may be furnished with every truth, which the apostles had immediately from heaven. We cannot, it is true, speak languages, which we never learned; but as our ministry is confined to one place, these languages are unnecessary. What languages we want, we may acquire by human means. The spirit of prophecy, it is true, hath ceased: but the occasion for it hath ceased also. It was intended chiefly to prove the truth of religion. The present minister of the gospel wants no farther proof. He need only apply the proofs already entrusted to him. Miracles, for the same reason, have ceased; at the same time, they are not wanted. They have proved what was intended; and that proof is upon record.

LXII.

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of thine house, shall come, and crouch for a piece of silver, and a morsel of bread. - 1 Sam. ii. 36.

WE have here a prophecy relating to a corrupt priesthood among the Jews. It is a slight, but bold sketch of clerical adulation. Nothing sets the ecclesiastical character in a lower point of light, than crouching. It is miserable to see God's ministers applying with adulation to man. When a clergyman crouches for a morsel of bread, which is too often the case; it is a scandal to the church in which he ministers. But when he has obtained a competence, and crouches for what the text calls a piece of silversomething more splendid than a competencehe turns the scandal upon himself. He shews what is uppermost in his thoughts - he is alive to lucre; but lost to a sense of duty. It is not the office he desires; but the silver he crouches for.

In an age of infidelity, it behoves the clergy, above all others, to do nothing which may bring religion into contempt: and nothing can make it more contemptible, than crouching for preferment. The apostle takes particular care to guard the clergyman against doing any thing for filthy lucre.

Besides, he who solicits preferment, boldly declares, I am equal to the work. He who accepts only what is offered, modestly says in effect, I will endeavour to do my best.

LXIII.

The things that thou hast heard of me, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others.-2 Timothy, ii. 2.

THE patron of ecclesiastical benefices seems to hold in his disposal two distinct appointments -a temporal emolument, and a spiritual employment. The former is entrusted to him by the law the latter by the gospel. But as the emolument, and the employment, though distinct in their nature, cannot be separated in reality, it seems fit, that the law should give way to the gospel, and the whole together should be considered as a gospel-trust.

On this principle, then, the patron should consider how such trusts should be executed and this will best appear by considering the end which such trusts are intended to serve. If they were mere temporalities, a man might manage and dispose of them, as he does the other parts

of

of his estate. But they are tenures, we see, of a different kind. The patron has no right to dispose of them with a view to any end or purpose of his own but merely for the sake of advancing religion. To this purpose, the text will bear an easy alteration. The benefices thou hast received to dispose of for the advancement of religion, commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others. If the instruction was to be committed to faithful men, it certainly follows, that the power or means of giving that instruction, was to be committed to them also. By faithful men, who are able to teach others, no doubt the apostle means men of exemplary lives, - well versed in Scripture -and of abilities to instruct others. Great learning may not be necessary in common congregations; but exem. plary lives, and a thorough knowledge of Scripture certainly are.

It is unfortunate, if it could have been avoided, that the temporal emolument, and the spiritual employment are conferred together. The patron perhaps too often considers only the former, which the law gives him a liberty to confer ; and stepping over the gospel obligation, turns the whole into a temporality.