There is one thought more worthy our attention as the people of God. When the Apostle enumerates the vast privileges of God’s dear children, as one with Christ, the property of Christ, as Christ is God’s—he infers that the ministry of the Gospel is none of the smallest in the inventory: _all are yours_, _whether Paul or Cephas_—implying that the calling and qualification of ministers is for the Church: and the Apostle adds, in another place, that even the very afflictions of the ministers are for the Church. Hence, he says, _If we be afflicted it is for your consolation_. And again, _All things are for your sakes_. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. For this cause we faint not. As a Candle which burneth, consumeth away itself to give light to others, so it is true of ministers; they are quickened by the Spirit, united to Jesus, love his person, name, and work, his truths, his people, and his ways. And being called into public life, by the great head of the church, they are cut off from the world and its maxims, its religion, and its bare form the power. They are cast into many waters of affliction; they are plunged deep, even into the mire, to bring up some poor soul by their instrumentality. Why are they led to feel more deep the depravity of the human heart, but that they might be able to describe its workings. Why are they so deeply exercised with the discipline of the Law, but that they might describe the cases of them who are under its workings, and so often liable to a spirit of bondage. Why have they uncommon temptations from the adversary, but that they, like their divine Lord, might sympathize with the tempted, and being well acquainted with Satan’s devices, that they might expose them. Why cast down because of the troubles of the way, but that they might seek only to Jesus; that they might learn, experimentally, how to make use of a precious Saviour, as exactly adapted for such cases. Why more reproached. Why more exposed to temptations. Why is Satan more busy with them. Why, perhaps, more tried in their families; plagued with erroneous characters of every description; tried in the world; perplexed in the church; in perils often among false brethren; exercised in mind, with the sins of professors; the weakness of God’s own dear children; the envy of their own brethren; and the aboundings of iniquity and error in the World. The fears of not being called to the work aright; the little success they meet with; their dead seasons in the pulpit; and the very little progress in the Church among God’s children, in their knowledge of divine things. The instability of their hearers; the cruel criticisms, uncharitable reflections, and unpleasant speeches, mixed with the contempt of the proud. The apostacy of some from the truth, after a blazing profession, and professing to be called under our ministry; with the envy of poor niggardly professors, who, perhaps, never gave a shilling to the cause of