standest thou what thou readest?"

You will receive the

same answer that he did; "How can I except some man teach me?" The office of the ministry, like that of the angel (Rev. xiv. 6), is to preach the everlasting Gospel “to them that dwell upon the earth; to every nation and kindred and tongue and people," till the earth is filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.

The ministry here intended is divinely appointed. It goes much higher than the authority of Bishops, Presbyters, man, or any number of men; although, let it be observed, that the sanction and authority of those who bear rule in the Church ought to be sought for, and obtained, by every one who enters on the ministry: but the true minister has authority from Christ. It is Christ who qualifies, calls, and inwardly moves him by the Holy Ghost to take upon himself this office. He carries with him the inward conviction that a dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto him, and feels what the Apostle expressed, "Woe be unto me if I preach not the gospel."

2. To preaching is to be joined the fervent persevering prayers of God's people. "Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence;" or, as the margin reads, "Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers." The Lord's remem

brancers are his worshipping people, who enter into his presence, draw near his throne, put him in mind of his promises; and plead with him for their fulfilment. And this is to be done ceaselessly and perseveringly, "Give him no rest." Holy importunity is here enjoined. Let your prayers be offered up in your closet, in your family, and in the congregation. Wrestle as Jacob did. Be importunate like the Syrophenician woman.

Vain will every effort to establish and extend the work of God prove, without the power of the Holy Ghost accompanying it. It is not by power nor by might, but by my

Spirit saith the Lord. Paul may plant; Apollos may water; but it is God that giveth the increase. The best concerted plans, the most eloquent ministry will utterly fail without this special influence. It was for this reason the Apostle addressed the Thessalonians in these words, "Brethren pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified." And it is on this account that we urge on you the duty of fervent, persevering prayer. Ministers are the watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem. Their special business is to sound the trumpet. We call upon you to aid us by your fervent importunate prayers.

66

Prayer opens heaven. The Holy Ghost is given in answer to prayer. Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." And if ye being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him." Elijah was a man of like passions with us; by prayer he shut and opened heaven. Moses by prayer prevailed with God to lay aside his wrath, and spare his people who had rebelled against him. The Holy Ghost came down visibly, and the Christian dispensation was fully opened, whilst the disciples were with one accord waiting for the promise of the Father.

The weakest believer may here be of unspeakable utility. You cannot preach. You have no gift for teaching, and spreading by word of mouth the knowledge of Christ, but you can pray; you can plead with God; you can wrestle with him and "give him no rest till he establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."

Direful will be the consequences of neutrality. What was the sin of Meroz which brought down on its inhabitants the bitter curse? Not avowed hostility, but neutrality.

"They came not up to the help of the Lord." Let the lukewarm professor, the half-hearted Christian, be warned. He may not oppose the cause of Christ, but he stands aloof, or looks on without lending a helping hand. This judgment of our Lord concerning such a one is already pronounced: 66 He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad" (Matt. xii. 30).

SERMON XXIII.

ENOCH.

BY THE REV. JOHN BROWN, OF LONDON.

AND ALL THE DAYS OF ENOCH WERE THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY AND FIVE YEARS: AND ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD: AND HE WAS NOT FOR GOD TOOK HIM."-GEN. v. 23, 24.

ENOCH was the son of Jared, and the father of Methuselah. He was born, a.m. 622; translated, A.M. 987, about three thousand years B.C. He must have known, for upwards of three hundred years, the first parent of mankind, and, probably, had from his lips a description of Eden's primeval beauty, as well as the melancholy history of the fall.

His name means, to instruct, initiate, and dedicate, and may indicate his peculiar work, as a patriarchal prophet, his extraordinary piety, and devotedness to God.

Enoch is a celebrated character amongst the ancient heathens, as well as in the religious world. In the works of Stephen of Byzantium, is a remarkable passage, which the learned apply to Enoch. (v. 13). That Iconium was a city of Hanac, who lived upwards of three hundred years; that the inhabitants inquiring of the oracle, how long he should live, were answered, that when this prince died,

they should be destroyed, which was the cause of great mourning among the Phrygians. In Bochart may be seen a critique on this passage. Eupolemus, a pagan author, cited by Eusebius, has a passage bearing still more directly on this Patriarch. "It is said, the Babylonians regarded Enoch as the author of astrology among them; that he whom the Greeks call Atlas, is Enoch, the father of Methuselah; that he was instructed in all things by angels, and communicated his knowledge to the Phrygians."

As counterfeit coin proves that there must be a genuine mintage; so these traditions, though mixed with much that is fabulous, yet are strong collateral evidences of the existence, and superior character of Enoch.

He was a patriarch, the head of a family or people. As such, he exercised in his own house, and over the collateral branches of his family, the offices of king, priest, and prophet. His business was to administer justice; to conduct the worship of God by sacrifice and intercession; and to teach his own, and the rising generation, the way of righteousness.

He was a married man, and the father of a family. This fact is a standing rebuke to the Popish doctrine of celibacy. It proves that the marriage state is no hindrance to the deepest piety, and most eminent usefulness in the Church of God.

He appears to have been distinguished as a prophet, and to have left behind him some prophecy, from which the Apostle Jude makes the following remarkable quotation, which can only be interpreted as a prophecy relating to the coming of Christ, the Lord from heaven, to the final judgment of the world: "Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed,