his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. If you are to enjoy the beautiful services of our Church, you must be sure to look to the state of your own heart while reading the Confession. In that solemn service, you are not taught to say, they have erred and strayed-but we have erred and strayed thus joining yourself with the people not only in the attitude of prayer, but in the acknowledgment of guilt. Let not the flock have cause to believe that the pastor is repeating the confession of the Church merely in an official character, but let them find that you read it as being yourself a penitent. Among the careless readers of our Liturgy, complaints are often heard of the sameness of our service; but seldom will such complaints be found where the officiating priest is himself fully alive to the import of the petitions which he offers. A contrite and believing heart will find something always fresh and always new in a service so nearly allied to Scripture, and so altogether suitable to the infirmities and necessities of man.

Nor merely in the prayers let this feeling be evident, let it pervade the sermon also. If the great High Priest who is passed into the heavens for us, be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, although he be without spot of sin, surely it becomes those who minister in his name to feel as men compassed with infirmity, considering themselves lest they also be tempted. Do not mistake me by supposing that I would recommend that "the exceeding sinfulness of sin" should be depicted in lighter colours than those employed in the oracles of truth: God forbid! Let sin be made to appear in its real character and turpitude, yet let there be those manifest indications of a broken and a contrite heart in your own case, that shall cause the denunciation of God's wrath to come with double force, as manifestly proceeding from the lips of a teacher, himself inwardly amazed at the enormity of sin, and who, but for Christ, could have no hope of pardon or salvation. It may possibly be thought that such a spirit is by no means compatible with the dignity connected with the ministerial office. Should this objection be raised, we would answer it by inquiring wherein consists the real dignity of that office? Is it not in the combination of faith and knowledge, with humility and love? Such was the dignity of St. Paul, to whose memorable words you and I will do well to take heed: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."

But this leads me to offer you another suggestion, viz. :—

II. BEWARE OF LOOKING OFF FROM CHRIST YOURself, while

YOU POINT OTHERS TO HIM.

I need scarcely tell you that the life of a believer is a life of faith in the Son of God, of whom the hunible disciple will rejoice to add, "Who loved me, and gave himself for me." We can scarcely admit him to be a real convert to the faith, who has never known any thing of such feelings as these. But how is it that some who once were looking off all other things that they might look unto Jesus the author of their faith, seem at length to come short of that ripeness in the

knowledge and love of God, which should be the growing evidence that we are passed from death unto life? Alas! the cause is not difficult to be found. They look off from Christ. As the accredited ministers of his word, they must still go on mentioning his name and delivering his truth to the people. But, oh, bow changed! Time was when they could scarcely advert to his agony and bloody sweat, his cross and passion, without emotion: now they seldom feel much, often scarcely feel at all those subjects which once they were wont to dwell upon with joy unspeakable and full of glory. And possibly, now, they have looked off so long that they are afraid again to meet the eye of Him who hath said, "All the churches shall know that I am he which trieth the hearts, and I will give to every man according to his works."

God grant, my dear sir, that this may never be the case with you! But if it ever should, bear in mind that though your eye be turned from your Master and Lord, his eye is not turned from you. On that subject I know not that I can do better than remind you of a beautiful and affecting passage in the sermons of President Dwight. In the sixth sermon of his first volume, occurs the following striking passage, which may not be without its use to the Christian minister, placed in circumstances such as we have been just describing:

"In seasons of temptation, when his resolution to resist, his fortitude to endure, his patience to suffer, his wisdom to devise means of escape, and his diligence and faithfulness to use them fail and decline; or, even when immersed in sloth and security, he ceases to watch over himself, and to guard against impending evil, God still is present, to supply all his wants, to renew his vigour, to support his yielding constancy, to awaken in him new vigilance, to quicken in him a contrite sense of his backsliding, to deliver him from the unequal contest, and to bless him with returning hope, peace, and safety. When self-confidence, self-flattery, and self-righteousness, inflate, deform, and betray him; when no Christian friend is near to know, to pity, or to rescue him; God even then is present to humble, to guide, and to restore him, and to enable him to find a safe path over the otherwise insurmountable obstacles to his continuance in the way of life."

The above extract, from Dr. Dwight, will well prepare the way for another brotherly caution, viz. :—

III. BEWARE OF LIGHTLY REGARDING THE FIRST SYMPTOMS OF SPIRITUAL DECLENSION.

Need I remind you, my dear sir, that the soul which is not going forward, is necessarily going backward? Would you, then, avoid so distressing a circumstance? Let me beseech you to watch against the commencement, the very first indication of spiritual declension. If the means of grace administered by you in your professional character become less and less the channels of good to your own soulif private prayer have ceased to be a delight, and the Scriptures of truth become devoid of interest-if a formal spirit succeed to that which was devout, and the circumstantials of religion begin to assume

an importance above what is vital and experimental, then rest assured all is not right. Some part of the spiritual mechanism is out of order, and no time must be lost in examining into the matter with diligence and fidelity. Often, in such cases, will the words of Scripture be applicable, "Are the consolations of God small with thee? Is there no secret thing with thee?" Let the warning voice be heard. Let the priest of the Lord strip himself of his sacerdotal robes, and examine his soul before the Lord his God, remembering that if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Yet let him not forget the sentence immediately following, "If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God." Nothing is lost by self-examination; but much is gained either way, and every way. If the Lord have a controversy with us, this is the very means to discover the cause. Or if it be only the temporary hiding of his face for the trial of our faith, our acts of faith, and humiliation, and selfscrutiny, will but prepare the way for our again enjoying, and in greater splendour than before, the light of his countenance. In this sense, depend upon it, my dear sir, that blessed is the man that feareth always. How appropriate! then, at all times, is that prayer of our church, Make us to have a perpetual fear, and love of thy holy Name. God grant that you and I may be so accustomed to live in the sun-shine of our Heavenly Father's countenance, that the least thing which tends in any measure to deprive us of that feeling, may lead to suspicion of ourselves and earnest self-examination. At allseasons well may we pray in the language of the poet,

Oh! may the least omission pain

My well instructed soul,

And drive me to that blood again,
Which makes the wounded whole.

"Because thine heart was tender," is an expression which we are but too apt to forget when we are looked up to as the authorised teachers of the church. Let us not, then, think that this remark is less appropriate to a Christian priest than to a Jewish prince. "To that man," says the Lord, "will I look, even to him that is humble, and of a contrite heart, and that trembleth at my word." And depend upon it, if there were more of this spirit among the accredited ministers of the church, it would be attended with an effect upon the people which no words can adequately describe. The contrite heart would prevent ten thousand evils; nor ever forget, my dear sir, that, although ministers ourselves, we have a heaven to gain and a hell to avoid. But, on this subject, I would rather speak in the striking, though somewhat quaint, words of good old Baxter; and with the quotation I must leave the subject at the present, hoping to resume it ere long.

"You have heaven to win or lose yourselves, and souls that must be happy or miserable for ever; and therefore it concerneth you to begin at home, and take heed to yourselves as well as unto others. Preaching well may succeed to the salvation of others without the holiness of your own hearts or lives; it is possible at least, though less usual;

but it is impossible it should serve to save yourselves: Many shall say
at that day, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?' (Matt.
vii. 22,) who shall be answered with, I never knew
you; depart from
me, ye that work iniquity.' (ver. 23.) O sirs, how many men have
preached Christ, and perished for want of a saving interest in him! How
many that are now in hell, have told their people of the torments of
hell, and have warned them against it! How many have preached
of the wrath of God against sinners, that are now feeling it! O what
sadder case can there be in the world, than for a man that made it his
very trade and calling to proclaim salvation, and to help others to
attain it, yet after all to be himself shut out! Alas! that ever we
should have many books in our libraries that tell us the way to heaven;
that we should spend so many years in reading those books, and
studying the doctrine of eternal life, and yet for all this to miss it!
That ever we should study and preach so many sermons of salvation,
and yet fall short of it!-so many sermons of damnation, and yet fall
into it! And all because we preached so many sermons of Christ
while we neglected him; of the Spirit, while we resisted it; of faith,
while we did not heartily believe; of repentance and conversion, while
we continued in the state of flesh and sin'; and of a heavenly life, while
we remained carnal and earthly ourselves. If we will be divines only
in tongue and title, and have not the Divine image upon our souls,
nor give up ourselves to the Divine honour and will, no wonder if we
be separated from the Divine presence, and denied the fruition of God
for ever.
Believe it, sirs, God is no respecter of persons: he saveth
not men for their coats or callings; a holy calling will not save an un-
holy man. If you stand at the door of the kingdom of grace, to light
others in, and will not go in yourselves, when you are burnt to the
snuff, you will go out with an ill savour, and shall knock in vain at the
gates of glory, that would not enter at the door of grace. You shall
then find that your lamps should have had the oil of grace as well as
of ministerial gifts; of holiness as well as of doctrine, if you would
have had a part in the glory which you preached. Do I need to tell
you that preachers of the Gospel must be judged by the Gospel; and
stand at the same bar, and be sentenced on the same terms, and
dealt with as severely as any other men? Can you think to be saved
then by your clergy; and to come off by a legit ut clericus,' when
there is wanting the credidit et vixit ut Christianus?' Alas, it will
not be; you know it will not! Take heed therefore to yourselves for
your own sakes; seeing you have souls to save or lose as well as others."

:

6

"Take heed to yourselves, for you have a depraved nature, and sinful inclinations as well as others. If innocent Adam had need to heed, and lost himself and us for want of it, how much more need have we? Sin dwelleth in us, when we have preached never so much against it one degree prepareth the heart for another, and one sin inclineth the mind to more. If one thief be in the house, he will let in the rest, because they have the same disposition and design. A spark is the beginning of a flame; and a small disease may bring a greater. A man that knows himself to be purblind, should take heed

to his feet.

Alas! even in our hearts, as well as in our hearers, there is an averseness to God, a strangeness to him, unreasonable and almost unruly passions. In us there is at the best the remnants of pride, unbelief, self-seeking, hypocrisy, and all the most hateful, deadly sins. And doth it not then concern us to take heed? Is so much of the fire of hell yet unextinguished, that at first was kindled in us? Are there so many traitors in our hearts, and is it not time for us to take heed? You will scarce let your little children go themselves while they are weak, without calling upon them to take heed of falling. And alas! how weak are those of us that seem strongest ! How apt to stumble at a very straw! How small a matter will cast us down, by enticing us to folly; or kindling our passions and inordinate desires, by perverting our judgments, or abating our resolutions, and cooling our zeal, and dulling our diligence! Ministers are not only sons of Adam, but sinners against the grace of Christ, as well as others, and so have increased their radical sin. Those treacherous hearts will one time or other deceive you, if you take not heed. Those sins that seem to lie dead will revive: your pride and worldliness, and many a noisome vice will spring up, that you thought had been weeded out by the roots. It is most necessary therefore, that men of such infirmities should take heed to themselves, and be careful in the dieting and usage of their souls."