mending him to others as the precious Foundation on which they may safely rest their eternal hopes: if it should appear by the condescension with which you apply yourself to feed the feeblest and the meanest of Christ's lambs, that you love the Chief Shepherd, and are like him: oh! it would be to me an occasion of ten thousand times greater joy, than to see you exalted on the highest pinnacle of literary eminence and honour; and I am sure it would be found to be ten thousand times more to your own satisfaction and advantage. "Him that honoureth me, I

will honour."

With love and best wishes, I remain,

My dear R

Yours truly,

J. BOWDEN.

LETTER XXV.

TO MR. R- -- B-.

MY DEAR R,

April 8, 1797.

I HAVE ever felt a very earnest desire, and make it the matter of my continued prayer,

that

you may come forth into the ministry like a true Bezaleel, well qualified for the services of the sanctuary. This desire has dictated some plain and se rious hints which I formerly addressed to you,

and

which, I hope, you will often read over with serious reflection, as being at least the suggestions of paternal affection. The advantages you enjoy for improvement in human learning, I hope you duly estimate. They may contribute to render you acceptable and respectable as a public speaker: but it is a commission from the Great Head of the church, and the holy anointing of his Spirit which alone can secure to you the superior satisfaction, the success, and the recompence of a minister of Christ. The beauties of composition, and the embellishments of language, however in a secondary view desirable, will not satisfy a soul hungering and thirsting after righteousness. The awakened sinner, trembling under the impression of God's broken law, will need to be directed how to obtain the answer of a good conscience; namely, by having his heart sprinkled by the blood of Christ. Christians, under a variety of distressful exercises, will need the aid of one, whose expe-rience has taught him the deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of the human heart, the many devices of the great enemy, and the nature of the Holy Spirit's work on the heart of his people. Look well, therefore, to the practice and the prevalence of the life of grace in your own soul: keep your heart with all diligence: for your assistance herein I wish you to prize much, and make yourself fa miliar with those books which were written by men who drank deeper of the spirit of Christ, than, I am afraid, is usual in the present day, and who treat

skill, than

od:-I mean,

, Flavel, and

occasionally read,

e; but these, to imease your knowledge of

mending him to others as the precio which they may safely rest their should appear by the condesc apply yourself to feed the f of Christ's lambs, that уг and are like him: ob sion of ten thousar Others you may read, to you exalted on mplishments as a scholar; but nence and hor to your growth and usefulness as to be ten thand a minister. Others, to polish your tion and these, to sharpen them. With the same will he would recommend you to seek much of the

of those Christians who appear to have

t of the mind of Christ. Do not overlook them,

hough they may be poor; do not despise them, though they may be illiterate. If you are familiar with them, you will sometimes, perhaps, see reason to acknowledge you have gained from them, what is of inestimable value, even an increased acquaintance with "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord." Above all, be much at the spring-head: seek much communion with the Lord Jesus Christ: often read his sacred word with application to your own heart, and learn to meditate upon it with frequency and delight. Be much in secret prayer, and engage your heart in approaching unto God: look well to the actings of your soul when retired from your fellow-creatures; especially seek, seek earnestly a meek and lowly spirit before. God study the deep depravity of your own heart,

ot

،، Before

deep abasement at his feet. lity." "He filleth the hungry with rich he sendeth empty away." arch, diligently search, the motives ou, and the end you prevailingly aim cinat you are actuated, not by self-love, but

e love of Christ; that you seek to recommend, but yourself, but your Master ; that you labour to gain, not the applause of men, but the approbation of Christ; that you aim to promote principally, not your own temporal interest, but the Divine glory. This, my dear, is indeed a noble end to pursue: if with simplicity and godly sincerity you are enabled to seek it; if your heart be fixedly directed to the glory of God, and the manifestation of it in the salvation of man; you will so far resemble the blessed angels: nay, you will have the mind of Christ, who, at the close of his ministry and of his life, could say, "Father, I have glorified thee on earth." Such a heart as this was never found in a graceless minister; and even the best, on a careful observation of their own spirit, may see very much to grieve and humble them in this respect. Further, let me charge you, my dear R-, never to determine on the choice of a subject for public discourse, without first seriously reflecting, what is the great end you should be aiming at, what is the substance of the message you have to deliver, and what partieular views of this message would at this time be

with far more penetration and heavenly skill, than moderns do, of the great things of God:-I mean, such as Owen, Howe, Goodwin, Flavel, and Charnock. Others you may occasionally read, if need be, to form your style; but these, to improve your piety, and increase your knowledge of the mystery of Christ. Others you may read, to add to your accomplishments as a scholar; but these, to add to your growth and usefulness as a Christian and a minister. Others, to polish your arrows; these, to sharpen them. With the same view, I would recommend you to seek much of the company of those Christians who appear to have most of the mind of Christ. Do not overlook them, though they may be poor; do not despise them, though they may be illiterate. If you are familiar with them, you will sometimes, perhaps, see reason to acknowledge you have gained from them, what is of inestimable value, even an increased acquaintance with "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord." Above all, be much at the spring-head: seek much communion with the Lord Jesus Christ: often read his sacred word with application to your own heart, and learn to meditate upon it with frequency and delight. Be much in secret prayer, and engage your heart in approaching unto God: look well to the actings of your soul when retired from your fellow-creatures; especially seek, seek earnestly a meek and lowly spirit before God: study the deep depravity of your own heart,