plan of redemption, otherwise than by types and shadows, before the sacrifice, which expiated the sins of the world, was completed. But when all was finished, and the dying voice of the Saviour of mankind had pronounced that the purpose of his incarnation was fulfilled, then the beauty of the whole design could be measured and comprehended, and the preachers of the Gospel could point specifically to the Lamb of God, who had already paid the price for the ransom of his people.

If then Christ himself be established as the corner stone of the building, it is not derogatory to his dignity, or inconsistent with his glory, that the builders, whom he has appointed and gifted for their office, should raise on that foundation, once laid, a superstructure, framed for manifesting the plan of its heavenly Contriver to the whole world.

2. The subject under consideration suggests to preachers, on the highest authority, the necessity of dividing the word with judgement,

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thy, formed under his own inspection for the work of a minister, harmonizes entirely with his own practice. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth '.'

So too the Apostle John separates the believers into classes, according to their measure of spiritual knowledge, and gives to each such instruction as may suit their respective stages of advancement. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake:-I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning

I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one".

Here then, in these examples, the Christian preacher will best seek his model. He will temper his zeal for enlightening the souls committed to his charge, with judgement and circumspection; he will press forward, but gra

1 2 Tim. ii. 15.

21 John, ii. 12, 13.

dually and with caution, lest in his haste he place a stumbling block in the way of those who may not be so far from the kingdom of heaven.

At the same time, while we imitate our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, and the great elders of his church in this respect, we must be on our guard, lest timidity, and not prudence, be the cause of our reserve. The fear of man only bringeth a snare. At certain seasons it is necessary to speak to men, 'whether they will hear or whether they will forbear,'-' keeping back nothing that is profitable for them,' and declaring to them all the counsel of God.' And since it was not our Lord's purpose to develope completely the Christian dispensation, till the sacrifice which sealed and consummated it had been perfected, the duty of communicating to mankind the glad tidings of salvation, in the fulness of its mysteries, devolved in a great measure on the Apostles. It is to them, therefore, or rather to Christ, who was with them always, and who spake by them, that we

must look for the authorized mode of delivering those great truths which it was the business of their lives to promulgate. Their practice, so far as the Holy Spirit has revealed it to us in the short history of their labours which the New Testament contains, fully illustrates the duty of labouring to unite the difficult provinces of a faithful ministry on the one hand, and of an acceptable ministry on the other. Their exhortations teach us to commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God'—and their success instructs us that we must become all things to all men,' as far as our integrity will permit, that so

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by any means we may save some.' Conciliation, so long as it does not lead us to compromise our principles, is one of the most productive instruments of ministerial usefulness.

3. Again, if Christ be a progressive teacher of truth, we, who profess to study in his school, must take care that our attainments be in like manner progressive. We must choose the church of Thyatira, rather than that of Ephesus, for

our pattern. Our last works must be more than our first, instead of such as will expose us to the charge of having left our first love 3. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. And this will we do, if God permit ^.

Such however is the nature of man, that no part of a minister's duty will more require the exercise of a sound discretion than the superintendence of the individual progress of his congregation. In his private intercourse with the several members of his flock he will experience no difficulty in proportioning the subject of his advice to their respective cases; but his judgement will be often subjected to a severe trial in the choice of topics for his public ministration, where hearers of different capacity and growth

3 Rev. ii. 4, 19.

4 Heb. v. 1-3.