Question from the Office of Consecration.-Are you persuaded that the Holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity to eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? And are you determined out of the same Holy Scriptures, to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach or maintain nothing as required of necessity to eternal salvation, but that which you shall be persuaded may be concluded and proved by the same?.

Answer.-I am so persuaded and determined by God's grace.

Question.-Will you then faithfully exercise yourself in the same Holy

Scriptures, and call upon God by prayer for the true understanding of the same; so as you may be able by them to teach and exhort with wholesome doctrine, and to withstand and convince gainsayers? Answer.-I will do so by the help of God.

O GOD, the fountain of all wisdom, enlighten my mind, that I myself may see, and be able to teach others the wonders of Thy Law; that I may learn from Thee what I ought to think and speak concerning Thee; and that whatever in Thy Holy Word I shall profitably learn, I may indeed fulfil the same.

Direct and bless all my labours. Give me a discerning spirit, a sound judgment, and an honest and a religious heart, that in all my studies, my first aim

may be, to set forth Thy glory, by setting forward the salvation of men.

And if, by my ministry, Thy kingdom shall be enlarged, let me, in all humility, ascribe the success, not unto myself, but unto Thy good Spirit, which enables us both to will and to do what is acceptable to Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"But we will give ourselves continually unto prayer, and to the ministry of the word."—Acts vi. 4. "Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch ?"-Luke vi. 39.

"Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."-1 Timothy iv. 13.

Quesnel says, Not to read, is to tempt God; to do nothing but study is to forget the ministry. To read, in order to appear more learned, is a sinful vanity. But to read, in order to exhort, and to instruct with wholesome doctrine, this is according to God's will and word.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to every man liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."—James i. 5.

Wisdom being the gift of God, and this gift the fruit of prayer, a prayer that is humble, earnest, and persevering, will assuredly be blessed with this excellent gift.

O Jesus, cause me to read, to understand, to love, to practise, and to preach Thy Word.

"If any man will do" (that is, is disposed, desires to do) "his will, he shall know of the doctrine,

whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." -John vii. 17.

Light and truth discover themselves to such as desire to follow them.

"The secret of the Lord is among them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.”—Psalm xxv. 14.

It was the saying of a learned man, saith Dr. Lightfoot, that he got more knowledge by his prayers than by all his studies.

"I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."-Matthew xi. 25.

My God and Saviour, imprint on my heart the amiable characters of simplicity and humility, which are the marks of Thy elect, of such to whom Thou wilt reveal Thyself.

It is a dangerous mistake to think that any man can have a right understanding of divine things, without being illuminated by divine grace, and without leading a holy life.

"I have more understanding than my teachers, because I keep Thy commandments."-Psalm cxix.

19.

There is a light arising from a sincere good life, which dispelleth all darkness, and is the best defence against error and sophistry.

"All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies." -Psalm xxv. 10.

That is; to such as do so, all the ways of God, and whatever He hath revealed, will appear to be the effect of infinite wisdom, goodness, justice, and truth. He giveth light and understanding unto the sim

ple.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."-Matthew v. 8.

"When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."-Luke xxii. 32.

God grant that we may all of us consider the absurdity of going about to convert others, without being converted ourselves.

To understand the Holy Scriptures aright, is to understand them as the Primitive Church did.

Teach

"Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth."-Speak to my heart, that I may obey Thy word. me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God."

It belongs to God to give the true understanding of His own Word.

"Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."-Matthew vii. 5.

That is; purify your own heart from all worldly aims; mortify your own passions, which are the cause of your blindness; study that Word which alone can enlighten you; and lay aside all prejudices which are contrary to piety.

A pastor should never undertake to teach a virtue which he has never practised himself.

"We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing."-Luke v. 5.

So does every preacher, who does not beg God's blessing upon his labours.

It is impossible for any man to teach well, who does not live well.

My people perish for want of knowledge."

The design of religion being to lead men to God, how he is to be served, appeased, attained; the business of a preacher should be, to show how all the parts of religion contribute to these ends.

He that reads the Sacred Scriptures, and understands the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the way of conducting men thither, need not complain for want of learning.

In preaching, we must speak to the heart, as well as to the understanding and to the ear.

The end of preaching is, to turn men from sin unto God, that they may be saved. He that has not this in his view, will do little good.

A preacher should accustom himself to give a practical turn to every thing.

He that leaves it to his hearers to apply what he has said, leaves to them the greatest part of his own duty.

To be heartily in love with the truth one recommends, is the great secret of becoming a good preacher.

My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent me." -John vii. 16.

To preach our own thoughts, forsaking God's word, is like an ambassador who neglects his prince's instructions, and follows his own fancy.