Poor Material For Ministers.
IN my travels I have more than once run across young men who were greatly burdened with the idea that it was their duty to preach. The greatest evidence that they have of their call is, that they are weakly, sickly, and feeble, and are not able to do any thing else! They have never succeeded in anything they have undertaken; have hardly been able to make a living in the world, much less to help any one else, or to lay up anything. The pious conclusion is, that God has been against them because they have not been in the way of duty! When they have been willing to sacrifice for the Lord, and spend their time in riding around to attend meetings, they have been wonderfully blessed, and have gained rapidly! This settles the point that it is duty for them to sacrifice all—home, property, time, talents, and all worldly prospects, and go out into a cold-hearted world and visit the churches! Doubtless this would help them much, but the Lord pity the brethren where they go. We think that the most acceptable service which such persons can render to the cause of God is to learn how to provide for themselves and families, by industry, economy, and prudence. This will be a sacrifice very acceptable to God, or at least their brethren, and will be a very forcible way of proclaiming the gospel.—Sel.