they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath God ordained, that they which preach the gospel shall live of the gospel." To brand a minister, therefore, with the opprobrious epithet of hireling, because he wishes to receive a salary adequate to his comfortable support, that he may give himself wholly to his work, is "reproaching the Lord" -is casting contumely upon one of his ordinances. I know very well, that the amount of compensation must vary indefinitely, according to circumstances. Where the people are poor, and ready to do what they can to support their minister, and his labors are blessed, he ought to be satisfied with much less than he might expect if they were able to pay him a liberal salary. I can conceive, that it might be your duty to settle upon less than the actual cost of supporting a family, and to make up the

teaching school, or in some other way.

deficiency by

Nay, I would

by all means, have you preach the gospel and sustain yourself by "tent making," as Paul did, or by anything you can turn your hand to, rather than not preach at all. But then, the circumstances must be similar. "To the poor the gospel must be preached" at any rate, and to the heathen. But where a church and congregation are possessed of ample means, a candidate has a right to expect, that when they call him, they will make liberal provision for his maintenance.

I have no doubt, though you have not told me, that the people of L- have offered you what they considered to be a generous support; and it may be all that you could ask, or even more. But it is perfectly proper, that you should enquire what it

will cost to support a family in L—; nay, I hold it to be your duty to enquire; and now, before you give your answer, is the best time. Be perfectly frank and free in your enquiries. Tell the people you want no more than is reasonable, but that as you are a young man without experience, it is impossible to make the estimate for yourself. You have no way but to rely upon their better judgment; and there should be a perfect understanding between you, that if your salary proves inadequate, it shall be increased as circumstances may require.

One word more. I advise you by all means to stipulate for quarterly or semi-annual payments. You will find it extremely inconvenient to wait till the end of the year before you receive any part of your salary. You will want it to live on, as you go along; and the money in hand, when you make your purchases, will be worth from ten to twenty per cent. more than your credit. Ministers are often exceedingly embarrassed, and obliged to borrow money where they can find it ; when if they had their pay quarterly, they could not only meet all their engagements promptly, but make their income go much further than it does. Nor is this quite all. Where the stipulation on the part of the parish is to pay annually, and no oftener, it is not by any means certain, that they will be ready at the end of the year. Another six or twelve months may elapse, before they settle up. If any body has got to wait, who so likely as the minister?

I am affectionately, &c.

MY DEAR E.

LETTER V.

THE solemn day is past. You are now an ordained minister of the gospel. A branch of the church is committed to your pastoral care, and did you not, in the hour of your consecration, hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, "Feed my sheep-feed my lambs?" "Take heed therefore unto thyself, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made thee overseer, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

You are now not only authorized to "testify the gospel of the grace of God," as an accredited ambassador of Christ, but to administer the sacraments of the New Testament, baptism and the Lord's Supper; and to exercise all the functions of the pastoral office. "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Study to approve thyself unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing from whom thou hast learned them, and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of

God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine."

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all. Take heed unto thyself and unto thy doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. This is a true saying, if any man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. But a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly. Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and has professed a good profession before many witnesses."

All this and more, was undoubtedly embodied in the charge which you received on the day of your ordination. I am aware, that the repetition of it here

can give it no additional force; but as a father and a minister, I could not satisfy myself without going over the same ground in this connection; and I am sure you will not object to receiving "line upon line, and precept upon precept." Most of the topics, embraced in the two preceding paragraphs, I propose to take up and enlarge upon at considerable length hereafter, "if the Lord will."

The solemnities of your ordination being over, you will now, as a matter of course, wish to sit down alone with your commission open before you, to meditate upon the responsibilities which you have assumed, and earnestly to inquire how you may best discharge the duties of the pastoral office. Let no man interrupt you, by breaking this solemn pause. You are upon holy ground, and in the presence of Him" that dwelt in the bush." Let the world and even your most intimate christian friends stand aloof, while you bow down to hear what the Lord will say unto you. You want time for prayer, for self-examination, for the girding up of your loins, before you go a step further. In a most important sense, you hold the destinies of undying souls in your hands. Such is the economy of grace, that it will depend very much on your faithfulness, or unfaithfulness, whether they are saved, or lost. Let me, therefore, earnestly and tenderly exhort you, my dear son, first of all, to commit yourself and your new charge unto the Lord, in fervent prayer. There cannot be a more fitting occasion for great enlargement and fervency in this duty, than when a young minister is just entering upon his high and holy vocation. How can you