of love; and silencing the thunders of heaven, that the whispers of mercy might be heard. The hypocrites and the self-righteous alone were the objects of his holy indignation; upon them he turned the power of his eloquence and the terrors of his frown; but he looked invitation to the poor, convinced, despairing sinner, while he said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The luminous character of his teaching stood opposed to the heavy literature or the unintelligible exposition of the scribes. How could they, who did not themselves understand the law, who could not discern the Messiah in it, unfold its mysteries, or apply its revelations? Referring its leading features to an idol of their own imagination, while the great original stood before them, they must have been teachers no less obscure than unsafe. A temple from which the very types were fast vanishing away, and from which the Saviour to whom they related was expelled, could have but few attractions; and the multitudes flocked to the side of the mountain, or the borders of the lake, to hear that exposition of the law, and to receive that simple, impressive, convincing information, which they looked for in vain, from the appointed teachers, and in that once distinguished house of prayer from which the glory was departed. The earnestness and energy of our Lord's teaching must have formed a strong contrast to the supineness and indifference of the scribes. Seeking only their own emolument and distinction,

they were careless of the interests of the imperishable spirit. Their own prophets had so severely arraigned such teachers, that they read their own condemnation in the synagogue every sabbath day; and if they were so blind as not to perceive, or so hardened as not to regard it, it is not to be imagined that those who smarted under their authority, and perished through their neglect, could be equally blind, or equally indifferent. Where could they look for a faithful shepherd, when the whole priesthood was alike corrupt? Behold! a new Teacher arises-indifferent to circumstancescareful only of principles. He can teach in any place, and at any time. He is found labouring, in season and out of season: He preaches from a boat, on the side of a hill, in the desert, by the way side-he consecrates every spot by his doctrines and prayers. And, oh! how eloquently he pleads the cause of man with himself! how fervently he argues against prejudice! how divinely he pities and forgives! how clearly he describes human ruin and redemption! This, so attractive in itself, became irresistible when contrasted with the pride and indifference of their teachers. No wonder the people heard him "gladly." Being crafty then, did he catch them with guile? O, no! disdaining all art, influenced alone by love to man, justifying his name, JESUS; he was accomplishing his work as a Saviour; he was winning the souls which he was about to purchase with his own blood.

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Such were some of the characters of our Lord's general teaching; and they shame our levity, they censure our indolence, they reprove our carelessness, as those to whom he has deigned to commit the word of this salvation. Lives there the minister, who does not feel the burning blushes of shame and indignation against himself rise to his cheek, while he contemplates the work and character of his Lord ?-O, for the mind of Christ, to rest upon those who enter into the labours of his love, and the ministry once committed to the diligent and faithful hands of his apostles!

THE MODEL OF A GOSPEL MINISTER SHOULD BE CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES.

WHEN the illustrious rival of Demosthenes, after an unsuccessful struggle to share with him the palm of eloquence, retreated from the public eye to conceal his defeat in retirement, he had the magnanimity to place the oration which had occasioned his disgrace in the hands of his pupils; and when he saw their countenances kindling as they read it, until they were unable longer to restrain their feelings, which broke out into expressions of unbounded admiration, so far from suffering jealousy to withhold from his victor the well earned meed of praise, he encouraged their enthusiasm, and exclaimed, “What then would you have said if you had heard him deliver it?" With reflections some

what correspondent, I read the sermons of our Lord and his apostles, as they are recorded in the sacred volume. Glowing and elegant passages, presented only to the eye, lose half the efficacy they possessed, when the ear was associated with this sense, and when every sentiment was embellished by corresponding tones and gestures. The orations of such men as Demosthenes and Cicero may well be admired: for what must have been their original fire, when they retain so much heat still, and present themselves to us so advantageously, without the auxiliaries of manner and emphasis after the lapse of so many years, and when the interests which excited them have ceased! The sermons of our Lord and of his apostles, have the disadvantages common to all written discourses; and some peculiar to themselves. They are transmitted to us mere fragments-as sketches, hastily but faithfully drawn. And, if, for instance, the train of discussion pursued by St. Paul at Athens, appearing on the pages of the Acts of the Apostles as a line faintly traced by a masterly hand, rushes through the mind, and overpowers the feelings; what must it have been to have seen and heard him on that occasion, when his spirit was stirred within him, and he stood to plead the cause of truth and religion, surrounded by the altars of superstition, and the images of idolatry! If the imagination is early inspired by the most beautiful specimens of classical eloquence, the judgment must often regret that so much force should be

wasted upon subjects so trivial-upon circumstances local and transient, upon fading interests; and still more must the moral taste be shocked, that these illustrious talents should be, as they frequently were, prostituted to the service of vice, and heavenly eloquence debased to excuse or commend brutal passions. This accusation can never be alleged against the inspired volume. Superior to all other writings in the majesty of its style, it infinitely excels them in the character of its subjects: it never seduces, never trifles, never advocates or extenuates evil: it is irresistibly eloquent, and it is essentially true.

To these writings, therefore, rather than to any of the admired models of antiquity, should the preacher go, to gather both the matter and the manner of his sermons. It may become the physician to compare his knowledge and experience with the researches and observations of others celebrated in former ages for excelling in his science. It behoves the politician to be versed in the history of ancient as well as modern times, that he may be well acquainted with the secret springs of government, and develope the causes which impede or facilitate their operation. It is profitable to the sculptor to recur to the remaining specimens of those mighty masters of an art which was long upon the decline, and which has not yet wholly recovered those just proportions and that graceful symmetry which distinguished the chisels of antiquity. Nor would we deprive the minister