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C<i 
 
 AN ADDRESS 
 
 TO 
 
 CANDIDATES FOR THE MINISTRY, 
 
 ON THE 
 
 IMPORTANCE OF AIMING AT 
 
 EMINENT PIETY 
 
 IN MAKING THEIR PREPARATION FOR THE 
 
 SACRZiD OFFICi:. 
 
 BY ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER, D.D. 
 
 Prof, of Theology in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 Whether an unconverted Minister may be the instru- 
 ment of the conversion of others, is a question which has 
 sometimes been agitated; but although the answer should 
 be in the affirmative, yet it can afford very slender ground 
 of consolation to one who has assumed the office of the 
 Gospel Ministry, without possessing genuine piety. To 
 be the instrument of bringing others to heaven, and yet to 
 be cast down to hell ourselves, is, surely, one of the most 
 appalling considerations which can possibly be presented 
 to the human mind. A sovereign God may, indeed, em- 
 ploy any instrument he pleases for the conversion of sin- 
 ners; but it would be unreasonable to expect, that, com- 
 monly, he would make use of unsanctified men in this 
 holy work. A greater calamity to the Church could not 
 easily be conceived, than the introduction of a multitude 
 of unregenerate men into the sacred Ministry; for, such 
 as is the Ministry, such will be the people. Such men 
 will ever be disposed to corrupt the simplicity and purity 
 P 
 
176 THE IMPORTANCE OF 
 
 of the Gospel, which the carnal mind cannot love ; and 
 even if they should preach the true doctrines of the 
 Bible, their ovi^n hearts can never be in accordance with 
 them; and although their words may be the truth of 
 God, yet its good tendency will be counteracted by their 
 proud and earthly spirit. Besides, it cannot be expected 
 that the Holy Spirit will usually accompany with his 
 sanctifying influences the labours of men, who, even 
 when they preach the word of God, are not actuated by 
 a desire to promote the glory of God, or to rescue men 
 from the ruins of sin, but are all the time seeking their 
 own glory, or aiming at their own emolument. 
 
 That genuine piety is an essential characteristic of a 
 preacher of the Gospel, all men seem now to admit; for 
 all are shocked when they observe a wicked life in one 
 who ministers in holy things. Piety is expected as a 
 matter of course in all those who have it as their official 
 duty to inculcate piety; and even the profane despise 
 the wretch who dishonours his sacred calling by a 
 course of conduct at variance with the holy precepts of 
 the Gospel. However men of the world may be grati- 
 fied to find Ministers coming down to their own level, 
 and however they may enjoy the company and lively 
 wit of an ambassador of Christ; yet, in their sober judg- 
 ment they cannot but perceive the glaring incongruity 
 between his character and profession; and none, except 
 the most hardened in iniquity, would be contented to 
 have such a man for their spiritual guide. In extreme 
 distress and mortal sickness, none would send for such 
 a one to comfort them; but then they wish — if they 
 
AIIHING AT EJIINENT PIETY. 177 
 
 desire any religious conversation — that the most godly 
 Minister be brought them. In our Church, the posses- 
 sion of true religion has been considered a matter of so 
 much importance in the ministry, that she permits no 
 candidate to be taken on trial by any Presbytery, until, 
 by a free and full conversation on experimental religion, 
 he satisfies them that he has more than the name or form 
 of godliness; and that he has, as far as human judgment 
 can determine, experienced in his own soul, that blessed 
 change, which is called the new birth. And it is a 
 matter of vital interest to the prosperity of the Church, 
 that this salutary provision of our fathers be not suffered 
 to degenerate into a mere formality. If the time should 
 come — which may God avert ! — when vital piety shall 
 not be deemed an essential pre-requisite to an entrance 
 on the sacred office, Ichabod may be written on our 
 Church, for the glory will have departed from her. 
 Whether, now, this duty is performed by Presbyteries, 
 with as much fidelity as its importance demands, I 
 shall not take it upon me to determine ; but it cannot be 
 amiss to submit it to their consideration, in the form of 
 an inquiry. In some Presbyteries, the salutary practice 
 of conversing freely and frequently with candidates dur- 
 ing the period of their continuance on trial, has been in- 
 troduced, and is calculated to produce the happiest ef- 
 fects. It cannot for a moment be supposed, that such a 
 continued scrutiny would be ungrateful to the feelings of 
 pious young men. They are often involved in perplexing 
 difficulties in relation to their call to the Ministry; and 
 most commonly their difficulties arise from doubts re- 
 
178 THE IMPORTANCE OF 
 
 specting the genuineness of their religious experience. 
 To such it would often be of incalculable importance to 
 be permitted freely to expose their exercises to the view 
 of experienced Ministers of the Gospel, that they might 
 enjoy the benefit of their counsels. 
 
 JBut my object in addressing you at present, my young 
 friends, is not to insist on the necessity and importance 
 of genuine piety in the sacred office, but to offer some 
 considerations to show the advantages of eminent piety 
 to the right and successful discharge of the duties of the 
 ministry. 
 
 I. The first remark which I would make on this sub- 
 ject is, that without some degree of eminence in our 
 piety, it is scarcely possible, that we should possess sa- 
 tisfactory evidence of its reality. And this results from the 
 very nature of the evidence which we must possess, in or- 
 der to be satisfied, on solid grounds, respecting the good- 
 ness of our spiritual state. A man can in no other way- 
 know that he is renewed, and in the favour of God, but 
 by the exercise of faith, repentance, love to God and his 
 people, humiUty, meekness, submission, &c. but the cer- 
 tainty, that we do repent, believe, and love God and the 
 children of God, must depend on the strength and con- 
 stancy of these exercises; therefore, they alone who have 
 attained to some eminence in piety will possess that assur- 
 ance, which is so desirable to every Christian, but espe. 
 cially important to the Minister of the Gospel. When the 
 principle of piety is feeble, the '•'^maining corruption of 
 nature will be proportionally stroftg, and, consequently, 
 
AIMING AT EMINENT PIETY. 179 
 
 it will be exceedingly difficult to ascertain whether this 
 weak faith, encompassed by so many infirmities, is in- 
 deed a saving faith. This difficulty is increased by the 
 consideration, that there are counterfeits of piety so im- 
 posing, that, if it were possible, they would deceive the 
 very elect. Some, indeed, will be disposed to allege, 
 that the witness of the Spirit is sufficient to furnish un- 
 doubted evidence of our being the children of God, even 
 if our exercises of faith and love be very feeble. I have 
 no doubt that the Spirit does often give his decisive testi- 
 mony to the fact that a person is passed from death unto 
 life ; but it may well be doubted whether the witness of 
 the Spirit is ever given independently of the actual ex- 
 ercises of piety. It seems to me much safer, and more 
 reasonable, to believe, that this testimony is affisrded by 
 calling into lively exercise the graces of the Holy Spirit; 
 and, although it is true, that the Holy Spirit does shine 
 upon his own work in the heart, and enable the pious 
 soul to see clearly that its past views and exercises were 
 of a truly spiritual and evangelical kind ; yet, it is rea- 
 sonable to think, that when these satisfactory views of 
 past experience are enjoyed, the present state and exer- 
 cises of the mind are more than usually elevated. When 
 we are in darkness, and our faith is feeble, we are unable 
 to recognise the character even of those holy affections, 
 which, at the time, appeared most clearly to be the fruit 
 j)f the Spirit ; but it is a matter of common experience 
 with the exercised Christian, that when he has a re- 
 newal of these pious emotions, he can look back and clear- 
 ly discern the nature of similar exercises which were 
 p 2 
 
180 THE IMPORTANCE OF 
 
 formerly enjoyed. But conceding that the Holy Spirit 
 may produce in us immediately, a joyful persuasion 
 that we are the children of God — and I do not deny 
 that this may be the fact — to whom is it most probable 
 that this favour will be granted ? To him whose pious 
 affections are lively and vigorous, or to him who is weak 
 in the faith, and dull and irregular in all the exercises of 
 religion ? Undoubtedly to the former. It is not God's 
 method of dealing with his children, to encourage sloth 
 and unfaithfulness, by connecting assurance with a low 
 state of piety; but this is the gracious reward of the 
 watchful, diligent, persevering believer. When the ex- 
 ercise of piety is low, anxious fear is made to operate on 
 the sluggish mind. And if there are cases which seem 
 to be repugnant to the statement here given, they may, 
 nevertheless, be reconciled with it ; especially, when it 
 is considered, how incapable we are of ascertaining the 
 real spiritual state of others. In order to this, it would 
 be necessary that we should see the person in his pri- 
 vate devotions ; yea, that we should be able to examine 
 the daily feelings of his heart. Some persons who are 
 truly and ardently pious, and who hold much communion 
 with God and their own hearts in private, do not exhibit 
 to others as much appearance of lively piety as many 
 others, who, in fact, are greatly inferior to them. This 
 is sometimes owing to a constitutional reserve and diffi- 
 dence, or to a natural buoyancy of spirit, which, when, 
 the person is in company, has the appearance of levity. 
 And again, it ought to be considered, that as none are 
 more confident of their good estate than deluded souls, 
 
AIMING AT EMINENT PIETY. 181 
 
 many of those who seem to maintain assurance with- 
 out much appearance of elevated piety, may belong to 
 this class. In general it will be found, that a rational 
 scriptural assurance is the result of much self-exami- 
 nation, reading the Scriptures, and prayer, and that 
 those who enjoy this delightful persuasion habitually, 
 are persons in whom genuine piety has been assiduously 
 cultivated, and has acquired deep root, and is in a heal- 
 thy, vigorous state. If, then, you would gain a comfort- 
 able assurance of being the children of God, you must 
 aim at a high standard of piety. 
 
 II. Eminent piety is not only necessary to the peace 
 and personal comfort of the Minister of the Gospel, but 
 it is requisite to prepare him for the faithful, diligent, 
 and successful discharge of the duties of his office. Pas- 
 toral duties are often exceedingly difficult to be per- 
 formed. They require so much self-denial, so much be- 
 nevolence and compassion, and so much spiritual wis- 
 dom, that it may be calculated on as a matter of certainty, 
 that they will be neglected, or carelessly performed, un- 
 less the Minister be actuated by deep and strong feelings 
 of piety. It requires an habitual impression of divine 
 things, and a continual sense of the responsibility of our 
 office, to keep up our minds to that lively tone of feeling 
 which is necessary to lead us forward in our work with 
 alacrity, energy, and perseverance. The temptations 
 to indolence and self-indulgence, are so powerful from 
 without and from within, that you will undoubtedly grow 
 remiss, unless you are sustained by more than common 
 
182 THE IMPORTANCE OF 
 
 piety. Some will, for want of this, be led away by the 
 spirit of the world around them, and will be satisfied 
 with such attainments as the low state of piety in their 
 people demands. They sink down to the level of the 
 Church, which they serve, instead of endeavouring to 
 raise the standard of piety among those committed to 
 their charge. Others become discouraged at the appa- 
 rent want of success from their labours, and nothing 
 more effectually cuts the nerves of effort than despon- 
 dency. Such Ministers may be thought very pious, be- 
 cause they are low-spirited, and indulge gloomy antici- 
 pations ; but there are few things more inimical to lively 
 piety and to ministerial fidelity, than this moping, des- 
 ponding temper. Few things have a greater tendency 
 to harden the heart, and to render the man reckless of 
 consequences, than this discouraged state of mind. The 
 talents of such Ministers are permitted to rust for want 
 of exercise, and all their efforts are slow and feeble. 
 Others again will engage with ardour in literary pur- 
 suits, and while they are gratifying a mere natural 
 thirst for knowledge, or a vicious ambition of pre-emi- 
 nence, persuade themselves that they are occupied with 
 the labours of their high vocation. Many pastors ne- 
 glect the spiritual welfare of their people upon pretence 
 of study, when, if their literary pursuits were impar- 
 tially examined, they would be found to have little or no 
 connexion with their great work; yet these are more re- 
 spectable and more useful, than the class of indolent 
 loungers, who are seldom in their studies, and who have 
 the temerity to serve God in his sanctuary with crude, 
 
, AI3IING AT EMINENT PIETY. 183 
 
 undigested discourses, which cost them no labour in the 
 preparation. Now, the remedy for all these evils, and 
 scores of others, is the possession of higher degrees of 
 religion. This will make the indolent man, industrious; 
 the careless man, serious ; the ambitious, humble. This 
 will induce the servant of the Lord to watch for souls as 
 one that must give an account. Who, except the man 
 who has his heart touched with a tender compassion for 
 perishing souls, will sufficiently exert himself to rescue 
 them from ruin ? The Minister of Christ should be ever 
 on the watch for favourable opportunities of winning 
 souls. He is a fisher of men, and must study the arts of 
 drawing them into the Gospel net ; accommodating him- 
 self to the tempers, conditions, and circumstances of all, 
 that he may win some. Many of the duties of the pas- 
 tor are of such a nature, that nothing but the warm feel- 
 ings of piety will lead him to the regular performance of 
 them ; and, indeed, if they should be performed from 
 other motives, it would be in such a manner as would 
 be productive of no good. Love to God and to the souls 
 of men, is the very principle which gives activity to the 
 faithful Minister. This leads him to patient perseve- 
 rance in sowing the seed of the Word ; this makes him 
 apt to teach, and willing to condescend to men of low 
 estate, to give them the needed instruction. Under this 
 fluence the spiritual physician will be found in the ho- 
 vels of the poor, at the beds of the sick, and in the house 
 of mourning; but there is no other principle strong 
 enough or pure enough, to lead to the faithful discharge 
 of such duties ; and that it be efficient, it must be kept 
 
184 THE IMPORTANCE OF 
 
 in a lively, growing state. But eminent piety is not 
 only important for the discharge of the more private du- 
 ties of the pastoral office, but also for the composition 
 and delivery of sermons. Preaching is the noblest and 
 most useful institution among men. It is God's great 
 means of saving sinners, and edifying his own people: 
 but in order to answer the end for which it was designed, 
 the preaching of the Gospel must be rightly performed. 
 Many things, it is true, are requisite to make a truly good 
 preacher; but after all other qualifications have been 
 mentioned, and duly appreciated, it will be found, that, 
 unless eminent piety is superadded to them all, there 
 will be a great, and indeed, an essential defect. The 
 true spirit of preaching cannot be described in word?, 
 but it can be perceived and felt; and this spirit is nothing 
 else but the manifestation of those emotions and desires 
 of the heart in which genuine piety consists. The 
 pious man speaks from the heart; and there is a myste- 
 rious sympathy between the soul of the speaker and 
 those of his hearers. Men need no instruction to enable 
 thera to understand the language of genuine feeling, 
 and where that feeling is the exercise of the pure love 
 of God, and humble penitence, it reaches the heart of 
 the attentive hearer, and communicates by sympathy 
 something of its nature, so far as there exists any sus- 
 ceptibility of a kindred emotion. If sermons were al- 
 ways composed under the influence of pious sentiments, 
 they would never be those cold, formal, lifeless things 
 which we often find them to be. And it is one of the 
 strongest arguments in favour of extempore preaching, 
 
AIMING AT EMINENT PIETY. 185 
 
 that the speaker is more likely to feel the truth which 
 he utters, than when he sits down to write in his study. 
 But this is not always the fact, for the extempore preacher 
 may fall, and often does fall, into a round of common- 
 place ideas, or mere generalities, by which he is in no 
 degree affected himself; and which, however he may 
 exert his voice, and assume the appearance of earnest- 
 ness, never can affect the intelligent hearer. The true 
 remedy, and the only remedy, against cold, formal, and un- 
 interesting written sermons, and against unmeaning and 
 unimpressive extempore harangues, is the possession of 
 lively feelings of piety when the Minister sits down to 
 compose, or when he stands up to speak. O how precious 
 would the word of God be to the pious hearer, if it was 
 always delivered with the proper spirit! How much 
 more would preaching attract the attention of the careless, 
 and how much deeper would be the impression on their 
 minds, if the dispenser of the word not only delivered 
 the truth, but poured forth with it a flood of pious affec- 
 tion. The low state of piety in Ministers is the chief 
 reason of the want of success in preaching. It is true, 
 God must give the increase ; but when he gives it, he 
 prepares suitable means before hand. It is not analo- 
 gous to his method of dispensing divine influences, that 
 the cold and formal preacher should be made the instru- 
 ment of much good. It is found, in experience, that 
 God blesses most the labours of those whose hearts are 
 most sincerely and deeply engaged in their work. Men 
 of eminent abilities without lively piety, make poor and 
 dry preachers. They may compose rhetorical discourses. 
 
186 THE IMPORTANCE OF 
 
 and deliver them eloquently, but the spirit is wanting ; 
 and while the taste of the refined may be gratified, and 
 many may admire the ingenuity of the preacher, the 
 pious are not fed, and the blessing of God does not com- 
 monly accompany such preaching. That man who does 
 not seriously aim at the conversion of sinners, is not 
 likely to be the instrument of this great change. This 
 leads me to observe, 
 
 III. In the third place, that eminent piety will make 
 you mighty in prayer, and this will give success 
 to all your other labours. The most accomplished 
 Minister is entirely dependent on God for every degree 
 of success in his ministry. Even the apostles could not 
 convert a single soul by all their miraculous gifts, and 
 by all their inspiration; by all their fervent zeal and in- 
 defatigable labours. This heavenly birth is not of the 
 will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 
 "Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but God giveth the 
 increase; so then neither is he that planteth any thing, 
 neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the in- 
 crease." Since, then, you are entirely dependent on the 
 grace of God for your success in your work, is it not ex- 
 ceedingly important, that you should have skill and 
 energy in using the instrument by which divine in- 
 fluences maybe brought down upon your ministrations? 
 And you need not be informed, that the prayer of faith 
 is the instrument by which the kingdom of heaven may 
 be, as it were, invaded, and taken by violence. God 
 cannot resist (I speak it with reverence,) the force of a 
 
AIMING AT EMINENT PIETY. 187 
 
 holy, believing, untiring importunity, which resolves to 
 give him no rest, until he grants the blessing. Why 
 are the labours of Ministers so frequently barren of 
 fruit? Why are they still destined to cry, "Who hath 
 believed our report?" The fault is not principally in 
 the preaching: this is sound, and evangelical ; but pro- 
 bably the great deficiency lies in the feebleness of our 
 prayers. God is waiting to be gracious; but he will be 
 inquired of by the house of Israel for these things, that 
 he may do it for them. If the good seed of the word 
 were soaked in prayer before it is dispensed, and then 
 watered with prayer after it is sown, it would oftener be 
 seen to spring up and bring forth abundant fruit. The 
 man of God must be a man of prayer — he must be in- 
 stant, unceasing, and fervent in prayer; and then he 
 will be able to open heaven, and call down showers of 
 divine influences upon his other labours. But how 
 otherwise can this grace and gift of prayer be obtained 
 but by attaining to eminence in piety ? On this subject 
 Christ himself, who is the fountain of life, and himself 
 the giver of all spiritual blessings, has set us a perfect 
 example that we should follow his steps. At this day, 
 especially, we need men, not only mighty in the Scrip- 
 tures, but mighty in prayer. In conducting the pub- 
 lic prayers of the congregation, how much the comfort 
 and edification of the pious depends on the spirit of him 
 who is their mouth to speak unto God, must be obvious to 
 all. Our mode of offering up our prayers without a pre- 
 conceived form, can commend itself to enlightened and 
 spiritual men, only when our Ministers shall possess the 
 
 a 
 
188 THE IMPORTANCE OF 
 
 true spirit of prayer, and shall pray with the spirit and 
 with the understanding. Cultivate piety, then, in all its 
 parts, for prayer is nothing- else but the natural language 
 of the pious heart; it is the breathing of the new man; 
 or rather the inexpressible groaning and sighing of a 
 soul sick of sin, and panting for deliverance. O that 
 young men who seek to be useful in the ministry, would 
 spend more time in communion with God in prayer, than 
 they commonly do! To be eminent in piety and mighty 
 in prayer, are identical. 
 
 IV. The example and daily walk of a pastor is of the 
 utmost importance to his usefulness among his people. 
 The sentiments of a large majority of the people, re- 
 specting the nature of piety and the correct standard of 
 life, will be taken rather from the example than the dis- 
 courses of their pastor. A holy life preaches to the con- 
 sciences of men as nothing else does; and it gives weight 
 and influence to every word which he speaks; whereas, 
 if a Minister's conduct be not exemplary, he may speak 
 with the eloquence of men and angels, and it will be 
 disregarded. The wickedest men in society feel the 
 force of a consistent and holy life. They may hate the 
 man because he reproves their sins; but in their inmost 
 souls they fear and respect him; and are more per- 
 suaded of the reality of true religion by one such ex- 
 ample, than by a thousand arguments. The pious are 
 continually edified and comforted by seeing the godly 
 walk of their spiritual guide. As he appears to follow 
 Christ, so they will endeavour to follow him. They see 
 
AIMING AT EMINENT PIETY. 189 
 
 by his conduct what manner of persons Christians ought 
 to be; for duty is much more evident when it is dis- 
 tinctly drawn out and exhibited in the life, than when 
 inculcated in words. Now it may be laid down as a 
 maxim, that a man's life will be as is his inward piety. 
 No man ever did lead a holy life who had no experience 
 of the power of true godliness. And that pastor who 
 possesses eminent piety, is the only one whose example 
 will produce much effect on the minds of men. Others 
 may make an external show of zeal, and may abound 
 in religious duties, but the sweet savour of piety 
 will be wanting, and the uniform consistency of the 
 mature Christian will not be found, when their whole 
 conduct is scrutinized. It ought also to be kept in mind, 
 that no man can have any security that he will not fall 
 into disgraceful sins, but by aiming at a high standard 
 of piety. The power of temptation is too great to 
 be resisted by a weak and irregular faith; and no 
 men are exposed to more dangerous temptations than 
 are some Ministers of the Gospel. And, alas! many 
 stand as beacons to warn those who come after them 
 of the dangerous rocks and quicksands which beset 
 the course of the Minister of the Gospel. Some who 
 went out of port with swelling sails and fearless confi- 
 dence, are seen, after being tossed and driven with a 
 succession of fierce tempests, reduced almost to the con- 
 dition of a wreck. "Let him that standeth take heed 
 lest he fall." But when gross misconduct is avoided, 
 there may be so much appearance of vanity, of levity. 
 
190 THE IMPORTANCE OP 
 
 of indolence, of peevishness, of worldly mindedness, or 
 of unsteadiness in principle and practice, that no one is 
 edified by the example and conversation of their pastor. 
 While the devoutly pious weep in secret over his foibles 
 and deficiencies, the wicked secretly triumph and take 
 confidence, because they see so little in the man of God 
 which distinguishes him from themselves. The exam- 
 ple of the pastor, instead of elevating the standard of 
 piety among the people, is continually pleaded by pro- 
 fessors and others as sanctioning their self-indulgent 
 and careless manner of living. Be persuaded, my young 
 friends, to " let your light so shine before men, that they 
 seeing your good works may glorify your father who is 
 in heaven." " Be an example of believers, in word, in 
 conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 
 "Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, pa- 
 tience, meekness." Nothing upon earth is so lovely as 
 the mild but steady light of a holy life. And to exhibit 
 such a life, you must become eminent in piety. 
 
 V. Another consideration, which will confirm what 
 has been said respecting the importance of eminent piety 
 to Ministers is, that without this no man can be qualified 
 to solve cases of conscience, and to direct the perplexed 
 and troubled spirit in the way of peace. One great end 
 of the ministry is to bind up the brpken-hearted, and to 
 comfort mourners in Zion ; but how can that shepherd 
 heal the diseased of the flock, and guide the weak and 
 ignorant, who is but little experienced in the divine life ? 
 * The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him.' The 
 
AIMING AT EMINENT PIETY. 191 
 
 man who knows not the conflicts of the Christian life, the 
 buffetings of temptation, and the succours of grace, can- 
 not be a skilful spiritual guide. Many young preachers' 
 who may attract much admiration by their pulpit per- 
 formances, are, nevertheless, poorly qualified to deal with 
 diseased consciences, or to guide those Christians who 
 have made great advances in the divine life. And no 
 human learning can fit a preacher for this part of his 
 work; he must be taught of God; and should seek to 
 know the hidden life of communion with God, by a rich 
 and growing experience. 
 
 VI. Finally. Uniform and exalted piety is the only 
 thing which can render your work delightful. To such 
 as do not live habitually under a sense of divine truth, 
 the duties of the ministry must be exceedingly irksome, 
 and almost intolerable. To a heart unreconciled to God, 
 and destitute of all relish for divine things, what enjoy- 
 ment can there be in prayer, in preaching, and catechising, 
 and attending on the beds of the sick and the houses of 
 poverty and mourning. It is, indeed, strange, that such 
 men should ever think of the ministry of the Gospel, as 
 a profession for life. But ambition and vain glory may 
 find gratification in the opportunity which the pulpit af^ 
 fords for the display of learning, ingenuity, and elo- 
 quence, and in the respect and sanctity which, in the 
 view of many, is attached to the sacred ofiice; but with- 
 out lively piety, there can be no delight in the more pri- 
 vate and self-denying duties of the pastoral care. It is 
 love which makes every burden light, and every yoke 
 
 q2 
 
192 THE IMPORTANCE OF 
 
 easy. To one who loves the Lord Jesus Christ supremely, 
 no work can be more pleasant than the feeding of his 
 sheep and lambs. The good pastor loves the sheep 
 for the sake of their Owner, the great and good Shep- 
 herd, who laid down his life for them. For his sake, la- 
 hour, and toil, and sorrow, and persecution are not only 
 borne with patience, but welcomed and rejoiced in. 
 
 Animated by this living principle of love to the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, the pious Missionary shuts his eyes on all 
 that the world esteems good and great, and embraces a 
 life ofpoverty, toil, and suffering, in far distant lands. The 
 endearments of home, and relatives, and country, he re- 
 linquishes, and becomes, for life, a voluntary exile. To 
 the men of the world, his conduct appears wrapt in mys- 
 tery. They cannot understand the nature of his feelings, 
 and call them by the opprobrious name of enthusiasm. 
 To them it seems to be an unnatural sacrifice of happi- 
 ness; for they cannot imagine, that he has any compen- 
 sation for his losses. But the truth is, no men on earth 
 enjoy more pure happiness than devoted Missionaries. 
 They do actually receive a hundred fold for all the sa- 
 crifices which they have made. I speak of such as are 
 actuated by deep and ardent feelings of piety; for, strange 
 as it may seem, it is possible for men to become not 
 only Missionaries, but martyrs, and yet be utterly desti- 
 tute of true rehgion. But such instances, it may be 
 presumed, are rare. That which moves, supports, ani- 
 mates, and consoles the laborious preacher among the 
 Heathen, is the warm and steady glow of love to the Re- 
 deemer, and to the souls of men. The more a Christian 
 
AIMING AT EMINENT PIETY. 193 
 
 is cast upon religion alone for his happiness, the more 
 does he enjoy its pleasures. For this reason, the pious 
 Missionary, although surrounded with dangers and diffi- 
 culties, and often almost overwhelmed with sorrow and 
 discouragement, upon the whole, is among the happiest 
 of mortals ; and he would be unwilling to exchange his 
 condition for one of the greatest affluence and ease. 
 
 It was nothing but the constant exercise of emi- 
 nent piety which animated the apostles and primi- 
 live Christians with such an inextinguishable ardour; 
 and which caused them to rejoice even, in reproaches 
 and persecutions. There was no miracle necessary 
 to enable the martyrs to rejoice at the stake, and 
 even in the flames; the shedding abroad of the love 
 of God in their hearts was sufficient to produce all the 
 effects which were witnessed; and the same would now 
 result from the same cause. 
 
 Be assured, my dear ypung friends, that without 
 genuine piety, the office of the holy Ministry will not 
 be tolerable, unless the conscience be seared as with a 
 hot iron; and without eminent piety, your work will 
 not be pleasant; but if your hearts are deeply af- 
 fected with the truths which you profess to love, and 
 which you expect to preach, notliing will be able to 
 prevent or materially to disturb your peace of mind. 
 This is a joy which is full, and which no man taketh 
 away from you. If, therefore, you wish for a happy 
 life and a peaceful end, cultivate piety and daily 
 study to become eminent in every branch of the Chris- 
 tian character. Remember, too, that you must soon ap- 
 
194 THE IMPORTANCE OF, &C. 
 
 pear before the judgment seat of Christ to render an ac- 
 count of your stewardship. When that solemn hour 
 shall have come, the advantages of eminent piety will be 
 most conspicuous. The difference between the faithful 
 and diligent, and the wicked and slothful servant will 
 be manifest to all; the one will be for ever comforted, and 
 the other tormented. To the one, the Lord will say, 
 " Well done good and faithful servant enter into the joy 
 of thy Lord ; " to the other, " Depart from me, I never 
 knew you." Through eternity shall the pious and de- 
 voted Minister rejoice in the presence of God, with those 
 redeemed spirits, whom he has been the instrument of 
 rescuing from hell and conducting to heaven. But who 
 can describe the anguish and the wailings of unfaithful 
 Ministers, when, with Judas, they lift up their eyes in 
 the deepest regions of despair. " Hell," said one of the 
 fathers, " is paved with the sculls of ungodly Ministers." 
 O, then, be in earnest about your work. Let divine love 
 glow in your own bosom. Regard not the world nor the 
 things in the world. Be instant in season and out of 
 season. Live near to God, and keep up a lively sense of 
 divine things on your minds. Exert every facultj', and 
 employ every talent and opportunity in promoting the 
 glory of God and the salvation of men. Be faithful unto 
 death, and yje shajl receive the crown of life,. 
 
Cs) 
 
 ON THE 
 
 NECESSITY OF A KNOWLEDGE 
 
 OXlIGIiril.1. IiAIi-aUiLGES 
 
 SCRIPTURES, 
 
 y 
 
 BY REV. CHARLES HODGE, 
 
 Professor of Oriental and Biblical Literature in the Theological 
 Seminary at Princeton, N. J, 
 
fS 
 
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