These are the words of the Lord to Ezekiel, and they are applicable to every Minister:-" Son of man! I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand." Again : "When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand." And is it thus with every watchman of God, that he shall not only answer for his own sins, but for those of the flock committed to his care, if he warn them not, nor lead them in the right way? Alas! who can enter upon such a charge without fear and trembling?

II. If the importance of the work of the Ministry must produce a sense of weakness and fear, these emotions will be exceedingly increased if we add the consideration of its DIFFICULTY.

It is a difficult service in its own nature. Were the work of a preacher indeed confined to the delivery of a moral discourse, this would not be an arduous task. But a Minister of the Gospel has much more to do. He will endeavour, under Divine Grace, to bring every individual in his congregation to live no longer to himself, but unto Him who died for us. But here the passions, the prejudices, and perhaps the temporal interests of men combine to oppose his success. It is not easy to obtain any influence over the mind of another; but to obtain such an influence as to direct it contrary to the natural current of its desires and passions, is a work of the highest difficulty. Yet such is the work of a Minister. He has to arrest the sinner in his course of sin; to shake his strong hold of security; to make the stouthearted tremble under the denunciation of God's judgment; to lead him so to deny himself, as to sacrifice the inclinations most dear to him-to repent, and become a new creature. Neither is the work of the Ministry less arduous in respect to those who are not open and profligate sinners. Self-love, the most powerful passion of the human breast, will render it equally difficult to convince the formalist of the unsoundness of his religion, the pharisee of the pride of his heart, and the mere moralist of his deficiency in the sight of God.

In all these cases, we have to convey unpleasant tidings; to persuade to what is disagreeable; to effect not only a reformation in the conduct of men, and a regulation of their passions, but, what is of still higher difficulty, a change in their good opinion of themselves. Nay, further, we have not merely to "wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." "Who is sufficient for these things?"

III. When a Minister, deeply impressed with the importance and difficulty of his work, looks into HIS OWN HEART, to explore the resources with which he is furnished for so difficult a service; there, alas! he meets with little that does not serve to increase his sense of weakness, and to confirm his fears. For it must be remembered, that he is a man of like passions with his flock, inheriting a body of corruption; that he is, perhaps, deficient in ability, perhaps unfortunate in the natural constitution of his mind; that, at all events, he has to struggle with infirmities, is exposed to temptations, has more to accomplish than others, as well as greater difficulties to surmount; and that, whilst more will be expected from him, in himself he may have no resources above those of any of his congregation.

Suffer me to enumerate some particulars, which my own feelings suggest as likely to produce an affecting sense of weakness in every Christian Pastor.

A want of wisdom and spiritual understanding, is one of the first things which presents itself.When the question is proposed, Will you undertake to be the instructor of a congregation in matters of the greatest import; who would not tremble to answer in the affirmative? Consider the various errors which have distracted the religious world; reflect upon the dangerous consequences of error in the way of salvation. Can you hope to discover the way of truth? Can you presume to be the guide of others? To such questions a Minister will reply, by entreating his congregation to join their prayers with his, that the Spirit of Truth may lead him into the knowledge of "the truth as it is in Jesus."

A want of ability in the mode of communicating religious instruction, is another subject of anxiety to a Minister.-There is great danger lest a good cause should suffer by the inefficient or imprudent mode in which it is maintained. An uninteresting manner or an indiscreet zeal, too great laxity or unnecessary severity, may be equally hurtful. When the awful judgments of God are to be denounced, it requires much cau

tion to combine, with manifest hatred of the sin, tenderness to the sinner. There is a limit, not easily to be found, where reproof tends to exasperate, rather than to amend; where it ceases to promote reformation, and begins to provoke resistance.

A good intention will, however, do much to prevent the bad consequences which may arise from want of wisdom or ability. But there is another weakness, more pernicious in its consequences: I mean, a want of courage.-To "fight the good fight of faith;" to speak honestly and openly; to rebuke vice wheresoever it appears; to incur displeasure rather than spare a prevailing error; to assert the cause of God in the face of licentiousness and infidelity; perhaps to suffer in reputation, to be misrepresented, to be exposed to ridicule (and to these trials both Ministers and the Master of Ministers have been called);-these things require no little courage. St. Paul entreats the Ephesian disciples to pray, that even he might be enabled to "speak boldly, as he ought to speak."

But, alas! want of courage is but one weakness out of many, which spring from the fruitful source of the corruption of the nature of man. This corruption itself it is which is calculated to bring the Minister before his people in "weakness, and in