God, this trifling, as it may justly be called, with his eternal majesty, so very uncommon? Do we never hear infirmity alleged as a sufficient excuse for sin, and weakness as an adequate apology for transgression? Nay, a bold and daring claim is advanced for the rewards of righteousness, from the very circumstance of our own manifold corruptions. How often

do the accents even of confession proclaim the resolution of continuing in sin? How often does the voice of humility herald the answer of disobedience? Alas! it is much easier to confess unworthiness, than to perform the commandments of God. It is much easier to lie down contented under a sense of our own feebleness, than to rise in the strength of the Lord, and go forth zealously to his service. It is much easier to serve God with our lips, than to worship him with our hearts, and honour him in our lives.

But, do we then attempt to undervalue that lowliness of mind which bows the spirit of man to the dust? Do we

desire to reprove that prostration of heart, which humbles the thoughts of pride and of self-sufficiency before the throne of mercy? God forbid! This lowlinessthis prostration, is indeed the first step in obedience, the first requisite for holiness. But if we rest here, if we found our claim to recompense and reward merely upon this prostration and this lowliness, we forget the principal part of Christian excellence the chief requirements of the divine law. Let him who, in real humility, thus confesses his want of power, hear the answer of the Lord to Moses: "Certainly I will be with thee." It is not then in our own strength, that we are to go forth. It is not relying on our own resources, that we are to engage with our adversaries. The Lord himself has promised to be with us; to give us the spirit of wisdom and of understanding; to support and strengthen us in every conflict; to preserve us in every danger. We have armour also provided for us-" the shield of faith, wherewith we shall be able to quench all

the fiery darts of the wicked-the helmet of salvation the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God-our loins may be girt about with truth-we may put on the breast-plate of righteousness-and our feet may be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace." He who came down from heaven to save us," Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant 2," has promised to give us abundantly of his Spirit, to help our infirmities, and to subdue our corruptions. With all these aids, what mean our professions of unfitness for the work set before us? Do they not sound as a mockery of God? Have they not the taint of unbelief strong upon them? Are they not marked with the superscription of human waywardness and rebellion? What is the use of our humility, but to make us seek more earnestly, and demand more eagerly, and grasp more firmly, the assistance mercifully offered unto us? "Every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth;

and to him that knocketh it shall be

opened '."

Cast away then this indolent spirit of complaining; this idle murmuring at your own state. The Christian is strong -strong in his very weakness-strong, above all, in a consciousness of that weakness. For when that consciousness is greatest, most heartfelt, most sincere, he will cling most firmly to his support, as the shell cleaveth to the rock, when the hand of man threatens to remove it from its place. It needs but the opening of the eye of faith to enable us to see that "they who are with us, are more than they that be against us;" to behold the "chariots of fire" which are round about the servant of God 2.

But there is one class of men to whom this subject applies peculiarly to the called, ordained, and appointed ministers of the Gospel of Christ-to the clergy. Each one of them is bound to perform his part in the liberation of mankind,

'Matt. vii. 8.

'2 Kings ii. 16, 17.

from the bondage in which they are held by sin. But no one is to assume this office of himself-no one is to embrace it uncalled, unappointed, unordained. Neither is he to venture upon it in the spirit of philanthropy merely-in the confidence of human strength-in the might of human learning or eloquence. Still less in that of carnal enterprise-to get himself a name. He is not to embark as in a political strife, as in a philosophical controversy; but as in a work of spiritual regeneration; and he is to go forth to his labour in the power of the Lord of Hosts, in the wisdom of the Most Highest. He is to fight, not his own battle, but the battle of the Lord; to be prepared to do his work diligently, and yet give God the glory. Neither his warfare, nor the weapons of that warfare are carnal. His business is, to turn mankind "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith '." It

1 Acts xxvi. 18.