all that is beautiful in the honor paid by children to their parents.

And where, if not amid such scenes, and listening to such truths, can the mind of man ever hope to exert an influence over other minds? Ought not such a ministry to be clothed with power? What cause has such a hearing as that of the Christian pulpit?

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CHAPTER VIII.

THE DIVINE AUTHORITY OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

THE truth of God has power, be it uttered by whom it may. It possesses the authority of truth; and ought, even though uttered by meanest lips, to control the understanding, the conscience, the heart, and the life.

But there is superadded to the power of truth, as thus uttered, a circumstance of some importance, which constitutes one of the elements of that influence which is exerted by the Christian pulpit. The truth it communicates is uttered in God's name, and by God's authority.

There is a sense in which every man is authorized to utter the truth of God, and to urge home its obligations on the consciences of his fellows. There is no law of nature, of rectitude, or of God, that locks his lips in silence. The mere fact that he is acquainted with truths that are essential to the salvation of his fellow-men, with which they are unacquainted, lays him under obligations to make them

known, and to impress and enforce them. Truth herself authorizes him to utter them; she says to every one of her disciples, imbued with her principles, and filled with her spirit, "Go and proclaim them; make them known to those who are shrouded in darkness; make them understood by the ignorant, and felt by the thoughtless, and do whatever in you lies to reclaim and save those who are wandering in the perverse and crooked ways of sin and death. Be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life."

Truth is personified in the Scriptures as everywhere announcing her own claims; she does this by the lips and lives of her disciples. Doth not "Wisdom cry, and understanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men!" The last message of the Saviour's love ever given to this lost world, is contained in those precious words, "And the Spirit and the Bride say, come; and let him that heareth say, come; and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely!"

The gracious invitation should sound forth from every tongue, and through every land.

The Church of God ought everywhere to invite men to Jesus; the voice of all her members ought every where to unite with the voice of his Spirit, in presenting the invitations of his mercy to a lost world. The personal obligations of every believer, to assist in spreading the truth, can hardly be called in question. The field is large, and there is abundant room for the combined efforts of all the friends of the Redeemer in this blessed work. "Come and hear, all ye that fear God," says the Psalmist, "and I will tell what the Lord hath done for my soul."

The agency of judicious and private Christians has ever been appreciated during those seasons when God, in a remarkable manner, has poured out his Spirit; it is required, it is absolutely necessary. Ministers cannot perform all the work; a multitude of minds must be moving in concert with theirs, and a multitude of hands employed. No man may refuse to speak a word for Christ, because he is not an ordained minister of the Gospel; nor fold up his talent in a napkin, and bury it in the earth because it is but one talent. "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." He may not have the gift of prophecy, and be called to the sacred min

istry; but if there be given to him, "the word of wisdom," and the "word of knowledge," it is that he may be profitable to others, and employ the gift for the salvation of men.

But while these are truths that ought neither to be forgotten nor abused, it is equally true, that no private Christian is authorized to utter the truths of the Gospel in God's name, and as his commissioned ambassador. He may, and ought to speak for God, in his private capacity; but not as a minister of the Gospel. When two nations are at war, the private citizens of both, who are resident in the land of the enemy, may, in their private capacity, urge the claims of their own land; while as commissioned ambassadors, they have no authority, and in that capacity have no claim to be heard. This world is at war with God: every friend of God in this revolted empire of his dominion, is bound to act the part of a friend, and in his capacity as a private citizen of the Divine kingdom, to urge men to cease from their rebellion, and become reconciled to their injured and offended Lord; but he has no instructions to do this as God's special ambassador.

The legitimate occupants of the pulpit claim this as their prerogative; they are appointed by God himself to this responsible service. God has invested them with this high office;