pregnancy, after a long period of barrenness, was announced to Zacharias in the temple, where he was officiating in his course as a priest, by an angelic messenger, who gave a name to the son about to be born, and described his character and office, referring to ancient prophecy as to be fulfilled therein. And though Zacharias was alone when this vision occurred, yet the truth of his testimony was confirmed by his miraculous loss of speech during the whole time that intervened before the birth of John, being Divinely inflicted on him for his unbelief. These extraordinary circumstances were calculated to produce an inquiry favourable to the object of his mission. And when the Baptist had arrived at manhood, his preparation for the ministry in the wilderness, the abstemiousness of his manner of life, the singularity and holiness of his character, the nature of his doctrine, and the unction which attended his preaching, all conspired to confirm the expectations which had been previously raised concerning him. For by these and other evidences of Divinity attached to his embassage, many of his countrymen were constrained to acknowledge it, and, in consequence, to receive his testimony concerning Jesus of Nazareth whom he exhibited as the prornised Messiah, while those who continued in their unbelief were left inexcusable.

As the consicleration of the collect for St. John Baptist's day, when it comes in order, will lead us further into his history and character, we shall now proceed to review the prayer which is founded on the introductory mention of his mission in the collect before us.

The account of the ministerial office, which our collect, in imitation of St. Paul in the

epistle for the day (1 Cor. iv. 1) gives us, at once marks its importance and responsibility. In the chapter which precedes that from which the epistle is extracted, most awful views are presented of the day of judgment. In the transactions of that tremendous day, both ministers and people are personally and deeply interested. May God enable both to lay to heart the considerations which are suggested concerning it, in such a manner as may enable us to behold its approach with joy and not with sorrow!

The ministers of the gospel are the servants of Christ. Now a servant is one who has hired himself to another to do his work and to obey his commands. His duty respects the state of his heart, which is to be devoted to his Master's work. The object of his mind must be the approbation of his Master, whom he must "please well in all things.' Titus ii. 9. Col. iii. 22. The opinion of the world, and even that of his fellow-servants, is to be disregarded; and he is to ask, in unison with one of approved fidelity, "Do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased "men, I should not be the servant of Christ." If the reader had a servant, who appeared to have very little affection for his place, manifested no pleasure in his work, and no cordiality in the promotion of his master's interests, it is easy to determine in what light that domestic would be considered. A man's heart is engaged in the prosecution of an object, when he is bent on its accomplishment, and when nothing diverts or deters him from it. A servant's duty, moreover, respects the occupation of his time; which is not his own but his master's. squander it in idleness, to alienate it from the master's use, and appropriate it to the business

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of another, is to act the part of dishonesty. It implies also the employment of his talents, which are likewise his master's property. Whatever abilities he possesses, they are conscientiously to be exerted in promoting the object of his service.

It is necessary to remark, that the ministers of Christ are distinguished from common servants, as the "steward" of a house from those who fill other departments in it. They are "stew"ards of the mysteries of God." They are intrusted with the doctrines of the Gospel, the sublimity of which places them out of the reach of human intelligence without a revelation from God, and renders them so awfully obscure as to make Divine instruction indispensably necessary to their elucidation. The situation therefore of Christ's stewards is more honourable, more responsible, and more dangerous, than that of his other servants; and constrains every anxious bosom to exclaim, "Who is sufficient for these things?"

The views which are here presented of the mutual duty both of ministers and their people, are very awful. May both understand and feel the weight of it! Let the former consider closely the words of the great Householder: "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, "whom his Lord shall make ruler over his "household, to give them their portion of meat "in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom "his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing. "Of a truth, I say unto you, that he will make " him ruler over all that he hath. But and if "that servant shall say in his heart, My Lord "delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the men servants and maidens, and to eat and

drink, and to be drunken: the Lord of that "servant shall come in a day when he looketh "not for him, and in an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." Luke xii. 42, &c.

"It is required of stewards that a man be "found faithful." Solemn words! May they vibrate in the ears of all those who are engaged in the sacred function, with unceasing effect; when they rise in the morning, and when they retire to rest at night; in the closet, in the pulpit, in the chamber of disease, and in the social circle! A consideration thereof will afford an antidote to the influence of human judgment on their conduct, to the petulance of their fellow-servants, and to the treachery of their own hearts.

"It is required of stewards that a man be "found faithful." The truth must be spoken in all its extent, however unfashionable it may prove; and in our day its doctrines are utterly hostile to prevailing opinions. Warnings must be denounced, however irksome they may be to the audience to whom they are addressed. The consequences of sin and unbelief must be exhibited, however terrible to a careless world the declaration thereof may seem, and whatever opposition it may occasion. The day of reckoning is at hand, and happy will those stewards be, and those only, who can truly adopt the appeal of St. Paul, "I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all "men: for I have not shunned to declare unto 66 you all the counsel of God."

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While ministers are thus required to be found faithful, a cordial and thankful reception of

their message is the bounden duty of the people committed to their charge. A rejection of it will incur the fearful displeasure of Him whose commission they bear; and even a neglect of it is a contempt of His authority in whose name it is spoken. "He," says the great Lord, "that "heareth you, heareth me; and he that despis"eth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth "me, despiseth Him that sent me."

Let all then "see that they refuse not Him that speak"eth; for if they escaped not who refused him "that spake on earth, much more shall not we "escape if we turn away from Him that speak"eth from heaven." Let the reader make the case his own, and then draw the legitimate inference. Let him place himself in the situation of a householder, whose rank has set him over a large number of domestics. He employs his steward, whom he has appointed over his other servants, to convey a message to them expressive of his will. Some of these, however, studiously keep out of the steward's way, so as to afford him no opportunity of delivering his message; others hear it, but discover no solicitude to fulfil it; while some, more obdurate than the rest, sneer at the injunction, the bearer of it, and its author. Would not the master dismiss these servants from his family? Would he not be justified in closing his doors for ever against them? And may not those who neglect to hear, trifle with, or contemptuously ridicule "the glorious gospel of the ever-blessed God," expect a like treatment from Him who is the Lord of all? But it may be asked, How may we know that a man is commissioned from God to act as His steward, or that the message delivered comes from Him? The former question