eth the wind shall not sow, uni he that regardeih the clouds shall not reap.'' (Ecdes. xL 4.) Let us work on, and believe that help will cope from heaven, when it is most wanted. In the very hour when a Eoman emperor, and ignorant priests, seemed to have everything at their feet, the Lamb of God was about to come forth from Nazareth, and set up the beginnings of His kingdom. What He has done once, He can do again. In a mo!ment He can turn His church's midnight into the blaze of noon day.
Let us notice, secondly, in this passage, the account which St. Luke gives of the calling of John the Baptist into the ministry. We are told that, "the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias." He received a special call from God to begin preaching and baptizing. A message from heaven was sent to his heart, and under the impulse of that message, he undertook his marvellous work.
There is something in this account which throws great light on the office of all ministers of the Gospel. It is an office which no man has a right to take up, unless he has an inward call from God, as well as an outward call from man. Yisions and revelations from heaven, of course we have no right to expect. Fanatical daims to «ipeciQl gifta of the Spirit must alw^rs be checked and discouraged. But an inward call a man must have, before he puts his hand to the work of the ministry. The word of God must ''come to him," as really and truly as it came to JTohn the Baptist, before he undertakes to ''come to the word." In short, he must be able to profess with a good opnscienoe^ that be is '' i^wa]:dly moved by