Master: "No prophet is accepted in his own country," where he is accustomed to be seen without ceremony, and heard without curiosity. If the fault appears to be on his own side, he endeavours to apply the most speedy and efficacious remedies, redoubling his public labours, and renewing his secret supplications with more than ordinary fervour of spirit. But if, after repeated trials, he is convinced, that his want of success chiefly flows from the invincible hatred of his flock to the truths of the Gospel, or from the sovereign contempt, which his parishioners manifest both for his person and his labours; he is then justified in following the example of his unerring Master, who refused to exercise his ministry in those places where prejudice had locked up the hearts of the people against the reception of his evangelical precepts.

When, in such a situation, a pastor is fearful of following the example of our Lord, lest he should be left destitute of a maintenance, in how deplorable a state must he drag through the wearisome days of a useless life! If every sincere christian is ready to take up his cross, to quit friends and possessions, to renounce life itself, on account of the Gospel; can we consider that minister, as a man really consecrated to the service of Christ, who has not resolution sufficient to give up a house, a garden, and a salary, when the welfare of his own soul and the interests of the church requires such a sacrifice?

When a preacher of the Gospel counts less upon the promises of his Master, than upon the revenues of his benefice, may we not reasonably conclude, that he is walking in the footsteps of Balaam, rather than of St. Paul? And is it for such a man, to declare the statutes of the Lord, or to recite the words of his covenant? Attempting to publish, before he effectually believes, the truths of the Gospel? And has he not a front of brass, when,

with the dispositions of a Demas, he mounts the pulpit, to celebrate the bounty of that God, who supplies the little wants of " sparrows, who feeds the young ravens that call upon him," opening his hand and filling "all things with living plenteousness?" Let such a one consider, that the character of a virtuous preceptor, or an honest tradesman, is abundantly more honourable than that of a mercenary priest.

Ingeneral, it may be reasonably supposed, that if a pastor faithfully exercises his ministry in any place, to which he has been appointed by the providence of God, he will either benefit those among whom he is called to labour, or his hardened hearers will, at length, unite to drive him from among them, as the inhabitants of Nazareth forced Jesus away from their ungrateful city. Or if he should not be forcibly removed from his post, as was the case of our Lord in the country of the Gadarenes, yet believing it incumbent upon him to retire from such a part, he will seek out some other place in his Master's vineyard, that shall better repay the pains of cultivation; whatever such a removal may cost him in the judgment of the world. And, indeed, such a mode of conduct was positively prescribed by our Lord to his first ministers, in the following solemn charge: "Into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words; when," slighted and reproached by its unworthy inhabitants, ye are constrained to "depart out of that house or city," shake off the dust of your feet, as a testimony against those, who prefer the maxims of the world before the precepts of the Gospel.

If any pastor refuses to adopt this method of proceeding, after patience has had its perfect work; if he still fears to give up an establishment, as the sons-in-law of Lot were afraid of forsaking their possessions in Sodom, he then acts in direct oppo

sition to the command of Christ; he obstinately occupies the place of a minister, against whom, very probably, less prejudice might be entertained, and whose ministry, of consequence, would be more likely to produce some salutary effect; he loses his time in casting pearls before swine; and instead of converting his parishioners, he only aggravates the condemnation due to their obduracy.

The faithful pastor, however, is not soon discouraged, though he beholds no beneficial consequences of his ministry. His unbounded charity suffers, hopes, and labours long, without fainting. The more sterile the soil appears, which he is called to cultivate, the more he waters it, both with his tears and with the sweat of his brow; the more heimplores for it "the dew of Heaven," and the influences of that divine Sun, which spreads light and life through every part of the church. It is not, therefore, (let it be repeated) till after patience has had its perfect work, that a conscientious minister takes the final resolution of quitting his post, in order to seek out some other situation, in which his labours may be attended with greater profit.

TRAIT XXXVII.

HIS READINESS TO SEAL WITH HIS BLOOD THE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL.

HE, who is not yet prepared to die for his Lord, has not yet received "that perfect love," which casteth out fear :" and it is a matter of doubt, whether any preacher is worthy to appear in a pulpit, whose confidence in the truths of the Gospel is not strong enough to dispose him, in certain situations, to seal those truths with his blood. If he really shrinks from the idea of dying in the cause

of christianity, is it for him to publish a Saviour, who is "the resurrection and the life?" And may he not be said to play with his conscience, his auditors, and his God, if, while he is the slave of sin and fear, he presents himself as a witness of the salvation of that omnipotent Redeemer, who, "through death, has destroyed him, that had the power of death;" and who, by his resurrection, has "deli. vered them, who through fear of death, were all their life-time subject to bondage. Love," in the language of Solomon, "is strong as death :" but the true minister glows with that fervent love to Christ and his brethren, which is abundantly stronger than those fears of death, which would prevent him, in times of persecution, from the faithful discharge of his ministerial functions. Such was the love of St. Paul, when he cried out to those, who would have dissuaded him from the dangerous path of duty; "What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart? for I am ready, not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Je sus. For I know, that this shall turn to my salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ according to my earnest expectation, that Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. And if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all."

Thus "The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep but he that is an hireling, and not the

shepherd, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep." Happy is that church, whose pastor is prepared to tread in the steps of " the great shepherd and bishop of souls!" St. Paul would not have been ashamed to acknowledge such a one, as his companion and fellow-labourer in the work of the Lord.

TRAIT XXXVIII.

THE SWEET SUSPENSE OF HIS CHOICE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

WHATEVER desire the faithful pastor may have to be with Christ, and to rest from his labours; yet he endures with joy his separation from the person of his Saviour, through the sacred pleasure he experiences in the service of his members. The sweet equilibrium, in which his desire was suspended between life and death, is thus expressed by the Apostle Paul: "We know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. For in this we groan earnestly; desiring to be clothed upon with our house, which is from Heaven: knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. Yet, what I shall choose, I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know, that I shall abide and continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith."

It is chiefly, when believers have the unconquerable love of St. Paul, "that all things work together