sorrows will
mingle with his comforts, and he will rejoice, not without trembling,
when he reflects on the state of other men. The anxieties connected with
earthly relations are all alive in his soul, and, through the operation
of the Spirit of God, become sanctified principles and motives for
action. As the husband and father of a family; as the neighbour of the
poor, the ignorant, the wicked, and the wretched; above all, as the
spiritual overseer of the flock, if such be his holy calling, the heart
which has been taught to feel for its own case will abundantly feel for
others.

But when he attempts to devise means in order to stem the torrent of
iniquity, to instruct the ignorant, and to convert the sinner from the
error of his way, he cannot help crying out, "Who is sufficient for these
things?" Unbelief passes over the question, and trembles. But faith
quickly revives the inquirer with the cheerful assurance that "our
sufficiency is of God," and saith, "Commit thy way unto the Lord, and he
shall bring it to pass."

When he is thus affectionately engaged for the good of mankind, he will
become seriously impressed with the necessity of early attentions to the
young in particular. Many around him are grown gray-headed in sin, and
give but little prospect of amendment. Many of the parents and heads of
families are so eagerly busied in the profits, pleasures, and occupations
of the world, that they heed not the warning voice of their instructor.
Many of their elder children are launching out into life, headstrong,
unruly, "earthly, sensual, devilish;" they likewise treat the wisdom of
God as if it were foolishness. But, under these discouragements, we may
often turn with hope to the very young, to the little ones of the flock,
and endeavour to teach them to sing hosannas to the Son of David, before
their minds are wholly absorbed in the world and its allurements. We may
trust that a blessing shall attend such labours, if undertaken in faith
and simplicity, and that some at least of our youthful disciples, like
Josiah, while they are yet young, may begin to seek after the God of
their fathers.

Such an employment, especially when blessed by any actual instances of
real good produced, enlivens the mind with hope, and fills it with
gratitude. We are thence led to trust that the next generation may
become more fruitful unto God than the present, and the Church of Christ
be replenished with many such as have been