world were "in labors more abundant ?" It is not "a heap of cares and toils they are snatching at," who look for the "crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give them at his appearing."

Are there no misgivings, in view of the judgment, in the bosom of a negligent minister of the Gospel? Can he look forward to it with peace, with hope, with joy, with triumph in that Saviour, who so tenderly requires him to feed his sheep and lambs? Has he taken to himself the whole armor of God, and fought the good fight? Has he so run that he may obtain? Is he sensible that there is a day of reckoning, and endless retribution to ministers, as well as their people? Is the thought present to his mind, that when he stands with them at the bar of God, it is no impossible thing for the blood of souls to be found in his skirts? The office of a minister of the Gospel imparts deep interest to this day of final account, in regard to those who are committed to his trust. The words which he has spoken will bear testimony for or against those who have listened to them; while, if he himself has been negligent and faithless, nothing can shield him from the appalling doom of the unprofitable servant.

But I will not pursue these thoughts. There is a reproach attached to the character of an idle minister, the stain of which is not easily

wiped away. An idle minister of the Gospel of the ever blessed God,-what a paradox! Such a man belongs not to the class of ministers whom the Saviour had in his thoughts, when he said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest!" He is not of the class of ministers whom the Church prays for; he should fear lest he is out of his place, and lest the sentence should go forth against him, "Cut him down, why cumbereth he the ground!" Instead of standing between the living and the dead, that the plague of sin may be stayed, such a minister is like the dead among the living. He buries himself alive, and is much more fit for the graveyard, than for the busy scenes of God's Church on the earth, and her unsleeping conflict with the powers of darkness. And when he dies, he "leaves nothing behind him but a tomb."

It is of great importance that we should form a just estimate of the true character and work of a minister of the Gospel. We are not responsible for the number of our talents, but for the diligent use of them. We need not be afraid of toil. There are sufficient inducements to effort, and effective incentives to fear. Ministers may hope for a grateful return from men; but if this is denied, the promise

is good, "Lo I am with you." They have the light of God's countenance; there is no such pleasure in any of the toils of earth; this world cannot do for them what God their Maker so often does, when he "gives them songs in the night." It is no time to rest on the field of battle. Shall ministers be negligent, when their mighty and malicious Foe is so indefatigable to gain the victory over them, and the souls committed to their care? Who would not rather labor and die like Payson, than live in inglorious repose in such a work as the ministry of reconciliation? O for such a spirit! O for such a race of ministers,-ministers who could say with Paul, as they look back and look forward, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course!"

CHAPTER XII.

EVERY THING SUBSERVIENT TO THE PULPIT.

It is of great importance to the wise and successful prosecution of any object of pursuit, that it be made the great and absorbing object;—that the mind be perseveringly directed to it, unobstructed by other pursuits, undivided by an inferior impulse. A divided heart, and a divided intellect are but cumbrous obstacles in the career of usefulness; the object must be single, and steadily pursued, in defiance of difficulties and dangers, be they imaginary, or real.

In the selection of his object, every man is under obligations to make choice of one that is worthy, and that God approves; else, if he be a good man, it will be impossible for him to pursue it with a tranquil conscience, and with hearty good will. But when once he has selected it, it should be the object of his life, and the accomplishment of it the fulfilment of his joy.

This is the only true principle of success in

any department of labor; it is the great principle acted upon by men who attain any thing like eminence. They select their object;-for the most part they select it in early life, and pursue it with unshaken resolution and firm

ness.

But

Now this is what we urge upon every minister of the Gospel. His vocation is selected, and his great object is to fulfil the ministry which he has received of the Lord Jesus. there are different departments of labor in this comprehensive profession, some one of which is very apt to have the pre-eminence in his own thoughts and purposes. If we have presented just views of this great Christian institution, and have not given an undue estimate of the power of the pulpit; we have no embarrassment in asserting, that the great object of every minister of the Gospel ought to be to give the SERVICES OF THE PULPIT the pre-eminence over every other department of ministerial labor. He may be tempted to make them a secondary concern, and though very far from subjecting himself to the reproach of clerical indolence, direct his most vigorous efforts to other departments of labor.

It were the wiser part for most ministers to come to the conclusion seasonably, that they may scarcely hope to excel in every department. If their great object is to be finished