discharged in the sight of the Great High-Priest of the Church. Even if their engagement be not exactly in the nature of a conditional contract, as far as man is concerned, yet there are certain extra-official obligations-certain undefined, though not the less binding, duties, which every man set apart for the Ministry has undertaken to fulfil. His work must not be looked upon as an ordinary profession, to be conducted on that principle of reciprocity, which governs the common dealings of mankind. He desecrates his high calling, when he considers it in the light of a mere commercial transaction, in which a bargain is struck for a certain return of services upon the payment

of

a

1 See Burnet's Past. Care, ch. viii. Mr. Richmond's Ministry may furnish a specimen of these 'undefined extra official obligations.' Besides two complete services on the Sabbath-it consisted of a Sunday evening lecture for the young-Cottage lectures on Tuesday, and latterly, also, on Thursday evenings-a lecture in the church on Friday, with weekly instruction at the workhouse, and a monthly lecture before the sacrament. Combined with this system of public instruction was the constant fulfilment of the Apostolical injunction of going from house to house. See his Life, pp. 114, 115, 588, 589. Many devoted Ministers would be pressed out of measure, above strength," and would shortly "have the sentence of death, in themselves" from such incessant demands ; and Christ'. (as an excellent Minister said to his brother) is too great a Master to need, and too good a Master to require, his servants to kill themselves in his service.' Some however profess to be restrained from these 'extra-official' labours by the fear of entailing heavy burdens upon their successors. But the Lord will not require of them the same portion of work with diminished physical resources; while he justly demands of all his servants, that, as their strength, so their work shall be. While the higher, though not unreasonable, demands of many of our Diocesans, are stimulating us to increasing exertions, let us be careful, that prospective considerations do not paralyze our present energies, and that we grudge not to expend a healthful constitution in a service, in which angels might think it an honour to be engaged. Where health, strength, talents, and opportunities are vouchsafed, who will say, that such labours are uncalled for by the exigency of the case, by the voice of conscience, by the constraining influence of our Master's love, (John xxi. 15—17) or by those requirements of our Church in the Ordination vow, which her Ministers have voluntarily undertaken ?

certain price. Like his heavenly pattern, he will be constantly about his Master's business; he will avail himself of times and seasons and topics, and present the truths of which he is the depository, in so judicious and pertinent a manner, that his "speech" may at all times "be seasoned with salt, and that no man may be able to accuse him of neglect, or inquire, like Esau, in the tone of mingled regret and reproach-" Hast thou not a blessing for me also?" 1

2

The devotedness of our 66 heavenly pattern to this great work, furnishes a striking illustration of the true spirit of the Christian Ministry-" doing with our might." His whole soul was in it-intent upon one thing—subordinating relative obligations —personal claims of convenience3—and even present necessity to the main business. No time was wasted upon trifles. Even the common intercourse and courtesies 5 of life were made the vehicles of the most important instruction. Public occasions were improved for the same blessed purpose. The thought of relinquishing his work was intolerable. Through reproach and tribulation of the most appalling kind, he persevered to the end. The labours of single days were unprecedented in Ministerial annals; 8 and the course of a lengthened Ministry was compressed within the contracted space of three years.

1 Bishop of Winchester's Ministerial Character of Christ, p. 273-275.

2 Luke ii. 49. Matt. xii. 46-50. 4 John iv. 6-14.

3 Mark vi. 34-50.

5 Luke vii. 36-50; xi. 37; xiv. 13-24. 7 Matt. xvi. 23.

6 John vii. 37. 8 Compare Mark i. 32-38. The parables, Matt. xiii. seem to have been delivered in the afternoon of a day that had been previously spent in the work of instruction. Doddridge remarks on another occasion, that no one of the prophets that we read of in the Old Testament, appears to have wrought so many beneficial miracles in his whole life, as our Lord did in this one afternoon.' Family Expositor on Matt. ix. 33. Section Ixxii.

1

In a large measure of the same spirit did the great Apostle embody the grand principles of the Ministry. His very soul and spirit were set upon his work. Never did any hireling long for preferment, as did he to be made the organ of spiritual blessings to the Church. He had a heart and tongue to speak, wherever there was an ear to hear. He was ready to preach the Gospel in the mouth of danger, even at Rome itself. 2 His account of one of his Ministerial courses informs us, that he commenced his work the very ❝ first day he came into Asia". -"publicly and from house to house "declaring the whole counsel of God"keeping back nothing that was profitable"—" warning every one night and day for three years "-outwardly exposed to the "temptations" of his enemies, and inwardly" pressed in his spirit" by a tenderness, fervour, and compassion, which could find no vent but in “tears”—and determined at whatever cost to pursue his course with undaunted perseverance. 3 Thus was he able to testify-" God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son." 4

66

And might we not ask-Is "God our witness?" Does he mark in us-we will not say any particular frequency of preaching-but the purpose, frame of heart, and stamp of a faithful Ministration of the Word -the spirit of a "pastor after God's own heart ?”5

1 Rom. i. 11, 12.

2 Rom. i. 15.

3 Compare Acts xx. 18-36. Other courses of considerable extent are described Rom. xv. 18-28.

4 Rom. i. 9. Brainerd shows the nearest approximation to this spirit. He could scarcely give expression to the full glow of his love for his Master's work.-'I longed to be'-he would sometimes say as a flame of fire, continually glowing in the Divine service, preaching and building up Christ's kingdom to my latest, my dying, hour.

5 Jer. iii. 15. Let us listen to Latimer's plain and faithful exhortations. Speaking of "the Shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night," he adds-'I would

A devoted Minister feels, that there is sufficient employment for his whole life in his sacred work; and that he can never enjoy its privileges, or rightly perform its duties, except he be wholly given to it. He will therefore find time for nothing, but what will bear with more or less direct influence upon the ultimate success of his labours.

The want of Divine influence on our work should therefore suggest a close and searching scrutiny-Is the whole heart in singleness of purpose consecrated to the Christian Ministry? Mr. Brown's death-bed has given a most encouraging testimony on this subject -the result of forty years experience- Oh! labour, labour' (said he to his sons) to win souls to Christ. I will say this for your encouragement-When the Lord led me out to be most earnest in this way, he poured in most comfort into my own heart, so that he gave me my reward in my bosom.' 1 To the same purport was the earnest exhortation of the excellent Bishop Beveridge- As for those, who come to take

wish that all clergymen, the curates, parsons, and vicars, the bishops and all other spiritual persons would learn this lesson by these poor shepherds; which is, to abide by their flock, and by their sheep-to tarry among them-to be careful over them-not to run hither and thither after their own pleasure, but to tarry by their benefices, and feed their sheep with the food of God's word, and to keep hospitality, and so to feed them both soul and body. For I tell you, these poor unlearned Shepherds shall condemn many a stout and great learned clerk: for these Shepherds had but the care and charge over brute beasts, and yet were diligent to keep them and to feed them; and the others have the care over God's lambs, which he bought with the death of his Son, and yet they are so careless, so negligent, so slothful over them; yea, and the most part intendeth not to feed the sheep, but they long to be fed by the sheep: they seek only their own pass-times, they care for no more. But saith Christ to Peter-What said he? "Peter, lovest thou me?" Peter made answer, Yes. "Then feed my sheep." And so the third time he commanded Peter to feed his sheep, &c. Sermon on Luke ii. 8-12.

1 Brown's Life and Remains, p. 267.

upon them the office of deacon, or priest, in the Church of Christ-let me now beseech them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose servants they are now to be, that from this day forward they look upon him as their great Master, and lay out themselves wholly in the service to which he calls them. And, whatsoever difficulties they meet with in it, let them follow the Apostle's example-faint not, nor be discouraged, but go on with cheerfulness and alacrity, as remembering, that they serve the best Master in the world; one, that will not only stand by them and assist them, but reward them at last with a crown of righteousness.' 1

CHAPTER II.

CONFORMITY TO THE WORLD.

As members of society, some intercourse with the world is a matter of necessity. To keep no company with sinners, we "must needs go out of the world.” 2 Connection with the world within prescribed limits, is also indispensable for the due discharge of our Ministerial responsibilities, since we cannot instruct the subjects of our Ministry without personal contact and communication. It is, however, most important to ascertain the precise limits by which this intercourse must be bounded, and the principles on which it is to be conducted lest we deviate from the Scriptural rule, transgress its requirements, lower its standard, or substitute other principles in the regulation of our conduct. Now if the prohibition of conformity to the

1 See his Sermon on the Institution of Ministers, quoted in Bishop Mant's notes on the Ordination Service.

2 1 Cor. v. 10.