spake while on earth, even as this was declared by him (John xvi.: 13, 25), to be the work of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles."

ARTICLE IV.--MINISTERIAL SUCCESS.*

BRETHREN ALUMNI :

* * * Sincerely do I share your disappointment in not being permitted to listen to the earnest, racy utterances of my brother, the principal under appointment for this service.†

My theme is MINISTERIAL SUCCESS-a theme on which it were easy to keep within the realm of common-place, if not of common sense, but one on which much might be said that ought to be profitable.

I. Ministerial Success: what is it? who is the successful minister?

The most obvious answer to these questions is undoubtedly the correct one; though practically, different persons, answering in the same general terms, would pronounce very differently on results in particular cases. Nothing surely can be more fallacious than the judgments commonly pronounced on the comparative efficiency of different ministers. How true, in many instances, "other men labored, and ye have entered into their labors." They who contributed the most to the rcsult are dead, or in some other part of the vineyard. They thought themselves, and, quite likely, were thought by others, unsuccessful. Possibly, they mourned over their inefficiency, and retired from the field scarcely able to hold up their heads before their brethren, for mortification that they had accomplished so little. The new pastor has come, and ere he has fairly begun work, behold the sheaves! The record of his in

* An Address delivered before the Alumni of Newton Theological Institution, at its Anniversary, 1859, by Rev. J. R. Scott.

Rev. H. G. Weston, D. D.

stallation tells also of happy converts buried by his hand beneath the baptismal wave, and more coming! Wonderful efficiency marvellous success! What prognostics of a long career of triumph! And yet that poor brother, who withdrew so down-hearted, may have done more, vastly more, in preparing the way of the Lord, than the new comer. The Master saw that he was not praying for the credit of success, and gave him the real request of his heart; leaving it to another, who possibly could not so well walk by faith, to do the visible, tangible, appreciated work of harvest.

A minister is called to a field where all that is needed to secure him reputation for success is that things be kept up to the point at which he finds them. He is made easy and comfortable in his affairs, with pleasant, quiet study, and wellstocked book-shelves; of course, nothing must be suffered to encroach on his time and system of study, to jeopard the completeness and finish of the sermon for Sunday morning; the social influence of his denomination is all-commanding in the community--everything floating in the direction of his church; good deacons and good brethren are always at hand, ready to do the needful work that he finds it impracticable or inconvenient to attend to; finances are flourishing, and no danger of being disturbed in his nest so long as the respectability of the Society is maintained; in Association, Council, Convention, and all great denominational gatherings, he receives the deference naturally accorded to the chief representative of a body that "does" so much, and from which so much is expected. Oh, who shall say this minister is not successful? Who shall bring into comparison with him that brother, whose lot has been cast where few eyes, save those of his own loving flock, light on him; where comparatively there is little room for numerical growth, or where the ground is pre-occupied, and possibly by those who cast supercilious or patronizing glances on the little band; or, perchance, regard them rather as poachers on their rightful domain; where church and pastor, alike struggling under penury, must toil on, without place or appliance of attractiveness--in short, everything the very reverse of the position of the favored brother just contemplated ;--still,

all cleaving to the truth for truth's sake, and not ashamed of that which makes them "a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men ;" all growing in grace; with heart cemented to heart; punctual and zealous and self-sacrificing in duty, conveying to many a neglected soul the bread and the balm of the Gospel, and month by month earning a position. that can no longer be held in contempt, but must be confessed by the very men, once the most scornful and hostile, a nucleus of blessed radiance. No, success may be the last thing associated in the minds of men with this humble, obscure, hardworking brother—especially as compared with his flourishing neighbor; but whether the King of Zion may not one day deem him worthy the brighter crown, is a question not to be hastily decided.

But, apart from comparisons, is it not to be feared that too many there are in the ranks of the ministry, who have reputation for success, but whose achievements give them small title to be regarded as "good ministers of Jesus Christ?" If to make for themselves a name for genius and learning, is to be a successful minister, then are they successful. If to be an eloquent orator, and the idol of an adoring populace, is to be a successful minister, then are they successful. If to disqualify a multitude of people for listening with patience and profit to any dispensation of the Gospel save from their lips—if, indeed, it be not " another Gospel," inspiring them with a species of contempt for the ministrations of godlier and more Christlike men, is success, then are they successful. If to attach to themselves" troops of friends" by their genial humor, and suavity, and facility in putting people on good terms with themselves, is success, then must they be held to succeed. If to be the conscience-keeper of persons of wealth and prominence, communicating to them on religion just enough to keep up the odor of priestly sanctity, while superadding a covert flattery and court, amply sufficient to neutralize aught that may be distasteful in their spiritual offices--if this is success, then are they successful. If the ability to force one's way into high positions, and as by birthright, draw to himself dignities, and titles, and emoluments, constitutes one such a minister, then are they

successful. And so, in too many cases, must we add of the ability to swell church-registers with converts' names, albeit the Leviathan within them be stiil all untamed.

Let me not be misunderstood. In all this, brethren, I am not giving vent to spleen, nor would I excite aught of the kind in others. I would only intimate the liability of our falling into mistake as to what constitutes true ministerial success, and contenting ourselves with the attainment of ends, that, to say the least, should be held in very subordinate regard. I say not that it is unlawful to desire, and to strive for, the highest mental accomplishments: on the contrary, he who aims to make the most of himself for Christ, will not fail to do this. Nor would I say that a preacher is to be dull and tedious, as a matter of duty, for fear the populace will crowd his house and trumpet too loudly his fame. Nor do I deem he ought to cultivate acerbity of manner, and repel all attempts at familiar approach, lest he incur the wo of them of whom all men speak well. Nor do I regard the frequent occupation of conspicuous posts as sure proof of a disposition to lord it over God's heritage. And surely, I would not set it down as prima facie evidence against a minister, that large numbers were gathered into the church through his labors. But I would say, that where all this, or any part of this, exists, there is great danger of taking it too readily for granted that the minister is successful in the true and full sense of the word; and for the minister himself to feel that he has attained to all that an ambassador for Christ need aspire after. Taken alone, all this may justly be regarded as little more than private, personal success, and that estimated on principles of the merest worldly thrift. It may incidentally accompany genuine success; but, if this is all, or the most, the grand aim of the true servant of Christ remains unaccomplished.

Now, what is that aim? In attempting to answer this question I have no novelty to broach. The work assigned to the Christian minister looks to the same end as that for which the Lord Jesus Christ came from heaven, and returned to heaven, to prosecute. Say for what the Son of God was cradled in a manger, and in a world made by Him had not

where to lay his head; for what he journeyed and taught and toiled, through the length and breadth of Palestine; for what he was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; for what he was mocked and buffeted and belied, before Caiaphas and Herod and Pilate; for what he groaned, and sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane, and expired under the ignominy and tortures of Calvary; for what he descended into hell, and tasted the second death; for what he burst the tomb, and at length ascended to his Father, there to live, still ever intent on consummating the same grand design;-say for what was all this, and you say for what the Christian ministry has been appointed; and at the same time for what the Lord instituted his church, and set on foot the entire system of means by which he carries the object of his mediation into effect. "The Son of man is come to save that which was lost." "Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for He shall save his people from their sins." To save sinners, lost through sin, exposed to the awful and unending curse of their Creator's holy law; to restore revolted man to his just allegiance; to make manifest the glory of the Father through a grand redemptive scheme, which should display the infinite resources of the divine power and wisdom and grace, to which all nature should be made tributary, and in which the moral history of the universe should converge-such is the end. In prosecution of this did Christ establish his church, to be his agency among men, and to his church gave the ministry as a subagency, through which in her more public functions she was to operate, and by which her own body was to be kept in sound, progressive, effective condition.

Is this, brethren, magnifying our office too much? It seems hardly less than presumption that any mortal should assume to have been called to such a work, and I can hardly refrain from pausing in my course of thought to exchange congratulations with you that a sphere of such dignity and glory should have been assigned us. The glorious Gospel of the blessed God committed to our trust! Though the Apostle's "labors abundant," and "stripes above measure," and "prisons frequent," and "deaths oft," were inseparable adjuncts of our call