modifying the intellectual being, till at length it becomes the mould in which the whole intellect is fashioned: you may conceive, therefore, what effects the important study now recommended ought to produce in you, when it is followed up as a cherished occupation, and a relief from every other. It will store your memory with simple and forcible maxims, with touching arguments, with instructive facts, with sublime expressions, which in a short time will seem the natural language of your lips. It will enrich your imagination with an immense treasure of lively figures, noble or graceful images, and energetic forms. It will present you with an abundance of models of grave and popular eloquence such eloquence as you must make your own, if you would subdue men's wills, by exalting their thoughts and aims, without touching the dangerous springs of passion, which your office does not permit you to approach. It will make familiarly your own that multitude of thoughts and feelings profusely scattered through the sacred writings, which for so many ages have imparted consolation and

vigour to those who read them.

The Bible, more than any other book, will acquire and maintain an influence over your character; because, more than any other book, it finds its way to the inmost self, and awakens every latent feeling and energy. Where is the reflective reader, who, when occupied in its perusal, never stopped short on meeting with some striking passage, pregnant with deep meaning, the whole extent of which his eager mind strove in vain to embrace? Previously, perhaps, he saw nothing in the book but the plain discourses of plain men, couched in rude and artless language; now, however, like the husbandman, whose ploughshare, while piercing the soil, has struck against a treasure, he has lighted upon some majestic idea that arrests and amazes him a single word, it may be, which at once opens to him the fathomless depths of the human heart, or a statement which lays bare to his view the most awful counsels of God,-the cry of a soul whom faith has transported to heaven, one, in a word, of those sublime truths, which we search for laboriously and often vainly

in the writings of sages, but which are everywhere to be found without searching, in those of the Galilean fishermen.

At sight of this discovery, the enlightened Christian reflects, admires, and strives to exalt his mind to its level. He reads, and reads again; and perceives more and more that he is entering into a new sphere, and, as it were, into a higher state of existence, whither the compositions of mere men could not introduce him. He is charmed with the view of the august objects by which he is surrounded, -he contemplates scenes of glory and of splendour before unknown; on these his spirit feeds; and his faculties unfold beneath the vivifying influence of those Divine verities which have been opened to his apprehension. Now put into the hand of such a man a commission to speak, in the name of that God whose Word he has been reading, and say, whether his language will not bear its impresswhether he will not speak, as he feels, like a minister of Jesus Christ!

But, My Brethren, not only will the study of the inspired Word supply him with language

worthy of the Christian Orator-it will, moreover, impart to him THE SENTIMENTS OF A FAITHFUL PASTOR. This is what now remains to be shown.

III. Need I demonstrate to you, that the pastor who would keep his mind in a state as exalted as his calling, has numerous obstacles in his way, which cannot be surmounted without difficulty? I think not. In spite of the illusions, natural to your age, that usually accompany those warm and generous sentiments which, I doubt not, you now bring to the career you are entering upon, you are already too well acquainted with the world, the Church, and yourselves, not to perceive at least some of the dangers that lie before you. The pastor had need of a zeal which nothing can weaken-but the feelings do not long retain the same liveliness; a multitude of objects divide, exhaust, and withdraw them from the service of Him who demands the entire heart. We ought to be profoundly pious-but how difficult it is always to detach our regards from the things of sense, and really to prefer the interests

of eternity! We ought to look to God only, in the ministry which is entrusted to us but the ingratitude or the applause of others makes us think of ourselves, when it is most important that self should be forgotten. We ought to persevere to the end, from conscience and from love, whatever the result may be--but where shall we find the man endowed with sufficient firmness to bear the want of success without discouragement, after having devoted his strength and his life to obtain it?

Yes, Brethren, in order to reach the goal triumphant, you will need to have powerful, unfailing aid, ever within reach. And you will

"I will never

have such-God hath told you, leave thee." Among the helps supplied to you, the most precious, in conjunction with prayer, is the assiduous study of the Holy Scriptures. In this study you will find, by turns, consolation, refreshment, support, admonition, strength. In the midst of the discouragements and difficulties of the ministry, it will be to you what the limpid fountain is to the weary Arab, beneath the scorching sun of the desart. Exhausted,