ighteousness, should prove his own possession of those elements in the
same way. It was laid down of old time that "they must be clean that
bear the vessels of the Lord." "Who," asks the Psalmist, "shall ascend
into the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in His holy place? He
that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul
unto vanity nor sworn deceitfully."

So, before the Church sends out a man to preach let her search his life
to see not only whether he is able, but, also, whether in his character
and deportment grace and truth are so displayed as to give him
authority in calling upon others to live the holier life. Let the
Church look, too, for some signs of _whole-heartedness_ in religion.
Zeal must be regarded as indispensable. We have heard a Circuit
Quarterly Meeting refuse to accept the recommendation of a young man
for the plan because he invariably failed to attend the Sunday night
prayer meeting in his own church. Would that every Quarterly Meeting
had the moral and spiritual courage to take so wise and discriminating
a course! Further, when the church _has_ asked a man to assume the
ministry of the word, let him see to it that he take the candle of the
Lord into the secret places of his heart and search diligently therein
lest, in going up, he take with him that which will spoil his labours
and bring dishonour upon the truth! He had better a thousand times
tarry for a more perfect work of God to take place in his soul than do
that!

And now comes the greatest and most vital question of all. To a man
may be given gifts many and acceptable; he may have received grace for
grace; he may have known deep and wonderful experiences of heavenly
things, and yet it may _not_ be the will of God that he shall be
numbered with the preaching host. There are other noble kinds of work
demanding all the qualifications already named, and his powers may be
given to be expended in one of these. The preacher's designation,
therefore, is never complete until the Holy Spirit has spoken in his
soul the direct command of God. This must be clear and unmistakable.
Personal desire and ambition so often lead men astray. "Beloved, try
every spirit whether it be of God." This is a word to be followed
here. If only it had always been remembered how many tragedies had
been averted!

For God _does_ directly call those whom He will for this office, and
those whom He so calls will certainly recognise