application. While it is the effectual working of God's spirit that brings the sinner to submission, let the preacher feel, too, that this is to be expected just in proportion to the plainness and faithfulness with which the truth is applied. That God has fitted it to this end, and given it "his power unto salvation," and made it "as the fire and the hammer which breaketh the rock." Rare indeed is that hard heart to be found, that can remain altogether unaffected when brought directly beneath its mighty influence. And if any thing is to reach and rescue the sinner, the plain truth of God, thus pointedly applied by the preacher, and blessed by the Holy Ghost, must do it. Its unyielding claims must be made to follow him up from one hiding place to another, till he yields the weapons of his rebellion, and bows in allegiance to his rightful sovereign.

2. It points the convicted sinner to a Saviour.

The full and clear exhibition of the doctrines of the Gospel is the only method of setting before the sinner his remedy, as well as his danger. Jesus Christ must be presented as the centre of the great system of gospel truth, and all the lines of direction turned toward, and meeting in, his atoning sacrifice. This is the only preaching that can ever meet the sinner's wants, or minister to the sinner's safety. The heart of the most deeply convicted man is still, "deceitful above all things and desperately wicked," and unless the plain doctrines of the cross be kept distinctly before him, he will, most assuredly, run off into some one of the ten thousand by-paths which lead downwards from the way of life, and, dying, leave his blood on the skirts of that unfaithful watchman who neglected to warn and guide him. He must preach plain truth, and deal with souls in solemn earnestness; and while trembling under the deep conviction of their sin, they cry-" Men and brethren, what shall we do to be saved?" he must be ready to give the explicit answer" Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world."

3. It reaches the hiding place of the deceiver.

We may be as cautious as we will, in the reception of members to the Church of Christ, but such is the deceitfulness of the human heart, and such the impossibility for moral eyes to read its secret character, that the self-deceiver and the hypocrite will get within the fold. There is reason to fear, that all our churches contain some, perhaps many, to whom the Judge at the last day will say, "Depart from me, I never knew you."

But dark as is the concealment in which the character of the heart is often veiled from the eye of man, the preacher has always the opportunity of bringing the searching light of divine truth. to shine in upon this darkness. It is his duty to do it often. With

all the clearness of the inspired word, let the features of true religion be delineated, as distinguished from ull counterfeits-let him tell, from the Bible, how a renewed heart must feel, and a renewed man must act; and let him put the touchstone round to every member's conscience; and self-deception is undeceived, and hypocrisy unmasked. The truth becomes "a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart;" and by it, many a mask is torn off, and many a false refuge pulled down.

4. It reclaims the backslider.

Oh! how often have we occasion to heave the sigh over the returning coldness and indifference of those whose glowing zeal seemed once so quenchless! How often-to apply the apostrophe of the affectionate apostle-"ye did run well, who did hinder you?" Many begin fair, and with glowing love and zeal in the cause of Christ, "run well" for a season. But alas! a returning absorption in the business and pursuits of the world throws its chilling influence over them, and the warmth and glow of spiritual life seems well nigh extinct. A faithful and affectionate pastor weeps over their sad condition, and grieves under the discouragement of their withering example.

But, thanks to God, if they are the real children of his grace, he hath put within his word an influence to thaw and melt their frozen hearts-a power that shall rouse them from their guilty slumbers. The minister of the Lord Jesus Christ is bound to great faithfulness on this point. He must use the word of God with a plainness and distinctness of application which shall reach the object. Let him set before them their violated vows-their broken covenant-their destructive influence-the awful doubt which hangs over a once hopeful experience-and the dishonor done to Him whose holy name they bear; and, under the blessing of Almighty God, he shall have the satisfaction to see them return with weeping, confession, and renewed dedication to the Saviour. The sheep that has strayed away, and long wandered upon the mountains, shall thus be found, and borne back rejoicing.

5. It makes decided, practical Christians.

So far as preaching can minister to the establishment of the christian, it is in presenting the word of truth plainly, and applying it faithfully. From the cares, and toils, and perhaps trials of the week, he takes his seat in the sanctuary on the Sabbath, to be fed with the bread of eternal life. The preacher sets before him the plain doctrines and duties of the Bible-warms his heart by the clear illustration of the truth as it is in Jesus-cheers his soul by some distinct delineation of that "hope which is set before him in the Gospel "-and throws the light, and life, and joy of salvation all around him, in the bright illumination of some

precious promise of his Saviour; and oh! from that consecrated place the holy man goes home refreshed, comforted, strengthened, "able to give a reason for the hope that is in him," and testifying that-however it may have been with others-the Sabbath has been his delight, and the sanctuary, to him," the gate of heaven." Happy the meek and humble christian, from the plain, serious, faithful preaching of the gospel, gains clear apprehensions of truth and duty becomes "mighty in the scriptures "-receives a directing, quickening, sanctifying influence; and thus, "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might," he lives a decided christian -a practical christian-a happy christian-the faithful minister's "star in his crown of rejoicing.'

REFLECTIONS.

1. The Minister of the Gospel should feel his own, and his hearers' dependence upon the Holy Ghost.

Let the church or the ministry renounce their dependence upon the spirit of God, and the day of revivals has gone by, the glory is departed, the gospel, with all its aptitude to move and melt the human heart, is powerless. So "fully set in them to do evil," are the hearts of the children of men, that with all their powers of free agency, their obligations, and their opportunities, they "will not come to Christ that they might have life."

The preacher needs this divine influence, to enlighten an other wise darkened understanding, and warm an otherwise cold heart. Talent, and learning, and eloquence, are all in vain in his great work, without the help of God. He will prove but "a blind leader of the blind." When Paul planted and Apollos watered, God must give the increase; and much more in the decay of primitive zeal and faithfulness is the necessity of this holy influence manifest. The people need this influence. Without it, no matter how great may be the zeal and earnestness of the preacher; how glowing his descriptions; or how warm and tender his entreaties and expostulations, they will certainly, but as freely as certainly, resist the truth, and go down to death their own destroyers. Let, then, neither preacher or hearer ever separate the word of divine truth from the Holy Ghost, who inspired and applies it.

2. The preacher should feel, that the truth he delivers is as applicable to himself as to his hearers.

God has not sent angels to bear the tidings of peace and pardon to a ruined world. He has put this commission into the hands of those who lie under the same condemnation as the men to whom they bear it. They are bound by the same authority--amenable to the same tribunal--and dependent upon the same grace. Dying men, preach to dying men. How unseemly! how revolting is it

if the preacher appear to stand apart from his hearers; and, elevating himself above them, speak the promises, or proclaim the threatenings of the Bible, as if from a sphere without, and beyond, their personal application.

When, then, the preacher goes forth to this great work, and bears the message of his Master to dying men, let him always feel that his own eternal interests are involved in the reception of the same offers he bears to them; and that his own salvation depends upon a hearty compliance with the self-same terms of mercy. This will spread its influence over all his ministry. It will infuse a softening influence through all his appeals and warnings. Every subject will then be invested with the importance and earnestness of a kindred interest and a personal application. The realities of the sinner's guilt and danger will then be disclosed with all the melting tenderness of his own deep experience; and the high hopes, and holy joys, of God's redeemed will flow out from a heart that feels, and a soul that glows with the same heavenly aspirations. The deep sincerity of his own emotion sends a softening influence around, arrests attention, and helps to fasten conviction. on the conscience. It is the way to "save his own soul and those who hear him."

3. The weighty responsibilities resting upon both the preacher and the hearers of the Gospel.

A burden, such as no other creature bears, is laid upon the gospel minister. Undying souls are committed to his charge, and he is required "to watch for them as one that must give account." He will be "a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death" to them all. His influence, either for good or for evil, will be widespread, and powerful. Deathless spirits will go off into eternity, bearing the stamp which his hand has put upon them; and the impression will last, unfaded, away beyond the issues of the final judgment. The personal regard and affection of his people, desirable as it is, is of infinitely less consequence than the approbation of his own conscience and of his Saviour. The prosperity of an important branch of Zion is committed to every settled pastor. The stability of its christian character--the efficiency of its christian efforts and the power of its christian influence-so far as human instrumentality can go--are laid in his hand, and at his responsibility. To his faithfulness is committed the important work of guiding, and strengthening, the new converts to Christ, and the warning, and convicting, and converting of those still "without hope and God in the world." Faithfulness in all the departments of his sacred office, is the only course of success or safety; and, especially, faithfulness in delivering the message which he bears from God to men. "Woe be to him," not only if he do not "preach"--but woe is his if he do not preach "the gospel."

But this responsibility comes not alone upon the minister. The execution of his official duties imposes corresponding obligations upon his people. They can no more shake off their responsibility than he can his. If he must preach, they must hear, believe and obey; and if the day is coming when he must give up his account to God, "how he has preached," so the same day will lay the necessity upon them to give an account "how they have heard." And let it be remembered, that the same truth he is bound to deliver, they are bound to receive. Neither he, nor they, can exercise their own choice in this respect. God has long since settled this whole question, by saying to his ministers-"Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature "--and by say. ing of every hearer--"He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." The same Gospel, which he must preach, they must believe, or perish. Those feelings which rise up against the preacher for the plainness of his dealing with your consciences, rest assured, my hearers, strike a higher object, and are directed against a holier Being, than the mortal man whose faithfulness has excited them. God has put his own "mind and will" into his revelation, and it is his authority that will sustain and defend it.