promising than in any other profession, or calling: because, through our family and friends, we may hope to arrive at an enviable state of comfort and independence; because, like the mother of the sons of Zebedee, our connections have previously solicited the highest places in the kingdom of heaven: ina word, to enlist under the banners of Christ, not because" he has the words of eternal life,” but because he multiplies the loaves and fishes in the wilderness-is the motive laudable ?-Is it " because we were moved by the Holy Ghost to "take upon us this office and administration ?"

But after all, it is not sufficient to have the testimony of our conscience in our favour; we must farther examine, whether we have talents adapted to our situation, and whether we may justly presume, that we shall be of real utility in the Church? You can, perhaps, display all the talents which would distinguish you in the world; you can please, by your conversation, and engage, by your address: but what talents have you for the Lord's vineyard, to build, to plant, to pull down? When Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, every one brought splendid presents to contribute towards its construction,-gold, precious stones, purple, the skins of beasts. What can you contribute, on your part, towards the building of the heavenly tabernacle, the spiritual edifice of the Church? You may not bring gold and precious stones; for "all are not apostles, all

are not evangelists;" yet you will contribute

something; and that which is the least splendid or brilliant, is not always the least useful.

Now, by what way can you become serviceable to the Church ?-By your learning and your knowledge?-But perhaps, impatient of restraint, and averse to study, you have looked upon the priesthood as an exemption, if you should desire it, from the toil of reading, and the acquisition of knowledge. By your mode of delivery and gracefulness of elocution?-But eloquence must be founded in piety, if you would render that talent honourable to yourself, and advantageous to your flock; and what can be the advantage derived from your instructions, when you destroy it by your example? By your irreproachable conduct? But if, without offending against the rules of morality, you betray in your whole demeanor a love of the world, and an attachment to its vanities, how can you edify that world, whose maxims you adopt, and whose fashions you sanction? By your name, and the distinction which you bear in the world?-A celebrated name gives, without doubt, additional authority in the exercise of the ministry; but alas! the sole advantage which the Church can expect to derive from you, is, that your name will become an excuse for your irregularities, and for the misapplication you shall make of the Lord's patrimony. In fine, by the dignities which you cannot fail of possessing in the Church and which your birth and connections give you a right to expect?-But if by this motive only, you

are influenced; if a mere name is to exalt you to sacerdotal dignity; if flesh and blood are to put you in possession of the priesthood of Melchizedec, which knows neither parents nor genealogy, your name will but serve to render an unworthy discharge of your duty more conspicuous:-you will carry into the sanctuary, pride, haughtiness, the very world, which has placed you in it.

What then can you offer to the Church, which it can apply to the glory of God, and the salvation of men? For this is its only view in the choice of its Ministers. The kingdom of God is, you know, a field which requires labourers; to be useless in it, is to occupy, unjustly, that soil which another would cultivate. If you find yourself unequal to the task, the Church has no need of you: far from being a support, you are but an incumbrance, and a reproach to it.

From what has been said, then, we ought all to enquire of our hearts-Does my mission resemble that of Jesus Christ-and hath he sent me as he was sent of his father? If you have entered into the ministry without being called to it, you will bear the character of a minister of the gospel, it is true, but it will be to you a character of reprobation; and in declaring that you were moved by the Holy Ghost to take it upon you, you will have "lied, not unto men, but unto God." I say nothing of the infinite evils occasioned by your intrusion into the Church; your labours without a bles

sing; your whole ministry without the approbation of him, who purchased the Church with his own blood; the loss of so many souls, whose salvation depended on the vigilance of a faithful Pastor, and which have perished through your fault; the righteous justly offended; the weak seduced; sinners confirmed in their iniquities: such is the gulph into which you precipitate yourselves, by entering into the sacred ministry, without a sense of its importance, and a determination to discharge, with conscientious fidelity, its several duties. But, my Brethren, "we hope better things of you :" we will not believe that you can, with impious boldness, contemn the commands of Heaven; that you have made choice of the temple of God, to profane, with more frequency, and less interruption, its holy mysteries; and that you have entered into the sheep-fold, in order to seize, with greater facility, and to destroy, with more success, the sheep which the Father hath purchased at the expence of his own blood. Let us, with all humility of mind and fervor of spirit, address ourselves unto the Lord, saying,-Grant, O God, that we may not be of the number of those who speak in thy name, but who speak not for thine honour; who prophesy out of their own hearts, and say, the Lord hath sent, when the Lord hath not sent, them. May we be worthy of that holy calling to which we are called! Blessed are those whom thou shalt choose to dwell in thine house; they shall be always praising thee. The cedars of Libanus, which thou hast planted, shall be watered

K

with the dew of Heaven; they shall neither fear the burning heat, the mighty winds, nor the destroying tempests. But woe unto every plant which thou hast not planted. The wind shall pass over it, and it shall be gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more; it can expect no better lot than to be plucked up, and cast into the fire. God, of his mercy, grant that none of us may be of that number, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen!