The goodness of a cause, therefore, may often be in the inverse proportion of success. In the end, it will not be so: but until the end come, the tree is to be judged by the quality, not by the quantity, of its fruit. The intrinsic merits of any "work or counsel," can alone enable us to determine whether its success has been permitted as a punishment for our faults, and "that they which are approved might be made manifest"," or whether it is to be attributed to the favour of the Most High. And of this we may be well assured, that as sin and error are too congenial to mankind to require any extrinsic assistance for their propagation; so the cause of true religion never can prosper without the help and blessing of God.

But necessary as is the assistance of God to the success of the Christian pastor, it is incumbent on us to remember, that much depends also on our own conduct. Our blessed Lord ascribed the fewness of his disciples not only to the want of that spiritual influence which is necessary to

c Matt. vii. 16.

d

1 Cor. xi. 19.

draw men to Hime, and which the Father of heaven was ready to give at their request; but also to the unwillingness of men themselves: "" ye will not come to me," He complains, "that ye might have lifes." His disciples therefore are said both to have received " power to become the sons of God"," and to be "willing in the day of his poweri." We are likewise warned that the Holy Spirit, who in the economy of the Gospel is that Person of the Godhead from whom all gracious influences proceed, may be so grieved by us as to withdraw his presence: that his grace may be effectually resisted', and its light quenched in our hearts; so that though given, though intended, though sufficient, for the attainment of our salvation, it may, on the contrary, add to our guilt, and be the occasion of our more awful downfall".

These solemn truths will be more pertinently applied to our present purpose, and will be brought in a more practical manner to the conscience, if we consider that it is "by the foolishness of preaching it hath pleased God to save them that believe";" that the ministry of his holy word, and the celebration of those ordinances which He has instituted in his Church, are the appointed means of our receiving the grace which is necessary and effectual to salvation. But if these means of grace be disregarded, the grace itself which they are intended to communicate, will be virtually disregarded also; and therefore there cannot be any Scriptural hope that it will be given. He too that slights one of the means of grace, will have little real disposition to put their due value on the others. If then men would save themselves; if we, the pastors of Christ's flock, are to accomplish the objects intended by our office; do we not justly expect that our people should work together with us, and " so account of us,

66

1 Cor. i. 21.

as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God?"

We do not expect that the people should take upon themselves any part of the priest's office; for that would be to work against him, instead of with him but we mean that they should attend upon his ministrations with all diligence; that they should unite with him in the appointed offices of divine worship with humble and earnest devotion; that they should “hear and receive" from him the word of God "with meek heart and due reverence P; that they should attend to his discourse from the pulpit, not as a subject whereon to exercise their taste or critical sagacity, but as one of the ordinances of God for their conviction and salvation; that they should carefully weigh at home the truth and consequences of what he has delivered to them, and pray that it may have its due effect upon their hearts and lives; that, giving all diligence to the things which make for their own salvation, they should

The Prayer for the whole state of Christ's Church militant here on earth.

also guard against their putting a stumbling block in another's way, and as much as their station and opportunities permit, help forward the salvation of their brethren : that instead of seeking "to keep back part" of that which is lawfully due to their minister, they should cheerfully render it, doing as much as in them lies to lay no unnecessary addition of care upon him, so that he may have leisure and quiet of mind to "wait on his ministry;" that they should look upon him as subject to human infirmity in an equal degree with themselves: and that in all their intercourse with him they should remember, that he is to "watch for their souls as” one "that must give account"."

Now it cannot be denied that these things are far from being always or universally practised and it is equally undeniable, that one of the most common and influential reasons why they are not so practised, is, that people too often forget the peculiar character with which their pastors are invested, as the ministers of Rom. xii. 7. • Heb. xiii. 17.

↑ Acts v. 3.