kettles, and William Huntington from the coal barge: and Paul declares that God has chosen the base things to confound the wise, that no flesh should glory in his presence. Such ministers are cut and formed for the work; cut also from the from of Godliness, from fleshly confidences, from dependance, or any thing short of the Almighty minister in the Church. By trials, by divine light, life and love, by knowledge and wisdom they are formed and furnished in heart, head, and tongue. Hence Paul says, God has made us ministers of the New Testament, and spiritual counsel in the heart of such men, is as deep water, and men of understanding shall draw it out. This makes their tongue like the pen of a ready writer, whilst their hearts teach their mouths and adds learning to their lips; by such means the spirit has accomplished the external designs of Jehovah, in bringing souls to the knowledge of a dear Saviour; hence the Prophet predicts the glorious effects of converting grace: they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks;—this may be seen in Paul, and many others who have been persecutors, whose hearts and tongues have been afterwards used in turning up the ground of sinner’s hearts, and employed in God’s vintage. No merit is due to the greatest preacher in the world, for he is nothing but as he is made, used and guided any more than a pen; hence the acknowledgement of one minister, for all I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I but the grace God; we must speak as the spirit of God gives us utterance, and as we are led into the truths of God’s most holy word, nor can we go but as we are led;—whence the promise, he shall guide you into all truths; all means must be used by the minister; it is the spirit alone can bless in public and private; God giveth the increase, as pens differ, so do the ministers of God in their knowledge and ability, having different gifts, some give broad, others fine strokes, some cry an alarm in God’s holy mountains, others speak more comfortably. “He that believeth not shall be damned,” “except a man be born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of God:” these are broad strokes indeed; others are commanded to cry unto her that her iniquity is pardoned, to shew the richess of grace and mercy in the salvation of the soul, the covenant love, ancient counsels, the glorious end of the law, and the unspeakable efficacy of the blood of the lamb:—some are capacitated to explain mysterious passages in the word; mysterious experience of grace and providence; such are sons of consolation, all these worketh that one, and the self-same spirit that divideth to every man severally as he will. As pens, we often want mending, we are apt to get dull when God is pleased to cut us, that we may be the more useful to others; if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation; this appears hard to us,—but faith bows with adoring submission, when the head fall into the water. The Prophet cut