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spirit of humility, faith, and patience, their "path will be as the shining light."

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The judgment of experienced Ministers might prove of essential service in assuring the mind of the sound basis of the Ministerial call; lest the desire for the work should prove rather the impulse of feeling than of principle, and lest the capacity should be the confidence of self-delusion. The late pious and learned Dr. Leland took this satisfactory view of his own case -God has been graciously pleased' (said he,) to give me some talents, which seem capable of being improved to the edification of the church. He hath disposed and inclined my heart to a willingness to take upon me the sacred Ministry, and that not from worldly, carnal ends and views, but from a sincere intention and desire of employing the talents he has given me in promoting the salvation of souls, and serving the interests of truth, piety, and righteousness in the world. And I have been encouraged by the judgment and approbation of several learned and pious Ministers, who, after a diligent course of trials, carried on for a considerable time, judged me to be properly qualified for that sacred office, and animated me to undertake it. Upon seriously weighing all these things, I cannot but think, I have a clear call to the work of the Ministry; and I verily believe, that, if I rejected it, I should sin against God, grieve many of his people, counteract the designs of Divine Providence towards me, and alienate the talents he has given me to other purposes than those for which they seem to have been intended.' 1

The importance of this discussion will be generally allowed. It is a source of the deepest discouragement

1 See Leland's Life, prefixed to his Sermons.

to the Minister, to labour in the dark, without a satisfactory view of an accredited commission. His warrant of faith in the Divine engagements is obscured; and his consequent inability to avail himself of heavenly support, makes his "hands hang down, and his knees feeble” in his work. On the other hand, the assurance that he is acting in obedience to the call of God-that he is in his work-and in his waynerves him in the midst of difficulty and reproach with a lively interest in the promises of direction and encouragement, and stimulates him under a constraining sense of his most responsible obligation. Yet under no circumstances is there a warranted ground for distress in a simple consecration to the service of God. Let the Minister in seasons of perplexity and contemplation cast himself upon the mercy of God, and doubt not of acceptance.

But in closing our consideration of this subject, we cannot forget, that the inward call has not always accompanied the public investment with Ministerial authority. With many of us it is a painful recollection, that we entered into this sacred office with hearts unenlightened with Christian doctrine, and unimpressed with Ministerial obligations. Yet let the remembrance of this sin be in humiliation-not in despondency. Let us be afflicted indeed for our unhallowed approach to the sacred altar-yet not "swallowed up with overmuch sorrow." There is with our gracious God mercy for this, as well as for any other sin; and we shall not apply to him for it in vain. Doubtless

1 See Scott's affecting reference to his own case-Force of Truth, and Practical Observations on Num. xvi. 1-19.-Also the same confession from Mr. Walker, of Truro, a minister of peculiar simplicity and most honoured devotedness to his Master's work. See his valuable collection of Tracts, entitled Practical Christianity, pp. 190, 191.

Thus

we should bear this sin in special remembrance to the end of our days; both as an occasion of magnifying the grace of God,' and as an incentive to redoubled exertions throughout our future course. In order to generate in our hearts this deepened contrition : it will be well to bring frequently before our minds, and especially at the annual return of the season of our ordination, the vows, which we then took upon us: and in a new perception of their responsibility, to consecrate ourselves to God afresh, with a full determination of heart through grace to fulfil them. receiving, as it were, a second commission with shame and self-reproach, and yet with thankfulness; we shall be given to it; we shall have an evidence in our own souls, that, though at the time of ordination we were not "moved by the Holy Ghost," we are so now; and if our conscience bear witness to us, that we are now cordially renouncing whatever is inconsistent with our high and heavenly calling, we need not doubt of God's merciful acceptance in all our labours of love, and (in confirmation of his own word) of a blessing to be conferred also on our own souls according to our labours.

1 See 1 Tim. i. 11-16

PART III.

CAUSES OF MINISTERIAL INEFFICIENCY CONNECTED WITH OUR PERSONAL CHARACTER.

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