How Ministers of the Gospel should meet Opposition.
"And the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to say many things." Matt. xi, 53. A minister of the gospel of God, should, above all men, be continent of his tongue; his enemies, in certain cases, will crowd question upon question, in order so to puzzle and confound him, that he may speak unadvisedly with his lips, and thus prejudice the truth he is laboring to promote and defend. The following is a good prayer, which all who are called to defend or proclaim the truths of the gospel, may confidently offer to their God: "Let thy wisdom and light, O Lord, disperse their artifice and my darkness. Cast the bright beams of thy light upon those who have to defend themselves against subtle and deceitful men! Raise and animate their hearts that they may not be wanting to the cause of truth. Guide their tongues that they may not be deficient in prudence, nor expose thy truth by any indiscretions or unreasonable transports of zeal. Let meekness, gentleness, and long-suffering, influence and direct their hearts, and may they ever feel the full weight of that truth. the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." The following advice of one of the ancients is good: "Stand thou firm as a beaten anvil; for it is the part of a good soldier to be flayed alive and yet conquer.">—Dr. Clarke.