man of uuclean lips!"* We cannot therefore think of this vast commission-this momentous trust, but as an act of bounty and most undeserved favour-" Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given." "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry." But let the remembrance of this sacred dignity give a deeper tone of decision to our ministrations—“ As we were allowed of God," said the great Apostle, "to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." Let it also connect itself in our mind with most responsible obligations-Let us watch, that we disgrace not the dignity of our calling. Let us live under the constraint of its high obligations-"Ye are the salt of the earth-Let not the salt lose its savour. Ye are the light of the world-let your light shine before men❞—are the impressive exhortations of our Great Master. § "Neglect not" said the great Apostle" the gift of God that is in thee: stir it up" with the daily exercises of faith, self-denial, and prayer. As Quesnel observes T-What courage, what boldness, what freedom ought the dignity of the Ministry to give a bishop or priest; not for his own interests, but for those of the Church; not through pride, but fidelity; not while he employs carnal means, but while he makes use of the armour of God.' 'The moment we permit ourselves to think lightly of the Christian ministry, our right-arm is withered; * Isa. vi. 5. 1 Thess. ii. 4. Eph. iii. 8. 1 Tim. i. 12. § Matt. v. 13-16. 1 Tim. iv. 14. 2 Tim. i. 6. On 2 Cor. iii. 8. ** nothing but imbecility and relaxation remains." And let the weight of this dignity be relieved by Evangelical encouragement-The ministration of the Spirit and of righteousness constitutes the chief glory of the evangelical economy. Therefore," says the 66 ministry," so richly Apostle, after an exhibition of its preeminent excellency, "seeing we have this endowed, so freely vouchsafed, mercy, we faint not.† as we have received The views of Philip Henry were truly worthy of this high character. Thus he wrote on the day of his ordination-'I did this day receive as much honor and work as ever I shall be able to know what to do with. Lord Jesus, proportion supplies accordingly.' Two scriptures he desired might be written in his heart. 2 Cor. vi. 4, 5. and 2 Chron. xxix. 11. And so practically influential were these views in maintaining a course of deep-toned humility, that he laid himself out with as much diligence and vigour,' in a very contracted sphere, as if he had the oversight of the greatest and most considerable parish in the country.' Oh ! for an abundant supply of such Ministers in every department of the Church of God! 6 6 * Hall on the Discouragements and Supports of the Ministry, p. 51. † 2 Cor. iv. 1. P. Henry's Life, (Williams's Edition, p. 38.) which Dr. Chalmers has justly characterized, as 66 one of the most precious religious biographies in our language." CHAPTER III. THE USES AND NECESSITY OF THE CHRISTIAN 'BECAUSE the nature of things, consisting as this doth in action, is known by the object whereabout they are conversant, and by the end or scope whereunto they are referred, we must know that the object of this function is both God and men: God, in that he is publicly worshipped of his church; and men, in that they are capable of happiness by means, which Christian discipline appointeth. So that the sum of our whole labour in this kind is to honour God and to save men.'* These two ends most harmoniously combine in the Divine purpose respecting the formation of the church-"I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory."† For this end he has ordained the ministry of the word for the planting and watering of his church. The epistles were written to the respective churches, which had been planted by the preaching of the gospel-to supply the place of his oral ministry-to reduce them to church order and unity-to confirm them in Christian steadfastness, and to advance them to Christian perfection. The several individuals also who were addressed were the fruits of the Christian ministry. Timothy, Titus, and Philemon appear to have been "begotten in Christ Jesus," through the ministry of Paul, as were probably "the elect lady and her * Hooker, book v. 76. See 1 Cor. iii. 6. Isa. xlvi. 13. children," and the beloved Gaius the seal of the apostleship of John.* Thus has this Divine institution regard to the continual progress of the church, both in its collective body and in the several states of its individual members. It was given not only or chiefly for the calling, but "for the perfecting of the saints:" not for the gathering together the several members, but "for the edifying of the body of Christ." There was not only a foundation to be laid, but a building to be raised. Elementary truths were to be carried to perfection-"We speak wisdom among them that are perfect." Constant superintendency was needed even in the flourishing churches of God. Paul heard of something that was "lacking in the faith" of his beloved Thessalonians, and he longed to apply to their case the wholesome administration of the Christian Ministry.§ Peter wrote his second epistle to those that were established in the faith, yet "he would not on that account be negligent to put them always in remembrance of these things."|| For the same reason the beloved disciple wrote to the church; "not," said he, "because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it."T The general uses of the Christian Ministry are therefore sufficiently obvious. It is the appointed channel of communication from the head to the body in its several members, by which the spiritual life is first imparted, and subsequently maintained with increasing influence of consolation and fruitfulness. * See the inscriptions to the several epistles to these individuals, and Philemon 19. † Eph. iv. 12. § Thess. iii. 10, 11. VOL. I. 1 Cor. ii. 6. Comp. Heb. vi. 1, 2. 2 Pet. i. 12. ¶ 1 John ii. 21. 3 Its more specific uses may be readily collected from the various scripture illustrations of the office-each bearing a relation to the nature of the ministration, and the necessities of those ministered unto. If the church is called a flock, the Minister is the pastor to "seek that which is lost-to strengthen the diseased— to heal the sick-to bring again that which was driven away; in a word, to shepherd the flock in all the exercises of tenderness, consideration, and care, that connect themselves with this endearing character.* If the family of Christ are an household, the Minister is the steward faithful and wise," dispensing the provision of the house according to the necessities of its several members. If the Church of God be a city, he is the watchman to wake and warn slumberers of their peril. If it be a husbandry, he is the "labourer,"§ to plant and water the soil-to cleanse the earth-to watch the growth of the plant-and instrumentally to bring forward the harvest. If it be a building, he is the "Master-builder,"||-to build upon the "sure foundation" lively stones-a spiritual house-“growing into an holy temple of the Lord, builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." If there be a treaty of peace to be negociated between the Majesty of heaven and a world of rebels, he is the ambassador entrusted with "the Ministry of reconciliation," and praying them in Christ's stead"Be ye reconciled unto God."** We do not limit the infinite extent and power of the Divine operations, when we speak of the necessity of the Christian Ministry. The uses of this Ezek. xxxiii. 7. 1 Cor. iii. 10. ** 2 Cor. v. 20. |