PART VI. RECOLLECTIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. It may be useful to shut up this immensely momentous and interesting subject with an attempt to concentrate some of its serious recollections in fixed and permanent impressions. Habitually to realize just views, both of the gospel, and of the sacred office, tends most profitably at once to excite, support, and direct us. Thus while the Minister's views of responsibility-if indeed he be under divine teaching-will fill him with the deepest humiliation; yet the contemplation of the Saviour's glory and love inspires him with hope and joy. Often will the cheering recollection present itself—'Where should I have been, if I could not look to Him, whose "blood cleanseth from all sin ?” ' In this spirit he will tenderly plead with his people respecting their sins; and be ready to sit at the feet of the least and lowest of them, while he executes his solemn commission towards them. And how will he speak of the Saviour? Like one who feels his own need of mercy, and who sees the sufficiency of his adorable Lord for the chief of sinners, and the glorious work that he has undertaken for him; he will set forth this enlivening subject with a richness, fulness, confidence, and joy, which, if he has learnt from the Scriptures, he has learnt no less from his own experience. Thus is he humbled, but not discouraged; and while he lies low, he is lifted up by a "grace" that ❝is sufficient for him," and sustained by a "strength that is made perfect in" his "weakness." Thus he is weeping, yet rejoicingencouraged, thankful, devoted, happy. However partial views of the Christian Ministry may, by eclipsing the prospects of faith, make our "hands hang down,” we are persuaded, that the sober calculation and enlarged apprehension of faith, will substantiate before us the full support of the Gospel; will enliven our present gratitude; and result in fresh and unceasing excitement in the world of everlasting praise. 1 To maintain these recollections, the Writer recommends Shuttleworth's 'Christian Minister's Pocket Companion'-a valuable compilation. (Holdsworth.) 2 See 2 Cor. xii. 9. But to maintain abiding and deepening convictions of our responsibilities, the Writer has ventured to expand a few questions, which the course of this survey has suggested for his own use, and which he would respectfully submit for the consideration of his honoured and beloved brethren. I. Do we honour our work? 'One of the mistakes'-said the late Mr. Venn,—' that I have cause to regret, is, that from fear of pride, I never paid due regard to the numberless passages of Holy Writ, which so plainly point out, and extol, the high dignity of our office. Had I given but a little consideration to these passages, I indeed believe, I should have had much more comfort in my own soul, and more success both in public and private addresses to my people." When God would allure his people to return, by the richest prospect of blessing, he sets before them-not the promise of temporal prosperity and aggrandisement (this had been found ineffectual) but the gift of "pastors according to his heart, who should feed them with knowledge and understanding." How high then is our obligation—as the most important gift of God to his Church, in the deepest personal humiliation—to "magnify our office!" And this we do-when Christ is the inspiring principle of our Ministrations-not one subject among the rest, but that which involves the rest, and gives to them their proper life and interest. "The truth as it is in Jesus”—as he is the centre of every line-is the glory and substance of our office. 'Let Jesus Christ' (said the excellent Matthew Henry)‘be All in All. Study Christ—preach Christ-live Christ." Let us sink ourselves to exalt our Master." It was said of Ignatius, that he carried Christ about with him in his heart; and this I will say-if to represent a glorious Christ to the view, the love, and the admiration of all people, be the grand intention of your life-if you are exquisitely studious, that the holiness and yet the gentleness of Christ may shine in your conversation-if in your public discourses you do with rapture bring in the mention of Christ in every paragraph, and on every occasion where he is to be spoken of-and if, in your private conversation, you contrive to insinuate something of his glories and praises, whenever it may be decently introduced-final 3 Compare Eph. iii. 8. Rom. xi. 13. 2 Jeremiah iii. 12—15. 5 'Christ crucified-the great pervading theme of the Christian Ministry, judiciously expanded, and closely applied-is itself a complete system of doctrines, a connected succession of duties, an unfailing supply of motives, an unexhausted treasury of hopes.' Young Pastor's Guide. Sermons before the University of Cambridge. By the Rev. Thomas Dale. 6 Life, p. 122. Compare Sermon on John xiv. 1. Miscellaneous Works, pp. 581583. 7 See John iii. 30. ly, if, when you find, that a glorious Christ is the more considered and acknowledged by your means, you exclaim-'Lord! this is my desired happiness' truly you then live to good purpose." If" -said a dying Pastor-Ministers only saw (especially in their public exercises) the preciousness of Christ, they would not be able to refrain from clapping their hands with joy, and exclaiming-'I am a minister of Christ! I am a Minister of Christ !' '2 We "magnify our office" also by an exhibition of its spirit. An inconsistent, worldly, or self-indulgent Minister, trifling with his sacred obligations as an old writer strongly remarks-' is the pest of the Church." Even if his Ministry should enlighten, it will not sanctify his people. Far less injurious are the open attacks of our avowed and most bitter adversaries. Oh! that the Ministers of the Church may be kept from destroying the Church! Let it be remembered, that the high honour to which we are called, is to give a just representation, not only of the doctrine, but of the person of Christ. Whatever talents be not made subservient to this grand purpose of expressing the dignity and humility, "the meekness and gentleness," the self-denial, zeal, and love of our Divine Master will bear the awful stamp of unprofitableness at the day of account. Like our Heavenly Pattern therefore, let us display before the world a manifest elevation above it, uninfluenced by its smiles-unmoved by its frowns. Let it be seen and read of all men, that we "seek not theirs, but them"--that "in all things we approve ourselves as the Ministers of God"s-having our souls animated, excited, and filled with our work-making it the one absorbing concern-feeling the insignificance of every thing in comparison with it-giving it the lead in every pursuit-concentrating upon it the best and most steady efforts of self-denial and love 1 Mather's Essays to do Good, 113, 114. 2 Memoir of Dr. Payson. 'I love to live preaching Christ, and I love to die preaching Christ.' Halyburton. 'Happy the Christian Minister,' says Bishop Horne-who, like St. John, lives only to point out this Saviour to his people!' On John Baptist"That preacher' as one observes-'shall have most comfort, who preaches most of Christ.' 3 Nich. Hemmingii Pastor. 4 2 Cor. xii. 14. 5 2 Cor. vi. 4. The following lines exhibit the primitive simplicity of their well-known Author. 'Give me the priest these graces shall possess- A father's tenderness-a shepherd's care, A ruler's awe-a watchman's wakeful eye A pilot's skill, the helm in storms to ply A fisher's patience and a labourer's toil A guide's dexterity, to disembroil— A prophet's inspiration from above A teacher's knowledge and a Saviour's love.'--Bishop Kenn. -and manifesting that sympathizing tenderness of heart, which bespeaks a sense of its responsibility. This high tone of Ministerial character, grounded upon personal consistency, will never fail to command respect. Thus Mr. Nelson truly remarked—' He knows but little of the dignity of the Priesthood, who is content with ordinary attainments.' Nor can we calculate upon extended usefulness, unless we magnify our office so as to count it worthy of all our pains. This was George Herbert's spirit, when dissuaded from the Ministry, as a degrading employment—' Though the iniquity of the times has made the sacred name of priest contemptible, yet I will labour to make it honourable, by consecrating all my learning, and all my poor abilities, to advance the glory of that God that gave them." Such also was Henry Martyn's holy exultation. Blessed be God'--said he 'I feel myself to be his Minister! Tremendous, yet blessed feeling! laying us in the dust, yet lifting us up to heaven. II. Do we feel the responsibility of our work? The Minister of the Gospel is not an isolated individual, nor is his influence bounded by parochial limits. The character of his profession gives a tone, not to the Church only, but to the nation at large. Entrusted as he is with the eternal interests of the world, with all its countless population, and successive generations to the end of time -Surely he may well say " I am doing a great work!" And indeed an affecting, though not an overwhelming, conviction of its dignity and difficulty, is eminently serviceable to check a vain, indolent, and careless mind; to excite us to the improvement of all necessary gifts and graces; to call forth earnest supplications in a matter so plainly above human strength; to exercise our entire dependence on Christ for guidance, assistance, and success; to preserve us against impertinent diversions from our work;3 and to make us deeply solicitous about its success. As a ground of encouragement also-it argues high thoughts of our Great Master; a firm belief of the truth and weight of our message; a freedom from secular ends; an humble, serious, tender, and prepared heart; a readiness to acknowledge our deficiencies, to improve our helps, to be earnest in prayer, to wait in expectation of heavenly influence, to watch against all hindrances, and to render to God the honour of all our success-and even of all due preparation and diligence. May we not then inquire- What is our personal sympathy with this awful sense of responsibility? How are we affected 1 Walton's Life of Herbert. 2 Neh. vi. 3. 3 Ibid. vi. 3. by the Scriptural warnings-enough to "make both the ears of every” watchman "that heareth them to tingle?" How by the spirit of our Ordination service? than which (as Bishop Burnet justly remarks) 'nothing in any office is so serious and so solemn' -exhibiting us in both parts of our mighty business-as the mouth of God to the people, and the mouth of the people to God. Do we feel this responsibility in regard to our care and diligence? Is not Ministerial diligence as necessary for our salvation, as Christian diligence for our people? The most regular course of external service or irreproachable conduct will not meet the emergency, without a deep sense of the "necessity laid upon us." The ransom found for immortal souls shows at once their infinite value, and their solemn charge. What could be purchased only by the blood of the Son of God must be worth the labours of a thousand generations. Nor can the murder of a fellow-creature bear any comparison with "the voice of the blood of our brother's" soul "crying" for vengeance "from the ground." What fervent exercises of holy sympathy-the clear evidences of our Divine call-flow from a just sense of the weight of our office! Mr. Brown was often deprived of a night's rest by his tender and oppressive anxiety;3 and, did young Ministers cherish this impression, they would have deeper views of their awful engagements; and instead of desiring extensive spheres of service, they would be more sensible of the solemn charge of a single soul. How do we feel with regard to our talents? They were given to us on account; neither to waste on sin, nor to slumber in indolence, not to concentrate in selfishness-but to "occupy" in our Master's service. As in our soul's salvation, so in our Ministry, the freeness of the gift is the quickening motive to its active energy. But are our 66 gifts stirred up," our graces exercised—our opportunities improved to the uttermost? To think of talents being specially given to us for the object dearest to the heart of our Divine Master-that of feeding his own purchased church—and yet that 1 Ezekiel iii. xxxiii. xxxiv. Zech. xi. 17. 2 Past. Care, ch. vi. Compare Bishop Porteus' Charges, 1790. Comber mentions a prayer for a Minister in an old Gallican form of ordination-that he may tremble for all the people committed to his care; remembering that all their souls are to be required at the watchman's hand.' 3 Life and Remains, p. 28. 'When a man is sensibly affected with the value of souls, with the manner of their redemption, and with the price paid for them; and is well acquainted with the New Testament, in which all this is plainly set forth; as he will never want matter for the best sermons, so he will never want arguments sufficient to convince his hearers of his own heart being touched with the importance of the subject.' Bishop Wilson's Parochialia. 4 Bishop Andrews engraved on his episcopal seal the memorable words" Who is sufficient for these things!" 5 Luke xix. 13-26. • Comp. Phil. ii. 12, 13, with 2 Tim. i. 6, 7. |