And yet we see and bewail a still greater defect, in some that are in the ministry. They want _sense_; they are defective in _understanding_; their capacity is low and shallow: their apprehension is muddy and confused: of consequence they are utterly incapable, either of forming a true judgment of things, or of reasoning justly upon any thing. O how can these who themselves know nothing aright, impart knowledge to others? How instruct them in all the variety of duty, to God, their neighbour, and themselves? How will they guide them through all the mazes of error, through all the intanglements of sin and temptation? How will they apprize them of the _devices of_ Satan, and guard them against all _the wisdom of the world_? It is easy to perceive, I do not speak this for _their_ sake; (for they are incorrigible) but for the sake of parents, that they may open their eyes and see, A blockhead can never “_do well enough_ for a parson.” He may do well enough for a tradesman; so well as to gain fifty or an hundred thousand pounds. He may do well enough for a soldier; nay, (if you pay well for it) for a very well-drest and well-mounted officer. He may do well enough for a sailor, and may shine on the quarter-deck of a man of war. He may do so well, in the capacity of a lawyer or physician, as to ride in his gilt chariot. But O! think not of his being a minister, unless you would bring a blot upon your family, a scandal upon our church, and a reproach on the gospel, which he may murder, but cannot teach. Are we such as we are sensible we should be, _2dly_, With regard to _acquired endowments_? Here the matter (suppose we have common understanding) lies more directly within our own power. But under this, as well as the following heads, methinks, I would not consider at all, how _many_ or how _few_, are either excellent or defective. I would only desire every person who reads this, to apply it to himself. Certainly some one in the nation is defective. Am not I the man?