possible, of accomplishing it. Is there another blessing of greater importance to a people than such a man? Has he ambition? it is not to preach eloquently, or pray eloquently, that he may gain some brief applause, but that he may honor his Master, and save souls. These objects mingle in all his plans; in all his labors; in all his thoughts. They enter with him into his closet; they go forth with him into the streets, and into whatever circle he visits.

By him, in strains as sweet

As angels use, the Gospel whispers peace.
He 'stablishes the strong; restores the weak;
Reclaims the wand'rer; binds the broken heart;
And, arm'd himself in panoply complete,
Of heavenly temper, furnishes with arms,
Bright as his own, and trains, by every rule
Of holy discipline, to glorious war,

The sacramental host of God's elect.
Are all such teachers?

Well does the poet inquire: "Are all such teachers?" Oh! if they were, what a different aspect would our churches and congregations assume? We see the influence of one man among millions. We see his prayers answered, in respect to them all. Not one family; not a single individual in the whole nation, but is blessed through him.

And if the ministers of Jesus Christ, in their preaching, would more forget themselves; if they would lay aside that ambition, which so mars their piety; if they would banish all feelings of rivalship; all unholy aspirations for worldly praise; if they would pray more, and far more intensely, and with such importunity as corresponds with the magnitude of the object in view; if they had the pure, patriotic feelings the perfect self-denial of Moses; his holy, ardent, enduring love, would not the church shine far brighter? would not many more sinners be saved?

Let us not be misunderstood. The ministers of Jesus

Christ have a life of toil and sacrifice; and, as to good accomplished, who compares with them? But, then, might they not accomplish yet still more? Might not the ministerial standard be still higher? Might not ministers cultivate a purer and more fervent piety? Might they not secure, by more importunate pleading, far greater measures of grace? Let them take stronger hold upon the promises. Let them employ some such arguments as Moses used. Let them honor Jesus Christ more, by a firmer conviction that he is willing to fulfill all that he has pledged. Let them confide in him more, and put a far higher value upon the power of the Gospel. Let them depend less upon human wisdom, and human learning, and more upon the Spirit. Let them preach in expectation that the word will take effect. Let them pray as if they knew that, for Christ's sake, they will be heard and accepted.

They must preach, and they will carry up the

Ministers must have more faith. pray, and labor, as if, God willing, people to the New Jerusalem. And why not this faith? why not this resolution? And, if one blessing be bestowed; if one soul be converted, or one revival be enjoyed, let them use that as an argument with God, why more souls should be renewed, and another revival should be begun.. Said Moses: "Thou, Lord, hast forgiven thy people all their transgressions, since the time thou broughtest them up out of Egypt, and, therefore, forgive them again, I beseech thee." So let the ministers of Jesus pray: "Thou hast converted some, therefore, convert others; we have enjoyed a rich and powerful revival, therefore, may we enjoy such a blessing again."

And let the faithful minister assume some more boldness. He must, indeed, be humble, and, in all his approaches to God, remember in whose presence he stands; but let him recollect, also, that he is an embassador of God. He holds a high and sublime commission. To him are guarantied

exalted honors-privileges-promises. He is allowed to take of the things of Jesus for himself and the souls of his charge. He has the offer of just as much grace as he desires; and of just such measures of the Spirit, as he will honor, and usefully employ.

Let such heralds of the cross abound, and the world will, at no distant day, do homage, appropriate homage, to the Gospel; and of Jerusalem, our "happy home," it will, in truth, be said:

Praise is in all her gates: upon her walls,

And in her streets, and in her spacious courts,
Is heard salvation.

NUMBERS.

REMOVAL OF THE FIERY SERPENTS.

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole, and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.-Numb. xxi. 5-8.

We are like some traveler in a mountainous region, who, as he ascends one eminence after another, at length gains one, which he would fain hope to be the last; but finds, as he reaches its summit, that another, and a still higher elevation, lies beyond. In like manner, numerous as we have found the instances of murmuring on the part of the people of God, there is yet another instance before us, and one of great aggravation in the sight of God, if we may judge from the divine judgment which followed. Indeed, it would seem

that murmuring had become a habit with the children of Israel; and hence, we are not surprised that, in the chapter preceding, there is loud and bitter complaining, and in the usual tenor: "Why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there ?" It is an "evil place-no place of seed, or of figs, or vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink." Water is abundantly supplied, and their complainings cease. But a short time only elapses ere the spirit of discontent pervades the whole people anew, and they give vent to it in terms of bitter reproach: "Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread."

From Deut. 8:15, we learn that the wilderness through which the Israelites had passed was all along infested with fiery serpents. But God had wonderfully preserved them from their poisonous fangs; nor is it probable that even now would they have been permitted to molest the people of God, had the latter not been most unreasonable in their murmuring against their Divine Benefactor. Isaiah calls these serpents 'flying," or winged, (Isa. 14: 29,) from which circumstance, it is inferred, that they were better able to dart upon their victims. They were denominated "fiery," either from their color, their rage, or the effect of their bite upon the body, producing high inflammation, attended with insatiable thirst. The people had, without reason, complained for the want of water; and now, they are chastised with thirst which no water could quench.

Hundreds

The evil soon reaches a frightful magnitude. in every part of the camp are stung. Alarming symptoms ensue. Scorching fever sets in, accompanied by racking pain, and probably furious delirium. The poison soon pervades every part of the body; and in every case, it would appear, proves fatal.

This was a judgment, which addressed itself to the fears and consciences of every Israelite. There could be no mistake as to its cause, and none as to its violence. The remedy, also, it was plain, lay only with God. The people, therefore, impelled by the force of their sufferings, hasten to Moses, and make confession of their sin. That sin was two-fold. They had spoken against God and against Moses. This, with becoming humility, they acknowledge, and now intercede with Moses to pray for their relief.

How often it occurs, that sinners are, at length, forced to apply to those whom they have contemned and reproached, to supplicate divine mercy for them! What minister, or what Christian, has not known such instances; and often many? The tongue, which could "speak all manner of evil and falsely" of the Gospel and its professors, is employed in humble supplication, that prayer may go up for pardon and peace. What a change comes over the sinner, in such circumstances! His very looks are altered! his language, his tones, his feelings, all are changed. What he lately scorned, he prizes; what he would have shunned, he seeks; what most of all he would have despised, a throne of grace, where saints pray, he honors; and there will he be found by the side of some child of God, whom he has "reviled," but who bears his wants and woes most tenderly and affectionately to Him, who alone can impart peace and joy. Never did the Redeemer appear more glorious than on the cross, crying, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Never did Moses appear more honorable, than when supplicating pardon for those who had murmured against him. And, when, in the present world, does the child of God appear more lovely, than when affectionately offering to God his prayers for those who have " despitefully used him and persecuted him?" This is the manner and spirit of heaven itself. Love, which prompts to prayer, under such circumstances, is as the poet says: