17*


198  LIFE    AND    TIMES    OF

A  minister  of  the  Gospel  is  supposed  to  have  renounced
this  world  in  every  sense  which  Christianity  requires,  and
to  be  in  possession  of  the  meek  and  lowly  mind  by  which
his  divine  Master  was  characterized;  consequently,  a
haugliLy  appearance  and  magisterial  manners  are  alto-
gether unbecoming  his  profession.  To  see  a  man  who
professes  to  be  the  servant  of  all,  appear  as  if  he  thought
himself  superior  to  the  rest  of  mankind,  and  evince  a
great  desire  to  be  waited  on  by  the  people  where  he  goes,
and  with  whom  he  stays,  is  a  sight  painful  to  man  and
displeasing  to  God;  for  the  Bible  says,  a  proud  look  is  ab-
horred by  him.  It  is  a  popular  opinion,  that  all  profes-
sional men  are  proud  men.  How  far  this  opinion  is  true
or  false  we  need  not  inquire ;  but  let  it  be  remembered,
that  pride  and  its  appearance  will  receive  much  more  tol-
eration in  any  other  profession  than  the  clerical,  because
the  Christian  religion  requires  her  ministers  to  be  humble
men.  Affectation,  or  a  haughty  appearance,  is  calculated
to  do  much  more  harm  than  is  generally  supposed ;  for
the  mass  of  men  form  their  estimate  of  religion  from  the
appearance  and  conduct  of  its  professors,  and  more  par-
ticularly its  ministers,  who  are  to  many  the  only  book  of
divinity  which  they  read.  If  they  read  in  ministers  a
spirit  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  Christianity,  the  conclusion
is,  that  the  religion  of  Christ  is  of  small  value,  or  that  the
professed  teachers  thereof  are  destitute  of  religion ;  and
if  so,  men  will  be  unwilling  to  yield  to  their  persuasions
to  embrace  religion;  therefore,  let  all  ministers  shun  all
affectation.
