APHORISM XXVII.

The influence of worldly views, (or what are called a man's prospects in life), the bane of the Christian Ministry.

Leighton.

It is a base, poor thing for a man to seek himself; far below that royal dignity that is here put upon Christians, and that priesthood joined with it. Under the law, those who were squint-eyed were incapable of the priesthood: 76 truly, this squinting toward our own interest, the looking aside to that, in God's affairs especially, so deforms the face of the soul, that makes it altogether unworthy the honour of this spiritual priesthood. Oh! this is a large task, an infinite task. The several creatures bear their part in this; the sun says somewhat, and moon and stars, yea, the lowest have some share in it; the very plants and herbs of the field speak of God; and yet, the very highest and best, yea, all of them together, the whole concert of heaven and earth cannot show forth all His praise to the full. No, it is but a part, the smallest part of that glory, which they can reach.