ardor by all who "serve at the altar." While other books are permitted to attend as ministers of state, the bible should be elevated to the throne in our studies; while they are regarded as satellites revolving and shining in their respective orbits, the bible should be considered as the sun which enlightens and cherishes the whole system."Search the scriptures," is the command of the Lord God to all his professed followers, but it is directed with peculiar emphasis to those who serve him in the gospel of his Son. They are entrusted with immortal souls of their own, and ought therefore to search the scriptures as a means divinely appointed for their own sanctification and comfort; they are employed by "the chief Shepherd" for promoting the salvation of others, and ought "to search them" as a means of qualifying them for the interesting work. Our great reformers considered the sacred oracles in the original languages as constituting the chief subject of study to those who were separated to the labors of the gospel. It was the maxim of Luther, that the man" most acquainted with his bible was the most accomplished divine."Beza in his eighteenth year repeated the Psalms of David and the epistles of Paul in Hebrew and Greek; and Witsius, at an advanced period of his life, could rehearse almost any verse of the Old and New Testament in the original languages.

Need I apologize for repeating the remark,

that application to study, and particularly to the study of the sacred oracles, constitutes an essential part of ministerial labor? It is required that "the lips of the priest should keep knowledge," and that the people"should" seek" the law at his mouth,' but can we communicate to others knowledge which was never possessed by ourselves? Is he capable of "dividing aright the word of truth," who has not patiently and painfully investigated that truth? Can any man as "a steward of the mysteries of godliness" make a proper or profitable distribution of these for the use of the family who has not endeavored to explore these mysteries, viewing them both in their separate importance and intimate connexion? Can it be expected that he will bring from "this treasure things new and old" whose understanding has not been liberally stored with this treasure by reading and meditation? The minister of religion " is set for the defence of the gospel," but can he execute that awful trust who has never learned to wield those weapons by which "the defence" must be made, and every adversary driven from the field; who has not profoundly investigated the gospel; who is not master in some measure of those evidences, external and internal, on which its authenticity rests; who has never traced the predictions and promises of the Old Testament to their literal and luminous accomplishment in the New; who has not contempla

ted the ceremonies and sacrifices of the former dispensation as immediately pointing to, and exclusively centering in "Jesus of Nazareth," the great antitype, the real "Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world?" Ezra, although a scribe divinely inspired, yet "prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord" before he ventured "to teach statutes and judgments in Israel:" Solomon, the wisest of men, "gave good heed, and sought to find out acceptable words," and felt experimentally "his much study" to prove a "weariness to the flesh;" And Daniel, "a man greatly beloved," and favored with eminent manifestations of the Most High, understood by books, by a careful research into the writings of preceeding prophets, the divine purposes relative "to the desolations of Jerusalem."

2. We ought to "labor" by faithfully and zealously "preaching the gospel" in public. What should be our motive for prosecuting with unremitting industry our studies in the closet? Not merely to gratify an ardent thrist for knowledge, or to improve the understanding by the discovery of truths formerly unknown; not to acquire the reputation of polished scholars, or eminent divines. Nobler motives ought to actuate, and will actuate all who are called of Jehovah to the ministry of reconciliation. That same zeal for their Master's glory which rouses them to diligence in making preparation in private, will rouse them to equal diligence in

seizing every opportunity for promoting the gospel abroad. Animated by the same spirit, and aiming at the same object with the great apostle, each faithful "laborer" will be ready to exclaim, "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you: I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory:" He will religiously consecrate all his gifts, every talent, whether natural or acquired, to his Master's use in the conversion of souls, "warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom that he may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Knowledge thus occupied becomes the glory of the individual, and subserves the interest of Zion. Money locked up in a trunk, or buried in the earth, is neither profitable to the owner, nor to others, but when judiciously circulated proves a source of revenue to him, and tends to the convenience and advantage of others.

A lamp however replenished with oil, or however carefully trimmed, is useless if "concealed under a bushel," but when placed on an eminence diffuses light to all around: Thus all our ministerial qualifications, our gifts and graces however improved, are profitable only as they are devoted to the edification of the church. All the spoils which the royal David obtained in his conquest of the nations around were consecrated to the service of the literal temple, and all the knowledge which we acquire by

meditation, by the study of books, whether sacred or profane, should be exclusively consecrated to the service of the spiritual temple; either in unfolding the mysteries of redemption or in dispensing them to the household of faith. We are naturally prone to extremes; while some are too negligent in their previous studies; while they prostitute in sloth or secular employments hours which ought to be occupied in preparing for their public administrations, and thus rush presumptuously* into the pulpit; others again spend in studies not immediately connected with their office, hours which might be employed more usefully in active service, "teaching from house to house," or publishing the gospel of peace where openings are presented. While Paul admonishes Timothy his son "to give attendance to reading; to meditate upon these things, that his profiting might appear to all," he adds with equal solemnity, preach the word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine."

Excuse me if I make a digression from .

*The following anecdote, related of the great and good Mr. Bradbury, will be gratifying to every reader, but it is peculiarly instructive to those who labor in the gospel. An acquaintance having called upon him at an advanced period of life, and found him intensely occupied in study, and seemingly impatient at the interruption, remarked that "certainly it could cost him but little trouble to prepare for the pulpit having been so long in the habit of preaching;" to which the venerable divine with an air of pleasantry replied, "I always endeavor to have an Isaac on the altar; if the Lord God is pleased to provide a lamb for the burnt offering, I thankfully accept it."