received with cordial regard, and we should "have our reward" in the praise of men, purchased indeed at an infinite cost.* But if "as of sincerity, as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ," renouncing the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God"-we must not wonder to hear it once and again repeated-"I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me but evil."§ The whole course of the Ministry is a struggle against the mighty current of sin-originating in that restless bias of the natural heart, which upon the highest authority is declared to be enmity against God."|| Nor let this hindrance to the reception of the Gospel be placed to the Minister's account. Ignorance, indiscretion, eccentricity, inconsistency, or want of conduct in his course, will indeed be the occasion of calling it forth. Want of conciliation and address will tend to increase it. A defective exhibition of the spirit of the cross aggravates the offence of the cross. But it must be remembered that the Ministrations of the Gospel from an angel's mouth would stir up the natural principle of degenerate man. What could be conceived more attractive than the combination of dignity, humility, patience, and love that marked the Ministry of the Son of God? Yet everywhere were his Ministrations despised and rejected. His doctrine was most offensive in its direct opposition to the natural prejudices of the unhumbled heart. His general statements were listened to with the interest *See Gal. i. 7-10. † 2 Cor. ii. 17. ‡ Ibid. iv. 2. || Rom. viii. 7. of curiosity, and the desire of "hearing some new thing," but their personal application to the consciences of his hearers-the obligation of the reproach of the cross-the necessity of the relinquishment of all that was held dear for his service-the prostrate submission required for the reception of his truth—all combined to produce the "murmuring among themselves”—acknowledgment of the intolerable "hardness of his sayings," and the resolution to abandon their temporary profession.* It The innate opposition, existing between the substance of the Ministry and the subject contemplated within its sphere, offers therefore a material impediment to the success of this Divine institution. addresses itself to those whose attention is already pre-occupied, whose affections have been long preengaged, and whose "hearts are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." The truth therefore never comes into fair contact with a sincere and honest heart. Enmity is the concentrated essence of man's depravity. It is at once the cause and the effect of that moral or spiritual darkness, which shuts out the entrance of light, and offers difficulties to the process of "enlightening the eyes of the understanding," unconquerable by any force short of Divine influence. The power that "slays the enmity," opens the heart to the perception, obedience, and love of the truth, and to a full possession of the inestimable blessings of the Christian Ministry. *John vi. 24-66, CHAPTER IV. THE POWER OF SATAN A MAIN HINDRANCE TO THE active power and unsearchable subtlety of Satan are always in operation against the Christian ministry, as the engine "mighty through God to the pulling down of his strong holds."* This is his grand point of attack upon the growing interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. It could scarcely be expected, that "the devouring lion"t would submit to have his prey wrested from his teeth, or that "the strong man armed"‡ would resign, his spoils without a severe conflict, The nature and extent of his unceasing opposition are less difficult to conceive than accurately to define. It meets us however in every sphere of operation. In the world his influence is palpable, in a general listless inattention to the word of God, and an immediate transition from thence into the very vortex of the world§-in the awful blindness of men to the glory of the Saviour,|| in their thoughtless unconcern for eternity,¶ and in the captivating dominion of sin over such vast multitudes,** bringing them to the grave, unable to "deliver their souls," or to say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?”†† "The course of this world," —or what is elsewhere called "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life"‡‡is distinctly identified with the power of "the spirit * 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. § Matt. xiii. 19. **2 Tim. ii, 26. 1 Peter. v. S. 2 Cor. iv. 4. tt Isa, xliv. 20. Luke xi. 21, 22. ‡‡ 1 John ii. 16. which now worketh in the children of disobedience."* We may perceive the same principle at work in the natural enmity of the heart to the followers of Christ, and the incessant malignity with which tongues, pens, and influence are employed against the cause of God. Thus are the scriptural characters of the Evil principle illustrated and sustained- -as the "Prince and the God of this world,"- "the father of lies,"" that old serpent which deceiveth the whole world."‡ In the church of Christ--this restless enemy works his artful leaven with "all the deceivableness of unrighteousness," covering his spiritual wiles with some new and pleasing doctrines, adapted to the taste of the times; thus poisoning the bread of life by the adulteration of man's devices. His subtlety is peculiarly marked in the accommodation of the forms of deception to the different temperaments of his victims. Carnal security suits with the world, and succeeds to the utmost of his desires in keeping "his goods in peace." But such schemes would fail of their purpose under a nominal recognition of serious religion. For the church, therefore, he exhibits the attractive idol of self-righteousness; or, that most inveterate form of antichrist, the dependence on the profession of a pure doctrine-thus "transforming himself into an angel of light."§ The apostle intimates, that the general symptoms of ministerial ineffectiveness may be traced to this source. And indeed we are at no loss to discover his active influence in every point of detail. The simple explanation of the growth of the tares among * Eph. ii. 2. † Comp. Gen. iii. 15. Rev. xii. 17. 1 Thess. iii. 5. the whole is—“An enemy hath done this."* The serpent that beguiled Eve through his subtlety"† still " 'corrupts" the minds of the weak and the sincere "from the simplicity that is in Christ." The Ministerial hindrances from divisions and want of love among Christian professors--the successful opposition that has sometimes been made to schemes of Ministerial usefulness--are traced to the secret operation of the same active cause.§ The hypocrisy of professors within the church||-or their apostacy from her communion; all the successive vicissitudes of her history, all the drawbacks to the full energies of the Christian Ministry, flow from this "fountain" of evil, which is continually "sending forth bitter waters." Individual experience discloses the constant exercise of the same active principle. To this source the Christian traces his subtle workings of unbelief**— the wanderings of his heart in prayerft-his occasional indulgence of self-confidence,‡‡ spiritual pride,§§ and worldliness--the injection of blasphemous thoughts ¶¶ --the power of evil tempers***—and the general commission of sin‡‡‡--all which are positive hindrances, according to their prevalency, to the holy and blessed influence of the Gospel Ministration. The state of the world, therefore, within the sphere of the Christian ministry, exhibits the appalling conflict between the powers of darkness and light--" the god of this world blinding the eyes of them that believe not❞—while the ministry of the gospel exhibits "Christ Jesus the * Matt. xiii. 24-28. † 2 Cor. xi. 3. ‡ Ibid. ii. 10. § 1 Thess. ii. 18. || Acts v. 1-5. ¶ Luke xxii. 3. Rev. xii. 3, 4. ** Gen. iii. 1-3. †† Job i. 6. 1 Chron. xxi. 1. Luke xxii. 31. §§ 2 Cor. xii. 7. *** Eph. iv. 27. Matt. xxi. 23. TT Eph vi. 16. ttt 1 John iii. 8. |