SELF-EXAMINATION.

FOR OLDER CHRISTIANS.

1. Do I search my heart to the bottom, and act out my convictions?

2. Do I believe I control my tongue and

temper?

3. Do I really believe the Bible is the law of my heart and life?

4. Do I convince men that I believe there is an eternal Hell?

5. Am I greatly concerned for the salvation of men?

6. Do I act like a Christian in my family, and among my intimate friends?

7. Do I fully believe I have been born again? 8. Do I know that I have power with God in

prayer?

9. Do I believe I have been baptized with the Holy Spirit since my conversion?

10. Am I sweetly resting in Christ, by faith, now?

CHAPTER XVII.

EVANGELISTS.

W

THEIR TRIALS AND JOYs.

HEN our Redeemer "ascended up on high,

he gave gifts unto men"-"some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ."

Thus we see that the work was not to be done through one department of Christian labor, nor were different offices to be merged in one, and placed on one man; but there were to be several distinct offices of ministerial labor, each calling for special qualifications, and each filled by its own special workmen, yet all working in perfect harmony, and for the same end the perfecting of the kingdom of Christ.

The Savior having established these different departments, has always placed his seal of approbation on them, and says to those who labor in either of them, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

One of these departments, as we have seen, is that filled by the evangelist.

An evangelist is a minister who is not settled over a church, at least permanently, but is temporarily to fill a vacancy, to form new churches, and to assist pastors and churches in special labor for the salvation of souls, whenever such labor is needed.

Work began in this branch of service with the commencement of the church of Christ. Thus we find Philip, the evangelist, going forth and engaging in meetings in different places, for the purpose of promoting revivals of religion.

"He went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them," continuing the meeting for some days and perhaps weeks. The work became so deep and general, that Peter and John were sent down from Jerusalem by the brethren, to assist in carrying it forward.

After a while these brethren returned to Jerusalem, but Philip went on towards Gaza, baptizing the eunuch on the way. So pressing were the calls

for this kind of labor, that the " Spirit caught away Philip," and hastened him on to other places that were waiting for him. His next field of labor was at Azotus; but how long he remained there we are not told. From Azotus he went on, and preached in all the cities till he came to Cesarea. Here was his home the evangelist's home.

Paul and his company stopped with this evangelist, and rested several days. It was no doubt a pleasure to Philip and his family to entertain such distinguished guests.

But my principal object at this time is to speak of a few of the trials and joys of an evangelist:

One great trial in this work is, the necessity of being from home most of the time.

Those who have homes, where the dear ones dwell, and where the purest bliss and peace on earth can be found, understand at once the pain of such separation. It is hard to leave home for a single month; but to be away from it year after year, for ten months out of twelve, when life is so very brief, is one of the hardest trials in the work of an evangelist. And, besides, home has so many sweet and soothing associations, so many holy, purifying influences, which are just what a minister needs in his work, to be deprived of all these for so great a portion of the time is no small

sacrifice. O, the joy of my bounding heart, when, after weeks, and perhaps months of unceasing toil and anxiety, I turn towards my home, weary and worn! No matter how long the journey, or rough the way, or chilly the winds, I heed them not on the homeward track.

I have often, at such times, repeated the expressive lines:

"What do we reck on a weary way,

Though lonely and benighted,

When we know there are lips to chide our stay,

And eyes that will beam, love lighted?"

But when home is reached after such an absence, one or two days are usually all I can spend with my family before duty calls me away to another meeting, already pledged.

I often say to my family, I trust we shall know each other in heaven, where we may dwell together without interruption, and our joy be the greater, when the "sheaves," gathered through these years of separation are brought into the garners above. With this thought before us, we often sing these beautiful lines:

"When the holy angels meet us,

As we go to join their band,

We shall know the friends that greet us

In the glorious spirit land.