charging the ordinary duties of the ministry? Has not the usefulness of some been greatly circumscribed by rashness, by timidity, or by palpable errors in judgment, which the ripening of a few more years might have prevented? For my own part, I cannot but think, that many of the difficulties which ultimately end in dismission, originate in the want of age and experience at first; and that from the same causes, not a few are led in the commencement of their ministry, to sacrifice their own judgement and independence, so as never to gain that influence, either at home or abroad, which might have been established and turned to the very best account.

Indeed, when we turn our attention for one moment to the responsibilities of the pastoral office; when we think of its ever varying, and continually pressing and arduous duties; when we consider what maturity of christian experience, what wisdom, what prudence, what meekness, what forbearance are required;-how can a youth just passing from his minority, a child almost, be adequate to such a station? especially, how can he grow up to his full stature under all the pressure of weekly preparations for the desk, of hourly hindrances and exhausting parochial duties, in a great and popular congregation? Will you insist upon age and experience in your representative at a foreign court, or in any station of great civil responsibility at home, and at the same time, count these qualifications unimportant in the ambassador of Christ, in one to whom are committed the eternal interests of thousands ?.

I confess it weighs much with me, that under the Jewish ceremonial law no man could be invested with the priests' office till he was thirty years of age-for although this law is not binding upon us as it was upon the sons of Aaron, still there must have been a reason for it. Infinite wisdom decided that it was inexpedient for them to exercise the sacred function at an earlier age, and surely it cannot be supposed, that the office of a christian minister is less arduous, or less responsible, than that of the priests' was in the tabernacle, or the temple.

An additional remark under this head is, that even maturity of age and judgement is not sufficient to qualify a man for the pastoral office, without a considerable acquaintance with the world and knowledge of human nature. When a youth who has had little previous intercourse with mankind, passes at once from the Academy to the College, thence to the Theological Seminary, and from that to an important parish, how can he be fitted for his station? He may be extremely well read in his profession, may be deeply versed in sacred criticism and controversial theology, and may preach with great ability, and at the same time, be a mere novice, every where out of his study and pulpit.

Now will you put such a candidate at once into the ministry? Will you commit to him all the momentous interests of a church and society? Is it kindly done? Is it right thus to overlook his inexperience, and jeopardize the prosperity of a religious. community? Let him rather be advised to acquaint

himself first, with the elementary chapters at least, in the great volume of human nature. And that he

may benefit others, while he is thus qualifying himself for a pastoral charge, let him inquire what he can do in Sabbath Schools and Bible Classes;-what, to instruct the ignorant, to reclaim the vicious, and to better the condition of the poor and desponding. Or, let him when he has finished his studies and taken licence, devote himself, for a year or two at least, to the missionary service. There is no such

preparatory school as this for instruction in pastoral duties and trials. And I cannot but regard it as auspicious to our churches at home, as well as to the scattered population of the west and south, that God is inclining the hearts of so many to seek for ultimate settlement through a course of missionary trials and labours. May he incline many more to adopt the same course.

FIFTHLY; The christian pastor should be a man of prudence. By prudence, however, I do not mean that time-serving, man-fearing, earth-born policy, which in the desk keeps out of sight what are called the hard doctrines, and never has the rudeness to disquiet the sinner's conscience, and is so very polite and civil as never to utter the word hell without a humble apology, or to name the prince of darkness without turning him into a harmless eastern metaphor! Nor by ministerial prudence do I mean that cringing spirit, which never dares to look tiltted wickedness in the face-that asper timidity

which always says Yes to the world, whatever it may dictate or propose; and which never troubles the gay, the rich, the great, the polite with any of the unwelcome and old fashioned topics of religion; or at any rate, not till they are just leaving the world, and want to be assured that such harmless and good-hearted people as they are, have nothing to fear. All this and more, which sometimes passes current under the imposing garb of prudence, deserves a very different name. It is a gross perversion both of the word and the thing.

Genuine ministerial prudence keeps back no important truth-listens to no compromise with sin— connives at no fashionable vice-cringes before no lordly worldling-is never silent when it ought to speak; and never sits quaking in cowardly concealment, when the honour of religion calls for boldness and activity. But prudence is always the opposite of rashness and inconsideration. It neither speaks nor acts till it has had time to deliberate. Its words being "fitly spoken, are like apples of gold in pictures of silver." In rebuking transgression, it strives to conciliate and gain the offender. It disarms prejudice, inspires confidence, gains friends, and wards off the attacks of enemies. Ordinary talents, under the direction of prudence, will do more in the ministry than the greatest gifts without it. Indeed, without prudence, no pastor can long be either useful or happy.

From pastoral qualifications we proceed

II. To example. And here, every minister should be a pattern of "whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report"-particularly of meekness, patience, forgiveness, contentment, temperance, hospitality, industry, brotherly kindness and charity. Upon each of these particulars I might enlarge, did the time permit. But I can only touch very briefly upon a few of them in passing.

FIRST; every pastor when injured, should be an example to his flock of christian forgiveness. As the love and forgiveness of enemies found no place in the admired codes of heathen morality, so the authority of Scripture on this point, is admitted with more reluctance than on almost any other. Scarcely any thing is so congenial to our fallen nature, as the rendering of evil for evil. Human resentment, or rather revenge, is every where so loud and clamorous in demanding an " eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," that it requires all the authority of the Saviour, seconded by all the influence of christian example to keep it within any tolerable bounds. How important then, that ministers of the gospel should be bright and steady examples to their people, of "blessing those who curse them, and of praying for those who despitefully use and persecute them." One such Godlike example will do more than a thousand fine sermons without it. When a minister is wantonly traduced, there is no sin in showing that he deeply feels the injury, and there