inafmuch as it was their office to illuminate and cheer the world by the radiance of hea venly truth. And therefore it was incumbent on them, as they hoped for fuccefs in their ministry, not to place their lamp in an obfcure position, where the effect of its radiance would be concealed and loft, but to expose it in fo public and confpicuous a point of view, that it might extend its beneficial influence in as wide a fphere as poffible through the household and family of the faithful. In the course of the fame fimilitude he compares them to "a City fet on a Hill, which cannot be hid." As public Teachers of a new Religion, as chofen Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, they were elevated above the common ranks of men, and were expofed to the notice of the world. And therefore it was incumbent on them to do credit to that facred character which they bore, by the purity and excellence of their practice. I } In application of thefe fimilitudes he requires them to let their light fo fhine before men in the brightness of their example, that men beholding the energy of their faith in the good works which it produced, might be moved to learn and embrace the faith them felves, felves, and might glorify God by a life of holiness correfpondent with the faith em braced c. men, All this admonition of our Lord may be addressed with advantage to Chriftians in general in all conditions and relations of life. For there are none even in the humblest spheres, fo totally fecluded from the fociety or detached from the notice and view of as to be wholly deftitute of means and opportunities of being useful to others in the concerns of religion by their converfation and example. But it has an appropriate and most advantageous application to thofe, who stand in the fame capacity with the primitive Apostles, in being Minifters of Chrift, and Stewards of the myfteries of God". In this place more especially it may be addreffed with peculiar advantage to thofe, who are in a course of education for the ministry of the Gofpel, or, in the language of our Lord, are Scribes inftructed for the Kingdom of Heaven .-Ye are the Salt of the Earth: It is your intended office to purify and preferve mankind from all moral and fpiritual corruption. How highly therefore does it behove you to cherish and maintain this vital princi Mat, v. 13-16. d1 Cor. iv. I. e Mat. xiii. 52. ple ple within your own hearts, that so you may be able to diffuse its faving influence through all the sphere of your appointed ministry!Ye are the Light of the World: It is the purpose of your future calling to dispense this light of religious truth over the great household of the faithful. How highly therefore does it become you to give this light its full effect, and to place it in the most confpicuous and most profitable station! For which purpose it is not fufficient, that you be clear and luminous in the doctrine that you preach: it is expedient also that you adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things; that the feveral difpofitions of the Chriftian character, which after the model of your divine Master you affiduously preach to others, may likewife be diftinctly read and emphatically taught in the tenour of your Chriftian life and converfation. For fo fhall ye most effectually difplay the Miffion and illuftrate the Character of him, to whom you are now preparing to devote the service of your riper years. Thus making your light to fhine before men, you will bring them to acknowledge the beauty, the energy, the excellence of Christian virtue. And while they see it represented, not merely in word, but in deed, not merely in defcription, but in actual life, they they will be moved to glorify God, not only with their lips, but also with their hearts; they will be taught to adopt into their lives. what they approve in yours; and by putting on the feveral graces of the Christian character will procure to themselves an interest in the feveral Beatitudes of the heavenly Kingdom. While thus you labour for the final happiness of others, it is humbly to be hoped, that you will no less advance your own. For the Scripture has affigned no common degree of bleffedness to thofe, who convert the finner from his errors, and who turn many to righteoufnefs.-Let me therefore conclude with the earnest exhortation of the Apostle to a Disciple fet apart for the Christian ministry : "Be ye examples to believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in fpirit, in faith, in purity.-Meditate upon these things; give yourselves wholly to them; that your profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto yourselves and unto your doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this ye fhall both fave yourselves and them that hear you." f 1 Tim. iv. 12-16. FINIS. |