daily relations, and work him at length into the complete image of God-this surely is an office fit to inspire an angel! What qualifications, too, does it demand! How much of good character, first of all in us! Then how nice a discernment of what is comely and good, in all the various matters of common life! how much of patience and holy pertinacity! how much industry, versatility, and skill, in applying the great principles of religion to all the particular defects and errors of our people! But God prescribes our office; and it were wrong not to believe that if we undertake God's real work, he will furnish us to it, and give us pleasure in it. He will transfuse into us some portion of his own versatility; he will attract us into a nicer observation of his wisdom in our humble duties and concerns. We shall more admire the healthiness of that which grows up in God's natural spring-times, and ripens in the air of his common days. The ordinary will thus grow dignified and sacred in our sight; and, without discarding all invention in respect to means and opportunities, we shall yet especially love to go after our people, where God daily leads them, and teach them to live unto God. It was the taste of our blessed Master, my brethren, to make the ordinary glow with mercy and goodness. Him we are to follow. We are to work after no set fashion of high endeavor, but to walk with Him, performing as it were, a ministry on foot, that we may stop at the humblest matters and dispense our doctrine. To keep the least commandments, and to teach men so, is to constitute the very grandeur of our mission, and the brightness of our crown. The same shall be called GREAT in the kingdom of heaven. Stereotyped by F. F. Ripley, |