sets a Christian upon devising schemes of benevolence : "The liberal deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall he stand." Now, when a scheme is devised, well conceived, a very benevolent, much-needed scheme, the next thing is to devise means that shall fit us for it, and to carry it into execution in the wisest and most effective manner. Your present preparatory studies for the ministry are of this nature, and you are to consider the consequences that will follow upon these means being wise or unwise.

Here, however, I must interpose a caution: there must be no delay. This caution has, indeed, been long since given: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;" set about it directly; "delays are dangerous." Oh how many schemes have been lost or marred by delays! It will be time enough to-morrow, to-morrow, and to-morrow, is a tune that lulls us to sleep; it is then we dream, "When I awake I will seek it yet again." A scheme suspended is a forlorn hope-to-day it is legitimate, to-morrow it is bastardized. I thought thee fair and lovely, but now thy charms have vanished. I have no doubt but Shakspeare's "Tide in the affairs of men," like the chief of his admired sentences, was borrowed from the Scriptures.

But to return to consequences, in reference to your preparatory studies. If you devote your time to studies that will yield comparatively no profit, that will not have a direct tendency to your usefulness to your hearers, that can at best only add some embellishments or ornaments to you as polite preachers; the consequences of such an unhappy employment of time will be severely felt by those whose benefit you profess to seek. If, for instance, you spend that part of your time upon the study of the learned languages, which ought to be given to the attainment of the first principles of preaching, there will be a sad perversion of things. The art of conveying instruction is in this case the " one thing needful;" and you may be a workman that need not be

ashamed though you are acquainted with no other language than your mother tongue. A critical knowledge of the languages was of great importance at the time of the Reformation, and is still of importance to academic tutors; to those who address learned hearers; and especially to those who have the care of the great outworks of our common Christianity, though even in this last case fitness consists more in the natural faculty of reasoning than any thing else. But to the majority of preachers the learned languages are secondary accomplishments only. Their business is to preach Christ, and to lay a solid foundation, in the first principles of our faith, among the great bulk of our immense population, nine out of every ten of whom are dazzled, rather than instructed, by what is called a luminous discourse.

But if, on the contrary, you, in the first instance, bend the energies of your minds and give your thoughts to become useful men, the consequences will be most felicitous. In this course be wise, patient, and persevering; and if, after these objects shall be obtained, some further acquaintance with the languages can be acquired without interfering with pulpit exercises, or too much interrupting your lawful engagements, there can be no objections.

Give your thoughts very closely to the best examples wherever they are to be found, and this will supersede the necessity of my touching upon several things which might here have obtained a place. You will see the love and benevolence that directed your blessed Lord; his were "thoughts of mercy and peace." "What love through all his actions ran!" What labours and self-denials did it lay upon him! So that even in this view it were well for us to "look to Jesus." Nothing but his spirit, I mean the mind that was in him so eminently, can ever do great things.

Secondly: Never suffer the consideration of possible con

sequences to deter you from the faithful discharge of known duty, or induce any, even the smallest, compromise of your principles. This is no more than saying, Consider consequences in their widest range, as they include the whole of your existence. Yet this caution may not be unnecessary. Our views of consequences are apt to induce unwarrantable fears: "There is a lion in the street ;" and here is the check that philanthropy and benevolence receive. "The principle (say these over-cautious ones) is good, but its practice is sometimes attended with danger; many have lost their worldly comforts their good name-nay, their lives have been sacrificed to it." Now, if universal approbation, profit, and advantage spread the sails, all-propitious seas invited embarkation, and rich mines awaited our arrival out; then we should have as many philanthropists as fortune-hunters; they would, however, be of a most suspicious character; and where virtue and true worth was to be found in the crowd, nobody could tell. But now things are by infinite wisdom put upon a better footing. Here is a fair trial of principle, of courage, of true Christian fortitude and magnanimity. Here that noble daring to be singular -that intrepid purpose which nothing can intimidate or turn aside-finds its exercise. Here distinction of character is fairly marked out, and rewards of a suitable nature, at a suitable time, will be conferred by an unerring hand to those who by faith and patience will wait for it, and who, in doing what is right, are fearless of consequences.

We must also distinguish between possible and imaginary consequences. Upon the first we may make a tolerably accurate calculation; but upon the latter we may be like children going to bed, afraid of ghosts and hobgoblins, when we ought to commit ourselves to God: "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established." Such consequences as these may affright us: If I follow such a course I shall be persecuted, or at least laughed at; I shall be called one of the saints; or, if I preach in such a manner,

I shall displease the people; if I preach such a doctrine, I shall give offence; or if I speak thus faithfully, such a character will be offended, and he has the principal direction or is the chief support of the place. Now these and many such like fears we ought to discard altogether: "He that hath

my word let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat, saith the Lord?" Our Lord spoke some very severe things against these improper fears: "I will tell should fear; fear him that has power you whom ye to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear him." For in the first place the thing apprehended may never come to pass; or, instead of your fortitude and courage being a drawback upon your interests, your interests may thereby be promoted.* The lines of an overruling Providence are here so often visible that no mistake need be made; the timorous are ruined, the bold are saved and blessed, even in this world.

Nothing is more common than for those who look at near consequences, without sufficiently weighing the future, to defeat their own purpose: presuming upon consequences, that they certainly will happen in such a particular way, is the vice of ardent minds, and often becomes a source of subsequent regret; we may presume upon nothing but what God promises.† As to taking a settlement over a

* In the reign of Charles II. a court was to be held at Winchester. The king was to be lodged with one of the clergy, not very high in rank, but whose house was commodious. He was very happy to leceive the king, but he most positively refused to admit Nell Gwynne, the king's mistress. He was deaf to all entreaty and remonstrance, or representation of consequences; refuse he did, and another lodging was provided for the lady. Some time afterwards a valuable bishopric was vacant: interest was made for this and that great divine, but the king inquired, "What is the name of that little fellow at Winchester, that would not admit Nell Gwynne into his house? He is an honest fellow, and he shall have the appointment." -Bishop Horne's Essays.

† A preacher of high celebrity had at one time prepared a discourse with which he was enraptured. Every hour was a day till the happy time should come for its delivery; when lo! instead of the bliss he had anticipated, he felt his mind in a state of wretchedness and barrenness. He looked at the clock with anxiety for the moment

church, presuming upon present appearances, many too hastily engage themselves, trusting to new and untried friends, the fair speeches of weathercock hearers, who will extol you to-day and defame you to-morrow. Know therefore, as much as possible, "what is in man," and presume not upon the continuance of favourable gales.

The balancing and comparing of contrary consequences is often too delicate a thing for our management; and too much of this balancing will very likely end in forming a cunning character-a selfish disposition. It is the safest way to take all the care possible to ascertain whether our thoughts and devices be right, suitable, and seasonable; but, if we must proceed to balancing, let selfish considerations be wholly lost sight of, and an undue weight in favour of present things, taking Moses for our guide, who chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for (in balancing his account of consequences) he had re spect to the recompence of reward.”

that would permit him to hide himself from the disgrace which he supposed he had incurred by such a total failure. Now, though his anticipations were not realized in the precise way he expected, yet good was done by the sermon; for one of his people sought him out whither he had retired to vent his lamentations, and addressed him in some such words as these: "Oh! Sir, you have, under God, been made the means of restoring my soul to comfort." Well," says the minister, "whatever it may have done for you, I know it has brought great trouble upon myself, and I am perfectly ashamed of my

sermon.