety, and men once eminently useful* in the 
 aliandoning their master's service for ^in~joining in an 
 unholy " strike'' 'for worldly wsijros— -selling the souls of their 
 Uow-crentures, as well as their own souls, for " filthy lucre". I 
 have l)een led to Inquire, what strange hifatuation has come over ^ 
 them; what blindness has happened to them, that they should thus 
 "play the fool" and " work folly in Isniclf This has become one 
 of the greatest curses to the church at the present day. It is 
 alarmingly on the increase. By it t lie ministerial ofiice has been 
 brought into disrepute, the Rcideemer's name scandalized, and the 
 enemy of souls suflbred to triuriiph. The minister of the New 
 Testament cannot oc too far remote from a mercenary spirit. He 
 never should he influenced by w orldly c onsideration^). His a ppeal 
 should be as triumphant as that of the poet-r- a> , 
 
u 
 
 ♦ • 
 
 i ^ 
 
 " KavMHii of nMW, tby tcaichiiif eye 
 \ '.■■\. D«»«hi»Uwy iiimo»Uboti|hudt-«;ry: 
 
 \ , No goonta pf firth my wuhe« rail*,. 
 
 Nor IIm> Worl«|l'apl«Mttr«f,nor iu pnilM;** 
 
 Of the liitrary pialijicatioiu of a minister I corao now to 9peak. 
 Tkeir neceasity in the political ambassador all will be ready to 
 Qdmit. I shall endeavour to show that the servant of God needs 
 all the advantages which can be derived froni them. He ought to 
 be a man of educaition, for the obviohs reasons why any man should 
 be educated— to raise him in the social scale, to elevate his con- 
 Mptiona, and bring him up to his dignity in the creation. But 
 more powerAil ai^imeuts may be drawn from the nature of the 
 duties he has to discharge. He comes in contact wjth allclawes of 
 men. The gospel must be preached to "every creature." Paul 
 felt hiiQself " a debtor bdth to the Greeks, and to the Bakbarians ; 
 both to the wise, and to the unwise." While the Qhristian 
 minifltor is called to stand iKTthe presence of kings and coii^llors, 
 he is required to <^ go out into the highways and hedges." The 
 learned and the illiterate have equally " souls to save." A man 
 of ft well-diseiplined mind will skilfully accommodate his iustrud- 
 tims to the character of his hearers. He will employ language 
 and illustrations suited to tlie taste of the k;holar, and he can 
 descend, with perfect consistency, to the capacity of the uneducated 
 portion of the community. But, a. man of little iearning is in 
 danger of aiming at a dispJity, and of adopting a style as far above- 
 his own understanding as above that of his audience. The ignorant' 
 liaysit agliast; but the refined will be disgusted, and the pious 
 grieved. I do not say that «// uneducated ministera are of this • 
 description. I speak only of the natural tendency of ignorance 
 upon the mind of a puUic man. I have kpown, and still know, 
 uneducated preachers of a ditiferent stump— men who have « for- ' 
 soken all for Christ." Under their labours my, soul has often been 
 blessed. liisteuing to their fervent appeals, I have been convinced 
 that the doctrine o<' " Christ crucified" niay be illustrated without 
 a knowledge of science. I shall never forget the earnestness of 
 th^ir manner, nor yet the sirocess which has attended their preach- 
 ing.— Goc^ bless these Fathers in Jsraely and bring them down to 
 thsir graves in peace!— But, my Brethren, the most useful olthem 
 have always regretted their want of eiriy educational advantages, 
 and have seized upon every ojiportuhity for mental improvement 
 which has, Uuriiig their ministerial career, come within their reach. • 
 A powerful argument this iji favour of im educated ministry. 
 V^It is proper to observe hera; while advooating this qualification, 
 that our learning should havo a reference to the ministry. Uni- 
 versal knowledge no man can acquire. We ought, therefore, to 
 st:udy such ])ranches as will be of llie greatest utility in the situa-. 
 twn which we occupy. /ITtc mor e t e aining we have, the Ijetter.if 
 it is under the influenc* of divine ^tnce, andean he brotighl Uy 
 
i\ 
 
 If 
 
 •p 
 
 illiwtrate .the Siicroil Writings. But withuiif. fhiN nse of if, t|Nt 
 gaayel minister, with all his learning, is bnt '« as sounding hmm, or 
 a tinkling cymbal.** 
 
 The eloquent and pious Dr. Harris has very clearly shown the 
 desirableness of mmiNterial education. « It is predetermined 
 (he says) by the natural activity of the human mindr'and by the 
 tendency of the gospel to excite that activity. Let the gospel 
 obtain admissioii into the mind, and from that moment the mo«t 
 torpid specimen of hiurranity is c^uickencd into a new mental ui 
 well as moral life. Even the mmd which was previously alive 
 ftiid vigorous, beconies conscious of a new impulse to activity, and 
 of a new sphere in which to spend it. In finding a God, man finds 
 the centre of all things; and henceforth the tendency of his mind 
 is ever to harmonize the discordant, to arranges the displaced, and 
 to assign to every tKing its right position in the great circle which 
 surrounds the Deity. In finding 'the truth', he finds an infallible 
 standard by which every thing is to be tested ; henceforth he 
 would fain try every pretension, weigh eyery claim, by its relation 
 to this standam, and estimate every thing (iccordingly. And as the 
 volume of nature, is written in illumined characters and pictured 
 forms, purposely to awaken early curiosity, and'to excite the in* 
 quiry, * What nueaneth this V so the volume of inspiration is con- 
 structed expressly to stimulate the activity of the -renewed mind. — 
 It is distinguished by its earnest commendations of knowledge, and 
 by its power of exciting a thirst for it It at once creates light, and 
 courts it. Not only does it extol knowledge as a glory, but c<wn* 
 mands us to seek for it as a most sacred duty. • • It is an 
 adjudged case ; a settled question ; settled by no arbitration of oui«, 
 but by the predeterminate counsel of Htm who gave to our mental 
 constitution its activity, and to the Bible the power of arousing that 
 aqtivily. Unless, therefore, you do violence to the mind, and r«f- 
 press its activity, education to some extent becomes a religious 
 necessity. And if eduica'tion be thus desirable for every inquiring 
 Christian mind, how much more important must it be for the man 
 of God, who, in his public ministry, is, in eflfect, to aid in directing 
 the religious education of others !" 
 
 But the most conclusive of all arguments in behalf of an educated 
 ministry, is to be found in the natvrt and contenti of ike BibUf in 
 connexion vSiih the relation which the messenger of Christ tustain* 
 to it. The Bible was written in the Hebrew eOrm Greek languages. 
 Must not its expositor make himself acquainted with these kn- 
 giiages, in order to understand its contents 1 True, we haVe a 
 /r<tn«/a<ibn— and an excellent one it is— but there are to be found 
 in all languages terms and idioms which lose by a trandation j Mid 
 every scholar will discover beauties in the original^, which are not 
 so clear in modern languages. But although every part were ftiUy 
 expressed in the translation, the Bible abounds in imageries, 
 d e scriptions of oriental customs and institutions, and has repeated 
 
 **A 
 
■ ■^'■ 
 
 gr(i(rr(i|i1ii«'al ii'|iriM'iiUilt<)iis, wliitOi rfiuli'r it iiulis|Hiiiuil)lt' lur iu 
 0)(|HNiitor tt> Ik? t'umiliar with lUicimit litcrutiire. And iiut uiily mt, 
 liiit it will Ih> fuiiiul that scarculy^^a single science which has Htopu 
 the t()«t of n nitiunal invt.'stigutidn, has liccn ovcrlbokcd by the 
 Niicretl writera. The Hihlo luis been pmvcd U>. Ix) the great toxt- 
 liouk of science, uud often tho contents of an entire human volume 
 are discovered in one of it^ verses. To select only one of the 
 niuny. St. .htnies tells us that '* every good gitl and every perfect 
 gift 18 from aliove, and cometli down from the Fatherof lights, with 
 whom is n6 variableness, neither shadow of turning.'* Who can 
 fail to discover here a reference to the solar system? Yet to a 
 modern philosopher is given the credit of enlightening the world 
 <U(x>n this subject ! 
 t Biit I need not multiply oyamples. If any man is in doubt of the 
 
 Eropriety of learning in the Christian minister, let him acquaint 
 imseJfwith the WritingsofPaley^ of Dick, of Chalmers, of Wesley, 
 of Watson, and others, wlio have completely refuted the cavils of 
 the most accbniplishod inhjdels, and ishown that the Bible stands, 
 as ever, an impregnable fortress against the attacks of its most 
 determined foes. By such men, how triumphantly has that in- 
 famous maxim, ** Ignorance is the mother of devotion,** been 
 hurled back into the teeth of the infidel, and the truth of God 
 vindicated ! Altliougli all men linve not the facilities for liecoming 
 thus extensively learnod, all may improve their minds. The 
 Discipline of our Church luis wisely provided that every candidate 
 for holy orders must pass through a certain course of studies. But 
 it obliges no one to stop here. Education is the business of life. I 
 envy not the mental condition of that minister who can settle 
 down in habits of indolence — spending his precious time in idle 
 gossip— indulging in sensual gratifications, and neglecting to in- 
 crease his stock of ideas. I pity the people to whom he ministers. 
 Bi^t above all, I would grieve to be his successor in any charge; As 
 *' evil commuuications corrupt good mandens", and bad habits are 
 contagiouSjT should expect to meet with an unf<^tnnai;e set of 
 parishioners. How riuich better for the rainistejfl^to take JPmd's 
 advice to Timothy, and " give attendalico to reading' *' 
 
 I remark lastly on ministerial qualifications, that the nlinistigr, 
 whatever may be his attainments, must be sent. It will not do for 
 him[to run of his own accord !^he must cpme from his sovereign, 
 wit^NO^e Credentials of his authority ; otherwise he will not be 
 received by the nation to which he r^sof^. And if he were,re>- 
 
 i. 
 
 I' 
 
 fi 
 
 •^ 
 
 */ AmoM; the " bad habitsV above refenred to, the ute of tobacco deserves a special 
 notice. (Mtwing, smoking, and tnvff-taking are extensively practiced by itinerant: 
 pTQachen at the present tinie, ' The evil is physiological, mental, and moral. Thete 
 te^m t9 be an extraordinary fatality attending some ministers. They are volunta:ty 
 s l<tve> td thin revolting drug. I fear that t he doctrine of ulf-denud mu3t be enforced 
 by them with a bad grace. 
 
 1^ 
 
in 
 
 : , 
 
 f B 
 
 oetved, his actions would not be official. No treaty which h« 
 might be inatnimental in making would be binding. 
 
 So of the chosen servant of Gai. The command to him is " go.'^ 
 " No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of 
 God, •« was Aaron.'' And the man who is called must bring his 
 CommiMton along with him. This Commission must bear the im- 
 
 Sross of Heaven's Oreat Seal upon it, or men will have a right to 
 ispute the negotiator's pretensions. The important Instrument 
 authorizes its bearer to « go into all tkt worlds and preach thegtuptl 
 to every creature*\ Oh the Seal is engraved in indelible characters 
 the device, " Holineat to the LordJ** Even the apostles were not 
 sent without it ; for the Saviour instructed them to " tarry in the 
 city of Jenuialem (after his ascension) until they should be en^ed 
 With power from on high." That the Holy Ghost was intended, it 
 evident from^ Johrt XIV. 16, " I will pmy the Father, and he shall 
 give you another Comforter, that he nfay abide with you for ever ; 
 even the Spirit of truth." St. Pai^l received his authority from the 
 same source. " I thanks Christ Jeciu? oiiip^LoftP*, says he, " who 
 hath enabled me, for tk(at he counted iQBftcithfuI, putting me into 
 the ministry.'* Dr. Adahi Clarke says, ** No man should engage 
 in the Work of the Christian ministry, unless, he verily feel that he 
 is inwardly moved by the Holy Gho$t to take upon him this office.'* 
 The call must come' from above, and the business of the Church is 
 to furnish the external ratification. 
 
 Clothed with such authority, the mimstex^ of Christ aifp th«a 
 alluded to by that unrivalled sacred poetj/XJharlerW^ley, wj^l^ Imd 
 in view a passage in the 2nd Epistle to Oie Corinthians > 
 
 '* God, the ofiended God Moat High, 
 Ambuaadon t» rebels Mods ; 
 Hiameaaengert hia place supply, 
 And Jeaua bega ua to be ftj«n<u.'* . 
 
 This brings me to the Mconnf part of my subject— the Duties of 
 those who are called in the text, "able ministers of the New 
 Testament." Many of tlvese duties I have nedessarily anticipated ; 
 and at first glance, it might appear that the order of my discourse 
 should have been reversed. But I have deemed it more instructive 
 to select the man, and then show him his loorAr— anticipating only 
 what is requisite in forming the basis of his qualifications. Nor 
 shall I trace ahy farther the analogy which I followed tihiough the 
 first part The^ duties are so numerous, thptt I shall glance at thi 
 principalonesonly, and that briefly, r«i, 
 
 The great work of the Christian minisiottb to sate touU. All 
 his exertions must have a reference to \wi^hd. ^e' finds men 
 in the broad way to destruction^ — it is his duty to show them the 
 path of life* He finds men ready to perish— he should point them 
 to the cro ss . H e must invit o , p e rsnade, b esee ch, and oner merey, 
 and if necessary, threaten with the terrors of the law, those who 
 
 % 
 
^ •^•'* 
 
 are in rebellion ngaiiMt the moral govemihbnt of (lad. And tlu» 
 work must be continued, "whether men will hear or whether thev 
 will forbear". ' 
 
 On thia point, you will pardon me for introducing a description 
 with which I became familiar in my boyhood. It is to be found in 
 a publication which is not very generally known to the piihlic now^ 
 The piece is anonymous, and relates to the " nK'thodist preacher'* 
 but may be taken as a model of any " able minister of the New 
 Testament" in his /a^ourfo/' /off .• — 
 
 " The method ist is indefatigable in what life consider* tljrlftity of 
 his Christian calling ; he is zealoui^ in his endeavours to bring 
 sinners to the throne of grace ; ho is bold in reproving wickedness 
 wherever he finds it, in high or low, rich or poolr ; he is earnest and 
 affectionate in his efibrts to draw erring mortals from the abyss of 
 ruin, and place them on the firm ground of Christian hope : he 
 deprives them of all hope in themselves, that they may fix their 
 ^^pendence on the Rock of Ages. He leaves no stone unturned to 
 IWvanoo the caiise of the gospel ; Wis a lion to the hardened 
 tUtmer, and a Iamb to the humble^ penitent j he travels every where 
 and 'preaches the gospel to every creature*; wherever * two or^ 
 three are gathered together, h»>!S|isiders that place a fit temple for 
 the worship of God,^ whether it be in a dwelling-houae, a barn, a 
 ibhool-hoase, in the shade of the forest, or under the bare canopy of 
 heaven ; he is not confined to temples made and expressly dedicat- 
 
 ^ to the worship of Jehovah, but considers every place sufficiently 
 aedioated to that purpose which oflfers an occasion of doing good • 
 he pervades every part of tho coimtry, and, carries the glad tidings 
 of salvation to those places where, but for him, they had never 
 come. He regards no distance as too great, no way too rough, no 
 
 Elace too obscure for hjs exertions ; cold and heat, wind and storms, ■ 
 unger and thirst, do not appal him ; scofling and insult have no 
 efiect upon him, but to make him, if possible, more zealous in the 
 duties of his calling. If the mad populace hurl firebrands, he 
 ' reaaons with them of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to 
 eonie*; he 'heaps coals of fire on their heads*; madness gives 
 place to admiration, insult to penitence, and those who came to 
 •coo remain to pray." / 
 
 To the truth of the above picture, many of the early settlers of tip 
 
 Canada can abundantly testify. The lives of those indefatigable 
 labourers will be embalmed in the grateful recollections of many 
 until the end of their days. But I have given this account^ chiefly 
 because of the detail of the minister's duties which it furnishes^ 
 
 One department of the minister's work which the apoetle 
 ttentioQs, is to " preach the word*' ; and he requires that a preacher 
 f* rightly divide the word of tWth". Pulpit minitti'ationg, then, 
 eonatitute a portion of our duties. But how few of us, my 
 Brethren, ar^ «< Sufficient for tlyese things" ! The objects of prf wrhin g 
 ^arejtQ illustrate and entbrce revealed truth ; to draw out and dii- 
 
 -^ ^ 
 
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 cioM) to the iiKwt ignorant hettreni the mysteries of tho gunpdi { W 
 " bring i'urth uiit ul' the treuaiire things new and old". Not only 
 lauut vice be dcnoiincud uud virtue ouinniendud, but tho minds of 
 our congrt'gutiuns mIiuuUI be informed, jytiany are so ciruumstaiuied 
 that thev ure muiuly di*iiendent on their minister lor instruction.-— 
 Tho ofttce of teacher is thus blended with his oilier duties.-— 
 Rightly to stii>ply this deninnd, rc([uiresa great draft upon his time. 
 Severe meutuj. hiljour must be eudured. lie hus to investigate, 
 comjfure. sdhjectM with subjects, explore, dig deep, , and inwardly 
 digest ; then ho needs all the commund of language and facility of 
 fi|M!ecU which nutitru hus given him, (tor without communicative 
 talent,) no man is ht to be u minister,) to sustain him in his high 
 culling. ' H(! has the sinner to convince, alarm, and persuade ; he 
 1ms tho Idtubs to loed, nourish, and protect ; he has the leeble to 
 confirm, eucuunige, und strengthen; tlio dmrch must lie built up 
 and edified ; and he has to wiiteli over the souls of those lor whom 
 he must give un account. The most consumnmte fidelity to his 
 muster will he oxiMJcted. 'riiere nmst bo no flinching when dtity 
 calls. He miiy well employ the language of the inxit — 
 
 " './'Shall I, for frar of feeble man, 
 \ The i^pirit'H course in me rentraiii t 
 Or, umlismay'd in deed and word* 
 fiu a Uriif witm>aa of .uiy Lord .Y 
 
 ,S^lll,4o tooth th* unholy tbiong, 
 Softfn thy truth, or dniooth my tongue, 
 1> ii:oin earth's ipld«xl tojit, or flee 
 \ ■ *<«j^*ro«s endured, my Lord, by thee 1" 
 
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 Never did a warrior go forth to battle in need of greater courage 
 than the minister of the cross requires in delivering the message of 
 bis mtister. He is bound to "declare all tho counsel of God." 
 
 fiut public preaching is a small part of the minister's duties. He 
 has the prdinancea to administer ; as baptism, matrimony, and tho 
 sacrament of the Lord's supj)er.- — Let no man deem these trifling. 
 They are uU of a serious nature, and require to be seriously observed. 
 They of course vaj-y in magnitude with the extent of a man's 
 1^ charge; but every ordained minister must attend to them mori; or 
 
 less. Much also depends upon the manner in which they are 
 administered. If thi&4g what it should be, they will be made a 
 blessing to all concerned. They arc " holy things" which the 
 minister is called upon to deal to other8> ' 
 
 There are also many things in the reintions andnece$$itietoftke 
 church which engage the minister's attention. He is identified 
 with tho benevolent institutions of the iage. Bible, tract, and 
 tempemnce societies, and all associations having in view the 
 ameliorution of the Ituman fantily, demand his aid. — Much of his 
 time is occupied with their calls. He must likewise consider the 
 condition of the poor, the sailor, the prisoner, the ignorant, the de- 
 
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 faith". 
 
 cdillinnation'' eflected through the medium 
 
 of pe8toii|a.i visiting 1 What more likely to strengthen the brethren, 
 and confirm them in the faith, th«M this, to visit them from house 
 to house, recommending personal end family religion, and praying 
 for ^heir welfare ? 
 
 But the minister's business is not confined to visiting the brethrM. 
 He is required, with all Christians, to visit the needy of all descri]>- 
 tinnw , within h is re a ch, — **Pure religion and undofilcd b e for e God 
 and thp Father (says St. James) is this, To visit the fatherless and 
 widoM's in their affliction, and to keep himself unsspotted from the 
 
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 framed, the stranger, and the outcast, mt home and abroad. Th« 
 cause of education reauires his advocacy, if not his ■u|)ervision. — 
 He has to look out and encoursge iu the church such menibcm as 
 give evidence of a call to tl»o work of the mHiistry. The mi»- 
 sionary enteqirise must be provided for. The gosiiel messenger 
 has to arrange the means for carrying it on. For this purfKwi ho 
 u oflen called upon even to beg (Vom those who have the ability tg 
 give. The sick. must be visited and awakened. The church mu« 
 be kept pure. The disorderly must be called to an account. ,Th« 
 outward means of rtiligion must l)0 maintained. And the wm)l« 
 goapel machinery must be kept in ojiemtion. 
 
 — Paatoral viaiting shall next be considered. This is a duty, not 
 only too much negltt^ttd, hut abuttd where it is not neglected.— 
 The minister who visits his p<^oplo rjl their homes has an opjwr- 
 tunity to make himself familiar with their peculiar circumstances, 
 and can the better accommodate hijyHiblio mstruotions to them. — 
 He, genemlly speaking, obligos^jiBm by this course, whilst the 
 ties which bind the minister AjiBniiiwople together are greatly 
 strengthened. •'^. ■. /*' 
 
 For this duty we have anostolical precedents. St. Paul, in his 
 farewell discourse to the elders of the church at Ephesus, reminds 
 them of the following Ikcts : " Ye know, from the first day that I 
 came into Asia, after wliat manner I liave been with you at all 
 seiasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with 
 n^y tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait 
 of»9 Jews ; and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto 
 you,)but have shewed you, and have taught you publicjl^, and from 
 bouse to house, testifying l)oth to the Jews, and also 
 lepentance toward God, and faithj^Mpward our Lord 
 We read that '« Paul said unto BaniaDas, Let us go ag 
 brethren in every city where we have preached t 
 LQ«d, and see how they do.'V 
 
 ' '^'^^- *■ ''®^'*J®"*^y something in the pastoml relation 
 ren^|i|^i8^duty imperative, and 1 will add, delightful. 
 
 .c<KUdjM|fete^r.ettter joy in iht; breasts of either the apostles or 
 their ^j^KOKm: ^^ said! of those two a|)ostles, that " they re- 
 ^urned'WHHg^^ym and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming 
 the 60u(|^iiBi^SRsciplesJ|rfJ|.,^exhorting them to continue in the 
 
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 tl," Why m it tli»t loiiio men, whuM ptil|nl abi1itie»iMrt« l)*»!«w 
 iucrity, urv nu MiicoiiiMrtil m thti lumistry Ui4 u yvur (vaming 
 
 iiuut tht) couvoniion ol'ioiiU uutler thuir Uljoum I j'he Mtvrol ul' 
 thOir NiiocPM he* in frttfutnt vi$iting. The niotrt olmtiirut 
 pr«achf>ni, uii thu other hand, throiif(h an uniinitiuit ul thia duty, aru 
 votnpelifxl tu mourn over lalKHira u|ifiur«ntly usoIvhs. -Mu man m lii 
 to bo called a pastor who noglcotii thia duty. 
 
 ObHdfvts however, it should nvt bo {lurinittud to ooNtne in eontMi 
 with other dutiui already |Xiinted out. There is a visst di£icreiio« 
 between vuiitinff Mon«, and visiting a// th$ timt. "INt eminunt 
 divine, Pr. Doddridge, laid it down as ande, thata mmistur should 
 not be bound to pay a nastoml visit to each tittniijr within hiv 
 charge odener than twice a year; though ho inigbt go nlor* 
 frequently, if circuni.itaiic(!s would allow. 
 
 I said that this duty hun been abus<'d. It certainly Jiaa, wh«| 
 we do not make these visit* iiubserviont to the great ottd ot' our 
 calling, the wilvation of Ninncnt. Hut I invite jMirtieuIar attention 
 to a i)racticc! very prevalent among Methodist preachers, and 
 which; perhaps, arises in {xirt from the nature of otir itincn^t work. 
 It is that of siKtnding day ailer day and night after nigHt in the 
 houses of the people, — not in a private u|mrtmc>nt, for pioM medi-* 
 tation, mental inprovemont, or wrestling with (Jod, but in th« 
 family circle to while away the time. The im|)ortant duti«|of the 
 pastoral otfice are lost sight of, and tlie minister of Chrigl sinks 
 down to the level of a common viaitor. Far be it Arom me, how- 
 ever, to ahargo our excellent system of itinerancy with having any 
 tendency in that direction : I ajisert only, that the practice of 
 travelling into so nianv different neighbourhoods is liable ta siioh 
 an abuse. PerhaiM, also, the neglect^ of the people to supply their 
 minister with a suittUjlc homo, may contribute to the evil ; stS the 
 latter will always, by a judicious arrangement of some kind, l>av« 
 it in his power to guard against it. And, let me add, his character 
 as a minister iif involved in his conduct in this matter. 
 
 X shall finally particularize the Mre of the young, at convtitiiting 
 an esseiKtial part of the minister's work. ** Feed my lambs", is aa 
 exhortation virtually addreseted to every messenger of the cross. — 
 At leusl pnu third of our congregations will be found to be eoui- 
 poscd of children and youth. Instructions addressed to their minds 
 are apt to be trcasuretl up. Discourses should occasionally be de- 
 livered especially to them. The cIlEiims of society ufMn them sbonUI 
 be distinctly set forth. They sliould be taught the advantages of 
 early pioty^ To this end, Sabbfith schools and Bible classes ought 
 to be established. The pastor must see tlmt they are properly con- 
 ducted. If need be, he must take the charge of some, and he 
 should have the general superintendence of lUl, of them. Children 
 should be taught ib study the Bibl e , fo understund its doctrines, 
 and to live in accordance with its precepts. Were this depart- 
 ment pro|>ejfly attended to, a siilutury change in the stutc of society 
 
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 wdild soQti be witnessed, and » foundation laid on which to re*, 
 the noblest structure. - 
 
 , The qualtficationt an£'^tiei of ministers have thiis passed under 
 review. We have seefl what God expects, and what man has a 
 righ^ to expect, from those who are entrusted with the ministry of 
 reconciliation. It is evident that, whom God calls, him he quali- 
 iSes for his own work, and that the- ambassador is dependeftt on the 
 authority of his Master for his " sufficiency." 
 I shall conclude with two or three general deductions. 
 
 The Christian J\Sim$try it, to tht world, one of Me most im^ 
 .portani inttitutions in existence. Talk of civil rights and of 
 political governments! They bear ho comparison in value with 
 the ministers of the word. The objects contemjdated by them, 
 however noble and ennobling, sink into insignificance by the side 
 of these weightier matters. The forjmer relate to time, the latter 
 to both time and eternity. Those are identified with man's 
 tempojral^ these with his siriritual interests. Not that ministers are 
 sufficient of themselves to aecumplie^, ox even " to think any thing 
 as of themselves", but they are put into this dignified office by the 
 Great Ruler of the universe. He " hath matte them able ministers". 
 Although the officers are frail mortals, the <j^c« itself is worthy of 
 Him who created it. In one particular it conspicuously dikers 
 from all w;orldly offices/ In them we often find men who dignify 
 their office; but no mortal ever made the office of minister 
 Annourabie — though where ministers liye as they ought, they are 
 .entitled to i^espect for the sake of their <>ffic6. - 
 
 .But the mere hi(\nQur of the office is a circumstance of no great 
 
 moment. Its importance must be inferred from other facts 
 
 Abolish it, and what a position the world would soon be in ! Of 
 what avail Would men's civil rights he to them 1 Even with access 
 to all the inferior means, aided by that inestiniable giftj the Book of 
 Revelation, a lack would be felt. And hqw few wjoiild study their 
 Bible, without the powerful persuasion and valuable instruction of 
 a gospel ministry ! There is here a stimuluswhich can not be 
 derived from any other source. Let me be distinctly understood. 
 I do not say that no equivalent could be supplied by the Great Author 
 of the Christian Ministry. I speak only ^f what we have. In this 
 list the ministry of reconciliation ranks high. And from this fact 
 two inferences may be drawn : « 
 
 First, ministers themselves should feel the responsibility which is, 
 
 attached to their office. How cirGuraspectly should they walk ! 
 
 Nothinjg should be allowed to encroach j^ipon their duties, or draw 
 their minds off from Him by whom they are employed. 
 . And in the second place, the people who are ministered unto 
 shwld at ten tively consider their own relation iii this affai r. It is 
 for them. to embrace the gosjiel which is preached. If they reiect 
 
• it, they are without exoivie. On them, inorepver, devolve 8oni« 
 tnatenal duties. The temporal support of the disix'n.sen of >the' 
 word, is one of these. The Apostle, ra writing to the Corinthians, 
 has so clearly presentetl this stibject, that! cannot forbear to quote 
 his words : ^' If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a 
 great thing if we shall reap your carnal things T • • Do ye not 
 know that they Who miaister about holy things live of the thinga 
 of the temple; and they who wait at the altar are partaken with 
 the altar? Even so hath the !Lord ordained that they who preach 
 the gospel should live of the gospel : " that is, should be supported 
 by those who are benefited by their labours, as is the case with any 
 other professional or labouring men. This is the plain meaning of 
 
 • Paul's words, and the cormnand is as bindingas any ordinance of 
 God. 
 
 Similar to thisis niy second general remark: viz., that <a m«*» 
 on able minuter y it is necessary to have a praying people. Oir 
 What other principle pan we account for the request which con- 
 
 - eludes so many of the apostolical letters,^* Pray for «*"! Whd* 
 does not feel his hands strengthened in aity enterprise by the 
 co>o(^ration of friends ? yDoes not the politician, when agitating 
 the pwwage of a measure, seek tqhave his prt)position backed by thft 
 petitions of the peojile ? No man needs such assistance more than 
 
 he who is called to " stand between the living and the dead*" 
 
 My Christian brethren, if* yon wish your minister to succeed, T^rtry 
 for him. If you neglect this duty, complain not of barrenness in 
 the church. The end cannot be accomplished without the means. 
 My concluding inference from the whole subject is this; M« 
 minister of thtJ^eto Testament must look to eternity for thefruif 
 of his labours. True, he should be encouraged to expect some fniil 
 here— for otherwise he would soon despair — but eternity alone 
 will fully develope his usefulness. The minister's work relates 
 particularly to the heart. ImpresSioiis made upon that " dedeitfuP 
 instrument are not always known here ; but they shall be here-' 
 after. The effects of a man's life seldom, if ever, terminate at hi» 
 death: they are inherited by after generations. And how 
 . delightful the reflection to the servant of God at the close of his 
 life, that he has spent it in his master's service ! Thus spoke the 
 author of my text : " The tiihe of my departure is at hand- I 
 have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have k^pt 
 
 •" the faith : henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteous 
 ness." Such should be the language of every minister in his dyihir 
 hottr. 
 
 But this is not all. Years after his triumphant entrance into> 
 heaven, what rapturous scenes miiy burst upon his view ! Yonder 
 approach a large retinue of the heavenly messengers, escorting 
 one of the redeemed. As they draw near, the former minister re. 
 cognizes in him the person of an old acquaintance. He advance* 
 to meet him, and is hailed as the instrument 6f his eonversion.— 
 
u '■.■■■■-■ 
 
 A Mother comes f and yet anotheit-with the «ame exclamafion- 
 Still more nre added to the nHinber. Are these "seals to his 
 mmistry''? Nay, my Brethren, they are rather "stars ir the 
 i^r •■^J^"''"8"- mminutry hits now no longer need ot 
 
 In yiewofsuohascene, ten rac, is iti^ny disgrace to a man tote 
 a « mmister of the New Testament"? 
 
 te,K> H^ ChS * thousandfold, the number of "able minis- 
 
 
 D. WYUE, PRINTER, BROCKVILLEi 
 
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