So sacred was the priesthood under the Law, that no man presumed to take it upon himself, but he who was called to it by God, as Aaron was. And though the priesthood of our blessed Lord was of a totally distinct kind from that which shadoweth it forth, " yet did he not glorify himself to be made an High- Priest," but was so constituted by his heavenly Father, who committed to him that office " after the order of Melchizedec." Some call therefore, as from God himself, is to be experienced by all who devote them- selves to the service of the sanctuary. Of this our Reformers were convinced : and hence they required the ordaining bishop to put to every candidate that should come before him, this solemn interrogation ; " Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you this office ?" to which he answers, " I trust so."
Now I am far from intimating that this call, which every candidate for Holy Orders professes to have re- ceived, resembles that which was given to the Apostles : it is certainly not to be understood as though it were a voice or suggestion coming directly from the Holy Ghost ; for though God may reveal his will in this manner, just as he did in the days of old, yet we have no reason to think that he does. The motion here spoken of is less perceptible : it does not carry its own evidence along with it ; (as did that which in an instant prevailed on the Apostles to forsake their worldly business, and to follow Christ ;) but it dis- poses the mind in a gradual and silent way to enter into the service of God ; partly from a sense of obli- gation to him for his redeeming love, partly from a compassion for the ignorant and perishing mul- titudes around us, and partly from a desire to be an honoured instrument in the Redeemer's hands to establish and enlarge his kingdom in the world. Less than this cannot reasonably be supposed to be com- prehended in that question : and the way to answer it with a good conscience is, to examine ourselves whether we have an eye to our own ease, honour, or preferment; or, whether we have really a love to the