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SIR,

ON A CALL TO THE MINISTRY.

To the Editor.

It would relieve the mind of a youth from much anxiety respecting his call to the work of the ministry, if some of your able correspondents would lay down a few plain, scriptural evidences a person ought to possess before he enters into that solemn work. The insertion of this in your valuable Miscellany, will much oblige, Sir, yours in the best bonds,

JOANNES.

Ir cannot be expected that any persons, in the present day, should receive so remarkable a call to the work of the ministry as did the apostles and first preachers of the gospel; yet, doubtless, the same Divine Spirit, by whom they were raised up and qualified, still furnishes chosen vessels, with suitable gifts; and powerfully influences them to desire this sacred office. As, however, they who are thus designated by the Spirit of God, are not usually certified of it by any extraordinary discovery of the Divine will, and may, for a time, remain in much perplexity as to their call, it becomes an interesting inquiry, How may such a call be known to the subject of it? I conceive the following to be satisfactory evidences:

1. True devotedness of heart to God; a desire to live, not for the purpose of self-gratification, but of honoring and glorifying God in every possible way.

2. A deep concern for the immortal interests of men; heartfelt grief on observing the indifference of the greater part of mankind, with respect to their eternal

interests; and an earnest desire to be instrumental in rousing them to a sense of their danger, and directing them to Christ, the Savior of sinners!

3. Great delight in reading and studying the sacred Scriptures, with a disposition to apply diligently to those pursuits which tend to qualify for the arduous engagement of instructing others.

4. A public spirit in religion; a lively concern for the advancement and prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom in the world at large.

5. A steady, earnest desire to be engaged in the Christian ministry, in preference to every other employment, accompanied with a deep sense of unworthiness of the honor, and inability for the discharge of the duties of it, without Divine assistance.

6. A sincere endeavor to know the will of God respecting it, making it the matter of earnest prayer, and practising close and repeated self-examination.

7. The approbation of pious and judicious friends, who are competent judges of ministerial talents, and who encourage the person to devote himself to the work; especially the countenance of experienced ministers.

CALL TO FILL PARTICULAR SITUATIONS.

"How may we determine a call in providence to fill up any particular situation?" To which it may be briefly replied: 1st, It is necessary that the station or em. ployment called to, be in its own nature lawful: i. e. Such as may be engaged in with a good conscience, is not forbidden by the word of God, and which does not

necesssarily lead to sin: "for, as God cannot be tempted to evil; neither tempteth he any man." 2nd, To make such a call clear, there should be found a natural fitness in the subject, to whatsoever he is called. Modesty, it is true, may sometimes conceal from our view our own talents, as in the case of Moses, when called to icad Israel; yet, to the sincere inquirer, providence seldom fails to make the way straight. "The way of the slothful man is an hedge of thorns; but the way of the righteous is made plain." It may be considered rather a temptation than a call in providence, for a man to attempt what he knows, or ought to know, he is naturally unequal to. 3rd, The advice of godly judicious friends may help to clear up our views of a special call in providence. Jealousy in one's own mind of such advice, as unfavorable to our wishes, creates a suspicion that the subject would direct, not follow, the cloud. "In the multitude of counsellors there is safety." 4th, It sometimes throws a light upon a call, and determines it to have proceeded from the Lord, that it presents itself to us while we are walking with God in a path of duty. Gideon was threshing corn, when he was summoned by the angel to deliver Israel; and most of the apostles of Christ were at their respective occupations when called to the work of the ministry. A man who is heartily inclined to pursue his present calling, will seldom be found to quit it for another, until the way be made tolerably plain. 5th, We may take it to be a call of God to any situation, when the matter presenting itself appears in answer to solemn prayer. The call in some cases may be totally unexpected, and unlooked for; yet finding us in a de

pendent, lowly, believing, humble, and spiritual frame, may be no less considered an answer to prayer, than if particularly specified. But the hand of God appears still more evident, when duty, necessity, piety, and prudence have suggested the asking of a particular good in 'Christ's name, and it offers itself to us in that shape or form we humbly requested. "In all thy ways acknowledge him," &c. 6th, If added to these, the call presents a wider door of usefulness, or a greater share of needful comfort and support, than a present situation may admit of; or when it opens a way out of a particular temptation; or affords a more extensive opportunity of glorifying God, and serving the church of Christ, we may more reasonably conclude that it is of God.

"After having discovered and obeyed such a call is it lawful to recede?"

That the hand of God, in providence, has been seen in the call; or that we have in consequence, dutifully complied with it, are no arguments wherefore we may not recede, provided we find sufficient reason so to do. The plainest intimations of Providence are not designed to suppress the exercise of reason and reflection; but rather suppose and enjoin, in such a case, the proper use of both. At the same time, fickleness is no mark of having properly consulted the Divine will and pleasure; nor does it establish the wisdom of character: "He that believeth shall not make haste."

It may, however, be both lawful and expedient sometimes to recede from engagements into which an acknowledged providence may have guided us. This will appear from the following cases which I shall produce, in order to illustrate the point in hand; and with

these conclude, as the ingenious querist may readily suppose others of a similar kind.

I have wished to engage in some trade or profession: I seek God for direction in this, and providence presents an opening; which, after mature deliberation, I embrace. But when I am fixed therein, I perceive, from better acquaintance with affairs, that I am incompetent to continue in it, or am likely to injure my circumstances, or may be exposed to sin by remaining in my post: in either or all of these cases it is both lawful and expedient to recede.

I will suppose another case: I am called to be a pastor over a congregation; in the introduction to which I endeavor to follow the leadings of providence. I obey the call; but when settled over the flock, circumstances may alter, so as to render the situation unfriendly to my peace, or prove inadequate to my support in life. In this case it is lawful, after due trial, to embrace another opening in providence, and quit my present situation. J. M.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION.

A roUNG Inquirer is much perplexed to know how she should understand those words in the Lord's Prayer, "Lead us not into temptation;" which to her seem to imply, that God is the Author of temptation. She would be much obliged by a few observations tending to clear up the difficulty.

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