great desire these many years to come unto you, whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you. He is thus particular, because he believed the purpose of God was to be determined by the leadings of his providence.

Said the venerable Dr. Carey, the father of modern missions to the East, soon after he entered upon his work in Asia, "All my hope is in God; and when I reflect that he has stirred me up to the work, and wrought wonders to prepare the way, I can hope in his providence, and am encouraged and strengthened."

2d, The apostle was equally encouraged by the feeling of the church. It appears they had a similar desire to see him. Their hearts were drawn out to him; they reposed confidence in his character, and believed his visit would be profitable. In the case of his visit to Macedonia, a special revelation was given, because no previous disposition to hear the gospel had been evinced; but here they were ready to receive the word. As every obstacle which had existed from his engagements and duties was removed, and the church at Rome were waiting for him, he could not hesitate. O, how does it encourage the heart of the minister, when the people, like Cornelius and his friends, are disposed to hear all that is spoken in the name of Christ! when they are prepared to co-operate with him in every good word and work, giving him their countenance, holding up his hands by their sympathy!

4. His confidence rested on the prayers of the church.

The apostle had a high sense of the efficacy of prayer. He was fully convinced of the established connection between the bestowment of blessings and that preparation that is obtained by asking for them. It is no less true that God is the source of all -divine influence, than that he will be inquired of, sought unto, to bestow that influence. The apostle, though abundantly furnished to his great work, so far from relying upon his gifts, repeatedly solicited an interest in the prayers of those whom he had begotten in the gospel. In the verse following the text, in reference to his intended journey to Jerusalem, the dangers to which he might be exposed, the prejudices he might be called to encounter, he earnestly entreats the prayers of his brethren at Rome. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me

in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that do evil in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. The degree of confidence he reposed in the prayers of God's people is expressed in his Epistle to the Philippians-For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. When therefore he had reason to believe that in reference to his proposed visit to Rome, multitudes of the saints were daily at the throne on his behalf, lifting up their hearts that he might be an instrument of good, he might well say, I am sure that when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Such are some of the grounds of the apostle's confidence; it was not hastily indulged nor blindly persisted in; it rested on a reasonable basis; nor was he made ashamed of his hope. His subsequent history proved that his divine Master went with him. Some even of Ceasar's household believed. He planted the standard of the cross on the royal palace, and the lodgment which had been in Rome was maintained, and the victories commenced were carried forward, till every idol was prostrate, every heathen temple consecrated to the living God; till incense and a pure offering ascended from every altar.

We close this discussion with a few brief remarks.

1. We see what ought to be the sole and single object of ministers who visit a people; the same that was before the apostle; to be instrumental of doing good; to make them wise unto salvation.

This should be the controling object of every minister-to this he ought to bend all his powers, direct all his efforts; for this he ought to make every sacrifice, give up every perference; for this mortify his love of ease, of society, of science; his regard for reputation, his desire of influence. Accounting it his highest honor to be associated with Christ and his apostles in the divine work of evangelizing the world; every step he takes should be directed to the attainment of this object, every sermon and visit have this only aim. Surely it is wise to view this subject now as we shall view it on a bed of death, with eternity in view, when the worth of souls and a sense of obligation is realized. How did the venerable Brown of Had

dington, the pious Doddridge, the devoted Baxter, look upon the object of a minister's study and labor, when they came to die? They regretted that they had not been more single in their view and dealt more faithfully with souls. How can I gain the largest accessions to the kingdom of Christ, how can I be the means of bringing the greatest number of sinners to Jesus, is the question which ought to engross a minister's most vigorous thoughts. He should be a man of one purpose.

2. We may learn that all success is of God.

Although the apostle preached and labored and prayed as though the whole weight of the vast fabric of the church rested upon him, still he manifested as much dependence, looked as much for aid from above, as though he had done nothing. He seemed to understand perfectly these two great principles of the gospel-activity on the one hand, and dependence on the other.

No man ever exercised more vigilance and self-denial, more engagedness and perseverance; no man ever prayed and trusted more; lived more by faith, or put on more patience; and yet, after all his tears and prayers, his watering and planting, he felt that God must give the increase. And in this he is the pattern of every gospel minister. Those who depend upon their own resources and accomplishments, upon talent and learning, policy and eloquence, will find that there is a darkness upon the human understanding which no light of reason and science can dissipate--an obduracy in the natural heart which no arguments can overcome, no persuasion soften. It is not by might nor by power, but by the living energy of the Spirit of God, that the heart is renewed, and the sinner saved. After Paul had gone on from conquering to conquer, planting churches and bringing men to a knowledge of the truth he pauses in the midst of his victories, and says, lest any should trust in man, Who then is Paul, who then is Apollos, but ministers, mere instruments by whom ye believed? All our sufficiency is of God.

3. When ministers are full of faith and the people are engaged in prayer, we may expect a divine efficacy to accompany the word.

Ministers and people exert a mutual influence upon each other, for good or for evil. What if the apostle, in his visit to Rome, had turned aside to see the various objects of interest

the city presented; what if he had associated with the gay, or engaged in political strife; how would the church, who had been praying for him, been humbled; her energy would have been paralyzed; or had he, coming in ardent hope of winning souls to Christ, found the church divided, or encumbered with worldly care, given to pleasure, or ambitious of worldly distinction, how would he have wept in secret places-his confidence had died away. The zeal and consistency of a minister encourage a church, while the sincerity and prayerfulness of a church greatly inspirit a pastor, arm him with courage. When a people expect a blessing, and are united in prayer, when they have a hearing ear, the preacher feels that he shall not labor in vain. But if the church is cold and formal; if meetings for prayer are neglected; if family worship is given up, and the children are left without instruction and are not restrained, sinners are confirmed in their errors, the word preached will not profit, and the minister, dejected and said, returns to his closet to weep. It is doubtless true, the state of the minister and church decide the prospects of sinners-if they are formal, those without are hardened. But, brethren, notwithstanding all my discouragements, arising from myself and from others, relying upon divine grace, in some humble sense I can adopt the language of the apostle in the text-I have strong confidence that we shall yet see great things-this extensive field of death will yet be animated -this valley of vision yet be visited by the breath of the Almighty-I see it--Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Most mighty, and ride forth, prosperously because of truth and meekness, and let thy right hand teach thee terrible things. Let thine arrows be sharp in the heart of the King's enemies.

Come Lord Jesus, in the power of grace, conquering and to conquer. Behold, the vision shall come, it shall not tarry; wait for it, in the attitude of prayer and activity.

THE PULPIT WORTH MORE THAN IT COSTS.

MATTHEW XXVI. 8.-" To what purpose is this waste?

THIS question of avarice, prompted by seeing a box of precious ointment poured on the head of the Saviour, is common to all those, whose calculations of profit and loss, in the various enterprises of men, are confined to mere dollars and cents. To Judas it seemed that any expenditure, which did not directly put money in the bag that he bore, was a dead loss; and hence that the ointment expended on the head of Jesus, by a forgiven sinner, as an expression of her gratitude, and which might have been sold for three hundred pence, was so much wasted. In his estimation, penitence and gratitude, generosity and kindness, were of far less value than the pence which might have been realized by the sale of the ointment.

The same question is still asked in view of expenditures for which the making of money is not the immediate object; and especially is this true in relation to the support of Public Worship. In this connection, there are many who ask, "To what purpose is this waste?" "Will the money expended for the education and support of the Christian ministry, be as valuable to the people, as if it had been well invested in merchandise or the stocks?" And because the money so devoted is supposed to be wasted, there are multitudes in this Christian land who have retired altogether from the institutions of the gospel, and refused to take any responsibility in regard to their support.