others too. The apostles went from house to house. 4. The fourth mean by which we are called to discharge the office of the ministry is by a godly conversation; hereby we glorify God, and preach most effectually to others. Example is very powerful; and where this is not, preaching and other labours are in vain; for without this the most seriously delivered sermons are nothing in effect but a well-acted stage-play, 1 Thess. ii. 10. This was it that made the apostles' preaching so efficacious to the Thessalonians, that they perceived them to be of very holy conversation. "Ye know what manner of men we were for your sakes." They illustrated by their practice as by example what they preached. All are bound to be holy, but ministers much more; and their godly conversation is one of the ways they preach, and which many times doth convert, 1 Pet. iii. 2; some, not gained by the word, are gained by the conversation of their wives or their believing relations. They may discharge their commission by writing of epistles or treatises as the Lord shall call or enable them, and especially when there is no access to other means. Thus the Apostle Paul did write when in prison, or when he could not get to them. Many breathings are lost for neglect of this, saith Mr Shepherd. To all these five things I found myself called.

5.

3dly, As to the nature of my particular call to preach the gospel, by ought I can discern through the moving of God's Spirit, or the encouragement I had thereto, it was not to preach to any particular flock, gathered or ungathered; but it was to preach to the whole world, especially my relations and acquaintance. My commission was much of the nature of that man's, Mark iv., "Go and show thy friends what God hath done for thee." The Lord then had scattered both shepherds and flocks; we were then to preach wherever we could find people. Yea, though I had three calls from three different societies of Christians, yet did I not incline to fix with any, Mark xvi. My commission, I thought, was rather indefinite than definite; "Preach the Gospel to every creature under heaven." (2.) And hence I was called to preach in a vagrant manner, sometimes to one place, sometimes to another, here and there, up and

down the country, as I was called by the people, not staying above a week in one place. So at Edinburgh, where my family was, where once every week-day, if at home, I preached a sermon, and on the Lord's day. I loved not fixed stipends and pulpits, while the Lord Jesus himself was unfixed; but thought it most kindly to follow the wandering ark and tabernacle. (3.) The chief things I was called to preach and declare were, man's misery by nature, the nature of regeneration and salvation by Christ, Ezek. xx. 4 ; Micah iii. 8; and my spirit did more freely go out in a gospelstrain than in a legal. I never in my sermons reflected upon the persons of rulers or councils; neither laboured to stir up the people, nor did I insist ordinarily upon public differences. But though I did sometimes (the Lord putting it in my mind and mouth) preach against the ungodly ministers the curates, the particular duties of the times, yet were the substantial truths of religion the more ordinary subject of my discourses, and it was "Christ and him crucified" that I was mostly called to preach. (4.) I was called (I say) more to preach by private exhortation than by public formal preaching; and to endeavour the conversion of some and edification of others by transient occasional discourses. And in the discharge of this I found more peace of conscience, greater sweetness and profit, than by preaching of many sermons; yet in this I was most defective, and to it had least inclination. I found a private exhortation and instruction, transiently and occasionally given, do more good than many sermons. And private exhortation is preaching, and hath the advantage of public preaching, especially at this time, in this regard, that there is more self-denial, less carnal vain ends in it, than in public preaching; in this occasional preaching, by way of transient discourse, we have occasion given us to make what we say plain, and beat it upon them, and hear what they say. Lastly, we can do this without breach of law. We cannot do the other without undergoing great suffering, and in hazard to be frustrated; and the Lord, by the prevalency of the laws against these more formal preachings, seems to call us to see what private discourses may do. (5.) I was called to preach plainly, particu

larly, and authoritatively, as the messenger of Jesus Christ, with all sorts of persons; yet courteously, wisely, meekly, and gently; not to speak in a cloud of general words, but "Thou art the man,” to reach home; nor yet to speak lightly or slightly, but seriously and gravely, that it may be reverenced and regarded by those to whom it is directed. For both we should speak what we say, and they hear as the word of God; yet withal wisely and meekly, shunning to give irritation. (6.) I was called to "serve God in the gospel of his Son" as my only and great work, to make this my trade and calling, in which only, diligently, "in season and out of season," to be employed; and to take no other thing in hand, but wholly to be given to this. "Give thyself wholly to these things," saith the Apostle to Timothy. to the word and prayer." They would not so much as look to the distribution of supply to the poor, lest it should divert them from their function in the word. (7.) And that I might the better discharge my office and confute adversaries, I was called to read some, and meditate on what I read. (8.) To discharge the work of my calling in a special dependence on God for light, life, assistance, wisdom, and a blessing. No calling, no work under heaven, wherein there is more need of dependence on God, than the work of the ministry. Alas! we know neither what to say nor how to say, "We are not sufficient for these things, but our sufficiency is of God." Nor ought we to speak any thing but as the Lord giveth utterance. By this I perceive it is not every person, yea, every Christian or saint, that is a fit and qualified person for the ministry; they must be "polished shafts." Right interpreters are rare persons, “One of a thousand," Job xxxiii. 23. Nay, very few of those who are called of men are called of God to the ministry: for, 1. Ministers must be persons of good parts and endowments, able to convince and put to silence adversaries; they must have knowledge and learning more than others. 2. They must be saints and Christians ere they be ministers; for how shall Satan cast out Satan? What do all gifts profit if a man want grace or charity? Is he not as a "tinkling cymbal?" How shall such persuade others, who them

Acts vi. 4, "We will give ourselves

selves never "knew the terrors of the Lord?" Shall they tell others the way to heaven, that never themselves travelled that way? Is not this for "the blind to lead the blind?" Can a blessing be expected on the labours of such? I do not say that grace is essential to the ministry, but appearance of grace and serious profession is needful; and it is necessary to the bene esse of a minister. 3. He must have a more than ordinary stock and measure of grace, of knowledge, patience, zeal, experience, sobriety, watchfulness, faith; he cannot without this be "one of a thousand." He must be one acquainted in some measure with Satan's devices, and with the corners of the little world, the heart. 4. A godly, heavenly, pure, and spiritual conversation and behaviour, to illustrate what he delivers in preaching, to exemplify a godly life, is a clear confirmation of a minister's doctrine; and if it do not convert them, yet still it will convince them. And when the conversation is contrary, or short of the doctrine preached, that man "destroyeth what he buildeth”—he unpreacheth and confutes what he preaches, an gives occasion to people to think religion a stage-play. 5. The minister must have the sense of his charge, the danger of immortal souls deeply imprinted on his heart; it must be clear to him, that the Lord hath called him, and to what he is called, and the weight and import of his charge. It is a matter of life and death; hence the charge of prophesying, committed to the prophets, is called a burden. He that hath but slight impressions of his charge will never faithfully discharge it. 6. He must love and take pleasure in his work, be reconciled thereto. He must not only be convinced that such a work is incumbent upon him, and be some way sufficient for the discharge of it; but his heart must lie to it, he must have a will to it, else his work is not accepted; "With good-will doing the work of the Lord;" God "meeteth him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness." He that doth not so will not continue long in it; hence there must be a desire of the office of a bishop. Paul was affectionately desirous of the Thessalonians, and was "straitened in spirit" till he had discharged his commission; "Gladly willing to spend and be spent for you." 7. He must be

a prudent man; "Be ye wise as serpents," Matth. x., "Being cunning, I caught you with guile; he that winneth souls is wise." There is a divine wisdom and prudence in "fishing of men" for Christ. 8. He must be a tender-hearted man, ready to sympathise with all that are in affliction, either inward or outward, 1 Thess. ii. 7; be as a nurse to them. Compassion puts ministers to do much for the souls of people, and when people see the compassion of ministers, it takes much with them. 9. They must always live near God, and depend on him for wisdom, courage, and success; they must be, with Moses, much in the mount. 10. They must be bold courageous men, men of great zeal for God, "not afraid of the faces of men," but "set their faces as a flint." 11. Humble persons, "bearing with much meekness and long-suffering those that are out of the way," 2 Tim. ii. 25. Of all these qualifications I had some small measure, of some more, of some less, but of none what I ought to have.

SECTION III.

Observations and Instructions from the aforesaid Narration.

The office of the ministry is an honourable employment. What a trust and an honour hath the Lord been pleased to confer on me, that he hath intrusted me with the charge of souls, and to be his ambassador, and witness, and apostle or messenger, "for obedience to the faith among all nations. Unto me is this grace given, that I should preach the unsearchable riches of Christ." 2. I perceive that I am bound to another kind of life than the rest of the world, to be holy in another manner than they; that, as the Lord hath set me in a more eminent place, so I should be more eminent in holiness, adorning the gospel: they that "bear the vessels of the Lord's" house ought themselves to be holy in a special manner. 3. A minister's work and charge is very weighty; they are placed in the very front of the battle against the devil and the world, to "declare the whole counsel of God" to them; and they stake