fruftrating the grand end for which he was ordained. Confider now who acts with the most propriety, and with the greateft probability of answering the grand end of the ministry -he who, content with his income, let it be great or fmall, has fervice in his church twice on the Lord's day, at times very convenient for his parishioners, and even opens his house in the evening to as many as chufe to attend him; or he, who aiming at a large income, to support an imaginary dignity, undertakes more than he can well perform, and which he cannot even undertake without violating his most folemn engagements? But, what dignity in a Christian minifter is a large income neceffary to fupport? I must confess I know not. I am fure many have fup ported a proper dignity without one. I believe the twelve apostles had not an hundred pounds a-year to maintain them all; they well fupported their dignity. and yet In like manner it has been in every age of the church. Many have supported all the dignity that was neceffary, though they had not a large income. It is fo in the present day. And I doubt not but it would be found, upon inquiry, that few, with a large income, have fupported the dignity of a Christian mi nifter nifter fo well as very many have done, who have had only a small one. But you will fay, all this wants proof. I apprehend the truth of it will foon appear, if it is not already evident, and perhaps too plainly. In order to determine this point, we may now inquire in what the proper dignity of a Chriftian minifter confifts. It confifts, no doubt, in the faithful, confcientious discharge of his duty. He who has the clearest views of the importance of his office, and acts most agreeably to thofe views, he best supports his dignity. It is, indeed, a great honour conferred on a man, to be appointed of God to any employ but he can support the dignity of his appointment in no other manner, than in the faithful, confcientious performance of what God commands. Great honour was certainly put upon Jonah, when he was fent to preach repentance to the inhabitants of Nineveh. But when, through the fear of men, and cavilling at the difpenfations of the Moft High, he fled to Tarshish, instead of going to Nineveh, he did not support the dignity of a prophet, but proved himself a rebel. But when, fenfible of his fin and folly, he humbled himself before God; and, notwithstanding the dangers which attended. a faithful difcharge of his duty, he went and D boldly boldly declared, "Yet forty days and Nineweh fhall be overthrown," then he acted with, and fupported his dignity. The high prieft, who, in the time of St. Paul, neither believed nor walked according to the fpirit of the religion he profeffed, could not, with all the outward ornaments of his office, fupport his dignity. Even on the grand day of atonement, when he had a peculiar privilege above all the fons of men, to reprefent the fufferings of Chrift, and the glory that fhould follow, every difcerning inward Jew could fee that fomething was wanting, to keep up his dignity and character, viz. an underftanding of what he was about, a heart for his work, and a correfponding life and converfation. On the other hand, though the apostle had none of these admired, and, perhaps envied externals; he kept up the dig nity of his office, by faithfully discharging the duties of it. He had not coftly robes to he had not a numerous retinue of fervants to wait on him-he had not a large income to anfwer his great expences; but he had a fupreme love to Chrift and fouls; and therefore, "He counted not his life dear unto him, fo that he might finish his course with joy, and the miniftry which he had re adorn his body ceived ceived of the Lord Jefus, to teftify the Gofpel of the Grace of God." Acts xx. 24. They You may fay, is not a large income neceffary to keep him from contempt, and give weight to his miniftry? Not that I know of. Let his income be ever fo large, he will be lightly esteemed by thinking men, if he does not attend to the duties of his ftation, and live accordingly. And, let his income be ever fo fmall, he will have their regard, if they obferve in him a confiftency of conduct, fuitable to the nature of his office. who look only to outward things, may fometimes treat him with difrepect, because he has but little; and judging of perfons according to their income, may at times treat others with refpect, because they have much; but furely the opinion of fuch will neither add to, nor take from the real importance of any man. As to giving weight to his miniftry-if, by the expreflion, you mean fuccefs; this depends not in the least upon in- ̈ come. I am perfuaded, that fewer perfons become real Chriftians, by the preaching of the most exalted of the clergy, than by the ministry of perfons who have not the twentieth part of their income. Succefs depends neither upon income, knowledge, zeal, diligence, nor upon all thefe when united; but D 2 folely folely upon the fovereign power of God. Even a Paul may plant, and an Apollos may water, but God only can give an increase. Look into the world, and fee whether those who have got between the 'fquire and the farmer, or above them both, have clearer views of the importance of their duty, or are more diligent and successful in the performance of it, than others. Is it not obferved, even by the lowest of the people, that they who have the largeft incomes, are in general the leaft diligent, the least successful? The words of the apostle, "We preach not ourfelves," are applicable, in a fense, to moft of those who have great preferment. The work of the miniftry is generally committed to the care of others, who drudge through it for about the fixth, eighth, or tenth part of the profits of the livings, and all the rest is employed in keeping up the dignity—not of the Chriftian minifter, but of the little gentleman. If a minister's heart is not in his work, what elfe can be expected? but when it is, a different conduct will affuredly take place. These things, which are notorious, are demonstrations that a large income is not neceffary for a man, in order to fupport his dignity, and give weight to his ministry. If |